calendar girl

Today I changed my calendar from January to February. Since Stephanie has been making family calendars, each month's end always presents a certain excitement. What will the new month look like? Which family pictures made it into this year's edition? I have looked through this calendar several times, but I am still excited when the pictures of the new month proudly overlook my occasionally-clean bedroom. As you may or may not know, I turn 22 on Sunday. I decided to give my own version of how my 22nd year of life has played out. I hope you enjoy:

FEBRUARY
~ A visit from Mom and Dad in Rexburg to take me shopping for new shoes (thank goodness!) and a meeting involving an assessment of the temporary living arrangements with the Samuelson family.
~ The sudden passing of President Hinckley and welcoming in of President Monson, just in time for the Rexburg Temple Celebration (I was one of seven from my ward to go) and the Dedication (a truly uplifting and enriching experience)
~ A lot of panic attacks and mixed emotions, counseling, medications--basically a nightmare.
~ Trip home for a weekend with Grammy and Sierra. The best part--shopping for a blessing dress for Sophie! Dad is right in Grammy's eyes.
~ The decision to medically withdraw from school. Again, a nightmare.
~ Acceptance into the NULC (National Undergraduate Literature Conference) at Weber State in April

MARCH
~ A tearful farewell to Rexburg and the move "home." For the first time, I actually live in Syracuse
~ A week of hell, followed by a two-week trip to Seattle to see newborn Sophie. Despite all the struggles, a definite highlight.

APRIL
~ General Conference in Rexburg
~ Opt out of the NULC for health reasons
~ Begin therapy in Utah--demanding and exhausting, but on the whole, a good experience.
~Another Rexburg trip

MAY
~ Fly to Utah for a flash-family reunion and the blessing of Sophie. Family pictures that turned out FABULOUS!
~ A week with Aaron's family in Utah. So, so fun! Oh how I love my Talmage and Anya!

JUNE
~ A bunch of stuff that I don't remember (or maybe nothing really happened, which is quite possible!)
~ I think another trip to Rexburg

JULY
~ Independence Day in Rexburg
~ Brent and Nancy and their family drive out and spend a week in Utah. Lots of pool time, a little bit of sunburn, and AMAZING Oreo milkshakes.

AUGUST
~ Sarah's family in Utah, which slightly overlaps with Brent and Nancy's stay. Sophie is a doll. Sierra is a wonderful big sister.
~ Camping trip in Vernal. I'll admit now that I was a definite party-pooper.
~ My half-birthday (more important than the actual birthday, I think), Steph's birthday
~ Visit from Grammy over her birthday. Dad's right again! Who would have thought?
~ I'm sure another trip to Rexburg, but I have no idea.

SEPTEMBER
~ Back to school. Glad to be back, freaking out. Thank you, Brother Stoddard and Dr. Zohner!
~ Visit from Mom and Dad to help me buy a laptop. Most unsuccessful. Thank you, Brent, for helping me get a great deal through Boeing! Welcome to the Lindsey Kay Family, Benjamin Franklin Pierce!
~ A lot of homework, 27th Ward activities ("Are we a family? Yes! We're a family! Name of the family? 27th Ward!")

OCTOBER
~ Sick with a bad cold, the worst medication side effects, and a lot of missed class. Oh brother, here we go again...
~ A trip back to Utah for the release of HSM3. Good, but I'm just not as big of a fan as I once was.
~ More homework, FHE, and 27th Ward Activities. Visits from Liz and Kathryn Moore, the RSP and my VT. Both wonderful girls who definitely looked out for me.

NOVEMBER
~ Unsalvageable semester. Attempt to medically withdraw, major backfire, and back to Utah we go...This time without a spot saved for next semester. Tearful farewell.
~ Andra is home from her mission! It's about time! Eighteen months is just too long!
~ Fabulous Thanksgiving with Jason, Paul, and Heather. Rockband, a little Hokey 6, Brian Regan, and a newfound favorite--ventrilaquist Jeff-fa-fa Dun-ham (dot com).

DECEMBER
~ Initiation into the Meadow Park Branch. Such a blessing.
~ Santa gigs as "security officer" (see Paul Blart: Mall Cop). At last I can speak Elf! Problem: I can't stop!
~ Weekend trip to Rexburg to surprise Elisabeth at the end of the semester. Scary roads, but it was still worth it.
~ FHE with the Branch, Linger-longers, and various activities, as well as some Syracuse Junior High concerts and their production of It's a Wonderful Life with Stephanie.
~ Christmas Eve--visit to the Barnes' house to give the kids gifts and to see baby Kate, followed by our fancy dinner, and finished off with a nativity reinactment, treats, and matching jammies with the Palmers. By far the best Christmas Eve in Utah.
~ 5:00 Christmas Morning. Opening gifts, calling family, and an episode of the original Get Smart show before a dash to the airport, a long wait, and then a flight to Washington.
~ Santa appearances at Brent's and at Grammy's. Finally we get to see Sierra, Sophie, Rochelle, and LaMar. Oh...and their parents.
~ Sleeping at Grandma's house, Zoo Lights at Point Defiance, cabbage rolls with Grandma, sleepover with the grandkids, Olive Garden and party at Brent and Nancy's for New Years Eve...All so fun! Definitely the best Christmas season I've ever experienced. Perhaps the same next year only with Aaron and Brandon as well? ;-)

JANUARY
~ Day trip to Rexburg with some of Brianne's things.
~ Our hunt for kittens, and at last we have success! Welcome, Pip and Scrat! I didn't realize how much work they are, and how much trouble they can get into!
~ A week-long trip to Rexburg, compliments of Elisabeth. Such a great trip full of all my favorites: Jack-in-the-Box, MST3K, RocketMan, AFV, Whose Line, Champagne Thursday, Sims, late nights, laughing hysterically, Sunday dinner, cuddling with Isaac (a Samuelson grandson), playing with Ethan (another grandson), long conversations with Mom and Dad Sam and Paula, Applebee's, American Idol...I know I'm forgetting things, but this is all that comes to mind. And of course a few new favorites too, such as Sleepless in Seattle and dinner at The Backyard with Brianne, as well as a much-needed visit with Andra.

If you are still reading this, apparently you have nothing better to do with your time, and you are probably bored out of your mind. What I see as I look back over this exhausting year is a lot of the unexpected, some disappointment, attempts to feel even a little better...but I see so many good times with good people. I have made some amazing friends (Elisabeth, Mom Sam, Paula, Ben, the Moore sisters, Michael), developed new interests (watercolors, pastels, guitar, a great love of M*A*S*H), created memories that will forever remain among the best (time with the my siblings and their children, trips to Washington and Rexburg, church activities), and found help in some of the most unexpected places (Brother Stoddard, Samuelsons, Paula, Ben, Kim, Jane and Gerry, Liz, Bishop Mickelsen, President Moyes, the ever-talented Yoko). Family relationships have strengthened (Paul, Jason, Brianne, Nicole, Gary and Kina, Pamela, my grandparents) and passions have grown (writing, reading, painting, music-making). I have loved (new and old family and friends), lost (pride, self-worth, difficult goodbyes), and made up (strengthened relationships with my immediate family, reapplied to BYU-I, therapy). It has been awful, wonderful, difficult, exhausting, mind-boggling, crazy, fun, exciting, excruciating, and enchanting. I've experienced the my lowest moments, as well as some of my highest moments.

Thank you for helping me through the year. On to the next...