LIFE

A four-year-old "taught" me how to play LIFE...

...and I quote: "You get in da car, and go awound till you get to da temple where dey GIVE you a husband....dey keep them in a back room...then back to da temple where dey let you pick what kind of baby you want to take home...GAME OVER"  (If only it were that easy!)

The best friends I never had!!!

It's been three wonderful years rooming with my best friends!  Enough said!!!!!  Okay, not really, but this post could end there.

I can't believe that we've reached the goodbye stage where none of us will be rooming together at all and there's no "see you next semeter" farewells.  We're all embarking on new journeys with unexpected adventures.  Whether it's a mission or finishing school, we're not going to be the same - we're not little girls anymore.  This first picture makes me laugh.  Here, you see us the very first day we met - no one is touching and smiles are a little dim and forced.  Boy, how that changed!  Anyone who sees current pictures would think we were Siamese-quints- no beginning and no end, just one group of big smiles and laughter.  Morgan's bubble shrinked, my East-coast vocab faded, Keri's spunk intensified, Ashley's wisdom deepened, and Emily's picky-eating habits slackened.   We're not the same people 2007 started with!

Morgan started everything off by leaving us to serve the people of Puerto Rico.  Her growth is evident through her letters and weekly reports.  She is doing a wonderful job reaching out to those around her and living the simple life sans fancy accessories and her sewing machine.   

Keri followed suit by accepting a call to Guatemala.  She has always been the example of spiritual strength to me and it was the last semester of us rooming together that I learned to trust my heart and realize that I need to think of myself too, not just rely on satisfying or making others happy.  Heartache happened, but so did growth.  Her example of desire and determination made me truly even consider serving a mission.  It took those quiet, nighttime moments of time with her for me to dig deep within myself. 

Next it was my turn to step beyond myself and get ready to go to Austria.  This will be a selfish time for me to grow and develop my spiritual legs.  The decision to serve was not an easy nor quick one, but it feels great to know that there are people who need what only I can give them. 

Emily finished off the mission calls by being called to North Carolina.  She'll be a source of compassion and sass for all who come in contact with her.  Her light shines through her eyes, brighter than anywhere else I have ever seen.  That's a light I hope to get through my service and teaching.  Teaching is something I love to do and have decided upon as a career, but I've never found that perfect excitement in teaching temporal subjects like I feel when I teach the gospel.

Ashley gets to be the smartypants by staying in school and finishing her degree so she can continue to be a source of wisdom and strength to us all.  All of these girls are the best roommates I could ever ask for.  I couldn't imagine my experience at BYU to be as good if I would not have had them by my side - making fun of me and pushing me at all times.

THIS will be us when we reunite in 2012 - glowing, smiling, crying, and not easy to part (until wonderful guys come and take the spotlight of our hearts).  After a long hiatus of new experiences and growth, our return to "roommate-ness" will be wonderful.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!!  These girls are the best friends I never had and I'm thankful for the years that I have been able to spend with these spiritual, emotional, and (in some cases) physical giants.

Checkin' It Out

So the time has come to make my blog private.  In other words, if you're reading this, you're special!!!!!  AND, to top it off, I'm trying out emailing blog posts - - it'll make it easier for my mom to keep it updated with stories/letters/pictures while I'm gone.

NOTE - - "Letters to Juliet" is a must-see.  It's clean, tender, has a good plot, and is loads of fun.  Also, here's tidbit of information that I know about it (without researching it or being told) Vanessa Redgrave (Claire/old lady) starred in the musical "Camelot" and ended up marrying the man who played Lancelot (Franco Nero).  HE happens to be playing opposite her in "Letters to Juliet" but in order for the ending to be savored, I won't tell you anything about what happens.  Just keep that tidbit in mind when you see it, it'll make you sound so smart telling your friends some background you know.  GO SEE IT!!!  It's definitely one that will be gracing my future movie-library in my future dream-home.

Return to the Amish

I have finally returned to the Vaterland, just in time to celebrate everyone's birthday (including my own). A lot has happened in my life recently, so here's the rundown:

