simply rebecca

arrrrr

2012-02-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun game...you  answer some questions with the first letter of your name. I can't explain it very well, but y'all are smart. I'm sure you will get it once you see my  post. 

FRUIT - Raspberry

BEVERAGE - Root Beer

SINGER - Rihanna

FOUR LETTER WORD - Read

STREET - Route 66

COLOR - Rust

GIFT - Red Roses

OCCUPATION - Radiologist

MOVIE - Roman Holiday

CELEBRITY - Rachel McAdams

MAGAZINE - Redbook

BOY NAME - Robert

GIRL NAME - Ruth

CITY - Rome, GA

SPORTS - Roller Derby

SOUVENIR SHOP GIFT - Rocks

an attitude of gratitude

2012-01-26T14:29:00.004-07:00

So this morning, my mama and I were talking about some things that we're grateful for.
It gave me the idea to make a list of 100 things I'm thankful for...I thought I would share my list with y'all!

So here we go! I'm grateful for...

My family and the knowledge that we have the chance to be together forever.
Music, of all kinds. I'm pretty sure I would die without music.
My mama, who is my best friend. She is truly the best example to me.

Friends who have the same standards as me.
Disney movies and all of their corniness, yet amazingness.
Forgiveness and the chance to always repent.
Soft, warm jammies.
Calculators, since I stopped doing mental math by my fourth semester of college.
Cheesy movies that make you smile at the ridiculousness.
Love...it's a beautiful thing.
Second chances...and knowing that tomorrow is a new day.
That we see in color. I love color.
Happy mail.

The U.S. Postal Service.
Mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial PocketBac. Ewww germs.
Smiling.
People who smile at me.
Things that make me smile.
Heaters, because I am always cold.
School. I love it.
Disneyland. It's a magical place.

Doing service for others.
Flip flops...the love of my life.
My job.
My missionary friends whom I write to.
My testimony of the gospel.
Cooking and baking.
My sensitivity.
Purses...NOT fanny packs!
Clean bathrooms.
Temples and the peace I feel there.
Showers and all other types of running water.
Unanswered prayers, because God knows what is best for me in the big picture.
Computers.
Chocolate chip cookies.
The person who made a mistake in the kitchen and unknowingly created chocolate chip cookies.
Clocks, because I would go crazy if I didn't know what time it was.
To have a church so close to my house.
To have a temple so close to my house.

J.K. Rowling, for writing Harry Potter.

Kathryn Stockett, for writing The Help.

Suzanne Collins, for writing The Hunger Games.

Jane Austen, for writing...period.

Christmas, the season that we remember when Christ was born.
Christmas lights that twinkle.
"Twinkle" made me think of Twinkies, for which I'm also grateful.

Books, because reading is my favorite thing.
My pink camera.

Pictures, so I can remember important moments in my life.
The color purple. I love that dang color...it's so amazing and happy and pretty.
Snuggies.

The strong bonds I have with my family members.
My reliable car.
My ability to read music.
My visiting teachers...they're the best.
Chick-fil-A.
That my not-so-local community college has a SLPA program...and that it's online.
Hot chocolate.
My new bright red KitchenAid stand mixer.

My amazing brother, who gave me my new bright red KitchenAid stand mixer for Christmas.
Our four kitties and all the love and fun they add to our family.
Missionary work. I don't know where I'd be today without it...
Cute aprons...so I can be stylish while attempting to be a domestic goddess.
That I was born in the south, y'all!
Arizona sunsets.
That I can wear short sleeves in January...
Joseph Smith, for saying a simple prayer when he was 14 and restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth once again.

Chocolate, and that it isn't just for rich people anymore.
Cozy blankies that keep me warm all year long, since I'm prettymuchalmost always freezing.

Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt.
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
Pond's Cold Cream.

Steppin' Out Dance Centre...the place where I built character for five years.

That my parents let me take dance and music lessons, allowing me to become a more well-rounded person.
My thick, wavy hair.
Beautiful, pink roses.

The smell of roses...I think that's what heaven's going to smell like.
That I was named after one of my grandma's favorite books.
My ability to study and retain knowledge.
Thomas S. Monson, who is our prophet and guides us each and every day.
That flats are popular...since I'm not super graceful in heels.
Birthdays...I sure love them!

Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. I know that I can ask for forgiveness when I make mistakes, because that is the beauty of the Atonement. No one is perfect, and Heavenly Father knew that, and that is why Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice...so we can repent and still have the chance of living with our Heavenly Father again.

Yummy-smelling lotions.
The smell of new books.
Beaches.
My blue eyes.
Things that make me laugh until my sides hurt.
My bed. I love not having to sleep on the floor.
My happy patchwork quilt.
The chance I was given to serve as a full-time missionary in Georgia.
My handwriting.
Anything that glitters.
Hugs. I'm totes a huggy person.
Pizookies!!

That I have full points in all of my classes [so far].
My daddy, because he is amazing.
Chris, my younger brother, who never ceases to amaze me.
To be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

happiness

2012-01-22T18:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary since I flew home from Georgia.

[this was taken during my last few moments in mars hill, with my georgia mama. i miss her lots.]

I was released as a full-time missionary one year ago today.
If things had worked out differently, I would have been coming home this Wednesday, the 25th...

