My life is vastly different then I ever planned (or thought it would be). Eight years ago when I graduated high school, my goals were to:
-graduate high school
-go to college
-go on a mission (if I wasn't married by age 21)
-graduate college
-get married (before, during, or after college. it didn't matter)
-start a family
Eight years later, I can say, I have only accomplished one (maybe two depending on how you look at it) of my goals I had set/wanted as a newly graduated high school student.
I started my first semester of college a year after I graduated high school. I ended up flunking out of one college (not in my plan) after two semesters and transferred to a different one. I was there for three semesters and felt I needed to quit (not in my plan). I did NOT want to quit, even though I knew it was the right thing to do. After debating it for much too long I finally dropped all my classes for the next semester and the moment ALL my classes had been dropped, I felt a TREMENDOUS burden lifted off my shoulders (i didn't even know i had it!).
Since I was only planning on being away for about a year, I figured I would try and get a job to start getting some experience (without a degree) within my chosen career field. I ended up getting a part time job working at a daycare (it was within my career field I wanted to go into) a few hours after my last final of the last semester of college I did.
I had that job for four months and was told I had two options to choose from because of some unforeseen issues that had arose with the state. Since I was the newest employee, it effected me. I could either get my hours cut from 26/week to 10/week, or quit. I knew instantly, I needed to quit (not in my plan).
It took me two months to find another job, and I had that nanny job for two months before I quit that job because my car was broke and I was using my parents car and I knew the parents were skipping paying other bills to pay me (and it wasn't nearly enough for what I was doing and they couldn't afford to pay me more). Again, not in my plan.
It took me another two months to find another job. Once again, I had it for two months before I quit because my supervisor was asking me to lie on state licensing (for a daycare). Not in my plan.
Two weeks later, I had this job I have now. I never expected to be in this same job 4 years later. I tried to go back to school a year after I quit, but it never worked out, so I have been in this same job for four years.
Add into the mix, a (mostly) non-existent dating life, watching my male friends go out on missions, then come back from their missions. Then watching my female friends go out on their missions and come back. I have watched my friends start college and graduate college then. I watched my friends get married and then start their families. I am beginning to watch my cousins graduate high school, go to the temple, go on missions, go to college, get married, and graduate college. I have watched my siblings get married and start their families.
I dont write this to get peoples pity but to say I know all this has a purpose. I know all the struggles and trials I have gone through and all the ones I will go through in the future have a purpose. I have struggled much the past several years with trying to read/study the scriptures daily, as well as sincerely praying because I have been upset/frustrated that things arent going to MY plan. Back in March this year I finally decided to stop being so stubborn and upset for things not going according to MY plan. I started to listen to The Book of Mormon while I commuted to and from work. As I let the Spirit help me and soften my heart I got the strength to pray again.
Now, I dont have many VERY spiritual experiences that make a major impact that changes the way I see myself. I had a VERY spiritual experience a couple days after I started to sincerely pray. I am not ready to talk about it to everyone because of the impact it has had on me, I will say this though, it changed the way I see myself. This also let me know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, do hear and answer my prayers and pleadings. It let me know things will work out the way they are suppose to work out.
I had to work Conference weekend and due to the nature of my job, I actually had the opportunity to hear bits and pieces of Conference. All I kept hearing in the bits and pieces, was temple this or temple that (both days and both sessions each day). So I thought and prayed about it for a couple of weeks and because of the sense of urgency I kept feeling to get to the temple (it was NOT going away either), I talked to my parents and started to prepare for the temple in mid-April. Once I told my parents, things just literally fell into place for me to get to the temple. I did NOT expect it to happen so quickly. After I talked to my parents, I talked to my Bishop because I was unsure how I was going to take the temple prep class when I work every other weekend and I teach Primary the weekends I am off of work. My Bishop wasnt too concerned about me taking the temple prep class but did want me to talk to a ward member who is great at talking/teaching about the temple. That happened a week later. The week after that, I got my recommend from my Bishop. A week later I had my interview with my stake president and a week and a half after that I had the opportunity to go to through the temple. All in all, from the day I told my parents I felt it was time to start preparing for the temple until I went through, was just over a month.
I dont know why it all came together in such a short time, but for me, I wouldnt change a thing. I know it was suppose to happen this way. I have never felt happier then knowing I am right where I am suppose to be, despite things not going according to MY plan. I am trying to figure out the next step for me to take in life. I have a couple of different options, but I dont know how they will work out (I just dont see how they can work out so it will be interesting to see what the next year brings). I am constantly learning to trust my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.
I do know this though, all things work out in the time, way, and place they are suppose to happen. I definitely do NOT know where life is going to take me next, but I do know that as long as I keep following my Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ, ALL things will work out. I know my goals to get married and have a family will happen in the Lords timing (despite me wanting it much much sooner). And boy is it hard waiting for His timing! I know as I prepare for the future, things will work out, eventually. I am very grateful for that knowledge and the testimony I have gained the past couple months. I know my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ, love me. They really do want the best for me in my life and if that means waiting longer, then I will certainly give it my best shot to not complain and wait patiencely on the Lord. God has a plan for each of us, and I know that to be true.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
-graduate high school
-go to college
-go on a mission (if I wasn't married by age 21)
-graduate college
-get married (before, during, or after college. it didn't matter)
-start a family
Eight years later, I can say, I have only accomplished one (maybe two depending on how you look at it) of my goals I had set/wanted as a newly graduated high school student.
