Some Day My Prince Will Come...

Banter time!

So I asked on the "interwebs" or the "www's" (whatever you desire to call it), what topic should I do for a late night rant/banter? And a dear friend of mine who I aspire to be said, "Waiting For A Missionary."

Ooooooh boy. Hold on to your seats, folks. I have A LOT to say about this.

I used to think waiting for a boy was TOTALLY fine. I really didn't have an opinion on it till I was like 16 (maybe that's because boys got super interesting at that age). I'm the type of girl who LOVES boys, but is a "tom boy" herself. I like to be around boys. Does that make me, excuse my French, a "slut" (as some whippersnappers call it these days)? No. Not at all. But I am a girl, I still get twitterpatted and I easily start to like a boy if the opportunity comes up - which, in my opinion, is completely normal when it comes to girls.

As I started going into Seminary, marriage and dating became a BIG topic. One day at the beginning of class during my Junior Year in high school, my friend Jacob Peterson was giving the devotional (which is a mini MINI lesson on a principle/doctrine before the teacher teaches the BIG lesson). He decided to talk about "waiting for missionaries." He told a story of a couple and the boyfriend was about to leave for a mission. The girl promised to wait for him...but she ended up dating and getting engaged to another guy. She "Dear John-ed" the Missionary boyfriend and went on with her life. BUT lo and behold, the marriage was STOPPED and when the Missionary boyfriend got home, they got married! NOW PAY ATTENTION. THIS IS RARE. If you are going to "wait" for someone, don't expect a "happily ever after" with this specific person. (the truth hurts!) It's nice to think of, BUT REMEMBER. It's the Lord's way and that's that. Don't spend the whole 18 months-2 years, being a hermit and not going on dates. You'll be surprised that the person you said you'll "wait for", isn't your eternal companion. It'll also sting more when you and what you thought was your future companion, break up. Yes, "Dear John-ing"/"Dear Jane-ing" is hard to do and even harder to receive. But we're here on this Earth to find out eternal companion, have a celestial marriage so we can receive the bountiful amount of happiness prepared for us in Heaven. Support the missionary by helping focus on his mission. He/She shouldn't be on his mission thinking of holding your hand/kissing you/marrying you. He/She has a HUGE job to do and it's INCREDIBLY important that they focus on:

1) Loving/Serving the People in their area.

2) Being Obedient to the Mission Standards.

3) Having the Spirit with them 24/7. If they don't have the Spirit, they will NOT function.

4) Using the Atonement on a DAILY basis.

If you are writing your missionary and all you can talk about is marrying them? STOP. They are not able to function correctly with a boyfriend/girlfriend on their mind. They only need to be thinking about the people and the work they need to do. And if you don't want to do this, all I can say is, I feel sorry for you.

"Aubri, do you have a missionary?" No, I do not own a missionary. Is there a missionary out there that I'm interested in? Yes. But that is private. :) I have not told him how I feel and I plan to keep it that way until we're both back from our missions/if we're available. I will NEVER forgive myself if I distracted this person while they are on their mission. If he is already married when I get back, I will support him in that as well. Of course, it will sting for a bit but I'm human...and that just means my body is working. It also means there is some hunka hunka BURNIN' love out there for me to find.

 It makes me incredibly sad when I hear of girlfriends who are sending pictures of wedding dresses/colors/decorations to missionaries currently in the field. You are distracting them from the work! YOU ARE. If you can't take the wait and if you cannot be patient, you are going to struggle in any marriage as well and you will live life in regret.

So Sisters, save yourself from the pain and regret. Don't wait for the missionary (unless you know FOR SURE he is the one), support them and love them for what they are doing.

Banter, COMPLETE.

Thanks A LOT.

I know this isn't a "late night banter/rant" but who's gonna stop me?

On Sunday we had our home teachers over and they talked about gratitude. One of the teachers said that one way you can increase your gratitude is when you pray, tell Heavenly Father everything you are grateful for instead of asking for things. After this lesson, my perspective has changed.

