a mission

if you are my friend on facebook, you may have seen some pretty big news last week. i apologize that it's taken me so long to announce it on the blog, but i didn't want to interrupt my series posts last week about eating disorders. so here it is:

i have been called to serve as a full-time missionary of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints in the. . .


Canada Vancouver Mission!!!!

i report to the provo mtc on june 26, 2013

i've had a lot of questions since people found out i got a mission call (because i didn't tell very many people before it actually came). i want to answer just a few so that you know a bit more about my decision to serve a mission.

"oh, were you affected my the age change?. . .  i guess not." no i'm not 19 or 20. i'm 23. so i wasn't affected my the age change. but i've been hearing of quite a few girls my age and older who are getting calls. i believe that the age change not only allowed younger girls to go, but also re instilled the missionary spirit in girls all over the church. and that is why older and younger sisters are going on missions now.

"why are you going now, instead of having gone at 21?" when i was 21 i was going to uganda, and that was my "mission" at the time. after i got home from uganda i prayed for about a semester, trying to decide if it was right for me to go on a mission. i got the answer that i could decide. so i decided not to go. life went on. last semester i really wanted to go through the temple. but my bishop told me that our stake president wouldn't let sisters go through until they were 25 unless they were getting married or going on a mission. i was super disappointed because i felt like i had received a prompting to prepare to go through the temple. around this time my mom and my sister kept asking me if i was thinking of serving a mission. my answer was emphatically, "no!" i had a wonderful job that i planned to keep after graduation, plans for post-graduation, a ward that i loved and wanted to stay in, and looked forward to just having a break from school for a bit and taking advantage of the "good life." during christmas break i recommitted to improving my spirituality and my testimony. the first week of school i went to institute with my friend Bre (who recently returned from her mission to Thailand). as we sat there, talking about the Book of Mormon, a voice came into my head, as clear as anything, and said, "you should go on a mission." it was one of the most direct promptings i had ever gotten and i knew i could not rationalize my way out of it without consequences. not only had that voice come to my head, but in my heart i knew that it was right. i was freaking out. i didn't want to go. but i started my papers. and that's where the journey began.

"are you excited?" yes!!!! i mentioned that i didn't want to go. but that changed. through prayer, fasting and pleading for the lord to let me be ok with this being His will, i became willing to go. i was really worried, though, that when i got my call it would be to somewhere i didn't want to go or i just wouldn't be excited about it. throughout the month and a half that i worked on my papers and waited for my call to come, i prayed that i would be excited to go where the Lord wanted me and that i would know that it was inspired. i can't describe exactly how i know that Vancouver is right, but i know that it is perfect. the second i saw Canada Vancouver on that piece of paper, i just knew i was going to be so happy there! i knew that there were things in my life that prepared me to go there and that it was going to be perfect for me. even in research about vancouver, i am amazed at how much i love it already. i feel like i will never want to come home! i am also freaking nervous. i don't know how i can be an amazing missionary. i am scared to death of bearing my testimony and i feel like i am very "weak in words." i am going to be relying on the Lord a lot!

i am so very grateful for the friends and family who have supported me through this decision! especially my mom, brother and bre who let me cry to them when i felt like i couldn't go on a mission. i'm thankful for the missionary examples i have who have taught me the importance of sharing the gospel- especially my grandparents who have served two full time missions as a couple. i am thankful for the friends who had more faith that i, and who knew that i would be an amazing missionary even when i doubt myself. 

"i can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

phil. 4:13

what i love about fall

where has time gone? life is so crazy and then one day i realized it was october and that i was a major slacker in blogging. let's be real, on my list of priorities, blogging is near the bottom. i am working super hard at school and my new job is keeping me really busy too. i have lots to do for my calling as well. but i am just loving life! i feel so blessed right now that it is almost overwhelming! i am so grateful! but now that it's october and fall is officially here, i wanted to share with you some of my favorite things about fall (my second favorite season).

*hot chocolate season starts- i had salted caramel hot chocolate Thursday and it was divine! i love trying lots of different flavors. there is something about having a warm cup of hot chocolate wrapped in your hands that is just wonderful.

*boots, scarves, jackets and cardigans! it's so much easier shopping for fall clothes because i don't have to worry about it being immodest ha ha.

*football season- i live for my BYU games on the weekend. and we stomped on the Aggies last night which makes me super happy.

rachel, hyrum, me and spencer at BYU vs. Hawaii

* halloween- i know halloween is creepy and involved massive amounts of candy, but i love it. i love getting dressed up and going to all the parties. i love scary movies and corn mazes. i love it all. (except candy corn.) i want to have an awesome halloween costume this year! and my friend Natalie is having a Harry Potter themed halloween party. so psyched!

