Life is strangely wonderful

     Things have been falling into place for me as of late. I finally figured out what I want to do with a major in psychology, realized that I picked the perfect school, and that I have some amazing people coming and going in my life.
     To start with the first item on the list, I have finally decided what I want to do with a major in psychology. I have decided that I want to get my PhD in clinical psychology with a specialty in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and use that to work with patients suffering from this debilitating disorder. It is such an amazing feeling, knowing what I want to do with the rest of my life. It is definitely going to be a difficult thing to accomplish, but I have set my mind to it, and have decided that I am going to chase my dream until I trap it in a corner and make it reality!
     I have chosen the perfect school to help set me on my way to achieving my dream. My psychology professor has already achieved my dream. He doesn't have a specialty in PTSD, but he does have a PhD and his own clinic. He has even told me that he would be willing to help me along on my way to graduate school, and answer any questions I may have. He is also allowing his students to be involved in research, which will look FANTASTIC on my application to graduate school!!! Then there's the psychology club. It's fun to get involved with people with similar goals and interests to my own. In the short month that school has been going, I have made several friends.
     The last thing on the list, which also happens to be the most important, is the amazing people that have come and gone and who are still very much a part of my life.I truly have been influenced by some amazing people.
     Yesterday would have been the 70th birthday of my grandma. She passed away from multiple myeloma, (this weird type of cancer that I can't even really describe) two years ago next week. She played a very big part in my life. She was someone that I could call at any given moment and tell her whatever was happening in my life and she would patiently listen without interrupting. Afterwards, she would provide amazing advice that always impacted my life. After grandpa died, she was devastated. She never truly got over it. Life went back to almost-normal and she continued to be part of our lives. Something that changed, however, was every time we had family get-together/sleepovers, she and I would share a bed. After a while, it went without saying that wherever she slept, I would be there as well. When bedtime came around, we would stay awake and talk, sometimes for hours. She used to jokingly say that there was a little man between us that would keep us up and talking. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her in one way or another. She is one of the greatest people I have ever known.
     Another fantastic person that has moved on is my great-grandpa. He passed away almost two months ago. What an amazing man. My favorite memory of him is that when we visited, as we hugged him hello and goodbye, he would always tell us how special we were to him. I can still hear his voice saying "What a bunch of special kids." I hope the ability to hear his voice say that NEVER goes away. Another thing he always said that was inspiring, "Working for a living is no disgrace, but what a hell of an inconvenience!" What a fantastic man who will never be forgotten. He was ten days shy of his ninety-first birthday. I miss him.
     I have amazing people in my life that are alive as well. My family, every last member of varying insanity ;) has affected me in one way or another. They are all very important to me. They are part of who I am and that will never change. There are also friends in my life that are so dear to me that I consider them adopted family.They are an important part of my support system that I feel as though I don't thank enough.
     All in all, life is good. :)

Different than last time... yet the same?

     So it's official. I'm back to living in Price. It's most definitely different from the first time I got here. I know my way around, and had a job before I even got here. One thing is the same. The move is bittersweet. I have to leave everything I have grown accustomed to and get used to another way of life. Last time I moved, I had to leave my family, and the only way I had known for almost four years. My grandma had just been diagnosed with stage three multiple myeloma. I was really worried about leaving her. We sat on the couch and just cried together for a while on the day I moved out. It's hard to think that was two years ago.
     I must confess, my first day here I had a difficult time finding the campus. I was a scared little freshman that knew only my roommate. This time, I know some of the teachers, and a few faces around campus, but a large number of the people I grew to know and love have moved on to bigger and better things. Now, I know where I'm going, and I actually showed my new roommate around campus. I will be around tons of new people again.
     When I moved last time, I didn't have much besides my family tying me there. This time, I had a job. This may sound strange, but for the last six months that was all I knew. In fact, it was very nearly all I ever did. Since all my friends were in school, I didn't have much else to do.I'm excited to go back to the museum though. I can honestly say that it is the best job I have ever had! One week from Friday is when I start again.
     Bonus: this time I know what to expect from my class. Since I took a semester off, I am only taking one class to avoid overwhelming myself. This time I know what to expect from my teacher and the class in general. As a scared freshman, I wasn't sure what to expect from my classes and from my professors. This time around, I'm taking a psychology class, from a teacher that I have taken three classes from. If I don't ace this class, I will have let myself down. So starting Monday-- A in Psychology 2010 here I come!

Long time, no post for this crazy life!

     It has been quite some time since I have posted. To be honest, I haven't even thought about it much lately. Since I have some down time, I suppose I could bore myself and a few others with the small happenings in my life. Since the beginning of February, I have been working at the care center in Centerfield. It is a far cry from easy, but the longer I work there, the more I build my testimony. Partly from all the trials I find myself facing, but mostly from the sweet spirits that I care for. Some days I would rather run out the door screaming than answer one more call light, but by the end of the day, they make it all worth it in one simple way or another.
     Also in the last couple of months, I have considered serving a mission. Ever since I was little, I always told myself that I would serve a mission if I weren't married by the time I turned 21. Somehow I always seemed to think that it would be more likely for me to be married by that point in my life. As my 21st birthday draws closer though, it seems less and less likely. (I'm not quite 20 yet, but still.) Here's where the plans get tricky. Although I would like to serve a mission, I would also like to finish my degree so that I can start my career. (As I type this, it seems less and less important to start a career.) It's still something that I find rather important. Another thing that I have dreamed of since I was a small girl was having my own house to myself. I could have all the animals I wanted (who needs a man anyway, right?), no parents or roommates to please. It would be lonely, but it would also give me a sense of accomplishment. Pinterest also has a part to play in this. (It would be fun to try some of the decorating ideas!) Have you ever come to a point in your life where you would likely be satisfied with a number of different outcomes? That would be me right now. It's frustrating to not know what all I want with my life, but also I find it good to be flexible. (Do I seem to be rambling?)
     Another topic of consideration for this crazy thing I call my life, I realized the other day that I don't really know what I want in a future husband. Oh, I want all the important things, you know, like a return missionary, active in the church, loves me unconditionally, and the normal things like that, you know, like most LDS girls are looking for. I realized today though, that I don't have anything that I'm looking for specific to me. Some girls want a man who will maybe go with them on their run everyday, or something like that. (Okay, I realized I told a little lie. One thing specific I want is someone to cuddle and watch Criminal Minds with.) But other than that I'm drawing up blanks. It's funny the little things you notice when you don't have much else to do but sit with your thoughts.
     As for what I'm planning on doing with my life, (in case any of you care,) I'm going back to Price the first week or two of August. I'm only taking one class, and kind of have my job back at the museum. I'm going to apply like crazy to all the care centers and other suitable job choices that I can think of. Maybe having two jobs will better help me to afford more than one class in the spring. I'm rather excited to gain my small fraction of independence back. :)
     Am I boring you yet? I'm beggining to bore myself. I suppose that would be a significant sign that now would be a pretty good time to end this post. Happy Monday evening to all!