I'm BACK!

I have been called to repentance by my amazing and wonderful and beautiful and talented and witty Aunt Debbie.

Every time I've thought about blogging lately, I didn't even know where to start, so much has been happening. I lead a very exciting life, people. I'm thinking about writing a book about it. I'll call it, "The Wanderings of a Twenty Something" (because twenty somethings are so in right now), or maybe something much cooler. "The Incredibly Exciting and Wonderful Life of Chelsie Larsen", maybe. Ok, so the title could use some work. Sue me.

Add it to the growing stack of book ideas...

So, I have a backlog of stories to tell you. Here's the order we're gonna go in.

1. Work
2. Voyages and Wanderings
3. LOVE (aka funny and awkward stories involving boys)
4. Deep thoughts
5. Other funny and awkward happenings
6. Friends/Church

1. Work
I was working for my dad back in Provo, and he was kind enough to let me take off across the country and still keep my job. So I've been working for him, which means taking charge of his company blog and helping him write a series of books that we're working on. Well, it turns out that I'm not as good at self-management as I thought, and I'm very easily distracted by this amazing place I live in, and I actually have not been as productive as I had hoped. Also, working for my dad I barely eke out enough to live here in DC. So as my bank account dwindled and I figured out ways to get free food, I was also praying a lot. The gist of my prayers went like this, "I really like DC. And I would really love to stay here. But I can't afford it. So I'm open to going back to Utah, if that's what you want me to do, but if you want me to stay here maybe you could help me make more money?"
Prayers are answered, people. Miracles happen. My awesome DC bestie, Joel, works as a consultant (because he's a geological genius) for a telecommunications company. Their website needed some sprucing up, and he knew that I have some programming/web experience, so he talked to his boss about me, then brought me in to meet her, and we talked about the job and I was hired! I got a huge pay raise, a great boss, and an office to go into so that I can be productive. So now when people ask me what I do for work, I tell them that I'm a web developer, and they look impressed, and I feel way more legit than I actually am.
This job has been more amazing than I even could have hoped. I get to use and hone my programming skills, which happen to be super marketable these days, I still have flexible hours, I make enough money to survive, I still have time to work for my dad, and they keep giving me more and more responsibility. GUYS, this job was sent from heaven. We do a lot of work with French speaking countries, and guess who's the only person in the office who is fluent in French? This chick. I've been given lots of docs to translate, so that's been fun. And I've been included in some upcoming projects that may include travel, which I'm super stoked about.
But, the funny thing about the Lord, I'm learning, is that he's a big giver. Sometimes you ask for something, and then you get more than you can handle.
This has been the case with work. I'm trying to figure it all out. I'm trying to work with my dad, because I love him and I'm a huge believer in what he's trying to do, and I feel like it's important. Plus writing books is a lifelong dream of mine and I'm itching to publish something.
Then I'm working with this new company, running and updating their website, and being given other opportunities like helping with marketing, translating, editing project proposals, etc., which are all skills that are making me grow and could open up some more amazing opportunities here.
Then I'm trying to make some money off my art, because if painting could be my main pursuit then my life would be complete, so I've been trying to sell my art in the form of cards, while researching the best and most cost-effective way to make and sell prints, while painting new stuff, while doing illustrations for a good friend's children's book, etc. (BREATHE, CHELSIE)
THEN, two weeks ago I got an amazing job offer back in good old Provo Utah. A really amazing job offer.
See what I'm saying about the Lord giving you stuff?
My cup overfloweth. And I don't know what to do with it all.
So, I'll let you know what happens with that.

2. Voyages and Wanderings
GUYS, I LOVE LIVING ON THE EAST COAST!!!!!!!!! More than words can say. I love love love all the places I can travel to. Some of my favorite places so far include DC (obviously, I'm obsessed with this place), New York! (because, hello, it's New York. And I went with my amazing Aunt Debbie), Boston (technically, I didn't really visit Boston, I just was at the bus station, but I was hanging out near there with the aforementioned wonderful witty Aunt Debbie, which made the visit awesome. Also, I'm going back so I can actually see Boston), Richmond, which was the most gorgeous southern town I've ever seen, Outer Banks, North Carolina (because, THE BEACH, where my SOUL lives), Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (another adorable town where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet), and basically the whole Shenandoah Valley. Um, I think that's all the notable places I've been.

Last Saturday me and two of my friends here convinced three whole carloads of people to go with us to Harpers Ferry for a whitewater tubing adventure, even though the weather was terrible. Only the bravest souls went, and while we got rained on and it was actually pretty chilly, it was probably one of the best days of my life. I haven't laughed so hard in a really long time. I feel like I was laughing the whole way down the river because of the ridiculousness of it all. The guy who shuttled us down to the launch point was giving us pointers about what to do in the case of lightning, and we made cavalier jokes about dying on the river. Don't worry mom, nobody got struck by lightning. The most difficult thing that happened was that we kept getting caught in these little eddies where all the paddling in the world would get you nowhere. It was such a workout. Also the term "whitewater" was very loosely applied, in my opinion.

The other highlight of that trip was singing John Denver's "Country Road" at the top of my lungs while driving through West Virginia. Since the first time I heard that song, I have dreamed of that moment, and it was every bit as magical as I had hoped. Look up the song, you'll believe me.

Man I'm getting tired of typing. On to topic number 3!

3. LOVE
Nevermind, I realized it might be a bad idea to broadcast these stories on the INTERNET. It's a dangerous place. Just imagine me talking to boys and being very awkward throughout. Or call me, and I'll give you the deets.

4. Deep thoughts.
No, just no. This was too ambitious. I'm running out of steam.

5...
Maybe I'll give you more updates later. That's all for now!
This was for you, Auntie Deb. I hope it will sustain you until the next time. Which I PROMISE, cross my heart and hope to die, will be before this week is over.

Much love to all my adoring fans, especially all two of you who are still reading. You're the real heroes.