Today is the Day!!!!

Today I will be set apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I'm speechless.
But these quotes all relate to how I feel...

President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901), First Counselor in the First Presidency said, “God has reserved spirits for this dispensation who have the courage and determination to face the world, and all the powers of the evil one, visible and invisible, to proclaim the gospel and maintain the truth and establish and build up the Zion of our God fearless of all consequences. He has sent these spirits in this generation to lay the foundation of Zion never more to be overthrown, and to raise up a seed that will be righteous, and that will honor God, and honor Him supremely, and be obedient to Him under all circumstances.”

Harry Emerson Fosdick said; “Real Christians do not carry their religion, their religion carries them. It is not weight; it is wings. It lifts them up, it sees them over hard places, and it makes the universe seem friendly, life purposeful, hope real, and sacrifice worthwhile. It sets them free from fear and futility.”

Elder Glenn L. Pace said; “Sisters, I testify that when you stand in front of your heavenly parents in those royal courts on high and you look into Her eyes and behold Her countenance, any question you ever had about the role of women in the kingdom will evaporate into the rich celestial air, because at that moment you will see standing directly in front of you, your divine nature and destiny."

Farewell!

The time has come! It's only Thursday, but I don't have any more time for blogging before I'm set apart as a missionary. (on Sunday! YAY!!!)
For the past few weeks I've swayed from feelings of anxiousness or numbness. But recently all I feel is EXCITEMENT! I LOVE my savior Jesus Christ, I LOVE His church, and I LOVE teaching His gospel! My dream of being a missionary is coming true and I could not be happier! Is there really anything else I can say?
Nope! The only thing on my mind is "YAY YAY YAY YAY EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Until we meet again, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

"When we stagger or stumble, He is there to steady and strengthen us. In the end He is there to save us, and for all this He gave His life. However dim our days may seem, they have been a lot darker for the Savior of the world. As a reminder of those days, Jesus has chosen, even in a resurrected, otherwise perfected body, to retain for the benefit of His disciples the wounds in His hands and in His feet and in His side—signs, if you will, that painful things happen even to the pure and the perfect; signs, if you will, that pain in this world is not evidence that God doesn’t love you; signs, if you will, that problems pass and happiness can be ours. Remind others that it is the wounded Christ who is the Captain of our souls, He who yet bears the scars of our forgiveness, the lesions of His love and humility, the torn flesh of obedience and sacrifice."
-Jeffrey R. Holland, January 2003 Ensign


Oh, and here's my mission address if you'd like to write me: (I'd love to hear from you)
Sister Andrea Monica Summerhays
Utah Salt Lake City South Mission
8060 S 615 E
Sandy, UT 84070

For My Friends

I love that the gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel about friendship.
One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is Mosiah chapter 18 because in my study and application of this chapter, I have learned about the covenant of baptism. I like to call it the covenant of friendship because truly, that's what it is. Thank you, Heavenly Father for blessing me with the commandment to be a good friend.

To me, we are emphatically taught in Mosiah chapter 18 what it means to "come into the fold of God, and to be called his people." The way is clear; God has commanded us to be friends. Through baptism, we promise to God that we will "bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; yea, and...mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and stand as witnesses of [God's love] at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death...that ye may have eternal life." Or in other words, endless life spent in the presence of God, our loved ones, and friends. Furthermore, we have been commanded "that there should be no contention one with another, but that [we] should look forward with one eye...having [our] hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another...And...that [we] should labor with [our] own hands for [each other's] support...And there [is] one day in every week that [is] set apart that [we] should gather [ourselves] together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord [our] God, and also, as often as it [is] in [our] power, to assemble [ourselves] together...And again...the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he [has]...And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God...to every needy, naked soul." And because the people of Alma had become real friends "they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants." and "they [did] sing to [God's] praise forever."

Today I want to thank my dearest, sweetest, closest friends. I love you. Thank you for showing me God-like love, for accepting all of my craziness, meticulousness, and insecurities. Thank you for showing me your own kind of craziness and loveliness. Thank you for our memories, secrets, laughter, adventures, parties, and mistakes. I'm grateful that God has blessed me through you.

I'm also grateful to Shauna Niequist, for recording my own thoughts and feelings more eloquently than I could ever express:

"Friendship is acting out God's love for people in tangible ways. We were made to represent the love of God in each other's lives, so that each person we walk through life with has a more profound sense of God's love for them. Friendship is an opportunity to act on God's behalf in the lives of the people that we're close to, reminding each other who God is. When we do the hard, intimate work of friendship, we bring a little more of the divine into daily life. We get to remind one another about the bigger, more beautiful picture that we can't always see from where we are."

"Friendship is a sacred, important thing, and it happens when we drop down into that deeper level of who we are, when we cross over into the broken, fragile parts of ourselves. We have to give something up in order to get friendship like that. We have to give up our need to be perceived as perfect. We have to give up our ability to control what people think of us. We have to overcome the fear that when they see the depths of who we are, they'll leave. But what we give up is nothing in comparison to what this kind of friendship gives to us. Friendship is about risk. Love is about risk. If we can control it and manage it and manufacture it, then it's something else, but if it's really love, really friendship, it's a little scary around the edges."

"the closer you get to someone, the more that friendship gives you and the more force and power it has to make your life bigger and richer."

