2013, By the Numbers

The numbers from this year are a bit different than last year, but fun to look at all the same.

Work:
Jobs held: 1
Hours worked counted towards LCSW: 1908

Traveling:
Miles driven in my car: Approximately 13300
States lived in: 1
States lived in/been in: 5 (and 1 district)
Countries visited/lived in: 1
Round-trip plane trips: 2
Drives round-trip from Boise to Provo: 6 (7 if you add in the one round-trip from Boise to Brigham City)
Amusement parks visited: 0 (Super sad number, I know)

Personal:
Dates went on: 2
Boys I went on dates with this year who are now engaged: 0
Boys I went on dates with this year who are now married: 1
Books read: 70
Wards member of: 1
Roommates had: 1
Cars driven: 4

Spiritual and Church:
Temples/temple grounds visited: 7
Number of times attended the temple for to perform ordinances: 52
Live sealings attended: 2
Callings held: 1 (2 if you count visiting teacher)

101 List:
101 list goals completed: 18
101 list goals in progress: 5

Lives touched: ?

There's so much else to talk about that happened this year, but I'm not sure how to sum it up in numbers. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to sum it up in words, either. 2013 was hard in so many ways. But this blog post made me smile. And at least I can now say that I got through 2013. I hope to eventually be able to look back and talk about how great 2013 was, but for now... at least I got through it. I know that 2014 is also going to bring on lots of challenges, but I'm hoping I can make 2014 better so that I can say that I loved 2014, challenges at all. So... let's bring it on!

My Year in Facebook Statuses- 2013 Edition

Just like last year, you get another "my life according to Facebook statuses." Enjoy!

January

• Just used my new sewing machine for the first time to fix one of my dresses. I think that machine will end up being a very well-utilized Christmas present.
• Why doesn't the Boise area believe in snow plows? That commute home was one of my scariest driving experiences ever.
• Apparently I'm a dainty bowler? Oh well. This bowling league is going to be awesome anyways.
• My hair turned into icicles in the super short walk from the temple to my car after doing baptisms. Not cool. Can we go back to having the more mild winters that Boise supposedly normally has?
•  Played hookie from work. To go to the dentist. And I used sick time doing it. And now I'm headed back to work. Guess I didn't really play hookie then, huh? (Definitely living on the edge.)
• Tried to be a responsible adult and go to the gym. Proceeded to lock my keys and phone in the car. That's it. I'm never working out again. The universe conspires against it.
• Plus: it's finally warmer! (Though it's a bit sad when 20 degrees is considered warmer.) Minus: we had freezing rain last night. Plus: my roommate helped me scrape my car out of the thick sheet of ice and I made it to work safely. Minus: I apparently moved to Boise just in time to experience the worst winter they've had in years. Plus: I've survived the winter this far and I think I can make it a few more months.

February

• Stayed longer at the gym than I planned on since She's the Man and an ice skating competition were both playing on the TVs there. Now that I know what motivates me to exercise longer... why don't they play those sort of things at 6am when I normally work out?
• Went to the ballet tonight. I feel so cultured.
• Got over 100 on all three games at bowling league tonight. I also got my two best scores ever...138 and 144. Not quite sure how I pulled that off, but it was AWESOME!
• Safely made it back to Boise after a GREAT long weekend in Provo. Now...going back to being a responsible adult. (That's the worst part about vacation ending, I think.)
• I could stay up to celebrate my non-existent half-birthday in a couple hours, but I think the better way to celebrate is to go to bed.

March

• "I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
• I think I'm becoming a bit of an Excel nerd. I'm in the process of making a workbook to help keep track of my associates (including adding formulas to give me even better information), and it's making me really excited.
• Sometimes I like to read through old journal entries. Sometimes it makes me nostalgic. Sometimes it makes me grateful for where I am now. And sometimes I just laugh out loud because I can be kind of funny.
• My left eye has been twitching all day. I either need to stop stressing out or get more sleep. Or both. Both sounds nice. Thank goodness for the weekend. :-)
• "Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”" -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland              Happy Easter! I know that my Redeemer lives!

