So...when I came to BYU, I left my two best friends behind. We had been best friends since kindergarten, the three musketeers if you will.
My freshman year I just couldn't find anyone to replace them, not that they are replaceable, but I really needed a friend. I remember I would pray almost daily to just find a girl that I could be friends with and have a good, honest, fun relationship with.
Well, I have been at BYU for 4 1/2 years, and last semester I found that friend that I had been praying for for so long.
Neither one of us are very expressive, and sometimes I wonder if our friendship is only school deep (we have all of our classes together). I don't know everything about her, and she doesn't know everything about me. But then there are days like today when I know that we are more than school friends. School brought us together, but it is not what keeps us together.
When I have a bad day, she is one of the first people that I want to talk to.
We are so similar she understands me better than most others, but different enough to push each other to grow.
I can be open and honest with her.
She is one of the first girls that I truly believe wouldn't talk bad about me. She would tell me herself.
She inspires me to be confident.
She plays lego harry potter with me.
I find myself wholeheartedly wanting her to be happy and get everything she wants.
It makes me sad to think that we won't always be within walking distance of each other, or see each other everyday.
Here's to you Jaraka Drew! :) I'm glad that we're friends and can laugh and cry together.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Things to Remember
So I have learned a few lessons lately that apply to all areas of my life: school, work, family etc and just wanted to record them so if I ever forget, this will help me remember.
- There is a difference between being helpful and taking over. It is hard to recognize that sometimes. At times I think that I am doing someone a favor, but I am really hurting their feelings.
- Communication is key. This kind of goes with #1. What I see as being helpful, someone else sees as me taking over. I just need to clarify what that person actually wants me to do, instead of just assuming I am doing the right thing to help them.
- Frequent feedback is much better than letting things build up and explode. It is so much easier to have a few little conversations than one big one. This goes for me giving it to other people, and other people to me. If I am doing something you don't like, or that hurts you, just tell me! I won't get offended, and I can't change until I know what to change. I just want to make people happy.
- Patience is a virtue and I need it. Just because I can do something faster, doesn't mean that is best. I need to let other people grow and do their own thing, even if they don't get to it before I do. It is okay to not have something completely done a few days before it is due. I need to give people time to finish things, even if I think they should be done sooner.
- Relax. Take it easy. Everything gets done in the end, and it doesn't require me to do it all.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Struggles and Peace
This past Sunday I have finally come to peace with the course that my life is going to take.
I have this over ambition issue. I have dreamed of being in the business world since 2nd grade. When my teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up, I said "A CEO". I have always been very very school and career driven. The past 17 years of my life have been spent working my butt off to succeed in school so I could succeed in a career.
The thought of contributing to a company, being surrounded by other ambitious/successful people, making deals, helping clients, all of it sounds so great to me!
That being said...that ambition in life doesn't really correspond well with being a stay-at-home mother. I thought about not being a stay at home mother, but that was just selfish of me. I understand when both parents have to work to support a family, but I shouldn't want to work just for the sake of working and fulfilling my own career goals. I was never the girl in church that only wanted to be a stay at home mom or fought over the chance to hold a baby in the ward. That just didn't appeal to me...and looking back I think the reason that it didn't appeal to me is that I was/am scared to death of being a mother. I have always been great at school, but I have no experience with being a mother and I'm mortified that I won't be good at it.
Now that you have a little background, you can see my struggle. For the past few years (especially since I got married) I have been dealing with my ambition to be a successful career woman and my duty to be the best mother that I can be. This past year, the internal conflict has been especially bad. Mark and I have had several long talks (and long prayers) and we have decided that once I finish my undergrad, I will work until we have kids and then stay at home with them if we are financially able. The hardest part about this means no more school. I won't go on to get a law degree or an mba within the next few years, which is what my plan has always been. Of course higher education is definitely an option in the future (like when our kids start grade school) but it just isn't want I need to be doing right now in my life. I realized at the beginning of this semester, shortly after we made this decision, that I was being short and impatient with Mark and just had this feeling of bitterness and regret inside. I realized that this was due to the fact that I was bitter that starting a family meant that I would have to give up my dreams of a graduate degree and fast-paced career. (At least for the time being.)
