See you on my mission blog

I've decided to have my mom keep a mission blog for me. If you would like to follow me the address is http://sisterrachelsmith.blogspot.com/

Mondays

I almost went a whole week without seeing my ex. Of COURSE I pull up behind him turning into school today. Of COURSE I start blaring my horn, pestering him shamelessly. Of COURSE he ignores me, laying his lead foot to the gas even before traffic will permit.


Oh Monday... you certainly know how to start off my week.

Pen Pals

Well, the countdown has begun. It's T minus two weeks until I arrive at the MTC in Sao Paulo, Brazil. As I near the final days of preparation, the most important questions occupy the forefront of my mind. Like...

Who's going to keep me informed on all the current gossip?

My cousin, Megan, promised to send me some top notch letters similar to the ones she sent me when we were little, misspelld werds and all.


I dug up this little ditty to give the rest of you some guidelines for the quality of letter I will be expecting:




All joking aside, I would love to hear from you while I am away.

I'll be in the MTC for about two months, my mailing address will be:

Sister Rachel Elizabeth Smith
Brazil Maceio Mission
Brazil Missionary Training Center
Rua Padre Antonio D'Angelo 121
Casa Verde
02516-040 Sao Paulo SP
Brazil

I'll be expecting an excessive amount of expensive fed-exed packages.

The Unashamed.

After my dear best friend has seen my previous post, I am going to need some insurance on my life. I figured my best bet would be to post an embarrassing story about myself to calm the unavoidable beet-red face and fits of anger.

Let's first set the scene:

Who: Around 30 people of all ages: couples, friends, and strangers.
What: Eyes were made victim as they lounged, chatting happily outside.
When: May 2009, after Whit and Cody's wedding dinner.
Where: Front porch of the restaurant Claim Jumper in Reno, NV.
Why: Frankly--because I am a retard.

The plot is simple: there had just been a storm. The resulting rainbow made for a perfect background to snap a few snapshots.


Then, a seemingly harmless suggestion was made: roommate-jumping-picture. Some declined. Despite my extensive background in physics and relative motion, I decided to take a leap into the air. (I'm sure you see where this is going. Somehow, I didn't.)

As I leapt in to the warm, Reno air, the following image was captured, not only by the camera, but by the eyes of married couples, single friends, and elderly strangers alike:


Note: the impressive 2" verticle, the glorified mullet, my face in ecstasy... and oh yeah... the dress hovering around my waist, exposing my pink-striped skivvies.

How does the story end? It doesn't. Neither does the torment from the man behind the camera.

But for the sake of ending my blog in some sort of clever anecdote, here, I suppose, is the moral of the story:

Whatsoever thing goes up, says Newton, must come down.
And so it is with dignity when leaping in a gown.
But if you must ignore the rules, and jump instead of stand-o,
Be sure to thank your lucky stars you weren't going commando.

My Return

Inspirational music has been a reoccurring topic in many of my recent conversations, as has decision making. Due to poor multi-tasking skills, I was persuaded to combine the two current themes: I decided to decide to follow in the footsteps of some incredibly influential artists:




And make MY RETURN.

Their reunion tour, Spice Girls: Giving you Everything, was hailed by David Sinclair, author of Wannabe: Spice Girls Revisited as "colourful, energetic and wildly ambitious," "performed with genuine enthusiasm..." He raved that the girls themselves were "consummate entertainers" looking to be "in sensational shape," and "performing with every ounce of...passion in their hearts."

It is my quest to emulate the influence of such refined, musical genius.


My return to the blogosphere is bound to be just as spicy... but maybe a little less pink.

Snatch Happiness

A few weeks ago while at lunch with a couple girlfriends, my dearest Alison Goldsmith informed me that I was a pessimist. I told her she must be mistaken, for I was quite the happy, upbeat person. She proceeded to tell me that there was a difference, that I never really appreciated what I had at the moment. As I listened to her argument, I realized she was right.

I reflected on the words I heard sung by Annie Oakley the previous night in my little sister's jr. high play, "...with the sun in the mornin' and the moon in the evenin' I'm alright." It seemed extreme. I couldn't imagine myself with no home or food, waking up in the morning grateful just to have the sun. So I made a conscious effort to change.

