Building my bridge.

My mom calls them bridges. It's those awkward periods in life where you are coming from one thing and going onto the next. Sometimes it's fun to be on them, but if you're on one very long, you get very anxious. Fortunately, I'm building mine pretty fast.

Friday, Allie and I went all out and made it a girls' night--manicures and pedicures included! Finishing out the night cuddling with her while watching 

"The Emporor's New Groove," however, was the best part.

Saturday, right before our session at the Salt Lake Temple, Kadi and I tried to go to Taco Bell for some authentic Mexican food. But of course, on our way, we saw a sign for "New York Delicatessan," and said no more. It was really cool hanging out with my first companion again. Especially our adventures the next night...

After failing to find a single-adult group our age (walking into a 31+ single 

adult activity is kind of embarassing) we ended up here.

Everyone keeps asking me how the transition is going. Really, every returned missionary that talked to me about it before I left New York scared me into coming home--and I think that's what helped! Although everything I do seems pointless, I know in the long run it isn't really. Everyone has made it a very smooth landing back down to earth. I enjoy trying to put my life back together, because I get to start at ground zero. I don't have to do anything I did before, and I don't have to remember any stupid things I did in my pre-mission life. I scored one big tabula rasa.

The best advice was from President Francis. In my exit interview, we counted up the times that I prayed in a day as a missionary, which turned about to be about 30-40 times. He noted that it really wasn't going to be that much anymore, because of a total decrease in lessons taught, companion/site study, etc. However, if I kept up a constant communication with Heavenly Father, by trying to pray just as much, it would be a great landing. My scripture study and strict temple attendance have been crucial in my sanity as well. I didn't even want to risk dropping off the spiritual map.

Let's be honest, though...the biggest I've help I've had is from Jesus Christ. He doesn't just help His full-time missionaries, He helps all of His children. Anytime something gets even close to more than I can handle, I hand it over to Him. He can't do it for me, but He sure can help me find a better way. It's a heck of a lot easier to hand it over to Him from the beginning. 

Eternal perspective, people...it really helps. You can do anything for five minutes. It's basically the same idea with God; our life is like five minutes long in His eyes. 

So yes, the transition has been fantastic.

I'm an RM?!

The honeymoon phase is over.

But it was great while it lasted--from Wednesday through Sunday. Anyway, I would eat at the opportunity to tell every experience I had on my mission in this post, but unfortunately, we don't have ten years to spare. If you're that interested, my mission blog has every weekly e-mail (plus more) at:

sistermonicahawkes.wordpress.com

I will refrain from putting my favorite mission pictures up, because I know I will probably be posting many of them in the future. New York is one of my "holy places," as Ann M. Dibb calls it, and that will require me to think of my mission every single day. Okay, maybe I'll just show you this one from last Tuesday.

President Francis and I had my exit interview in the Sacred Grove.
That's what I get for being the only missionary going home!

And then from my homecoming:

Jonesey. Alison. No words to describe our love.

NYRMies! 

My little Allie.

"If you're not a full-time missionary with a badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart...returned missionaries, find your old missionary tag. Don't wear it, but put it where you can see it. The Lord needs you now more than ever to be an instrument in His hands." -Elder Neil L. Andersen

Uno mes mas.

In one month I'll be lying on the beach in Southern California. But until then, I have about 437,523,169 things to do. I swear, the last month of the school year is when professors decide that they are the only professor on campus. If I ever become a professor, I'll give study guides 3 weeks in advance, and have the final open-note and ONLINE. Every student would love me, and I'll hear one word ringing in my ears: tenure.


Let's get to the "one more month" thing. That's when I'll be actually on the beach, and done with school. So, that means that I only have about three weeks left. As much as that excites me, I can hear my to-do list running in my head. If only I had children to delegate my responsibilities to. I better start packing my swimsuits to make myself subconsciously believe it's summer. 


Finding out that summer starts in early April was I think the best part of transitioning from high school to college. I thought people were joking when they told me that--nope. It's true. I also did more homework in high school. The homework aspect has significantly gone down. Not that I don't do work in college, it's a lot more work from a lot of different things. Which I appreciate very much, because I'm convinced I have work ADD. I can't work on one thing for more than an hour. And that's pushing it. 


Getting off topic again...there are three particular things I'm excited about this fine day:

1. Featured blog post on byutvsports.com...http://blog.byutvsports.com/post/The-fall-to-DePaul.aspx...with my video package below! This time, I included the stand-up. It's at the end...so watch to the end.
2. My mission call gets decided today. (If it's on schedule...)
3. My best friend opens her mission call tonight! Here's to Rebecca, and hoping we go to the same mission. Yeah, right.

And off topic another time...these are my Sundays at Aunt Suzanne's. I'm not in town to go very often, but I get to go at least once a month! My niece and nephew. Danny & Allie. It couldn't be a full blog post without pictures of little kids!

Love them. Happy almost Friday!

My halloween costume.

Well, I was a Utah fan for halloween. Good, eh? I still can't believe I was there. I almost don't even want to go into work tomorrow...I'll get some talking to. But for my defense, I did not wear any Utah gear. I'll say it was a good experience; an experience every BYU fan should have in order to fully appreciate our Cougs. So at least I can say I'm well cultured now, but I do admit I felt very welcomed.

Me and Lauren...oh I love this girl.

But no, I didn't legitimately dress up for the holiday. I'm excited to see the costumes on campus tomorrow--that will be interesting. I'm also so excited to go trick-or-treating with my niece Allie tomorrow. (She's dressing up as a crayon!) Oh, I just want to squish her little cheeks every time I see her. I can't believe she's almost 2 years old! They grow up too fast.

Mary--I stole this again. I just had to put up this picture of her.
Go Cougs :)

Overall, it has been a fantastic weekend. No homework, three weeks until Thanksgiving break, and hanging out with some great friends. Oh, and the leaves are changing at my house! I can't say enough how refreshing it was to pull into my driveway and see those bright red trees. Now, where is ski season? I went down to the basement yesterday to visit my skis and man, do they look lonely.

Not my turn for awhile. But for now...

Okay...I know I've put this picture everywhere on facebook and I'm obsessed with it. Mostly I'm just obsessed with my little niece and nephew. I do claim them as my own. Allie is Matt & Mary's daughter, and Danny is Chad & Jackie's son! We all know that I'm the favorite aunt (sorry Felicia)--hopefully it will stay that way. 

Danny Ray Peterson :) born August 21, 8 lbs, 8 oz, 20 inches long!

 Mary, I confess I stole this picture from your blog. It was awhile back but look at how beautiful she is! 

I always tell Nicole that she will get married before me...so maybe I can have real nieces and nephews of my own sooner? Yeah? Until then, I'll just claim these two. I'm so lucky to live in Provo where I can see my cousins (their parents) whenever I want. We always tell each other we're glad that our cousins are our best friends in life. I wouldn't have it any other way.