Wait, how old ARE you?

Oftentimes, I'm talking to someone and they stop and say, "Wait, how old ARE you?"  When I tell them they usually say I look like 22 or 23.  I know it's supposed to be a compliment so I don't feel too badly about it.  But I'm glad I'm not 23.  I'm so excited to finally be able to say, "I'm 30!"  It's here! The big one!  The birthday I've been told is so hard.

Before I move on into the next decade I'd like to share 20 things from my 20s.  Before you roll your eyes at me, let me preface by saying I am not going to brag about accomplishments (which are many I'm sure). They're things that affected me and even changed me.

In my 20s I...

1.  I moved 5 times but stayed in Utah County the whole time and I've come to love it. 

2.  I started working at Sears.  I really think I owe a lot of my self confidence to my management and Human Resource positions there.  It's been good for me.

3.  I welcomed a few more books to my favorite books list...The Secret Life of Bees. The Twilight series.  Prodigal Summer.  In 5th grade my teacher suggested I lay off the Sweet Valley High and maybe read deeper books.  I started reading classics and stuck to that until my 20s.  I still read classics and I still read fluff but I've tried to also read lots from this century and there are some beauties.

4.  I cut my hair really short once because I always said I'd do that when I was 25.  Turns out I just can't do my hair whether it's long or short.

5.  I went through a few callings in the church but I think Young Women Secretary is a permanent suggestion on my church records.  I love being around the Young Women.  I'm always reminded that I'm a daughter of God.

6.  I visited 14 new states bringing the total to 20.  This country is so amazing.  In every city and every state the people there take such pride.   

7.  I added a few new wonderful friends to my list of already the most wonderful friends in the world.  A couple of them are a lot older than me and I really appreciate their examples.

8.  I went from 4 (one in-law) siblings and my parents to 10 siblings with the new parents in-law and they've all turned out to be wonderful!  What are the odds?

9.  I also added 7 nieces and 2 nephews to my family.  We have had so much fun with new talent, new personalities, new love and happiness.

10.  Ryan's extended family is really amazing.  Having them as my family has been such a blessing.  I am down to 1 living grandma and to have Ryan's 4 grandparents alive has helped to fill that role a bit.  I wish the others of mine were still here to see my kids.

11.  I became a mom.  The day Audrey was born changed my life forever.  I can never go back.  I will never look at the world the same way.  I have learned so much from her about love, forgiveness and happiness.

12.  I wondered how I could split all that love I had for Audrey in two until I had Kennedy and learned there's no splitting at all.  Love that wasn't there before came along brand new, just as strong. 

13. I developed a seizure disorder.  It came with a CATscan, three MRIs, 3 EEGs, 1 EKG, one spinal tap, one sleep disorder specialist, a neurologist and probably a lifetime prescription.  I look at the word "disorder" in a new light.   I don't feel like I should have that kind of label.  The hardest part has been the unknown.  It's hard to be scared of your own brain. 

14.  I have found that there are many ways to be busy.  I thought going to school full-time was busy.  Then going to school and working full-time.  Then working and a baby.  Now I work, have two kids, and Ryan and I both have pretty demanding callings.  I look at the people around me with older kids and I wonder if I can handle it.  But I have learned that regardless of how busy you are, it is all about priorities and taking it day by day.

15.  I have hoped and prayed that I would eventually grow out of my bad skin.  I haven't.  I probably won't. 

16.  I used to think that the pressures of being a teenager were rough.  Dressing right, having the right clothes, listening to the right music etc.  But it is nothing compared to the pressure of being a perfect mom.  Confession: my kids are not perfect.  I read the magazines, I compare to other kids, I push and pull and try and cry but they just aren't perfect.  I do think mine are the most beautiful in the world though!  Also, I'm not crafty enough or resourceful enough.  I don't have three months of food storage for my family.  I can cook alright but not great.  I don't do charity work in my free time.  The good news is that I have lots of room to get better!

17.  I have developed an addiction to online shopping.  I rarely pay for shipping and I don't have to drag the kids around.  Win, win!

18.  The last couple of years I've come to actually enjoy yard work.  There's something really satisfying in pulling out weeds.  It's wonderful to plant and then watch and tend what you've planted and enjoy!