I've had trouble with feeling lonely. My whole summer consisted of me staying home and watching my friends leave for their missions. I became depressed and questioned, "What is the point?" I have my mission call but I just became neutral. I wasn't feeling happy but I was losing who I am. I wasn't recognizing all that was being done for me. I lost my socializing abilities and I became ACTUALLY awkward. (Ok, well, I've always been awkward...but you get my point)

Aubri, GET TO THE POINT.

So the point of this post is...how the HECK am I going to get back to the OLD Aubri?!

1) Express all that I'm grateful for in my prayers and in my everyday conversation. LIKE THIS!

**My siblings. They may have chosen different paths, but they are amazing individuals and I love them. They support me and my decision to serve the mission. That's all that I can ask for.

**Modern day technology.  Need I say more?

**My parents. They are an amazing support and they love me for who I am. And they are my best friends.

**This Gospel. A friend and I were taking about going through the temple for the first time. We both agreed that it's impossible the Church isn't true. It's organization is flawless and the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is spreading no matter what. Without this Gospel, I don't know where I would be in my life. It brings me TRUE happiness and I cannot wait to bring happiness to those in Mexico.

**My mission call.

**The friends that have chosen to serve a mission. They are true examples to me. AND I'm grateful for those who decided to stay, because we need that support system.

**The temple. I'm going through soon and I am BEYOND excited.

**The house I live in.

**The ward/stake I'm in.

**MAIL. I LOVE LETTERS.

**Mesa, Arizona. It's like a small town where people know each other and everybody is related, but bigger.

**Seminary & Institute.

**MUSIC. If I didn't have my piano, I would be in a mental institute.

**The Atonement. I'm not perfect and I make mistakes, just like everybody else. But I can be made clean again because of my brother, Jesus Christ, and his love for me & my Heavenly Father.

OK, obviously there is more stuff. But I have a tendency to make lists instead of posts.

2) SOCIAL LIFE POINTS.

Like I stated before, I have been deprived of a social life for way too long. It's been so long that I really struggled to be social again. SO, before I leave for my mission I want to get 200 social life points. But I'm not going to hang out with friends JUST for the points. I want to grow from this experience...and this is my plan.

--Hang out with friends at someone ELSE'S house = 5 points

--Hang out with friends and go somewhere else while bonding = 10 points

--Go out of my way to someone else's house = 15 points

--I'm asked on a date = 25 points

--I ask someone else on a date = 30 points

--I talk to a stranger (say "Hi!" and/or "Have a good day!") = 2 points

So at this point in life, I'm at 54 social life points. I want to be back to my old self before I leave for my mission and dagnabit, it's gonna happen!

        

Banter and Emotions.

4336 miles apart.

    Today, I witnessed my friend be set apart as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was incredibly bittersweet and many MANY tears were shed. Chile is so stinkin' blessed to have my best friend, Lorelei-Marie, in their country. I'm so thankful for her example in my life.

(Ignore my swollen face....yes, I was crying like a child BUT GIVE ME A BREAK.)

Anywho. On to other banter!

    ---So as ya'll know, I work at a place where chicken is the main dish in EVERYTHING. Chick-fil-a. I have been working there since April 2012 and it's been quite a journey full of smiles, tears, anger and frustration. The journey has been one complete roller coaster ride....but on the ride, you're blindfolded. You never know how your day is going to go. Like for example, on Thursday in the the drive thru, a customer pulled up and gave me his number. And of course, I was covered in human made grease and I smelt like rancid chicken...but apparently that didn't stop him! WHY? Because today, Monday/4 days later, HE CAME BACK. Being a girl who doesn't wear makeup/ doesn't like makeup/ is afraid of makeup, LOVES to wear t shirts, hasn't had the greatest self confidence, it was a compliment. But at the same time, he now knows where I work and has no idea I'm leaving for my mission in 79 days. Well, tough.

