I'm a missionary!!!!!!!!

I'll make this quick because it's almost midnight and I have last minute mission things to finish up before I enter the MTC tomorrow! I was set apart tonight as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!!!! It was incredible!!! I can't wait for the MTC even though I am a wee bit nervous, but I am more excited than anything! I LOVE the gospel and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the whole world!! It's true and I challenge everyone to find that out for themselves! I love you all and hope all is well for everyone in all that you do!! See ya'll in 18 months!

If ye have desires to serve!

      This is it! MTC in about a week now! I can't believe it's finally happening. I am preparing to do something I've dreamt about since I was a little girl. I can't wait to share the love and excitement that is in my heart. I gave my farewell talk in my moms ward this last Sunday, and I will give it in my singles ward this next week. I love this gospel and I don't even want to imagine what would be going on in my life without it. That is why I have the urge to share this gospel message, that is why I must serve and show my gratitude for this life I have been blessed to experience and grow in. I see myself as one who holds a sacred privilege to learn and grow as a missionary of the Lord. What a humbling yet absolutely thrilling blessing.  I know without a doubt that this mission will be one in which I will learn more about sacrifice, love, work, service, and trials than I could ever imagine; I know without a doubt that it will mold and prepare me for the other great parts of my life that are yet to come. My heart is so full and I only hope that the Lord will help me to become the best missionary that I can be!
- D&C 4

The time is drawing near!

      Holy Moly I just realized the other day that it has been about 2 months since I have posted anything! I have just been so swamped with school and my mission preparations that I haven't had time to cram anything else into this brain of mine. In just over 3 weeks I enter the MTC and soon after that, the field of the Oregon Portland Mission!!!! I can't even describe my excitement!! Its all coming so fast and with each passing day I have a stronger conformation that this is exactly what I need to be doing in my life right now! I had a friend ask me the other day if I was sad that I wasn't getting married right now instead of going on a mission since I have had quite a few friends getting engaged and married recently.
      My answer....of course marriage is high on my priority list; however, I am SO glad that I have this time to serve and learn more about who I am and about my place in Heavenly Fathers plan before I get married. A mission is probably one of the best marriage prep experiences I can think of and in the process I have the opportunity to love and serve others while growing closer to the Lord than I could ever imagine. Wow, how on earth could I pass that up? This is something that is so much bigger than myself and I can't imagine not being able to take part in it. Well its very late, but I just wanted to express my complete and utter joy and happiness! Sleep tight world. ;)

Oh now that's cute!!

The church has really improved the look of sister missionaries! I want all the sister missionary clothes in the whole world!!!!  http://missionary.lds.org/dress-grooming/dress/suits/?lang=eng    A few of my favorite outfits! just for fun =)

This is it!!

Mission papers submitted....check!! This week I had my interview with the stake president for my mission and it was such an amazing feeling! When I left his office I had the most excited feeling I have ever felt! I am just so ready to serve! Its the first thing on my mind when my eyes pop open in the morning and the last thing on my mind when I close my eyes at night. Anticipation?.....yeah we could call that an understatement! On Thursday in mission prep teacher Brother Lewis had us watch a video about Joseph Smith and the Sacred Grove. Now if you know me you know that of course I cried. That's just what happens to me when I feel the spirit (guess that's partly why I love Elder Eyring so much). After we finished the video he asked me to stand and give my testimony of what we had just watched. I thought I was emotional during the movie, but as I stood to bear my testimony of our dear prophet Joseph Smith I was at first hardly able to speak. As I expressed to the class about what I love and know to be true it gave me a taste of what the mission field will be like and made me feel such a bond to Joseph Smith. He is one of those people who at the second coming I am going to be first in line to give the biggest hug ever!


My love for this amazingly faithful boy of 14 who grew into one of the most incredible people to ever walk the earth is so strong and their are no words to express my gratitude! Where would we be without him and the sacrifices that he made for this gospel? It really just makes me want to step up my game about 110%. If a young boy can face so much adversity and still remain faithful to the Lord in accomplishing all that he was sent here to do, then why for any reason would I not be able to do the simple things that would make me a better follower of Jesus Christ? There is nothing like preparing for a mission that gives you a power and a joy unlike any other! It helps me really truly think about the simple principles of the gospel that I don't often take time to ponder and appreciate. And practicing explaining them to others as we do in mission prep helps me to gain a better understanding and testimony of these wonderful parts of the gospel that the Lord has prepared for us!

You know it really is such a great time to be alive! When we acknowledge that, we provide ourselves with such a more productive mindset and allow ourselves to become available to growing experiences that help mold us into the person that we have always wanted to be. There are just so many great opportunities out there and I am taking each one in stride! First up......Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!

You live and you learn.

Well tonight I did something that I wish I wouldn't have. I just feel so...whats the word I'm looking for.....oh yeah, "stupid". Now that I think about it, its something I never would have expected myself to do because I know that I am better than that. I need to face up to things and not try to find a way out of them because it just ends up hurting people and that is the last thing in the world that I would ever want to do. To my knowledge things are fine now, I went right to the source to mend the situation but I still have this genuine disappointment in myself because I know better.

Then again I have to remember that I am still human. I am not perfect, I am still learning as I go along and we all make mistakes. However I now know to a clearer extent that especially when I don't know how to deal with a situation or feel overwhelmed by it that I need to just take a deep breath and go with my gut feeling of what I know to be right and to be honest and up front. I never want to do anything that would make someone be disappointed in me or have doubts about who I am. Most importantly I have learned tonight, and these feelings will only help me be more aware and more wise in my dealings with others.

The field is white!

Last night I completed and submitted my ONLINE MISSION PAPERS!!! Can I get a what what?! I was so excited/nervous that I could hardly eat all day! Now I just need to finish up the last few things with the Stake Pres and the rest will be up to the great men in Salt Lake! I have hardly been able to think about anything else lately. My coworkers and I have quite frequently been talking mission, and its been so great to be able to include my non-member coworkers in on my excitement and whole missionary preparation process. Its been a great missionary experience already! I get more excited with each passing day, and of course the nerves sort of go along with that as well. I even dream about my mission and about where I might go.

 I wonder about those who I will have the opportunity to teach and grow to love. I talked with my brother's girlfriend the other day (who is so amazing) and she gave me so much peace about things I had been concerned with and helped me to gain a better understanding about what is most important when serving a mission. I am so blessed! Wow its all coming so fast and its only a matter of time until I find out where I will be serving. My Mission Prep class is so fantastic! Oh I just love it! And our teacher Brother Lewis is like a dad to me and so it just makes the whole process that much more amazing! The spirit I feel when I think or talk "mission" is worth everything in the world to me and I can't imagine not being able to have the opportunity to partake of this blessimg in my life.
3 Nephi 5:13