the gathering of girls

...but not all of them.

Here we note the absence of Jenna (who saw Les Mis) and Jenni (who we couldn't reach) and Ari (who I think was at work) as well as any others who were not in town or were otherwise detained.

We all went to high school (at least parts of it) together.  We got together last year and went to Olive Garden and played games at Jenna's house.  Since the last time we've seen eachother, this is where we've come.

Last December was the first time Jenna and Auna told us that they had decided to serve missions.
Now look at them, they're leaving for the MTC on January 23rd.  =)  Auna to Hungary, Jenna to Romania. They both have done school as they awaited the time they could turn in their papers.

Jenni and I said that we'd make the final decision on missions this coming February.  And then Jenni started dating Josh, and then they got engaged, then they got married, and now she is pregnant.  Goodness how life takes us on grand adventures.  Jenni isn't going to serve as a missionary right now, she's gonna be a mommy.  =)

Ari came back from Dixie State and worked in Vegas.  She bought her first car.  She spent time with her little siblings.  She works incredible hours with a home help company (kinda) and enjoys that. 

Suzy didn't make it to our meeting last year.  She finished her Associates at LDS Business college.  She taught English in Russia for 4 months.  She works at a law office and will until she can go back to school to be a traveling nurse.

Megan brought her sister Kaylee with her.  Megan's missionary comes home this year.  She bought a car, she continued school at BYUI, she played on their soccer team, she made incredible friends, she spent the summer in North Carolina.
Kaylee moved to Utah and is in hair school.  She'll be done soon.

Tiffany finished her Occupational Therapy Assistant training/schooling.  She has her Bachelors, or its equivalent.  She passed the big OTA test and now works at a hospital.  She has a real job, working with real people.  She is doing what she went to school for and it's something she loves.  How cool is that?

              some things remain                   Suzy, Megan, Kaylee, Auna, Tiffany, me                that's what makes it fun             

And here they were.  All of us in my house.  I made food that I ate in Cambodia, we took goofy pictures, we caught up.

You know, it's the same amount of time.  Each of us has been given the same amount of time but we went different places and were exposed to different things and chose different experiences, so our lives are very different from one another.  Yet we would not trade them because of the things they've taught.  All of us are doing and have done great things in our own rite.  It's incredible to see where a year or so has taken us, where some re-acquainting is needed.   And yet, we stand in a circle by a door and talk before we go our separate ways, just like we did everyday between Seminary and school.

"Oh the places you'll go..." -Dr Seuss