A quote to live by...

" There are seasons in life. Don't ever let anyone deny you the blessings and joy of one season because they believe you should be in—or stay in—another season." -Jane Clayson

Change of pace. Change of lifestyle.

One thing to keep in mind before I rant and rave too much. This stage of my life really is good and as One Republic puts it "Day turns to night, night turns to whatever we want, We're young enough to say Oh this has gotta be the good life"

And this won't be the last change either. I recently graduated (well I walked but with 4 credits to finish before August I'm practically done). Found a great internship near my grandpa's house so I'm living with him and working part time on the weekends. Until I establish a more solid social life up here I tend to make frequent trips down to the college town to meet up with old roommates, cousins, and the man in my love life.

Sundays I've learned can be far more lonely than I had imagined. Contrary to the happy post I made previously watching Little Women with the roomies, I now read...and read and eat and nap and read. All in a quiet house only interrupted occasionally by talks with gramps or chats with my other cousin living with us. Boohoo you might say. Why complain about that? Well I shouldn't complain. It's a great setup and I enjoy helping out grandpa and having my own room. The loneliness will abate with time I am confident. And the more confidence I find in myself and my independent abilities to fill empty spaces of time will further expedite the process.

List of things to accomplish/stay busy with:

• Find a job for the fall (#1 priority)
• Make new friends
• Build relationship with cousin and grandpa
• Exercise regularly
• Yard maintenance (might be a long time before I live somewhere with a yard again)
• Read (currently reading I am a Mother by Jane Clayson, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak)
• Improve my cooking skills

We'll see how far I get with these before adding anything else.

One last thing I learned when feeling down or unmotivated it's good to plan fun activities regularly to keep yourself optimistic and excited for the immediate future which will then help you to be more proactive in establishing an exciting long term future. 

Sunday afternoons can be beautiful times to delve into childhood dreams that have followed you through young adulthood. When I first saw Laurie kiss Jo I began to daydream about my own first kiss. I dreamed of laughing and dancing with a guy who became more than a friend. The family and friends encircling Meg's marriage gazebo launched fantasies of my own wedding one day. Some of these dreams have come to pass but still some are yet to be. Every time I saw Beth's death scene I pondered on my own feelings around my sister's death. And Marmee was always so wise and knew just what to say to not only comfort but empower her girls, just like my mom has always done. While no Christian Bale has ever besottedly watched me from next door, and I have yet to be surprised with a kiss on a bench in scenic England, I have dabbled in discovering potential young love and learned to turn heartache into bittersweet optimism for the future. I have learned that writing can be the most rewarding listener when other sources fail. "Time brings change, and change takes time".

Into the wide deep

I'm not particularly fond of diving boards, or cliffs, or drops on roller coasters. I am fond of wide open spaces, well with maybe a few scattered gas stations or Walmarts, so I guess I'm fond of open spaces...bordering a suburb but regardless I appreciate solidity. A commodity not usually found in those thrilling activities above. It is for this reason that, after having a wide open but comfortable space living in the same town and doing the same thing for the past four years, I hesitate to take that step toward the diving boards of real adult life.

I am walking at graduation in April. I will receive my degree in the mail in August. Swimming lessons not included. Between now and then I must find an internship and...start the rest of my life.

Marriage? Graduate school? Mission? All more comfortable options with specific structure and relative predictability. However, I have chosen the path that leads to the cliffs of exciting apprehension and hallways of unopened doors. True, it is the best time to discover myself and with all my possibilities laid out in front of me how could I not run toward it. How could I not...