Building Faith, Stepping Stones

Yesterday I lost one of my jobs. I was sort of expecting it (as a nanny you have to realize that at some point the parents will realize that daycares are much cheaper, especially for families with only one child).

The loss of this job brings my working hours down to less than 20/week.

I was, I think understandably, quite stressed about the lack of hours. I want to spend my time being productive and making and saving money. I still have immunizations to pay for and things to purchase for my mission. And I still have student loan debt that I get to worry about in a week. Also, without a social life, days off are pretty depressing.

Thursdays I work in the St. Paul Temple from 9-2. I went today, praying for guidance. I got to the Temple early and as I waited for the prayer meeting to start I flipped open the nearest set of scriptures. It opened to Alma 31. I just kept flipping through, trying to remember where I was in El Libro de Mormon.

After the prayer meeting I went about other Temple duties and, eventually, I got some time to sit in the Celestial room. While I was in there, praying for peace and direction, I decided again to flip open the scriptures. This set also turned straight to Alma 31, and this time I decided to read it.

Alma 31:5 is a nice scripture, and I liked what it said, but it didn't really have significance to my question. I almost started flipping pages again, thinking that maybe I was looking for signs at that point, but decided to keep reading.

Alma 31: 37-38 were exactly what I needed to read. In this chapter Alma and his sons decide to preach the word of God to the Zoramites, who have fallen into some weird beliefs. Alma prays, asking God to help them with their missions. The final verses:

37 And after that they did separate themselves one from another,taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on.

38 And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.

I know that God knows me. I know that He knows what I need. I am doing my best to follow Him and have faith.

It is a lot easier to say than to live, but I do know that God has a plan for the time I now have open. I do not know what that plan is, but I have faith that if I continue to do all that I can to open doors, He will show me the right one to go through.

While I wait for further direction, I have applied to a lot of jobs. I have also contacted the few people I know in Minnesota and asked them to keep their eyes open for me. I know that I am relatively unhireable (since my availability is MTW and I leave in 9 weeks). I also know that this little affliction will be swallowed up in the joy of Christ.

Whatever is supposed to happen, will happen. I am glad to have had my faith strengthened today as a response to my prayers.

Chanda C.

Student Loan Payback Time

It is cute that the University actually expects me to have my life together enough to begin making student loan payments only 6 months after graduation.

I owe $3100 in student loans.

It would be all too easy for me to lecture myself on ways I could have avoided owing this money.

All too easy to count up the concerts and plays I attended, the nights I ate out, the splurges I made while grocery shopping (the fancy cheeses always get me), the road trips I went on..

But I am so grateful that I had those opportunities.

Four years of my life were spent at the University of Arizona. I am in awe of the blessing those four years were on my life.

I did not know, as a freshman, that my car that I saved up all summer to buy would be stolen a month after the semester started. Or that the car I got after would be wrecked. I didn't know that I would take multiple trips to California, one to Texas, a few to Idaho, and countless ones around the state of Arizona. I didn't know that I would love going to concerts (and consequently spend a lot of money attending them). 

I didn't know that in those four years I would decide what I wanted my life to look like, and then decide something different, and then decide something different again.

I had no idea that my friendships would change every year with my living situation. That I would meet people who taught me more about myself than they did about themselves. Nor did I know that I would have roommates that I just didn't get along with. I didn't realize (for the best) that I would keep in contact with approximately 0 people from high school (or that I would prefer it that way).

I had no idea that my testimony of Jesus Christ and my relationship with my Heavenly Father would become what it is now. I couldn't have known that I would receive answers to my prayers so frequently that I couldn't deny promptings, even when they were things I didn't want to do.

I did not expect that I would be working 35+ hours a week while going to school to keep my debt down. I didn't predict that I would love nannying so much that I would want to continue doing it, even after graduation.

I didn't realize that I would be graduating in four years with a (nice sounding but completely useless) BA in Psychology. 