April

• You know it'd been a long week when you're seriously tempted to go to bed at 6 on a lovely Friday evening.
• Sometimes, I end up being at work for close to 12 hours. (Hooray for being salaried?) One of these days, I'll get the HR stuff more under control and it won't be quite as nuts. But until then, I'll continue to be grateful that my co-workers can make me laugh during the craziest of days and that I'm able to witness the amazing changes people make to move forward in their lives.
• A year ago today I graduated with my MSW. It's crazy to look back and see how much has changed in the last year... How much I'VE grown and changed. I'm looking forward to seeing how I continue to grow this next year. :-)
• I just came to the realization that I could never be a wedding planner. Planning events and activities for more than 5 people really stresses me out. (How have I not realized this before?) Guess I have to cross that dream off the list...

May

• Just spent 5 minutes trying to find the lever to open fuel door cover on my rental car. I even looked through the car manual and couldn't find instructions there. But I finally figured out out! It turns out to open the cover... you just have to push on it. Whoops.
• Tragedy just struck! I was 150 pages away from finishing Xenocide, when suddenly it didn't make sense. I checked the page numbers and it went from 464 back down to 433. And then when it got back up to page 464, it skipped ahead to page 497. So now I can't finish it. (On the plus side, at least the rest of this trip has been awesome.)

June

• So many adventures have already happened this summer and I'm looking forward to many more. I know I'm where I'm supposed to be at this point in my life, but part of me really wishes I was doing EFY again. (Sometimes having a grown-up job and not having summers off is lame.) Last summer was truly amazing because I learned and grew so much as an EFY counselor. So in honor of those experiences, tonight, I shall use one of my polos as a nightshirt. Stylish, I know. :-)
• Sometimes I just have to take a moment and sit in awe about how much the Lord's hand is in the work. He truly cares about these associates and how they are changing their lives. It's incredible.
• Tried to donate blood today. (This is a big deal, guys...I tend to get lightheaded just being in the donation area.) I went through the whole pre-donation process and passed everything. But after trying and trying, they still couldn't find my veins. They're apparently too deep. Thanks for that, Mom and Dad.  ;-)  Now I'll have to get up the courage to eventually try again...
• Survived my first-ever 5k! I even ran the whole thing... but I don't think it was actually as long as they claimed. Oh well. I still feel accomplished. :-)

July

• Celebrating Independence Day in Washington DC has been awesome! Highlights included seeing the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner" and watching fireworks from the Jefferson Memorial. I'm loving this vacation! (Though, due to the crazy amount of walking, my feet aren't quite as happy. Haha.)

August

• There's something oddly satisfying in finally figuring out how to create an Excel formula that does exactly what you want it to do.
• Temple stuff is bought! Let the countdown begin! 19 days until my birthday, 20 days until the temple, and 21 days until BYU football starts.
• From the delicious food, to doing baptisms in three different temples, to mani/pedis my sister, to being able to spend my birthday with my entire immediate for the first time in almost a decade, to the numerous birthday wishes from dear friends, I really couldn't have asked for a better day. If birthdays are any indication of how good the next year is going to be, I'm about to have my best year yet!

September

• Going to bed before 9:30 on a Friday night. I know how to party hard. In other (totally related) news...I think I'm officially turning into an old woman.
• First time not being at a BYU home game in years. So weird watching that on TV... but SO PROUD TO BE A COUGAR!
• Did a session at the Salt Lake temple tonight. I love how the temple always feels like coming home, no matter where I am in the world or what point I'm at in my life. The gospel is true and temples are amazing.
• The going paragliding turned into more of a para-waiting and I didn't get to go, so I'm going to have to make the 5.5 hour drive again in the near future. But since I'm in Utah still...anybody have a ticket to the game tomorrow and want to take me? I've heard I'm good company.  Or if anyone wants to come watch it with me at my old apartment, feel free. Watching football by yourself just isn't as fun...
• I loved the messages about covenants and God's love that were shared at the General Relief Society broadcast tonight. I'm now even more excited for General Conference next weekend!

October

• Still blown away by Elder Holland's talk. As a therapist, I want to give it to every client I work with who has depression, as well as every person I come across who doesn't understand that mental illnesses are real. As a human being, I loved the reminder that through the Atonement all will eventually be made right. I'm so grateful for living prophets and these inspired messages. Can't wait to hear more tomorrow!
• Got my flu shot (for basically the first time ever). Here's to hoping for a healthy cold and flu season!
• Just went hang gliding. It was awesome. Flying is a great way to start off the day.
• Somehow I accidentally hit myself in the eye last night, but my other eye has been twitching all day. Add that to the fact that I've been ready to go to bed by 8 every night with how dark it's getting, and it could end up being a very long winter.
• Hot chocolate and deep conversations. Warm for the body, healing for the soul.
• A year ago today was the first day of my new job. I can't believe it's been a year already. I've learned and grown a ton, but there's still even more learning and growing to do. Onward and upward to year two!
• Got my first ever random nosebleed today. Too bad I wasn't a zombie gypsy. The blood could have added some authenticity to the costume.

