Cradle of the Restoration.

Return of the Jedi. Stepping into your old mission field after having the name tag off for quite some time feels like you're getting some sort of special powers back. The weirdest thing though was driving across the border from Pennsylvania to New York on my six month anniversary of being an official RM...and realizing I wasn't a missionary. It felt like I was driving into the city on The Truman Show with outside knowledge now! This time, I wasn't Sister Hawkes anymore. (Well...to most people.) I was Monica--the version who I wanted to be at this time. In fact, I think I'm even better than I ever hoped I would be. 

Bringing friends to a place I am (let's be honest) obsessed with is something I will put into continual practice. We stayed with the Jacobson's that first and foremost made our trip just plain fun. Inside jokes aren't just for teenagers. But then, we all got into the spiritual part of the weekend, which resulted in me learning more than I ever thought I would. That's how I know I'm choosing my friends correctly...my absolute favorite thing to do is sit in on a discussion on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Plan for me. That's all we did all weekend. It was amazing.

Anyway, we started off Friday morning at the Book of Mormon Publication Site and got an absolutely incredible tour from Sister Noble. Since I didn't mention to anyone I was coming, it was the reunion of a lifetime for the both of us. She gave us a fantastic tour to start off our weekend, and set the tone for the rest of our trip! 

And walked around the town...

And saw the highlight of the trip...the Joseph Smith Farm and Sacred Grove. Sister Jeanfreau taught me so much being there again, now having the experiences of post-mission life and relating them to what I taught as a missionary. My mind continually tends to be blown on what's in store for me if I continue on this path.

Saturday, we headed over to the Hill Cumorah. We read Mormon chapter six and the appropriate verses in JS History to really internalize what we were seeing. It was the boys' first time ever to this place, so we had to!

The lovely Sister Allred took us to her home in Mendon, where the prophet Brigham Young lived and got baptized. I had never been there before!

On the way home, we drove through Gettysburg...why not stop and take a look? We got a little American history in there with us!

And the last but not least to our final stop...the Washington, D.C. temple. 

Those special powers really work when you give your all for 18-24 months. Monica 2.0 is a lot stronger.

So you wanna be a reporter?

Well, guess what...ya already are.

Do you post anything on Facebook? What about Twitter, Instagram, or a blog? I realized my love for staying connected at an early age, and so I have been taking advantage of this whole "social media" thing. (Obviously.) There is a reason we were born in an age of instant connection. Why do you think the Restoration happened at the same time all of this technology came out? It's not like people before us weren't smart. They built empires. There is a reason we have these capabilities...technology is not a bad thing. Let me repeat, it is not a bad thing. We are our own journalists in a sort of way. Maybe not for the world like I like to do, but maybe for your kids...for you? 

"Journalism is the first rough draft of history." - Philip Graham, The Washington Post

Disclaimer: Yes, if you're not careful, you can become one of those recluses that pretend to have a personality online and then when people actually meet you, they wonder if you hired someone to post constantly on your News Feed. Bad idea. Be yourself. 

The whole reason I wanted to write this post was to remember my trip to the Newseum last weekend, and how much I'm obsessed with recording events. (You should see my journals. And, I love jotting down notes so I can write about it later. That's all I use my note app for on my phone.) Anyway, from my two-day Newseum journey:

9/11 memorial. I spent a lot of time here.

A huge wall of front pages throughout the years...also spent a lot of time here.

NYRMies will know what I'm talking about.

Reach for it.

"To be deeply loved, means a willingness to cut yourself wide open, exposing your vulnerabilities... hopes, hurts, fears and flaws. Hiding behind the highlight reel of who you are, is the real you and that person is just as worthy of love. There is nothing more terrifying or fulfilling, than complete love. It's worth the risk... reach for it.” -Jaeda DeWalt

via: http://s4yitl0ud.tumblr.com

So what if I'm a romantic?

God bless the broken road.

via: imforevergrateful.tumbler

Have you ever had those moments (or longer than moments) when you thought a ship was sailed? Or when you feel stupid that you asked for certain things that you thought were the best? Well, since God is...a god...He kinda has some idea on how He could make things better. All He needs to do that is your patience, your patience, and...you guessed it, your patience. 

I want to point out two scriptures that illustrate my point perfectly:

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:25-26)

14 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time. (D&C 6:14)

I just can never comprehend the massiveness of possibilities The Lord has in store for us. And no, I am not talking about earthly achievements. I'm talking about pure happiness...and the state of mind that comes with that. A lot of people think my happiness as being Monica comes from serving in the best mission in the world (true), working in Washington, D.C., being in Young Ambassadors, or whatever. All this stuff I've been doing lately sets me up for failure, stress, and looking totally stupid. Let's be honest, it does already. I have no idea what I'm doing! Although it is all labeled, "fun," I had to work WAY harder than I ever thought I needed to in the first place...and that's where this happiness I have comes from. It's from failing, millions of times, and then something finally sticking. It's going after everything I possibly could, and getting only about 5% of what I work for. But that small amount from the other 95% I thought was better, is what was "the best" for me. I took an insane amount of detours, but how does that song go? God bless the broken road.

