life in stereo

Checking it twice

2011-12-28T21:21:00.000-08:00

All of this talk of Christmas and Santa, it helped me decide to document a few of my own lists...ones I've been making in my head for months.

Things I could live without, but would rather not.
grapefruit spoons
IMDb
iPhone
mission scriptures
Netflix/HuLu
seasonal drinking straws
Visiting Teaching
chocolate/mint ANYTHING.
NPR
LUSH products [especially the karma komba shampoo bar]
competitive cooking shows
Hoodies
'Baron Von Baddie and the Ice Ray Incident'

Things that didn't exist before my mission that exist now that intimidate me.

Justin Bieber

hashtags (what is that?)

"The Dougie"

Grown-up callings

QR codes

The iPad

Lady GaGa

Pressure to be married

3D Televisions

The telephones, well they work in both ways

2011-10-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

I live in Pennsylvania now,

it is SNOWING! lots.

Trying to pick a new phone case...

My cute niece practices writing her name as my laptop computer and I search for the ideal case.
I borrowed some of her materials to pontificate. I found my current mantra:

Sometimes, life is hard. But not today.

.

Just let the disc play

2011-09-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

The last two weeks have been filled with lots of efforts to delve into the last 18 months, politically, musically, televisionally, cinematically, and friendshiply.

I have learned much, loved more.

First things first, it's time for a new playlist.
[remember when I used to have a new one every month?]

DISCLAIMER:::no need to judge for the lack of new tracks. I'm still exploring, rediscovering myself musically [currently accepting donations consisting of artist/track recommendations] I did, however, find myself going back to many of these within hours of my re-entry.

So, here we go:
1. Big Sur by Mason Jennings | a song to give you hope. my favorite line: future is as future does.
2. This is a Song by The Magic Numbers | I don't like to be told sad things either.
3. Commodore by Joshua James | so glad to be back, to hear.
4. The Mess I Made by Parachute | don't you wish he was singing to you?
5. Brutal Hearts by Bedouin Soundclash | a prevalent theme in this our world.
6. She Moves in Her Own Way by The Kooks | have you ever felt a better beat?
7. Good Man by Josh Ritter | honesty. has always reminded me of Fanny's Dream. And, my dream.
8. In our Talons by The Bowerbirds | I haven't found my passion yet, but I love listening to others who have found theirs.
9. Green and Gray by Nickelcreek | I get it. So much, I get it.
10. Knife by Grizzly Bear | don't you wish you could document your heartache like this?
11. Kicking the Heart Out by Rogue Wave | If music is my lover, you are just a tease.
12. Woods by Bon Iver | once upon a time, this album changed me.
13. Imitosis by Andrew Bird | introduced to me by the beloved SVL, a track that will always be in my top 40.

...have a listen!

Future is as future does. Mine is coming, and I can't resist sprinting toward it.

optimistically,
chaela

A dazzling place I never knew

2011-09-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

Well, hello! [preparing for re-entry]

I'm back. I can't believe it.

I will write more reflectively another day. It sufficeth me to say that I loved my mission. It was so hard. It was so incredible. I am grateful. I am also ready, now, to move on.

So, here I go. Next phase.

What did I do my first hours as a civillian?

1. step off the plane, put one foot in front of the other.
2. exit my gate, enter my past.
3. feel joy as I am welcomed by an army of airport greeters, a balloon, and my favorite smoothie from a local smoothie shop.
4. head straight to the stake center to be released.
5. arrive in my childhood home. beautiful feeling.
6. slip back into my holey Vans.
7. open my [undeserved] birthday gifts.
8. enjoy my parents.
9. enjoy technology.
10. videochat with the family in Penn.
10. go with the Jewels to pick up an LC's 5DH&R (part of my requested first meal). Can you believe she's never been?
11. enjoy a delicious meal with my family, including Bob. [Like I said, family].
12. walk the dog with the LarBear.
13. watch Jeopardy with my Mom.
14. work to restore my itunes.
15. call Sydney in Botswana.
16. clean out my e-mail account, while listening to Joshua James.
17. Hit the [incredibly tall] sack.

A beautiful, simple day.

It's the end.

2011-04-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

It's too stressful to worry about blogging on my mission. And when I say stressful I mean I never have enough time. So bye bye until early September! Don't worry, I'm still living life, in stereo.

Peace and Love,
Sister McDonald

PS if you're curious about what's going on with me (don't forget, I'm pretty boring) write my mom at jewels.mcdonald@gmail.com and she'll gladly forward you my weekly e-mail!

Peace!

Nothing to show

2011-03-28T19:23:00.001-07:00

Life in Stereo....Mission in Stereo.....Stereos are oldschool.

An 8 year old called me old school this week! What the...?!

So, Brittany's baptism went really well!

It was so funny, we were in charge of filling the font, and promised Brittany on numerous occasions that we would make sure the water was WARM. Well, the font was filling slowly so we turned it up and the poor water heater just couldn't keep up with the amount of water flowing.

Wanting to keep our promise, we went to the kitchen and starting filling big pots with water and boiling them. We made trip after trip from the kitchen to the other side of the stake center with pot after pot of boiling water, to compensate for the icy stuff coming from the faucet. It was hard work, but we sufficiently off-put the frigidity of that font and created a warm environment for her re-birth.

Pretty crazy! Pretty funny. Pretty fun!

I'm doing well!

L.U.C.E.

Peace and Love
Sister Mcdonald

Sing for Isreal

2011-03-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

Hi!

Sometimes I don't write on my blog. Good thing it's MY blog.

I'm doing super well! I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!

We had a Sister's conference this week at the mission home. It was AMAZING! I love Sister's conference! At the beginning of my mission I was weary of them, weary of other Sister Missionaries and having to sit there hearing them talk about feelings while I could be out working and finding people to teach. But Sister Clark's Sisters' Conferences are the BOMB DOT COM.

We got massages this time! professional massages! Granted, it was only 10 minutes each, and by the time she got to me it was only 5. But still. It was an amazing 5 minutes. We also got to go to the temple and share our testimonies.

We also had a counselor from LDS family services come and talk to us about the stresses of missionary work. We have had a LOT of emphasis and training lately about depression and anxiety. Apparently it's something a lot of missionaries struggle with. I'm so grateful that I don't! I mean, yes I take anti-depressants, and I'm grateful for them. When I don't take them I am even more tired and sluggish, and I can't focus as well. But I don't get the mopes or anxious about things, and I'm beginning to see how prevalent that is in mission life. There's a great article about it in this month's Ensign.

Brother Meers, the counselor who came, said something that is so true. He said "missionary life is the best kept secret of the church."

He's right! It is so hard! A lot of people, mostly members, see missionaries as kind of floating from teaching appointment to teaching appointment, without a care in the world. That is far from the truth. First off, because of the white handbook and the nature of our work and manner of preparation, many of the coping skills we have are no longer an option (watching TV, napping, long shower, alone time, music, books...). There is rejection, isolation, disappointment, sorrow, the list goes on. I don't know how, but as I grew up, mostly in my 20's, I feel that I've developed an emotional and spiritual sovereignty that sustains my spirit and helps me help others. Do you see what I'm saying?

Of course I get grumpy sometimes, but I found out how to fix my grumpiness--Hershey's chocolate and some quiet time. Just a little.

We have this awesome investigator, Fransisco. He's 18 and from Mexico. He speaks little to no English. So it's hard to communicate with him. My Spanish is pretty good, don't get me wrong, but there are still lots of little things I don't know how to say. We are teaching him English. But here's something I realized with Fransisco. We're always saying stuff like "when can we have our next appointment?" and "why didn't you come to church?" and "sorry, we don't have much time today."

Granted, he's an 18 year old boy who doesn't have much to say anyway, but I realized that that's pretty much all he hears from us. And when we come for lessons our interpreters are usually on a time crunch so we get straight to the lesson. Can you imagine being 18, in a country where you don't understand anyone, and by yourself? I decided to ask him about his family last night (via text)(did you know missionaries could text? It's an amazing tool for missionary work) and he has 12 siblings, and he only talks to his one brother in California. He needs a mom! He needs love! I've been treating him like a friend, like a punk kid who has a testimony (he read the book of mormon in a month!) and knows what he's supposed to do and just doesn't want to do it sometimes. But he's just a little boy! I forgot about LUCE.

It's so easy to forget about LUCE.

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

On the First of March, on the Holiday 3/7/11

2011-03-10T17:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Casimir Pulaski day!

We had a Zone-wide Breakfast today. No one understood the importance of this day. It was unsettling.

One elder, Elder Szymanski, cared, but that's just because he's Polish and so is Casimir Pulaski. One other Elder, Elder Smith, had actually heard of Sufjan Stevens. But then he said his favorite band is Yellowcard so I just gave up. But then I dared Elder Smith to put two pancakes and a sausage in his mouth all at once and he did.

I've had a great week. I really love Champaign. If I ever go to Grad school, I might want to go to U of I just to live here. This town has an awesome feel and TONS of culture. You can only experience so much of it as a missionary. You know?

Not much time, I get to go shopping today!!!!

Peace and Love
Sister Mcdonald

I thought I saw you breathing.

2011-03-10T17:29:00.000-08:00

I haven't had much time to 'blog' this transfer.

Whatever the case, I must share with you a tender mercy of the Lord that dawned on me as I moved to Champaign.

As I was riding in a van full of missionaries from familiar St. Louis to our new homes in Champaign, Illinois, I was struck by a thought. I will be in Illinois for Casimir Pulaski Day. The one March I will spend on my mission, I happen to be in Illinois. I will legitimately celebrate Casimir Pulaski day. Further proof that Heavenly Father is aware of me and intimately involved in my happiness. Further proof that Jesus Christ is alive and well and very aware of what is happening today; with each of us.

The tune danced through my head as I watched the rolling hills fade to pure flatlands. I glanced up and read a sign. I was, in fact, passing Decatur, Illinois. My heart swollen, my spirit lifted, I said a prayer of thanks for such a personal sign of The Savior's love. All things go.

For those of you who don't know, you should. Sufjan Stevens wrote an album called "Come on, Feel the Illinioise."

I am experiencing that album this transfer. This place is so deep, so rich, I feel like I could write an album of my own.

Next time I write it will be Casimir Pulaski day. Blessings!

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

The last 20 miles into town. 2/14/11

2011-03-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

Hello from Champaign!

I like it here!

It is flat.

I know some people in the ward here! I went to school with them at BYU!

I miss Arnold.

I am happy, nonetheless.

Trying to build faith, elevate hope, and find a family to teach.

...prayers?

peace and love,
Sister Mcdonald

I'm filled with new scripture

2011-02-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

You know you've been in an area too long when you've memorized the 16-digit code needed to log into the library's computer system!

Yes, I'm being transferred.

Leaving Arnold is sad. Bishop Kimbrough had me come up and bear my testimony at the end of Sacrament meeting. It was hard. I've lived here for a long time!!! 7.5 months! I know these people really well! Some of us cried. We all hugged and this next few days is full of quick visits for pictures and final goodbyes. I'll be okay...It's definitely time for a change! But it is definitely BITTER-sweet.

Don't worry! I'm not depressed or anything. I've been emotionally preparing myself to leave Arnold for 6 weeks now. I just want you to know that this is a very special place. It has been imprinted on my heart. It has changed me.

And yet here I go. Into the unknown. I know what sustains me. I know what I am called to do. It is not easy. Actually, it's really really hard. But it's amazing. It's worth it. I do it because I love it. I do it because I love Him.

In Doctrine and Covenants 4, it says "And you have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work."

I don't have a desire to go out of my comfort zone. I don't have a desire to get up at 6:30 every morning. I don't have a desire to go without rest. But I do have the desire to serve God. And so I am called to do whatever is required as a result of that. And I don't mind one bit! Obedience makes me happy!

Be good, simplify, and hear Him.

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

From Chaela's mom, Jewels: She forgot to tell y'all that she is going to Champaign, Illinois (I hope it's okay that I tell you this!) Thanks for following Chae!

immitosis 01/31/11

2011-02-07T19:03:00.000-08:00

Can you believe I didn't write on my Blog last week?

We found 4 new investigators this week! One of them is totally golden. Once she gets her own spiritual witness, she will run us over to get into the font, I know it.

I love the gospel! It changes lives!

I love applying myself and my talents to being a missionary. Sometimes traditionalists don't like it. Sometimes they see me as unconventional. If the Lord wanted Robot-missionaries he would do it! But he doesn't! The proof is in Mormon.org.

Check me out! http://mormon.org/me/1WZ2-eng/Chaela

...then make one of your own!

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

It's more than a job that I've got on my mind. 01/18/11

2011-02-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

love my mission.

Teaching the gospel is amazing.

Faith is the power. Obedience is the price. Love is the motive. The Spirit is the key. And Christ is the reason.

We had a rougher week, appointments falling through, investigators dropping us, et cetera.

But the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent.

I've been having spinach smoothies for breakfast for the last 3 weeks. I love them. Don't know how I lived without them. Don't you love it when you find things you didn't know you couldn't live without? [smoothies...the gospel...IMDB...]

Not much time, be good, do good, become something.

SIMPLIFY.

[it's the little things]
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Life is a Song 01/10/11

2011-02-07T19:01:00.001-08:00

I am so happy, doing so well.

We are trying new and different finding ideas. We had a free hot chocolate stand this week!

We also took brooms and mops and windex and stuff door to door and asked people if we could clean their floors and windows.

We also signed up to have our own display in the entry-way to the public library to advertise Mormon.org! We get it for an entire month!

We also are planning a family movie night on January 27th at 6:30 pm. We'll be showing "Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration," serving free popcorn [donated by a local movie theatre] and drinks [donated by McDonald's]! Everyone is to invite a friend or a family they know, and bring pillows and blankets to watch the movie on!

What do you think?

It's just, there are different ways to find other than tracting. Tracting is inefficient [and extremely cold lately!] Plus, it's not our job to find it's our job to teach so we are trying to enable the members to be better finders by providing them ways to introduce their friends to the gospel in less-threatening settings.

Exciting times here in Arnold. I never want to leave.

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Wrapped up in American Dreams.

2011-01-06T17:15:00.001-08:00

Shalom and Happy New Year!!

Things for me are going really well. I am so blessed, so grateful.

I hit my 9-month mark this past week, weird!

Guess what? I have TWO companions now! And I absolutely love them both. It is awesome.

I am now in a Threesome...commonly called a 'tri-panionship' in missionary lingo. I knew I would be getting Sister Henke, Sister Yawn was more of a surprise. Her companion went home sick so she's here with us this transfer! I have no idea why President/The Lord put me as the senior companion over these two amazing missionaries. I got so complacent with sister McCready. It's cool to be working, really working, again. I have so much to re-learn.

Sister Yawn is so so so cool. We would most definitely be friends with her in the outside world. So funny, so chill. She loves Yoga and every morning she instructs us. It's like our own little personal Yoga class!

Sister Henke is neat, she dresses SO well!!! Like, super cute you have no idea. She is beautiful and FOCUSED. It's nice, she's a good balance to Sister Yawn and I.

No time left, but lots to say!

Maybe next week. I will have my 7 goals finalized by then to share. (I only have six right now! Any suggestions?)

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

And a Happy New Year.

2011-01-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

'm ready for Christmas 2011. Is it here yet?

I've never been goal oriented. The mission helps you be moreso, especially numbers-wise. But I want to really grow and strive this next year. goals will help me with that. I will prayerfully make 7 goals for 2011. I will share these with you next week. Will you do the same?

Merry Christmas, and thank you all for your letters, notes and prayers. I had a wonderful Christmas, despite the distance.

The best part [aside from the phone call home, of course] happened on Thursday, the 23rd. My companion and I went with Sister Fehr and 10 other missionaries up to the city and sang Christmas carols on a busy, bustling sidewalk outside of Macy's Department Store. As we sang and handed out pass-along cards and gift-wrapped Book of Mormons, my heart again felt the reality of our announcement of the Saviour's birth. Inside the cover of each Book of Mormon, a testimony was written. A plea was made to come forth, break free, be healed and become a witness of His miracles and His mercy. Cool, cool stuff.

I am getting a new companion tomorrow. Sister McCready is leaving Arnold. I was here before her so we were all pretty sure I would leave, but alas the Lord has other plans and I will see to it that I carry them out to the best of my ability. I have grown to love Sister McCready and wish her well. I am excied to receive Sister Henke, and will welcome her with warmth and zeal for this work. Here we go!

It's time to let go of everything we used to know; ideas that strengthen who we've been. It's time to cut ties that won't ever free our minds from the chains and shackles that they're in. Truth is absolute. The earth is round. God is real. You are important. Act like it. Tell others.

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Sweetly singing o'er the plain.

2010-12-25T21:41:00.000-08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!

Here are some things I've learned (or re-learned) this week:

-SIMPLIFY.
-be more specific in your prayers.
-The "7 cards of one color" phase in 'Phase 10' makes me anxious. I don't like it.
-Timing is important.
-SIMPLIFY.
-We lived with God before we came here.
-Christmas music is awesome.
-Simplify.

Things here are going great. I'm so lucky, so happy.

You are so lucky. don't be ungrateful. I've seen a lot of ingratitude this week, it pains my heart. It is unbecoming and uneducated.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Tell people about it.

Merry Christmas!

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Light up the night

2010-12-08T21:20:00.001-08:00

Hi! No time today!

know that I am well and happy and contemplative.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Merry Christmas. Do you know what ‘Christ’ means? It means “anointed one.” Jesus was anointed or consecrated, for a divine mission, which He fulfilled in its illustrious entirety. But to be anointed or consecrated denotes that there was first a reason. A purpose. A plan. I know, with my entire being, that there is a plan and it is based on love. Each intricate layer of this whole ‘life’ thing is based in and on Love. Can you see it? Can you feel it? …Would you like to?

I can help. He can help.

Peace and Love,

Sister Mcdonald

Don't need an excuse...

2010-12-08T21:19:00.001-08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I think, if the Holidays stress you out, you're doing it wrong.

Slow down, watch, help.

Listen, observe, discern.

I am doing very well! I am filled with memories of Holiday seasons past, hope for Holiday seasons future, and content with the Holiday season before me. Joy to the World, the Lord has come! Spreading that joy is my principle task this 18 months. What a challenge, what a reward.

Have you ever linked Luke 2 with Alma 7? I am digging it.

People here go crazy with Christmas lights. And I've got to say, I don't hate it! One thing I don't care for, those things that inflate into Christmas shapes, are also rampant. But if that's all I've got to worry about, than I'm going pretty well. But seriously, Santa on a plane? Like he would even do that.