I didn't realize that on my trips to California I would fall even more in love with Disneyland. And because of that I would end up moving to Florida right after graduation. I didn't realize that working for Disney World would not be what I expected so I would end up moving to (cold) Minnesota to be a nanny while I prepared to serve a mission.

I didn't know that I wouldn't meet my knight in shining armor until my senior year. Or that I would refuse to date him for 5 months because he was leaving on a mission. I didn't know that I would obsessively write him letters after he left, and be able to laugh and feel close to him even while he was on a different continent.

Absolutely none of this was predictable. And $3100 seems a small price for the lessons I learned (mostly outside of school) and the people I met and the memories I made.

I am so fortunate to have found a major that I loved and that came easily to me. I am proud that I graduated with a 3.9 GPA and enjoyed my classes. I am glad that because I understood the classes so well, I had time left over to have other experiences. I was able to be a long-term volunteer at several places. I was able to experience Tucson's culture and fall in love with the city. I was able to become friends with so many people who changed me and helped me see the world differently.

I am on a solid path now. This is a weird transition period in my life, definitely, but I know what I want. I have a few things, the most important things, figured out.

I know that God was directly involved in my life. I know that He knows exactly what I needed to experience to become the type of person He knows I can be. I'm still a work in progress, I always will be. But I am committed to honoring and following Him.

I know that God speaks to us, He answers prayers, He has a plan. I know that by following Him and seeking His guidance I will find happiness and peace.

I wasn't always perfect about it. I goofed up on things, I put my agenda before His frequently. I am recommitting, like I have to do every day (sometimes more often), to follow and believe in Him.

$3100 isn't too much to pay for the people I met, the places I went, and the person I became.

Thanks to all for the love and support!!

xoxo

Chanda, BA

Llamado a Servir

I got my call!!!! I'll be serving in the California Rancho Cucamonga mission, speaking Spanish!! I'm so excited. I report to the Mexico CCM on Dec 31.

I am so so happy. My decision to serve has been a L-O-N-G process.. I started my application two years ago (Sept of 2012). I was dating R at the time but I knew that I wanted to serve and would regret not going. When I asked my bishop to open an application he had been planning on asking me to be a ward missionary.

When I started filling out my papers and praying about it I felt like I needed to finish school before I left. Instead of stopping, I contacted all of my scholarship people and asked if they would guarantee that they would hold my scholarships for me if I left for three semesters and they said they would. I thought that solved the problem, but I still felt weird about serving. So I fasted and felt like I definitely was not supposed to go. Then, a month later, the age requirements changed and I got a distinct impression that I wasn't needed as a missionary right then.

So I kept moving toward my degree and kept dating R. Then he and I got a little more serious and I decided that I probably wasn't going to serve a mission because I was going to just be with him and work while he went through school.

Then I started praying and fasting about whether R and I should move forward and I was definitely told no, that we needed to break up. Anyone who was around me in that dark period of my life knows how that went, ha ha. It was a very low point. I was a total mess about it and I didn't want to break up with him. It didn't seem fair or right. We got along well. I liked his family. We were both doing well and going to church and praying and reading scriptures. However, I couldn't deny the answer I had been given, so we ended things. That was a long, drawn-out, emotional process. BUT because we broke up I spent a lot of time with the sisters in our ward. Like, I went out with them at least three times weekly all summer. It kind of reignited my desire to serve, but I felt like I had already made plans not to go on a mission so I just brushed it aside. Maybe I was just meant to be a ward missionary.

Then I started my senior year and tried to figure out what I was going to do after I graduated. I like having plans and being prepared. Like, really. I am an Excel-budget-for-every-possible-situation type of girl. I applied for Teach for America and got accepted. But when I fasted about doing that I felt like it wasn't right. Then I decided I would keep working for the law firm that I worked for my senior year, but fasted and felt like that was wrong, too. Then I was offered the Disney internship and felt like that was what I should do, even though it didn't pay very much and it was across the country and I would have to leave Erik and Tucson before I wanted to and my dad would have to watch Luna. Despite all of the logical reasons why Disney World was not right for me, I felt like it was where I needed to go. Don't get me wrong, I love the Mouse and I was excited. I just felt like it definitely didn't make sense.

