TTA - No Regrets, Just Lessons Learned

I don't like to think too much about the "I wish I would haves" of life. For the most part that has served me well. I do not live in the past. When I do allow myself to go there though, there are a lot of things that come to mind like:

• I wish I would have gone to Dental Hygiene School.


• I wish I would have kept a journal...all different kinds. (life, scripture, books read, etc.)


• I wish I would have enjoyed my newborns more.


• I wish I would have taken more pictures.


• I wish I would have run track in High School.


• I wish I would have run for office instead of Cheerleader.


• I wish I would have learned to cook.


• I wish I would have trained harder for my marathon.

By far my biggest regret in life though is that my friend Liz Pike-Murdock didn't sing at my wedding. Long story, but I still cry if I talk about it or think about it too much.

Luckily, when I look at that list and all the things I could have put there, there is nothing life altering. I actually had a hard time thinking of things to write. Boy am I grateful for that.

Now, on to the "I'm so glad I..." part of this post. We could be here all day!!! I am so glad I did everything! I would not be here now if not for the paths I chose. Of course there are certain things that stand out, so I will attempt to get them down here.

First, I am so glad that I was raised by parents that valued "experiences" more than "things", because the experiences I have had in life are my most cherished possessions. Here are some of the highlights:

I am so glad I was baptized at the age of 8 by my brother Brad. For me it is such a special bond, and one I will always cherish. I attended the baptism of one of Ella's little friends a couple of months ago and there was a little girl there getting baptized by her older brother. The second I saw them sitting on the front row together I was a weeping mess. It was so cute to see him with his arm around her and lean over to whisper something in her ear. I am so glad I share that with my awesome brother.

O.K. I know I've posted this picture before, but It's the only one I have of me in my Senate Page uniform. I swear I have one somewhere of me with Senator Jake Garn, but I haven't found it yet. So, another thing I am so glad I did was spend a semester my Junior year of High School as a Senate Page in Washington D.C. Four of my older siblings had done it and so of course I applied too. Every year the Senators from each state sponsor a Junior in High School to work as a Senate Page each semester. I remember filling out my application with excitement but apprehension. It sounded like a lot of fun, but at the same time I would be missing football season at school and a couple of school dances (Oh, woe is me!) Of course, at the time it seemed like a huge sacrifice, but luckily I knew that you can never go wrong with choosing the road less traveled by.

There were so many times during the months I lived on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. that I thought about how much the people back home were missing out. I felt so blessed to be chosen and able to have that experience. It has given me a lifelong love of politics, a sense of patriotism, and a sense of duty to feel informed and active in how our government works. I would never give up the things I experienced for anything.

I am so glad I went to college. I started out at BYU, which I LOVED, and ended up graduating from the University of Utah. So, I guess my blood runs....purple?! I was so glad I was able to have the experience of living "away" even if it was just and hour away. I am SO SO SO SO SO glad that I went on Study Abroad to Israel for six months in 1995. It would have been really easy for me to not go since Paul and I had been dating for a year and a half and were really serious. I knew I wanted to marry him, but I had ALWAYS dreamed of going to Israel. When I was accepted, I knew that this was an opportunity that would not come around again. I knew that if it was the right thing for us to get married that it would be the right thing when I got home. It only took him until my plane from SLC landed in NYC on the way to Israel to call me at the airport and tell me he had a temple date set. So, I guess you could say I was pretty much engaged while I was there. I cannot put down in words how much the things I saw, the way I felt, and the people I met have influenced my life for good. It is more valuable than I can express. I was able to go to Egypt, Jordan, and of course all throughout Israel. Here I am with cute Mindy on the Israel/Lebanon border! Again, amazing experiences. I am so glad I got my Masters Degree when conventional wisdom would say that it was the worst timing in the world. I had three kids, no friends, a husband who was rarely home, it was bitter cold 8 months of the year, and we were dirt poor! It ended up being the best thing for me at the time. Do I use my degree in Exercise Physiology? Yes, for myself...but no, I don't make any money off of it. But, that's my point. Things you can take with you IE. education, experiences, memories, relationships, are the things that matter the most. I always say that I could be a student my whole life. I love school and I love gaining more knowledge. Perhaps someday I'll go back. I will never regret the time and cost involved in my education...even if I never make a dime from it!On a less serious note, I am so glad we got a Mac a few months ago if simply for the reason that I can do funny photo booth pictures with my kids. O.K., there are so many reasons I love the Mac, but photo booth is awesome. My kids will make little videos, and then at night I come down and watch them and laugh my guts out. Funny to hear what they have to say when they are alone. Now all I need is private tutoring on this thing so I can really use it! Sue, it looks like you are a pro already. Be prepared to give me some tips when I see you for Romey's baptism!I am so glad I am a part of this big crazy family. This is all five of my siblings, their spouses, their kids, and my parents this summer at a family reunion. These are the best people in the world!!Last and most important I am SO GLAD I married this guy!! (Isn't he so cute?!) I'm speechless when I think about what my life would be without him. Everything he does is for our family. He is the hardest working, smartest, most determined husband. I wouldn't want to make this journey through life without him. So, by far, the thing I'm most glad I.... is go here...with him...that beautiful day in July 1995!!