Mid-Semester Activities.

I feel like I'm 75. (Not that that's a bad thing.)

I'm reaching for the Advil every five minutes and taking advantage of the time I have on the couch with my laptop in my lap. I didn't think it was possible to be as exhausted as a missionary again...but it is! 

I'll tell you a secret though: IT'S SO WORTH IT.

I have a built-in college family, and did I get to mention we get to sing and dance? I think that's what we'll be doing when we see Him again. We're just practicing for that moment. Let's see...

"Until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song..." -Doctrine and Covenants 84:98

Yep, that sounds about right. Not that the BYU Young Ambassadors get a front row seat or anything...well that would be cool...but...yeah. As long as you're in your ward choir, I think you're set. (Joke.)

In other news, I just bought my plane tickets to Florida to see my man!

The whole "long distance" thing isn't ideal, but I figured that's what I'd get if I met someone on while on my internship in Washington, D.C. But, I do get a lot more done than I would if he was here all the time! It actually works out pretty nicely. Also, I can't get over how handsome he is. (He's even more sweet than he is good-looking!)

When he was here we got to hang out with the culprit who put us together...

...and since it's the middle of the semester--do lots of homework. 

Kasey would probably hate it if I posted the videos of the "Cowboy Christmas" station 

he was blasting while we were working.  

As for the rest of the semester, this is the view I have for about 20 hours a week...

Just singing, dancing, and even more Singin'...in the Rain! We open our show in less than two weeks and I have nightmares that I forgot to do homework/go to class/that I even registered for that class because it's so crazy. But I totally love the crazy. 

I guess I could put in a plug for our show to wrap things up:

November 14th, 7:00 pm at Orem High School

Adults $6, Seniors/Students $5, Elementary $3

November 15th, 7:30 (?) pm at Jackson Hole High School

Not sure about prices yet...I think they're back to the normal ones.

Let me know if you're coming and I'll find out!

Finally, all of this work is about to pay off!

I'll I'm praying for at this point is just not to crash on stage. It's pretty likely.

Dream Big.

You know that song by Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band? 

Seriously, when that song came out, I was what...in 7th grade or something? I l-i-t-e-r-a-l-l-y would sing my guts out to that song in my studio pretending I was in Young Ambassadors. 

And guess what. Ten years later...

I MADE IT!

...and my life is the craziest it's ever been.

Along with balancing my last year at BYU (including my broadcast producing capstone...takes up a heck-a-lot more time than I thought) a boyfriend and work, the BYU Young Ambassadors team has been the main focus of my year. Don't worry, we have about five weeks to learn our stuff for Homecoming Spectacular and our main show. This year, our show is called, "Heartsongs: Melodies of Love." You guessed it, it's all about love! It's a perfect date to bring your significant other to, or if you don't have one, they probably will become yours since you brought them to such a fantastic event. Just sayin'.

I just want to take a second and tell you how incredibly amazed I am at the talent that is in this group. How did I get in here?! Not only can they sing, they can dance...and do it at the SAME TIME. When you think about it, it really blows my mind. It is hard, guys. Ha.

I'm sure you want to see all of our hard work in action, right?

Buy tickets at www.byutickets.com! October 16th and 17th at the Marriott Center.

See you there!

Oh, it is wonderful.

I am so simply amazed at how much Heavenly Father knows that I don't. That may seem completely, blatantly obvious. But think about it...

via: pinterest.com

HE MADE THAT. From all the stars in the world, all of the planets that didn't just "happen" to come together...my Father knows me. Not only does He know me, but He loves me perfectly, too. And it's not something He just learned overnight.

I recently finished a book entitled, "The God Who Weeps." No, it's not a sad book at all, don't worry! It's specifically for those who love to think a little bit deeper about how much God really knows you. I would highly recommend it. It taught me more clearly that He is a person, He is your Father, and He gets it.

There is a whole grand scheme of things that is specifically tailored to each of us. None of us understand it all, nor have the same Grand Plan, and it's up to us if we actually get there. We let go completely of our will, and turn it over to Him. But guess what? When you do that--He gives you more than you could ever dream possible. I've trained myself to think when something bad happens, I never feel like He has ever let me down. I feel as if He has lifted me up to a higher plane of thought and opportunity. And that is the best feeling in the world.

It really all comes down to one word: hope. He knows what you want. He just wants to turn it into something even better.

