2012: Year in Review

Can you believe another year has past? Here's my 2012 year in review, idea taken from my sister's blog. 

What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before? 
EFY counselor, hiked Mt. Timp, half marathon, Miss SUU pageant, graduated college. 

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
These were my resolutions. I'm happy to say that for the most part, I did. I ran a half marathon, tried new, healthier recipes, broke fashion rules, visited the temple often...Yeah, I'd say it was a good year. 

Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister-in-law gave birth to my niece Lucy.

What countries did you visit?
None. 

What would you like to have in 2013 that you didn’t have in 2012?
A better understanding of the Spanish language & an ability to converse in Spanish better. 

What dates from 2012 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
July 5: I lost someone. September 13: Half marathon. December 6: I got my mission call. 

What was your biggest achievement of this year?
Graduating with my BA degree in Communication/Spanish with an overall 3.96 (and getting an A in Communication Theory -- my senior capstone class that I took in the spring). And running a half marathon.

What was your biggest failure?
Letting fear impact decisions. 

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully, no. 

What was the best thing you bought?
My iPhone. 

Where did most of your money go?
Most likely, it went to paying for my phone each month, and on new clothes (I changed my style a little this year). 

Did you meet anyone new this year who had an impact on your life? 
Yes! A few people. New roommates & a few new friends. 

What did you get really excited about?
Spending 10 days in Asheville with my sister. 

What song will always remind you of 2012?
"Wanted" -- Hunter Hayes

Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) Happier
b) About the same
c) Richer

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Cooking.

What do you wish you’d done less of? 
Spent less time being indecisive. 

How did you spend Christmas?
With family. Playing games. Watching movies. Eating yummy food.

Did you fall in love in 2012?
Just like. 

What was your favorite TV program?
Embarrassingly enough, I watched Pretty Little Liars this year. 

What was the best book you read?
"The Sugar Solution"

What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Lumineers. 

What did you want and get?
A degree. New experiences.

What did you want and not get?
A relationship with a certain someone. I thought I wanted it, but looking back, it's been a good thing. 

What was your favorite film of 2012?
Les Miserables. 

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My friend made me a cake on my birthday, and the weekend after, I had an ugly sweater party. I turned 22. 

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A visit to Texas to see my friend Sam. 

How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2012?
Bright lipstick. Ray bans. Boots. Skinnies and flowing shirts. And more skirts! I curled my hair more. And sometimes had a middle part. 

What kept you sane? 
Friends. Letter writing. Family. Vacation. 

Who did you miss?
Family scattered across the country. Friends on missions. 

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012. 
Happiness depends on ME. 

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I won't give up." -- Jason Mraz

santa letters.

I love traditions, especially at Christmas. One of my favorites is the annual letter to Santa. I can't remember a year not writing this letter. Once it is written, we burn the letter in a pie pan & sprinkle the ashes in the snow. The next day, the letter to Santa would appear again "taped together" ... magic, right? Anyway, for the last few years, my mom, sister, and I have found great joy in writing this letter. Usually it's quite late at night & our silly sides are apparent. Here are some snippets from the last few years (2009-present):

• This year for Christmas, Becky really just wants happiness, but she is willing to take material goods that will bring temporary happiness. (2009)

• Mom really is just reading the paper, and doesn’t care about this traditional Christmas letter, but is more concerned with the West Valley homicide. (2009)

• Please take care of our family members. Give them gifts of happiness, love, peace, and good cheer. Remind them, “We don’t have all we want, but we have all we need. Our stockings may be empty, but our hearts are full indeed.” (2009)

• As always, Cheri enjoys things to make her “pretty” for the fellows and anything vintage, lovely, or of good report. (2010)

• Mom feels that the walls in her new place now feel “loved” and are “happy to be picked” … as Becky says, “just like spirit children.” (2010)

• Cheri was supposed to save children in Mexico in December, but her service trip got cancelled due to the raging gang violence between rival drug cartels in Northern Mexico. (2010)

• Becky has a job at USAID (kind of like Mother Teresa’s executive assistant … it’s a good start). (2011)

• Cheri had the adventure of a lifetime this summer — in love and travel. Unfortunately, both were temporary. She thought he might be Mr. Right, but apparently he was Mr. Right Then. (2011)

• We’re pleased that it’s snowy, cold, and magical & that we will indeed have a white Christmas (thanks in advance for that, Santa). (2012)

• Mom also got a new position at work, which keeps her busy. Her children can’t even talk to her on the phone anymore. (2012)

• It’s been REAL, Santa. Merry Christmas & happiest new year. Peace on earth & in the middle east. (2012)

But, seriously. I am so blessed. I am grateful for family, traditions, and the magic & spirit of the season. Merry Christmas. 

the graduate.

freshman year.

sophomore year.

junior year.

senior year.

