Adios!

Well, I'm waiting to get set apart as a missionary in just an hour and a half, and thought I'd do one last blog post before I turn the reins over to my mother. :) 

Here was my 21st birthday cake... I wasn't feeling an entire cake, so we settled for a lovely red-velvet cupcake from Bliss Cupcakes. The cake itself was pretty good, the frosting ... not so much. So it was good that it was a little thing.

For dinner my parentals and I went to Cafe Rio. The first choice would have been Chipotle, but I went the week previous, and since Cafe Rio has so many Utah connections, I decided it would be a great way to spend some eating time. And the left-overs were great. :)

We took a little adventure on our way home past the hospital where I was born. It is now an abandoned shambled building, but hey who cares.

This weekend all the family is in town, and it has been awesome. Family time = best time.  The End.

How could it not be with a face like this?

Hooray! Some very sweet friends drove out to hear me speak in church.

So there you have it. Life is great, and I'm finally going on a mission! I feel like I've been waiting for a long time. Because I have. There is still a huge list of to-dos to tackle between now and Tuesday morning when my parents and I load up and drive out, but I'm happy. It actually still feels really surreal, and maybe that's how the entire mission will last; I'm just glad to be going.

Something that you might not know is that missionaries (or their families) pay $400 a month for their missionary to serve. That's $7200 for:

- two phone calls home (one Christmas and one Mother's Day)

- 18 months away from home

- weekly emails to the family

- sweaty, sweaty days in Mesa

- missing weddings, graduations, three semesters of school

Why on earth would I pay all that money for all those things?

Because I also get these things:

- HUGE opportunities to learn and become better

- meet hundreds of new people that I will come to love

- have experiences that will stretch and teach me

but most importantly,

- watch others come unto Christ by accepting the restored gospel. And that makes it completely, entirely, beyond worth it. 

I can't wait!

See you in Mesa!

P.S. - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GREATEST MOM EVER IN ALL THE LAND.

MTC Countdown: 68 hours. (WAHOO!)

The Word of the Day: credulous \ KREJ-uh-lus\ , adjective; 1. ready to believe on slight or uncertain evidence

The Waiting Game...

MTC Countdown:    F I V E __ D A Y S






... what?! when did that happen?







Word of the Day: lexicographer \lek-suh-KAH-gruh-fer\ , noun: an author or editor of a dictionary

Pictures might not be worth a thousand words, but a few good laughs will do

I'm in the middle of going through ALLL my pictures on my laptop (if you know anything about me, you know I have my camera close by, and will take more than one photo at the opportunity). When I started this project, I had over 17,000 pictures. Now I've whittled down to a nice 11,300, with about 3,000 more to sort through. (Lesson learned: You do not need ten pictures of the same pose of anyone or anything. Ever.)

It is a good thing I like looking at pictures, because otherwise this endeavor would be incredibly boring. It has been one of the more entertaining housekeeping projects I've undertaken in preparation for my mission (My laptop can't come with me, so it needs to be suitable for someone else to use... so having an additional 15+ GB due to all my deleted photos will be a favor to them.)


Several times I've just stopped and giggled over the photos I've rediscovered in my collection. And so why not share some of them with you? You might not find them funny, but I sure do. Some are for obvious reasons, and some ... well you just have to be me. But who doesn't like looking at pictures of strangers they've never met? (What else is facebook for these days?)

If you're one of the lucky ones that made it into this selection, take comfort in the fact that you're providing me some very healthy, enjoyable entertainment. And that you and I both know I'm being far too kind in my selections. ;)

MTC Countdown: 14 DAYS!

Word of the Day: acolyte \ah-uh-lyte\ , noun: 1. one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties 2. one who attends or assists : follower

The Book of Mormon + South Park = ... Oh boy.

