RUSSIA

Once upon a time I opened my mission call...
It was April 11th 2012. And one of the best days of my life.
It was the last day of classes and it was full of fun and friends.
I returned from work at approximately 1:00 in the afternoon to wait at the mailbox. I checked and nothing was there. Cassandra and I noticed our friends at the TAJ just chillin' on the hammock so we sat and chatted for a while.
Then I saw her. The mail lady. With her little truck and her pouch filled.
I ran towards her and asked if she had a mission call per chance. She said Yes! For who? I told her my name and she handed it to me. I screamed and held it close and then sprinted back to the TAJ.
We took turns feeling it. And guessing what it said. But did not open it.
I proceeded to text my entire contact list and let them know it was finally here! And I'd be opening it at 8:30.
Then I sat and wondered. And dreamed and got nervous. So what do I do when I'm anxious and stressed?
I bake.
So I made some chocolate chip cookies and lemon cupcakes with strawberries on top.
Cassandra made a nice little poster and we started writing down people's guesses.
It was the longest day of my life.
I stayed fairly busy but time just dragged on and on and on and on...
At 8:30 all of my friends and family in Provo came to my apartment and joined the celebration.
My parents and siblings were all at home on skype and then the moment came....
I struggled opening the call (of course) and tears began to stream down my face.
I tried to read it one line at a time but my eyes immediately found it.
The place I'd be serving in for 18 months.
RUSSIA
Novosibirsk
I'll report June 6th to the Provo MTC
It was all surreal.
Russia NEVER crossed my mind.
I didn't even know how to pronounce it!
Luckily we had a fellow Russian speaker Tyler help me.
The next few days were a blur. Of googling Russia. Not sleeping well. Dreaming about the snow.
And trying to read the Russian books from Tyler.
But there it is folks. I've been called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Novosibirsk Russia.
The third largest city in Russia. Located right above Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The mission covers a HUGE area about the size of the United States and all located in Siberia!
I seriously cannot wait and am still shocked that heavenly father wants me to be there and thinks I'm capable of learning Russian and surviving the arctic winters. But I know this is the right thing to do and the right place to be!

My good friend Anna Gleave is a photographer and took some wonderful pictures of the night.
So enjoy : )

Mental Dance Party

I am in desperate need of a dance party. I'm sitting here in the wilk trying to study for my 3 finals today, (eeks) but I can't stop listening to these songs and resisting the urge to stand up and shake it. So if you are in the mood to dance, join me and have a dance party in your head.









Now, wasn't that fun!?

April Fools

Three days ago, tomorrow, on the 31st of March,

Four girls got together and they were super parched.

Right then the clock struck midnight, april fools was now in sight.

Their minds began to wander about pranks to pull that night.

You see these four girls live outside what they all call “town”

With center and south doors unsurveillanced, something had to go down!

They got fish line, yarn and scissors to pull of this prank, 

but when they walked through town at one, their four hearts all sank.

Lights, computers and tvs were on, but how could this be?

They realized the best prank ever now had a little fee.

As they sat and waited for their victims to finally rest their heads,

these four lovely ladies put puzzles together and avoided all their beds.

Finally at three a.m. they traveled back around.

Everyone seemed to be asleep-they scattered across the ground.

With all of their materials in hand they zig-zagged to and fro,

and once the knots were sturdy they could finally go.

So to all who kept accusing and asking throughout the whole day,

we are the ones who did it-Sorry April Fools was yesterday!

I hope you all had a great april fools day!

This one will live in infamy. Just like the icy hot in 8th grade.