Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Challenge to Myself

     So I get paid every bi-weekly, and I go from paycheck to paycheck (not in a bad way, just in a I-like-to-shop-and-spend-all-my-money kind of way). I have lots of things I want to try and save up for, and Christmas is just around the corner too. I recently decided I want to try and do something new. My challenge to myself is to spend as little money as I possibly can. My realistic goal is to spend $50 or less these next two weeks.
     I figure:
Gas: $25.00
Food: $15.00
Incidental: $10.00
     Not much leeway, but then again, I'm just trying to do something new!

In other news...
- I am done with my first semester of ASU in just 5 days (!!!!)
-  It only took my 5 months, but I finally finished painting my room...
- Christmas is in 21 days! <3
- Working at Desert Ridge Junior high is pretty much my favorite. Funny kids are the best. (Tutoring at the high school next semester too!)
- I love emailing missionaries. But that's nothing new. :)
- I got a real life taste of motherhood when I was babysitting, and in a matter of one minute I was covered in barf and pee. That was quite the experience!

And if you got this far, congratulations! Because you just read one of the most boring blog posts ever. Go ahead, give yourself a pat on the back, you deserve it.

Love, Olive!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

My UN-Mission Decision

Yes, it's different. I WAS planning on going on a mission. I DID finish my papers. I DID meet with my bishop. But I DIDN'T submit my papers, and I'm not going to. But you know what?

It's okay, and I'm okay.

A few months before I started my papers, I had so much confusion as to whether or not I should go. It was literally to the point of almost making me sick. I decided that since I felt so strongly confused about it all, I would go forth with starting my papers. I mean, it's not like I would regret it if I did go, but I might have regretted it if I never even gave it a shot. I had the faith, and I had the desire, but it just wasn't right. I met with my bishop after all of my papers were finished, but I decided that it just didn't feel right for me. As sad as I was about it, I was at peace. I AM at peace. I know that staying home and attending school is the right thing for me to do now. I am SO excited to become a teacher. And just because I am not going to serve a full time mission, does not mean that I can't still be a missionary, because as Richard G Scott said, "every member a missionary."

I've had people ask me about my papers, and I have just told them that I'm not going anymore because it didn't feel right. The usual response to that: "Oh, I'm sorry." or "Bummer" or "I was excited for you." But you know what I think?

Don't be sorry. I'm not. I know that not going is right. It's not a bummer, I look forward to school and when I will be able to become a teacher. And just because I am not going doesn't mean that my life is over. I'm just getting started!

I truly love this church. I waned to go on a mission, but I know that it just isn't what I am supposed to be doing. I will have my impact in other ways, and I am okay with that. Life is crazy, but so beautiful. And I am so SO happy.

Love you all,
Olivia

Thursday, October 17, 2013

MY Mission Decision

As I think everyone knows, I have made the decision to serve a mission and my papers will be finalized and submitted next week. I HOPE to have a call within the next month. :) As excited and thrilled as I am to go on a mission, the decision didn't come lightly. It came with lots of tears, stress, phone calls, and prayers. There were lots of factors for me to consider:
-Did I really want to go on a mission? Absolutely!
-What about school? I can easily defer my scholarship and pick up where I leave off.
-Can I afford it? Well, within the last week I now have myself up to 3 jobs, so the Lord is definitely on my side and blessing me with the capabilities to pay for a mission.
-What will my parents think? This was probably the biggest concern for me, as I was so very concerned and mindful about what they would think about putting school on hold to leave to go serve. But, even though it was a shock, I am glad I have such loving parents who understand that this is what I want to do and what makes me happy.
- What about my school loans? Weeeelll... I still have to figure out this part, but from other sisters I have heard that it isn't too hard to get them deferred, it's just a matter of the interest that will still accrue while I am gone. I have faith that it will all work out though.
It was a lot of prayer and considerations that got me to these answers.

My story:
     I never thought I would be someone who would want to serve a mission. I was only baptized a little over a year ago, and as far as I was concerned, I had my life pretty much planned out. Go to college, hopefully get married in my senior year (or shortly thereafter), get a job, and have a family. A mission was never a consideration for me. I remember waking up one morning a couple months ago, and I just had this overwhelming feeling that I needed to go on a mission. I couldn't shake this feeling for about two weeks. It consumed all of my thoughts. I went and talked to my bishop about starting my papers, but that I wanted to research a little more into the school portion of things before I started them. I found out pretty quick that it would all work out well. During that time I had gone with the sister missionaries in my ward a whole bunch. I absolutely love the spirit I feel when I am with them and the happiness it brings.
     As I began to think about it less when school and work got busy, I brushed the entire thing off and put it out of my mind. Who was I kidding? Me? A sister missionary? Ridiculous! And this was my mentality for about a month.
     But, surely those thoughts came back again. I went and talked to bishop, and had him get my missionary account started. I was going to do this. And as my favorite person told me, "do NOT double cross when the answer comes. Stick with it!" And I remembered that. When I told my parents, I had been praying like crazy, fasting, and I went to the temple for a couple hours. I love the spirit the temple has and how easy it is to be guided by it.
     I told my parents, and now here I am, almost done with my papers! I am so excited for this adventure I will be able to go on to serve the Lord and share this gospel with others! I for one know that it has made me so happy, and even though some may think the church is "restrictive" (that's a story for a different post), I love the guidance the church gives and I know that it is just for my protection, and ultimately, these guidelines provide me with more freedom by being able to keep my agency.
    
     I am SO excited to be able to know where I will be going! Hopefully less than one month! Eeeep! My excitedeness is just too much!

With love, Olivia!

P.S.- Any helpful tips on preparing in general? Things you are doing to prepare/wish you had done? Good scripture marking guidelines or ideas? Please leave a comment if you do! <3

Sunday, September 1, 2013

It's Been Awhile...

So yeah. Life is pretty much crazy, nonstop, madness. But it's all good, I'm surviving.

So Kai has nominated me for an award? Well I feel flattered. ;) It's called the Liebster Award, and basically, you get nominated, then you nominate more people, then the nominate people and so on! Its a great way to get the word out on newer and smaller blogs!

So the rules to this award are:
1. Link back to the person who nominated you.
2. List 11 facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions posted by the person who nominated you.
4. Nominate up to 11 bloggers who have 200 followers or less.
5. Ask your nominees 11 new questions.

Eleven Facts About Me
1. I was baptized into the LDS church (Mormon) in July of 2012. Best Decision EVER.
2. I love to read. It's pretty much the best.
3. College life= awesome. College + working life= not so awesome. College is amazing and I love the freedom I have with it, and it isn't going to pay for itself, so working is definitely necessary for me.
4. I aspire to play the piano someday. I think it is the most beautiful instrument there is and hope to be able to play it well in the future.
5. I have been to Greece, and I would love to see more of the world. I hope to travel to Paris specifically.
6. My best friend/ secret keeper/ boyfriend is serving a mission in Irvine California. I miss his guts. The first month was surprisingly not all that bad, but lately this week my heart just aches for him. So many things I want to tell him and talk to him about, and I want a hug more than anything.
7. Mostly all of my friends are gone and doing crazy awesome things in different parts of the world. And I'm here, with a few of my friends still left.
8. I love to sew and scrapbook.
9. I'm a self-teacher. I want to do something? I figure it out, or at least try really hard. That is how I know how to do a lot of the things I do. Google and YouTube are my friends.
10. My favorite color is purple, and my other favorite color is green because that is Brandon's favorite color.
11. I am attending Arizona State University right now. I am at the Polytechnic campus right now, so its nice and small and quiet and friendly.

The Questions Kai Asked Me
1. What is your favorite color to wear? I like anything that is reddish/orange or scarlet. Those are my favorite to wear, but other people say I look good in green.
2. If you could only listen to three songs for the rest of your life, what would you listen to? We'll Bring the World His Truth by Insideout, Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine, On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons, Why Don't We Just Dance by Josh Turner, Overjoyed by Matchbox Twenty. That's more than three, but oh well. :)
3. Would you rather travel to a beach or a forest? I've been to the beach before, so the forest! Why not? Sounds like a grand adventure to me!
4. What is your ideal weather? FALL. I like cloudy days, around 70 degrees, little bit of wind chill, but not too much.
5. Who is your role model? My role model... I don't think I could ever pick just one person because I have been touched by so many different people in my life. I would probably have to say Jen Martineau or Marie Stevens, both of them equally as much. But there are a bunch of others also :)
6. What would be your last meal if you were on death row? I guess it would depend on what type of food I was craving at the time.. But my favorites are homemade baked potato with chili, in-n-out, or fettuccine alfredo from the Cheesecake Factory (along with a slice of red velvet cheesecake, of course).
7. What is your favorite book series? Harry Potter, hands down. That is my absolute favorite.
8. What cool things would be included in your dream home? A secret room that you can access through a spinning bookcase wall. My own gospel library type thing (it's a dream because really, I can't afford to spend like $20+ per book I want and make it big enough for a library, so I just pick and choose my favorites). A big craft room for all of my sewing and scrapbooking activities.
9. What is your favorite (cheesy) pick-up line?
10. If you were granted one wish what would it be? I think it would have been absolutely incredible to be able to witness the miracles that Jesus Christ performed while he was here on Earth. 11. What is your favorite number and why? How coincidental! It is actually 11. Why? Well, my first kiss with Brandon was on the 11th month and 11th day of the year 2011, and in the 11th hour. 11-11-11 11:something was the start of my happiest times with him. :)

My Nominees
I don't really know any bloggers all that well, but I do follow a few. So I nominate Shaylee (even though she doesn't know me) from My Fave You Are. She is pretty much my favorite blogger right now because she was a missionary girlfriend who is now engaged to her RM and getting married soon. What an inspiration! I only hope that I can be that lucky when mine gets home.

