The List Book

Lesson learned in Utah

2011-10-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

This last weekend was spent in Utah for my mission reunion/General Conference and I learned many many things. Many of these lessons were taught to me during General Conference because I made a list of questions that I would like answers to, provided by the Holy Ghost during the conference. I got answers, and it was awesome. This are not listed in order of importance, just in order of remembrance.

1. I am not moving to Spain next year :( I know right? tragedy! I was planning on applying for a teaching position next school year in SPAIN, and I have been praying to know if that is where the Lord wants me to be....and it's not. Shoot darn! haha It's okay I know He has something better in mind for me.

2. Stop complaining.

3. BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY hahahahaha If you watched conference you understand this counsel given by Elder Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve.

4. The little things are the big things.

5. Do family history.

Ok these things were NOT learned in conference, but in Utah nonetheless

6. Provo is weird and I never want to live there. Haha Friday night me and a bunch of Returned Missionaries from my mission went to a "parking lot techno party" and it was super bizarre, not that I have anything against parking lot parties, I rather enjoy them, this one was just strange.

7. I love Temple Square.

8. I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

9. Things aren't always how they seem.

10. Everyone should be friends.

11. "Ladies Night" in Utah means a giant sale at Deseret Book.

12. Driving past the MTC makes me want to be a missionary again. Really bad.

13. Utah is great for a weekend vacation, but I don't think I could live there

14. Babies are really really cute.

15. The iPod shuffle is basically a fortune teller. No really. It's ridiculous.

16. I can't wait for the weather to cool down in AZ, I think I might cry tears of joy when it gets below 90.

Well, that's all I can think of right now, but I am sure I learned MUCH more. It was a very successful trip, but now I am swamped in homework and other dumb things that require my time. boo.

I LOVED this talk from conference!

Expecting Adam

2011-09-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

I just finished the book Expecting Adam by Martha Beck, which was loaned to me by the amazing Annie H., and I loooooooved it. Therefore I would like to document some of my favorite quotes and sentiments.

"What they did not realize is that they themselves were the ones who would be 'born', infants in a new world where magic is commonplace, Harvard professors are the slow learners, and retarded babies are the master teachers."
This is basically what the book is about: how her son with down syndrome taught her things that she never could have learned in her PhD program at Harvard. Love it.

"You'll never be hurt as much by being open as you have been hurt by remaining closed."
Truth. I don't feel like I struggle in being open with anyone and everyone, except when it comes to the thoughts, feelings, or ideas that portray my absolute weakness. Call me prideful, I will agree with you. I struggle with being portrayed as weak, I think because of things that happened during my childhood that required me to be the strong one in my family when everyone else fell apart. So, I don't like crying and rarely do it, I don't like asking for help, and it is not a good thing, which I why I LOVED this quote. I hope that as I accept this weakness, of trying not to be weak, that I can let myself just fall to pieces every once and awhile and that I can let someone help me pick up those pieces.

"The real magic doesn't come from achieving the perfect appearance, from being Cinderella at the ball with both glass slippers and a killer hairstyle. The real magic is in the pumpkin, in the mice, in the moonlight; not beyond ordinary life, but within it."

"This is the part of us that makes our brief, improbable little lives worth living: the ability to reach through our own isolation and find strength, and comfort, and warmth for and in each other. This is what human beings do. This is what we live for, the way horses live to run."

"Whoever said that love is blind was dead wrong. Love is the only thing on this earth that lets us see each other with the remotest accuracy."
In another part of the book she talks about how she did a mini experiment and tried for one day to look at her classmates without any preconceptions and without trying to label them. She said that this only lasted for a few moments because she couldn't stopped her eyes from filling with tears as she looked at each classmate. She goes on to say that, "if we saw people as they really are, the beauty would overwhelm us."

What a great book! This is why I love reading, because it gives me the opportunity to be introspective, no matter what kind of book it is, I get to put myself unfamiliar situations and analyze my own internal reactions and beliefs. This one gave me the chance to really think about what I would do if I had a child with a disability. How would I react? How would my plans change? What things might I be taught? I don't know what kind of children Heavenly Father will send me in the future, but I can say that this book made me excited to meet them, regardless of what challenges they will face, I know that they will be my greatest teachers.

Thanks Annie for the good read. What shall I read next? :) Anything to keep me distracted from my textbooks!

Observations

2011-09-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

Throughout the week as I go about my classes, work, etc. I have had the opportunity to make many many many observations about the world around me, the people I associate with, and about myself in general. It is so fun! Here are a few of those observations, mixed in with some random funny things that have happened this week.

1. The world teaches us that we should focus on the negative, the Gospel teaches us to focus on the positive.
In my favorite class, the same one where we made the joy lists, our teacher asked us as a class to name one good attribute about ourselves and how that trait helps us to find joy. My class is usually pretty talkative but no one said anything. I looked at my classmates and it seemed as if they were searching within themselves yet struggling to come up with anything good they had to offer. My teacher finally said that we all have good traits and that she wanted to hear them already. Still, no one said anything. Eventually I raised my hand and said, "I don't get angry very often or easily. I am not offended easily and I focus on the bigger picture instead of the small trials I have everyday. That helps me to have a positive outlook and remain happy." I figured after I spoke that my classmates might have gained the courage to speak up but still, no one said anything! So, my teacher ended up calling each of them one by one, and it was almost like pulling teeth. This made me so sad! I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have, because of the gospel, that I am a Daughter of God and that means that I have been blessed with certain character traits that will help me return to Him after this life. I really wish that every one of my classmates knew and understood that.

2. "This conjugation is the past, this is more in the past, and this is like the pastest that you can go." SPA 412 Profesora

3. Don't text in class. Your teacher will write down your name on her roster and take away your participation points for the day. :( Dumb.

4. The high five is more complex than you think. I sit next to this girl, who I like to call Cousin, in my BLE220 class and I just so happened to have trained her at In-N-Out when I was All-Starring at the Signal Butte Store like 3 years ago. Anyways, we analyzed the high, middle and low fives and this is what we came up with.
High Five: power, triumph, encouragement, just pure awesomeness shared between two people with hands.
Low Five: secret accomplishment between the two, celebration of a triumph in front of a bunch of losers that you don't want them to see.
Middle Five: Borderline patty-cake. Don't do it. Ever.

5. "Un beso para ti" My profesor for SPA473 asked what the Mexican equivalent to indian fry bread is and I said buñuelos and he then shouted this quote, which means, "a kiss for you!" and blew me a kiss. He is like 80. The whole class basically broke out into hysterics after this one.

Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy

2011-08-29T18:07:00.000-07:00

In my advanced conversational spanish class we were asked to make a list of the top ten things that make us happy. I had so much fun thinking about 10 things, I think it might be more fun to make an even longer list! So, if you ever catch me in a less than cheerful mood, which is rare, you will now know what to do to cheer me up.

(Number 1 is number 1, but the rest have no order of importance)

1. The relationship that I have with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

2. The relationships that I have with family, friends, coworkers, classmates, teachers, and even random people I have met once and will never see ever again.

3. Almost anything in spanish.

4. Getting letters in the mail. Not bills, handwritten letters.

5. Perfect weather. When it's just cold enough to wear a hoodie, and I am not freezing. When the light breeze just tickles my face. There's enough clouds that it's a bit overcast, but it's not gloomy.

6. The temple.

7. Music that seems to convey EXACTLY how I feel in that precise moment.

8. Phone calls that I wasn't expecting from someone I haven't talked to in a long time.

9. Dr. Pepper after a really stressful day at school.

10. Laughing. This should be number 2, I LOVE laughing. Hysterically, if at all possible.

11. Talking to people that I taught as a missionary and hearing how awesome they are doing.

12. Getting my homework done early and not having to stress about it.

13. Dancing, usually bachata, merengue or salsa, because I actually semi know what I am doing.

14. Being with my little sister. She is crazy just like me and when we are together it is always epic.

15. Disney movies.

16. Having the opportunity to help someone that needs it.

17. Driving with the windows down and singing to the radio at the top of my lungs.

18. ROAD TRIPS.

19. Reading. Especially those books that you pick up and don't put down until you finish it at 5 in the morning.

20. Funny videos on youtube. My sister and I ALWAYS share youtube videos with each other, it's basically how we bond.

21. The things that little kids say. Such as: "Are you married? You look married." hahahaha

22. Making new friends. So, if I tell you, "let's be best friends" 5 minutes after meeting you, it is normal, and I really do want to be your best friend.

23. Running, and the feeling that I am cutting through the air.

24. Anything random, spontaneous and unexpected.

25. Living in a valley surrounded by mountains.

26. Eating homemade meals, usually made by my mother, sister hofeling or sister hansen.

27. Surprises. Only the good kind though, not like, "surprise! you got a speeding ticket!" Yeah...thanks mom.

28. New shoes. Slight addiction. Maybe.

29. Watching MormonMessages on www.lds.org or the profile videos on www.mormon.org

30. HUGS. Wow how did I not think of this before 30? This is like instant joy, but only if it's a good hug, not a lame one.

Mmmmm now I want to go accomplish all of those things RIGHT NOW.

The Dur-Ham Sandwich

2011-08-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

What is a dur-ham sandwich you ask? That is what I have entitled this semester, the Dur-Ham Sandwich. My first and last classes are located in the Durham Language building, and I have 3 classes nonstop in between, no breaks, it is epic. What is on this sandwich of epic proportions? Allow me....

1. The Bottom Bread: A croissant, nice and light, easygoing, absolutely delicious. My spanish literature class is going to be a piece of cake...I mean bread. There are like 3 other RM's in that class, strength in numbers. The teacher is way laid back and I really enjoy her spanish, it is clear and easy to understand, and just nice to listen to.

2. Ham (It had to be ham, it's a dur-ham sandwich): The meat of my day, Institute. I am taking a class on the Doctrine and Covenants and am soooooo excited. I love my teacher and know that I will learn so much under his preparation. This class is what is going to help me to survive this semester and help me to keep myself focused on what is really important: the relationship that I have with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

3. Habanero Peppers: The hardcore, wake you up in the morning, energetic class, Adv. Conversational Spanish. My teacher is a firecracker, and I love it. She is from Argentina and I love her accent, and I love that she talks to us in Vos. My favorite quotes by her today were (translated for the spanish impaired), "This class is SUPER boring, I hate teaching it," "I am lazy, so I am gonna try and change the syllabus so your writing assignments are shorter." "Hell for me would be sitting in a room stacked high to the ceiling with papers that need to be grade and the stacks don't get smaller." This class is going to be awesome.

4. Lettuce: BORING, does it even have a flavor? Or is it merely added for texture? This is my class about bilingual learning in schools, and it is taught in english, so it is like the odd class out in my schedule of all spanish classes. I feel utterly lost and speechless in this class. When the teacher says, "Are there any questions?" I think, "Cuando se entrega la tarea que apenas asigno ella? Como hago esa pregunta en ingles? Oh, ya estan hablando de otro tema :/" (translation: when is the homework due that she just assigned? How do I ask that in english? Oh, now they're talking about something else :/) I know, I should be able to handle a class in my native tongue, but when 4 of my 5 classes are in spanish, and I try to basically immerse my entire life in spanish, I struggle just a teeeeeny bit with english. Ugh.

5. The Top bread: Stale, boring, white bread that has been stepped on. That's basically how I feel in that class, Spanish Civilizations. My profesor is an older man and when he speaks it's is in a deep, mumbled voice, that I can't understand 40% of the time. I try focus alllll of my energy on understand what in the world he is saying and on laughing when he makes an attempt at a joke. Hopefully my ears/brain will get used to the way he talks and it will all click, but if not, I will be as useful in that class as a piece of stale, boring, white bread that has a shoe print on it.

Doesn't that just sound like a really nasty, unappetizing sandwich? Thank you Kid History for restoring to me a large portion of joy after having to eat the nasty Dur-ham sandwich today.

Obsession? or Investment?

2011-08-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

I am going to choose investment. This week I might have went a littttttle bit overboard when I went to the local DI (Desert Industries, secondhand store run by the church) and bought all of these books. BUT I consider it an investment in my acquisition of knowledge and providing a solid library of uplifting books for my posterity :)

1. How to be Totally Miserable by John Bytheway
2. Himnos de Sion (1942 edition of the spanish LDS hymnal)
3. 1980 edition of the spanish triple combination
4. Nuestro Legado (Our Heritage in spanish)
5. Doctrines of Salvation Vol. 1, 1954, by Joseph Fielding Smith
6. Articles of Fatih, 1962, by James E. Talmage
7. A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, 1970, by LeGrand Richards
8. Standing for Something by Gordon B. Hinckley
9. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
10. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
11. Awake, Arise, and Come unto Christ- Talks from the 2008 BYU Women's Conference
12. God Wants a Powerful People by Sheri Dew
13. Way to Be by Gordon B. Hinckley
14. Prayer, 1977, collection of talks by various apostles of the church
15. The Four Arguments by Don Miguel Ruiz

Now if I had bought all of these books full price it would have cost...quite a large chunk of change, I don't want to do the math. BUT since they each book was either $1 or $2, I bought 15 books for the price of one. Can you say high five?

Appropriate/Inappropriate Goals

2011-08-09T00:23:00.000-07:00

As a missionary I had a companion who I loved dearly. During our thursday weekly planning sessions we were instructed to discuss our "appropriate goals" but because she is hilarious she also suggested that we discuss our inappropriate goals. Don't worry they were PG, like the one I had to push one of the Elders really hard so that he would fall...out of appropriate missionary love of course! The following apply to this upcoming semester:

Appropriate Goals

1. Get straight A's in my classes. I have NEVER gotten straight A's in a college semester, BUT there is a first time for everything right?

2. Be able to run three miles without stopping. Good luck on that one.

3. Do my visiting teaching EVERY month.

4. Call my converts from the mission EVERY month.

5. Get a passport

6. GO TO CLASS, don't ditch/sleep through class like I did before my mission

7. Pay off my credit card :) I usually am reaaaaaallly good about keeping it paid off every month, but I had a rough time financially when I returned home from the mish and am still trying to bounce back, but I'll get there.

8. Have meaningful scripture study everyday.

9. Buy some piece of furniture from a thrift store and refinish it.

Inappropriate Goals (They're not actually inappropriate, just not really goals...more like.. stupid things)

1. Have a jam session with my mission president who happens to play the bass. I don't think he will go for this.

2. REALLY scare someone. At work people enjoy popping out of nowhere and scaring me, because it might be ridiculously easy. I just want to be able to scare someone else just once.

3. Go on a date that is exactly like the lantern scene from Tangled.

4. Embarrass my younger sister in a public setting. That should be cake.

5. A handful of spontaneous road trips.

6. Harry Potter marathon. All 8 of them. No breaks.

7. Some sort of epic battle in my home with my family after sunday dinner...food fight, water balloons, nerf guns, who knows. The possibilities are endless

8. Go dancing with a suave hispanic who whispers sweet spanish nothings in my ear as we salsa/bachata/merengue the night away

9. Pull an amazingly intricate prank on teacher Kara. May or may not involved the moving of large pieces of furniture.

It's back. It's new. It's under construction.

2011-08-08T00:14:00.000-07:00

When I came home from my mission, approx. four months ago, there were several people who asked if I would be updating my blog again. I didn't want to at first, but have quickly realized that it is really hard to find time to journal and need to document my life in some way, shape or form.

You might be curious about the title, THE LIST BOOK, I don't really fancy it but allow me to explain my plan and perhaps someone can come up with a better title.

All throughout my mission, from my very first transfer until the day that I went home, I carried a small book with me everywhere that I went. It became known as the list book. Why? Because I filled it with lists. Why lists? Because I had very little personal time as a missionary and the list is quick, simple and can be updated as I continue through life. Along with my lists I had random quotes, pictures, reminders, and basically anything else I wanted was in that book. I love that book. So, instead of carrying a book with me, I am just going to put all of my lists, and any other randomness onto my blog. I hope that it entertains.

In honor of my new list book...I am going to make a list of alllll of the lists that are found, in order, in my little red list book from my mission. Perhaps if someone would like for me to expand on what that list entails then I will accept your request and take it under consideration.

1. Husband Qualifications
2. Husband Brownie Points
3. Things I Want to Learn
4. Habits to Bring Home from my Mission
5. My Gifts/Talents
6. Places that I want to Go
7. People to Visit after my Mission
8. Favorite Things
9. When you Train, Remember...
10. Advice from "Dying Missionaries"
*note: dying missionaries are not physically dying, it is a slang term for missionaries who complete their missionary service and are returning home

11. Bucket List
12. Things I Have Learned on my Mission
13. Songs to Look Up
14. Books to Read
15. Things to Watch on the Celestial Big Screen (Moments I would like to re-live, or didn't experience and would like to see)
16. People to Refer to the Missionaries
17. You Tube Videos to See
18. Food I Need to Learn How to Cook
19. Girls' Names
20. Boys' Names
21. Movies to Watch
22. Things to Do with my Kids (When I have them, later later)
23. Things to Do when I am a "normal member" of the church, and not a missionary
24. Favorite Ensign Articles
25. Things to Do for Myself When I am a Mom
26. Things to Do with Hermana Christiensen after the Mission (I wonder who wrote that one in there....)
27. Dr. Lang Proverbs
28. Missionaries to Send Letters to after I go Home
29. Marquees

And, Last of all, is my list that was tucked away at the very back of the book, hidden from anyone who I let read it...

30. The List that Must Not be Named

Or, the Trunky List. A list of allllll of the things that I wanted to do once I returned home from the mission. I know, it's bad, but I didn't start that one until the end of my mission when people started asking me what I would do and I realized that I had no idea. Surprisingly, I have done almost all of the things on that list in the last four months, high five.

TOMORROW!

2009-10-27T14:13:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow I will be reporting to the MTC in Provo Utah at 1:30pm. My flight, however, leaves at 6:20 am, so I will not be sleeping tonight ;). I will be set apart as a missionary at 7:00 pm tonight. I am so excited to be a missionary!! WOO!! I have the biggest excitement/anxious butterflies in my stomach. If you would like to hear about how I am doing on my mission, my weekly e-mails will be posted by my good friend Sarah on http://www.madisoninthemission.blogspot.com

Adios!
Hermana Taets

10 days

2009-10-18T05:35:00.000-07:00

Good news! I am less ohmyheck-why-can't-I-find-long-skirts stressed and more itchin-to-put-on-that-nametag-and-baptize-the-world excited! The only thing that is really concerning me is the mound of clothes, books, nylons, etc. on my bedroom floor that seems to exceed the maximum capticity of my luggage :/ oh boy. I finally bought a backpack!!! YAY! I love it too! It was only like 10 bucks at Wally World, it is grayblackpurple and had a hole for an "insulated bladder", which I also bought for 20 bucks. SO my super hydration/scripture-carrier device has been purchased, and I love it already. Rebecca, I also took your advice and bought a grip of nylons Walmart as well, and let me just say.... me and nylon are going to hate each other for the next year point five. I don't see the point for their existence and they will be the first thing I burn once my mission is over. Although I still could not find anyyyyy long skirts while shopping practically every dadgum day, I expressed this, among other concerns, to Bro. Calton last week and he had his wife sew me a long skirt! I LOVE it! It is Loooooong and gray and has cute little pockets in the front and I wish I had 4 more in different colors because I know it will be mi falda favorita. I think I said "my favorite skirt". I am almost done shopping for the mission! I just need the basics in order to have good hygiene and then I will pack and woooo done! Weeelll not quite. Still have a million people to bid farewell to, finish some family history temple work,overnight camping trip with Addie, play golf with poppa, line dancing saturday?, speak in church, party with familia y amigos, get set apart. Ha ha. At least all of these things will be fun! I seriously have something going on everyday this week, and not to mention work every day!

Well to sum up everything... I love my life! I am so excited that in only 10 days I will be a full-time missionary and will have the opportunity to serve my Father in Heaven's children and to invite them to learn the things that I know to be true, without a doubt. I can't wait to become a better version of me, to be charitable, kind, meek, reverent, organized, goal oriented, loving, bold. Hopefully I can gain access to at least one of those attributes within 18 months.

WOO HOO! Cinco Alto!
Hermana Taets

18

2009-10-10T04:13:00.000-07:00

Only 18 days until I leave for the MTC! Oh my lanta!!! There are so many thoughts in my head that I can't sleep! Which is why I might as well write them all down while I am awake at 4 am. boo.

1. Are my skirts long enough?! Are they going to send me home because my skirt hemline is an inch above the exact middle of my calf? Am I a bad missionary just because they don't sell long skirts in this desert wasteland?! Let's hope not. At least I have one long skirt, but it's not really a personal favorite. I could never wear it everyday if they MTC people decide that my several-inches-below-the-knee-but-not-quite-mid-calf skirts were just too skimpy for missionary work.

2. Why does my plane ticket departure time not match the departure time located on the airline website? Am I departing at 6:35 or 7:30? Please be 7:30. Heaven knows I am not going to get any sleep the night before. What if I miss my flight? Do I not get to go on my mission? Am I allowed to report but am shunned for tardiness?

3. Do I have enough shots? I keep looking at my immunization record over and over and over. It seems like I have them all...except maybe that booster thing for my HepA. Are they going to make me sit outside until I have been properly vaccinated? Will I look like a terrorist trying to infiltrate the MTC and spread HepA to all of those precious missionaries? Should I be bringing my shot record? Or just the form that came with my call? Do I really just put the dates I received the shots without any magical signatures from an authorized physician? Am I going to look like a loony for not getting any magical signatures?

4. KNEE HIGHS! Why can't I find you? You would think they are a common article of clothing that can be found in most stores. Unless you live in Arizona where all of the universal clothing rules and regulations just melt on the pavement. Blast.

5. Am I supposed to bring my copy of Preach My Gospel? The list says "Do not bring any books not listed above" so technically it should be a no brainer not to bring it, since it is not on the list. But what if it is supposed to be a no brainer to bring your Preach My Gospel on your mission so doy, they don't need to mention it on the super extensive intensive list. "Why is this sister missionary ridiculously unprepared?!" uggghhh.

