The amusings of Annie: Family

So over the past few months I've lost a lot of contact with some of my friends. I don't really have any close friends anymore. Which isn't a total bad thing. Friends do come and go but family stays forever. :) Over the years I have grown closer to my siblings and I'm grateful for that. I noticed though that so far this year I have not only gotten closer with them, but they have become some of my closest friends. It is hard to lose friends especially those that you have known for a really long time, but life happens and we move on. I look back on some of the idealizations I had when I was younger and I see now how unrealistic they were. Things change, and others change at a very fast pace and very unexpectedly. I am very grateful to have such a large family. Especially now that we are all getting older and having more things in common it is great to be able to have a number of people to talk to that have been through the things that I am going through.
Sometimes I do miss having friends to hang out with on a regular basis. There are a few friends that I do stay in contact with and we have a good time. I just sometimes feel like they are friends and not really good friends. That is one good thing about being able to email missionaries though. I love being able to email Matt and even though he is thousands of miles away we are still best friends and we can still talk. That always brings me comfort. He's really never that far away. I'm glad I have the relationship with him that I do. Ever since our senior year in high school we've been really close. And it's great to have him around.
I've always wanted a temple marriage, but since my friend got married, I've had an even greater desire to accomplish that goal. I don't want to be married for just time. I want it to last for eternity. When I get married I want to be the happiest person ever, and with the knowledge that I have, a civil wedding won't bring me that happiness. I will not settle, I will do everything in my power to get to the temple and to have that blessing. I know the first year of marriage will be hard, and I want to start it out with the blessing and comfort of having it sealed.
All in all, family is what matters the most. And sometimes its all you need.

mommy and daddy