Five Years Since USU

This month, it's been five years since I graduated from Utah State.  It seems like another life ago, and it is.  What hasn't happened in the last five years, seriously. 


When I think back on those graduate school years, they're some of my favorite.  When I decided to go back to grad school, I was 25 and having a mid life crisis.  I know that's such a cliche phrase, but that's really what it was.  I'd just been laid off from a job that I hadn't particularly liked and took a month to really think about what I wanted to be when I grew up.  We weren't all as lucky as Heber who knew exactly what he wanted in eighth grade, right down to the company he wanted to work for. 

It look me some time to know myself and to figure out what I wanted.  I'd never really developed that capacity to be able to recognize what I wanted.  I heard somewhere that your brain isn't fully developed until age 25.  That was true for me.  After a few real life lessons, I finally figured out that I wanted to go back to school and study Instructional Technology. 

When I think back on that time, it was a phase in my life where I really figured out what I wanted and lived it.  I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be and doing what I was supposed to be doing.  When I finally applied to school, within the week, I had two perfect part time jobs and things had fallen into place. 

I felt on fire those years.  I was learning incredible things and creating work that I'm still proud of.  I was dancing two or three nights a week with the Irish dance team.  Heber and I were both working hard and going to school.  We didn't see each other much but we built a strong foundation of supporting and encouraging the journey to accomplish dreams. 

More than any other time in my life, I was really living true to myself.  That's why those years are so special to me.  I want to live all of my life like that, pushing myself toward a goal and living authentically. 

My first day of school.  See how happy I am.

 

First Dates and Ice Cream

We went out for ice cream last night.  By itself, it was not a momentus event but we went in celebration of our first date.  Twelve years ago, Heber and I went out on our first date to an Aggie Basketball game.  It may have been the only game we ever went to together.  We were on a double date and went back for ice cream and games after the game.

That time seems like an entirely different life ago, and it was.  There has always been something special about Heber.  Even from that first date (when I thought he wasn't interested in me after all but really he was), I knew that he would be important in my life.   I'm happy that some things don't change with time. 

It was such a hard day at home that we almost didn't go.  It was one of those days that I completely lost it (I hate those days).  I want to imagine that I am the perfect mom that can handle anything with endless patience and love but some days I am not and the magic of motherhood is lost.  We are in so many transitions right now with Leo giving up naps, a round of immunizations and teething that has caused our sweet baby to be so ornery and fussy.  And, I'm pretty sure this is about the 27th time this winter that we've been sick. 

Oh January, you get me every time.  Please end soon.

A New Decade

It's my birthday this week.  I'm turning the big 30.  There's something about this "significant" age that has made me think of the past decade and all the experiences I've had. 

I was thinking this morning about turning 20.  I was in my undergrad, living in Bridgerland Apartments (you Loganites will know).  My roommates threw me a big party and it was one of my most memorable birthdays.  I saw one of those roommates this morning, we're still close friends. 

Going into 30, I feel confident in who I am (I like this!).  There is a calm and settled feeling that I didn't have at 20.  This was a decade of reaching my dreams, falling in love and having some great adventures.
So, in honor of this nostalgic birthday, here are some highlights from my 20s. 

Shortly after turning 20, I traveled to Europe with my mom and sister.  We traipsed around London, the Bavarian region of Germany, Florence and Rome.  One of my favorite places in the world is at the top of Michelangelo's Hill.  I have often thought of standing there and it was at that place that it felt like the whole world was open to me, and you know, it was.

I went back to school and applied for an internship in Washington DC in the House of Representatives.  This experience was huge.  I'm sure you've seen the movie, "Sabrina," in it, she travels to Paris and says, "I found myself in Paris."  This is how I feel about Washington DC. 

I returned home and Heber and I got engaged and married shortly after.  Most would say that 21 is too young to be married, but I don't think I could have made a better choice.  Heber and I grew up together and I realize more every day how lucky I am that we chose each other.  Back to school we went in Logan.  Date nights consisted of studying together.  We were busy, to say the least.  Every evening, weekend, holiday, we were studying and working hard.

I worked for a couple of years, went to Peru to hike Machu Pichu and to see the Amazon.  I took up Irish dancing and decided to go back to graduate school (something that was always on my bucket list).  The summer before grad school, I planned a community celebration for Space Dynamic Lab's 50th anniversary and took my first class in flameworking (inspired by a trip to Portland, OR).  I got a second job with a River Restoration group and continued to work there throughout grad school.  I joined the Irish performing team. 

The grad school years were some of the most pivotal of my life.  Not only did I learn but I became more me than I had in any of the previous years.  I pushed myself harder, thought deeper and learned more than ever before and not just in the classroom.  We traveled to Istanbul, Turkey.  I was awarded the outstanding graduating student in my program. 

We made the move to Virginia just a couple of weeks after graduation.  I was expecting Leo and adjusting to a new place.  Leo was born and brought with him so much joy.  I transitioned into motherhood and embraced my new role.  I made friends and we built a life in VA.  Weekly sessions at the glass studio brought about huge improvement in my flameworking skills.  I started teaching jewelry making classes at a local beadstore and formed a moms group.  As a family we explored our new area and loved discovering new little places.  We took our first trip to Outer Banks and swore we'd go back every fall.

Now, here I am at 30.  A new baby and a cross country move all in the last 4 months.  It's been wild and not really what I expected 30 to be but it's good. After all of the lessons I've learned in the last decade, I wonder what the next will bring.  Mostly, I'm grateful for wonderful opportunities, friendships and experiences of the last 10. 

So that's pretty much my life recapped in one page.  Fun to think about.  We celebrated my day with a trip to Herm's for lunch.  Mom L, Dad, Carly and even Heber joined us for the festivities.  It was a low key birthday, which is about all we can handle right now.   I'm happy to be here at 30.  I wouldn't trade any of the experiences, good and bad, that these years have brought.