6. "Backpacks or shoulder bags should be in dark, conservative colors with no apparent logos or insignias." Where on this planet do I find a backpack that doesn't have a logo on it? Blast. Should I just wait to buy one in the MTC? Do I want a normal one or a Camelback? Mmmmm Camelback with its water dispenser conveniently close to my mouth om nom nom. What if water baggie bursts and ruins all of my libro de mormons and scriptural goodness located inside backpack?

7. What can I do for my family before I leave that will help them not be bitter that I can't call them? Should I get one of those tape players dealys so I can send them tapes instead of letters? Can I even fit one of those in my already jam packed suitcase? Would they even use it if I bought them one? Corey says his family enjoyed tapes...for a few months. Too bad my family cares much less about the mission so my success with tape recording rate is significantly lowerrrr.

8. Whyyyyy Cannnnnn't I Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep? Brain, you need to shut off, right now. Ready? GO!

Waiting, not so patiently, for my laundry....

2009-09-07T01:18:00.000-07:00

...so I will waste some time with this thinger-ma-jig I stole off of a friend's blog.

I feel: anticapation for a new week filled with excitement and an event everyday. yeehaw.

I want: to get paid. like yesterday.

I love: the temple, and am counting down the days {3} until I can go again.

I miss: living in Tempe :( a lot.

I crave: adventure. which sounds unlike me to the untrained friend. BUT I didn't say my adventures would have to involve danger, because that would be very unlike me.

I heart: my testimony, and how much it has changed my life.

I know: I should be sleeping right now.

I live: to please Him, even though sometimes I don't have a clue what exactly that entails, but I do my best and according to what I know to be true.

I dig: boys in white ;) nothing is more attractive to me than a man who is self-motivated in attending the temple regularly and who will take me there one day. yum.

I adore: everyone. I feel like I have a ginormous support system right now and it is helping me press forward to serve my mission.

I covet: the "perfect" families I am meeting in the family ward, with the beautiful, loving husband and wife with their adorable little babies. It's sick how much I want that.

I believe: scratch that. I KNOW.

I can't: believe I am going on a mission. really. Was that call really addressed to me? Because it feels like I am just leading my normal life and telling people I am serving a mission that doesnt seem to be real.

I struggle: with becoming the kind of person I envision myself being.

I have: a ridiculously dirty car. Service project anyone?

I am: wishing my laundry was finished so I could go to sleeeeeeeeep.

I remember: everything. Including all of the lyrics to a song after hearing it
once. And everyone despises it.

I cherish: life. love. faith.

I hope: for things that I can't see.

I wonder: where I will find some frumpy missionary clothes.

I smell: fabric softener

I think: the sunday school assignment of writing a letter to your spouse (or future
spouse if your name is Madison and you are the only single person in the
Garden Lakes Ward) is going to be an interesting project.

I dream: the weirdest craziness imagineable, and usually narrate my dreams all
throughout the night to anyone willing to listen

I dislike: the smell of my clothes after I get off work. Hence my nickname "the Burger Tease". Reallll Attractive.

I laugh: when I am with Addison. She is the weirdest kid I know. I have never
laughed so much and so hard in my whole life.

I have: too much to do and only 52 days left to do it

I try: to be better.

Abundantly Blessed

2009-08-23T03:02:00.000-07:00

I have never felt so blessed or felt like My Father in Heaven is so near and aiding me in every step as I prepare for my mission! Every single day I have witnessed seemingly small miracles from the Lord, and it makes me feel so comforted to know that even though I feel like my family is not always on the supportive side that I have my Heavenly parents' support and that they are helping me to prepare. I know that the Lord is using so many of his servants here on the Earth to help me as well, so many friends, "adopted family", and even my real family, have extended a helping hand to me in the last few months.

1. The Hofeling Family. Most people know that I consider them my "Mormon Family", since I have looked up to Bro. Hofeling as a kind of Mormon father figure since I joined the church and had him as an institute teacher. This family has been such a blessing for me! They have always been willing to help me with anything, usually just answering the million questions about various church related topics and an occasional delicious Sister Hofeling dinner :) I am even more grateful than usual for them for the time they took to prepare me for going to the temple for my endowment. A few days before I went through on Aug. 4th The Hofelings sat down with me and talked about the temple, read scriptures, and answered the questions I had that were okay to discuss outside the temple. Then on Aug. 4th Sister Hofeling was my escort as I went through for my endowment and both of them were on either side of me during my session. They really have been like a second family to me and I know that having them with me for my endowment was a huge comfort to me, since making such a huge step of faith without the support of my real family was somewhat disheartening.

2. The King Family. Corey King is a manager at my work and I met his family after I started baby-sitting their awesome kiddos. They also were there for my endowment and were also a huge blessing of added comfort and support. Lately they have been such a huge help in preparing for my mission! I recently went to their home for a delicious sunday dinner and Corey and I went through his mission stuff and talked about his experiences, and it was so nice to have someone to in a way pass down their knowledge and experiences in serving a full-time mission. I think most missionaries have a parent to coach them as they prepare to serve, and since I obviously don't have that, I feel like the King family has filled that void and has contributed so much to making sure I am a successful missionary. Last week they did the nicest thing ever! I had to fight back the tears while in the backroom at my work when Corey handed me a bag from him and his wife that contained a brand spanking new set of scriptures (beautiful triple combo and bible in maroon with my name on them), a scripture case, and a journal (and exactly the kind I wanted with the 3-ring binder style). I felt so loved and supported and I am just so grateful for them! They even had their kids draw me some pictures! Caleb drew my rocket ship that I told them I fly to their house, eliza drew an abstract piece (aka scribbles, she is only like a year and a half old), travis drew a car, and westley drew a picture of me teaching a cowboy on my mission :). AND since the Kings are moving to Utah in Oct. they have also offered to pick me up from the airport in Salt Lake and take me to the MTC! I am so grateful for them and love them so much!

3. My Mommy. Although she is kind of on the fence concerning my membership in the church, she has been relatively supportive of my decision to serve a mission. When I got my call she said, "Why couldn't you go to Maine? I really want to go there on vacation!" After some careful explaining that she can't come find me during my mission she said, "So...are you happy about Texas?" and I said that of course I was, and she said, "Well, if you are excited than so am I, WOOOOO!" (while jumping up and down). My mom is the best. Even though she doesn't understand why I would want to pay to go get doors slammed in my face for a year and a half she is supportive of me and knows that I am making good choices for myself. Last month she called me, while I was at Marshall's looking at the luggage, and said, "I was just at Last Chance and saw this awesome Swiss luggage set and bought it for you! This guy tried to fight me for them but I got them!" She got me the nicest luggage! And it is all exactly within the requirements of what I can bring on my mission! Then last week my mom, my sister and I went to Last Chance and we all tried on coats together and picked one out to bring on my mission (it is SO nice, long black Calvin Klein winter coat for only 40 bones!). They were so much fun! My mom was trying on snake skin coats and Alli tried on some neon yellow one, and we were all laughing and having fun, while doing something that was related to my mission, which is weird since usually Alli has a really bad attitude about me leaving. While at Last Chance my mom also found me some PERFECT missionary shoes! They are black Kenneth Cole shoes with a legit sole for walking and they aren't ugly! They are actually quite trendy! And they were only 30 bucks! YAY! And to top it all off, when we got to the register, my mom took my stuff from me and said she would buy it as a mission present :) She really is the best, and I know that I chose her to be my mother in the pre-mortal world and that she is the perfect mother for me and that she will always be a great example to me of a mother, regardless of whether she joins the church or not...but hopefully she does.

I am so grateful, and so excited!!! I can't believe how fast time is flying by! I have so much more to do and a whole new wardrobe of frumpy clothes to buy!

adios mi amigos,
Hermana Taets

Llamados a Servir! (Called to Serve)

2009-07-28T03:22:00.000-07:00

YEEEE HAWWWWW Texas Houston Mission, Spanish speaking, here I come!!! Well, at least not until October 28th when I report to the MTC! I am so excited! My mission call is perfect! I have never been to Texas so it still feels foreign, ha ha, yet my parents are finally at ease knowing I will be remaining in the country for "that long trip" ha ha. I am so excited, or, estoy muy animado, to learn spanish! No, I do not already know spanish, but I took two years in high school and I remember a lot, plus everyone at work now calls me "Hermana" and speaks spanish to me, so I hope I will pick up the language pretty quickly. For my own sake than for yours, I will now be posting some photos of my future home! haha

BAHAHAHHA This is no joke the first thing that popped up when I googled "Texas"

Houston Temple. BEAUTIFUL. I can't wait to see it in person!

Yes, this is a house in Houston that has been constructed with..beer cans. Don't worry, by the time I leave Houston they will have re-built it with Soda cans!

Okay last one. Don't ask me why, but this one just made me laugh out loud.

Oh Gee, if our President loves Texas than Golly Gee Bob.. SO DO I! He looks ridiculous in that hat, BAAHHHAHAHA.

YAY TEXAS! I AM SO EXCITED!

Bonus Nachos,
Hermana Taets

Especially for Everyone

2009-07-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

I have decided that EFY (Especially for Youth) is not only for the youth, but is for everyone! I have seen EFY bless not only the youth, but everyone who came in contact with EFY. Allow me to explain...

Especially for Youth

Since this program was created for the youth, it is no wonder that they gained huge benefits from attending. First, I have to say that I was completely blown away by the amount of knowledge these kids had! Both sessions I had 14-15 year old boys and girls and they knew so much about the gospel and about the scriptures! Most of them had already started seminary, so they had all these scriptures memorized and they were able make all these cool applications to daily life from the scriptures and from games we would play throughout the week. I was just so impressed! One thing I feel like I might have taught them, and that I just loved teaching, was how to study the gospel. I showed them how to use the Bible Dictionary, the Topical Guide, Footnotes, the Hymnal, the General Conference Ensigh, and the Joseph Smith Translation. I would have them pick a topic (they chose fasting one week, and charity the next week) and we basically went on a studying "adventure", using all of our resources to learn more about those topics. I loved seeing their excitement when they learned something new, and that they could find these things on their own. One of my boys in the first session loved the JST's and after gospel study shared with the group some of the verses that had translations and how they completelely changed the meaning of the scriptures. It felt so good to watch them get excited about studying the scriptures! I really had the best kids ever! Another thing that made EFY worth it for the kids, and for me, was a little thing us counselors called "pay day", or thursday night testimony meeting. Almost all of my girls bore their testimonies, and they were so unique and beautiful, I actually wrote parts of them down. There were two boys in my company who said they never knew the church was true and that they felt the spirit so strongly throughout the week that they couldn't deny it. I loved watching these amazing kids realize that they had testimonies of the gospel and find a passion for it. It was even cooler to watch the nonmember kids that were brought by friends, learn more about the church and also gain a testimony, and announce their decision to be baptized. I would have done EFY for free to have the opportunity to witness all the miracles that happened at EFY.

Session One: They Think They are Wise

My Baby Girls

My Ninja Boys

Session Two: Become Strong

My Beautiful Girls

My Goof-Ball Boys

Especially For Counselors

I never imagined that I would go through so much spiritual growth, and learn so many things that helped me to become a better teacher of the gospel, aka mission prep! I had to rely heavily on prayer just to make it through the day! With barely any sleep, and a million tasks to worry about, I know I couldn't make it through the day without some help from my Heavenly Father. I noticed that I felt so much closer with my kids and felt more guidance in my interactions with them when I prayed for them everyday and specifically by name. I also learned a very valuable lesson about effective teaching! For my first session I prayerfully prepared my devotionals that I would be teaching the kids every night, and I feel like they turned out so well! Not because of me, but because I was able to ask the right questions that would allow the kids to teach themselves. For the second session I just used the same lessons because they seemed to be so effective, but throughout my second week I couldn't figure out why my devotionals didn't seem to go as well. Finally about midweek I realized that I had completely different kids, with completely different needs! Unfortunately, I only got to fix one or two devotionals, but I think that it didn't really hurt the kids ability to learn throughout the week, it was more like I needed to experience my mistake for my own learning.
Being at EFY also gave me an even stronger desire to serve a mission and teach others about the gospel full-time! I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to serve a mission! I also just had a flat out blast at EFY, playing ninja destruction everyday, learning and then teaching the line dances at the dance, watching all the talent the kids have at the variety show, discussing our cows (crush of the week) with my girls (yes, they made me have cows, but thats between me and the girls). And, I made new friends! I became friends with some awesome counselors and am so excited to get to know them better now that we are back in the valley!

Kierste, Kim, and Myself

Especially for..Everyone Else!

Probably my favorite part of EFY was watching those on NAU's campus interact with the participants and counselors at EFY. I think at first the staff was curious, and maybe a little shocked at how well-behaved, polite, and just happy, the kids were, and that made a huge impact on everyone around the campus! the kids were always saying hi and even hugging the staff in the cafeteria. Even I got myself some amazing hugs from the lunch staff, and really miss some of them. One of the best interactions on campus was with the housing staff. One of the RAs was always working in the lobby and the kids and the counselors made sure to welcome them into the group. Two RAs, Jason and Mason, started going to the morning sides, the classes taught by seminary teachers, and testimony meeting, and on the weekends when the kids were gone they even went to church with us! After church Jason set up an appointment to meet with the missionaries! To make a long story short, and to avoid stealing Jason's thunder, EFY made a huge impact on Jason, and changed his life forever.

Counselor Dan, Myself, and Jason :)

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to experience EFY as a counselor! I wish I was able to do more this summer, but I think it's time I get things in order for my mission. I think I will be devastated though if I don't get to experience this all over again when I come home from my mission.

Missing my EFY babies,
Madison

Mrs. Jensen?

2009-06-13T01:55:00.000-07:00

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

2 years

2009-06-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

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

Gone Fishin'

2009-06-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

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

Bluer Skies

2009-06-04T23:49:00.000-07:00

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

Avondale

2009-05-24T23:40:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in awhile, but yes, I am back in Avondale, for the first time in two years, and it has been a pretty strange two weeks. I won't lie, it is rough out here, but I know that I will learn a lot from what I experience here, so long as I keep my faith and I just hang on.

So far I have learned...

I hate the drive from Avondale to Tempe for work almost everyday

My Cake Mix Cookies match my potholders (a deep insight from my father)

Summer Nights are perfect, even when I am enjoying them alone

Addison is my best friend, hands down, I have never had someone who was willing to do so much for me

There is an awesome hill on the way to my mom's house, and I can coast on my longboard for an extended period of time

West-side Mormons are quite a bit different than what I am used to

Tivo was created by divine inspiration

Everyone can appreciate a glass, multi-colored fish

I am very stubborn and I think Heavenly Father is teaching me to change, the hard
way

Satan does not want me to serve a mission, but I am going to anyways

I need to learn to stand on my own two feet

This will be quite a summer. Bring it on.

Attitude Change

2009-05-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

Yeah yeah yeah so I had myself a little pity party on my last post, BUT good news is...I feel one hundred percent back to normal, yay! The reason why? I went to the temple. I realized I hadnt gone the previous week and that must have been what made me feel like crap all week! So I went twice this week and am back to normal! So, to redeem myself after making that horrible sad list, I am going to list all the things I am EXCITED for!

1. EFY. I was hired to be an EFY counselor for the summer! Although I haven't been able to accept any contracts yet and do not know where exactly I will be working, I am stoked beyond belief. I have never been to an EFY because I was 18 when I was baptized, so I am very excited to get to experience EFY and also to be a mentor for youth in the church. I feel like there are so many things I experienced before I was baptized that kind of give me the credibility in saying that the "strict" rules of the church are really for our own good, and I am so grateful for the commandments.

2. Moving. Now I know that I recently complained about this, but now I am seeing my move in a new light. I am really excited to spend more time with my little sister, she is seriously the coolest kid I know. She is very random like me so I can only imagine all the amazingly random childish things we will do together. I also will get to spend a lot of time with my mom, who is amazing and I love so much. I really hope I will have many opportunities to talk to her about the gospel, and bear my testimony, I have this feeling that I will and that she really needs to hear whatever the Holy Ghost has me say. Another great thing about home is that it is in a relatively safe neighborhood so I can start running again! I have really missed being able to run outside, and I sure could get into better shape!

3. Illinois. So, my whole dad's side of the family lives in a farming community in north western Illinois, about an hour north of Nauvoo, and I only see them once a year, if that much. So, since I will be leaving for a mission this fall, and since my grandparents are reaaaaalllly old, I feel the need to go see my family this summer. My dad doesn't want to organize an official family trip, no surprise there, so my sister, me, and Addison are going to do a cross country road trip to see my family for a week or so. I am not excited for the drive, but I just feel this is something I really need to do before I leave. I love all of my family in Illinois and the beautiful green landscape, so I am way excited!

4. Elder Loper. My beloved friend and fake brother Matt has received his mission call!!! He has been called to serve in the Massachusetts Boston Mission, Haitian Creole speaking! I am so proud of him for how far he has come since his conversion, and for the huge sacrifice he is making to serve a mission. It makes me so much more anxious to get my papers in and receive my call, I can't wait to go! Only like...two more months til I can send in papers and get my call!

I am glad that my happiness has returned in full force. Yay for life!

Love, Madi

Sorry, I need this

2009-05-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

I have always tried to be fairly positive about all aspects of my life. I usually welcome trials as an opportunity for growth and with the knowledge that Heavenly Father knows I can survive it. But lately I have just felt the exact opposite. I feel so unenthusiastic, nervous, scared, and overall just lost. As a way of hopefully confronting these odd and rather disturbing emotions, I am going to get right at the source!

Possible sources:
1. The semester is ending.

Normally this would be cause for rejoicing, but since I am not going to school next semester I feel like I am closing a door that I am not ready to close. Yes, I know I will be right back in school once I get off my mission, but still! I don't feel any closure to this part of my life and it just seems like this is not the right time for me to be postponing my education.

2. The mission

I am 100% super stoked to be serving a full-time mission for the church. I wish I could leave right now! But, despite my excitement and my willingness to serve in this capacity, I regret to admit that there is some fear attached. What will it be like? Where will I go? Will I be successful? Will it be dangerous? How will I afford it? Will I be the same person when I come home? Will I still have a group of loving and supportive friends when I get home? Will my family learn to support me? Wow, more questions than I anticipated. I understand that these uncertainties are probably common, but it still scares me that I have no many concerns. Fear is the opposite of faith, so I definitely do not want to fear, I want to just know that whatever happens is going to be for my best.

3. Moving

In about a week I will be moving back in with my Dad in Avondale so that I can save money. I haven't lived with him since I joined the church, and he is not too keen on my religious beliefs, so that makes me nervous. I have no good lds friends in Avondale. The family out in Avondale that baptized me has moved to Michigan and I don't even want to think of what Avondale is going to be like without them being there for me. I feel like I am at a point in my life when I am going to need a lot of support and strength, especially as I prepare to enter the temple and to serve a mission, yet I am moving to a place where there will be very little strength or support. This will be a true test for me, and to be honest, I am scared out of my mind. I do not want to fail, but I feel as if failure is looming over my head.

Well, there it is, time to stand a little taller, paste on a smile, and try my best to survive. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. :)

Eulogy

2009-04-30T02:31:00.001-07:00

For my Public Speaking class we had to do a special occasion speech, so I decided to do a Eulogy. Enjoy. :)

My friends, it is with a heavy heart that I speak on behalf of our deceased friend… Facebook. I am sure it all came as a shock to us when Facebook was diagnosed with the swine flu and found dead only days later. Today I would like for us all to cherish the great times we had with Facebook, and fear not, for we truly can move on.
Facebook was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on February 4th, 2004 and is survived by his creators, Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. These three men created Facebook while attending Harvard University, originally for the use of Harvard students only. The original Facebook was a simple application where the ID photos of students were placed two at a time next to each other and users would choose which student they found to be “hotter”. Mark Zuckerberg was able to create this site by hacking into the protected areas of the Harvard computer network and copy the student ID photos. As we all know, Facebook became loved and sought after by students nationwide and became a common name in every household.
Facebook and I had so many amazing experiences together that it is so difficult to just speak of a few. My most fond memories came late at night as I spent time with Facebook, perusing the photos of my classmates and acquaintances, reading the conversations that occurred throughout the day between my friends, and searching diligently for new friends who may have accounts with Facebook. Facebook never failed to distract me from the stresses of real life and allowed me to waste the little amount of free time I had.
Facebook also aided me in becoming more of a socialite while in college. With the use of the “events” application I was able to know what parties were scheduled for this weekend and create an agenda for myself several days prior to the weekend. The only downside to the “events” application was deciding how to kindly reject invitations to events that I would never be caught dead at. I have learned, however, that the best way to avoid any hurt feelings, or an obligation to attend that girl’s ridiculously lamesauce party is to simply RVSP with a “maybe”. By doing so, the host of the party will not be upset that you rejected the event they so painstakingly created, yet they will not be angry with you if you decide not to show, which we all know you really weren’t planning on doing anyways.
Finally, one of the most memorable moments I shared with Facebook was one of the many times my so called “friends” logged onto my account and created havoc under my good name. The one that truly made me cringe then, but laugh about now, was the time 3 of my friends teamed up to change my status. I will never forget coming home from work at about 2 in the morning, logging onto Facebook, and being shocked to find an irregular and enormous amount of comments on my status. As I investigated further I saw that my status had been changed to “Madison is upset that she has wet her bed AGAIN after her afternoon nap.” Not only was my status changed, but my friends had changed theirs as well so that mine would seem more believable. Their status’ read: “Abby is out buying Depends for Madison,” “Matt wishes he knew how to help Madi with her bed-wetting problem,” and “Katie is the only friend Madison has left”. Good times.
Although Facebook only lived to be 5 years old, he touched the lives of over 200 million people worldwide. I ask that you do not mourn this terrible and unexpected loss, but that you always remember the hours upon hours you personally spent with Facebook, and to seek diligently for new ways to waste your time in his honor.

make it stop :(

2009-04-27T22:29:00.001-07:00

Oh boy. :D

Somehow a large amount of butterflies found their way down my throat and into my stomach. It's so funny that for so long I wanted to feel that again, that rush and excitement that comes with having "butterflies", but now I just want them to leave before they ruin all of my plans.

