"I don't know half of you as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

I have always wondered if I would be happy if my life had turned out how I wanted it to when I was sixteen, eighteen, or even twenty-one years old. These past few weeks have shown me… heck to the no! My life can be very challenging some days. I deal with a lot of things. I wouldn’t trade any of my experiences for anything, though. Ever. I have learned some priceless lessons. So many different things have happened to me over the past few years. 2012 seemed to top them all. I feel like I learned more this past year than all the others put together. It’s like everything just clicked this year and it all finally makes sense. I know who I am and where I want to go.  Just wow. These are five of my most invaluable lessons:

1. Move away

Staying in the same place forever really sucks. It gets old. You get used to it. In my opinion, you get too comfortable. Even though I moved up to the-middle-of-nowhere, Idaho, it was still somewhere that wasn’t Mesa. I wish that I had done that sooner. Ah well! I had things to deal with and demons to conquer. I miss that place more than is probably healthy for any normal human being. April will get here soon enough! That being said…

 

2. Wherever You Are—Be All There

It does no good to move away and long for the place that you left. Be happy wherever you are. One of my most favorite quotes I’ve read recently says, “Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” I love that!  It took me a lot longer than I would care to admit, to learn this lesson. I have finally figured it out, though! I’m home in good old Arizona and loving it! I love being close to my family and especially my dog. J I love the sunshine and the friends that I have down here. I’m going back up to school in April. I can’t wait but at the same time… I can. I’m enjoying living in the present.

 

3. Let People Care

You will be surprised by how many people out there are actually good people… you just have to give them the chance. Let them care about you. Let them help you through your hard times. Trust them. Love them. Most importantly, though… let them love you. Always keep in mind that they’re going through their own trials and are only human. Don’t let fear of loss, hurt, or heartbreak scare you. Go out and meet new people. You will be pleasantly surprised by who stays by your side and never leaves.  Looking back on 2012 and all the people I met and who I’m still close to… I’m blown away. I could have never guessed everything would end up this way and friendships/relationships would work out like they did. I am the luckiest girl in the world! I have the greatest friends and examples in my life. To all of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You know who you are.

 

4. Learn From the “Lessons”

Another quote that I like a lot right now is, “People come into your life for one of two reasons. They are either a blessing or a lesson.” Maybe it’s just one of my faults but I ignore the bad in everyone. I always focus on the good qualities in people. That might sound like a good thing but dang, you can get burned! It finally all clicked this year for me. People are going to hurt you, break your heart, and leave you. Intentionally or unintentionally. This is just the reality of life. That is OK! Let those people be lessons for you! Let them teach you who you don’t want to be and show you things that you would like to change about yourself. You must remember, however, to…

 

5. Forgive

It is the hardest thing in the world to do, at least from my experience. I finally had this lesson hit home this year. There were many different reasons why, I suppose. I had a lot of very different ‘interactions’ with people this year. I am here to tell you that if you can learn to do one thing, you will be more at peace than I could even begin to describe to you… accept an apology that was never given and move on. Don’t wait around for people to realize how much they hurt you or how heartless and thoughtless they were. Move on. I promise you that someday they will realize what they did or how bad it hurt. Just don’t wait around for that to happen. I highly recommend “The Peacegiver” by James L. Ferrell. Read it. It will change your life. Guaranteed.

With all that being said, I have one more confession… I have always thought I’m a pretty smart girl when it comes to judging character. Granted, I am but I am only human. A surprising lesson I learned is to trust the opinion of those you trust and trust your first impression. I’ve always been a sucker for second chances (granted, they have their place) but not always. If someone has repeatedly hurt, ticked off, or infuriated those you care about, it would be wise to not let that person get too close. Ahhhhh! What an obnoxious, yet satisfying lesson to learn. After 25 years, I finally understand… trust your gut. You have more wisdom and sense than you think.

I am SO ready for 2013. I have so many plans and dreams. It’s so funny because 2013 hasn’t even started and I’ve already changed my whole year around! This is my year! This is my “unexpected journey.” (Haha! I’m such a nerd!)

Now, a parting smile...

Amen!! (And yes, I'm on a complete Hobbit craze right now. LOL!)

 

 

Who knew dwarves could be so attractive! <3

Hearts,
me

Oh my gosh. Wow.

Man... do I have some stuff to vent. Lessons learned. Time wasted. Myself, rediscovered. Just... wow. Some people will surprise you.

"Play me like a game and I'll leave you like a joke."

More to come. <3

This Week. Yikes.

Sometimes, they REALLY suck.

It has been a long, long week. I am emotionally drained but still smiling. ;) Trying, at least. Instead of actually thinking and writing for myself, I will let these quotes speak for me...

These are all good representations of different thoughts and feelings I've had this week. Yikes. At least this week is over. Life can try to ruin me again next week... I say, "BRING IT! I can take it. Booyah!"

Vacation: Miserable and Fun?

I have been thinking about this lately:

I recently lost someone I considered a best friend. I lost him to apathy, the definition being: lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. Synonyms: indifference, unconcern, listlessness. It sucks.

