I hope they call me on a mission . . .

Well, I've decided to start my mission papers. I'm now back at my home ward and waiting for my bishop to receive whatever he needs to in order for me to start this big step in my life.
I've been thinking about a mission off and on for almost a year now. I never thought that I would go on a mission. I always thought I'd get married, be a stay at home mom, and live happily ever after. I guess God has other plans for me.
I'm taking a Mission Prep class with the Orem Institute and we've talked about some very spiritually uplifting things that have been able to reassure me that a mission is a right choice. Sometimes when I think about serving a mission I get really nervous. I'm really going to have to step outside of my comfort zone, but I know I have to "trust in the Lord with all [my] heart."
I'm so grateful for all the support that I have received, for family, friends, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Work

As some of you may know, I'm working at Joann's! I took Cameron's place once he went back to school a month ago.
Working retail is very interesting. You learn a lot about human behaviors. A lot of these behaviors really bother me.
1. When people don't put things back where they belong. What's really sad about this, is that most of the people that shop at Joanns are mothers. Don't they teach their kids to pick up after themselves? They should follow their own advice. While I was cleaning up after closing last night I found bolts of fabric on the jewelery isle, things taken out of their packages, random carts left all throughout the store, baskets full of random things left on the ground, bolts of fabric in piles on the ground, and the Halloween isle was torn apart!
2. When a customer makes a huge deal over saving a couple dollars! Sometimes a customer will bring in 2 of the same coupon and expect me to take them both. If they had read the coupon, they would see that it cannot be used with another coupon, and it can't be used on sale items. Grown women get so upset! They say biting remarks under their breath and leave giving me the silent treatment. Seriously? HA HA HA! I laugh at them when they leave.
3. When a customer is impatient. We are only allowed a certain amount of hours and employees in a day because of our current economic situation. So, obviously there are going to be longer lines and longer waits. We are working as fast and efficiently as we can to help all of our guests. Sometimes, while I'm at the cutting table, I can hear ladies waiting impatiently and commenting on the long wait. Sometimes they get so impatient they put their material they were going to have cut smugly on the cutting table and leave in a huff. We then have to take their material that they didn't put away and add that to our already long to do list!
From this job I am definitely learning how to be a better shopper. I can no longer go into a store and leave anything I've touched unfolded. Sometimes I'll even recover an entire isle while I'm just looking around. You have no idea how great it is to have a customer who respects us and the store that they are shopping in.
Other than some of the horrible guests we get in, we also have some wonderful people shop at our store. I cut fabric for a lady yesterday, she and her husband own the Missionary Mall and the Sister Missionary Mall. We had a good chat about my friend that was going on a mission, her mission, and my own thoughts of serving a mission myself. She left making me feel a lot better about my work and her few kind words made that hour go by a lot faster. I also love it when customers greet me warmly at the register. When they seem to understand the stress of the day and how long I've been on my feet. I especially love it when they're patient with me when I make mistakes, and I have made my fair share.
One day I had a lady come up to me and thank me for my work. It always feels good to know that someone appreciates what you do.
When I'm cutting fabric I like to ask what the person is going to make with it. It's so fun to see their faces light up and share with me what they're about to create. It makes me want to pick up sewing again! One time, this quilting teacher, showed me some pictures she had in her wallet of some of her quilts. They were absolutely amazing! So many creative people shop at our store.
One of the friends I've made is my manager, Janelle. We're going to start going to a mission prep class on Tuesdays at the Orem Institute! I've missed being in a religion class since I've left Idaho.

Thanks for reading!

~Mandy

Home Sweet Home

I was able to come home for Memorial Day weekend. It was so nice to spend time with family and friends and to be surrounded by familiar faces. I love seeing those people who have influenced my life in so many positive ways and who have helped me become the young woman I am today. There are so many.
Home hasn't changed much other than the fact that two more people have moved out. Just the young half live at home now, but the older siblings were never home when I visit anyway. I'm glad that when I come home things aren't too different. So many things have been changing in my life lately that it's nice to come home and have things feel familiar. I don't think it will be like that much longer.
I did a lot of fun things with my family, I hung out with Anne, hiked the Y with some of the Mcintyres and my younger brother, had a family BBQ, and helped the grandparents move out of the house into their condo.

The most adorable kids EVER!

Jared doesn't like his picture taken.

While I was helping Grandma and Grandpa move I found this beautiful flower bush and just had to pick one. . . don't tell the neighbors.

On my walk with Sara. Look at those mountains in the background! I miss seeing mountains while I'm at school. Mountains always make me feel at home.