I started my first semester of college a year after I graduated high school. I ended up flunking out of one college (not in my plan) after two semesters and transferred to a different one. I was there for three semesters and felt I needed to quit (not in my plan). I did NOT want to quit, even though I knew it was the right thing to do. After debating it for much too long I finally dropped all my classes for the next semester and the moment ALL my classes had been dropped, I felt a TREMENDOUS burden lifted off my shoulders (i didn't even know i had it!).
Since I was only planning on being away for about a year, I figured I would try and get a job to start getting some experience (without a degree) within my chosen career field. I ended up getting a part time job working at a daycare (it was within my career field I wanted to go into) a few hours after my last final of the last semester of college I did.
I had that job for four months and was told I had two options to choose from because of some unforeseen issues that had arose with the state. Since I was the newest employee, it effected me. I could either get my hours cut from 26/week to 10/week, or quit. I knew instantly, I needed to quit (not in my plan).
It took me two months to find another job, and I had that nanny job for two months before I quit that job because my car was broke and I was using my parents car and I knew the parents were skipping paying other bills to pay me (and it wasn't nearly enough for what I was doing and they couldn't afford to pay me more). Again, not in my plan.
It took me another two months to find another job. Once again, I had it for two months before I quit because my supervisor was asking me to lie on state licensing (for a daycare). Not in my plan.
Two weeks later, I had this job I have now. I never expected to be in this same job 4 years later. I tried to go back to school a year after I quit, but it never worked out, so I have been in this same job for four years.
Add into the mix, a (mostly) non-existent dating life, watching my male friends go out on missions, then come back from their missions. Then watching my female friends go out on their missions and come back. I have watched my friends start college and graduate college then. I watched my friends get married and then start their families. I am beginning to watch my cousins graduate high school, go to the temple, go on missions, go to college, get married, and graduate college. I have watched my siblings get married and start their families.
I dont write this to get peoples pity but to say I know all this has a purpose. I know all the struggles and trials I have gone through and all the ones I will go through in the future have a purpose. I have struggled much the past several years with trying to read/study the scriptures daily, as well as sincerely praying because I have been upset/frustrated that things arent going to MY plan. Back in March this year I finally decided to stop being so stubborn and upset for things not going according to MY plan. I started to listen to The Book of Mormon while I commuted to and from work. As I let the Spirit help me and soften my heart I got the strength to pray again.
Now, I dont have many VERY spiritual experiences that make a major impact that changes the way I see myself. I had a VERY spiritual experience a couple days after I started to sincerely pray. I am not ready to talk about it to everyone because of the impact it has had on me, I will say this though, it changed the way I see myself. This also let me know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, do hear and answer my prayers and pleadings. It let me know things will work out the way they are suppose to work out.
I had to work Conference weekend and due to the nature of my job, I actually had the opportunity to hear bits and pieces of Conference. All I kept hearing in the bits and pieces, was temple this or temple that (both days and both sessions each day). So I thought and prayed about it for a couple of weeks and because of the sense of urgency I kept feeling to get to the temple (it was NOT going away either), I talked to my parents and started to prepare for the temple in mid-April. Once I told my parents, things just literally fell into place for me to get to the temple. I did NOT expect it to happen so quickly. After I talked to my parents, I talked to my Bishop because I was unsure how I was going to take the temple prep class when I work every other weekend and I teach Primary the weekends I am off of work. My Bishop wasnt too concerned about me taking the temple prep class but did want me to talk to a ward member who is great at talking/teaching about the temple. That happened a week later. The week after that, I got my recommend from my Bishop. A week later I had my interview with my stake president and a week and a half after that I had the opportunity to go to through the temple. All in all, from the day I told my parents I felt it was time to start preparing for the temple until I went through, was just over a month.
I dont know why it all came together in such a short time, but for me, I wouldnt change a thing. I know it was suppose to happen this way. I have never felt happier then knowing I am right where I am suppose to be, despite things not going according to MY plan. I am trying to figure out the next step for me to take in life. I have a couple of different options, but I dont know how they will work out (I just dont see how they can work out so it will be interesting to see what the next year brings). I am constantly learning to trust my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.
I do know this though, all things work out in the time, way, and place they are suppose to happen. I definitely do NOT know where life is going to take me next, but I do know that as long as I keep following my Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ, ALL things will work out. I know my goals to get married and have a family will happen in the Lords timing (despite me wanting it much much sooner). And boy is it hard waiting for His timing! I know as I prepare for the future, things will work out, eventually. I am very grateful for that knowledge and the testimony I have gained the past couple months. I know my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ, love me. They really do want the best for me in my life and if that means waiting longer, then I will certainly give it my best shot to not complain and wait patiencely on the Lord. God has a plan for each of us, and I know that to be true.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment