Single Digits… 8 days:)

I can't believe in exactly one week from today, I will have been set apart as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!!!! To say I am ready to take this journey is an understatement. I can feel Satan working on me harder now then ever. It's crazy how miserable he will try and make you, especially so close to leaving. Today I have chosen to put the negative aside and be happy. I can't control others, or the way I am treated, but I can control the way I react and how I respond. Today and every day I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is such an incredible gift we have been given. I know that when I am feeling all alone, and no one can possibly understand the way I am feeling my Savior does. He bled from every poor, and suffered individually every affliction, sin, sickness and emotion just for me. I am so excited and grateful that I get to spend 18 months of my life helping people understand this amazing principle that allows us to return back to our Heavenly Home.
I love this gospel and everything it has to offers with all of my heart!!! :)

 Because tonight I got to spend the evening at the ball park one last time for 18 months. All though this boy probably gets sick of listening to me nag at him, get after him, cheer for him, and of course tell him to pick up the plow or kick the tractor into 2nd. I wouldn't trade these memories for anything. He is turning into one heck of a ball player… even if he is a spit image of myself. I have to laugh at some of the things he does, because it reminds me so much of myself. Keep after it Jay!!! Trust me, you're not gonna get away with slacking off just because I'm not there to let you know everything you are doing wrong… or right:)! Can't wait to watch you and see how far you have come when I get home!!!

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"
<3 Hugs and Loves!!! :)
Mishae!!

The Farewell… check! :)

I am so grateful for the outpouring of love and support that I received on Sunday! The chapel was filled, the overflow was filled, and it was all for me. I am so blessed to have so many incredible examples and role models to follow. A thank you, or hug, does not even compare to how grateful I am that you were there. I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for the people I have been given in this life to help me, and to love me through this journey! I love you all! <EXTRA TIGHT HUGS AND LOVES> 

Mishae!

Some Late Night Thoughts

Well Ladies and Gentlemen we are officially in the teens…. 19, but still!!! I can't believe how quickly it   has came. I think back to where it all began and how one simple thought, led to another, which led to a prayer, which led to an action, which led to exactly where my Heavenly Father wants me to be.  I couldn't be more blessed to be able to take 18 months of my life and devote it to bringing forth the true and everlasting gospel. 

My heart is full tonight. It's a little late, but that's alright. Usually my best thoughts come after 1 or 2 in the morning. I have been struggling with exactly where and what the Lord wants me to share on Sunday. I'm starting to think I'm going back to my old ways as an athlete and over thinking the "game" you could say. Being afraid of turning the ball over instead of being confident and taking that shot, or being aggressive and driving to the basket, and not being worried about being blocked. 

Today all of those worries seemed to disappear. Was it because I was up half the night studying and praying for guidance and courage, or I guess it could of been because I decided to get up out of bed early and attend the temple. I don't know the exact reason behind it all, but I don't really need too. I know that my burdens and worries have been made light because of my Savior Jesus Christ. If we do our part, he will not leave us alone to suffer. He understands what is in our heart. 

I wish I could say I'm all geared up and ready to go for Sunday, but that would be a joke in itself. Neil L. Anderson said in a conference talk "Fear and Faith cannot coexist in our hearts at the same time". I think I was struggling so bad and worrying so much because of this exactly. I was choosing to be scared, to have my thoughts directed more to hoping I don't sound stupid, or what others think. I have figured out now that I can't do that, it doesn't really matter what others think. I have said it before, and I'm sure I will say it again.. probably at this time in a few short weeks. I am choosing Faith not Fear. I trust that whatever I am supposed to say and do the Lord will lead me through it. 

My worries right now are probably different from a lot of yours, but I can tell you one thing thats for certain. You have someone to turn to. D&C 58:4 "For after MUCH tribulation come the BLESSINGS. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand" All you have to do is ask. D&C 4:7 "Ask, and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you. Amen" I pray for you all that are struggling, not necessarily that your burdens may be made light, but that you can find peace and comfort through your Savior Jesus Christ. He is the only person in this world that has walked in your shoes. He has been there before, and he is there to take your hand and help you through.

Hugs and Loves!!! :)

Mishae!

Sisters in Sin City!! :)

Making memories, and having fun is something I am getting quite good at. I love just living life and being happy. I wish I would have taken advantage more often earlier on to do the little things, because they really make the biggest memories. Rylee invited me on one last adventure before we both hit the mission field… and what better place for two future sister missionaries to go than Las Vegas!!!! :) 

It was definitely a trip to remember. I didn't really know what to expect, other than what I had been told, and warned from several people questioning of why I would even go there, especially to so close to me leaving… Just so you know there is a lot of fun, safe, and adventurous things to do in Vegas, for anyone, especially those who are willing to walk 10 miles every day!!! :) 

Just a quick photo to start our road trip!!!

 We did a lot of fun things!!! And stayed incredibly busy! Tuesday morning we got there, and we didn't stop. From the Shark Reef, which was super cool, to touching weird little swimming fish, to watching dolphins do tricks in the warm sun, a titanic exhibit, endless shopping, and lots of laughing

A funny story that happened while we were there.. haha still makes me laugh:) Me and Rylee were left alone to travel to the Dolphins exhibit, while the other two went to see bodies. We were meeting up in the mall later on after we both got done. Well we finished before and decided to sit down and eat some Gelato, which for the record is not even real Gelato and doesn't even compare to the kind you would get in Italy, but next thing I know someone is poking the bun on top of my head. I turn to Rylee with frightened eyes and said.. "Umm is someone touching my hair" and she just shook her head. I turned around to find this Asian Lady and her husband admiring us. Umm AWKWARD!!!.. They pointed to there camera, and then took pictures of us… At this point we are laughing, and trying to figure out why they found the buns on our head so exciting…. Anyways the Asians left and have pictures of us.. Needless to say maybe we will become famous because of it!… It was funny though!!!.. and a little creepy!

