Simply Smiddy - The Idaho Convert

 I've grown up in an unstable family that I love so dearly. My mom has had two divorces, my dad's side of the family are constantly getting arrested and in and out of jail. My dad has six kids and there are three mothers. He has no contact with any, one in which passed away. I never grew up around my dad. He didn't really want me around when I was young, but we have made contact lately. My step dad was a wonderful wonderful dad and he raised me well but after there divorce this past year he has wanted nothing to do with me. So none of my previous family were religious and if they were they were Christian, but I don't know any members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints..(other than my sister and I)..I had no immediate family to be a worthy example for me, but I did have friends. Back in sixth grade my mom had a friend who had a daughter my age. We were best friends. They were a very inactive family but they still had pictures of Christ and temples around ...

Yesterday I was so lucky to go to our regional laurel conference, Patterns for Life. It's always fun to be with the amazing girls that are my age, but it was especially amazing to be there and to learn about all these qualities that are going to help me and bless me as I move on to the next chapter in my life. I am a junior in high school and I'm preparing to apply for all sorts of colleges and just take on the best chapter! We learned about applying for scholarships, how to handle financial situations, self-defense ( which was very fun, but slightly scary because I'm not the mean "fighter" we had to be to defend ourselves in that class), how to prepare quick healthy meals, and simple things you can so to make your clothes modest. It was really awesome to learn these skills because, even now, it's great to be able to "take care" of yourself and be more independent. In my life, my mom and I have different standards and we think little differently just...