Next chapter.

I'm sitting at the Ronald Reagan airport staring at my boarding pass wondering where the last four months went. I am blown away at the things that I've learned in such a short amount of time. Yes, I'm "used to it" from my mission, but it seemed that each aspect of my life was enhanced drastically since January. Way more than I expected.

Now, onto my Senior year at Brigham Young University where I will  be running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Okay, not really, but that's how I'll probably act in between work, classes and rehearsal. Just don't be alarmed if you see me on campus like that!

I am so excited to start this next chapter. It is beginning quite nicely.

Extremely appropriate song playing on my Spotify app right now:

"Because sometimes fate and your dreams will collide." -Holes Inside, Joe Brooks

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.