Good news: I survived the ridiculous week, just barely
That week was missionary week in the dorms. As an RA I got the opportunity to be a "zone-leader" of one of the missions (Idaho, Pocatello) and Kirk, my partner in crime, actually served his real mission there. It was a neat experience and I particularly enjoyed having Kirk as my companion, he being a very intelligent and insightful individual. We had an activity almost every night for missionary week and then on top of that I had two tests to take and a paper to write as well as classes to attend and a job to do among all sorts of other random things.
The paper that I had to write was for human development and was about developing social competence and for it we had to observe kids in the preschool or kindergarten. It was rather enjoyable. It was so neat to see the kids interact in their "natural setting". There was a child in the class with Down syndrome and it amazed me how the other children treated him. They were so kind and understanding of him. They worked very hard to include him in activities and did not react badly when he did things that were out of the social norm. It was truly a beautiful thing.
Team Taylor had it's last soccer game. We lost but fought a good fight (we played the whole game down one while the other team had four subs) and, most importantly, had lots of fun.
 |
| {us = definition of awesome} |
That Friday while I was at the TRC I got to see one of my friends from Spanish class last year!!! I was sitting in the room waiting for the next set of missionaries to come when my friend Keenan popped his head in. Talking to him was a weird mix of Spanish, Portuguese, and English but it was so good to see him :)
That night the girls on my floor and I went to Slab pizza. It was so yummy and they literally give you a entire slab of pizza.
 |
| {veggie pizza...yum} |
AND it was 11/11/11 so I'm pretty sure I made the biggest wish ever at:
 |
| {yes, it's sideways} [I'm not sure why, but it is] |
It was a busy week but Heavenly Father certainly blessed me that I was able to get everything done, even some sleep :P
Here's a scripture that I found one day that really helped me to push through:
'Peace I leave with you. my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'
-John 14:27
Last week we also had a ward temple trip, which was a really great opportunity to get to know some of the kids in my ward.
 |
| {what a fine looking crew ;)} |
That day I also randomly decided to make cookies (it happens a lot...don't judge :P) really yummy chocolate chip cookies, probably my favorite yet.
 |
| {oh yeah} |
While I was working that night a boy came and gave me a candy bar and a note from one of the coolest people alive: my friend Jill. The note was so sweet and while I was reading it I found myself being bombarded with m&ms. Jill was indeed the culprit. She stayed to chat for a while and it totally made my night. Everyone should have a friend as awesome as Jill.
On Sunday I had to give a talk in sacrament meeting which, of course, always terrifies me until I'm actually up there giving it. The topic they gave me was an interesting and rather obscure topic: Taking personal responsibility: Being a strong link between our ancestors and posterity. It was really neat to write about and I'm pretty sure I went way overtime while giving it. But talking about temples and temples work is so important that I just couldn't help myself :)
No work is more of a protection to this church than temple work and the genealogical research that powers it. No work requires a higher standard of righteousness.
Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people.
So come to the temple--come and claim your blessings. It is a sacred work.
-Boyd
K. Packer, The Holy Temple
Last week I got 3 whole missionary letters!!! talk about exciting. One each from Kade, Brandon, and Kade's companion. Explanation: I wrote to Kade's companion because Kade said that he doesn't often get letters so I decided to write him one and he happened to have written back. I just love getting missionary letters; they're always so uplifting and encouraging. And something that Kade asked in his last letter really got me thinking. Life has been fantastic and he asked me why it was that every day was so fantastic. When I first read his question I really wasn't sure. But I thought about it for a while and have an answer. The past 8 or 9 months have been the most difficult of my life and I've learned to depend on Heavenly Father as I never have before. At school my family isn't around and Kade is gone so He is all I have and I have discovered that He is more than enough. I have truly learned to wait on the Lord and He has truly blessed my life. And THAT is what makes life so fantastic.
This Thursday was our 3200 Third Thursday Thanksgiving dinner!!! I made some yummy baked mac and cheese for the occasion and spent a lovely evening with my sistahs :)
 |
| {I love us <3} |
On Sunday I had dinner with my lovely cousin Cathy then the two of us went to go see our cousin Richard sing in a choir. Monday night I made some cream cheese filled pumpkin muffins to use up stuff before the break and they were delicious :)
Then on Tuesday it was finally time for Thanksgiving break (after two papers and two tests of course :P)!
And the most epic thing of all, for the past couple of months I've been plotting to surprise my family by coming home for Thanksgiving and it worked!!! I flew out Tuesday evening and when I showed up on my doorstep this morning, boy, were they surprised!!! I just stood on my front porch at about 7:30am and rang the doorbell holding my little sign. My dad answered the door and at first he didn't recognize me, but then he started laughing. My mom was still asleep so I went upstairs and woke her up. She looked at me, looked at the clock, looked at me, and said 'what are you doing here?' and then she finally came to her senses and gave me a hug :)
 |
| {love my family <3} |
So, I'm home and I get to see my brother at the airport and be at his open house and hear him speak in sacrament meeting.
Life is good :)
No comments:
Post a Comment