Movin' on up!

2009-04-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Now that tuition is bought and paid for this semester, the charts are creeping for the mission fund. I almost have two months paid for! yay! only sixteen...more..to go.. :( I can do it!!

Scheduled my physical for next week..woo hoo. It's scary how time flies and I only have like two more months until I can turn in my papers! I feel like I have so much to do!

676 miles later..

2009-04-06T15:06:00.000-07:00

I had the most amazing, exhausting weekend ever! I had the awesome opportunity to drive up to Utah with Ashley, Matt, Katie, Abby, Mo, and Addison to see General Conference!

The drive up was not the best. We left around 5 pm in Arizona and got to Bountiful to stay with Abby's Grandparents' home at around 6:00 am. I admit I did not drive the fastest because it was night and I was paranoid about hitting a deer, I counted 8 deer on the side of the road as I drove! I also got pulled over in Page, I was not speeding, it was right after Ash threw a banana peel out the car window so that's what we figured it was, but actually my tail light was out, so no big deal. After the cop left we blasted "Rollout" by Ludacris, and it was hilarious. Once we got to Utah it was snowing and I had never driven in snow before, and you couldn't see the lines on the freeway, so my knuckles were white on the steering wheel for a few hours. We made it there safely, but everyone was definitely in dire need of a nap and I was very stressed out.

After getting some sleep we all got up and went up the street to the Bountiful Temple, which was beautiful, and did baptisms!

Following baptisms we went out to Salt Lake to go shopping at Gateway and then dropped Ashley off in Provo to stay with her friend Lauren. While in Provo we went to the missionary mall and the sister missionary mall and explored. On the way back home we went to Sandy to pick up Elise, who is amazing and I wish she lived in AZ, and we stopped and said hi to one of the elders who was in our ward who recently went home, Eric Irving.

Saturday we didn't quite make it up in time for the morning session of conference, BUT we did go to the afternoon session and got AMAZING seats right in front, thanks to Elder Petit's mom, who was pretty much the coolest.

After conference we were able to explore temple square. I loved just sitting and looking at the temple, it is so beautiful. The visitor's centers were very neat, and I really enjoyed talking to the sister missionaries. I am not sure if I would want to serve a temple square mission, I want to be out proselyting all day every day :).

That night we just partied it up at Abby's grandparents home, they fed all of us plus Elise, Clark, Spencer and Mark a delicious roast beef dinner and then we all watched a movie. Abby's Grandparents are amazing! They were so kind to let us stay in their home, and they fed us dinner everynight and even dropped us off at conference so we wouldn't have to worry about parking! I am extremely grateful for them!
Sunday Morning Ashley, Mo, Addison and I went to conference with the tickets we received from Bishop Matheson. It was a good session, but I think all of us had a hard time staying awake after being up so late. We tried to get into the garden on the rooftop but it was closed :(

This weekend was amazing. I had so much fun with all of my amazing friends and I loved seeing everything in Salt Lake!

The New and Not So Improved Primary Songs

2009-04-01T23:34:00.000-07:00

The people I work with are amazing. We do extremely outlandish things at all times to keep us all in the cheeriest of moods, which usually entails some form of singing. We mainly sing with Disney songs, but yesterday Addison and I decided to be sneaky. We came up with a little game where either Addison or me would begin a church primary song and our coworkers all scrambled to finish it correctly. This was either shocking because they got it right OR hilarious. What a great way to sneakily teach all our coworkers about Mormons :)

Correct Responses

The wise men built their house upon the... ROCK
I like to look for rainbows whenever there is... RAIN
I am a child of... GOD

Incorrect Responses

Give said the little...PUPPY
The Lord commanded Nephi to go and build a...FARM
Famillies can be to...SCARED
I will go, I will do, the things the Lord... TELLS ME TO
I hope they call me on a...LOVE TRAIN

my mother's irreplacable logic

2009-03-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Today my mother called, oh how I love her. She asked how my break was going and how my mini road trip to flagstaff went. Then she asked if I had seen any more doctors or talked to anymore church officials about my mission, and I said no. Then she launched into the usual "I don't think you should go" discussion, which is my favorite. Here are some of my favorite reasons why my mother thinks I need to stay here.

1. "If you have to fly somehwhere there could be terrorists on the plane that could crash the plane." I told her that could happen if I flew to Illinois to see Grandma, to which she replied, "No, it wouldn't happen then, it just wouldn't"

2. "I can't see you for 18 months, and I might miss something" I then asked her what she might be missing while I was gone and she said, "well....your hair could change color, or you could get obese..." wow, thanks mom.

3. "When you come home you might not like us anymore" I told her that would be impossible and that you are family and I have no choice but to like you. I said that jokingly of course, I really do love my family, and nothing will ever change that.

4. This one was my favorite, and showed true desperation. My mother, who is against the concept of marriage, said "Maybe you should just stay here and get married...at least you would still be here." I told her that if someone wanted to marry me they have until June 28th to express that, because once my papers are in then I am going. Then she said, "Well I will just go find those missionaries and set them up with you." I informed her that missionaries can't date on their missions and she said, "Well..I am sure they know boys who you can marry."

I love my mom to pieces. When it comes down to it she really is supportive of anything I choose to do, she just worries about me like any normal mother would. I am going to miss her the most when I leave.

It's Official..almost

2009-03-09T00:11:00.000-07:00

Last week I began the early stages of an amazing, yet daunting journey. My Mission papers. On Monday I met with the bishop and he gave me all the paperwork, all 23 pages of them, eek. This is why I decided to start them so early, since I work so much and there is so much I still have to do it will probably take me quite some time. I cannot submit my paperwork until June 28th, so that should give me plenty of time to get the paperwork done, go to all four doctors appointments, get all the clearances, get my wisdom teeth out... :/, and so on and so on. As soon as I had those papers in my hands I knew that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing. For the last year I have bounced back and forth, never really coming to a conclusion, but now I am firm in my decision and am so excited and wish I were able to leave sooner! Unfortunately, I don't turn 21 until September 28th so I have another 6 months until I can leave. Fortunately, this gives me enough time, hopefully, to raise all of the money for it on my own, spend time with my family and try and leave them with an understanding of my motives and gain their support, and party it up with my friends who I will terribly miss for the one point five years that I am serving. Anonther big deal is that I am moving home to live with my dad in Avondale as soon as school gets out so that I can save money. I will still be driving to Tempe pretty much daily to work and for church on sunday but I will be trying to spend as much time with them as possible before I leave.

My biggest fear about the mission is that I will get so caught up in being this perfect Mormon that I will lose myself in the work, in a negative way. Some of the sister missionaries I have met seem so...fake? lacking personality? void of fun? constant companions with the little white handbook? I don't know about you but I don't think you need to be boring to be a good teacher or to share what you know. I hope as a missionary I will be fun and full of energy and life. I don't want to become a boring version of myself. I think the elders are pretty good at staying fun on their missions..at least the ones who taught me the lessons were good at being a blast and a half

(their instructions were: Look as if Jesus were ascending from the heavens)

See! Missionaries can be themselves and be fun and people still get baptized! haha :)

The Current Trend

2009-03-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

Today's "Everyday Shakespeare" Calendar Quote

"I say, we will have no more marriages. Those that are married already, all but one, shall live. The rest shall keep as they are." -Hamlet

Translation

"I hereby declare we will have no more marriage. Whosoever is already married (except one person I know) will stay married. Everyone else will have to stay single"

My Thoughts

It seems like everyone and their mom is getting married..or maybe everyone and MY mom, haha, she's engaged but doesn't have a date..long story whatever. Anyways, it seems like every sunday someone, or sometimes two couples stand up to announce their engagement. I have a plethora of wedding announcements hanging in my kitchen and am so excited to go to the receptions and party it up and celebrate their awesomeness as a newly married couple. I just thought this quote was really funny, especially since everyone is getting married. What if President Obama had a press conference and said this? How bizarre would that be? Thank goodness that would never happen, and that even if it did I am sure our church would find ways to allow its members to marry since it is so pivotal to our growth and becoming more like God. It seems like the topic of marriage is always buzzing around me, from friends, roommates, Brother Hofeling, etc. Last week I told Bro. Hofeling about my decision to serve a mission and he is still set on me getting married this summer, which seems so funny to me! 1. I don't date, which is not a problem or a complaint, I don't have time for a boyfriend or dating. 2. How am I supposed to be married in the next 6 months if I don't even have any potentials? Brother Hofeling is convinced that I am surrounded by potential husbands, anytime I mention a boy doing something nice for me, even if its just a hug when passing, Bro. Hofe usually says, "Oh maybe he is the EC! Want me to talk to him?" I love Bro. Hofe but goodness gracious, he can be so ridiculous sometimes. I will love being married one day, when the time is right for me and when Heavenly Father thinks I am ready and sends me someone who is perfect in everyway to spend eternity with me. But, for now I am 100% content living the single life and am even more excited to serve my mission!

Tithing

2009-02-27T12:36:00.000-08:00

I am a firm believer in the power in paying a full tithe. There have been several times in my adult life, since leaving home, when I couldn't afford to get all of my bills paid and then at the last moment I received just enough money to pay my bills randomly. Although in this instance I wasn't about to miss a bill payment, I was just stressed by the amount of debt I have acquired since losing my scholarship. Recently I had been praying for help financially, for a way out of this debt so I can begin saving, and last week my prayer was answered. My dad called me up and said that he had filed my taxes for me, and although I had paid almost 3,000 in taxes this year he regretted to inform me that I was only going to be getting 300 dollars back for my refund. I wasn't too upset, it's better than nothing, I was just hoping it'd be a lot more. My dad then said that he had gotten a lot back and was going to give me 700 so that my total refund would be 1,000! This might be something normal for some, but for me it was VERY unexpected. My parents haven't given me money since I was 16, so this was definitely a blessing for my faithful tithe paying. Then on the same day I took my mother to the temple visitor's center (which was amazing, ask me in person if you want to know why) and after leaving and going to get lunch my mom gave me 200 to help with bills! This money was exactly what I needed to pay off my credit card in full :) So, all that was left to pay off was my tuition for this semester. Yesterday I got a pretty awesome paycheck and was able to pay for all of my tuition except 100, so I am almost debt free!!! YAY!

Once all of my debt is paid I can finally start saving money again. Right now I only have like 150 in savings, which is the smallest amount thats ever been in there and it makes me so sad. In an attempt to motivate myself to save more and spend less I made this chart to hang in my room. It is pretty overwhelming right now but I really want to save money just so I can pull out the red marker and color in more.

Isn't that little sliver of red oh so depressing? haha. And yes, I think I have finally come to a decision on my plans for next fall: full-time mission :) I turn 21 in september so I can turn in my papers in june I think. Just about everyday Bro. Hofeling says I could be married by then, since I think he would rather see me married than on a mission, but I just laugh and tell him that this is what I want. I can't wait to go! On the huge blank part on the right side of my chart I want to put scriptures that talk about blessings and sacrifice and missionary work, just so I can have the right perspective about all of this. If you know of any good ones please let me know!!

test your awareness

2009-02-19T17:04:00.000-08:00

We watched this is my human development class today and I found it very insightful/hilarious. I laughed ultra hard. enjoy.

Thanks Mommy

2009-02-18T13:59:00.000-08:00

Every year my mommy gives me a Valentine's Day gift, and let me just say that my mom is the best gift giver in the history of gift giving. It's not because she buys super fantastically expensive gifts but because she puts her heart into them. My mom has a huge heart and is full of charity, and is a great example to me! Anyways, this year I received a goody bag full of amazingness. Most of it contained things I need on a daily basis, and most of them were things I had run out of this week and needed to go purchase, such as shave gel, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. There were also some fun things, such as the "grow a boyfriend" who was said to expand 600% within 2 days! false doctrine, according to my mother he is just like a real boyfriend: good for nothing, haha, love her. My favorite part of my care package was actually a regift, something that was given to my mother that she didn't care for so I have been blessed with the regift. It is a day by day calendar, you know like the kind where you tear off the day as time passes, you know those kind. This one was made by Sparknotes and has a different Shakespeare quote and a translation of the quote for everyday. Some are boring when taken out of context, but some are way funny, so I have decided that when I come across a quote that I like I will try and share it on here and share my thoughts. Today is the perfect day to begin.

Original: "I would it were otherwise. I would my means were greater and my waist slender."

Translation: "I wish it were the other way around: that my bank account were huge and my waist were thin"

Thoughts: True Story. I feel like this quote isn't exactly what I am experiencing, but relatable to my own situation. I have never wanted too much of an excess, I just want to be able to survive and have a good chunk of money in my savings account, which I had been able to do the last few years. This year, however, things have changed. This past year I lost my scholarship at ASU that completely covered tuition, and not because my grades were below par but because my parents made too much money. This really upset me because my parents do not support me financially, at all, but what can ya do? So this year I have been working my tail off to live on my own in Tempe, pay tuition without taking out loans and without any financial aid, and working around 40 hours a week at in n out. So, needless to say, my means are not great. I have acquired some debt, but not so much that I won't have it paid off by the end of the semester, but just the same, it feels like such a burden to have a large amount of debt for the first time and rather frightens me. I am hoping that I can find some scholarships/grants before next year so I can pull myself out of debt and get my savings built back up.
The part about the slimmer waist applies of course, I think everyone always has the desire to be more fit and in shape regardless of their current condition. I don't feel like I NEED to slim down, and feel pretty comfortable with my image, BUT I definitely miss running. In the last year I found a love for running and a couple nights a week I would run from my apartment down tempe town lake and back and felt such a huge stress relief from that. But, now that I work from 5 pm to 2 am most week nights I can't find the time to run since I have class during the day. Another obstacle is that I would usually run at night, I always carried pepper spray and ran where it was well-lit and felt safe, but a month or so ago someone was stabbed to death on my running route, therefore I have chosen not to run by my apartment anymore. You may suggest that I just go to the SRC and run on the treadmill, but it could never replace the feeling of running outdoors, the chill in the air tickling my skin (depending on the season that tickling sensation might just be sweat), the glitter of tempe down lake in my view, watching the world pass by as I project my body in a forward motion. mmmm. If only I had some big strong man to run with me for protection, or a big dog with sharp teeth.

A Mystery Unfolds

2009-02-15T23:27:00.001-08:00

Picture this. I return to my wonderfully noisy apartment at approximately midnight-thirty on saturday night, Saint Valentine's Day, after a night of laughing until my sides were sore with the Hofeling family. I am in the living room exchanging tales of the night's excursions with my roommates when we hear several quick, yet loud, raps at our door, followed by the sound of heavy footfalls upon our stairs. I remained in my seat, slightly fearful of whoever is pounding on my door so late and so unexpected. Addison opened the door, then without explanation, "Madison..come here". I slowly get up from my seat and make my way to the door, wondering what on Earth could be going on. Before my eyes is quite the surprising sight. Scattered on the cement are several colored construction paper hearts, a bundle of tulips, a package of cookies with balloons attached to them that have "Happy Valentine's Day Madison" "From Mr. Valentine" written in marker on them. My first reaction: Ashley and Katie have done this because they pity my single status on this blessed day for couples, yet they seemed just as shocked as I, and Ashley was actually rather upset that the perpetrator had not informed her of the upcoming deed. Next Reaction: Some guy friend of mine must have wanted to make me feel special, which was definitely accomplished, I am still all smiles after this unique treatment. My friends are trying to convince me that I must have a secret admirer, but I am going to assume it was just a friend being kind until this "secret admirer" reveals himself.

This week I will be studying samples of handwriting from all eligible priesthood holders I come into contact with and will be sure to post my findings. The evidence thus far, proving that our culprit is of the male species are as follows:

Handwriting: would have been prettier and curly if by a girl trying to send a romantic message. Handwriting also contains random capitalized letters, and it is well-known that a female would not subject herself to such grammar mistakes.

Cookies: Store-bought, any female would have home made them, no offense boys, the store bought ones taste just fine, but we females like to add our love into that cookie dough before we bake it and serve it to you. Also, the price tag was left on the bottom of the cookies, a female would not have missed this detail.

A substantial reward will be presented to any with information about the perpetrator's secret identity.

EFY?

2009-02-14T01:42:00.000-08:00

Wow, haven't posted in like a month! Sorry! I have been extremely busy working the usual 35 hours a week..trying to not prorastinate this semester in school..and actually having fun and enjoying my life when I can find the time. One exciting thing I have experienced was my interview last week to be an EFY counselor over the summer! I want to get hired pretty badly since I never had the opportunity to attend an EFY, I was 18 when I was baptized..I should have gotten baptized sooner! The interview was a group interview, so there was about ten of us and one person who asked all of us questions. First we all introduced ourselves and then she said she was going to give us about 2 minutes to just discuss what a "climate of revelation" was. I had absolutely no idea what that was and had never heard that term before. The other girls started talking about having a good environment for the youth at EFY so that they can receive personal revelation there, so I started to figure out what the phrase was generally about, so I said that I thought it was even more important for us to teach them how to prepare themselves to receive and understand personal revelation, so that they can receive it no matter where they are. Then we each drew a scrip. out of an envelope and teach a 2 minute lesson on it, I drew Helaman 5:12, and I totally nailed the teaching part. Then she asked individual questions to each of us, my question was to tell about an experience where you had to make a difficult decision, and the whole group laughed because they all knew I was a convert. So, I went with the obvious and talked about how I joined the church even though I didn't really want to be a Mormon, I just knew it was what God wanted for me, and how I had to do it with very little support. I think the interview went really well! I feel like the interviewer really liked me :) Hopefully I will get hired, we shall see in 6-8 weeks!

Laughter is the Best Medicine

2009-01-21T00:32:00.000-08:00

Several things caused me to laugh today, and I mean really laugh. It felt great. So I want you to feel great too when you read about them.

1. While I was gallavanting around the LDS Institute I left my binder and longboard at one of the tables where my friends were sitting. When I returned to my things I noticed a note had been inserted into the clear part of my binder. I have a quote on my binder that says, "A woman's heart should be so lost in Christ that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her." I really like this quote and think it helps me keep focused on trying to be like the Savior and improving the relationship I have with Him instead of worrying about stupid boys ;) Anyways, I come back to my binder and find a piece of paper had been inserted next to the quote that read "But no matter which path he chooses, any man is likely to get lost trying to find a woman's heart". Oh those silly boys. It made me laugh though.

2. Today I went to the temple, and since I usually go around the same time every tuesday I feel pretty comfortable with the temple workers that normally work that shift. So, on my way out of the baptistry I asked Brother Peterson, the Baptistry Cooridinator, "Why do the towels smell like glazed doughnuts?" After a a good chuckle, Bro. Peterson went and grabbed a towel out of the locker room and smelled it, then had all of the other temple workers smell the towel. None of them agreed with me! Even my own friend Abby sided with them and said it just smelled like a towel! Then the Brother at the front desk said it must be the spirit telling me to eat some doughnuts! I am telling you, every week I go to the temple the towels smell like glazed doughnuts!! Ii am positive that they are using Krisy Kreme brand fabric softener. So myself and all of the Baptistry workers shared a hearty laugh today and it was awesome.

3. At work I have a manager named David who is very funny, mainly in a teasing kind of way. It is very common for him to sing "Madi Madi Bo Badi Banana Fanna Fo FATTY" whenever I am working, and we all just laugh. Today, however, he told another associate today that he took my place as the fatty, so I decided to sing, "Niko Niko Bo Biko...FATTTTYYY!" That is exactly what I said. I didn't really sing much of the song, since his name wouldn't work anyway, but I still wanted to get my point across. But everyone working, included myself and Niko, were just laughing so hard for a good 5 minutes. It felt so good to be enjoying work and laughing with my co-workers.

If you see me sometime soon, make me laugh, and I will love you forever and always.

Soon-To-Be Math Wiz

2009-01-17T14:48:00.000-08:00

You guessed it, that is a b-e-a-u-tiful, 100% plastic, calculator watch. One of my managers was commenting at how horrible I am at math and suggested I get a calculator watch as a joke, but I decided to take it seriously and invest in a device that will aid me in doing the inventory at work. I honestly am starting to wonder if I have some sort of mental disability related to math skills, it is truly embarrassing how bad I am at simple math and at counting. BUT thanks to my new watch, I will be doing math equations accurately and in record time!!!

Straw Fries

2009-01-17T01:47:00.000-08:00

Today I began my shift at work at approximately 4:30 P.M. and almost immediately was asked to speak to a customer who need assistance. I went over to the man and greeted him with a great big smile and asked how I could help. The second he began speaking my smile was replaced with a nervous grimace. This man was VERY upset because he had just come through the drive-thru and had received "straw fries". He said that this happens to him everytime he comes through the drive-thru and that he is sick of being "frauded" by In-N-Out Burger and their nasty fries that taste like straw. He explained that our fries cost more than a whopper jr. at Burger King, and that has meat and cheese on it, and that he is personally being ripped off by In-N-Out. He then proceeded to shove the fries into my face and crumble them with his hands onto the counter, asking me, "Do these fries look light to you? I ordered my fries light, now tell me, do they look light?" Of course I agreed with them, the customer is always right ya now, and then he took it to the extreme and said he wanted it in writing. I was rather surprised by this, and was curious as to what he would do with this form of documentation. What I should have said was "No, I can't sign anything sir, it is against policy," but what I did do, out of fear, was scribble on a napkin, FRIES WERE NOT LIGHT and signed my name. Bad Move. I then asked if there was anything else I could do for him, and offered to refund his meal, but no, that was not enough. He wanted me to refund him for the last three meals he had purchased because they too had straw fries, wanted me to give him the customer service number, and as he was making his demands he was waving his new documentation in my face, and in every other manager's face. Eventually I let someone else handle him because I just could not find a way to please him.

Lessons Learned:

Do NOT put straw in the fryers, apparantly they do not taste half as good as the potatoes we traditionally serve.