I still miss the mission and think about "what if."
But I'm happy with how things have worked out.
I can see Heavenly Father's hand in all of this, and that gives me a lot of comfort and peace.

[looking and feeling a lot happier than i was a year ago]

And y'all should read this. Srsly.
The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?

let the games begin

2012-01-13T22:14:00.019-07:00

So I just finished reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
You guys.
You guyyyyys!!
If you haven't read it yet, you've gotta grab a copy...like, now.

I'm sooo dang excited for the movie!!
Is anyone else counting down?
[only 70 more days...! eeep!!!]

2011 read-a-thon

2012-01-11T12:35:00.001-07:00

So I love to read.

It's prettymuch a passion of mine.

My favorite thing to do on a Friday night is to curl up with a blanket and a good book, with something to drink close by [preferably something chocolatey].

I spent a lot of time reading last year.

I was depressed, and reading a good book was comforting to me.

So here is the list of all of the books I read in 2011.

[my favorites are starred.]

Hopefully you might find something you'd like to read in this list!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald*
The Help by Kathryn Stockett*
How to Be an Extraordinary Teenager by John Bytheway
Book of Mormon Stories*
Believe in What You're Doing; Believe in Who You Are by Hilary Weeks
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank*
Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures by Menno Metselaar & Ruud van der Rol
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith*
The Help by Kathryn Stockett*
Finding God in the Garden by Brent & Wendy Top
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton*
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis*
Opportunities in Speech-Language Pathology Careers by Patricia Larkins Hicks
The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd*
The Help by Kathryn Stockett*
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Atonement by Ian McEwan*
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
The Magic of Ordinary Days by Ann Howard Creel
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling*
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling*
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling*
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling*
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling*
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling*
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling*

2012

2012-01-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

Holy craycray, are we really at the start of a brand new year already???

I'm not gonna lie, 2011 started off kinda rocky, and it definitely didn't turn out the way that I'd planned...
But that's okay.
Heavenly Father sure knows what He's doing!

I can honestly say that I am happy with where I am today and what I am doing with my life.
I love being home with my family.
I love what I am learning in school.
I love my job and working with my daddy.
I loved being home for the holidays again.
I love having the gospel in my life and looking for opportunities to serve here at home.
I love our two new baby kitties.

...wait, whaaa???

Yuppers, y'all read that right!

So I never posted about this [bad blogger award, once again], but our 17 1/2-year-old kitty, Abby, passed away in her sleep early the morning of November 30.
She had been a part of our family since she was about six weeks old.
We all took it pretty hard, and it felt weird only having two cats again [we'd had more than two cats for 12 years].

Fast forward to Christmas morning.
Mama was opening a gift from Daddy.
It was a small box, and inside that box was another wrapped box, and inside that box was a memory stick.
Chris ran to get the digital picture frame so we could see what was on it.
We got it all set up, and we watched as the frame reeled through pictures of kittens...always two kittens together.
Then Daddy announced that we would go to pick out two baby kittens that coming week.
Of course, we were all ecstatic!

And we are loving our new babies, Lucy and Annabel!
[i would post pics, but Chris took my little uploader thingamajig with him to work...but soon!]
Lucy is a tortie and Annabel is a calico, and they are both so sweet and playful!
We're thinking Lucy might have been the runt of the litter, since she's a little smaller than Annabel, but she sure has a wild streak!
[they're about five months old, and we're going to say that their birthdays are july 28, since we brought them home on december 28.]
We are in love with them, and we're so excited to have them in our family!

Anywho, Happy 2012!!!
I hope this year brings y'all many blessings!

christmas fun

2011-12-10T08:39:00.157-07:00

Here's a fun Christmas survey I found...

Egg nog or hot chocolate? hot chocolate for sure!

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? he just sets them out unwrapped.

Colored lights on tree/house or white? colored, both outside and on the tree.

Do you hang mistletoe? nope.

When do you put your decorations up? usually a few days after thanksgiving, but we decided to put the tree up the day before thanksgiving this year.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? i looove green bean casserole...and stuffing.

Favorite holiday memory as a child: the year i got my first american girl doll, molly.

How and when did you learn the truth about Santa? i think it was a gradual process between 5th and 6th grade...

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? nope...mama is adamant that we wait until christmas morning.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? we fill it with all the hallmark ornaments i collected after working there through two christmases, plus a mish-mash of ornaments that have been collected over 27 years of marriage.

Snow! Love it or dread it? i love it, but i'm not a huge fan of the cold...so it's kind of a love-hate relationship.

Can you ice skate? not at all! 

Do you remember your favorite gift? yuppers, a violin!

What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? the birth of christ...and spending time with my family.

What is your favorite holiday dessert? ummm i can't choose a favorite...it's all good!

What is your favorite holiday tradition? sunday night christmas light drives. 

What tops your tree? a green european tree topper that my parents found in st. augustine, florida.

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? i love giving...

What is your favorite Christmas Song? josh groban's "o holy night."

What is your favorite Christmas story? the birth of christ.

spiritual yellow pages

2011-11-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

I found this today and it made me smile.
Hope it brings a smile to your face, as well.

it's friday

2011-11-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving...one-day-late!!!

