Update Time!

So it's been a long time since I blogged. Sorry about that, though I'm sure no one's missed it. ;)

There's been a lot of changes in my life lately, a lot of endings and beginnings. I got my associates in April from Weber State in general studies and have finally decided on a course of action for the next few years of my life! About time, right?

So, ladies and gentlemen, I proudly introduce "The Plan!":

1-Declare myself an English Education Major.
2-Focus the next year to year and a half of my life on writing.
3-Go to school and take all the fun classes I want to as an English Education major then change my mind after my mission if I want.
4-Go on a mission when I feel the time is right.

Tada! It's kind of a short plan, I know, but it encompasses the next few years of my life very nicely. Should I explain all the steps?

1-Declare myself an English Education Major:

As I was going over the English Education list of requirements (to get into the program and fulfill the degree in general) I realized that the only reason I'd want to declare myself an English Education major is to take some of the insanely fun classes they offer! Like the young adult literature class, among others. Also, declaring and getting into the program are two different things. I think getting into the program (if I decide to apply at all since I very well may change my mind) should be put off until after my mission. And if that means spending an extra two years or more in school then so be it.

2-Focus the next year to year and a half of my life on writing:

I just went to the LDS Storymakers Conference this past weekend. It was a great experience and I met a lot of great people. But I realized something. I spend all this time saying I want to be an author, wanting to be a writer, but I never follow through. To be honest I've hardly written anythng in the past year. But I feel like I could really be a great writer if I put my mind to it and just dedicated myself to it for a while. There's really nothing else I'm good at in life other than writing and being a minion (and I mean that in the is-very-good-at-following-directions-and-following-through kind of way). The past two years I've been spending my time working towards nothing. As in the words of Alabama "I'm in a hurry to get things done. Oh, I rush and rush until life's no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die, but I'm in a hurry and don't know why." This whole time I've never really had a destination in mind. I've mostly been going to school because it's what was expected of me and I love to learn. But I have no clue what my future holds. Whether I'll be an author or a teacher or a stay-at-home mom, or maybe all three at some point in my life. So, this is why I've decided to dedicate myself. Really give my writing a shot and not be afraid of what others think.

3-Go to school and take all the fun classes I want to as an English Education major then change my mind after my mission if I want:

This relates to #1. I really just want to take the fun English classes before my mission. Honestly, looking at the requirements to become a Creative Writing major I just thought 'These classes don't look as fun as the English Education.' But since I'm really unsure whether I'm actually cut out for teaching (I take after my dad in almost everything), I just want to take the fun classes that interest me from that major. And if I end up loving it and feeling like teaching is what I should do, then geat. But I'm not going to worry about working towards a degree for the next little bit but rather taking the classes I want to and think would benefit me most.

4-Go on a mission when I feel the time is right:

A mission is on my list no matter what. I've known for a while that a mission is what the Lord wants me to do and I plan to follow that counsel seriously. But again, there are a lot of variables surrounding my serving a mission, going to school, writing, etc. and they all tend to interconnect at some point. So I'm not sure when I'll go. If I feel like I need to go as soon as possible, turning in my papers as soon as I can then that's what I'll do. If I feel like I should wait then I'll wait. I know the Lord will let me know what to do and when to do it, so I just plan on being ready to go whenever I'm needed.

So, there's the plan! I'm excited. You all know how easy going I am, and I think this plan encompasses that nicely. There's room for change, but at least I have a structure for the next few years. :)

That's a pretty good representation of all the thoughts and feelings I've had running through my head lately. So, consider yourself officially updated! :)

But, there is one big change that recently occurred in my life that I'm still trying to process. It's a good change, a really good change, but I don't think I want to talk about it on the blog because it's too personal and wonderful for just anybody to be able to read and access. So, if you're curious you can shoot me an e-mail or call me, but I'm not going to talk about it further on the blog. :)

Have a great week all!



P.S. I turned 20 last month. I guess that's a kind of big event I skipped over. But as a friend told me, "At 20 you're perfect. You're a nobody at 20 since nothing big happens to you, and nobody's perfect." I totally butchered that line, but you get the gist of it. So here's a picture with me and my cake (which had my name written in Korean on it, by the way! Like this: 에린. I love Korean! So fun!).