Life is funny, it makes me laugh

We had the most fun trip a couple weekends ago!  Whitney, Jesse, Jeanice, and I stayed with Jeanice's sister in Salt Lake City.  All week long we were waiting for it to be Friday so we could finally leave.  When 4:40 came Friday afternoon, we were out the door on the way to the bus stop.  We caught the bus to the front runner (the train that runs between Provo and SLC) and hopped on the top level of the car.  It's great!  One way trip is like 8 bucks total, and it's a fun way to travel.  It is always a littler nerve racking though because we are never completely sure which stop to get off at, but we figure it out.  (I attribute that to Whitney's navigation and map skills)

When we first got there, we went straight to City Creek Mall to start our sister-missionary-shopping-escapade!  We started at the loft, and made our way around.  Of course we had to take a break at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to get a chocolate covered pretzel stick (a necessity!) and the continued on our way.  I found a basic, black skirt at Macy's that is perfect for riding a bike and everything.  Jeanice found some cute sweaters (surprise surprise!)  We finished the night at Blue Lemon for dinner with some yummy salads, then went to Jeanice's sister, Meredith's, house to sleep.  She was so good to us!  We talked for a while (her house is so cute) and in the morning, she bought us doughnuts, yogurt, and bananas.  After breakfast we started at Trader Joes.  I have never been there before but its great!  I bought lentils, steel cut oats, and this amazing thing called cookie butter (its like a yummier version of PB!), and other yummy stuff.  Then we went back to the mall, found some more skirts, and finished with lunch at a shushi restuarant.  Apparently it's ranked best sushi in Utah, and it was way good.  I haven't had a ton of sushi before, okay like none, but man it was delcious!  After we ate that, we decided we just had to have some cheesecake from the Cheesecake factor (calories did not apply to this trip-obviously) and then Meredith drove us back to Provo.  It was so much fun!  A huge highlight of my college life.

Valentine's Day was also a lot of fun.  I LOVE VALENTINES DAY!!! EVERYBODY IS MY VALENTINE.  All that negative attitude that it's singles awareness day is so sad.  Really its an opportunity to be happy, love everybody, and eat lots of chocolate and sugar cookies! And thats exactly what I did.  In our family we have a tradition of making heart-shaped sugar cookies.

I couldn't break tradition, so I went all out, and took them to some of the people that I am so thankful for!  For Valentine Activity some of my roommates and I went to a Sleeping Beauty Ballet put on by BYU.  It was really good.  I couldn't watch a ton of ballets, but every now and then I really enjoy them.  I guess it helps that I went to many a dance recitals for Devyn, my best friend, and that really helped me to appreciate dance.  I wish I could dance!

My Mom and best friend Devyn also sent me Valentine's Packages!  I was so excited!

The day after V-day, Jeanice and I both had dates.  My mom sent me awesome socks in the package, so of course we had to wear them!

That Saturday we went to the Basketball game, where they retired two Jerseys.  It was so sweet to see these two, older, and very tall men dance around the court and share their memories.

Monday was no school, so Jesse, Jeanice, Leah, and I walked up to the Y.... hahaha (ask Leah why I am laughing).  Then afterwards we bought ice cream, and proceeded to stuff ourself with left over Valentine's chocolate.  Because of that Jeanice an I are now on a chocolate fast, which we have been doing an excellent job of!  Go us!

This past week my friend Connor and I were busy getting ready for the BYUSA even that we were in charge of.  We had a nerf gun war as a bonding and team building experience for some of the office members.  We used dividers and inflatables and boxes to set up a course in a big room-it turned out pretty cool!  The pictures online and here are examples of how hard it is to blow up a 5' cactus or palm tree-my cheeks hurt sooo bad.

Yesterday we had cleaning checks.  Before we cleaned though, we had some people come by who were playing Bigger or Better.  We traded them for a vinyl record.  This is what happens when you get curious what a smashed record looks like, and you throw it on the ground:

As I was standing on the table, Jesse asked:"Do you think it will hurt the floor?"  "I don't know " I said "What do you think"
She finished with: "I think you should do it"

Jeanice also made her southern Chicken Pot Pie yesterday--soooooo good!  We had some friends over and all enjoyed its goodness.  We also went to Living Legends, which is a performance of Native American, Latin American, and Polynesian dances.  It was awesome!  I love the hoop dances, they are my favorite.


