The beginning of it all

here we go....
yes i brittney wall have jumped on the blogging bandwagon. I always read some of my friends blogs on facebook and i read witney wilsons new blog about her new years resolution to keep a journal. She said she gave into blogging simply because its a way of keeping a journal. We both have that in common. I'm horrible at keeping a journal but always wish that i had. Well witney you planted that little idea of blogging being a journal in my head and now here ya go. Alana Finalyson you have also forced upon me the world of blogging with your insightful blogs. I have surrendered to the blogging world.

Since this is a new year and a new blog we'll go back to the year 2010.

The biggest significance of last year also happened to be the biggest challenge of my life. I never thought I'd be jealous of a state. But Michigan you have taking away half of me for two years. Elder Chance Bird, my boyfriend of two years (march 9th will be our 3 year mark) left on his mission to Lansing Michigan March 3, 2010. I literally felt like i was going to die without him here. I had a little bit of help from friends and family, even a few missionary girlfriends from my school you know who you are:] How are you supposed to deal with something like this. I took it one day at a time no matter how the day was slow, sad, good, bad, lonely, happy, it was one day closer to having him home. I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In 13 days he will have hit his year mark and the count down will begin:] I feel like I've already won. All those who told me to my face or behind my back that I'd never wait, or that I'd be married when he got home  stick  that in your juice box & suck it..  I'm going to make it. How could i not he's the love of my life. I know that love can change and everything happens for a reason. But i believe in my heart that he is the one for me. I write my own story i don't let it get written for me. i know exactly where i want to end up in life and who i want to end up with. Gregory Chance Bird is the one.

No one knows how hard it is to send a missionary off until you are in that position. I wanna thank those who had kinds words of advice to help me get started. Chelsea Walker & Witney Wilson were a big help when chance first left. Every time i needed a pep talk they were there and for that i thank you for that:]

isn't he just so cute:] I've learned a lot about my self having a missionary out. I actually can be okay without someone. I honestly didn't think i could do it in the beginning. I knew i wanted to, i knew he wanted me to but in all reality i just didn't know if i could. Two years is a long time. Every time i look down at my hand I'm reminded by my promise ring why out of all the boys I've ever date why he's the one who stuck around.

But I'm taking it one day at a time and hearing what he is experiencing makes all the difference. He strengthens my testimony and reminds me on a daily basis why he loves me with all his emails and letters. I could be having the worlds worst day and all i have to do to turn it around is go check the mail:]

enough about him...

I graduated from hair school last March and got a job in a salon in Spanish fork. I ended up quiting after a few months when they wanted me to switch to booth rent. It was a new place and not constantly busy so i decided to leave on my own terms because it just wasn't right for me. But all in all it was a great experience for me. I've been doing hair from my house and will hopefully get a job at a more established salon in the spring. But for now I'm just enjoying doing a little bit of nothing. I've always had things going on constantly while in high school. I didn't even feel like i had graduate high school because i was still in hair school when i graduated high school for another seven months. I know a lot  people think hair school is a cop out for girls who don't want to go to college but actually its what I've wanted to do since i was in sixth grade. I absolutely love it. One day after i am married and can afford a house i want to have a salon in the basement of my home so i can work and raise a family on my own terms. 

i made some great friends, learned a lot of life lessons, got into ridiculous fights with so called friends, but came out with a renewed love for what i want to do for the rest of my life. Your always going to have drama in hair school. its 2,000 hours of school with just girls (mostly) but some of the memories i had i wouldn't trade for the world. I was sad that it took away from my senior year in high school but it cost my parents a lot less for me to do it that way so i was okay with it. 

My brother got married in November:] man wedding planning is crazy & it wasn't even my wedding! It was hard knowing i wouldn't see my brother as often but he's happy and i love him. We welcomed Sally in to our family, my new sister in law.

 

Life has been pretty good. Hair school done, new additions to the family, & the mission of course. Last year brought me lots of changes and difficult decisions.

"If you're alone, I'll be your shadow.  If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder.  If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow.  If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile.  But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me."  ~Author Unknown

Great friends have kept me busy and helped me through it all. Never underestimate the power of friendship. I have amazing friends. They're my shoulders to cry on my words of inspiration. They keep me going when i lose hope in myself. I never face anything alone and i am so grateful for those god has placed in my life. As we get older our lives get busier and we may not get to see all our friends as much as we'd like to. You have those friends who you may not see everyday but when you do its like you say them everyday last week. You never skip a beat. These friendships i cherish more than anything. My friends mean everything in the world to me. I've made some new friends who have become instant best friends. Its not how long you've known a person its what they've done for you in the length of time you've known them.

My amazing friend brittany benson & i decided to take an institute class this semester at UVU! its the best decision i ever made. I love my teacher i learn so much when I'm there i love it! She also took me out for valentines day! It was probably the best valentine day I've ever had. We got all dressed up for dinner at happy sumo where I tried sushi for the first time (still on the fence about it) then went to the Justin bieber movie! She helps me out a ton because she's in the same boat as i am. Her missionary Corbin Critchfield comes home this year....uh in august i think. Its so nice to have someone to talk to who knows EXACTLY what I'm going through. It has been a blessing having her in my life.

All in all 2010 was a challenging but good year. 2011 has started off great:] I'm stronger than i was before and feel like i can take on the world. lets see if i can keep this blogging thing going. Just remind me its like a journal.