[.Dear 16 Year Old Me.]

Holy cow you get to drive now!  No more asking friends for rides all over creation...finally!  Oh and did I mention that you can {officially} date that boyfriend of yours that you think you're going to spend the rest of your life with.  Don't get to attached though, wait sorry, you already are!  Just have fun for now, date around.  Even though you are shy now that will fade away eventually.  Just prepare yourself now for a r.o.c.k.y road, and not like your favorite ice cream either. (You really should cut back on that, it catches up to you!)  Prepare for heartache and a lot of tears.  But don't get too caught up with your emotions, be sure to focus on the positive things going on in your life.  You have close friends that are always there for you and you know you can go to them whenever you need to talk.  You have a very close relationship with your family and parents, unlike a lot of other teenage girls your age.  Learn now to never take anyone for granted.  See all these positive things?  Try not to focus so much on those tears.  They'll go away for a while.  Even though you are always home watching your little brother and sister and want to go out so badly with your friends, take advantage of the time you have with them, you'll care for them a lot more than you think you do now.  You'll love them to the point that you'd take them in a heart beat if needed and will protect them with {everything} you've got.  Actually, you will learn that you have a natural instinct to protect those closest to you when you see they are hurting, you'll be willing to sacrifice your happiness just to see them happy.  Be willing to let people help you at times as well.  You are a happy person, even though you think boys are lame and all they care about is...well, not your feelings, you'll meet someone (sooner than you think) that will make you feel very happy.  There will definitely be very high ups and very low downs, there will be arguments and passion, stubbornness and selflessness, but you two accept each others mistakes, are very compatible, love each other and work through tough trials together.  By the way, you [do] get married in the temple!  So, good on ya (or us, I should say)!  I know you always wanted to know if you'd be able to make it to such a special place, and let me tell ya it wasn't easy.  Satan knows how to tempt you but you learn when he is close by and know how to keep him away.  Just know, you'll learn a lot about yourself.  You probably already know this but it's a good thing that you'll be living at home for college.  You'll save a lot of money and probably a lot more heartache and by doing so it'll help you reach a goal you've always had - to go into marriage debt free!  Now that you know that, don't go spending each paycheck!  Speaking of a paycheck, it'll be going towards 5 years of tuition and books, not the 3 1/2 you're hoping for.  Wanna know why?  Well I won't tell you, just go read your patriarchal blessing.  Actually, read it when you get it :)  It's a spiritual experience you will not forget.  Something you should try and forget is trying to get rid of Paces.  Really, forget it, you'll probably be there forever.  Even if it is only once a week but you do make a lot of really close friends from there.  No matter how bad you think you stink or how much of a "high school" job it is, you'll still always love it there.  Sorry to burst your bubble.  Maybe something else to disappoint you?  You'll really want a puppy, not a cat.  Thought you had your mind set didn't ya?  Your once skinny cat is still living (luckily) so that should make you happy!  Really, you should be happy.  There is a lot to look forward to!  Things you think will never happen do, people you're close to and love now will be completely different and relationships will be changed, but you make the best of it.  You know life throws you curve balls but you learn to swerve from them or hit a grand slam.