2015: Surprises for Readers!

Happy New Year's Eve!

Typically, before New Year's, I'm several weeks in advance creating resolutions, eager to start the new year, and ready to start fresh. This year was a little different for me. I've done a lot of thinking about what I've learned from the past, what I'm working on now in myself, and what type of person I want to become. It wasn't until last night that I sat down after a lot of thinking that I wrote down this upcoming year's resolutions.

I feel like this year had a lot for me to learn, and a lot for me to grow from. 2014 was anything but easy, but looking back, it was TOTALLY worthwhile.

At the beginning of the year, I was still enrolled in and attending BYU-Idaho, and studying Elementary Education. I had some really great friends, but I also had a lot of eye opening experiences. I learned a lot from my friends and from school, but I think the most learning I had to do was from the Lord.

At the beginning of this year I took a class on phonetics (hearing different sounds and letters, and learning a new phonetic alphabet), and I absolutely loved it. I simply thought this was what all education majors did in school, and was happy thinking that I would continue as a teacher.

What really turned my life upside-down (in a good way), and made me really turn to the Lord, was when my professor told me she was impressed with my test scores, and that she could see me really succeeding in a profession that dealt mostly with sounds and speech. She asked if I had ever considered majoring in Speech Pathology, something I had never even heard about. After a few days of conversing with her, realizing that I'd have to switch schools since BYU-Idaho didn't offer the major, and it would be a complete major change, I went completely to the Lord and relied solely on faith.

I didn't know the major. I didn't know what schools offered the major, or where I'd have to pick up and move to in order to pursue it. But after a lot of thinking, praying, and looking at my different options, I trusted the Lord's answer of leaving BYU-Idaho and attending Utah State University.

Best decision I've ever made in my life.

But you all know that from Facebook, or simply from talking to me. I'll stop boring you now, and move on to the point of this post.

Simply stated, 2014 was a great year. I wouldn't want to relive it, but I really needed this year. It's taught me so much about true friends, the very real message of hope and love from the Lord, and how in order to grow, we have to stretch. The stretching process can be a little bit painful, but the Lord is right by our side, helping us see the true potential we have through a new learning and trusting process.

So this year, I've made several resolutions. I can tell that this year is going to be one of growing, of learning, and of coming closer to the Lord. This year is going to be a year for figuring out who I really am, and who I want to be. No more coasting through life.

Here's the surprise part, that's hopefully hooked you into reading this blog post...

One of my resolutions is to study something, or think about something each week. After my thinking on it, I'll write about it at the end of the week, AND, not only do you get the present of my writing, but I'm going to make a free printable each week about the topic I was studying or working on. Anything from a spiritual insight or an inspiring quote made into a printable/poster/picture to something like budget sheets or recipe cards. Something that I can give to YOU. Maybe if they're really good, I'll pin them on Pinterest. If you like them, please share them with those you know, tell me what you'd like to see or have a handout of, and I'll do my best to help you out this year. You've all done so much for me, now it's my turn to do something for you.

Let's make 2015 a great year.

I hope you look forward to seeing what this new year brings. I know I'm excited to see the learning and growth I go through.

Happy New Year's!

Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.