to store 451.

I have never felt so loved in my life. I am going to miss working at the Spokane Valley Hobby Lobby. Everyone there has become my friend. I am so grateful for a job that was also my favorite pass-time. I loved going to work! Custom framing is one of my favorite things to do. That job got me through college with enough to spare for a mission. I am going to miss the people too. I have made life-long friends there, and I will miss each and every one of them so much. I wish them all the best in their career and in their life, and I pray that God will be with them until we meet again.

fifteen days.

Things are getting real with only fifteen days left before I leave for the Missionary Training Center (MTC). I am so incredibly excited, but also nervous. Leaving is always bittersweet. But I'm so excited!!! I wanted to post a few talks I love love love and that have gotten me through some tough times. Read them.

https://www.lds.org/new-era/2012/08/his-grace-is-sufficient

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng#listen=audio

I know that Jesus Christ lives!! He died for me, and was resurrected and lives today. I know this. I know Heavenly Father listens to me and is aware of me personally. He helps me with my deepest desires and deepest, unvoiced concerns (like learning Spanish! Now that one is voiced!). I will devote my whole self to Him for these next eighteen months in hopes of changing someone else, helping them to see how much God loves them too. 

Life goes better when we act on the teachings of Christ. Men are, that they might have joy (2 Nephi 2:25).

ten ways my mission fund has increased.

I have known I have wanted to go on a mission now for a long time, and subsequently, I have worried about having the funds to go on a mission for a long time now. Having enough money to serve has been a prayer in my heart for the last three years--especially because I used a lot of my money to make it through school. My dad lost his job at the end of last year and has only worked a little since, so my parents have not been able to help me. I also lost my insurance at that time, so any medical or dental visits had to be out-of-pocket. However, I have been blessed with funds since the time I started to pray to Heavenly Father that I would have the money to serve a mission. Here are the experiences I have had and recognized:

1. I got a job. The only reason I got that job was because I just happened to go in when a random man was doing the hiring for the random hour I went in, and that random man just happened to have gone to the same random community college as I had all the way up in Washington. Coincidence? I think not.

2. When I moved back to Washington, the only position open in my company was the frame shop part-timer. Of course I had been training in my Utah store's frame shop for about four weeks by then. I had never had an interest in framing, but the position was thrown at me in Utah, and was a huge blessing when I needed to move. I would not have gotten a job so quickly in Washington had I not had the previous training. The job at my company paid for my Bachelor's Degree, and I even had some money left over after graduating.

3. I got a scholarship. Without even applying for one. It covered a fifth of my tuition expenses each quarter.

4. I got a second job. I started tutoring economics. I wasn't even an economics major when I got the job. I knew nothing about economics! The job was given to me though, and provided a small additional income to what I was already making at my other job.

5. I got a raise. I had been praying for a long time to have enough money for my mission before I got a raise. It was a huge blessing to me.

6. My car is still running (MIRACLE), providing me a way to and from work, school, and church activities.

7. My doctor did not charge me for the visit that missionaries have to make in order to apply for a mission. While I still paid for tests and shots, the sitting fee was waived by my doctor because I am a missionary. What a blessing!! My dentist also filled one of my cavities for free. Also a wonderful blessing.

8. As school was coming to an end, I knew I would have to delay putting my papers in because I didn't have the money. I prayed that I would be able to come up with the funds. My grandparents called the next week and donated $100 per month.

9. My sister purchased all my toiletry supplies needed for the mission with coupons, and will not let me pay her back for the items she bought.

10. Yesterday in my morning prayer, I prayed that I would be able to come up with the rest of my mission money. I was falling about $50 a month short on what I needed. As I was getting in to my car to go to work, I thought to myself: "I'll just keep working and paying my tithing, and everything will work out." When I got off work, my dad told me that my neighbors offered me fifty dollars a month for my mission, that they had both been thinking about donating for a while, but hadn't talked to each other about it yet. Exactly what I had prayed about that morning.

I know that God answers prayers. In these past few years especially, I have seen miracles. Every item in this list of ten miracles was an event that happened after I had prayed. Every event happened right after I had asked my Heavenly Father to help me with my finances. There are other small experiences as well that have helped to pay for my mission. It is so amazing that Heavenly Father takes the time to care about ME. Me personally. As an individual. As His daughter. I am so incredibly thankful for all the people who have contributed to my mission fund! I am so excited to serve the Lord :)

Namaste.

it comes from within.

