Oh Canada!

So far the only people I've seen from the mission have been fellow missionaries, April and her small family (she helped Sis. Ashton cook once in a while), and also Shay Petrone. (I served my first area in his home ward.)

Cambridge! Lovely Cambridge! How blessed I was to be able to serve my first are in Cambridge. There were many people of whom I came close to and carry deep in my heart. The Harrington/Petrone family is definitely one of those families.

Sister Harrington, "The Girl Hot-Line", would talk to my companion and I about missionary work and "boys". Yes, even sister missionaries talk about boys once in a while on the mission.

Anyway, Shay Petrone (Sis. Harrington's son) came through Idaho and it was such a joy to see him again! He joined my friends and I at our opening Olympics Ceremony party. Oh, and he ate a cold won-ton! =)

Here are a few pictures of our eventful time together.

I introduced Shay to the wonderful makings and delicious undertakings of "Millhollow". "The Rexburg Experience". =)

We went to the University and spent some time there attempting to contact a few of Shay's buddies out here. No luck. THEN, we were able to take a quick tour around campus and also around the temple. It was a nice time together.

Can you believe I went to the mall? Shay's lucky I love him! Here's me and Shay at the Wray's home, the night before I headed out to Chicago. Not a very cute picture, but oh well... it's what it is!

PEACE YO~

Olympic Opening Ceremony

08.08.08

What a great date! I should have thought about getting married on that date. Would have been easy to remember! Oh wait... I'm not dating, engaged nor getting married any time soon. Oh well, such is life.

HOWEVER, 08.08.08 was a great day for the opening Olympics in Beijing! Honestly, that was the greatest opening ceremony I have EVER seen in my life! It was moments like those that I wish I was Chinese!!! =)

If anyone wants to see pictures, go to my Facebook and look at the pictures! Courtesy of Shay Petrone!!!

Much love~

Chicago Urban Studies 2008

August 10 - 23, 2008

I had the opportunity to spend 13 days in assisting and working with the Chicago Urban Studies program with BYU-Idaho. Words cannot fully express how grateful I am for this experience.

There were also fellow counselors who because close friends. Like a church mission, something like this becomes so intimate and sometimes hard for others to understand.

Here are a few lovely pictures of myself and my 2 fellow male counselors. I was indeed blessed with two of the greatest counselors EVER!

I love this picture of the two guys hitting each other in the fun mirrors! (Navy Pier Chicago, IL)

Good times! Good times, indeed! =)

Here we are at the Hersey Factory! Dang, we're hot!

Here are our "Nerd Fighters" dressed in white:

Speeding for a Spiritual Purpose

So, the funny things come when you get caught for "Speeding for a Spiritual Purpose".

I decided to stay an extra night at Island Park and to make sure that I got to church. Reason being? To qualify for blessings in order to sing well on Thursday (for the Education Week opening devotional).

I head back to Rexburg for what is an hour drive. At the bottom of the hill, I begin to go around the person in front of me. I also look down and turn on the radio to find "KBYI" the local BYU-Idaho radio station that usually plays devotional talks, or has LDS songs on it. I look up to see where I'm going and notice that I'm probably going a bit fast. As I lay off the accelerator, my eye catches the beautiful spinning of red and blue lights in my rear view mirror. The police are happy and eager to make my acquaintance.

Mr. Baxter comes strolling up to my door, asks for license, registration and proof of insurance. I reach into my jockey box to get the requested items. "Crap!" Is the only thought occupying my mind. I forgot that I had just cleaned out my car right before I went to Island park. Registration and all were at home in a leisure spot on my couch. Long story short, I received a lovely gift from the officer. A speeding ticket of $140. I graciously accepted his gift, smiled, and took off. (I don't think that stopped me from driving "direct".)

I got home, threw on a skirt and walked across the street to church.

I had the honor of sitting next to Bryan Bybee of whom I shared my latest adventure. We had a chuckle. To my dismay, our intermediate hymn was "Choose the Right", and the concluding speaker spoke on agency and making good choices. (Bybee and I kept laughing!)

During Relief Society, the talk was on "Living our lives in accordance with God, that we may stand blameless before him". Hm... I think I was being rebuked by God!

So, let's review:

1) In a hurry to attend church to a) pay tithing, b) qualify for blessings to get help to sing for Ed Week devotional c) sped to get to work on time d) got pulled over after not paying attention while looking for KBYI e) intermediate hymn is "Choose the Right" f) talk on Agency & good choices g) living lives in a God-like manner and the kicker h) I got a church calling as the "Emergency Preparedness Specialist".

Needless to say, I've only sped once since then, and it was only to keep up with Grover Wray taking the Chicago Urban Studies boys to the airport on time.

Moral of the story... plan to leave places early, don't procrastinate your time of departure, and set your cruise control when looking for a religious music channel!

A Fun Weekend in The Woods

So, a few months ago I was blessed to go with a friend and her family to their family cabin in Island Park. (Where I was before I got the infamous "Speeding for a Spiritual Purpose" ticket.)

Here are a few photos from that weekend.

Wendi and I looking really silly!

The 4-wheeler we rode on:

One of the dirt bikes I fell in love with and the guys rode:

The family cabin in Island Park:

The fish we fed bread to:

This is Sawtelle. We drove the 4-wheelers and the dirt bikes up to Sawtelle. From our cabin, this place looked like a golf ball on top of this really tall mountain. When we got up close, it looked like a huge soccer ball!

Here's the girls... they looked like three little aliens! I loved it!

Here I am joining the alien crew too! =)

Here I am playing the guitar:

Here's me with Doug and the family:

Me with Wendi and the family:

Me with the girls!


I had a blast! Thank you!!!!