General Conference With Rilee!

WAY back in October, Rilee and I scored highly coveted tickets to General Conference (the only two our ward received!). We were excited, and I was even more excited since I had heard about the age change for missionaries. I saw the trip up to Salt Lake for the session as the first thing I would do to celebrate my decision to serve a full time mission for the church.

Rilee and I left about 30 minutes before the Sunday morning session let out and made it to the Conference Center just after they opened the doors for the afternoon session. Seeing as the seats were first come first serve (in each section) we scored some GREAT seats.

 

(I left the bar in the picture so you could see it exactly how I saw it.)

 

Rilee and I had a wonderful time listening to the prophets and apostles speak and teach us. I felt truly blessed to be able to sit in a room with such amazing people and feel the powerful spirit that was in the room. It was especially amazing because Rilee had never been to the Conference Center before.

 

 

 

As we were leaving we stopped for a few pictures on the balcony with the temple in the background, and Rilee suddenly perked up when she heard someone speaking Japanese over a microphone. Looking over the balcony, we saw a group of sister missionaries speaking all different languages offering to teach people.

 

 

It was an amazing day and I spent it with one of my best friends. I hope that someday each of my family members will be able to go to the Conference Center and listen to the prophet lead and teach us. I am so happy to have the gospel in my life and am so happy to be getting ready to serve a full time mission.

President Monson's Announcement

On October 6th, 2012 I was at a debate tournament. It was the first one of the season and I was enjoying judging and getting to know my debators (I am the assistant debate coach for Westlake High School). Everything was going great and I had a little break around 10 am to sit in the coach/judges room and chat with my dad (who was kind enough to be one of my judges). After a few minutes I walked over to the printer and as I was walking back to the table I had been sitting at, my dad stood up, came over, and shoved a phone into my face. I read the tiny screen, showing a text message that said that the age requirement for missionaries had changed. It said that men can leave at age 18 and women at age 19.

I burst into tears of pure joy.

President Monson's announcement made me happier than I could ever imagine I would be. I have spent countless hours thinking about the possibility of my mission. I had wanted to go SO BADLY when Rilee left for Japan, but because I am only 19, I struggled with the thought of waiting around for two more years. The age change is so amazingly perfect and I cannot wait to start the process of filling out my papers and getting my mission call.

 

 

 

Baby Kaido!!!

This is my new baby hedgehog named Kaido! She is a sweetheart! Listening to her chewing and scurrying around in her box is so fun. I love her!

IT'S STUCK IN MY HEAD!!

This song has been stuck in my head for the past four days! Everytime someone says "We are-" I start singing. It has become a real problem. Fortunately it is a fun song, and I love the bear dude!

In other news, I am now the Assistant Debate Coach for West Lake Thunder. (Ah I can hear the booing and hissing from my Lehi friends now. )  The only reason I am doing this is because I need money and Coach Mansfield offered me the job. It should be a very fun year for me.

Also, last night one of my "sisters" came home from her mission to heal a bit. She has been in Japan for almost 2 months, but because of her vertigo, a bike crash (not serious just bruising everywhere), and depression (who wouldn't be depressed with vertigo and bruises, causing you to not be able to do the Lord's work to the best of your abilities??)  she came home for a while. We love being able to see her and hear her stories, but I am praying that she will heal enough to go back out to Japan and spread the gospel. I love  having her around but I know she wants to go back out. We'll see what happens. <3  

Aladdin at Tuacahn!

Last night, my mom and I went to see Aladdin at Tuacahn.

While we were there, my mom spotted her cousin John and we talked to him for a few minutes. Then we went in and found out we were sitting straight across the aisle from him! He even brought us some ice cream. It was very nice.

There were new songs, new characters, but the same wonderful story that everyone loves! It was such an amazing performance, with live camels, chickens, peacocks, dogs, and horses. It was so worth the trip!

One Last Hurrah in AZ

Today was my last full day in Arizona with my Grandma.

So we decided to go to the movies and see the new Bourne movie.

It was a really good, suspenceful movie!

After the movie, we went to Red Lobster for dinner.

I got the Honey BBQ Glazed Shrimp Skewers. It was seriously delicious.

I had an amazing time here, and I loved every minute I got to spend with my Grandma!

Thanks to my parents for sending me down here!

Blowing Bubbles in Arizona

Today in Arizona I played in the pool with two adorable little kids from Hawaii. They loved watching me juggle and blow bubbles in the water. It was so funny to watch them laugh and blow bubbles too. We swam and played for soooo long that I left the pool exhausted! It's definately time to sleep.. Goodnight world.