OKAY.

OKAY.

I haven't been blogging not because I don't have anything going on, but because I have too much going on.
Surprise, right? October's been great. After a boring and uneventful September, I ventured into the land of super-fun October! I do love the Halloween season. Haunted houses, pumpkin carving, dressing up, corn mazes, Halloween movies, fog juice, zombies, special FX makeup, and all that jazz. Great stuff. Not to mention my all-time favorite Community episode is Epidemiology, aka the Zombie Halloween episode (Episode 2.06)

So with all the Halloween stuff going on and trying to get stuff together for a mission, it's been busy. And fun. Except that it's impossible to find clothes/shoes that I will actually wear. I decided I'm just too stubborn to wear anything I don't like.
Problems:

• I like dresses more than skirts. 
• Shoes. If you've ever gone shoe shopping as a sister missionary, you know what I mean. (Although there is a pair of Oxfords I'm willing to buy, unfortunately Utah County doesn't have a Nordstrom anymore and I don't trust buying shoes online. I'll have to go to Salt Lake eventually.)
• I'm seriously the most boringly-dressed person ever. Almost all my clothes are gray and blue. Just ask Petey.

Also, I bought an awesome suitcase yesterday. I never thought anyone could be so excited over a suitcase.

Besides all the Halloween stuff, it's been pretty awesome as far as spiritual stuff goes. 

First off, there was General Conference, which was fabulous. Saturday morning session opened with my favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation, and I burst into tears. And then Russell M. Nelson had that fabulous talk "Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!" followed by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's "Of Regrets and Resolutions." Can I just say that with each new talk President Uchtdorf gives I find myself a new favorite talk. He has a wonderful gift of relating his life to everyone, religious or not.

Alongside the great talks, a huge announcement was made that the missionary age for the men was dropped from 19 to 18 and from 21 to 19 for the sisters. I've had so many people ask me how I feel about the age drop in the sisters, in which I always respond, "Now I'm going to be an old grandma in the mission field." Nah, but seriously, I'm super excited. I know that being in school for three years was the biggest turn off for me. I was 19 when the idea of a mission became less appealing. It took a lot of pushing and prodding from the Lord to change my mind when I was ready to turn 21. So honestly, let's get more sisters out there! Heavens know we're better than the men, anyway (I joke... kinda).

Look at this man! How can you not like him?

Secondly, I was able to go through the Salt Lake temple earlier this month. It was beautiful and wonderful.

Thricely, I was able to attend my sister's sealing to her husband and their daughter, Avalynn for time and all eternity. I have never witnessed a more happy and pure moment, and all I could feel was pure joy from everyone in the room. I definitely cried.

As well as the big spiritual events, I've just been able to see better the ways in which the Lord works miracles in my life. Big or small, they happen, and I'm incredibly grateful.

Until next time,
Sarah

Wednesdean

Just so you guys don't think I'm some sort of depressed, nervous wreck, I'm here to let you know that this week's been a good week. Such a contrast from last week, for which I am grateful.

I've been buying Halloween stuff lately. I have three different costumes I'm throwing around, two of which involve bald caps. And with all this bald cap stuff (and after talking about Community for 40 minutes with Liz W.), I couldn't help but post this:

    

If you're curious, these are my costume options:

the Greendale Human Being, Community.
I already bought a morphsuit.

Walter White (right), from Breaking Bad.

Dean Pelton (sans costume), Community. 

But if I do that, then I need a doppeldeaner/deanochang-er to go with me.

I couldn't find a picture of the doppeldeaner, but here's
Jeff Winger as the Dean...

I was going to show you pictures from my trip to Pumpkinland today, but my computer is being so slllllloooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww.

just a chat.

I turned on my computer for one reason: to talk to you.
It'll just be a minute, I promise.

So, I only opened my mission call a little over two weeks ago. I was warned by my Bishop, Stake President, and others that from then on (and even beforehand) it was going to get tough. And I'm here to say: it is. It's getting tougher.

It's not like my life is crashing down; I'm not depressed and I'm not an emotional wreck, but it's certainly getting harder to not let things get to me. I can usually brush things off almost immediately, but they're starting to stick.

Satan knows that sight and/or situations aren't terribly effective ways to tempt me. He can get to others that way, but not me. If someone offers me a drink (yes, it happens), I don't falter. Because let's face it-- I'm pretty awesome. But it's all the psychological and emotional stuff. The doubts, worries, fear, persistent and consistent nightmares; the moments where I lack self-confidence that last longer and longer; and the creeping isolation and loneliness that don't actually exist.

I just keep heeding the Lord's counsel to "endure to the end" (Matt 24:13, 3 Nephi 15:9, D&C 14:7) and keep trying. Because even though it gets a little harder each day, I feel more and more blessed and I know without a doubt that I've made the best decision ever.

And I'm looking forward to General Conference now more than ever.

crazytownbananapants: A, A, A.

A Challenge...

Usually I only work part-time and watch Doctor Who (that's my current series), but somehow last week was actually filled with things. I agreed to a challenge (it's not quite a bet) not to watch t.v. or movies for a week, which meant that I had to find things to do. But as it turns out, I've done quite a few awesome things, such as:

• Becca Bam taught me how to make bracelets.
• Took fall pictures up the canyon. 
• Becca and I went to the opening of a Mormon mocha shop. I daresay I love fake iced coffees. 
• Haunted house.
• Helped my sister at the high school yard sale.
• X96 Big Ass Show. 
• Stargazing (I have since learned this is a code word at BYU...).
• FHE General Conference Jeopardy put on by the always-entertaining Grosland.

... A Promotion ...

Because I'm not going to school, work is pretty much the focus of my life. Last week was a pretty great week at my work. Not only did I get a raise, I got a promotion of sorts and am now a part of Inside Sales.
Yes, you read that right.
It was pretty cool being chosen to be part of Team IS (said "iz"), even if it is just a test team. Last week I started training, and I felt like my head was going to explode. Today was my first day of sales, and let me say it was pretty terrifying. Luckily most of my other team members don't have sales experience, so we're all in the same boat.
Sales. A fun new world.

On a side note: I do love my job. The best thing it's taught me so far is that attitude makes all the difference. I see some people go through training and their first day on the floor they say, "this job sucks." Well, they don't last long, and it's because they have a terrible attitude. I have great coworkers and fantastic supervisors, I've changed positions twice, and it's all because I care about my job.

... A Concert.

Saturday was a really long day. I had to wake up at 7:30 and never really slept that night. But the Big Ass Show was pretty neat. The main deal with the Big Ass Show is that there are two stages that you go back and forth between to see a bunch of different bands. 

If you read my Twitter, I over-tweeted the crap out of the show and probably know all of this. 

• The Wombats. We missed them. I was sad. 
• Eve 6. Yeah, 90's!
  (Remember this song? Unfortunately they didn't play it, but they were really good live.)
• Imagine Dragons.
  By far the best band of the night. I was incredibly surprised by their talent and ability to put on a great show. Plus they really electrified the crowd and made it super fun for everyone.
  (You probably know this song, but this one's my favorite.)
• AWOLNATION. I like this band, but their sound quality was pretty awful. I still can't figure out if the blame should be on the venue, their sound guy, or maybe they're just terrible live. But I think it was more of a combination of the first two.
  (You might've heard this, this, or this on the radio.)
• Grouplove. I didn't really bother to listen to them, but what I heard was surprisingly good. They sounded better live than on their actual album, go figure. This is when we took a break and I ended up winning two free Castle of Chaos tickets. Holla.
• The Used. Okay, I've always liked The Used. If you don't know who they are, you probably won't like them. They yell a lot. My brother-in-law Daniel and Mark both decided to go in the mosh pit, but it looked pretty intense so Liz and I stayed out.
  (The Bird and the Worm was on the radio a few years ago, but my personal favorite is Pretty Handsome Awkward. My sister and I screamed the crap out of that one.)
• Neon Trees.
  So disappointing. I like the majority of their songs, but they were pretty terrible live. Liz, Daniel, Mark and I all decided it wasn't even worth it to fight for standing room in the pit. We waited around to see how Animal sounded, but they hardly got better.

At the end of the night I could barely walk because of a shooting pain in my abdomen. My medical friend informed that it was probably because I wasn't breathing well. Which makes sense, because there was 15,000 people, tobacco smoke, and weed in the air. Becca can testify that I may have been slightly high. 

crazytownbananapants: From Top to Bottom

Only a week and a half has gone by since we last spoke, and yet I feel like everything has gone crazytownbananapants*. I'll be breaking this down into a few blog posts.

