As I started packing up my room yesterday and preparing to get rid of things that I've kept all of these years, I decided I wanted to take pictures of these things and remind myself why I held onto them. Enjoy this virtual tour of my room!
My Bed
Green Blanket: Made for me by my mom years ago, so it's obviously special.
Green Pillow: Flashback to a cross country trip my sophomore year. I'm sitting with Jake and we want to draw, but have nothing to draw on. But, I had this ugly old pillow, and Jake had a pen. Before I knew it, the entire team had drawn on it. Then, we made a tradition to write our favorite funny quotes from each other all over it. It reminds me of the way the team became an instant family to me and how, just after moving back to St. George, I realized that my best friends were the boys I'd known my whole life, but had at some point decided I was too cool for them. When I began cross country and didn't know anyone else, they let me tag along with them. Shallow as it seems, I thought that I'd just hang around them until I made friends, but they turned out to be my best friends! That sophomore year is filled with amazing memories of them, and that pillow reminds me of it.
Tan Pillow: I'll never forget the YW trip to Timpanogas with the 3rd Ward. It had been a rough summer since I had just moved back here and things weren't so great. That hike was the first time I ever felt strong and brave and knew that I could help people. It seriously changed my life. After it, we all signed pillow cases, and I had some of the sweetest compliments on mine. This is when I first started to realize that Heavenly Father brought me back here for a reason.
Purple and Green Pillow: Jandee's Christmas present to me in 8th grade. When I lived in Layton, I slept with that pillow every night so that I felt a connection to St. George.
The Cheetah Print Sheet (Kind of hard to see, it's under the pillows): When the Region meet for cross country was coming up this season, I wanted a little extra luck. Cheetahs are fast so...yeah I hoped the sheet would remind me to visualize the race each night. And, I kinda hoped it had some luck in it, too! ;)
The Dolphin: I'm not sure if I have that thing because I love dolphins, or if I love dolphins because of that thing! I honestly have no idea which cam first. I just know that it was a gift from my dad when he returned from Monterey Bay when I was two. I don't remember that far back, but I do remember when I was eight years old and my dad started working up North, so I only saw him on weekends until we moved. I remember that I had a lot of different stuffed animals in my room, but when this separation began, I started sleeping with the dolphin every night. I would hold it and stare at the picture of me and my dad at my baptism until I fell asleep each night. From then on, it was a habit no matter where I was or if he was there. If I couldn't find it, I wouldn't sleep until I did. Yes, I a 18 years old. Yes, I still sleep with it! It's a complete habit now. In fact, I can't even sleep without my arms wrapped around something. If I'm out of town and don't have it, I had to snuggle with a pillow or something.
The Lamp
When we lived in our house on willow, I wanted this lamp for some reason. After Christmas, I finally had the money to buy it for myself (which is a big deal for a fourth grader!). I never turn it on anymore. In fact, I don't even know if it still works! But, it's been a valuable decoration to me. Whenever we've moved, I've put different things on it. In this house, it's been holding academic ribbons and medals, whistles from basketball games, and, more recently, my Honor Chord and Leis from Graduation. Sophomore year, we had to write a poem about an object that reflected us, and I chose this lamp. I wrote about the way it was different, but that's what made it lovable. It had its own base, it didn't need to rest on a table or anything; it stood on its own. Its arms all stretch out in different ways--always reaching. Every time it moves, something is broken, but eventually, that broken thing becomes a strength and the lamp is more beautiful because of it.
Lion and Guitar
In third grade, I wrote a story about a kitten who did some brave things to help others. Step by step, she eventually ended up looking into the mirror and seeing a lion because of her courage. I ended up winning Region in Reflections for the story and was asked to stand up in front of my entire school and read the story. My parents then gave me the lion and sewed the ribbon on it. Looking at that lion always gives me inspiration when I'm writing.