Southern Hospitality.

If you ever want to relax, head on down to North Carolina. 

I did not even touch this picture with any editing tools. AND IT'S FEBRUARY! However, the beach was not the best part. The best part was just hanging out with Ma and Pa Z-i-n-e (translation: the Strouds) and having them show me everything in the smallest town in the United States. I loved every second of it, obviously because I was with them, but because being with each other reminded us all of the mission. It was a perfect weekend to get away from the commotion of the Nation's Capitol.

I asked Ma and Pa to see their high school yearbook back to when they first started dating...make sure you read the caption...

And look at them now!

Yeah...everyone wants what they have. I guess you can say I learn more from them just by where they are now. And you sisters (you know who you are) if you don't go and visit them, you're missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime. I mean, c'mon!  That, and I am a completely devoted UNC fan as of now.

Now, back to public transportation and not-homemade BBQ sauce.

Happy golden days.

Only three more weeks left. Then I get on a plane back to the East Coast! Meanwhile, I haven't really had any fun at all...

Once I got on the ski lift, that's when I felt REALLY home. The resort was practically empty...and I'm not lying when I say the round trip of each run wasn't even ten minutes long. Which then, of course, I had President Christianson's voice running through my head, "A ski lift is an incredible missionary tool. You have them trapped for eight minutes." 

I tried my best to talk to the one man sitting next to us that one time, but the other fourteen times it was just me and Dad. Don't worry, we still were each other's missionaries as we discussed his lesson on Joseph Smith in High Priests for today. (Yes, I got to come in to the class and add my five cents as Joseph's personal testimony-guard.) So, it was a great doctrine-filled day, along with filling my need for speed that I haven't been able to suppress for the past two years.  

Then the day finished off at the perfect place with some of my favorite people.

"Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more."

-Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I'll be home for [Thanksgiving.]

The holidays have arrived! We're leaving right now to go up to this place:

Tetonia, ID

It's obviously not this green anymore...

And there is now snow on the ground.

So remember how I was talking about my bridge the other week? It keeps getting better. I think the only reason it gets better is because I've kept a miracle journal, and I can go back and actually see what I prayed for and what happened. It's amazing the things you think you'll remember, but you really don't until you go back and look. Like this for instance...

...I got my job back at BYUtv! I start right after I get back from Washington, D.C.. Before my mission, I worked as a PA for BYUtv sports--total dream job as a student, right? That was one of the hardest things to let go to serve, and I prayed a lot to be okay with it. Although sometimes it's hard for missionaries to come back and start sprinting right as they rush into life, that was something I knew The Lord would help me out with. Not specifically that job, but enjoying life and working hard to make it seem seamless.

Speaking of being on TV and Thanksgiving...they would have never allowed me to if I had worked there ten years ago:

Thanksgiving 2003/2013 with Felicia and Mary

Happy Thanksgiving!

Song of the week:

"I've got nothing left to lose, but I'm no pair of dancing shoes...Don't push but don't hesitate. 
Wake me from this slumber...Rush me, but leave time to wake." -Gavin DeGraw

Where it all began.

A mission can be one of the greatest things in your life. It is the only thing in your life that no one but God can decide. He knows exactly who needs you in the amount of time you've been given. We put our entire trust in Him to send us exactly where we need to be.

When praying about my mission call, where I would go, who I would serve, I had a request that I could serve near a temple of God (and that I could teach the most people in the shortest amount of time). It was a small request, I thought. I already knew I would go wherever the Lord wanted me to go, and be happy about it, but little did I know that a prophet of the Church would go on to say this about the temple that He has placed me next to for the last 18 months:

"I regard this temple as perhaps the most significant, in one respect, in the entire Church," President Hinckley said. "It was right here in the Sacred Grove where it all began."

When I got my call to serve in the New York Rochester Mission, I felt something soft come over me, almost like Heavenly Father himself was wrapping his arms around me. I could almost hear Him telling me, "Here is the place where you will flourish in preaching my gospel. This is where you will bring the light of the gospel to others for the rest of their lives. Here is where you will build my Church." I put my hand over my mouth in disbelief that I had an actual call come straight from God, and not only just a call, but this call. Tears didn't stop flowing as I kept reading the letter from The First Presidency. I realized I was doing exactly the opposite of what my ancestors did--I hitched up my wagon back to the place where it all began. I was going to return to the place they deliberately left. 