Sometimes I use words without fully knowing what they mean. Like 'rampant.'

I love words. My dictionary is well worn, well marked. I think I want to teach English.

More college?

Guess so.

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

It takes courage to wait.

2010-11-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What am I grateful for?
-the gospel
-my family
-the Arnold ward
-my black name tag
-my friends
-cookies
-boots
-the temple
-Public Libraries
-Chik-Fil-A
-the Scriptures!
-my education
-music
-faith
-the future
-the past
-right now
-the earth
-the internet
-my mission president and his wife.

And many other things.

We are going to start a chain of thanks tonight. The classic construction paper, staple kind. How long can you make yours?

This week was great. Next week will be even better.

My understanding of Faith is growing.

Elder Bednar is becoming one of my favorites; "There is power in the precision of scriptural language." I got to meet him yesterday at a missionary conference here.

Arnold is getting a Wendy's!

What more could a girl want?

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Misinformed about the time...

2010-11-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

Many good things are happening!

I guess you want me to tell you about it.

I'll tell you one.

We got a new investigator! And he is AWESOME. When I told our ward mission leader about it he said "you think every investigator is awesome." Is that a problem?

Maybe. Sometimes I love these people so much that I have to catch myself before I try to shove a testimony down their throats. Free will. what an overwhelmingly binding responsibility.

At any rate, another good thing! I'm not being transferred! I will stay in Arnold for the Holiday season. What a blessing (more for me than for them I'm sure). I love this ward, I love these people. And I get to keep trying, work harder, and help build God's kingdom in the townships of Arnold, Imperial, Barnhart and Fenton. Small places, big possibilities.

Sister McCready is not being transferred either! What a blessing. We get one more transfer together! We are going to get a Christmas tree today.

I never expected to fall in love with the Book of Mormon like I have. What a divine gift. What a marvelous work. What a wonder.

The Book of Mormon is the crux.

Would you like to believe that you can live with your family forever? Would you like to believe that those who have died without a knowledge of God are not lost? Would you like to believe that God has not forgotten about you? That His love transcends time? That miracles still happen? Would you like to believe that you are actually a child of God, that you matter, that there is help?

You can. The Book of Mormon is the crux. When you come to know that this book is truly the word of God written by the hands of His holy prophets, you can know all of those things and so much more. You can let go of worry, let go of stress. Stress and worry are evidence that you don't trust God. And what is trust but complete Faith?

Let us pontificate further on another occasion. In the meantime, don't grow weary of men and things. Continue steadfastly, with a perfect brightness of hope. Have love for God and all mankind. Give love to God and all mankind. 'Tis the season, you know.

Peace and Love from far away,
Sister Mcdonald

I'm wide awake

2010-11-11T20:31:00.000-08:00

Hi!

So, a few things.

1. I was wrong about sisters' conference. It was awesome. Sister Clark planned it perfectly. We had a ton of fun and were uplifted. And I forgot that there's a few of the sisters I like. I went well. Have I ever mentioned how much I love the Clarks? I love the Clarks.

2. I got to attend the temple this week! It is a house of God. A place of love and beauty.

3. Have you ever had that feeling like there was someone waiting for you to find them? Someone who needed what you had? We are trying feverishly to be in the right place at the right time to change that person's life. Prayers?

4. Transfers next week! Will I stay? Will I go? It's a mystery (and that's why so is mankind).

5. I decided to read the bible all the way through. I've read the New Testament twice on my mission but now it's time to bite the bullet. My heart and I soared through Genesis and Exodous. What nourishment! Leviticus was a labor of love. Numbers is proving to add to my soul. I'll keep you posted.

There is a lot of paperwork involved in being a missionary. I never expected that. There are a lot of numbers. But behind each number there is a person. A real person. With a real life and real questions about their very existence. I can't wait to add #3 to that list of numbers on my paperwork.

Pray. He is there. Speak. He is listening.
As a child of God I've learned this truth.

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

And looking down on creation

2010-11-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

happy November!

Have I told you how beautiful Missouri is in the Fall?
I have a strong belief that all jigsaw puzzles that are pictures of beautiful landscapes were taken in Missouri. It just makes sense.

Things here are going well. We had an awesome training by some brethren from the MTC all day Friday. It was exactly what I needed to re-lift my spirits and my fire for missionary work.
Obedience is again my quest.

We have a 'Sister's Conference' this week...a 2 day event at the mission home for all of the sister missionaries in the mission. I am not looking forward to that too much, as I would rather be in my own area working. We are missionaries, regardless of our gender, and I don't feel I need more attention or coddling than the Elders get. Plus, sister missionaries are weird. And I have to be around them for a long time this week.

Don't get me wrong, I love all of God's children. I just like seeing some of them less than others.
(I'm imperfect).

Yesterday I hit my 7-month mark. Weird. It feels like it should be longer. It also feels like it just begun.

Have you done any good in the world today?
Remember, your life is not about you. The more you make your life not about you, the happier you will feel. This is a promise. From God. in the scriptures. Look it up. Then DO IT.

Also, check out: paralyzedwithjoy.blogspot.com
it is the blog of a faithful, beautiful sister in the Arnold ward. I want to be like her when I grow up. You can see her shining, Savior-like countenance a mile away. So good, so good.

I love you! Be still to know that He is God. And he loves you. And you are important.

Write me?
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

And I feel fine.

2010-10-31T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hi!
No time today!
Happy Halloween! Enjoy it, give out lots of candy, work hard on your pumpkins, take pictures, and put some pass-along cards in those candy-totes!

Did you look me up on Mormon.org? Did you make your own profile? Do it, I dare you.

Things here are great. We are having our Zone Halloween party today.

When I imagine what my life will be like in 10 years, it is epic. Everything I could ever want. But, I need to make the correct connections and see that I am in charge of creating that for myself. It isn't just going to happen.

And so we go, constantly creating our future, unaware of the power that lies in each decision, each moment. Like sand in the hourglass.

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Werewolf Barmitvah, Spooky Scary!

2010-10-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

I love tracting this time of year because I love all of the Halloween decorations! I've never had the appreciation for Halloween that I've been developing this year. Exciting things.
I get to be in charge of a Zone P-Day Halloween party this year. It has been fun to plan! It will be next Monday and I can't wait. Also, I've pre-designed my pumpkin and I think it will be pleasing to the eye and the funny bone.

Laura got the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday! It was awesome.

One new investigator last week and hopefully many more to come this week.
We met a cool family, the Dews, that taught us a really fun game called "it came to Pass." It's funny and fun....the definition of my life. Also they remind me of what my parents' marriage might have been like at the beginning. They have a cool future, because my family has a cool past. Does this make sense?

Sister McCready is awesome. We get along really well and she is good for me. I love her.
We went to the Magic House this week, which is a museum just for children in the city. It was really cool. We went with this really cool family that have the cutest little girl. There are so many cute kids in this ward! I love kids!!!

I went on Mormon.org and created my own profile! It's really cool, you should go check it out and make one! St. Louis is one of the 9 test-areas for the church's new advertising campaign. I love it. We have these really awesome pass-along cards and are getting more questions on doorsteps about all of the commercials. Sweetness.

We are late to go hang out with the Jarmans, another way rad family with cool kids! We are going to hang and craft with Sister Jarman for the few hours we have left of P-day.
Keep working hard and being good. Aim for the temple. And if you've already been, do everything you can to go this week. Heavenly Father wants to help you in your life. Just help Him and His other children out a bit and then LISTEN.

Peace and Love,
Sister McDonald

Waiting Ever Patiently

2010-10-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry I didn't write yesterday, our e-mailing schedule is controlled by the Jefferson County Public Library System. Thank you Federal Holidays! Don't get me wrong, I love Christopher Columbus, 1492 and all that, I'm just saying, how do we really know he discovered America on a Monday?

As always, my time today is limited. I will just tell you about my AMAZING weekend.
Friday night. A formerly less-active man in our ward went through the temple for the first time. Immediately following, he was sealed to his wife and his baby for time and all eternity.
I have never attended a sealing before Friday night. My life is forever changed.

That is what this is all about.

I exhort you, with all of the feelings of a tender sister missionary[1 Nephi 8:37], if you have not been to the temple, get there. It is worth every sacrifice, every effort, every tear-laden repentant prayer. I promise.

Sunday night. Laura's baptism. It was incredible. The spirit was there. My fellow missionaries were there in support. My fellow member-missionaries were there in support. Laura was born again through the Priesthood authority of God. This is big stuff, people.

These things are real. They are big. Don't get caught up into your empirically limited definitions.
Think of Columbus' contemporaries. They looked at stuff and decided that, from what they could see, the earth was flat. But that never made the earth flat. Their theory didn't change the truth.
Don't look at stuff and decide, from what you can see, that you know best. You don't. Your theories can not change what is true.

I have to go now. It's time to be a missionary. And I love it!

Be good my little ones!
Peace and Love,
Sister McDonald

Something You'd be Good At

2010-10-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Shalom, Hello, What's up.

Things here in Arnold are great! Sister McCready and I found out that neither of us are being transferred so we'll both be here for at least another 6 weeks. What a relief, I'm getting sick of moving!

We are trying now to increase our teaching pool. Finding, finding, finding. Always be teaching and listening with those you know who are not members. Listen for concerns, for questions, for quiet pleas. They are there. When a member refers a friend, the chance of that person's baptism and retention sky-rocket. And baptism and retention aren't for numbers. They are for salvation and exaltation in the kingdom of God.

Our most progressing investigator, Laura, is being baptized this coming Sunday at 6 pm! Exciting times! This will be my second baptism wherein I have taught the person from the beginning. I love seeing the change and the trust that develop when people are learning to rely on God. We have had the most difficult time setting this date! But Sunday will most definitely work out and we can not wait. The ward is really doing a great job fellow-shipping Laura and helping her feel welcome. There is not greater happiness than this, I feel.

"If your bible is falling apart, chances are your life isn't." One of our investigators shared that with us this week. There are many sayings that I find to be trite or unnecessary, but this is one that I have been constantly thinking about. If the living room carpet where you have family prayer is wearing out, chances are your family isn't. If your Family Home Evening chart is getting brittle, chances are your family isn't.

I've been offering more and more to teach people how to hold a Family Home Evening. Do you know how essential this program is? I see it. Daily. I go into the homes of so many members. I know what works and what doesn't. I can sense the insincerity or the earnest seekers. I can feel what is happening in that home, even when we're not there. It is abundantly clear that the family that prays together, counsels together, and plays together, stays together. Forever.
Time is running out! Today and in my mission! Let's work hard and remember Acts 5:29.

Be good my dear friends.
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

All of the romance of an Irish curse

2010-10-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

I didn't get this posted until tonight; it is from Sept. 27th. I don't make these titles up, I promise. Of course you all know Chaela, so why am I trying to explain myself?! :) She's the best! jewels

Hello from the Arnold branch of the Jefferson County Library System.

We had a great week! The apartment is now furnished, which is awesome. We have a baptism coming up, which is awesome. We get to go downtown with Brandy Kraemer today, which is awesome. And I'm getting a new niece today, which is awesome! Congratulations Chad and Erin! Wish I could be there. But I'm here.

Arnold Missouri is a lovely little place.

We had a very productive week. It feels good to be a missionary. Sister McCready and I had a [feline] 3rd companion while tracting. That was funny. We spent our Sunday evening taking down wallpaper at the Fenton elders' investigator's house. She's German, so obviously that was a trip.

The older I get, the more I realize...it's the little things.

Not much time today, just try not to be awe-struck by the many frustrations of life. Be more easily mobilized for eternal causes and less easily immobilized by the disappointments of the day. Make fewer demands of life. Be less easily disappointed. Be less concerned with entitlements. Be more concerned with assignments.
[Neal A. Maxwell; Meekly Drenched in Destiny]

My mission is 1/3 over. How far over is your mission? Have you made a difference? Keep becoming, seek joy, and realize that WWJD is more than just a bracelet. It's a way of life.
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

giving the peace sign.

2010-09-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

I love September. I love fall leaves and crisp air and school supplies. One day I want to send someone a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.

[I also love September 20th because it is my niece Marissa's birthday! Happy Birthday little one! I miss you!]

This week was great! a high school football game, an incredible stake conference [where our investigator sang in the choir!] And uplifting zone conference, crazy thunder storms, and lots of preaching. We also moved into an apartment this week! It all feels very primitive, as all we have is our beds, one lamp and disposable eating utensils. It's fun! What other time in my life will I do something like this? We're getting stuff from the mission and ward members this week, but in the meantime it's fun to take the lamp from room to room, eat meals [cereal] criss-cross-applesauce, and try to febreze out the smell of cigarette smoke. Adventures! In case you can't tell, I'm loving it. (!!)

My goal this week is more exact obedience.

I often have thoughts of "when I get home, I will..." And then I think of the ways I will implement living the gospel, the ways I will parent, how I will spend my time, etc. My suggestion to you return missionaries is to think about all of those inward commitments you made. Have you gone to the temple as often as you promised yourself? Have you been bold in sharing the gospel as often as you could? Have you implemented the gospel study techniques you planned?
In the premortal world, I committed to come here. I committed to come to the earth. To experience hard times, sadness, pain, sorrow. I committed to do it because I knew it was worth it.

We stress commitments so much as missionaries. Our investigators can't progress or grow unless they follow through with their commitments, and they can't follow through with their commitments unless we first invite them to commit to do something.

Heavenly Father presented a beautiful plan, and invited you and me to commit to it. We did. We can't progress grow unless we keep that commitment. And maybe we didn't realize how hard it would be or maybe now that we're here we'd rather give up. But I've seen how keeping commitments works. It changes people. I want my image displaced completely from my countenance so that those who look to me just see Him.

We can do hard things. Remember who you are, and what you've committed to do.
Life is short, little ones. Keep becoming. Find joy.
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Don't turn around

2010-09-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

Have I told you how beautiful Missouri is? The leaves are changing and I've even caught a few in the act of falling.

In a few weeks we are going to try a new finding strategy I thought of. We are going to go to this park that many people drive past on the way into a huge subdivision with a sign that says something to the effect of: "Have the Mormon Missionaries rake your leaves." We will be standing next to the sign holding rakes. It's so crazy it just might work. All I know is that if what you're doing isn't working you need to do something different.

Sometimes people in public libraries have their headphones turned up way too loud.

In other news, we scheduled a baptism date with an investigator this week! What an exciting thing. I will not attempt to describe the elation I feel. It would be vain and ineffective. Just know that someone I love so completely has made the best decision of her life.

In my correspondence home I never talk about our investigators, really. This is kind of on purpose. You know how we don't use God's name too much because He is so special and important that we would never want it to become vain or disrespected? You know how the things we learn in the temple aren't secret, just sacred? You know how sometimes you don't want to share special things with just anyone for fear of their misunderstanding or [even unintentional] disrespect?
...Yeah. That applies to me and the people I teach. It's not like my family and friends are ravenous, repugnant swine in front of whom I would never cast my precious pearls. It's just...these people are so important, so precious to me that my articulation in describing them would need to be flawless and then your understanding perfect. Does this make sense?

Well, little ones, continue becoming. Never be stagnant. Never Plateau. There are earthquakes in diverse places...we don't have time to plateau. Remember that what you do is a large part of who you are. Remember that the temple is important.

Be good, find happiness, repeat.
Peace and Love
Sister Mcdonald

Just like the Moon

2010-09-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

They have crazy storms here. Thunder, lightning, it's a regular Garth Brooks song! (less heart break and twang). It is so cool. It almost makes the humidity worth it. What am I saying?!
We've had less humidity this week. Fall is starting. I can tell I'm getting older because I talk about the weather more.

I don't have much time today. Know that things are good. Know that you are important. Know that you are powerful. If you want to develop these attributes, fake it 'till you make it. You don't know you can do stuff until you do it. Then the realization hits and you can feel God's approval. It's a really beautiful thing.

I love what my best friend Sydney said to me in her e-mail today:
"While I am a very big advocate for culture, I do know that in orderto be an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter DaySaints you have to defy your culture"
Wherever you live, however you identify yourself, make Christ your culture.

The Cardinals game was good. We lost. We did not sing the national anthem. I'm okay with that. After the game the Kraemer's took us to Ted Drewe's. (Look it up). Pretty good stuff.

I love being a missionary! But you can be one too, black tag or not.
FELLOWSHIPPING is important. Do it. Over do it. To the Max.
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

And Wiser, too!

2010-08-30T22:35:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone for all of the birthday greetings!

I had a great 23rd birthday here in St. Louis. Want to hear about it? [rhetorical]

Well Friday was my actual birthday but the festivities started Wednesday.
My first gift was from President Clark. I got a new companion! [Sister Breanne McCready from Fresno, CA]. She's cool.

That evening we had dinner at the Watters [see earlier posts regarding how cool this family is]. When we arrived there were balloons on the table! For me! Karma made a delicious dinner containing the ingredient I requested, avocados. Then I got to open my card from them and my birthday package from home. The kids helped me open it and we had a lot of fun with all of the cool stuff inside. Then, it turns out my Mom had conspired with Karma to get me a HUGE cake from a local bakery! Karma loaded it up with 23 candles, they sang to me, and I got to blow them out! Then we had cake and ice cream. I felt so special.

Friday began with happy birthday phone calls from a bunch of cool people in our ward, LeRae and Matti, some investigators, a few random elders, et cetera. It took a weird turn when we spent the morning at a funeral, where I played the piano and said the benediction. Then Sister McCready and I went out to lunch at Chili's and I got a free dessert but better than the ones where they just give it to you because it's your birthday, it was one of the good ones. You see, I made friends with the guy up front when we got there. Turns out he was the manager. No big deal [huge deal]. They didn't want to sing to me but finally I got them to. Then weekly planning and some stop bys where we handed out slices of birthday cake, and then we went to the Coxes for dinner where I made a make-shift Hawaiian Chicken Pasta Salad [my favorite birthday dinner]. We ate some more cake.

