Anxious!

So I am not sure what I planned to write in this post. My thoughts have been all over the place lately. I am just going to let my thoughts take charge and just write whatever starts to pop in my mind! Of course, the first thing I think about is my brother. My brother just left on his mission last week. He is serving for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 2 years. Right now he is at the Missionary Training Center for 6 weeks and then he is off the Guadalajara, Mexico. This is all new to me being that he is my only brother and the youngest. Both of my sisters got married instead of going on missions so I had never experienced the planning and going away for a missionary before. It was so exciting cause I have always been rooting for my brother and trying to be that good influence on him that will lead him to the life of going on a mission. We have always been so close and I just cry because I am so proud of him. He worked so hard to get on his mission. He went a little bit late but I truly believe he couldn't be more prepared mentally and spiritually at this point. I think about him every day and wish that I could go with him and experience the wonderful adventures he gets to take part of.

Just his choice of leaving for his mission has influenced me in my daily life. I have always wanted to learn more about the scriptures, serve others, and strive to always do things that would allow the spirit to be with me. For some reason though, I allowed myself the last couple years to put that on the back burner. I still prayed all the time and read my scriptures every once in a while but it always just when I remembered to. Reflecting on this as my brother was leaving to study the gospel and serve 24/7 for 2 years straight, I was just truly impacted and felt how I have wasted so much time thinking and focusing on the things that don't matter as much. I can be so much happier putting the gospel first and feasting on the good things of this world rather than the worldly things. I have felt so much peace just from this, knowing that these things are what will allow me to better serve my husband and my friends/family. Here are some of the things that I am going to make priorities in my life from here on out, rather than just thinking of myself:

1. Challenging myself to read the Book of Mormon. I have already started and I plan to finish in 90 days.
2. Serve others. This includes my husband and also VISITING TEACHING!
3. Listen to uplifting music. (Country doesn't count :P)
4. Study the Preach My Gospel handbook. I feel the need to educate myself more so I can be prepared for missionary moments.
5. Look for opportunities to uplift myself whether it is reading past conference talks, reading the ensign, or keeping the house clean to allow the spirit to dwell there.
6. Continue to pray daily.
7. Taking care of my body. (Keep going to the gym 3 times a week and sticking to my Specific Carbohydrate Diet)

These are the main things I can think of right now at the top of my head. I haven't even started doing all these things yet but just thinking about them makes me so happy and I feel so much peace inside! What's funny is that I find myself at work just wanting to get home so I can be productive in studying and making my husband happy, as well as go to the gym. I just feel anxious to improve and start progressing again instead of being idle.

Oh and I only have 2 more classes to take to finish my associates, so that is definitely on my to-do list to finish this year! So anxious for that!

Well I think that is all that is going through my mind. It is nice to sort out my thoughts through this blog. Hope I didn't bore you too much haha Happy Blogging :)