And so it begins...

I've never been so great at writing in my journal.  The prophets and apostles have said that it's really important but I just have never been that motivated to do it.  Lately I've been getting the feeling that I should be writing down what's happening in my life. 

I'm going to college.  In five days.  That's kind of a big deal and since I know myself well enough that I know I most likely will not do a good job of recording everything that happens in my journal, I thought it might be exciting to spice it up on a blog.  Post pictures and such.  Make things pretty. 

I know I'm sounding a little sarcastic here, but I'm actually really excited about this blog.  :)  I'm hoping that it will be a good way to keep me motivated to record my life.  And I also want people back at home to still keep in touch and know what's going on in my new and exciting life.  So here goes this blog.  I am by no means a pro at blogging, so hopefully things aren't too boring.  ;)

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Packing.  Whenever my family went on trips or vacations together I always thought that packing was one of the most exciting things about it.  It built up the anticipation for the trip.  I would plan what outfits I would wear each day.  What coloring books and games I would bring in the car or on the plane.  Which stuffed animal I wanted to sleep with for that week. 

Packing for college has been pretty similar.  Except times 100. 

Getting all my stuff together for Provo has been very exciting.  It has gotten me thinking about how I want my room to look, all the cute clothes that I'm going to impress the guys with, etc.  But it's also been a bit stressful (understatement) and sad (also an understatement).  How am I supposed to know what clothes I'll want to wear for the next nine months?  Even I don't plan that far in advance.  What if I forget a bunch of things?  It's not like I can buy them out in Utah.  I'm not made of money, so I have to make sure I have everything that I'll need.  And the things that I do need to buy once I fly out there - holy cow.  A printer, a web cam, a backpack, kitchen supplies, bathroom stuff.  Not to mention FOOD. 

Also, how am I supposed to fit everything I need into just a few small suitcases?  This is something that's been interesting for me to think about the last couple of days: I'm packing my entire life - all of my clothes and personal posessions - into three suitcases.  That's not very much when you think about it.  So, needless to say I've been kind of overwhelmed.  And sad too. 

During the process of packing my things up, I've gone through drawers and boxes of memories.  I've pulled out old books, inspirational quotes from Young Women's lessons, pictures of me and my siblings together when we were little, birthday cards, letters that I wrote to friends in Alaska that I never mailed.  Notes from my mom and dad that say how proud they are of me and how much they love me.

It's definitely been bittersweet.  But packing for BYU still has been like packing for my trips to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Salt Lake.  It's been similar to packing for a week in Florida.  It's made me excited for the things to come even though my life will be changing drastically.  It's made me anticipate how much fun I'm going to have.  I'm going to miss my family so badly, but I know that I'm at the point in my life where I need to move on.  Heavenly Father knows what's best for me and I feel like I need to be at BYU, so that's where I'm going.  Even though I'll miss my family and friends in Columbus, I know that He will comfort me.  Everything happens for a reason.  Even the stress of packing.