Decisions, Decisions.

Last week I decided to take a couple days off work to go on a great adventure.  I went on a road trip from Waterton to Edmonton.  All by myself.

Strangely enough, I was super excited.  The night before I even decided to make a playlist for all the hours I would be spending on the road.

Before leaving, I realized I've taken hardly any pictures all summer.  So I decided to make an effort to whip the camera out more often.

Here are some of the things I did...

Don't worry, I climbed Bear's Hump before leaving the park... 

I made random pit stops to check out things like this...  Let's just say it's a wishing well.

I went on my most favorite run from Bowness Park to the Bearspaw Dam.

I had the guy driving this truck tell me to call him as he drove past.

I hit up my most favorite store and got some sweet, sweet articles of clothing.

I went to a Baby Shower and met this handsome young fellow.

I FREAKING HELD A BABY!!!  (This is a huge deal.  I don't think I have ever done this before.  At least I can't remember ever holding a baby.  They scare me.  You can pretty much see the fear in my eyes.)

I went to the Calgary Stampede for the first time.

I ate a hamburger.  Another thing I haven't done in quite a while.

And I ate "those little donuts".  Gotta love Stampede food.

And just like that, my road trip ended.  I'm so glad I decided to go on it.  It was so worth it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Exactly one year ago, I made some pretty terrible decisions.  Decisions that lead to more terrible decisions as the remainder of the summer unfolded.  Decisions with consequences that haunted me for most of the past year.  Decisions that I have no intention of ever making again.

As I reflected on the decisions I made a year ago, I was so grateful that this week I made good decisions.  Decisions with positive consequences.  Decisions that have made me happier and better.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized exactly how important decisions really are.

DECISIONS DETERMINE DESTINY

My sister laughed at me when I told her that, but I firmly believe that the big and little decisions I make each day will have important and lasting consequences which will effect who I am, where I go, and how my life unfolds.  It's because I've seen it happen in my own life and I've also witnessed it in the life of another.

Meet one of my best friends, I call her "Hatchet".

She's the proud mother of a new, handsome baby boy and I adore her.  And her son.  Of all the people I know, my dear Hatchet is the epitome of making good decisions.

Hatchet was my roommate my first year out of high school.  She showed me the ins and outs of the Young Single Adult scene in Edmonton, helped me deal with homesickness, and dressed up like a gangster with me.  

Little does Hatchet know, but I carefully observed all the decisions she made.  And maybe copied them. (Hatchet, I don't dance with girls now either.  It weirds me out too.)  Hatchet consistently decided to go to Family Home Evening, clean the temple, give service to crippled people in our ward, and so on.  She also decided to visit an older couple living in the middle of no where on her way home for Christmas.  I know cause I was catching a ride with her and had to visit them too.

What fewer people know, is that Hatchet had high standards in regards to the boys she dated, which resulted in making many difficult decisions.  By watching her make these sorts of decisions, she taught me how important it is to expect certain things from a boyfriend, things I had never even considered.

Because of her consistently good decisions, Hatchet remains a shining example in my life of a destiny I can reach too.  Decisions really do matter.  A lot.  Thank you Hatchet for showing me that.