The customer is always right, unless he is a rude, nasty old man, who is just trying to ruin your day.

NEVER sign your life away on a napkin, this form of documentation is more binding than signing your soul to the devil.

Driving University

2009-01-16T13:10:00.000-08:00

In December I took a lovely trip up to Snowflake to visit the temple and on the way back was unsuccessfully learning how to drive through mountains and was pulled over for speeding; apparantly I suck at downshifting. So, today, all day, I took an online driving course and this is what I learned...

The refrigerator was patented in 1899
There are 119 grooves on the side of a quarter
Brontology is the study of thunder
Celery has negative calories
The black box in airplanes is actually orange
Creators of computer viruses are usually between 14-24 years in age
Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed and ran over his dog on his 40th Birthday
The exterior used for Jerry Seinfeld's apartment is Los Angeles

In order to ensure that students actually read the content there were quiz questions at the end of a section. Sometimes the question was relevant to the content, other times they referred to the random facts that were embedded in the content. They were my favorite bits of imformation to come across.

Aside from the random facts I did learn some new things about driving, such as "It is better to wait and arrive at your destination a few minutes later, than to arrive at a premature death in a head-on collision." The course was VERY dramatic, and was constantly warning me of the my potential death. At the end of each section it would say, "Be smart while driving your one-ton weapon"

I think I will ride my bike to work today.

Level 7

2009-01-06T23:09:00.000-08:00

Oh Yeah.

That is not an accurate photo of me, my management team put that on there to be funny since mine doesn't have a picture.

Finally Finished

2009-01-05T00:55:00.000-08:00

I was reading a friend of mine's blog and she made a list of 100 things she wanted to do before she died, and it was really neat, so I am copying her and making my own list!

1. Learn to play the piano and play the hymns regularly in my home
2. Serve a mission (either full-time or couples mission later, not quite sure what my plan is yet)
3. Go to primary and learn all of the songs, hopefully once I have a family I can either go with my kids or will get a primary calling
4. Go a whole year without missing a month of Visiting Teaching, I have the hardest time with it!
5. Get good at playing my guitar, right now I am pretty weak sauce at it.
6. Get sealed for time and all eternity in the Mesa Temple
7. Fall in love and stay that way forever. I want to still be holding my husband's hand when I am 40,60,80, and forever after that.
8. Go to Ireland and see all of the greeeeeen. I want to roll down the hills, visit the castles, do some intense family history research, and find a leprechaun.
9. Go to France and see the Eifel Tower, go to the Louvre, ride a vespa, and eat some yummy foreign food.
10. Raise children who have strong testimonies of the gospel and who will be able to teach me how to be a better person.
11. Go camping! I know, tragic, but I think this one will happen in the next year.
12. Go snowboarding, also semi-tragic, I can't help it that I didn't have a childhood ;)
13. Be an example to EVERYONE of the gospel of Jesus Christ..and thus baptize the world..ok maybe just lead several good friends, co-workers, and family members to baptism.
14. Buy a house and decorate it, with my husband's help, and make it look super duper cute, yet organized and functional.
15. Have a tree house in my backyard.
16. Learn how to can and have the most bomb-diggity food storage
17. Meet my great-grandchildren, which also translates to: live til I am old, real old., ha ha.
18. Get a massive chunk of my family history/temple work done, and be able to do the ordinances for family members in the temple with my children.
20. Have a week of total seclusion from the world, my husband would be able to come, but that's it. Out in the middle of nowhere in a cabin with no tv, computer, or cell phones
21. Run a marathon.
22. See a musical on Broadway.
23. Have a big Mormon Road Trip, hit up SLC, Adam-ondi-Ahman, Nauvoo, Sacred Grove, etc.
24. Learn Spanish.
25. Learn Sign Language.
26. Send out all of my children on missions.
27. Be able to make and eat a sit-down dinner almost every night with my future family.
28. Go to every temple in the United States, and some out of the country as well.
29. Play with my kids. I can't wait to meet them one day and just have fun with them. I bet they will be pretty cool.
30. Write something, a book, a poem, a song, a haiku, whatever, just something.
31. Keep a journal, but keep it secret until I die, then I could care less who reads it.
32. Jump in a gigantic pile of Autumn leaves.
33. Have a huge garden, half with vegetables and other yum yums, and half with flowers and other pretty things.
34. Have a porch with a swing and a view, where I can sit and think or read in the evenings.
35. Buy lunch for a homeless person. I have always wanted to do this, but fear that I would be endangering my life, some of the homeless people in Tempe are pretty scary.
36. Go to my mother's baptism.
37. Go to my father's baptism.
38. Go to my sister's baptism.
39. Go to my children's baptisms.
40. Come up with my own 100% orginal recipe, and keep my recipe a secret.
41. Have a huge library in my house, just like the one in Beauty and the Beast
42. Learn how to sew.
43. Meet the prophet.
44. Attend the temple with all of my children.
45. Make lots of home movies with my future family.
46. Keep in touch with all of the amazing friends I have currently, forever!
47. Drive less. I want to be able to bike, walk, and light rail more.
48. Walk through Central Park.
49. Make my own family traditions.
50. Get in shape and stay in shape, I definitely do not want to "let go" of myself, ever.
51. Listen to my children sing primary songs when they are young.
52. Get my Teaching Certification
53. Get a Master's Degree
54. Live in another state.
55. Kiss someone in the rain.
56. Be serenaded by a gorgeous boy with a song that was written just for me. :)
57. Ride a train.
58. Go to Jerusalem and walk where Jesus walked.
59. Be best friends with my little sister. We don't get along that great right now, but I am working on it, and hope one day we can be BFF's.
60. After all the movies have been released, have a Harry Potter marathon and watch all 7 in one sitting.
61. Ride a tandem bike.
62. Be 100% debt-free, I am sure this won't be until I am very old, but it's worth a shot.
63. Retire, then travel the world with my husband.
64. Be a Grandma and spoil my grandkids rotten.
65. Paint a picture worthy to adorn a wall in my home.
66. Ride a horse.
67. Go to Washington D.C. and see all of the historic monuments and such.
68. Grow apple, orange, and pears trees in my backyard.
69. Learn how to ballroom dance.
70. Take my family on awesome family vacations as often as possible. We rarely did family vacations growing up, so this will be really important for me to do with my own family.
71. Sing alone in front of a crowd.
72. Act in something. I did drama in 7th/8th grade and loved it. I don't know why I stopped but wish I hadn't.
73. Go to a high school reunion. I don't really have an option, since I was senior class pres. I have to plan all the reunions...ew.
74. Read as many books as possible.
75. Host a Murder Mystery party. This year perhaps?
76. Make a scrapbook of my family.
77. Have a family reunion!
78. Go on a hike in the Salt Lake Valley.
79. Have a secret room in my house, like a mystery room that can only be opened if I pull an old green book off of my huge book case.
80. Bake sugar cookies every Christmas.
81. Read the scriptures with my family every night.
82. Pull off an amazing, intricately planned practical joke.
83. Attend General Conference!
84. Dye my hair a ridiculous color...not all of my hair, but like put a streak of purple in it or something crazy.
85. Read "Jesus the Christ"
86. Make my kids' Halloween costumes. My mom always hand made mine and they looked so cool, so hopefully I can carry on that tradition.
87. Make a quilt, one that will put those Amish quilts to shame.
88. Go on a Disney Cruise.
89. Lay in a hammock on a secluded beach beneath a palm tree.
90. Plan and participate in a massive scavenger hunt with a group of friends.
91. Go to Latin America and see the Myan Temples.
92. Lay in a field of sunflowers and look at the clouds.
93. Come up with an analogy and use it in a church talk/lesson.
94. Give a random stranger a big hug.
95. Overcome my fear of guns by shooting one, at a shooting range of course.
96. Turn an everyday situation, like work, into a musical, where my friends and I dance and sing about the situation at hand.
97. Bear my testimony in a foreign language.
98. Be in the Easter Pageant at the temple grounds.
99. Read all of the Standard Works from beginning to end.
100. Never let one day pass without a smile. Find the good in each day and enjoy my life to the very end.

Bring it on two-oh-oh-nine

2009-01-03T13:34:00.000-08:00

I am so excited for a new year! I was reflecting on 2008, and was shocked at how different my life was last january! I have gone through so much change and growth this year and I am so excited to go through even more this year!

Some things that will reside within 2009

1. In-N-Out management: In March over spring break I am supposed to go work at a another store for a week, as a manager, and get passed off by that store manager if I am ready. If I pass my week, then in June I get shipped out to California to attend a week of management classes at In N Out University (our company's training dept.) I am really looking forward to this new challenge and am hoping that I have what it takes.

2. Starting my teaching certification program, and interning part-time at a school. I am very excited to start my interning, this will really help me get excited and motivated about teaching because right now I am not sure if my heart is in it or not. I would begin interning in the fall semester, unlesssss.....

3. Mission? I will be turning 21 on September 28th of this year, and the question that has been plaguing me for a long time is whether or not I am to serve a full-time mission. My family, of course, is very unsupportive of the idea, but it's my life and I will do as my Heavenly Father wishes, once He lets me know what that is. For now I am just preparing myself to enter the temple, so that regardless of what the plan is I can be ready.

Those are just some of the MAJOR things I have to look forward to this year. I am hoping I encounter many many other exciting and life changes events this year. Happy New Year :)

Love, Madi

Count Your Many Blessings

2008-12-27T22:08:00.000-08:00

I feel like every single day I have found something to be thankful for, and have really been pondering about it lately, so I will do as the hymn instructs, and name a few of them one-by-one.

1. My Job. Yes, I know I complain often about it, about how muchmy wrists ache from cooking, and the long hours, etc., but I am so grateful for the job I have at In-N-Out that allows me to have flexible hours during the semester and pays me enough that I can live comfortably on my own and pay for school on my own. Recently I had been praying for help with finances, the last month I had to take a lot of time off and was really concerned about having enough money, so I paid my tithing as had faith that I would be helped. No surprise, Heavenly Father made sure I was financially stable this month, in several ways. First of all, I got a major promotion last saturday and am now a "level 7", meaning I am authorized to run a shift and that I received a dollar an hour raise. Also, I was talking to my boss about buying Christmas gifts for my family and he mentioned that I should be able to get them something nice because he gave me a bonus on my next check! This blew my mind, I have never heard of anyone getting a bonus unless they were all-starring. I asked him why and he just said that I was doing a really great job and wanted to thank me. Major blessing right there.

2. The scriptures. For some reason I have found lately that all the scriptures I am studying seem to apply to me and really enlighten me, and it feels great. I hope I never take the scriptures for granted and really appreciate what I blessing it is to have easy access to the word of God, and to have a prophet who can help us to understand the scriptures even better.

3. My family. Another thing I might complain about too much. I rarely see my family because they are out in Avondale, but also because sometimes it's so hard for me to be around them for long periods of time because there is so much contention. Don't get me wrong, I love them all to pieces, individually, but once they are together they are quite the handful ha ha. This Christmas I wanted to promote family unity so I bought them all different games for us to play together, and it was a big success! The family favorite is this weird random game called Quelf. On Christmas Eve I played it with Mom, Alli, Ken and his two daughters, and it was so awesome to see my mom laughing and having a good time and everyone getting along for the most part. It was also pretty funny to watch my Mom and Sister do the can-can, as instructed by the card they drew. On Christmas, Alli and I played Quelf with Dad and he too had a good time! There are very few things that we can do together and actually enjoy it, but playing games seemed to be a hit! I am so grateful that everyone in my family is working harder to be more loving and kind to one another, I see such a difference in them and I know they are trying, even my sister seemes to be working at being kinder. I love my family and wouldn't trade them for anything.

4. Addison. Addison is a girl who I work with, she is 17, a member of the church, and is living with me for a few weeks. I am so grateful for her companionship, I know that if I had to be all alone in this apartment until Ash and Katie come home I would be so depressed! Addison is so fun to be around, and she is always cleaning the house! I kind of feel bad about it..but then again no ha ha she seems to enjoy cleaning.

5. Blankets. I have woken up freezing cold almost everynight and am really grateful for all of the warm blankets I received this Christmas, one nice one from In-N-Out and one homemade one from someone I work with through the White Elephant gift exchange, and both have kept me semi-warm almost every night. I think it should be appropriate to carry a blanket everywhere, and am wishing that I could bring one to church tomorrow.

6. Sleep. It has been so weird for me to have the time to sleep more than 6 hours, but I am noticing how much of a difference it really makes. I am more patient, my brain functions better, and I just feel better. mmmm I think I will get some sleep right now!

Goodnight,
Madison

Dear Fall 2008..

2008-12-16T12:06:00.000-08:00

I Hate Your Stinking Guts

I am so glad that I never have to see you ever again

I hate how you made me lose countless hours of much needed sleep

I hate how you made me have classes every stinkin' day instead of only twice a week like last semester! Can't I have a schedule that is more accommodating to my needs, that will allow me to work during the day and have a life at night? ugh.

I hate how your Geography lecture was intensely boring and even when I did try and pay attention, none of your stupid geographical jargon made sense to me and therefore made me feel like an idiot.

Why did you make me take Educational Psychology when the teacher just read powerpoints for an hour while I napped upon my desk? I am grateful for the GPA boost regardless of the fact that I learned absolutely nothing, the A is much appreciated.

I did enjoy, however, your Improvisation with Youth course and will really miss all the people in that class and making super fun, interactive lesson-plans. Thank you for teaching me to have fun and be myself.

Thank you for making me join institute choir, or for inspiring Bro. Hofeling to make me join. Without choir I never would have gained the confidence to sing loud and proud anywhere and everywhere, even though I kind of suck, and to really learn to love music and the power behind music and the hymns. Without choir I wouldn't have taken my mother to the temple visitor's center, and she wouldn't have been invited to take the missionary lessons, and I wouldn't be as extremely happy as I am now.

Thank you for my new living situation and my amazing roommates. They have taught me so much about love and friendship, and are amazing examples to me. They also have taught me so much about myself, many things I was unwilling to learn but am glad that I did. I would like to thank them for teaching me to ask for help and to let other people take care of me when I need it, for staying up til 3 am reading general conference addresses/scriptures, watching cheesy mormon movies, hanging up pictures/coat racks/shutters at odd hours of the night, cooking dinner all the time when I am too lazy to do so, washing the dishes way more than I ever did, holding me and listening when things were tough and rejoicing with me when life was at its best, and most of all for being the best friends I have ever had and for helping me to see what kind of person I want to be and growing towards being that person. I love them both more than they could understand.

hmm..Fall 2008..maybe you weren't so bad after all. Maybe you provided situations for me that allowed me to grow and develop, to see what is really important in life, family, friends, being yourself, and having fun. Maybe I had more fun this semester than I can ever remember having in my whole life. Maybe I gained so many new friends and memories that I will never ever forget. Maybe I will miss you just a little bit. I hope my new friend, Spring 2009, will treat me well and give me as much joy, growth, and memories as you have. Please tell Spring that I hate boring lectures, stupid group projects and that I want to get straight A's this time, I know that's a stretch, but it was worth a try. Thanks for everything.

Love,
Madison

I have been born as Nephi of old...

2008-12-14T21:18:00.000-08:00

Today was the most intense emotional rollercoaster. Today was one of the happiest days I have ever experienced, yet one of the saddest. We'll start with the saddest, so I can end on a happy note.

Following my mom's missionary discussion (which I will describe next) I went over to Michael and Natalie Parks' home. They are like a big brother and sister to me, Michael baptized me and I feel like Natalie is such a great friend and example to me of the kind of woman I hope to become. Tonight we had to say our goodbyes because they are moving up to Michigan next week. It didn't hit me at all until I was leaving. Before I left their twin four-year-old daughters, Madelynn and Sydona, sang me primary songs, "I am a Child of God" and "I Love to See the Temple" and I couldn't help but cry because I have watched them grow so much and it made me so happy to see them singing these songs that conveys the most important truths found in our restored gospel. I am so upset that I will not be around to watch these beautiful little girls continue to grow :( On my way out the door we all hugged and cried, a lot. As soon as I saw Natalie start crying I just lost it and was pretty much sobbing once I got to my car and for the entire drive home. The Parks family has blessed me in so many ways and it is so hard for me to imagine what it will be like with them so far away. :( :( :(

Now for the news I am pretty sure everyone is anticipating: my mother's very first lesson with the missionaries. She was so cute and excited for them to come over, she even had a fresh batch of homemade sugar cookies waiting for them. It was only the elders, my mom, and myself, my sister stayed in her room because she didn't want to hear the lessons. So at first the elders were just talking and getting to know us, we talked about my conversion, my mom said that it was hard for her at first and had thought that I was brainwashed, ha ha, and they just kind of answered some of her questions and cleared up some rumors she had heard. Then the elders asked my mom if we could start with a prayer and asked her to choose who says it. I was sitting next to her and she put her arms around me and asked me to pray. Following my prayer my mom said, "wow Madi, that was really good!" and I just kind of laughed and told her that I do it everyday so it's no surprise ha ha. So the elders gave her the first lesson, focusing mainly on the restoration and the Book of Mormon. They then invited her to read Moroni 10 and she said she would try, she really hates reading and has a hard time doing it, but she said she would try. At this point I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon being a true translation through the prophet Joseph. Then we all kind of just talked about some things and my mom said that she is really glad they were teaching her and that she is fully supportive of me being a Mormon, that she sees what good things the church believes and practices, especially concerning the family, and that she really liked the things she had learned. She also mentioned that she really liked going to the visitor's center and felt she learned a lot there. She also said she wanted to go to church with me, and this is the part that hurt, she asked me why I hadn't invited her to church sooner...I almost lost it when I heard that. How selfish of me to keep this great gift from her! I hope this experience will teach me to be more bold in sharing the gospel.

This lesson went perfectly. I have never felt like I could talk to my family about the church, ever, for fear of upsetting them or causing problems, but during the lesson I felt so comfortable talking to my mom about the church and bearing testimony, it was as if Heavenly Father had simply used me to convey what he wanted to be said. I still do not understand how I was able to remain so calm and was able to only speak when I felt it appropriate. Considering the circumstances and how long and hard I have prayed for this I worried that I would get anxious and teach things that she was not ready for, or just pressure her to move faster than she is prepared. But I know that Heavenly Father helped me to take control over myself and guide me in my actions and speech. After the lesson I didn't even say one word to her about the church besides thanking her for listening. It wasn't until I left her house that I began to feel overcome with the emotions that I should have been feeling all throughout the lesson and just cried and sang praises at the top of my lungs. I want to thank all the many many people who fasted for my mother, if you were at the lesson it would have been easy to see that she has been truly prepared to take the lessons. I am so excited to continue teaching my mom and hopefully see a change within her. I want so badly for the gospel to bless my family and to one day be able to go inside the temple with them to be sealed for time and all eternity. I love my family so much, although it has been a rough road, I love them regardless and am so grateful for all they have done for me. I am grateful for the plan of my Heavenly Father, I know he has a plan for my family and am trusting that whatever happens, good or bad, that it will be for the most good for my family.

With a Million Rays of Love and Joy,
Madison :)

Best Week Ever

2008-12-07T22:26:00.000-08:00

This past week was nothing short of amazing. I already told why Thursday was pretty much the best day ever in my previous post so I will now explaing why the rest of the week was perfect.

Friday

Friday night was the ASU Institute Winter Ball. I had asked the night off, but once Wednesday had rolled around I was growing concerned because no male had asked me to go yet. On Wednesday afternoon I went to Panda Express with Ash, Abby, and a guy from the ward named Chris, who I had just met that day. Later that day Ashley forced me to call up Chris and ask him to the dance, which I did, and which I do not regret in the least. I had a blast with Chris! I thought it would be extremely awkward since we didn't really know each other but we had so much fun being dorky and making up our own dance routines ha ha. After the dance we went to Circle K with Abby and Jerod and got hot cocoa and then played Apples to Apples, my favorite game ever, at Abby's place. This night was so much fun, especially since I didn't really expect to have a good time.

Saturday

On this morning Katelin Roberts (my in n out friend), Abby, Mo, Jerod, and I travelled up to Snowflake to get our baptism on at the Snowflake Temple. I enjoyed every second of this entire trip, even the 7 hours we spent in the car dancing and singing to the radio and the speeding ticket I received on the way home by the yummy looking officer. The Temple was beautiful and amazing and I loved it so much, not as much as the Mesa Temple since that is my home, but nevertheless I thought the Temple was a wonderful experience.

After our visit to the temple we grabbed some lunch at the golden arches and headed over to Show Low because Bro. Hofeling suggested we check out his old seminary building. We went to the seminary building, couldn't get in of course because it was the weekend but we had a fun time taking ridiculous pictures to give to bro. hof

This has been a most amazing and joyful weekend and I am really sad to see it go, especially since the coming two weeks are going to be horribly filled with studying and finals and hating of life. December 4-6, 2008 shall be remembered forever.

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep"

2008-12-04T19:36:00.000-08:00

Tonight the ASU Institute Choir, myself included, sang at the Mesa Temple, and it was probably one of the most joyous nights of my life. I had invited my family, my mom, dad, sister, and grandmother, to come listen to me sing, and all had committed but only my mom showed up. We rode together and got there a bit early so I took her around the visitor's center. This may surprise you, since I come off as being very missionary-minded, but my family knows very very little about the church and what I know to be true. It was difficult in the beginning for them the accept my conversion so I thought it best to not bring up the topic, so they wouldn't feel like I am pressuring them to convert or that I am "brainwashing" them. Anyways, my mom and I watched the movie in the visitor's center, God's plan for His family. If you have heard my conversion story, you know this movie plays a huge role, when I visited the temple visitor's center a few years ago I had watched this movie and felt the spirit very strongly for the very first time in my life, and it was this instance that led to me take the missionary discussions. Back to the present, at the end of the movie the sister missionary was talking to my mom and I and learned that I was the only member, having been baptized about 1.5 years ago, and also, to my shame, learned that my mom didn't even know what the Book of Mormon is. After talking a little bit the sister missionary asked my mom if she would like the missionaries to come to her house and share a message with her so that she could learn more about what her daughter believes.....and.....she said YES! This has been my fervent prayer ever since I joined the church, that my family would have the same opportunity that I had to learn about this amazing, true gospel. I don't know how I did it, but I held my composure until I walked into the room where the choir was practicing.Once I was out of my mom's sight I felt the most overwhelming feeling of joy imaginable and tears streamed down my smiling face. I am overjoyed that I will soon be able to sit down with the elders and talk to my mom about the church and bear my testimony. My Heavenly Father loves me and has heard and answered my constant prayer. I am so grateful to Him and love Him so much. I feel like I am on top of the world and that my life couldn't possibly get any better.

Black Friday

2008-11-29T21:27:00.000-08:00

I have never ever gone shopping on Black Friday, for good reason, but this year I decided to give it a shot. After my Thansgiving festivities out in Avondale I came home to Tempe and joined Blake in camping out in front of Frys Electronics. He got there around 5:30 pm on thursday, I got there around 7ish. We played cards, rode our longboards around the lot, watched a movie, did some scripture study and drank a ton of hot chocolate. Jon got there around midnight and we all just chilled on the air mattress, literally, because it was freezing outside. Frys opened up at 530am and it was a madhouse! We were in the front of the line so I was in and out pretty quickly, I wasn't going for anything big anyways, I just got a stereo for my car. Blake on the other hand, did like all of his Christmas shopping and had a cart full of goodies. I had a fun time hanging out all night with the boys, I wasn't really there to shop. The downside is that I have been really sick the past two days from being out in the cold. I had to call in sick to work today and have been in bed allll day. I think I am almost better, so hopefully I will be able to make it to church and to sing in the choir concert tomorrow night at 7. For now, I will continue watching all the Disney movies I own and rest.

November

2008-11-17T07:55:00.000-08:00

I am going to officially declare November the month of Baptism. Within our ward I can think of 6 baptisms that occured this month. Derek, Mo, Rebecca, Jeff in the previous weeks, and Adam and Ryan this upcoming saturday. I am not really aquainted yet with Derek, Ryan, or Adam, but I feel particularly close to Mo, Rebecca and Jeff. Witnessing their conversion and how much they have changed, mainly how happy they have become, has been a tremendous blessing in my life. I feel like when I am around them that my own testimony grows and I know I am learning so much from these amazing new members. Mo has taught me to live life with passion, to be excited about everything and to enjoy every second of every day. Rebecca has taught me to always wear a smile and to have a positive attitude, this girl is NEVER angry or upset, ever, and when I think of her I think that I have no excuse for being cranky or thinking that my lot is hard, I should be smiling and "finding joy in the journey" as the prophet said. Jeff has taught me the importance of deep study. He loves the scriptures and studies them so much, I think from Jeff I have learned to truly appreciate the scripture and what a blessing it is to have them with me at all times and at such convenience. Attending all three of their baptism was an amazing experience, especially because each of them had a lot of support from their families. When I was baptized my family chose not to attend, I wish they would have but am not upset or angry about that, but seeing how supportive their parents were made me so happy for these new members. Rebecca's sweet parents had even mentioned how proud they were of Rebecca for her decision. Even though they don't have a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel they could see how important baptism was for her and what a huge decison she was making and were fully supportive. :)

I am so completely overjoyed that November is not the end of the baptism fever that is spreading in Tempe! For the last couple of weeks a friend that I work with has been taking the lessons at my apartment, and today the elders committed her to be baptized on Dec. 6th! We are all so excited for her! It has been amazing for me to watch her grow and change as she learns about the gospel and the perfect plan that Heavenly Father has for all of his children! I love this gospel and know, more than I know of anything else, that it is 100% true and that it is the church of Jesus Christ.

Shine On

2008-11-12T14:34:00.000-08:00

RULES:
1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, MP3 Player, or whatever on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.

If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
Poor Fool He Makes Me Laugh- Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack
[this one made ME laugh]

How would you describe yourself?
Oh Say What is Truth?-Hymns
[Oh yeaaaah, honest and true, that's me alright]

What do you like in a guy/girl?
Tie the Rope-The Format
[I guess this could describe my current attitude toward the male species ha ha]

How do you feel today?
The Day Dawn is Breaking-Hymns
[Oh this real good, I actually feel like I am almost out of the darkness that is fall semester and can see the light!]

What is your life’s purpose?
Nay, Speak No Ill-Hymns
[Wow the hymns are popular today with the shuffler]

What is your motto?
Give It Up-The Format
[Format also seems to be popular]

What do your friends think of you?
Resolution-Motion City Soundtrack

What do you think of your family?
Choose the Right-Hymns
[bahahaha this does NOT remind me of my parents, maybe because I have to choose the right and be nice to them when sometimes it's hard]

What do you think about very often?
Push Push-Bang Camaro
[basically an intrumental of guitar amazingness, i guess i think about amazingness]

What is 2 + 2?
Electable-Jimmy Eat World

What do you think of your best friend?
Sore Thumb-The Format

What do you think of the person you like?
While Shepherds Watched their Flock-Hymns
[that make zero sense]

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Majesty-Hillsong
[Oh this is good, so this is a song from a Christian band about Jesus Christ, so maybe it's saying that I wanna be like JC, which is TRUE!]

What do you think of when you see the person you like?
The Course of Human Life-the Early November

What will you dance to at your wedding?
Into the Airwaves-Jack's Mannequin

What will they play at your funeral?
Lifesong-Casting Crowns
[This is also perfect, casting crowns is an amazing Christian band and this song is about making all aspects of your life be praise to God "May the words I say and the things I do make my lifesong sing, bring a smile to you"]

What is your hobby/interest?
Dear God-Avenged Sevenfold
[Prayer? I SHOULD make this a hobby, it's a sign]

What is your biggest fear?
Ruthless-Something Corporate

What is your biggest secret?
The Jetset life is gonna kill you-My Chemical Romance

What do you think of your friends?
Catalyst-Anna Nalick

What will you post this as?
Shine On-EFY
[nice]

So I saw this on Kara Morris' blog and hers turned out hilarious, way better than mine, but it was fun to do and try and justify the divine shuffle selection of my iTunes.

Damsel in Distress

2008-11-11T23:24:00.001-08:00

Today I received a piece of information from a male friend that really surprised me! So I was on the phone with this male friend, and just for background, we had discussed in the past few weeks the possibility of us dating. Now it wasn't a big deal, we had just kind of discussed what the pros and cons would be, and what both of our concerns were, and then kind of just left things undecided for awhile because I don't know why. Tonight he called and decided we needed to figure out where we stand. He knew that I really enjoyed his friendship, but could easily swing either way, whether it was friends or dating I really could have gone either way, no big deal. He told me that he had been kind of observing me to see if we would be good together, he didn't want to risk our friendship by dating when it wouldn't have a positive outcome, which is good, I am very glad that he took the time to consider these things rather than rushing something that would have been ineffective. So from his observations he learned that: 1. I am always trying to help others. Ok, I do try hard to help others, I could always do a lot more, but I do my best. This comment didn't really throw me off, I took it as a compliment. 2. I don't really need help from others very often and am ok standing on my own two feet. Yes, this is also true, another trait of mine that I have always viewed as a positive one, one that I really am proud of myself for. Apparently
(and this didn't bother me or hurt my feelings, merely surprised me)he concurred that because of trait #2, it would be unsuccessful for us to date because he wanted to be with a girl that needed him and he could take care of. This blew me away! Guys want needy girls? Wow. If you recall the instance in previous blogging where I changed my own flat tire, my dad had told me very bluntly that I should have had a boy do it because guys do no want girls who do not need their help! Who would have thought that my father actually knew what he was talking about! So, I am unsure about what I will do with this new tidbit of information. Should I remain relatively in charge of my needs and be i-n-d-e-p-e-n-d-e-n-t...OR become the damsel in distress and convince the male species that I am in great need of their help and attention? I think I will need to reflect on what it is that the male species is seeking, in correlation to what it is that I am seeking.

Love,
A thoroughly confused Madison

My Absolute Best

2008-11-10T15:38:00.000-08:00

Last week at work my store manager, Jon, took me into the backroom to show me a movie. I was thinking it was going to be some kind of training video from the company about "tomato coverage" or how to count the safe, but I was totally wrong, and was so touched by the clip I was shown from the movie "Facing the Giants", which I had never seen before.

As I watched this movie I couldn't help but cry, yep in front of all the associates who were working at the time, in front of my managers, I just stood there and cried. What stuck in my head about the movie was not what my boss had intended, which is that I have an impact on the other associates and need to be giving my "absolute best", but that Heavenly Father is right there with us, every step of the way. When times get so hard and we think we can't take one more step, He is right there telling us to go just a little further. He sees the divine potential in each of us, and knows what we can become. Although right now, it may seem impossible to go even 50 yards in our journey, Heavenly Father is slowly but surely leading us to the endzone. It was funny because after the movie my boss mentioned something about us both being Christians and about how just as God knows how much potential I have, he also knows that as a manager I have huge potential that I just don't see within myself. My boss is always telling me to have more confidence in myself and that I need to push myself. After watching this clip, I know that I need to be giving my "absolute best" at work, at home, at church, with friends and family, in good times, in bad times, and will make a conscious effort to do so.

Let's Just Let it Roll

2008-11-06T17:49:00.000-08:00

Ups

1. That Geography test I thought I bombed-I totally rocked it and got an A+! That was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me, well, not really, but wow it felt great!

2. My wonderful roommate Ashley must have been bored or something, but she did a huge cleaning job on our apartment while I was working and it looks great! It just feels so much better to come home to a clean place rather than clutter and mess.

3. Mo's Baptism is on Saturday! Excitement! I am so happy for her and am really looking forward to attending her baptism.

4. My Ensign came yesterday. I have been checking the mail every single day, anticipating its arrival. I am so excitement to review the talks and study the words of modern day prophets :)

5. The weather. It is absolutely gorgeous outside today. This time of year is my absolute favorite because being outside is so relaxing and my world seems to gain a little more peace. I am going to try and spend as much time outside as possible.

6. Christmas songs. I am in the Institute Choir and we have started singing Christmas songs! We are singing this great song called Christmas Bells, which is a version of the Hymn "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day", and this song is so beautiful and brightens my day. I cannot wait for the Christmas season.

7. I bought my first scripture case yesterday. I know I am like a year overdue in getting one but I am so picky! So I just bought a plain black one and I am going to stitch my name on it and some cool spiritual stuff that is personal to me, like a good quote or maybe a hymn verse, like "More Holiness Give Me", mmm best hymn in the hymnal, I will testify of that.
8. My mission to be fearless is showing some fruits. I made a move that was quite bold, for me at least, and the result was not what I expected but it will be quite interesting.

I am trying so hard not to get caught up

2008-10-30T23:41:00.000-07:00

Ok I know it has been forever and a day since I have written on here, BUT I have been intensely busy and I feel like this is the first time I have sat down without homework in front of me in weeks. Ummm where to start? All I have basically been doing is work work work, but I sneak in some sleep every now and then. I was feeling sick at the beginning of the week and missed some classes so I could rest up and recover. Monday night was pretty amazing.. I brought my friend Tara from work to the friendship dinner, we had planned on hanging out that night so I suggested some free food. Over dinner she was asking some questions about the church so I brought the missionaries over to help out since I am not the best with words. At one point I got up to go get dessert, came back to sit down and heard Tara and the elders making an appointment for her to take the first missionary lesson this sunday at my apartment! I am so excited that she wants to learn more about the church and from what I see she is way excited too! At work she is always saying she can't wait until sunday, and neither can I.
Had a Geography test on wednesday..oh boy.. I have no idea how bad I did but if I got below a C then I don't think I will be passing that class this semester, which is really freaking me out. I have straight A's in all my other classes, but for some reason the material in my geography class just makes zero sense to me.
Tuesday I had a hilarious experience in my "Improvisation with Youth" class. Our teacher told us to find our own space in the room and to stand as if we have a 50 pound tail. Then we are informed that the monster we have become can only make little kitten noises. Then we learn that we also have severe body lice. Imagine what 20 students looked like walking around the classroom playing that character. Our teacher posed questions to us such as, "what does your monster look like in love? How does you monster walk when it's sad? How does your monster sleep?" After this monster we were transformed into a monster that has a 50 pound beard, hands that cannot leave the ground, and litte wings that don't lift us very far off the ground but are continually flapping. Interesting class, let me tell ya.
Tomorrow is Halloween and can you just guess where I will be? Yep, you guessed it, working from 5pm to 2am. Ugh. At least there are a lot of fun people working tomorrow night so hopefully we can make it a fun time. I am going to bring in a bunch of cookies to cheer everyone up.
I am addicted to a new song. "'Cause I don't know how it gets better than this, you take my hand and drag me head first, fearless..." I want to be fearless. I admit that there are not many things I truly fear, like in a way that it would affect me, but I do wish I could take more risks and maybe put myself out on a limb more often. I am such a chicken and need to learn to be fearless, in my career/education choices, at my job, with boys ;), and most of all with myself. I know who I want to become but am always unwilling to take risk, or do anything that is out of character and that stops my progression, so my new mission is to be more fearless.

I'm Ready, So Don't Stop Me

2008-10-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

This week has been amazing so far..

1. I have woken up and attended all of my classes, have not fallen asleep in any class and have even participated! I raised my hand, asked questions, made comments and am feeling great about my classes.

2.I went to the Buffalo Exchange and bought a dress and a pair for jeans for a total of around twenty bucks! wwwooooo hoooo cheap clothes!!!

3.Jam session on Monday with Bro. Hofeling, he taught me how to play "Hey Ya" in a higher key so that I could sing it in soprano. My roommates are probably sick of me playing that song but I just love it! Plus it one of the few I can actually sing and play at the same time.

4. The weather. Wow. Just being outside and feeling a cool breeze and being able to wear a light sweater makes me the happiest girl in the world.

5. On saturday my boss sat me down and had a heart to heart with me, started rocky, ended great. He started by saying that he thinks I have a ton of potential that I don't see within myself and that I need to be more confident, that In-N-Out would be lucky to have me for a manager but that I need to push myself to be my best. He also said that I don't have to rush into management since he knows I am seriously considering a mission next fall, hopefully I would be able to do management when I get home. So, the good news is that he wants to give me my next promotion by Nov. 11th, so I really need to push myself but I know my managers are supporting me and I feel much more confident.

6. I put money into my savings account this week!! After paying my tuition this semester without the aid of scholarships or loans I found myself struggling to get back on track financially. I had 16.00 in savings, was living paycheck to paycheck, had more comsumer debt than I felt comfortable with. I have officially paid off all of my debt, school is paid for, credit card is paid off, and I was able to put a couple hundred bucks in savings this month! It feels so great to be on the road again to being financially stable.

7. I love love love my THP 311: Improvisation with Youth class. Last week I was given "pixie dust" and was transformed into a bumble bee, while other students were spiders, butterflies, etc., all bugs that were found in the children's book we were using to create lesson plans to. As a bumble bee I had a fantastic time flying around the room and stinging the other bugs hahaha. The student in charge of facilitating the class that date had a blast with 4 bumble bees soaring around stinging the other bugs, her shouting "BE NICE, we are all friends here at this tea party! We need to play nice with each other!" Love love love that class.

8. I just feel amazing, unstoppable, free, invincible, focused, and overall just really have been enjoying this week, which is weird because I have been dragging my feet so much this semester, but I am finding my usual pep getting back into my step. YAY! I get to be myself again!!

Love love love,
Madison

A Picture can say 1,000 words

2008-10-13T01:23:00.000-07:00

That is how I feel after tonight's fireside. Tonight I was fortunate enough to listen to Greg Olsen, the guy who painted most of the picture of Christ we see within the church, and loved hearing him speak on how close he grew to the Savior as he painted. He worked very hard at asking questions and trying to think of what Jesus was really like and some of the things he learned and spoke of were just so precious to me.

With this picture he described Christ teaching the child, mainly about our divine potential. A caterpillar could never know what beautiful things genetics had in store for it, that one day it would turn into a beautiful butterfly with wings to fly. So it is with us, that although it is impossible to see how divine and perfect we can and will be one day it is such a wonderful feeling to know that my Heavenly Father created me, knowing that one day this hunk of black coal could be refined into a beautiful diamond.

I think Greg Olsen does an amazing job at capturing the love that Jesus has for us and I can just feel my heart become so full of that love when I see these paintings.

Serving the Elders

2008-10-09T23:46:00.000-07:00

Many times within the church we are counseled to serve others, and I often hear to aid our missionaries. Well, my roommates and I decided to take action in this area and serve the elders from university second ward since they live in our apartment complex. We served them alright..one big batch of mischief. Elder Irving and Hillyard and us have had a little joke going on for a couple weeks about how we were going to play pranks on each others cars/apartments, and since Elder Hillyard was transferred on wednesday we wanted to really show him we were grateful for his service. On tuesday night around midnight, Katie, Ashley and I took 4 rolls of cling wrap and had one heck of a time wrapping up the elders car. We put a sign on the car that said "good luck hillyard", then wrapped over it, and we baked them cookies as a peace offering. We pretty much had a blast doing this but I was disappointed that it only took them roughly 2 minutes to take all of the cling wrap off. The Elders thought it was funny and had a good time with it I think. Overall I would say our mission was a success.

I would like to close by saying that cling wrap serves no other purpose beyond the covering of cars and other objects for the sake of mischief. Otherwise, I hate cling wrap. It never sticks to what you want it to.

Find Joy in the Journey-NOW

2008-10-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

I love General Conference. Even though it is at such an early hour and allows me to get about 4 hours of sleep after closing at work, I love the great messages from modern day apostles and prophets. Today I was very grateful to be able to watch general conference in Avondale with The Parks family, I really don't get to see them as often as I like and love when I get the opportunity to spend time with their family. I am exhausted right now, so I will just write a few of my favorite conference moments.

1. Elder L. Tom Perry- The importance of living a simplistic life. He stressed the importance of living within your income and the importance of saving. I was glad to hear this message because it seems like since school started money has been a bit tighter, but when it comes down to it I need to just stick more closely to my budget and not spend money on stupid things, like food when I am too lazy to make my lunch. He also brought up the importance of getting enough sleep, which is something I really need to work on, since 4-5 hours a night probably isn't enough.

2. Sister Allred- Missionary work. I like that she said that in order to be a good missionary you need to have a clear understanding that God loves ALL of His children. I think it is just so important that we do not judge others, even when it seems warranted. Even when someone seems to give us reasons to judge I think it is so important to remember that only the Savior can judge us.

3. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin- Learn to Laugh. First of all I love the story he told about his daughter and the blind date, and second, I completely agree that if we can laugh at the little things that get us down instead of getting upset than we can be so much happier.

4. Elder Gerald Causse- Our Eyes are blind, you have to seek with your heart. The message of the gospel is simple, we should not complicate it and need to remember that knowledge comes from the spirit and through our hearts.

5. Elder Robert D. Hales- True disciples see the opportunity in persecution. Why do we fear pesecution? It gives us an opportunity to share this great message. Yes, it is hard at times, especially when some mock that which we hold so sacred, but we should try to see the missionary opportunities that come with those criticisms.

6. President Thomas S. Monson- In everything give thanks!

My wonderful horrible day :)

2008-09-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

Today was wonderful in many ways, yet horrible in a few key instances. Shall we start with the horrible?

1. "MADI, did you know we have an exam in geography today?!" Uh oh. Of course I would neglect my syllabus and thus fail to notice that there was an exam scheduled today. And of course it would occur in the class that I rarely attend as of late. So basically I had only learned about half of the material, had an hour to cram in between classes, and was totally insecure about my ability to do well on this exam. I feel like I had to guess on about half of the test, but I am a pretty good test taker so let's hope I received a miracle today.

2. "Oh crap, where are my car keys?" Yep. During FHE at Golfland tonight, at the end of our round I noticed that my car keys had jumped from my pocket at some point. So Vanie and I had to go on a putt putt scavenger hunt and look for my keys. Thank goodness Vanie is amazing and found them, but boy oh boy was I freaking out for a good fifteen minutes!

Happiness :)

1.My Latter-Day Hymns Institute class was amazing. I love what I learn in that class and I love the discuss we have in there.
2. I had a delicious lunch today of ribs and a baked potato, leftover from last night's birthday dinner at my mom's house.
3. I got to sit and chat with Brother Hofeling today about some scripture questions I had, got to play his beautiful 12-string guitar, and listened to Bro. Hof read a talk to me that punked all single male adults in the church, get em' Bro. Hof, lol.
4. I was able to go run today :) I went before FHE since it seemed really cool out today, but I had to run against the wind the whole time and felt like crap by the time I had finished the two miles from my apartment on Priest to In-N-Out where I get a big delicious glass of water.
5. Unexpected Success in an area that I am surely unskilled at. ;)
6. Driving to FHE with the roommates was fun; singing the hymns at the top of our lungs and laughing and joking the whole way. I am so appreciative of them. I honestly don't think I could be happier living with anyone else (except maybe a super amazing husband one day). They are so selfless and righteous and I really wish I could be a better roommate to them. Sometimes I get crabby after so much school and work and stress, but hopefully I can turn my frown upside down and be nicer.
7. Discovery. For awhile I have been having a hard time getting myself to wind down and fall asleep, but recently I have discovered a sure fire way to knock me out. Everytime I play the acoustic rendition of "Hey Ya" I get soooo sleeping, I even fell asleep sitting in my bed once with my guitar across my lap. This is great because I can finally get to sleep, but bad because I love playing this song but I hate falling asleep in the middle of it.

Life is on the up and up.

