This just made my day

Called to serve!

I have been called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Washington Spokane Mission!!! I report to the Provo MTC on February 3, 2010!!

Speaking of mission calls...

So today I woke up on a cloud. I had looked forward to today, the day when I would be able to say "MY MISSION CALL COMES TOMORROW!!" And I did say it. Repeatedly. All. morning. long. Actually my friend and I had a little duet going. As we departed class today, we parted with joy knowing that the next time we saw each other we would have our long-awaited mission calls.

And then 12:17pm happened. My glee was quickly snuffed out by one simple statement: "The mail doesn't come tomorrow; it's Veterans' Day."

I mean who makes these decisions? How is the mail at ALL correlated with Veterans' Day? Don't get me wrong, my parents and many a grandparent are all veterans and I am thoroughly grateful for all the freedoms I enjoy because of the people fought for them. But seriously people, why give mailmen the day off? BYU students, NOR their traffic clerks get the day off. People need the mail. I mean what if the veterans want their mail?! I'm just saying, we should re-think this.

AHHHHHHH!!

I turned in my mission papers tonight!!! After going back and forth and back and forth for a very long time I have finally made the decision! In 2-4 weeks I will find out where I will be called to serve for the next 18 months of my life!!!

: )

.

A Day of Little Miracles

So Mondays are typically HORRIBLE days for me. But I was particularly dreading this Monday because I had SO much to do and so little sleep/time. So because of the extra dread, I was sure to say extra prayers that I could have a good Monday today. Let me just tell you that God has answered my prayers in the smallest, yet most meaningful ways today and the day is not even over yet.

1) I was going to wake up at like 5am to get some mandatory things done before 8am class. I was unable to wake up until my normal time at 6:15am, but I still was able to get everything done and get to class on time. I am a firm believer in Alma 37:37: "yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep." He really does. He keeps me asleep a little longer when I would wake myself up and stress myself out.

2) I had 5 minutes of classbreak today and decided to book it down to the vending machines to grab a snack. I was on the 4th floor, the elevators are usually incredibly slow, and the vending machines are in the basement. I decided to run for it regardless. When I got to the elevator, it was on the third floor headed up. I went down, got my snack, and when I came back the elevator was there waiting for me. I made it back with time to spare.

3) This is the teeniest tiniest most random thing. But apparently when I put my earrings in this morning, one of didn't actually make it in the hole, but was just kind of pinched on. I didn't realize this until I scratched my ear in class and it fell off with the back still on it. It was just a miracle that I didn't lose it and shamefully walk around with only one earring all day.

All in all, it's been a great Monday and I thank my Heavenly Father so much for that!

New Life

So I have started my new semester at BYU in a new apartment with new roommates, new ward, a new outlook.

So far, it's been AMAZING. I've been here 2 weeks now and have enjoyed every second. Ok, there may have been a few weird seconds, but overall, life is great.

Also, our apartment has started a blog so if you would like to experience the inter-workings of apartment 219, feel free to follow at 219girls.blogspot.com

What Would....Tyra Do?

Hi, I'm Susan, and I have recently become addicted to ANTM. (Hiiii, Susan)

This is an addiction that formed in the matter of a few weeks. It is a direct result of having no school and no job, a completely responsibility-free summer in New Hampshire. After watching 4 episodes on YouTube this evening, I decided to call it a night.

As I went to bed, however, I realized I would never be America's Next Top Model. First of all, I would never audition. Second of all, as the plus-size model so eloquently put it, "your body is a temple, and sometimes my body wants cheesecake!" I'm not plus-size, but it would be better if I were because as is, I'm just the inbetween girl that doesn't really have a place in the industry. *sigh* Oh well, more cheesecake for me!

ANYWAY, that's beside the point. The point is that I have a better goal in mind. This is where it gets good and cheesy. What if we put all the fierceness of being a model into being a servant of the Lord?

Smiling with your eyes = having His image in your countenance

Standing up straight = standing for what's right in a world of slouchers

Creating tension = being anxiously engaged rather than just floating along

Not posing = not just going through the motions, but really feeling what the Gospel is all about

I hope that this is making sense, even if you don't watch the show.

One more thing: The models on the show look to Tyra most of all as their example. Tyra gave this whole weird presentation about how she is the "Goddess of Fierce" and she needs an heir to throne.

Well Jesus Christ is my example. He is everything I want to be. I know if I watch and learn from His example I will come out on top; I will inherit all my Father has in store for me-which makes a contract with Elite Model Management and Covergirl look about as valuable as the stupid bug that keeps flying around me. On that note, I'm signing off and shutting down so the bug won't be as attracted to this vicinity.

Love is like riding a bike.

I realized this today as I rode down a hill without holding the brakes, just feeling the cliche wind in my hair.

