One Year Ago

It was exactly one year ago that I started up this little blog. I enjoyed reading other's blogs and figured that I should start one myself. It has been a good outlet for me when I feel the need to express myself through words or when I have a story, thought, or weird video I want to share. I think the best part about blogging, though, is being inspired and touched by other bloggers. I read so many amazing blogs that have helped me want to be a better me.
So in celebration of my blogs one year anniversary, I was thinking of something fun or crazy I could do. I decided, instead, that on behalf of this blog being one year old, I would write a letter to myself. A letter to the person I was one year ago.
Dear Jamie (of 2010),
It's me, well you, the future you that is (don't worry it's only by a year). You are right on track of where you always thought you'd be at this time of your life. You are going to school full-time & you'll have your general credits completed at the end of this semester. Good for you! It's after this semester is over that things get a little hazy. You have a few ideas of what you'd like to happen, but life doesn't always go according to plan. And it's okay! If you do what is right and be true to yourself, you know that things will always work out how they should.
Your life seems to slow down a lot more than you would have hoped for. It's okay to take life slow! Live in the moment and cherish the memories you're making.
You would have never imagined that you would take about a year off from school, work two jobs & save up money in order to figure out what it is you've known you should do all along and that is to go on a mission. "Don't let strong emotions get in the way of delicate promptings." It's good for you to take a break from school and the busyness of life. It's good for you and for the people around you. It's through this (longer than planned) process of being in limbo on decisions of what to do next that you are able to build closer relationships with the people you love. Those very same people may make some decisions in their life that hurt you, but you learn a great lesson: to forgive and to keep forgiving. It's hard, but it's worth it.
Everything starts coming together for you & you knew that it would all along. Despite the fact that you took a semester longer off from school before going on a mission than you had wanted, it all was for a good reason. You will eventually see that you needed to be available to your family through a hard time. If you look long enough, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Remember that you are a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves you. Keep being strong and keep having faith!

Love,
Yourself (from 2011)

For those of you who didn't read the previous post, I'm waiting for my mission call as I speak (or type). I love hearing predictions of where in the world I might go. Feel free to offer your own. :]