Also my senior year, I started dating Erik and realized that he and I really clicked well and had a lot of good things in common. He made me want to be better and he helped me to grow and achieve more than anyone else I had ever dated. He made me laugh and comforted me and I was (and am) so impressed with how hard he works and what he stands for. I got really excited for him when he put in his papers and got his call. And then I realized (again) that I really wanted to serve.

The day Erik opened his mission call I went home and finished filling out all of my papers, so that God would know that I was ready and willing. I also made appointments for the medical and dental portions of the paperwork. I kept praying and trying to see if it was what I should do, but all I got back was "Take it a step at a time." Specifically, the song Lead Kindly Light was repeated in my life over and over (I fasted on General Conference weekend last April and one of the first songs that MoTab sang was Lead Kindly Light. Right before the session started, as I was driving to Erik's house, I had a distinct impression that that song would be the answer to my fast.). I knew that I was supposed to go to Florida, and after that I only knew that God would let me know.

I went back and forth for a long time. One day I'd decide that I was going to serve and the next I decided that it made more sense for me to work and save money and get established. I made so many tentative plans. I was going to put in my papers ASAP. I was going to wait until right after Florida. I was going to wait until six months after Florida. I actually wasn't going to go at all. My poor family, and poor Erik, got so many mixed messages.

In Florida I attended the ward for young single adults and felt awful. I left and as I was crying on my way home I felt like I needed to go to the family ward instead. The next week I did.

That Sunday was a missionary farewell. The songs we sang were "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go," "With Humble Heart," "Called to Serve," and "Lord, I Would Follow Thee." I met with Bishop Beck that first Sunday so we could get to know each other. During the meeting I mentioned that I had mission papers but didn't know if I wanted to go or not. He really encouraged me to and I fasted about it again the next day and finally felt great about it. I talked to all of my extended family and asked if they would be able to help pay for me to go (because I had absolutely nothing saved) and they pulled together and figured it out.

My situation in Florida was less than ideal. I needed to be making money and that wasn't happening with a minimum wage job. I also wasn't around people that I really felt could help me learn and grow and be lifted. My roommates were really..different than me. To say the least. They were really nice and I have a spot in my heart for each of them, but I felt like I was living in a sorority house. One day I came home and they were watching porn in the living room, because the girl in the porno went to high school with one of my roommates and she wanted to see if she was any good. Those sort of shenanigans happened regularly, but that was kind of the last straw. I decided that I needed to peace out.

I went to the Orlando temple to do baptisms and prayed there for a long time. I knew I was supposed to go to Florida for some reason. I didn't feel like I had done anything significant enough to justify the cost of moving. How could I have served my purpose there, or how was I supposed to stay there long enough to serve my purpose in that environment? I also talked to my friend, Zac. He managed to speak straight to my soul. He reminded me of a lot of things that I already knew, but that were so frequently said that I took them for granted. With his encouragement and the Spirit's guidance, I decided it was time to leave Florida.

My aunt and uncle (who live in Minnesota) had invited me to live with them until I left on my mission. Their offer had stood for a while, I just wasn't sure if I wanted it. I didn't know anyone in MN, I didn't have a job in MN. I had never even been to MN (quite frankly I wasn't exactly sure where MN was). I wasn't sure I wanted my papers to leave from MN, because I didn't want to go back after my mission to MN. But I prayed about it and felt like it was what was supposed to happen. They were going to Nauvoo the next week with my mom and two younger siblings and thought it would be cool if I could meet them there and then drive the rest of the way to MN. I quit the next day and left two days later.

Coincidentally my younger sister in Arizona was in a situation that she needed to get out of. She flew to Florida and drove with me to Nauvoo, which helped both of us.