Room at my Table

Tonight I am making "room at my table" to write. I haven't blogged in...a very long time. My mind and life as it feels has been too scattered and disorganized for blogging time. I think I could write a novel about "how to stress out so much that while you may think you're accomplishing a lot, you're actually just running in circles like a crazy circus act, but instead of laughing at the end, you cry." Perfectionism will be the death of me; it is killing me; it has been my whole life. My resolution for today and for the rest of my life is to repel and ultimately vanquish perfectionism. It controls everything I do, and I hate it. God created me to act, and not to be acted upon. And so, I am choosing to embrace my imperfect, messy, flawed, sinful, foolish self. I will not allow my perfection addiction to enslave me any longer!
Today has been a blog-worthy day. It is December 1st, which means I have 18 days before I enter the MTC. (This could be an entire blog post in itself) I have 18 days left of my "current life" before I turn my entire self, time, energy, talents, and strength to the Lord for 18 months. Reality has struck again. For this reason, I had a tiny break down this morning. But praise be to God, because He is kind, and gracious, and loving, and so good to me. The rest of my day has been the perfect medicine for my ailment. First of all, I got a break from work today! Hallelujah! Secondly, I got to sing Christmas carols at my church's nativity exhibit which was a beautiful experience. I love singing. But more specifically, I love sharing what God has given me with other people. He's blessed me with a voice to sing, and a testimony of Jesus Christ. And when I get to share both at the same time, there's nothing quite as rewarding. Then I was able to enjoy some time with my family for Weston's 5th birthday! He is five years old now! Life is so fleeting. I really loved watching him open his presents, try not to smile as we sang happy birthday to him, and blow out his candles. He is so precious. Finally, tonight, I was honored to hear my favorite author, Shauna Niequist, speak at a Hope Fellowship women's banquet. I spent my evening at the table with Amanda, Brittney, some new friends, and many other beautiful women. We were physically and spiritually nourished by delicious food and inspiring words. It turned out to be exactly what we all needed. These are the things that I'm taking away from my experience tonight:
Christianity is lived, not preached.
I resolve to make time for quiet, meaningful, thoughtful prayer
"I'm jealous of myself right now"
I resolve to give my all (from best to worst) to Christ, exerting more effort to give Him my bad, broken, and ugly
Every woman needs to be given a scarf from someone who loves her
I will make room at my table for the unexpected
True hospitality is not color-coordinated, planned, or picture perfect
I want my family circle to include my neighbors, co-workers, and church friends
I resolve to give up comparisons and competition
I want to take time to experience anew the true story of Christmas, and re-live it each year.
Christmas is more about a pregnancy and birth than I'll ever realize until I have children of my own
I need to make time for myself; for rest, nourishment, and love
I resolve to make room at my table for pain and heart-ache
I want my friends to know that tears are equally as welcome as laughter
I want my home to be a place of warmth, rest, and peace. Where all can come to forget their worries and be reminded of how loved they are.
I resolve to live life slower, to make time for what matters most, and share God's love with friends, strangers, loved ones, and family.

And to close, here's one of my favorite quotes from Shauna Niequist
"You have stories worth telling, memories worth remembering, dreams worth working toward, a body worth feeding, a soul worth tending, and beyond that, the God of the universe dwells within you, the true culmination of super and natural. You are more than dust and bones. You are spirit and power and image of God. And you have been given Today."

The Battle of our Lives

Okay, this blog is now becoming my Mission President's blog :) I have other posts written with my own words, but they're all still in drafts. I just get so excited when I read his messages, that I have to share them! 

“My Commission”

     As we read the Book of Mormon, we will read through the accounts of contentions, battles, and wars. We must all wake up to the fact that we are daily fighting a war. This war has eternal consequences! In this mission daily battles are won and lost. Satan, with his hosts, is the foe. He is knowledgeable, clever and relentless. His desire is to deter, discourage and distract us from the work of God and destroy the warriors in the Lord’s army.

While examining battles described in the scriptures, it is easy to understand the common attributes of the ultimate victors. Obedience, diligence, spirit, faith and vision characterize the true warrior of God. Worthiness, commitment, love, selflessness, focus and hard work are the traits of the victors.

In speaking to a group of 20 stake presidents in our mission last week, they all agreed that one of the challenges of the missionaries in this mission is that they do not fully understand who they are and the stature of their calling. Our missionaries are the very best warriors, fighting the most important battles in the history of time. You were chosen and committed to this battle before you were born. We are protected by marvelous armor, but it will only protect if we always put on the whole armor as we go into battle. We must gird our loins with truth. We must put on the breastplate of righteousness. Our feet will be shod only by preparation through studying the Gospel and Preach My Gospel. The shield will only be ours if we truly have faith. Our heads are protected only when we understand the missionary lessons. The sword will bring peace and confound our enemy, for it is strengthened and sharpened by the Spirit. (Eph. 6:11-19) This is one step in building our confidence. Let us learn from Achilles* that we cannot afford to leave one part of our body unprotected.

We must embrace “My Commission” penned by Bruce R. McConkie.

                  “I am called of God. My authority is above that of kings of the earth

  By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.

           He is my master and He has chosen me to represent Him-to stand in His Place,

       to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering

          to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts

        are His acts; my doctrine is His Doctrine. My commission is to do what He wants

          done; To say what he wants said; to be a living modern witness in word and in

   deed of the divinity of His great and marvelous Latter-day work. How great a calling!”

We have all covenanted with the Lord that we would fight this battle to the death for eighteen months or two years. Your call letter read:

“You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 (18) months.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized.

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children. We place in you our confidence and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary. You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president. Please send your written acceptance promptly, endorsed by your bishop.

Sincerely, President Thomas S. Monson”

You all sent that letter to President Monson or you would not be here today. How good is your word? Can the Lord trust you? In the process of answering this call from the Lord you have willingly relinquished your agency. The decision has been made. You no longer have the option to choose whether you will serve or not. Your choice is HOW YOU WILL SERVE. How you serve will determine how the Lord is able to bless you on your mission, throughout your life and through the eternities.

May the Lord bless you with this endeavor so you can “meet the measure of your creation.” (D&C 88:19)

* In Greek mythology, Achilles was a Greek hero of the Trojan War. Legends state that Achilles was invulnerable in all of his body except for his heel. He died because of a small wound on his heel, the term Achilles’ heel has come to mean one’s point of weakness.

Who can read this message and restrain from exclaiming "SIGN ME UP FOR THIS!!!!"I'm a soldier in the Lord's army and I love living in enemy territory. I will fight until death for the cause of truth because this is what I came here to do. I am so excited, guys. SOOO excited! 

Update

I apologize, I haven't forgotten about you, my precious blog. It seems that the more I live (I'm making myself sound like I'm 80) the more I don't care about a lot of things. Like, watching television for example, or coloring my hair, or updating my blog apparently. With each day I understand with more fervor that this life is fleeting, and this gift of time is more valuable than anything for sale. We can't buy time or sell it, but we sure can choose to use it wisely or to waste it. I believe in the truth that what I do during this short mortal life will have eternal consequences so therefore, why be frivolous or careless? Which reminds me of how much I hate the current YOLO attitude which disregards all personal accountability. But I'm not going to get worked up about that today. My point is that I haven't written a post in several weeks and during that time huge life altering things have happened!

