25 Things to do before I am 25

I was at my moms house the other day, and I was eating some Reece's Pieces cereal, it is highly addictive. So I started to read the box and on it was a list of things to do before you are 18. It made me want to make a list of things to do before I am 25. As I thought about it, I thought that I would have awhile to accomplish a lot, but then I started to count the months, and I only have 19 months until I am a quarter of a century! What! That is crazy and the way things fly by, I am getting old! It will probably be here tomorrow. So I got home and made my list. I don't have to have the thing accomplished all of the way, but to at least have a good start. Some of them might be a little out there, but I want to make the attempt and these things are going to help me become what I want to be. So here it goes....

1. Have a gallery show of my fine art photos.

2. Have a Summerfest booth of my photos.

3. Design a line of fabric and submit to a company.

4. Design 3 patterns and make the items.

5. Go to Nepal for humanitarian work.

6. Go somewhere in Africa for humanitarian work.

7. Go to the East coast to see the fall leaves, especially the Sacred Grove.

8. Start learning Spanish.

I listened to some CD's and they were pretty use less. I can say a few phrases, but nothing really useful. I hopefully can find a better way to learn!

9. Decorate my bedroom.

10. Be in a serious relationship that has potential for marriage.

11. Learn how to knit.

I learned with my grandma, it was way funny. I can't post anything yet, because I haven't made much progress, I think crocheting is easier. The most memorable part of the learning experience was what my grandma said. She was telling me that she knows some ladies that are really good and they are a bit retarded, so you should be able to do it. So if I can't make something fantastic I am going to feel pretty dumb!

12. Read the C.S. Lewis Box set.

Mere Christianity: I am almost done.
The Screwtape Letters
A Grief Observed
The Problem of Pain
Miracles
The Great Divorce

13. Read the Bible Dictionary.

14. Read the Book of Mormon in one month.




I started reading on March 1, 2010 and I finished March 31, 2010.

The last few months have been really hard on me, as you have read in some of my blogs I have a really great dating life (sarcasm just incase you didn't pick up on it). I thought things were great, he said that he loved me and to trust that and then he ran... Since that time, I haven't had much motivation for anything, I had gotten behind on work and haven't cared. It is hard to take photos of other peoples happy moments, when my heart just got ripped out. I truly thought I had found the one, and he never gave me reason to doubt that. So anyways in short I have had a really hard time. I have sought for comfort in so many things, I have tried to be social and move on, I have fasted, prayed and sought for answers in the temple. At the end of February I was sick of being so miserable, so I went to my Uncle for a priesthood blessing. It was such a great comfort and a reassurance that my Heavenly Father is truly aware of my. In the blessing he told me to study the Book of Mormon, at the time I was reading in the Old Testament. The next day was March 1st and remembering my goal to read the Book of Mormon in a month, I decided to start.

I know I probably just told you a lot of stuff that doesn't really matter, but as I read the Book of Mormon I was able to see how much love our Heavenly Father and Jesus have for us. I know that I read it fast and probably didn't get that much out of it, but I was able to see how constant the Lord's love is for his children. I know that we are all children of God and that He loves us so much. No matter the difficulty that we are in, He is always there to comfort and consul us. I know this with out a doubt. It is the weirdest feeling but it consumes my whole soul, there is no way to explain the feeling. It is just something that you know. Our Heavenly Father is so merciful, He will always allow us to repent and return to Him. As I read the Book of Mormon, I was able to understand my purpose here on earth. I know that as we go through this life it will all be worth it in the end if we stay true to the commandments and the covenants that we have made. The time that we spend on this earth is such a short moment in the span of eternity. We can't give up, we can't let a break up ruin our lives. Afflictions and trials will come, but if we have the proper association with our Heavenly Father, we will be able to grow and to become what He expects us to become. While we are in trials, it seems like a long time. We need to step back and see that we are the only ones that measure time. This life will pass so fast before our eyes, and we can't let the things of the world get us down. We have to endure so that we can inherit the great mansions that our Heavenly Father has prepared for us. In the Book of Mormon and especially in 3rd Nephi we see how they are preparing for the coming of the Savior. They watch for the signs of his birth and then for His death and then they await for His appearance in the Americas. We are in a similar time in our life, other than preparing for His first coming, we are preparing for His Second Coming. We read of the signs of His return, we must prepare. It is so crazy the amount of the natural disasters that have been happening. We do not know the hour that He will come. I don't know if it will be in my life time, but I know that I will be an instrument in preparing the earth for His return. We can't take this lightly we must always improve ourselves and look for ways to help our neighbor. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have, I know that there is no other way to be happy. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and when we read it we can feel of Gods love.

I was so grateful to read the Book of Mormon, I am still trying to get over things, but it helped a great deal. I don't know what will happen next in my life, but I trust that my Heavenly Father can see the bigger picture. He knows what will be best for me, I don't know if something will end up happening or if I will get another opportunity. I know I complain a lot about not being married, but that is pretty much the only thing that I have a complaint about, I am so truly blessed, and I owe all that I have to my Heavenly Father, I know I wouldn't be where I am today without Him.

15. Train for a triathlon.

16. Make a dress.

17. Take a class.

18. Decide whether or not to get my teaching degree or another degree.

I gave it a lot of thought and prayer, my schedule is too busy to take something else on. I would still love to go back, but not now.

19. Go backpacking in the Wind Rivers.

20. Start a photo project.

21. Give a quilt away.

My good friends Sarah and Rob lost their baby Benton in November. Words can not explain the loss or soothe the ache. I wanted to do something for her, so I put together my scraps and this is what came out.



22. Submit my Peru book to different Humanitarian organizations, in order to broaden my photography oppurtunities.

23. Find dead ends in Family History and find the original location and try to further the lines and information.

24. Visit all of the temples in Utah and do work in them.

Logan:
Ogden:
Bountiful:
Salt Lake:
Jordan River:
Oquirrh Mountain:
Draper: February 26, 2010
Timpanogous:
Provo:
Vernal:
Monticello:
Manti: February 5, 2010
St. George:

If completed by April 3, 2011
Brigham City:
Payson:

25. Study more about graphic design. Learn Illustrator.

My friend Kara has taught me a lot, I feel a lot more confident. But I still need a ton of practice.

These appear in no certain order, and I am going to try to complete them by April 3, 2011!