Just because it isn't happening RIGHT NOW, doesn't mean it will never happen. Believe me, He is running marathons for you up there. Take some time to believe it.

Picture Perfect.

"I get lost in the beauty of everything I see;

The world ain’t half as bad as they paint it to be.

If all the sons, all the daughters stopped to take it in...

hopefully the hate subsides and the love can begin."

-Come Home, One Republic

National Mall

National Archives

United States Supreme Court

View from Speaker Boehner's balcony

Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument

Martin Luther King Memorial

Tidal Basin

Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial

Every single one of these was a, "hold on, I gotta take a picture real quick."

...with my iPhone. Prrrrrety amazing.

Is this real life?

...is what I am thinking in my brain every time I walk to and from Union Station to Capitol Hill.

And then when I get to have two little girls today holding each of my hands when we walk through the crowded touristy spots of the Capitol...

...I get to call this work?

Measure your life in love.

"It's time now, to sing out, though the story never ends." -Seasons of Love, Rent

via: Pinterest.com

Just like every other girl on the planet understands very well, love is the most important thing on the planet. A love for God, a love for your family, and let's not forget a love to call your own. (I'll give a shoutout to the guys too--I know quite a few men who want and need it just as much.) But us girls...it seems like we want it just a bit more.

The best thing about real, true love, is it doesn't stop--for anything, under any circumstance. That's a quick and easy way to determine whether it's at the point of being the "real deal" or not. That goes for all types of love, but especially that unconditional kind where you have absolutely no logical explanation as to why you still actually care and pray (a lot) about this person and hope all of his/her dreams and desires come true. You're always wondering, why them?! I know the feeling. Join the club.

That, my friends, is called charity. The "pure love of Christ." Sometimes not romantic love. Please do not get that overly confused. Charity is possible for multiple people--it actually was designed for the masses, because we are under covenant and commandment to do so to all of God's children. Don't feel overwhelmed with that statement; it comes one person at a time. But if you've ever felt this, you're getting a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father feels about you. Only just a glimpse, because we all know how impossible that kind of love is to comprehend in this mortal state. It's the most powerful force in the world...because what do they say? Love makes you do crazy things. Most of the time, this feeling just doesn't make sense. But that's the best part!

Bottom line: How do you measure your life?

More than imagination.

General Conference will always go down in history as any kid's favorite Sunday.

Don't worry--that never changes. But what does change, is the perspective. I used to think church in pajamas was a genius idea, and thought there had to be someway to broadcast Sacrament Meeting to each ward every week. But just like the whole point of General Conference weekend, the comraderie is what keeps a lot of us on the rope of hope and faith.

Which moves me to point out my favorite quote of any of the sessions:

"Faith truly is more than imagination or psychological invention." - Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Am I the only one that struggles with sometimes thinking I'm talking to my pillow instead of my Father in Heaven? This helped me put into perspective that I'm not just a puppet on a string for Him. How many times has someone said, "Oh, don't worry about it...you'll be fine." And then you aren't? Don't you sometimes thing faith is a form of procrastination for things that you feel need to get done right here--right now?

The commandment to have faith is absolutely not just Him delaying the blessings...just because He can. It is definitely not Christ taking advantage of hearing you cry our for Heavenly Father for the things you need. It is more than thinking up something totally irrelevant to your situation and hoping it comes true. Remember, He is a God who weeps. He's going to set up your Plan, not the easiest, but the best way possible for you learn how to just trust Him. He can not only see your past, but He knows your future. He knows you so well that He will be able to tell what decisions you will make in your progression to eternal life, thus giving Him the ability to know such a thing. Faith gives you the strength to follow through with that trust you acquire, and not just to hold on for dear life. It keeps you moving toward perfection in the straightest way possible.

Now that I'm off my soap box, here's just a few pictures from the wonderful, spirit and peace-filled weekend.

That one big city up north.

The adventure begun Saturday morning. We all packed up all of Linda's stuff in this beautiful U-Haul and drove (on an extremely rainy day I might add) all the four hours up to New York City. It's a good thing there was no traffic. (Joke.)

After unloading and moving and dropping off things and everything else in between we had a great time with a bunch of people from the Harlem ward, just hanging out and playing games all night. My cheeks were killing me by the time we left...I haven't laughed that hard in a really long time! Anyway, the next morning, bright and early, I met my mom who happened to be coming to the city this week too...so we got to spend all of Monday and Tuesday together. We did what we do best...exploring with no plans at all!

Everywhere we went, people sarcastically asked if we were related. I'm beginning to see that more and more as I grow up! But it's great being here on the east coast...I get to hang out with my mom more than I did living in Provo. Hopefully when I go back to Mount Zion we can still make it happen just as much. 

As for being in New York City, it really is the, "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere," kinda feel. Expensive. Fast. Huge. Exciting. Nothing like it anywhere else. I'm being talked into applying for NYU's sports management program. I think I'd be okay with that! But on top of everything, it was AMAZING to be back in one of my favorite states. New York will forever have my heart; there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about it.

Well, I'm headed back to D.C. on the train right now. Good thing Mom has meetings there the rest of the week, and next week! I just hope those cherry blossoms will be blooming...happy first day of April!