I went up to the Berg, a couple weeks ago, to visit all my friends that I haven’t seen in eons. I was in desperate need of a vacation and wanted to be around the people that I loved and missed. It didn’t turn out how I expected at all. Can something make you miserable but be absolutely perfect at the same time? I would not go back and change anything that happened. I learned so much. Since I am so fond of lists, I shall make one:

Things I Learned In the Berg

1.       I have a love/hate relationship with flying

2.       Danielle is an excellent travel companion

3.       There are still wonderful people who will drive half an hour to the airport to pick you up even though he has never met you

4.       Jasmyne is an excellent hostess

5.       It really, really hurts to have someone look at you in horror, even if you never did anything to deserve that look and have been looking forward to making them squirm for months

6.       You find out who actually cares when you run into people who didn’t expect to see you

7.       No matter how excited you are to surprise someone, see them, and give them a hug… when they aren’t excited to see you, it will leave you speechless. You will feel blind sighted for the rest of the weekend and wonder why you wasted so much time staying friends with the idiot boy

8.    Something wonderful can be staring you in the face but you won’t realize it until you’re sitting on the airplane flying home… then it will hit you like a train… and you will wonder why you’ve been so blind

9.       Idaho is a cold place

10.   People will always surprise you

That weekend was devoted to putting the past behind me. I was definitely able to do that. I had to put more people back there than I planned, though. It hurt. It was hard. It was exactly what I needed.

I am ready to go back. Back to the Berg. I want to get on with my life and with school. I can’t wait for the next adventure!

I am so grateful to be grateful. I love what my trials have taught me. I love the knowledge and experiences that I’ve gained through the ups and downs of life. I love what I’ve learned from all the different people that I’ve had the pleasure to meet. Some have taught me different things about myself, while most have showed me exactly who and what I do NOT want to be. Life lessons are definitely best learned through experience. I’m so thankful that I am here to experience life! What a blessing.

 

Hearts,

me



Yo, Jacob!

I was just complaining to Angela tonight that I don't have anything to blog about. I'm fresh out of ideas. I've got nothin'. Sometimes I can be pretty thick...

This is completely ridiculous because exactly 18 years ago today, one of the most amazing people I know was born. Jacob Merrill Standage. If I have a sibling who's the most like me, it's him. (Sorry, Jacob!) We're crazy, hilarious people who care too easily and get our hearts broken too much. Seriously! We're the kind of people who will kindly give you chance after chance after chance, even though you really don't deserve one. Bless him. Jacob is quite fantastic.

Isn't he the cutest thing you ever did see! ;)

When I was going into 6th grade, my family was living in the little podunk town of Enid, Oklahoma. My dad was in the Air Force and that was where he was stationed. He was getting out of the Air Force at the time and the plan was to move the family to Mesa, Arizona where most of both sides of the extended families lived. Plans didn't go as expected so my mom ended up sending us older children, Isaac, Ben, and myself to Arizona to start school. She kept the three younger kids with her.

I had a beautiful quilt that my Grandma Standage had made me for Christmas a couple years earlier. It was a purple checkered thing. I loved it. I didn't take it with me to Arizona. Honestly, I have no idea why.

Talking to my mom after being gone for about a week, she informed me that Jacob had stolen my quilt. He missed me and had been sleeping with it ever since I left. Needless to say, I was touched. Actually, my sixth grade self was more ticked than touched. (How dare he! That's MY quilt.) Hindsight is 20/20, though. The funny thing about this story is that I never got it back. My quilt, I mean. Once the rest of the family moved out to Arizona, Jacob kept the quilt. If I remember correctly, I tried to get it back a couple of times. I was horridly unsuccessful.

To this day, he still sleeps with that quilt. I can't think of anywhere else I would rather have it be, than on his bed. It has been a constant reminder through the years how much he actually loves me... especially during these rocky teenage years. Granted, it has also helped remind me how much I love him. ;)

Yes, ladies.
He is actually this good looking.
Amen.

Jacob "Nun" Standage. Yup. He's freaken hilarious.

     


 

Jacob! Thanks for being one of the best brothers a girl could ever hope to have. Your sense of humor is priceless. You are quite good looking. You have the biggest heart. You are the most loyal guy I know. You are the brother that will beat up the guys that break my heart or make me cry. It's splendid! Those guys are all lucky that they live so far away. How blessed you are to have such a stunning, admirable, perfect older sister. Haha! I know that you will always be there for me, no matter what! Also, you get me delicious hot dogs and red cream soda from M&M. That alone is priceless!

 

Have an amazing and memorable 18th birthday! I love you so, so much. I don't know what I would ever do without you in my life. <3

 

Hearts,

me

 

P.S. Someday, I would actually like that quilt back. Just sayin'... 

Friends: The Family You Choose

It took me a long to realize that change is not a bad thing. Everybody has their own lives to live. They have their own decisions to make and their own paths to follow. People will come and go in your life. The beauty is the ones who don’t go, those friends who seem to always be there for you no matter what. I have been so blessed to have a couple people like that in my life.

