Day 22

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?  10 years?  15 years?

This is a really hard set of questions to answer because I'm not the kind of person to make a huge long life plan.  I like to have goals and stuff, but I also like to see immediate results.  I have a few ideas of where I want to be, though, so I'll give it a go.

5 years: In five years I definitely hope to be working for the U.S. Embassy.  I hope that I'll be on my second post, in some way cool place.  I don't even care where I go, as long as I get into the Embassy and they send me somewhere.  I know that freaks my mom out, but I would go literally anywhere in the world.  Also, I would hope to be married by that time, but if not, I would be ok with just having a steady boyfriend.  If I can't even have a boyfriend in five years, then you can be danged sure I'm going to have at least one dog.  Kiera will be fifteen, almost sixteen by that time (that is so weird to think about!), and I've told Mom and Dad that Kiera should come live with me overseas while she's in high school.  That way she'll have a higher chance of getting into BYU because they love foreign students here at BYU.  I'm pretty sure the only reason I got into the university was because I was graduating from high school in India.
10 years: I definitely see myself married by this time.  Hopefully, I'll have at least one child.  Again, I see myself in a way cool country--by this time it should be my fourth post (fingers crossed).  I'll still have a dog.  Kiera will be in college, and my oldest niece, Katie, will be sixteen (which is an even weirder thought than Kiera being sixteen).  I want to have a least one book written, or one collection of poetry written by this point in my life.  I don't mind if it's not published, I just want to have one written.
15 years: If I'm not married by this point, I think I'll have pretty much given up.  

Day 21

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?

Believe it or not, I've had this discussion multiple times with multiple people.  And my answer alternates between two or three different superpowers (cue the nerd applause).  At this moment, however, if I had to choose just one superpower it would be the ability to read other people's minds, and I'll tell you why.  I am really self-conscious, and I really, really care about what other people think about me.  So this seems like a logical superpower for me to have.

I think the first place I would use my superpower would be on a date.  How useful would that power be on a date?!  It would be like my own personal review card.  I would get immediate feedback on what to do again, and what never to do ever again in my life.  My dates would become infinitely more awesome.  And maybe I'd finally get a second date.

I wouldn't be a creeper, though.  I wouldn't listen in on every single thought my date was having.  'Cause that could get real weird real fast.  I think I would just check in every once in a while.  Just to make sure everything was going ok, you know?

Day 20

Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

1. One of my first memories happened when we lived in a tiny little apartment in Oklahoma.  And when I say tiny, I really mean absolutely tiny.  The all-three-of-us-girls-slept-in-one-bed kind of tiny.  I remember the carpet was a bluish color, and we had one couch.  But my strongest memory from that apartment was when we had a surprise birthday for my dad.  Heather and Chelsey hid by the couch, and Mom and I hid behind the tiny wrap-around counter in our tiny kitchen.  I remember Mom was holding the cake, and I remember that it was covered with coconut flakes; now, every time I smell coconut I think of that night.  All the lights were off, and the candles seemed so bright.  Dad came in, and we all jumped out and starting singing "Happy Birthday."  For a long time, no one believed me that this memory actually happened, but it did.  Dad said so.
2. Horseback riding is a huge part of my life.  I don't get to go riding very often any more--partly because of school and partly because I'm poor.  Mom would say that I should probably add that I don't ride because I'm pretty allergic to the horse hair and the hay and stuff in the stables, but that never kept me away from a good ride.  Anyways, the point it that I don't get to ride very often, and I really, really miss it.  A lot.  I feel the most confident, the most happy, the most like me when I'm on a horse.  I started riding when we moved to England, so a lot of my memories of England involve the stables I rode at and the horses that I rode.  Peter was my first pony, and even though the instructors assured me that he would bite and kick at every opportunity, he never did either to me.  He tried it the first day I rode him, but I remember standing by his head, holding his bridle tightly in my hand, stroking his nose, and speaking softly but very firmly to him.  I explained to him that I was going to be riding him for a while, and he was not to kick or bite me.  I told him I would love him and be kind to him, but he must not to try and bite me again.  Every time I rode him after that, I always stroked and petted him, gave him kisses, hugged him, etc.  I know that he didn't understand the words I said to him that first day, but I know that he understood what I meant.  And he knew I loved him, so he never tried to hurt me again.
3. While we lived overseas, we always traveled a lot.  I feel like we traveled more when we were overseas than when we were in Utah.  Anyways, while we were in England, France--and specifically Paris--was a very popular vacation destination because it's just like a four hour train ride between Paris and London.  The first time I ever went to France was a disaster--or at least that's how it felt.  First of all, it rained every day.  And not just little sun-showers that last for 5, 10 minutes.  No, it poured.  The worst day was when we went to Disneyland though.  Don't get me wrong, Disneyland was fun, and I still had a good time, but it rained--yet again--and Mom and I got stuck under Sleeping Beauty's castle for FOREVER.  Then we lost the rest of the family.  And I'm pretty sure it rained again after that.  I think that my eight-year-old brain may have been exaggerating the extremely disappointing nature of that trip, but I'm afraid that I never really liked Paris after that.  I still don't understand all the hype that Paris gets.  Yes, it is a cool city, and there are some awesome things to see (the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre), but I'm not enamored with it; I would much rather go somewhere other than France.  And it's all because we went to France during the rainy season.