I'm not saying that this path is the only right one, or the one for everybody. I know several successful mothers and women that have worked while raising a family. It is my personality (i.e., my obsession with perfection and being the best at what I do) that keeps me from being able to successfully manage that. I am afraid that I would get caught up at work and being successful there and neglect my family.
So I was taking this bitterness out on Mark. It is 100% not his fault. I chose to get married and knew when I got married that I would have to make sacrifices for my new family. This is one of those sacrifices, and I was not handling it well. I couldn't get over my bitterness. I had the attitude that I was giving up what I wanted to do, to do something that I know I need to do (be a mother).
Then Sunday changed my life. Literally. Elder Oaks and his wife came to BYU to have a little devotional with the student body. Sister Oaks's talk wasn't about motherhood, or being a good mother, but there was just one little statement she made that changed everything. Sister Oaks got married when she was 53. She had a phd and super successful career, so she has experienced everything I want to experience. But then she said this(and I am paraphrasing): I have had a a successful career, but nothing compares to the joy and accomplishment you feel of raising a family.
I actually teared up when she said that. Like I said, her talk had nothing to do with this particular topic so I wasn't expecting to feel any better about my predicament afterwards. Hearing a woman who has had both, a successful career and the opportunity to raise a family, say that really hit home to me. I don't think it would have meant as much coming from a woman who had never had a career.
Ever since Sunday I have felt so much relief and happiness and peace with my decision. I can put all the ambition and determination I have put into my schooling into being an amazing mother. It won't be easy, and I will make mistakes, but that is okay. I know that raising a family is my next adventure in life, and I am totally okay with that. No regrets.
I have this over ambition issue. I have dreamed of being in the business world since 2nd grade. When my teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up, I said "A CEO". I have always been very very school and career driven. The past 17 years of my life have been spent working my butt off to succeed in school so I could succeed in a career.
The thought of contributing to a company, being surrounded by other ambitious/successful people, making deals, helping clients, all of it sounds so great to me!
That being said...that ambition in life doesn't really correspond well with being a stay-at-home mother. I thought about not being a stay at home mother, but that was just selfish of me. I understand when both parents have to work to support a family, but I shouldn't want to work just for the sake of working and fulfilling my own career goals. I was never the girl in church that only wanted to be a stay at home mom or fought over the chance to hold a baby in the ward. That just didn't appeal to me...and looking back I think the reason that it didn't appeal to me is that I was/am scared to death of being a mother. I have always been great at school, but I have no experience with being a mother and I'm mortified that I won't be good at it.
Now that you have a little background, you can see my struggle. For the past few years (especially since I got married) I have been dealing with my ambition to be a successful career woman and my duty to be the best mother that I can be. This past year, the internal conflict has been especially bad. Mark and I have had several long talks (and long prayers) and we have decided that once I finish my undergrad, I will work until we have kids and then stay at home with them if we are financially able. The hardest part about this means no more school. I won't go on to get a law degree or an mba within the next few years, which is what my plan has always been. Of course higher education is definitely an option in the future (like when our kids start grade school) but it just isn't want I need to be doing right now in my life. I realized at the beginning of this semester, shortly after we made this decision, that I was being short and impatient with Mark and just had this feeling of bitterness and regret inside. I realized that this was due to the fact that I was bitter that starting a family meant that I would have to give up my dreams of a graduate degree and fast-paced career. (At least for the time being.)
I'm not saying that this path is the only right one, or the one for everybody. I know several successful mothers and women that have worked while raising a family. It is my personality (i.e., my obsession with perfection and being the best at what I do) that keeps me from being able to successfully manage that. I am afraid that I would get caught up at work and being successful there and neglect my family.
So I was taking this bitterness out on Mark. It is 100% not his fault. I chose to get married and knew when I got married that I would have to make sacrifices for my new family. This is one of those sacrifices, and I was not handling it well. I couldn't get over my bitterness. I had the attitude that I was giving up what I wanted to do, to do something that I know I need to do (be a mother).
Then Sunday changed my life. Literally. Elder Oaks and his wife came to BYU to have a little devotional with the student body. Sister Oaks's talk wasn't about motherhood, or being a good mother, but there was just one little statement she made that changed everything. Sister Oaks got married when she was 53. She had a phd and super successful career, so she has experienced everything I want to experience. But then she said this(and I am paraphrasing): I have had a a successful career, but nothing compares to the joy and accomplishment you feel of raising a family.
