Esta Serio?!?!?!?!

This was the week I was DETERMINED to send photos home.

 

Aparently, that went well....

But I have a good excuse.

 

MY COMPANION BROKE HER FOOT LAST NIGHT. (Esta Serio?!?!?!? MUY serio.....) We were walking down the stairs to go to dinner, she missed a step, and she landed on her foot wrong. It was too late for to go to the Health Clinic, so we had to do that today and its basically sucked up our entire P-day. So... no pictures this week. I'm sorrry!  She has been on crutches since last night, we have been icing and wrapping her foot. This morning we LEFT the MTC (into the big bad world...) and got an X-ray done. When we came back to the MTC, they checked out the X-ray, and sure enough- it's broken. We go see a foot specialist tomorrow, and she might have to get surgrey, and her departure date might be delayed because of it. ISN'T THAT AWFUL! My poor compinera! She is being so brave. She hasn't even cried! You can tell that it is harder on her then she lets on, but she is a tough girl! I think this is the Lords way of forcing her to let people serve her. She doesn't let anyone help her with anything! She is too nice, always saying that's she is fine and doesn't need anyone's help. Keep her in your prayers and hopefully it will heal quickly.

 

This week definitely feels like a day. So much always happens, but then when it's time for me to sit down and think about it, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING GOOD TO SHARE!

 

This week, Hermana Natilee Allen, Sister Kalli Wyatt, and Hermana Veronica Rohsdaal joined the MTC. It really just makes my day when I get to see "home" friends in the MTC.  We laughed together, we scream with joy when we run into eachother, and often, we cry together. Sister Missionaries cry a lot at the MTC. We cry with joy, we cry with frustration. We cry when we feel the spirit, we cry when we are homesick. We cry when the advesary is attacking us, we cry when the Lord blesses us. We cry for the good, we cry for the bad. Sometimes you just need a friend from home, who KNOWS you to cry with (good and bad).

I had been counting down the days for Sister Wyatt to come. We have always been good friends since we have meet, but we grew through preparing for missions at the same time. I was struggeling, and I just needed her so badly. Wednesday finally came, and I could feel her near. I finally did see her that night, but we were both rushing around and could barely get "hello"s out before we had to leave. Just seeing her made me happy. The next day, (still struggeling) we saw eachother from across the cafeteria. I bolted to her, and immidetaly said that I needed her help. As we began to talk, I was overcome with joy that she was there, frustration with myself, and in general, just too many emotions. I was right. She knew EXACTLY what to say. She clicked into "Retreat for Girls Counselor Mode" and let the lord use her as a tool to tell me exactly what I needed to hear. It was hard for her to get her call back in October, and not go into the MTC until march, but during that lunch, I knew part of the reason why was because the Lord knew I needed her. Right then, Right there in the cafeteria of the MTC I needed her.

Gah. Friends are the best.

 

Some of you may or may not know what "snailing" is. I don't exactly want to get into the most embarrassing story OF MY LIFE, but I will use this story as bait to get letters. I don't want to post this story on the internet for all too see. But, it's a good one that should be shared. If you know what snailing is, and want to here the story, write me a letter. If you don't know what snailing is, but you still want to hear the story, write me a letter. I will tell you allllllll about it.

 

Did you know I get travel plans for COSTA RICA ON THURSDAY! Es verdad! I do! Can you believe I only have 2 more weeks (as of today) in the MTC? ESTA SERIO? I JUST GOT HERE! I'm scared to death/ so excited I can barely stand it to get to Costa Rica.

 

Sigh.... Our time has sadly come to an end my friends. It's been a good week. Probably the best week in the MTC thus far (minus the broken foot). If the mission seriously goes by as quickly as it does here in the MTC, I will be home in no time.

 

I love being on a mission. I love this gospel. I love Jesus Christ! I love my companion! I love spanish! I love my District! I love the temple! I love this entire thing. So far, it's the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I am only 4 weeks in!

 

For those who want to send me letters:

Try to do so before I leave the MTC (april 2nd) so I can get them. Once I am in Costa Rica, it will take a  significant amount of time for me to get letters, so lets make the most of our time here shall we?

