HELLO AGAIN IN THE INTERWEBS

SO, I (Elaina) kinda dropped the ball on blogging for like... five months. My bad.
Haha, a TON of new stuff has happened in our lives and I am excited to share.

Alex left our little BYU family, and is now back home in Missouri where she is preparing to serve her mission, and we are all excited for her. Also, Amanda decided that for this winter semester she would be better off moving into an apartment closer to her sister over in GlennHOOD! We sure do miss them.

BUT AWESOME NEWS>>>>>>>>>>>>> We have TWO count em... TWO new fresh roommates.

Afty and Tar-Bear are the HOTTEST thing to hit BYU this season. Be jealous of their awesome superpowers.

Afton Philbrick is from the-middle-of-no-where California, where her nice little family of Mom, Dad and cat reside. Her siblings attend BYU with her, and she is awesome. Afton, affectionately called Afty, always smells fantastic, and walks me to class EVERYDAY! What an awesome roommate, right? Also, she is white and shops in the white people section of the grocery store. >:D

Taryn Prestwich (she is my roommate) is a country BEAST from the ATL. All I can say is she is a fantastic human being, whom I love dearly. She has a ton of siblings, some on a mish, some back home, some at BYU... idk I cant keep track. Tary has a plethora of fantastic music which I jam to, even when she isn't around. She is super busy ALL the time, so I often put her to bed, haha.

Anywho, A LOT has changed around town. I'll be updating this blog with new stuff. So make sure to check it out regularly.

Peaaace,
          Elaina

THE LORDS MISSIONARIES

Our new window sign, eeeep!

It's been truly and honestly CRAZY around here. Midterms make everyone freak, and the weather is changing, and this month is packed full of amazingly fun things to do! This weekend was General Conference, and the entire BYU girl population is freaking out about our new opportunity to serve the Lord. One of our own is starting her papers ASAP! To read Sister Ah Mu's testimony click here (:

Isn't she Beautiful?!

This week has had a lot going on, I went to the see Taken 2 and Pitch Perfect on Thursday night - which you guys know is the pre-friday weekend - (They are both amazingly awesome movies, and I sooooo want to see them again)! Me and Monique were invited by our friend Jon and a whole bunch of people decided to walk allllll the way to the mall in Orem! (its like an hour and a half walk) The time was fun with friends, and we didn't get home till four the in morning. But I'm in college, and great memories were made. 

Fat Amy is my Idol

On Friday Monique, Casey and I took the bus to the mall and did a little girl time shopping, which was great! I got a coat, a dress, some perfume, etc.. BUT THE FUN PART WAS GETTING THE CAR FOR THREE HOURS! I was able to drive us around Provo, we went to eat at Denny's, and we had an awesome time. I love my best friends! I can not wait to live together next year. 

Our Feast!

Retards.

My mom sent me a wonderful package this week, I got a bunch on awesome stuff.. Including these cozy socks! Aren't mothers amazing?! I miss her so much! 

Me and Alex went out to eat at Del Taco for dinner tonight, which just escalated into an awesomely fun night for both of us, she is so happy about her mission! And I am so excited about going to General Conference tomorrow evening with Jessica! We went to Wal-Mart and bought a few things for the house, a few Halloween decorations, some MOUNTAIN DEW, and soap and crap. The 84 cent two-liters of off brand mountain dew were almost gone.. literally, there were three left, which I had to stretch for. 

I was so proud that I could actually fish them out! Haha. Alex also discovered that she is insured on the car now! Woohoo! So we took it to fill up the tank, and she will be able to drive when she needs/wants! (I LOVE DRIVING) And Alex is a pro at putting exact amounts of gas in the car. All in all, the night was awesome, Friends are the best, Missionaries are awesome, Prophets are amazing, and life is great. 

Thas to expensiiiiiiive

She think she in a furry tale...

Till next time, 

              Elaina 

19 Year Old Sister Missionaries...?

wow.....WOW!!!!!  Today we had the opportunity to watch General Conference.  How amazing it was to hear the opening announcements.  I heard the age lowered for the Young Men of the church...and it was great to hear, I was thrilled really, but when I heard the age lowered for Young Women......WOW, I was ecstatic!!!  I couldn't contain my excitement.  I automatically knew - I, Alex Ah Mu, will be serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  

It is a great feeling.  I know that this church is true.  I know the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, is a prophet called of God.  

I have been in his presence and you can feel it, both times I have been in the same room as him, I couldn't stop the tears from my eyes.  This past year has been one of lots of growth for me.   From finishing high school, the Kansas City Temple open house, dedication, and cultural celebration, 

going to BYU early for Summer Term, the Brigham City Temple open house and dedication, the General Relief Society Conference, and now General Conference.  I feel so blessed to have been here on the earth at this exact time.  I know I am here at this time for a purpose.  Now that I think about it and look back, I see why I have been put in certain situations.  And I can't wait to keep moving forward with this wonderful journey.  I am excited to serve a mission.  

I know I am ready, ready to start the process of preparing for a mission and the paperwork.  I always talked to my good friends about a mission.  Especially my senior year of high school, it seemed like I said, "Man, I just wanna go on my mission..." everyday...if not everyday, at least once a week.  And I always talked about how lucky the young men are to be able to serve the Lord when they are 19 years old.  

I was more than willing to wait until I turned 21, but I always said if I could go on a mission when I was 19 years old, I would.  So, today when I heard the announcement, I didn't have any doubts.....I am willing to do anything and everything to get prepared for a mission.  I am on full drive now.  I know that this is the true church!  Sometimes I just sit in the library, in the Wilk, in my apartment, or wherever and think, "I am so lucky to be a part of such an amazing church, I am so blessed to know what I know!  How can I let this slip my mind?"  Tears come to my eyes.  

