Summer To-Do List

It's finally here! Summer 09 has officially started and it is already beautiful. Let's not waste it.

1. Rock my United Way internship. I got it! I'm nervous. It all starts next Thursday. Can I do it? This internship is an answer to a lot of questions and a lot of prayers. The plan is to learn as much as possible and use this blessing to start reaching my long-term goals. Someday I will be running my own nonprofit organization centered on families, and this is where it begins.

2. Read. I already went to the park this week and read for two hours. My sunburn proves it. I can't wait to work all day and read all night. PS - I'm always open for suggestions.

3. Be a better friend. Everyday someone new surprises me with their amazingness. For example, just last week I was at an 8 a.m. review session for my marketing final. I surrendered to my backpack to get out my cinnamon gum to keep me awake. To my dismay, it was empty. The guy sitting next to me reached into his backpack, pulled out a stick of gum and handed it to me. It sounds small, but it made my day. I love when Heavenly Father works through other people to remind me He's there.

4. See my family. So far it's not working with my summer schedule, but I promise I will go to St. Louis this summer. I miss them.

5. Learn to drive stick shift. Ok, seriously, this has been on my life to-do list forever now. Let's make it happen.

6. Live outside. Hiking, tennis, floating down the Provo river, camping, playing. It's all happening. Not to mention baseball games. I feel closer to home there. Right now my window is open. Ahhh summer.

7. Get to know my ward. I thought I was making an effort, but it turns out I was doing the bare minimum. They don't know me and I don't know them. It's time to change that.

There will be more, but I'm tired now. The point of this was to incorporate some accountability into my life. So really, this is a selfish post. It's for me, not you. Sorry.

Goodnight.

Just so you know, I've been keeping my goal

At the beginning of this year I decided to figure out my priorities and set goals accordingly. Genius, huh? Well, included in my top five was traveling. The only logical thing to do then was to set a goal to leave Utah at least once every month in 2009. So far I've been victorious and it feels so good.

January - Chicago with the family. (This one is kind of cheating since I was home for Christmas break, but I'm counting it.)

February - I bought a plane ticket and flew home to St. Louis to surprise my mom for her birthday. I think it was one of my best purchases in my twenty years of life.

March - My dad surprised me one day with a call saying he bought me a plane ticket to Florida for baseball spring training. He's the best. I flew all day Tuesday, watched a game on Wednesday, then flew back all day Thursday. So worth it. I love my family.

April - My long-awaited venture to Logandale, Nevada finally happened. It was just as I always imagined - desert, small and wonderful.

What's in the future you ask? Oh, I'll tell you. I already have a plane ticket to Las Vegas in May to see my cousin who will get back from his mission in Japan soon. Currently I check priceline, expedia, travelocity, etc. everyday to find a cheap plane ticket to Atlanta in June to go to my friend's wedding. And July? I'm hoping for Paris, but let's be practical.

Life is good and the world is beautiful.

Will I regret this post in the morning?

I promise I'm not normally one of these girls. (At least I don't think I am.)

On our five-hour drive to Logandalevilletonchesterfield, Nevada this weekend, I discovered my future wedding song:

"At the Beginning" by Donna Lewis and Richard Marx --- Yes, it is from the movie Anastasia. I am not ashamed. It may all spring from my childhood crush on Dimitri. The best line - "In the end I want to be standing at the beginning with you." It's beatiful, listen to it.

FYI: This does not mean I have my wedding colors picked out, nor does it mean I have my temple date set. I swear.