A Jump Start

Here I am coming upon change. A situation that will give me a fresh start. No one knows me. I don't have a reputation. I could decide to change things about me and no one would know. It is kind of refreshing. I used to feel bad for people that grew up in the same area their whole lives. The reputation they built would always be with them. Mine will vanish in five days.

This morning I woke up at 4:30. It is now 5:53. I couldn't sleep because I was thinking of all the things I would like to change in my life.

1. I don't want to drink soda.
2. I want to eat healthy.
3. I want to be a little more ladylike and a little less crass.
4. I want to consistently read scripture.
5. I want to gain a stronger testimony.
6. I want to exercise.
7. Talk less and listen more.

These are all person goals that I have not been able to muster up the motivation for lately. Moving to a new place where I will have more time to focus will be the perfect opportunity for me to change. This has been my mentality for the last four months. However, in the last four months I have only worked out 6 times, I have been more crass than normal, I have been more inconsistent with scriptures, and I drink soda almost daily. As for the healthy eating... well lets just say I've gained 9 pounds in the last four months!!

Last night, after a conversation with friends, I realized that there is no need to wait. In fact, waiting is the easy way out. So I'm giving myself a jump start. I'm starting today. Bye Bye soda!! Hello to eating more healthy. Time to apologize for crass words. It's 6:08 so there is still time to exercise and read scriptures. Here I go. I already feel better. I feel better this very minute :).

Are You Passionate?

Do you know what your passion is? Have you found out who you are or what you really want to do? I haven't. Sometimes I hear of a passion that someone else has and I try it out for a while, but it isn't really mine so I give it back like a shirt I borrowed from a girlfriend. I followed after my sister for a while. I ran. I never truly liked it. I used to think that songwriting was my passion, but when there's no one to share the songs with it takes the fun out of it. Sometimes I still write, but more in journal form (definitely not for entertainment purposes). I once wrote a song and submitted it to the American Idol Songwriting Competition. Of course it didn't go anywhere. It wasn't a total waste of the ten dollar submission fee. I did complete a song, recorded it and all. My husband, unlike me, has so many passions that he has a hard time choosing one. Not to mention so many talents that he is needed by everyone. How would that be... Probably a little stressful. Maybe I have a passion, but it changes so frequently that I peg it as a passing fad. Maybe being busy is my passion. I really hate boredom or empty blocks of time. I love people! Maybe people are my passion. Maybe I'll find my passion in Taiwan. The search is on!!

The man in this photo is the first person I spoke to in Taiwan. I only knew three phrases in Mandarin. He spoke to me in spite of my inadequate language skills. I didn't understand a lick, but he was very pleasant. Maybe my passion will be learning a new language...

A Change is a'comin!!

This is where I will be living in Taipei. I will be on the 22nd floor. This building is about 50 years old. I've been told that this is a good sign. It has withstood the typhoons and earthquakes. It must be pretty solid :)!

Taipei Taiwan here we come!!! I'm going to start a Taipei blog very soon. My friend and I are going to compare/contrast our experiences while I'm living in Taipei. I am really excited about the new adventure my family and I are about to embark on. I know there will be challenges, but overall I am quite sure we will learn, grow and have a lot of fun. More to come...

Cold

It turned from summer to winter this year. No Fall... I was ready for a change, but summer to winter doesn't seem drastic enough. Maybe a vacation is in order. Then there's the problem of committments and school. Maybe I could just be irresponsible and take Tommy out of school for a few days and go visit family or better yet, drive to LegoLand. Sometimes I secretly wish my kids were just sick enough to stay home but not sick enough to have to stay in bed. It would be a great excuse to throw out the schedule for the day or the week and do everything together with no interruption. Thomas had Chicken Pox a few weeks ago. I loved every minute of it (it was a very mild case). Even better would be the "secret wish" that Emmett could retire really early. He has so many talents and abilities but can't use them because he is so tied up at work. Most of my dreams include him and his talents. If he can't free up some time, then my dreams are shot :). Schedules, time, committments, responsibility make up the reason for my inability to satiate this need for change. For now I'll just dwell on the weather and it will have to suffice.

An Organized Mess

Taylor made a big mess, but it was so organized that it didn't really seem messy. I was gone for the evening. Emmett was busy on the computer. Emmett made Taylor clean it all up, but neither of them knew which drawer was for what. I dealt with the aftermath. It wasn't too bad. Someday I know I'll miss the little messes. For now I think they're cute.

The X-Box is Broken!

This is what happens at our house when the X-box is broken. Emmett resorted to watching TV in our room while eating his lunch. I admit that I have been quite sad that I haven't had media center piping through the TV in the front room. I need the X-Box just as much as he does.

Taylor's First Day in Primary

Taylor is finally old enough to go to primary. She didn't miss a beat. I don't know if she even thought about it or noticed. She has great teachers. I'm hoping she doesn't chase them away. Taylor or so full of energy and life. It takes a runner to keep up with her.