"Courage, then, and patience! Courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And then when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake."

--Victor Hugo

Come On, Feel the Illinois!

Illinois is a very difficult word writing when you capitalize the "i".

There you go.

Today, I helped out with 4-H by working at their booth at a local farmer's market. We provide free activities for the children while the parents

wander about doing parental things. So the craft we

did today was to make buttons.

Not these kind of buttons

but these kinds!

(I did choose this example because of the David Bowie button, I will admit that. I am a sucker for him and Labyrinth.)

So I have gone before, and all the kids were crazy. So, thankfully, one of the supervisors of 4-H had another sub come and help me with the booth. He was a cutie. Like, he was really nice on the eyes and super funny. So, honestly, my evening was not bad at all! Plus, I got to make some awesome buttons, which were so much fun to do.

With the gratitude today, I guess I could be grateful for cute guys.

Really, really cute guys.

Really, really cute guys who wear Ray Bans.

Yes, today was not a bad day at all.

TM #1

Last night, I was grateful for the Spirit. Why? I will tell you.

So there is a group of six or so girls in our ward that have their mission calls. Who knows how many more are planning to go! So since we are all in a weird feeling place, I decided to get us all together once a week to talk, laugh, answer each others' questions, and just have fun. Well, we all decided that we should do a mission prep lesson when we get together too. Since we were at my house, I volunteered myself to teach chapter one: Our Purpose.

I had the chance to plan this lesson for two weeks. My planning really didn't turn out...how I wanted it to be. I was freaking out. How am I supposed to teach these girls about the purpose of missionary work when

A) I had not planned the lesson to the par I wanted to

B) I have never served a mission

Thank goodness for my good friend, the RM of the group, and the Holy Spirit to help me figure out what to say. The girls participated so well and it was very, very rewarding for all of us. I loved it! Cassie and I acted like we were companions teaching a lesson and knew when the other needed to speak. Ah, it felt like a true lesson. So fantastic!

I seriously love those girls so much. They are so great and amazing at all they do. I am so grateful to have their friendship. I am a lucky, lucky girl when it comes to that.

So yeah, first update was simple.

Churchy?

Of course.

True?

You betcha.

It never ceases to amaze me when the Spirit truly guides to someone or something, provides revelation or comfort to you, or just be a constant companion. Love that third member.

So there you go. First Tender Mercy post. Hope you all enjoyed. If any of you want to comment on what tender mercies you saw in your life, please do. That could be a pretty cool experiment. I love you all and wish a beautiful day upon you.

Cheers.

Ch.Wa.

He Woke Me Up Again!

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I have FANTASTIC news for all of you.

I, Chelsea Waterfall...

Got the job at Dillards!

Aka: I get paid to look profesh.

So so so excited for this. It looks like things are turning around for me, which I love dearly. I start Oct. 12 with an orientation from 5-7ish, then I start right on the floor as a full-time sales associate from then on. Quite an exciting time for me! The pay is great, the hours are amazingly long, and the people that work there seem like awesome folk. So I am, again, so excited to start my new adventure!

I have some fresh ideas for this blog now. I really want to have a gratitude journal, but that would mean I would have to write it down on paper. I love paper--the feel of it, how it smells when it ages, etc. I almost made paper sound like a fine, aged wine. There you go. No, but I want to make this gratitude Bigger. I want this for everyone to see. Because, in my opinion, when one person shares a positive outlook on life, it becomes a spark and ignites in every person around who allows--or even who doesn't allow it. It's like a smile, or a gift, a nice fuzzy feel-good moment that everyone loves.

Some of them will be heartfelt and special.

Some will be just a joke after a horrible day.

All will be mighty special to me

So come on and join the fun!

I hope and pray all of you are having beautiful days.

Cheers.

Ch.Wa.

Welcome Welcome, Sabbath Morning

Hello Sabbath Morning!

Gotta love the peace you feel on this day.

So since I have last posted, I was working at the Bookstore. Now with this post, I am now NOT working at the bookstore. I had to quit my job there since I am no longer a student this semester. Fun times, right? Eh, not really. I had some great friendships there and a lot of fun working there, but everything happens for a reason.

It was very quick, the quitting process. I was just told that this week was to be my last week. I told a few people, we talked about it, and then I was out the door. I really don't even know if the main manager of the store even knows I left, ha. All is well though. I had a good year there and I actually do miss it.

