And A Happy New Year..

Hot dang, ya'll. Well, tis the season to be jolly.. That I am gonna be out of the cold weather soakin up the sun in MEXICO in about three weeks! This week is also my last day of work, so if anyone wanted like autographs or to see me before I embark on this wonderful slice of my life, it's time. It sounds weird to now say it out loud, but I literally opened my call four months ago. To the DAY. Still feels like it was yesterday.. Well, for a brief update on Christmas, mine was fabulous. I got to spend it with my cute family! We even joked that it was my last Christmas (ever) and that I would never get another one since when I get home I will be a woman. Presents were, of course, mission affiliated. But who's to say that that doesn't make them fun? I got a new iPod! A mission iPod that I may or may not have loaded with regular non-church related music while I can.. Then it kinda hit me, I need to get all of my laundry done so I can pack. Then it hit me again,  I have to pack because I am leaving. Then it came back because third times the charm, right? 26 days. While I have never felt so ready for anything in my life, I can't help but feel, not ready. I am about to leave my family for 18 months.. I am about to sacrifice everything and completely give my all to the Lord. I made a decision back in May that I was going to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because I had something to offer. I have a story to share that can maybe help someone, somewhere in New York or Mexico. Who knows? God knows. Whoever I am supposed to help, will be there waiting for me to search them out. Whether it be to help an awkward companion get out of her shell, to baptize the heck out of the New Yorkers, or just to spark SOMETHING in SOMEONE, they will be there. At the right time, at the right place.

Also, to all of those who made bets against me that I would be married before I left, I accept cash or check.

26 days, my friends. 26 days.

Weak ankles.

So, you guys all know the myth of Achilles? The greatest fighter of the Greeks, whose mother tried to protect him by dipping him into the river Styx (holding him by the ankles..) when he was a kid.Spoiler alert, he died later on in battle due to his "weak ankles" because he took an arrow to the achilles. Now, think of how that could apply to us. This gospel, is the river Styx, we are Achilles, and the world, is the arrow. See what I'm getting at? If we want to be protected from the dangers of the world, we need to be fully immersed into this gospel, trusting in the Lord. If we put our faith and trust into the world, spoiler alert! You're gonna be let down. But the Lord will not let you down, I promise you. He wants us to be happy and he wants us to succeed, whereas the world puts us down on purpose, pushing us to the extreme, telling us that we are never good enough, creating contention, depressing feelings, and self-hatred. Now, there was a time in my life where I wasn't fully immersed in this gospel. In fact, it was probably more recent than you think. Just because I am telling you not to feel like this doesn't mean that I've never had doubts, or sad feelings, or so much self-hatred that I found myself cutting, throwing up on purpose because I was bullied into an eating disorder, and turning to dark music for a comfort. I've been there. I've dug myself out of that. And the thing that I love the most? I did it as a choice. No one forced me to. My loving mother, who bless her heart had to deal with me, was always very gentle and very careful around me. What a wonderful mother I have! And what a wonderful Savior I have.. What a wonderful life, that I am blessed with. The world will come at you, and it will come at full blast. And if you do not immerse yourself into this gospel, and put your trust in the Lord, you will get caught up in it, and you will not make it out alive. That, I testify to you.

Gotta get down on Friday!

I got 99 problems, and dey all have to do with working for 15 hours today. But, it's the weekend! So many things are going through my mind as I get closer and closer to my leave date, and I've been trying to make the most out of everything I do.. So naturally, I made a 'canteen' list to go through and figure out what I want to do before I leave. So far, I have seen my husband 4EVR Michael Buble with my awesome friend Jake, got the glasses of my dreams, put blue in my hair then did an ombre, went indoor rock climbing, and just last night me and my buddy Justin just went indoor skydiving. Talk about living life to the fullest, AMIRIGHT? Well, today I kind of want to share a scripture that has been on my mind a lot lately. It can be found in my handy dandy.... Book Of Mormon! Mosiah 2:41, and if you don't have one with you, you can click the link and read more, hopefully it strikes you in the oh so gentle manner that you love. Anyway, in it, it reads "..I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.." Do you need me to simplify that? HAPPY. BLESSED. KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. We could sit here and make a commercial of some guy yelling at a screen "DO YOU LIKE BEING HAPPY? DO YOU WANT ALL OF THE MARVELOUS BLESSINGS THAT OUR LORD AND SAVIOR HAS TO OFFER, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF, YOU GET? Then keep the commandments.." then the screen pans out and he keeps a straight face as he glares into your soul.. And people STILL wouldn't get it! But what can you do? You can pray. You can pray for the strength to not only keep the commandments, but to have a strong desire to want to keep the commandments. It's not going to be easy. Trust me, it wont be easy. But I can absolutely promise you that it will be worth it.

A look into my brain for a day.

Happy Thursday! I felt the need to blog a discussion that me and a lovely friend had at my work. As we gossiped about our love life (or lack thereof..) we discussed about how much dating sucks basically! Which now that you're reading this, you probably agree. Or you're in a wonderful happy relationship, which in that case, I am happy for your good fortune! But as she told me her story of her missionary and how it didn't go so good, I was reminded of some advice that a good friend had just given me that previous Sunday. O p e n  y o u r  h e a r t. I shoved this advice under the rug for a few days, but I felt like she needed to hear this. And maybe, just maybe, I needed to hear this. Unless her heart is opened, how will she love again? Unless my heart is opened, how am I to serve? Unless our hearts are opened, how will we all learn to accept and love each other the way this gospel has taught us to? Even those who you have felt have wronged you, it's not the end of the world. Do not waste your time and energy being unhappy, self conscious, or angry. Because guess what? You still woke up this morning. You are breathing. You matter to someone. NEVER give up. If I wouldn't have known this about 4-5 years ago, I wouldn't be here. I was in the darkest state of my life, completely shutting out anything and everything that had to do with the gospel, filling my life empty music lyrics that 'so relate' contemplating suicide every other day. You know what I'm talking about, you've seen pictures of me. It wasn't until I realized that I wasn't happy, when I finally decided to make a change. I had to completely convert myself to the gospel again, and start from scratch, and I've honestly never been happier. Had it not been for my little punk phase, I wouldn't have realized all the blessings that this gospel has to offer, and the happiness that it's brought me. I would just know that it's what I had to do and do it. So now that you know my life story, take a minute to evaluate yours. Are you just going through the motions? Do you not realize how lucky you are, that no matter what happens, you will always have that ONE constant, that happy ending that every girl (and guy) dreams of. Never forget. You are loved, you are blessed, and you darn well better realize it.

Mission $w@G

I constantly was all over the web looking for stores to get Sister Missionary clothing, but none of them to me were, well.. You know. I did however, find one store where I am pleased to say, I have purchased most of my clothes from! The store is mikarose.com and they always have great deals, friendly people, and, lucky for me, missionary discounts! They have a page on Facebook that you can go on and like, and look at all of their cute clothes that they have. Their store is even located pretty close to my home! It is in University Parkway Mall in Orem. https://www.facebook.com/MIKAROSEMODESTY

[Insert warm, heartfelt greeting here]

Oh, fabulous winter day! Welcome to my blog about my mission. I will be serving in the New York New York South mission, Spanish speaking! (hence, Hermana...)  I leave January 22, 2014. I will be posting pictures, or my mom will once I am gone. I hope you enjoy my page!