This blog is for me to journal my ups and my downs as I try to take control of my emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in my quest to become the type of Mormon woman that my Father-in-Heaven would have me be. I am going to set goals, evaluate my progress, tell you about what is going on in my life, and hopeful give hope and inspiration to those feeling overwhelmed with being the perfect Mormon. (Just so you know, she doesn't exist.)
So to start, let me tell you about me. Don't worry, this will be brief, but you need to know where I come from to know where I am going and why. My name is Shelley. I was born in Riverside, California, and was raised with four other siblings. I have an older brother (lives in Utah), a younger brother (lives in Pennsylvania), and two younger sisters (both live in Nebraska). I was raised in the Mormon faith and have terrific parents who did their best to teach me all I needed to know to be happy in this life, as well as in the life to come. I was married to my sweetheart, Dan, back in 1991 in the Denver, Colorado Temple and have three...strike that...four, soon to be five, children. Jonathan is 22 years old, in the Marines, and about to be married to his sweetheart, Samantha, in the San Diego Temple this month. Mikaila is 19 years old, a student at BYU, and a new wife to her sweetheart, Joshua. They were just married last month in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. Tessa will be 17 years old this month, is a senior in high school, and is in the process of organizing herself to be an exchange student in Germany next Fall.
Oh wait... you wanted to know about me personally... well, I am 41 years old. I live, of all places, Kansas. I am active in my Ward at church and serve as the Music Coordinator, a Choir Pianist, and a Sacrament Director. I sing in a regional choir. I am a full-time student and just about to receive my Associates in Liberal Arts; meaning I am finishing up my General Education requirements this semester. I have two more years before I receive my Bachelors in Psychology, and yet another 2-3 years to get my Masters in Crisis Psychology. I am really excited and terrified at the same time to transfer to Kansas University next semester, but that is a story for another post. I also love to read, play the piano, scrapbook, do genealogical research, and hang out with friends.
Hmmm, seems like my life is pretty good, and, well, it is. But guess what, life being pretty good and life being "perfect" are two very different things. I struggle a lot with being organized, balancing family/home with school, reading my scriptures and saying my prayers consistently, eating right, exercising regularly, waking in morning cheerfully, etc., etc., etc. As I was pondering upon all these things, I realized that these were things that I had the power to change. But before I go about learning to change these things about myself and blogging about them, I need you to know why I am a Mormon. It isn't because I was raised in the faith, it is because...
Well, I need to be off to school. I have a night class tonight. I'll tell you why I am a Mormon the next time I post. In the meantime, remember who you are!
