And We're Off!

Summer has arrived and I can't explain the delight of absolute freedom. There is so much I want to do with my time that I can't help but sleep in order to calm myself. I'm going to try and be better about the whole sleeping in thing now that some things are starting to create a routine for me. I've got the greatest vacation lined up: New York City for a couple of days, loads of Degrassi, voice lessons, work for a youth theatre, some amazing craft projects, and maybe a road trip to Georgia. 

But above all I'm looking forward to gaining a stronger testimony of family history. I know it's important, believe me. A part of me feels like that's the reason I was baptized: to make sure my family had someone to do their work for them. The other part of me feels like I was baptized to go on a mission. Regardless of what Heavenly Father has in store for me, I'm going to make the most of the time I have on this earth. I know that my role in the Plan of Salvation is needed, and I want to do my best to be prepared to go through the Temple and bring his spiritual children to this life. 

I spent the weekend in Mesa with Kelsie (and her preeetty phenomenal fam) and on Sunday I went to Gospel Doctrine rather than Gospel Principles. It was a good lesson and at one point they asked a question that I KNEW the answer to, but naturally I was too scared to be wrong, so I told the person next to me what I thought it was and then someone eventually answered, and alas...I was dead on. At first I was mad that I didn't answer when I should have, but then I realized...this is it. I'm starting to just know without having to wonder. I'm just so baffled that something this "out there" (as some I know call it) and something so scriptorally (I made it up...get over it) based makes so much sense to me. I avoided things like this my entire life...and I'm glad Heavenly Father sent my best friend when he did. I was ready. 

Don't get me wrong..I'll be lovin' me some GP for the next 6 months, but I'm glad that I'm realizing I can stop second guessing myself all the time. 

And just to add to my list of events..I can cross of "Verizon" from my to-do list. They were supposed to send me my rebate MONTHS ago, and tonight I got so sick of these papers on my printer that when I pulled out my file thing to put it all away, a box fell down and there was my camera dock...which charges and downloads photos! (It's been lost for two months) And while organizing I found my social security card as well (thought I lost it two years ago), my United Mileage info, my secondary loan info (which I needed to find out what it was so I can make a payment on it), and an envelope from Verizon which contained a $50 visa card in it. Who'da thunk?

Free at Last!

I have officially been up for 21 hours. My last finals were today and I'm SOOOO EXCITED to be done with my technically Junior, yet still stickin' through my "sophomore" year of college. My advice to incoming frosh: You better know right now what you want to do for the rest of your life because changing majors is a brat and you'll never get out on time. But I had a lil bit of Home Teaching, and then I watched my best friend get hooded for her masters. Her kids were drivin' me nuts, but I love 'em! Dinner with the "fam" and a chat with the bestie...leading in to Angels and Demons-the midnight showing. Great movie...but the book is better. Isn't it always? All in all--a good day, but I'm pooped. 

I'm out.

"Maybe I can pass him...in neutral."

So Colton and I headed to Mt. Lemmon (already our second attempt) this morning for a nice afternoon of what we thought would be walking around Summer Haven ("the name of the town on Mt. Lemmon"). Little did we know the Lord had something else, entirely, planned for the day. We're about 17 or 18 miles up that mountain and I feel the car jerking. At first I thought Colton was doing it on purpose...you know, pushing on the gas pedal over and over...and over again. But then I looked over at him to be like, "haha, ok not funny, I'm gonna be naush," and I see him staring down with a look of confusion. I realized, it was not on purpose. We pull over to just make sure that it's not serious, and then we keep going. Then while driving up hill the car quickly begins to slow down. This was no joking matter. We pull over again, and for some reason...decide to give it another try and keep going. Then it's putterin' real bad, and at that point we don't wanna risk it and turn around. To stop that jolting feeling and sound, Colton puts the car in neutral and we're cruisin' down the hill. All is pretty well and dandy until I hear, "Oh my car just died." I'm all, "Uhhh what? How can you tell" And he says, "Because it's off...we're just cruising in neutral. And I have no power steering or breaks." 14 Cruising miles later we reach the bottom of the hill and make a turn to a friend's house. At this point though, the car is reignited and we keep driving, to see if it'll make it home. It did a lot more than that. 

Luckily, these little pullouts are quite often...so we were able to asses the problem.

This is us, assessing the problem. As you can see...I'm a big help.

And here we are...cruising down the hill in neutral. 

But as I said...once we got the bottom, our adventure did not stop there. Oh no. We decided to go to the post office so Colton could mail some grad app stuff. (I have no idea actually...I wasn't paying attention.) But the woman behind the counter, who had no intention of sharing an ounce of joy that day, made us get a different form and then come back in line. And the man she's helping in the photo was actually very smelly. 

And naturally while out running errands, we must pick up a mouse from the pet store so Colton can feed it to his snake. I have a little bit of a hard time with that....first of all: I feel bad when rocks are kicked out of their gravel area because I feel like they've formed bonds/friendships with the rocks they were around and then they're alone. And second: When the man opened the cage they all piled on top of each other, I'm sure, in hopes that as a combined force could over-power the human. 

Anyway...Colton on any errand is a man on a mission. And in a stinky pet store, he's a little bit like a fat kid in a bakery. Not sure what to do with himself...and wants to look at it all. This next photo is always the vision I have of Colton whilst in public...10 paces ahead and moving quickly. 

And lastly...you gotta end the day with a little DQ. You can't go wrong.

Stake Conference

Well it's Sunday and the last lil sesh of Stake Conference ended. Being a new convy people always ask, "Oh is this your first ____?" Usually that answer is yes: Baptism, Stake Conference, Ward Conference, Missionary discussion, Institute Dance, etc. Elder Bruce C. Hafen was the general authority (does that need to be capitalized? General Authority...there) presiding over our Conference...I just gotta say: I loved it. The talks given were really sweet and genuine and some of them super humorous. I really can appreciate a little humor in a talk. Because I'm new I'm still in the "I really want to pay attention" stage, but it's nice to see others around me perk up with a little Mormon humor. 

I found the joy of doodling while speakers were talking, but always something pertaining to what they were talkin about. Like the Temple or Missionary Badges or a tree when talking about family geneology. Anyway, I wanted to comment on The Spirits presence in the room. At one point I felt like I could see a smile on everyone's face....all for different reasons, but still. Some people were smiling because they loved their spouse sitting next to them so much they couldn't help but feel sheer joy. And others were smiling because a woman in the choir looked like Professor Snape. Regardless all children of God were sitting in that room and The Spirit was really strong for me. I got a lil teary eyed just realizing what I have a hold of in my life now, and the endless possibilities for my family now. No one will be left behind. 

Gotta run to eat with the Missionaries. It's nice to have a boyfriend who is needed as a Priesthood holder for dinners. We're a package deal sometimes and I get a free meal. Holla. 

Peace Out-