Growing up & moving out

If you read my last blog it's all about growing up.

I knew I'd grown a lot in the past year. Graduating from high school, especially a year early, does that to you. But I didn't realize how much I've grown until my father turned to me Tuesday night after getting back from Mutual night in the family ward and said, "Hey, you're graduating from Seminary in a few weeks."

Didn't I just graduate 3 months ago? Nope. It's been almost 11 months now. Where has the time gone?

I knew about halfway through my freshman year of high school that I did not want to spend another 3 years there. So in the last month of school we met with the school counselor, Ms. Luther, and started looking into how I could graduate early.
Our answer came when we found out the I could take classes correspondence through BYU (Brigham Young University).
And isn't that just funny that I was able to graduate from high school because of the college that I hope to someday attend?

All in all, over the next two years I completed I'd say 12-15 classes correspondence. Although I graduated on May 15, 2009 it was no easy task.
We didn't know for sure that I'd be able to walk with the rest of my class until the week of graduation. In fact, I took my last final through BYU only 2 or 3 days before graduation. So I ended up taking 7 finals instead of the usual 6.
But I did it! I graduated. And let me just say, there's no way I could have done it without my family.
I sacrificed time to complete the classes but I didn't feel like I was missing much. I was going to school, working, and going to church. That was all I needed at the time.

Now, here it is, almost a year later and I'm doing pretty much the same thing. Only at a higher level.
I'm taking 3 college classes. Two through BYU correspondence (ironic, eh?).
I'm working 2 days a week.
And I'm attending the Singles Branch.

But I get the feeling that the Lord has bigger and better things headed my way.

This past week I've looked at my life and said I'm good for now.
But I've also gotten the desire to do more with my life.
I'm going to start job hunting so I can actually be saving money and not just letting in have a brief glimpse at my bank account and wallet.
I also want to go to college more. When fall comes I want to be taking 3 or 4 classes. And I'd like to maybe try taking some up on the UAF campus. I love the TVC building and how small it is. But if I'm ever going to make it to BYU-I I'm going to need experience at an actual campus.
I love going to Singles. It's one of my most favorite places.

Those things will all come eventually. And, personally, I hope it's sooner than later. But the Lord will show me where I need to be in life and, obviously, it's not fall yet so I can't add more classes to my schedule yet.

But you know what I'd really like to do?
MOVE.

I have never moved in my life.
The farthest I've moved is from one room in my house to another. That's it.
The closest I've ever come to moving is by switching branches and wards.
I was born into the 1st ward. My parents moved to Moose Creek when I was only a few months old. We were in Eielson Ward for a few years and then the family was called to serve a 'mission' in the Salcha Branch. We were there for nine years. I grew up amongst the Salchanites. And then when we were called back to the Eielson Ward the last week of my 8th grade year I was devastated. And then I didn't even go to Ben Eielson for high school until last year (I went to Hutch & Seminary with the 1st ward). So I didn't even really know the youth in Eielson until last year. And then I graduated and now I'm in Singles.

Me even thinking about moving is a big step on my part. This time a year ago I got my permit. While my dad and I were sitting waiting for my permit to be printed he asked me what I thought about moving. I can't remember where he said. Probably Idaho, I bet.
I just looked at him like he was crazy.
Him and Mom have lived in Alaska for almost 22 years now. They drove the ALCAN highway when Mom was 7 months pregnant with Tabitha.
How could we possible leave? This is where my parents have lived almost their entire marriage.

When they moved to Alaska they thought it'd be for 4, maybe 5, years. But look where we still are.

Maybe it's time to move. Only the Lord knows when it will be the right time for me and/or the family to move.

I have the faith that when the time is right, He'll tell me when it's time to move and when it's
time to stay.