arrived in Vancouver

Well folks, Sister Arnesen made it to her mission in Vancouver. She got there on July 10 and we got this picture and some information from the mission the next day. She's doing well and we're excited to hear from her first email soon! Her preparation day is on Monday so if you're writing her emails Sunday might be a good day to write.

Sister Arnesen with the President and Sister Tilleman

Stay tuned for more pictures soon . . .

into the MTC

We dropped Beka off at the MTC in Provo, Utah on Wednesday to start her 18 month mission. It was hard to see her go but she's excited about starting on the work. This is her big brother, Adam, and I hope that I can do her blog justice for the next 18 months. Here are a few pictures from the drop off.

With mom and dad at the temple before dropping off.

favorite next brother in line (Spencer)

favorite big biological sister

Beka would love some letters! Write her here:

Sister Rebekah Arnesen 

JUL10 CAN-VAN

2011 N 900 E Unit 216

Provo UT 84602

God speed Beka. We love you!

god be with you...

this will be my last post for 18 months. pretty cray right? my brother, Adam, will be updating the blog every six weeks or so with pictures and excerpts from my letters. feel free to follow along as i serve the Lord in Vancouver! addresses that you can write me at will be posted on "the girl" page.

as many of you know the decision to serve a mission was not an easy one. i am still scared beyond all reason as i begin this new journey. i feel so inadequate and that i will be the one doing most of the learning and growing. i'm scared for the future after my mission, but i know that the Lord will bless me because i am doing His will. i don't know much about teaching the Gospel to people who have never heard it. but i know how to love people. and i know i want to do what God wants me to do. i am scared, yes, but i'm doing it anyway. i know that i can do all things through Christ! i only hope that i will be able to touch even just one life in the next 18 months. 

until we meet again!

xoxo

confessions of a college graduate

//you move home. because after all the times you said you would never ever ever live at home again, it's really cheaper to live at home.

//you find that you left all your friends in Provo. so on your nights off you are bored, literally, to tears.

//so, you try not to have nights off. you become a workaholic. and when your patients ask you why you work so much, you tell them it's because you like money and because you have no social life.

//you thought you'd know more what was going in life after 5 years at a higher institution of learning. wrong. you are as confused by life as you ever were.

//your to-do list goes from "study pathophysiology" to "paint nails"

//you thought you'd have lots more money because you are living at home, but no, you're saving for your mission, so you are practically penniless.

//the gym is the only thing that is keeping you from going insane. and jam sessions with Skrillex.

//you go out to lunch- by yourself. and bring a book to read. because you don't want to seem lame for going to lunch by yourself.

//when your computer breaks and you don't have money to fix it, you feel like you are 14 years old, using your parents desktop. at least you know the password to get on the internet haha.

//you stay up late and sleep in.

//you wish you spent more time at the pool.

//that's pretty much it folks. welcome to the real world.

what not to do in your wedding announcement

ok people, it's that time of year, wedding season. something that every wedding crazed girl looks forward to. and something that those of us with small pocketbooks dread. wedding invites crowd up the refrigerator and we find ourselves getting the same present for everyone on the list, because it's just easier that way. and, although i am unmarried, i believe i am a self-proclaimed wedding planner and critic. i've seen my fair share of weddings, and in particular wedding announcements.
here's what NOT to do in your wedding announcement.
*awkward poses. we've all seen the "awkward engagement photos" online, but people, these things really exist! there are certain poses that perhaps you should not be putting out there for the world to see. this includes hand placement and how your clothes look in the pose. below, is just a tame example of awkward posing. what were they thinking? "oh honey this will look so good. i mean we're gonna walk around like this all the time after we're married right? i don't want you out of my sight! and if you try to leave me, well then you will be strangled. . . "

*personality. ok ok, don't get me wrong, you should incorporate personality into your engagement photos and wedding announcements! this sets you apart from other people. however you can take this too far. don't dress up in crazy outfits- keep it simple. don't include animals, especially dogs or cats, in your photos (i think the occasional horse can be cute if you are going for the country feel)- you are not marrying your dog! location is huge. avoid posing in water- that's awkward. avoid strange locations, like porta-potties, college campuses (yes i have seen people taking engagement photos on BYU campus and i think it's weird), etc.

a good way to add personality

* keep the clothes on! i don't need to say anything else on that i hope. . .
* kissing. let me clarify, kissing is all good and fine. i mean we want to know you are in love, and not just signing a business contract. buuuuut, (and this was told to me by a good friend who is actually married),  you don't want to kiss too much. her words "just give him a peck in the photos because other wise it looks like you are just macking on each other." not classy. also keep the kisses cute- lips, cheeks and foreheads. everywhere else should be off limits! we don't want dear 80 year old auntie marge keeling over out of shock and a sweet kiddo like you would kiss like that.

this is cute

*colors. i do love me a good pop of color on the invite/save the date. but too much color, that doesn't match up, is just too much. choose a font that people can read without going cross eyed, in a color that isn't going to blind people. it's ok to do a couple different colors on the save the date, but make sure that there is an underlying theme and that it makes sense. don't do a new neon color on each line. that is just awkward to look at and hard to read. if you are going to do colored lettering, then keep the background color something neutral- creme, black, grey, or white.

well i've had my rant. i hope you laughed a little, but you also took this seriously. thank you to the people whose wedding invites inspired this post and for the friends who had beautiful and classy engagements. you have given me hope that not everyone is terribly awkward.
now go. be in love. get married. and all that jazz.