Now is the Time~

I want to document my time in Cosmetology school.  No better place than my blog.  It's been neglected far too long.

My 2014 montra is "Now is the Time".

I've wanted to do hair for years.  I thought about going when September (my cousin) went in 2000.  I was advised by a loved one, that this was not a viable profession.  I listened.

Sixteen years later, an almost 12 year marriage to Jason, and realizing my divine worth as a daughter of God, I have finally washed those "viability" thoughts out of my mind.

I contacted Paul Mitchell Boise in January and started the process.  I was horrified.  And thrilled.  I made Candace go with me to my tour at the school.  (Jason had to work).  We left, she was almost more excited than I was!  It was pretty darling.

I started school yesterday.  April 22, 2014. I survived.  The long lingering thoughts of my personal doubts slowly went away.  Somewhere, along my life journey, I convinced myself that I was dumb.  Slow.  Not able to learn new things.  Which, in itself IS DUMB.  But alas, often times that voice is the loudest.  And although I found myself overwhelmed at times, I processed things in small pieces.  And survived.

Here is a list of some of my fears.  Just so we are clear....

Will I be WAY older than my classmates?
Can I do the chemistry aspect?  (I never took chem in HS)
Will my kids be ok while I am in school?
......
The list goes on, but you catch my drift.

How does one combat fears?  


PRAYER.


Here were/are some of my prayers:

Let me find a friend.

Let me be calm.

Let me be open minded.

Let my divine potential shine through my doubts.

Let me lead.

Let me be lead.

Never leave me feeling alone.

Let me find joy in all the new things.

Don't let who I was in HS, cloud who I am now.
...................


There are more as well.  Some I will hold close to my heart.


I can tell you that prayers are being answered.  One by one.  Some through others, some through the Holy Ghost.  All through my Father in Heaven.


I am so thankful for all those who have made it possible for me to take a step out of my life, and follow my dreams.  Jason.  Candace.  Grammy.

 This is me.  Finding JOY in my new kit filled with awesomeness!

I will keep this blog going, especially about my journey through school.  I hope you enjoy, find joy, some laughter, and escape your life.  Just for a moment.

#NowIsTheTime

xoxo Alli

Christmas 2013 and my "FaceBreak"

Back in October I started having promptings that I needed to get off of Facebook.  What?  How the crud can I do that?  How will I know what's going on with my friends, family, the strangers I stalk, or the recipes I want to try?  How will I sell Scentsy, or 31??  How will I feel validated by the likes or comments I get?  Cause really, that's a major part of what I finally realized was making FB such an addiction for me.  Logging off was not easy.  I started in November by unliking all the pages that were not "people".  That helped.  Then I started hiding.......you know.....whoever I did not want to see every time I logged on! To me it's less mean than unfriending......but that's a whole other story ;)

So I set a goal in December....go 31 days FB free.  I called it a "facebreak"! I am so glad the way it all worked out!  It was hard the first few days, or the times when people were talking about things that I knew nothing about.  Or when my friends dog died and I didn't know! (RIP Coal!!!!)

Days turned to weeks, and before I knew it I was doing it!  I still did Instagram, cause that's my favorite way to share pics!  So I felt in the loop somewhat!  Within a few days of starting my facebreak I felt the Spirit stronger.  I felt clarity.  I felt validated by the Holy Ghost, and not likes or comments.  I became in tune with my awesome kids.  Which they are so awesome by the way.  I'm beyond lucky to call them mine.  

Jason asked me what my first post was going to be 1/1/14.  It was this:

December was a great time to refocus on my family, and my testimony of Jesus Christ.  

I'm feeling accomplished!  I recommend taking a facebreak.  Even if it's a day, or a week.  Whatever you think you need.  But make it hurt.  And make it worth it.  It was like a FB fast.  

fast²

fast/

verb

gerund or present participle: fasting

1. 1.

   abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, esp. as a religious observance.

   synonyms:

eat nothing, abstain from food, refrain from eating, go without food, go hungry, starve oneself;

It was worth it.  

Here are some snip-it's of our holiday!  We were lucky enough to have Jason's parents, as well as his sister, her husband and 4 kids!  It was a full house filled with lot's of laughter!  And maybe some tears??  Darelyn, Mom & Dad, thank you for sharing your Christmas with us!  My kids will treasure those days forever!!!!!  I married into an AMAZING family!  

 We started a new tradition!  We tried to see Frozen on Christmas day, but alas, so did all of Meridian!  So we went the next day!  1.  The movie was AWESOME!!!!!!  x's a zillion!  I even bought the sound track!  Do you want to build a snowman? If I ask Jason again he is going to kill me.  Lol!  

Jason and I hit Tucano's for his birthday lunch.  I always have big plans of eating myself to death, but after one or two rounds of meat, I'm dead meat!  It was worth spending the day with my best friend!  

We (Smith side) celebrated our 8th annual Crazy Cousin Christmas Eve!  Mexican food, gift exchange, and lot's of fun.  Sadly, many cousins were missing!  It just wasn't the same!  

What's a party without wrassling G'pa?  

 Aunt Darelyn read a great Christmas Eve book to the kids! 

Emery, Natalie, Taylor and Amelia loved all these clapping games.  They have a song for each one!  

Keller is the best big cousin.  The boys were always in his shadow.  They had a blast with him!   

 Cousin pj's!!! 

Amelia wasn't too far from Ellie the entire time!  I don't think Ellie Mae minded at all!  Spoiled pup! 

Mr. Blue and I stuck to our guns this year with only ONE gift to our kids.  We spent all of December talking to them about Jesus Christ, and all that He did for us.  Our goal was to SIMPLIFY our lives.  Much along the lines of my facebreak, really plugging into my kids, etc.  I'm so thankful for the promptings I felt.  It made for a wonderful way to end 2013, and start 2014!

Not once did they feel like they got less than normal.  Maybe it was the distraction of family.  Maybe it was the lessons we taught that month.  Maybe it was their little Spirits recognizing the importance of having a relationship with their Savior.  Who knows?  I just hope we can keep it up!  Cause it's a good feeling!

Here's to my New Years 1st resolution:

Start blogging again, and not relying on FB for my family history!  

#boom 

xoxo Alli Blue