Thursday, September 30, 2010

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.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

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.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

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.

Friday, September 10, 2010

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.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

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.