Fare thee Well!!

Showered with love. Sunday was my final talk in my home ward before I enter the mission field. It was overwhelming. There were so many people all in one place! People who have loved and encouraged and supported and lifted and pushed me to be where and who I am today. It was a wonderful day and I feel so blessed. (Notice dad in the back ground with his first ever published photo-bomb. Congrats!)

My talk was on gratitude. I have been spoiled rotten and have much to be thankful for. At the close of this week, with Easter in my thoughts, I am grateful for my wonderful crazy life. I am grateful for the friends and family that surround me on every side. This week I have been uplifted, taught, and prepared for the coming part of this journey. Tomorrow afternoon I will be set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Woohoo! Sadly, this will be my last post for 18 months. My sister, Bailey, has promised to take over and keep this blog updated with my news from the field.

Butttt..... Enough of that!

Today I was able to spend the day with family, laughing, playing, and hunting for Easter eggs. Yes, you read that correctly. I will be 20 years-old in June. I repeat. I went on an Easter egg hunt. It was a fun time. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and munched on shrimp. Take a look at that homemade cup holder! My sister is a genius! Boom-SHAKA-laka....

Like I said, spoiled girl. My Poppy knows how much I love my shrimp. Hot dogs and shrimp have never tasted so good!! These are definitely a few of my favorite things! Gonna miss these guys for sure... Small tear.

All is well! See you in 546 days from April 3! Check the address to the right for my address and drop a few lines in the mail! Love you all!

P.S. This happened. One of my new favorite things... Grandpa's rainbow suspenders. Que Thriftshop ala Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis.... We OUT!

Obsession Confession!!

So... My name is Jordyn... And I am a scarf addict. The word on the street is that I'm not the only girl with this problem. Several times in my conversations with return missionaries I hear that Sister missionaries gather as many scarves as Elders gather ties... What can we say?! It's great to have a grab and go accessory that is fun and timeless! Life is easy when fashion is just a scarf away, but that is beside the point in this post. I realized that I have several fun and different scarves, but I wear them the same way. I really have been looking for a way to branch out... Then, as fate would have it, I ran across this video on Youtube! Where would I be without the internet?! How many fun ways can you currently tie your scarves? Hold on to your seats, folks... This just might blow your mind!!

Needless to say I will be practicing my scarf tying in preparation for my wonderful adventure. 14 days!!!! Time to start piecing the wardrobe together. Portugal, here I come!!! ...with my scarves!

Music to My Ears

Hey all! 17 days! Can I get a woot-WOOT!?

Now can I get your feedback?! Here I am trying to put together music that inspires and uplifts me, and helps me to remember my Savior and His work. While I have so much material to choose from, my focus has now shifted. I need mission/missionary playlists and song ideas! At the beginning of this journey, I naively just planned on not listening to any music for 18 months... Now I know that is just not possible!! I love music, the Lord loves music, and music is most DEFINITELY allowed at the MTC and throughout my mission. I am not musically inclined.... The only instrument I can play is the radio, and some days THAT is even questionable! I really, truly, fully rely on others for music, so hopefully my iPod meets the specifications for a music playing device, otherwise I will be figuring something else out! haha But that is not the major concern at the moment! What is everyone planning for music? Yes or no? Favorite songs/artists/playlists? What devices? Who else is ready to get out there?! Please feel free to comment below!

Lots of love!!

Twenty & Eight

Those aren't years, those are days... 28 Days.... I have 28 days until I enter the Provo MTC and start this adventure for good! I am excited and scared. Ready and not ready! A few weeks ago I was bored and sitting in the computer room next to mom's old Primary bag. Temptation took it's hold and the five-year-old came out in me. I started snooping around the markers, stickers, glue sticks, and scissors. It wasn't long until I struck true gold! Blue and yellow construction paper cut up into long strips. An idea started forming in my noggin.... I needed to make something! STAT! The stapler found it's way into my hand and this is the end product:

It looks like a mess, but each ring represents a day closer to the MTC. Each night I tear off a ring, take a deep breath, smile, and say my prayers. Each night on my knees is starting to follow closely to one of my favorite Primary Songs. It goes a little something like this... Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday. It is my hope. I cannot make this journey on my own. It will be one day at a time, one moment at a time, one prayer at a time, and one footstep in front of the other. Life is good, the Gospel is better!