1) Mission calls - - ME (received Apr 6th)- Germany Munich/Austria reporting July 14th.  BABY BROTHER (received Apr 29th - Chile Rancagua reporting July 7th
2) Parental units arrived in UT to drive BB's car home.  Was allowed (for the first time) to dye my mom's hair.  Celebrated Mother's Day.
3) BB and I went through the Jordan River Temple together. That's the same temple where our parents were married.
4) Family left, I was stuck in UT.  Total, I've read 8 books FOR FUN since school ended.  It's so nice to be able to read just because I can.  Oh how I love my ABCs!!  Favorite book so far "Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins.
5) Spent a month with my grandparents - always a bundle of fun. Watched a lot of "Golden Girls", "The Price is Right", and Investigation/Cop shows. Went ATV-ing with family.
6) Received an early birthday-package from Missionary Palmer.  In the contents were authentic Puerto Rican ingredients to concoct a very delicious "Arroz Mamposteao" (Rice dish).  Grandpa made me make it 3 times.
7) Got to be great friends with the horses to the point where they recognized my approach and would be eagerly awaiting my petting and feeding and would follow me around.  They even posed for pictures.
8) Was ankle-attacked by the demon chickens and that run free in my grandpa's yard. Who would've thought a 5-inch bird would scare an adult up onto a bench and then into the house. Believe me - - you DO NOT want to get in the way of those birds. THEY ARE SCARY!!!!
9) Arrived home in time for my 21st birthday. I haven't been home to celebrate this occasion in about 4 years.

18th...on Show Choir trip to Hershey all day
19th...in Provo going to school
20th...on Study Abroad in London. Had a wonderful British Birthday Bash
21st...HOME AT LAST!!! First birthday present will be - being BLASTED by the BLASTED humidity (not fun...not a fan...not cool).

 Here's the documentation to prove my exploits!

Called to serve the people of........

I have been called to serve in the Munich Germany/Austria mission.  I report to the Provo MTC on July 14th.  My mission was announced on February 13th and my mission president will begin serving July 1st.

Surprise!!

Okay, it's time to let this ginormous cat out of the bag and allow the truth to be known beyond the confines of my family and 3 current roommates..........  

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I'm going on a mission!!!

        Welcome to the elite club of those who know I'm going to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!!  (The 4 people max. who will actually read what I blabber occasionally).  My papers are officially turned in and I'm just waiting for that big, white envelope to peek out of our excessively over-stuffed mailbox.  Yes, and that is why I've been getting pinched, poked, and prodded by medical people with long, scary, poison-filled needles and why I traded in my Amish Buggy-license for a UT drivers-license.  I've only just begun telling people and only if it comes up.  I don't go around advertising it (it's just not my style)...not until now that is.    
        I didn't want people to know of my decision until I was perfectly sure this is what I wanted to do.  I wanted to be able to convince people that this is what is right for me and I didn't want people to talk me out of it or ask me questions that I myself couldn't even answer yet.  Also, I didn't want to take any thunder away from my brother who's known all his life that he's wanted to serve a mission and has begun the process himself.  This was his time to shine...now he'll have to share the limelight.  

        A mission is not one of those things that I've thought about/planned for/dreamed about my entire life; I just felt about it.  Last month I decided that I should at least think about a mission.  Then, as I did so, things started falling into place almost effortlessly.  Finances smoothed themselves out, and my thoughts were constantly on service and the gospel.  Then came the real test - asking if it was right.  That's when I KNEW this is what I was ready to do and WANTED to do.  And so the process began and was completed without a hitch.
        Growing up, my mom always said that Sister Missionaries are the greatest women in the church.  I never counted myself among their ranks.  I saw their strength and my weakness; their dedication and my fear; their testimony and my profound Ensign quotes.  Even today I don't see how I can be one of the "greatest".  All I know is that I'm me and Heavenly Father will fill in my weaknesses with someone else's strengths.  I'll have the skills necessary when they are needed.  I'll have the words when my mind runs a blank.

        I'm going to teach the world the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'll testify of its truthfulness. My preparation, or lack thereof, can either make or break the Spirit in the lessons. It is my responsibility to be the instrument of the Lord, to convey the words and principles He wants His children to know to them. It is such a daunting task, but then I say a prayer in my heart that I can teach how and what He wants me to, and the opening prayer asks for a blessing upon me and I know that even though they don't know me, they're going to have their heart open and be listening and that both of our prayers will be answered and I will have help.  I love teaching and I know that I have been blessed with the ability to communicate and be a good teacher, and especially as I make good choices in my life. But that doesn't mean that I don't need the practice of teaching God's message to His children. And it most certainly does mean that I need to use those talents and live up to that completely daunting and overwhelming potential and responsibility I have, because EVERY SINGLE ONE of our Heavenly Father's children needs the gospel. They need to hear it and feel of His love for them.
        I am so excited and so scared to death (but mostly excited) and I can't wait. And although I feel like I am the least qualified and eloquent and adequate person to be sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world, I know that He will be with me, helping me, giving me the power of His Spirit. And I know that He is helping to prepare me now, with the abilities, knowledge, confidence, and love that I will need to bring His truth to the rest of God's children.