I am now 21.

It really didn't hit me until two days after the fact. I was talking to someone before church and I made the comment of "Well yeah, I am only twenty....ONE." I flipped out. It was a surprise to me, and apparently to everyone else. So there you go, everyone. I am a legal eagle.

So I honestly feel like I have been invisible for the past two weeks.

This is legit, people.

This last week, was better though. Probably only because I was supposed to enter the MTC on Wednesday. I have never been so stressed for a day before in my life, it seems like. I have never prayed so hard that I will be OK on some random date...or so it would seem to everyone else. On my birthday, though, I received a quaint fortune in the chosen cookie that read:

"You will be able to handle whatever comes your way this week."

Thank you Lord for answering my prayers in a fortune cookie. Seriously, I was meant to open that cookie, or the other one, because my friend's read "When one door opens, another closes."

There you go.

Love it when prayers are answered in the most bizarre and benign seeming ways.

So I knew that I would be able to handle whatever Wednesday brought to me, even if I didn't want to handle it.

Therapy also helped that conformation, ha.

Wednesday was a pretty good day. I have never felt so much support from friends and family around me. I woke up to a few texts telling me that the day would go well and if I needed anything, they would be there for me. My mom and I went and did sealings in the Logan Temple. Everyone couldn't get over our last name. They also couldn't get over the fact that I was supposed to serve that day.

We then both accidentally swore outside of the temple. That was fun. Then we had soup and salad at the Olive Garden, saw four horribly parked cars, then goofed off in TJ MAXX. Yes, I am most DEFINITELY my mother's daughter. It was a great day, really. I really don't remember the rest of it, which is totally fine.

The rest of the week has been sort of...hard, I guess.

I was so worried about the day of that I totally forgot that there are days after the fact. It doesn't help the fact that my medication is not working well at all. So I did what I could only think of doing.

I got to work.

Now I remember what I did on Wednesday night. I went up to Morgan and helped my aunt and uncle with watching their kids while they were away. It was a lot of fun to hang out with the little ones. I seriously love those kids so much. We ate pizza, watched a movie, worked on homework, crocheted, and then went to bed. Great night.

So Thursday, I started applying for jobs after I left Morgan. I ran some errands with a good friend, then went back up to get the oldest one to go to baptisms for the dead. It was her first time going and boy, was it a great experience! She loved it so much, and it was much needed for me. It was so great to be able to share that experience with her.

I love the temple. Tender mercy to have one nearby. Even more of a tender mercy to have that desire to serve.

So Friday, I printed some resumes, got a cute little profesh outfit on, and left to hunt down jobs. I applied at Starbucks and I wanted to stop by Dillards to see if they were hiring. So I went up, saw my friend working there, and applied. Thank goodness my friend and I like each other so I could get a good word from her, ha. After that, I decided to do a quick run and hit the temple up. One of the temple workers looked like Meryl Streep. Gorgeous lady.

When I went to my car to look at my phone, I had two voicemails. One was from the mother asking if I took the mail already.

I didn't.

The next was from a lady in Dillards wanted to make an interview appointment with me. This was thirty minutes after I went in and applied. Thank you Lord for tender mercies!!!!!

So I called her back, and set up an appointment with her on Saturday--the next day. How does that even happen, I ask you!? It was just a crazy, feel-good moment for my day.

Yesterday I had the interview. Paula was a great lady to interview with. She liked me and I liked her. So guess what that gets you.

A Second Interview on Monday!

This cat will be in the bag soon, hopefully.

After that, I went home, did a million loads (ok, like three) of laundry, watched a crazy series, and then got ready for the General Relief Society Meeting. I pretty much was holding back tears through the whole thing.

The opening hymn was "Count Your Blessings" which fit perfectly well with me.

Sister Beck spoke:

-->We need to remember our history of Relief Society (Reminds anyone of Alma 5?)

-->Our faithfulness and service is a sign of our conversion.

-->Relief Society helps and prepares us for the blessings of eternity.

Sister Allred spoke:

-->We must have a knowledge that God is a God of Love.

-->Heavenly Father's plan of redemption is for all.

-->The Lord relys on our willingness to help and serve Him.

-->Prayer, scripture study, obedience, and service will build our faith in the Lord.

Sister Thompson spoke:

-->Jude 1:22 "And some have compassion, making a difference."