*pumpkin everything. carving pumpkins. pumpkin pancakes. pumpkin pie. pumpkin bread. pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. pumpkin shakes. roasted pumpkin seeds. pumpkin curry. and of course the pumpkin smoothie from Jamba Juice. if you have never tried it then go get it now. seriously. it will change your life.

*driving Alpine Loop. i have driven up provo canyon every fall for the past three years and it is beautiful! it is wonderful to get away and view some of God's most glorious work! i hope i get to go soon this year.

*turning on the heater. now i have a real excuse to be cold and turn off the a/c. when you think anything below 72 degrees is freezing, you look forward to the time when you don't feel guilty about turning off the a/c.

*finally, General Conference! [i mean i have to put this in because it's today, right?] but i do love me some general conference. i love listening to the Prophet and Apostles and receiving much needed counsel and guidance in my life. if you want to watch or listen today and tomorrow click here.

thought on tuesday

one of the downsides of working at a desk is that my left hand stays fairly warm (because i can sit on it. tmi? maybe) while my right hand freezes. it's kind of a cruel irony.

i realized the other day that although i made a goal to run a marathon in September, i'm totally scared to even try. i just don't think i can do it. the thought of running farther than 13 miles is frightening. i guess i should remember that when i first started running i could barely run a mile, and then i did a half marathon. i guess i can do anything i put my mind to... right? but, any suggestions on how to stay motivated? how do do those long runs? how to deal with knee pain? or if you want to be my running buddy (i run about a 10 min/mile pace) let me know!

i'm at work for 9 hours today. in the same 25 square feet. it's quite exciting. not. but at least there were snickerdoodles in the break room. (i didn't even eat one, but knowing that they were there and they were free was a comforting thought.)

in my lunch today i had a chocolate chip cookie with coconut in it. ummmm ok, why has no one ever thought of this before?! it is crazy good. i want to go buy me some coconut right now and make some so ya'll can try it out.

i've been working out for about an hour every day and i'm going to start running every other day. it's fantastic. i just want to find a way to amp up my work out. ideas?

in between going to three sacrament meetings on sunday (i better get really blessed for that), i discovered a few things. i was sincerely pondering and praying about something i really want. something that i, in fact, require in order to reach the Celestial Kingdom. it is a good thing to want. but because i went to three sacrament meetings i heard a great talk by my friend Casey. he said that we should be asking God how we can be an instrument in His hands. i think i make the mistake of asking, asking, asking. but i'm not asking the right questions. so i guess i gotta work for that. the Lord wants me to turn my life totally over to Him. it's probably going to be hard because i'm not patient and i like to do things my own way, but, even more, i want to help His children, and being His instrument is the only way i know how.

speaking of church, i'm giving a talk on sunday. it's only been two years. the topic? "why is memorial day significant to us as Latter-Day Saints?" let's just talk about how my family always "celebrates" memorial day by planting our garden and weeding the entire yard. the only thing we are remembering is how much we hate weeding and how we did this last year, so why are we doing it again this year. obviously i'm off to a great start.

i feel like everyone sees me through rose colored glasses. to them i'm: super athletic, a good writer, smart, a good listener, supportive, an example of righteousness, etc. but honestly i don't feel like i'm any of this. i see myself as a pretty mediocre individual who is constantly attempting to catch up to everyone else. i feel like i'm being left in the dust. so who's right? my inner self, or the people i live with and associate with day to day?

ok we are getting too deep and i don't really feel like being all philosophical and psychological and emotional today. even though i have two loooong hours left at work. i've given you enough to go on. have a great tuesday!

ps. it's National Hamburger Month! who wants to celebrate with me?? i'm thinking either In 'N Out or JCW's!

GC weekend rewind

what a blessed weekend! i love general conference! i feel so freaking blessed after the wonderful weekend i had. the past for GC's i've had very specific questions that needed to be answered. this conference i didn't have any huge questions. but i did come with an open heart to hear whatever i needed to hear to make me a better disciple of Christ. here's a few things i learned.

-intently prepare to receive temple ordinances

- pray to know what sacrifices i need to make to reach my destiny

- make specific personal commitments each week

- stop holding grudges, being envious and gossiping

- let go of grievances. don't let grudges or unforgiveness hold me down

- be more grateful

- take time to meditate daily on eternal truths and what really matters

- share my love and testimony of The Book of Mormon

- live my life so that it reflects my love and devotion to the Savior

what did you learn from General Conference?