First and foremost, I GOT MY MISSION CALL! I got assigned to my mission on August 24th, and on August 31st it arrived in my mail box! I was at work when I got a picture message on my phone from my step-mom saying "you've got mail!" I looked at the picture and felt a jolt of excitement mixed with peace then quickly returned to work before I got too distracted. It wasn't until I left work that night when reality settled into my mind. My car was filled with tears and happy feelings and prayers as I drove home. Of course, like any family event in my life, the few hours leading up to opening my mission letter were stressful and chaotic. Coordinating different schedules, computers, internet connections and 3 different time zones is complicated. But thankfully, it worked so that most of my family could watch using google plus and skype. (technology rocks) I sat at the kitchen table with two computers facing me, my grandparents on speakerphone by my head, and my dad and step-mom near my side. There was so much anticipation. I started to shake a little as I opened the letter. I was worried my dad would find out where I was going before I did because he was standing above me, so I was really careful to cover it up. Reality hit like a pillow to the face when I read the words "you are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." I almost started to cry, and felt nervous for the first time since I began this endeavor. Then I read "You are assigned to labor in the Utah Salt Lake City South mission."
My mind stopped processing after I read the word "Utah." I know there was a lot of commotion coming from my parents, the computers, and the phone, but I blocked out the noise, kept my head buried in my letter, and continued to read so I wouldn't cry. I tried to force a smile on my face as I looked for my report date and language. The rest is a blur. I think everyone was being supportive and congratulatory but I just wanted everyone gone so I could cry. I felt in my heart that it was right, but I wasn't excited about it. I was looking for adventure, for something new and exotic, maybe even dangerous. I wanted to learn about, and fall in love with, an entirely different culture.
U-T-A-H doesn't exactly spell out "foreign and new"
But it didn't take long for the sad feelings to fade. I knew it was right, and I accepted that this is what I signed up for. I didn't do this so I could go on an exotic trip or take awesome pictures, or vacation in a cool place for 18 months. I did this so I could invest 100% of myself to the cause of truth, to labor in the service of my God, and to help my brothers and sisters come closer to Christ. Like I've said before, if there's an adventure I want to take, I'll take it. If I want to travel or explore someplace new, I'll do it. But this is not an adventure. This is a mission assigned to me from God. A cloak of responsibility has been placed on my shoulders, and I accept it with honor and humility.
It's been about a month and my perspective has completely changed since the night I read my mission call. I am so excited to be serving in the Salt Lake City South Mission! I have heard only great and wonderful things about it. This may be strange, but I already love it! I know my mission (I love saying my mission) will be demanding and glorious, and all sorts of difficult. And I know Heavenly Father has people in store specifically for me to meet. I think Utah missions require missionaries who teach most powerfully by example because there are so many confusing examples living there. For this reason, I recognize that Heavenly Father is exercising an enormous amount of faith in me, for which I am graciously humbled. I am extremely grateful my life has led me precisely to this point, and I love that my dream has come true! I am soon to be a missionary!       

Discouraged much?

Anytime I get nervous or anxious about my mission, (or more accurately, discouraged) I go to the mission blog so that my thoughts and feelings can come back down to earth. Today as I entered the home page, a message from my mission president, President Miller, showed up as the first post. I loved it so much that I wanted to share it with you.

DISCOURAGEMENT

President Gordon B. Hinckley was called to the European Mission with headquarters in London, England. The mission was hard and success seemed impossible. Discouraged, Gordon wrote his father saying, “I am wasting my time and your money. I don’t see any point in my staying here.” His father’s reply came, “Dear Gordon, I have your letter. I have only one suggestion. Forget yourself and go to work. With love, Your Father.” After pondering this response and reading Mark 8:35, Gordon promised the Lord that he would try to forget himself and go to work. “I count that as the day of decision in my life. Everything good that has happened to me since then I can trace back to the decision I made at that time.”

For those who have been or are discouraged, I would ask you to view the letter President Hinckley’s father wrote to him as a letter written by your parents to you and make this as the “day of decision”. Of all the tools Satan employs he is most effective with this instrument. When he cannot get to a missionary in any other way, he uses this tact. During World War II the Japanese had a woman by the name of “Tokyo Rose” who sent messages many times each day telling the “American Boys” to go back home. She would taunt them that they were giving their lives for no reason and they should go home and enjoy the comforts of their home. Although Tokyo Rose is not calling you, there are sirens from the adversary saying the same thing.

BEWARE OF THE EVIL TOOL: A Chinese legend describes how the Father of Sin decided to have a sale and dispose of all his tools to anyone who would pay his price. The implements were laid out in a row for inspection and among others were tools labeled: “Malice”, “Envy”, “Hatred”, “Jealousy”, and “Deceit”. Each one had a price tag on it. Apart from the others lay a harmless looking, wedge-shaped tool, very much worn from use. It was priced a great deal higher than the rest. One of the buyers asked the Devil what it was, “That, he answered, is Discouragement: and it’s in fine shape.” “But why have you priced it so high?” asked the buyer. The Devil answered; “Because it is more useful to me than any of the other tools. I can pry open and get inside a man’s consciousness with that wedge when I can’t get near him with any of the others. And believe me, once I do get inside, I can use that man in whatever way suits me best. Of course, you’ll notice it is well worn. That’s because I use it with nearly everybody, for very few of you mortals know that it belongs to me.” However, the price was so high that this particular tool was never sold. The Devil still owns it and is still using it. ( From The Ambassador. ) See Hymn # 241 “Count Your Blessings” –Do not be discouraged, thinking all is lost.

Please review and identity these scriptures and how they relate to discouragement

2 Nephi 2:1-2, Mosiah 3:129, Mosiah 4:27

August 8, 2012

TODAY IS THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET! I HAVE SUBMITTED MY MISSION PAPERS TO MY BRANCH PRESIDENT! I AM ONE STEP CLOSER TO RECEIVING MY CALL TO SERVE THE LORD! MY MISSION CALL IS TWO INTERVIEWS AWAY FROM BEING DISCUSSED AMONG THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES!
My recommend is complete :)
Along with that, it's raining in Dallas :) I have missed the rain so much since I left Washington; I feel like I can breathe a little easier because of the moisture today :) For a little while, I feel closer to my Washington friends and memories.
My heart is filled to the brim with gratitude and humility. I am amazed at how much care Heavenly Father took to prepare me for this. The past two years specifically have been just what I have needed to change and prepare me. My dream is coming true. This is really happening. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity of a lifetime just a few steps ahead of me. The Lord is so so good. I couldn't stop myself from crying when I read these words...
"At Church headquarters, your recommendation form will be reviewed by the Quorum of the Twelve, who will assign you to a mission. Thereafter a call letter from the President of the Church, accompanied by a call packet with information about what you will need to do to prepare to begin your mission, will be sent to [your address]."

:)

A Quote for the Day

My dear friend, Melissalyn came over today so I could practice doing her hair for her wedding which is on August 18th! yay! The same day I can turn in my mission papers! :)

Melissalyn served a mission in California, so we were talking a lot about missions and how wonderful they are, and we each shared our stories about how we decided to serve a mission. After some time had passed, she shared with me a quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley. We both got goosebumps as she recited it perfectly from memory. We were each touched by the truthfulness of the message. "What's so interesting" she said, "is that everything in that quote is similar to what you've shared with me today." And it's true. On separate accounts, I've had similar impressions and ideas come to my mind from Heavenly Father. It was powerful and completely amazing for me to get a second witness of these things from a prophet of God.  

