The Place Where I Belong

I'm going home!!
Yes, I have one more day to wait and pack but then I am off and headed home :) Goodness I can't even tell you how excited I am!! This last week went by pretty fast, since I had 3 tests, which went pretty well, 88, one I don't know the score but I know I got over a 90, and then a 92 so after taking my last one last night I realized I had a LONG saturday and sunday ahead of me! and I was right... I made it through Saturday, trying to fill it with things. I woke up when a girl down my hall came knocking on my door cause she was trying now to break down cause she had just heard that her roommate, her roommate's sister, and one of my FHE brothers had gotten in an accident. There was a LOT of snow today and the roads were very icy and dangerous and they ended up flipping a few times, luckily, miraculously, Ali and her sister were not hurt, but Matt got a few deep cuts and was very sore but after an ambulance trip to the hospital and some stitches they are all safe. THANK GOODNESS!! But to keep my friends Moriah calm before she herself left home we watched a movie. Then I ventured out in the freezing snow and cold to drop off 2 more missionary packes. 5 of 6 totaling $80. Lucky the other one will be much cheaper. I then took a nap, watched a documentary on Jack the Ripper (yeah... I was bored) sang some hymns in the upper lounge, ventured out again to get some Little Ceasers with my roommate Alexsis and then came back, watched yet ANOTHER movie, and now i'm going to sleep!
Super boring... hopefully with preparing to go home and church tomorrow it will go by faster than today did and I can finally make it home!
I'm so ready and SO excited. I'm sick of my Facebook NewsFeed being filled with people talking about making it home where I'm bored out of my mind here! I have a million plans... I really think I'm the only person I know who makes a "to do" calendar for vacations :) I just want to make sure I get everything in and see everyone I want to!! I couldn't imagine flying back having forgotten to stop by and say hi to someone.
I get to see all my friends, my little kids I babysat, and of course my amazing family. I have SOO many things to do and a million things I'm excited to do!! It'll be great :) CAN'T WAIT!! now I've just gotta make it through these next 32 hours... 
You can take the girl out of Arizona... but trust me you can NOT take the Arizonan out of the girl :)
Warm weather and sunny skies here I come!!!

I know... I need to SLOW down!

Two blog posts in two days! I shouldn't write so much... but I love writing, and being alone up at school I get a lot of time to think. And some things just need to be written down!! This is mainly for me :) Once again, read what you. It doesn't really matter to me!!

So today I woke up and got an email from one of my favorite people in the world Elder Nick George!

This was quite a surprise since his P-Day is Tuesday and I just got an email (it's not against rules... he's got a special situation) Well, he went in to the MTC on October 6th. So he was scheduled to leave around December 1st. (I've pretty much got the MTC part of the mission down with all the letters I've gotten... the schedules at least) I got a letter a few weeks ago saying he wanted to get out to the field already, which is normal, no one serves a mission to go to the MTC, but he was really struggling being stuck in the building. So after a return letter trying to be supportive the NEXT letter said he was being moved to the advance Spanish class (He's going to Buenos Aires, Argentina West) and would be leaving in a week and a half... then the email this Tuesday said it would actually be November 16th, THEN today I found out he's headed to Argentina TOMORROW!!! Quite a surprise, but definitely an answer to lots of prayers.

So all day I've been thinking about it, later I got a call from my friend Jeneale who got to pick up her brother from his mission yesterday and heard all about it, and when I went to get the mail today I got a letter from another missionary serving in Florida. I usually get about 3 letters if not more a week so it wasn't that unusual, but I was just thinking today about what AMAZING friends I have. People often underestimate the potential of a young man just out of high school, but I am now writting 15 missionaries, soon to be 16. And I have learned some AMAZING things about the potential people really do have to change the world when their hearts and goals are in line with the Lord's will.

Everyone knows I'm obsessed with missionaries. (Now the reason for the post) And here's why... all the time, all the coloring, all the effort to make the newsletter, all the money spent on stamps and envelopes and ink and packages and presents and "can you send me this"-'s all become worth it when I get a letter back saying

"Thanks for being an awesome friend, I love reading letters"
"Thank you Brooke for everything that you do. Really appreciate it all. It's awesome to get the newsletter and to hear how everyone is"

"You get the most faithful letter writer award! Seriously, thank you for all the letters, they brighten my day!

