New Windows, New Imaginings

Well doTERRA moved. We're now in Pleasant Grove and it's a bit more of a drive than I like, but at least the building is nice. There's even a gym that I will likely never step foot in so that's a plus.

The new building has a nice view of the distant mountains, the freeway, and the construction zone of the still-expanding doTERRA building (seriously, it's going to be doTERRAtown or something). In any case, they sat me by the enormous side windows and next to people who are much more content to read comic books than to talk to me. So I find myself staring out the window on a pretty regular basis. But only because the phones are so slow and they don't have any projects for me and we aren't supposed to read or do homework. Yup.

In any case, it's mesmerizing to see the cars drive by on the freeway (way more fascinating than it should be) and I love to imagine where those people are going and what adventures are in store for them. It's also riveting to see the progress the construction workers are making. They're making quick work of the building to be sure. And the other day I saw this:

The forklift was pulling a large flat of bricks out of the back of that seemingly tiny car. They did it and I was so impressed.

Man. And I thought trees were distracting.

Through the Window

I wrote this at work yesterday, right before they let me go home.

I was never that kid who stared out the window during class. Part of that could be that I rarely sat by the windows, but I was usually pretty engaged in learning (or trying to stay awake). But, while I might notice what was outside the classroom, I didn't spend class dreaming about it. So it has been with work.

Again, maybe I haven't been staring out the window because I haven't sat close enough to one for it to really be a distraction. Or maybe the calls have never been slow enough when I have been near a window. Or maybe it was because I was busy talking to my coworkers in my downtime. Maybe it was some of everything. In any case, windows have never provided an engaging distraction for me.

Until today.

Today I was placed by the window. We have large windows and I'm sitting on a side with a more scenic view. Sure, I get a good view of the parking lot and the other buildings, but I can also see the trees and the sky. . . Today I'm sitting by a window. Today the phones are slow. Today I don't know the people I'm sitting by. And today. . . Today is a beautiful day.

The wind is blowing, but it isn't violent. Instead, it makes the world outside a bit friendlier, more magical. It causes the big tree across the way to sway. . . back. . . and forth. . . back. . . and forth. Ever so slowly. It looks like a dance. The trees closer to my window are smaller and their leaves quiver on their branches, giving the appearance of lace on a dancer's gown. The larger branches bob up and down gently, moving to an unheard symphony.

The clouds look like they've been created with watercolors: gentle and light. The sun is shining, the sky is a pale blue. And I can see all of this beauty from my window. Just a few feet away.

A Slideshow of Thoughts

My thoughts are flipping through my brain long enough for me to notice them, not long enough to ponder them. As soon as one thought enters it begins to fade and a new one takes its place. Here are a few.

When I was a little girl I had these gel sandals that were my most favorite shoes I ever owned. I remember being SO excited every time that I saw them in an Easter basket or in a bag from Payless. I stopped wearing them. I think it was mostly because they didn't last and my mom stopped buying them. I saw a coworker wearing some today and I wanted to go buy them right then and there simply for nostalgia's sake. I didn't, though. I'll look at pictures instead.

Waiting for things and not knowing the outcome is draining. I feel like I'm doing a lot of that lately. It's isn't that bad, if I'm being honest, but I prefer knowing things. It's easier to face things when you know a lot of the time.

I have mailed three letters to my best friend in the past week. I suppose you could say that I miss her. She'll be home in six or seven months. I'm excited to see her again. I'm grateful for letters, though. There is something magical about getting a letter just for you in the mail. It's kind of like Christmas.

In the third grade I missed school one day. I think I was sick. It was the day that we learned how to write the letter "z" in cursive. I had to teach myself and I'm still not confident in writing that letter. It probably didn't help that I didn't get a fantastic grade on the "z" page of my cursive handbook. Don't ask me why I remember that. I honestly have no idea.

I came home from FHE and my dad gave me gummy bears. He loves me.

Blogging is an interesting thing. My style of blogging has certainly changed over the years. It's less of a journal and more of a window into my thoughts and who I am. I really like it. I find myself re-reading posts now. . . I didn't used to do that. Of course, I never used to re-read journal entries either. I suppose I still don't read those very often. All my old filled-up journals are compiling in my dresser drawer. It makes me happy to see them.

Sometimes a hug is the best possible thing you can imagine. I'm grateful for the simple things in life that bring us joy. Life truly is wonderful.