“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

I Hope They Call me on a Mission

As you all know, I'm in the process of filling out mission papers for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. YAY! On Wednesday I have my first doctor's appointment and within the next week I plan on going to the dentist. The last thing I need to do is pose for a picture in my new missionary outfit!!! It's happening, this is really happening.

This whole process has been a little too natural and easy; I feel like I need to be going through some changes and making adjustments, similar to when a mother starts nesting before her new child arrives, but I'm not. So over the last few weeks, I've been searching online and going through blogs, trying to get in the "missionary" mode. I've been specifically trying to find advice from returned sister missionaries about how to prepare for a mission. What should I study? What should I wear? What activities should I participate in? Are there any little tips that will give me a jump-start, or help me avoid problems? Are there any things I need to get in order, that I haven't thought about yet? I don't know if this is a woman thing, or a human thing, or an Andrea thing, but I want to know how other people have done it, just to make sure I'm doing it right. Through my search, however, I've come to the conclusion that I don't care what other women have done, and I don't care if by anyone else's standards, I'm doing it all wrong. I can't get excited about the cutesy crafts, or care packages, or fancy stationary, or the trademark clothes. I can't relate to the memes, or blogs, or poems. It's just not me. I've never enjoyed that silly, fluffy nonsense because to me, none of that matters. I love the quote by Mother Theresa that says "in the final analysis, it is between you and God: it was never between you and them anyway." It's true. I feel like this whole mission thing, and the events leading up to it have been so uniquely personal.

I remember when I was 19, most, if not all, of my friends were gone serving missions and I was stuck at home trying to find a job. I was so bitter. There was nothing I wanted more than to be serving as a full-time missionary for the church. I was angry that I had to wait two more years until I could go. It didn't seem fair to me that I had to focus on marriage instead of a mission. Of course now looking back at the last two years, I know with all of my heart that I never needed a name tag to be a witness and a messenger of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every time I try to overwhelm myself with study materials, and lists of things to memorize, a small voice whispers "Andrea, you know enough." or "Andrea, the preparing has already been done." I'm just starting to see that maybe, in His wisdom and omniscience, Heavenly Father has been creating me into the person I need to be for this mission thing. You know, I bet He knew long long ago that this would happen, that I would make this decision for myself, and so He's been planning for this and preparing me to serve. I have to trust Him. I have to trust that the experiences I've had and the people I've met have been just what I've needed to qualify for this responsibility. I feel horrendously unworthy, and exquisitely inadequate to be an effective servant of the Lord. But at the same time I know that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass."(Alma 37:6) And so my hope is that the Lord can take my weak yet willing heart and hands and use them in His marvelous work.   

To answer the question I receive most often, I'll say that I have always (for as long as I can remember) wanted to serve a mission. It's been a dream of mine for years, but I never thought it would actually happen. I'm not going because I have nothing better to do, because I cancelled school and housing contracts I had already signed in order to do this. I'm not serving a mission because that's what is expected of me. Although being single at 21 is not what I had anticipated, this is not a reason why I'm going either. I'm going because sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important thing in the world to me. I'm going because I want all of my brothers and sisters to live with the same joy and happiness that I've been fortunate enough to live with. I'm going because I am eternally indebted to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the least I can do is dedicate 18 months of my life to building their kingdom. I'm going because no other experience will better prepare me to lead, love, and nurture my children in righteousness. I'm going because the world is in need of men and women who aren't afraid to declare the truth and testify of Christ. The bottom line is, I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I want to do this for Him.

And to answer the second most popular question, I don't care where the heck I get sent to serve. I have the freedom to choose where I want to live and serve for the rest of my life. In fact, this freedom has already taken me to Texas, Utah, and Washington. If there's a place I want to go, then I'll pack up and go. But for this one and only time in my life, Heavenly Father is deciding where I'm going and I have no say whatsoever in any of it. So my golly, I'm ecstatic! Send me anywhere and I'll be happy! It's the same in every city; there are people to love, souls to save, hands to lift, hearts to touch and work to be done.  

My Northwest Escape

After watching The Bachellorette season finale, I was itching to find out more about Jef's business that he owns. (and maybe look at more pictures of the hunk) Thanks to this grand invention called the internet, I found the People Water website and discovered all sorts of interesting things! Did you know that this company donates half of its revenue to build wells and provide clean drinking water to 3rd world countries!? Doesn't that make you want to buy bottled water exclusively from them? I became so anxious to give clean water to the world, that I searched for stores that sell "People Water." Of course, there's only one place here in Dallas that carries it, and that's Whole Foods Market. I had never been there before, so it was going to be an adventure!

What happened on this adventure came as a surprise; I fell in love. So you see, what happened was, I stepped between the parting glass doors, took a deep breath of the chilled, produce scented air, and smiled at the spectacular view before me. But then, my attention was drawn to my right where a tall, dark, and handsome man stood with a fresh locally-grown bouquet of flowers in his hands and a charming smile on his face. "My love, where have you been all my life?" he said. And then he swooped me off my feet into his arms and we rode off toward the sunset on his horse. Just kidding. That guy doesn't exist, and even if he does, I didn't fall in love with him at Whole Foods.

However, the falling in love part holds true. I absolutely LOVE Whole Foods! I have found my "Northwest" away from the "Northwest." I completely forgot I was still in Texas while being in that building! How glorious! Don't get me wrong, I love Texas, but I really love Washington, it's like a part of my soul or something. So I walked in, and I was practically jumping with delight. I did not hold back my enthusiasm either; there were full on giggles and gasps and giant grins the entire time I was in there...which was probably about 30 minutes. The workers there kept watching me because I didn't buy anything (the Allen location doesn't carry People Water) but I walked around the store at least 3 or 4 times. I was beyond happy. They carry all of the items I loved buying in Washington! Like milk without hormones, cage-free eggs, organic chips, local honey, all-natural meat, locally-grown cheese and fruit and vegetables, fresh herbs and spices, raw cooking ingredients, and so so so much more! For a while I just stood in an aisle and imagined I was back in Puyallup, only 30 minutes away from Mt Rainier and 40 minutes away from the city. Awhhh, it was heavenly. haha okay, I'm exaggerating, but only by a little bit. 

So if any of you have ever wondered what it's like to live in the magnificent Northwest, take a trip to your local Whole Foods Market, and just imagine being surrounded by that culture 24/7. That's the joy of the organic-all-natural-eco-friendly Northwest.