Nauvoo was a wonderful experience that really helped strengthen my testimony of the Restoration and showed me that people can do hard things. I really learned and felt a lot.

Now I am in MN. The day I got here I had a job interview and was offered the job. Since then, I have had multiple job offers, most of which I had to turn down. Now I am working about 50 hours/week as a nanny, saving up for my mission (and after my mission and before my mission), and learning and growing and studying. I got all of my papers put in (which I was impatient about and felt like it took forever to gather the information from my Tucson bishop and my Florida bishop and my Lakeside doctor and dentist).

The wait for my call was killer. Let me tell you, patience is not something I have a lot of. I was checking the mailbox daily (also waiting for letters from Erik, so there were multiple reasons to be excited). I decided that I was going to get my call on Thursday, Sept 11 (13 days after I had submitted it). I checked the mail every ten minutes. Our mail here doesn't usually arrive until like 4:30, that day it didn't come until closer to 5. My aunt finally put a note on the mailbox, letting the mail carrier know that Chanda Crossman was expecting an important missionary call from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She requested that when it was delivered the mail carrier honk "excessively and obnoxiously" so we could run out and get the mail. We attached a bag of mini-Ghiradelli squares with a note "Mini Thanks!" The mail was delivered that day, no honk, no call. So I resigned myself to wait another week (because I was very certain, for some reason, that my call would be delivered on a Thursday...).

The next day I was supposed to work from 7AM-5PM and then from 7:30PM-10:30PM. My first job ended early and I got off at 2PM. As I was driving home I had a very specific daydream that I was going to pull into my driveway and the mail would be delivered right then and my call would be in it. I scolded myself for getting too excited and working myself up. As I pulled into my driveway, the mail carrier pulled behind me to our mailbox and delivered our mail and honked "excessively and obnoxiously" a whole two hours earlier than usual. I went to check and my call was there! WOO.

I couldn't open it until 11:30 that night, because that was the next time everyone was available to gather together. I texted a few people, letting them know it had come. I got to talk to Zac, Alec, and Wade. As I was talking to Zac (or Alec?... I can't remember) I mentioned how much I missed In N Out and tacos. They told me I just needed to hope for a call to Anaheim and I would be set.

I opened the call surrounded by my family who lives in MN and electronically surrounded by other friends and family. I made a few wisecracks about it being past the Holy Ghost's bedtime, etc.. My call is perfect. I opened it and read it. Then my aunt started everyone singing Called To Serve (which I have been memorizing in Spanish).

I might not ever understand exactly why I had to move to Florida, but I know it was supposed to happen. And now I am SO EXCITED to serve in California. I wanted, so badly, a Spanish-speaking mission. It was what I prayed for since I started my papers two years ago.

I am in Mosiah of El Libro de Mormon, and I will be able to finish it before I leave. I have started praying in Spanish and reviewing things I learned at UA in my Spanish classes. I WILL BE PREPARED.

This call is seriously so perfect. Erik wants to get his masters in California so I plan on living there in four years (I mean..maybe, or whatever...), I am excited to make some connections with people there. It is Spanish speaking. It is warm. It will have easy access to Mexican food. I will be returning to the blessed West and the wonderful grid-system of roads. While I do think going foreign would have been cool, I'm not sure I am sturdy enough to have handled it. I think one tapeworm would send me to the hospital pretty quickly. I was really worried about that.

I'm so happy. I know God answers prayers and that He knows what is best. I've learned a lot and grown a lot. And I have even more to grow and learn. I'm thrilled. I am so thankful I have the opportunity to work and save for four months before I leave. I know that things will work out, but I am also terrified of coming back to no car, no job, no house, no clothes...

So, like I said.. long story. But I know I am exactly where I need to be. I'll be receiving my endowments on October 11 in the Mesa temple. Then I will be a Temple worker in MN until I leave, which I am happy about.




My mission boundaries-- see how close I am to Disneyland??






My call and I. At 11:30 at night. You can tell I am tired. And happy.