Did y'all eat lots of turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie?
I know I sure did...and I probably gained like 15 lbs. in the process [at least, it felt like it].

Anywho, once again, I know it's been for-e-ver since I've posted anything, so here is an update!

I'm back in school! I'm working on my third Associate's, this time in Applied Science so that I can be a speech-language pathology assistant! I am loving my classes so far, and I'm super excited to have found a career that I can be passionate about.
I have a job! Well, I'm not getting paid yet, but I'm still excited to have something I can put on my resume again! I'm an administrative assistant, helping my dad with some parts of his business. I'm having fun with it!
I finally updated my mormon.org profile! I'm so happy I finally got it up-to-date, seeing as how I was still in Georgia wearing a little black name tag the last time I did anything with it! Check it out here!
Speaking of Georgia, the cutest sister missionary ever got married last Saturday, the 19th, in the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple! Sooo excited and happy for her!!
My mama went through the temple for the first time on June 21! I sure love my new temple buddy!!

And that's all I can really think of right now...

Are y'all so excited for Christmas?!
I've been listening to Christmas music since October 25...just a little excited!

"you is kind. you is smart. you is important."

2011-09-04T14:43:00.001-07:00

I am currently rereading this book ---> for the second time in two months...

Mama and I have already gone to see this movie ---> twice within two weeks...

We are prettymuch in looove with The Help.
We feel like we really "know" and love the characters.

[skeeter, minny, and aibileen...

i can't decide who is my favorite]

All except Hilly, that is...we aren't too fond of her.

[she's a meanie]

If y'all haven't seen and/or read The Help yet, you need to.

It's the best book I've read in a looong long time, and the movie remains true to the spirit of the book...yay!!

What books and movies can you turn to over and over again, and you still love them just as much as [or more than] the first time?

one year

2011-08-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

One year ago today, I said goodbye to my family and boarded a plane headed for Salt Lake City...

One year ago today, I walked through those doors at the MTC, excited and nervous for this new chapter in my life...

One year ago today, a sweet little old lady pinned on my shiny new black name tag...

[my mtc district]

Here I am one year later...sitting in Arizona instead of Georgia.

[a traditional mtc photo]

The last year has been filled with both blessings and hardships.
I loved my mission.
I loved being a missionary.
I fell in love with the people.
I feel in love with Georgia.
I fell in love with missionary work.
I fell in love with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[sister barton and i walking 4.5 miles in the pouring rain...

but we're still smiling!]

I was heartbroken when I came home so much earlier than I'd anticipated.
I would wake up in the mornings and not want to get out of bed.
When I was with people, I wanted to be left alone.
When I was alone, I didn't want to be by myself.
I hated seeing my parents crying tears of frustration, feeling like it was all my fault.
I hated looking in the mirror at myself and hearing the voice inside my head, telling me that I was a failure; that I was worthless; that I wasn't good enough; that I was unlovable.

[sister fine and i, excited about the first snowflakes]

This coming Sunday, I will have been home for seven months.
And I can honestly say that I am happy with where I am at right now.

[the collier's, including the newly-returned missionary,

kristen aka sister collier]

While I still miss the mission, and while I still wish that things could have worked out differently, I am beginning to see Heavenly Father's hand in all of this.

[on an exchange in buchanan]

I know that He loves me, unconditionally, and I know that He is in control.

I hope y'all know that, too.

Romans 8:38-39

one word

2011-08-15T15:21:00.002-07:00

Hey y'all!

Sooo I know it's been prettymuch forever since I've posted anything...sorry 'bout that.
I'll try to do better at this whole blogging thing, I promise.

Anywho, to get myself back into the blogging world, I found this meme that looked kinda fun. You're supposed to answer each question using only one word...so here goes.

1. Where is your cell phone? EAR

2. Relationship? NOPE
3. Your hair? BRUNETTE
4. Work? SEARCHING
5. Your sister? LOTS
6. Your favorite things? BOOKS

7. Your dream last night? VOLDEMORT

8. Your favorite drink? MILK

9. What's your dream car? BUG

10. The room you are in? OFFICE
11. Your shoes? THONGS

12. Your fears? BEES

13. What do you want to be in 10 years? MARRIED
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? FAMILY
15. What are you not good at? SEEING
16. Muffins? CHOCOLATE

17. Wish list item? LIPGLOSS

18. Where you grew up? HOME
19. The last thing you did? SPOKE
20. What are you wearing? CLOTHES
21. What are you not wearing? FUNDIES

22. Your pet? KITTIES!!!

23. Your computer? ON
24. Your life? BLESSED
25. Your mood? SPUNKY
26. Missing? GEORGIA
27. What are you thinking about? HIM! --->

28. Your car? SONATA

29. Your kitchen? SPARKLING
30. Your summer? HOT
31. Your favorite color? PURPLE

32. Last time you laughed? TODAY
33. Last time you cried? QUESTIONABLE...
34. School? COOL
35. Love? YES
36. Tag? Y'ALL

be positive

2011-05-15T19:56:00.023-07:00

So for the past few weeks, I have been  trying to make some simple changes in my life, in the hopes that they will help me  on my journey of battling depression and anxiety.
As a result, I have slowly been  seeing some differences in my outlook on life.
I want to share with y'all some of the changes I'm making...

