South Dakota, Rapid City Mission

I get to serve for 18 months in this beautiful place. I'm so excited, words cannot express. I feel so blessed to be able and worthy to be His hands in the Great Work and the Glory. 

The Church is true! I know it! I live it! I love it!

Quote of the Day

We were not created for defeat, we were not created to fail, but to get up and Amaze. To gain Glory. Let us not forget our purpose, to find Joy in the Journey and Change the World. 

10 WAYS TO BE A BETTER VERSION OF YOURSELF IN 2014

1. START WEARING BOLD LIPSTICK

According to a L’Oreal survey, 75% of women believe that lipstick makes them feel more confident. That rings true for me as well. You can bet that I’m wearing a shade of red lipstick when I walk into a big presentation or client meeting. When I’m in a bad mood or feeling under the weather, MAC lipstick in Lady Danger is the first thing out of my bag. A girl can’t conquer the world without her lipstick.

2.    START ACTING THE WAY YOU WANT TO FEEL.

Pay attention to this one.  It will make a world of difference in your life. In her book The Happiness Project, writer Gretchen Rubin encourages her readers to act the way they want to feel. Kind of a different version of “fake it ‘til you make it,” but guess what? It works. When you walk into the office on Tuesday morning and have that “Oh my God, its only Tuesday” feeling, put a smile on your face. Maybe you start humming your favorite song. Act excited about that new project someone handed to you. Pretend like it’s Friday. Before you know it, you won’t be miserable anymore.

3. CALL UP A FRIEND YOU’VE LOST TOUCH WITH

We all lose track of time in our lives. Old friendships fall by the wayside. That’s okay, it happens to all of us. Chances are, you’ve forgotten how much fun you used to have with your old college roommate, or neighbor from childhood. So stop making excuses, call them up and meet them for drinks, coffee, or skype!  

4.GIVE AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE A COMPLIMENT THIS MORNING

Know what always makes me feel good? Making other people feel good. It’s part of being human. It’s why we spend so much time picking out the perfect Christmas present or birthday card. We want to make others feel good. Stop waiting for an occasion to do so. Make a point to over compliment people every day. 

5. MAKE EVERY HUG LAST AT LEAST 20 SECONDS

Scientific evidence tells us that hugs lasting 20 seconds are more are proven to increase levels of oxytocin (a happy hormone.) Additionally, women in particular experience greater reductions in blood pressure than men after their hugs, says one article published on BBC.  

6. PICK ONE ARGUMENT PER DAY TO “LET GO”

Arguing sucks. Often times, both people are usually left feeling worse than they did before the confrontation if not handled correctly. I think we all argue a lot more than we need to. In 2014, let’s try to pick our battles. Let your Mom’s nagging go. Forget that your roommate forgot to lock the door on her way out. Cut people some slack and address only the things that really matter. 

7. SPEND JUST 5 MINUTES PER DAY TIDYING UP YOUR SPACE

This is coming from someone who turns her room into a tornado every time she gets dressed to go out. Lack of organization causes stress. Think of how serene you feel walking in the door after you’ve done your spring cleaning, or after your cleaning lady comes? Commit to spending just 5 minutes per day tidying things up, and you’ll feel a lot better when you wake up to a clean house each morning. 

8. PICK ONE NEW OR DIFFERENT THING TO TRY EVERY MONTH

This doesn’t have to be something earth-shattering. Pick up a book you would never normally read. Go to Chinatown. Sign up for Photoshop 101 on SkillShare.com. 12 “new” things a year is not a hard thing to do but it will make you feel much more accomplished. 

9. HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH STRANGERS

This one might seem a little strange at first. After all, our mothers always told us to never talk to strangers. I don’t know about you, but I’m always the most touched when I get a compliment from someone I don’t know, or experience a random act of kindness from a complete stranger. I get a lot out of hearing someone else’s story for the first time. In 2014, I want to talk to more strangers. 

10. STOCK UP ON CUTE GREETING CARDS

Everyone wants to be more like that friend who always has a sweet card in her back pocket when you need encouragement. Who never forgets to send a note for a birthday. Maybe she’s the family member who always gets her Thank You notes out on time. I am so far from that right now it’s not even funny. In 2014, I’m going to stock up on greeting cards, so I never have an excuse. 

Huge thanks to http://www.thegoldengirlblog.com/ who wrote this and inspired me!

"Dear Sister Edwards:
You are hereby called to sere as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the South Dakota Rapid City Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language..."

Idaho or Iceland?

So my dear friend Nikki, convinced me to come to her small town home town of Grace Idaho, where there is only one gas station, no movie theater and where football is the town's past time on friday nights. That was something we had in common In the town where I moved from Queen Creek, football is the pride and joy but to my it was always baseball (baseball girlfriend) But I have to say I love the view from her house.

Conference Quotes!

"A fundamental question remains to be answered by each of us...Shall I falter or shall I finish?" -President Thomas S. Monson

 "When the pathway of life takes a cruel turn, there's the temptation to ask the question, "Why me?" -President Thomas S. Monson

 "Whether it is the best of times, or the worst, He is with us." -President Thomas S. Monson

 "The innocence and youth of our missionaries exemplify the Lord's way" -Elder Valenzuela

 "Try not to be overwhelmed with the size of your task. Don't assume you can fix everything. Fix what you can." -Elder Jeffery R. Holland

 "Seeing through the lens of mortality does not always give us a complete understanding of the workings of God" -Elder Anderson

"The Lord has commanded that before we seek to declare his word we must seek to obtain it." -Brother McConkie

"She was the love of my life...my trusted confidant and my closest friend." -President Thomas S. Monson

"Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" -Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"The perfect place to begin is exactly where you are right now." -Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Repentance.

Okay I know the title of this post is a little scary, but my seminary teacher I had as a freshman taught me that Repentance is just a smarter word for change. Change, So whenever I heard the prophets and apostles said repentance I've remembered that. My senior year of high school, was hard, I made some decisions that I cringe to think about today, I'm so blessed with the gift of the Atonement, I would not be the woman I am today without it. I'm not perfect but I'm trying my best to be the person my Heavenly Father wants me to be. He never said it would be easy He just said it be worth it. I know that the trials we go through are only to teach us things we need to know and make us stronger. The Church is true! Love you all!