Classes are good, although I really need to get better at Spanish, considering I will be serving a Spanish speaking mission in Alabama.
Here is a picture of my official acceptance letter to the First Presidency, accepting my call to serve in Alabama.  I think about it all the time....it's a little distracting.  I am very excited, and am working hard to prepare to be a good missionary.

That being said, I am certainly taking advantage of every awesome opportunity here at BYU.  I love this college, and am so grateful to be here.


That about sums it up
Until next time! Thanks for reading.

My Call to Serve...

2/1 2013
5:53 PM
Before:
   I thought I would do something a little different.  Since I was planning on doing a post about my mission call to help share with my loved ones an friends why I am going, I thought it might be cool to write part before I open my call, and after.  Here it goes.
  I believe it was Junior Year of High school, we were sent some wonderful sister missionaries in our Wenatchee area.  Natalie told me that she had gone out with them a couple times, and what a great experience it was.  I decided I wanted to get in on it, and called them.  While I was out at discussions or doing church tours with them, I felt prompted that this was something I should do.
  Now fast forward to the begging of this year.  I started my BYU experience at a camp called Foundations of Leadership.  It was a great way to jump in.  At the camp I met lots of great people, and learned a lot about what I could and wanted to get out of my college experience.  More importantly though, I kept wondering what in the world I was supposed to be doing.  I know a general direction of what I want to major in, but not specifics.  What classes am I supposed to take?  What clubs should I be involved in?  Where should I work?  Should I study abroad?  How many credits?  The questions seem endless.  Unfortunately, I have yet to find a magic crystal ball that will tell me all the answers to life.  Fortunately however, I know I have a loving Heavenly Father who knows exactly what he has planned for me, so I prayed to him.  I prayed to know his will for me.  I felt comforted, but I didn't get the answer I was looking for.  So I kept praying, almost every night.  I felt like there was something I needed to be doing, I just couldn't pin point what it was.  The week before general conference, I fasted and prayed that I would find my answer, whatever it was, from those words that would be said.  I wanted to be open and ready for the answer.
Ha.  I couldn't have missed that answer if I tried!
The first thing they announced that conference was the change in the age of Missionaries.  Boys could now go at 18 instead of 19, and girls could go at 19 instead of 21....that was my answer!  I thought I would have to wait another three years!  I was shocked, and I think I scared my roommates because I started to cry right then.
Before making any final decisions, my parents strongly encouraged that I pray and really think about the big commitment of a mission.   I did exactly that, and I felt an assuring peace in my heart that it was the right thing for me to do.
Since then, I have been going to school and loving every bit of that of course, but also preparing for this big event in my life.
Tonight, in approximately 2 and a half hours, I get to find out where I will be serving and when.  I've had a lot of people ask me if I am excited or anxious.  Truth be told, I am.  For different reasons though.  The exciting part isn't that I could go to some exotic land, or Pocathello Idaho (I really don't like Idaho).  I already know the exciting part-that I will get to serve The Lord completely for 18 months of my life.   I love this gospel, and I know that it is true.  I know I am daughter of a Heavenly Father loves me, and the wonderful thing is that on my mission I can share the love that Heavenly Father has for those that I serve and teach.  It won't be easy, it will probably be one of the hardest things I ever do.  It will also be one of the most worth while things I do.  I know that I will grow and learn so much that will help me to become more of the person that I want to be, and that my Heavenly Father wants me to be.  So where ever I go,  I know that my call is inspired by God through his prophets on this earth, and I know that where ever I go, is where I am supposed to be.

After:
My Mom, Dad, Derek, Landon, my best friend Devyn skyped while Grandpa waited on the phone, my roommates, Natalie  and Aunt Diana, Uncle Dennis, an cousin Matthew were in the room as I read:

"Dear Sister McClune:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Alabama Birmingham Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, June 12, 2013.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language..."

I'm going to have one funky accent.
I am so excited though to serve the people of Alabama.  I know that this is where I am needed, and where I need to be.

Love you all.  Thank you for all your love and support.  I am so blessed.

Whoops...It's been a while

Natalie and my Mom keep reminding me that I needed to update my blog.  Needless to say, college is really busy.  I would have written earlier but I like to have pictures on my blog, and I kept not taking pictures...anyhow I figured I should just cut to the chase and do it.