Next time I'm having Washington withdrawals, or I need an escape from good ol' Texas, I know where to go, thank goodness! :)

Look Not Behind Thee

We all know the story of Lot's wife, right? She lived in a very wicked city that was on its way to destruction. So the Lord commanded her and her husband, Lot, to "escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." 
With some doubt and hesitation, Lot left for the hills, but unfortunately his wife 


"looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Genesis 19:26


I've been thinking about this a lot lately, I really mean, a LOT. (I just made a pun, haha) 
*funny side story: as a child when learning from the Bible and Book of Mormon stories, I would always identify with "the good guys" but slowly through life experiences I've realized that I'm much more similar to "the bad guys" than I ever thought. I can't help but laugh because I'm relating to Lot's wife whereas before, I thought I only related to righteous and obedient Lot.
When I was in Washington selling security systems, let's be honest here, I was struggling. Each morning I would wake up and pray that everything from the day before could be erased and forgotten, so that my current day could be filled with hope and success. After a few weeks of this pattern, I began to get extremely frustrated, almost angry with myself. I thought "how pathetic am I? I can't do a single thing right, not even for one day! My efforts are insufficient; I have to start anew every morning! Why can't I just have two consecutive days of greatness? Is that impossible!?" A few days later, as I was reading general conference talks, a certain quote by Jeffrey R. Holland zapped my heart and changed my attitude.

"Every day ought to be the start of a new life. Such is the wonder of faith, repentance, and the miracle of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Oh my gosh! Are you telling me that what I've been doing is exactly how it's supposed to be? Am I really doing things right?? Because this entire time I've felt like all I do is try and fail, try and fail repeatedly. And does this mean that the wonder and majesty of the infinite atonement of Jesus Christ has been imperceptibly working in me each and every day!? I'm flawed, broken, foolish, and desperately in need of a "new life" each morning; and you're telling me that this is how Heavenly Father wants me!?! 
HALLELUJAH!
I put that quote up on my bathroom mirror and read it to myself each morning. Then, anytime I started to think negative thoughts about myself or my situation, I would repeat those words in my head, and believe them. This made all the difference.
Currently, I'm not in Washington anymore, and I'm not facing failure and rejection every day like I was, but I'm still in desperate need of a "new life" every morning. 
You know, this is one of the things I love most about Jesus Christ- he's our creator. First he's our physician, because he takes us and clears out the pain, heals our broken heart, patches up wounds, and stitches us up real good. But the atonement doesn't end there. We're promised that we can have a new life, not an erased one. With humility and submissiveness, which I'm still working on, Jesus Christ can create us into something glorious and beautiful; someone a little more like Him. 
"Come, follow me" He says. Change. Progress. Improvement. It's a miracle, indeed.
But faith and repentance aren't accomplished without heavy opposition. Lot's wife and I can both attest to that. For every thought that says "I can do this, I will move forward and stay hopeful." The antagonist pipes in and says "look at my track record, there's no hope for me. I'm good at failing, I'm not good at succeeding. Why don't I stick with what I'm good at?" It's a constant fight to feed the thoughts of faith and hope. There are times when it's easy to give in to that evil destructive voice. Because giving in requires no effort, no faith, and no work. I hold no judgement against Lot's wife because I understand what she went through.  It can be hard to let go of the habits you're used to, or the friends you love, and the sins that are easy. But I've learned for myself that looking back and longing for the past-whether it be yesterday or 10 years ago is-a flat-out sin because it denies the reality and miraculous power of my Savior, of His sacrifice, and His personal atonement for me. Faith is not a passive thing-it's an arduous leap and a straight up climb. Faith comes in and says "sure, what I had was great, it was comfortable and familiar. But what Heavenly Father has prepared for me is more than I can possibly imagine. So I'll let go. I'll shut that door and continue to walk forward, celebrating that I have a bright future- regardless and completely irrelevant to my past. And when doubt creeps in again and again, I'll look it straight in the eye and say 'I will trust and be not afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song." 

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Success

Hello again blogging world,
Well, this is awkward. I've always struggled with the beginning of conversations, paragraphs, stories, etc. Don't you ever wish you could just jump right into the middle of things? I do.
This is not at all how I expected things to turn out, but here I am, packing up my things to head back to Texas, back to live with my parents, quitting my job early, and preparing to serve a mission. My thoughts and feelings are jumbled and confusing. Again, I have to tell myself that change is good, and doing what I'm afraid of is what I live for. These past 2 1/2-3 months have felt like 4 years, and now this door is shutting. I'm trying not to let myself panic.
My fear of failure has crippled me my entire life. It has prevented me from improving myself, from trying new things, from asking for help, and from participating in so many wonderful endeavors. But I know I'm not alone in this. Every human being has the same two biggest fears in common: failure and rejection. It's like these fears are embedded in each person's DNA. Okay, so maybe I'll never be able to eliminate my fear of failure, but I've definitely made significant progress toward that direction.
When I signed up for this job, my definition of success was "reaching your goals." and it looked like 50 grand. Well my friends, I'll tell you that I did not earn the $50,000 I was hoping for; I didn't even come close to it. However, I am not a failure, and I have experienced a summer full of success.
How can that be? Because what I earned in wealth does not represent, or even compare to what I've developed in character.  
I now understand the concept that I'm sure my parents have been trying to teach me for years. Success can not be seen or measured from the outside. It can not be given a grade, or a number, or a title, or a salary. Success is as unique as we are all individual. Therefore, it can not be compared. Success is not always prosperous, and it is never perfect. Success is small and quiet and humble.  
I no longer set goals to achieve them. I set goals to work, to learn, and to keep trying. It goes along with the theory that life is not a destination but a journey. And success can be claimed in every step.


“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” 
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, My Soul Hungered

Sometimes our beliefs move us to accomplish great and beautiful things, and other times our beliefs move us to sink lower than we ever thought possible. I made a promise to myself that I would be completely honest and transparent when writing this blog. So friends, these are my "beliefs ablaze."
On Friday as I was working, I gave up on myself. I completely lost all hope in my ability, in my strength, and in my potential. I surrendered to the thought that I am a total and complete failure in every respect. Worthless, hopeless, pathetic. Heavenly Father showers me with blessings and opportunities, and I screw them all up. My efforts are never enough. Yes, as humiliating as it is to admit, this is how I felt. However, something somewhere inside of me wouldn't let me quit. Darn that thing. I couldn't stop walking; for a time I continued to knock on doors although tears would swell in my eyes during each pitch. After completely losing it on a stranger's porch (luckily no one was home) I decided that it wasn't a good idea for me to keep working in this condition. So I thought

"fine, I'm done. I quit. I can't do this anymore. Clearly, I suck! I'm not strong enough for this. I can't handle anymore failure." 

