Scorpions and Chickens

EMILY SUPER FUN DAYYY!! that's ok, I was wondering all about how the arrival went, but I did real good and kept myself consecrated and not thinking about it all week...sort of. I can/can't wait til I get home and we party! But the first thing I probably will do is go for a run all by myself/with Lizzie. Well after we go do something fun together like watch Sherlock and eat avocados or tell stories of our lives or something. But enough about not being on my mission because I'm focused!! No wait, I have to tell you about my studies this morning, when the Spirit decided to tell me suddenly that I am going to be a seminary teacher, for when I grow up. I think I'm finally learning to understand His language!! Which is all I've ever wanted out of life and my mission. Well there's other things but that was numero uno. He also told me last week that,that very day was the day I'd find the face stuff I've been waiting for since I got the blessing that told me I would find the product that would have an immediate effect and then I went to the store and grabbed something off the shelf...I felt, nope that aint it. And so I just grabbed something else and was like yep...that's totally it. So I bought it. And it's working. IT"S WORKINNNNG! Yeah yeah. I love praying and the scriptures. I feel like I know so much more about life. The whole life thing in general and my life specifically. It's pretty rad. I love being me and I love being a missionary. I have a lot to work on..........like a lot. But, the less I worry so much about being perfect yet...try to be obedient, the better everything goes. I can't explain it!! I DID GET MY WHITE PRESENT!!(A White Handkerchief for the Temple Dedication)  You're the best, except I didn't know who sent it until this very exact moment in my life!! THANK YOOOOU! The temple dedication is Sunday and I can't wait! Thank you thank you thank you , it's so beautiful(:

Ummmm this week we saw a lot of people. I got us lost and we ended up seeing a less active's husband working on sprinklers outside and I accidently just parked abruptly in the middle of the road and we helped him for like 2 hours and talked a lot about reading the scriptures and trying to learn about the gospel and how it would help his kids because he "would do anything for them." We never found the place we were looking for. We also stopped by a lady's home just in time to help clean her house because she was really sick and about to stop. That was a miracle. She also ended up telling us about a family whose son died. We went to go see them....the guy's brother/best friend is a missionary. He's come home because it's too distracting and for the funeral. it's really really sad, I just kept wondering what I would do if one of my sisters died and it was so heart-breaking. But we came to their house because we felt like we needed to see them and we were very welcome, and let me tell you...I've felt homes that were strengthened by the Spirit, but the overabundance of peace you can literally feel in this home is overwhelming, and it means so much especially at this time. The parents were so absolutely peaceful and...not happy but they still had joy. I've heard a lot about families being that way at death but haven't seen/felt it in such a way before. The missionary was even peaceful even though you could tell his heart was broken. We all just talked and kept each other's and the Spirit's company for a while and it was beautiful. We sang to them once and the other time we came over we asked his boy to play the piano for us. He was....I can't even describe it. His fingers touched the keys and it was like a wall hit me and I couldn't keep from crying. My companion and I just sat there in awe, because it wasn't just good playing, it was like he was becoming alive for a moment again and I wish I could tell you how it felt. I haven't ever felt so much love for a family and this person I haven't known more than an hour. He needed that so bad...at least we think. We've gotten permission to go right outside the mission boundaries to go support them in the funeral. But anyway......that was really special to me. 

Also, another super special thing was that I finally saw SCORPIONS! AHHHHHH!!!!! And then we took two home. We can't keep pets so they are outside. They are really lame and won't fight each other or even eat the marshmallow I gave them so we're just like, "fine...stave and die." We try to be more Christlike and less violent, but we caught them and I just don't feel comfortable setting them free anywhere. THEY"LL FREAKING MURDER YOU AND FLING THEMSELF ONTO YOUR FACE AND STAB YOU WITH POISON! We made it a productive time and showed the Mormon Message about scorpions and talked about listening to the Spirit and protecting your feet/soul. We also taught an Hispanic family so it took 2 hours. We decided we should limit the questions we ask. They're really amazing though and have been being prepared their whole life! They've met missionaries a few times before, but now's their time they actually are ready! they're grasping on to everything so well!!