This song is one played often in Young Women's, but recently it popped up again while my phone was on shuffle three years after I graduated from being young. I think it applies to young and old, male and female. It testifies of our divine nature. Enjoy :)

representin.

I got my mission call!!! I have been waiting for this practically my whole life. I will be serving from November 2013 to May 2015.

Little by little, and sometimes through big experiences, I have to come to know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and Heavenly Father loves me. I set goals for myself while I was young that would lead me to a mission. I came to know that I am a daughter of God. I came to know that God has not stopped speaking to His children, and that He speaks to me personally. I know and love these truths!

I am happy to announce I am called to serve. I have been waiting for this day for so long. I have prayed and felt that it is right. I am called to serve a mission! I am called to SERVE!! Chihuahua, Mexico, here I come!!!!

You can watch my ridiculous opening of my mission call here (if you insist):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50c8W_F9NmE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Seriously. It's embarrassing. But the good news is--my niece Emma will fit in my suitcase and will pass the 50 pound weight limit!

patiently waiting for the call.

I am so excited to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ!! I have been waiting for this for ten years now!

:)

six ridiculous things about me.

1. If a good song is playing in the car when I pull up to my house, I will sit in the car and finish singing it at the top of my lungs before I walk inside.

2. I can sleep through four alarms ringing at the same time in the morning, no matter what time I went to bed.

3. I laugh when people run. Like when they're late to class or when they run across the street so cars don't have to wait so long for them before they can drive. I think it's the funniest thing ever. Running people look ridiculous. And I ridiculously laugh at them.

4. I love to teach classes and give speeches. It makes me super nervous, but I love to do it.

5. I want to be a mechanic. My professor rolls his eyes when I tell him that. He thinks I'm wasting my brain. I ask...what brain?

6. I'm finally getting a new phone this weekend. I think five years has been long enough for someone my age. Plus the microphone stopped working last week :)

I framed this a few months ago. I really like it.

i am a daughter of God.

I feel the need to like..brag. Or something. That I'm a full time student with midterms, and I worked 45 hours this week. I just feel. Like I never want to do that again. :)

Man things are good. I love where I'm at right now. I love my job, I love my major, I love my family, I have amazing friends, there is a juice cafe downtown (totally awesome), and I have tons of opportunities for trying new things. Possibly I'm becoming a workaholic.

Also. Watch this:

Isn't it amazing all the things I know because of who I am? All daughters, all mothers, all friends, all people, all daughters of God should know who they are and who they can become. Share it with them. I know who I am. I know where I am going. I know what I can achieve. I have many dreams, and every day I grow closer to them. I am constantly changing and perfecting myself. I try to have charity in all I do. I am a daughter of God.

well peeps.

This is how it goes.

All my life. I mean like, since the time I was ten. I have had one goal. That was to serve a mission. But I had to wait. Till I was old enough. And that wait. Has been a long one. Really long. And it hurt. But now. It sucks even more. Because I'm old enough now. But I still can't go.

So. Yeah. That's how it goes.

Other than that.

Life is amazing. Better than ever. And it just keeps getting better than what it already is. I just try not to think about the fact that I could be somewhere else. Especially when everyone tells me I should be somewhere else. Or asks why I am still here.

too good to be true.

I was just sitting and contemplating the other day how unbelievably wonderful life is. Something so good surely cannot be true! The things I believe in--the things I know--it is amazing how right and beautiful they are. My life is too good.

This is what I did last weekend! It was a 5k color run. Nila and I ran the whole thing! That's right. I can run three miles. Bahaha. It was so awesome! I guess getting plastered with color is the new thing to do these days. I loved to run and be colorful at the same time. It was a beautiful run. We ran along the Spokane river for a little while. It was a wonderful day for a run, and a perfect way to end my summer!

School starts. Soon. Too soon. I'm really excited though! I just haven't finished everything that I need to do yet! Clean my room, register for classes, make various appointments--things I have been too......busy......for! I am taking some wickedly sweet economics classes this fall. I hope to be an expert on all things economics soon. I have a lot of learning to do!

Oh, on Sunday I listened to a talk by Elder Holland. It changed my life. He always inspires me to make changes. Changes for the better! If you haven't watched the talk yet, just go to lds.org. It's right on the home page. You will never be the same.

I love you all! Namaste.