Listen to music that inspires, every day.
Find time to read a good book, every day.
Read a talk from the most recent General Conference, every night.
Work on saying my prayers first thing in the morning so that I don't forget.
Practice my breathing.
Exercise, at least three days a week.
Take my vitamins, every day.
Go to the temple, at least once a week.
Say something kind to someone, every day.
Remind myself of something that makes me special, every day.

I am still having a really rough time right now.
Honestly, I am not trying to hide it in any way.
However, I  have felt the beginnings of a shift in my life.
I feel like these simple  changes I am choosing to make have been helping me put a focus on bettering myself.
It's a  slow process, but at least I am working towards it, right?

home

2011-04-15T06:41:00.020-07:00

Well, I reckon it's probably time for me to give y'all "The Update."

I'm home.
I've been home since January 21...three days after I hit my five month mark in the mission.

My last few days in Kennesaw, GA and my first few days in Mesa, AZ felt so surreal.

I think the first time it really hit me as to what was happening was my last night in Georgia.
I'd gotten the call from President Satterfield that morning to give me all my flight details for the next day.
Since we didn't have any appointments that day, we spent it doing service for the lady we lived with, completing our weekly planning, and packing...for me, at least.
That night, the Relief Society was having an education seminar, so Sister Pontius and I went to that.
I prettymuch missed everything the speaker said...since I kept thinking, "This is the last time I'll sit in this room..."
I kept looking around at the other women there and wondering whom would I get to see again.

During the closing prayer, the tears started coming...
That's when it hit me what was happening.
I was going home.
I was leaving behind the people and the places I'd come to love, much sooner than I'd expected.

The plane ride seemed like the longest four hours of my life.
I kept thinking about what was going to happen over the next few weeks.
What am I going to say?
How will people react?
Is my family disappointed?
What about Heavenly Father?
What am I going to do?
Then I'd start crying again...and I'd pretend to be asleep to try to hide it.

My parents met me at the airport.
I shouldn't have been nervous about seeing them.
My mom held onto my arm the whole time we got my luggage together and as we were walking back to the car.
She told me I would be released the next morning.

My first few days back home are a blur.
At first, I wanted to tell my family all about the people I'd met and my experiences in Georgia.
I missed the mission, but I was happy to be with my family again.
I watched some movies and tried to listen to "normal" music, but I couldn't help feeling a little guilty.
After a few days, I only spoke when spoken to.
I cried myself to sleep every night, and when I woke up in the morning, I'd have a knot in my stomach when I remembered what had happened.

I started seeing a counselor to try to work through my anxiety.
After a few visits, I felt like I was doing better, and I asked my bishop if it would be possible for me to somehow finish my mission here at home.
Eventually, he and my stake president found an opportunity for me to be a service missionary at the Visitors' Center by the temple.
I was so happy and excited at the thought of being a missionary again.
But then, my anxiety and depression were kicked up again.

So I'm seeing the counselor again.
Hopefully I will begin feeling more confident in myself.

I'm not angry with Heavenly Father for what's happening.
This is just one of those trials that we all go through in life.
If When I get through this, I will be a better person because of it.
One day, I'll be able to look back and see how this one piece of the puzzle fits in with the rest of the pieces to create a beautiful picture.

My parents and I are going on vacation next week.
We leave tomorrow for Vegas and U-taaah.
[i feel like "utah" is one of those words you can have fun with...kinda like "na-chooo" from "nacho libre." i haven't seen that movie, but i feel like i have, since my mtc district was quoting it all the time.]

I'm so blessed to have such caring/supportive/loving people in my life.

Love y'all...

p.s. Sorry my blog is kinda ugly right now. I'll try restoring the cuteness when we get back from U-taaah.

20 hours

2010-08-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry for neglecting this blog over the last few weeks.
I hope y'all forgive me...
I've learned that it can be tough keeping up more than one blog.
But anywho...

August 4, 2010

my temple day

20 hours from right now, I will be "Sister Crowe."
20 hours from right now, I will be set apart as a full-time missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I fly out to Salt Lake City bright and early on Wednesday morning.
["bright and early" means we've gotta be out the door and on our way to the airport no later than 5:50am.]
I enter the Provo MTC at 12:45pm.

My emotions are all over the place.
A huge part of me is excited.
I'm just itching to put on that little black name tag and get to work.
I'm also a little nervous [but thankfully not as nervous as i thought i would be].
I hear that's normal, though, so I guess it's okay.

Last night, a big group of people from my ward came by our house.
It's a tradition in our ward to sing "God Be with You Till We Meet Again" to the new missionaries right before they enter the MTC.
I've always loved that hymn, but it was much more personal this time.
It was so precious, and I hope I never forget those few sweet moments.

Well, this is it.
I probably won't get another chance to post after tonight.
If you would like to stay updated on my missionary adventures, my parents will be keeping up a blog [sistercrowe.blogspot.com].
Feel free to follow along.

So long, farewell...
Ready or not, Georgia, here I come!
Love y'all!!

i love to see

2010-07-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

the temple.

I'm going there next week.

down south

2010-07-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

Exactly one month from today, I'll be walking through those doors at the MTC...

