RA Times So Far

So much has happened to us! We've moved. We bought a car. We made new friends. Andrew got a job. Andrew got a new calling. We chaperoned a college dance. (That's right- CHAPERONED. We are officially an old, uncool married couple.) We've had A LOT of vital learning experiences lately and I feel the need to blog about each one. Well, maybe not each one. But these are all big important events in our life that I want to remember. Even the chaperoning part! We are one of two new Resident Assistant couples here at our apartment complex. The complex is known for being one of the "more fun" (aka: rowdier/crazier) single apartments in all of Provo. So Andrew and I have the fun task of keeping all these single kids that live here up on their standards. We monitor everything from poolside modesty to trash compacting, scooters on the grass, and boys in the bedrooms. We've been at it for almost a month now and at first I was bitter towards all the residents. I thought they were annoying and ridiculous and so NOT the good Mormon kids they were supposed to be. But I had an aha-moment when we were making curfew rounds one night. I was thinking about my own single college days and remembering how much I loved that time of my life. I felt like I had finally found myself because I was surrounded by good friends and good clean fun. I was happy to be me, standards and shortcomings and everything. I was thinking about this and then it dawned on me that these kids were not the terrible little brats I thought they were. Yes, sometimes they mouth off and sometimes I get seriously frowned at, but when I look at them in a more positive light I realize that they too are here in Provo at BYU to make those same good friendships that I made and to have the good clean fun that I had. And suddenly I like them more and I respect them. It really is all about perspective. When I remembered where I was- Mormon Land- I remembered that these kids are not out getting drunk or smoking pot. The most they ever do is stay out past curfew and throw rather loud Cinco De Mayo parties. How blessed we are to be in this atmosphere. There's no place like it. They are, for the most part, really good kids. I want to remember that when times get rough. Anyway, that is just one aspect of this new segment of our life here in Provo! More to come...