The guitar isn't just a decoration, I use it quite a bit! When I was 16, Bishop Sheeran told me he thought that I had some untapped musical talent and that he wanted to help stretch me. He started teaching me to play the guitar and let me use one of his until I bought my own. I've been self-taught since I learned my first few chords, and I'm still not good! But, I know most of the chords that are in my singing range, and over the last year or so I've began writing songs. I love it! I always amaze myself by what I am capable of doing and the way that the music and lyrics just seem to fall into place when I begin writing. I've never played for anyone but Jandee, Courtney, and Emily because I don't like my singing voice, but I've still enjoyed it!
The "People Who Have Changed My Life" Board:
One of my favorite quotes is "some people come into our lives and silently go, but others stay awhile and leave footprints in our hearts...and we are never, ever the same." I have that quote on this board, along with pictures of my favorite memories and people. I've filled it with pictures of people and events that I believe have truly made me who I am. It's full of friends, coaches, teammates, etc. This helps keep me from missing people, because it gets me to focus on how they've become a part of me and, because of that, will always be with me, instead of how they're gone.
The Dresser
The Flowers: A lot of different memories there! The first flowers in there were just part of the decoration. Then, I added a bouquet I got from my last volleyball game with North Layton Junior High. Then, I added two roses from different young women's events. My favorite bouquet, though, is the one I got at State Cross Country my senior year. I was having a horrible day being up there but not being able to run. I was watching the race and it killed me knowing that I was better than more than half of the girls that were able to run. I was bawling my eyes out, and then a few of my sweet teammates brought me flowers they picked from the park. They said it was my "Senior Night." It was things like this that made the team such a family. On my worst days, they always made me happy!
Poem in the Frame: Junior year, I had no money for Christmas presents for Jandee, Courtney, and Emily. At that time, we were all working on making decisions about colleges and life was finally starting to get real--I knew that goodbyes were coming soon! I was thinking about all the memories the four of us have together, and, before I knew it, I had a poem about us in my head. I decorated frames, printed the poem, and ta-da, Christmas was complete!
Picture and Album: Pictures of Jandee, Courtney, Emily, and me.
Dirtbiking Helmet: Yes, I miss dirtbiking, but that's not the only reason that the old helmet means so much to me! Our "Dirtbiking Days" were during the happiest time of my family's life. Back then, things seemed so solid. It was the longest we had ever lived in one house and my mom had just finished designing it into her dream home. We had a close ward family, we had a crazy little dog, and we had the dirtbikes. We were never closer than when out riding with each other. The helmet brings me back to the simplicity of those days!
Chicks Rule Posters: Funny little presents from my mom.
Blue Quote on the Wall: Given to me when I received Stake Recognition for my Personal Progress Award. It talks about the qualities a young woman needs to perform miracles for the Lord. I keep it by my door so that I remember to try to live by it on my way out for the day.
Magnet Board
A present from Jandee when I moved to Layton.
Medal Display
I'm not exactly sure what this little medall thing was meant to be, we just kind of found it before moving into this house. I started by hanging road race medals on this thing, but ended up using it to hold my racing shoes, time cards, ribbons, and a quote that says "If you have a worthwhile dream in your heart, don't erase it." It got too full to fit all of my bibs, so I started to be selective. Now, it only has the bibs from my first Varsity race (Hurricane Invite Sophomore Year), State both years, my first Gold Medal 10k, both Footlockers, and Nike Cross Regionals. Oh, the memories!
Necklace Holder
My mom spent hours and hours making this for me. It's full of little hooks for all of my jewelry. I also started keeping my corsages on it. I remember which corsage was given to me by which boy for which dance. Each one has a funny story. The green one took forever to put on at my very first dance when I went to Homecoming with Kameron M. The yellow rose started to fall apart at my Junior Prom with Vince. Parker had a friend make the one he gave me for Prom my sophomore year. Zak did the same thing for my Senior Ball. When my very last dance came around and I had my dream dress, I didn't know how to describe the shade of blue it had, but the tag said "Peacock." Jake said that he had kind of been jealous of the corsages other boys got for their dates at previous dances, so he called Bloomer's instead of Desert Rose. When he told them the color, they laughed and told him they knew what he meant. So, I ended up with a peacock feather on my corsage, and it matched perfectly! The holder also has dozens of necklaces and hair flowers that my mom made, as well as old charm bracelets and my Disney pins.