In celebration, I've created the blog that my family will be updating with e-mails and pictures while I'm away serving the Lord and His children in the Peach State...

sistercrowe.blogspot.com

Happy Sabbath.
[best day of the week.]

on my mind

2010-07-13T11:15:00.001-07:00

Sooo, now that I've had some time to let the news sink in a bit, I think I'm ready to announce to the [blogging] world where I'm being sent on my mission...

...

I've been assigned to serve in the...
Georgia Atlanta Mission!!!!!

Report Date: August 18. [yuppers...i've got five more weeks plus a day. um...freak out?]
Language: English. [y'all have nooo idea how happy i am about this one...srsly.]

Reasons why the Georgia Atlanta Mission is perfect for me:

+ It's one of the places I was hoping for. Whenever someone asked the inevitable question, "Is there anywhere you'd like to serve?" I always responded with, "Anywhere in the South, especially Georgia or the Carolinas." I thought I was seeing things when I read my call letter...

+ I'm going back to my roots. Prettymuch my whole family back to my great-great-great-great-great-grandparents on my mom's side grew up in Atlanta. Her parents grew up in Atlanta; her grandparents grew up in Atlanta; her great-grandparents...in fact, one of my ancestors is Robert E. Lee, so my roots definitely run deep in the South.

+ Two words: The Varsity. I've been hearing about this restaurant my whole life. We even have a poster of The Varsity displayed in our kitchen.

+ My grandpa went to Georgia Tech and had a white bulldog named Grits.

+ Sister Collier, one of the sister missionaries who taught my mom [and prettymuch the cutest missionary ever], is from Atlanta. We're trading places!

+ I looove fried okra. I eat it like popcorn. I also love fried pickles. Chris recommends that I have my cholesterol checked right before I leave and then when I come home in February '12.

+ It's where the Lord needs me.

See the "Grand Opening" here.

three words

2010-07-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

It has arrived...

I'll be opening my Big White Envelope tonight with my family.

Stay tuned for more information...

still waiting

2010-06-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

Hopefully my call will be arriving this week. Hoping, hoping, hoping...

Patience is a virtue.

My bishop's being really nice and is trying to keep me updated on the status.
My mailman probably appreciates it, too.

I don't know what I am throwing myself into.
I will be in a different place, with no family, no friends, and maybe no understanding of the language or normal food.
If you were to ask a random person on the street, they would think I was crazy to do this...

But I know why I am doing this.
It is rather simple.
I love Heavenly Father.
I love Jesus.
I am happy.
I want to share the happiness I've found in the gospel with others.
I want a happier world.
Yes...this is why I want to be a missionary.

I have those tingling feelings inside right now, telling me this is good.
[phew.]
Heavenly Father knows who I am.
And He knows what I can handle.

and now we wait

2010-06-14T19:19:00.001-07:00

Yuppers.
The waiting game has officially begun.

I just got back from my interview with President Wright.
I had been nervous all day, and I couldn't even finish all of my dinner thanks to all of the butterflies in my stomach.
But it was truly a wonderful experience.

He said he'll be writing up his recommendation for me tonight.
He'll be submitting everything to Salt Lake City...TOMORROW.
I could have my letter as early as the end of...NEXT WEEK.

I cannot believe that this is actually happening...
I'm sooososo excited to find out where the Lord needs me.

I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord...

mia

2010-06-13T15:10:00.001-07:00

I fear that I have once again earned the "World's Worst Blogger" award.
So sorry for the lack of posts.

Some fun things have been happening as of late...

First, I am now 21-years-old.
And I did not celebrate with a power hour, so I'm happy to say I can remember the whole day.
But I did celebrate by having a little meeting with my bishop...

He interviewed me for my mission.
I was super nervous about it, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience, and it has gotten me even more excited to begin serving.

And I want to share some of my almost-submitted-mission-application excitement and joy with y'all...so here is the photo that an apostle of the Lord is going to see:

future missionary.

Then, when I was 21-plus-2-days-old, I woke up with one of the worst colds I've had in forever.

It was not fun.

But I count my blessings...at least I wasn't sick on my birthday.

That would've just been sad.

Tomorrow night, I have an interview with my stake president.

I'm pretty much freaking out from excitement and nerves.

Lately, I've taken to entertaining myself by trying to pinpoint the exact date on which the Big White Envelope will arrive.

[yes, the Big White Envelope deserves to be typed out with big bold caps. maybe i'll call it the b.w.e. for short. or the bweee.]

I've thought of all of my friends who have received mission calls, and I'm very proud to say that I have figured it out:

They have all received their B.W.E.s on Thursday.

So, I have prettymuch set apart every Thursday from now until mid-July as holy days.

I hoped and prayed and prayed and hoped that it would get here on the 10th [it didn't, obvi]...one of the sister missionaries who taught my mom is going home on Wednesday, and one of my girlfriends is entering the MTC [to serve a mission in estonia] that same day, and I was reallyreally hoping I'd have my call before they leave.

When I realized that was not meant to be, I thought I was being generous and decided that the 17th wouldn't be too bad.

So when that started looking like that wasn't going to happen either, I thought I was being super generous and told Mama, "It'll be here on the 24th. I'm positive."

Now, if my calculations are correct, it's looking like July 1 is going to be The Day.