So why in the world would I do that? Why only could it be one of the greatest things of my life? Well, it was all about my attitude. It could have been the most horrific experience of my life, as it obviously was for Joseph Smith and my ancestors that followed him from New York all the way to Nauvoo. So why even try to serve a mission in the first place? I'm getting yelled at while freezing, then the next moment I think I'm going into a heat coma, I haven't heard my own mother's voice in over seven months, and we saw one of our best investigators hiding when we came to the door (for the fifth time.) So, with that being said...

I am overwhelmed with the love I have for the people in New York. My heart explodes, and I kinda even start shaking on the inside when I talk about it. I could have totally been miserable for those approximately 545 days I spent on the battlefield. But, couldn't have hand-picked a better place to serve Him. 

Not in a million years.

Stronger than gravity.

"The feeling of love from our Heavenly Father is like a gravitational pull from heaven. As we remove the distractions that pull us toward the world and exercise our agency to seek Him, we open our hearts to a celestial force which draws us to Him." -Elder Paul E. Koelliker

Our favorite study place--on top of the Hill Cumorah

Let's be honest, I'll weave my mission throughout my entire life. It absolutely will bleed through to this blog! I can't not talk about the single greatest thing that has influenced my conversion to Jesus Christ. Today, while sitting in church, I felt such a strong sense of accomplishment for what I just completed, and a duty to continue my labors for the Lord. My training wheels are off--and I'm still running! 

Sister Correia...the best trainer in the NYRM.

And the single greatest thing that happened today (besides giving a second homecoming talk) was seeing the Elders in my home ward, practically tackling them with questions. What I would give to let them know how grateful I was that they are still out. What an incredible army we've got, with an even more of an incredible Boss. When I come to Him, He gives me that gravitational pull of identity, purpose, and divine design that any human soul longs for on a daily basis.

I wish I could comprehend 1/1,000,000th of how much He loves you and me.

Yellowstone Bound

It's been quite an eventful week! I don't think I've even had time to sit down and think about what I'm doing next week. (I've tried to keep a scheduled weekly planning session from the mish, but it's just not working...)

Anyway, this is what Alison (Sister Jones), my dad and I did last weekend. It was Yellowstone's last weekend open, and we got the benefits. I would try to explain the beauty of it, but I think pictures will do a way better job than I ever could.

 The whole time I was there, I was wondering how on earth someone could see this, and not believe in a Supreme Being. There are way too many things that I saw last weekend that were perfect. It gave me such a humbled and peaceful feeling that I had been serving that same God for the last year and a half....and will continue to serve, with all my "heart, might, mind and strength."

And this is us in our early days at the Hill Cumorah Pageant 2012! 

We're just missing our other half...Sister Adams...

"This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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

My weekend in Park City.

When my mom called to tell me we had a timeshare this week in Park City, I could hear the hallelujah chorus. 

It was beautiful, to say the least. I'll admit my breath was taken away multiple times this weekend. I got up there on Thursday and stayed until this morning (I had to come back to Provo to watch my Cougs kill the Bengals). Although there was no concerts, summer lifts open, or really anything going on up there, it was so relaxing just to be in the mountains. We got out the tennis rackets, went to the Olympic Park, took a 4-wheeler ride through red and yellow trees, walked along Main...basically just drinking it all in. 

Okay not that kind of drinking. But I thought this
was indicative of the weekend.

Spence found himself a new friend on Main Street.

Okay so I didn't take this picture: http://www.skisnowboard.com/parkcity/nightlife.html
But this...is Main Street.

I don't know what Park City does to me, but it does something good. Maybe it's the excitement I get going up there knowing it's almost ski season, or just the plain fact that it is Park City, and everything is either made of rock, wood, or brick. Amazing. And it's only a 45 minute drive to pure bliss. If you haven't been there, you have about a month to get up there before the snow takes over the valley. Although that is just as gorgeous, you can't miss the cozy sweater weather right now. GO!

Park City: reason #214 why I love Utah. 

Brandon, The Target cashier.

The key to enjoying life: noticing the details. The little things are what make a friendship, a relationship, or a love. They are what you remember of people and of memories. The details are the beautiful in life.


