Happiness= Reality-Expectations

I have returned to the world of blogging! Ostensibly because Dan is gone for an extended period of time on military assignment and this is a good way for him to see what I'm up to whenever he has a free minute, regardless of his time zone. But also just because I missed writing and sharing and connecting. Part of the reason I stopped blogging in the first place is because I was, well, not incredibly psyched to share my increasing less glamorous existence. But then I read an interesting article (sent to me by my mother on Facebook) that argued that part of the reason there is so much unhappiness amongst my generation is because of "imaging crafting". You know, utilizing Facebook/blogs/Instagram to present a perfect life (which isn't reality) which in turn makes other people unhappy at how imperfect their life is in comparison to your (fake) perfect life.

{Yup, Im living in my old bedroom. But with a cool new ram's head. Thanks Mom!}

 So let me unimage craft my life: I'm living in my parents basement. It makes sense in so many ways: I don't have to be living alone while Dan is gone, I feel much safer/happier this way, we're saving a ton of money, I work with my dad and can thus carpool, I really love my family and would prefer if we could all live together permanently in a commune... And yet - I was tempted to get my own place simply so I wouldn't have to face the stigma of telling people that I am a twenty five year old that lives with my parents. I was seriously considering being miserable and alone in some one bedroom apartment in dixie downs in order to avoid embarrassment.  But the article, coupled with this quote I found on evil Pinterest, inspired me:

I'm trying to be much more concerned with creating a life that feels good on the inside, not looks good on the outside. And do you know what feels good on the inside? Living at home while Dan's gone. So there it is. A small sampling of what I've been loving while living at home:

1) I will never stop thinking Southern Utah is the most beautiful place on earth. Zion NP is 45 minutes away. Hiking "Observation Point" followed quickly by eating at Oscar's is basically Nirvana.

2) I get to be home for such important events as my childhood dog, Cedric's, 14th birthday party! I mean really though. 

3) I'm this little sister's sunday school teacher. I'm sure Katheryn just looooves having me harangue her and the other 16 year olds in the ward into coming to my class every week. Not to mention the new "Come Follow Me" manual has very little guidance, so I'm basically just up there free basing every Sunday.   Figuring out how to make five really interesting lessons on the atonement without resorting to color pages isn't really my forte...I was apprehensive at first, I had the sunbeam teaching thing down, but I actually really being a big kid sunday school teacher after all. 

More to Come.