Angela

 

We’ve been friends for years. It honestly feels like we’ve known each other forever. Our friendship has had rocky points because we’ve both gone through such hard trials but we’re the better for it. I call a lot of people my ‘best friend’ but not Ang. She’s in a category all her own. I don’t know what I would ever do without her. She is gorgeous, a talented writer, a fantastic artist, and has the perfect sense of humor. I hope you all have someone like her in your life, your very own ‘Angela’.  If not, you are totally missing out because you can’t have mine. ;)

Beth

(It's pathetic... I could not find a single picture of us together. I decided to use this smokin' hot picture. Lucky Brandon!)

We met our senior year of high school in French class. She’s been in my life ever since. She was the one who, for better or worse, convinced me to move to Thatcher. She is such an amazing friend. We can go weeks and weeks without taking (both our schedules are insane) but when we finally get ahold of each other it’s like no time has passed. She is so dedicated to those things that she sets her mind to! She is one of the most loyal people I know. She is beautiful, has a contagious laugh, and the kindest heart. Again, I don’t know what I would do without her. I’m so grateful that she and her little family are safe in New York!

Chelsea

(Ignore that silly boy in the picture. Oh Tanner!)

I just met this amazing woman this past year. We met my first semester up in the Berg. She was one of my roommates. I could have never gotten through that year of college without her. She is so understanding! She just gets me! We had so many talks about so many things until the early hours of the morning. She has been through her share of trials and has the most positive outlook on life of anyone I know. I can tell her anything and she always seems to understand what I’m saying and feeling. She is also one of the few people who know how to tell me I’m being silly without making me angry. Go Chelsea! She is stunning, hilarious, and the most talented girl who “plays” with flowers that I know. Seriously, you want her to do your wedding flowers. Hands down. The guy who ends up with her is going to be the LUCKIEST guy on the planet. No lies. The LUCKIEST.

There are so many other people who have been perfect lately, too. Ryan, thank you for randomly calling to tell me the Star Wars news. Jasmyne, thank you for being a cute little ball of sunshine, always! You are one of my heroes. Aaron, thanks for making work bearable by always making me laugh. Katie, thanks for being so fantastic and making it worth it to go to work every day. Deidra, thanks for being the amazing person that you are and loving me for me! I love you! Michael, thanks for listening to me talk and talk and talk. Also, thanks for making me laugh. I always need that. Sarah, thanks for missing me! I miss you and can’t wait to be back at school with you! Bryce, thank you for being you. You are hilarious. I love your sarcasm!

I hope that you all have amazing people in your life that make it bearable on the days that seem unending. <3

I Love Dandelions and My Brother... I Guess...

 

I read this and completely fell in love with it. I’ve always loved dandelions! Always. ;) Maybe that has something to do with growing up in Alaska? I lived outside in the summers up there and was always surrounded by dandelions.  When they got to the ‘wishes’ stage, I would pick them by the handful, blow, and watch the seeds float away on the wind. Just like life, it’s all about perspective. What do you see, weeds or wishes?

With that introduction, I now have a story. A story about how my weed turned into something I could have never even dreamed to wish for!

Sixteen years ago last Thursday; I was home with my brothers, Isaac, Ben, and Jacob. My mom was in the hospital having ‘the baby’. My parents never wanted to know whether they were going to have a son or a daughter until we popped out. It made it really fun for me, growing up. I never knew if I was going to get a brother or sister. Dad would come home and tell us which it was and usually what the name was, too. It took longer to name some of us, for some reason. Haha! ;)

On this particular night, I was nine. I had three younger, pesky brothers. The one thing that I had wanted more than ever, was a little sister. I had been wishing for one. Praying for one. Planning on one. I couldn’t tell you how long my mom was in labor or how long I actually waited for my dad, but I do remember that it felt like it took...

 

When my dad got home he then took his sweet time to tell us. It was a… BOY!! I lost it. I burst into tears and ran up to my room and slammed my door. (Even at that young age, I was prone to over-dramatization) . I then put ‘the note’ on the door. It is one thing that haunts me still, to this day, mainly because my mom decided to scrapbook it. ;)

 

 

I was so mad! SO MAD! “I em sleeping in the living room! Not coming out till grandma gets hear! Do not take Down! And he will not sleep in my room ever! You can bring me food! Do not take Down!”

Obviously, my spelling was fantastic.

My mom wrote, “ When Mark came home and told the kids we had another boy Tjanna stormed to her room in tears and wrote this note for her door. Later, dad discussed with them how Heavenly Father wanted this special boy to come to our family. By the time Tjanna saw him the next day she was already liking the fact that she was still the only girl in the family. (Besides mom).”

Talk about the best wish that I would have never even thought to wish for! Joseph has been the best brother I could ever ask for. He is patient. He is absolutely hilarious. He is beyond nice. He helps me when I need it. I never have to ask him twice to help me with anything. We share a passion for reading. He is my favorite book discussion buddy. I love him so, so much! I don’t know what I would ever do without him. Ever! I guess it's true, they always save the best for last.

Joseph, I hope that your 16^th birthday rocked socks. I can’t believe that you’re getting so old. I love it, though. The older you get, the closer we become! Bring on the years, my brother! Bring them on!

P.S. After reading this, my mom suggested that we print it out and scrapbook it. Amen, mom. Let's do it.