Midterm Crisis, Weight loss, Birthdays and the Future

Hey guys! 

So, we just passed midterms, and as the title indicates, I have been going through a midterm crisis. This happens to me every semester. The point where I decide that there are more important things than doing homework and going to class... The thing that is usually more important is sleep. I have to kick myself out of this habit, it is driving me bonkers. Anyway, I registered for my final semester here at BYU-Idaho!! I was on the waiting list for two of the classes that I need to graduate, and then I wasn't sure about another class because the teacher has to add me specifically, and I never heard back from her, but all of that was resolved. I am now on my way to being the best psychologist/seamstress there ever has been! I am excited to graduate, but I am even more excited to move back to Washington!! It is only the happiest place on earth! Oh I have some great news, I like to brag about myself. I got through midterms with 19 credits and I still have all As! Who knew that that was even possible!?! I am pretty pleased, and hopefully that doesn't change as the semester comes to a close. Elan is doing pretty well, too. If you didn't know he changed his mind about what he wants to do with his future. He wants to be a geologist! So there is a huge difference between when he used to do his business homework and him doing geology homework. He is happier and healthier! So that is excellent. He has all As and Bs right now, so I'd say that is pretty dang good! 

So, I know you all want to know... I have lost 18 pounds!!! And I learned the secret to weight loss... are you ready? People pay hundreds of dollars for this... Okay, all you have to do is burn more calories than you eat. It is that simple! Who knew!? I use a wonderful tool called myfitnesspal! Use it! And, I have some other crazy news that people might think I have gone nuts because of, but I am excited nonetheless. I signed up for the Teton Dam marathon on June 8th. So in addition to my workouts with my biggest winner group, I am also training for said marathon. I know that I won't be able to run the whole thing, but that is okay. I just want to be able to say that I finished a marathon. And then, next time I will run the whole thing. And eventually I want to do an Iron Man triathlon! I don't know what has gotten over me because last year, I couldn't run a block without stopping. But I have learned that I love running! And I can run over a mile without taking a break. I can do 3 miles consistently in under 37 minutes! So, something has happened, and I like it!~ I have also found that working out and losing weight has made me a happier person! I find joy all around me now, and I feel better about myself. It is a good place to be! 18 pounds guys! I still have a long ways to go, but I think that is awesome! 

So Elan's birthday is on Saturday, and luckily my brother Jake is celebrating his birthday that night so that we can just borrow his friends and pretend like they are ours! Jake has so many creative ideas... he decided that this year they are going to celebrate his birthday by having cupcake wars. I know you are probably thinking about the tv show. No. It is literally making cupcakes and throwing them at each other. We will have a bunch of frosting, and then dip the cupcake and throw at each other. I think it is the most ridiculous and brilliant idea I have ever heard! So luckily, we have that planned for Elan's birthday so I am not pressured to throw him a big party! I am excited! 

So I just looked outside and the snow that has been melting all day magically appeared in huge snowflake form. Holy cow, what am I going to do with you Rexburg? Oh yeah, I'm leaving you at the end of July!! So you guys might be wondering what we are going to do after I graduate, well... Elan is transferring to a Washington State school and I will find an awesome job with amazing benefits. (Maybe Costco!) Then I will get pregnant because I will have been so healthy that I kicked PCOS in the behind, and have a happy family when Elan graduates and becomes the best geologist the world has ever seen! (okay maybe this is my fairytale version, but I like it anyway) 

I love you guys! remember that sometimes in order to answer our prayers, we have to work twice as hard. 

Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on yourself! 

Life keeps going

So, many of you know how busy me and Elan are this semester. I am taking 19 credits, and doing the biggest winner program at school, and Elan is taking 16 credits and working 18 hours a week. We are pretty busy, but we still try and find time to do things together. This weekend we went to a jazz festival and a Valentine's dance. It was fun, but the feeling of being overwhelmed was not helped. It is especially hard when I have big assignments due later, and of course my first reaction is to procrastinate. So, it's a work in progress. Some other news, I am doing the Biggest Winner at school which is the BYU-I's version of biggest loser! I have already lost 8 pounds! It is another time commitment, but I think that it is well worth it. My goal for this semester is to lose 30 pounds and I would like to lose 100 pounds this year. I know it sounds like a lot, but it is only 2 pounds a week. I can do it! When I am really struggling I think of the kids that can't come yet because my body isn't ready, and how I am doing it for them. Speaking of which, I am doing a lot better with not having children yet. I have to keep counting my blessings and I read Isaiah 53 a lot. I know that things are going to happen for me, I just have to do my part. It is a little bit hard to see my friends who got married around the same time as me having their second child. I am of course happy for them, but I thought that I would be there by now, too. If you asked me 4 years ago what I was doing in 5 years, I would have said, "well I'd probably be at home taking care of my kids." I have the same goal for the next 5 years I guess. I am grateful for my sweet husband who loves me through all of this. Something cute that happened was this: during the opening ceremonies of biggest winner, he started to cry because he was so proud of me. He's so great and supportive. I really am lucky that I get to spend more time with him. Just him. So in other news, I am training a rat. Yeah... it's kinda fun, but I have an aversion to mice and rats that has transferred through generations, so I had to spend extra time getting used to him. His name is Luey. We are cool now!

Here is my lesson for you all. No matter what happens in life, it keeps going. It isn't going to get better when some great thing happens like for me having a baby or graduating from college (July 23)! It is a journey and we need to enjoy it while it lasts. Make sure that you count your blessings (it will surprise you what the Lord has done). I know that He loves me very much, and just remember that sometimes our timing and the Lord's timing are different, but it doesn't change the fact that He loves us and wants what is best for us. He has not forsaken us. Please don't give up on Him.

Love you all! Be true! Be strong!

Tasha