Um......what else.....I gave my first Word of wisdom lesson and it was cool. They sort of lied to our faces and told us their cigarette boxes were empty and I looked and they were both totally half full. it's okay, we love them anyway. It was her birthday this week and I made her a card and it was the best card ever because it had glitter glue. She also asked us to pray for her to get really sick......she says that when you're sick you have to get really really really sick and then it'll all get out of your system so you can get better fast and be over it for reals. I also used glitter glue to make a sign for our Stake Relief Society Tech Fair presentation. We did a booth about how members can use facebook to share the gospel and how they should!!!! S. is doing well according to the Elders! I saw him at church yesterday and it made me happy. I love and miss you too, but I don't think I need anything right exactly now. Things are great! BE GOOD!!!!!!!!! MWAHH, have fun with emilyyyyyy

Thanks!! We spent a night making these and became really hyper off the sugar...then we also found that the gas on the stove had been running for a while and was probably making us loopy. It's okay though because the apartments didn't catch on fire.

                           They(Scorpions) glow in the dark, just like the silly puddy you sent me!!!

                                                       I'm really adventurous. It's pink! I licked it. 

...And then when I left the presence of the family that gave it to me I promptly disposed of the substance.

The. Chicken cross the road to come see me .

Pretend I'm wearing a name tag.Actually I probably am, my hair always covers it up....

Sister Smith and Sister Krueger

Rachel's Feet?? and a Rainbow!

My new companion and I are the Cotton Candy Companionship!

That's so much snow! Cray....absolutely cray. Awwww, the picture of pig made me squee and I bet she was super cute. I want to come play with you guys and build snowmen and eat chick frickin fil-a. But I'm glad you three are having fun. Thanks for being good parents and loving each other! I can't believe Emily gets home on Thursday! It's not even cool. But at least when I get home she won't be wearing a skirt so she can jump on me. Speaking of sisters…! Sr. Smith is the bomb.com. We've already had a bunch of cool miracles because she's a super missionary. Seriously, the night before she came in, we received a referral of a whole family we get to go teach on Wednesday. Then that night I found a new investigator by stopping by in an active family's apartment, only to find out by their neighbor that no one lives there. He said he was interested in having us come back though!! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Yes! All of my wants came true! She is really hard working and outgoing and super nice, and likes me and we made a goal to go out of the apartment and stay out and we talk with everyone cause we go walking around and we are focused. We've already found a balance of exact obedience and fun. She's the best!!! And I think we make a really good team. So yes! I prayed for someone obedient, fun, will be nice to me, aaaaaaaand......drumroll........LIKES TO RUN!! So anyways, I am a cat lover and I love to run. Jk...WE GO RUNNING!! I prayed for what I thought  I wanted and here she is! I feel like I'm finally at the point of where my mission is turning into the life I've been dreaming of. I love all of the other transfers I have had and my other companions, and I think they have all helped prepare me in different ways, but I am so happy to go out and work hard and in unity. Well we're going to work more on that because she really likes to talk, but I am so much better now at working myself into the lesson and interrupting when people get carried away. Like...not a lot of interrupting , but but when the Spirit needs you to say something you say it!! And yeah, I am senior comp, but it hardly feels like it except I know my way around and know more people and have worked with more than one other companion and know lots of different ways/techniques to stuff. I love this. I LOVE IT! I'm a missionary. Sometimes it hits me in the middle of the day when I think back a few years ago when I would think about serving and then it's like BAM! You're here now, serving. Anddddd it's rad. We have 4 lessons set up for tonight already. I am so excited!!! I just want to Be a good missionary. 

Oh!! Dude, hahahah I didn't mean I needed a pound of skittles!! But I loooooooooooooved my package!!! Ah! Thank you sooooo much, I opened it up before the transfer meeting with a bunch of other missionaries and someone played with my silly putty and I passed out a couple stickers. YAY PRINCESS STICKERS! And after the meeting I opened up the skittles and eeeeveryone was eating them. I just walked by the crowds holding the bag up and people would grab a handful, it was great lol there was still half left though afterward. I then proceeded to eat the red and purple ones through the week. And we made the cake pops before bed last night. Sister Smith is so fun!! We went out to lunch during planning day for a short break and got free bread, and we still finished up most of our weekly planning.

