Happy 22!

My 22nd Birthday Celebration started with a movie (The Vow) and a relaxing morning to myself--my favorite! Then when everyone came home from work and school, mom&dad&me went to Applebee's-yum!

 Then home for a spoiled-girl pile of presents
and candles and cake bites!


Okay, I LOVE the expressions in this picture about my Justin Bieber poster from Kessa&Sadie.
court: what. is. that?
mom: seriously? really??

me: complete excitement and laughter.

. . . gotta have my JB fix!!

 I gave Kessa the camera responsibility and I love the candid shots she got!

love my alex goot!!            & finally got some Military Boots!

Prison Break--

                                      my new obsession

Mustache Comb ring!
&
Camera necklace!

Graduation Party

I'm not really in to the whole graduation ceremony hassle, plus USU doesn't have a commencement in December, and I thought it was weird to go back up to Logan in May to attend the ceremony I didn't even want to go to AND I've been wanting to throw a party for a while, but didn't have time or cause. . .SO I threw a party for myself!  I'm such a nerd, but I had a blast! 

                                                          

Family, champagne, and graduation hats

 Rainbow cupcakes, m&ms, Martinelli's, and my favorite Reeses cups with rainbow picks. . .YUM







It was so fun to celebrate the tough major I accomplished and be with my family wearing a pretty dress and eating the rainbow. It's a big deal for me to know what I want and make it happen and I'm proud of myself! I'm a college graduate! Can't believe I can say that now!!

My Rendered Life

As I was walking to class one early morning a few months ago, I started thinking about my upcoming graduation and the things I have learned. The sun was just coming up and shining through the windows of the new building coming up on campus and it looked just like a rendering we would do for one of our classes. I started thinking about the word render and what parallels it had to my life.


<RENDER/> a: to give in return or retribution; b: give back, restore; c: to give in acknowledgment of dependence or obligation; d: to do (a service) for another; e: to cause to be or become; f: to reproduce or represent by artistic or verbal means, depict; g: a rendition, translation, interpretation, or performance


As I've been living back at home trying to find a "grown-up" job, I have sometimes wondered why. Why haven't I found a job yet? Why did I have to move back home? Why did I graduate early if I've been wasting time and not working for my future?


Through lots of prayer and talks with mom I think I've come to realize my calling in life for right now. To live A Rendered Life. This is my chance to give back. To restore areas of my life and other's lives. To serve my family, serve in my ward, even serve some strangers.  To perform my best in areas I may have been lacking, to interpret the many choices and things in my life into Heavenly Father's plan for me, and become the person I am meant to be.


Life is completely different than I had planned, but I know that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing right now.  My life is a rendering. This blog is my chance to translate my interpretation of life into the blog-o-sphere. 


Things always seem better when you talk them (or type them) out. That's why I love blogging and writing.  My life is adventurous right now! and I don't want to forget a thing!  Read along, skim through, or just glance at the pictures--but no matter how you read, enjoy!