Playing House

For the past two and a half weeks, I had the pleasure of playing house while a couple from church went on a European vacation. Can a person be a professional house-sitter? If so, sign me up!!! Okay, rewind. I was mostly there to dog sit. The house and car were just perks of the job.

I've never been a huge dog person...until now. I WANT A DOG. Whaaaaaaat? I know, shocker. I fell head-over-heels in love with Molly (the beautiful pup I stayed with). She is the most well-behaved and loving creature ever. I didn't even mind picking up her poop <<<< evidence of my love for her.

It was fun to have a nice car and fancy house all to myself, but now its back to reality. Sleeping on an inflatable mattress in my eleven year old sister's room and getting chauffered around in mom's minivan. Oh, life. I love it. And I'm going to enjoy every last minute of this cramped apartment living, because in just 30 days (eeeeeek!) I'll be moving back across the country to start my 18 month adventure as Sister Hamilton.





...I obviously haven't messed with my blog recently. Half a month after writing this post, I'm finally adding the pictures and hitting "publish".

Where to start...

You know those CarMax commercials with the "start here" line that shows people where to start when looking for a new car? Yeah, well I need one of those "start here" lines for this post. It's my own fault; this is what I get for going nearly a month without blogging.

July brought a fun visit with Josh and a last minute weekend roadtrip to Indiana. Both were a ton of fun despite being sick. Both are worthy of a full blog post all their own. Unfortunately, I'm probably too lazy to ever get around to it.

Oh, but it's not all laziness! I'm also prepping for the mission, which is quite an ordeal. Who knew I'd need to buy so many things? And don't even get me started on the overwhelming amount of material I need/want to learn before I go! The days are slowly, but steadily, ticking away. I know that September 11 will be here before I know it.

So, I apologize for blowing off the blog. But I'm trying to prep and make a million nephew memories before I leave. Priorities.

My Soldier Brother

Meet Josh. Brother. Son. Uncle. Protector. Tackle Mountain master. Teaser. Biker. Soldier.

Last Sunday, I met a woman who had recently lost her soldier son (temporarily - life doesn't end with death, and neither do families). As I listened to her story, I couldn't help but be grateful that Josh isn't deployed at the moment. In fact, I get to see him next week!!!! I'm just a tad excited ;) Only a few months ago, I thought Josh was going to be deployed. He was going to come visit before he left, and I was full of mixed emotions. I was rather upset/scared to have him overseas (and my roommate's boyfriend broke up with her the same day I found out he was scheduled for deployment...our room was real fun that day). But I was also suppppperrrr excited to get to see him before I leave on my 18 month mission in September. When his deployment was cancelled, so was his visit. Or so I thought. But then my fabulous big brother shocked me by announcing that he would fly down to Louisiana from Alaska for a quick visit next week. SO. EXCITED.

Josh is pretty BA (bad...awesome?). He can certainly kick some hiney, but to me he's just my big brother.

He's smart.

He has a great shot. (still true - future boyfriends beware)

He's really good at scaring away cats.

He's also a talented dancer.

Not to mention he's a roller coaster tycoon.

Occasionally he plays dress up.

And he's almost always silly.

But always, always he's my big brother. And when you have a soldier brother the 4th is just a little sweeter, because you aren't just celebrating Independence Day - you're celebrating how awesome your big brother is.

Hello my name is Lisa

Back at school, I wore a name tag at work. A nifty little golden residence life tag that announced to the world that my name is "Lisa". Sometimes I would forget I was wearing it, and it would catch me unawares when people would "know" my name; however, I would (usually) quickly remember my name tag and remind myself that the general population at BYU does in fact know how to read.

I don't wear a name tag now. Now I sit at my little receptionist desk with absolutely nothing announcing my name to the world. For this reason, it is much more alarming when someone knows my name without me telling them. Like the Sheriff. I'm still baffled that he always calls me by name when he comes into the office. I have absolutely no recollection of ever telling him my name. Also, I have no idea what his name is...and he wears a name tag. And then today the postman boy said my name! I was shocked. How are all these people figuring out my name?

Then it hit me. I sign my name every time we receive certified mail. DUH.

Still racking my brain for an explanation about the Sheriff. So far all I have is that I must have told him one day and then forgotten entirely.

Sometimes I think Satan interferes with computers

Computers are absolutely wonderful tools that can be used for good, but I'm pretty convinced Satan likes to toy with computers just to frustrate good work from going on. I'm not talking about pornography (although that is certainly a way Satan fools people into using the internet for evil purposes). No, today I am talking about something that affects us all. I'm talking about when computers are slow and obnoxious. Is the impatient tone of my thoughts translating into this writing? GRRR.

Today I decided to use my spare time to do a little family history work (it's addicting in the best possible way). Things were going great! I found so many family members - even a set of twinners :) And then it happened...the site stopped working. Every time I do a search it tells me the site is experiencing technical difficulties and to try back later. Frustrating. I just want to find everyone right now!!! Okay, patience isn't my strong suit - especially when I'm excited. And family history definitely makes me excited.

So look Satan, I get it. I know you don't want me to use the internet for good. I'm sure you really hate it. But here's the deal, I'm just going to blog about it (which is journal/record keeping so it's following the prophet's counsel) until the site comes back up. You're gonna have to work a lot harder if you want me to stop. Not that I'm challenging you. Really you should just go take a nap or something and leave me and FamilySearch.org alone.

Families can be together forever.

Caution: Showers May Result in Injury

It is not exactly uncommon (not that it happens all the time, but it happens often enough that it isn't shocking) for me to get overheated, especially in the shower. It doesn't take much. For example, yesterday I simply forgot to turn the fan on and, before I knew it, BAM! Overheated.When I get overheated, I get realllll tired and a little dizzy. The result is often me sprawled out on the bathroom floor until I can cool down enough to get up and get a cool glass of water. Benefit of being at home when this happens? I can call for mommy to bring me water and a popsicle. Score.

My first car, lil baby car, truly understood my problem with overheating. In fact, lil baby car was pretty well known for getting overheated herself. It was one of the many things we had in common. When I left for school, lil baby car got a new owner - Mercy. I never quite understood why Mercy (who was one of my best friends so she was well aware of lil baby car's many problems) wanted that silly little Pontiac Sunfire. But I think I get it now; she just wanted to keep that part of me while I moved far far away. Plus she really needed a cheap car.

One day Mercy told me she had bumped into a pole, leaving a little yellow tattoo on lil baby car. I didn't understand. Who was this car? Did the car no longer parallel my life? I would never get a tattoo! But this morning I realized it wasn't really a tattoo after all, and balancing on one foot in the shower is a bad idea, and sometimes it leads to a nice bruise or two.

#HastenTheWork

If you're a Twitter fan, you may have noticed that #HastenTheWork was trending Sunday evening. Why you ask? Well, it was because this awesome broadcast called The Work of Salvation was on and boy oh boy was it exciting! The Prophet and Apostles of the Lord shared stories of missionary work and instructed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on how to be better missionaries. It was absolutely thrilling. I may or may not have jumped up a time or two out of pure excitement ;) The broadcast made me SO excited to serve a mission starting in September! The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. Life has a purpose - for us to grow and progress so that we can become like our Father in Heaven and return to live in His presence. Through priesthood ordinances performed in temples families can be together forever - it doesn't have to be just 'til death do we part, it can be forever!!! I know it is true and I cannot wait to share this message with those living in the Oregon Eugene Mission! I am seriously about to burst with excitement.

After an awesome weekend full of spiritually uplifting experiences, I just want to share my testimony with the world.

Doctrine and Covenants 6:1

A great and ^amarvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men.

Paper and Pen: Lifelong friends

Tonight was a journal night. Not a blog night. It was a private I-may-never-want-to-read-it-again-let-alone-let-anyone-else-read-it kind of night. And that is why I am forever grateful for paper and pen. Paper can be the best of listeners. Especially for someone like me. Someone who bottles up emotion. Someone who talks a lot, but talks very little about feelings - positive or negative. Just ask my ex. I have to be pushed and pushed and pushed to open up. I thought maybe he taught me how to open up. But tonight, after some serious self-examination, I realized I'm still lacking in that department. I just don't like talking about my feelings. Despite my love for vulnerability, I stink at letting myself be vulnerable.

Whether it's an "I love you" or a "You hurt my feelings", chances are I've never told you.

But here's to making a new effort to open up and be vulnerable. Baby steps. First I'll be vulnerable to myself. I'll admit my feelings to me. And then to my journal (again, paper = best friend). And maybe, one day, I'll open up to actual people. That's the goal. Eventually. But for tonight, I'm just satisfied with progress made without being pushed.

Dear Hubs,

Dear Future Husband,

Because I promised myself last time I opened "the box" (the box of letters I get to open when I get engaged - letters to him *swoon* and letters to myself) that I would not open the box again until you're at my side, today you get a blog post.

Yesterday, I opened my mission call! It was (and still is) thrilling. Focusing solely on service and bringing others closer to Christ for 18 months? It doesn't get much better than that. I think you'll understand that feeling of excitement, because *fingers crossed* you served a mission as well.

In all the excitement, I want you to know that you were part of this decision to serve. I discovered a little over a year ago what is at the top of my "list". Well, actually it has become the only thing on my list because it's pretty all encompassing. I want to spend my eternity with someone who makes me want to be better. It's kind of funny, because I haven't even met you (at least not that I know of) and you are already encouraging me to be better.

Thank you.



P.S.,  Dad must have been thinking about you yesterday too because he made me listen to a song that he wants to play at our wedding. Surprisingly, he wasn't joking and it wasn't a silly song. It was a sappy sweet song, who woulda thunk it?

Dear Sister Hamilton...

I have been called to serve in the Oregon Eugene Mission!!! I report to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) on September 11th to prepare to preach the gospel in the English language.

I am oh so thrilled to serve in Oregon. Honestly, it just sounds like the perfect place for me. Which is weird, because I never even thought of Oregon being one of the places I might get sent. It'll be rainy, but the weather should be fairly mild *fingers crossed*. Of course I've already looked up a million Oregon facts and I even found the mission blog (click here)! It is a breathtakingly beautiful area.

What surprised me most when I opened my mission call was the peace that I felt. Earlier that day I couldn't even eat I was so excited/nervous. But the second I read "Oregon Eugene Mission" I just felt peace. Everything just feels RIGHT.

Now if only September would hurry up and get here...

Oh, the ANXIETY!

IT. IS. HERE.

 

And by here, I don't mean here. It's at home. And me? Well, I'm at work. Obviously not working. Hey, focusing is really hard at a time like this! I mean, there's a white envelope at home containing a letter signed by a prophet of God that says where I'll be spending 18 months of my life. This is a big deal.

 

I had almost convinced myself it wouldn't come today. Mostly because today was the perfect day for it to come, so I just knew it would come tomorrow when everyone in my family already had plans that would make it difficult for us to get together. But I still held out enough hope that it would come that I wore a cute outfit and forewent the non-waterproof eyeliner. The Lord's timing is perfect. And it would have still been perfect if my mission call arrived tomorrow, or next week, or a month from now. But, I am forever thankful that His perfect and my perfect aligned today.

 

Everyone keeps asking if I "feel" like I'm going to go to any place in particular. Simple answer, no. Truth is, I've probably had a dream or fleeting thought that I'm getting called to every single mission. Dad served in Australia, I'll probably go there. Salt Lake City, Temple Square would be lovely. Heartland (me and Liv's new favorite TV show) is set in Canada - I'll get sent there for sure. North Carolina. Russia. New York. Japan. Washingston D.C. South America. Hawaii. Texas. France. I just remembered a song from my elementary school Spanish class, I'll probably go to Spain. Or maybe California, Spanish speaking. Kansas perhaps?

 

There are SOOOOO many missions. And I know I will love wherever I am called. Going on a mission is exciting and overwhelming and terrifying and wonderful. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with others. Focusing on helping others draw closer to Christ for 18 months? It doesn't get much better than that.