26

As I have approached my 26th birthday, I have come to a few conclusions. I hope you will not find me boastful if I share a few to celebrate my day.

1) I have accomplished MOST of the goals I had set for myself at this stage of my life - and am therefore, "living the dream."

2) When I was younger, I may have thought that 26 is "old" but I have decided it is not as old as I thought, but still not as young as I wish on some days.

3) I still have a lot I want to accomplish. I need to make a new set of goals for the next 26 years.


Accomplishments:

graduated from high school, graduated from seminary, been a "member missionary" on more than one occasion, married a return missionary in the temple!, owned a home (at age 20!), started a family (aka ALEX), served in many areas of the church (Sunday school teacher, RS pianist, RS teacher, RS secretary, RS counselor, RS enrichment leader, primary teacher, primary chorister, primary secretary, stake primary counselor, ward organist, ward activities committee), lost all my baby pounds, worked full time for 5 years to put my hubby through school, became a stay-at-home mom (made possible by my years in the work place), made at least one life-time friend, got some big sisters (ok, this wasn't really a goal but I always wished for an older sister), own a trailer, flown in an airplane (once at 18 and once at 23), had home-cooked meals for my family at least 95% of the time, planted a few gardens, paid a full tithe my whole life, held a temple recommend from age 12, and I have never lost sight of what is important. I wrote a letter to my future self in YW and opened it last year. One thing I was concerned about was all these people that I had looked up to loose sight of the important things (family, Christ, personal worth) and they forget what they knew when they were younger. I feel proud and blessed that I have not lost this. For the most part, I am right where I want to be.

Goals for the future:

grow my family (any time would be great), finish college, read my scriptures EVERY day, travel outside the country, go to NYC, pay off my house, learn a new instrument, do my scrapbooking, keep a regular exercise routine, serve a mission, serve in new callings in the church, help my children progress in the gospel,

continue to... keep my skinny jeans, cook for my family, be a "member missionary", have a garden, pay a full tithe, keep a temple recommend, and NEVER loose sight of the important things.

So, the reason I wanted to post this is to publicly thank all of you and my Heavenly Father for helping me to accomplish all that I have. I have no doubt that with the help of my family, friends and my Heavenly Father I will be able to accomplish anything I set my mind to. I have had such a great life. If I died tomorrow, I would die happy! However, I am looking forward to many wonderful years ahead. Here's to me!