While I was in the check out line at Target (buying that new mustard yellow v-neck...great purchase) I came across one of the most optimistic people I've ever met--Brandon. He simply asked how my day was going, and I just told him it has been great so far. I asked him the same question, and he said, "I'm having the best day of my life!" 


I then noticed it wasn't his fault that he couldn't look me in the eye, and had a hard time speaking and concentrating. It was apparent he had some sort of mental disability. I went on to ask him why it was such a great day for him, and he told me it was because he had a goal. I asked him what the goal it was and he just stopped, grew the biggest smile on his face and said, "I'm going to the Celestial Kingdom!"


It's interesting how one small conversation can put a different perspective on my life. Brandon is completely right, he's straight on his way to the Celestial Kingdom. I couldn't help but smile walking out of the store, and on my way home I thought about where Brandon's thoughts are probably all day. If his goal to the Kingdom is the first thing that comes to mind, he's a man of God. I think those are one kind of angels He puts down in our lives just to remind us of the love He has for each one of us. The little things that they say or do make up the bigger picture, and Brandon's bigger picture...is never ending.

Beauty product must haves...part 2.

This blog thing is so fun! I get to write what I want, when I want...it's a fantastic outlet for a journalism major. And a much better "productive procrastination" alternative than Facebook. 


I had such a great response to the first post, and thought about many more things that I had forgotten about before I published the last one. Here's a part 2 to what I have found most helpful, but this is combined with more tips than anything. I get most of my tips from my mother (okay, what am I saying...I get everything from her) which I consider her to be the highest source of beauty tips in my book. But look how cool she is! This is her flying in a Blackhawk over Afghanistan with the troops. And she still manages to look beautiful. I don't mind showing her off one bit.

• First, the foundation that I have found works the best is CoverGirl Advanced Radiance. It has an SPF of 10 and goes on super light. It also has a little pump that doesn't make a mess, and it really lasts 4-5 months. This is what I mix with the baby lotion. My mom also swears by this as well.

• For those of us that haven't been blessed with olive skin or any hope of getting a tan in the summer: Jergens Natural Glow. It cost about $7-$8 a bottle, which lasts for a few months. It isn't a tanning lotion or a tanning mousse thing, it actually won't make you tan. It will make you a few shades darker if used religiously, but the only thing that it really will do is give you color to bring out the tone in your skin, so it doesn't appear as blinding. I highly recommend this.

• Yes, my hair is from a box. I get asked if it is my natural color all the time, and people are always surprised when I tell them I'm a natural blonde. And I don't even go to the salon for my brunette-hood! And when it says ten minutes...it literally...takes ten minutes. Get someone to help you, though. Make sure to wash your hair in cold/cool water (cold for the first week, cool for the rest of the time, about 6 weeks before roots grow in) and the color will actually stay in your hair and keep bright. Here's what I use. I also get the brass-free to avoid the red. But this also is from going from blonde to brown. I've heard that going brown to blonde...you need a salon to avoid all damage. Sorry. If you're a blonde and have always been thinking about it...do it! It's semi-permanent and it comes out in a few hot showers.

• I switch off using a different type of face wash. I have 3 different cleansers that I trade daily. It makes your skin not "used to" one kind, so it kills bacteria a lot faster. I switch off between that Clear Pore I mentioned before, Deep Clean Cream Cleanser, and the Deep Clean invigorating scrub. I'm a huge Neutrogena fan. 

• The same thing goes for using different shampoos/conditioners...only I buy one at a time though. I buy a different brand every time I run out to get different vitamins from each one. Right now I'm using Tresemme Color shampoo and conditioner, but I switch to Pantene Pro-V and Herbal Essences. Those won't kill your hair if you keep switching up your shampoo and conditioner.

• There always seems to be a question of what eyebrows should look like. On number one, they really are supposed to be that far out. If you don't have eyebrows that grow past that like I do, I just take a pencil lighter than my actual brow color and draw the tiniest little line. Seriously, so tiny. On number one, your eyebrow is supposed to begin right in line with your eye. The tiniest differences makes a huge difference in the overall look. Again, what I'm going for is most natural, but most groomed.

• When blow-drying, start from your roots and do those first. Make sure they are all dry, then move on to the rest of your hair. That prevents the hair from drying on your scalp and having a flat hair day. Story of my life in Jr. High. But this dryer is one of the best...I really like any ones that come with the attachable pieces though.