November

• Having dinner with friends and the missionaries tonight was a blast. So excited to finally have sisters serving in our ward!
• Two NaNoWriMo word wars and I almost completed the recommended word count for the day. I really should try that more often...
• I just discovered my gym gives free bagels and cream cheese one morning each week to its members. What a devious plan to stay in business!
• I felt a bit like I was Katherine Heigl's character in 27 Dresses today, going to two sealings, two luncheons, and two receptions. But as crazy as it was, it was also incredibly wonderful to see two couples so incredibly in love. If my future marriage has just half of the love, respect, trust, and fun that those couples demonstrated today, I will be a very happy woman. Congrats again to Tony and Lauren and Jacey and Devyn!
• Technically just won NaNoWriMo! Granted, my novel is still a total and complete mess and will need way more than 50000 words to make any sense at all, but I'm just going to revel in this moment for now.

December

• Why do I live in a place that 1. Snows and 2. Doesn't believe in snow plows? This is a terrible combination.
• Just spent at least double the amount of time in traffic than I actually spent in the stores. I knew I should've just done my Christmas shopping online...
• "One’s life, therefore, cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free... how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, “Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!”" -Elder Neal A. Maxwell
• As some of you may know, my dad was called to be a mission president starting in July. And though we've known the call for a couple of months, we didn't know the assignment until today. So excited for them (and excited for me to hopefully spend next Christmas there)!
• Well, southern California, it's been fun. But now it's time to get back to "real life" (or something). Also, I wanted to let you know that I miss your 75 degree weather already. I would not consider it weird or stalkerish if you followed me back to Boise. Just...you know... FYI.

Christmas 2013

Just got back from my Christmas vacation yesterday. It was lovely to escape to a nice, warm location (thanks for moving to southern California, Mom and Dad)! It was especially nice, because I left Boise in the middle of a snowstorm. Gross. I got stuck in Oakland overnight on the way down (and I was on a thru flight... go figure! Silly Orange County airport and its ridiculous sound restrictions/no flying in after 11pm ordinance). But once I arrived the next morning, I was able to relax, do lots of reading, saw some movies (I love Frozen!) and spend time with the family. I went and did a session at the Newport Beach Temple with my Mom and Dad one day, and that was nice. I love temples! My mom also made me go through boxes from the move. I never got to sort through my stuff before they moved, so they packed up my room and put it all in boxes. My parents don't want to store a bunch of junk while they're on their mission, so I went through my boxes and found some great stuff I totally forgot about. (And I also threw out a lot... you're welcome, Mom!)

Speaking of missions, my dad officially got his assignment for where he'll be serving as mission president. He waited to open it until we were all home together, and it was neat for us to all be there. He is going to go to Brazil...to a mission that was a zone in his mission (that he was zone leader of) over 30 years ago. Like he said, "it's coming home." So I'm excited for my parents and sister. I do need to start saving up my vacation time to go visit them, though!

I got some really nice Christmas gifts this year, including a Kindle Paperwhite as a surprise gift from Santa. Which is super nice so that my next vacation, I won't have to take a suitcase full of books. Because that was ridiculous. And heavy.

And somehow I actually had some luck shopping and got a great new wallet and a skirt. I also got some cute sweaters/cardigans, and an awesome peacoat. (Though can I say... it's really hard to want to shop for warm clothes when it's 75 degrees outside.) But success is success, and I can't get mad at that.

I also got to cross another thing off my 101 list--"not spend any money for a week." Not sure if it entirely counts because my parents paid for plenty of things the week I was home. I just didn't have to. :P But I'm counting it.

I got sick the last little bit of my vacation, which was definitely not fun. I'm still recovering. But on the plus side, I got to use some of my sick time instead of my vacation time. Already starting to save up for Brazil!

And on the recovering note, I should go to bed! (Year-in-review posts will hopefully be coming tomorrow...)