Love, Madi

Too old to be a "teenage dirtbag", yet a year closer to being "21 and invincible"

2008-09-28T23:25:00.001-07:00

Yep, today is my 20th birthday, wowzas. Today started off pretty great, church, friend, family, happiness. I got to spend the afternoon with various family members and friends in Avondale, dragging my roommates along the whole way. I had to really laugh at the gift I received from my younger sister: two sacks full of groceries. I had previously told her that I was too poor to buy groceries, so she solved this by getting me some today, which I really really appreciate, it will be nice to eat something other than turkey and cheese sandwiches lol. I also have the best former home teacher ever, Mr. Jerod Hartley, who got me tickets to go see Anberlin for my birthday and I am super stoked to do that, since I haven't been to a show since high school. I am very thankful for so many friends who care about me, perhaps more than I deserve sometimes, and for all of the kind words I received today. :)

I have been caught up in too-deep thought today. I hate days when I find myself thinking way too much. Some thoughts include: the fact that it took me 18 years to find true happiness (through my conversion) and that I really wish I could have found it sooner; I really really feel like sitting alone outside, somewhere somewhat pretty, and just play my guitar and sing, which is a difficult task in itself since I am rather unskilled; the bishop's talk today on the importance of marriage, "just do it", and the conclusions and concerns I am drawing from that; I cannot do everything on my own, and although it is one of hardest things for my stubborn self to do, I have to ask for help, which I did today, and feel extremely yucky about losing a portion of my independency; I am not happy with school, which makes me wonder if I am in the right field, since I dislike 4/5 of my classes; my apartment is way too messy, and I really wish I had more time to devote to cleanliness, but I barely have time to sleep at this point let alone clean; I am feeling this void in my life, it is a very obvious void, only obvious in the fact that I know it exists, because I have no idea what that void is and I really wish I could fill it; I wish I had more time to go running, I miss that freedom so much; Even though it is my 20th birthday, I feel like it is my 30th, ok that's an exaggeration, maybe my 26th lol, just because I have so much on my plate and can feel my childhood slipping through my fingers. I rememeber being so carefree, excited about just life in general, funny, and always wearing a smile, yet lately I feel like I am drained of joy, sleep, and sunshine. oh boy. way too deep thought today. It's my birthday and I will cry if I want to, ha ha.

Love, Madi

I'm going there today!

2008-09-17T13:20:00.001-07:00

This week has been an interesting one. One filled with sleeping through alarms, staying up way too late doing homework, working (but not as much as usual thank goodness), and the strange onset of daily headaches and sometimes dizziness. I know that all of these are a result of me overworking myself, but the good news is that my boss told me that he is worried about me and cut my hours to 25 a week. I appreciate that he cares about my well-being enough to know that I needed my hours cut but was too afraid to ask, he even offered to buy me bread to make the sandwiches I bring to work everyday, what a great guy! So, yesterday I was pretty much feeling like the scum of the earth, I don't know why but I just felt worthless. Last night I went to the temple to do baptisms with Jerod and every stress, worry, and insecurity seemed to escape as soon as I walked through the doors. I left feeling overcome with peace, joy, and the confidence that I can make it through these hard times I am having. I love the temple, and am going to going at least once a week from now on, which is what I did all last semester but couldn't find the time this summer and have sorely missed the blessings that come from regular temple work. I got out of class early and don't have any homework today so I am going with Vanie to the temple, it will be her first time going and I am so honored to share the experience with her :)

Love, Madi

Becoming something I can't define

2008-09-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

This week has been pretty intense, no surprise there. Everyday is the same cycle of school, work, then about 5 hours of sleep. It is getting old reaaaal fast. I am seriously contemplating just getting in my car and driving. My birhtday is at the end of the month and I will get a three day weekend off work, so maybe I will drive myself to the beach, so I can just relax and recoop.

Today in my theater class we started learning about improvisation and we had to do an activity where we are given a topic and had to improv the situation with a partner. It was hilarious. Example:

Instructions: Person A has a crush on person b and you are at a school dance. person a has to try and get person b to dance with them, while person b does not want to dance yet does not want to hurt the other persons feelings.

Julia (A): So, are you having a good time?
Me (B): Ehh it's ok, I am not really into dances
Julia: Well do you like this song?
Madi: I actually have never heard it before
Julia: Really? It's on the radio all the time
Madi: Oh, well I don't listen to the radio, I only listen to my grandparents recordings of organ music
Julia: Oh, well can you dance to organ music?
Madi: Nope, you can only think, deep thoughts, to organ music
Julia: Well, maybe you can try dancing to this song anyways
Madi: Actually I have a doctor's note, no dancing whatsoever tonight
Julia: Why?
Madi: I recently had my left leg amputated, and the doctor said if I dance on my prosthetic leg that it would fall off and disintegrate.

My partner was just dying laughing, we had such a blast.

Last night I went running with my beautiful roommate, Katie Bug, and we were just talking about how much we have changed within the last year, and I realized that slowly I am turning into the kind of person I always envied in high school, the person I wanted to become so badly. The kind of girl who can lay on a bench in the middle of campus and just listen to her ipod, without worrying what other people think; the kind of girl who can be exactly who she wants to be, whether its thoughtful and reserved one day or weird, random and loud the next; the kind of girl who feels a real, true relationship with her loving Heavenly Father (finally, I have been searching for this for years); the kind of girl who feels absolutely free and independent as she coasts on her longboard; the kind of girl who feels confident in herself even when she is beet red and drenched in sweat after a run; the kind of girl who has real friends who she feels 100% comfortable with and who she can't imagine her life without; the kind of girl who sings at the top of her lungs, no matter who is listening; the kind of girl who has absolutely no idea what life will be like in the next 10 years, 5 years, 1 year, 6 months, or even 6 weeks, yet has a perfect knowledge that all things will be for her good and trusts in the one who holds her life in His hands.

I love my life. Every sleepless night, every awkward stumble into a lecture that has started without me, every flat tire/broken water heater/power outage/burned out tail light, every aching muscle after a ten hour shift at work. It's a difficult journey at times, but it would be so much harder if I didn't learn to enjoy every moment of it.

Love, Madi

"Ok to get there just climb down a rope, crawl down this tunnel that resembles a birth canal.."

2008-09-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

That was a direct quote of how to get to the "Sign in" room in the Pepper Sauce Caves on Labor Day. The sad part is that they were not kidding about the birth canal tunnel lol, it was a doozy.

So on Labor a semi-large group of kids from 5th ward, and a Phoenix ward went to the Pepper Sauce Caves, also known as the mud caves, down by Tucson for a little adventure. I had no idea how hard this was actually going to be, but oh boy, I am so incredibly sore today it is a surprise I can function. We got to the caves at around 8am and left around 12ish, covered in mud of course. This was a really fun time, we all were cracking jokes the whole time and it was so neat exploring in these caves. The kids that came from Phoenix were hilarious, and I am really glad I was able to get semi-acquainted with them. I totally did not anticipated how hard it would be to manuever in these caves, but there were times when someone would have to boost you up, people were slipping and falling left and right since it was so wet and slimy, I lost my footing and almost fell to my death (thank goodness Mike caught me). There were a lot of areas where we were pretty much squished into a crevice and inching our way along, or army crawling in really low-ceiling areas, walking through the giant toilet water lake, lol. It sounds pretty gross, but overall it was a good experience and I am really proud of myself for going out of my comfort zone and doing something so out of character, and doing it successfully.

Before

After

The Hurricane

2008-08-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

Thursday night was pretty much the most random night.

I was supposed to go longboarding with some friends from the ward and literally as we are walking to the car it goes from beautiful boarding weather to hurricane status. So Matt and I ended up hanging out at Blake's condo until it was safe to drive home, we sat around in the candle light (power was out) and sang to Matt/Mike playing acoustic guitar, it was pretty fun. Once I got home I could not believe how much worse things were over at my complex in comparison to Blake's. Here are some photos.

I would have you notice that in the last picture there is a white car shown on the left side, just feet away from the fallen tree. Yeah. That's my car. It escaped death by mere feet.

I hate covering the space/what do teachers make?

2008-08-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

First, in my gph111 class our teacher likes to start the lecture off with a funny video to kind of loosen us up, and this is the one he played on wednesday, and I looooved it. I will put in a disclaimer though: he uses a minor curse word, uses an inappropriate finger gesture, and drops a G-D at the end. BUT this video really says something to those of you who question the motivations of those who choose to become teachers. Enjoy.

Last night I worked until about midnight, came home, did homework until about 2 am, then got into bed feeling proud of myself for all I had accomplished, and went to sleep. When I woke up this morning, I was very upset to see that it was 9:00 am, when my alarm SHOULD have gone off at 6, making me completely miss my institute class, and my ed. psych class. Fortunately, I emailed my EDP teacher and he said he doesn't start taking attendence until next week so I won't miss out on any points, BUT the assignment I stayed up until 2 working on was for that class so now I will have to turn it in monday for half credit, not too bad since the assignment was only worth like 2 points, I was really up that late doing the assigned reading that accompanied the assignment.

Today in THP, my teacher drama class, we played theater games the whole time, one of which I really hated call "cover the space". In this activity everyone walks around the room pretty much randomly, our goal being "if you see empty space in the room, walk towards it, and cover it up" I am not joking, those are the exact instructions. He would make different rules like, only walking in right angles, if you don't hold a partner's hand you have to crawl on the floor, etc. but overall I thought this was the most ridiculous/annoying activity ever ha ha. The other game was pretty interesting though. It was called tilt, we all were paired off and our teacher put a water bottle on the floor in the center of the room. The pairs took turns pretending they were standing on opposite sides of a plate, the water bottle represented the center of the plate, and so if one person moved closer to the plate the other must also step closer or else the plate would tilt and fall. I had a lot of fun with this one because during my turn I kept trying to fake out my partner, by starting to step in one direction and then quickly pulling my foot back, so then she would tip our plate. I don't think she appreciated this, but I laughed everytime, I am sure my teacher thinks I am an idiot, haha. Do I care? No.

Love, Madi

ye shall run and not be weary, shall walk and not faint

2008-08-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I could definitely use some assistance in this area 'cause I am definitely weary already, only two days into the school year!

Today I woke up at 6 am and went to my first class, institute, which was The Gospel and World Religions with Bro. Wold, which I can tell is going to be amazing! He has so much energy and his excitement about teaching makes me excited to learn. I am really stoked to learn about other religions and how they have pieces of truth in their doctrine and how I can look at their beliefs and make positive applications to the way I worship God and serve in the church. There was this really great quote brought up in class today that was said by Joseph Smith that says, "One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may...gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up, or we shall not come out true Mormons." I really liked that quote because I have experienced many branches of Christian faith and many of them claim to be the only right church and work harder to discredit other faiths rather than support their own. I am so grateful of the open-mindedness of the church and its ability to draw knowledge and truth from so many different avenues. I forget what scripture it is, but there is one that says that everything on the Earth testifies of Christ, so with this scripture in mind it would make sense that we could gain a better testimony of the Savior, even through beliefs that seem to be far from our own, such as Buddhism or Islam. Wow, I am so excited for this class, can't you tell?

My next class was Educational Psychology, which doesn't seem to be too challenging, but was horrifically boring, like whoa. I was borderline falling asleep, but did my best to pull myself together since I was sitting in the very front.

Immediately following EDP I have Improvisation with Youth, which is like a theater class but for teachers, to learn how to respond on the spot to situations in the classroom and how dramatic activities and such can improve a child's learning. This class will hopefully be an easy A, woot woot, and Courtney Spencer, a friend from the Institute, and Kelly Doherty, a co-worker at In-N-Out, also have this class with me, so I am sure we will make it interesting.

Right after class got out at 11:30 I rushed over to work, I was actually scheduled to work 11-8 but I told them tough luck since I had class and I had already given them my schedule in advance so they had no excuse. Work wasn't so bad today, except as soon as I came back from my ten-minute break and had eaten my delicious turkey sandwich, I was ridiculously tired, so much that I was performing way below my abilities at work and some co-workers were actually concerned, ha ha. At around 3:30 I got to take my half hour break and I decided to lay down in the locker room. I turned off the lights, got a sack of clean linen and used it as a pillow, set an alarm on my phone just in case by some miracle I fell asleep, and just relaxed, as much as is possible on a dirty, hard, tile floor, ha ha. At 3:50 I awoke to the sound of my phone alarm and was completely shocked that I just passed out on the floor! When I came out, everyone was asking where I was and was almost as shocked as I was that I capable of just crashing on the locker room floor. I did feel a lot better though after my power nap! Boy was I just physically/mentally exhausted today! HELP!

Love, Madi

LDH, MTE, GPH rule my MWF

2008-08-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

First day back at ASU. I wasn't too excited to be back but am pleasantly surprised that so far my classes seem really fun and interesting, and I may be capable of getting A's in both of them, yay! I sure need the gpa boost. My first class was institute, my favorite, I had Latter-Day Hymns with Bro. Calton and it was sooooo cool! He is such a smart man and I learned so much about how the hymns tie in with specific doctrines, and I really just have a higher appreciation for the hymns, after only one class period! By the end of the semester you won't be able to stop me from singing them aloud at all times :)

My next class was Math for Elem. Teachers, which seems to be relatively easy..learning how to teach kids addition and such. My teacher seems really cool/nice AND Abby Christian is in this class with me! So that automatically means a good time. Funny story. So I was walking down the hall in the life sciences building and in walks Abby, "HEEEEEEEY are you going to 302?!" "YES! Wow we have a class together!" We walk into 302 and it is pretty much a storage room, ha ha, so we looked at our schedules and realized that we were supposed to go to PHYSICAL sciences not LIFE sciences, and I am just amazed that at the exact same moment in time Abby and I made the same mistake and went to the same incorrect classroom. Wow. Eventually we did creep in late to the correct classroom, but she had just barely began tlaking so she was ok with it.

Next and final class for the day was Intro. to Geography, which sounded horrifically boring when I signed up, and now seems incredibly cool! Abby is also in this class with me too! My teacher is a riot, I was laughing so much in class today, and the things he plans on teaching sound so interesting, I am pretty excited to learn more about our planet and mainly about sustainability and how I can keep the Earth in good shape for my posterity :)

School is now over for the day, so of course, I am off to work for the night!

Love,
Madi

Arm Burns and Cheese Pants

2008-08-23T23:38:00.000-07:00

School is most definitely back, along with the thousands of ASU students who love to eat In N Out Burger. On friday night I worked the closing shift from 5 pm to 2 am and I pretty much cooked the entire time, and today I worked from 11 am to 9 pm, and I cooked for the entire shift. Wow. My back is killing me, I am exhausted, and covered in new grill/cheese burns, ugh! I forgot how busy we are during the school year and am just overwhelmed by the lines out the door without ceasing. The one good thing about how much business we are getting is that the shifts go by ridiculously fast. I am also glad that I work with such amazing people, and that we can laugh and joke almost all day long in order to keep our spirits up amidst the stress and often cranky and/or completely drunk customers.

On a positive note, I was talking to my manager about how I will be needing an extra day off this semester so that I can volunteer at a school for my major, and he said that his wife is a third grade teacher at a school on broadway and stapley and that he would ask her if I could volunteer in her room! I have been so stressed about finding a good place to volunteer and finding the time to do so, I am so thankful that my manager cares about his associates outside of their work situations and is willing to help me with my school requirements.

I had to take a picture of my work pants last night because I have never seen them ever ever get this messy. I don't think you can tell but there are random pieces of melted cheese all over them, a big grease patch on my right thigh from where I lean against the grill, and a big blotch of spread on my left leg. Mmmm doesn't this make you want to eat a burger?! Ew.

Ah the new burns. The big one on top happened today sometime, I didn't even notice it until I got my break and started to feel the burning. The other ones are from this week, and there are like 4 that aren't visible because one is on my finger, one is on my other arm, one on my elbow, etc. Wow my arms will be COVERED in scars by the time I quit In N Out!

Love,
Madi

"In our lovely deseret..always be polite and treat everybody right"

2008-08-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

Today I woke up bright and early at 7 am and headed over to the DI (Deseret Industries, the Mormon equivalent to a Goodwill) to do some volunteer work, and boy was it rough. The work itself was not rough but it was very tedious. For about 4 hours I stood at a table and went through bags upon bags of clothing donations and sorted, buttoned, zipped, and folded the millions and millions of articles of clothing. Although this experience was one I don't plan on repeating anytime soon, I will admit that there were several instances where I was amused, surprised, and even just a little bit wiser.

1. Every person has the capacity to do good and is a unique child of our heavenly parents

I know this is stated often but sometimes it's hard to look at someone and think, "That person is my brother/sister, and we are all equal in God's eyes." I am not being high and mighty or anything, just honest, I don't think there are many people who can say they haven't turned down their nose at a bum on the street, or at the juvenile delinquent on the news. Today when I showed up to DI, most of the people working there were not people I can say I would feel comfortable around, but after working beside them for 4 hours I learned to love them. For instance, the first woman I met there, the head honcho, came off as this mean mean woman, barking orders and putting down other people working, and I was pretty much scared to death of her, but later on I heard her laughing and joking, and she sincerely thanked me for my help. So after my shift I totally changed my perspective on this woman. Another example was the quiet hispanic woman who spoke little english and was often asking other workers, "como se dice?" and pointing to various things, trying to learn the english translations. At around 10 we all got to take a 15 minutes break and this woman sat next to me and shared some dessert-like bread with me that she said her sister made from scratch the night before. I was just so touched by this woman's kindness to me, a complete stranger. Once our break was over the woman asked if I was a member of the church, and I replied that I was, and in her broken spanglish she said that she was too. It made my heart just swell to know that this kind woman knew the same truths that I knew and to feel that Christ-like love that she shared with me.

2. One man's trash is another man's treasure

Sorting through piles and piles of clothes would have been the most boring four hours of my life, if I hadn't decided to entertain myself. Every once in a while I would pick up an article of clothing and try and picture the kind of person that would wear it. Some examples: The nasty, sweat-stained in n out tee shirt could have been dropped off by my former manager, Corey, who is lds, o rmore likely dropped off by his amazing wife Jenna; the Red Mountain HS game day shirt, perhaps worn by a HS freshman girl, standing in the bleachers at homecoming, cheering her face off for the cute quarterback who was in her biology class, surrounded by her favorite girl friends; the faded something corporate shirt, that should be worn by me as I dance and sing around my apartment; the many many BYU and EFY shirts, all worn by the lds kids that I know who are still in high school and attending seminary; a whole pile of onesie pajamas with the built in feet made me chuckle, picturing a christmas card with a picture of my husband, me, and a mini toddler version of me, all wearing these ridiculous pajamas with the biggest goofy, yet genuine, smiles on our faces. Instead of viewing all of these discarded relics as trash, I tried to imagine certain pieces as they were during their prime. It was actually pretty fun and somehwat stimulated my brain for the four hour shift.

If you haven't noticed this about me yet, I am quite the "unique" individual, ha ha. I embrace my individuality. Hopefully you will get a laugh out of my ridiculous thoughts concerning old stained clothes and how wrong one's pre-conceived notions of others often turn out to be.

http://www.providentliving.org/channel/0,11677,2022-1,00.html

Much Love,
Madison

Anything you can do..I can do better!

2008-08-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

This glorious morning I woke up at 630 a.m. to the smell of chocolate chip pancakes, thanks to my amazing roommate Ashley and the beloved Abby Christian who stayed over night, and also to this..

Ugggghhhh. First I freaked out for half a second because I had about 20 minutes before I was supposed to clock in at work, then I ran upstairs and got permission from Ash to drive her car to work, she is amazing, I would be lost without her. On my half hour break at work I called my dad, the conversation went something like this:

Madi: Hi Dad, so I definitely have a flat tire.

Dad: Well, who do you know that can put the spare on for you?

Madi: Andrew said he would do it, but he isn't off until 9 at night so it would be dark, I think I will just change it myself.

Dad: Madi, that doesn't sound like a good idea to me, can't you just wait for Andrew to get off?

Madi: What, you don't think I can do it? Dad, it can't be that hard, and just because I am a girl doesn't mean I can't do it and I need some big strong man to come fix it!

Dad: If you do it wrong you could get really hurt or killed! Do you want me to drive out there and do it?

Madi: No way, I can do it!

Dad: Well just call me if you can even get the lug nuts off.

Guess what? I DID get those dang lug nuts off, and I totally put the spare tire on allllll by myself!

The picture doesn't show it very well, but my hands were so black! I felt so cool :)

I am so proud of myself! See! Girls can do anything that boys can do! Even Andrew, one of my best friends from work, tried to talk me out of this, "Madi, Just let me change it after work, if not for me then for your poor Dad so he doesn't have to worry about you." What the heck, I don't see why they had so little faith in me but BOO YAH, I totally accomplished this, surprise surprise. I also feel really accomplished and semi-adultish because I also called my apartment complex staff on my break and firmly told them that I had not had hot water in three weeks, I want my some kind of credit towards my rent, and I want a copy of my lease to see what rights and services we are entitled to. I think this kind of freaked them out since they knew I meant business and they pretty much agreed to everything I requested, and the best part of all....I came home from work and HOT water was coming out of the faucet! YAY!!!!! I am so happy right now, I am so proud of myself for taking care of all these situations without asking for any help.

Love, Madison

I'd prefer not to be rescued

2008-08-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

Not much has gone on lately, just work work work of course. I still love my new apartment, except for the fact that we still have yet to take hot showers. The maintenance man has come at least 5 times to fix it, and I am getting rather upset about the entire situation. My dad says I need to go to the office and yell but I just cannot be that person! I really wish I could be assertive and not let people take advantage of me but I just can't be mean to people, ugh, I need to man up haha.

Last week I taught my first lesson in church. I subbed for the gospel doctrine class and taught the lesson for Alma 32-35. I was so scared to do this because for obvious reasons I am not very knowledgable about the Book of Mormon stories. I know it's true, that's what really matters, right? While I was preparing the lesson there were so many times when I just got confused and didn't really understand what I was reading or what lesson I was supposed to pull from the story. But I think I did well at pretending to know what I was talking about when I taught.

I have been teaching myself to sew, oh boy, I had no idea what a frustrating task that was going to be. I have been trying to make myself a dress for church, it might turn out okay but I feel so bad for Ash because whenever I work on it I get really flustered and cranky and tend to snap. Poor girl. Hopefully it will be a good learning experience and the dress will be wearable.

I am addicted to Breaking Dawn.