• This was the most simple picture I could find. What I do is just put that pussycat Bare Essentials in the crease of my eyelid for a simple look. Then if I have time put a lighter color on the actual lid and below the eyebrow. Just brings a shimmer to it without making it look like you have a ton of makeup on. I also just barely have switched over to the brown eyeliner. It blends in a lot better than the chocolate brown or black I used. Unless it's a black tie event, then go with the smokey eye look. But for everyday, this is definitely what I do.

• I have experimented with a lot of eyeshadow colors, but I've always gone back to the browns and purples--I have green eyes. For green/blue eyes, use more neutrals, but purple makes colored eyes totally stand out. Not a heavy purple, but very subtle. For brown eyes, you can wear tons of colors and not look overdone. You can wear pinks, blues, greens, and yes purple--that looks good on everyone I think. If you're hazel...you're lucky. Anything will work for you. But everything in moderation. Yes, she's wearing purple! 

I feel like I'm giving away secretive information here. But I always love when people tell me what they do and use so I can try it out...more often than not I've always switched just to change the routine up a bit. And it was really fun for me to put together. Again, if you're a guy and you read this, that's weird. For us girls, we can't hop in the shower ten minutes before we need to leave. It is a challenge to find what works for our individual face, but more importantly what we are comfortable with. But do put makeup on, even if it is just a bit of eyeshadow and mascara. Wear perfume. Do your hair. If you read my Ode to Men post, I am a firm believer in making ourselves as beautiful and presentable as possible. 

Beauty product must haves.

I saw another blog post on this and thought it was a genius idea. I'm always curious as to what tricks everyone has for the dreaded daily routine...basically to make things go faster so I can push snooze one more time. Here's what I've always gone back to, and what's always worked. (If any boys are reading this...this probably won't be of any interest to you. Sorry.)

• Skin-colored lip gloss. It's not a "WHOA she's wearing lip gloss," but it's just subtle enough to make a difference. It can easily be applied on the way to school/work. That's why it's always in my car...I would never remember if it was in my makeup bag. More specifically...this is my favorite:

• Going along with the nude color...skin colored nail polish. My favorite is the OPI version, it's called Dulce de Leche. Again, not too much, but I feel much more put together.

• You need to have this if you're a girl (and if you're a guy and still reading this, that's weird.): Eyeshadow from Bare Essentials. More specific colors: Pussycat. Nude beach. (I obviously like that color.) Soul Sister, and Grace. They cost $12 each, but they last forever. Not lying. I have a few containers that I bought my first semester of freshman year, and there is still plenty left. But if you were to just buy one: Pussycat.

• My favorite trick: mixing liquid foundation with baby lotion. One, saves you half of your foundation. Two, it makes it so you're not caked with foundation. Three, instant moisturizer! Four, it smells awesome. I do about a 2/3 foundation : 1/3 lotion ratio. 

• 2" Hot Tools curling iron. It curls...without curling. It's a soft curl at the ends, that's a much better alternative to stick straight hair that's already dead in your first class of the day. It even takes a lot less time than actually straightening.

• Vaseline. If you smother it on your hands overnight, you wake up with silk hands. I'm serious. Try it.

• Drink water. I think that should be put at number one. Try at least 3 liters a day...yeah that's a lot, but your skin will be glowing and you'll notice a huge difference in your metabolism if kept up. 

• Perfume. Wear it. Choose your favorite one, and stick to it. I only have recently stuck to just one, and I'm devoted to it. It took awhile to choose with lots of help from Kaitlin and Stephie, but I'm glad I found my one and only. So don't go buy this.

• This clears my skin no matter what. Neutrogena Clear Pore. Granted everyone's skin is different, but I use it twice a week and it does wonders. Just a mask for ten minutes...I definitely can't laugh when it's on because it dries so fast, but it feels awesome when it's finally off. 

• Last but not least: cotton headbands. Throw one on before the gym. Or right when you wake up and don't have time to do your hair. Hair is pulled out of your face in an instant, with no bobby pins, flyaways, or annoying plastic headbands that hurt the back of your ears. Fantastic purchase...and they're really cheap. My favorite is the gray one, and it's always on my nightstand. 

This was quite fun for me to put together. I hope no boys actually got through this whole thing. If you did, hopefully you found something helpful...? Or you just know a lot more about my personal grooming.