Change and the Unknown

  I have begun to think a lot about the things in my life I have, as well as the things I have been through this year. It has been an extremely trying, hard, stressful and worrisome year.

  My family has been through many things, most of which I don't actually have details or knowledge about because I'm in Utah not Alaska. Long story short, my family lost their business, sold all the cars, all the "stuff" from the house and anything they could get some money out of. My parents and siblings finished remodeling the house, and put it up for rent while they moved into our 32 ft RV (Mom, Dad and 6 kids).

  While this was happening in Alaska, I was in Utah with my older brother, who came home from his mission November 2012. He met a girl and I was caught in the middle of their courtship, neither one wanting to screw up. They decided they were going to get married at the end of August and so we began the planning. The family came to Utah mid Aug. and we all (full family of 10, and my brother's then fiancee) drove to Oakland, in the RV, for the wedding on Aug. 26, 2013.With my brother now married, we came back to Utah just in time for me to begin Fall semester at BYU, while my family moved on to Idaho to take my 18 year old sister to BYU-Idaho for her freshman year.

  I have never been one to enjoy change or the unknown, yet in September, I was thrown head on into a new life and I felt myself spiraling out of control. I felt no stability, no comfort and all I could think about was everything  that had gone wrong. My family has been struggling and they are no longer financially stable and I can't do anything to help. My best friend just got married and now I am alone again and have no one to talk to. I can't get a steady job that will pay enough to stay living where I am., however, I had been counseled and shown I needed to stay at my current apartment, even though I couldn't afford it as comfortably anymore, but there was still something I need to learn so I stayed. I am unable to receive my FAFSA due to complications and I have no idea how I am going to cover my expenses.

  Here I am now beginning November and I am looking to see the things in my life that are good. Looking at the little miracles God has given me and looking forward to how I can change and help others around me. I have a great job working head of student security on campus and am keeping busy in my church calling as Relief Society 2nd Counselor, as well as going to school full time. My three random roommates have been a new and different experience, but one of the girls and I have become very good friends. I have managed to find someone willing to buy the end of my contract, and am now in the process of finding a new place to live.

  I have everything I NEED, now I am just working on understanding that I AM ENOUGH. I have the things I need an life and IF I can put my trust and Faith in my father in Heaven I will be able to see myself through his eyes. With his guidance, I will find myself and see where I will be able to go from here. As I continue moving forward and picking up the pieces of my seemingly shattered life, I will find the happiness and joy I am looking for.

Roommate Agreement

One of my favorite TV shows is "The Big Bang Theory". While watching this show the other day, I found myself thinking about Sheldon Cooper's Roommate Agreement. I know Sheldon is crazy, and his agreement seems kind of out there, what with the Godzilla clause, and the idea that “Leonard will name Sheldon as his sidekick if Leonard obtains superpowers”, things like this seem to make the idea of a roommate agreement laughable and crazy. However, the more I have been thinking about it, the better having one of them sounds.

I have been at BYU for the last 2 years and during my freshman year alone I moved three times and had very different roommates and experiences. Being away from home and out of my comfort zones, I have found I have MANY pet peeves. I also have things I look for in an ideal roommate. As this semester is working its way to a close (though it can’t seem to come to an end fast enough), I have been thinking about where I will live next year and the things I would change and want to address with my new roommates. As I have been thinking about these things, I decided I would start putting these "terms" onto paper. I will be adding continuously, but for now I will just put some of my pet peeves and things I will be trying to implement.

1.       I truly hate dirty sponges/ rags/ scrubbers. When they get dirty, just throw the sponge away or wash the rag. I do NOT see the need to keep them sitting wet and molding in the sink or on the counter.

2.       After a week, why can’t we just throw away the leftovers you are NEVER going to eat?

3.       Why should we divide the fridge/ freezer? There is no possible way to divide it equally for 6 people.  I think this idea is silly. If I want to buy food, or you want to buy food, just put it in the fridge wherever it fits. I am all for that. I like having a full fridge and having the butter, syrup or other condiments available to share.

4.       If we are going to have communal items; i.e. Toilet Paper, paper towels, dish soap, hand soap, Clorox wipes, cleaning supplies etc. We need to have some kind of rotation for replenishing these items. And everyone that used these things NEEDS to help and take their turn producing these things.

5.       We need to have some kind of apartment calendar in the front room; on the fridge, hanging on the wall etc. So that if someone plans on a party or if they have someone coming over for the weekend everyone is aware and we don’t have multiple things planned for the same night.

What kinds of things would you add?