I realized today that there is only week until school starts, and I am totally unprepared. My mind and body are not ready for the extreme stress and lack of sleep it will have to endure, my apartment is not organized/clean enough for me to be able to come home and not feel like I am going to have an axiety attack, my to do list is still way too long, my sleep schedule is horrible and I will never be able to wake up for my 7 30 am institute class. Although I am ready to basically live at the institute and have those wonderful teachers available to answer my millions of questions, for dollar lunch, that feeling of accomplishment after somehow magically finding time for everything, the brand U5 ward and all the newbies that will be transferring in, the opportunity to improve in my classes in comparison to last year, making new friends and loving the life I lead with my current friends, seeing how this year will play out with no plans or expectations (which is really hard for me to grasp, since I have always always always had a game plan). What will I be like when May rolls around? What will I have accomplished? How many amazing memories will I have? I can't wait to find all of this out.

Ashley= scrapzilla, she has been scrapbooking for days, without ceasing. She also has been badgering me constantly to start the scrapbook I bought her for her birthday, I promised to do the first page. There is paper, stickers, ribbon, and paper shards all over my living/dining room floor and table. Oh boy.

Time to go run :) I love how free I feel when I run.

Love, Madi

My calves are killing me

2008-08-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday was moving day..ugh. I love the fact that I live with Ash and Katie now, but gosh it was a total pain moving! I had to take two trips from my old apartment to the new one to move all of my stuff and yes, my calves are killing me from going up and down the stairs and I have bruises on my arms from carrying boxes, ha ha, I swear I am not a total wimp. So after everyone leaves Ash says to me, "Madi I have a huge surprise, close your eyes." I walk outside to our front door and see this

My reaction: "No way, we have to move that, or someone will totally egg our front door." haha so we put it in front of our patio door outside. I am seriously not afraid to tell people that I am mormon but to just display it like that is like asking for persecution ha ha, maybe I think this way because I am the only member in my family and I have to kind of be on guard and prepped for persecution, but come on, you know someone would like spray paint profanities on that door mat just to spite us!

Our apartment is totally trashed right now with boxes and junk but I know it will come together really nicely!

Get excited ladies and gents because this is going to be the ultimate lds party place next year. We have already discussed several theme ideas.. and they will be off the chain, fo sho. I am sooooo excited! Let me know if you have any fun ideas!

So funny story, Ash and I went out to get clothes for an 80's party (will post documentation of party later) and just run some errands and when we get home we realized that Ashley's bedroom door is locked, and everything we need to get ready for the party is in her room. Crap. We called the emergency maintenance line and apparantly they don't handle lock outs, we tried to break in with a bobby pin, I then proceeded to remove the door handle with a screw driver, which made us even more confused at what to do because the part of the door that actually opens the door was on the inside of the room. Next step, we said a prayer for help, because whenever we ask for like mechanical help Heavenly Father ALWAYS fixes things..I swear He dabbles in mechanics in His spare time. Then we called my Dad for help and he is pretty much a genius..I tell him the situation and he says the most obvious solution. "Why don't you just unscrew the handle on your door, stick it in Ashley's door and turn the handle?" So I unscrewed the handle, walked to Ash's door, put in my door handle, turned, and voila. Ash and I started screaming with joy, with my Dad still on the phone (he thought we were mechanically retarded, yet hilarious, he laughed the whole time we were on the phone).

I am so exhausted, and stressed, and sore, yet unbelievably happy. Last night was the most fun amazing night ever..I will put up a post soon, the pictures are hilarious.

Love you all!
Madi

My Adventures as an AllStar

2008-07-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is the novel containing documentation of my amazing, frustrating, random, gas-consuming experience as an All-Star (upper level associate sent to a new store to train about 50 new hires) for In-N-Out Burger.

Steph and I on our break

When I first embarked on this journey out to Signal Butte in east Mesa, I was extremely nervous. I had never been an all-star before and had so many concerns: Will the management like me, will I be an effective trainer, will I represent myself and my manager in Tempe well? I am not sure yet how I measured up in these areas now that the month is over, but it is for sure borderline..since I had a few mess-ups, yet a few great accomplishments.

So I don't even know where to begin..sooo many stories to tell.. ok I will start with a bad story.

One beautiful saturday morning I awoke with a start to my phone ringing. "Madi, where are you? it's 11:30!" Uh Oh. I had turned my alarm off in my sleep, I assume that's what happened since I don't recall doing it, and was late for work, a BIG no-no when you are all-starring since you are supposed to set the example for all of the new hires. So by the time I get up and get dressed and ready, drive all the way to signal butte, I ended up being an hour late for my shift, horrible, I know. The Manager, Anthony, is way way way cool and wasn't mad at me but just kind of teased me all day long. They couldn't really be mad at me because as I through the door I had a big bundle of cookies under one arm, which was a total coincidence since I made them the day prior. The next day, sunday, I wake up yet again to my cell phone ringing, I had turned off my alarm AGAIN and totally slept til 3 and missed church, which definitely made my sunday start off horribly. Anyways, the phone, "Hi is this Madison? Yeah, this is Stell, the lead all-star at 218, I am just calling to tell you that if you clock in even a minute late on any of your shifts we are sending you back to Tempe. I have already talked to your manager about this, and I really hope you can be a better example because we like seeing your smiling face at work, have a nice day" Sunday was officially ruined. I called my mom sobbing about all my issues and she had me drive home to avondale for dinner. I love my mom. I also called my manager, still sobbing, because I really take my job seriously and work really hard to be the best, and my manager actually said "it's ok, Stell is a drama queen and no one listens to her anyways, just make sure you are on time" I love my manager, he is awesome possum.

Ok time for a gooood story.

Snowball Saturday. Tempe all-stars vs. Tucson all-stars showdown. One saturday my friend thomas, from Tucson, and I went to Bahama Buck's for our half-hour break, which we pretty much do every day, and saw a poster saying "snow to throw" and realized that for 60 snowball, it was only 15 bucks! It was then decided to hold an intense snowball fight at ten once all the all-stars got off.

After we all got off we split into two teams: Tempe allstars plus one new hire, and tucson allstar plus one allstar from Cali. We all drove to a little park in a close by neighborhood and divided the snowballs, I won't say evenly because I gave my team about 3 extra, and went to opposing sides of the field to devise a strategy. Tempe strategy: charge, throw snowballs. The battle lasted about ten minutes, but was amazing. My only regret is that I never found out who was the one who let fly a snowball that hit me in my left temple.

The Tempe Team
Nick, Morgan, Me, Andy

Another fun story. So our goal for the last month has been to legally make things to eat at work that are not burgers. We are not allowed to put anything except meat and cheese on the grill, and the customers cannot see that we are making anything besides burgers or else they might try and order it. Quite a challenging task, yet we have had a few successes. Our first success happened on a day we called, Taco Friday. Yep, we chopped up some meat patties on the bacck grill, brought in tortillas, sour cream, shredded cheese, and ate tacos on our break. Although the managers weren't very pleased with us saying "YEAH Taco Friday!" all day long, the tacos turned out amazing!! Our next success was on Macho Nacho Monday. We Again chopped up the meat patties and put cheese on top of the meat then put it on top of tortilla chips with tomatoes and chopped onion, and had ourselves some delicious nachos nuevos. Our next goal was to try and make spaghetti and meatballs, by rolling the meat patties into balls and rolling them around on the grill but we couldn't think of any way to keep spaghetti warm, since there are no microwaves at work, and we didn't want to just leave it in the car to warm it up.

Wes and I with our Nachos

My all-time favorite thing we did was after work we all went and saw Batman's midnight showing. A couple of us bought shirts from the little boys section in KMart and wore them to the showing. We showed up super early and had an entire row of just people who worked for In-N-Out, 18 seats full of young adults complaining about rookies, quick checks, and animal style, what a beautiful thing. The movie was AMAZING, I don't generally like the comic movies but I like this one so much I actually saw it agaain this week!

Steph and I, this girl helped me survive at work

Wes and I, I will miss him when he goes back to Cali

Gwen, Me, Steph, love these girls

Ok this is the last bad story concerning my experience, thank goodness. One day, I think last week, a manager said that he needed me to come into the office for a chat, which is pretty much code for "you messed up". Apparantly a complaint was called into the resources deptartment saying that the burger they received was pink in the middle and since on the line-up (outline for who does what that day) I was the cook, I automatically received blame for the underdone burger. When I talked to another manager about this he said that I shouldn't have gotten in trouble because there was no proof that I made that burger, since I could have been on a break, or just been doing another position at that time, but regardless I have been trying really really hard to monitor the quality of what comes off my grill. On a lighter note, a couple days ago I got a compliment through the resources deptartment, which is super rare because usually customers only call the line to complain, never to say good job. What happened was, a customer in the drive thru had a pretty complicated order, and the newer associate on the headset just couldn't figure out what he wanted. I happened to be cooking and had a headset on and told the customer to pull to the window and we would take the order there. I then had someone take over on the grill, walked over to the window with a pen and paper towel and took their order the old-fashioned way. The customer called in saying that I was very patient and kind, especially with the newer associate who couldn't take the order, and that I should be recognized for my good work. I was so happy when the compliment came in, and was actually really surprised because I don't feel like I did anything that above and beyond how any other associate should be performing, but it was just soooo nice to feel like I am doing a good job and am appreciated.

When a new In-N-Out opens up we hold a "store party" where the all-stars for the store work while anyone who works for In-N-Out and their friends/family get to come and eat for free. I had never been to one before but I had a really great time seeing some old faces, mainly old managers and friends who I had worked with at other stores.

Kaci and I, she had to work unfortunately

The highlight of the store party though was when I told my store manager, Jon, that I want to go meet Mark Taylor, the president of the company, and so he just walked me and a friend over there and introduced me, like no big deal! Mark Taylor was very nice, he even said I had a beautiful name, tee hee. I was kind of embarrassed to ask, but Wes asked if we could get a picture with him, and he said he would be honored. What a cool guy.

Me, Mark Taylor, Wes

Today was my last day all-starring at 218, and I was actually pretty sad about it. I really enjoyed the new friends I made, the kind and supportive management team, the new hires who actually appreciate it when I help them, and just how much fun I was having at work. I love my job.

"Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power"

2008-07-26T00:41:00.000-07:00

Today an old LDS friend from the west side of town asked me, "How is the dating life going?" I laughed. It is nonexistent. Then I came home from work and found the Ensign in the mail, and what do I see on the cover? "Single and Steadfast, Lessons in Hope" and "Making the Most of Our Single Years". I was actually quite surprised that the articles didn't make all single people seem like failures, since that is sometimes the feeling I get when dating is discussed within the church. I kind of get that feeling that if you aren't married, something is wrong with you, which I really don't like because I KNOW nothing is wrong with me, and I know that Heavenly Father is preparing someone who is perfect for me, I just need to be patient. My friends are always badgering me to date more, one friend even suggested joining an LDS online dating service. I just don't get it! Yes, I would love to be dating right now, but I don't think that I am abnormal if I am not dating currently. I was so happy to read this month's Ensign describe to singles that we should not be in despair at our lack of a marriage partner but instead enjoy our time as single adults and use it wisely. That is EXACTLY how I feel. Yes, I do get a little sad and impatient when I get wedding invitations in the mail, almost weekly, but marriage is something so sacred and beautiful that it seems silly to rush around trying to find it. In the Ensign it says, "setting a timetable for marriage is like setting a timetable for disappointment," which I am beginning to really believe. I have caught myself saying things like "If I am not married by THEN I will be in trouble" and things like that, but I feel like I am starting to understand that marriage is something I truly long for and hold sacred, but that those feelings do not need to define me and I am just enjoying life being single. yay.

love, madi

wedding season

2008-07-22T19:22:00.000-07:00

This will for sure not be the last wedding I attend this summer, ha ha. This one was pretty freakin adorable though. Congrats Brady and Alexes Brown. I didn't really take pics with the bride and groom cause I think they had to take enough as it is, but Ash and I took some fun ones.

Hands in the air like it's good to be alive

2008-07-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

It has been one cuhrazy month, hence my excuse for neglecting my blog. The last three weeks I have spent in east Mesa all-starring for work, which I am loving! I have made so many new friends, and done so many random actitivities (I will do a big all starring post with pics once i am done). I will be at that store just one more week and then will be back at the Tempe store. Besides work, and the antics involed with all-starring, I haven't done much. I started learning how to sew from my mother recently, she is helping me make a dress for church, and I am so excited about it! It is going to be super cute if I don't ruin it! I paid 2000 towards my asu tuition last week, feeling pretty accomplished about that, yet tremendously sad that all my hard work and I can't really see what I am paying for. I know education is important but why must it be so expensive? I reallllly wanted to buy a new ipod since mine is trashed, but I chose the logical route and saved the remainder of my check to pay next months bills...ugh, the real world sucks lol.

I just have to say, in closing, that I put myself in the most awkward situations imaginable. I don't know how I do it, stupidity, carelessness, who knows, but I think I need to start making a conscious effort at living a life of somewhat normalcy... or maybe not. Maybe my tragically awkward, chaotic, and completely random life is perfect for my awkward, chaotic, and completely random personality.

Take Me Far Away From Here

2008-07-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

The past couple days I have been all-starring (when you work at a new store and train all the new hires) at the In-N-Out off the 60 and Signal Butte, yeah far I know, but I get to be on the clock for the drive and I get like 50 cents a mile. I was really nervous to go because I would be working at a new store where I'd no pretty much no one but I have been having a really good time! I am having fun training the new kids, it's so weird because I don't really feel like superior to them or anything but you can tell they look up to the all stars and really respect us, and it just feels so good to be appreciated..for once lol. Plus I am making new friends and just having fun! I will be working at this store for like two weeks until the company opens a new chandler store, I am even more excited to work at that one because it will be my first time working on opening day of a new store. Man all this all-starring will hopefully bring in enough dough to pay off some bills and pay tuition.. woot woot.

Since I am working so much (about 50 hours a week) I don't have time for much else but sleep..but I went running after work yesterday and it felt amazing! I used to HATE running but I have been trying to like it and now I loooove it. I ran from In-N-Out where I parked my car, to the bridge on mill and back to my car without stopping, it felt so good, and I was so proud of myself! I wish it was easier to go at night though, sometimes I admit I go later than I should, since I go by myself, but no one ever wants to go with me! ugh!

love, Madi

Old Mcdonald had a Farm

2008-06-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

I am finally home from vacation! I actually have been home since last tuesday but since my internet no longer works at my apartment I haven't been able to update everyone on how my vacay was. So here is my story..of one week spent on the farm.

Tuesday morning we hopped into my dad's spaceship (that's what we have always called his suv) and started the 24 hour drive from here to small town Geneseo, Illinois, where my entire Dad's side of the family lives. The drive up wasn't too bad, I read all of The Other Side of Heaven, which I really enjoyed, and got to nap for a good chunk of the drive. As we passed through Iowa we noticed that there was water pretty close to the interstate and once we got to my grandma's house we saw on the news that there was severe flooding in Iowa and they had to close down the highways and whole towns were underwater, it was really sad to see.

Basically the whole time I was in Illinois I did one thing. Played cards. I think it must be a midwest thing but my family LOVES to play cards! I taught my grandma how to play this game where everyone plays a kind of solitaire but everyone plays on each others aces and she loved it! I tried to get her to play spoons but she said it was too intense lol. I learned a lot of fun solitaire games while I was up there, my grandma knows about a million card games!

The weather was ok..except for the extreme humidity! I felt sticky constantly! day, night, hot, cold, no matter what it was humid! The only time I really enjoyed the weather was the night it was about to T-storm and Alli and I sat in the driveway watching. There was one night that it was storming so bad, it looked so scary outside, and we were watching the weather channel and there were some tornado warnings in the area, so I kept waiting for the moment when we would all get to run into the basement, but the time never came and we slept through the night safe from tornadoes.

Probably within an hour of us arriving at my grandparents' farm I found the one thing that would make my journey complete. Family history! I found a book that had our family tree in it with birth dates, death dates, etc. going back up to my great great great grandparents, and I also found some laminated copies of newspaper articles that were about family members, which my grandma let me keep and take home. There are a lot of newspaper articles because when my grandpa was 16 there was a car accident that killed both of his parents, both of his grandparents, and his brother. So him and his siblings all had to take care of the farm on their own. All of the articles were pretty inspiring, "Taets Orphans show that when there's a will there's a way" and stuff like that. I can't even imagine what my grandpa must have went through at 16 having to drop out of high school to help work on the farm and raise his younger siblings. It's just amazing. I also was able to go to the cemetery and see the headstones of about 5 of my ancestors, which was also neat. My sister did not enjoy that visit. "Madi, we are walking on someone's face right now!" she kept squealing and whining haha. this last friday I had the pleasure of taking 4 names to the temple for baptism/confirmation that I had gotten from my grandma's records, and it was such a great experience!

That pretty much sums up my vacation, other than other minor activities and meetings. Here are some pictures of the farm and such, thanks to my little sister, since all of my pictures are on my computer that I can't use since I have no stinkin internet!!!

love, Madison

What a year..

2008-06-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

Today is the day I have both anticipated, and dreaded, for well..a year: the one year anniversary of my baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Anticipated because this milestone proves to me that this is something I can do, although it has been hard at times, and Satan loves to do everything in his power to try and throw me off track, thus far I have maintained my death grip on the iron rod.

I am also pleasantly suprised at how much I have changed, and how much those who I come into close contact with have somewhat changed. A year ago today my family saw my baptism as a phase, something they did not approve of nor did they understand, but after a year I think they are finally realizing that it was a life-long decision, and they are beginning to respect my values and alter their behavior in order to accommodate my standards. My dad has probably shocked me the most. A year ago he was slandering the church and mainly our beliefs on the Book of Mormon and on Joseph Smith, but lately I see a change in him, I think he is at peace with my decision to join the church, and may even respect my decision. Recently my grandmother, my father's mother, heard the news that I was now a Mormon and spoke to my dad about it, and expressed that she wanted to sit me down and talk to me about this choice as soon as we get to Illinois this upcoming week. My dad gave me the heads up and said he has told his mother that she could not argue with me or attack me on the subject. I am so grateful that even though he doesn't understand why I chose to join the church, and doesn't understand our beliefs, he loves me enough to trust my decision and defend it. I am so grateful for that, and I really hope one day he will let his guard down a little bit and let me express to him why the church is so amazing, and how much of a good it has worked within me.

Recently at work a new manager was transferred to my store, Mando, but he was not new to me because I had worked with him about a year ago in Avondale. While waiting for it to be 5 o'clock, time to clock in, someone at work had jokingly said how mean I was, and Mando didn't really laugh, probably because I kind of was mean last year. The Madison that works in Tempe is waaaay different than the Madison who worked in Avondale. At my old store I would complain all the time, and I would get so stressed out and frustrated that I would just snap at the people I worked with. The only thing that could explain this change in my work habits is the church. Through the gospel I learned of patience, kindness, obedience, and started unknowingly applying them to every aspect of my life, including my crazy job at In-N-Out. I also applied these gospel principles to the way I treat my family and friends. This one is still a challenge sometimes. I am a very very independent person. I enjoy time with just myself, I do not rely on friends or family to make me happy but choose to create my own happiness, which is a good trait but it kind of makes me a bad friend. I love my friends and family but because I have always been so dang independent I have a hard time putting forth the effort to call my friends/family just for no reason other than to show that I love them. But now that I have the church I think I am working more at being a better friend, and family member, and I think my family really sees that change in me. They would look so surprised when I would call just to tell them I love them, or when I would give them a big hug whenever I would see them. I hope I can continue to grow in this area, and give my family a great example of what the church is all about.

Dreaded because I have now ended my reign as "a new convert". I think that term when applied to me felt like a sign I wore around my neck that would explain to everyone why I am so stupid when it comes to gospel knowledge. I was really hoping by now that I would be like a scripture encyclopedia, but of course that would be ridiculous, but still, I feel like I know pretty much nothing in comparison to those who were raised in the church. Especially church jargon, I get things so messed up somtimes, and now I will have no excuse when I make the mistake of telling someone that I am a home teacher, which I have done lol. So, I guess the goal for this year, besides the obvious one of just growing spiritually and becoming more like Christ, would be to blend in. Since my convertness won't save me anymore, I need to catch up and gain enough knowledge so that when I speak in church or in institute people won't think "convert" or "idiot". I realize that I relate way way way too many things to my conversion or my baptism and I need to have new spiritual experiences that will make my baptism seem like I was just dipping my toes into the spiritual swimming pool..this year I need to do a cannon ball!

I hope after reading my ridiculous memoirs of being a has-been convert, you will know how much I am truly grateful for this gospel and the church itself. I am so thankful for all of the churhc leadership, for their wisdom in advice and compassion, love, and concern in their teachings, but most of all for the priesthood they hold. I cannot even count how many times I have gone to home teachers, institute teachers, sunday school teachers, ward mission leaders, missionaries, and so on for a priesthood blessing. Each time I receive a blessing, my faith in the priesthood, and in a loving Heavenly Father, just sky rockets. I also have grown to appreciate the Book of Mormon, more than I have ever appreciated any piece of literature. After recently reading 3rd Nephi for the first time, mainly the part where the multitude comes unto Jesus to feel his wounds, to know of a surety that He is the Christ, wow, what an amazing experience! (I don't know why the heck the missionaries didn't just have me read this on day one!)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

A balanced diet..

2008-06-06T23:12:00.001-07:00

Ashley is amazing. I never would have expected anyone to get me a gift for the one year anniversary of my baptism but of course, Ashley does the unexpected. She knows me so well, me and my crazy cookie antics, always freakin baking.

She went to a hardware store and got the tile cut, ordered the vinyl stickers and put them on herself! and then put a glaze over the top of it. Wow. This was one of those many moments where Ashley completely shocks me, and does something I had no idea she was capable of doing! I love her.

Madison

I'm sailing away..

2008-06-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

Not much has gone on lately...I have worked 8:30 am to 5pm the last four days, and now I don't work for the next two weeks! I am so excited to finally get a break! I finished another great book, also by Kay Mangum, called When the Bough Breaks, you should read it. I just started reading The Other Side of Heaven and am really enjoying it so far, I just realized that I probably look like the biggest geek for only reading lds books lately, lol, that's ok I am a geek and I enjoy it. I am pretty excited for tomorrow..I am getting my hair cut in the morning, then going to Kathy's wedding reception in the afternoon, and then Ash is staying the night, yay, I have missed her so. Saturday is the big barbeque out in Avondale, I hope everyone comes! I will do my best to make it fun, ha ha, I have never hosted a get together like this so we'll see how I do. In other news...I have felt so totally out of it lately! Maybe it is from lack of sleep or who knows what but I just feel like totally out of character, like I catch myself acting so unlike myself, for example: when I show up to work I paste on my biggest smile, do everything my manager tells me and then some, and always am just bright and bubbly with everyone at work, but this week I feel like I have been really whiney and irritable and just overall cranky. Which is weird because I have nothing to be cranky about! I actually feel really good about just life in general right now, so hopefully now that I realize I am being weird I will make myself cut it out lol. I think I really just need this vacation, on tuesday I leave with my dad and sister to stay in illinois with family for a week, on my grandparent's corn farm to be exact. I cannot wait to sit underneath this big tree in their yard and just feel the breeze on my face, do some reading, and pondering. Just thinking about it give me the goosepimplies lol. Right now the weather there is so nice, I could wear a sweater! So excited! Well, I love you all, goodnight.
Madison

The Secret Journal

2008-05-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

I just finished an amazing book! I pretty much read it nonstop the last two days until I finished last night at 5 am ha ha, I am such a nerd. It was an LDS fiction called The Secret Journal of Brett Colton. It was about a girl who is 16 and just having a tough time in high school but on her 16th birthday she gets a letter from her older brother who passed away when she was only two. Her brother, Brett, had written in a journal specifically to her during his last two years of life. Towards the end of the journal Brett starts getting interested in church and also leaves her a Book of Mormon that he has read, highlighted, wrote notes in. This book was so good and I suggest you all read it! Here is a quote of my favorite part. In this scene the main character, Kathy, is at the hospital visiting a friend, who is LDS, and witnesses a priesthood blessing.

"If someone had asked later what words were spoken during that prayer, I couldn't have told them because of what washed over me, engulfing me completely. I honestly had never felt anything remotely like it before. Ever. The quiet, calm, peaceful power of it took me completely by surprise. I had no idea what I was feeling, but tears formed in my eyes and my heart pounded. The only feeling I could possibly relate it to was stepping from a cold room into bright sunlight, only instead of feeling warm on the outside, the warm, glowing sensation I felt was inside me. It was overwhelming."

Weekend Recap

2008-05-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Ok so this weekend was innnnnntense! Friday morning I drove down to Tucson to spend some time with Ashley, because I missed my bff. When I got there we watched this movie Michael gave us called The Secret, which was actually really good. It was all about the law of attraction and how if you want something bad enough and know you will get it then you will, which sounds like a great deal to me! I can think of many things I would like to law of attraction my way. After that we went to The Day's, her mish's parents, home for dinner with the elders. That was really fun, the Days are amazing! I love mormon families! Sister Day let me borrow all these cool lds fiction novels that I am super excited to read. Then we went to her friend Kaleb's house where there was this big party to watch him open his mission call, I had never been there to see someone do that before so that was really neat! He got called to serve in Brazil! After the party Kaleb had killed a rattlesnake and he skinned it and grilled it and Ash made me eat some!
Then we went to a U of A institute dance, which was really lame, there were like no people! ASU institute is prettttty much amazing and no one can top us! Then we went to a house belonging to a bunch of ysa guys to watch Dan in Real Life, which I found to be really funny! The people at the house were pretty cool too. After that, I know what a long night huh, it was about 2 am by now and we all went to IHOP for breakfast, and Ash was wicked tired and acting like a looney lol it was scary. What a longggg night, but boy I had a blast, thanks to Ash! The next day we slept in and then got lunch at this place called Eegee's and then I just drove home since I had to work at 5. Work sucked because I had to go work at the north phoenix in n out and I didn't know anyone there, and they were not nice to me! And I didn't get my breaks! I was supposed to get 50 minutes worth of breaks and I got 10..ugh the things I do for my job!

Well my fabulous weekend is over, now it's back to working everyday and sleeping pretty much never lol

Love, Madison

I love days like this

2008-05-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

I just could not sleep last night..so once 4 am hit I decided to drive out to Avondale, kidnap my little sister, and take her out to breakfast at IHOP before she had to go to school for finals. I love her so much, I really wish I could be as cool and easy going as her, hopefully her spontaneity will rub off on me. After I ate a delicious vive le french toast my sis and I stopped by the park and played on the swings, and this horribly frightening see saw (I thought I was gonna die everytime it flung me towards the sky). I think this picture is pretty much amazing, she was sadly realizing how short she is and I caught it on camera.

After I dropped off Alli at school I was bored and messing around on her computer and found this website with really funny tee shirts called BustedTees. Here are some that made me laugh.

I also went on a nice run this morning, took several naps since I didn't get any sleep during the night, went swimming once Alli got out of school, and had dinner with my dad. Overall I would say it was a successful day. Now I am back in Tempe, yet I still feel like something is missing, I hate that, I had a great day, why do I not feel satisfied? Ugh I am so stupid.

Goodnight, Madison

I Want to be Something That's Different

2008-05-18T23:50:00.000-07:00

I just got done watching Freedom Writers, I figured since madtv made fun of it it must be worth watching, and I just loved it! This is the kind of change I want to happen in my classroom one day. I want to be able to inspire my students to go above and beyond and to feel as if they can achieve their dreams and more. But, can someone like me really accomplish such a goal? Can I really be a great teacher and have an impact on my students? I really hope so, but it's hard not to doubt myself, with no experience, and with such a naive view on life, I think I need to really change my outlook on life and truly understand what life is like for people from different walks of life before I can be an effective teacher. This also made me think..do I really want to stick with an elementary ed. major? My original plan was to be seconday ed./english, maybe that is what is right for me, ahh who knows? Well, I know of one person who knows, I just haven't asked Him yet, lol, maybe I should get on that.

I cannot believe May is pretty much halfway over!!! In about three weeks I will be experiencing probably the busiest week of my summer, be looking forward to hearing a lot in my blog around June 7-20 :)

Love, Madison

el presidente?

2008-05-14T23:38:00.000-07:00

this made me laugh...wowzas

I showed this to my dad and he said "maybe there are some new states we don't know about". He wants Obama to win, it was a meager defense though.

mmmm summer

2008-05-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

I am very excited about this. I went to my grandma's house for mother's day on sunday, and my family was just being so nice to me, saying I look like I lost weight and how grown up I am getting, and they were actually being nice about me being mormon, weird...lol. We were talking about how I am almost 21 and my uncle said that I will be able to drink and gamble and I said well no I won't because I don't do those things and he just said, oh.. well you can definitely still have fun on your birthday without drinking, and my family was just saying fun stuff I could do on my 21st, it was nice that they were finally starting to sound supportive of me. Yay! But the thing I am REALLY excited about is that while I was there I sat down at my grandma's old piano and was just messing around, since the only song I can play is Families Can Be Together Forever, lol, and my grandma came over and said, you know that is yours when you're ready to take it? I was so excited!!! My grandma has officially given me this old piano that belonged to her mom and is just a cool family heirloom, and it is a piano, I won't have to worry about paying a ton of money for a piano once I get my own home, I will just have to refinish this one and get it in good enough condition for my family and I to play. My grandma also started talking about her family and stuff and it was just cool to hear about my ancestors..I really wish I had written down everything she said though so I could use it for family history stuff haha.

These past couple of days have been fun, on sunday I went to my home ward and got to sit with Michael and Natalie and their twin 3 year olds, I love them all to pieces. After the opening prayer in sacrament everyone said amen, and one of the twins yelled AMEN, and started clapping, it was hilarious! I also went to sacrament in the singles branch out there, which happens to consist of like 10 people lol, to hear my friend Caleb give a talk. Yesterday I wanted to really celebrate mother's day without breaking the sabbath so I took her and Alli, my little sister, to see Baby Mama, which was hilarious, I really liked it. Then i stopped by my dad's and ended up falling asleep on the couch for a little bit. Then I went over to Michael and Natalie's to say bye to them and the girls. Around ten I went and saw Ironman with Erica, Ashley M, and their roommate Amanda, and that was also really good! I haven't been to the movies in a long time, yet I enjoyed both the movies I saw yesterday.

Today I am going shopping with Ashley, which is exciting cause I haven't seen her in a few days, that is weird for us since we usually see each other all the time..what am I gonna do this summer with her in Tucson? Oh I am so happy right now, I just cooked my own lunch, and it was good! Anyone who really knows me also knows that I can't cook worth crap, I can bake like no one's business but cooking is another story! So I baked some chicken and steamed some veggies, and it was delicious, I am feeling very proud of myself :)
Love, Madison

Living with a shadow overhead

2008-05-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

The last few days have turned from the biggest feelings of relief into the biggest feelings of disappointment. Tuesday I turned in my massive ten page paper, took my last final exam and then went to an In-N-Out company party at Dave and Buster's, which was a great end to my semester cause I had a blast! Wednesday and Thursday I went to Avondale to see my family and friends, which was also great, I had really missed them all. I came home Thursday night, and that is when my downward spiral began. I checked some grades and started out being ecstatic because I got a 92% on my final paper, putting me at an A for the class, woot woot, I then checked my grade for my online childhood development class, saw that I got a 100% on my final exam and was so stoked because that should have put me at another A, but I glance down and see that my final grade is a C, what the crap?! I checked the gradebook and apparently she did not receive my last two homework assignments, which I happened to bust my butt on and submitted on time through blackboard, but there must have been a computer mess up because she did not receive them, and there is no record of me ever turning them in. I e-mailed my teacher asking if there was anything I could do, she basically said "sucks to be you" I couldn't re-submit my assignments, even though I had them saved and it would take two seconds to submit them, she said she had submitted grades to the registrar and I should have been more responsible, ugh, how could anyone say that I am not responsible! So I have to talk to the department head and see if there is anyway I can get my grade fixed, there is pretty much zero chance though. I pretty much busted my butt this semester, working full-time and going to school, and I will still most likely lose my scholarship because of this one stupid class, and it isn't even my fault, if I actually didn't do the assignments I would accept my fate, but to lose my scholarship over this makes me feel so defeated, like I worked so hard for nothing. My grades will be as follows: A+, B, B, A, C (stupid), giving me a gpa of 3.18, just below the requirement of a 3.25 for my scholarship. Oh, and I might lose my other scholarship because my parents made to much, I am meeting with the guy in charge on thursday to figure things out.

It is very very very nice not being in school. I have time to get sleep..I have been working out every day, I have read a bunch of books, and I just feel so great about myself. The one thing I am not excited about is that I have to get a second job working with kids for my major. By august I need a letter of recommendation from my employer saying I work well with kids or whatever. So today I applied at the YMCA to be a summer camp counselor, but I told them I only want to work like 10 hours a week, since I will probably be getting close to 40 at INO. Lame.

Nice White Lady

2008-04-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

Oh my word finals are killing me.. I have to get 2 a's and 4 b's this semester or I will lose one of my scholarships, and my grades have really suffered from me working full time this semester so I am pretty much freaking out right now lol. I have three exams tomorrow then one exam on tuesday and a ten-page paper due tuesday, that I haven't even thought about writing yet, uh oh.

Yesterday in my cultural diversity class we talked about the concept of teachers being active moral agents for their students and this was really neat to discuss, basically how we should get our students thinking critically about society and the things they are learning. When I teach I really would like to teach in a school that is in a low-income area, at a school that is struggling, just because I think those are the kids who really want to learn but receive no help or encouragement from their schools and I want to teach those students who appreciate education and who will really benefit from me as a teacher. In class we watched this hilarious video that made me feel really stupid for wanted to go to a poor school and "fix things". Just because I am a "Nice White Lady" doesn't mean I can go into a struggling school and save all of the students, but hey I am going to try :)

One day I'll be as good as Spongebob..

2008-04-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at work I finally got passed off as a certified cook!!! I know this probably sounds dumb to anyone who does not work at In-N-Out but I have been learning how to cook for the past year, and my divisional manager had to come to store and give me a checklist to make sure I am fast enough and that I am making quality burgers, and I was sooo nervous! But I passed! So now I get bumped up to level 6 and will be making 12.50 an hour, yeah buddy! Management here I come!

I'm reading His instructions, I'm following His plan

2008-04-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Kara's house to work on a group project for SPE and she has one of the cutest mormon houses I have yet to see..not as cute as my future mormon house because none will compared to mine and my husband's ;) But it had and basement, which was way cool and then they had like all this cute picture up of their missionary sons and like a cross stitch of joseph smith..man i love to just soak up the mormon culture, my friends who have been members their whole lives must think I am soo weird, I would probably agree with them. Only one more day of classes!!!!! Oh my gosh that is the best thing in the world.. except that now I have exams to prepare for and several papers to write..ugh. Only like two weeks until I am officially done..phew! Oh I found this awesome thing on you tube, thanks to Jerod, and need to share because it makes me go "awwwww"

Doesn't that make you want some kiddos of your very own to sing primary songs to you all the time?! lol totally kidding guys.. marriage first!
love, Madison

Cradle your head in your hands and breathe

2008-04-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

I just went running and I know I would looooove running if only I knew how to breathe properly so that I don't start hyperventilating every ten minutes lol. I decided I am going to get in shape, so I am going to jog/walk/run whatever my breathing allows and then do crunches as often as possible. I think if I exercise more than I won't be so exhausted allll the time and won't get sick as often, which would be great.

Only a week left of school..oh my heavens I cannot believe I have completed a whole year of college!! I wish I was already done with all four years lol. College sucks. In my opinion at least. All I have left to do, besides the actual final exams, are two e.c. papers, one presentation, and one ten-page paper. Wow, next week is going to super suck.

Despite all the stress, the added hours to my already crammed work schedule, and the exhaustion, I am strangely happy, like really happy, lol. I feel like smiling until my face cracks, singing at the top of my lungs, and dancing around my room like a crazy. I think I will do all of those things... RIGHT NOW! Wow I am so weird, but you like it, and so do I.

Have a super duper fantastic night!
Love, Madison

She faced the morning unafraid and invincible

2008-04-20T02:51:00.000-07:00

This week is totally kicking my butt! I have been so busy and lacking sleep that I am getting sick! UGH! So I had a really interesting experience last night (friday night). I was baby-sitting my manager's kids, they are LDS, there is a 5 year old, a 3 year old, a 1 year old and a 5 month old, oh boy were they a handful! I think this was a really good experience for me, even though i was totally exhausted after about an hour. I know that the greatest thing I will do on this Earth is be a good mother, and I really don't want anything other than that, once I am married of course, lol. For the first hour I was just so flustered, holding the baby in one arm (she would scream if I put her down) while getting the three older boys in their jammies, teeth brushed, book read, and prayers said, and was just so so so tired. After the boys had gotten into bed, they surely were not asleep until after I had told them another 3 times to plleeeeaaase go to sleep, I sat in the dark nursery in a rocking chair feeding the baby her bottle. It was at this moment that I thought wow, could I handle this on a daily basis? I was dead tired, my whole body ached, and I was struggling to keep myself awake while rocking the baby. All I had to do was look down into that gorgeous baby girl's eyes to know that yes, this is what I want one day, I could do this everyday. I know I am such a loser for being so sentimental about baby sitting but it was like a total wake up call that being a mom is not going to be all fun and games, but it will totally be worth it. Maybe the King's will let me baby-sit some more so I can get some practice in lol!

heaven made sense and all the words rhymed

2008-04-15T23:23:00.000-07:00

Nothing much as happened lately that is exciting, so sorry I haven't posted anything! Last night I drove out to Avondale to have dinner with some of my bestest friends, the Parks family. Michael baptized me last year, his wife Natalie is my adopted sister and their twin 3 year-old girls, Madelynn and Sydona, are pretty much the cutest girls I have ever seen in my life. So I went out there for a yummalicious spaghetti dinner, the elders were also there, elder clift and his comp elder yount. Elder Clift was the elder that taught me the missionary discussions a year ago so it was so great to get to see him again. I have been writing him ever since I was baptized (which is totally legal because he is in the phoenix mish and I am in the tempe mish, don't worry guys) which has been about a year and I am so excited for him to get off his mish in June so we can be hang out without companions, or name tags, like normal friends lol.
I am pretty stoked because this friday I am signing an apartment lease for next semester! Finally! I will be living in a two bedroom apartment with Ashley Jungluth, Katie Sparks and Erica DeLeon, with Ash sharing a bedroom with me. It is going to be soooo much fun! I love those girls and am so excited for our super fun party apartment!
I cannot believe there are only like 3 weeks left in the semester! I am so excited for summer, I cannot wait to finally have a break and get some relaxation. There is a very good possibility that as soon as I am finished with finals that In-N-Out is sending me to live in St. George Utah for two weeks to train the associates at the new store. I am very excited for that because I'd pretty much be making bank because I'd work 50 hours a week, plus be living for free and eating for free (thanks to the company and the allowance i'll be getting) and if the manager in Utah likes me then I'll get a big fat bonus :) PLUS I'll get one day off a week and I'll be able to go to the temple!!! Woo Hoo! I love temples!
I hope everyone else is doing fantastic..I love you all!
Madison

The marriage of the sauce and the cheese

2008-03-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend! So the title of my blog comes from the amazing Matt Loper, who says the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Today at lunch he was describing how pizza is like a marriage between the sauce and the cheese, the oven being the ceremony. Also, in case you didn't know, when the cheese slides off the slice and lands on another slice, the cheese is commiting adultery against the sauce. I would never laugh as much as I do if it wasn't Matt Loper!

Another ridiculous thing happened today! So, I showed up to church by myself, didn't sit with my friends because the whole stake was there so I didn't bother looking for them. But the main thing is that after church I found my friends and this happened!

Ashley and I had worn almost the exact same thing to church this morning! How weird is that!!! I have never ever worn this top with this skirt, nor has she, yet for some cosmic reason we both chose to wear this ensemble today. WEIRD! And there is Matt in the picture too, just because he told that awesome story about pizza.

Hmm other things this weekend...Oh I participated in Devils in Disguise on Saturday, which was way fun! For those of you who don't know what that is, it was this big ASU event where clubs on campus all do different community service projects that day. I participated with the LDS Students Association, along with most of my friends. Our service project entailed cleaning the bookshelves and dusting books at the Tempe Library. I had a lot of fun getting to know people and just doing some good for the community.

Jerod and I

Katie, Me, and Erica

Katie and I after we cleaning the picture book shelves. No joke, read some of the coolest books as we cleaned. Who could forget No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.

Just Me, trying to act like a Sun Devil

Me cleaning the shelves

That is pretty much all my weekend..besides going to work a lot, and reading my book constantly, Eclipse is pretty much amazing and I can't wait for the sequel to come out in august! Well, I now have to write a paper on some obsevations I did concerning gross/fine motor skills in toddlers..blah..hope you all are having more fun than I am.

Love, Madison

I met a general authority!!!!

2008-03-28T15:53:00.001-07:00

Today was wonderful, for the most part. I woke up early and did baptisms at the Mesa temple, and it was just so amazing to walk through the grounds and feel so at peace. It is so beautiful there right now with all the flowers in bloom, I can't even describe how breathtaking it was just walking through the grounds on my way to the baptistry. After that I went to the Institute and listened to Elder Kerr of the Quorum of the Seventy speak, and he was awesome! I really got something from almost everything he said. The coolest part though was that afterwards I was talking to Brother Hofeling and he said he wanted to introduce me to Elder Kerr! So I went over there and Elder Kerr spoke of how great a decision I had made in joining the church and stuff like that, but he also said that I looked like a future Relief Society President! Not quite sure how I feel about that.. I'm thinking I hope it never happens because it seems wicked stressful.

Elder W. Rolfe Kerr

After the whole hooplah at the institute was over, delicious free lunch by the way thanks to the missionaries, I went apartment shopping with Ashley. We were both getting so stressed and cranky, so it was not a fun time at all! But, the good thing is I think we finally found a place to live, we just need to convince some parents to co sign, my padre was definitely not happy about that. I cannot wait for next semester to have an awesome place with my favorite girls! We are gonna make it sooo cool.

Well I am off to work from 5:00 to 2:00 a.m. uggghhhh! If you get hungry for a delicious cheeseburger then come visit me! :)

Love, Madsion

First Blog!

2008-03-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

I don't exactly know what inspired me to create a blog, perhaps it was watching Kara play with her blog every thursday in our special ed. class, so Kara will be the one to blame if I get addicted to this ha ha. I really like to express my thoughts and opinions so hopefully this blog thing is a good thing for me, especially since the GA's want us to be keepinig a record of our lives, so technically I'm being spiritual by doing this ha ha. So, a little background about me for all who may be reading all the posts following this one. I am 19 years old, turning 20 this September, and was born and raised in Avondale, Az. I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in June of 2007 and it was honestly the greatest decision I have ever made in my life, I have never been this happy, or this sure of my Heavenly Father's plan for me. I am the only member in my family, which is difficult at times but it makes for some funny stories. I'm sure I'll have the privilege to post some at a later date. I am in my first year of college at Arizona State University, studying Elementary Education. I think I will teach middle school english, but I change my mind frequently so we will see what I decide in the end. I have the greatest friends in the entire world! They really make me so happy when I am so stressed with life! I work around 35 hours a week at In-N-Out Burger flippin' hamburgers, I have worked there for 3 years so I owe of lot of my character development to my job. It's really hard to work that much while I'm taking 15 credit hours at ASU but it pays the bills so I don't really have a choice. It is difficult living on my own but it is definitely worth it! I love my family to pieces but I really enjoy my independence and freedom. Well, I think that's enough for my first entry, I hope my life is interesting enough for others to read..if not that's ok, I like how my life is going ha ha. Have a great day!
Love, Madison