other highlights of the busy weekend:
- spending time with special people
- beautiful spring weather (minus sunday)
- blossoms!
- diy frisbee golf on campus
- making a wish in the pool in the JFSB
- swedish twister
- kneaders for breakfast
- my first el salvadorian food: puposa
- Passover celebration with my family
- staying up insanely late because sometimes it's better than going to sleep
- getting an 89% on my Functional anatomy test
- best. letter. ever. in the mail

general conference blues

pretty much everyone i know (yes, even my friends in Uganda) are watching General Conference right now. and what am i doing? i'm at work. i have the live stream going, but without speakers on my computer all i can do is watch and try to read lips. i am really so sad that i am missing the first session of Conference! I have never missed a session and all i want to be doing right now is listening to the Prophet's voice! Gah! watching it without the sound is making it worse because dear Elder Packer is speaking and I have no idea what he is saying! torture i tell you, pure torture. if you are not watching conference today, then do it! it is the best way you could spend your Saturday!

to keep myself a little updated on what's being said i'm following #ldsconf on twitter. i like modern technology and i love Conference!

farewell sister arnesen

on wednesday my sister went into the mtc. yeah she is going on a mission- cleveland, ohio! i know i have said before but this has been a hard goodbye. i am afraid that things are going to be so different when she comes home. and if i get married while she is gone? its gonna suck. [not the marriage part. the not having her there to help me part.]
tuesday night she was set apart and then wednesday we took her to the mtc. here are some pictures from up by Provo Temple.

The whole family (minus 3)

Sarah and the boys

sarah and me

mom, sarah, dad

the kiddies

i know sarah will be an awesome missionary and even though I miss her i know that she couldn't be doing anything better right now. Love you sis!

ps if you wanna follow sarah's mission you can go here.

november 1

november is gonna be a good month! do you want to know why? because on the 1st day of november i got to see the prophet and hear his speak in the marriot center!

it was a dreary, wet, cold tuesday morning, but i still trekked up to the Marriott Center two hours early to stand in line so that i could save seats. at 9:30 the doors opened and i rushed in, getting a seat exactly where i wanted it- on the side i knew Pres. Monson would enter and exit, just above the portal so that we could wave to him as he came and went. score.

i studied until Jake came and then we waited for Kendra and Adam. it was so amazing standing and watching the Prophet enter! i have heard him speak at the Marriot 3 times in my college life and each time i am overwhelmed by the spirit and the testimony that he is God's mouthpiece on the earth today. his talk was amazing and i was able to learn so much from what he said! I am so grateful for a prophet!

cute jake, real cute

that's better :)

here's a few more reasons november is going to be awesome:
- Kendra and I are doing a 21 day no junk food challenge. this doesn't sound awesome and truly sometimes it isn't. but i definitely feel so much healthier!
- i got a new job (in the Skyroom in campus) and the Bean Museum wants me back for Winter! woot!
- thanksgiving is in 2 weeks.
- there is only 5 weeks left of school! say wha??

i grew up here

this morning, the Provo Tabernacle burned down. To read the whole story click here. and if you want to see the emotions i am feeling go here. I can't believe it. I grew up performing and going to concerts in that building.

My older brother played a concerto there and totally messed up. Looking back now, what a memory!
One 4th of July my family rented period costumes from the Hale and dressed up for the 4th of July program there. I remember thinking this is probably how our ancestors felt when they had to go to church- very uncomfortable and hot!
I went to stake conference there last year.
I remember sitting in the balcony, for a variety of concerts, so that we could see whatever sibling who was performing better.
last spring my little brother played his piano concerto there.
i have sung there, performed classical masterpieces, prayed there, laughed there, and probably cried there.

the Provo Tabernacle was really part of my family and it breaks my heart to see this.
the roof is completely collapsed. this isn't my beloved tabernacle. this is a gutted, burning building. to say i am devastated, heart broken, or at a loss is an understatement. there are no words to describe how i feel.

lets not remember the tabernacle burning. lets remember the good times.

valiant for courage

sorry i've been away for so long. you see, i've been hanging out with some great people.

at the grove creek stake youth conference. i was a counselor :)
it was an amazing spiritual experience and i am so glad i got to get to know and love the youth of my stake.
they are awesome! (even if they are dead set on setting up all the counselors....)

i love these girls. they really are valiant for courage.

[general conference april 2010]

I forgot that this was one of my goals for the year! So therefore I'm just barely posting about it.

Going to General Conference was an amazing experience. I went up to Salt Lake with my good friend Lindsay. We rode up on Trax. We had quite an adventure getting a ticket to the Saturday afternoon session! The stand by line was forever long, so we started just asking people if they extra tickets. Luckily this nice couple gave us these tickets they had! We didn't have amazing seats, but I was so glad to be in Conference! My first time ever!

The session was amazing. Elder Holland's talk was definitely my favorite. What an inspired man! I am so grateful for the Prophet and the Apostles who lead the church.
After the session we went to CPK and got Greek Pizza for Lindsay's birthday. So much fun and the food was so good! (I give it an 8 out of 10)