Aloooha!
Charging full speed... Like a seagull on the beach. Because that's kinda how life comes at you sometimes, right? One Sunday, you're at the tail end of your month of relaxation in between the mish and university. The next, your brother's gone to the MTC, your mom's come and gone (with the cat, I might add), you've moved up to Logan, and you've got school the next day.Yoh, time moves my friends! Enjoy the moments as they come and don't blink, because before you know it, they're gone and you're on to a new chapter in your life.
I think one of the inevitable results of serving a mission is being prepared for a constant stream of people entering and exiting your life. Every time you get transferred, you're saying goodbye to people you've grown to love and meeting new people that you will once again grow to love, if only for a few months before saying goodbye once again. Up until your mission, things are pretty constant, though. You generally stick with the same group of friends, your family's all together, you live in one place, and life really isn't all that difficult. But I think mission is a little taste of everything that comes next. Finding things that are constant in your life becomes more difficult. It really teaches you to appreciate the little things that do remain constant... The friendships that survive the test of time, having a place to stay where you don't have to live out of a suitcase, and most importantly, family. We're separated for a season between three different states, but it's good to know that after a couple years we'll all be back together again. And with time charging full speed ahead like it has been lately, it really shouldn't be too long.
Spending a couple last days with Blake was the bomb, though. Between haircuts from Raleigh, golfing, dining, and making a whole Snapchat story out of it, we had some good last times. He's sure gonna do great things out there.
So let's see... That all happened. There's been a lot this week. We ended up having to juggle some of Mama's flights around so that the cat could end up in Hawaii. That was kind of an ordeal, but he did end up making it there safe and sound! What else... The same day we dropped Blake off at the MTC was the day I ended up moving to Logan... So it was Syracuse to Provo to Syracuse to Logan all in one day. Hectic, but it ended up working out. Inheriting basically the whole pantry after your family moves across the ocean requires an extra car, so it was good to have Mama here for that. It's taken a couple days to get settled in, but I think I'm about there and it feels great. Went to the temple with Taylor, found a lekker Indian restaurant right close to Oakridge, ended up in Bear Lake with some longtime friends Saturday... It's been gooood times. I'm stoked for this school year to start.
I have a couple thoughts I wanted to share quickly and then I'll probably wrap up. Well, probably just one thought actually... Stewardship. I think generally we all want to be good people and change the world and what and what, but what I've seen time and time again is that it's extremely difficult for one person's actions to change the world in some significant capacity. But where each of us can make differences is in the lives of individuals. I believe that there will always be certain people... Not many, but certain people placed in our lives for a reason. Whether for them to help us, or us to help them, it doesn't really matter, but certain people that we'll be close to. We may not be able to change the world, but we can always be a positive influence to those we're close to. And it may not always be big things, but as we consistently and genuinely go out of our way to make small differences in our friends' and family's lives, brotherly/sisterly love will result. I made the three hour round trip drive to Bear Lake and back with one Luke Koenen (funny story with that...we haven't yet decided if it would be better to call ourselves 5th and 6th wheels to Dan/Kenzie and Taylor/Lauren or to just call ourselves Luke/Dallin...), and we had one of the most spiritually edifying conversations I've had in a long time. I mean it was nothing too big or showy or anything, but I felt like it put both of us in a good place. I dunno, I guess that's kinda my idea of stewardship. Watching out for and being genuine to the people you're close with. I mean obviously be good to other people too, but especially to those you're close with.
Looking back this week... My grandpa's an incredible example of this. On the drive up to Logan, he was telling me how hard it is for him every time one of his grandkids leaves on a mission. I was the first, and Blake was the fourth. He said it's gotten a little easier, but it's still tough. It kinda hit me how much he loves us. He definitely makes me want to be better... Especially to my own family members. He must be doing something right, eh?
Anyway, I should probably run... It's a school night (first in two years...weird), I've got a few people I still want to see, and a whole new chapter in life to get ready for. Luckily, I'll be doing this all in the first permanent home I've had in months and months. Hurrah!
Much love and aloha!
Dizzy
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