The most important part of both is trusting yourself. Once you learn to ride a bike, you never forget. You do, however, have to relearn how to trust yourself. See, ah, I don't really know how to describe it. It all made since while I was on the bike.

I guess what I'm trying to say is: first love is hard. It takes a while to find the balance and the brakes, and eventually you may fall face first and chip a tooth. From then, you have a choice to make. You can get back on the bike or not. If you chose to get back on the bike, you already know how to ride it now, you just have to learn to trust yourself. It's a leap of faith, but if you don't take it, you'll never feel the wind in your hair.

I have an announcement to make

I, Susan, who is mildly asthmatic, unathletic, and an overall whimp, completed a 5k this morning AND still had energy left afterwards. AND didn't have her lungs burning a hole in her chest.

I am firmly convinced that this means that the stars aligned today so I encourage you all to go out and try to do something you couldn't do before. I bet you can do it!

Bookstores

Ok before you engrave the notion in your brain that I am a creeper who takes pictures of people in windows, I did not take this picture. I just...stole it from the internet.

Anyway, I just love bookstores. There's something so enlightening about them. You don't even have to buy anything, you can just walk around, or curl up in a window and read. I really can't say more than that...I just love them. Borders is my personal favorite. Barnes & Noble has good cheesecake, but other than that, it's usually too big for my taste. But I'm not biased...

So if you haven't yet, go peruse a bookstore. Never know what might strike your fancy.

BED

Ok, sorry I've missed a few days. Lately, though, the thing that has brought my greatest joy is going to bed. Oh my goodness. I am so swamped with final papers bed brings sweet relief every night.

Also, I am very grateful that I have a bed to go to at night. A lot of people in the world sleep on dirt or cardboard. So if you have a bed to crash every night, please smile.

I am also grateful to have a job and to be getting the college education that makes me want to collapse into bed every night.

So even when you feel like collapsing, there's still something to be grateful for.

sunsets

Sunsets are like snowflakes, no two are the same. One of my favorite pastimes is going out and taking pictures of sunsets. There's just something so beautiful about them. If you haven't gone out and watched the sun set lately, please, I beg of you please do. It's a breath-taking experience. So peaceful. Most goodbyes are so painful. But not the sun's. The sun leaves always with the sweet promise of coming back the next day.

my hair

Ok so everybody has something about themselves that they love/love to laugh about. Mine is my hair. Oh me and my hair...we go way back. On most days it either grants me the first laugh of the day (due to things like this picture) OR the first smile of the day when I wake up and it's perfect and I don't have to do anything to it.

So obviously,as great as this picture is, my hair isn't going to make everyone smile, but what I'm encouraging here is for everyone to find that one thing about themselves that you can smile/laugh about. Feel free to share it with me in the comments! I would really love some more interaction so we can all share our smiles and whatnot! Thanks!

Chick-fil-a

Ok I got this one per request of Laura Farmer! And I have to agree the Chick-fil-a cows do have a way of tickling my funny bone.

Not only the cows...but the food too! I mean where else can you get waffle fries? Kim and I have learned how to play the system. We go and get a kid's meal, replacing the toy with ice cream. That way we get dinner and dessert for under $4. Heeeck yes! : ) That is definitely something to smile about.

Which reminds me of a great song about Chick-fil-a. Watch it. Now. : )

Old people

Ok, sure they can be annoying sometimes when they're going 40 in a 60 down the freeway. But all in all, old people are great.

I just got a call at work from this old guy trying to send an e-mail to our website rather than e-mail address. When I started trying to explain, he was like, "hold on lemme turn the volume up on my phone." hahaha. It was adorable.

I also love going to the temple and seeing all the old ladies in their floral dresses, holding hands with their hubbies.

And I mean come on check out this picture! They're like doing the macarena!! hahahaha. I love it.

The human body

So this morning I was at the gym watching the dancers on a music video and I was like, it is really incredible what the human body can do! It was especially incredible to me because my body in particular can do so little when it comes to flips and dancing and what not!

Then I was walking home, pretty proud that I was still able to walk after my workout, when I heard a really loud sound behind me. My first thought as I turned around was "dang motorcylces--so obnoxious!" then I realized the motorcycle was sliding on its side. Then the motorcycle slid right into the bike rider crossing the street, sending her airborne--she fell on her head. They both got up and walked to the sidewalk where I was. Think about this. She landed on her head. His leg was on the side of the motorcycle that was scraping against the ground. Granted, they didn't come away completely unscathed, but it was incredible how unscathed they were! The human body is so incredibly tough!

Probably the greatest part though about the human body, is the human inside. The two involved didn't scream at each other. They didn't point the finger of blame at each other. No, in fact they sat next to each other, concerned for each other's well being, both admitting their fault in not watching carefully.

Moral of the story:
1)no matter what limitations your physical body has; it is still incredibly miraculous.
2)there is still goodness in the world