Erik was the closest guess. He predicted San Diego.






Before I opened the call. I was so afraid I was going to get called somewhere scary.

Erik's response to my call:
YOUR CALL! AH! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU. IT IS SO PERFECT. I AM SO HAPPY YOU ARE STAYING IN THE UNITED STATES. THE GUY NEXT TO ME IS FROM THERE AND HE SAYS IT IS AWESOME. YOU WILL LOVE THE MEXICO MTC. OH SWEETIE. I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU. THIS IS THE BEST POSSIBLE ONE. WOO!

I am a college graduate!

I can't believe it. I just finished my last class of my undergraduate career.

I cried a lot as I walked out of that class. I love the University of Arizona campus. I love belonging here. I love what I have done. I love the people that I have met. I am so proud of what I have accomplished. I worked so hard to get here. It wasn't all me, but a lot of it was.

Something that was said in my class tonight (because it is an upper-level psychology course that feels a lot like therapy so we do cool things like dedication candlelight ceremonies) really struck me.
"You don't get to be where I am from where I used to be."

I can't take all of the credit for getting here. But I am proud as heck that I am now Chanda Crossman, BA.

Recap:

Freshman year
First semester started out rough. I didn't get along with my roommate, my car was stolen (later Jane), I had two break-ups (hey-oh Bert G.!), got my first B (stupid general education courses), walked to church a lot, serious financial crises, had to give Luna to my mom, didn't know what to major in, wrote something like 50 essays over the course of the semester (stupid Honors classes), and cried in public (s/o to the douche who made that happen). I went to Disneyland. Sarah W. (now Sarah S.) got me through that semester. I don't know what I would have done without her angelic presence in my life. Bethany R. and Victoria V. were great, too.
Second semester was much better. I got a new roommate (who was probably the best one I have ever had ever, Brittany C. {now Brittany L.}), started dating someone, got a new car (thanks, Wyndie and Eugene) (Sir Galahad), learned how to handle classes, made great new friends (s/o to Zac B. and Lyndsay B.), went to Six Flags Magic Mountain and Disneyland.
That summer was great. I spent a lot of time in Yuma. A lot of time. Went to Magic Mountain. Said goodbye to a missionary or two. Bought a new car (Sir Cadagon).

Sophomore year
First semester: Moved in to an apartment much closer to campus. Got along with my roommates (Chloe G.), lived with Luna, became friends with a lot of cool people (names can't be mentioned due to current friends-off situation), had a lot of late nights and belly laughs, got written off by a missionary, said goodbye to more missionaries, started work at the SALT Center and Mad Science, went to Disneyland, drove to Houston, TX to be in Brittany's wedding.
Second semester: Stopped getting along with most of my roommates (never tell a girl not to marry the guy she loves and avoid rotten pumpkins altogether), started dating a guy, learned the art of ditching class, went to a lot of concerts (thanks to Roland T. and Sarah V.).
Summer was good, mostly. Some people in my life started making poor choices which was stressful. Stayed in Tucson and worked a lot. Got a third/second job (because Mad Science wasn't particularly lucrative).

Junior year
First semester: moved in to a giant house (we're talking 8 bed/7 bath/ 2 laundry room/ 3 fridge), kept LunaBug, became close to important people (s/o to Patti and Chuckie C., Beth W., Emily E., Hayley A., Maddy S. {now Maddy T.}, Kirk T.), feeling secure, went to Disneyland, first time I had to take someone to the ER (Taryn and her appendix).
Second semester: hardest class of my undergraduate career, perfected faking having done the readings, finished my minor, started freaking out about grad school, went to Disneyland, had my heart and future ripped out and stomped on (glad to have survived that), started feeling my way back into the social world, had a world of help from so many people (Christian M., Maggie P., Beth W., Hayley A., Mercedes A., Sarah F.), became close with Sarah F. (f stands for friend, just kidding). Started working as a nanny, worked 3 jobs for about 3 weeks, finally quit one, quit the other during the summer.
Summer was hard. I was sad. I couldn't sleep. I lost a lot of weight. I cried most of the time. Break ups suck. I met Erik P. and became close with a lot of people (Isaac F., Rhett B., Alec P., Milo W., frisbee people). I went to NYC and was in my brother's lovely wedding.