 

We rode the Roller Coast at New York New York in the dark, visited the M&M factory, where I got some pretty awesome M&Ms and, went to probably my favoritest place of all time… The COKE FACTORY!!! It was so awesome.. and well needless to say I could probably live there! I felt right at home. They have this thing where you can try all of the drinks from around the world that are famous in different countries, so we all would take a drink and pass it around. That was really interesting. Some of them tasted worse then cough syrup! .. I think watching everyone else's reaction made it all the worse to! It made for some really good laughs though!

 I could live in this place thats for sure!!! Love me some Coca Cola!! 

Just doing some drink tasting with the whole gang!!

My favorite picture from the whole trip! This captures the real us, and Vegas all in one! I couldn't of been blessed with a better best friend. She's been there for me through the good, the bad, and the ugly! I am so glad I got to experience Vegas and have some pretty good laughs with this one! I gotta pretty lucky! 

This is just a small glimpse of the memories made, and the laughs shared. I'll treasure it forever! 

Hugs and Loves!!!! :) 

Nothing out of the ordinary.. Right?

I have failed with flying colors on blogging this past month... Not that anyone really reads this anyway. I have a little catching up to do! What a fantastic, crazy, hard, fun, awesome month it has been! I have done so many fun things and have kept a little bit to busy but I wouldn't really want it any other way. I will give you a semi-shortened and sweet version of what has been going on in my pre missionary crazy life:) It is quite entertaining :)

First, the beginning of February I was "blessed",using that term loosely, with the opportunity to speak in Stake Conference. Luckily it was the Saturday night session, I only had 5 minutes, and the topic of the evening was Hastening the Work. It was an incredible meeting with such great testimonies shared and given. Missionary Work is seriously the best thing EVER, just saying :).. I didn't really get nervous until I got a call from the Stake President reminding me Saturday morning. Which was good. But I never really prepared a talk, which can be good and bad. I have been given the talent of public speaking, but not writing very good talks. I basically just say whatever I feel and whatever the spirit directs me to which has always gotten me by in the past, so of course I wasn't about to change anything :).. I studied the scriptures, thought, prayed, and just hoped that the things I was feeling would come out alright… I started with the quote from a talk President Benson gave even before I was born.. "I have a vision of thousands of missionaries going into the mission field… to feed the needs of a spiritually famished world" … and then the rest after that was strictly from the heart.. haha can't really tell ya what I said cuz most of it I don't even remember:) Considering it all I think it went pretty good, and I was and am now very grateful for that opportunity and experience, and know that it is what was needed to help me prepare for this crazy adventure.

Next, probably one of the most exciting things that has ever taken place in my life spiritually was attending the temple to receive my endowments. What an incredible place! Words can't express how grateful I was and am to have those blessings and to be able to have so many so close!! It was a hoppin ;) place, and so many people were there that supported me and have helped me get to this point. It was such an amazing feeling, and so nice to be surrounded by the ones that mean the most to me.

I could go on and on about the temple for forever, but I'll save you all from that.. and sum it up for you in a sentence. One of my most favorite places on earth! 

Just recently there was a group of us that took a girls trip down to St. George one last time. :) It's kind of been tradition that we do it, and we figured all though it wasn't the usual June trip, at least we could catch some warmth and have a good time. My sister came along too making the trip that much better. The weather was a little crazy going down, and at times scary but we made it safely enjoyed a basketball game in Cedar City, talked with some old friends from college, and then continued on our way to St George. It wasn't super warm, but we shopped a lot, ate some seriously amazing food between the famous TIKI TIKI, Casablanca, and Camille's and stuffed our face with a lot of treats and of course sugar cookies!!! :) 

We found this candy store that is really awesome.. It has all of the old style candy from like forever ago, and the awesome glass styled drinks.. I think this picture basically explains itself.. Lucky for us you can't read what the name of the root beer we were drinking.. but it was pretty dang good :) Unfortunately we had to come home and resume our lives with work and school… but lucky for us there are more adventures soon approaching with one last vaca before we hit the mission field!!

Just a little Aggie Hoops :).. I think the conversion process to Utah State may be starting to take place.. guess will just have to see what 18 months has to bring :)

Whatever way you want to say it, but I have now 1 month,  4 weeks, 31 days, 1 Fast Sunday, 1 General Conference, or 5 Missionary Mondays or P days until I report! I couldn't tell ya where the time has gone, all I know is that April 9th is approaching quickly! The closer it gets the more nervous, anxious, excited, sad, and grateful that it is here! It has been the hardest but the best thing I could have ever done and I'm sure I will be saying that a lot as I get into the field. I love being a member of this everlasting gospel, and grateful for the knowledge that we have as members! I can't wait to share with others these truths and bring happiness into their lives. 

Until then… The clock clicks down!!! :) 

Loves and Hugs from me to you, forever and always!!! 

Mishae