I'd heard just a tiny bit about the "smash hit" in Broadway (nominated for something like 14 awards?) that claims the same name as some very sacred, near and dear scripture to me, so naturally, the red flags have been flying, and then I found out that the show's first destination for their tour is my very own Denver (end of 2012... I'll be home by then. How very strange to think about). So I had to do some research because, let's face it: I'm not going to see the show, but I sure as harry want to know how to handle it when it gets here.

A favorite professor of mine shared these links, and now I am sharing them, because they are excellent sources of knowledge. The first is a commentary on the show by an LDS member who is a critic living in New York. The second is very insightful on the activities of the church. Together, they provide some very interesting food for thought.

 

http://www.mormonartistsgroup.com/Mormon_Artists_Group/Elders_on_Broadway.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/why-i-wont-be-seeing-the-book-of-mormon-musical/2011/04/14/AFiEn1fD_blog.html

And, while we're at it, here's the link to how we as LDS members feel about the REAL Book of Mormon.

http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon/

In all honesty, I'm not bothered by the musical. Well, I am. But I am not going to let it bother me, because there are so many other more important things in this life to be concerned about. And why not raise more questions about the Book of Mormon? That isn't harmful to anyone, if they're willing to read it to find out for themselves.

One thing is for sure: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not going to disappear into the shadows anytime soon. With Proposition 8 still smoldering, the Book of Mormon the musical, Jimmermania barely subdued for a few months(a few months too many, if you ask me. I miss BYU basketball!), presidential elections looming, disasters across the earth, and whatever else have you, the LDS faith will become more prominent and forefront in the public eye. Which is kind of nice for us missionaries. :)

MTC Countdown:  17 days

Word of the Day: collaborate \kuh-LAB-uh-rayt\ , verb; 1: to work jointly with others 2: to cooperate with an enemy and especially an occupying force

Great Possessions... among other things

In Sunday School last Sunday we discussed our "stuff" and how we might have too much that we've allowed to get in the way of focusing on Christ and progressing towards salvation, whether that be hobbies, talents, goals, physical objects, mentalities... etc. We discussed the story found in Matthew 19 where the young man asks the Lord (v.20) "What lack I yet?" in order to gain eternal life, as he has already lives in accordance to keeping all the commandments. Jesus answers him in verse 21: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

The wealthy young man walked "away sorrowful: for he had great possessions" and is never mentioned again, and we never know what he ended up doing. I have always hoped that he was able to follow the Lord's counsel. 


But man, I can really relate to that guy this week. After three massive garbage bags, three hefty boxes to Good Will, and several days of sorting, piles, re-sorting, re-piling, I've FINALLY gone through all my possessions that I haven't bothered to throw out earlier. (excluding art supplies, books, toys, school papers... I'm working on it.) I had WAAAY too much stuff... most of it was pure junk that I didn't want to sort through at the time, so I put it off until now. (Why, for example, did I find it necessary to keep every junk letter from random colleges and universities across the country when I always knew it was BYU or nothing? exactly. Yet there they were.)


 It was awful. I'm not surprised he walked away sorrowful, because man, it stinks trying to get rid of all your stuff. 


But it is SO WORTH IT. I feel as light as a bird now. It is so wonderful to know that those things don't mean anything to me, and they really haven't all these years. It became so funny to me that we hold on to the unnecessary things in our lives for no reason, yet we can't seem to get them out from our grip. All this time, space and energy have been used to store my junk (or hold a grudge, or keep some pride) when I could have been using those storage containers or that space for something more useful, like blankets or food storage (or spiritual development or building relationships). The Savior certainly knows how to teach a multi-layered lesson.

So, what else is new?


I got a letter from the MTC with instructions how to access several videos that the Church has prepared for missionaries to watch before coming to the MTC. They are AWESOME. Essentially, they are a documentary of a district of missionaries from the San Diego area and their struggles/successes in the mission field. You learn so much from their experiences, it is pretty amazing. The Church is doing some incredible things to help prepare and strengthen their missionaries, and I am lucky to be on the front wave of these new tools. And they definitely work! It is inspiring and encouraging.  The coolest part about these videos is that my sister was able to participate in their development, so I've heard about them for a while, but to actually watch them and feel their power has been incredible. 


