SNOW!! :)

Yesterday was the first REAL snow of the year for Provo and surrounding areas.  It started while I was in class (at 10am)

The snow that had accumulated at 11:30am when I got home from class.

and didn't stop until after I went to bed (12am). It was snowing non-stop!

Two hours later-TONS of snow and STILL snowing!

I don't know when it stopped during the night, but when I woke up, I woke up to more of a winter wonderland! SO. MUCH. SNOW!

St. George never gets this much snow! It is crazy! Hopefully I will survive!:)
Yesterday, the snow was just so tempting to go play in...so I did.

I dropped my homework and went outside with my roommates and played in the snow! Sarah snowboarded down our intsy bitsy hill, 

and I made snowmen

snow angels, and caught snowflakes!!:)

It is beautiful!

Hiding from Sarah so she couldn't throw a snowball at me. She still did. But the tree saved me! :) it was a large snowball.

I love the parts of snowfields that are untouched by human hands and feet. It's just perfectly even all across and sooooo...perfect! :)
I love snow! Although I know I will be wishing it will be gone soon...but for the moment-I love it. :)
And on an even brighter note! My bishop told me yesterday that my mission call has been ASSIGNED!!!! IT IS IN THE MAIL!!!!!!!! :) :) :) I. Can't. Wait. 4 more days!! :)

The weekend that changed my life!

Almost exactly one month ago my life completely changed.
October 5th I turned 20. With that birthday, these were my thoughts, "Only 1 more year to go until I can serve a mission!"
October 6th came.  First session of conference.  The Prophet got up to welcome us to the 182nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  I just realized that I labeled the date in my journal wrong...it's supposed to say October 7, 2012. Oops. :)

This news that President Thomas S. Monson shared changed my life that morning.

Makes me cry each time! :)

I'm going on a mission.
I immediately set up an appointment with my bishop to start my papers.  I completed them the same day except for the dental and doctor stuff.

 The snacks along the way made it even better - Thank you Amelia and Jon for the delicious birthday gift!

I was finally able to have my stake interview this past Thursday (they have been REALLY backed up so it has taken forever).  They let me push the 'SUBMIT' button that would send my paperwork to the mission headquarters in Salt Lake where they would immediately start processing the paperwork.
This coming Friday my mission call should be assigned.  The following Wednesday, my call should be in my mailbox.

This is the picture that will show up on the wall when they look at my papers!

 This is the face that the Prophet will see. :)

So far there has been a couple of my friends who have received their mission calls already. I am so excited for them!
Shayna- Buenos Aires, Argentina North Mission. Spanish speaking. Enters the MTC January 16, 2013
Kara M.- Hungary Budapest Mission. Hungarian Speaking. Enters the MTC January 23, 2013
Sadie- Norway Oslo Mission. Norwegian Speaking. Enters the MTC January 23, 2013
Shayne- Australia Perth Mission. English Speaking. Enters the MTC March 13, 2013
Kara T.- England Manchester Mission. English Speaking. Enters the MTC January 31, 2013
Saya- Nagoya Japan Mission. Japanese Speaking. Enters the MTC January 9, 2013
Amanda- England Manchester Mission. English Speaking. Enters the MTC January 31, 2013
Kelcie- Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission. English Speaking. Enters the MTC February 6, 2013
Andrew- Texas Dallas Mission. Spanish Speaking. Enters the MTC January 9, 2013

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that has arisen so I can serve my Lord.  I am going on the Lord's mission and I can't wait to know where I have been called to serve Him.
1 1/2 more weeks. Can't wait.
:)

Quote of the day!:)
" I hope they call me on a mission
When I have grown a foot or two.
I hope by then I will be ready
To teach and preach and work as missionaries do.

I hope that I can share the gospel
With those who want to know the truth.
I want to be a missionary
And serve and help the Lord while I am in my youth."
- Newel Kay Brown

Chapati for your Body!

Last night Jenny, Carlee and I attempted to make Chapati. Ugandan Style.

Kneading the dough!

It was a failure.

Tasted like cooked flour and oil. Not like a chipati at all. haha!

However we still had fun. :)

We got ice cream to make up for the terrible tasting Chapati.