But again, that darn "thing" inside of me wouldn't let me sit on a curb and throw my binder to the ground. So instead, I walked aimlessly as I cried. My next thought was

"well then, if I can't stop walking, I can at least call my manager and ask him to send me home."

But I couldn't do it. Eventually, my body became so weak that I had to sit down to avoid blacking out. I can only imagine how sad and pathetic I looked from the outside. Disgusted with myself, I silently asked 

"why won't you let me quit, Father?" 

Then some words of my own prayer came into my mind. Back in March I had pleaded with Heavenly Father

"I want my testimony of Jesus Christ to be the core of who I am. Father, I want my faith in Jesus Christ to fill my heart, enlighten my mind, and shine through my very being; to be the governing influence of every thought, word, and action. I want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in every aspect. I want to know with a surety that He is real, He lives, and that He is my personal Savior."

Wow, I never thought the answer to my prayer would come like this. My idea was to study the scriptures more diligently and then my faith and testimony would increase in that way. Apparently, direct and personal application of the atonement is the way that Heavenly Father wants me to learn. The atonement of Jesus Christ is not a new concept for me. I've used it countless times in my life prior to this summer-just about every day. But never before have I been so acutely aware of my sole dependence on Jesus Christ. I am literally nothing without him. Never before in my life have I been so utterly revolted by my self. So much so, that I'm struggling to even believe that I am worth it. At this time, all I can pray for is hope. There's so much more to this story that I'm leaving out, but it sickens me to post more dark and depressing things online. Maybe at a future time I'll write more about the internal personal hell I'm going through. But for now, I'll leave you with a song/video that describes my current feelings perfectly.

Angels

Sometimes I see them, my angels. Almost like a gust of wind, or a strand of hair passing by. But I know what they really are. I've seen these "things" my entire life, but never accredited them to be angels. I'd be driving and out of the corner of my eye, I could see someone in the passenger seat next to me. I'd look, and of course the seat was empty. I never thought I was seeing angels until coming here to WA. Now I see them at least three times a day. They're in cars, down the street, by my side, around the corner. Yesterday for example, I was feeling especially desperate and discouraged. It was past pick-up time but I wanted to continue knocking because I hadn't made a sale yet. I didn't want to give up until I closed a sale. However, my speech was getting slower, along with my feet, and I knew my chances of getting one were about zero. My emotional, mental, and physical capacities were close to extinct.The words of Christ whispered into my ears "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" I dropped my head down, completely ashamed of myself for thinking that. "Who do you think you are, Andrea?" Then I saw a man watching me. He was standing six feet ahead of me, under a tree. "I can't have anyone catch me looking discouraged." I thought. My eyes shot up so I could send him a successful, professional smile. But when I looked, no one was in sight-there was nothing but trees, sidewalk, and houses in front of me. My heart swelled and I knew without a doubt that he was one of my angels. With tears and a smile I gazed up toward heaven and said humbly "thank you for sending angels. I can do this." Although I butchered each and every door approach I delivered for the rest of the day, I can proudly say that I never gave up. Angels were there to give me strength in my every foot step.

It's a Wonderful Life

Today was such a fabulous day, nothing in the world could bring me down. All I want to do is break out into song "WOOAAAAHHHHHHH sometimes I get a good FEELING yeeeaaaahhhhh. I get a feeling that I never never never never had before, no no. I get a good feeling. yeah"
I can not say this enough times: I would not be here if I did not have faith in Jesus Christ. Knocking door to door and facing rejection/failure every day is excruciatingly difficult. Doing something completely out of my comfort zone and against my nature is close to impossible. I know that eventually, I'll be able to do this well, but right now I am really struggling. I can't wait to be good at this. I've never been satisfied with mediocrity; especially when it comes to myself. I want to be the best. I hate not being the best, and it pains me to be weak. I know I need to be patient with myself because this is my first year doing this, but my tank of patience has been empty for days.
Especially when I spend an HOUR with someone, give them the greatest deal of their lifetime, for the best product on the market, and yet they STILL WON'T COMMIT! Yes, I'm frustrated. But I know I can do this! I will make another sale!
I've discovered that I'm really weepy when I'm stressed. I tear up all the time, either because I'm discouraged, or because I'm filled with hope. I'm a nut-case.
I'm so freaking happy that it's sunny this week! I LOVE sunshine! Rain is great, but sunshine is the BEST!
Goals suck. I hate them. Goals make me want to kick something because I can't reach any of my goals.
I love the atonement and the power, strength, comfort, and healing that flows from it. I love this massive, ominous trial that is forcing me to rely wholly on Jesus Christ every minute of the day. My plan for this job was to make lots of money to pay for school without getting into debt. Apparently, Heavenly Father has different plans for me. But that's okay. I need to remind myself each morning to forsake my will and trust that His will is always far better than my own.
Life is so painfully wonderful.

Whirlwind

This post is SUPER OUTDATED. Sorry, I forgot to post this after I finished writing it.

Whirlwind.
That's the best word I can come up with to describe my Provo experience. I went through all sorts of emotions, met all kinds of people, and discovered so many new things about myself. Things like: I really hate television, and if I don't leave the house at least twice a day, I go insane. Another shocking new discovery is that I enjoy taking out the trash. It's true, folks.
I can't believe this period of my life is over, and change is knocking on my door again. I have to keep reminding myself that I asked for this. Back in December, I was still in my adventurous mood, but now I'm in my "let's settle down and get comfortable" mood. Perfect time to switch things up, right?
My bedroom is making that awful echo sound that rooms only make when they're too empty because the people living there are either moving out, or haven't quite moved in yet. Both scenarios give me feelings of uneasiness. Bah.
Okay, so I know this is public, but if y'all don't mind, I'm going to write this post for my future self. There's some things I don't ever want to forget about these past few months.

This scripture a whole new significance in my life
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

December needs it's own category because that was one of the most difficult months of my life.