My sweet mom and I tackled the storefronts again today, with some successes. Mixing and matching turns out to be harder than you think, but here are a few victories:

Return policies are great things!






MTC Countdown: 22 Days


Word of the Day: factoid  \FAK-toyd\ ,  noun; 1. a briefly stated and usually trivial fact.

Mission Prep and Super Dads

Sure tomorrow is Mother's Day, but that is tomorrow. Today my dad did me the BIGGEST FAVOR EVER:

Get my mission luggage!!

After a very long day of browsing/information gathering, my mom and I were plum tired of looking at luggage. It seemed like the cheap luggage was poorly made and not the prettiest. Mind you, I am NOT picky about what my luggage looks like, but I'm sorry, no spider-infested green bag for me (thank you, TJMax). The very nice, desirable luggage was always (not sometimes, but always) for waaaay too much money. I just wanted a simple set of luggage that would do me proud when I needed it to and looked kind of okay and really just protected my stuff against the torrents in the airport security bag demolition derby! Is that too much to ask? (agh.)

  The airline industry is one stinky place, I've decided. Besides having to pay extra for everything on your ticket, to get a lot of nothing (Southwest peanut, anyone? Though I must say, I'm more loyal to Southwest than any other airline), the luggage issue is a nightmare. No one wants to pay extra money to check more luggage, so luggage sets are not sold conveniently for 18-month excursions where you just plan on checking several bags and will probably go over the 50 lb limit anyway, because how else are you going to take 18 months of life with you? Exactly.

So this is what I looked like last night after searching all day...

The day-long search for the RIGHT luggage = no such luck. That plus watching the increasingly resonating heartache of Toy Story 3 (moving away, saying goodbye, change...) and missing chewing good food (when has a hot dog EVER sounded good? never. My point exactly) proved to be too much of an emotional roller coaster for one day. 

So my dad decided to join the hunt. After scoring over reviews and websites, he took off today on a mission to search out some luggage. And he found the perfect set! For a very reasonable price. (And my mom and I didn't have to do the thinking, deciding, determining...) what a HUGE RELIEF. And now I will always think of my Dad when I get lost in the airport or try to stick my luggage in some obscure corner in a tiny apartment after a transfer... :)

Dad purchased. Mom tested. Missionary approves.

Hooray!

THIS IS SUCH A HUGE RELIEF. Thanks to one very great dad!

Another great thing my dad did for me this week was buy me some flowers for getting my wisdom teeth pulled. They are beautiful, and cheery, and made one nauseated girl very happy. I had thought earlier in the day how nice would it be to get flowers, but really didn't expect that from anyone. Thank you Dad! 

So how's the mission preparations going, you wonder? Well, here are my "To Do" lists and "To Buy" lists...

The "To Do" list... yikes

The "To Buy" list... double yikes

Shopping for clothes is always exciting, involved, and usually pretty fun, if you find the right stuff... we'll see what I end up with.

The closet. Hooray for good return policies, Ross, and New York & Company.

Things are going well! :) I love reading Preach My Gospel, playing the hymns, studying the scriptures, spending time with my parents, personal pep-talks. Everything is preparation of some sort, no matter what it is or what form it comes in, and not just for a mission. I've really come to learn that everything we're given, from the time of day we wake up to how we handle our impatience at the stoplight, is meant for us to learn and from which we should prepare. Everything will pass us by, whether we want it to or not, so it all depends on how we take it in the passing.

(And I've never known a missionary that had a stable, emotionally normal mission. That would just be boring, right? :)

MTC Countdown: report in 25 days

Word of the day:  curious \ KYUR-ee-us \ , adj; 1.  marked by a desire to investigate and learn.

Wise Talk.

Smart man, Plato. One thing he forgot to mention was that wise men can talk, but if they get their wisdom teeth out, they can be as foolish as all get out.