Over the past three weeks I have been working to develop an attitude of gratitude. I studied council from the living prophets and endeavored to apply their teachings. I let people in my life know just how thankful I am for them. I changed my thought process, keeping a prayer of thanksgiving in my heart. It's amazing the difference in myself that I have already seen. I have been blessed with a greater understanding of what I have, and with a desire to uplift those around me. I'm happier! And things... just don't seem to matter so much. I'm surprised by the significant changes I feel and see in myself, and I'm ecstatic!

So, in accordance with the season I think I will share just a few of the things I am thankful for:

I'm thankful for my family, my greatest examples. I love them, individually, for so many reasons. I'm thankful for the little time I get to spend with them, where I have the opportunity to stumble across precious moments like this:




when, aside from the snoring, the house is quiet, and everything seems right.

I'm thankful for the beautiful fall we've been having! For the color orange, and walking out the door to find mornings like this:



For the tension in your legs after a beautiful fall hike.







Correspondingly, I'm thankful for my good physique; although, the considerable amount of late-night-deep-fried-mexican I intake is not the best indication of my gratitude.

I'm thankful for my quick mind. Again, the significantly less considerable amount of studying I do is not the best expression of my thanks.

I'm thankful for Jack Johnson, for providing the soundtrack to a roommate dance fiasco that ended a little something like this:


I'm thankful for little moments that brighten your day:

Like my bus driver, who when I board, tilts back his head to give me an appropriate, "Whassup girl? How you doin?" and the view I get out that bus window of the adorable, enthusiastic elementary kids.

Like consuming unhealthy amounts of jelly bellies through hours of arrested development and coming home to a spotless house, having the best roommate in the world!

My Uncle Paul shared a wonderful quote with me from the late President James E. Faust: "Perhaps we need to snatch happiness in little pieces, learning to recognize the elements of happiness and then treasuring them while they last."

I love the advice and I will strive to continue to do so, showing my gratitude through my thoughts, words, and actions. I will refrain from focusing on the lack of time and money, or my current relationship status, which, aside from my current affair with Cap'n Crunch and the Pilsbury Dough Boy, is non-existent. I will persist in developing an attitude of gratitude until with only the sun and the moon, I am more than alright.

Pouring Rain

With the beginning of the semester comes an onslaught of extremes; nothing seems to be done in moderation. Whether the forecast is pouring rain or dry spell, the magnificent balance I found over the past three months has dissipated with the introduction of the fall semester.

"Welcome to junior year" is something I am quite accustomed to hearing. What exactly does that entail? Well, as anyone who is foolish enough to inquire 'how my week was' knows, I am happy to explain. Let me unload on the rest of you with a glimpse into the past week:

* 2 ten-page lab reports * 2 lab sessions * 1 six-page assignment * 3 quizzes * 4 hw assignments * 2 midterms * 2 sibling birthdays * 1 performance of "Honk" * 1 baby blessing * 1 wedding * long school hours * work * etc.

I was feeling terribly weighted, looking forward to the end of the week when I would finish that final structural analysis midterm and all stress would be lifted from my shoulders. No such relief came. When that biting, St. Louis screech declaring, "times up" came, panic arose instead. More strain was added to the heap that was supposed to have just been depleted.

A thought arose in my mind that I'd had during the week whilst sitting in institute. I was reflecting on my previous, hopeful frame of mind vs. my current state. I thought how light I'd felt only a week or two prior, and how I'd let the work load weigh my down. I felt a bit foolish.

I determined, as I have many times, to stop looking forward to some future date. Thinking everything will be better tomorrow will just prevent me from enjoying today. I'd forgotten, so quickly, the perspective I had been steadily gaining. I set out to do things to uplift me today. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself (Matt. 6:34).

And then I forgot it just as quickly.

So I'll continue to remind myself. With the hustle of school, my mind is apt to get caught up in the madness. I'll remember to slow down, take a deep breath, live like I'm 20, and think outside the box that is engineering. Like my dear cousin Val said, "sometimes you just need to take a run, breathe in some crisp fall air, and place your burdens on the shelf..."

So to the onslaught of extreme amounts of homework, extemely unfit professors, and the extremely unacceptable amount of emails in my inbox each day from the notorious Dr. Chambers, I say bring on the freakin' rain.