Life as an Emotional Rollercoaster

This year was full of change, and like everyone knows, change can be hard. Some things that happened this year are happy, sad, hope-that-never-happens-again, and wonderful trips of a lifetime.

I will start chronologically, and not on the happiest note. After a wonderful Christmas with my family, my great aunt, Edna Earl went into the hospital in January. She had a septic shoulder and things just got worse. My aunt came back after being out here at Christmas, and even Cydney, one of my cousins, came out to be with Aunty in the Hospital. This was a sad experience, but in the end I feel that it was Aunty’s gift in disguise. I will cherish the time she gave us to spend together. Prior to Christmas my mom and aunt hadn’t really spoken in years (talking more than a decade), and I hadn’t seen my cousin in almost 14 years. So other than the sad reason we came together, I think it was a wonderful time and a heartfelt way to send off one of God’s true miracles, a kind, loving, caring, patient woman.

The spring was an awful blur with the exception of Mother’s Day when my mom and I went rock climbing at a local rock climbing gym.

Then I was busy with school and planning a curriculum for my month long trip to Taiwan to teach English!

That trip was beyond AMAZING!

We flew back from Taiwan on my birthday. When we crossed the International Date Line, it was my birthday Still! Once I was back, my new boyfriend whisked me away for a romantic couple of days to celebrate my birthday. I then only had two days in town, before I was off to Utah, Idaho and Yellowstone for a much overdue family reunion with my father’s family.

I flew into SLC and saw my cousin Cydney for a few days. I even got to meet up with J and meet his wife BeckyThen my dad scooped me up on our way to Idaho Falls then Yellowstone! It was an incredible time that I got to spend with my family, and rekindle relationships with my cousins. This trip made me really appreciate my family and the time I get to spend with them. It also made me realize how absolutely stunning this country is. I was in the clutches of the travel bug and could see traveling the country in an RV later in life.

Then back to school and the final semester of classes! This semester almost killed me. I’m glad I survived and passed (straight As with an A-) all my classes!

I even got to squeeze in a trip to Atlanta with the boyfriend for a Whole Lot of Fun!

Christmas was fun spending the night at Granny’s with mom and the dogs. Setting up Granny’s webcam, I got to skype with family. I wish we would all keep in contact more often :( life is SO BUSY!

But its New Years Eve and National Party Night! SO here is looking towards the New Year and all the good things I am looking forward to (Student Internship, GRADUATING, celebrating graduation, cross country road trip)!

Hope its Even Better than 2011!