I love this church.  I love missionary work, I love this gospel.  I love having knowledge of the blessings I am able to receive from the temple!  Temples have always held a special place in my heart.  My first memory of temples and the spirit that can be felt in the temples was when the Nauvoo temple open house was held.  

I had the opportunity to go.  I was very young, just baptized, but I still remember to this day how I felt.  I felt the presence of my Mom there.  She had passed away, but that was the first time I had felt her presence since she had passed.  I remember just knowing how special temples were that day, and I still know now.  I know that families are forever.  I know I will be able to see my Mom, my uncles, aunts, grandparents, and friends that have passed on again.  I know that I want a temple marriage.  I won't settle for anything less.  I know I wouldn't be where I am today without my family, especially my parents.  My dad is amazing.  

He has been such a great example to me throughout my life.  He showed me how to rely on the Lord when it feels like things could get too hard.  When my mom died, he took care of us.  He did all the laundry, cooked, had family home evening with us every Monday night, we always went to church, he has taught me so much, and still does!!  I love him so much.  Then there is my mom, 

she is amazing.  She took my brothers and I in as her own.  How hard it would be to get married, and get 4 kids right off the bat.  I love her so much.  She has taught me how to have faith.  And work hard, even when we just wanna give up.  People will ask me if I call her "step mom" but I don't.  She is my mom.  She always will be, so will my other mom, they both are.  Lisa Renee will always and forever be my mother, 

but so will Maria.  I know that I may not know everything when it comes to the scriptures, and I know that I make mistakes, but I want to be a servant unto the Lord.  I know missions aren't for everyone, but it is for me, right now at this time.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true, I know Joseph Smith is a true prophet, and I just know this church is true!  I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

MAIL!

Ok....I just have to say....I LOVE MAIL!!!!!!!!! ;) Well, we all do....but I LOVE MAIL!!!!!!  I am one of those crazy freshman that checks the mailbox EVERYDAY!!! :) :) :) :)

- ALEX!!! :D

General Relief Society Meeting!!

Wow!!

I haven't posted for a while!  Ha, my life has been crazy busy lately....no time for anything.  I guess I will talk about the General Relief Society Conference!  Elaina, Leanne, and I had the opportunity to ride a bus to Salt Lake and go to the meeting in the Conference Center!! It was amazing. I loved it.  There were definitely things that I needed to hear.  We had never gone to a meeting in the conference center before.  It was so exciting.  We got to see the First Presidency and the General Relief Society Presidency.  AWESOME :)  

- Alex

Not my week....

Ok, sooo....this week has been awful.  Probably the most stressful one so far and I'm afraid it's just gonna get worse.  I made some rules for myself, I am not allowed to stay out past 12....on the weeknights of course.  No more buying crap.  (Cap'n Crunch, Mt dew, guak, spinach dip, etc).  I also have to go swimming twice a week...or do something active, swimming just sounds the best.  NO phone while working on my homework.  NO jammin music (Taylor Swiff, Andy Grammer, Cher Lloyd, FUN, etc)  playing while I am working on homework, only piano music.  I get too distracted and sing when jammin music is on!! Haha, But anyway, today was silly, I splurged and got a burrito from Taco Bell....

Elaina is jealous....Hahahahaha But anyway, Yes, I have work, then we're going to watch a movie while we eat dinner, then HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK!!!

But yeah...this week has not been my week.  I have two tests this week, New Testament and Biology, then I have American Heritage test next week. :(  I hate life.........................................................cereal....

-Alex

One down, seven more to go!

This week completed one month of universidad! I'm not trying to say that I am not enjoying my time here at The Y but, you know it's nice to reach some kind of mile stone! And making it a month being so far from home and under the stress of college life is no small feat so wha hoooo! :) So yeah I still have a crap load of homework to catch up on! I think that is the hardest part of school for me getting my work done! There's just sooooo much to do all three timmme! You can never really be done all your work because there is always somethinge else to do.... At least for me. That and time management have been pretty rough (along with some personal things but I'm not about to post that on the internet) But it is getting better slowly but surely! And I am starting to enjoy my time here at BYU now!
This week was fun!
Monday was pretty uneventful. We had a nice sweet swap and spirtual thought by mama Alex and then we sat around and talked for a while! It was nice to just get to know the familia a little better!
And then Tuesday I didn't do anything special just black student union (which is so awesome and you don't have to be black to join haha). So that's always fun to go to that and hang out with Alexis(soar friend) and Veatriz.
Wednesday I was just going to have an intense study session but then me and Veatriz ended up talking.... For like ever! Hahaha Alex and Eliana called the po po because I wasn't back by like 3 am and wasn't answering calls/texts...the benefits of a dead phone. So that was refreshing and I think we both needed it.
Thursday I ran into Olivia! We were in the wilk and she was heading to my house to give give me a card and candy 'just to say hi'. How nice is that?! Totally made my day!
treatss
And I went to the temple with Dan and Lana from my stake. Which was much needed! It was a good trip.
Then Friday we were at the Latin partayyyyy!hahaha that was so fun! Check out my other blog post for that.
Saturday was just a lazy day. Haha Veatriz was supposed to get her hair cut but that didn't happen. So I just went over her house and we ordered pizza and watched movies.
Sunday was super good! We went to the Brigham City Temple dedication!it was soooo cool! It was my first one so it was really interesting! I really liked it though. Sooo cool and spiritual. The closing song we all sung together and it was so powerful! Sooo cool! Then I went to a dinner win a group of people from black student union. It was one of the girl's family friends home. They were so cute and friendly! I loved them! So it was a good week! I went to the library every night until it closed with Veatriz. Then we walked to wyview at like 1 am lol.
So yeah it was good! Hopefully I'll get better at this blogging thing! :)

Byeeyyyyyy
<3 Jodian