They're In...

As of 8:45pm Arica Taylor Page's mission papers are IN! 

"I hope they call me on a mission...."

"Called to serve Him...." 

I'm so excited there just aren't words. I will be sure to update when I get my mission call. 

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Spontaneous Snowball Fight

"snow...Snow...SNow...SNOw...SNOW!!!!! It won't be long before we have snow....I want to wash my hands, my face, and hair with snow..." Well...it won't be long because it's ALREADY HERE!!!! Yesssss! 

It has been raining off and on since Saturday but yesterday....IT SNOWED! It snowed good. My roommates said "hey let's go walk in the snow..." so we put on hoodies and two of my roomies got out there...and started throwing snowballs immediately. I wasn't even out the door yet so I grabbed some gloves and joined them. We then decided to go over to the boys (fhe bros) side and throw snow at their door....they came out and threw some back but didn't come down stairs. Their neighbors and other apartments joined in on the fun as well. Soon we had a huge fight going on...and we were soaked and wet but looooved it! 

The cars came in handy....for snow and refuge!

Loren creaming Amie...but he got payback by Chrissy. 

Me and Amie after the fight!! We were both enemies and friends!

Most of the gang...missing a few but you get the idea....

Then Craig (Craigo) suggested we on the girls side again and surprise an apartment. I went to my really good friends house and knocked while the group hid behind cars....they were like "hey...whtat's up.." I'm sure they could tell I was SOAKED! I was like "hey come look at the snow...it's so pretty..." and Katie stepped out to look just to humor me...and I stepped back right as she got pelted with a snowball right in the neck. Everyone came out of hiding and got her so good. It was in her apartment...and then Lauren and Chris came out too...a little later Emily even came out. We got them soo good. So then Katie, Lauren, and Chris came out to play too. We tried a couple other apartments but they weren't as cool about it...plus the girl we were looking for in one apartment wasn't home so her roommates didn't appreciate snow in their apartment. 

There as a couple times that wrestling started happening...I tried to get Craigo but he caught me and started to wrestle me down...so Chrissy came to my rescue...but then he got her sooo bad back. Another point was when Loren tackled Amie....she was getting white washed BAD....and had no way of escape. I ran over to Loren and lunged at him to push him off of her he fell backward...and I helped Amie up. It was awesome...then I had a war with Loren just to get him back. I'm not sure I got him well enough but it was sufficient. 

We got a lot of snow in out apartment because we attacked Janaye....but it was worth it. I got cleaned up and put my pjs on, had some hot chocolate....messed around with my roomies and then went to sleep. I guess I slept hard because I woke up at 7:20 and I have a 7:45 class...I was running around with my head cut off!!! I called my friend and she picked me up...so I got there in time!! I was so thankful. I guess getting up late, having my two favorite jeans wet and dirty so I have to wear my back ups (which I hate), and being freezing...was all worth it for our spontaneous snowball fight!!! I love snow...and now I shall end as I began..."where it's snowing all winter through...that's where I want to be snowball throwing...that's what I'll do...How I'm longing to ski through the snooooow." 

Children of God

So my visiting teachers came over yesterday and we were discussing this months Ensign. We were noticing that the Church has been taking more stands on things lately...I LOVE it!!! We all pretty much know the stand on things but now they are telling us to take a stand. I was reading an article by Elder Nelson about abortion. It was an amazing article and would have all of you read it! Something he said in there made me think : 

"As Latter-day Saints, we should stand up for choice-the right choice-not simply for choice as a method." 

This is a call for us to not just sit idly by and let people have their own opinions but to stand up for what we know what is right!!! We aren't asked to get into arguments but that we should to our part to let others understand that we do have an opinion. It's not just about having the freedom of "choice" but choosing the right!!! Simply having a choice does not lead to happiness...but the right choice does. You cannot undo any action you have done...so make the right choices before having to deal with the wrong consequences. 

Also in the article it talks about people choosing to abort children who are likely to have disabilities, which of course caught my attention! He had an awesome disposition about it!!  This is what he says: "Some argue for abortion because of fear that a child may have a congenital malformation. Surely the harmful effects of certain infectious or toxic agents in the first trimester of pregnancy are real, but caution is needed in considering the termination of a pregnancy. Life has great value for all, including those born with disabilities. Furthermore, the outcome may not be as serious as postulated.

To deny life to an individual because of a possible handicap is a very serious matter. Policy consistent with that logic would dictate that those already living with such deficiencies should likewise be terminated. One more step in that tragic train of though would lead to the conclusion that those who are either infirm or inconvenient should also be eliminated. Such irreverence for life would be totally unthinkable!" 

Every person....every person....deserves life. Just as every child deserves an education!! It makes me sad to think that millions of children are being aborted due to possible malformation. If you keep in mind that every person is a child of God...it puts things into perspective. 

A Feeling of Peace Has Comeover Me

Charity as stated in True to The Faith is "the pure love of Christ...The Savior wants us to receive His love and He also wants you to share it with others. (John 14:34-35) Strive to love as [Christ] loves, with unfailing compassion, patience, and mercy. As you continue to receive the Savior's perfect love and as you demonstrate Christlike love for others, you will find that your love increases."

