Thanks!

I just wanted to add a list of things I'm really grateful for.  This list has brightened my day and made me happier.  It's been an interesting last few weeks, so I needed to make a list like this to brighten my day.  Here it is!

Things I Am Thankful For On 11/20 (in no particular order):

1)      Living in this nation of freedom and choices

2)      My membership in the LDS Church

3)      Serving a mission in Canada

4)      My family!

5)      Having a job

6)      Getting close to finishing my internship

7)      Good responses on my senior capstone project (survey instrument)

8)      Feeling the love of my Heavenly Father on a regular basis, especially when I need it most

9)      Trials and for the opportunity they give me to learn and grow

10)   Being blessed in so many ways, including ones I regularly take advantage of and don’t recognize

11)   My truck…

12)   The Atonement of Jesus Christ

13)   Modern day prophets and apostles

14)   Agency and all that it allows me to do

15)   Warm blankets to cuddle up in

16)   A view of the stars in the mountains

17)   People being patient with me even when I’m trying their patience

18)   Good food

19)   Being adopted into a great family

20)   Opportunity to go to college

Just another day...

So, I once again journey to the site of this blog to write the happenings of my ever-so exciting life.  At least, I'd like to think it was exciting.  In all reality, there's really not much to report.  Life for this simpleton is good.  Things have kinda settled down this week for me, so I've had a lot of time to think about things and where I'm going with this life of mine.  Kinda an evaluation of where I am and where I want to be.  It's been kinda fun to reflect and meditate on these topics.  All should try it!  It's really refreshing!

So, here are some short updates on my life...

Work is going good.  I seem to be getting a lot of managerial expereinces here lately.  I definitely enjoy the supervisory role, although I try not to let the power get to my head.  I work hard and expect others to do the same.  I'm kinda sad that this employment will end soon for me.  I kinda wish they could keep me on in a full-time, managerial position.  But alas, it's not going to happen (at least, not right now).  So, I'm making the most of the experience while I can.  A lot of the management is relieved that I'm staying on so that during the winter they won't have to train the new staff.  They'll make me do a lot of it!  Which is always scary, but fun, too!  So, we'll see how the rest of November and December goes (and however long I last in this job)!

Church, a topic I don't discuss regularly on my blog (if at all) is going good.  I've finally gotten a calling in the ward after being in the ward for over 3 months.  I'm now the 2nd Counselor in the Ward Mission Presidency (or whatever you want to call it).  It's kinda fun, although I still have no idea what I'm doing.  I'm relieved, however, that I didn't get the calling that I thought they'd give me.  They keep throwing my name around for this calling still, even though they've already given me a calling.  I wouldn't be shocked if they released me from my current calling only to call me to the other one.  We'll see how it works out, though!  I'm sure there are tons of others that need the opportunity to have that calling!  And let's be honest, I really don't want that calling if I can avoid it!  Not that I'm unworthy; I just don't want the responsibility attached with that calling.  And, I feel so inadequate to have such a calling!  There are others much better suited and able to fill the needs of that calling over what I can offer.  But, we'll see what happens!

As far as my dating life is going, things are good.  Mostly just frustrated with myself on things.  I can't seem to say the simple three word statement "I love you".  It just isn't coming out!  It's not that I don't mean it or want to say it.  I really do want to say it to her!  But, I just can't get myself to say it when there's an opportunity to say it.  I really do care about her and want to tell her how I feel.  I am fearful about how she feels about me.  I don't really want to ask her how she feels, although inside I'd really like to know.  I mostly just want to share with her how I feel and see where things go from there.  Hopefully for the best!  Other than that, not much else to report there!

Torn...

