We get the big jobs and we make the big money

Sorry I have been MIA. Things have been crazy at our house! I have had some major life events happen in the last week. I thought about making the post just a combination of all the things but each one deserves it's own. I GRADUATED!

The week leading up to my graduation I was getting on average about 5 hours of sleep a night. I was so tired and had so much left to do. The night before I was very seriously contemplating skipping it and using the time to sleep in. The more I thought about it the more I decided I would regret not going in the long run. I am so glad that I went.

Before the ceremony I didn't feel like this was a big accomplishment. It wasn't a degree and going to school after high school was just expected. To be honest I was a bit embarrassed that I am only an accounting assistant. My mom and dad both have their masters and it all the people I went to high school with have finished their degrees. There have been some challenges that have put some stumbling blocks in my way but I wasn't allowing for those, all I knew was that I didn't feel as "successful" as everyone else.

The speeches at the ceremony were brilliant. They spoke of the hard work, long hours, and time commitment that our program took. The courage that it took some of us to come back to school. They told us to be proud of our accomplishment and enjoy our day to celebrate.  After the ceremony I felt so much better. Yeah I did work hard, did very well, and finished the program.

I am certainly not finished with my education but I am going to take a moment and be happy with what I have done.

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard...

 
For Christmas my littlest sister, Sage, made Remy and I friendship bracelets. We both put them on right away. Mine fell off at school one day but Remy's has stayed on. He wears it all the time. My little sister adores Remy and every time I see that bracelet it warms my heart. He is such an amazing man to wear that bracelet to make a little girl very happy.

A few nights ago I decided we were going to make Sage a friendship bracelet for her birthday and that I was going to teach Remy how to make one. He agreed with a loving smile.  I love when Remy agrees to my crazy ideas, he's such a good sport. In the past when I've told my dad about the things I get Remy to do he'll say "You do remember Remy is a boy right?" Yup, I haven't forgotten.

After dinner I said "Alright make sure you've got your thinking cap on." Remy was so serious about it having a thinking cap that I actually made one and made him wear it.

 

Armed with supplies and milkshakes we went out onto the balcony to make some friendship bracelets.  Remy did a great job and really got the hang of it.

 

Mostly I just love that he goes along with my crazy ideas. I certainly married the perfect man for me. Only 10 more days until we make it forever.

I hate when I am making a milkshake and boys just show up in my yard.

Run, Chelsea, Run

Lately I have taken up running. When I was younger I hated running. I thought it was the most pointless thing in the universe. When I was in cheerleading we used to have to run a mile a day and it was pure torture. Give me the elliptical or stair stepper or anything else. So what caused this change of heart you may ask? Well, running is free. (kind of) You can just step out your door and run. Although I quickly found that the proper (and expensive) shoes DO make all the difference.

Old Shoes

New, "walking on air" shoes

I have been running (consistently) for a few weeks now and have made very slow progress. I started running about 5 minutes and then walking 5 minutes for about 40 minutes and being out of breathe. I slowly started to run more and walk less and gradually be able to breathe better. Tonight was a big night for me. I ran 10 minutes at a steady pace. I wasn't out of breathe when I stopped or tired I could of kept going but didn't want to do too much. I am so excited. I am seeing my legs muscles change little by little and I feel so encouraged.  Some things have come up in the last few days that have made life (really) hard and I needed this accomplishment so much. I didn't even realize how much I needed it until it happened. I almost leaned over to the girl running next to me and said "Did you see what I just did?!"

I have also been sun tanning lately. For a few weeks now I go out to sun tan for about an hour a day. I don't really like doing it but here is why:

I have ghost legs. I have worn nylons (since cheerleading) ever time I wear a skirt to make my legs look nicer. Nylons are hot. I don't want to have to wear nylons on our sealing day so my legs need to be tan. To be tan you have to lay out in the sun. And there you have it.

The running and sun tanning have always been my sister's things and are both new for me so when I told my mom she jokingly said, "Running and sun tanning, what have you done with my Chelsea?"

I'm still here people don't worry.

Long Beautiful Hair

Do you ever have those days when you just feel like blah? Those days when your self-esteem is really in the tanker? I believe that every person should have two stand by things that they love about themselves for just such an occasion. One has to be something they love about the way they look and the second needs to be what they love about them as a person. So when you look in the mirror and think "I am so _________ (broken out etc...) today, oh well at least I have awesome __________ and a wonderful ________." If you don't have these things stop reading right now and think of some! I mean it.

As a young woman I struggled with self-esteem the same as most girls. One day at girls camp I came to a realization, Heavenly Father made me this way. He loves me and thinks I am beautiful the way that I am. Who am I to think I am not. How ungrateful to sit and complain about your imperfections. It didn't fix my low self esteem but it certainly made me stop and think a number of times about what I love about myself.

So here is one: my hair. I love love love my hair. It's straight, thick, healthy, shiny, and I can do just about anything to it. The color is rich and beautiful. I am not in love with the length at the moment (grrrrrrrr!) but that will change in a couple of short weeks. I have always worn my hair with bangs, always. In high school a friend of mine said something to make me feel self conscious about it and so I have always felt a little ashamed but it's actually something Remy loves. He told me that he thinks they are adorable and hope I never grow them out. Take that high school friend! :)

Anyway....I need some help decided on a hair style. Remy and I are headed to the temple for our sealing in (drum roll please) 13 days! I would like to get my hair done for our forever pictures but I am have a hard time picking one that would look good  enter poll:

 A.

 B.

 C.

 D.















E. WHAT?! None of these! I will tell you what you should do in a comment below....

You will get 10,000 friend points if you vote, you can cash these in at a later date. 

Note:These are not my pictures.