Obsession? or Investment?

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

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.

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!

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

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

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....

...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.