-->Visiting Teaching gives women a chance to show their love and compassion for their sisters.

-->We need to pray for our sisters that we visit teach.

President Monson spoke:

-->Are we looking through a window that needs cleaning?

-->You can never get the full picture of someoine from their outside appearence.

-->Mother Theresa "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

-->Charity is love in action.

Loved it all. So great to hear from strong women who are helping lead the Church to others. It is always great to hear and see the prophet. I cannot wait for conference in a week! It is one of my most favorite times during the year. We are so blessed to know of the restoration of the Lord's Church. I am always put in awe about it.

One last thing before closing. My friend gave this video to me, and I challenge (the missionary is coming out now) all of you to watch it and also to read the talk it comes from, titled

"The Infinite Power of Hope"

It's a keeper and there are amazing scriptures scattered in it.

I hope all is well with all of you. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Love you all so much and have a great sabbath!

Cheers.

Ch.Wa.

Born to Run

UPDATE! NEWSFLASH! ALERT, ALERT!

BIG NEWS IS COMING IN THIS POST!

PLEASE BE ATTENTIVE WHILE READING

I am writing this post to let ya'll know that I will NOT be leaving on my mission on September 22nd. I do not want to write this

At all

But, life happens and there is a reason for all.

I have had some medical stuff come up. This happened about three weeks ago. Some stuff was going on and I kept on thinking,

"This is not normal."

So I decided to go to my doctor to find out what was going on with me.

She decided I needed to talk to a psychiatrist to help me figure some stuff out. He then said that I will be fine in the end, but at the moment, it is best that I do not report to the MTC on the 22nd.

I decided to tell my Stake President because he is in charge of me and is full of wisdom. With certain things, you have to stay home at least three months being stable. This is my case. So we have a while for me to wait around and make sure that all is well so I can give myself fully to the Lord while serving him.

I have not been happy with this

that much.

But

sometimes, the Lord tests your

faith and courage

to see that you are valiant in Him.

I feel that this is what is going on. I want to serve Him. I strive to do better, to be better. I have never prayed, fasted, or hit the T up as much as I have in the past couple of weeks.

There have been tears.

There have been more laughs

There has been multiple angels

I am blessed.

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be though dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

There is a reason why I am not leaving any time soon. I have seen blessings come from it. It still breaks my heart to think I am not leaving in ten days, but the Lord has a plan for me. I am ok. Things will get better. Thank you for all your prayers, talks, love, and support. I love you all so much.

Cheers.

Ch.Wa.

Over and Over

WHO HAS THE BEST SISTER EVER?

I DO!

SHE BOUGHT ME THE BEST PRESENT EVER FOR MYBIRTHDAY (BESIDES THE PONY I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE FROM MY FAMILY)

I HAVE RECEIVED TICKETS TO MY

FAVORITE

BAND

OF

ALL

TIME

HOT CHIP!!!!

Thank you Ang and Greg for the best present! Love you guys so much and I will be partying hard on Oct. 19th with my favorite boys.

Comptine d'un autre été: L'après-midi

Dear June,

You have been quite

a month.

I know that I have needed to update the blog sooner than I am but patience is a virtue, and a virtue never hurt you. Right? Right.

June has been the best month in a long, long time. Everything that I have been working so hard for had finally happened. So let's take a walk down memory lane together for a small moment.

It all started in January:

While thinking about what I wanted to do with the new year in store, I received a strong prompting that I would be going through the temple this year. For a girl my age, that only means one of two things:

A: Get married

B: Go on a mission.

I chose the first option.

So I spoke to my bishop, and the mission preparations began. Little did I know that I would have to way until the end of May to turn in my papers.

Again I say,

patience is a virtue

So through many, many bishop interviews, weekly visits to el templo, and other Sunday school answers to any question (i.e. praying, reading scriptures, going to church/institute, etc.) I reached the month of May. I turned my papers in on May 23rd.

Again, I played the waiting game.

One week went by...

Then on the second week, June 2nd, I received my call. Relief finally filled my soul that I now held the joyful end product of all my patience. Of course, I had to wait hours after receiving it to finally open my call, but when I did, I read that I will be serving in

Los Angeles, C.A Spanish speaking

Amazing feeling

When I opened my call.

Spirit testified it was right, so I said

"Let's do this, Lord!"

