Pictures

These are just some more pictures of the semester! I have loved every minute of this Fall! (:

The roomies and I! Usual Sunday picture.

Me and Kaitlin at ward prayer.

Roommate Picture

Katie, Kaitlin, Brooke, Erin, Me

What can we say? We love Christmas, and Christmas Sweaters!

Beautiful Rexburg Sunset (:

Me and Miss Kaitlin.

Putting the star on the tree!

We are addicted to nail polish, to say the least. 

It's Only Tuesday

Unfortunately, school is kicking my butt, and if I had any sense at all, I would be doing about a million times better. But, I don't regret how much fun I am having, and how much I truly have loved spending time with all the people I love here in Rexburg. 

This week I has already been one of my favorites, and it's only Tuesday. 

I got an email not only from Sister Taylor, but from Elder Mickey and Elder Campbell as well! I love them both so much, and it was so nice to hear from each of them. They are uplifting friends, and I am obviously so blessed to have them as a part of my life. What amazing examples! 

It makes me even more excited to serve, since I have such amazing and supportive friends who are already doing the work. 

I AM SO BLESSED.

Roomies and some Cocoa Lodge

Oh boy am I blessed. I am so glad that I decided to do another semester up at school before I left. I wouldn't have traded the memories I have made just in this one semester for the WORLD.

For starters, one of my roommates from my first two semesters up here is ENGAGED. I can't even believe it. I am so beyond happy for her, and her fiancé is the sweetest kid in the world. Thank goodness. Otherwise I would totally have to beat him up. I'm tough. 

The best part about it is I get to fly to DC for her wedding!!! How lucky am I? 

Isn't she a beaut? Seriously. I love her to pieces. 

Every Sunday we take roommate pictures, and even though we hate staying in our church clothes for longer than we have to, I am so glad that we do. I have so many now, and it is fun to have them to keep and remember forever. One day when I have kids and they are looking at my pictures they will ask me about how neat my friends were, and I will get to tell them all the wonderful stories in the life of 307. 

Matt was one lucky guy!

We snuck Brooke in one (; Always our roomie at heart!

Happy Halloween from 307!!!

Also, my roommate Erin got her mission call. I am beyond words excited to have someone else in the house that is going on a mission! She is such an amazing example to me, and she will kill it in Cincinnati, Ohio! Woot Woot. (:

Try not to be jealous of all my amazing friends that I have in my life. I love them SO much. I really really do!

Lovelies. 

Kit Kat 

Matt

We ended our week with Kaitlin's performance at Nashville Nights, and a little bit of hot cocoa from the Cocoa Lodge! It was so yummy, and so fun to be there with all of my amazing friends. 

Brookie 

Erin, Brooke, Caitlyn, Kaitlin, Kaylee, Courtnee, Katie, Kat

Crazies

Blessings.

No one really tells you how lonely the waiting period is between getting your call, and actually leaving on your mission. It amazes me how you can be at such a high point, and such a low point at the same time. In saying that, I know that the adversary is working extra hard, and for some reason Satan likes to make me feel like a lot less than I am, especially because I have now become boy repellent. 

It's interesting, because when you have your call and you are preparing to leave, it's as if you are dying. Everyone sort of treats you as though your time here is so short, and that they will never see you again. It makes me laugh, because Kadee used to always say "I don't know why people treat me like I am dying!" I never understood what she meant till now! But one thing I do want to say, is that for anyone who does decide to go, this "limbo" is really hard, but you will make it through. Especially when you rely on the comfort of Heavenly Father, because He totally understands. He really does. 

I may not know it all, but I do know that I'm not dying, and once I do my work for the Lord, I'll be back, and happier than ever. Because I know that by giving myself to the Lord, I am able to gain true and lasting happiness.

I Know Where I'm Going!!!

Waiting is one of the hardest things in the world. We as human beings (at least most of us, I would assume!) have a hard time waiting. Okay, so maybe it's just me. 

I had decided in Florida that I wanted to serve a mission. I had thought about it a lot before, but the timing just wasn't right. Living in Florida and meeting people from all over the world just showed me that it was something I wanted, and had the potential to be really great at. I had the chance to make amazing friends, some members, and some non-members. It gave me the opportunity to teach them about mormons, especially because most of them had either never heard of a mormon, or just heard all untrue things. I was an example, and because of that, they wanted to know more and more everyday. 

I came home from Florida and had my meeting set up to met with the bishop the very next day. At first, I realized that I wouldn't be able to see my best friend, Kadee for more than two years if I decided to go, but she insisted that I serve, so it was decided! After all of my appointments, I was finally ready to wait. Which is all it felt like I did for about two weeks. Wait. Wait. Wait. 

THEN. Finally, on Saturday, September 7, 2013, I was called to serve in the Viña del Mar, Chile mission. I was overwhelmed with joy, knowing that this was the very place that the Lord needed me, and I couldn't even believe it. 

One thing I do know is that the Lord knows each and every one of us, and is more than willing to bless us. He does every single day, even when we don't realize it. I am blessed to be able to serve the people of Chile, and I hope I can bring hope and joy to their lives, just like this gospel does to mine. 

Disneyworld - Day 61

I can't even explain how much time has literally flown by. It is the craziest thing. I feel like just yesterday I was stepping off the plane, and now I am down to six weeks here in the sunshine state. Which I really don't understand why they call it that, because ever since I have moved here, it has rained at least 50% of the time. That isn't even a lie. I love it though. It is the perfect storm.

Work has been amazing. I had the chance to work in another area that is owned by Disney. Working at the ESPN center was amazing. I would tell people I was working there, and they would think it was the coolest thing in the world. At first I didn't want to, because come on, I know nothing about sports, and frankly, I really don't care. But I loved every second of it because of the people I met, and the experiences I had there. 

I have met with the missionaries here a couple of times, and I am so glad that they are called to serve the college program members of the ward. They have been a huge blessing, and have made a huge difference in my life. I am so grateful for those elders. It reminds me every single day of how amazing my best friend is! I love her and miss her so much!

I feel so lucky and blessed to have had this opportunity. It really has been a once in a lifetime chance, and it has changed my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world! Just having the chance to go to magic kingdom and see Wishes the other night helped remind me how lucky I really am!

Disneyworld - Day 36

I can barely even believe how many friends I have made already. I thought it was going to be so much harder than it really has been, and I have been having so much fun. 

A few days ago I went to Paradiso 37 with my friend Kelsey from work. We had so much fun. I loved it there, and we got to people watch while we ate the amazing food! 

I also had the chance to go to Magic Kingdom with Kourtney and Lauren, which I talked about in my last post, but I never posted the pictures! So here they are.

 Repunzel's Tower

 Cinderella

 Aroura

 Rapunzel

The Little Mermaid ride

It has been such an amazing week, and I know that there will be many more to come! I had the chance to talk to Kadee, and I miss her! She is so funny it makes my day. 

I definitely will be posting more about my weeks as more things happen. I love this adventure, and I am so happy I am here!