Yes, today I did something I hoped all my teenage life never to do, but I guess I've moved onto adult matters; I had my two wisdom teeth removed. (Technically, my dentist ordered them to be removed, despite my disapproval, and my father paid for it, so the only contribution I provided to this adult decision was my presence.)

I have seen footage of post-anesthesia chatter from friends, and seen it in person with family, and vowed that I would not be loopy. I would NOT. The surgery went fine (despite several IV attempts, finally switching to the left arm (fourth time is the charm, these days), coming around a little too early... I remember thinking that I hadn't gone under yet (when I'd really been under for a half-hour), and could feel stuff going on in my mouth that was NOT normal, and trying to tell them that obviously, I was not under yet, and then hearing someone tell me to "just relax" in my headphones (the Beatles, if you're curious, was the CD of choice) and then poof, out like a light again. That anesthesia stuff is nuts.

I remember someone taking the eye protection off (when did that get there?) and feeling sleepy, but I was surprised! I felt totally level-headed. The nurse grabbed my mom (I think), and then I got into a wheel chair and assisted in to our van behind the building. But I totally knew what was going on, everywhere. I even told the nurse that my van was right there, coming around the corner. (Because obviously, there could have been a lot of confusion with all the parked cars nearby.)

My mom and I went on our way, and I pulled out my camera, because I knew beforehand I would be a little crazy and I wanted to see for myself later, but in all honesty, I totally thought I was being perfectly normal. And I was ... you can see for yourself:

And I really did feel fine, until just a few moments later when the anesthesia got to me and my insides were "all over my pants!", poorly aimed into a plastic sack that unfortunately had a hole in it. My poor mother was torn from trying to help me, drive, and laugh. But I got my Frosty and all was well, so no worries after that. (For the moment. It will be an interesting few days.)

And how funny it is that perspective and state of mind COMPLETELY changes everything. It makes me wonder how often I think I am doing a good, right thing, or in the right way, but someone from outside my personal opinion/influence can see that I am headed in the wrong direction, or could be doing things in a different, more effective way. My mom didn't criticize me for missing the bag, even though she started to tell me to use a different one that didn't have a hole. I wasn't in a state to really aim very well, and though I heard her advice to use the other, sturdier bag, I stuck with my original plan (which was a fast plan concocted... your stomach isn't often generous with decision-making) and she helped me the best that she could. She probably would have loved to not scrub the car seat after I crawled into bed, but she did, and then continued onward to being the best nurse ever. (warm casserole puree for lunch, anyone?)

That is true wisdom. Caring for others, offering advice when we can tell it will be truly helpful despite being afraid of retaliation, and being continually supportive even if advice is not heeded or nothing changes. Or maybe it is motherly love. Or maybe it is both. (But it definitely isn't wisdom teeth.)

I hope to be more wise and more like my mom as my days continue to pass, because right now, I don't particularly favor scrubbing car seats, literally or figuratively.


MTC Countdown: 27 Days


Word of the Day: bushwhack  \ BOOSH-hwak \ , verb; 


1. To defeat, especially by surprise or in an underhanded way.
2 (other common, boring, not nearly as applicable definitions)

April Showers bring April Finals

I don't get mountain weather. Well, I guess I do. It snows all the time, no matter what time or day or month... like today. It's been doing that raining snow thing all morning, and last night.

April is the worst time to have finals. Either the beautiful weather is too taunting to ignore or the rainy weather discourages any venturing on campus to study. (Wonder why I'm blogging for the first time in over six months?)

But you know, I actually love this weather. I love the misty breath, the rain, the quiet it seems to bring... it can be so peaceful. And I will certainly miss it, so I must take advantage while I can.

Oh yeah, I'm going on a mission. :) I forget that I haven't told some people what I'm doing for the next 18 months, and they get a little confused when I tell them I'm not living here in the fall or applying to my program or getting married to anyone. ;)

I've been called to serve in the Arizona Mesa Mission, specifically the Mesa Arizona Temple Visitors Center! I report June 1st to the Provo MTC, which means I'll be in Arizona the first week of July.