19.  In my 20s I've lived with sports.  People tell me all the time that I'm a good sport to support my husband's obsession but I really don't mind.  Baseball on t.v. is probably my favorite and then BYU football live is second.  I can carry on a fairly good conversation with any guy about just about anything sports.  When things are bad, I start to wish Ryan would give it all up.  But then I remember that his passion for the things he loves is something I love the most about him.  Which leads me to number 20.....

 20.  I married Ryan.  It was the best decision I ever made.  He's helped me understand and respect myself just as I am.  I don't pretend with him.  I trust him.  When I am not sure what I need or I don't want to say out loud what I need, he usually knows.  The girls adore him.  He's a wonderful dad!

While I don't want to re-live my 20s (they were hard), I do wish I could re-visit them.  I could just be there to watch some of the happiest moments of my life.  What a great decade!  I can't wait to see what my 30s will bring!

In my 30s I will...any guesses or suggestions?

ROAD TRIP!!

A few months ago, my brother-in-law decided to go to medical school in Lebanon, Oregon.  As soon as the decision was made, Ryan's brain was hard at work planning a road trip for our family.  He loves it and is really good at it!

 First stop was Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho.  I had zero expectations going in and the falls were actually amazing.  Definitely worth the detour.

 On the drive out there the girls were both really good.  There was a small bookstore in our backseat but it was worth it.

 Ryan's trips are never complete without a sporting event.  This time it was BYU at Oregon State.

Ryan's brother Devin, SJ, and Megan

 I knew Kennedy was tired at the game when she wouldn't let me move her from my shoulder, but part- way through I could tell she was also running a fever.  Audrey took this picture of her.  After that, Kennedy was pretty sick.  The fever lasted three days and it came with a nasty cold.  I've never heard a little one snore like she was snoring.  At church on Sunday we had to take her out, not because of her usual craziness, but because she was snoring so loudly.  Poor girl!

Sunday afternoon we drove out to Newport Beach.  It was terribly windy and really cold.  But Audrey was really looking forward to it.  She wanted to collect sea shells.

 Audrey loved it!

 Monday we drove to the Columbia River Gorge to see waterfalls.  About 8 years ago, Ryan and I did some hiking there and it was one of our favorite trips ever.  This time we had kids so we only saw one waterfall.  Multnomah Falls is the second highest waterfall in the U.S.

 We hiked a while up the mountain but we weren't on the path that lead to multiple waterfalls.  Our path would have lead us to the top of Multnomah but we didn't get to the top.

 This is a scary bear we saw in her cave!!!!

 After the hike we went to some outlets and the girls rode this little merry-go-round at least 5 times.

 The drive home wasn't as easy as the one going out because of how badly Kennedy was feeling and how hard it was for her to sleep. 

But check out the smile on her face!  That's barbecue sauce on her face.  This girl loves her sauce!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great time together as a family.  Audrey was such an angel the entire time.  I couldn't have asked for better from her.  Everything she did was with so much enthusiasm, it made even the smallest things exciting!

High on the Mountain Top

Ryan told me one day that our stake had a few tickets to the Payson Temple groundbreaking and that our stake president had offered the stake presidency first 'dibs.'  My hopes were up.  Then he told me that he said no.  We would have to be there at 8 and we couldn't take kids so he thought it would be too hard.  I made him feel bad by saying I really wanted to go and that we may never have another chance.  So he went back to the stake president and got the tickets.

October 8th rolls around and it turned out to be freezing!  It was hard to maintain the enthusiasm when you lose all feeling in your extremities.  I would not have been a good pioneer.

  

At first we assumed this would be our view of the groundbreaking.

The mountains are actually much taller than this!

 The prayer was said and included a plea for a reprieve from the rain.  It stopped.

The program included some wonderful speakers who all grew up in this area.  The songs were both written by Payson people; "Sweet is the Work" and "High on the Mountain Top".  Elder Dallin H. Oaks grew up in Payson and he said the dedicatory prayer.  It was wonderful.  I hope we're still here to help with the open house and dedication.  My memories of the Bountiful temple opening are still fresh in my mind (sadly, they were quite cold as well) and I cherish that opportunity.