Life doesn't get much greater than this!

Last Saturday, February 23, 2013, was occupied by the storm of the century. Snow was falling in every direction and being pushed by the wind into every nook and cranny, as well as across roads and through mailboxes. It was also the day I was scheduled to be at the Logan Temple.

Forces combined and it took all five members of my family to get all five of us there. It was an amazing experience for my family. My sisters were able to do baptisms for the dead as the rest of us went through my endowment session. Special doesn't even begin to describe what happened in that temple. For five hours we experienced peace, joy, and many blessings while serving in the gospel, doing work for the living as well as the dead. As we all prepared to leave the temple and come back home, no one was hurried or rushed. Reluctant footsteps, and slow halting gaits were experienced by all.

My heart shed a few tears. We did it! We had all made it! This journey that was long in the making had led us to our first pit stop, the temple. My heart has never felt so full. It was ready to burst. The power and protection I left with has helped carry me through my week. I am so grateful for this gospel and my family that has the opportunity to be forever. We may not have it all together, but together we have it all!

Tired and Grateful

Sometimes, I am just flat out tired. With lists as long as my leg, I feel like I am running up the down escalator. There are so many distractions. So many things to consider and plan for and do and worry about. There are supplies to buy, a language to learn, a family to spend time with, a job to be worked, bags to be packed... This is when I need to take a big, slow, deep breath in and remind myself to focus. I am about to leave on the adventure of a lifetime. The Lord has chosen me to become His servant for 18 months. He has challenged me to do His work and to be His hands. Such an amazing and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I am learning that with great work and responsibility, comes great opposition. It is amazing to me how aware the Adversary has become of me and my preparations. This attention does not sway me in my decision, intentions, or purpose. Instead, I feel honored. Someone once told me that Satan only attacks those who threaten his kingdom. While I am far from perfect, I am preparing to do just that.

"Adversity often produces the unexpected result. Look for it. Appreciate and utilize it. This is difficult to do if you're feeling sorry for yourself because you're faced with adversity."  John Wooden

I have been called to the Portugal Lisbon Mission to serve for 18 months. Even with my shortcomings and plethora of weaknesses, the Lord has expressed His confidence in my capabilities.

"It is not my abilities, but my capabilities." Unknown

While I am tempted and often overwhelmed, I am also a loved daughter of my Heavenly Father. Times get tough so that we may exercise our spiritual muscles. All I have been asked to do is my best in the utmost obedience and I will be just fine.  

I cannot express enough how grateful I am to have this gospel in my life. I am so excited to share it with everyone I can in the next few months, and even the coming years. It will be the hardest, funnest, most challenging experience of my life to date, but boy am I excited! The Church is true, the Book is blue!

Sharing Sunshine

Welcome to my first blog! This is a new and fabulous experience for me. I have always wanted to have a blog or other forum where I could just sit down and write for myself. Honestly, Facebook got tiring and I have some exciting things I want to communicate to the world! It may not be noteworthy to many, but nonetheless it is my adventure of life.

As I prepare to serve a mission, I have contemplated many things. I have no fear. This is what I want to do. Call it my dream job! Living in sunny, beautiful Portugal for 18 months with a purpose of sharing and inviting others to the gospel of Jesus Christ (also known as the thing that brings me the most happiness) sounds like an offer I just can't refuse. I literally feel like I have sunshine in my soul and I could burst at any moment! My earthly happiness is sunshine. Amazing, amazing sunshine. I smile just thinking about it! Since I received my mission call, even in the deepest cold of this Idaho winter, I can almost feel the Lisbon sun touching my face. I need to share it. In smiles. In respect. In patience. I am trying to be a sun to those around me. I have yet to perfect the art, but boy is it fun to practice! As I share a bit of my sunshine through a kind word, a contagious smile, or some small act I really hope others can see it is me trying to reflect The Son in my countenance. THE New Year's resolution is to be more Christ-like, one step and day at time. Here is to making better habits through frequent perfect moments!