THEN, we went to Leigh's house. Leigh is this cute little girl in our ward [this ward takes the cake for cute little girls]. Leigh is, in a word, magical. She is so funny and grown up but little. You'd have to meet her. Anyway, Leigh and I have the same exact birthday! Her mom only does parties every other year, so this year her 'party' was to have Sister Mcdonald over for cake. She had been waiting for us all day and by the time we got there (7:15) she was about to burst with excitement. We lit up her 5 candles and sang to her. She blew them out. They lit up her 5 candles again and sang to me! She helped me blow them out. Then we ate delicious strawberry cake. Then we got to open presents. Leigh got a car for her doll house. She was so excited she fell off her chair!! We all laughed a lot. We felt a little bad but we mostly just laughed. I got this really cool thing Leigh's mom made. it's like a candy bouquet with a base of bottles of diet coke. but it's ADORABLE. I took a picture. You need to see it. She is so crafty. I love her.

Finally, we went to the Kraemers where Ben was having a sleep-over with a bunch of his friends. We made all of these16-17 year old buys stop playing super smash brothers so they could sing to me and then I gave them what was left of my cake (don't worry mom, I ate plenty of it!)
I was exhausted! But it was really a great birthday. I'm not going to be eating any cake for a really long time.
Well, my time is almost up.
The mission part of my mission is going well. We are always struggling to add to our teaching pool, but we have several investigators who are progressing toward baptism. You have no idea how much joy fills your heart as you help people receive the restored gospel.
Also, this Saturday is Mormon Night at Busch Stadium! I love how that sounds...Mormon Night at Busch Stadium. President and Sister Clark planned it! We get to go the the Cardinals game! And apparently it's an important one...[I have no idea]. We are playing the Cincinatti Reds. Also, we get to meet the players before the game! So, yes, this week I will meet Alex Pujohls. (Is that how you even spell it? Is that even his name?) There is some talk of us missionaries singing the national anthem too but I don't know how true that is.

I will feel guilty at the ball game when I should be working. But since the mission president planned it, I guess it's cool! We'll just have to work extra hard this week leading up to Saturday.
My thought this week comes from 1 Peter 4:15. Mind your own business, people. Make sure you and yours are okay and right with God and then help others, always withholding judgment. Don't ask too many questions. Just serve and love.

I love the Lord, I love being His servant. It's hard, but I know who my Father is and I know that
I can do hard things.
Be good!
Peace and Love,
Sister McDonald

No One to Blame

2010-08-23T19:20:00.001-07:00

Have I ever told you there is a substantial difference in the amount of road kill in Missouri versus....the rest of the world? It's a little alarming. But mostly funny.

We moved on Saturday. No more Watters family, which saddens me. I learned a lot about how I want to run my house one day. I miss those kids!!! We are now living with an older single woman in the ward. She is sweet and so excited to have us. People are good.

I know missionaries are supposed to have a good attitude all of the time and not complain, but isn't that kind of what blogs are for? Talking about your feelings? Also, pictures of babies.
Anyway, I'm just going to say it, I detest moving. So much. I have moved more than once per transfer since the start of my mission and I am done!! I am so glad I am staying put this transfer.

Yes, we got transfer calls and I am staying in Arnold. Which was to be expected since Sister Anderson is going home on Wednesday. My new companion's name is Sister McCready And I know nothing about her. She was part of the Peoria, Illinois mission before we absorbed two of their zones in July. I am "follow-up-training" Sister McCready. Basically this means I am her second companion after her trainer and I'm pretty sure I just need to be a good example. I don't know why they are having me do anything training-ish because I am still extremely new. But whatevs, the Lord provides.

It's really weird to send a companion home. There are a lot of things involved with getting ready to go home. I think I'm trunkier than her. Maybe it's because my birthday is coming up this week and I am thinking more about my family. Maybe it's because I don't think my mission defines me or my life to this point. I see my mission as refining, not defining. Whatever the case, we haven't been the most obedient or hard-working this week. And I can honestly say that my obedience level is directly connected to my mood and my attitude.
Sometimes I think about becoming a vegetarian.

Also, Sister Watters turned me onto this awesomely delicious food called Quinoa. Have you ever had it? You should try it. She gave me some in a baggie to bring with me to Sister Fehr's. I love it! Try it?

I am so happy to be staying in Arnold. Yes, I miss Rockwood immensely, but the people here are in my heart for good too. One day, ask me about Jeff and Marge and Brandi and Ben and Sabrina and Will and Karma and the Ericksons and the Paniaguas and the Bluemels and the Gognas and the Santiagos and the Jarmans and how they've changed my life.
If I hadn't come on my mission I never would have met these people. I don't even want to think about that.

Umm Cassi Elton! I got your letter and the stationery idea is the coolest thing since someone decided to slice bread. I will write back soon!! Remember your 22 twinner birthday??!

There is a man here who is old and looks tired but kindly and I can see that he is seraching for a job online. He shouldn't have to work. He has probably worked hard his whole life [remember, people are good]. What is happening to our country?!

I got myself a pedicure for my birthday. Also I got one for Sister Anderson because she's going home and she's never had one. When I was getting my pedicure I watched a little bit of Dr. Oz. (See what I said about disobedience?!) (I rationalized that it was better than pretty much any other TV show that could have been on when we went in). Turns out you shouldn't put elmer's glue on your face. I could have told you that.

People are good, Life is important, it's the little things.
Peace and Love!
Sister Mcdonald

Give a Little Bit

2010-08-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the St. Louis City Museum. You should google it, this place was AWESOME. I loved it! Not really a museum at all...imagine a giant playground for grown ups made out of industrial scrap materials. I went down a 10-story slide/former garbage chute!
...then we had to walk all over downtown St. Louis trying to find our ride home's office. This was less fun. We walked so much. You have no idea. My new purple suede flats were not my best choice today. Ouch! But cute.

This week was pretty great. We were stood up quite a bit, which was sad, but there were also a lot of former investigators whom we were able to meet and start teaching again. People are good.
I've been fighting a nasty cold this week. Whoever thought I would have a cold in the middle of a muggy Missouri summer! I think I've also caught some sort of upset tummy bug. We've been taking it a little easier the last few days. It makes you feel like a bad missionary, but it's also like you have to heal so that you can become a good missionary again!

Do you know that you are important? There are people who need you! Man up, get out there and DO SOMETHING.

If what you're doing isn't doing then it's time to do something different.

I have to go! Be good, find happiness, become substantial.
Peace and Love,
Sister McDonald

Short on money but long on time...

2010-08-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, not much time today.

Set 2 baptism dates this week! And that's not cool because of numbers. That's cool because 2 people who are incredibly important to me have decided to make the best decision of their lives. Let me be clear. Being baptized isn't the best decision of someone's life. Deciding to become a disciple of Christ is the best decison of someone's life. Learning for ones self that God's love spans time and that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Miracles are real. It's not just nice to believe. This is real life.

I am a witness to much destruction and unhappiness. I am also a witness to the infinite and transcendent power of hope and determination and to the cleansing, energizing power of the Holy Ghost and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Good things.

There's this cool family, the Kraemers. I've talked about them before (Sister Kraemer is the professional beader we hang out with every P-day)(also an icredible cook)(also a wicked cool family all around). They didn't like how beat up my shoes were. I explained to them that I've tried all of the expensive, fancy types of shoes that Sister missionaries wear but they are just uncomfortable. I explained that my feet were made for cheap shoes and I love buying my shoes at places like Target. (Target is my favorite clothing store, for real). I explained that it's not that I lack the money for new shoes, I am just very picky.

We were working in a city called Fenton on Saturday. The Kraemers called and had us meet them nearby. Then they proceeded to take us into PayLess, they made me pick out two new pair of shoes, they bought them for me and then made me throw away my nasty ratty ones with holes in them and rubber soles peeling away.
Bless their hearts. I'm hip again. How cool is that?

We've had some dramatic moments this week. Lots of teaching this week. Good things are happening. I really really like my mission.

Also, Mom I know I promised you I would never do this again, but I had to teach a lesson this week and get the attention of my teach-ees. I blew fire. It was a hit. It turns out, you can be yourself and be a missionary. You have no idea how many times I've used sidewalk chalk, fire, cinnamon rolls, and other things to teach memorable lessons. I dig it.

The Preach my Gospel Members program is AWESOME!!!!! Several of the families are really working at it and it shows. It is so cool to go into these homes of people who are just like you and me, trying to keep going day to day, and hear them and their children speaking our missionary language. It is awesome.

There is this one family, the Paniaguas (bread and water for you Spanish fiends out there). They have the coolest parents and kids. Just a neat family. Anyway, we pulled up, said a prayer, and as we got out of the car and were walking toward the house the youngest boy (age 6) runs outside, jumping up and down, shouting "I know 'em all! I know 'em all! I know 'em all!"
[this is the same kid who was teaching us a card game a few weeks ago, and when he got the dreaded Ace of spades rolled around on the floor sighing "Ay ay ay!"] [I love the Paniaguas!!].

Do you 'know 'em all' from last week?

Well, here are this weeks:
Lesson 2:
Pre-earth Life: God's Purpose and Plan for UsThe CreationAgency and the Fall of Adam and EveOur Life on EarthThe AtonementThe Spirit WorldThe Resurrection, Judgment, and ImmortalityKingdoms of Glory

...can you do it? I know you can. This one's easier. Next week's is even easier!!

Okay I must go I am running late!

Be good, see good, hear good, do good.

Peace and Love,

Sister McDonald

So Let's Start Giving...

2010-08-02T20:37:00.000-07:00

So I have a question for Lionel Richie. Are we the world? Or are we the children? I just don't see how I can be both. I mean, I could try, but I'm pretty busy.

First things first. I LOST the Amp Challenge. I don't want to talk about it.

Would you like a new FHE idea? Check the Ensign! We were at a Family Home Evening this week where we taught about Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. Then the activity [from said Ensign] was so supremely simple and quite epic. Sister Anderson and Grandma held two ends of a broom handle [iron rod], kids and mom held on tight, and dad [adversary(no hate)] tried one by one to peel them off. He finally succeeded 10 minutes later, but not after having mom in the air with fingers still wrapped around whilst children attacked dad from all angles. I took pictures and fell to my knees laughing. So good.

We are starting a new program put in place by our Stake President. It's called "Preach my Gospel Members."

In the Missouri St. Louis Mission we are Preach my Gospel missionaries. We study and execute the plans, ideas and principles found in that manual to the best of our abilities.
Did you know there are 13 chapters in PMG? and only 1 of them contains the lessons we teach investigators. The rest is full of stuff that is useful in every facet of life.
The 'Preach my Gospel Members" program is implemented at the ward level by encouraging family home evenings, Teachings of Our Times lessons, and auxiliary opening exercises to be focused in Preach my Gospel.

As missionaries, we visit at least 7 active families a week for four weeks. During those visits we teach them the principles contained in each succeeding lesson and prepare them to teach us the next week. We also invite them to commit the principles in each lesson to memory.
This is something I did in the MTC that has helped me immensely as a missionary.
...Can you do it?

These are the 8 principles found in lesson 1:
God is our Loving Heavenly FatherThe Gospel Blesses FamiliesHeavenly Father Reveals His Gospel in Every DispensationThe Savior's Earthly MinistryThe Great ApostasyThe Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Through Joseph SmithThe Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus ChristPray to Know the Truth through the Holy Ghost.

If you commit them to memory you are allowed to come find the missionaries after church on Sunday and pick from the bucket-o-fun!!! [full of healthy-ish treats and little toys]
It's an awesome program!!!

I challenge you to try and memorize these. Especially my family [Stephensons/Smiths/Dubois' included].

There are so many cute little kids here!!!! And a four year old who can read better than me! I'm not joking, we put stuff in front of her she's never seen before. AMAZING.

We live with members here. I'm not sure I've mentioned that yet. Their names are the Watters and they are really cool. They have 3 little kids, a 5 year old, a 2 year old and an 8-month old. These kids are seriously cute and seriously good.

I love how Sister Watters runs her home. First off, She's from Bend, so I liked her already. But seeing how much she loves her family, how she melds the necessary and mundane with the creative and fun, and how much she can get done in a day inspires me and makes me more and more excited to be a mom and makes me feel able to one day, have it all [per Liz Lemon]. Just this morning I came upstairs to eat breakfast and the kids were already dressed, sitting at the table doing crafts. And they didn't have to make anything in particular, they just had a bunch of cool stuff they were just...creating with. That is so my style. I dug it.

3 separate [but equal] AWESOME investigators, a temple trip, and lots of service later, I stand before you ready to close this blog.
end.

Be cool, be good, repeat.
Peace and Love,
Sister McDonald

Express yourself

2010-07-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

Hi!
What a cool week! (not temperature wise, ugh). I am beginning to love this interesting little place called Arnold.

1. While visiting a less active member, we have become friends with his nephews, 12-year old Andrew and 9-year old Norman. It became known that Andrew likes Amp, which is a popular energy drink for today's youngsters. I absolutely detest the idea of energy drinks. I've made this known to Andrew and Norman. But then, I decided to use this to my advantage. We gave them a chapter to read in the scriptures with the promise of a quiz and a prize on our next visit.

Wednesday I showed up with an ice-cold Amp in hand, and Sister Anderson with quiz questions in mind. We decided to make it a game where we all compete (Andrew, Norman and I), with the winner receiving the beverage. I'm going to be honest, we were worried during the first 4 questions because they were beating me! But, alas, I won and proceeded to grab the drink from the middle of the table, run outside, open it and pour it out all over the grass.

...Have you ever been attacked by two little energy drink-crazed boys? I have. There was a little blood (not mine) but we're all okay now.
Whatever it takes to get the children into the scriptures. Next week's Amp challenge: 1 Nephi 4.

2. sitting with two awesome new investigators on Sunday, I cringed at these enthused words from the speaker: "Make no mistake, Satan. Hates. You. He HATES YOUR GUTS." True? I guess. Appropriate? Not at all.

3. Today was the best P-day EVER! We went to a member's house who is SUCH a talented beader and we beaded with her! For like, 4 hours! And we probably won't have time to get groceries for this week but that's okay because it was really fun, super relaxing, and I can't wait to show you the things I am making!! They actually look pretty good!
Spellcheck says 'beader' is not a word. I don't care. If I always did what spellcheck told me to do, my name would be chalet.

Next time the missionaries bring a new investigator to church, smother them with love. Be interested. Be over the top. Because once you do that, it might finally be enough to make someone comfortable at church for their first time. I promise. Fellowshipping is more than a handshake and a name exchange.

I'm in no way saying the people here are not good fellowshippers, I'm just asking a general favor for all of the missionaries out there who either don't get it or are too scared to say it.
Be good my little ones.

peace and love,
Sister Mcdonald
p.s. I love my mission!- Show quoted text -

Once in a while.

2010-07-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

One time I was very concerned/sad about something and my friend/District Leader Elder Christensen told me to imagine a squirrel dancing. It worked. It still does. I miss him.
Why do I miss him? Because I got stinking transferred! so out of the blue.
I am now in Arnold, Missouri. It is only about 30 minutes away from Rockwood but it is a world away from Rockwood.

My new companion's name is Sister Anderson. This is her last transfer and then she goes home. Sister Anderson is very sweet. Since this is Sister Anderson's last transfer, some would say I am 'killing' her in missionary lingo. I will never say that because I refuse to use those terms (being 'born,' referring to a trainer as a parent, etc). This is something I dislike about missionary culture. Being a missionary shouldn't have a culture. Christ should be a missionary's culture. Everything else is a distraction. (Not to mention just lame).

I left Rockwood on Wednesday morning, but I was able to travel back to attend LeRae's baptism on Saturday. I've never been happier than that singular moment. I was behind the door, waiting with the towel that would dry her brand new, perfected self. As she was immersed into that [living] water, every molecule of my body felt tingly and euphoric. I think I was floating! I miss her so much.

Being transferred was a surprise, but I am slowly recovering from the shock. I love the people here as well, although it will take a while to get to know all of them. We have several promising investigators and found 4 new ones this week! There is only one ward in Arnold, which will make some things a little easier, but will also feel a little lonely!

I receive so much help from the Lord every day. I believe in Christ, so come what may! And sometimes, just as Elissa Urban told me, you have to take it hour by hour. But you know what? It works! It works every time. Somehow things always come together and while I have experienced great sorrow I have also experienced great joy. I love Adam and Eve! They got it! They understood the point of life. I am starting to, too. Could it be that I am growing up?

Miracles happen.
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

The TV told her so

2010-07-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

What a week.
Do you know how precious life is? I don't yet. I am young, I am learning. I'm not sure I will ever fully know this. God's comprehension can not be attained in this imperfectly mortal experience.
This was a hard week for me.

There is a man I truly love, Mike. He is in his early 60s. His 19 year old son died this week.
And while I am blessed beyond measure to know exactly where Billy is and that this is not the end, I am sad.

I am sad for Billy's father, who also knows where he is but would rather he is still here. I feel his pain in my heart. I am sad for Billy's friends and family who were wracked with the torment of uncertainty at that emotional service.

And yet, there is hope.

We read in 1 John chapter 4 that God is Love. Which means that, no matter what, there is always hope.

If life is so hard you can't stand it, don't turn to anything but God for escape. Drugs, alcohol, these will never be an answer. Temporary escapes are tantalizing but will terrorize. They are fleeting and fake. They are ungodly and unforgiving.

We are lucky to be distracted from this sadness with the planning of LeRae's baptism. It will take place on Saturday. I will be singing the special musical number on my ukulele. Blessings!

Life can feel suffocating and stale. And yet, LeRae's life has changed. She feels and even looks fresh. Crisp. Cool. Clean. And ready to conquer. We must never plateau, we must always be growing. A struggle for me. I become comfortable too easily.

Louis Peterson, the letter is actually addressed, stamped and in the mail. Forgiveness?

Chrissy, you will be the mother that all children in this troubled world need. I am so happy for you, but more for that little one. What a blessed spirit to have a family such as yours.

Venita, I love you. Thank you for your prayers, I can feel them. And Alex is home soon! Latarian Milton is also a source of strength for me here. Tell the fam hi!

I have to go! I also had a good week. But remember the sanctity of life. Remember you are lucky. Remember you are loved. Remember you are important.
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

line upon line

2010-07-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

Hi!
Imagine somebody left a really hot shower on in a small bathroom with no fan. Imagine that really hot shower stayed on in that small bathroom with no fan for seven years and then you walked into it. Now, imagine tracting in that.
Welcome to Missouri.

Haha! I jest. But really. It's hot here.

Ok, I know I say this every time but I really have no time today. We are leaving in 5 minutes to go have lunch at a member's house with one of our investigators. For our lesson we are going to act out the parable of the Good Samaritan. I made cute nametags this morning for everyone to wear so everyone has a part in our little skit. It will be very fun.