    --- My father, being the smart man he is, told me this story:

"A business mans hops on a train to work. Across from him is another man with his 5 children who are running around, throwing things, pushing other passengers, etc. They were basically running wild. But the man just sat there. The business man sat there thinking, 'Why doesn't this guy control his kids?! They are being so rude!' Finally after the business man couldn't take it anymore he spoke up and said, 'Sir! Please control your children! They are running wild!' The other man looked up and spoke with a shaky voice, 'I'm so sorry sir, we just got back from the hospital where their mother just passed away...'"

    What would you do in that situation? Maybe help the other man? Instead of sitting and judging the man/his children, we should constantly look for ways to love others...even if we don't know their background. The rest of the story, the business man stands up and sits next to the other man trying to help him with his children. If you feel as if you're looking at others thinking they're rude or annoying, WHATEVER THE CASE MAYBE, try not to feel offended from their actions. They aren't giving you offense, it's impossible to give. The only way you can be offended is if you take it. You are taking the offense and deciding to be hurt from their actions. You can either choose to be offended or you can choose to love them, serve them in some way, ignore the things that bug you & smile no matter what.

   Well, that's it for tonight's banter..... if you want me to banter on a specific topic, tell me & I'll do my best. :)
Godspeed.
 

Shaking Silly People.

    Many times in my life I have had friends tell me about certain frustrating situations in their lives and how they are just unhappy. I give them relatively easy advice, "Just do this....just do that....just break up with her/him....blah blah blah..." But they do the whole "smile and nod, but absolutely do not suck in any advice I just gave them" attitude. 

I JUST WANT TO GRAB THESE PEOPLE BY THE SHOULDERS & SHAKE THEM.

   It gets me SO frustrated. They are obviously unhappy and are aware of their unhappiness, but they aren't doing SQUAT about it. Of course you have the classic situations where it's like,

 "Hey you should obviously break up with that person if they're making your life poopy..." 

"Oh but Aubri, we're living together."

  Ok yeah, I get how that can be difficult to deal with. BUT that could have been somewhat avoided, but I'm not judging. "But we're in LOOOOVE." I get it - it's your life, do what you please. BUT MAKE HAPPY DECISIONS, GOSH DANG IT. Like I said before, it can be difficult with this situation, but life is difficult! That is how we become who we are.  You go through the rough patches to get to the gold at the end.

    It makes me want to scream when I watch my friends be controlled by other people. (I can say this because I once was controlled by others and learned my lesson.) You see your friend who is happy, funny, *insert any awesome characteristic about your friend here*...you get my point. You love being around them and you consider each other close friends. But over a period of time, you feel like you are being expected to hang out with this friend where everything else in your life becomes "second priority" without your consent. If you don't follow up to par with this friend, you get somewhat "punished" (humiliation, a guilt trip, etc.).

*** If you are going through this now,

GET. OUT. NOW.

  It's YOUR life. Yeah, friends are great! I'm not saying "Be a HERMIT!" But be OH so very careful with friends. This person maybe a great person who has cured AIDS and has adopted 2 starving African children, for all I care. If they are expecting too much out of you and you feel like you need to meet up to this person's needs to feel accomplished in life, THEY AREN'T WORTH YOUR ENERGY. Be who you want to be and do what you want to do. Yeah, sometimes plans don't line up....but I stated before - That is LIFE. Toughen up, rub some dirt in it. Besides the good thing about life is, it has a lot of days! Pick one and see if it works out. But with this certain "controlling" person, try to pick a few days every so often. I tried to do this and yeah, it was awkward. I probably shouldn't have cold turkey-ed it. But I'm happier now and feel more free with what I can do with my life. But that may not feel comfortable to you, so here is SOLUTION #2 : Talk to them about it. I'm not a great talker ... but see what you can muster out to your friend. Be calm when you say how you feel and if they react angrily/negatively,  1)  they are obviously not a true friend, and 2) be grateful you spoke your mind. But if I see someone attached to another person's hip, and I tell them to "Get out!" and they reply, "I have no one else."  Once again, I'm gonna shake them.