But things hardly ever work to our calculations/calendars/timetables.

It's Heavenly Father's timetable that is the perfect one.

So I probably shouldn't be too disappointed if my Bweee arrives on Friday instead of Thursday...

lucky blessings

2010-05-10T21:29:00.087-07:00

Happy Mama's Day!

Yes, I know I am a day late.
Don't worry, I did not forget the special day.
I decided not to write yesterday because I was spending the day with my mama.
And I didn't want this to get lost in a sea of "why-i-love-my-mother" posts.

But even though I am a day behind, I would still love to share with y'all why I think I am one of the luckiest/blessedest girls in the world.

+ My mama always puts her family first. No matter what.

+ My mama is a great example. She always has been. Ever since I was a little girl, I have hoped to become more like the kind of woman she is.

+ My mama is my best friend. She is the one person I can talk to about anything. And even when I don't feel like talking, she is right there waiting until I'm ready to talk. She tells me what I'm doing right, and she loves me enough to tell me what I'm doing wrong. When all of my other friends were moving out to the dorms or renting their own place, I really had no desire to leave the nest yet. Because I knew my heart would be aching. I'm really going to miss my mom.

+ My mama is selfless. Tenneva Jordan once said, "A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." This quote prettymuch captures my mom perfectly. Whenever there's the last bit of anything--last slice of pie, last scoop of ice cream, last piece of chocolate candy--she always gives it to someone else.

+ My mama loves my daddy. A lot. 13 days after meeting my mom, my dad popped the question. They've been happily married for 25.5 years.

+ My mama loves to laugh. And she loves to make others laugh, too. She has the quirkiest sense of humor.

I love my mama.

I am oh-so-lucky.
Or oh-so-blessed.
Probably both.

Spiritual enrichment here.

a new life

2010-05-06T08:39:00.025-07:00

I think you should watch this.
[y'all might want to have the tissues handy...]

And if you aren't already reading NieNie, you might want to take a look.

She is truly an inspiration.
Her whole family is.

rainbows in may

2010-05-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

Can I just bottle up the feelings of joy and peace and gratitude and love I have felt over this past weekend?
I don't ever want to forget...

my mama was baptized.

Date: Saturday, May 1, 2010.

Time: 6:30pm.

Place: Mesa Central Stake Center.

I had trouble sleeping Friday night.

I was out of bed [on Saturday morning] a little after 6.

Mom and I had some errands to run that morning, and we were kept busy until about 1 in the afternoon.

Then, we waited.

I played some hymns on the piano and read my scriptures.

But it was hard for me to focus.

I was too excited.

I knew in a few hours, my mama would be making her first covenants with my ~~her~~ our Heavenly Father.

Finally, it was time for us to leave.

Just before 6, my family piled into the car and drove the two minutes to the stake center.

The service was beautiful.

The talks by Brother Phelps and Sister Matheson [from 5th Ward] were so special and brought a sweet spirit to the baptism.

The hymns and the special music were some of my mama's favorites.

So many of our friends were there supporting my mama.

Bishop Matheson [from 5th Ward] performed the baptism.

When Mama came out of the water, I was smiling and giggling...

And when I was helping her get changed, we couldn't stop laughing.

Then, we both got locked in the bathroom.

Oops.

Mama was confirmed in church on Sunday.

Bishop Matheson said the prayer, with our bishopric and Brother Brian, Brother Calton, and Brother Partridge in the circle.

It was a beautiful blessing.

Mom and I were both in tears by the time it was over.

I hardly ever cry in church...

I don't like for people to see me cry, but I couldn't hold the tears back that day.

I watched as she took the sacrament for the very first time...

And I cried some more.

I have been reflecting a lot on this past weekend.

I feel so much love for my Heavenly Father and my Savior.

I'm so grateful for the gospel.

I am so blessed.

one week

2010-04-24T09:40:00.024-07:00

Next Saturday is the first day of May.
We say "goodbye" to April and "hello" to a brand new month.

And May 1 is going to be an extra special day in my family.

One week from today, my mom is getting baptized!

I don't think it's really quite hit me yet that it's really happening...
The butterflies have been celebrating with a dance party in my stomach for the last several weeks.

It has been the greatest blessing to be a witness to my mom's blooming testimony.

I am so happy...
So excited...
So blessed...
And ever so grateful.

he lives

2010-04-04T11:21:00.036-07:00

i know that my redeemer lives.

what comfort this sweet sentence gives!

Happy Easter!

Happy General Conference!

Some happy news:

My mom is going to be baptized as a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The date is set for May 1, 2010.

Oh, happy day!

busy bee

2010-03-27T15:03:00.029-07:00

I have been one busy bee as of late.
And the lack of regular posts is proof of that.

Some things that have kept me away from my compy include:

+ Books.
I have been filling up my spare time with books. It has been fabulous.

+ Cooking.
I've been cooking up a storm in the kitchen. And it looks like I'm [not] taking after the females on my mom's side of the family, since I've been enjoying every minute of it.

+ Mission papers.
They're still going. I keep thinking that in a perfect world, I'd probably be getting the big white envelope right about now. This whole process is teaching me a lot about trusting in HF's timetable rather than my own. He knows what's best for me better than I do.

