Grown Up

Today was a day of small, simple milestones in my life.

I received my GRE Test Prep manuals in the mail. One step closer to one of the most important tests of my life.

I set up an appointment with the head of BYU's MA English program to put my name out there and become more familiar with the program. October 7th. 10 am.

I received my first credit card and activated it. Perhaps tomorrow I will make my first purchase. We'll see.

I was offered a free-lance writing job through a friend of a friend. Networking really is the way to go.

Individually, these are all tiny things. But I'm not a kid anymore. I'm solidly plunging into the real world (except for the fact that I still live with my parents :) but that will change soon!) I'm 21. I have a full-time job. I'm almost graduated from college. I have stewardship over what I do with my life.

As I've pondered over the events of the past couple of weeks, and the emotional roller coaster I've experienced at the frustrating circumstances considering my schooling, I've realized the Lord has been preparing me for everything that is happening and about to happen.

I don't feel incredibly anxious about getting married. I feel content where I'm at right now and can see how the past few months have further prepared me, as hard as they've been.

I'm not scared about graduate school anymore. I am excited and I want to go and face that new adventure in life.

I'm very angry and frustrated at Graduation right now. But I see if things would have gone according to plan -to MY plan- I would have missed out on great opportunities. I would not have been able to go on my amazing trip and I would not have had adequate time to prepare for graduate school.

Last week I was thinking it was ironic that life seemed to work out for everyone but me. It feels like all my friends are either getting married or going on missions. They have their lives figured out, and I didn't. I still don't know exactly what is going to happen, but I now recognize the Lord's hand and how he has been guiding me all along.

It's funny how the simple things in life can help you to see that. He cares and He's helping you the whole way.

I was scared out of my mind before. I always have a plan. But now I'm ready to face the uncertainties that lie ahead. I don't know the future, but I know I'm finally growing up. I can't be so caught up with what is coming. I need to focus on today.

Carpe diem!

Travels with Kandi

Ok. I have been avoiding this post like the plague, but it's about time I got around to it.

On August 11, I embarked on a new adventure. It started out in Salt Lake City at Ensign Peak

 

and ended on a Salt Lake Express in Blackfoot 3 weeks later 

(with my crew at the airport before we all headed out our separate ways -- and I did change clothes in between, I promise!)

We left on the red eye - an experience I never want to have again. We first flew into JFK (NYC airport) and then to Washington DC. I was so paranoid that a terrorist was going to hijack the plane. The dark didn't make it any less frightening. But we arrived safe and sound, though extremely tired after traveling the whole night and getting little rest. 

We met Darryl, our bus driver, who we would spend the next 3 weeks with, along with our handy-dandy bus, taking us from Virginia to Missouri. 

During those three weeks, I traveled through:

• Virginia
• Maryland
• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey
• New York
• Connecticut
• Rhode Island
• Massachusetts
• Ohio
• Indinia
• Illinois
• Missouri

Some of the sites we hit were:

• Jamestown (both the real site and the historic settlement remake)
• Monticello (Jefferson's home)
• Mt. Vernon (Washington's home)
• Washington D.C. (Lincoln & Washington memorials, White House, Holocaust Museum, the originals of the Dec. of Ind. and Constitution, National Art Gallery, American History Smithsonian) and Arlington Cemetery
• Gettysburg
• Philadelphia (Liberty Bell & Independence Hall)
• NYC (Phantom of the Opera, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Empire State Building, Times Square, Plaza Hotel, Grand Central Station, Statue of Liberty)
• Vanderbilt Mansions in Rhode Island
• Boston & Waldon Pond
• Sacred Grove & Palmyra Church sites
• Niagara Falls
• Kirtland & Hiram Church sites
• Notre Dame campus
• Chicago (the Willis aka Sears Tower, Millennium Park, White Sox baseball game)
• Nauvoo Church sites (and baptisms for the dead in the Nauvoo temple!)
• Missouri Church Sites

Now, obviously, I left some things out, but you get the gist :)  I took over 700 pictures, but I'll share a few of my favorites:

In Colonial Williamsburg (near Jamestown). I was a very bad girl and needed to be punished.

Lovin' Obama, Congress, and the DC Temple. Shoot! Obama & temple should not be used in the same sentence :)

 

Hard Rock Cafe, Grand Central Station, Brooklyn Bridge, and Liberty Island (Statue of Liberty)

 

Yes. This is the original. On this trip, I saw SO MANY originals of Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, & Cezanne. I love Van Gogh and Monet SO MUCH in real life. They're incredibly beautiful! "The Starry Night" is not even my favorite though. But look at the brush strokes in one of Van Gogh's other paintings; it's incredible:

 

Ok, moving on...

 

Waldon Pond. The clouds look so cool!

  

The Sacred Grove

Niagara Falls

A sign next to the John Johnson Farm.

 

Chicago at Millennium Park and "The Bean"

 100 stories above the ground in the Sears' Tower

This is what I was standing on in the previous picture....nothing! It was so scary to step out onto!

I was so excited to be at the White Sox game! I even had to get me some good ol' Cracker Jacks.

And...Our beautiful temple (where we did baptisms for the dead) compared to...

the RLDS "Corkscrew in the Sky" temple

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my adventures these past few weeks. The words and pictures don't even begin to describe what I experienced and learned. It was an amazing trip and I'm so grateful I got to go!

I got home at 10:00 pm Friday (a week ago), and Monday morning I started work. 37 hours this week and I am bushed! It seems like life never slows down...

I have another surprise in store that I am not quite ready to share yet, but keep looking out. I'm sure I'll post it in a new blog within the next couple of weeks (if I feel like it). I don't particularly like it, but I'm sure you'll think it's great. 

Until next time... (and P.S. this post took me FOR-EV-ER to do!!!)