Senior year
First semester I finally started to actually feel happy most of the time. I went on a lot of dates with a lot of boys and didn't want anything to do with them. Applied to TFA. Went to Disneyland. Really grew close to Erik and Sarah, spent a lot of time at the library. Again a lot of late nights and ugly-laughing. Lots of missionaries came back, it was weird seeing them around the institute again.
Second semester I started dating Erik, I got accepted to TFA, rejected TFA, offered full-time employment as a nanny, declined it. I asked for full-time employment and was denied. I applied to the Disney internship, was accepted, and I took it. My sister got engaged, my mom plans on moving to Minnesota in May. Realized I have no idea what I want out of life. Filled out mission paperwork to open up that possibility. Had a class with Zac B.. Went to Disneyland. Went to San Diego.

I can't believe I am done. I love belonging on campus. I probably will get a graduate degree someday, but I don't know. This could be the end of my formal schooling. I can't believe it.

I know Florida is what is supposed to be next for me. It is terrifying and thrilling and I am so excited and nervous to go. I need to keep reminding myself that only through stretching do we grow. Cheers!

Freshman year, how awkward.

Senior year, a little less so.

Semi-Annual Update

I don't have anything to say but someone asked me why I never post anymore. So here I am!

The past 6 months have been good.

Chanda

Just kidding, ha ha. They have been, though. I've been blessed beyond belief.

Some highlights:

I got to go to Disneyland with my dad, Erik, and a woman named Katrina. It was a family reunion but we only really had lunch with my family and the rest of the time we were on our own. I love Disneyland. And the people I went with made it even more fun. It was a blast. I saw two Disney cats, ate like 6 churros, and laughed until I cried multiple times.

I got straight As last semester. That was actually pretty difficult, but not as difficult as I thought it would be at the beginning of the semester. I took a neuropsych class which was extremely technical. At the beginning of the semester I realized I was in way over my head, but I ended up getting over 100% on every single test. That is really not to my credit. I studied hard, read all of the chapters, and prayed a lot. I came to truly appreciate the knowledge I have that I have a link to God and He knows everything.

Sarah F and I cemented our friendship over the summer/last semester. She is incredible. We get along on so many levels and I am grateful to know her. She and I bought fitness passes on Groupon and tried Jazzercise, Capoeira, Zumba, and continued yoga. It is so much fun. My favorite part of working out with her is that afterwards we always eat and it is never healthy food.

I went out a lot. Too much probably, in retrospect. I have nothing more to say about that.

I became closer to a lot of people and made a lot of new friends. I am lucky for that.

My friend, Zac, got back from his mission in Kentucky!!! I was so excited. I got to see him the day he got back and he hugged me, but then also kept his distance for a long time. My cousin, Monte, also got back from his mission in SLC, he hugged me too but was pretty shaky. Bert got back, but I have yet to see him. We text, though. And Jenkin got back but that was awkward so we don't need to go into details.

I got a new calling. I was a ward missionary (which I loved with all of my heart) but now I am a Relief Society teacher. I look forward to developing my teaching skills. And hopefully becoming friends with more girls.

My mom did a bunch of work on my family history on my dad's side. I now know that a lot of them came from Chicago and I have their names! I'm so excited, that was definitely the highlight of my Christmas.

I made a lot of progress personally. I still have no idea what I am going to do with life post-graduation, but I am able to look forward to it. I know God has a plan for me, I just have to do some digging and figure that plan out.

I'm absolutely certain there are things I've forgotten, but honestly I don't think anyone reads this and if they do they're probably my friend on FB or follower on Twitter. You're up-to-date.

XOXO

Chanda

Busy Summer (ySUbMMER)

This summer has been so busy!!