I actually teared up when she said that. Like I said, her talk had nothing to do with this particular topic so I wasn't expecting to feel any better about my predicament afterwards. Hearing a woman who has had both, a successful career and the opportunity to raise a family, say that really hit home to me. I don't think it would have meant as much coming from a woman who had never had a career.
Ever since Sunday I have felt so much relief and happiness and peace with my decision. I can put all the ambition and determination I have put into my schooling into being an amazing mother. It won't be easy, and I will make mistakes, but that is okay. I know that raising a family is my next adventure in life, and I am totally okay with that. No regrets.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Seester
Once a year simply isn't enough. I have to see you more!
You make me laugh so hard that I start to cry.
You make me smile so big it hurts.
You make me feel confident.
You make me feel special.
I love talking to you about everything under the sun...our family, your family, how hot it is outside, the good ol' days when you were my "mom".
I love my little mermaid pedicure ;)
I love the knowledge you give to me and the wise tips you pass down to your little sister.
I love that you have always been there for me, through thick and thin.
I love knowing I can pick up the phone and call you anytime and you will answer, but most importantly understand.
And finally, I love that you let me do this to your kids hair:
You make me laugh so hard that I start to cry.
You make me smile so big it hurts.
You make me feel confident.
You make me feel special.
I love talking to you about everything under the sun...our family, your family, how hot it is outside, the good ol' days when you were my "mom".
I love my little mermaid pedicure ;)
I love the knowledge you give to me and the wise tips you pass down to your little sister.
I love that you have always been there for me, through thick and thin.
I love knowing I can pick up the phone and call you anytime and you will answer, but most importantly understand.
And finally, I love that you let me do this to your kids hair:
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Luckiest
No, our marriage isn't perfect, yes we have our differences, but I love him more than anything.
My favorite thing is that he makes me laugh. every. day.
Whether it is him wearing his safety glasses when I had to wear my awful real glasses to make me feel better, or putting goggles on in the shower, or lying on the couch and realizing he forgot to turn off the light and clapping for our butler (that we don't have) to turn the lights off, or teaching me how to laugh at myself, Mark brings a smile to my face constantly.
I am so lucky to have a guy that makes me see the good in life, and taught me how to laugh at all the little things.
My favorite thing is that he makes me laugh. every. day.
Whether it is him wearing his safety glasses when I had to wear my awful real glasses to make me feel better, or putting goggles on in the shower, or lying on the couch and realizing he forgot to turn off the light and clapping for our butler (that we don't have) to turn the lights off, or teaching me how to laugh at myself, Mark brings a smile to my face constantly.
I am so lucky to have a guy that makes me see the good in life, and taught me how to laugh at all the little things.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Mmmm Sundays
We love Sundays at the Brandley household. Mark and I don't do homework on Sunday...we like to focus on other things and it is sooo nice to have a day with no school or work and to be able to enjoy each others company all day :)
This past Sunday was a BEAUTIFUL day...which sadly have been in short supply so far this summer with all the rain. Mark and I grabbed a blanket, our books of choice, and decided to drive up the canyon to Big Springs Park. We normally go to the park to ride the mountain biking trail, but thought we would go for a little R and R this time.
The river we laid our blanket next to...
Some handsome guy I found on my blanket... ; )
Readin some Harry Potter on my phone (I sure am re-reading all 7 before the 7th movie)
Mark's book of choice was "Into the Wild"
And this pic is from this past winter that I never got around to posting. Utah may be Utah...but you have to admit it is a beautiful place.
This past Sunday was a BEAUTIFUL day...which sadly have been in short supply so far this summer with all the rain. Mark and I grabbed a blanket, our books of choice, and decided to drive up the canyon to Big Springs Park. We normally go to the park to ride the mountain biking trail, but thought we would go for a little R and R this time.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Yummy Yummy in my Tummy
Mark and I made....wait for it....rainbow cake!!! It is super fun to make and looks pretty cool to boot...
You just buy a box of vanilla (or funfetti) cake mix, doctor it up a little with special ingredients (sour cream etc) and dye the batter and shazam! Rainbow cake is yours. Sorry I'm too lazy to post the recipe...but I'm pretty sure you can just google search it...
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