Sealings and Thanksgiving

So... this is also a little late, but I wanted to take a moment to talk about my Thanksgiving vacation. I took a bit longer of a vacation than I would have otherwise, because on Tuesday, I had the great opportunity to attend two different sealings in the Mount Timpanogos temple. (Learn more about sealings and temples here and here.) I had never been to a sealing before, as you have to be an endowed member of the church to go to one, and I was just endowed in August. It was so neat to go to two in one day (back-to-back, in fact... one of a cousin and one of a friend). The day was crazy, as I was busy running back and forth between the events of both weddings, but it ended up being my favorite day of my Thanksgiving vacation. The day was just completely full of love and joy. I don't know if there's another way to describe it. It was just so incredibly happy. It made me look forward even more to when I eventually am able to be sealed to my husband... whoever that man might be.

The rest of my Thanksgiving vacation was also great, because I was able to spend time with family and friends and not worry about work (well... not too much anyways). I also did end up winning NaNoWriMo... (though my novel is still a complete mess and I have a lot more work I'll need to do with it before I would even consider letting someone read it). It was a really nice week, and it's been hard to get back into the swing of work since then. I'm very much looking forward to my Christmas vacation that starts in less than two weeks now!

Hang gliding! (And a couple other 101 list updates)

This update is way late because I've gotten way behind on blogging, but... I went hang gliding!

It would have been way easier if I had actually done that before I left Provo... as it was, I had to try a few different times when I was in Provo, but the weather was not cooperating. But it finally worked out! I was supposed to go paragliding, but the weather changed and it got really windy, so I did the hang gliding instead. I bought a Groupon and went with Birdman Academy and it was amazing. It also ended up being a great choice that I went with them, since they do both hang gliding and paragliding... so depending on the weather, I got to do one of them. I got a video and a few pictures.  And I got to FLY!  It was such an amazing feeling and I wish I could have done it longer. I still wish I lived in the Provo area so I could maybe do that more often... the Point of the Mountain is apparently one of the best places in the world for consistent conditions for hang gliding and paragliding. Hopefully I'll be able to go paragliding sometime in the future, or at least hang gliding again. Cuz it was awesome.

Another thing that I probably should've done before I left Provo... "See a movie in every theater of the dollar theater." I tried to complete that before I left, but I ended up seeing movies in the last two theaters once I already moved and was visiting for various reasons. Glad I was finally able to pull it off. List of theaters and movies (don't judge... sometimes I just really needed the theater and didn't care what the movie was).

• Theater 5—The Muppets (2/21/12)
•  Theater 7—Lockout (5/23/12); The Lucky One (7/3/12)
•  Theater 1—Mirror, Mirror (7/2/12)
• Theater 4—Snow White and the Huntsman (10/8/12)
• Theater 6—Total Recall (10/9/12)
• Theater 8—Brave (10/17/12)
• Theater 3—Breaking Dawn: Part 2 (2/18/13)
• Theater 2—Monsters University: 3D (10/12/13)

I also crossed off get a hot stone massage from my 101 list. Again, I bought a Groupon, and went and got a 90-minute hot stone massage. And that massage therapist worked me over good.  I was sort of in pain the next day... but it was a good pain. I love massages, and it was fun to try to different technique. (Speaking of Groupons... I think I have another one for another massage that I need to redeem. I should get on that.)

I also completed "Drink 64 ounces of water every day for two weeks."  I may have done this at some point before and just not realized it. But during those two weeks I actually kept track. I know I do need to be drinking more water more consistently. At one point, I actually ended up drinking a full gallon of water a day for 6 days and it was amazing how much better I felt. One of those simple things I need to remember to do more consistently, I guess (especially since I really haven't been remembering to drink enough water lately).

And, finally, I also got to cross off "see 10 different plays or musicals I haven't seen before. That was a fun goal.

• 2/11/12—Marriage Go Round (Valley Center Playhouse)
• 2/17/12—Secret Garden (UVU)
• 3/31/12—Zorro: The Musical (Hale Centre Theatre)
• 6/9/12—The Mikado (BYU)
• 7/6/12—All Shook Up (SCERA Shell)
• 7/21/12—This is Kirtland
• 12/22/12—The Addam’s Family (Segerstrom Center for the Arts)
• 5/11/13—South Pacific (Morrison Center)
• 6/22/13—A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Music Theater of Idaho)
• 11/29/13—Brigadoon (Hale Centre Theatre)