Gratitude

I'm just overwhelmed with gratitude right now for everything I have and everything that's about to happen in my life. The gospel is amazing. Amazing. I'm so blessed to be able to be born into a family that is strong in the church. I'm so grateful for all of the people in my life who have influenced me in some way, primary teachers, young women leaders, sunday school teachers, neighbors, bishops and so much more. I've always had awesome friends- lds and non-members who have pushed me to be better person. I have the best parents in the world who love their children more then anything. I love the gospel. It literally has made me into the person I am today and it can only make me better. I love the knowledge that I have because of the church. My family can be together forever. Forever is a long time and I wouldn't change it for anything. Seriously I can't get the smile off of my face.

One month to go. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!

Perfect Timing

Today I received a letter from one of my best friends that went into the MTC almost 2 weeks ago! She's headed to the Long Beach California Mission this week (Crazy!!). In her letter she said "get rid of your feelings of distress and inadequacy and nervousness. There is absolutely no need for them." What she didn't know was this morning before I got her letter I was writing her one telling her how nervous I am to leave. And guess what? Shes right, there is no need for those feelings. I have been called by God as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He loves me. He will bless me. He will enable me to be the best missionary I can, as long as I'm obedient and trying my best. Her letter came at the perfect time and I'm so grateful for her example to me. Only 32 more days left!!! Wow time is going to flyyy.

shopinggg.

Ok so I'm a shopper. I have no problem buying new things. So you would think that I would love buying things for my mission right? WRONG. I personally think its awfuullll, trying on skirts and realizing that they're just barely barely too short. Or maybe its the fact that whatever I buy people won't really see anyways because I'm going to have layers upon layers of clothes on to try and keep me warm, I have no idea but deciding to serve a mission sure has solved my shopping addiction.

Just for a future reference here's a list of places I got some of my clothes and shoes.

• asos.com (just type in midi skirts and they have tons!) 
• Dillards 
• Down East
• Target (my favorite skirts came from here)
• modcloth.com
• Nordstrom Rack
• Kohls (if you need any cute jackets or blazers this is where I found a lot and great deals)
• Scheels (winter coat that I LOVE)
• northface.com (winter boots)
• DSW shoes
• eshakti.com (way cute skirts that you can customize to make longer!)
• 6pm.com (for you brave people out there that don't need to try your shoes on before you buy them)
• zappos.com (I typed in messenger bags and found mine which will work great)
• Samsonite Luggage Outlet store on Traverse Mountain---such good deals on great luggage
• Thrift stores (really don't be afraid to go and try and find some awesome deals!)
• Sister Missionary Mall (first I was like heck no but then I went in again and they have cute things now!)

If I find any other places I'll for sure be adding them to the list.

I seriously can't believe I have 35 days left until I leave!! I seriously feel so unprepared but then I just have to remember that I've been called to be a successful missionary. As long as I work hard the Lord will bless me.

Going on a Mission??

So you guys know the story, on October 6th the whole world changed. The missionary age was changed

from 21 to 19 for girls and from 19 to 18 for boys. And at first I was like this is GREAT!!! And then I was like AHHHHH! And there were lots of tears...SO many tears and SO much confusion. I never felt more confused in my life. I think deep down I knew I was supposed to serve but I was fighting it fighting it hard. I wanted to go to school. I wanted to get into my program for my major. I wanted to do a study abroad in the summer. I wanted to do everything a regular 20 year old girl does except for serve a mission. I fought the feelings for 5 days and finally met with my bishop. I left that meeting with the biggest change of heart. I've never experienced a more personal answer to prayer in my entire life. The blessing my bishop gave me was the most spiritual thing I've ever experienced. All that confusion quickly changed to peace. Peace in knowing my Father in Heaven has a plan for me. Peace in knowing that with out a doubt I was supposed to serve a mission. 

Moral of the story: Don't go against what the spirit is telling you. Have faith.

After a wonderful 9 day trip to Hawaii, I anxiously got home and quickly started my papers. I finished them in 3 days. 3 DAYS. That never happens, seriously everything fell into place. Like the fact that my dentist was completely booked for an entire month and I said a prayer to get in ASAP and  guess what?? They called me back 15 minutes later to tell me someone cancelled for the next day. (Prayers work people) I got my papers turned in and a short week and a half later my call came!

November 14th 2012:
It was a pretty typical Wednesday morning. I was getting ready for work when my phone rang 7:00am on the dot. Guess what?? it was the Post Office telling me it was here!! How in the world am I supposed to go and sit at work for 8 hours now? Loooongest day of my life. I came home to see my pretty white envelope.

After waiting for my family and a few close friends to show up they all guessed where I was going, we had lots of guesses to New York, Boston, London, Belgium etc etc and I was determined I was going to Nebraska (????). After getting my dad on facetime time, my bff in Idaho on skype and my bff in Hawaii on facetime I opened my call......To find out I was serving in the CALGARY, CANADA MISSION. And I was leaving on February 27th!! I wish people could feel how happy and exited I was. I know people say this all the time. But my call is perfect, I could not have picked a better place for me to serve. And now in my head I think why was there no guesses to Canada. Literally every country was guessed except for Canada. Come on people. Good thing Heavenly Father knows where I'm supposed to go.
November 14th------>February 27th. 105 days. Now comes the waiting for the most impatient girl on this planet.

Moral of the story: God knows me individually and knows where I'm supposed to go.