 

Thanks to those who took time to write this week:

-Emma Whipple

-Alyssa Whipple

-Megan Straw*

-Mom

-Dad

-Shauntel Reeve (congrats on your call girl! BRAAAAZIIIIIILLLL!)

-Grandma Kenney (and you are so tricky! You had me fooled for a while! HAHAHA!)

- Libby

 

Wow. This is always the shortest 30 minutes of my life. BUT! I heard a rumor that they might start letting missionaries email longer soon.... so..... stay tuned for that? (HOPEFULLY!)

Love,
Hermana Patterson

 

**Note from Lexi's mom:  She sent a private message asking for the following...so if you want to send her a package before she goes this is what she loves: 

PLEASE. I AM BEGGING YOU.

Send me Costco sized cheese-its, goldfish, and chocolate covered raisens (KIRKLAND brand), cadburry eggs

PLEASE! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Leave your comments here and I'll paste them into a "Dear Elder" for her.  You can write her for free here and she'll get it the same day or the day after depending on when you submit the letter.  http://www.dearelder.com/index/inc_name/home

Happiness is... Costa Rica

Busy days to make time speed up!

"Family" Dinners with the bro's. 

Flour fights for FHE

Linda letting me borrow Oliver for the Carpool lane
Having lots of family over for the big announcement
Getting called to COSTA RICA!
Going to chili's with the siblings
Being unhealthily lazy
Having the highest blogging stat's yet... (are you all coming back?)
This BRIGHT pink shirt! (put some shades on)
Watching Dr. Who again

Jolie's fabulous red lipstick
Sister Missionary mall
Shopping for Sister missionary clothes
Texas Roadhouse and feeling like this:

My best friend is finally ENGAGED!
And she told me before facebook knew!
Chocolate covered raisens first thing in the morning

Who am I?

I stole this post idea from Cristina and from Brianne. (Check out their blogs too!)

Probably for most of you, none of these answers will be much of a surprise to you, but I thought it would be a fun blog post to look back on later in life.

1. Student

I am currently a university student. I am officially starting my 5th semester up in Idaho in just a few days. 

I am thinking about changing my major to International Studies, but I am waiting to make sure that is really something I would be interested in.  

This picture basically sums up my life in college:

2. Shift Lead

I work for a really awesome company/retail store called DownEast Basics and I really love it. It is one of the best jobs a college girl could ask for. The only set back is my new shopping habit! (Oh no!) For the past couple of months I have basically been running my store down here in Utah while we were in between managers, but as I transfer up to the Idaho store, I am excited to go back to being a normal associate. I love the girls I work with so much and we are all really great friends. I am so lucky to have this job. 

3. Tiki

I have been a counselor at Retreat for Girls for 2 summers and it has literally changed my life. If you want to read more about my experience as a counselor read this. My counselor nick name is Tiki!

4. Disney Lover

I've always loved Disney Movies. 

ALWAYS.

I even got the chance to WORK at Disney World, and I thought I would get sick of Disney,

but I didn't.

In fact, my obsession became worse. 

5. Daughter

I have such great parents. 

Now that I am in college I appreciate them more than anything.

They are a great mixture of supportive and letting me be my own person. 

I also just want to put out there that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me, and I love him.

This I believe

6. Favorite Niece/cousin/sister to all

I am the oldest sister, and cousin on both sides of my family. 

And they all adore me (THEY BETTER!)

I throw Harry Potter extravenanza's for my cousins, complete with HP food, banners, houses, house points, dressing up and a HOUSE CUP. 

Which brings me to..... 

7. Harry Potter Nerd

Obsessed. I am obsessed.

Probably more obsessed than you.

I listen to podcasts, 

read and re read each book,

read fan fiction,

listen to wizard rock

the whole nine yards. 

(Also, if you haven't seen a very potter musical, you should spend your next 2 hours doing that...)

p.s. We are all a day late to our term at Hogwarts

Well what did you guys think? Did you learn anything new? Tell me in the comments below!

Happiness is....... Intro

At Retreat for Girls we talked about this quote a lot:

And finally, in all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.

