Starting it off right.

We did it! Opening weekend is out of the way! But I do kinda feel like a traveling circus. Anyway, I honestly didn't think we'd make it two weeks ago...but, miracles happen, and the shows were FANTASTIC! Oh, I had so much fun. Really, they were such good shows. I'm so proud of our team.

This was on the way there--there's no way Megan and I had that much energy on the bus ride home. 

Megs and JBrom so happy we finally get to perform instead of rehearse!

Funniest game ever: noise cancelling headphones with blasting music...someone asks them a question and they respond based on what they think the question was. 10x more hilarious with MDT majors. (Music Dance Theatre)

When we got off the bus, we (literally) ran into the High School to do a workshop with the kids, then (literally) ran to mic check and get ready for the show!

Yeah...it definitely doesn't look like this at the end of the show. This picture shows the costumes for about five performers. We have twenty. So you can imagine when we run off stage, as we are catapulting costumes off our bodies, someone else is throwing on more costumes as we run on stage to look like that didn't happen. Then we're supposed to dance and sing like we aren't out of breath or something. Ha.

The only break I get during the show is during the guys' number...eight straight minutes of The Beatles! Just enough time to cool down before going back on stage for the rest of the show.

Me, Randy, Megs and Eliza stayed at the beautiful (very beautiful) home of King and Diane Hussein and had the opportunity to give a singing devotional for the Sunday School portion of church the next day!

All Young Ambassadors aside, this was my favorite picture from the week. Definitely. So jealous they were all hanging out without me in sunny Florida while I was freezing at a cool -9 degrees!

(I never thought I'd be that girl, but whatever, I don't even care anymore. HOLY COW MY BOYFRIEND IS A BABE! Oh wow. Sheesh. Whoo.)

Anyway, back to YA's. No more shows until after Christmas. But then it will really pick up! 10-day tour to Northern California, and then shows almost every weekend until we leave to Nauvoo! 

I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN. Pinch me.

A Father Forever (Who Still Speaks!)

I keep having these realizations that God is my Father. 

Obviously, that is such a basic doctrine that it should be ingrained in any returned missionary's soul. Well, it is! The reason I keep realizing it is because every day I see something else that He gives me that I didn't notice before. 

If you have read Preach My Gospel, that is the very first thing we as missionaries tell our investigators. Why don't we spill great doctrines like eternal life right as they answer the door? Because without understanding that you have a Father in Heaven who cries when you cry and smiles when you walk out of an aced test, you understand absolutely nothing.

If that's the only thing you understand when you leave this earth, He'll sweep you into His arms and take you straight to His Home.

Anyway, getting back to my realizations...


The scriptures.


I always wondered on my mission why I have never before asked my Father if they were true. I thought I was horrible--but then again I was under the impression that I couldn't feel the Spirit, either. I figured out through prayer that it was because these people always lived like they were true.

Pictures by Rita Merrick

There hasn't been a question in my mind until Sister Hawkes told people to ask for themselves. I thought, "People actually have to ask if The Book of Mormon is true?" 

So, I thought I should ask. And, I try to make it on a regular basis. So every time I do, the answer is always the same. IT'S TRUE! 

I so bad want to raise my children to know the scriptures are true just from how I live. I want them to catch me on my knees asking. I want them to catch me reading with my husband whenever we have ten minutes. The words of Christ through the prophets really can change a human heart, and I need them to understand that so they can understand the bigger picture: that God is their Father.

That's how I was raised, and I'm (secretly) glad I never even thought to question it.

Pictures by Rita Merrick

Pictures by Rita Merrick

Pictures by Rita Merrick

Pictures by Rita Merrick

Pictures by Rita Merrick

Pictures by Rita Merrick

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.

Senioritis is real.

This is definitely the longest I've gone...without writing here or in my journal! What in the world? I've relied on pictures and quick notes I jot down in my trusty app that will help me remember times or things people say that impact me. I'm used to writing down everything, so I hope I don't regret the time I haven't had to just...write.

As for a little update on my life, well--I am in the midst of midterms and...just about everything else. I had to let my job go for the rest of the semester because I just wasn't getting everything done. I've now got a perfect amount of time to get just a little ahead in my last year of schooling to keep myself sane. Side note: I try to get everything done before 9 pm because I have a very important FaceTime call until I go to bed. Also, (since I didn't grow up in the dance studio) I've had to spend a lot of extra time on my own learning choreography for--what, about 18 songs?--that need to be performance worthy in four weeks! We take fun breaks to make sure we don't go completely insane:

This is what we look like when Randy tells us to belt singing harmony
and do five chaines at the same time. Just kidding. It's only two. 

So with the rest of my time (hah) I actually go to class! But since I'm a senior, they aren't the normal classes. I'm producing the 12 o'clock noon news on Tuesday and Fridays for...dun dun dun...the number one rated student newscast in the Nation! It's my capstone at BYU, and it's always an adventure. 

Fridays is CoogTube...women tell all! No, I'm not a feminist.

It was cute that one time that I thought I had time to be in the BYU Republicans club. Although I haven't been to a real meeting yet, I've spent a few breaks in between classes helping out at the booth! So that counts, kinda? I think I'll have more time Winter semester. Cross your fingers.

This was a lot more awkward for the people walking by.

Last but not least, I definitely have time for some post-mission fun. The NYRM camaraderie is real and we'll almost drop anything we can to be with each other, even if it is just for a few minutes. I've found myself day dreaming lately of how I was in the beautiful fall colored leaves last year in New York, almost done with my service, which gave me a confidence about saying whatever I wanted, when I wanted. (Appropriately, of course.) Missionaries will know that once you've been out for so long, you just say anything. That hasn't changed, really. Anyway, I just love my NYRMies.

My nephew and brother with our gang symbol for the "Celestial District."

Well, I think that's about it. Our first performance is next week at Homecoming Spectacular! I can't even wait. Finally, all of this rehearsal will pay off. It's hard to perform in front of a huge mirror looking at yourself doing everything wrong! It will be fantastic to perform in front of an audience. Changes everything. Which reminds me...

ONE WEEK UNTIL MY MAN COMES. No, I'm not excited.  Just kidding! 

And like I said...Senior-itis is real, people. 

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!