 There was a party Saturday night for one of our wards and we met lots of people and there was a lot of good music I had to pretend I couldn't hear. Ummmmm and we had just met lots of people and had some good success already(: I am happy. Like yesterday I felt a little panicky but it went away after lots of focus and prayers and a nap. Sister smith is so cool about it. She really likes blue. So my pink and her blue, we always end up wearing stuff and we look like cotton candy. We've decided that we are the cotton candy companionship....c cubed...We are really cool. We keep adding C's, cool...classy.............cute...CRAY.

anyway. I love you and thank you for the cards and everything!! You're the best!!!

I have a new comp and I am the Senior!

Sister Fry is leaving meeeeeeee! She's leaving the area after 6 months! I am getting a 3 month old sister Smith who I think will be really awesome! From my short meeting of her at like the mission parties, she is really happy and fun. I prayed to have a companion that will be fun, nice to me, and obedient. And who likes to run. I'm sure the qualifications will be met, I'll find out in 2 days! I'll be senior companion, and hope things will go well with that, and can remember how to make all of the necessary appointments and find people. I sure hope to get service the way Sister Fry can!

Oh dang it I forgot to ask for someone clean!! Oh well. Another sister is moving in to our apartment too and the really really sweet sister is staying.

Thanks for the letters, AND PACKAGES!! You spoil me. I will be trying to write back today too but I think Sister Fry will need lots of help packing/cleaning and we're going skating for our last date together. Yeah, I'm sad to lose her, we are really good friends. I'm staying in the area and get to see Devin. 

My Visit to The Gilbert Arizona Latter-day Saint Temple Open House 2/4/14

Yesterday we went to the Gilbert Arizona Latter-day Saint Temple Open House!! A mouth full to say, so it's okay that it was such a jaw-dropping experience(: I can't even tell you how much I loved it there....but I'll try! I've gone before, a couple of weeks ago and it was a wonderful time, seeing all of the amazing and over-the-top yet simply elegant construction and design of the temple. Only the best for the Lord, as we would all agree is important. I wasn't sure what I would be expecting and was in awe of the beauty of the staircases and the chandeliers and the amazing artwork that were so carefully chosen to put into this lovely temple. The agave flower was the theme throughout the whole building!! So cool, as it symbolizes the family passing onto the younger generations, just like the seeds of the agave will drop down to revive the dying plant. Which is what the temple is all about!! "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers" [Malachi 4:6] (...sorry, sidetracked)  

I knew there would be a great feeling there,too. And there really was. I was able to talk to everyone about the great feeling of the Holy Ghost while in the building...about how you could have feelings like I had at least. I have attended the temple a few times in my days and can recognize the special Spirit that is felt while I am there. It's a feeling that brings me a special sense of happiness that nothing else can provide and helps me to open my mind and heart to the teachings that I am in need of. But the Gilbert temple is not dedicated yet, that is why, of course, everyone is able to go inside and look around. The feeling was still amazing....I wanted to squee the whole time I was there! But it had a distinct feeling of "I am made especially to be a House of the Lord....but I'm not quite there yet.....Almost!!" The difference is so weird and fabulous...being specifically set apart from the world by the power of Priesthood authority and the sheer cleanliness of a dedicated temple (and having only those worthy being inside) is the feeling anyone can have at the Open House x894357485735.

I did get all of that from the first trip there, but yesterday was a little bit more special. We got to go with the sweetest, most amazing mother and son in one of our wards, our newest convert, and his wonderful and supportive mother. It was nifty to be there with them and, having already gone through, we were able to focus on them rather than being caught up in the surprises and physical beauty held inside. And with not worrying about that, it was interesting that I could feel even more excited and giddy about everything we saw. Just being with them and seeing their reactions and helping them to recognize the Spirit and what it meant was.....almost more than I could handle. My companion and I were about bouncing off the walls. At one point in the endowment room, the boy who was baptized in December, looked into the mirrors that face each other and go on and on to represent eternity. And the kid was beaming! Absolutely stunning and bright with joy and....it was almost like pride, but I'm actually going to have to say humility, because in a split second I saw a young man that knew. He absolutely knew the truthfulness in the power of the Holy Ghost he was feeling. He knew that he had made the right choice in being baptized. He knew the temple was the place to be. He knew who he is. I haven't ever seen such power in a person before in my life. .....My companion and I did the squeeing thing again....Because, seriously we can't imagine anything better. All we want is for people to find that happiness and joy and peace! Shoot, I wish I could have it as strong as that all the time! It came from all of his hard work though, and I know if I will change and repent all the time as we are each commanded to do, then maybe someday I'll be as great as him!

