The Best Two Years

Two years ago I opened my mission call. 

At that time, I didn't know how much my life would be changed in the next two years. 

I wouldn't be able to write all the things that have happened in the last two years. 

Some of the highlights would be:

Mission - EVERYTHING about it. My Mission President and His wife, my companions, the members I was able to serve with, the people I met, SOO many small situations that made a BIG impact in my life and helped me know that God loves me. 

The small things that happen every day to let me know God is aware of me. They would probably seem silly if I mentioned them, but God knows me and knows what they mean to me.

I am so happy I get to go to the Temple often. It has been a refuge for me before, during and after my mission. 

Bell of the Ball

I love this woman.

Her name is Maudie Bell (Cammerer Roan). She is my grandma. 

She is a spunky lady. If you have a conversation with her you would not think she is 89.

I am named after my grandma Maudie.

My Grandma was born in 1926 in Woodward Oklahoma. A small town in the pan handle of the state. 

She was born on a farm with lots of property and a river that runs through it. 

She had 2 sisters and 2 brothers and they all grew up in this house. 

Her mom and dad are on the bottom (Ruby and Albert).

She and my grandpa met there. He was in the Air Force. 

First comes love, then comes Marriage. 

Together they began to travel the world with his different assignments. 

They had 3 rambunctious boys. 

My dad is the one on the left.

She always had MANY stories to tell. Sometimes there were pictures.

She was an adventurous woman. In this instance they were India, and she saw elephants and wanted to ride one. She was the first one out of the car. 

She LOVED to shop. Many of the things in her house have come from all over the world. 

I don't know if she ever saw anything she didn't like furniture and clothes alike. 

Through their time in the Military they also came in contact with the missionaries. 

Although, they were justing making sure their sons knew the commitment they were making

as they decided to be baptized. They continued to support and drive them to activities and church meetings (3 times each Sunday - it was BEFORE the block schedule).  

I don't know when their love for boy scouts started, but if you needed help with ANY merit badge, they would be able to help you out and supply you with the badge. 

The southern hospitality could never be taken from this woman. Thousands of miles from home she was still the greatest example to those around her. As a wife of a Major in the Air Force, she could hold her own. She did what was right, even if it wasn't socially acceptable. She cared for everyone she knew. She is the most generous person. 

She and my grandpa love each other so much.

(I think this was a birthday celebration)

After a few years later she and my grandpa decided to be baptized as well. They never looked back. They began to travel around the United States after my grandpa retired to find records of ancestors, take pictures of cemeteries, and help others find their ancestors as well. 

My grandma ALWAYS wanted to tell you how much she loved you. Sometimes it wasn't in the way one would normally expect, but everything she did was out of love.  Her many stories and lectures. Her desire to pass on a good name, to live a life her descendants could be proud of, with a name to be proud of. 

My Grandma would drive for hours if it meant she could support one of her family members in a event of any kind, baseball game, swim competition, whatever your passion. She would come. 

My Grandma came and took care of me after I was born. She would still remind me of it, especially if I was being a pill. She knew how to have fun, the good kind. If fun was borderline the bad side, she would give you a good southern warning, and you wouldn't try twice with her. 

My grandma was a strong woman on the inside. For years before my grandpa died and lived in a care facility, she would visit him multiple times a week. You could not keep her away from him. You couldn't stop her from bringing fresh fruit and some chocolates with her when she came. 

She is tenacious, and a little fire-cracker. She might have kept getting shorter, maybe I just kept growing. She is the cutest lady. Whenever she would walk, she would grab on your arm (her grip was TIGHT), she would waddle with you and tell you how to keep your arm stiff and if it relaxed, she would tap it a few times and make some joke about your muscles, and how she needed a strong arm. She could make any situation light. 

It was such a blessing having my grandma in Utah the last couple of years. It was a blessing to see her when I got home from my mission.

Another day she had an accident and my dad asked me to go with him. I am thankful I did. She was teasing my dad. Even though she was in pain, she was a tough cookie. This woman inspires me. I told her she had to stick around to meet my kids, and she said I needed to hurry up. I love her. 

I remember as we were leaving my grandma I gave her a hug and a kiss and another hug. I told her I loved her. She told me she was proud of me. 

Less than 48 hours after that, My mom told me she was with my grandpa again. 

I know she is with her family. She is in peace. She is saying hi to all her family she tracked down. 

I know she is laughing. She loved to laugh and she had a great laugh. 

Heaven is lucky to have this amazing lady. Happy one month anniversary to my Grandma and Grandpa.

Challenge Accepted

This is a phrase I heard on my mission. This morning as I attended the temple, I say this phrase was accepted from the youth there.