It is amazing to me how busy I've been considering I'm a) not travelling much and b) single in the summer for the first time since my freshman year of high school.

This summer I dedicated myself to making new friends, doing new things, and developing hobbies to make myself more interesting.

I've kept busy. I've worked about 50 hours/week all summer at two different jobs. I love them. I was reassigned to a new supervisor at my AzCIM job and I have been enjoying the tasks much more. I also have started doing office work for my administrative assistant job at the law firm (the one where I used to just watch children). I love it. My day gets broken up with various errands, I get to network with professionals in Tucson, and I get to take a shiny elevator up a fancy building for work. The doors are all like 10 feet tall... Soooo I mean, pretty fancy.

I also have started volunteering (quite recently). I'm in line to be matched with a little sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters Tucson. I used to be a BIG in high school, but never picked it up again after moving here. I look forward to it, I had to agree to commit for a whole year. I also am now volunteering at the Community Food Bank once a week. It is so awesome! I want to keep up with this one during the school year, but we'll see how I do with my schedule.

I've worked on my athletic prowess this summer also. I am getting much better at ultimate frisbee. I love it. There has been more than one occasion where I've played ultimate at the UA Mall past 3 in the morning. I play every week with a group from church, plus whenever else I can manage to get a group together.
I also went to yoga, and plan on continuing that. I loved it. I thought I would hate it. But I didn't. I'm going to make that a regular thing also.
And the other day I played basketball for the first time in years. It was great!

I went dancing the other night with a few of my friends. It was a blast! I loved it. We saw Darude (he did Sandstorm, the most overplayed dance song in the world). It was awesome. And his shirt said "Lettuce Turnip the Beet," which is hilarious.

I'm loving going out with the sister missionaries and attending almost every church activity. I can't wait for people to move into the ward at the beginning of the school year. I really enjoy meeting new people and making new friends.

I'm really happy. I see blessings in my life constantly.

I was in my roommate's wedding. That was incredible. The wedding was absolutely gorgeous. It rained the day of, so the temperature stayed down. Maddy and Kirk are a wonderful couple. I am so happy for them.

That's been a lot of what has been happening here. :) I can't remember the last time I felt so happy and confident about where I am in my life.

What do you call a hooker that you pay with linguini?

A pastatute (or a spaghetti-hoe). HAHAHA.

Chanda

Change is in the air (and so is pollen)

Things have changed in my life.

The most exciting change is that I own a new car!! My dad drove it down to Tucson for me this weekend. It is a 2007 Honda Civic. It's really cute and it smells like coffee on the inside.

I bought it from the original owner and she gave me a great deal. I'm super thankful that she was willing to sell it to me for as little as she did. I hope it lasts years.

The next biggest change (though not exciting) is that Roland and I aren't dating anymore. It was a mutual agreement between us. He needs to go to school and felt that he couldn't do that while dating me. And it will be good for me to be independent for a bit.

It has been a really really really hard transition. He was part of my every day for a year and a half, and now we aren't talking. (We're not mad at each other or anything, but trying to redraw a line from relationship to friendship is really hard, so we're taking a little cleanse from each other.) I miss him and his jokes and the time we would spend together. But I know that in a few months I will be absolutely fantastic. I'm looking forward to that time.

It has been interesting for me to see how I can interact in groups. When I was in groups with Roland I felt like a bridge between him (he can be a little introverted sometimes) and other people. I didn't mind that role at all, but without having to do that I am much more social than I remembered being.

My friends have been incredible. They have kept me busy and distracted and let me cry (a lot) to them. I'm thankful to have the friends that I do.

I think I am sick. I woke up this morning with a sore throat and it isn't getting better. That's a big bummer.

General conference was this weekend! I wasn't able to focus on it like I would have enjoyed to, but what I have heard has been wonderful. I am looking forward to reading the talks and studying them daily.

That is it in my life. My brain is fuzzy. I'm going to take a nap.

Chanda C.