What We've Learned In This Home

We've been living in this townhouse for exactly 6 1/2 years. Kinley was 3 weeks old when we moved the last time. For all intents and purposes, this is where we became parents. While we are excited for our new adventures and upcoming fresh start, we will dearly miss this beloved little community. In the last 6+ years, we've learned more than we thought possible and have made some treasured life-long friends.

I'd like to think that I'm leaving this area a better person than I was when I came into it, and if that's true, it's because of the people I've been surrounded by. I've been mulling over the things I have learned in the last 6 years, feeling extremely grateful for the opportunity that we have had to be here.

Things I've Learned

1. We are all more alike than we are different
2. If you "build a girls night out, they will come".
3. I'm not weird; I'm "quirky"
4. Everyone thinks they are the weird one
5. Women love food. The End.
6. You don't have to be afraid to bring up someone's loss or struggle. Sometimes they really want/need to talk about it with someone who isn't freaked out by it.
7. There are all kinds of people that live in Utah (who knew?)
8. Utah is a great place to raise a family (again, who knew?)
9. People have struggles and challenges in Utah, just like everywhere else. Drug addiction, divorce, illness, single parenthood, lonliness, depression, etc.
10. Playdates are really fun
11. Entertaining children doesn't have to cost a lot of money
12. Blogs make the world go round
13. The world doesn't generally play fair
14. It's ok to be different
15. Bad things happen to good people
16. Everyone has baggage
17. Most people really mean well and would never intentionally hurt or offend anyone
18. Everyone is looking for understanding and friendship
19. You can learn to love anybody
20. First impressions are often misleading. Take another look.
21. I like juvenile and teen literature. A lot.
22. Kind words make a huge difference
23. Chicken soup tastes best when someone else makes it because they add their own love
24. There is always someone else in a more difficult situation
25. If someone is on your mind a lot, you should call/email/text them
26. Nursery callings are not for the faint of heart
27. You don't have to hide your ambition and eccentricities to fit in
28. You can find happiness anywhere
29. Food in general tastes better when someone else makes it
30. Visiting Teaching is an inspired program
31. Houseguests should stay no longer than 6 days
32. Lime Away and CLR are fantastic for removing hard water stains
33. DVD players are not a passing fad. Neither are cell phones.
34. We are "mini-van people" after all
35. I don't hate football
36. A great stylist and enough product can make your hair do marvelous things
37. Losing weight is possible
38. Endorphins rock
39. The 5 "S"es are sanity-saving
40. We make super cute kids
41. People can change
42. Sometimes people don't change
43. I wouldn't choose to see my trials in advance, (ie. a crystal ball). They are so much more palatable without anticapatory anxiety.
44. I would choose my own trials over those of other people. Except wealth. I'd like the trial of wealth. I'd like the burden of being filthy, stinking rich.
45. Life is short
46. All women should have a proper bra fitting done by a professional
47. There are worse things than being up at night with a crying baby; like not being up at night with a crying baby.
48. What "they" say about making "ass-umptions" really is true
49. It really is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
50. Women need other women
51. Bedtime stories make lasting memories
52. Magic Eraser is, well... magic
53. PhotoShop Elements is also magic
54. Speaking of magic, Disneyland is great at any age