Oh Hey, 2015!

New Years day is an exciting time for us all. 

A clean slate.

A day we collectively decide to leave the past in the past and become different people.

Its kinda cool that we all decide to try to become better at the same time. 

I almost feel like we should have "resolution support groups". 

Well it just wouldn't feel right if I didn't post a list of goals I have for 2015. 

Complain Less

Run a 5k 

Play my Uke

Do all the readings for my classes

Drink more water 

Blog at least once a week 

Have a successful Etsy shop

Volunteer at the MTC 

Save money

"Seek" everyday.

Make a mission scrapbook 

Wear the things I already own.

And above all: 

Try my best.

Here are a few of my favorite "end of the year" videos:

And an old favorite video that gives some great ideas about setting and sticking to goals. Its kinda long, but I this has really changed me. (skip ahead to about 1:45)

Aaaaannnnd (for posterity sake)....
My very first photo (and instagram post) of 2015:

#Igotnaked

the farewell

I can't believe it's over.

My missionary farewell has come and gone.

What a whirlwind of a day.

Stayed up late, woke up early and was going and going and going

all day long. 

My talk was about the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement. 

I used a lot of really great material from The Continuous Atonement  and His Grace is Sufficient .

I was overwhelmed with love as so many people I loved came to say goodbye.

The Kirkby's came all the way from Las Vegas,

Road Runner came from Wyoming,

Mark, Emily, Sarah, Natilee, Grant, Jake, and Vanessa came from Idaho,

Charise flew in from North Carolina to surprise me,

And my Grandma and Grandpa Patterson flew in from Chile

Plus HUNDREDS of loved ones from work, college, high school, the ward and my entire life came to show their love. 

{The Danville Gang-minus Ariana}

{Ariana- who at the moment of this picture I didn't realize was ENGAGED!}

{Aspen/Amelia, and the ever attractive photo bomber Jolie/Christina} 

{Natilee and Sarah came down a day early to have a little bit of a "roommate reunion"} 

I had so much fun talking to everyone and feeling like a celebrity. 

I felt like I was constantly running around,  trying to socialize with everyone.

My mouth was so dry, and my stomach was begging for food,

but I had to keep socializing! (Like I'm complaining...)

I felt like I had almost everyone important to me all in one room,

and let me tell you- it was crowded.

I also got some pretty awesome video (bideo's) as going away presents:

Also- I found this youtube video, and I wish I could put the audio on my ipod

Thank you to my  parents, grandma's, aunts, cousins, and other family members for helping everything run smoothly-

Constantly washing dishes and dishing up Chicken Croissant sandwiches.

Thank you to all who travel near and far far FAR! 

Thanks for the advice.

Thanks for the gifts!

Thanks for the well wishes and prayers in my behalf. 

I am one blessed girl. 

#bringtheworldhistruth

So, basically, I'm obsessed with Sister Missionaries right now.....

On Thursday, I was invited by one of my favorite people, Kalli Rae (Perth, Australia), to join a group on facebook called

"Many are called.... few are sisters"

and the moment I realized what it was, I was ADDICTED.

The group is basically as many future sister missionaries finding each other on facebook as possible. We all post where we are serving and when you leave, so that you can find other Sisters going to your same mission on facebook and connect.

(so far, I have found 3 other Hermana's going to Costa Rica!)

We also give each other ideas on shoes selection, good skirts to buy for bikes, 

so on, and so forth...

Then someone had a MARVELOUS IDEA:

So.... they did: 

We sisters in Rexburg were pretty jealous,

 so me and my friend Maddie (Malaga, Spain) decided to do one ourselves in Rexburg: 

So with two days to plan, we posted stuff all over Facebook.

We made announcements in class.

Went door to door.

and did everything we could to get the word out.

But even with all out hard work, we were worried about our turn out. 

So at noon today, we showed up to the Rexburg temple,

praying that others would join us

And CHECK IT!

They did:

And my personal favorite: 

I couldn't have been happier. In the midst of the craziest time of the semester (finals) all of these beautiful future sister missionaries took time out of their schedules to come together.

I could have cried with joy.

"Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world.... will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different- in happy ways- from the women of the world. Thus it will be that the female exemplars of the church will be a significant force in both the numerical and spiritual growth of the Church in the last days." (Spencer W. Kimball- Ensign, November 1979) 

Thank you so much to Michelle Fowler Photography for her service! Check out her Facebook page, she is so talented! 

Pura Vida

Pfft.... I am not obsessed.... 




Costa Rica: Get Living from Patrick Pierson on Vimeo.

....I'm not!

I SAID that I'm NOT!

Okay! Fine, you totally got me. 

I'm obsessed. 

They called me on a mission!

Yesterday, a VERY  important envelope came in the mail

Before you scroll down, please watch the following video to see what happened when I opened the envelope:

COSTA RICA, SAN JOSE! 

People! I have LITERALLY been called to paradise! 

This is the PERFECT mission for me!

Spanish speaking!

Warm weather!

Latin America!

...The Lord is the BEST! 

I am just so happy right now! 

And I guess we can add one more name to the list: "Hermana". 

Happiness is...dancing your night away

Charity date auctions
"Yeauuuup!"
noise makers
Wreck it Ralph

Great friends
Late nights
Sleeping in
A brand new month
Planning Harry Potter Extravaganza
Getting rid of butterflies in your stomach (They kind of hurt!)
Dancing the night away

Advice from my Uncle Alex
less than  45 days until Christmas
The gift of patience... when I'm blessed with it.
Strong guys or somethin'
Free body messages
The girls I work with
the company I work for
bearing your testimony in class
G.I. JOE Public service announcements
Knowing that I get my mission call on WEDNESDAY!
Spending Saturday morning in your pajamas
The monthly trips to IF for Target
Michael Buble Christmas album
Secret Pinboards!

Happiness is.... Jaever you are

Watching Mean Girls on TV twice in two nights

5 Buck pizza's (Again? Seriously?.... Okay!)

New Maxi skirts.
My newest DownEast Employee- SHUFFLE!

Waking up to rainy days

These adorable young men:

Great ward activities

Working out so hard that you can barley walk 

Getting emails from my baby sister

How to BE the right person.

Love this blog post from puddles so much 

This news made me cry with happiness

Not really doing that much homework this week

Comic Frenzie "Hola Mama!"

Hijacking scary movie night

pumpkin cookies

For day's when your spirit needs some feeding

Please watch this when you are ready. Not before. Not too late. But when you are craving some spiritual nourishment.

Happiness is.... Pina Colada's

Watching the Vlog Brothers from oldest to newest

JCW's

Thanksgiving Point

FINALLY seeing Alee after her summer in India

Watching the 25 anniversary concert of Les Miserables

New shoes! :)
Family Pictures!
Spontaneous trips to Park City with some of my best friends
Finally eating really good food when you haven't eaten all day
Park City main street during the summer evenings
Bags with fringes/Buying new tires. (JK)
World Market
APPLE PIE CARAMEL APPLES
Google maps
Having lunch with old friends
Meeting your new (nice) roommate
Pretty yellow dresses that are long and can flow in the wind
Wearing flats so you can walk and dance all night
Pina colada's
Brianne coming for a surprise visit!
Dancing the night away
My cute Great-Grandpa:


Finally playing "Betrayal" again
COWBOY CAVIAR
This funny video.
And now for some nerdy humor:

Happiness Is.....quick trips to the DMV

Pretty Toenails

Free Yellow Lace Toms
^And the girl who pointed and whispered to her friend "I like those!"

A Bridal shower!

Again... Bright Pink Lipstick

Looking Cute for Church

(...And late someone recognizing me at work because of it.)

Leaving an hour early for no good reason

Finally getting errands done

My short trip to the DMV

Wandering around the mall with nothing to do but look at all the pretty things

Chili's with my best friends

^Meeting their boyfriends

^And approving

Mrs. Fields

Apartment decorating

Getting excited for fall semester

Late night "Temple talks" with Erin

Being famous!

One best friend home, one to go
Color Me Katie
Even though I am team Michael ,This makes me Happy:

                                 

New Pants

FINALLY getting paid! (wheew!)

Cafe Rio with my "supy awky" girls 

Re-listening to "A Fault in Our Stars" 

^and crying over it. 

Putting the NEWSIES soundtrack on my Ipod.

The following video is basically life at BYU-I-do