I stuck the sticky note to the back of my door with makeup, straightener, toothbrush/toothpaste, cell phone/charger and blanket written across it. A few hours later I bolted out of bed. Today was the day I had been waiting 18 years for. I was moving out! I got ready, double and triple checked my sticky note of last minute things to pack and headed out the door. Four hours later, I was crying as I watched my mom and dad leave me all alone in a city, not twice the size, but 200 times the size of my itty-bitty Paris Idaho.
That was exactly 3 years and 4 months ago. I still write sticky notes and put them on the back of my door as reminders. I don't double or triple check my packing anymore--even though I should. Provo is not that big, but Paris is that small! I don't cry when I leave home anymore, well, usually not. And I, and I, and I....what the hell have I been doing for 3 years?!
A few days ago it dawned on me that the morning I described earlier, which is still so vibrant in my memory, was over 3 years ago! I still think of myself as this young, lost and naive freshman, but that's not true. In fact, the current freshman are the high school students I taught in my 276R teaching class! That was a weird moment looking across the Cougar Eat and realizing that boy, who was once my student, is now my fellow BYU student.
To be honest, this made me sad. I felt like I hadn't done anything in the last three years. Then I made a list...
1. I have not dropped out of college despite my longing to do so.
2. I have not failed more than 2 college courses.
3. I have had a total of 7 hair colors including purple, blue and blonde.
4. I have moved 5 times.
5. I have traveled past northern Utah.
6. I have discovered the wonderful world of online shopping.
7. I have loved.
8. I have lost love.
9. I have gone to Canada.
10. I have seen Mexico.
11. I have changed interdepartmental jobs 3 times.
12. I have lost my testimony.
13. I have gained a stronger testimony.
14. I have watched every episode of House, Dexter and Cupcake Wars.
15. I have written more papers than I could count.
16. I have baked more cupcakes than I could count as well.
17. I have taught 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade and Sunday School, which was by far the scariest.
18. I have had 5 minors and only 1 major.
19. I have come to love my family more than I can explain.
20. I have not stopped wearing my boots, Carhartt coat or my 20 year old sweater no matter how socially unacceptable they are for Provo.
21. I have come to like a lot more people.
22. I have come to dislike a lot more people.
23. I have expanded my bookshelf by 4 times its original size.
24. I have been called to the Service Committee 4 times. 4. I'm not joking.
25. I have, at times, been entirely happy.
26. I have talked to God. Yelled at, laughed with, sworn at, followed closely, ignored completely, cried honestly and loved God. We have a roller coaster type of relationship.
27. I have never doubted that I want to teach.
28. I have gone through 8 cell phones.
29. I have completely trusted. Once.
30. I have had 3 good years.
That's a Santa hat. Probably won't try that one again 
And we only had 1 casualty. Mallory said it looked like it was shot against the wall. Baking can get pretty gruesome sometimes!