Not-So Average Goals

I have a few goals in my life. I have the goals of be happy and generous and service-oriented and all that kind of stuff, but I have some. . . less lofty, less long-term goals as well. For example:

Sew a bunch of dresses for myself

This is actually my summer project and it is in the works (yay!) I have patterns and fabric and we just got the sewing machine back from the shop so I should be making headway soon.

Have a personal library

This is also a work in process. I have over one hundred books in my bedroom. I don't actually have any bookshelves, though, so they're just hanging out in bins under my bed. This does tend to make me less motivated to pick up a new old book (and so I read the same few favorites). I have this vision of having a room completely dedicated to books and learning. This may never happen, but I'll dream about it until it does.

Have a swing in my backyard

This is something that I've always wanted for as long as I can remember. For one, swings are my favorite and I could spend all day on one. For another, I think the image of a swing on a tree branch is completely and utterly romantic. This one is saved for when I have my own house.

Garden

I think this may also be implemented when I'm at my own place. But I have pictures in my head of lots of pretty flowers in the sunset. I suppose you could call me a romantic if you wanted.

Exercise

Let's just say this one's a work in progress. I have a tendency to hate being winded. I much prefer my books, thank you.

Best Friends

To start, walks are pretty much my favorite. I've started walking with my mom most evenings (one of the perks of being back home) and I have absolutely loved it. It gives me a chance to download and just enjoy being with her.

I have always loved my mom and told her every insignificant detail of my day (the important details were also included, of course), but I, unlike many of the girls my age, described her as my best friend. I always had Brittney and Sabrina to fill that role.

Then, last year happened and my world was turned upside down in more ways than one. One of the most significant events was that Brittney left to fulfill her lifelong dream of serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. While I am so proud of her and I am so grateful that she gets to serve, it was more than a little difficult to have my best friend leave across the country. Mostly, it's hard that I can't talk to her for hours anymore.

In any case, my world changed. I'm convinced that, in most ways, it has changed for the better. I have grown in so many ways and I wouldn't change anything that happened because I LOVE who I have become.

Anyways, I noticed when I moved back home that my parents have indeed become my best friends. I tell them EVERYTHING and I love hearing about what's on their minds. I think that it's amazing and beautiful that I have been able to build on the relationship I already had with them. And you know? I think it's pretty awesome that my mom is the person I text most frequently. Best friends are just that: the best.

Hooray for Hikes and Friends and Stuff!

It's summer and that means a lot of things: it means music and work and Pioneer Day and the Fourth of July and family and camping and books and City Fairs and bubbles and fruit and pie and salsa and HIKING! Basically, summer is pretty fantastic.

This past Saturday marked the beginning of my mostly-weekly hikes and, while it was a bit chilly, it was positively wonderful to be out in the mountains. And I made new friends which was also super awesome. Basically Saturday was great :)

Unfortunately, I only thought to snap a few pictures at the end of the hike when a bunch of members in the group decided to go gallivanting off in the cliffs surrounding the waterfall. So the following picture is of Tom (in black, Adam in green, and James in the front). These guys were my company and we had a grand ole' time singing Lion King and quoting Mulan. We're young at heart. Don't judge.

Also, I did this to Adam's picture so he was paying it back when I was trying to get a picture of the landscape.

Thankfully, I have Facebook and that has given me the pictures of the whole group:

I look uncomfortable because I was standing by an edge and I'm horrible with heights, but I really was happy to be there :)

Anyways, hiking is my favorite. I love being out in nature when my cell phone doesn't work and I can't be distracted from the people I'm with and the place I'm in. It's quite beautiful, if you think about it.

Finally!

Well you remember how I moved home a couple of weeks ago? Well my room has been a disaster zone maze-like area that looked like it got hit by a tornado. It's been driving me crazy, but I've been working full-time since I got back and I haven't had a whole lot of energy to tackle the task that was organizing and re-boxing my stuff that I won't use until I go back to school. Anyway. It was bothering me enough that I was only spending time in my room to sleep.

But tonight something in me snapped. I'm not sure if I just spent more time than usual in my room today or if I had more energy (HA!) but I decided that the room was going to get cleaned.

It took me a few hours, but I am now OFFICIALLY moved in. 

And most of my stuff is now in the garage. I have a space again. I think I'm gonna go sleep now.