And in that first week I am probably going to be fried alive.

The average temperature in January is 67 degrees, while in July it is 106 degrees. Although today, it is apparently 44 and raining.  (I'm on a weather kick, if you haven't noticed.) Getting used to the heat will be a bit of a challenge, I'm guessing... I've always been a heat pansy. (especially a humidity/heat pansy.) But to my credit, extreme heat usually = extreme sunburns for me, and I am terrified of getting more sunburns. I've freckles enough to worry the skin doctor, so the last thing I want is cancer. obviously.

Maybe you're wondering: Have you ever been to Arizona? Indeed I have. To Gilbert, actually. And all I remember is walking neck-high in a couple of lakes and being so weirded out that walking outside at midnight still felt like an oven. And the bugs were really loud.

Mesa is the 3rd largest city in Arizona, 37th largest city in the country, and largest suburb in the country, and has 440,000 people, and I could go to prison for 25 years if I cut down a cactus.

And it is unlawful to refuse someone a glass of water. So if your bladder can handle it, that's one way to do tracting... :)

How many temples are there? Well let me tell you...

- Mesa (where you will find yours truly for 18 months, and is the most attended temple outside of Utah)

- Phoenix (which the groundbreaking is waiting to be announced; maybe I'll get to go? It's only 20 miles away)

- The Gila Valley - (the groundbreaking was Feb 2009, and the dedication was May 2010. SPEEDY.)

- Gilbert (In my mission boundaries, and waiting official announcement of completion, but estimated 2013. I am crossing my fingers it will be fast like the Gila Valley Temple, so I can be a part of the open house and dedication. But I don't mind a planned post-mission trip already in the works. :)

- Snowflake. (Probably a nice irony for those living in Arizona.)

I'm excited to have this new experience! There are so many thing to think about and accomplish before then. 

... like school. (only three more days of classes!)

So in art majors, everything is almost always due the last day of class instead of the scheduled final time. Which means my next four days are trial by fire. :(  But that also means finals week should be a breeezeee...

 I suppose I better get my on head straight and keep working. 

Word of the Day: tenterhooks, \ TEN-ter-hooks \  , noun;  1. On tenterhooks, in a state of uneasy suspense or painful anxiety.

six bugs in a rug ... called Campus Plaza

Hi. Remember me?

I might not even remember myself. It has been a while since I've been 'round these parts. Long enough to have completed my 6th semester of college and well into my 7th. Long enough to experience stress, excitement, strength, weakness, courage, failure, and faith for what seems to destined as an eternal round. Called life.

I could go into lots of detail about each of those stages of development, but it sufficeth me to say only this: life is good to me, and I still have THE BEST ROOMMATES EVER. Let's talk about them for a second.

They're all beautiful. Every single one of them! I've never met such an array of feminine beauty and grace, of all different sorts. They're like a well-stocked jewelry box... pearls, diamonds, knotted twine and wooden beads, simple silver, and that random broach you found on the ground but love to death. I haven't found a jewelry box I like better.

They're all smart. Smarty-pants. But really cute, nice ones.

They're all so willing to serve. I can't tell you how many times a pair has gotten into a tussle about letting them serve the other. I can ALWAYS count on my roommates, for anything. Literally.

They're all so stinking funny. Staying in with the roomies on a Saturday night, piled into someone's bedroom just giggling our faces off is usually the most satisfactory moment of the week. But they also know how to be sincere and genuine. Deep discussions on life, love, loss, take place anytime of the day or night. We all learn and grow from each other.

But here are some things that I love about them individually.

First up: Emmanuelle Reay.