On June 18th, I had the amazing, life changing, beautiful, spiritual, opportunity to receive my endowments in the Lord's house.

What.

A.

Blessing.

I loved every moment of it. From the minute I walked into the doors, to many days after, I was filled with God's love and spirit with the decision I made that day. What a blessing it is to be part of the Church that has all the keys restored on the Earth today. Going to the temple always puts me in awe and humility when I realize how blessed I am to have this gospel in my life. Out of six BILLION people, I have been lucky enough to be born into the one true church. I am always blown away when I think about that. There is nothing that I would do to give that gift up.

So the waiting game continues for me. I have

2 months

and six days until I get to enter the MTC set apart as the Lord's servant.

Crazy excitement for me!!!

I have had to learn so much patience this year. Would I trade any of it for a different story? Of course not! I have been tried daily--some days more exhausting than others--but that is only a testament of what I am doing is the right thing to be doing.

I know it is not going to be easy.

In fact, I expect it not to be easy at all.

But I know that it will be worth it.

I am so grateful for all that I have. All the things that have happened to me have helped me be the person I need to be out there. It still amazes me that I will be going out there as a representative of the Lord proclaiming His word to His children. God wants me to be the person that I am.

Am I perfect?

Not at all.

But I know that through our Savior, Jesus Christ, that I can, and will, become perfect through him. If God only accepted perfect people in the kingdom of Heaven, it would be a very lonely place. Thank goodness that we have a most perfect plan to help us come to the Lord and to become like Him through repentance. Yes, I know that sometimes I do not fit the "mold" of what a missionary should be. In fact, I know that I will probably never fit that mold in some people's eyes. But that does not matter because I know how the Lord sees me and what He wants me to be. He knows I am trying my hardest to be a better person and I know that He loves me for who I am and who I will become. There is no greater joy or love on this earth than that that comes from a loving Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How grateful I am to have that knowledge.

God is real. His love is real. His plan is real.

Christ died for you and me. Through him we can receive all things.

The church is true.

I am just so excited to be able to have this upcoming experience in my life! Thank you all so much for all your love and support you give me. I have always needed it and I appreciate it so much. You are all such beautiful people. I love you all.

My Ode to June

So many rewards and promises have come from you.

Best month ever.

Love you all and hope all is well.

Cheers.

Ch.Wa.

I hope I grow a foot or two...

For those who have not been updated since June 2nd

Chelsea Waterfall have been called to serve the Lord in...

LOS ANGELES, CA!!!

I report to the MTC on September 22nd. I will also have the pleasure of preaching the gospel in Spanish. I am extremely humbled and grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and to devote my whole life to Him and His children for the next 18 months of my life. In retrospect, that is nothing compared to all that Christ has given me and all His other siblings in the world. So let's get this party started!

Cheers,

Ch.Wa.

Sister Golden Hair

So if I have learned anything from my blog, it is that I suck at updating things.

Big. Time. Suck.

At least we all found this out together, right?

Right, Chelsea.

Now that we have that all under control, I might as well update.

Last time I wrote, it was mid-March. It is May 1st. Ok, so let's get this party started.

March was a pretty good march. I got to go see my family in New York. Loved it. Ah, I love my siblings and adopted siblings! I miss them so much; they are probably happy to have me out of their hair, ha! Only kidding.

The rest of March was just pretty chill. Work and work went well. Apparently nothing too exciting happened cause I don't remember anything.

This last month was April. This one might be easier for me to handle.

April 1st had snow. Cruelest April Fool's joke ever played on EVERYONE. That was intense. Nothing really happened in my life. It has been just filled with work, honestly. On my mom's birthday, I had my whole work sing "Happy Birthday" to her. That was pretty exciting. Eh, I will have to think of more, ha.

My papers have been sent in to my bish! That was pretty exciting to have that all finished. They really were not hard to fill out at all. Everyone makes them sound so long and hard to do, but really, they were a breeze, like the breezes you are supposed to get from April, (Only kidding, Mother Earth. You brought some nice weather to us, too.) So after I send them in, I suddenly get a kidney stone. Coincidence?

I THINK NOT!