They are an adorable couple. ;)

We got a new recipe from Kristen, so next time we try this out, hopefully they will turn out better... :)

A Lovely Day in P-Town

Fall has definitely hit Provo.  The snow clouds have been threatening to let the snow flakes fall for the past 3 days and the trees are dropping their beautiful red, yellow, and orange leaves as the brisk wind blows throughout the huge campus of BYU.  It's beautiful.  However-I miss the sunshine.  So. Much.
My papers have been delayed because my stake president has not called me yet. :( So I am still waiting for him to call before they will be submitted.  Although I'm stuck waiting-I am learning to be patient.
And, I got to talk to this beautiful lady, which helped my day go better!  She gave me some mission tips :) Despite the technical difficulties I was having with my computer and sound, it was still grand being able to talk with her. She is so great!:)

I did my visiting teaching today. Yay!:)
I did Physics with Karen.  Afterwards we decided to go celebrate (no particular reason) and we got some Cold Stone Ice Cream! Yummy:)

And then when I got home I checked the mail and voilà! There was a letter for me from an Elder Groskreutz! My childhood buddy! :) It is great to hear from him!

So even though I am still disappointed about having to wait (hopefully just for 1 more week) for my mission papers to be submitted, I had a good day.
Tomorrow Shayna's mission call should be here! Yay! Can't wait to hear where she is called! :)

Quote of the Day! :)
"In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how." - David O. McKay

You've Got Mail

9 missionary letters (2 of them emails) and 1 letter from one of my best friends from Germany received in the past week.

All 8 letters! (2 were emails)

Let the writing back commence...
:)

We'll Bring the World His Truth

My best friend just informed me that her call is in the mail!  She will get it next week!!!! :)
My mission papers will be submitted as soon as I have my interview with my stake president. I will have my call in 3 weeks. :) I honestly cannot believe that this day would come so soon!  It is so great!  Recently a friend posted this quote.  It was too good to keep to myself.

"Today many sisters are being called to serve.  Many more are preparing to serve.  Not because they aren't married or don't have anything else to do, but they have the desire to serve.  One reason that the Lord wants more sisters to serve is because within the next generation He will send His priesthood army to the earth.  He wants to send choice spirit children to mothers who have been prepared, properly trained, and taught in the gospel.  What better schooling can a mother have than the experience and growth she gains through serving a mission."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley

 It is neat to see this quote come even more into play than ever before with the announcement of the age change of missionaries from two weeks ago during General Conference.

I am so grateful for this opportunity that has become available for me to serve a full-time mission.

The time has come.  Sister missionaries will be flooding the mission field.  The work is progressing so much and missionary work will BOOM in this next year as sisters around the world choose to serve.

We'll bring the world His truth. :)

One of the pictures from my Mission photo shoot my parents did!:)

 

D&C 4:3- "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"

Called to Serve

October 5th I turned 20.  What?  20!?  I'm OLD! ;)
My birthday was great! I went to Math class, went to work (my co-workers surprised me with a big box of doughnuts while I was washing dishes!  They started singing and had this box of doughnuts with candles in it! It was so nice! :)

(I have a picture, but don't know how to get it off my phone at the moment...)

And then my friends treated me by taking me to the BYU Womens Soccer Game! :) She was holding up a grand sign for me to find her:) I love these two!

 

Then I watched a movie with my roommate! :)

The next day, I received the best birthday present ever.  While watching the morning session of General Conference, amazing news was announced!

"I am pleased to announce that effective immediately all and able young men...will have the opportunity of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of the age 19.

*Loren (my brother) then says, "I wonder if they changed it for the women too?"*

"As we prayerfully pondered the age at which young men may begin their missionary service we have also given consideration to the age at which young women might serve.

*This is where the tears start falling freely from my eyes...*

"Today, I'm pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the deseire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19 instead of age 21.

*I'm crying hard core by this point!*

"We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty, and we encourage all young men who are worthy and physically able and mentally capable to respond to the call to serve.  Many young women also serve but are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men.  We assure the young sisters of the Church, however, that they make a valuable attribution as missionaries and we welcome their service." -President Thomas S. Monson

This is an answer to my prayers.  I have waited for many many years for this day to come when it was my time to serve, and it came.  Yesterday morning!  I am filled with immense measures of joy.

My best friend. After years of waiting, we can finally go!!! We are both starting our papers today! :)

I am starting my papers today.

I am ready to serve my Lord!