The Fourth of July was....uneventful really. We went to a barbecue with a lot of people who were all weary of the Mormon missionaries. But we made some friends and potential investigators. Then we got all set up to watch the fireworks from this really cool hill they have on their property but we had to leave before the fireworks even started to get home on time. Sad day, right? But I am learning more and more that your mood and your success as a missionary are directly connected to your obedience. Also, even though I sprayed with bug spray, I apparently missed my feet. I got over 40 mosquito/chigger bites on my feet alone. I woke myself that night scratching to death! Luckily Sister Thurber was already awake (I hope I never suffer from insomnia) and we played Nertz until I was distracted from the itching enough to go back to bed. She is a good person. I love my companion a lot.

The move went fine. We are officially in our new apartment. And even though I miss the Cummins, it is really nice to have our own place.

I will meet our new mission president on Thursday. Can't wait!
Alma 26:12.

I love you. I pray for you.
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Hot in here...

2010-06-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

Hi! I have zero time because we are going to a science museum in the city today.

Highlights:

Last night we saw something called "Our Story Goes On," a production put on by the core cast of the Nauvoo Pageant. It was really great! They are all so talented. We took a recent convert and an investigator and they both loved it. Afterward we got to meet a lot of the cast, which was fun and cool. I know one of the girls from BYU! I didn't recognize here but she recognized me, and then I remembered her. It was fun to catch up. Being LDS makes our world much smaller. I remember when our family was selected to be in the Nauvoo pageant. But then we had to decide between moving to Oregon or being in the pageant and we obviously moved to Oregon. I was thinking last night about what would have happened if we had chosen the pageant. I thought of the people I would have met, the connections I would have made, the spiritual buoy it could have been for our family. But then I thought of everything that has happened to me since and I wouldn't change a moment.

People are everything.

I love the members here. Have I said that enough? I love the Thatchers and the Manumaleunas and the Severs and the Kraus' and.....It goes on and on.

We do service at this place called Gambrill Gardens. It's a really really nice retirement center. We have a 'crew' there we hang out with every week and we do stuff for them. Actually we are supposed to be doing stuff for a less-active lady that works there but we just get all that done really fast so we can go to the C building and chill with our posse. They are all my best friends. And they are all over 77. You can't live in Gambrill Gardens until you're 62. I think that's discrimination. I might start a petition. Seriously, that is the coolest living situation for....anybody! They all have their own apartments, there's so much to do all of the time (Tai Chi twice a week even!) and everyone's friends and they hang out and make fun of each other and how old they are. It would be an ideal situation for a newlywed couple or a college student. The two things most prominently in my future. I'm just saying.

I am happy! Obedience makes me happier!

Be good.
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

the sweater song

2010-06-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Okay I have forgotten to talk about this for the last 2 months, but guess what! Lisa Moffat's nephew and his family are in one of my wards! The Robinsons! Sister Robinson is the first woman I met in the Rockwood 1st ward! She is the sweetest, funniest, coolest, most gorgeous woman. You have no idea. Like, you think you have an idea because I just described her to you, but you really don't. You would think that she is the one actually related to Lisa because they are both so cool. Brother Robinson is also really neat. He's funnier than all get-out. They have the same sense of humor as our family. And it's so cool they are related to the Moffats! Also, I got a letter from Lisa (thanks!!) And I will write back soon.

Things here are grand. We don't get to move until next Monday, which is a little inconvenient but also a little awesome. You see, I have become quite attached to the Cummins. We play football with Brother Cummins for like 15 minutes every night. We cook with Sister Cummins. We share more than just a kitchen. We share our livelihood. Haha, maybe I'm getting literarily
carried away. But I hope you can comprehend what I mean. I'm bummed to move.

The work progresses. Refer someone to the missionaries this week!

The Youth here are extremely cool. They remind me of the kids back home and my EFY kids. I miss them. I really love teenagers. I have been around tons of them and I talk with them a lot. I think my experience base is broad enough now that I can shed some light on things that work and don't work in the lives of adolescents, and this is the main thing I have discovered. Modesty.
It's honsety time, people. Most Young Men are rock solid. They have goals that they are determined to meet, and these goals are founded in the gospel. They honor the holy Aaronic priesthood, which they hold. They are awesome.

The Young Women vary more than the Young Men. They are at different levels of commitment and excitement for this great work. I don't doubt that each has a desire to love and serve God. But more Young Women are struggling than Young Men. The difference is Modesty. I know it is. Because I've met them and talked with them and I see it in their eyes. Some may say that they don't care as much about modesty because they aren't as committed. I would say that is erroneous thinking. You can not be as committed if you are not modest. You may say you are committed but there is power in modesty. Modesty comes first, and the power to be committed follows. Modesty is not the byproduct, it is the catalyst.

It is very hot here! I have to go!
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Knock Three Times

2010-06-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

Another week? Already?! Okay, this one's going to have to be short.

I really want to have a big garden one day. It's so cool. Everyone here gardens. And they can just go outside and pick stuff and then cook with it. It's like having a free supermarket in your backyard. I'm into it. One of our members has a farm and sends us home with lots of produce. This week it was onions, potatoes, beets lots of herbs and broccoli. Delicious. Brilliant. God is good. (he made the earth. That's the connection there).

If I had never come on my mission I would never have met the people here. Can you believe that? I can't imagine my life without these people in it. All of the ward members are...spectacular. My love for them goes beyond being a missionary. It's organic. And not 'organic' like how the Man uses that word to make people think that their vegetables are healthier and without pesticides and worth the extra money they pay for them. Not that kind of organic. It's like, a real, almost physical connection that swoops in and overwhelms my body, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. It fills every nook and cranny of my soul to the point where I know that the roots of these friendships did not begin in this life.

I lived in Heaven a long time ago, it is true. I lived there and loved there with people I know. So did you! Then Heavenly Father presented a beautiful plan. All about earth and eternal salvation for man.

The black nametag has power.

Things with the comp are good. We have opposite philosophies about pretty much everything in life. But the gospel unifies us. And prayer unifies us. And I would say that we are in fact friends. We have fun. We get along. She does not like the way I contact people. But people need to know that I am a real person before they can trust me enough to know that I care about them, and that I want them to listen to my message because I care about them. Does that make sense? They already know I want them to join my church. That's why I'm a missionary. What they don't know is that I love them. And Christ loves them. And they can learn to feel that love through me.

I have got to go! They're about to call se-curr-ity on me (bon qui qui style). Not really. My time's just up on the computer now.
Be good my friends! Pray for me?
Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

I told you to be balanced

2010-06-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

Shalom!
First, I must say that I am so grateful the saints moved on from Missouri and ended up in Utah. If BYU had been established here, I would refuse to attend solely because of the weather. Dramatic? Maybe. Honest? Incredibly. And I'm told it will get much worse. I hope the second coming happens before August.

Things this week were good. Really good. Still no new investigators which is hard, but lots of tracting, teaching, and Less-Active/Member visits. Every person I meet in Missouri is my favorite person in Missouri. I can't help it.

This week we've been alternating Tae-Bo and Yoga DVDs in the mornings. I don't hate it. The public library is awesome. After we're done here we're going to pick out some new work out videos! When you're a missionary, it's the little things. When I'm a mom I'm going to take my kids to the library ALL of the time. I remember going there a lot when I was a kid. And I loved it. Thanks, mom.

Umm, newsflash, I am getting fat! Before I was just chubby--pleasingly plump-- but now I am getting fat! So it's being reversed. Post haste. By portion control and learning to say NO when people want you to eat more and more of their food [and desserts]. Also Billy Blanks is helping. What's wrong with his eye? Someone needs to teach him about the resurrection.

One of my favorite things lately is popsicles. 'Jolly Rancher' flavored Popsicles, in fact. The perfect treat. 45 calories, loaded with flavor. Try them. Let me know what you think.

Another one of my favorite things is when people tell us they are Christians right as they slam the door in our face. I'm finding it really funny. It's happening a lot. I would have to say that
Catholics are nicer than most of the other denominations.

I don't have a problem with getting my feelings hurt or anything when people aren't interested in my message. I'm giving them an option and they will either say yes or no. That's it. They may not say it very nicely, but really they're just saying no. My problem is that I am so sad for them as they do that. My soul aches for them to come into the fold of Jesus Christ and be baptized by one holding the priesthood authority of God. I know how happy they could become. It fills me with sorrow when they turn that happiness--God's happiness--away.

As sands in the hourglass, so are the days of my life. I miss my family and friends. But I am happy and content and loving Romans 12:1-2. Look it up?

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

Hi from hot, sticky, St. Louis!

2010-06-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

Seriously. The humidity here is ridiculous. I always think it can't get worse and it does. It's a good thing I love being a missionary or I would be gone yesterday!

This week was pretty great.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of my second transfer as a full-time missionary. Crazy! I will stay here in Rockwood with Sister Thurber, and we're guessing we'll stay here for the next transfer too. That would be fine with me because I absolutely love Rockwood. The members here are amazing. All of the people here are amazing. I am just so happy here. There is much work to be done, but also much joy to be had.

We are moving into our own apartment later on this month. This is exciting and happy but also makes me incredibly sad because I absolutely love the members we live with right now. The Cummins are the coolest couple east or west of the Mississippi. Most people know that I am basically obsessed with my brother Chad and think he's the coolest thing since sliced bread. Being out on the mission is hard because I miss Chad a lot. There's no one as funny or cool as Chad. But Brother Cummins comes pretty close. They are similar. And I know that Heavenly Father allowed me to live here in their home so that I could have that brother-type relationship and be less homesick. Sister Cummins is hilarious and a fantastic cook. I will treasure my time with the Cummins and I hope to stay in contact with them as our lives continue to evolve (Even though Brother Cummins is pretty new to the church). Seriously, you need to meet these people.
I found myself thinking this morning about where I was at this time last year. I remember I was preparing for my summer as an EFY counselor. I was touched with a tinge of [righteous] jealousy toward those who are going to be there this year. I didn't expect to love EFY as much as I did, and I hope everyone makes it even better this year. Amanda, Ryan, Tyler, Lauren and company...have the best time. Sometimes when songs from 2009 EFY shuffle into my playlist I skip past them because they are so important to me and I'm not emotionally ready to have and re-live those feelings. Weird, right? But, it's my life.

Fireflies are so beautiful! You've got to see them. I'm going to catch a bunch of them and name them after the apostles.
'
The best part of missionary work is, of course, the people. I miss them when I don't see them for even a few days! They are incredible and worth all of the work that is put into the missionary efforts of this church.

Umm they have Quick Trip here. For those of you unfamiliar with the QT, Think 7-11 on crack. And way better. After 3 hours of tracting/contacting in this heat/moisture all I can think about is a freezoni from the QT. [freezoni~slurpee]. I think of Sydney and Melodie every time.
Even though I'm on a mission I still daydream a lot and think about my future family. Being a mom is going to be great. I'm so blessed to be able to be on a mission; I'm learining so many things that will help me as a wife and mother! Being a woman is the best!
okay a few things:

+Mom could you get me Ryan Frandsen's address? (he's my friend on facebook)

+LOUIS PETERSON: a letter will be on the way this week!

+Sometimes when life gets hard and I think I can't go on I think of Kenneth Parcell, the NBC page from the hit show 30 Rock. One time his application to work the Beijing Olympics was due at 5 pm but someone needed his help with something right before the deadline. He thought 'duty before self' and he selflessly chose to give up what he wanted to help the greater good. I think we should all look to Kenneth Parcell as an example. He is precious.

Welp I must go, sorry I didn't tell any cool stories this time. Next week I will. Trust me, I have plenty, every day is an adventure here in the Missouri St. Louis Mission. Be good!

Peace and Love,
Sister Mcdonald

What are you waiting for?

2010-06-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

This week has been awesome! The Lord loves His children.

+whilst executing a 3-point-turn in the car my companion went over the edge of the paved road and proceeded to get our vehicle EXTREMELY stuck in the mud. As we lived the parable of the good Samaritan in modern times (complete with cell phone calls home about AAA subscriptions) It was evident that there are many good people in Missouri and that the extermination order seems to have subsided. (jokes, humor). (this is a shout out to Kristi Smith). 3 hours, several prayers and one broken tow-rope later, we emerged from the depths of the brown sludge with 3 men and myself pushing from the front and a chain wrapped around the tree with a wench (is that how you spell it) tugging the axle from behind. Needless to say a shower was in order (including one for the car) and we did not get much else done that day.

+We attended a baptism with LeRae, one of our investigators. She has committed to be baptized and we wanted her to be able to see what it would be like. We all felt the spirit confirm to us that this is true. That this work is real. It is bigger than this earth. It is bigger than 9-5, afternoon coffee on the weekends and enjoyable Holidays. And when you know that - when you feel that - there is bliss. joy. light. warmth. You feel fresh, crisp, cool, clean. I want everyone within the sound of my voice[blog] to know that I am certain that there is a plan and that our advent on the earth is not by chance. I invite, even plead, all who hear[read] this to consider things that you had never before supposed. To simply open your mind and question the empirical boundaries created by our societal and cultural predecessors.

As an authorized representative of Jesus Christ, I testify with my whole being that your choices determine your fate and that you must make a choice. This world teems with uncertainty. How convenient for the undecided. Don't allow yourself to be acted upon. Act. You are a child of God. You are not as a tree which must move when the wind blows it. And therein lies your duty. We did not come here to get stuff, we came here to become something. To do things. When you realize that, you automatically gain power.

Don't let life push you around, for it will. Be in charge. Act. Have faith. Find happiness. Find joy in this, your one sojourn on this beautiful, awesome earth. No regrets.

And so I plead. Day in and day out. And so I plead with you. Especially my dear loved ones who do not yet know the joy that comes from a personal relationship with Deity, which begins with baptism into His church and then has no end. I plead with Alicia. I plead with John and Travis. If I am right, don't you want to make sure for yourself? No regrets.

I love you beyond my personal capacity because The Savior makes up the rest.

I love being a missionary! This week was a harder one, but I can do better and be more obedient. And I will! Because I can! Because I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

Be good my little ones; I miss you dearly.
Peace and Love,sister mcdonald

p.s. in case you were wondering, I'm still pretty. and I am making frump look G-O-O-D! I promise I will remember my camera one of these p-days!

Ever hear of Roger Bannister?

2010-05-10T17:08:00.000-07:00

Look up the song "Life is a Song" by Patrick Park:

"...It's time to let go of everything we used to know; ideas that strengthen who we've beenIt's time to cut ties that won't ever free our mindsfrom the chains and shackles that they're in..."
Don't chain and shackle yourself into thinking that you aren't meant for big things.
Big things need to be done in this world. Lots of them. In fact, more big things need to be done in this world than there are people to do them. It's time to step up. Let go of empirical definitions of success or beauty.

(Enter that Marianne Williamson quote here)

That's my message to the good people of my tiny blogosphere this week. There are earthquakes in diverse places, people. We don't have time to be who we've been. Look up repentance in the bible dictionary. It's awesome.

The mission is oh-so-good. Please pray for us in our finding efforts. We have met some incredible people, and some real weird-o's. I'm grateful for all of them.

KRISTI SMITH -- I need your address girl!

I am inadequate and in desperate need to further develop every Christlike attribute, and not just the ones in Preach my Gospel. The beautiful thing is that I can have a fresh view, I can change, I can be broken in and turned into something useful for the Lord.

I have to go! We are late for a dinner appointment! Which reminds me, we were eating at a members' home last monday and every night at dinner they do something called "nice check" where everybody says something nice they did for someone else. The youngest, a girl, Jamee, is six and has bright purple glasses. She is so hip and cool. anyway Everyone is just kind of saying what their 'nice check' is in no particular order, and Jamee pipes in with "my nice check is that I'm awesome." All of the confidence bursting out of that little person was, umm, hilarious. To say the least.

Be good my friends. Be better than good, be big. Love even bigger.

Peace,
Sister Mcdonald

I've Started Already

2010-05-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Okay. I have ten minutes. Let's do this.

This is the most beautiful place I have ever been. For real. do some google-image research if you don't believe me. It really is like spring on steriods. I can't get enough of it!!! And even though you get carsick everywhere you go (the roads are WINDY and narrow in the more rural parts) it's awesome.

I had a great week! We got a media referral that we finally contacted and We found THE coolest woman. She has an adorable little daughter Marissa's age, and has so much faith. We continue to teach her and it's been a cool experience.

The members here are rock-solid. We cover two wards so I get to know twice as many of them! We get fed probably 4 nights out of 7, and everyone is so generous and interested. It seems to me that the work has been slow here in Rockwood. We had another slow week but we fasted yesterday to be able to find a family and sister Thurber and I have a renewed common goal which is to work harder than we think we can and show the Lord we're ready to find those He is preparing.

The other day I saw a DOUBLE RAINBOW. No lie. They also have wicked cool thunder-storms here. and the Tornado sirens have been going off a lot. (what is happening?!) It reminds me of our time in Minnesota. Okay, a few things:
CARRIE VAIL---you need to write me.

LOUIS PETERSON---you need to write me.

ELISSA URBAN---I need to write you but I lost your address. can you get it to my mom? (via facebook)

RYAN FRANDSEN---I need your address.

AMANDA GARLOCK---I think of you and want to discuss teaching with you SO much!!

CHRISSY DIMMICK---We MUST re-make The BAND when I get home.

I am happy, the work is slowly but surely progressing. I am continuing to grow in my knowledge of the scriptures and my understanding of God's love. We are meant for things that are bigger than this earth. We are worth things that are bigger than this earth. Acknowledge it, realize it, feel it. Because only when you can conceptualize that can you actually do something about it.

We can't not change the world. It's our duty. And if you can't change the world, change someone's world. I can never be the perfect friend. I can never return every phone call, say exactly the right things, and be exactly where I need to be. But I can introduce others to the perfect friend. And when someone knows the Perfect friend, Jesus Christ, their dependnece on others lessens. Their need for acknowledgement and recognition decrease and their ability to work, with quiet dignity, for the salvation of others increases. That is called meekness. Absolute Power under Absolute control. The subtraction of self.

Will you subtract yourself this week?

LOVE,
Sister Mcdonald
(chae)

Solid as a Rockwood

2010-04-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

Shalom! I am legitimately a missionary. Weird right?! Weird but beautiful. Like the James Blunt song. But also not. at all.