"The church is TRUE! Because Heavenly Father gives me great Friends like YOU!"
"You are so swell and I miss you!"
"Brooke, I appreciate the example you and your whole family have always been for me. I'm honestly not sure I'd be out here without you all."
"I LOVED the newsletter! Thank you so much! Have I ever told you you're the best? Well you are."
"You rock my gold toe sock!"

"Oh and thanks for the letter, I didn't think I was gonna get any but nope I had some! It was great!"

"Thanks so much for all you do for me and the support you show for me and my decision to serve"
"I am so glad you wrote me! Without letters I would be so bored. I am not one of the most popular in my group."
"You have no idea how exciting it is as a missionary to get mail"
"It was so awesome when I saw that blue envelope that said Omega Circle I LOVE getting letters!"

"Thank you so much for that newsletter and all the addresses. One of my favorite things to do here at the MTC is go get the mail, and if there is none for me it's a sad day!"

Yes, that took a while. But I needed to kick start myself to write the 4 letters I need to this week!

The boys out there are amazing, and they need to know they are supported back home. So my challenge to whoever reads this blog, if anyone, is to GO WRITE A MISSIONARY!! A simple way to make someone's day, and motivate them to work harder and help others find eternal happiness!! Amazing what a big change something so small can start! :)

If you can't think of a missionary to write I've got a few who don't get many letters and always ask me to try to find people to write them!! Trust me, they could care less if they know you or you're a total stranger!

Let the Countdown Begin!

I really should be doing my math homework, but I'm a little frustrated with school at the moment because I studied for hours and only got an 80% on my Chem test. I'll be talking to my teacher tomorrow to figure out what I got wrong so I can do better next time!! (shocking I know... I've changed ALOT academically up here... especially since the Winter nursing decisions were just made and my mind is racing thinking about the fact my applicaiton is due in 12 days!!)
But anywho... on the the countdown!! In 19  days I will be sitting in my lovely house back in Mesa!! College really does make you appreciate home so much more!! I'll be home for exactly one week and here are the things I'm MOST excited for:

• Home-made food for multiple days
• Not having to climb off my bed every morning
• Sleeping in a REAL bed
• Watching tv... ON a tv!
• Knowing everyone around me
• The Thanksgiving hike we're going on this year :)
• Trainer Reunion Dinner
• Jeneale's Birthday lunch
• Seeing my best friend Taylor and of course Hope!!
• Going to see Cyndi and her adorable little boys!
• NO homework!! (I'm leaving Monday and we get out Friday so i'm going to get it ALL done before! Promise!)
• Sitting around the dinner table... even though I know I'll be attacked and reminded of every dramatic moment I've ever had... there have been over 2 months of build-up... it's coming. And LOTS of it!
• Church WITHOUT squeaky chairs and where you don't feel like everyone stares at you just for coughing cause it's SOOO quiet!
• Walking on SOFT carpet and laying of COMFY couches
• Of course... THANKSGIVING DAY!!!
• and with that comes Football :)
• Going back to Mountain View and seeing all my little trainers
• talking to people face to face instead of over a phone or webcam
• Dance parties during Dishes
• Seeing the Triplets and Braedon!!

• And last, but DEFINATLYYYY not least... seeing my AMAZING family!! even though our numbers will be small this year :,( 

The list is long... but I've been thinking about it ALOT these last few days!! I'm oh so excited!! For all that and so much more... like DRIVING!! :) Goodness I miss cars... oh and of course FABULOUS WEATHER!!!
Well, this one's shorter than normal, but I should get back to what I'm supposed to be doing.
Reality... always raining on my parade!
Peace! <3

Halloweekend

(This is sorta my journal... so if you're not me, and you're reading this feel free to skip past whatever. They're long I know)

If you know me at all you've known that over the last 4-5 years Halloween has become my least favorite holiday. Why? Because I don't like creepy things, or being scared, or all the weird people that come out on that wretched day! I just find it disturbing.

Luckily, despite my negativity towards the holiday, my last three Halloween's have been some of my favorite nights ever!! Not because of the holiday really, but because I have some great memories.