.....................

Anyway! His mom really loved it too, it was her birthday present and I think she really enjoyed herself. Well...I know she did, we all could feel it. And we all learned so much. I wish I could always be in the temple! Or somewhere just like it..........Oh wait!! One day I can be :D The temple is only a small glimpse of the eternity that our Heavenly Father has in store for us. Like I mentioned, if we continually repent and change, and grow toward our Savior, Jesus Christ, then when the day comes that we meet Him again (and we all will) we might be worthy to stand in His very presence. To tell him we tried our hardest and that we love Him and want to live with Him again. And then we can live in the glories and joy that we so desire...with peace and true knowledge of who He is and who we are!

Devin and His Mother

So excited for The Temple!

I'm so jelly(Rachel for jealous) for the snow!! The clouds are looking really heavy here (and it's crazy because we drive down the street with my eyes squinting from the sun and we mention how gloomy it looks outside) but we feel like it's going to rain.....but every time we mention it to other people they don't say anything except laugh.... Not fair!! I just want to wear my polka-dot rain coat or rain boots, but there isn't a use for them. There probably will be in March I think they say. I actually do hope it doesn't get too bad, because of the poor Elders on bikeys. I love our Elders in our district! They're little goobers and they crack us up!! This district is pretty fab, it almost reminds me of our MTC group sometimes.

And yeah...cause Emily cares what I think!! She's going to watch Sherlock without me with you guys!! ......................I'm over it. Just whatever you do, no marriages, k??

I've been eating just fine! Too well. I'm still practicing saying no to all the desserts and extra helpings of food We really really don't need. The members here are really great about feeding us and usually it's really fun too. I love hanging out with some really fun and silly families or some that just blow us away with their missionary efforts. And there are just some families that are like family for an hour and it's really exciting to see them.

OMG the youth here are so fantastic!!! And it's not that I'm just nostalgic for young women's.....but I am! I am so old lol but hanging out with the youth and talking with them and seeing their testimonies and everything basically makes my heart sing and leap for joy. I can't even take it. There are just some young men that I'm like...If my husband wasn't like that as a youth, then....I"ll pass him up lol jk, he could change to be like that after some time........but he better be amazing. (But it is nice to have a whole year and half to not worries about the boys at all :P)

My Valentine will be my companion....Sister Fry and I are going on a date today actually to go roller-bladeing !!! I'd rather ice-skate of course but the missionaries in the zone found really good deal at a roller-skating rink(: A VALENTINE'S DAY BOX!?!?!?!?!?

OMG GUESS WHAT SPEAKING OF DATES!!! SISTER FRY IS LETTING ME STOP AT CHICKFILA TOMORROW WHEN WE GO THROUGH GILBERTTT!!! Yeah!!! that's right, we're going to the Gilbert temple Open House tomorrow....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAND WEDNESDAY!!! Gilbert has all the goods. We drove by this one place last time and all in one spot there was a Chick-fil-a, a Texas Roadhouse, a Cold Stone, a Mongolian grill, a Thai restaurant and then like something else that I hold near and dear to my heart. But yeah, I get to use my chick-fil-a gift card finally.

Oh and with the box.....(Im so excited for presents!!) Might I please request very little chocolate and candy? ....unless you've already got skittles. I like skittles. And I like all candy too much but I don't want to eat it all and be fat. It's hard on my life because at stake conference they told all the stake conference that all the members should get us cookies!! And we're like....um...noooooooooooooo....get us celery or something. Lol they're so sweet to us though and we love them for their kindness! . Cause I know how probably all the Elders really want cookies maybe or in other countries, anything would be so exciting to get! MAIL IS NICE TO GET.

So we had our investigator at church yesterday!!! His name is J and he's super great. 

Transfer news comes this Saturday, too. We'll see where I go!!

Anyway, I'm so glad things are going well at home and that my dog is cute. I made her picture the background for my Ipad, Borris.

Us and Sister Fort

We love service!!!

Cheating on Lizzie!

Another 4 year old Mollie and a groomed Westie.

Getting ready to walk through The Gilbert Temple

Got to pet a Chinchilla