2011's motto was Be Brave it was something that stayed with me throughout the entire year.

Here's what I did with it:

* I followed promptings to make a major change in my life: apply to grad school. It took a lot of bravery to go back to my Alma Mater and ask for support and help to make that happen. It turned out to be a wonderful experience and exactly what I needed.

* I stopped saying, "well I don't know...IF I get accepted I'll be going back to school..." Instead I started saying, "I'll be going to George Washington University in the fall." 

A specific moment prompted that change of mind and I'll share it briefly here so I don't forget: I was attending Sacrament meeting at my sister's ward in Lehi, Utah. Someone shared a story of their pioneer ancestors and if I remember correctly it was about a family who was stuck in Winter Quarters for some time and were nearly starving to death. A daughter named Maggie was caring for her mother who was ill and could die from starvation if they didn't find food. The mother said her dying wish was that she could taste peaches one last time. Maggie had faith that without a doubt she would find peaches that day for her mother. They had been without food for some time and knew there was nothing in the house, but Maggie had such great faith and prayed so hard that when she went to the attic she found a box of canned peaches. I might have parts of this story wrong, but that's how I remember it. Basically there was a girl named Maggie who had faith enough to produce a miracle. From that moment on I started stating what my future would be instead of approaching it with doubt.

* I thought, "Be Brave," anytime I wanted to text a boy or invite a guy out to something.

* I got accepted to every school I applied to, with heart-wrenching opportunities at each school, but I went with what I felt was the best decision for me and my career.

* I was also brave when I started applying to jobs again. I knew I could only go to GW if I got a full-time job here. So I applied to two and got one! It was a miracle I tell you. And it has been a great blessing. While it doesn't enrich my museum career path that much, it is allowing me to focus on my school work. And the people I work with are really wonderful.

* "Be Brave" got me through my first few weeks of classes and assignments.

* The scariest thing I did this year was present a paper topic idea that I was passionate about and I thought was creative, but it was a DISASTER. Like after I finished my rambling there were crickets chirping in the room. There was some rude feedback, some pity feedback, some direct feedback, and some avoiding glances. It was my worst nightmare come true. I cried myself to sleep over it. And was especially upset because I asked my grandpa to give me a blessing of comfort before the presentation. It was a wonderful blessing and I went into the presentation feeling confident just as the blessing had promised, but that's kind of where the blessing ended and reality took over. It didn't shake my faith though because the blessing really was about helping me feel calm and confident before the presentation. It didn't mention anything about afterwards...so I suppose that was fair game for disaster. But the feedback I got was good and helped me write a better paper. It was just a hit to my ego, that's all. In fact, I really enjoyed writing the paper, learned so much about a topic I am passionate about, and HEL-LO got an A on the paper and an A in the class.

* I also felt very brave and successful when I interviewed 3 museum directors for my Museum Management paper. One was through email. He is the director of the university museum at Northwestern University and chair of a national organization for museum directors. He is very involved in museum policy. The other two were museum directors at BYU. I felt very prepared, audio recorded the interviews and everything, and felt very profession. It was fun! I love museum work and I'm passionate about every aspect of it. I will be the best employee any museum could ever have.

* There are a lot of other things that have required bravery: moving into DC, car issues, money, dealing with relationship issues. And there will be so many more I'm sure.

Now I'm thinking of a new motto for 2012, so I'll be on the lookout for anything that really speaks to me. I hope you all did lots of brave things in 2011 too!

I'm back!

Guys.

All I can say right now is that I survived my first semester of grad school. I enjoyed my two classes and learned SO MUCH. I feel like I am on the right track and am constantly amazed at the blessings that have come into my life in 2011. I'm excited for my two classes for next semester: Museums and Technology and an art history seminar on major art exhibitions in modern American Art. Gonna be AWESOME.

I'm TOTALLY in the Christmas Spirit now. Just downloaded some amazing free Christmas playlists, got candles and hot chocolate to warm me, finished trimming the tree, caught up on Gossip Girl and watched a Christmas movie, now polishing the nails and planning tomorrow's Relief Society lesson.

Got BIG plans for the semester break which includes but is not limited to: getting some art framed/ hung on the walls, trip to NYC to see the 5th Ave windows and do some shopping, mending/dry cleaning my wardrobe, cooking/eating, cleaning/decorating my house, enjoying a simple Christmas with Bremen, working out, and going to New Orleans for work

Guess what. I couldn't get my car to start all day and my friend Matt and I tried everything we could think of and then finally he asked me if I had gas in it...uh....I didn't know, probably not, I haven't driven it much lately, mind has been on complete finals overload, can't explain it. So I put some in and voila. it started. I am ridiculous.