I had the best day. My friends kidnapped me at midnight and took me to get a treat, went antique shopping with my mom (my favorite), went to dinner with my family, and lit off a three foot long sparkler. The best.
...and guess what guys...
ONLY 33 DAYS LEFT!
what.
33 days and I'm outta here!
I can't wait to spend my whole 19th year preachin' the good ol' gospel.
I went through the Logan temple on April 26th, 2014 at 5:30 pm.
It was a rainy day, but still so good.
When you go through the temple for the very first time they give you this little white paper and pin it to your shirt and it basically means "this is my first time, I don't know where I'm going, and I'm probably lost." Haha but no fear, that's why they also assign you this cute little old lady and she is like your own little tour guide and stays with you the whole time and helps ya out.
My little old lady was so cute. As soon as I met her I could tell she was one of those spunky, funny old ladies. AKA my favorite kind. I don't remember her name, but I remember that every time she would lean in close to tell me something she smelled like cinnamon, and that made me happy. :)
In the first few minutes I got there my mom had to leave and rent some temple clothing so I was just standing with this little lady, not saying much. Then she turned to me and said "you have the most beautiful skin!" so I said "Oh well thank you so much!" cause that was very nice of her to say. Then she just grabbed my arm and looked at me and said, "no, thank YOU." Ha! I guess she just appreciates good skin, it was so cute. :) me and my mom laughed about it for so long when I told her.
anyways.
Later I was sitting in a dressing room waiting for another young girl who was going through at the same time as me. Then my little guide just leaned down and gave me some wise words.
She said, "the sooner we realize that this life isn't about this life, the happier we will be."
Then she just put her hand on my cheek and gave me the warmest smile. Guys little old ladies are the best.
But how true is that advice?
The sooner that we realize that there is so much more to this life, the more full our lives will actually feel. The more purposeful they will be. The more rewarding they will be. The more beautiful they will seem.
The temple is amazing. No one can really understand just how much until they experience it for themselves. I'm so glad I got that opportunity.
guys, can i just say getting a mission call is a pretty crazy experience? talk about a whirlwind of emotions.
my roommates from utah state will probably attest to this- everyday i would just sit and repeat, "i wonder where i'm gonna go?? where do you think i'm gonna go? people always fit their mission, what mission do you think fits me?" etc, etc...
im not very patient... and i hate surprises.
i had a feeling that it would come that wednesday and that morning i sat in the lobby of our apartment building for at least an hour and a half waiting for the mail man to come. he never came and i had to go to class so i had my roommate sit and watch for him ha! i remember i was sitting in class that day and i was so beyond even trying to listen because i couldn't think about anything but opening that big white envelope. then my roommate text me and said, "ITS HERE!!" and my heart just about stopped beating. i hurried home as fast as i could and there it was sitting in mail box number 24. my mission call. ah i can't even tell you how weird it is to hold your mission call in your hands and know that inside it is the place you will serve the lord for 18 months of your life.
then i text some friends and family and made plans to open it that night. i drove all the way from logan to hooper with that envelope sitting beside me. then i got home and the real wait began.
my mom had everything decorated to perfection and it was adorable.
then it was finally time! we had my brother kade and his wife heather on skype because they live in virginia and everyone was there. with shaky hands and a shaky voice i opened it up and started to read.
"dear sister fowers: you are hearby called to serve as a missionary of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints. you are assigned to labor in the virginia richmond mission."
july 16th. english speaking.
when i first read those words all i could do was laugh to myself. my brother lives in virginia! i had been back to visit him twice and visited virginia in 7th grade on a trip to d.c.
what are the odds of that?
as it turns out my brother lives outside my mission, but only about 3 hours away from richmond. maybe i'll run into him sometime ;)
it wasn't the mission call i was expecting, to be honest. but it was the right one. i can't wait to live there for 18 months and teach the people there about the happiest news on the earth.
^^Kade and Heather freaking out cause... we're gonna be neighbors!
i'm so grateful i get to serve a mission. it has been a desire of my heart ever since i was little. i remember sitting on the bus next to my best friend in sixth grade and turning to her and saying, "are you gonna go on a mission?" she told me she didn't know, probably not though. then i just paused and said, "i think i am. i think it would be amazing. don't you?"
little did 11 year old me know, but i was right. isn't crazy how things work out? heavenly father knows what he is doing, kids. i'm so glad.
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