  

   I could have named this post "Shaking Stupid People." But honestly, we all have some sort of 'stupid' in our system and "silly" is a nicer word that rolls off the tongue.

I consider this late night rant, COMPLETE.

Pre-Mission Bucket List

   I am one of those type of people that when I am about to fall asleep, I get REAL philosophical....or I just think waaay too much for my own good.

   So before I walked into Slumber Town and visited Dreamville, I was thinking about my mission. I was thinking about all the things I need to do to prepare for the MTC, when I enter Aguascalientes and when I get home. I have a Spanish Book of Mormon and I have been reading that to remind me of the 4 years of Spanish I took in high school. I have also been praying hard that my passport will arrive sometime soon so my Visa for Mexico will be sent in on time.

   ANYWHO, when someone is on a LDS mission....their job is to, "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." They learn to focus ENTIRELY on that. They are removed from worldly things and devote their lives to serve/love those in their area. They are removed from different movies, music, etc.
     So no Imagine Dragons, no Hunger Games, no Lord of the Rings, etc. ....it all has to focus on the Gospel and it has to invite the Holy Ghost. I mean, all of the things I mentioned before do make me excited but the Holy Ghost isn't there and therefore it would distract me on my mission.  Don't get me wrong, I am going to miss MANY things on my mission.

-Certain friends and their graduations, mission farewells & homecomings, Marriages, their children being born, etc.
-The music I listen to and play on the piano
-My family. I always get choked up whenever I think about leaving my parents. I think it's more fear because I'm going to be away from family with very little communication for 18 months.

There is A LOT more stuff, but I want to do SO many things before I leave.

1. Go to Seaworld
2. Go to the Zoo at LEAST once.
3. Go shooting
4. Go to the State Fair.
5. Go Ice Skating
6. Go camping

Of course this list will probably grow at an abnormal rate, but hey...a sister missionary can dream, right?

Sweaty, Pizza and Olan Rogers

Today I met a hero today.
I stood for 3 hours in a line that went down the road and wrapped around the block. Oh and it was 105 degrees outside. What was I waiting for?
To meet this guy...

Olan Rogers. One of the funniest, most humble and most ADORABLE man anyone will meet. Today was a good day folks, a REALLY good day.

Hermana Winsor

**Dear Sister Winsor:
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Mexico Aguascalientes Mission. 
I report October 30, 2013 to the Provo MTC, Spanish Speaking.

     I truly underestimated the power a mission call would have on me. July 6, 2013 at 5:05pm I read my mission call to my family and some of my closest friends. I am truly blessed and grateful for the EXTREME love and support I felt yesterday. I know this mission call was inspired from God and it is specifically for me.

      Before I turned my papers in, I would always pray to Heavenly Father asking if in some way, while on my mission, my siblings will somehow be back in the Gospel. Or at least be a little closer to Heavenly Father. It was a long stretch to ask for, but I was willing to ask. WELL, when I found out where I would be serving I called my brother, Danny. I never thought he would be extremely excited for me, but BOY WAS I WRONG! He was SO happy for me and I truly felt his love. I'm so grateful for his support, excitement & involvement in this time of my life. He looked up a LOT of information about Aguascalientes before I did and  told me it's one of the cleanest/safest states in Mexico. And apparently it rains A LOT in the summer (I hear angels singing). I'm so grateful for him and I truly love my brother. I am also happy that Heavenly Father answered my prayer! I didn't know HOW he was going to do it, but He did! Are my 3 brothers & 1 sister now going to church? No. Are they reading their scriptures and praying? From what I know, probably not. But I still love them and I am grateful they support me in this decision.
I know my Heavenly Father knows me and knows each one of His children personally. He knows our desires and ours thoughts. He loves me and everyone He created. He has truly blessed me with this mission call.
   Am I happy? Extremely.
   Am I excited? More than you believe.

My favorite quote from last night from my Aunt Lorel: "You can go be a sister missionary for Halloween on your mission!"