+ School.
Newsflash! I'm gonna be a full-time student once again, starting on Monday. I'm signed up for French 101, Medical Terminology, and Healthful Living, and I'm also retaking Spanish 101 [just for a fun review]. It's all online through Rio Salado. I'm a little nervous, but I'm pretty excited about having homework again. [Yes, I'm a nerd.]

+ Sickness.
I've just gotten over the flu...that was fun. But I'm all better now, yay!

Next weekend = General Conference + Easter Pageant...
Can it get any better than that?

it's good

2010-03-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have some good news and some [really] good news...

The good news is that I completed my challenge!!

Yuppers, I survived that looong week of wearing nothin' but skirts and dresses.

Woohoo!!

Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos, which was supposed to be part of the deal.

Oops.

So I guess I didn't really complete the challenge up to par.

Ah well...what really matters is that I know I did it, right?

And you can always check with my parents or Chris, if you don't trust my [written] word on it.

And the [really] good news is...

I've started working on my mission papers!!!!!

Prettymuch all that's left on the to-do list now are the doctor and dentist, and I see them in a little over a week.

So I could have my call a month from now!

Yay!!!

Life is good.

a challenge

2010-03-02T21:24:00.002-07:00

Here is an interesting challenge...
You're supposed to wear only skirts and dresses for a whole week.
[um, this is aimed at girls. obvi...sorry, guys!]

I prettymuch live in jeans, t-shirts, and flip flops.
Except on Sundays, of course.

So do y'all think I can go seven days without slipping on a pair of jeans?
I guess we'll soon find out...starting tomorrow.
And this'll be good practice for the mish.

I'll be a day behind, since it [officially] started...today, and I didn't see it until just now.
Oops.
But better late than never!

steak and ice cream

2010-03-01T19:55:00.040-07:00

I just finished watching ^this movie with my mom.

It was one of my favorites when I was little, but [unfortunately] I hadn't watched it since I was 11ish.

After watching it tonight, it's a favorite of mine once again!

It's the kind of movie that makes you want to be a better person.

To see the good in people instead of searching for the bad...

To always count your blessings, and to be glad for what you have...

And this is coming out on Friday!!

Are y'all excited?

lovely

2010-02-14T16:18:00.006-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love you all.

Spiritual enrichment here.

shoooes

2010-02-10T08:13:00.008-07:00

Last night, my family and I were finishing up din din [Mexican food] when the following conversation occured:

MAMA: "What does 'los zapatos' mean?"
DADDY [at the kitchen counter]: "There's only enough ice cream for one person."
ME: "Oh shoooot!!!"
MAMA: "How did you know?!"

zapatos=shoes

tutti frutti

2010-02-08T21:23:00.018-07:00

After reading my previous post, my lovely friend, Katie, wants to know what scents I'm wearing.
[we also came to the conclusion that i am weird, but in a good way. yay!]

In line for this month are Fei Banana and Grapes.

You know how a lot of people [myself included] love the smell of coffee but hate how it tastes?
I have that same love-hate relationship...with bananas.
I'm not a huge fan of the potassium-loaded fruit, but I can't get enough of the smell of a freshly peeled banana.

So I was definitely excited when I found Fei Banana eau de toilette at Bath & Body Works!
It's a little bit of a tropical summer in a bottle.
Srsly.
Unfortunately, it's been discontinued...so prettymuch the only place you can get it is off of eBay.
Lamespice.

Carly, my mom's and mine good friend and favorite hairstylist [and she is getting married in september!!!], gifted my mama and me with some Grapes lotion from the Vineyard Collection for Christmas.
Mama and I are hooked.
It smells good, it's light, and it's in a cute [purple] bottle.
Nuff said.

What are some of your scents?
Do you have any favorites?

cdo

2010-02-05T17:09:00.006-07:00

I alphabetize everything.
[and i mean everything.]

All of my books are arranged on the shelves in alphabetical order by the authors' last name.
The CDs in my car and my DVDs are lined up by title.

This CDO-ness also manages to find its way into my girly side.
I have all of my perfumes and lotions organized by scent.

And I even go a step further...

I'm a fairly indecisive person.
[if someone asks me what i want for lunch, i prettymuchalmost always respond with "idk...what do you want?"]
And this indecisiveness also manages to find its way into my girly side.

I am most definitely a lotion and perfume person.
I l-o-v-e fragrance.
There are some days when I may walk out of the house without a speck of makeup, but there is no way under heaven that i could go on with my day without smelling purty.
[which is why i could never work where my mom works. department policy=no fragrance. lamespice.]

Which leads me back to my indecisiveness.
Picking out what scent to wear for the day would take me [about] seven minutes every morning.
But I found a solution that saves me [about] seven minutes every morning...

The Solution:
I currently have six bottles of lotion and six bottles of perfume lined up in two rows.
[and yuppers, they are in alphabetical order.]
Each bottle is paired with a buddy from its neighboring row [a lotion with a perfume], and each set is numbered off--the first set of bottles in each row is #1, the second set is #2, and so on.
Then, I wear the set that corresponds with whatever month it is for that entire month...

For instance, we're in February now, the second month of the year.
Sooo for all of February, rather than deciding what to spritz or slather, I'm wearing #2.
And March will be #3...
and April #4...
and May...