Soo I had an absolutely wonderful Christmas.  I am so, so, so blessed to have my family.  Honestly, I can't put it into words.  Even though I got my wisdom teeth  out on the 19th, it was great!  Landon took me on a date ice skating, that he paid for.  He worked really hard to save money, and acted like a true gentleman.  Best Date ever!

I sure do love this guy.  How'd I get so lucky.

Dad and I had a lot of fun, we went snowboarding and snowshoeing and just hung out lots.  Mom and I baked a lot and had lots of girl time.  It's amazing how much I miss them.  I love college, don't get me wrong.  Sometimes though it would be nice to still come home and be with your family. Nothing replaces family.   

For Christmas, My mom gave me the most awesome present!!! I have a collection of t-shirts that I hate to get rid of because they all have special, fun memories.  My  mom took the shirts, and made them into a quilt!!! I love it, and sleep with it every night!  It's a little piece of home here in the dorm sweet dorm.

My roomies and I all snuggled up in our blankets-I love mine!

Over break I also hung out lots with my dear friend, Devyn.  I sure do wish she was at BYU with me too.  Here is a picture of Natalie, Devyn and I after going to see the 4th Twilight movies (yes, I know the Hobbit is in the background).  These two are my wonderful, best friends.  I'll say it again... I am so blessed!  

I also went snowshoeing with my other close friends I missed tons, Keisha and Niki.  We had a great time catching up and talking!

Okay, so back at college.  I really love my schedule this semester!  I am taking 16.5 credits, in comparison to my 14 from last semester.  

Here's my schedule:

Monday: 

5:00-Temple with Natalie, Kameron, and Elena (we miss Kennie, who will be serving his mission in Mexico soon!)

then I have a break to do homework, get ready...

10:00-Honors Writing and Rhetoric.  It's a great class, I really enjoy my professor.  We just finished reading Frankenstein (second time I've read it).  It's nice because the class is smaller, so we have a lot of discussion about persuasion and literary principles. 

11:00- break for lunch and homework

12:00-Physical Science.  I don't like science, and I really don't like physics, but I sit next to awesome people, and my professor is hilarious.

1:00-Spanish.  I love spanish, and really would like to learn it better.

then I work out, and study in the library, go to BYUSA if I need too, and get home around 5.  Finish the night with FHE!

Speaking of BYUSA...it is a really great part of my experience at BYU.  In a way it's the student government...but different. Here is a picture from a luncheon we had a few weeks ago. 

I serve in the Administration area as a program director.  Nothing big, and a small part, but It's fun and I really like being involved!  Plus I get to hang out and work with awesome people:

Anyhow, back to my week.  

Tuesday:

Wake up at 4, go to work at 5. 

12-Book of Mormon Part 2 class with Natalie.  We were asked to ready the Book of Mormon in 2 weeks...and it has honestly been one of my favorite homework assignments ever.  It's such an important part of my life.

1- Spanish.

then finish out the day with studying anda all that jazz.

Wed-like Monday except I wake up at 6 and work out.  

Thursday- I don't have class until noon!  At least until second block when I will have another class (Adolescent Development).

then, it's the same as Tuesday.

Friday-Work, the class like Monday and Wednesday

At next block, I will have another class tuesday and thursdays from 8 to 10-Adolescent Development.  I am really excited to take it, since its actually part of my major!

The above picture was taken after a Friday-night snowball fight.  We were soaked!!!! Whitney and I got whitewashed a couple times, but I did my fair share of whitewashing as well, so it was well deserved!  

Tonight, I went with a friend to make sushi!   It was way fun, and delicious!  

Here is a picture of two of my FHE brothers, right after getting their mission call.  They will be going to Netherlands and Belgium.  Natalie also received her call!! I am so excited for them!  Mine should be arriving this week...   

I am so excited to serve a mission.  My parent's guess is that I will be going to New York.  Landon thinks I am going to Africa.  I've learned not to misjudge my  Mom's intuition, so I really wouldn't be surprised if I went there.   Honestly, to me, it doesn't matter where I go.  I will work hard and serve anywhere I am needed.  Even if that is Pocatello Idaho (I really don't care for that place, or Idaho in general.  I have an aunt and uncle there who I love dearly, but the place itself.....nah).  I know that wherever I am sent is where I am needed.  I am excited to find out!

Now that I am all caught up, I will be  posting much more regularly.  Stayed tuned-especially about my mission call!