This last week has been a busy one! 

I have been so grateful for the support and love from everybody, especially this Christmas season. I was so worried about being away from home for Christmas, especially because it would be my first time doing so. I have found though, that things always have a way of working out, especially with the help of the Lord. I got to spend Christmas Eve with two different, wonderful families, and Christmas day with an amazing Hermana who took us to the city to hand out food to the homeless. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas here in Chicago on my mission. I have pictures to post, but maybe tomorrow, because sometimes I forget to bring the things I need to do so. Sorry! I'm also sorry for not updating my blog until now. (My mother kindly reminded me). WHICH REMINDS ME!!!! I got to talk to my family on Christmas Day! I thought for sure that I would bawl my little eyes out. But I didn't! It was just extremely weird for me to see their faces! It was really tough to only get to Skype them for 40 minutes, but I am so grateful for those 40 minutes! I love my family so much! And I can't wait to see them in fifteen months! I'm so excited for this new year and for the time I will have to preach the gospel. Which reminds me. There is a super awesome Mormon Message that I would LOVE to share! It has to do with the New Year, and I seriously crack up every time I watch it. 

Enjoy!

And Happy Saturday to you!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=910930409001

Oh My. 

It feels like I haven't posted something on my blog for almost a billion years! That's probably because I haven't. So... sorry about that. 

Anywho...

Yesterday. It was great. We were supposed to have a busy day, but a few people ended up backing out. It was still okay though. We were invited to go to a less active member's home for lunch out of our area with the other Hermanas. After getting permission, we of course went! Especially because I LOVE this lady! But we went there for lunch! And she made us this DELICIOUS food from Peru. (pictures are below). I was so pumped. Especially because I just love food. So here's what happens. We're having a great time, laugin' it up and all. So then I get to that little purple grape thing that was sitting on my plate. So I ask her what it is (I'm pretty comfortable with this lady). She tells me that it's a Peruvian olive, and that she LOVES them. So I'm all like, okay! I love olives! And right as I put it in my mouth she decides to tell me that it's a 'little' acidic. I. Almost. Died. I couldn't keep my face from contorting and opening my mouth hoping that someone or something would come take it off of my tongue and out of my mouth. Thankfully, she thought it was funny. So naturally, she took a picture and sent it to her husband. It was horrible. But then I moved on to my other plate. Which was delicious. But here's the thing.... I eat really slow. And when I say that I eat really slow, I mean that it took me fifteen minutes to finish eating after the other three had. It was so hard! There was just So much. Have you ever had one of those times where you eat so much that your stomach gets hard? Yeah. That happened. I tried taking a break to give my tummy some time! But Hermana was all like, " Eat!" And I had to be like, "Listen lady, I have to take a break because I'm getting ready to throw up and my stomach is all hard-like." (Just in nicer terms). And she didn't believe me! So she came over and touched it.... Yup. She touched my stomach. Confirmed. Hard as a rock. And then I told her this story about how we were at the library, and this guy asked me if I was pregnant...... Oh yeah. He asked. "NO MAN! I'M NOT PREGNANT! I'M JUST IN THE SPANISH PROGRAM, OKAY?!?!" I of course didn't say that. I just politely said no. "Oh. Okay. You just look like you're pregnant." He says. YO MOMMA DIDN'T TEACH YOU NOTHIN! Sigh. This is what it has come to. I really haven't gained that much weight. It's my peacoat... I swear. But she took pictures of my stomach too. Because she thought it was so hilarious. I'm going to have to start charging this woman.

 But that is all folks. My story of the day. I hope you all enjoyed! 

Hello World! (or current reader)

Today I have been thinking a lot about the Christmas season. I don't know why today has been especially different to make me think of Christmas, but I have. It may be all of the snow we got and how cold it is here in Chicago! I am pretty much dying. We thaw out eventually, though. But the point is, that after thinking of Christmas so much today, I really wasn't too excited or happy, or even grateful. All I could think about was how I was going to be away from my family for Christmas for the first time EVER. I thought about how I wouldn't be there with them and how I was going to miss all of our family traditions as well. I miss our tree, shopping for presents for family and friends, listening to Christmas music everywhere, and being with my family. I figured out though that Heavenly Father had to remind me of something. I came across this Mormon message while looking for something else. 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911161814001

I was instantly humbled. I had forgotten the whole meaning behind Christmas. It's not about the traditions, the presents, the music, or the decorations (all though all of these things are good). This season is about Christ and His birth. I need to remember this! I need to think of our Savior this Christmas. He is the reason for the season! 

"The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the spirit of Christ."

-Thomas S. Monson

Have a great Tuesday!

Today I found a really good quote that I would like to share (in picture form). It reminded me of how often we as humans tend to forget or take advantage of the time we are given here on earth. We should make the most out of our days! We should try and remember to always think of our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, especially because we have this life because of THEM! As for me, I love life. And living.

Enjoy the moment!

(Here is a link to one of my FAVORITE Mormon messages about this EXACT thing!)   (:

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1101413031001

Have a Wonderful Thursday!

Just a little Spiritual Thought for today:

“Hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges.

There may be times when we must make a courageous decision to hope even when everything around us contradicts this hope. Like Father Abraham, we will “against hope [believe] in hope.”  Or, as one writer expressed, “in the depth of winter, [we find] within [us] an invincible summer.”  

-Deiter F. Uchtdorf

Happy Tuesday! (: