This was the ongoing theme tonight while I was working...That I will marry Brian Jensen. Who is Brian Jensen? I have not the foggiest idea.
Madison: Corey, guess what? I am turning my mission papers in the day after I get back from EFY, so only like two more weeks!
Corey (LDS Manager at INO): No, you're not.
Madison: What do you mean I'm not?
Corey: I just know you aren't going, I have this feeling that you are supposed to get married instead.
Madison: Uugggghhhhh! Why does everyone say that?! I am going on a mission!
Corey: Are you sure?
Madison: ... ... unless Heavenly Father says I have to get married instead *stubborn frowny face*
Corey: That's right...I think his name is Brian..... Brian Jensen.
Madison Jensen...HAH! I don't know anyone named Brian Jensen! Corey said he will be on the lookout for him for me. So for the remainder of the night everyone decided that if they all focus on me marrying Brian then it would come true and I wouldn't have to leave for 18 months, which actually was nice because I didn't realize they would miss me. At the end of the night I was complaining, in a joking way of course, about how bad my feet hurt from my new pair of safety shoes that I have yet to break in, and someone mentioned that its a good thing I have Brian waiting for me to come home to rub my feet. Then another co worker said, "at least we know Brian is good for something other than keeping Madi here". I probably shouldn't have, but I couldn't let the opportunity pass, to say, "Oh that's not all that Brian is good for ;)" Corey made a disgusted noise, and another coworker told me that this is a family restaurant! Ha Ha, and then I got to go home two hours early! All thanks to my wonderful husband Brian.
Brian Jensen, if you are out there, particularly at EFY, please don't fall in love with me until after my mission. I really really really want to go on a mission! I know this might be a difficult task, what with how charming I am ;) but please, just be patient, I will be worth the wait.
Love,
Mrs. Jensen
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
2 years
I regret to say that I barely took notice that today marks the two year anniversary of a marvelous day: My Baptism. I hoped that today would have been a day to go to the temple and give myself time for serious reflection and evaluation, but of course my life never takes a break and I have been on the run all day long. So, even though the day is almost through and it will probably be tomorrow once I am done writing, I would like to take this time to reflect.
I decided a good starting point would be to read the reflection from my one year anniversary, found here, and see what kind of changes I have made and what things I may have accomplished, and am surprised to say that I have gone through a whole bushel of changes in just one year. A goal I mentioned in that particular blog was to "blend in", and I am sad to say that I may have accomplished this, but that it wasn't what I was hoping. By blending in I wanted to be just like any other member of the church who has been a member their entire life, but after trying so hard to blend in I feel like I have lost a little bit of my fervor and excitement about everything associated with being a member. A year ago I would have been ridiculously excited to hear, see, or do anything that was associated with the church, and I find myself dragging my feet to relief society and missing out on great opportunities for growth. I think it is time to set a new goal: To be 100% myself, to gain as much knowledge as possible through experience and study, to act like a new convert fresh from the font every single day and remain excited about my knowledge of the restored gospel, but do not rely on my conversion as a crutch. I think it may be fun to not even tell new people I meet that I am a convert, just so that if a time comes when it is appropriate to discuss then I can see if they are surprised! So, that will be my new game, and I am excited.
Some things I cannot believe happened in only one year include 1. my mother's decision to take the first missionary lesson, and her newfound support in my religious beliefs. This took me completely by surprise, and if you would have asked me a year ago if this was even possible I would have said no. I cannot express how grateful I am for the growing support from my family members. I hope that I can be an example to them and that I can be a better daughter, sister, cousin, niece, and grand daughter to all of them and just love them until they can't stand it. 2. my decision to serve a mission. This decision came about probably within the last 4 months, and pretty much changed everything for me. I changed my plans for my education and decided to take a leave of absence, I stopped right in the middle of my management training at In-N-Out, I even moved back in with my dad in Avondale. I still cannot believe at times that I am really going, hopefully that isn't a sign that it won't work out, since my papers can't go in for another two weeks. I am SO unbelievably excited to serve a mission, and I already see that it has blessed me and my family so much. 3. I began teaching the new member lessons to recent converts. This one still baffles me, I don't understand how I can be teaching them when I feel like I still have so much to learn! I have loved it so much, and I feel like I just connect and create great friendships with those I teach. I really hope that I can be a beacon to any new convert who has questions or is struggling, since I have walked in their shoes.
I would like to end this memoir by saying that I know, without any doubt whatsoever, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ upon the Earth today. To those readers who may not be members it may be difficult to understand how exactly I could KNOW such a thing, but believe me, I know. I can feel it. When I read the Book of Mormon, when I attend church, when I bear my testimony to others, when I attend the temple, I can feel a noticeable change within me, as if my heart is so full that it cannot be contained in my body. It is a feeling I hope I never, ever, ever have to live without, and I know I won't have to, so long as I follow the example of Jesus Christ. Although, I am not perfect in any way, I can be made perfect through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I feel like this year I just began to understand what that means, and I still have a lot more to learn. What I do know is that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me, as an individual, and they know me. I know that Jesus suffered and died for me personally, and even if he had to suffer the Atonement so that only I could return to live with Him and Heavenly Father, that He would still have done it. I am unmeasurably grateful for that sacrifice.
I love this gospel. I love this church. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I love my life.
And I love you all,
Madison
I decided a good starting point would be to read the reflection from my one year anniversary, found here, and see what kind of changes I have made and what things I may have accomplished, and am surprised to say that I have gone through a whole bushel of changes in just one year. A goal I mentioned in that particular blog was to "blend in", and I am sad to say that I may have accomplished this, but that it wasn't what I was hoping. By blending in I wanted to be just like any other member of the church who has been a member their entire life, but after trying so hard to blend in I feel like I have lost a little bit of my fervor and excitement about everything associated with being a member. A year ago I would have been ridiculously excited to hear, see, or do anything that was associated with the church, and I find myself dragging my feet to relief society and missing out on great opportunities for growth. I think it is time to set a new goal: To be 100% myself, to gain as much knowledge as possible through experience and study, to act like a new convert fresh from the font every single day and remain excited about my knowledge of the restored gospel, but do not rely on my conversion as a crutch. I think it may be fun to not even tell new people I meet that I am a convert, just so that if a time comes when it is appropriate to discuss then I can see if they are surprised! So, that will be my new game, and I am excited.
Some things I cannot believe happened in only one year include 1. my mother's decision to take the first missionary lesson, and her newfound support in my religious beliefs. This took me completely by surprise, and if you would have asked me a year ago if this was even possible I would have said no. I cannot express how grateful I am for the growing support from my family members. I hope that I can be an example to them and that I can be a better daughter, sister, cousin, niece, and grand daughter to all of them and just love them until they can't stand it. 2. my decision to serve a mission. This decision came about probably within the last 4 months, and pretty much changed everything for me. I changed my plans for my education and decided to take a leave of absence, I stopped right in the middle of my management training at In-N-Out, I even moved back in with my dad in Avondale. I still cannot believe at times that I am really going, hopefully that isn't a sign that it won't work out, since my papers can't go in for another two weeks. I am SO unbelievably excited to serve a mission, and I already see that it has blessed me and my family so much. 3. I began teaching the new member lessons to recent converts. This one still baffles me, I don't understand how I can be teaching them when I feel like I still have so much to learn! I have loved it so much, and I feel like I just connect and create great friendships with those I teach. I really hope that I can be a beacon to any new convert who has questions or is struggling, since I have walked in their shoes.
I would like to end this memoir by saying that I know, without any doubt whatsoever, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ upon the Earth today. To those readers who may not be members it may be difficult to understand how exactly I could KNOW such a thing, but believe me, I know. I can feel it. When I read the Book of Mormon, when I attend church, when I bear my testimony to others, when I attend the temple, I can feel a noticeable change within me, as if my heart is so full that it cannot be contained in my body. It is a feeling I hope I never, ever, ever have to live without, and I know I won't have to, so long as I follow the example of Jesus Christ. Although, I am not perfect in any way, I can be made perfect through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I feel like this year I just began to understand what that means, and I still have a lot more to learn. What I do know is that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me, as an individual, and they know me. I know that Jesus suffered and died for me personally, and even if he had to suffer the Atonement so that only I could return to live with Him and Heavenly Father, that He would still have done it. I am unmeasurably grateful for that sacrifice.
I love this gospel. I love this church. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I love my life.
And I love you all,
Madison
Friday, June 5, 2009
Gone Fishin'
This last week I went tubing down the Salt River with a bunch of kiddos from my work, and got super fried in the process, but the focus of this blog revolves around the triumph of Andrew. Andrew brought along a cheapy fishing pole and sat in his tube during the trip and attempted to go fishing in the river. The whole time I "naysayed" him and said it could not be done. I was wrong. Andrew caught TWO rather large trout in the river, and now, I am on a mission to catch three. Today I bought this beauty at WalMart...
This state of the art, Dora the Explora, fishing pole is going to help me achieve greatness on the great Salt River on Thursday, the 11th of June. It shall be Glorious.
Love,
The new Ruler of the River
This state of the art, Dora the Explora, fishing pole is going to help me achieve greatness on the great Salt River on Thursday, the 11th of June. It shall be Glorious.
Love,
The new Ruler of the River
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Bluer Skies
I have much to be joyful about. The move to Avondale has surely shaken up things in my life, but I feel like things are finally coming together and I am finally seeing why I was supposed to move to Avondale. I would like to take this opportunity to bask in my joy, that has long anticipated.
1. I hung out with my Grandmother last week and told her about temple work and got her permission to baptize my Grandpa in the temple (which I will be doing today). While explaining this to her she asked if I could teach her more about what I believe and about what I feel about religion, and said she has seen how important it is to me and wants to understand it better. Of course I was thrilled and I was moved to tears when my Grandma agreed to meet with the missionaries :) I also feel so excited to do the temple work for my Grandpa. This will be the first time I will be doing temple work for someone I have actually met and been close to, so the feeling is a little different than when I have done ordinances for other ancestors. I just start to cry when I think about witnessing my Grandpa's baptism and know that this is what I should be doing.
2. EFY is in a little over a week. Although I am pretty nervous, I am even more excited! I know this will be an amazing experience for me and I am so excited to work with the youth and be able to teach them more about what is really important in life. I will be leaving for Flagstaff next saturday and am beyond stoked!
3. The day after I return from EFY, Sunday June 28th, I have my missionary interview with the Bishop! I have already talked to him and he said we will have my interview on sunday, then turn in my papers the wednesday of that week, then I will just have to wait to meet with the stake president and it will be off to Salt Lake with my Mission Papers! I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by and how soon I will be turning my papers in and eventually receiving my call. I cannot express in words my anticipation at receiving my call.
4. I have recently been assigned a new teaching assignment for my calling as ward missionary. I am now teaching the most super legit and amazing new convert, Sarah. I have had two lessons with her, but they are really more like discussions. I feel like I am learning a lot with her because I am still a new convert too, kind of, so as we discuss the principles of the gospel as they are presented in Preach My Gospel we also discuss what those principles mean to us personally and what it was like for us to learn about them the first time before we joined the church. I love her to bits and pieces and I feel like we have such a great connection and we agreed on a lot of things. Unfortunately, I will have to transfer my records to the West Wind Singles Branch out in Avondale once I get my mission call, so we are going to have to try and finish her lessons before the middle of July. I know I will remain close with her after I move to the other ward, but I still would like to finish the lessons with her so she doesn't have to get a new ward missionary.
5. Today was my Dad's Birthday celebration, which went really well, everyone behaved and there weren't really any arguments or problems, which was great. I was talking to my Dad about how he needs to get out of the house more and we decided that we would start doing things on Monday nights (It can be like FHE without the spiritual part!). So, next Monday we are planning on walking around our neighborhood, which is almost 3 miles. I am really wondering what I will talk with my Dad about for the length of the walk, which will probably take 45 minutes if we walk at a leisurely pace. I really really hope I will be able to really get close with my Dad, to where we can talk about almost anything, and eventually about the church and why it has changed my life so much.
6. Addison friend who she babysits for, Chalon, wants to take Addie and I to see Wicked at the Gammage on July 11th, and I am pretty much freaking out about it! I have always wanted to see it, but now is now the time for me to be spending money I don't need to spend. I am sososo excited and looking forward to seeing Wicked!
Things are obviously looking up :)
Love, Madi
1. I hung out with my Grandmother last week and told her about temple work and got her permission to baptize my Grandpa in the temple (which I will be doing today). While explaining this to her she asked if I could teach her more about what I believe and about what I feel about religion, and said she has seen how important it is to me and wants to understand it better. Of course I was thrilled and I was moved to tears when my Grandma agreed to meet with the missionaries :) I also feel so excited to do the temple work for my Grandpa. This will be the first time I will be doing temple work for someone I have actually met and been close to, so the feeling is a little different than when I have done ordinances for other ancestors. I just start to cry when I think about witnessing my Grandpa's baptism and know that this is what I should be doing.
2. EFY is in a little over a week. Although I am pretty nervous, I am even more excited! I know this will be an amazing experience for me and I am so excited to work with the youth and be able to teach them more about what is really important in life. I will be leaving for Flagstaff next saturday and am beyond stoked!
3. The day after I return from EFY, Sunday June 28th, I have my missionary interview with the Bishop! I have already talked to him and he said we will have my interview on sunday, then turn in my papers the wednesday of that week, then I will just have to wait to meet with the stake president and it will be off to Salt Lake with my Mission Papers! I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by and how soon I will be turning my papers in and eventually receiving my call. I cannot express in words my anticipation at receiving my call.
4. I have recently been assigned a new teaching assignment for my calling as ward missionary. I am now teaching the most super legit and amazing new convert, Sarah. I have had two lessons with her, but they are really more like discussions. I feel like I am learning a lot with her because I am still a new convert too, kind of, so as we discuss the principles of the gospel as they are presented in Preach My Gospel we also discuss what those principles mean to us personally and what it was like for us to learn about them the first time before we joined the church. I love her to bits and pieces and I feel like we have such a great connection and we agreed on a lot of things. Unfortunately, I will have to transfer my records to the West Wind Singles Branch out in Avondale once I get my mission call, so we are going to have to try and finish her lessons before the middle of July. I know I will remain close with her after I move to the other ward, but I still would like to finish the lessons with her so she doesn't have to get a new ward missionary.
5. Today was my Dad's Birthday celebration, which went really well, everyone behaved and there weren't really any arguments or problems, which was great. I was talking to my Dad about how he needs to get out of the house more and we decided that we would start doing things on Monday nights (It can be like FHE without the spiritual part!). So, next Monday we are planning on walking around our neighborhood, which is almost 3 miles. I am really wondering what I will talk with my Dad about for the length of the walk, which will probably take 45 minutes if we walk at a leisurely pace. I really really hope I will be able to really get close with my Dad, to where we can talk about almost anything, and eventually about the church and why it has changed my life so much.
6. Addison friend who she babysits for, Chalon, wants to take Addie and I to see Wicked at the Gammage on July 11th, and I am pretty much freaking out about it! I have always wanted to see it, but now is now the time for me to be spending money I don't need to spend. I am sososo excited and looking forward to seeing Wicked!
Things are obviously looking up :)
Love, Madi
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