Emmanuelle, Mani, Man-you-el (my favorite version). spunky, sweet, this girl is a package of pink pixie stix. When she hits a certain time of night with a certain level of exhaustion, you never know what is going to come out of her brain. Emmanuelle loves pink and sparkles, so shopping for her is a breeze. But what I love most is her courage. I have seen her grow in so many different ways, but I am sometimes astonished at her courage. She is not afraid to do hard things, and she is not afraid to handle hard things. And even when she is afraid, which happens to everyone, she is still willing to approach. She steps up to the plate and takes what's pitched. Courage to do what is right, courage to stand up to what is not, and courage in herself to follow through with what she wants. Cowardly Lion she is not. And she's just so dang sweet.

Hail in: Hayley Heath.

Hayley, Hay, Hayberries, Haybee ... the list goes on. Here is a girl that knows how to be a very good friend. Always a listening hear and level-headed, time and time again I've been surprised with the gems of wisdom she tosses me. And then she just keeps walking like it was no big deal. What I love about Hayley is her selflessness. I don't know how often she thinks about herself more than helping others, whether she knows them or not. She could be hurting inside about something serious and will help the next person get over their minute disappointment. She's the epitome of selfless service. Hayley Heath is out to save the world, mark my words. (And I was her roommate once, don't forget it. :)

Enter: Sarah Juchau.

I am NEVER going to forget the first time I met Sarah Juchau. I was a busy RA sitting at the check-in desk,  and I asked this girl for her name. I recognized it (because like everyone else, I'd been stalking my new roommates) and pleasantly told her "I'm your roommate." Next thing I knew, she was grabbing my hand, leaping for joy, testifying to the whole world that she'd "been waiting my WHOLE LIFE to meet you!" But in reality, I've been waiting MY whole life to meet Sarah Juchau.

Always trying to become better, Sarah is an inspiration. She sticks to her standards at all costs, no matter how "silly" outsiders or misunderstanders want make her feel. What I love most is her emotional sensitivity; truly, she mourns with those that mourn, and comforts those that stand in need of comfort. She is honest in her emotions, which is not true enough of the world. It is a beautiful, delicate attribute.

Welcome the lovely Miss Rachel Bagley:

RACHEL KNOWS BEST. She's like the mom. Wisdom and discipline beyond her years, cooks like a queen, and loves to love, Rachel really understands the role of a matriarch, far better than I ever have. Her gentle disposition reels in trust from everyone age 5 to 95. Really. Everyone loves her.

 But what I love about her most is her passion. She is an elementary education major, and I am SO GLAD because the public education system has a positive future! She is so dedicated to becoming the best that she can in order to make a difference. Rachel is made from dedication. To her studies, to her family, and to the gospel. Rachel is probably the most dependable, hardworking person I have ever met. Coupled with the sweetest personality, and you've got one irresistible gal.

Last, but certainly not least... Megan Hatch.

THE Megan Hatch. That's the only way to introduce her. Megan is so many wonderful things I couldn't possibly pick one to describe to you. Confident, brilliant, beautiful, and the list goes on. But what impresses me most is how she treats everyone like her friend, and really never speaks ill about anyone.  Time after time I have seen her engage the lonely in the shadows, laugh with the solitary, and value the undervalued. Megan Hatch sees the worth in other people better than anyone I know, and treats them equal to that worth. I want to be more like Megan.

Sure, that was fairly long and took a chunk of your time. And it wasn't even about you, you say. But read in between the lines. It was all about me. These five girls have been an intricate and invaluable part of my life for the last year and a half. Every day, I become better because I have the examples of these five lovely girls to follow, watch, and learn. Once, I was their RA. That might have lasted about a day. These girls have been my leaders, and hopefully by the end of it, I'll have a part of each of them in me. There's a line where friendship ends and sisterhood begins, and I'm pleased to say we crossed that line a long time ago.

So, do you remember me? I don't. Or I choose not to remember who I was. Not that I was a bad person. But refinement is in order to better the future, not compare to the past. And how grateful I am for that.



Word of the day: tutelage: noun, \TOO-tuh-lij\ : instruction especially of an individual, a guiding influence.