Ok, details: Mission President: President Briggs from...lots of places. He and sister Briggs are AWESOME. I am already attached and love them so much and am sad they are leaving so soon. President Briggs is TALL and has bright white hair and a booming voice. Sister Briggs is petite, has great style and a cute little pixie haircut. LOVE. Area: Rockwood, MO. We cover 2 wards, Rockwood 1 and Rockwood 2. church is from 9am-4pm, with a meeting in the middle and occasionally meetings before. Umm, gotta say, I love it. I fell asleep during the second sacrament meeting hardcore and I KNOW everyone behind me was watching but it's like what are you going to do. Apparently the extreme fatigue wears off after a month or so of being a missionary. Let's hope that is also true in my case!

Companion: Sister Amy Thurber from Boise, ID. A theatre major at BYU-I, but hoping to transfer to Provo and join the film program there. She will be going home in August. Sister Thurber was trained here in the area where we are and is back to train me here! Sister Thurber is great. She is very positive and focused. We get along well! I think this will be a great transfer. At this point we are working on building our teaching pool. We have two progressing investigators, a bunch who aren't really progressing [yet], and several recent converts. I am still just meeting everyone and letting them get to know me and trust me; the sister I replaced was very dear to many of the people here.

We flew in on Tuesday and met the mission president, stopped off and saw the temple grounds (breathtaking), watched a movie about safety, ate a DELICIOUS dinner made by Sister Briggs and other Office sisters and spent the night in the mission home. It was awesome. The next morning we had a fantastic breakfast, got a tour of the mission office and then went to transfer meeting where we met our comps. 11 of us greenies came out this transfer which I guess is quite a lot.

We live with members in their beautiful home. We have the basement to ourselves which is awesome. We have a treadmill, weight bench, punching bags, and other cool things in our very own gym! I brought my luggage down to the basement in their elevator (no big deal, right) and moved right in. Then we went to Wal-Mart and I bought all of the things that I needed. While there we were able to meet and teach this awesome man named Muhammed. We might go teach him and his family this week. Muhammed went to medical school here in the states (studying pathology) and then right before the boards his daughter was diagnosed with cancer. so now he works at Wal-Mart to try and cover costs for that.

I have to go now, but to sum it up, People in our area are rich, but cool,I've held a bearded dragon and done other crazy things in the last week that are helping me realize that my mission will be more fun than I thought. Which is awesome.
I love you!!
Sister McDonald.

MTC = EFY on crack

2010-04-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hello fam!
This will be short, I have 8 minutes. First, Thank you SOOO much to everyone that has written me. I am in the process of writing you back; although I'm not sure time will ever slow down enough to get everything done! I love serving the Lord. I am not good enough, too goofy, not focused enough, and never trying enough. The Lord is my light and my strength. I'm working on becoming something useful to Him in St. Louis.
We got our flight plans; we leave at 4am next Tuesday! So I'm not sure when I'll be able to e-mail again, since Tuesday would have been my preparation day and I don't know when prerparation day will be out in the field. Just assume that I am happy or healthy unless you hear otherwise.
We have been practicing teaching a lot. I feel like I was born to bear my testimony. Throughout the week I always think of so much to say but now I don't know what to tell you!
People are different. No one here has heard of any of the bands I like. Even Sufjan Stevens!!!! And no one here has ever seen 30 Rock. The other day we were supposed to do a meditation activity and we were supposed to think about just one thing that makes us happy and push every other thought out as we breathed in and out. My happy thought was Kenneth Parcell. It worked.
The MTC isn't quite as cool to me as it is to other people because I've lived in Provo and gone to BYU and seen general authorities speak and heard the BYU Men's Chorus and stuff. But it's still cool. And a happy place. And I am learning a lot of independence. I've never loved people I have nothing in common with this much. Dad, I've been using my Tongan quite a bit. I wish I had learned more than 3 phrases.
I need to go, I love you! Yes, even you. Be good! Sister McDonald

The Adventures of Sister Chaela McDonald--MTC 1:1-6

2010-04-06T21:22:00.000-07:00

Shalom! It's me! Sister Mcdonald! Writing from the MTC. I'm sorry It has taken me so long to write. My zone has preparation day on Tuesdays and since I reported here on Wednesday we had to wait a whole week!

How is everyone?? Thank you so much for your letters so far. And Mom I got the cookies!! My roommates and I thank you!!!!! They're really good. Mom you couldn't never write me too much, against the busy backdrop of the MTC your letters make my heart smile.

I'm not sure what to say, I only have about 15 minutes, so I'll just tell you the basics! My companion's name is Sister Hull and she's from....OREGON! crazy right? Specifically she's from Hermiston. She is tall and has dark hair and I think we kind of look alike. She is a chef by profession and talks about the most wonderful dishes. She will be serving in St. Louis too so I hope we're companions some time so that she can cook for me.

We have 4 elders and 4 sisters (including us) in our district. Sister Kim and Siser Shumsky are the other sisters. Sister Kim and Sister Hull and I were actually in a threesome for the first 3 days. Sister Shumsky is from Canada (Chad try not to groan) and she had to get her Visa figured out. Sister Shumsky Sister Hull and I are the ones going to St. Louis. Sister Kim and the Elders (Bale, Jenkins, Morgan and Shneider) are going to Kennewick, WA. Mom, at some point could you call Wendy Shumway from the Ashland ward and tell her that I have the CDs for Girl's camp all ready for her and she just needs to come pick them up from our house? I put them in a bag in that black thing in the front entryway that looks like it has drawers but actually opens like a door.

OK, other MTC things. I spend most of my days in the same tiny classroom with my district. We have two teachers, and one of them I actually know pretty well from before her mission. I've always loved and respected Sister Vail and so it's great to have her as my teacher. Except for we keep accidentally calling each other by our first names. I should mention for Sydney's sake that I met a girl that knows you and some of the other Gilbert gang. Her name is Allesha Hatch and she left yesterday to serve in Ventura California Spanish-speaking. She said she facebook stalks Sydney a lot, but let's be honest who doesnt. Rebecca Langham lives down the hall from me! And we see each other at least once a day. She's going to be serving in the Milan Italy mission and so every night I go and have 'Italian prayer' with her and the other sisters in her district. It's pretty cool that you can feel the spirit in Italian, too.

We got to teach at the TRC for the first time yesterday and it went great. the TRC is where you teach volunteers who pretend to be investigators. I knew then as I was reciting the first vision that I was born to be a missionary and bear my testimony.

I don't have any time I have to go!!!! I love you! Be good,

Sister Mcdonald

Chaela's MTC Box is #199
Dear Elder is a great way to post her a note.
She will be in the MTC until 4/20/10

On a jet plane.

2010-03-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

22 December 2009
Dear Sister McDonald:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Missouri St. Louis Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language.

...[stuff]...

Sincerely,
Thomas S. Monson
President

I know he signed it because I licked my finger and smudged the signature [a la Jack Donaghey from the 'Rock].

I was set apart about 3 hours ago. The mantle is slowly developing. Exciting things. Mother will be updating the blog.

Be good my dear friends. Here I go.

If music is my lover, you are just a tease.

2010-03-08T00:06:00.000-08:00

What if I don't become the woman I envision?

What if I turn 35 and I don't have the life I daydream of and plan for?

What then?

Idealism can Catch-22 you. You can't become something you never first imagined [dare to dream, etc]. But unrealized expectations can be a recipe for unsatisfaction. And no matter where I am, even if it's not the snapshots I've been slowly developing in my visually-stimulated darkroom of a brain, I want to be happy. And satisfied. And I will. I just now decided I will. So, whatevs.

But still. What if?

Syd and I talked once of the picture you have in mind of your marriage. She learned that most [single] people have a scene that plays in their head when they imagine their future marital state. Mine is laughing together at the breakfast table. I'll have frosted mini-wheats and some canteloupe, he'll have Lucky Charms and toast. We'll laugh together. I like breakfast. I think it's important. I can't wait to eat breakfast when I'm 35 and feel satisfied. No matter what.

[this photo is from one of my favorite photographers' project '$2 portraits' -- it's brill. check it out].

Nothing can come between us, except a big problem.

2010-03-01T17:14:00.001-08:00

I forgot what I did during the evenings before the Olympics...

One might think I would harbor disdain for the Olympics. The girth of their effect on populace worldwide suggest powers attainable only by the unattained. Yes, I'm talking about The Man.

But the Olympics are bigger than The Man.

Think about a cold, half-rain half-snow day. The sidewalks look like someone spilled a Big-Gulp sized dirt Slurpee. Countless shoe prints reveal that others haven't bothered to clean up the mess either. You have to walk home through it and you wish you hadn't worn your one pair of shoes that somehow allow the frigid precipitation to soak up through to your socks and make your toes squeak when they rub together. Your hoodie is getting soaked. And although the hood part is protecting your hair it will still be moist and look bad when you get home. Your nose is running and you're sure it's red. You try strictly exhaling through your nose to keep it warm. Your eyes are watering and sting a little. Then, you walk in the door, stamp your feet, push your hood back off your head and there on the kitchen table is a bowl of steaming tomato soup and two perfectly buttered slices of perfectly toasted sourdough. And it's for you. Next to it is your best friend, seated, smiling, happy to tell stories about their day until you feel ready to talk about yours.

You know that warm feeling you got at the end of that paragraph? That's what the Olympics are. Amid the unrest and spilled slurpees in the world this international tradition remains, crossing borders with victorious underdogs, healthy competition and stories of grace under despair. And I am a total sucker for it. I can't get enough. And even though watching curling is like watching an afternoon at the senior center on ice (does your senior center have a shuffleboard?) I'd rather watch it than do pretty much anything else.

I even love Canada now.

What the what?

So, if The Man really does run the Olympics I will have to add it as a 'Pro' to my Pro/Con list about him. [along with capitalism and Valentine's day]. But I'm pretty sure that The Olympic spirit is a free spirit, and therefore belongs to no man.

That's great it starts with an earthquake.

2010-02-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

I mourn the day that 'age-appropriate-ness' hinders my fingernail polish color choices.

The time will come when I will be limited to the tasteful french manicure with occasional rebellious outbursts represented by a small spectrum of classy reds.

The approaching 18-month nail polish fast will truly be a sacrifice for me. Luckily I know it is worth it. So worth it.

[vain much?]

...yes.I.am.

Sincerely, me.

2010-02-20T19:22:00.001-08:00

Dear Tiger Woods,

Stop. Please. I would like to watch real news. There was an earthquake in Haiti that killed 230,000 people. Poverty is real. Our coutry is at war. I don't care about the dramatic life you feed like a pet with press conferences teeming with words like 'I' and 'me'.

With all due respect, please go away.

Thank you,

Chaela Mcdonald

Anyone can say that a man shouldn't live this way.

2010-02-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

I have been an avid reader of Real Simple for 3+ years, and a subscriber for almost 2. years.

I love Real Simple because it doesn't praise or feed on celebrity, it is very reader-written/involved, it abandons vanity with the promotion of authenticity and self exploration, and it praises/fosters practical creativity, constantly featuring new ways to turn old things into new things. Love that. All of it.
I love it. I love Hype. [2 minutes in]

Friday I was at the beautifully talented KaraLee's home and picked up a copy of Good Housekeeping.

[I should interject here that I tend to shun any magazine but Real Simple with the self-righteousness and distaste of a rich hippie]

thumbing through Good Housekeeping I found that they also had good things. In fact, they had a section similar to those found in Real Simple. A section for innovative, practical solutions to the small yet pesky problems we face on this telestial sphere. I scanned the pages of tips and tricks with an air of pleasant, yet sceptical, surprise. And THEN...

I used them! I used two of them! that night! On a scale from 1-10, this is a big deal.

Here are the two tips I found in Good Housekeeping that I used that night:

1. Sliding magazines into boots so they stay upright.

With my growing influx of boots and my growing maturity [i.e. caring about my belongings] I've noticed and disliked how my [non-galosh] boots will flop over each other in my closet. And if I put them against the wall they will end up flopping the other way. This is awesome! And my OCD side likes how it completes the organized look in my closet.

2. Use a straight-pint to get knots out of necklace chains!

This still took a special touch, but it totally worked. I am guilty of trying to use my pathetically thin fingernails to untie necklaces, for hours, to no avail. The article also says if it is an especially stubborn tangle to "place the chain on a hard, nonporous surface, like glass, and apply several drops of baby or mineral oil, then try untangling again." Cool, right?

This is not to say that I've never used an idea from Real Simple. I have. But these two things happened to come up that night. And I used them. And they weren't from Real Simple.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that all I get from my elitism and magazine-centrism is floppy boots and necklaces with knots. More proof that LOVE is, in fact, the answer.

You are what you love.

2010-02-01T23:01:00.000-08:00

If I am what I love then I am [as of late] SCRABBLE.

And sometimes, Scrabble loves me back.

I will play in a tournament one day.

Might be for her but for now it's between green and grey.

2010-01-25T19:13:00.001-08:00

The niece.

She's growing. Like a tree.

Blue [Da Ba Dee]

2010-01-23T17:22:00.000-08:00

The Man made Avatar. To make money.

I finally gave in to the hype. Which is [admittedly] no better than giving into The Man himself. I saw Avatar today. In three dimensions.

It was good. Fine. Enjoyable. I liked it. I like almost every movie I see, I'm not much of an elitist in the way of film.

HOWEVER.

Papyrus? really?!

They invented an entire language for this movie. Could they not expend a few resources to create a new typeface? Or purchase one? Or just use one that's less horrible? James Cameron? Really?

Baffled...absolutely baffled.

From this valley they say you are going

2010-01-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

I have been in Medford for a blissful day and a half.

including but not limited to...

fun/laughter with parents.
a night out at my favorite pizza place.
playing with my dog.
hanging with the ever-cool Bob.
a fantastic episode of Oprah.
listening to Mom read aloud from R. L. Stevenson's Treasure Island.
herbal tea.
crossword puzzles.
crocheting.
gospel study.
being betrothed [in my Madre's head] to a cancer survivor/Spaniard RM who made it to Hollywood on American Idol.

and, last but mos def not least, being a first hand witness to the single greatest moment in Medford high school basketball history.

Ducks v. Beavers
Chocolate v. Vanilla
BYU v. Utah
NBC v. FOX
Good v. Evil
Republicans v. Democrats
South Medford High School Panthers v. North Medford High School Tornadoes

yes, the cross-town rivalry here is fierce. And unfriendly. And while I really don't care much about most rivalries I am thrust into [I applaud President Hinckley's red ties] I will always bleed blue for my alma mater.

We hosted North last night after losing to them by 13 points in Holiday Tournament play last month. A foul-heavy neck and neck game plagued us the first 3 quarters. North had an eerie 4[ish] points over us for much of the last quarter. With 1.8 seconds left in the game one of their posts gained a free throw from his teammate the ref [they might as well have been wearing North Medford jerseys all night]. The opposition is up two points. As the clock slips under one second Mike Brassel lobs the ball toward the basket and swishes a three-quarter court shot to give the Panthers the win. Students rushed the court. Bob and I were on our feet in the best reserved seats in the house. Screaming. it was epic. Here's the clip from the news if you want to see it.

...
I'm lucky. I like my life. And my family. Et al.

do you like January's playlist?

I waited here for you like a kid waiting after school.

2010-01-06T18:21:00.000-08:00

I don't believe in formal goodbyes.

I have just spent a significant amount of time attempting to outline and justify my distaste for goodbyes in a manner that could be easily navigated. I even used variables [persons x and y]. I can't do it. Here's my final attempt at an explanation.

The thing is, I like you. I don't know if this is normal or not but I love. A lot. I love the people I know. And the people I see. And the people I met once. And the people who dated my roommates. And the people I imagine exist somewhere. I want to take care of you and hear what you have to say and take away your sadness. And when you're sad I am sad. And I think about you. Yes, even you.

And I pay more attention than you think I do. And I care more than I let on.

When I spend time with people, be it catching a movie with a girlfriend, grabbing the occasional lunch out, or running into them on campus, I will usually see that person again in a reasonable time frame. I can handle that.

Big goodbyes, the ones that call for formality, announcement and/or a title only really come for two reasons. Either you won't see that person for a decidedly long amount of time, or you won't see that person. ever. again. If I will see the person again, I would rather just have a quaint goodbye like we had the last time we hung out. Because if it was different, if our goodbye was different, then that would mean acknowledging the amount of time until I saw them again was going to be different. I can't handle it. I can't process it.

Denial, childish, capricious, selfish, tricking your brain, yes, it is all of these things.

And so, just as in the past, this time as I leave Provo for >18 months, I will not really tell anyone when I'm actually leaving town. I will avoid people I know. And I will hang onto those informal, 'see you next week' goodbyes that promise consistency and commitment and caring.

Some people have and will continue to find me inconsiderate. Or indifferent. Because I didn't care enough to say goodbye. It's okay.

I did care though. I do care. so much. I promise.

Does that help?

*in this blog post 'you' is everyone in my world. It is not directed at anyone in particular. Except you.

If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad.

2009-12-13T16:20:00.000-08:00

...yep.

Life is rich and ripe with thoughts unsung and songs unheard

2009-12-10T15:49:00.000-08:00

Within our kitchen drawer runneth-ing over with third- and fourth- hand silverware, I have stumbled across a gem.

Meet...the grapefruit spoon.

How have I not known about this invention for so long?

It revolutionized the way I eat one of my favorite fruits. Now that the grapefruit has become
[through the use of said instrument]
laborious-less it may very well top
chae's chart of favorite fruits.

Buy one. You owe it to yourself.

Is love alive?

2009-12-02T23:40:00.000-08:00

Music is oxygen.

Sometimes you hear a song and it changes your mood. which can change your week. which can change your month which can change your year which can change your life. One song has power.

Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson is one of those songs for me.

I feel that this song should only be listened to in December. I also feel like when it's December it should be listened to over and over again.

Watch the video. Listen to the lyrics. Feel. repeat.

Winter Song

This month's playlist only has 2 songs on it. These two songs deserve to be listened to on repeat.

It's like breathing in and out.

Oops, there goes the dreams we used to say

2009-11-20T13:45:00.000-08:00

First things first:

.....I get it.

Do you remember this marketing scheme?
While I'm pretty sure that a few too many errors would have had to occur at once to make this a real mistake, the Golden Oreo is now a legitimate item for purchase. And delights thousands daily I'm sure.

Two more questions.
1. When is this going to happen?

...Or do leprechauns never make mistakes?

[maybe fashion ones don't count]

2. Why did I have to come up with it?

Really people? Our world is severely overdue for some Uh-Oh Lucky Charms. All marshmallow with a sprinkle of those 'healthy' Cheerios-wanna-be pieces. And 100% LOVE.

in the words I say, in the things I read

2009-11-18T14:35:00.000-08:00

My best friend Sydney turned me onto this television show called Community. I resisted for a long time due to the fact that I have more shows now than ever before.

