Southern Belle in Paradise: January 2013

As you all know, it’s been a while since I have last blogged. I’d make an excuse, but really what it comes down to is I am just too lazy, and I feel like my life isn’t eventful enough to blog. Sad story I know. Somebody call me a wambulance... Can you tell I have been watching Modern Family? Such a great show.

Okay, back to business. It’s almost February. 2013!!! How on earth did that even happen? It’s insane.

Not a whole lot is going on with me in my life right now, just trying to figure out the future. As of right now I have a lot of thoughts, but I’m not quite sure what is right for me right now. I’ve always wanted to travel, so I have thought about nannying/volunteering/teaching abroad. That would be SO awesome. I have also thought a little bit about a mission (as of this point in my life, I don’t feel like this is right for me right now). I’ve thought about transferring schools. I’m sure you get the idea... Too many thoughts and not enough answers/direction. I am working on that, although sometimes I can get a little, okay a lot, impatient... I guess that is what happens when you have absolutely no idea what the future holds for you.

It is stressful. Very stressful, and overwhelming. Basically it is a lot to take in. As a result there have been many frustrated tears, and prayers, and confusion, and giving up, and patience, and trying again, and and and... If you haven’t noticed when times get stressful I shutdown. Something else I am working on.

I am actually taking a Stress Management class this semester. The most useful thing I have learned? Breathe. It’s that simple, but let me tell you this right now. It is one of the most relaxing things in the world. Who would have known? My motto: Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. (Feel free to borrow/steal it. It really does work.)

Next order of business, not that I ever really finished talking about being stressed, but we are over that now. Remember? We breathed.

So, this semester is quite different. I like it, but it has definitely taken some adjusting. Two of my best friends, the ones I was living with last semester, aren’t here. It’s just strange. I still have Kayla, and Kelly, and other friends, but it is weird not seeing them everyday. I am so proud of them though, and so excited for what the future holds for them. :)

Diana is currently in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. She’s been there for about 2 weeks now, and in a couple more weeks she will be headed for Raleigh, North Carolina where she will serve for a total of 18 months. I already know she is a great missionary. :) And, I miss her like crazy.

Nicole just got called to the Philippines Tacloban Mission. She reports to the Provo MTC on April 24, and will be speaking Cebuano. :) SO exciting. She will also be a wonderful missionary. Right now Nicole is back home in Utah, so I haven’t seen her since before we went home in December. I’m hoping that I can convince my dad to make it so that I have a long layover in Utah when I come home in April, that way I can spend a week with Nicole before she leaves for her mission. :) I think it is a great idea, and I’ve thrown it out at my mama, but not yet to my daddy. (P.S. Daddy, if you are reading this I apologize for not having said anything to you yet. You are always out of the room every time I have mentioned it while skyping.)

Let’s see. So that covers life, friends and missions, next up is food allergies.

I went to an allergist over Christmas break, and had a skin prick test done to see if I was indeed allergic to anything, and it came back negative. Since then, I have occasionally eaten things with wheat/milk/soy/gluten/peanuts/and all those other fun things, and as long as it is in small quantities, my body seems to be handling it well, so that is fantastic! :) No epipen for me.

Oh. Did I mention that in April I am getting my Associate’s Degree? And in order for that to happen that I am taking 18 credits this semester? Yeah. Call me crazy, but since I don’t know what I am doing with my life, this is a nice security blanket. With my Associate’s I should be able to get a job in a preschool, so that is definitely a start. However, I for sure want to get my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, so my Associate’s is just a start. It will also make it so I don’t have to worry about credits transferring and things like that in the event that I decide to transfer. Basically, it doesn’t negatively affect me, and (besides the 18 credits needed to make it possible) it didn’t require me to take any extra classes, just classes that I would need anyway. Those classes are:

1. English 315 (required GE for my Bachelor’s)

2. Teachings of the Living Prophets (my religion class this semester - I needed another religion credit for my Associate’s)

3. Physical Science (required GE for my Associate’s)

4. History 202 (required GE for my Bachelor’s)

5. Stress Management (counted towards my Psychology Minor, and I want to say the last class I need for it)

6. ASL 101 (this class is just because I wanted to take it, and I needed a total of 18 credits this semester).

The best part of these classes is that I don’t start until 11 or 12:10 every day. :) It is fantastic. I love being able to sleep in.

I want to say that that basically sums up my life right now. Crazy, stressful, and wonderful. I couldn’t ask for anything more. :)

Oh. :) I got an iPhone and a hammock for Christmas. Let me just say that they are basically the best presents ever. :) Thanks mama and daddy!

P.S. Anytime that I start to type ‘mama’, and, or ‘daddy’ I start to type ‘Amanda.’ Haha. I guess that is what happens when you are so used to writing your name.