When writing this post, I decided to include random self portraits. Turns out I've changed my hair a LITTLE during the past 3.5 years, though that's beside the point & really not relevant to this post.
-----

Last week marked my final week of finals (until grad school ... one day).

I can't believe that one day, I'm a college senior. And the next, I'm done. It still hasn't hit me yet that there are no more "first-days-of-school" photoshoots, no late nights at the library or the ELC, no more amazon.com/half.com book buying, no keeping track of syllabi & homework & quizzes & assigned readings & presentations & group projects & tests & ...

Nope.

I'm done.

College graduate.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Spanish (hola ... kind of like "holla!" you know).

Who said I was old enough or ready to be a college grad?

Here comes reality. I can no longer say, "When I grow up, I want to be ..."

Nope. Now, I must go & do, or rather, go & be. The world is waiting.

PS. I will definitely track down a cap & gown for pictures, obviously.

new york, new york.

It's late. 
2 a.m.
I have 1, 001 thoughts swirling around in my mind right now. And I should go to bed. But, I have an exciting bit of news to share!

 

I have been called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New York New York South mission. AND I will be speaking Spanish. I report April 3. 

I feel like this is perfect for me, honestly. People would say, "You speak Spanish. I bet you'll go to South America!" but all along, I very easily saw myself going stateside, speaking Spanish. I'm so excited that I will get to use the language I've studied for years, and in New York, no less. I couldn't be happier right now. 

This is my favorite photo from the night. I opened my call in Cedar City with a few friends. But, I also had 5 very important people with me via FaceTime/phone calls. It was quite exciting. I'm sure they mostly heard screaming, but I'm glad they shared that moment with me!

My best friend Rebekah got her call in November. She will be going to Russia & we will be in the MTC at the same time, even for her birthday! I'm excited to share this journey with her.

I would love to tell you more at a later time ... after some sleep. But, here is one of my favorite quotes. I heard it a few months back when I was deciding about going on a mission. 

"We must put God at the forefront of everything else in our lives. When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. " -- Ezra Taft Benson

Exciting times are ahead! 

Also, my mission has a blog that the mission president's wife updates each week. How perfect for a social media freak like me, right? I've already read plenty of the posts ... 

new york, here i come...in a few months.

you have stolen my heart.

Dear Cedar City,

You have stolen my heart.

I never could have guessed that four years ago when I first visited campus as a high school senior that you would eventually play such a HUGE role in my life. I remember sitting for a presentation in the Starlight Room & looking out at the red rocks surrounding this little place.

A distinct thought came to me: "This is where I'm going to school."

What? No. I shook it out of my head. That wasn't my plan. BYU. That's where I planned to go. Yet, time and time again (3 times to be exact), I visited campus & left thinking, "I really liked it again, dang it." I was upset that where I was supposed to go was somewhere down south in a town I'd never heard of in between Parowan and Kanarraville (which I'd also never heard).

 Now, I have less than a week of class. Just three finals. And I'll be done with my degree. An SUU graduate in communication & Spanish. Wow.

Time really flew these past 3.5 years. I can't imagine my life without the dear people I've met at SUU in it. My best friends. The professors who chat with me on the way to class, in Walmart, who take my class to IHOP for international pancake day, sing Christmas carols while horseback riding, or write a special note on my test because I didn't do as well as they knew I could.

The roommates (and non roommates who practically are roommates) who have become my best friends ... who have seen my SILLY, crazy, weird side & still spend time with me (SHOCKER). The people who have given me rides to countless places due to my lack of transportation, endured an hour in the grocery store with me so I could price match ads, who invite me to Taco Tuesday, Krave, and St. George Temple trips.

I thought I was a pretty outgoing person in high school, but even that changed in college. I shared my talent (and had friends who would listen, offer feedback, and encourage me to continue writing music) at SUU Idol, open mic nights, SUU's Got Talent, Miss SUU, backyard concerts and ward/stake talent shows.

I tried new things. Newspaper. Editing. Presidential Ambassador. Certified tour giver. Tele-counselor. Department representative. Intern. Radio show host. Horseback rider. Rock climber. Graphic design wannabe. Traveler.

I fell in love for the first time at SUU.

I fulfilled a dream of studying abroad, which influenced my decision to minor in Spanish.

I could go on for hours sharing memories of this town, this school, these people who have impacted me so greatly.

But, I think I have made my point -- how glad I am that a silly high school crush convinced me to attend an event at SUU. If he hadn't been an ambassador, let's be honest ... I might not have even given a thought to going on a campus tour. But he was, and I did.

Cedar City, a little town, holds a very big spot in my heart.

**I also posted a blog about SUU that has some favorite photos on the tbirdnation blog. You can read it here.