I'm gonna be a missionary!!!!

A week from today I'll be flying to Provo!!! :D I get to hang out with Ollie and Ashley for that night, then I'll report to the MTC the next day. I am so so excited. I know that this will be the longest, and yet shortest week of my life so far....I still kind of feel like this is all a dream. I am going to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It feels unreal, like I'm too young and that this isn't really happening! I can't wait to go and meet the people in my mission. I know I will not be doing this alone. I know that this church is true. I know that my mission call is an assignment from Heavenly Father. I know this is what I am supposed to be doing, I won't have any money when I get home...but I know everything will be okay. I have had people tell me I'm crazy that I am willing to pay for this and that all of those doctor's appointments, shots were a waste because I'm "just going to California" but I don't care. It's not "just" California to me. I can't wait to learn and study Spanish!! I know I won't be an expert after the MTC, but I know that I will learn more information there, than I did in my high school German class that I took three years in a row. I can't wait. 

"Is it sad that I relate better to kids than people my own age?"

I don't know if I relate to kids better, but I do know that they are just so great to be around. It seems like they don't have a care in the world. And they're just so happy, the littlest things make them so excited. When they are happy and excited they just jump up and down with joy!! Sometimes I wish I could do that when I'm excited or happy....but that would be a little weird, huh? I can't help but feel happy when I am around them. They don't judge you at all, and they are VERY honest!!! I love kids...this whole Primary thing has just made me realize how much I love kids, and that maybe I should really look into having a job that has to do with children. Haha, but okay. Seriously Primary has been so great the last couple of weeks!! But this week! In the spotlight, one of the little Sunbeams said he wanted to be a robot when he grows up!! Isn't that the greatest? Haha, after Primary I asked him about it, and he said he didn't wanna be JUST a robot, he wanted to be a robot ninja! Hahaha!! :) I also heard about one of the other Sunbeams wanting to be the Tooth Fairy when she grows up. I really hope that they get their dream jobs. Hahaha.

MY MISSION CALL!!! :D

I received my mission call a couple days ago! I opened it with my mom and dad, Owen, and Olson. Ollie and Ashley were on Skype, and my grandparents were on Facetime. I was so glad to share this experience with them. But anyway! I am going to the California Ventura mission!!! I am going into the Provo MTC on June 19! And I am to prepare to teach the gospel in the Spanish language!!!! I am totally stoked!! The California Ventura mission is only the BEST!! It is so perfect. I know that is where I am supposed to be going, because mission calls are from our loving Heavenly Father. And He sends us where we are needed and where we are supposed to be. I didn't realize how quickly it is coming! I was not expecting to leave sooo soon! It is okay though, I am so ready. I just need to go shopping. And watch the District. And read the Book of Mormon. And...well okay, I have a lot to do, but I can do it!! :D My countdown starts now! 37 more days!! :D I am very very excited to have this wonderful opportunity. I am excited to invite others to learn of this great gospel. I have a lot to learn in the MTC, but I can do it. I will not be doing it alone. :) It is such a great work to be a part of. I am excited to be a servant of the Lord for 18 months. Oh! And Happy Mother's Day. Mother's day is a great day. I am always reminded of how blessed I am for both of my moms. I love them both very much. It took a very very special person to be my mom when I was a crazy toddler. And it takes a very very special person to have been my mom while I was a stupid teenager, and even now. I am blessed to have these 2 wonderful women in my life and to be able to call them my mom.

Patience is a virtue..

I am getting so stinkin excited to find out where I will be going on my mission. I randomly get really excited and happy...I just wanna find out where I'm going!! I have been feeling like a little kid on Christmas Eve, except it's worse. Much, much worse. Haha, this feeling doesn't just last one night...it's MULTIPLE days and nights. Hahaha. I have learned great patience throughout the entire process. I still am, in Preach My Gospel it has a section on Christlike attributes and wouldn't ya know it! Patience is one of em. I have also learned that I am not a fan of all the paperwork (Doctor and dental) that is involved!! But, I am thankful that it is something we have to do, because it is very important. I can't wait to find out where Heavenly Father wants me to be, I know He will send me where I am needed most and where I will be able to best serve. Hopefully the next post will say something about where I am going to be spending 18 months of my life? Maybe?

I have such bad luck..

I have got to say, I DO NOT like the mission papers process. I am pretty sure that every time I take a step forward, I get knocked down again. I thought that because I was done with interviews and everything, I would finally be finished dealing with the health and dental information....NOPE. I was wrong. I am missing one thing. So I am still not finished and my papers cannot be submitted until I finish it all. I am disappointed with how things have played out. I just don't know why it is taking me so long. I feel like Satan is using this to discourage me, and it always works until I realize it is Satan discouraging me. I am learning great patience from this.  I just need to keep remembering the Lord's timing is not the same as my timing...There are great things in store for me and Heavenly Father has a plan for me.

I love Mercy River!!

Mercy River is my favorite LDS music to listen to. They sing a song about blessings and how they may not look like blessings at the time, but do later on. The title is Blessings. I think everyone should listen to this song!! I wanted to put the lyrics on here because they are so great!!

 

 

 

Blessings

By Mercy River

 

 

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

 

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?
And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise

 

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It’s not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

GREAT weekend!!

My family and I had the wonderful opportunity to go attend General Conference IN PERSON!! :D We got to Utah on Friday evening (WAY later than expected, but the explanation for that is going to be a totally different blog post haha). We were able to eat a late dinner with Ollie and Ashley, Italian beef sandwiches like that ones in Chicago. Delish! Owen, Olson, and I slept at Ollie and Ashley's so mom and dad stayed at the hotel. We had so much fun that night! We played Just Dance, Super Mario Bros, Super Smash bros! Haha, and we watched some old cartoons that Ollie and I used to watch when we were little, it was a blast. We always have a great time with them. We went to the Saturday morning session of General Conference. Which was my favorite because President Monson talked about how the number of missionaries has increased so quickly and mentioned ME! Well, okay, he didn't say my name, but STILL I am a part of the 6000 that are in the interview process...not for long though!! :D But it really made me cry because of the great work that is occurring. And I get to be a part of it all. I'm so thankful for the opportunity and am so excited. After the first session we ate some yummy food, then watched the second session in a building near Temple Square. We took some great notes, and it's always so great to listen to our church leaders. After that the girls went shopping at City Creek Mall (GREAT mall btw) while the boys went to the priesthood session. I got some new clothes for my mission, I'm excited to wear them! After the priesthood session we went out for a late dinner. We were all VERY tired so we ate quickly then headed back to Provo to get ready for bed....well mom, dad and Olson got ready for bed ;) Haha, Owen, Ollie, Ashley, and I played more games. Sunday we went to our wonderful Aunt Christene's for a delicious breakfast - butterscotch bread, monkey bread, breakfast casserole, and fruit. YUM! :D We watched the am session then headed to SLC so we could go to the pm session. We were able to be in the conference center for this session also! It was the greatest. I loved it, SO much!! I hope to go again with my future family one day. Sunday evening we went and spent more time with cousins, aunt, and uncle. We ate, had some great laughs and even a few tears were shed. It was great. I love spending time with family. Sunday night my brothers, Ashley and I played more games, then went to bed. Woke up, packed and had to go to the airport. :( Talk about a SHORT trip. Too short...But, I am very grateful for the opportunity. I will always remember this trip. I know it will come to mind often. I won't be able to stop talking about it for weeks!! :) I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know it is the true church. I am excited for the opportunity I will have to serve a mission and can't wait to get my call. I am thankful for the wonderful examples I have had in my life, they have helped me get to where I am today.