In Closing... Wait. The semester's almost over?!

It's about time for a new post and renewed commitment to my blog.  It's been months!

I can't believe that there's only 3 weeks left in the semester, but simultaneously I don't understand how so much could have happened in such a short amount of time.  From school and my future career to improving myself and learning invaluable life lessons, my heart is full of gratitude for everything the Lord has put in my life.

School:
This has been an incredibly easy semester of school, and God knew I needed it; these past fall and winter semesters kicked my trash.  However, it has been a defining time in my schooling since I started communications classes for my minor (public relations) and love them.
I also submitted my grad plan to the school and will be graduating in JULY!  I can't believe how real the light at the end of the tunnel is.  I'll be staying at school for three semesters in a row, but this is what will be best.  I've felt that it's time to move on to other places and experiences that are waiting for me.  Speaking of which...

Future Career:
There is no definite location, company, or specific career that I am pursuing as of yet, and unbelievably, I am OK with that!  There is no anxiety or stress in my heart about it because of my preparation during school (internships, jobs, classes, good grades, etc).
I am unsure if I'll end up in the Horticulture industry, too.  I know, I know, most of you are probably having a heart attack right now, but this is my thought process.  I don't want to limit myself to JUST horticulture jobs when there are so many things I could do.  However, Horticulture will ALWAYS be a part of my life.  Oh yes. My little kids will be calling maple trees Acers, and I'll be playing outside with my kids in the dirt all the time, teaching them about the Krebs Cycle and propagation.  It won't be a surprise if my yard turns into a giant garden (please refer to the "My Big Dream" section of this post).
The big news for future careers is that I've been asked to compete in the PLANET Student Career Days Horticulture competition in March!  I never thought I would go, but my professors thought otherwise.  My life will be dedicated to memorizing close to 400 plants and every single little identification detail about them.  The best part is that this is THE place for horticulture networking, and I'm going just months before graduation!

Improving Myself/Invaluable Life Lessons:
Things have changed.  I'm no longer the person I used to be.  Everyday I change; some days it goes by unnoticed while other days feel so overwhelming by all the changes in my circumstances and mindset.  It's been wonderful.  I have become so appreciative of uncomfortable, often painful change.

Here are a few points I've written down over the semester that have helped me:


You are a solution to the world's problems.

God will never put a stop to our progression.  Only WE can do that when we choose to quit.

"Hope alone will not help us succeed.  True hope leads us to do the things necessary to obtain the blessings we hope for." Steven E. Snow

Mosiah 4:16-19 - Are we not all beggars?

In order to see the view, we must make the climb.

Love is spelled T-I-M-E.

Don't focus on the heartache and failures as sad memories but rather stepping stones that helped you get to where you are today. 

Your attitude on how you view the future will have a HUGE impact on what happens.  If you look forward to a great future, it will be great.  If you plan on something failing, it probably will.