The Little Corner
The picture of the Savior, the blue quote frame, and the white wedding dress quote remind me of my biggest goals. The sea shell was a gift given to me by Marty and Linda Sheeran when they returned from a trip back in the days that I spent most of my waking moments at their house with Courtney and Parker. The little Willow Tree box was given to me when I received my YW medallion in the third ward. The picture frames were both gifts from Emily.
The Jerseys
Cross Country and Track have been the highlight of my life so far. I invested most of my time and all of my heart in this. The most rewarding moments of my life happened while I wore these jerseys. I didn't think I could just throw them into a dresser drawer after all that! Looking at them gives me determination to work hard in everything I do because when I wore them, I proved that it pays off.
The Desk
Cute picture of me in the mirror, huh? Haha. I wish I could take this desk to college. My mom spent weeks painting, finishing, and basically completely restore this old DI dest. The drawers are lined with scrapbooking paper and each detail on the outside is beautiful and specific. I love it so much! She did the same with the chair and the lamp. Luckily, I get to bring those with me. On day, I'm going to get this desk back and keep it forever, because it will always remind me of my mom and her amazing eye for crafts and the way she paid such beautiful attention to detail. Her personality is all over that thing.
The Cross Country Shrine
I loved Nike Cross Regionals! I remember walking around with Jake and Kyle and stealing the flags from the course. They are so cool-looking and full of memories. The race bibs are from my worst races. I wanted to always remind myself how horrible it feels to finish a race knowing that you didn't try your hardest. So, I burned holes into the unlucky bibs and hung them up in my room with the words "pain is only temporary...race with no regrets." The poster is the Senior Gift from Coach Fielding this year--the list of his best quotes, taken from my Facebook page. The white piece of paper was slipped under the hotel doors of all the varsity runners the night before State my Junior Year. Coach was so excited for us that he couldn't sleep, so he printed out some of his favorite famous running quotes and wrote us all a good luck message. It was such a great surprise that morning! The little board is a Lightning McQueen (my favorite superhero ;)) message board. Attached to it is the little bit of inspiration I needed to get me through Nike, Footlocker, and Track Season. After the disappointing race at Region, Coach Fielding gave me some comforting/motivating words. I typed them up and put them there with a message telling me to prove him right to help motivate me for the coming races.
The Treasure Box
You know those stupid little things that you can't get rid of? The little mementos from the best little moments of your life? Okay, maybe not everyone has those, but I sure do! That' what the treasure box is for. It holds so many things! The glasses I wore in 5th Grade, the Hall Pass I stole from the Orchestra Room Sophomore year thinking it would help me get out of class whenever I wanted, the certificate I got when I recieved my Young Womanhood Medallion, the shoe lace from my first real running shoes, the journal me and Courtney Sheeran used to pass back and forth, the stupid fish stickers from a Unified Studies trip, a copy of Thunderstruck, the pack of gum my mom gave me when she knew I was going to get my first kiss, the box I painted at (what I thought was) my very last mutual activity with the third ward, a pen given to me at Girls Camp one year, the invitation I made when I started the XC Sleepover tradition, a list of all my PR's over the years, the school record I took down before putting my own up, the hearts Jake used his money to make me buy when he was selling them for a HOSA Fundraiser, the remains of a confetti cannon Parker and me used at a basketball game, hair decorations from different dances, etc. etc.
It's not that I hold onto these things because I can't move on with life. In fact, I think I'm really good at moving on and adapting to a new life. But, these things help me look back and remember where I came from. It's the whole Titanic you're-here-in-my-hear-and-my-heart-will-go-on thing. These things aren't what make me who I am, but they're reminders of the moments that did make me who I am. As I pack up and head to college, some of these things will be thrown away, some will be stored, some will come with me in "treasure" boxes, and a select few will come with me as they are. But, I'm finally starting to realize that even without these little souvenirs, the memories will stay alive. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment