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.