What do people mean when we say we 'have' shows? All we really have is an addiction and time to waste. Luckily though, I have some shows to fill that time with.

Here is a clip from that show. Which proves that, finally, my kind of people are making television.

Finally, a song about a library that speaks volumes.

I went to the year 3000

2009-11-17T23:57:00.000-08:00

I took a marriage preparation class in 2006. I wasn't engaged at the time and I'm not a weirdo. Engaged people were actually discouraged from taking the class together. It was more about what marriage really is and how to look for the right things and have the right expectations as you date around and finally become married. In that class we had several assignments that I've held onto. This morning I found one such assignment in the depths of my hard drive...a letter to my future spouse.

If I were to write a letter to my future spouse now I'm sure it would be quite different, although the themes remain the same.

Without further ado, here is the letter that 19-year old me wrote to my future spouse:

Chaela McDonald

HFL 223/Section 002

17 November 2006

Letter to Future Spouse

Dear __________,

First off, I’m really sorry that I like to shop so much. I’ll try to keep it to a minimum while you’re in medical school.

I’m kidding. It’s okay if you decide to go to law school instead of medical school. Anyway I’m not sure what exactly I am supposed to write in this letter to you, the person that I am going to spend the rest of my life and eternity with, and probably haven’t even met yet. I guess I’ll start by saying that I pray for you.

I pray that you will realize the power that you have in holding the priesthood. I pray that you are worthy and striving as I am to become better. I pray that I can be a good companion to you and develop the talents and skills that you would want me to have as a wife and mother. I pray that the spirit will be with you and that you can find happiness every day.

I’m a pretty simple person and I’ve had my share of hard times. From those experiences, however, I have become a woman that I am proud of being, and continue to become a woman that you will be proud to be married to. The gospel is the center of my life. The plan of salvation leaves me in awe. I have a strong testimony that we are not humans having a spiritual experience, rather we are spirits having a human experience. We will live learn and grow here. Have a family and callings where we will be stewards over the Lord’s precious sheep. Then, if we do it all right, we can go on to live with our Heavenly Father and create worlds of our own, eternally. Wow. Are you ready? It’s going to be awesome.

Of course we’ll slip up along the way. We’ll argue and we’ll doubt our lasting power as a couple. But I know as we take our problems to our Heavenly Father in fervent prayer, draw our children close to us and teach them the gospel, and maintain an eternal perspective, our lives will be filled with a spirit of gratitude and perseverance. We will be able to rise above the sadness in this world and find joy.

Plus, we’re going to have a ton of fun. Our kids are going to be really cool and funny and popular. And they’re going to play a lot of sports, and an instrument if they want. Mostly, though, I hope they will become beacons of light to their friends, and examples of the happiness and love that we will have in our home.

I don’t talk about my feelings a ton, but I want you to know that I love you already. I know that because I am committed to you already, and will continue to keep myself morally clean. Until our wedding night which I am really looking forward to. Like, a lot.

Love,

Chaela McDonald

P.S. I had this idea. If we get to create our own worlds, I think it would be cool to have fruit punch come out of the water fountains.

The sound that you found for me

2009-11-15T17:45:00.000-08:00

Nicole and Kevin Smith are two of the most phenomenal people I know. Although we not are not technically related, I wholeheartedly consider Nicole my sister. And she lets me, which is awesome.

Nicole is everything I hope to be one day. And in the depth of her soul, in every sincere action, in every word, she is a mother.

Kevin is really smart. And funny. And a killer guitar player. You know, one of those people who's naturally good at everything which would be annoying if he weren't so nice.

Also, they both have really good taste in music.

Two years ago they were blessed to have Noah enter their lives through the miracle of adoption. Noah is the luckiest kid ever. Also the cutest.

The Smiths are ready to adopt again. They are ready to become a miracle in another child's life. Here is a link to their adoption profile. If you know any birthmothers who are considering adoption, please turn their attention toward the Smith family.

Click here to read their adoption profile:

Smile though your heart is aching

2009-11-13T11:52:00.000-08:00

I just got back from the dentist.

When I was a kid I loved the dentist's office. I would go, they would 'tickle' my teeth, I got to pick a toy out of a treasure box, I got to pick from a billion different flavors of fluoride (I was never brave enough to try the cookie dough flavor. Too weird). Then I would get a brand new toothbrush and new bubblegum toothpaste in a cool bag and they would all tell me how cute and grown up I was. Bliss.

I have since joined the millions who suffer from dentist distaste.

With each month that follows a dental appointment my memory of its displeasure fades. The days that precede the following appointment [6 months later] conjure thoughts like it's not really that bad or I'll just go and leave and it will be fine.

Wrong.

Sitting there in the chair, forced to revert back to infancy with a glorified bib, completely unable to talk or act for myself, being pinched and prodded and trying to pretend like it didn't hurt when she stabbed my lip w/ the tartar scraper and made it bleed a little I remember no, yeah, it really is that bad.

It really, really is.

Only a girl like you could be lonely

2009-11-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

This morning I was blow-drying my hair, thinking of all the delicious treats my mother makes, and trying to come up with a finalized list for my 'Mcdonald family Christmas Eve Smorgasbord' requests. You may say it's too early to think about Christmas this much. Retail stores everywhere would disagree. And I would too. Mainly because I do what retail stores tell me to...they keep me hip.

As I thought about puppy chow [muddy buddies][monkey munch] I remembered ye olde time tradition of Chex Mix. And I remembered how much I hate chex mix. Well, at least the 'mix' part. I actually really love the chex part. But the pretzels and peanuts and other paraphernalia really ruin for me. And then I thought wow, that would be an important thing to tell a boy before he married me.

It really could be a deal-breaker.

I am not dating anyone. There were a few good prospects at the beginning of the semester but they have waned as predictably as the moon.

That being clarified, here are some other deal-breakers I have thought of [I figured it would be smart to get a list together]:

I like Miracle Whip.
I prefer Margarine to Butter.
I don't like pictures of landscapes.
I love the game Boggle.
I'm not above stealing candy from children.
I like to watch movies and [good] TV shows over and over. In fact, I would rather watch re-runs of 'The King of Queens' 'According to Jim' or 'Home Improvement' than something new.
I like to color.
I always have music on.
I have a crush on Ira Glass' voice. And possibly the rest of him, too.
I have a terrible memory [long and short term].
I find blatant sarcasm uncreative and in poor taste.
I like to fill up on free things at restaurants [chips and salsa, bread, bottomless french fries] so I can take my main entree home and get two meals out of it.
I really like giving nice gifts.
I'm addicted to crossword puzzles.
I need a lot of sleep.
Kalamata olives trigger my gag reflex.
I prefer to wear skirts.
I hate hiking.
I need encouragement to be adventurous.
I like power tools. And the use therein.
I like to make things myself, even if it would be easier or cheaper to outright purchase them.

So. those are some of my faults and possible deal-breakers for future dating relationships.

It's a long list. Maybe I should just go on a mission...

In other news:

[that's got to stunt something]

[puppy] Ciao!

O Remember, Remember

2009-10-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

I had a fantastic summer. One day I will post a few photos from EFY. Right now I am missing my family, and will post a few pictures from my trip to Florida to visit Chad, Erin, and their little girl Marissa.

Indian Leg Wrestling Tournament (ILWT). [mcdonald tradition; no one has ever beaten chad].

nightly walks around the neighborhood...
swinging at the park!
Playing games the Mcdonald way after the child is in bed:

I've never seen a child more excited to go to the beach!
Post-beaching festivities:
Hitler 'stache:
Birthday cupcake:
Absolute Bliss:

I'm not sure why I don't have more pictures of Erin...she is the prettiest one out of all of us...but I had a great time with her. She's a great mother.

I can't wait to see my family at Christmas! love. is the answer.

Life Lessons from Situation Comedies.

2009-10-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure the term 'sit-com' is actually short for 'situation comedy' I just guessed it one day and now I say it a lot. One day I will look that up. Or now.

I watched 'Friends' with the roommates today and one episode in particular had some cool lines that made me think. I love that.

>>>cool line #1:

When Ross is fighting with everything he has to convince Pheobe that Evolution is the only theory that exists:

Phoebe: Uh-oh. It's Scary Scientist Man.
Ross: What? Okay, Phoebe, this is it. In this briefcase, I carry actual scientific facts. A
briefcase of facts, if you will. Some of these fossils are over 200 million years old.
Phoebe: Okay, look, before you even start, I'm not denying evolution, okay? I'm just saying
that it's one of the possibilities.
Ross: What? It's the only possibility, Phoebe.
Phoebe: Okay, Ross, could you just open your mind like this much, okay? Wasn't there a time
when the brightest minds in the world believed that the world was flat? And up until,
like, what, 50 years ago, you all thought the atom was the smallest thing, until you split
it open, and this, like, whole mess of crap came out. Now, are you telling me that you
are so unbelievably arrogant that you can't admit that there's a teeny tiny possibility
that you could be wrong about this?

>This made me think about fixed reference points. And how empirical 'evidence' can be so encompassingly convincing that good, smart people will take 'evidence' and create their own reference points. Until, 50 years later, when something else happens and it changes the entire frame of reference. 'The philosophies of men have no fixed reference points' (a quote from 'The Enoch Letters' by Neal A. Maxwell).

Knowledge of absolute truth, things as they really are, brings power. The [absolute] kind. And, as a child of God, I've inherited that power. His power. It takes work to learn to use it though because with great power comes great responsibility.

Oh, did I forget to mention? You've inherited it too. So, you and I, we can continue to let people tell us that we're not pretty or handsome or smart enough. We can let people tell us it's not socially acceptable to disagree with now widely accepted immoral lifestyles and situations. Or, we can choose to discern what sounds right from what is right. We can choose to accept the power that we have. We can decide to be in charge of ourselves, rise above empirical limits, and do and become what according to now is impossible, but according to God is kind of the point of our lives here on the earth. The time to take control of your own frame of reference and accept your birthright and all that comes with it, is yesterday.

>>>cool line #2:

Chandler: I reject anyone who's crazy enough to actually go out with me, and then I complain
about the fact that there aren't any great women out there.

>Umm, all I have to say about this is amen. Both genders are guilty. If you think about how perfectly everything must be timed and said and done, it's a miracle that any of us ever wind up falling in the kind of love that happens every day. Scratch miracle. replace it with blessing.

So, no one told you life was going to be this way? I'll be there for you. [He'll be there for you too].

Shalom!

[disclaimer: I believe in evolution as much as the next guy]
[in fact, I love evolution and the study therein]
[so, that's good]

[also, I don't condone the watching of 'Friends' as a particularly good use of one's time]

let's talk.

2009-09-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

I don't have much to say.

I am in Provo.

I am happy.

I am jobless,

I am hopeful.

I feel my Savior's love
for all the world around me.

In search of: feeble knees & hands that hang down.

Inquire within.

(He knows)
I will follow Him,
Give all my life to him.

I want to be the best I can,

chae chae.

(tonight I will see UP! and I will miss U.P. all at the same time. What a funny [p]sound).

case of the Mondays?

2009-09-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

the perma-cure for any grump:

We Have a Song, and We're Not Afraid to Sing

2009-07-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

After 5 straight weeks of EFY I am home for a day. I leave tomorrow for Girls' Camp (since when am I old enough for stuff like this??) and I get back on Friday. Then I leave again Saturday morning for my last two weeks of Especially for Youth. If it was my last 20 weeks it wouldn't be enough. EFY is probably the most tiring, frustrating, rewarding and edifying experience ever. I had a hard time taking off my name tag.

All of my kids were way smarter and cooler than me to begin with, and as every week progressed they each became my own personal bestie (Amanda P, please don't be angry) in their unique way. I miss them all so much it hurts a little. I am now even more excited to be a Mom, if you can imagine that. My words will never be able to express the love my soul feels for those kids. I miss them.

I could go on and on, but that's what a journal is for. Another thing I must mention, though, is my thorough wrong-ness regarding EFY counselors and the stereotypes therein. In the last 5 weeks I have met some of the most inspiring, funny, fun, smart, chill, hip people ever. It's exciting that most of them go to school in Provo so we can see each other and hang out this year (since all of my friends graduated and/or got married)(that was a guilt trip)(I hope it worked) and make real friendships. They are people who raise me up just like Josh Groban sings about. I want to be just like them. Especially Amanda (shoutout)(preventhealthbysmokingmetal)

Now I am going to go check my facebook for the first time and write back to any and all of my kids who have written to me. I can't wait! But my heart will hurt because they came to EFY, made me love them and get used to them, and then they just left and abandoned me and went off to live their lives. Those stinkers. Where's the chocolate?

acid wash and scrunchies will never go out of style.

2009-06-11T16:37:00.001-07:00

Going through things in plastic tubs marked 'chaela: memorabilia' is strange because what is now "memorabilia" was once my life. It was the things I used, the books I read, the journals I kept, the awards I won, and framed pictures of friends who were 'best' at the time and now I can't remember their last names.

I came across several gems from my past, but here comes one of my favorites. I used to be really into anything 1980's themed. I always felt like I was born a decade late. When I was about 14 I decided that I wanted to one day open a 1980's themed restaurant. I kept with me at all times an old McGrath's fish house (my 2nd favorite restaurant) napkin on which I wrote the ideas for the entrees that would be served at said restaurant.

And now, I present to you menu items from a made-up restaurant with a theme that was beat to death by Provo Disc Jockeys:

Soleil Moonfried Chicken
Mr. T-bone steak
X Marky Marks the Crockpot
M*A*S*H potatoes
Oprah Win-fries
Wok like an Egyptian
Vanilla Iced Tea
CareBear-ry lemonade
WHAM! Lamb
Milli VanilliBean Ice Cream
New Kids on the Broccoli
Sweet Creams are Made of These
REM&M Sundaes
Rainbow Brite Sherbet
the Cruel Cruel Summer Special
Ronald Oreagano Pasta
Buffalo Wind Beneath my Wings
He-Manwhich
Karate Kids meal
Reading Rainbow Trout
Sally Jesse Ravioli
A.L.F.redo
Like a Virgin Daquiri

And now, my family and I are going to go out to eat at McGrath's fish house, where this whole dream started. I guess it goes to show that yesterday's reality is today's memorabilia, but in the end we still love ourselves some Ace of Base. And Coconut Prawns.

Kanye-isms

2009-06-08T11:12:00.001-07:00

I often find myself wondering 'how can I be more like Kanye West?'

This MSNBC article taught me that maybe I should re-think that goal.

Kanye calls himself a 'proud non-reader.'in the article he is quoted as saying,

“Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed. I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book’s autograph..."

“...I am a proud non-reader of books. I like to get information from doing stuff like actually talking to people and living real life.”

The reason for the article? Kanye is promoting his new book.

I love the author's first line of the article. It reads, "Rapper Kanye West does not read books or respect them but nevertheless he has written one that he would like you to buy and read."

Read the article. Then say a prayer for when our generation rules the population.

et cetera

2009-06-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not really into playing games on the internet, but this one has been taking up some of my time lately. Try it out!

June is here

2009-06-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

June is here. And so is a new playlist.

This month's playlist evolved. It originally had a very vintage, up-beat feel with lots of new artists I have recently discovered. Maybe next month.

I like taking time to close my eyes and remove myself from the world, trying to see it for what it is. Life is beautiful. We have so many things to make us happy on the earth. And to think, this is one of the hardest parts of the plan of happiness. Oh, it is wonderful.

I appreciate it when artists remove themselves from, well, themselves and look outward. I like hearing other people's viewpoints on and dispositions regarding the state of humanity. And so, June's playlist is a mix of songs that focus outward and in so doing somehow help us focus ourselves.

1. When I Go > Brett Dennen
2. Fast Paced World > The Duhks
3. The World Spins Madly On > The Weepies
4. The New Love Song > Joshua James
5. Marching Bands of Manhattan > Death Cab For Cutie
6. New Soul > Nael Yaim
7. On the Edge of a Cliff > The Streets
8. Paper Aeroplane > Angus and Julia Stone
9. No One Knows > Asa
10. Snails > The Format
11. On The Radio > Regina Spektor
12. Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight > Amos Lee
13. Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? > She & Him
14. Viva La Vida > Coldplay
15. Waiting on the World to Change > John Mayer
16. Life is a Song > Patrick Park
17. Shadow Stabbing > Cake
18. Life is Wonderful > Jason Mraz
19. Times Like These > Jack Johnson

Not every song fits into this 'outrospective' genre (#8, 13, 14, etc) but it makes for a nice playlist to have on in the background of a contemplative afternoon of crafts and cooking. What? You don't have time for that? Oh, yeah...me neither....oh wait I do it every day. I'm lucky! And still yearning for more meaning and structure. But, I am so very happy. And the world spins madly on.

I love surprise parties

2009-05-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a large amount of journal writing lately, which has taken the many thoughts that simultaneously blaze through my head and put them to rest. Although I can not say the rest is entirely peaceful.

I have a lot of ideas and dreams and goals about my future. A lot of them. Like, a ton. And the past few days I have been thinking about if what I am doing now is going to get me to where I see myself, or if I will just be having ideas and dreams and goals forever. People should always, always have ideas, dreams, and goals. I just want to be realizing and living some of them while I'm forming more.

I just saw the movie 'Marley and Me.' The main character said he was always surprising himself with his accomplishments. I wish I could say that about myself. Luckily, I'm still young.

I don't think I've ever realized how much effort must go into becoming what I want to become. I know it's worth it. I know it. I know it. The adversary knows where the cracks in my walls are, though. Sometimes I just get so tired. Somehow, I know it will all turn out okay. I just hope that one day I will look back and surprise myself.

I'm proud of my cousin

2009-05-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

Quentin is my 2nd cousin, but I 1st cousin love him. And I'm so proud of him for writing this poem and winning this contest! Below is an excerpt from an article in the Billings Gazette about Quentin. Then there's a picture of him with his class (isn't he handsome?!) and then his actual poem. (sections 3&4 are my personal favorites) You go, Buddy!!!!

7th-grader does 'write thing'
Seventh-grader Quentin Poole doesn't consider himself a poet. But a poem he submitted in an essay contest earlier this spring snagged him an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., this summer.

