What do you mean it's almost March??

Before I went on my mission to Mexico, my oldest brother gave me a piece of advice. He said, "Aimee, on your mission time is going to speed up. And when you get home, it won't slow down." I wish I knew just how right he was at the time. 

At the time I was just really excited to get out, learn Spanish, and work, so I didn't really take this life truth to heart. 

Well, it's better late than never, and I appreciate being prepared in knowing life is going to continue flying by. All I can do is learn from the past, enjoy the present, while planning for the future, in like 2.6 seconds at a time. I don't get too much time nowadays to breathe during the week, but I've had to much fun to really care. 

However, I do realize I have been slacking on documenting my adventure with GM. I just want to be able to have something to look back on when my future children are in my current position and show them I also had worries, dreams, doubts, fun, etc. I find history tends to repeat itself and I believe my kids will be a lot better off if they can learn from my mistakes. 

That being said, I can't believe it's almost March! We are almost 1/4 of the way through the year. 

GM and I have had a great start to the new year. It started with uncertainty, unemployment, and a whole lot of job interviews. However, I am happy to say we have been immensely blessed by the Lord. Not only were we able to make it financially through our lack of income spell, but I was able to find a career I really enjoy. 

So, now I work a 9-5 job and the regular schedule is great for me. GM is finishing his last semester and is itching to get out and work in the Computer Science industry. I remember my last semester, it was a rough time, not because it was hard/a lot of work, but because I was hit with senioritis. But, I made it through and I know he will too. 

Patience, am I right? Ha, I'm still learning about it... but endurance is the virtue I got. I may be going crazy waiting, but I'll get through whatever blows our way. 

At least I have one good trait, now to build up the rest.

Everything is coming together.

There are some moments in life which give off "natural highs". For example, when you are in a packed parking garage, but find a spot right next to the doors. Or when you check your bank account and there is more money than you originally expected to find. These little things help us find tiny nuggets of joy throughout the day.

And that is one of my favorite things about being alive.

So, GM and I have finished our finals this week (hallelujah), which means we are finally done with a huge portion of our lives, me being in school. It's a weird feeling, albeit a refreshing feeling, to think I don't have to sign up for classes next semester. I believe my planning and organizational skills I've developed through balancing my work schedule with my school and social schedules will come in handy when I'm a mom (I am definitely  not at my mother's level though), but for right now I get to breathe easy because I only have to juggle two schedules. Well, and GM's final semester. But, I always have thought it is easier to manage someone else than yourself, so I'm not too flustered about it.

Now that I can actively work full time without the worry of missing homework deadlines or meeting for group projects, I have decided to move on and "do something with this degree of mine." I honestly think that I can find work in what I want to do, which is content writing, editing work, or teaching. I know this because I have found received some positive responses from the career searching I've been doing.

Oh yeah, and my last days at my job are this weekend. Because I quit.

I have learned I don't have to stay somewhere they don't respect me or my time. I know I have to understand currently I receive the steady income for my tiny family, but I also know I can get a job fairly quickly that will pay the bills. I just want to find something I enjoy doing. And the saddest part of this whole crapshoot job I'm leaving is at the start of working there, I really did enjoy it. But, as the weeks have turned to months, it's been a deteriorating atmosphere. So, I'm leaving and I feel ecstatic about it.

GM and I now get to focus on all the Christmas festivities without worrying rushing to classes or shifts, and I can't wait to start baking!

I want to bake for neighbors, friends, family, I have presents to finish wrapping, activities to plan, it really is going to be a great rest of the holiday season.

And baking means more recipes, so there's something to look forward to!

I feel so unburdened now as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I did it. I left my soul-killing job, I finished my Bachelor's Degree, and now I get to write about how I'm going to spend my favorite holiday, I'm truly blessed.

I just wanted to leave the song we made for our tree. We don't have a ton of space in the apartment, so GM and I decorated a life-sized, cardboard cutout of Boba Fett (Star Wars' bounty hunter, it was an amazing birthday present for yours truly), and call him Boba Tree (Complete with star).

These are the little moments I hope to remember and tell my kids one day. Because the quirkiness and the random parts of our lives give me those pocket natural highs, and that's what makes me happy.

Oh Boba Tree [Sing to the tune of O Christmas Tree]

Oh Boba Tree, Oh Boba Tree,

How lovely is your blaster.

Oh Boba Tree, Oh Boba Tree, 

The Rebels you are after.

Your plasma guns are super cool, 

The Galaxy youll finally rule.

Oh Boba Tree, Oh Boba Tree,

You are a Bounty Master.

Day 1: "Freely you have received, freely give."

Today is the first day of the #LightTheWorld challenge. As you could probably tell from my first post of today, I am pretty excited to start this challenge running. Well, in my case I start this challenge writing. Because I don't hate myself enough to run. No offense if you do, I just have different strokes, like not running ever.

With the Fight or Flight response, I've always been a fighter. Even when it was the most intelligent route. That's how much I dislike running.

Anyway, back to the reason I'm writing another post of the day, Day 1 of Aimee Lighting the World. Plus Giant Man.

The theme for today is found in the Bible, Matthew 10:8, "Freely you have received, freely give." This year I've received many blessings; from marrying my best friend to finishing up my Bachelor's Degree. I will never be able to give back to the Lord for all the blessings He endlessly gives me, but I can show my gratitude for the people in my life.

For today's act of service, it is actually an act of gratitude. On Instagram, I saw this suggestion to how I could "give freely". There were a few different suggestions, but I felt as if this would be the best option for me. 

I wrote my letter and I'll be mailing it today, along with GM's letter to his person. I don't know if it will turn around the day of the receivers or if they'll just be weird out by the spontaneous letter-writing. But, I do know that I don't let them know as often as I should how grateful I am and how much I love them. 

The world is becoming colder and harsher, but that doesn't mean I have to become a colder person, forgetting my basic manners and letting those who serve me go unnoticed. I mean, I work in the Customer Service Industry, I know how often that happens. I don't want to be one of those people. I want to be more outspoken in my gratitude.

It's one thing to feel grateful. It's another thing to express the gratitude to the person who has lifted you up.