Gathering of Israel!

Just last night I had the missionaries in my home with some friends! I love hearing them teach about the restored gospel and how, through it, we can find greater strength, hope, and peace! It was great to see a young woman recognize God's place in her life and although she's had many trials, He has never abandoned her! God lives and I know His Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world!

--Don't worry, I got their permission before I posted this! God is GOOD!

A Desire to Share & to Blog!

Many months have passed since I last posted on my blog. To be honest, I was ready to give it up because of fear and not wanting to be out in the open for some. But those who live in fear, don't achieve much! I don't just want to share memories and experiences of my mission, I want to share the gospel and so a new standard I want to live by, "Would the prophet 'like' my post?"

What an incredible 18 months it has been to be thrust into the real world after the simple, dedicated life of a missionary. Something Sheri Dew said in Women's Conference just last weekend was, "It is much easier to be a disciple of Christ...than not to be." When I heard that I thought of struggles to defend my faith, live it, convert in it, sacrifice for it, share it, and wondered what she meant by "easier". Then this comparison came to my mind.... being a missionary can be hard, YES, but it's so much easier to live with rules, structure, and study than to work, pay bills, wonder, search, study, struggle, fail, repent, try again, and feel like you're still doing God's will. When I thought of different struggles I've had, I saw the fun, laughter, joy, and immense blessings I've had that are far more than the struggle! What Sheri Dew said is TRUE! I wouldn't trade any of it because I'd be lost otherwise!Knowing that....I want to be a better disciple of Christ. It's easier than not being one!

So here I am! I'm back to share, explore, search, ponder, and blog!

Here are a few things that have inspired me to get back into this, and I couldn't feel more blessed! Women's Conference was an intimate meeting of 15,000 women gathered together to be strengthened! I went with a #cherishedfriend and she is a joy to share and talk about the gospel with! We went to #sodalicious in Provo and their missionary donation box literally #warmedmyheart! I was able to participate in the Nauvoo Pageant last summer, and that experience changed my life and really made me feel like a pioneer! Let us answer the call of the Prophet and share the gospel, "till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (#standardoftruth) I want to flood the earth with my testimony that I know God lives and answers prayers!

If you know me (or don't!) and want to know how I ended up becoming a Latter-day Saint, I'd be happy to tell you!

Memory of the Week: El Presidente

I've decided to try and be better about updating my blog since it's been a while. The time has come to run through some mission memories and I'm excited.... just embrace it. :)

This is President and Sister Miller at my departing interview. This was a hard day, but a GOOD day. It started out with Sister Wilson and I singing in two different wards, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". The last ward we sang in, Sis. Teresa Craig from another ward came and after we finished she said, "I'll go warm up the car, since your fan fare is going to come." I laughed and said, "Don't worry, no one knows that I'm leaving in this ward, it'll be good." Then our pianist, Marshall McDonald, the EQP, and last speaker opened with, "What an honor it is to have these sisters with us. For those of you who don't know this is Sister Piton's last Sunday in the mission field *audible gasp from congregation* and....wow we couldn't have planned better sisters to be together to sing! They must have an "in" with their mission president." YEAH!

Teresa took us to my departing interview, therefore we were at her house just before we left and I realized that I had a B.O. situation in just one arm. I got it worked out and my interview went quite well. Oh how I absolutely LOVE President and Sister Miller. Was I sent to the Salt Lake South mission? Absolutely. But I know I was sent to Bruce E. Miller, as well.

The entertaining kicker to this story is that...the blazer was my companion, Sister Wilson's. I had the B.O sitch, but I just hung it back up in her closet.... :) I found out (after I left the mission) that she was singing for the entire mission on New Years Eve and was wearing said blazer. "I was on the stand and smelled some B.O., and I freaked thinking it was me. I put my arm up, and slyly went to smell, and about threw up! I looked up to the heavens and thought, 'Darn you, Sister Piton!!! You didn't wash this from your interview! SICK!'" Oh...entertaining.

I am BACK.

I am back from the great Salt Lake! New blogs and stories to come...

Well, it's Official!

I'm done with school! I turned in my last final last night and will officially graduate on Saturday! Lookin' forward to it.

Oh Tucson

Graduation? 16 days away
MTC? 27 days away

My life seems like it's going by SO FAST recently. I haven't even mailed out graduation invitations. A week is plenty of time for people right? :) There are so many things I need to be doing that I'm not. Let me make a list....
1.) Memorize Scriptures
2.) Memorize music for my juries next week....(that's kinda important)
3.) Study for the GRE
4.) Sign up for the GRE? Uh YEAH.
5.) Stop watching T.V.

I like how OVER a year ago I got a sheet of paper from my Bishop that had missionary preparatory steps and one of which was "Watch little to no T.V." Back then I was like, "Done!" And I hardly watched anything. In the last 5 months? I've watched more T.V. than the last three years combined. Good, good.

On the plus side I feel VERY blessed recently! I've just had so many wonderful experiences and some amazing missionary opportunities! I don't think it hit me until writing those days above that I'm leaving....like soon! :D I'm understanding a little more why people keep calling me out of the blue! I love it!

I think my life passing fast and me being so lazy (let's be real I hang with my peeps, watch SVU, and do the bare minimum in school to get an A) is me a little afraid to let go. I KNOW that my future is only going to get better, but my life is going to change from a steady upward climb to Mount Everest. That's definitely exciting, but a little part of me feels like leaving what I have "behind" is bitter sweet. Don't get me wrong...I know I'll be back in no time, but I'll never be the same, and neither will what I "left".

Before I leave on my mission I want to do a few things in good ol' Tucson!
1.) Run a 5k (Not offish, but just my tuchus running)
2.) Go on a hike at sun rise!
3.) Take a few new pictures with my Fam and the Romriell's to make a scripture-box-protector-thing.

I love my Savior and I love my family!

Learned and Reaffirmed

Breanna, Megan and I drove to Utah this past weekend for General Conference. That trip helped me learn a few things and be reminded of others.

1. Breanna's car can go 45 miles with the gas light on.

2. When I'm sick, I am completely worthless as a driver after 1am.

3. Mobile Canyon, Arizona is the smallest town ever.

3.5. Holes is still a fantastic movie. I love Shia!

4. No matter how many years have passed, I can still sing Britney's first two albums.

5. "Boys are always slightly attracted to their friends. I mean think about it, how many of them are like, 'okay, I'm gonna go hang out with my ugly friends now'"

6. Whitney Houston never gets old. Too bad she's a crack head.

7. It snows in Utah...in APRIL!

8. No trip is complete without driving 30 minutes in the wrong direction.

8.5. B: "Who's that singer/actress that died in the plane crash? Is it Ashanti?

It starts with an A."

Me: "Yeah, I think it is! That's right I forgot all about that."

B: "Are you sure?"

Me:" Yeah, it has to be. Nothing new of hers has come out since she died."

ONE HOUR LATER

Megan: "Lindsay texted back...it was Alia"

B: "That's RIGHT! Not Ashanti"

Me: "Yeah, but poor Ashanti!!! She needs to do something with her life, I thought she was dead!!!"

7. One day I hope my husband loves me as much as Elder Scott loved(s) his wife!

8. Elder Holland is SUCH a Power House!

9. Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet of God!!!!

10. Jesus IS the Christ!!!

I love driving up to Utah for General Conference. It's a little hard to sit in a car for 25 hours in 72 hours, but it's always SOOOOO FUN! I love it.