After receiving my mission call I started doing other ordinances in the temple so today was the first time in almost 2 years I went to the baptistry. Arriving early on Monday morning wasn't a foreign idea to my school schedule, in fact, the semester before my mission I went regularly. The difference today however filled me with gratitude and happiness.

Upon arriving I needed to print out temple cards and one of the sweet temple ladies told me to go downstairs to the baptistry and she would bring them, and I needed to "get in line." I headed down the stairs and there was a good number of youth in front of me. There is a small chapel near the baptistry and it was filled, not only was it youth of the church but most of them had brought their own family names to the temple. I would say they accepted Elder Andersen's challenge to the youth of the church to prepare as many names for the temple as you perform baptisms in the temple and help someone else to do the same. I later found out, there was at least one ward that gathered the youth and brought them to the temple every Monday morning. In attendance with them was the bishop, young men and womens leaders and parents.

The temple was full and once I had my spot in line, there were about 30 people in front of me. That is 140 ordinances performed within 90 minutes of the temple opening. My heart was full with gratitude as I watched these youth enter the water and perform these ordinances. I can't even imagine how diligently the missionaries are working to help these people accept the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I was also grateful for the peace I find in the temple. It is a refuge for me. Right before the youth got started a member of the temple presidency, President Ashton, addressed those present and asked them, "what questions do you have about the temple?" He assured us we could think about it as we discussed baptism. After the devotional finished, the front row of youth stood up and went to work. They knew exactly what they were doing. It looked likes bees at a beehive. 

Nothing says first day of school like your dad wanting to drop you off. (He didn't want to smile.)

Other challenges being accepted is the one to get a higher education. Today was day 1 back at BYU. First class was family history and we discussed missionary work, most of the class members were returned missionaries. We also talked about temples. It was fabulous. 

Next stop was computer science and we discussed missionary work again. I think I am going to like these classes. There is a very large diversity of majors and goals in this class. 

Middle class was Ballet. Well, on the bright side I can still walk. Just kidding. There were pros and cons and lets just say, "yikes!" There is definitely lots of room for improvement. It felt so good, but not dancing for 21 months is evident. 

(studio on campus)

Next class: ASL. It was so much fun. Lots of stories, deaf humor, and laughs. It is a good class. I am excited for the assignments we have, like talking to deaf people one-on-one. Going to the deaf ward doesn't count. Good thing I know a couple people who would fulfill that requirement without it being for a class. #Communicatewithourhands

Last class was music and you might not guess which room we were in...

I didn't know they had an ALMA lab. Such a BYU thing (#BookofMormonStories). Inside the ALMA lab is super cool.

Keyboards connected to computers. It was pretty hi-tech.

This last picture is something I found in the bookstore, which I thought, "Where do they come up with this stuff?"

After not being in school for a bit, I forgot the family tradition of a fathers priesthood blessing before school starts so, we got that done too. I love the Priesthood. Nothing can compare to it. 

I can't help but think how incredible everything else, all the small things, all the big things. Life is wonderful. 

Three months changed my life

The past 18 months have had and indescribable and incalculable impact on my life. Today I want to focus on the last three months of my mission. When I was called to be an American Sign Language missionary, I was excited, and nervous. I didn't feel like I was able to fulfill that calling in the way I pictured "fulfilling my calling." During those three months I learned many lessons but I am grateful for the impact it has had on the last 6 and a half weeks of my life.

Today was a beautiful day, not uncommon. The sunrise was beautiful and I have many pictures to document my enthusiasm as the sun rose today.

That wasn't what impacted me the most. Yes, I knew that God had started another beautiful day here, but upon returning home from my mission, some feelings haven't been the same. Returning from a mission is different than I thought, but today I had an opportunity to participate in TRC (Training Resource Center at the Provo Missionary Training Center). This TRC wasn't in English, It was in ASL. Upon my arrival at the MTC, I was immediately joined into a conversation with 3 others, who were there with the same purpose as me. I followed them to my the area where we would have a devotional. As I conversed with one of them, I learned she has been in the same MTC district with a dear companion of my about 19 months ago. So we did what any excited person would do and we took a selfie and sent it to our mutual friend. This dear companion of mine, was one companion from 1/2 of this precious 3 months. She wouldn't be the support she is in my life, her influence/example and love for life, wouldn't be the same as it is today without those 6 weeks with her.

Then, there were SO many ASL volunteers they combined some of us into a room and we were taught by missionaries. I was combined with this dear sister. Instantly friends, we were edified together from 4 different companionships of missionaries. Some might think, "if there were extra volunteers, why not go home?" The truth of the matter is in a couple different things.