Day 19

If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

IF I could live anywhere in the world I would in the country side of England, to the north of London.  Why?  Because the weather there is for me.  Because I love the rain, and I could handle it if it rained every day of my love.  Because they have Cadbury chocolate and Magnum ice cream bars.  Because you can skip over the channel for a weekend trip to Paris.  Because that's where all my favorite authors came from.  Because who can resist that accent?  Because my heart and soul belongs in England.

Day 18

What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?

As I've said before, I am fiercely loyal to the ones that I love.  And I can hold a grudge like none other.  It's a problem that I have, and I'm trying to fix it.  But, in the words of Mr. Darcy, "My good opinion once lost is lost forever."  I guess I'm not that harsh (neither is Mr. Darcy, for that matter, except with Wickham, and Wickham totally deserved it), but still.  The hardest thing I ever had to forgive was an incident between our choir director and my sister.  The choir director was mean and insensitive and said something that made my sister cry.  I'm still struggling to completely forgive the choir director, even though this happened years ago.

I may fight with my sisters--tooth and nail sometimes--but I love them completely.  Seriously, don't mess with my family.

Day 17

What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

Without a doubt, I wish I were great at dancing.  I had a chance to dance when I was little--my mom signed me up for Jazz dance classes while we were in England--but I totally blew it.  That is one of my biggest regrets in life.  If I could, I would go back in time and beg my mom to make me stay in those dance classes.

Day 16

What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

These are not in order of greatness.  I think they are all equally great.

1. Passing my IB Math course.  Not only did I pass the course, my math exam was my highest exam grade out of all my IB courses.  Since I am terrible at math, I was really proud of that exam score.
2. Bungee jumping.  Bungee jumping when I was 10 was a big deal.  It scared me, but I did it anyways.  And that's what launched me into my more adventurous side.  I don't know if most would call bungee jumping an accomplishment, but I think it is.
3. Living in Mexico for two months.  Part of this accomplishment was knowing enough Spanish to take my family around Guadalajara by myself for a week when they came to pick me up from my study abroad.  It was a really good feeling to know that my years and years of studying the language had paid off.
4. Teaching Kiera about good music, books, TV, movies, etc.  She's an awesome ten-year-old because she's had an awesome teacher.  That's what big sister's are here for.
5. Signing up and going to CrossFit.  I was so sore after that first workout, but I went and did it again.  That is a great achievement for me. 

Day 15

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

If I were an animal, I would probably be a dog.  Most likely a golden retriever. I am really playful (ask my nieces and nephews), but I am also pretty calm.  Plus, I am fiercely loyal to the ones I love.  Don't mess with them, or I will come at you...with snide, sarcastic, passive-aggressive comments.  Hey, golden retrievers aren't really offensive fighters either.

Although, I might be a cat.  Cats are the unsociable social animals ever.  Like me.

Day 14

Describe 5 strengths you have.

1. I am an awesome listener.  I actually like it when people come to me with complaints or concerns or happy news.  I want to hear it all.  I feel like people know they can rely on me, and that I'll hear them out no matter what.  I might not always tell them what they want to hear once they're done talking (I learned that trick from my mama), but I will always try to help them out as best I can.
2. I am an awesome cook.  While I'm trying to solve my problems with food, I come up with some pretty awesome recipes.  I love cooking, and I love trying out new things.  One of the best feelings in the world is when my family devours one of my meals and tells me that it was delicious.
3. When I set my mind to it, I get stuff done.  Even though I procrastinate, I can get projects done, and I do it well (or as best I can).  You have to admit, I'm a determined little thing.
4. I am a really fast reader.  This may sound a dumb strength to be proud, but you would be surprised by how often it comes in handy.  I would not have survived my English classes if I couldn't read fast.  How English professors expect you to read a 350 page book cover-to-cover in a four day period is beyond me.  Plus, I get to read a lot more books than other people, so it makes me sound really cool when someone brings up a book that they're sure no one else has heard of, and I'm all like, "Oh yeah, that's a really great book.  I especially like the part when..."
5. I have an excellent memory.  I have vivid memories from when I was like three years old and we were living in this crazy apartment in Oklahoma.  I remember pretty much every book I've read, and even if I don't remember it very well, once I start reading it, my mind plays catch-up pretty quickly.  Sometimes I feel kind of awkward that I remember stuff like movies and TV shows so vividly, especially when other people are talking about it and they don't remember anything, but I do.  When that happens, I usually pretend that I don't remember too, but I do.  I do.

Day 13

Describe 5 weaknesses you have.

1. I have so little patience.  This is why I can never teach.  I can't just sit there and run through the same thing over and over again.  I get really frustrated and just give up.  Also, I have no patience for whiners. I can only take it for so long before I get angry.
2. I bottle up my feelings.  I don't like confrontation, so when I get angry or sad or frustrated I would rather not talk about it.  This is bad because everything just stacks up on top of one another until finally I explode over the smallest thing.  That moment is never a pretty sight.
3. I procrastinate.  Especially if I'm not looking forward to a certain project.  I put it off until the last possible minute and then usually stay up all night to finish said unwanted project.  I always get it done, though!
4. I am extremely critical of myself.  It's hard for me to accept compliments.  It makes me really happen to get compliments, but I tend to think that the compliment-giver is just being nice.  It takes a little while for me to get used to the idea.
5. I use food to solve a lot of my problems.  Even though it doesn't solve any of my problems.  And that is why I'm not a size four and will probably never be a size four.