While Anne was trying on dresses for graduation I found this yellow dress and just had to try it on. I don't know if yellow's my color, but I like the dress.



THE Y HIKE!

William climbing on the Y

Look at our beautiful valley!

We're sitting at the very right hand side of the Y!

Me and Anne


Daddy Daughter moment. Aren't dads great!?

Spencer and Claire. What cuties!

What a tough guy! Didn't even shed a tear.

WE DID IT!

ICE BLOCKING!

Back:Robby, Cortney, Gary Jake
Front: Mandy and Becca

Cortney and I were going to race, but my block got stuck on a rut.

I fell off my block and got a grass stain on my pants.

Jake, Mandy, Cortney, Robby

It was so fun to take a couple blocks of ice and glide down a hillside by the upper fields. I went with my roommmate's Cortney and Becca, Cortney's boyfriend Robby, our FHE brother Jake, and Robby's friend Gary. After ice blocking we roasted s'mores at Robby's fire pit, but my camera died before I could take pictures.

Here's a little clip for your viewing enjoyment.

Dress Up Week

For Cortney's Fashion Design class, her teacher challenge her class to dress up for an entire week and they'd get extra credit for anyone who did it with them, so Becca and I took the challenge.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY
So, I changed out of my clothes after class and I was too lazy to get back into my skirt for pictures, but this is what my make up looked like. I wore Becca's long green tiered skirt that looks like a hippie skirt with my black flats with white polka dots.

That's about it! I really liked dressing up and I even took extra time this morning for class. It was nice to wear jeans again though.

CALIFORNIA!!!

For my spring break this year I did something I have never done before! I flew to California! I left April 10th from Salt Lake city and then had a 7 hour lay over in Las Vegas. I got into Fresno around 10pm California time. One of my best friends, Robby, picked me up from the airport with his best friend Steve. Robby is my best friend Cortney's boyfriend. We all became friends around the same time my first semester in Idaho.

On Saturday we went to Pismo Beach. It was windy and chilly, but I didn't care. I swam out in the ocean and used Steve's boogy board for a while. It was SO much fun! We ate lunch at a place called Splash Cafe and they have some of THE BEST clam chowder. We played Frisbee on the beach, climbed some rocks, and headed home as the sun set.

The next day was Easter Sunday. Robby wasn't feeling well so I went to church with Steve and his family. After church Steve and I went to the Sequoia National Forest and saw the biggest tree in the world, General Sherman. It was so cool! I have never seen such large trees. The climate is definitely not like Utah's so the trees had were covered with moss.

On Monday Robby took me around Tulare, CA and showed me where he used to work and we walked around a couple malls. I bought some new flip flops from Old Navy and new lip gloss from Bath and Body Works. That night Steve came over for dinner because Robby had BBQ'd some yummy T-bone steaks.

On Tuesday I woke up around 7am all by myself, which is rare. After getting ready for the day I hopped back in my bed and finished reading a book Becca gave me to read. Tuesday was a pretty relaxing day. I watched some TV with Robby's mom while Robby went out to get a haircut and when he got back we went and got tacos from Del Taco because it was Taco

Tuesday. I love tacos! We went again that night with Steve when he got home from class. We all just hung out on the couch and watched American Idol.

Wednesday was my last full day in California. For lunch we went out to Inn-N-Out. It was delicious! I had never been there before and so the cashier gave me some bumper stickers, a map showing every Inn-N-Out in the country, and some other sticker things that are probably meant to entertain the little kids. OH! and I got a hat that Robby and Steve made me wear.

It was a great week! I did a lot of firsts. I flew in an airplane, ate at In-N-Out, boogy boarded, traveled by myself, swallowed sea water, touched the worlds largest tree, and drove 5 hours straight driving home from California.

This is the memorial of where James Dean died. Pretty cool huh!

Sitting on a bench a couple blocks away from the beach.

A beautiful view from the rocks we climbed.

Me and Steve. I was so tired.

On the Pier at Pismo Beach. Isn't the water lovely?

We buried Steve's legs in the sand.

Standing by General Sherman. I even got to touch it!

Driving around Tulare with robby.

Smelling shampoos. . .

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Leaving California

So, if anyone's going to California and wants a traveling buddy, I'm game!

SORRY!

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted something on my blog. I blame it on my lame background. Please give me some good websites for me to change it.

So, here's a few pictures from my winter semester. I had a lot of fun . . . maybe too much.

Where I live.

Anne and Becca came to see me in February.

Becca and I cooking together while she was visiting.

My roommates and me at BRC (a frozen custard place) after FHE.

Me rock climbing for FHE