21

Today is my 21st birthday.  It is kind of a big deal.  I am now officially officially legal! 

Here is my top ten favorite things about the last year:
1) Researching.  Obviously, I have fallen in love with it!
2) School.  Learning is the BEST!
3) My friends.  I have some really awesome friends who go out of there way to buoy me up and keep me going.
4) The fact that I still have a job (even though I'm not a fan of it) is pretty miraculous.
5) Getting to know my family better.  Wade is growing up so fast, and Cory and I have also gotten a lot tighter.
6) Teaching primary and piano.  Kids are amazing...and amazingly cute!  They learn so fast!
7) Reading.  I have had a lot more time to read for pleasure, and for school the last two semesters.  There is something awesome about being able to read.  Written language is so powerful.
8) Playing the piano for the West Ridge Academy.  The boys there are great and it has been fun to see how some of them have changed.
9) Setting goals and attaining them.  It feels pretty awesome!
10) Having a great ward!

This birthday has caused me to be a little bit introspective.  What have I done with the two decades I've had so far?  Am I really doing what I should be? What is in store for me for the future?  Where do I go from here?

Then I had an epiphany... I need to stop thinking about myself so much!

My goal for my next decade is to focus more on other people; give more service, pay more attention to the mental states of people around me, be more in tune with what others need. 

I love having a birthday so close to Christmas because I get to reflect on all these things and the birth of our Savior at the same time.  I am going to focus more on Him this next ten years, too.  After all, who gave more service or love to those around them than He did?