We spent the entire week focusing on changing our perspectives and choosing to be happy. On Monday our  theme of the day was "Finding Joy in Life". For my devotional I showed them this video:

I made each of my girls little "Happiness is" journals and encouraged them to write a list of the small things in life that made them happy that day. (i.e. finding a pencil, tying  your shoe for the very first time...) 

I wanted to set a goal to starting doing something similar in my life. I wanted to start appreciating the small things in life that make my happy, but since every day might be excessive, each week I am going to make a list of things that week that made me happy. We shall call this new series "Happiness is....." and I am hoping that it will change the way I look at life. 

InJOY RFG recap

What an amazing, frustrating, tiring, awakening, inspiring, and JOYFUL two weeks I have had. I am so lucky to be a part of such an amazing program! Retreat for Girls changes lives you guys. It changes the counselors, the participants, and specifically it has changed me.

I attended 3 years of Retreat as a participant:

I returned two years ago as a counselor: 

And I was back this year for more! 

Over the weekend

For the weekend in between sessions we spent some time at Bo's house: 

The view from her yard: 

Monday

 By Monday it was time to head back to campus and start another week. 

We had registration:

 Lawn games:

 Closing Opening Banquet: 

Tuesday

was group bonding day.

We had a "Unbirthday Party" where we made "Mad hats"

I got a really sweet love note from Nomi and her girls, (the paper suitcase)

we made cute little picture holders as seen in the bottom left picture, 

and we had our fashion show! (Why yes, I am in fact dressed as the Sphinx and Freckles Lauren is dressed as the great wall of china)

Wednesday

was filled with lots of scripture reading, and classes with AWESOME speakers

We also had the Theme activity on Wednesday

We learned about the movie Pollyanna and how she would play the "Glad game"

We made prisms just like in the movie to remind us that when we choose happiness the light of Christ can be reflected through us. 

We also did my favorite craft that day, coloring RFG pillowcases

Thursday 

was our service project. We had so much fun and we were so busy that I didn't get any pictures!

But after words we took a couple of pictures for Team Kenton to help boost his spirits

Friday

was our last day. 

We had an amazing devotional and testimony meeting where the spirit was SO strong.

we had our closing banquet. 

I had an amazing two weeks and I had many prayers answered. 

I also set a goal to start appreciating the small things in life and to start living In Joy. 

I made some life longs friends and made amazing memories that will be with me forever.

Thank you to Katie, Anita, Miss Piggy, Bo and Origami for all of their hard work and all that they did for us. 

Retreat for girls

Hey kids!
It's been a crazy couple of weeks since I got back from Guatemala. I have had so much going on that I almost don't even know where to start!
School is almost over! We are about to find out if I pulled it off. I am feeling... fairly confident that I will manage. There are still a few loose ends to tie up, but I think I might make it!
Between school, working, and getting ready for Retreat for girls my plate has been quite full.

But today is finally the day! 

Retreat for girls is basically here! Today I pack up my car with massive amounts of stuff (way too much for two weeks... but that's how we roll at RFG) and drive up to Logan. 

It's going to be a good week.

Don't know what Retreat for girls is? 

Let me tell you.  Retreat for girls is basically the best two weeks of your summer. 

It is a church camp for girls ages 12-15 and a short explination is a mix between EFY and girls camp. 

I can't truthfully tell you as a past participant, and a 2nd year counselor, this program has changed my life. I would not be who I am with out it. Retreat for Girls taught me it was cool to be a member of the church and to have standards. They showed me how to live life to the fullest and how to be happy while gaining a testimony. It's is.... awesome. 

"In all of living have much of fun and laughter.  Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." - Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley,

This years theme is "In joy" and I could not be more excited. It is just what I have needed after this rough year. I am so excited to learn more, grow more, and help young women's testimonies blossom. 

Retreat is full of some of the best women, counselors, and girls in the entire world. Each one inspires me and motivates me to the fullest extent. 

This is part of the silliness... but at RFG each of the counselors have nicknames that we go by, and the girls have no idea what our real names are. (SO FUN!)

Mine is Tiki: 

Here are some of the blogs to other counselors

Rae:

BO:

Puddles

Plus, I am so excited that me and FRECKLES (my younger sister) get to be counselors together this year! 

Woot woot. 

WHY I LOVE RETREAT FOR GIRLS