*Community reference

The Top...

Friday, 9/14: I got my wisdom teeth out. I had an ice pack head wrap for the entire first day.
Later that day I went up to Logan for the Top of Utah Marathon that Kim, Kyle, and Heather were running the next day.

Ice wraps are so fetch.

Saturday, 9/15: Matt, Dave, Petey, Natalie and I all managed to wake up and get out the door by 7:40. It was a Christmas miracle.

Ben (Kim's husband) and Matt being all cute.

At mile 20 (or 21?) there were horses. They startled me.

We're also Team Kim and Team Heather.
Day 2 of wisdom teeth removal.

Leslie.

Mile 14

Finish Line

I'm super ridiculously proud of all of them.

Later that night I got a chance to hang out with Jenna, Emmett, Jared, little Jared (Andrew) and Katy. Jemmett have the coolest apartment ever. And a cool neighbor. It was really fun seeing (almost) all of my Logan friends, because I miss you guys a lot.

... The Bottom.

Friday, 9/21: I set sail (in my boat-like car) for Cedar City to visit Petey. After two hours of driving I realized that I left my temple dedication recommend at home. *Facepalm* Luckily Petey's dad was going to Cedar City the next day so he graciously brought it down.
We finally knocked Lawless off our movie bucket list.

Saturday, 9/22: St. George, In-N-Out, shopping, Hamlet, fudge.

Sunday, 9/23: Brigham City Temple dedication. It was really great to see another house of the Lord put into service.
After saying good-bye to my best friend, I visited my great-grandma. I don't visit my family as much as I should, because she gave me some great advice and words of wisdom.

I was casually driving back up north when I became faintly aware of a peculiar smell coming through my vents. Not 30 seconds later my battery light came on and it suddenly became really hard to steer. I pulled over as soon as I could. I stared at my engine in my Sunday best before deciding to call a few people.

The phone calls went like this:

• Dad --> No answer.
• Dad --> No answer.
• Mom --> "Why isn't dad answering? I kinda need to talk to him because my car basically gave up the ghost."
  [I changed into pants and a t-shirt]
• Uncle Phil --> "Hey, how are you doing? What can you tell me about cars?"
  "What do you mean 'pulleys' and 'belt?' I barely know how a tire rotates."
  "Did you get the picture I sent you? Oh wait, I found a diagram of the engine on the inside of the hood!"
  "Where am I? Let me walk down to the sign I just passed and find out."
• Grandpa --> "So I'll see you soon then?"
  [I read/napped in the back of my car]
• Grandpa (1.5 hours later) --> "No, grandpa. I'm not going to run across the freeway." (I seriously considered his suggestion at first. Then I realized that it was a terrible idea.)

My grandpa and my step cousin/uncle (I'm not sure) Tim tried to fix my car. After a while they decided it would be safer to get it off the freeway, so I threw on my hazards and slowly rolled down to the exit. I pulled off of the obscure exit and my grandpa determined Bonnie, my car, wasn't going anywhere, so I moved all my stuff to his car. I was so hungry my grandpa bought my Burger King. I don't like Burger King.

Luckily my dad and grandpa were able to tow my car and fix it up pretty quick. Turns out my water pump broke in some way.

Pennsylvania.

WHATDIDITELLYA?!
I'm serving in the Pennsylvania Philadelphia mission, and I leave December 19th.
Needless to say, I am ecstatic.


 One more reason I am Liz Lemon in real-world form.

Philadelphia:

• Philadelphia has more public art than any other American city. 
• Cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, Italian ice, and stromboli.
• 1.5 million people (I do love the city).
• The 5th most walkable city in the U.S.
• The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Edgar Allen Poe's home, and a whole lotta museums.

I'll have to watch National Treasure again.

Pennsylvania:

• My dear old roommate Katy is from there! (can I still technically call you a roommate?)
• Eastern accent.
• German, Irish, Italian, African, English, Polish, Puerto Rican, etc. Everyone.
• "It leads all other states in the manufacture of pretzels..." Pretzels. PRETZELS. If you've lived with me, you'll understand. (The Hershey factory is also there, but I was never a huge chocolate person.)

So there you have it! I hope I actually end up in Philly, because I'd love to be in the city. My area includes half of Jersey, Delaware, and half of Maryland as well. 

Also (for Jenna):