The Most Wonderful Mother

Sometimes I play this game with myself where I break down my traits, into two categories-ones from my father and ones from my mother. Eyebrows, dad. Smile, mom. Handwriting, dad. Snort, mom. Each reminds me where I belong.

Some people worry about ending up like their parents but I worry that I won't. I want to end up like my mother. So, I play this game.

Things that remind me that I am my Mother's daughter.

Stopping to give homeless people money or food.

Laughing so hard that I can't breathe and end up snorting.

Wanting to spend my free time reading.

Standing up for people that I love.

Loving the time I have with my family.

Getting annoyed when people read over my shoulder.

Hating the cold with a passion.

Loving all paper products and owning a milliom notebooks.

Mom, you are the most wonderful woman I know. You are smart, brave, kind and beautiful. I   love you a million smiles that look just like yours. Happy Birthday!

Sunshine On My Shoulders

This is my excited face.

It's April, which means....National Poetry Month, for one, and the beginning of my countdown to summer, for another. Do I talk about summer a lot? I just can not help it. I love summer. I dream for summer. 

In the meantime, here are some things I am excited/happy about

-My trip to Washington DC...hello, 'Washington DC is paradise to me'*

-The fact that I don't have to wear tights every single day. Though I might be scaring people with my white legs.

-The West Wing. I am about 10 years late to the party on this show but I love it. And it makes me want to know more about the Constitution, which seems like a good thing.

-Easter Candy. I mean, it is half price at Wal-Mart.

-National Poetry Month. A good excuse to write lots and lots of haiku's. Maybe I will even memorize a poem.

-My lovely friend, Emily Rita Hale, and her amazing singing performance. She faced her fears and performed for an audience at BYU. I can not stop thinking about her beautiful voice.

-Book making! The perfect hobby for me.

Excited yet?

*this actually comes from a song that is all about DC. Look it up!

One Year Later

One year into the mission

Today was one year since I returned from my mission. I think about my mission every single day. I think about the people I taught, the members I worked with, how hard it was, and the lessons I learned.

I almost did not go. I thought I was too old and I didn't want to give up all my plans. For months, I went back and forth. Go. Don't go. Go. Don't go. I put my papers and waited, terrified that I had made the wrong decision.

Then my call came and as I read it, standing out by our mailbox, I felt it. The spirit confirming to me that this was right and good. As I read 'the Spain Barcelona Mission', I knew that God had heard my prayers and was putting me exactly where I needed to be.

I thought missions were such a sacrifice. Leaving everything I know and love? Put all my plans on hold? I have come to realize, is it such a sacrifice when you come out with so much more.All the things I gave up for 18 months, would never amount to the experiences and happiness the mission has brought me.

I miss Spain everyday. I miss clipping on my nametag. I miss talking to strangers on the street. I miss struggling with Spanish. I miss my companions. I miss that blazing happiness I felt when teaching with the Spirit. I miss sharing my testimony everyday. I miss the people I taught.

But I will always be a Spain Barcelona Missionary. An El Faro Missionary. The things I learned and felt are written on my heart and I hope I am following them everyday.

On my mission someone said ' the best mission is the one you are currently in'. So even though I am no longer a missionary, I can still be learning and progressing. That was what my mission taught me. To be happy where I am, to do cheerfully all that is in my power and trust in God.

Oh Summer Where Art Thou?

How I felt about my birthday...delicious

This winter has been a test of my patience. Though I have lived in Idaho for most of my life, I have little tolerance for cold. And snow even less. I  think it should only snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas, to get everyone in the spirit. This winter it has snowed mountains. Every time I thought we had got through the worst of it, it would snow again. Ahh! Save me from the ever growing pile of snow on my porch.

It is good that my birthday came in the midddle because I needed somehing to pull me out of my snow induced stupor. Nothing makes me happier than a good birthday celebration.  I love having a day (or whole month), all about me. And so I celebrated in true Melissa fashion with cute new clothes, books, delicious food, dance parties and karaoke. I mean I sang 'America' by Neil Diamond on my birthday. Perfect way to usher in my 26 year.

Thanks self, for being born in February in an efort to drive away the winter blues. Thanks parents, for just having me and lovimg me.

And now that my birthday month is over, can we bring on Summer? Thanks!