1. I really wanted to volunteer and help the missionaries. I miss being a missionary and I am grateful I was able to be serve the Lord. I know my time is finished, and I want to help those missionaries by giving them the best experience they could have and an opportunity to learn and grow before they enter the unknown of "the field."

2. There are two cute sisters who are going to the greatest mission on the planet and I was so excited to meet them before they depart on Tuesday. They have such a love and enthusiasm for the work of the Lord. I know both of their trainers, and wards where they will be serving. I am so excited for them to start this journey.

3. Along with these sisters who are entering the service of the Lord, I got to see a sister who I had the pleasure of serving along side with. I love seeing familiar faces.

4. As I mentioned earlier, Sister Jess Turley and I were instructed by 4 amazing and different companionships. Our purpose as members was to be edified, to listen to the missionaries and to let them teach us. The Spirit was in abundance as these missionaries spoke. Each message had the same theme, with a different approach, articulation and execution. These faithful missionaries are going to influence the lives on many people. I know as I sat and watched these missionaries express the thoughts of their hearts, I was lifted, edified and inspired. How do I know? at the end of this 2 hours session, I felt the happiness of missionary work.  The happiness of bringing souls to Christ. I felt myself come closer to the Savior through them. I know I would not have gone and participated in TRC had it not been for the three months I was able to serve as an ASL missionary.

(in the TRC room)

5. I didn't know it before it started but I was introduced to ASL resources I had not previously known about. such as Uplifting Messages ASL (Facebook), as well as YSA deaf activities - Which  I can also guarantee I would not be going to if I had not been called to serve ASL for 3 months.

After the MTC and spending time with these missionaries, I headed to another missionary activity with missionaries from my mission. It was a blast. I love how Heavenly Father is involved in the details of our lives.

(Me, Cheyenne Dials, Talin Shick, Rachel Cox, Callie Jensen, Laurel Williams)

My Farewell Talk

Hello family and friends!

As many of you know I gave my farewell talk on January 12th. Here it is if you missed it.

Attitude of Gratitude

November has come and gone and gratitude has filled me for the many blessings I have. Here are some  of the things I am grateful for (in no particular order):
My amazing and supportive family
The temples and especially so many in Utah
Covenants I have made with the Lord
The Atonement of Jesus Christ
My house, electricity, internet, cable, phone
My car with its many features
Time with my family
The ability to go to school an  learn more
I am grateful I can dance ad I can still learn more
My testimony
The opportunity to serve a mission
Amazing friends and teachers
My job and mentored research
FOOD
Church leaders
Book of Mormon
Clothes
Heated and filtered water
Doctors, modern medicine and natural oils
The testimonies  of my family and friends

I love the many things I am blessed  with. I recently finished reading The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox and it has expanded my love and understanding of not  only the Atonement  and the blessings associated with it but the whole Plan of Salvation as well. I would encourage you to read it if you need and extra boost.

This month I have also rediscovered my love for music. I love Yiruma`s River Flows In You. It is such beautiful piece of music an  has a great flow. It also has.  Beautiful easy arrangement that's helps me play it.

Hallmark and  lifetime have started playing cute Christmas movies. I love watching them and the spirit of Christams they share.

I am so grateful for my friends serving missions and I am so excited to serve with them. The Lord has  blessed my life  in more ways than I can express and I am grateful and excited to share His love with others.

I know the Lord has a plan for everyone and everything and as we put our faith in Him, He will bless our lives in ways we could never dream of. I know life is hard, and as we turn to Him, He will help us and never  leave us alone. He loves us more than we understand. he loves us through everything. He is our father. He wants a relationship with us, He wants to know YOU. If your relationship that isn't what it could be, I invite you to start today. Pray, give thanks, if you don't know what to say, just talk about things that make you happy or sad. It will get easier if it is awkward. If you have a good relationship with Heavenly Father, I invite you to pray out loud, by yourself sometime this week.

If you want to see a great and inspirational movie go see Saratov Approach. It's a movie about missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is an amazing  movies. So look for it in a theater near you.

Families are of God

I love spending time with my family. My family is very important to me. That being said it isn't always easy to love my family. Some of the most important things in my life are thing I've worked hard for. A good relationship with my family is one of those things. Challenges in my life have me a much better person although they haven't been fun and usually I complain about my challenge. Some of the things I love to do with members of my family are:
Go to soccer games with my dad. Quilt, and crochet with my mom. Go shopping, watch and quote stupid movies with my sister. Playing games with my brothers. I love playing with my nephew. He has such a big imagination and he makes me smile.
I love that we came to Earth as part of a plan and that we are in families here. We don't have to do it alone. Life with family isn't easy and we are here to learn. I am so grateful for all the things I have learned from my family. What are some of the things you're grateful for?