~~OCD~~ CDO?
Or just plain weird?
I'll let y'all decide.

bliss

2010-02-01T20:54:00.006-07:00

Looks like an ordinary pile of towels, right?

What you don't know is that they are fresh out of the dryer.

And a closer inspection reveals...

...Mushu in heaven.

Laundry days are his favorite days of the week.

Obvi.

resolutions

2010-01-30T19:49:00.004-07:00

A little late...
But better late than never, I think.

So, without further ado, here are 10 resolutions for the remainder of 2010...

+ Avoid comparing myself to others.
+ Be a better visiting teacher.
+ Cook more often.
+ Drink less coke. [i think this one's legit. i'm proud to say that i have yet to drink soda in 2010. woohoo!]
+ Drink more water.
+ Go to the temple [at least] three times a month.
+ Read the Doctrine & Covenants. [and hopefully complete it before my mission.]

+ Read [at least] three books a month.
+ Remember the two greatest commandments.
+ Take more pictures. [they're memories.]

one week

2010-01-26T17:16:00.007-07:00

one week from today,
i can meet with my bishop.

one week from today,
i can start on my mission papers.

i am so excited to devote 18 months of my life to Heavenly Father, to love and serve and teach some of His precious children.
i hope that i can be the kind of missionary He wants me to be...

i have just met you, and i love you

2010-01-20T16:47:00.012-07:00

Q: what does Rebecca do when she's sick and everyone else is at work?
A: + drinks 12 glasses of orange juice;
   + ~~stalks~~ reads some blogs;
   + browses Etsy;
   + reads Twilight and swoons over Edward;
   + heats up some chicken noodle soup;
   + takes a nap;
   + and watches a movie.

i just finished watching ^this movie for the bajillionth time. it is my new favorite. i absolutely positively <3 it, and i don't think i'll ever get tired of it. [squirrel! bahahaha, it cracks me up every time...]

my favorite scenes are the first five minutes and the last five minutes. they are prettymuch the sweetest 10 minutes in movie history. srsly. they make me smile. and cry. some are sad tears, but most are happy tears.

when i get married,

i hope it's just like carl & ellie's marriage.

they are legit.

Up lesson #1: adventure is definitely out there, but it might not be in the places we expect to find it. or with the people we hope to share it with.

Up lesson #2: appreciate the boring stuff.

woe is my nose

2010-01-18T12:24:00.010-07:00

i had a cough all last week. and last night, my nose decided to catch up.

i am now sitting here with a wad of tissue stuck up my left nostril, in an attempt to control the flow.
[oh-so-attractive.]

i blame the cough syrup...since I had no other symptoms until after I downed the two teaspoons.

sicknast.

my parents convinced me to swallow the disgusting stuff yesterday before lunch.

i complained, i whined, i tried to find a way out...but alas, to no avail.

finally, i put on a brave face, pinched my nose, and tried not to think about what i was putting in my mouth...

it was not pretty.

but i had my mom there to cheer me on, as she made sure i got every last drop.

search ponder pray

2010-01-14T22:05:00.010-07:00

sooo i have some super exciting news!!
i [finally] finished emptying my very last box from the move!
it's been sitting in the corner between my bookcase and dresser for months, and now i have three extra feet of dancing space in my bedroom...awesomespice!!

and that's not the best part...

you know how when you're deep cleaning, you prettymuchalmost always end up finding something that makes your whole day?
it was like that for me when i was emptying out that bottomless pit earlier today.
i found something special amidst the pile of old textbooks, papers, and pens.

my very first copy of the Book of Mormon.
it was given to me at a time when i was struggling with my faith, questioning everything i wanted to believe in.
a gift from a friend.
Christmas 2005.

i smiled as i held the small paperback book in my hands again. and i remembered...
+ struggling with the grammar and the pronunciation as i read those pages for the first time...[nephi='ne-fE]
+ hiding the book in my underwear drawer, afraid of what my parents might think of it, and staying up late after everyone else was in bed to read more...[oh-so-rebellious!]

most of all, i remembered the peace i felt whenever i read this book...
and i still feel that same peace when i read this book today.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ.
it's true.
i know it with all of my <3.

happy mail

2010-01-13T21:32:00.012-07:00

so i have a little confession to make...
i love the mailman. he's prettymuchalmost right up there with Santa Claus in my book...srsly.

today, this wonderful guy brought me a package.
wanna guess what was inside?

[another] package!

And guess what was inside that??

tada!! an apron!

and i decided to test it out by making some peach cobbler for tonight's dessert. served with vanilla ice cream, of course.

oh-so-delish.

o tannenbaum

2010-01-11T20:24:00.015-07:00

i started the sad process of taking down our prettyful Christmas tree this morning. a moment of silence was given as each ornament was carefully packed into its box...

and yeah, i know it's prettymuchalmost mid-January. don't judge.

new beginnings

2010-01-10T17:52:00.007-07:00

so far, 2010 has been quite fabulous. and with the new year getting under headway, i thought this would be a good time to try something a little different.

i'm not exactly new to the blogging world. but i feel like my blogging style is in need of a bit of a makeover.

i want my blog to be me.
the real me...
with no worries of what others might be thinking.

and i plan to enjoy the journey.

happy blogging, y'all.