Poole's work, "Violence Surrounds Us All," won top honors at the state level of the Do the Write Thing program to stop violence. His entry describes in verse a fictional account of violence, its causes, and how a young person can take a stand against it."No one to talk to, But his friends," he writes, "The way it started, Was the way it ends."

Poole, 13, who prefers football over English, wrote his poem for an English assignment. The submissions were judged on the basis of "most thought provoking" by a diverse group of Montana professionals in the juvenile justice field. The entries of all state finalists are bound in a book that will be placed in the Library of Congress.

Violence Surrounds Us All

By: Quentin Poole

1. How does violence affect your daily life?

I go to the store to buy a play station game,

They say I have to be seventeen and I think that’s lame,

Because I can turn on the t.v. anytime of day

And see the same thing they’re afraid I’ll play.

Because violence is everywhere so it seems,

I hope it don’t get to me except in my dreams.

2. Where are you confronted by violence?

On the city streets

Be careful of who you meet.

There are drugs, gangs and thugs,

If you meet up with them you may have to run.

Gun shots fired in the school

It turned out the bullies wanted to rule.

3. What are some of the causes of youth violence in your community?

No one to talk to But his friends,

The way it started Was the way it ends.

Drugs to try just for fun

Left him dying all alone.

Bullies hitting you for no reason at all

Makes you want to cry your eyes out and just bawl.

Fitting in is not simple

Especially if you have a pimple.

Being young is hard to do

Especially if no one accepts you.

4. What can you do as an individual to reduce youth violence in your community?
I could start young and strong

And always know my rights from my wrongs.

If someone is having a bad day Because of a school bully

I would know just what to sayAnd help them understand fully

That it has nothing to do with you

Bullies just like to see you blue.

Come join me and we will stop the madness.

Everyone will be happy and there’ll be no more sadness.

I would teach little kids what not to do,

And set an example of kindness, too.

this SUCKS!

2009-05-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

When I get married, I am most definitely registering for one of these.

wake up and pay attention

2009-05-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

'Wake Up and Pay Attention' is a phrase from one of my favorite movies, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.

The reason I say 'pay attention' is because I don't think people realize the effort I put into the playlists on my blog. Each month it is updated with a new list of songs. I pay careful attention to the feelings that songs give me. And each month I make a playlist that captures the mood and vibe that will set the tone for me that month. Sometimes it's more chill, sometimes it is crazy energetic, sometimes the lyrics are more contemplative, sometimes they're hopelessly romantic.

So, I think that at the beginning of each month when I update the playlist I will post about it and give you the skinny on the soundwaves I have selected.

There's no time like now for change, so here's what's spinning on 'life in stereo' for the month of June:

1. Come On, Get Happy | The Partridge Family
2. Did You Get my Message? | Jason Mraz
3. One Week | The Barenaked Ladies
4. Put Your Records On | Corinne Bailey Rae
5. Wonderful Night | Fatboy Slim
6. Light & Day | The Polyphonic Spree
7. The River of Dreams | Billy Joel
8. POP! Goes my Heart | Hugh Grant
9. Time of the Season | The Zombies
10. Extraordinary | Better Than Ezra
11. Lucky | Jason Mraz/Colbie Calliat
12. The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders | Sufjan Stevens

This month the selection is less lyrics-based and more about the texture of the music. These [mostly] old tunes conjure nostalgic smiles and come together to make a creamy but still pleasingly tart smoothie of audio pleasure. It fits perfectly with a relaxed afternoon brimming with fulfillment, energy and hope.

Come on, get happy!

One Month and One Day of Cool, Exciting Stuff

2009-05-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

I have an obsession with making things and doing things that most people hire other people to do.

I got home one week ago today. I haven't been too productive thus far, just putting away all of my things (just to pack them up again in August and drive back to Provo), sleeping a lot, hanging with the fam, cooking, and the occasional work out.

I now have exactly one month and one day until I leave for EFY. this means that I have exactly one month and one day to complete projects I've started, dreamed of starting, and stuff my parents need me to do while I'm home. Also I plan on cooking and baking a lot, working out even more, and helping my dad around the house and in the yard.

Every night before I go to bed I have to make three lists: 1. a list of things I need to do 2. a list of things I would like to get done, and 3. a list of time commitments I have. Then, I compile the three into my schedule for the next day. If I don't make my lists, I am guaranteed to have a less-than productive tomorrow.

I am putting this on my blog to achieve a higher level of accountability for my project completion. I will also probably write about certain projects I'm doing. That way when I'm writing about it I don't have to explain why I'm doing it. Although the answer would still be because I want to and I can.

Here are some of the projects I've had lined up in my head to complete over the next one month and one day:

already started:
-daddy/daughter collage
-take apart my old shoulder bag and make my own pattern for sewing more of them
-decoupage journals
-mending/hemming clothes

want to do:
-various collages for various reasons
-sew my own Mary Poppins/carpet lady bag
-digitize all of my parents' photographs
-go through my grandpa's antique trunks and figure out what's in them and what it's all worth
-turn beads on my dad's lathe
-make cards
-find other cool new uses for old things

Here are the commitments I have during my One Month and One Day of Cool, Exciting Stuff:
13 May - Sydney is here!
14-16 May - Kirsten's wedding in Portland
24 May - Leslie's Wedding
3-6 June - quick trip to Provo
12 June - Alicia's wedding
13 June - Day 1 of my EFY adventure.

I'm not going to make a schedule of what I'm going to do when. That's part of the beauty of the One Month and One Day of Cool, Exciting Stuff.

I will probably come back to this post and update my lists. Until then I believe I am going to go get started!

It's the time of the season for loving

2009-05-09T19:08:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Autumn.

Not only is Autumn beautiful, she is fantastic. She is caring and attentive and has the best laugh. When I grow up, I want to be like her. Whenever I see her she brightens my day. Her future kids are lucky. Her future husband is luckier.

Not only is Autumn a daughter of God, she is truly one of His best.

un-Cover Girl

2009-05-07T23:19:00.001-07:00

I've recently discovered that I look better with less make-up on. What does this mean?

I think the answer is that I'm like wine or a good cheese...I get better with age.

boys could understand girls if they listened to me. Or Jennifer Aniston. Also, Miss Cleo.

2009-05-04T15:29:00.000-07:00

I recently re-watched a movie entitled 'The Breakup.'

The first time I saw this movie I remember making a prediction that I would probably never see it again. This wouldn't seem like a big deal to someone like my mother who only watches movies once. I, on the other hand, am a repeat movie watcher. I can't help it.

So I think when I originally saw this movie I thought it wasn't all that entertaining, moved slowly, and ended poorly.

The second time I saw it (it was on the USA network the other night and I was all alone in a house in Highland...I had to do something) I was amazed at how squarely the writers of the film hit the proverbial 'battle of the sexes' nail on the head.

If any boy wants to understand girls he needs to watch 'The Break-up' with a girl, and pause to discuss when he has questions. Just like when boys try to explain football to you. But they don't pause it and they get distracted and it gets annoying and you don't learn anything.

Watching this movie felt like intruding on something really personal. The feelings they were experiencing were real and made them vulnerable.

I wonder: if a boy really did watch 'The Break-up' with a girl and pause to discuss when he had questions and had the mental/emotional processes explained to him if he would still understand. Sometimes there are fundamental differences that can not be resolved, although they must be acknowledged.

For example, International Development. I'm interested in it. I read about it sometimes. I think about it. I have questions. I find the answers.

I had a great discussion today with a friend about International Development and economics. He knows a lot more than I do. I like listening to him and asking him questions. He has good ideas. I agree with him. We don't know why everyone else doesn't agree with us either. It all makes too much sense. Somewhere, in the fabric of human intellect, there lay fundamentally opposite ideals for how to achieve the same goal. Can they change? I argued earlier today that they could. was I wrong?

...probably not. peace out!

How old is too old to have a crush on Zac Efron?

2009-04-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

I think a really great date would be to make no bake cookies and then watch Beauty and the Beast. In fact, I think that may be the best date ever. Also, Hercules may be substituted for Beauty and the Beast.

I kind of hate the 'creative date.' You know, the ones where you fingerpaint a picture of the other person and then describe it to the group with adjectives that only start with the letter of their first name. And then you make cookies with your hands tied behind your back and then deliver them to old people who would rather you weren't blocking the television and may have already put away their teeth for the night.

I'm in extreme limbo right now, living with my roommate's parents whilst I wait to drive home for the rest of Spring term. I love my roommate, I love her parents, I love my family that is here visiting and I love the friends I've seen while I've been in limbo. But the Catholics were right about this place, it kind of stinks. I'm ready to belong somewhere again.

The nice things about a home:
-a mom
-a fireplace
-water from the front of the fridge
-also, ice
-DISHWASHER
-no engaged roommates
-smells good
-the kitchen has all of the random spices/ingredients that you need for a new or different recipe
-the kitchen has more than one pan
-the kitchen has more than one pot
-mom and dad's bed

I have also always wanted to go on a date to a paint-your-own pottery place. It seems like a great way to get to know someone.

I'm very excited for the next month of my life. I will be completing projects right and left and I can't wait! '05 out.

I feel it all

2009-04-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

I have been having a lot of feelings lately. I will strive to succinctly summarize them.

Today was the last day of my New Testament class. I had been looking forward to it quite a bit. My friend Trent and I love that class. We trade off bringing treats for each other. After class we usually walk together and discuss real things, bearing testimony of the infinite and intimate intercession made on our behalf by our sweet, merciful, loving Savior. I will miss that.

Unfortunately, our professor could not attend our last class. We were both saddened that he couldn't make it. He is a truly incredible man. The woman filling in for Brother Bartholomew read John 20:15.

"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, who weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir if thou have borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will take him away."

Today I felt for Mary. I didn't just feel for Mary, I felt as Mary. Grief-stricken and literally hopeless, she longs for and clings to the only things she believes she has left of Jesus...his lifeless, bruised, beaten, battered body.

As I approached a crosswalk near the Snell building, an olive green hatchback Passat was making a left hand turn. I peered at the driver. She was beautiful. Shoulder-length brown hair with a natural wave. Olive skin with a porcelain sheen. She was crying. Her shoulders shook with sobs. Her sorrow broke my hearth a thousand times at once. Tears raced down her cheeks. Her mouth open as if she felt it necessary to scream something, but unable to formulate sounds let alone a word.

I don't know why that young woman was so sad. But I felt it. I began to cry with her, although her Passat had already disappeared from my view. When I could be alone I pled with our Father for her to be comforted. Will you pray for her with me?

There is something else I would very much like to discuss. Briefly.

I love kids. I think they are awesome. IT is not a secret that I want to have at least 12 kids.

A few weeks ago when expressing this sentiment and my desire to begin my family, a dear friend of mine asked 'you would have a kid before you graduate?!'

This statement shocked me for a moment. I would have never expected a question like that from my friend. I then pointed out how by the time I met someone, dated, got engaged and then married and how it takes 9 months to cook a baby anyway I would probably/definitely be done with school by then.

I wish I hadn't answered that. That is not my answer. This is my answer: "Absolutely!"

I plan to finish college. It is more important to me than anyone knows. However, I would without question take time off from school to support my husband and/or raise my kids. If you want, you can blame Barack Obama.

As he continues to advocate for a woman's right to choose to take away someone else's right to choose, more and more women are and will be getting abortions. With my knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and how many of Heavenly Father's children need to come to earth before my Savior can come again, it would be the highest point of enmity to assume that anything I have to do in my life is more important that allowing someone else to have one.

I believe with my whole hart that I am a natural mother. Any words that I can think of would only cheapen the tender feelings I have fore every child I see.

It sufficeth to say that I feel. so much.

From Stardust:

"You know when I said I knew little about love? That wasn't true. I know a lot about love. I've seen it. I've seen centuries and centuries of it, and it was the only thing that made watching your world bearable. All those wars. Pain and lies. Hate...It made me want to turn away and never look down again. But to see the way that mankind loves...You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful."

I have peace in my heart despite the sadness so prevalent in our world. How? John 16:33.

"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

I think it is clear that, quite literally, Jesus wants us to peace out.

announcing: the end of the beginning.

2009-04-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

My roommate/bff Sydney is GRADUATING. From COLLEGE. And so is her brother Sam. We went out to take a few shots for their graduation announcements. Here are a few of my faves:

...and here is the final choice for the announcement.

Oh, the places she'll go.

Getting Lucky in Kentucky

2009-04-02T22:33:00.000-07:00

So, I recently got back from a trip to Louisville, Kentucky. Yes, it exists. I was there for the annual ITEA conference. The group of students from my major with whom I attended simultaneously competed against other universities in different areas related to the technology/engineering education field. I tend to be long winded so in an effort to spare you, the reader, I have decided to create the following list.

Kentucky Trip Top Ten:
1. Something that was awesome: Louisville.

from the second I stepped off the plane (literally), every person I talked to who was from Louisville was the nicest person I had ever met. I loved talking to them and they loved talking to me. It was like a really really good date. (how often do those happen?!) The town itself is really charming. The downtown area was surprisingly clean and felt pretty safe. In fact, I would venture to say that I felt safer on 4th Street Live (the downtown hotspot...think Park City on crack) than I do in certain parts of SLC (hello West Valley). I would totally live there. Granted, I would totally live anywhere, but I would say that Louisville comes third to Oregon and Utah. The town had so much character! Red brick, old Victorian houses painted cool colors close together...ahh.

2. Something that was not so awesome: the trip there

basically, I was running late. And I was responsible for getting more than just myself to the airport on time. If I hadn't been running behind I'm still not sure if we would have made the flight because I failed to factor in parking and shuttle riding time. Anyway, getting there it was just myself and one of my professor's research assistants who I didn't meet until that morning. It was one of those mornings where everything was going wrong. Absolutely everything! But, alas, we made it despite the fact that we missed our original flight and had to fly standby the whole way. Turns out that Ryan is really cool and we became pretty good friends by the end of the trip.

3. Something that was awesome: Continental Breakfast

It has been such a long time since I've stayed in a hotel! I forgot how fantastic it is to have a myriad of choices laid out for you in the clean, fresh lobby each morning. The Hampton Inn really knows how to treat the most important meal of the day. I think if some of the off-campus housing facilities in Provo want to get a leg-up on the competition they should consider serving a continental breakfast. Or, they could just start with being less dingy and expensive.

4. Something that was not so awesome: humid to the max

I loved Kentucky but my hair didn't. I feel bad for everyone who had to look at it in all of its frizzy, kind of wavy (where did that come from?) kind of nasty and ratty glory. It (my hair) was glad to get back to dry, predictable Utah.

5. Something that was awesome: A.L.F.???

Alfie Kohn to be exact. He was one of the keynote speakers at the conference. Some of the kids that were on the trip with me from BYU didn't like him, but I thought he was fantastic. Don't get me wrong, this guy is radical and has extreme views, but, according to the (limited) research I have done so far, I completely agree with everything he says. He really energized a lot of the crowd. He made people want to act. He's like a white, Jewish Barack Obama! But I believe in the things that he stands for. And I think that while I am still young and in college I will get more involved in trying to research about and bring about educational reform. Teachers who act risk losing their jobs. I can still get away with being outspoken because I'm young. Sad but true.

6. Something that was not so awesome: being shafted.

I was on a team that made a video for the communications section of the College-level competitions. We absolutely, 100%, without a doubt should have won 1st place. We didn't place at all. Afterward I went and had some discussions with a few of the powers-that-be. Yes, I was assertive, borderline mean, but I left being friends with all of them and an offer to be more involved in next year's competition. I need to decide if that's what I want. I don't have the time to do everything I would like to do. At least not right now. That's also what I've been thinking about this whole photography thing. It's like, I enjoy doing it, but I think it is for a different season of my life. Is my priority right now TECA? no, not that one either. I did not decide to become a teacher to help the kids that are already going to college. Let alone the ones my age who are already in college. Most of the people there were clearly more into the content area than the teaching (which is troublesome on its own). I decided I'm not going to waste my time making competitions for my peers fairer. I'm going to spend my time preparing to change lives.

7. Something that was awesome: Food

Oh man, they fed us and fed us. We ate so much! I feel really blessed to be in such a cool program with leaders that try their best to find funding so we can have good experiences while we're here. Also, there was a Panera across the street from the convention center, which I have never been known to complain about (except for that first time in D.C. with Chad and Erin). We went to a Thai restaurant one night and I ordered Pineapple Curry. It was spicy, but really good! I want to experiment with infusing that idea with my Dad's recipe. I love myself some curry.

8. Something that was not so awesome: 'awk awk' (as Chad and Erin would say)

I didn't really know any of the people that were on the trip. That's not the not-awesome part. They were very nice and everything was fine. I had a goal when I left for the trip that I would not transition into the social-butterfly version of chaela for any part of it. AND (get this) I achieved my goal! for the most part. Sometimes when I was alone in a room full of strangers I would start up, but I would catch myself and sit back down. The thing is, I'm still learning how to be normal around people without being gregarious or funny or nonchalant. Really, I just want to be myself. One day I'll get there. But on this trip I tried my best to keep to myself and play the loner a little bit. It was interesting. Sometimes when in a group setting I would try to talk normally with the group without overpowering the conversation. Every time that happened it was painfully awkward and I would laugh about it to myself later. I'm sure one day I'll find a balance. I'm just so happy that I love myself enough and know myself enough to make it through that trip with no one that I really knew. Maybe that seems simple to some people. For me, it was a huge step. so huge it was a little uncomfortable. But, whatev! The church is true. What else can you do about it.

9. Something that was awesome: TSA (not the security people)(although they are nice too)

TSA is the high school equivalent to TECA. The student representatives from this organization gave a presentation on what they do. These kids are amazing. Not only do they make TECA look like a pre-school hosted in a less-than-mint-condition airstream camper, they raised over $275,000 last year for the American Cancer Society. This is just on the side of all of the other things that these High School kids do. They reminded me of me in high school...the uber-involved type-A personality kids who don't go to class because they're so busy but still get A's. I was so impressed with their presentation. This is something I will absolutely get my students involved in. After the presentation I was talking to the High School kids (what can I say, I want to teach) and I was telling them about my plans as a teacher and some of the programs I've been thinking about and writing about. They got so excited with me! Talk about Synnergy! Impressive to say the least.

10. Something I can think of: Terrible Tw(enty one)s

I learned something about me. Actually, I've known this for a while but I think I needed time to admit it. I am like a toddler. I'm generally in a good mood unless I'm hungry or tired. So, I'll need to tell my next boyfriend that if I'm grumpy, feed me. If it doesn't go away, make me take a nap. If it still doesn't go away it's probably his fault. Just Kidding! But seriously. I think this probably works on most females....maybe I should write a book.