Honestly, I was so mad at that little stone! So much pain in my back! It also happened right after I had decided fully on the mish. Pretty much, I am pretty mad at Satan, that lame jerk. Interesting to think about how a week ago my bish was telling me to "watch out" for the adversary. He came faster than expected. But at least it is just another testament about how true the gospel is. Everyone that I have talked to has had some sort of similar experience when they decide--and it sounds like it won't stop at this! Why would things happen to discourage us when it is for something that is not true? It only makes me want to go out more and with more strength, to show the world, God, and Satan that I know what I am doing is true and I am strong enough to endure.

So take that!

Ha, I am so excited for all that is going to happen in the next month. I get to turn my papers in in a couple weeks, and get my call at the end of this month. Holy crazy!!!! I know in my heart that this is what I am supposed to do and I just can't wait!

Am I nervous? Of course!

But do I know I will be in good hands? Only the best!

It will be so worth it and it will be so great to be in the Lord's company 24/7. Everyone gets nervous for something new, for the unknown. But it will be an amazing experience and something that nothing else will compare to. I just can't wait!

I hope all is well with everyone. I love you all and life is so good!

Cheers.

Ch.Wa.

Me, preaching the elderly

Merry Happy

Hello all!
It has been a while for sure, so sorry about the updates.

So, I wrote last time in February. It is now April. Good information to know.
What is new with me?

Sadly, not too much.

February was a blur. Really don't remember much from it. Probably just a lot of work, work, and more work. I love my job at Central Davis. So much fun working with the teens. They really are just great kids and they help me feel like I have some significance in my life.

I went to the zoo.

March was a great month. It was filled with work, of course, but it was also filled with a great trip to NYC to see the siblings. I have missed them so much. I have been blessed with the family that I was put in. I feel that I have great relations to my siblings, even with our age differences. It was so nice to return to the east, to sit back and relax with trips to the park, long talks, card games, and tons of laughter. They all are so good to me. I miss them all terribly and it just felt so right when I was with all of them again. I just am so lucky for my amazing family!

I was also able to go to CT to visit a couple good nanny friends (Joyce and Raven...you have done so much for me and I love you guys so much) and also to see Chrysula and the little ones. That was a great experience. I feel so much love and gratitude for Chrysula, Warren, and their children. They have all been angels to me and I feel a great bond with them. Chrysula and I talked, ate, talked some more, laughed, cried, and just shared stories of life. The kids were great and it was so fun to see them. Probably my most favorite part was when I was leaving and I asked Garret for a hug and he shouted "I'm not going to give you a hug; I'm going to give you a kiss!" I love them all so, so much.

So New York was an amazing time. A much needed relaxing trip to get away for a couple days. The rest of March was full of work, trying to figure out a whole new format and structure for the after-school program, good friends and good family. Life is going great right now.

I was extremely grateful for this weekend with it being General Conference. I was able to watch all four sessions and I actually watched and listened! Big step for me, or anyone for that matter, ha. Probably my most favorite talk was Elder Ballard's about mother-daughter relations. I just sat through that whole talk thinking, "My mom is AWESOME! I love her so much!" It was great to know that I have an amazing relationship with her. She seriously is my best friend. There is nothing more that I love than to just sit and talk with my mom. She is so kind, loving, witty, smart, hilarious, hard working, and caring person that I know. She is just great, and I gain more understanding of this every day.

It was also a really neat experience that conference was over Easter. What a great coincidence that was! Not only were we able to feel the spirit from the prophet and his apostles, but we were also able to ponder and appreciate all Christ has done for us. Amazing! It was neat to hear the tender, yet powerful, testimonies that were shared of Christ's nobility, his infinate atonement, of his love for each of us, and of his true existence. That was an experience that will be hard to forget.

Exciting news about tomorrow:

I get to start my mission papers!!!

You don't even know how long I have been waiting for this day to come. Well, we could all say "Since January, Chelsea!" but really, it feels like it has been longer. I have gotten a lot of people being curious why I am preparing for a mission and why I really want to do this, so I thought that I might as well share it with all of you at the same time.

Honestly, I have thought about a mission since I was young. I remember always in my 10 or 5--year plan that I would maybe serve a mission if I wasn't married by then (Ha! Imagine me married now! The thoughts that a thirteen year-old comes up with. ) It has always been in my mind that I would like to serve the Lord if it was the right thing to do. I have just always had that desire.

I have had my ups and downs with the gospel--like everyone else--but from my senior year on, it was pretty solid--if not going up. I realized that I actually did like the church in my life and that I had a testimony of Christ and the Church. I was doing the right things in my life and I had some good faith in God.