Christmas sucked for these reasons:

• No family
• No Arizona
• No Opa
• No employment
• No family
• No Texas
• No Tradition
• No plan for the future
• No family

Christmas rocked for these reasons:

• The light of Christ
• Amy McDonald and her family, and their hospitality
• Growth
• Skype dates
• MTV's "Guy Code" offered some humor
• Time to write in my journal
• The friendship and laughter of children
• A goal piggy bank
• Spending time with 4 separate and equally amazing women whom I've missed intensely 
• Introspection
• "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton" allowed me to admire Josh Duhamel's beauty
• Reunion with my favorite show, Friends
• Dancing in the kitchen
• Sunshine gleaming through the windows and illuminating the house
• Snow, although there's been very little of it
• Running with one of my best friends
• Change
• A yummy pasta concoction
• Lots of home-baked goods
• Faith
• "Bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist 

Valuable lessons learned:
First of all, Andrea, you need men in your life. I thank the Lord that I'm going to be surrounded by a plethora of them this summer. Holy cow, living with 5 girls, while it is super fun, is also exhausting and dramatic. Like when you're having a mopey day, the last thing you need is a tenderhearted girl to pout her lips and say "aww, I'm sorry, are you having a bad day?" No, what you need is a lighthearted male to say "hey, come watch the game with me and listen to this funny thing that happened!" Home teachers, boyfriends, and even the pizza delivery guy can offer some much needed testosterone. However, women are incredible and they play a crucial, special role in my life. I love my sisters, roommates, and girlfriends dearly. My roommates have been the perfect dosage of love, laughter, and learning. I absolutely know that I needed to meet each of these amazing women. Miriam taught me not to settle, Analee taught me to be thankful, Ke'ala taught me to voice my beliefs, Brooke taught me to be loyal, and Jessica taught me to be patient. I thank the Lord every day for placing them in my life. Also, the women I've met through church have been angels and shining examples to me. I'm grateful to be a part of the Relief Society, because it has given me the specific opportunity to serve and care for three phenomenal sisters on a personal level.
It's okay to laugh and take life a little less seriously sometimes, especially when so many things in life are very much out of your control.
Taking a picture a day was one of my best ideas. Holy cow, if you ever need to be more grateful, or be more aware of Heavenly Father's presence in your life, take one picture a day.
Luke. Need I say more? Oh, yeah I do. Douche-bag...Yep, that's good.
I don't think it was a coincidence that Kayla and I seemed to be going through the same challenges, and struggling with the same issues at the exact same time, without fail, for the past 4ish months. She has been such a huge source of strength and comfort. Don't you ever take her for granted.
Oh and James, holy crap he is heaven sent. Andrea, you can't lose contact with him.
Hey, you are capable of opening your heart up and letting people in quickly. Stop fooling yourself: your heart is not under lock-down. In fact, it's painful to leave Provo because of that fact. Get rid of the nonsense in your head that says you're slow to trust and even slower to love. Actually, I think I've opened my heart up too fast a couple times while I've been here, and it has caused me a lot of heartache. But I don't regret it one bit. "Our hearts are like flowers. Both the dirt and the sunshine help it grow." I love to love.
Remember that special experience you had in Farmington? Well, these past few months have been evidence that Heavenly Father follows through with His promises when you fulfill your side of the deal. Opportunities to serve, bless, and inspire have been all around me. I'm grateful for the times I chose to "do the right thing, at the right time, without delay."
I'll forever cherish working alongside Analee to beautify Marilyn's front yard. Then admiring her house full of antiques and heirlooms.
Smoothies are the bomb. I'm going to miss Ke'ala's professional blender. I need to get one for myself! Oh, and bananas are required if you want the smoothie to be sweet.
To Do: Go back to Sundance. You love it there. But next time, maybe you should try snowboarding.
Being vulnerable is the most uncomfortable and difficult thing in the world, but it reaps the most rewarding benefits. Along with that, always hearken to every prompting. Everyone is struggling with their own battle each day. You never know how huge of an impact you can have on someone.
Being single sucks. Get over it.
My favorite lesson that I never want to forget from my time here in Provo is this: I complain too much, I constantly forget what's most important, I'm too quick to judge, I'm inconsistent, I procrastinate, I have a tendency towards depression, I'm an anal clean freak, and basically imperfect in every way. But that's exactly how Heavenly Father wants me. The atonement only works if I need it, and that's what it's there for. I know in whom I've trusted. Jesus Christ is my foundation and my Savior, and giving my heart to him is all that really matters.
Bring on the next adventure.

I love Seattle

Seattle, where have you been all my life? Okay, duh, in the same place you are now, but why haven't I discovered you until now? All my life, I wanted to live in a place as green as this, but I didn't think it could happen, until now! Seattle, you are gorgeous. First of all, the entrance into the city is one of the most incredible sights I have ever seen. As we drove over the nation's longest steel bridge, we were amazed. The sparkling water surrounded by green rolling hills, evergreen trees, and city landscape make for a stunning view. But then it gets even better. The University of Washington campus is the most beautiful thing I think I have ever seen. The architecture is creative, chic, and totally hipster. It's great. But then you've got the peaceful waterfront, and dynamic artwork, and classy restaurants, and colorful vegetation. It's marvelous. Seattle, you are definitely by far the cleanest, most earth friendly city I have ever visited. I did not see one piece of trash or litter anywhere! Not even under the bridges or near dumpsters! Everything is unusually clean! The street names are clever too :) oh but the people, holy hannah montana, the people of Seattle are the city's best feature! I have lived in Texas, I have lived in Utah, and never in my life have I met so many outrageously kind people! I am not exaggerating! Strangers smiled and waived, several people offered to take pictures for us, and no one honked at me when I clearly had no idea where I was going. Customer service was outstanding in every store I went to; even at 11pm! The waiter who served us at the restaurant today found out that we don't have a microwave so he offered to give us his extra one! Isn't that insanely nice? And some bum on the side of the street told us "excuse me ladies, I'm not going to ask you for money, but I do want to say that you're both very pretty." Awww people here are the best! In their exercise outfits, and eco-friendly cars, with their dogs and coffee mugs. I just love them.
Yep, this summer is going to be fantastic. I'm never leaving this wonderful place!

Life is Swell

I know my last post was about how much I love my life, but I'm just feeling SO MUCH LOVE recently and I gotta let it out! My thoughts are going to be completely random, and I'm just going to type as they come, so don't try to follow my logic, because there is none.
It's springtime. Officially. Oh my goodness I can't even CONTAIN my joy for warm weather, happy animals, and blooming vegetation! I love Spring! And I love Easter! And I love celebrating the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! And I love listening to prophets speak to us during General Conference!!!! I LOVE IT!