My Questions
1. Favorite book series?
2. How many kids do you want to have?
3. Favorite movie?
4. Dream job?
5. Favorite kind of desert?
6. If you had to live in any different decade (except for 1990-now), when would you choose and why?
7. What is your favorite animal and why do you like it?
8. Favorite number and why?
9. What is your favorite instrument, whether you can play it or not?
10. What is one of the most memorable moments of your life?
11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

And alas it is now almost two in the morning, and church is at nine, so I am going to bed! I will do a "my life" update sometime soon hopefully.

Love, Olivia

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Month One!

Wow-oh-wow. Even though the first few days were completely miserable, the month actually did go by pretty fast. I guess that's what happens when life is almost nonstop busy!

The happenings since July 10th:

**One of my best friends Jared got home from his mission in Colombia, South Carolina! I guess it depends on who you ask, but to me I thought they went by pretty darn quick! (Hoping for the same thing with Brandon) :)


** I start college?! Well yeah, actually I do. I guess since I start in less than a week I should get to putting my schedule together.. #procrastination #dontwanna #hatemath (I am actually a little bit excited to have a structured schedule in my life again though)

 
** Sewing. It's my outlet. And I am learning a bunch of new stuff and am getting a whole lot better.


**Mondays have quickly become my favorite just because of the sole basis that I have a chance to communicate with Brandon (you know, considering I've only gotten one letter since he's been gone). I love emails. I am SO grateful for modern technology


 
**Handwritten letters and decorating envelopes has slowly worked its way into the list of some of my favorite things to do.

**Babysitting and work= my life. It sure does keep me busy though! And these are some of my favorite little kiddos. :) Branson, Ellie, Tommy, and Emma.

**I don't have picture for this, but lately I have been going out with the Sister Missionaries Halcomb and Carroll quite a bit! It had been some great experiences, and I have become pretty good friends with these lovely ladies. We have taught a few lessons, had people not answer their doors and phones, and turn us away. But the lessons are what matters the most. With all of the things I have been thinking about a lot lately, it really has made me grateful for the testimony I have and encouraged me to grow it all the more and better. Reading scriptures more often, and studying them, and praying about it more often.


I am so grateful to have a best friend serving the Lord. Without people like him, I myself wouldn't be a part of this church (or at least it probably would have taken a lot longer). I know that this church is true, that this is the gospel of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and that the plan of Happiness was created for us to be able to obtain eternal life with our Heavenly parents and Jesus Christ.

Life is crazy and wonderful and beautiful and I love it.

Love Always,
Olive

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Missionary Mail

I am house sitting for a family that I am close with, the Martineaus, and about 5 days after they left, I got a text asking if I could take a little baby lizard hat was in one of the boy's rooms to a friends house. I go and find the Rubbermaid, but no little lizard. So I went a pulled out some purple papers that were taped in there (places for the lizard to hide), and when I pulled one of them out, there was the lizard, stuck to the tape and dead. I texted Jen and told her what happened, and what was I to do with it? Mail it to Brandon. Jeff was suggested first, but it would take a looong time for the letter to get to him compared to the two days for Brandon.

I wish I could see his reaction to him opening it! I'm excited for when he will be able to write me back telling me what he thought of it. :) I feel like things of this sort are usually the other way around, the boy sending the girl some sort of dead thing. Nope, not this time! I'm such a sweet girlfriend. ;)

I gave Brandon a list of instructions in his letter, so first he opens up the purple paper that has the lizard in it, he needs to take a picture of it (I'm curious to see what the mail system will do to it), throw it away, read the story behind why he has just received a dead lizard (Which is in a taped closed index card that says to open last), and then write me back! :)
 
Here's the lizard. He really is a small little thing, less than an inch long.
 
 
So that was my exciting day of mail to my missionary yesterday. I'll let you know what he says when I get my letter. :)
 
 
Love, Olive

Friday, July 12, 2013

MTC, Here He Is

Elder Stevens is officially in the MTC!! This is actually day three for him because I am a little bit behind. But he's there, and in the letter he wrote me before he went to the MTC, he said that he is SO excited to be able to put his nametag on and begin this work, he's been dreaming of his mission since he got baptized!
I am SO excited for him too!!
So after seeing this picture (Brandon is on the right), I have some bittersweet feelings, but I am so happy for this righteous young man and that he is willing to serve the Lord for two years. What an example he is to me. :)
(On a slight tangent, I couldn't imagine only having only about 3 or 4 minutes from the point of pulling up to the curb to say goodbye. That is so hard.)

Here's to the start of two fun, work, and gospel filled years!

Love, Olive