Then I decided to nanny in New York. Even when I look back at it this day, I have no doubt in my mind that experience was needed in my life right then. I went out with complete faith in the Lord and in myself. What an amazing, spirtitual experience that was! I learned to rely on Christ, to ask for His hand in my everyday life. I have never felt so much spiritual guidence in my life like that. I realized how important it was to have the gospel in my life, in my home. I felt humble gratitude at being blessed with a father who has the priesthood, to have a mom who cares for her kids. I learned that I wanted that, to raise a family in the gospel, more than anything. I gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon while I was out there, I had prayers answered, and life was good even in the times of trial.

Now we all know that my nannying job was not a bed of roses. I went through some Hell out there and at the very end, I lost some grip with the gospel. I knew it was true and right, but hopelessness had a good pull on me. With my circumstances, it only seems normal that something like that would happen. I left that job a shell of a person. I should have never let anyone have that much control over my life, and sadly, I did let that happen. It has taken some time to build myself back up, but with the grace of God, it is surely happening.

When I think about all that I have gone through in life--which is not much at all--I realize that I have been truly blessed by God. I realize how much love I have for Him, for all that He has given me. I am too blessed, honestly. I have even been immensly blessed in times of trial. I, being human, feel that I don't deserve this at all, but I still receive. I get to have a relationship with God, I get to have the gospel, the priesthood, the Book of Mormon; I get to have truth! What an amazing and awesome thing to have! Why was I so blessed to be born into the church? I wonder that often, if not daily. God truly has given me much, and when much is given, much is required. I feel for all that I have been given that a mission is the only way that I can show my gratitude and appreciation for what God has given me. My soul sings of the truth; I love this gospel so much! Why wouldn't I want to give a mere eighteen months of my life to serve the Lord and to bring others to the knowledge of truth? To me, it is inconceivable for me to not want to serve a mission. It is the best way for me to show my love and dedication to Him.

Now, I don't want you all to think that I have not given thought to this at all. I have prayed, prayed, fasted, prayed, and prayed some more about this. It is a monumental decision to make. I have had strong conviction that this is what I need to do right now in my life. I have received an answer so now I have to act out what has been brought to my knowledge. I have confidence in the Lord and in myself that I will be able to do this. I am so excited for this new step in life! And even if it doesn't work out in the end, I have only bettered myself in life. I am just so excited and so ready to give my life for the Lord.

All is well in my life. I could not ask for more. I have so much love and so much strength in my life right now. My heart overflows with gratitude. I have been blessed so much in life and I am so excited for the things to come. I love you all so much and I hope all is well. I will keep you all updated on the things to come; it will all be great!

Love you all

Cheers.

Ch.Wa

How Great Thou Art

So I watch this video at least twice a month. I just love it, and I hope you all will enjoy it. Big post to come up soon. I hope all is well with everyone. Love you all
Cheers,
Ch.Wa

Both Sides Now

Guess who is sick again.
I will give you a hint. It's me.

Give up? Well, it is me that is sick. Oh joy, right?

I started feeling all weird on Friday. That weird "calm before the storm" type-thing. It was in the morning a bit, and a little more in the afternoon, but I just shook it off like it was no big deal.

I went to 4-H, and we were frosting cookies with me sitting closest to the frosting. I could not stand the smell worth anything. I just felt all nauseated and nasty, but I still played it off. Jess and I had been planning on getting Chinese food for the whole week, so I thought, "Hey, Chinese food isn't nauseating at all so I might as well risk it." When Jess and I eat, though, it is like we are going to die in a few hours, so we might as well eat all that we can. So we ordered a TON of food, the most noted thing being 20 crab ragoons. So we settled in, got our food, and started Harry Potter. So what was supposed to be a kick-butt evening turned quite sour in my gut. I wanted to get comfy, so I told Jess I was going home to get my jams on. She was fine with that, so I left to go home.

Driving home, I kept thinking "I feel like I want to throw up." I blamed it on the amount of food I ate--which could have fed a small village in Africa. I kept shaking it off, got gas, changed, and left for Layton. When I was at the street to turn to Jess', I had to call her to say that I needed to go home cause I felt sick. I think pulled over to almost hurl. Probably one of my classiest moments yet in my life. I drove home, sat on the floor, and felt dizzy to the 10th degree. Everything was spinning, I couldn't sit up, and my tum hated me.