So, I'm torn about a lot of things in my life.  Kinda wish it wasn't so hard to make some of these decisions.  I trust that the Lord will help me along my path towards my goals and aspirations, but it's so hard when so much in my life is so unsure.  I'm learning to trust and rely upon the Lord for everything because I've learned that I can't do it on my own.  Every time I've tried to do things entirely on my own, I trip and fall and make a big mess.  Luckily, I've been able to learn from most of these falls and have slowly improved and progressed (although sometimes it's been painstaking slow).  I don't know where to go from here.  Do I stick around?  Or do I venture out into the wide unknown and delve into new expereinces?  If I do go elsewhere, I leave so much behind that I've worked so hard to develop and establish.  If I stay, I'm putting my trust in things that are just as unstable as if I were to go elsewhere.  It's so hard to make the decision!  I'm not sure what I'm doing and where I'm going.  There are certain things I'd really like to work out, if it's in my best interest.  However, it is yet to be seen if all these things are truly in my best interest.  I've learned lately not to "put all my eggs in one basket" and depend entirely on a specific thing to work out for me.  I've been burned several times in the past year or so where I can remember distinctly being surprised at the curveball that I've been thrown.  I've managed to survive the changes in my life and weather the "storms" well.  It appears, though, that I'm facing a whole new storm with completely different challenges and opportunities.  I pray daily for the peace to know what is right or at least where to go.  I've learned not to press the issue as to why I'm doing what I'm doing, only to know that what I am doing or should be doing is right.  And, I have received some confirmation affirming that I'm on the right path.  I'm scared because I'm at a crossroad.  In one aspect, I choose this option and possibly forego an awesome opportunity that could arise if I were to be just patient and wait it out.  But then again, that's a hope and not yet a reality (and only time will tell if it becomes reality).  But if I stay, there's no promising that things will work out for me.  In another aspect, I can choose to stay and develop things and work towards a great opportunity.  However, I am once again relying that things will work out.  It is yet to be seen whether or not this opportunity will pan out for me.  There's too many assumptions going on to be fully confident where this is going.  So many choices with little defined direction.  Each decision has good opportunities no matter which I choose.  But which one will help me achieve those life-long goals that I have?  Is it the quick fix of starting over?  Or do I patiently wait it out and hope for the best?  Oh how lost I feel!

Another update! Aren't you excited?!?

So, I'm really not sure where this is going.  But, here goes nothing!  I'm sure gonna try to update you on all the happenings of my life!

First, I'm up in the air about a job again.  I found out officially that my current job cannot keep me on full time.  They were working towards that and wanted me to stay if they could arrange it.  They were going to give me benefits and everything!  But with the economy and politics as unsure as things are, they just couldn't offer me anything.  It's understandable.  They stalled giving me a firm answer as long as they could so that they could hold out to see if there were even the slightest chance of hiring me full-time.  All they could offer me is 910 hours with no benefits.  If I were to work full-time, that would only get me until mid-May.  After that, I'd be unemployed.  They did tell me that if I were to find full-time employment any time in between there, then I wouldn't be obligated to stay.  I'd be free to leave with their blessing.  So, that's kinda nice.  So, I'll probably take that offer.  But, I haven't had the best of luck finding other employment.  The first job I applied for had over 80 applicants apply to the job.  I don't think I was anywhere near the top of their list.  I just applied for a few jobs today.  Hope I get one of them!

As far as my dating life goes, things are going great.  Can't complain by any means.  She's a gorgeous girl with a great personality.  As corny as this sounds, I don't know how I got so lucky to be dating her.  I really don't!  She makes me so happy on so many different levels.  I just love being with her!  It's so great!  I haven't said a couple key words that might help the relationship move forward (mainly the words "I love you").  I'm kinda scared to see what will happen when I do say those words.  I do mean them, though.  That's for sure.  I know where I'd like this relationship to go.  I'm just scared as to what it means.  This is a new path for me.  I'm unsure of where to go and what to do in this situation.  But, I'm willing to give it a go if she's willing to join me on the journey!

It snowed today up here in the mountains!  I'm so excited!  It was kinda weird, I admit. The weathermen have predicted for about a week now that we'll have snow.  Only today did we finally get the snow that they've been predicting.  I finally got to use the snow plow, so that was exciting.  Snow is always fun!  I just wish I had more time (and money) to go out and enjoy it!