A Piece of Paper...

This is going to sound so funny but since this is our little family journal, I wanted to be sure to write down what I was thinking. When I was a senior in high school, I remember telling everyone that I just wanted that piece of paper and wanted to get out of school. After my Certified Nursing Assistant course, I had a piece of paper that said I was officially a CNA and could work in the state of Utah. After seminary graduation, I had a piece of paper in my hands that said that I was a four year seminary graduate and I was so excited. After high school graduation, I had a piece of paper in my hands that stated that I had done everything that was required by the state and I was a high school graduate.
All of these things have been accomplishments in my life that I am proud of. However, I wish that I would of lived in the moment more and would of just taken it in. Life goes so fast and I will never be able to go back and relive those years of my life. The day Eric and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Temple, we were given a sealing certificate. This is a piece of paper that Eric and I have in a special place and whenever we look at it, we are happy to have it in our home and cherish it. It is a great reminder of that special day and even though it is just a piece of paper, it is something that we are grateful to have.
As a freshman in college, I remember telling my family and friends that I just wanted that piece of paper and to be done with school. I never thought that I would have a college diploma but I was determined to get it and I was going to work hard until I did. I switched my major to nursing, then to dental hygiene, then I wanted to be a nutritionist, and then I finally ended up sticking with Emergency Management. I kept switching my major and in my mind, I felt like I was just adding more and more years onto my schooling and there was no way I was ever going to get that piece of paper that I had always wanted. After my sophomore year, Eric and I got married and moved to Houston which meant that I was going to have to finish my degree online. This was a hard thing but once again, I was going to do whatever it took to get that piece of paper. I found out that I was expecting during my last semester of school and I was super sick. I knew this was a possibility so I had tried to prepare myself for it by saving some of my easy courses for the last semester. There were many days where I did not want to do one thing but lay in my bed and not move. Instead, I would hang out in bed and be sick but also do homework because I knew that paper was just a few months away.

I received this piece of paper in the mail about a month ago and this is something that I look at often and am proud of. Even though I don't work and I am just planning on being a stay at home mom to my little girl and my future children, I find so much comfort in having this paper in case I need it. I am glad that I made the decision to not just "get the piece of paper" but to actually learn and grow. We are always reminded that the knowledge that we gain is something that we will have with us forever. Having this paper is a great feeling and even though it was hard work and there were many bumps in the road while trying to get it, I am glad that I was able to stick it out and am so thankful to have it in my hands. 

Eric and I love to have those "pieces of paper" that mean so much to us. In our home, we both have a four year seminary graduate diploma, a high school diploma, a bachelors degree diploma from a University, Eric has his mission plaque, I have a CNA certificate/license, and most importantly, we have a sealing certificate. Even though there are hard times and life throws curve balls at us sometimes, it is important that we are always keeping our eyes on the goals that we have set for ourself. We truly are capable of accomplishing whatever we set our minds to. Getting those "pieces of paper" is hard work and sometimes it seems that we do all of this work and we just a paper in return. I know I have felt that way sometimes but in reality, we get so much more than just a paper. The knowledge that we get from diplomas and certificates and the blessings that we get from serving missions and being sealed in the temple are far greater than the piece of paper that we are given. Those papers are just great reminders of the things you have accomplished.

Think about the "pieces of paper" in your home that you value and cherish and remind yourself of the importance behind them. They are truly a treasure and something that we should be very proud of. That was my little Sunday inspiration for the day. :)