To skip the gory details, I did accomplish what I felt like I was going to do all day. So here I am, on a Saturday, lounging/sleeping/eating a bit/nauseated/feeling well/nauseated once again/etc. It is quite frustrating to be sick once again, after a long couple weeks prior to this. Oh well, maybe it is my body just trying to cleanse itself or being pushed to its edge with stress. Interesting thought.

It hasn't been that bad of a couple weeks though. I felt better for a tiny bit, worked, worked, and worked once again. There were nights with good friends, temple visits, and a "trip" to Provo to see the BFFs. Plus, I got to get some quality Lord of the Rings time in, which is always a good thing for me.

Big moment of my life though:
While watching (more like trying to watch) the opening ceremonies for the Olympics, my favorite song was played. Yes, that song is by the beloved Joni Mitchell that is titled Both Sides Now. I almost cried while watching the performance that was set to her voice. This song is pure bliss to me. I listen to it at least once a day, and its words are embedded in my mind. So to hear that song last night played at union of many nations in the name of sports made my sick--quite literally--night.

All is well though. I will hopefully be better soon. Maybe I will even write a more fun post, eh?

Apparently, I am Canadian now.
Cheers.
Ch.Wa.

Hello and HAPPY FEBRUARY!

So I have been a big bum lately and have not written on my blog for

4 months

Yikes.

So sorry about that to everyone...that might read this? Yeah, it is probably just family, but still, you guys are important to me and I want to let you into my life. The end.

I guess it is time to talk about life now. Life, life, life...where to start?

Well, October and November are a blur. I have literally been sitting her for five minutes trying to think of what happened. Probably just work and school, work and school. Nothing too painful.

December was a great time. There were finals (I passed all my classes), buyback at the bookstore, and the holidays. It was so great to have Dave, Emily, Ang, and Greg come home for Christmas. I hadn't seen them since July, so it was amazing to have everyone home under the same roof. I'm a sucker when it comes to family. I truly have been blessed with my family--both immediate and extended. It was so nice to just sit with my brother and sisters, talking about life, laughing at memories, and being able to share each others' company. It is a neat thing to build loving relationships with family. You don't love them because you have to, you cherish every moment together, good or bad, and build each other up. I am so grateful for all they do for me and the love and support I receive from them.

This Christmas, I made everyone scarves for their gift. It was so fun to learn how to crochet! I felt all domestic and whatnot while making homemade crafts. They all turned out beautifully and it was a great way to show my love for everyone because of the time I spent making them.

January came, and quickly left it feels like. I still work at the bookstore, and I love it as much as I did when I started. I also started a new job at Central Davis Jr. High being a 4-H after school counselor. It has been so much fun working with my seven teenagers. They are a bunch of high energy kids, but they are all so great. We have a ton of fun with sports, crafts, and games. Last week it was my week to teach, so we went to a different country each day. In Kenya, we made African masks, Japan was for zen gardens, in Greece we made our own gods and goddesses, and in Mexico, we had a fiesta complete with a pinata. We ended the week coming back to the U.S. and did a service project from the Humanitarian Center. I feel it went quite well.

I am currently training for the Ogden half marathon on May 15th. I am so excited/nervous for this! It is so much fun seeing how much strength I really have and the endurance I can come up with. My training missed all last week though, due to a nasty cold/flu. Man, I haven't been down like this for a long, long time. I am finally recovering, though I still have the voice of a smoker.

Another thing that I am currently training for is to be a missionary for the church. I am extremely excited about this. It is still a thought in process, but my philosophy is if I decide to go, then I will go. If I feel it is not the right thing at this time, I still gained so much from preparing myself. It really has been a goal of mine to serve a mission. I remember including it in my "5 year plan" of life just in case. I think New York helped me with planning for this in a secret manner that God can use at times. From all our trials, there are blessings in store, no matter what. Working with the missionaries in my CT ward, I gained a love for the service of missionaries and a love for Preach My Gospel. I hope all works out for me to go. At this moment, it feels right, so hopefully it will all be good. Yay for starting my papers in a month!

So all is well in my life. Yes, it is busy and yes, it is interesting at times, but it is still good to me. I hope all are well and I promise to update more often!

Cheers.

Ch.Wa