Friday, October 31st, 2008-

Mountain View Toros vs. Red Mountain Mountain Lions Football Game. Guess who won?? WE DID!! It was also the last MV/RM football game I'd ever see in high school since regions changed. But we killed them, and I got to spend the rest of the night with my best friends... and was just beginning two other friendships who would eventually become two of my favorite people in the world!! Jack and Josh. (Mom you can skip to the next paragraph now...) I also stayed out very late- aka 3:30 AM, doing nothing bad I promise, but nonetheless one of my favorite nights in high school.

Saturday, October 31st, 2009-
I won't go into too many details because it's really not exciting, but to me it was!! After being immersed in DRAMA with some people my best friend came to the rescue and we spent the rest of the night grocery shopping for his parents (which by the way I love doing!!), going to a house party that really shouldn't have been fun but was, and just lots of laughing.

And this year... Sunday, October 1st, 2010
Ok, well I spent that ACTUAL Halloween day writing a paper for my Book of Mormon class but the weekend before it was definitely memorable!! Here comes the real reasons for the post...

THE HAUNTED MILL!
It's just a creepy haunted house that for some strange reason I really wanted to go to, so we decided to make it a date!! Because I don't have a car and have once again become dependant, Sam and Todd drove us and went with us. It was a blind date... but I already knew my date because things didn't really work out with my original date. Brooke, my relief society president, and I spent all weekend together. Event after event! Here's a couple pictures from the date...
Me, Zac, Justin, and Brooke

 The whole group... basically just a mixture of Hildreth's and Waldie's

 My mom sent me a puzzle making/bowling pumpkin set thing that was so fun and hilarius to make.

That was Thursday, Friday we had a Relief society party which I didn't really make it to because I had Sam take me to Walmart so I could get supplies to make costumes for the "Nightmare Before Curfew" Dance Party I went to with Brooke and her roommates!! The DJ was AMAZING at mixing and it was SO fun!! I had never been to a dance party because I really hadn't heard great things about them back in Mesa, but this one the music was edited, and although there was some not-so-appropriate dancing, it was easy to avoid and was really fun!! Brooke and I went as Fanta Girls... the shirts I made with Iron-on paper stuff :)

Fanta girls... one of my favorite quotes of the night? "I just went online... and I'm the black one" -Brooke F.

 There were lots of creepy people and hilarious costumes, these are some of my favorites!!

This guy was SUPER creepy!! He never dance, but would sometimes just walk through the dance floor with a giant knife held above his head...

 KISS---- they came with business cards to hand out with their numbers!

 Laura Laura Laura

 The venue was so cool... an airplane museum! The dance floor was surrounded by old private planes!

 Mr. Clean

 And the other girls I went with!!

 We made a Taco Bell run... so we were a little late for curfew... luckily the gates were still open!! :D

I was tired until we had Taco Bell at 1 AM... then we were all pretty wired. After another group of girls came over we somehow decided to go up to the upper lounge and watch a movie. And since it was already 2 AM we thought we might as well sleep up there!!

 We all watched the movie... including screaming at 4:30 AM. The movie wasn't as scary as thinking about what might happen if someone complained! haha Well after finally crashing at 5 AM we were awoken at 11 AM the next morning to a constant loud banging on the door... we had locked and were all way worried the head resident found out (we're not really supposed to/allowed to sleep in there... but it has a tv!!) and was coming to yell at us... so one girl jumped up and ran to the door and it turned out just a girl who had taken a test and came to tell us she got an A haha but by then our hearts were racing and sleep was long gone!

We went and worked out after watching The Lizze McGuire Movie (you can never got to old for some movies) and then went to DI and Walmart to get costumes... for ANOTHER night of dressing up!!

For a girl who hates dressing up twice in one weekend is HUGE!! Haha

I tried to find something simple... so when I saw a $2 basket at DI i thought of Little Red Riding Hood! I didn't want to buy fabric to make my "hood" so I found a $4 old lady dress that was read and had an elastic waist band and I was sold!! I went home, and started cutting... eventually after a few tries and a couple safety pins and a long ribbon I made this!!

I was quite proud... not gonna lie!! No sewing machine at all! We all went over to my FHE brother's house and made cupcakes and watched another scary movie in their lounge... this was the group

 Kyle... he was a genie with the most bomb gypsy pants he got on his mission in Spain

 and of course I had to go see Zac!! Trust me... the mustache was temporary!!

 It was a CRAZY weekend but it was SO fun!! My first big girl's night since about 5th grade! Ha I love every minute... but now I've got to get back to studying and real life...