Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Inconceivable and Inaudibly Incandescent...IN!

Last night, I had my interview with Pres. Shaw. I think I learned more in that one hour than I have in the past year. He says I will go into the MTC in April and maybe I could be a temple worker to help pass the time, since I am not looking for a job. How AWESOME would that be? "Don't be surprised if you get called to a really hard mission." What is that supposed to mean?

He said he would turn in my papers this morning, so it's official. "My papers are in." It feels so good to be able to say that. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by people who are supporting me in this. Thanks!


OK, so I Photoshopped this nametag...but soon enough I will get mine!

Click to Enlarge

High school journal entry from 2002. Our soccer team was required to wear Sunday clothes to school when we had home games. Guess it's a good thing I got over that. My favorite line is, "I have never in my life wanted to swear and the temptation to just gets stronger and stronger every time someone says...dress"

Saturday, February 21, 2009

You Can Do Hard Things

You can do hard things. These are motivating and ennobling words. I've heard them said countless times by Pres. Jack R. Christianson (my old stake president and one of my top ten favorite people and authors). My hard things are not the same as your hard things, but we've all got them. I came across the quote below, while cleaning out my scriptures, and thought I would post it to offer some hope to everyone who reads this.

"Into each of our lives come golden moments of adversity. This painful friend breaks our hearts, drops us to our knees, and makes us realize we are nothing without our Lord and Savior. This friend makes us plead all the night long for reassurance and into the next day and sometimes for weeks and months. But, ultimately, just as surely as the day follows the night, as we remain true and faithful, this strange friend, adversity, leads us straight into the outstretched arms of the Savior. I have tried to understand why we must experience tribulation before we can experience the ultimate communication. It seems there is an intense concentration which must be obtained before our pleadings reach our Father in Heaven and, perhaps even more importantly, before He can get through to us. Sometimes we must be straining very hard to hear the still small voice. Before we can be taught things hidden from the world, we must be on a spiritual frequency which is out of this world. Adversity can help fine-tune this frequency." Glenn L. Pace, “Spiritual Revival,” Ensign, Nov 1992, 11

Recently, my hard things have involved understanding patience and obedience. Waiting for a mission call is just that--waiting. Now that all my awkward doctor visits are out of the way, the plan is to have my interview with the stake president this week. Wish me luck!

This is a photo I took after getting my first set of
Hep A & B shots last month. Have I mentioned that I hate shots?

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Sacrifice

sac⋅ri⋅fice [sak-ruh-fahys] -noun. "To sacrifice is to give up something we value for the sake of something of greater worth." -True to the Faith, a Gospel Reference

Monday, I gave up my wisdom in order to enjoy the effects of Lortab. Here are some pictures of my fun journey across the wilderness from the dentist's office to my mother's bedroom.

Trying to figure out the best way to attach 2 ice packs to my face.
Ice only helps the swelling the first day.


Mom's idea was to get 2 pillows to help push against my face.
This=not favorite.


Andrea thought to stuff them inside a hoody. Yeah!


Sofie has been a faithful visitor. She's not as cool as April,
though, who brought much-needed Otter Pops!


Reading Baby Sofs a CD cover, which Andrea and Lindsey
made to earn money a few years ago.


This picture cracks me up! I was trying to smile. Really.


The next day (Tuesday), I woke up and felt wonderful!
I showered and sort of did my hair (which is so convenient these
days! I should have cut it loooooong ago)


Can you see my one puffy cheek? Rad. It's my
left-side, so on the right of the picture.
I'm not green, which is cool (yet anyway).