3.15.2013

First Mission Email!


 
Elizabeth/Liz/Mei's first email came today!  You can read it on her missionary blog here.

3.11.2013

well this is it.

my auntie holli. we did a fun little photoshoot for our last hangout.
taken by willow's photography
 
today is my last day.
last day to wear leggings and a flannel shirt
last day to blog
last day to be alone
last day for 'merican food
last day to hug baby boy
last day to bike without a helmet
the last day i do things for myself.
 
tomorrow i fly to utah and on wednesday, i start the biggest adventure of my life.
i cannot wait to teach people about Jesus Christ, true happiness, and that families can live together forever. i've been waiting since december 5th when i ripped open that letter.
and now it's finally here!
so this is good-bye.
thank you for reading, encouraging, and supporting me :) 
if you're interested, my emails home will be posted on a separate missionary blog.
take care and, of course, happy blogging!
i'll be back in 18 months :)

3.07.2013

and so we walked.

this is how i'm breaking in my boots.
i pushed the stroller while my mom taught the little one on the right to puddle jump.
we made it around the block once but i'm making do with what i've got, rain and all :)

3.06.2013

life lately


^^isn't he so dang cute?  and his laugh? i die.

i hang out with baby boy all day and, when he's not crying, is the cutest thing in this world ;)
 
said good-bye to my best friends from high school this past week. we don't share the exact same beliefs but i'm happy they're supporting me.
 
said good-bye to my extended family last week. so many people came to my farewell and i felt so much love and support.
 
i made a list of food i want to eat before i leave and we've been slowly checking them off the list.
 
we took family pictures the other day.....i'm not sure what it is about my family but every time we are put in front of a camera we get silly. so silly.
 
down to six days until i leave. seven until i'm officially a missionary.
 
so those thermals that i bought? been wearing them every day since.
 
i watched perks of being a wallflower. i cried.
 
looking all over for the perfect mission dress...and not succeeding.
 
 trying to tie up loose ends. taxes will probably be the last thing i do...

debating on what movie to go see before i leave. safe haven, oz, or jack the giant slayer? i only have enough pennies for one.

i've made santa fe chicken three times this past week (chicken, rotel tomatoes, cream cheese, beans, and corn over rice). my little brother is in love.


3.05.2013

bits & pieces : missionary edition

 ^^it's going to be weird not having my own cellphone to check time. guess i better get used to a watch!
 
^^i'm not too much of a jewelry person so this is all i'm taking. i bought cheap jewelry so that if i lost/broke something, i wouldn't be upset.
 

 ^^black and brown shoes. not the most stylish but they're comfy without being clunky. both are the born brand.
 

 ^^i love scarves! sapporo gets really cold in the winter so i'm bringing both summer and winter scarves. plus it adds more variety ;)
top picture l-r: walmart, gift, gift, japan
bottom picture l-r: walmart, romy, marshalls
 
 ^^so many people have told me know how to mend clothes for the mission. buttons fall off, things rip, tear, etc. my mom made this sewing kit for me when i left for college and i'm so glad she did!

^^one heavy duty, one not so heavy duty. l: target r:costco
 
^^took me a while to find the right container for a first aid kit. this is actually a lunch box with three compartments on top. it's big enough to hold all of my medicine, band aids, essential oils, etc. i found it at marshalls in the kitchen section.

^^i usually keep all of this in my backpack anyway so why not bring it? i have a mini make-up bag to put all this in so it doesn't get lost in the big bag i'm going to carry every day.

^^journals! writing! studying! the sister missionaries in my ward recommended separate journals for studying/conferences and personal. for missionaries going foreign speaking, my mom suggests a little notebook for vocab.
 
^^don't forget these!! especially the jump drive so you can get pictures from other missionaries.
 

^^i attempted outfit pictures, i really did. but me and the self timer aren't on speaking terms now so i'll have to bribe my brother. in my upset state, i changed into this. isn't it sad how creepy my smile looks?
 
every missionary will take different things depending on where they're going but this is just a peek of what i'm taking. any suggestions for important items to take? stuff that other missionaries said they wish they had had?
i'm all ears :)