2013: The Good Stuff.

It's

bitter

SWEET

to see 2013 walk out the door.

 Notice that the word bitter is really tiny and the word sweet is huge. 

That more accurately describes to what extent I'm feeling each of them. 

Yep, just a little bit bitter and a lot a bit sweet, because honestly, 2013 was a roller coaster that I was well ready to get off of. 

Then again, every year seems to be a roller coaster and I really think thats how it's supposed to be, so I guess what I really mean is that I'm ready for a different roller coaster now. 

Anyway, I was looking through my pictures from the past year, and it made me realize that mixed in with all the hard stuff that happened, there was a lot of good stuff meshed in with it. So in memory of twenty thirteen, I'm going to share some of the good stuff. 

I learned to mountain bike.

Guys! It is SO fun.

If you've never tried it, I highly recommend it.

Cruising down a mountain on a bike, and not knowing if you'll actually stay on the bike or if your body is going to not-so-gently kiss the ground sounds scary, but its actually......okay yeah, it is scary. It's fun though!! 

One of the most exhilarating experiences I've ever had. 

And my mountain biking experiences wouldn't have been possible without this guy. One of the greatest human beings I have ever had the privilege of being around.

I went to Moab, Utah for the very first time. 

                                Which also included seeing Arches National park for the first time. 
                                      How have I lived in this state my whole life and never
                                                            been here before now? 
     I'm so lucy to live here! Everyone bashes Utah for its lack of cultural diversity, and I'll agree    with that, but the diversity you can find in our landscapes make up for it :)   

3 of my greatest friends asked me to be apart of 

one of the greatest days of their lives. Pretty soon, the 27 dresses movie will be my reality though. Kinda sad.  

Although it was a shameful experience to say goodbye to my team and my schooling, mid-semester, so that I could get help with my eating disorder, it was this experience that taught me what being apart of this team really means. Not only does this team root for all of the sports teams at BYU, but this team also roots for each other. I wouldn't have made it through this year with out these amazing people on my side cheering for me. There were times that I hit rock bottom and planned to just stay there, but then one of these amazing girls (or boys) would say just the right thing to pick me back up.  

In treatment I had the opportunity (a.k.a. I was FORCED) to do art on a daily basis. Prior to this, I hated art. I claimed it just wasn't my thing. But once I let go of the expectation that my art had to look professional, I secretly had a lot of fun doing it. There is something meditative about creating something that's exclusively your own.   

I discovered that even when you can't go inside the temple, there is still a very unique peace that can be found by simply being in the presence of a temple. Until the weather got awful, I liked to go and just sit on the temple grounds and write in my journal, or read. I always found the serenity that I was looking for. I encourage anyone that needs a little comfort, but can't go in the temple, to just go and sit out side of it. Here are a few of my favorite pictures I took this year at the Provo, Utah Temple. 

This year, I gained a passion for reading. I was never much of a reader before, but I decided to give it a shot.  

WOW. 

Had I been missing out or what?? 

reading >>>movies 

My mom was pleased to hear about my new found interest in reading because she, too, loves to read. One of my favorite memories with my mom this year was going up the Provo canyon and just reading with her by the river. Not many words were said between us, but I felt that it was the most connected I had felt to my mom in a long time.  

Originally, my plan was to get out of treatment and just work for a few months and then apply to nursing school. 

Too bad life never really follows my directions.
 I'm really glad it didn't though because instead, I got the chance to go back to BYU, graduate, and cheer for one more year. The way I had originally left BYU and my cheer team was anything but ideal, so now I get to finish the right way and I'm so incredibly thankful.

Being with a group of people who share not only my love for cheerleading but also my love for the Gospel was something I hadn't fully appreciated until this year. 

I got to travel to Notre Dame. No bid deal ;) Coolest campus I've ever seen!!

OH! But before I decided to go back and cheer, I was able to attend my first BYU football game AS A FAN! In all my years at BYU, I had never watched a game from the stands so I had to take this picture. It's very different from being on the sidelines, but enjoyable in its own way.  

The last and most recent experience I had was moving out of my moms house. 

(It's about time Tay.)

I don't have pics yet, but I'll post about it soon. For now, I'll just say that its been one of the best decisions I've made this year. I love my family to death, but there are things I have learned by moving out that I never would have learned otherwise. 

*post coming soon*

I can honestly say that I'm proud of myself and where I'm at in life right now. I have a looooong way to go and lots to learn, but I'm content with who I am and where I'm headed. I haven't felt this type of motivation and optimism about my life in years. I never would have thought that I would be ending the year with the biggest grin on my face. 

2013....you won't be missed but I do thank you for everything you taught me.