So, other than those things, the 'adult boutique' we had to walk by every time we walked from the hotel to the convention center, losing the car in long-term parking, realizing that my mono might never go away, engineering boys asking for my e-mail address (instead of phone number...which I think is funny), watching a lot of basketball, reading for pleasure (!), 3D printers, Frank from the airport, Cindy the chemist from the airplane, and holding two really cute babies, the trip was pretty uneventful.

My hair is happy to be back.

goodnight!

If I ever need to smile...

2009-03-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

I look at this picture. Oh how I love this little girl!

point-and-click is SO 2008

2009-03-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official, I'm in love with photography. I'm getting better, too! Here's a glance at a few of my faves from the past few weeks:

Leslie and Dan's Engagements

Kirsten and Brett's Engagements

And now, the photo that depicts my true love:
So maybe it's not true love. But I still really want one. I've got 2 paid gigs coming up. I guess I could just save the money from those (and hopefully more jobs to come) until I've got enough to buy a camera. Although I know that the chick I check cameras out from at school is getting pretty sick of me! I need to find ways to make some extra cash. Any ideas?

In other news, the Hunger Banquet went splendidly, my room is decidedly cleaner than it has been the past few weeks, I have free tickets to a Vocal Point concert tomorrow night, I got a new issue of Real Simple today, and I have nothing to cook so I'm going to head to the supermarket. Peace out!

If the 'Daily Universe' is the world then I'm saving it.

2009-03-04T20:55:00.000-08:00

Hi! I know I haven't written lately, life is crazy!! But, that excuse is not going to cut it at the judgment so why should it work on blogspot? Luckily I don't think very many points will be docked for failing to sufficiently update my blog.

I began writing a letter to the Daily Universe's 'Readers Forum' that turned into a full length article. I called the opinion editor at the Daily Universe to see if they ever have guest writers and if my piece could be considered for print. She told me that there is a chance they could print it, and to e-mail her a copy. I did. Hopefully, somehow, it can be printed for the masses to read because I believe in the cause. If the beurocracy of the Daily Universe ultimately abandons my writing, however, it will forever be here on my blog:

____________________________
Hunger Banquet
I did not vote for Barack Obama. And despite his boyish good looks, his views and policies still make me anywhere from nervous to flat-out enraged. But it's hip to be liberal! Counter-culture, meet mainstream: your doppelganger.

This (in addition to skinny jeans, huge sunglasses, keffiyehs, mustaches and 'vintage' shirts from American Apparel) is the reason I have tried so hard to avoid the Students for International Development club. Despite my best friend's heavy involvement with SID, I knew that the hipster hypocrisy surely present at their meetings would make me too frustrated to contain myself in any civilized, 'developed' manner.

Regardless, being a good friend mandates the occasional selfless act. So, as of late, I have begrudgingly attended a few meetings to support my best friend. There in the Kennedy Center I learned that I was, once again, wrong about life.

The Students for International Development club is legit. It's not full of people who quote Conor Oberst's lyrics when asked their political views. Neither do its members promote free love, handouts, or talking about feelings as ways to help change the world.

The International Development discipline as a whole does not profess to know all of the answers. They study, do research, and are constantly trying to find systems and establishments that provide sustainable solutions to the problems plaguing people—fellow children of God—in circumstances (economically and otherwise) light-years worse than our own. Despite opposition, the development world continues to investigate how to preserve culture and teach people to help themselves attain and retain autonomy and quality of life. Who knew that some giving was bad? A monetary contribution may be from the bottom of your heart, but it might hurt more than it helps. I'm sorry if that was hard to hear. Luckily, I have found one of the many missing links from us to them: the Hunger Banquet.

The proceeds from the Hunger Banquet (which is hosted by SID) are essentially treated as grant money for which nonprofit agencies may apply. The applications for the money are due this week. Then, on Monday, a class that is actually devoted to researching development strategies will roll up their sleeves and get to work, carefully investigating each applicant and its effectiveness. This way, I know that the proceeds from my ticket don't go to ridiculous overheads that line 'nonprofit' administrators' pockets. Or BYUSA.

I do not agree with every philosophy that the Students for International Development club has. For example, I think capitalism is a great system that generally works. The Hunger Banquet, however, is something that I can dig. Some may say that our knowledge concerning the prophecies of the last days should tell me that there's not much hope for improvement in the world. I say that any child of Heavenly Father deserves the best that I can give them, regardless of what may happen tomorrow.

So, it turns out that buying a mass-produced peace-promoting hoodie is enough fulfillment for most hipsters. The kids at SID actually care. In this case, the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts. (and now I'm one of the parts!!) You can be too. Come to the Hunger Banquet this weekend and cause real change.
___________________________

I will update more soon! Until then, goodnight, good luck, and all that jazz.

The celesital kingdom is not limited enrollment.

2009-02-13T01:34:00.000-08:00

As I was taking my backpack, etc. off my bed tonight so I could climb in and catch some Z's (American for 'sleep') I noticed that I have a never-been-opened, mint condition copy of the Daily Universe in my bag from every day this week plus Thursday and Friday of last week. Do you understand what this means? This means that I have been so busy that I have not read any news for an entire week. I have no idea what's going on in the world! It's kind of a strange feeling. I know that I don't like it very much because when I get too busy it's way too easy to get wrapped up in myself, my life, my immediate surroundings, and other things that are me-related. I don't really like being so focused on me. It's not very fulfilling.

Don't get me wrong, busy is not necessarily a bad thing. Too busy is a bad thing. We often over complicate life. I'm not sure the exact reasons and it's probably different for everyone, but a large contributor is this need we sometimes feel to 'measure up.' We either want to keep up with the Jones' or beat the Jones' to the finish line. It's so important to remember that happiness, success and fulfillment are not limited-enrollment. Just because someone else is feeling those things doesn't mean there's one less spot for me. I guess you could say happiness is spot-less. Enmity really is the basis of many of the world's problems today. Enmity is the reason I dislike celebrity. It's the reason people have abortions. It's everywhere. Sometime I will give you my spiels about celebrity and abortion. Tonight I am too tired. Instead you should read (or re-read) this talk. It's pretty iconic.

Today was an interesting day. It was totally awesome, but very interesting. I'll sum it up quickly:

Got up. Good hair day. Went to class. It was New Testament. Sat by my friend in that class Trent. We ate CareBears fruit snacks. I think Trent should ask me out. Next up undergraduate seminar. The speaker was my New Testament teacher. Which is kind of funny. I didn't mind. He is a fantastic teacher who blows my mind on a regular basis. I can't wait to be a teacher. Storyboarded for the Egypt photography competition. Went back to the creepy underpass to practice the shots/make our own real storyboard. It was snowing. No coat. Dumb. I survived. Got home. Studied for a test. Did some schoolwork. My friend Creighton calls. He's in town. (He's from Logan). Wants to hang out. I say 'of course!' Creighton flips cars for money. His last purchase was a limousine. A man hired him to be his personal driver. He paid to have Creighton's limo totally decked out. Creighton was doing a wedding in Provo. He picked me up in a limo. He looked great. Opens the door for me. I ride in the back. This thing is incredible! I get to experience the sound system. Better than you're imagining right now. He let me pick the music. Elton John and old-school Mariah Carey have never sounded better. We go to K-mart. In a limo. We buy spray paint. He takes me home. I make some food. I go back to school. I have a photo shoot. My friends are running for BYUSA something. They asked me to take pictures. I did. We started at 10. I got home at 12:30. I've been looking at pictures. my vision gets blurry. I decide to go to bed. I do some reading. I clean off my bed. I find all of the Daily Universes. I decide to get online and participate in one of my favorite pastimes. Looking at every CNN headline page and ctrl+T'ing the life out of the stories and then reading all 20 billion tabs one right after the other. I decide to write in my blog about Creighton's limo.

CNN might have to wait. I want to turn on my space-heater, get under the covers, and dream about limo rides and what it would be like if Elton John had been singing his love songs to a woman instead of a man. goodnight! Remember who you are, make good choices, and stop comparing yourself. Don't forget that you're pretty fantastic regardless of what other people can say or do.

Whether the weather is cold, or whether the weather is hot...

2009-02-05T21:41:00.000-08:00

Whatever the weather
we're in this together,
whether we like it or not.

If I were ever going to have a civilian wedding (which I won't) I would use that short rhyme as my half of the exchanging of vows. Then we would get right to the party.

Speaking of weather, the past few days in Provo have been quite blissful. Warm enough that you're good in jeans, a t-shirt and a hoodie. We're talking Oregon winter weather here (which is nearly perfect). I'm loving it.

Today as my friend Ashley and I were driving to a location we are planning to use for a photo shoot, I opened up the old sunroof. I mean moonroof. I mean hole-in-the-top-of-your-car-but-it's-okay-because-it's-a-planned-hole-that-you-can-cover-up-roof. Isn't it funny that people will pay extra for less car? I understand that with a [celestial body here]roof there are additional electronic and sealing needs, etc. I just think its funny.

Anyway, as I was closing said-roof for the day I decided to find out, once and for all, what a sunroof really is and how the H it differs from a moonroof. I knew that one of them just tilted up and the other actually opened, but I didn't know which one was which. My educated guess was that the one that merely tilted was a sunroof because, afterall, if the sun is shining you don't want it to shine right on you (hello skin cancer!), but if the moon was shining you want to slide it open so you can see it. Right? Wrong. Dead wrong.

According to Wikipedia, the most correct and dependable source of information in the entire world (literally), I was literally dead. Wrong.

Sunroof vs. Moonroof status has nothing to do with the tilt/slide options that are out there. Here is the only difference:

One is opaque. The other is not.

That's it. Opacity is the nebulous, seemingly arbitrary variable that ceases to stump the human race. This question, sunroof or moonroof? is up there with 'why is the sky blue?' 'why does the sun lighten our hair but darken our skin?' 'why do we choose between like 4 people for president and 50 for Miss America?' OR -the big one- 'is Heath Ledger really dead?'

So, out of those important questions regarding life, these are the ones I can answer:

1. Why is the sky blue?
something about blue and violet having the shortest wavelengths on the spectrum and
when the sunlight hits the molecules in the atmosphere those are the ones to scatter and
reflect the light. ...? I think. Whatever, google it.

2. Why does the sun lighten our hair but darken our skin?
Melanin. (I work for a dermatologist). Also, wear sunscreen so you don't die like Bob Marley did.

3. why do we choose between like 4 people for president and 50 for Miss America?
Because no one wants to see John McCain, Joe Biden, or even Barack Obama in a
swimming suit.

4. Is Heath Ledger Really Dead?
I don't know, little ones. There are many people who are very concerned about this issue
and believe that he will come back Oscar night in his Joker outfit. They have many
reasons to believe he is still alive, and some of them are quite humorous. The only reason I
care about knowing is to make sure that his temple work gets done. Maybe Heath and
Elvis are running a laundromat somewhere in South Carolina. Or, maybe they are now
companions preaching the good word on the other side. Either way we'll get them squared
away, eternally speaking.

5. What is the difference between a sunroof and a moonroof?
A sunroof is opaque, whereas a moonroof has a glass panel so that during those chilly
evenings you can still see the moon. Personally, I would rather you kept your eyes on the road.

Welp everyone, you're welcome. I'm going to bed. have a great night! And, if you have any more questions about life, start here. It should clear everything up for you.

boys and girls and dating and how (not to) do it

2009-02-01T16:11:00.000-08:00

I think I should start a dating advice column. I'm so good at it!

I'm pretty sure it's evidence of my pride and self-righteousness that I think I can look at a situation as a third party and think that I know better how to fix or handle the problem. But for some reason, it works.

There are clear 'rules' or 'principles' that we constantly violate as we are trying to impress and read one another. We violate these because, as Elder Oaks has said, everyone thinks ("knows") that they are the exception.

I am in no way suggesting that something as simple as 'dating rules' are absolute truth. However, there is truth in the idea that we are all more alike than we think. But not you, right? you're not like everyone else. You're the exception! false.

Exhibit A:

Girl from my ward, we'll call her Sarah.
Boy from my ward, we'll call him Chad.

Sarah is always at Chad's house. Sarah talks about Chad. Sarah is clearly into Chad.

Today at church, I see Sarah. We are in a situation where it is tactful to inquire of the nature of her relationship with Chad. So I do. We are around a few other people, and she says things like "no way!" "Chad and I are just friends, nothing else!" "I go out of my way to make sure everyone knows that Chad and I are just friends...you know...buddies!"

Then I begin to offer my opinions regarding how much time she is wasting being "just friends" with Chad and how lame it is when people are "just friends" because at our age (unfortunately) that is virtually impossible. (If you think you are "just friends" with a member of the opposite sex you are fooling yourself. Also, FYI, you are NOT the exception.)

Soon after, Sarah pulls me aside and reveals that she has been in love (!) with Chad for a year and a half (!!!) but he is not interested in her at all. How many 'no-no' buzzers can ring at one time?!

Here are the problems:
1. Being best friends with a boy.

I know I already addressed this. The essence of the problem is that we (Myself, Sarah, Chad, everyone else in my ward...most people at BYU...) want to get married. That's why we date. So we can find someone to marry. So, if you are spending time with someone and you know it's not headed in the direction of pairing off and becoming a couple, then you are wasting your time and theirs. Also, if you are definitely not interested in the other person but you just like spending time with them, and they are fine with that, then they're probably way into you or they will be soon. In this equation, both parties will NEVER remain constant in their lack of romantic feelings toward each other. Ever. You are not the exception. I am not the exception. Chad is clearly not the exception either.

2. Hanging out at Chad's house:

Girls should not make it a habit to 'hang out' at a boys' apartment. There are many many many many many many many many many many reasons for this. The one I will make mention of here is specifically for Sarah and her situation. If Chad gets to have her around with no effort on his part, why would he change anything?
LEAVE. There is truth to Joni Mitchell's lyrics "you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone." Sarah needs to let Chad miss her a little. Chances are he will notice the void and realize that he likes Sarah and wants her around more. Then he will be a man about it.

3. lack of MOD:

In the dating world there is too much intentional mis-leading. People think they are playing the game well when they pretend they are too busy or don't call back right away...blah blah blah. Women use so many half truths to play 'hard to get.' The fact is that we need to be hard to get. Become happy with yourself, fill your life with things that you love, have goals, and work toward them. Being (not playing) hard to get makes you an MOD: Moving Object of Desire. There is a thrill in the chase. I get it; I watch Cops.

Dating isn't as hard or as complicated as most of us think. If you think it is, you're doing it wrong. Please e-mail me at chaechaedating@gmail.com if you think I am wrong.

If you really do want some dating advice you should e-mail me too! For some reason people come to me. They ask me these things. I didn't ask for it, but I love it. And through these experiences, I have become wise. It's a big, scary world out there, but it's full of good people. Good Luck daters!

teaching, marriage, and decoupage

2009-01-29T13:15:00.000-08:00

I dislike the idea of sewing patterns.

I have no desire to do something exactly the same way it has already been done. If I lived my life like that I would become an obsolete person. Granted, this is an extreme comparison but the principle remains. I won't settle for mediocrity, and in my opinion living life a certain way because it 'worked out' for other people is a sad waste of a life.

Yesterday while I was washing some dishes I was thinking about all of my ideas, plans, and theories about education and how and why I want to teach. I can not wait to be a teacher. I can't wait to figure out how to bridge the cognitive divide and help my students see their potential sooner. Not their potential within my content area, but their potential to lead lives like the one I plan on leading.

I can't wait to have a family. my roommate posed an interesting question the other day regarding what 'scene' of my future marriage I see. She said that she sees herself and her future husband creating or making stuff together. Another roommate said that she sees them sitting on the bed and talking. It turns out, lots of people have a 'scene' that they imagine when thinking about their marriage. I kind of realized I did before I was asked this question, but now I really realize how much that 'scene' comes up in my mind. My marriage scene is simple. It is my husband and I sitting at the breakfast table laughing together. And even though we are laughing we are discussing something real. and we are making eye contact that signifies a true connection, encompassing love and mutual adoration. That's all. I plan to have a stellar marriage.

So, sewing patterns. I don't like them for what they're for. I have my own ideas. And, since sewing is by nature a creative task, why limit naturally creative people by telling them where to cut and how to stitch? I plan, in all facets of life, to learn the basics, experiment, and learn more. Then, hopefully step by step, adventure by adventure, make of my life a masterpiece.

I've got a lot to give and only a lifetime in which to give it. I should start yesterday.

I bought a bag full of old sewing patterns from DI for $1. When I have a spare moment I plan to use the patterns to decoupage the cover of a scrapbook. I think that could be really classy and beautiful.

have a good one! Make good choices, remember who you are, and hug a stranger. Actually, don't do the last one. It hasn't really worked out for me very well the last few tries...

blackberries: the love/hate saga (minus the hate)

2009-01-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

I fell in love today. With a new flavor of yogurt:

Long ago, Yoplait made "Custard Style" yogurt and I loved it. Then they stopped making it. Don't you hate that? Like remember when Snapple made WhipperSnapples? Or do you remember those Koala bear-shaped cookies with stuff inside of them that came in a container shaped like a hexagonal prism? Memories. Mostly of Chad (my brother) eating my Koala snacks because he wanted to "try" my flavor. Then I learned to get the same flavor he did so that his excuse would no longer be valid. He still ate mine.

Anyway, yeah okay Custard style yogurt, right? Well, I was at Macey's last week and they are making it again! I know, right? Awesome. Now it's called 'Thick and Creamy' but it is definitely the same stuff. It is what I have been hoping for every time I've opened a container of yogurt since I was 12. At Macey's I bought two different flavors: classic strawberry and blackberry harvest. In Oregon, blackberries are considered a weed. The incredibly thorny and even more stubborn kind. With that association in mind I'm not really sure why I opted to try blackberry yogurt, but it has been sitting in my fridge for about a week waiting for me to be adventurous.

This morning as I rushed out the door to a meeting I hastily grabbed from the refrigerator shelf the Blackberry Harvest Thick and Creamy variety of Yoplait yogurt. My life will never be the same.

Have you ever smelled or tasted something that reminded you of your past but you're not sure of exactly what it is? Yeah. You get it. This stuff is legit. I will never say another bad thing about blackberries.

Now I have to go do things that grown-ups do like spend money and clean and read stuff. Don't forget to cheer for BYU tonight.