I sang along with Analee as she played the piano this morning. What a harsh reality check! I haven't practiced singing in a long time, and it's apparent! Also, I am dying to take piano lessons...again. But that'll have to wait until fall. Hopefully my brain can handle 40+ hours of PTA school and music practice as well.
Oh, which reminds me, I had my interview with Provo College last week and it went really well! The Lord blessed me with one of those crazy deja vu experiences, that testified to me that I'm doing exactly what I should be doing. Over a year ago, I had a dream that I was in a counseling office talking to this woman about school, but I didn't know who she was, or what type of schooling we were talking about. It was a very random dream. Well, on Wednesday I lived it, in real life, and the Holy Ghost confirmed that PTA school at Provo College is exactly the right thing for me.
Kayli introduced me to blogilates a few days ago, THANK YOU!!! And I haven't gone a day without exercising since then. I love Casey's videos. She makes exercising fun, and her workouts are insanely killer. I know it's working because I am sore every day, the good kind of sore, that makes you want to work out harder. Sweating rocks!
I highly dislike wearing jewelry because it's uncomfortable, restricting, and plain annoying. However, I recently bought myself a CTR ring (stands for Choose The Right) and guess what, I love it! I swear that wearing this ring has made me a slightly better person. I still hold the opinion that rings are extremely uncomfortable, but having the constant reminder to always "choose the right" is worth the pain.
I went to The Festival of Colors, or "Holi" with Kayla and Heidi on Saturday. We had such a blast! My favorite part was dancing barefoot in the Hindu temple and singing along to whatever the heck they were saying :) Then of course, we had fun throwing colored chalk at ourselves, each other, and anyone who crossed our path. Although my lungs may still be coated in purple dust, it was so worth it!
I made my first sale on Saturday! I can do it guys! I can sell Security Systems!!!! YAY! I owe a lot of credit to my boss, Rob. He helped me out a TON because I didn't know what I was doing. I'm so grateful he was there to help me! It's going to be a great and difficult summer. I'm so pumped!
I just cooked the most delicious pasta I have ever tasted in my life. I feel proud. I made roasted broccoli and carrots with garlic, Parmesan cheese, and lemon. HOLY MACARONI it was heavenly. If I could eat this meal every day, I would!
I saw The Hunger Games yesterday! I cried when Rue died, and jumped when the giant pit-bull creature attacked Peeta haha I loved it. The movie was great, but that goes without saying that the book was far better.
At Smith's today, I literally "stopped and smelled the roses." There were all kinds of beautiful blooms of which I don't know the names, but they brought sunshine into my day. While I was there, an elderly man asked me why I like flowers so much, and he explained he was there picking out flowers for his wife because their wedding anniversary is tomorrow. He was so precious. I love talking to happy old people.
Side note: I'm in the middle of watching/laughing at the most ridiculously cheesy movie of all time called "A Warrior's Heart." Don't see it, unless you plan on making fun of it.
I bought a new hydration backpack so I'm all set to go hiking and exploring in the beautiful back country of Washington! Waaaa Hoooooo! I'm so excited. I already know that the only way I'm leaving and coming back to Provo is if someone threatens to take my life. ;) just kidding. It's not that I don't like Utah, it's that I already know I'm going to love Seattle.
And when I get back to Provo, I'm going to finally buy that bike that I've been dreaming of!
My visiting teacher/friend, Stephanie came to my rescue on Sunday when I was having a really hard time. I love her and I'm so grateful that I have a sister I can call on at any time to come running to my aid. She's such a sweetheart. Girlfriend chit-chats are so therapeutic sometimes.
I'm going Country Dancing on Wednesday night! YEeeeEEEeeee HaaaaaAAAaaaawwww!
I get to watch my roommate, Brooke, perform in a play tomorrow! She's majoring in elementary education, so this play is an adorable miniature one about penguins. How cute :) I'm excited to watch her! By the way, Brooke is simply incredible and I love her to pieces! Did I ever mention that we'll be living together in the fall?....that makes me feel like a lesbian to say that, but that's not the case :) I'm straight. But like I was saying, Brooke is awesome because she makes me laugh, and she understands me better than most people, and she's super down to earth. I'm definitely going to miss her when she flies off to New Zealand!
My hair is finally long enough to be put in a ponytail on top of my head like a palm-tree :) score.
Tara just shared a scrumptious Raspberry Lemonade bar with me! She's a doll. And her baking skills are spectacular. Now I need to go for a run and burn off this sugar high!!!
It's funny how we make all these plans for our lives and none of them ever seem to go our way. EVER. But I absolutely know that what Heavenly Father has planned for me is far better than anything I could possibly imagine. So I'll take it.
Life is wonderful!!!

I LOVE MY LIFE

I love my life because it is filled with goodness, love, happiness, challenges, adventure, creativity, blessings, and God. I'm so happy and I feel like listing some things that I'm grateful for, in no particular order. Why? because I love lists and I love how gratitude changes my attitude. Here's some reasons why I LOVE my life:

*Side note that kinda relates* My interview with Provo College is scheduled for the 21st and I'm nervous. Wish me luck! I hate that expression, because I don't believe in luck...so hope good things will come my way! I'm grateful for this opportunity to possibly go to school for a PTA degree. I love feeling like I have direction, but is it completely pathetic that a two year commitment to school freaks me out!? I'll answer that question, yes, it's pathetic. But once I know it's the right thing to do I won't be afraid. 

ANYWAYS, back on topic, Andrea.

So, some things on my mind that I'm grateful for:

~Photographs

~Whose Line is it Anyway

~Health, strength, and physical capability

~Our apartment quote board. Hilarious!

~Fruits and veggies

~The companionship of The Holy Ghost

~Road trips. And the protection I'm guarded with on road trips.

~Repentance

~Feeding people and watching them enjoy it :)

~The power of positive thinking

~Building trust, friendship, and confidence with people I care about

~Music, the good quality kind that lifts your soul

~Crushing on boys, like I'm back in elementary school. LOVE it.

~Learning TONS at institute on Thursdays

~A savings account

~People who make me laugh

~Heavenly Father's investment in my life

~Flowers

~Contacts and glasses

~Sushi. Oh I'm so looking forward to eating fresh sushi in Seattle!

~Life after physical death

~A warm bed, and sleeping for 8 hours

~My friends and sister are in love and everyone is getting married!!! Love makes me so so happy.

~Vegas!

~Confidence and self-respect

~My family. I miss them always.

~The Ensign Magazine, and modern revelation, and President Monson

~Flushing toilets

~Precious, adorable little kids

~Answered prayers

~My car

~Exercising. "I hate it, but I love it!"

~True Home Security. Next time a salesman is at my door, I'm inviting them in for water and a potty break.

~The opportunity to pay tithing

~Thrift stores

~My roommates. They're so awesome.

~Going to the temple

~Smoothies.mmmm. need I say more?

~Indexing for family history research

~Blogging rocks.

~Girlfriends. Ah! I love my girlfriends!

~The Book of Mormon

~Change, progress, wisdom, and hope

~Nightgowns. Super comfortable, and girly...as long as you stay away from the Grandma ones. 

~Visiting Teaching, and doing the work of the Lord

~Laughter, smiles, chuckles, and giggles

~Sunshine

I love my life so much