February 14

What is the difference between you and a calendar?

A calendar has dates.


Have a wonderful Valentine's day.

"What you share with the world is what it keeps of you"

Lately I've been getting questions about why I have chosen to serve a mission.
 I had always thought that if I was going to set aside 18 months to totally dedicate myself to serving the Lord I would pick a time in my life where I didn't know what I was doing and needed a break from school, or was approaching spinsterhood. Generous, aren't I?

Precious.

However, that is nothing like life is now. I'm busy with school (finally chose a major), work, had the perfect apartment, and am dating a really great guy. Go figure. 

I think it's not only that I feel like it will be a very formative experience for me, but also because my past travels, recent events in the news, and my friends made me realize that the world could use a little love. And by that I don't mean like this:

But something more that: charity, the pure love of Christ. 

I'm not perfect, but I have found that the closer I try to become to God, the better person I have become. It becomes easier to accept others' faults, to try to help people, and to desire peace and happiness for all.  

Going to South Africa was amazing, but I saw much more acutely how hate and selfishness can tear lives, nations, and countries apart. Then all of the shootings happened this year and I have become more and more saddened about the impact that mental illness, hate, and lack of moral grounding can bring. 

I believe that the only solution that will permanently change the makeup of social expectation and interaction is to come to Christ and to try to be like Him. The two greatest commandments are: 

1. Love God 

2. Love your neighbor as yourself (so love yourself too-- you're a beautiful being!)

Every other commandment falls under these two. So, basically all I'm saying is all we need is love. Unselfish, and selfless love. So that's what I'm going to do. Share the love that God has for His children with the people of France, and everywhere else I go. Naive? maybe. Hopeful? always. 

If you know are loved, you seek to love that person back, and by doing so gain the skill to apply that love to other people. 1 John 4

"Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 167). 

There you go, that's the main reason I'm going on a mission. 18 months of only trying to spread happiness....mostly to people who think they don't want it. It will be great. 

Here's a cheesy but touching video to a great song:

Duhduhduhda-daaaa: Fanfare and parades in my head

I have an announcement: the next big adventure!!!!

Preface for what the adventure is going to be:

Like I've said before, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There are two big semi-annual meetings held called "General conference," (I'm just going to explain things like you, reader, are not super-familiar with the LDS church. Because I hate when I'm reading things and get lost in the jargon--so don't feel like my basic explanations are insulting your intelligence if you do know what I'm talking about) in the most recent one (October) an announcement was made that the age requirement for missionaries had been changed!

The former age for girls was 21, and now it has been changed to 19! SO, I have had the opportunity to submit a missionary application much earlier than I could have before. A mission for girls is 18 months long and after you submit your application to your ecclesiastical leaders you are assigned by the First Presidency (the hierarchical structure of the LDS church is the same as the one Jesus created in the New Testament, so the First Presidency in ancient days would have been Peter, James, and John) to an area of the world to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen (Here is a great summary of why missionary work is such a big part of the LDS church).

It's a pretty intimidating task to sign yourself up for, but, I am so happy to share the joy and peace I have been blessed to find so early in my life with others!

So, where am I going?

somewhere I love...

Somewhere with pomme frites 

Have you guessed yet?

Lyon, France!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I will be speaking FRENCH! 

SO. happy. 

The area I will be in is pretty much everything south of Lyon including a bit of Switzerland and Corsica. 

I don't know exactly what cities I will be in yet, but I know I'll be assigned to the right places for me, the people, and the church. Because this is God's church, and He's in charge. So, I know it will be perfect. 

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYAAY!

The only unfortunate part is that I don't leave until April.....but it's coming up! Just 2 more months. 

WOw. 

Check in

Hi! Wow, it has almost been a whole year since my last post! I have been very busy with school and life and have not recorded my latest adventures! Here's a quick summary of what has been goin' down the last couple months:

San Diego with this lovely lady!

Hiked Mt. Timpanogos with the FLSR 

Had the best apt.

Explored Smith's Crack in Idaho

So nothing too crazy, but perfectly enjoyable!

A lot has been changing and life is busy, but I love it. 

The best thing ever:

Kids, don't smoke.

   So, here's a thought for y'all:
    I was reading one of my Econ books and learned that in 2001 the Czech Republic saved $28 million dollars in pension and old-age housing from people who died prematurely from smoking. "The net benefit of smoking to the government, including taxes and subtracting public health costs, was reckoned to be $148 million."  Yikes. Imagine if that's how cigarette companies advertised: "Mm, so classy to save society money...by dying early *muhahaha*!"

     Anyway, so even though society can reap a positive externality, don't. do. it. especially if you live in the Czech Republic (why this is worse than any other place to smoke....I just made it up...I don't think there's an actual reason). And remember that there are positive and negative things about everything and whether or not they're positive totally depends on who you are, and where you are, and what you are, and when you are...
Happy last week of March!

Proving my existence: Happy second day of spring!

   So I recently had a complaint about the part where I haven't blogged for awhile. I was quite flattered first of all that someone cared, and then realized that the reason I haven't is because I have only been doing this the past few months:

3D glasses frames really help concentration, you should try it sometime. 

and this:

Yep. Real school happened. So I haven't even explored like I promised myself I would, so I still have no idea what fun things there are to do around here. 

On a more adventuresome note, I did have an itchin' for an adventure the other day and decided to walk to a small canyon by my apartment--so pretty! I didn't actually find an adventure, but I did enjoy the sunshine!

I also have been trying to cook some of the lovely things I had while I was abroad...but things are just not the same (especially with the lame oven my apartment has and the part where I don't cook) donc, voila, scones:

Well, at least they look pretty :)

I am, however, thrilled about finding such a lovely walking spot! I can't wait for the weather to warm up! I love how beautiful the mountains are around here, if my economics class doesn't kill me first, I think a camping trip is in order soon!

Here's a fantastic chill springy song:

Hope y'all had a fantastic second day of spring~!

Merry St. Valentine's!

     Happy Valentine's everyone! I know that the concept of a random day where because Hallmark says so one is supposed to show more affection than usual and eat chocolate is a bit odd...but, February is a pretty dull month so why not?

    I used to be a hater, but then I figured, why be all grumbly and bitter when you can have an excuse to reflect on the people that influence your life and do something nice for them? I guess it would be better to do that all the time...

Also, it's a nice little something to get you through the rest of February (which is actually pretty nice this year, but is normally absolutely miserable in Utah), and most people look really nice in red. 

Dinosaur sprinkles=awesome

 My roommates got all into the Valentine's festivities--so fun! Then my mum sent me a lovely little goody bag~lovely. 

As did the bicycle club? Wait. We have a bicycle club?

Thank you Bike Committee--made my day.

Awww. Thanks everyone for a fun 14th! I hope y'all had a wonderful day too (If not, pretend Valentine's day is tomorrow and do it all again)!

A good song:

Ok, just one more:


Loves!
P.S. For those who need a little bit of cynicism to dilute the cheesiness, or just a good laugh, check out one of my friend's (yes, there are several of them) blog here.