As I pondered this subject last week some things came together in my mind. How could I be more charitable? Sure I could do little acts of service for my roommates which I worked on and I could go out of my way to help someone...but I felt like I needed to do more. This semester has be the busiest I've ever been in my entire life. I'm not sure how I'm doing it all...but through it all I've made some pretty awesome friends and relied on a couple of old ones as well! At the beginning of the semester my friend Alli (who I've known since freshman year) told me she got the confirmation that she should go on a mission and was working on getting her papers in. (ps. they're in and she's waiting!) I had already asked Heavenly Father multiple times if this was the path I was supposed to take...especially this summer. The feeling I kept getting was that it was my choice and that either way I would be doing good. Over the summer I decided to make a decision on the subject just to ease my worried mind. I said, "I'm not going to go on a mission...and that's my decision....for now" I knew there was time to change my mind but for then it was no until I got a different feeling.

To be honest the thought of a mission scared me! I didn't think I was capable enough. So when I got here and heard that Alli was going on a mission I started plotting out how it would work if I DID go but I was still uncertain...then I met my friend Emily...she's 26 and a senior...I asked her about her mission and what she thought....through our discussions this semester I kept feeling that I was going to go I just didn't know exactly when.

My roommate and I fasted for a totally different reason than a mission last Sunday but still in the spirit of the fast I felt closer to my Father in Heaven...I was thinking about what I had read and studied about Charity...and I felt that a mission was what I needed to do if I wanted to progress spiritually. As we sang the closing hymn in Sacrament Meeting "Called to Serve" I knew right then that if I was going to do this I needed to talk to some people and get the ball rolling. I'm ready to gain better study habits, be more organized, go to the temple, and use the knowledge I have to help others! The gospel is so amazing and I want to share that with others and let them know what I have known almost my whole life. Ever since that Sacrament Meeting I haven't felt scared about serving a mission...I feel excited and ready to get going. I met with my advisor for school and he said I should put my papers in this semester because where I'm at in school is the perfect stopping point. It couldn't be more perfect. Therefore, I met with the Bishop tonight and I'm working on my papers. I can't believe it's actually happening but I'm doing it and I'm excited. The future is uncertain...and I'm not sure how everything's going to work out but I know it will because I have faith that Heavenly Father will see me through and help me to prepare accordingly. I will keep everyone updated on everything!!! I couldn't be more at peace and happy about this.

I love this gospel and I have a testimony that it is the true gospel on the earth today. Jesus Christ is at the head of this Church with Thomas S. Monson as His mouthpiece. Heavenly Father answers prayers and won't leave us in the dark....if we are patient. He loves us! I love Him and I can't wait to serve Him in every way I am capable.

Lyrics

When I listen to a song it's not just the melody or the "beat" of the song....what really grabs me are the lyrics. When people are truly thoughtful of what they put in their songs and it's not just some random thing thrown together and repeated over and over....even I could make music like that and I'm no musician. If you can make me like the words more than the song...you've done your job....I've wanted to do this for a while....here is a compilation of lyrics that I really love (with out artist and song attached so it has more meaning):

*And you make me talk, and you make me feel, and you make me show...what I'm trying to conceal....

*you're a chance taker, heartbreaker, got me WrApPeD aRoUnD yOuR fInGeR

*All you gotta do it watch me...look at what I can do with my feet...baby, feel the beat inside....

*Love is the aNsWeR for most of the questions in my heart, like why are we here, where do we go and how come it's so hard....

*I sleep when I wake and dance when I'm dreaming...I give it my all 'cause I live out loud each minute and hour of everyday.....

*If you're not getting answers....AsK bEtTeR qUeStIoNs....

*Finding you can change....learning you were wrong...

*I've searched every book I know just to find the words oh to touch your world and get some love out of you

*He's tailor made for you, with stunning golden hues, and one sweet tone to soothe your persistent BeAtInG hEaRt it's just a start!

*....others only read of the love, the love that I love.

*looking at you, holding my breath, for one in my life I'm scared to death I'm taking a chance letting you inside

*In her eyes I see the sky and all I'll ever need....in her eyes time passes by and she is with me

*We should get jerseys 'cause we make a gOoD tEaM...but yours would look better than mine 'cause you're out of my league.

*Oh say, wouldn't you like to be older and married with me? Oh say, wouldn't it be nice to know right now that we'll be someday holding hands in the end....

*You just see right through me but if you only knew me, we could be a beautiful miracle unbelievable instead of just invisible

*There's a million other girls who do it just like you. Looking as InNoCeNt as PoSsIbLe to get to who they want and they like it's easy if you do it right. Well I ReFuSe, I ReFuSe, I ReFuSe!

*...will you bring me the key to unlock this mystery of girls and their emotions, play it back in slow motion, so I may understand the complex infrastructure known as the female mind.

*Something has changed within me, something is not the same. I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game.

*Thou givest fever, when we KiSsEtH, fever with thy flaming youth

*I always said that I would make mistakes...I'm only human and that's my saving grace.

*Those three words are said too much....they're not enough

*I think I need a SUNRISE...I'm tired of the SUNSETS!

This is definitely not the whole list but I can't think of any others I'd like to add right now and it's getting kind of long. I will add to it for my personal records....but for these purposes my mission is accomplished. Enjoy. :)