Disneyland and Disney Bound.
Hello blog world.
Well it's been a hot second.
HI HELLO I AM SO SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND FOR AN EXTRA COUPLE WEEKS I TOLD YOU I WOULD BE IN DISNEYLAND WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO POST NEXT AND COULD NOT BE COUNTED ON FOR ANYTHING RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE HELLO IT'S DISNEYLAND!! SOS PLEASE FORGIVE!
I was going to just write the week after to make up for it, and then of course I got busy and totally spaced it. And then here we are at the week I was supposed to write you again anyway. And being someone who just got her wisdom teeth out, and is still a bit swollen, it's a wonder I'm here writing you today at all haha. BUT I AM SO GLAD I AM.
HELLO.
I LEAVE FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD IN 9 DAYS PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT A DRILL; I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT. A. DRILL.
When did we get here? How did we get here? I had so many things on my calendar that were reasons I wasn't leaving for Florida quite yet, but they are all practically marked off and I am suddenly feeling very exposed. It CAN'T be time to go yet!! I am so unprepared!! I still have so much I want to do, so many people I want to see, and is my mouth even going to be completely healed by the time I leave??? Probably not. I'm going to a concert in three days what the heck was I thinking?? Seriously, the past couple of weeks have been nonstop last moments with friends. I've been squeezing in time with multiple groups of friends per day even. I'm practically at my time's end though. Next week I will be leaving for Florida. Next. Week.
And so the question goes: is it possible to squeeze one's life in two suitcases for eight months? I have too much stuff I want to bring! And once I get there, I know I'll have too much stuff I want to buy. I should not have been chosen for this opportunity because I am going to be more poor than I am right now when I come home! But hey I'll probably have a lot more Disney mugs! (I'm a keeper)
So in case you were wondering, Disneyland was lovely. I was blessed enough to celebrate my 21st birthday in Disneyland and my golly it was the happiest birthday I've ever had!! I of course had planned to be as extra as you could possibly be in Disney on your birthday: I had cupcake birthday Minnie ears, a birthday button, and a shirt that said "Birthday Girl." I was living it up. I had such fun interactions with characters--like The Evil Queen shooing me out of the way and saying "a dreadful birthday to you" or Captain Jack taking the time to really make me feel special by talking to me and snatching my ears away. It was sooo much fun. And another interaction, though it didn't happen on my birthday, was we just so happened to catch the Mark Twain Riverboat at the same time as Princess Tiana--what the HECK. ALSO I MET MY TRUE LOVE FLYNN RIDER I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. Dinner time was always amazing too; each restaurant that saw my button brought me out a special birthday treat with a candle and wish ready for me to blow out. I had my entire family there, minus one brother-in-law, and I just felt so spoiled rotten.
I somehow managed to catch the Disney rash (sunburn and rash on your legs from walking around so much in the heat) while I was there, so that was certainly an experience, but nothing could rain on my happy cloud of birthday Disney magic.
Or the fact that everywhere I looked I was seeing Disney cast members and I kept imagining myself in their spots.. because I am going to be in their spot. I can't believe that I will be the one making magic in literally just a couple of weeks.
We officially registered for housing! I should for sure have the five girls that I linked up with (unless something goes terribly wrong), and I could not be more excited. These ladies are treasures and I can't wait to make sure they all know that.
Anyone have a secret special recipe to make time slow down? Or to make jaws heal faster? I got my wisdom teeth out on Friday, and I am actually doing really well. So I am very grateful for that. But when my body is at anything less than my very best, it makes things just inevitably a little bit harder. And things take a little longer. Like, eating is a chore now you guys. (<< totally unfair) And when you have a list of things to get done, you really want to be at your best. Especially because nobody wants to just do all the hard work and not get time out with their friends before they leave. Really soaking up time with my people is what I need, because I know moving to Florida is going to be such a culture shock.
I finished up my job at Horizon Credit Union this past week, and that was a really surreal, sad feeling. I didn't think I'd be sad to see it go, but I've been there for almost two years. People sneak into your heart without even knowing sometimes. I had members I was sad to say goodbye to, and coworkers I'll be sad to not see everyday. And it was so weird watching my replacement do my job for a week. It was like I was a ghost before I was even gone.
She was warning me about Florida and all the dangerous people there. It was just so weird to me--I am so used to my "Utah Mormon bubble." How could there be anyone out there that would want to do something bad to me? I know bad things happen every day, and the world isn't always a safe place, so I am definitely needing to remember to be cautious while living out there.
But I think a huge thing I also want to remember is to be strong in the gospel, and strong in who I am. My dad came in and talked to me today as I was cross stitching. He was talking to me about how parents worry, and how I need the spirit and the scriptures in my life daily while I'm down there. I 100% agree with him. But am I up for the task? Am I casually living the gospel right now? That simply won't do once I move away from home. I want to shine and show others the light of Christ through my countenance. Anyone have any tips for me? I don't want to become a casual member of this church! I am avidly seeking and striving His light, knowing it is the only true form of happiness out there! Don't let me forget it, okay? Disney might work some voodoo magic (never making me deny the church, just simply forget it's vital importance in my every day life maybe). Smack me around a little if you must. Because I know it now. And I want to know it when I come back. This gospel is happiness.
I also finished up "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and don't have another musical in sight for at least another year. That definitely feels weird.
I think when you know when you are leaving, it makes everything that happens around you all the more sweeter. It has made me really appreciate my beautiful, loving friends. It has made me appreciate living at home where I can be best friends with my mother. It has made me appreciate the mountains and the trees and the seasons and everything that Utah gives us. It has made me appreciate living around so many members of the Church and the profound influence they each have had on me. It has made me appreciate the countless free tickets to musicals I have, and just the abundance of good theatre around me. It has made me appreciate so so much, and I'm sure I'll discover even more things in the days to come.
I know I am ready for a big adventure. And I know this adventure has my name written all over it, and the Lord has so much in store for me. People to place in my path, experiences to test and try me, moments to savor for the rest of my life. They're all there, safely waiting in a perfect Jenni sized 8 month package. I know these things, and yet I just want to hit pause for just one more week at least. I don't even feel 21! How am I supposed to do this? I've lived away from home all of 4 months of my life, and those 4 months were as a missionary. Do I think I know how to adult because I most certainly do NOT!!! Even when things are exactly as they should be, things can be scary. And that's what I'm feeling right now.
I'm going to be okay. Don't worry you guys. *tries to reassure self more than anything* And don't think I'm wavering in testimony; my whole point is that I'm worried I'm SO solid in my testimony that nothing can shake me--and that's when something might. So just don't let me get careless, okay? The next time I'll be writing to you will be when I'm in Florida. That's a crazy sentence to write and read. The next time I'll be writing you, I'll be in FLORIDA.
If I don't get to see you in the next nine days, please don't forget my love for you! I want to see each and everyone of you, but God just simply doesn't give us enough days in a week or hours in a day. Hold our memories close, I'll come home and we'll make new ones. Just don't forget about me, okay? Because I can't WAIT to share all my experiences!! And I can't wait to bring you along for this crazy ride. Are you ready?
<<Please forgive all the pictures in this post. That's what you(I) get for not posting two weeks ago when I was supposed to. >>
What's Bringing Me Joy Right Now:
-watching old musicals from high school with Celeste while we just laugh our heads off
-squishy pillows
-the fact that my niece insisted I get the medium sized Baymax so she could get the small sized Baymax
-my cross stitching coming along
-turkey steak
-NEW GARMENTS (am I allowed to write that lol)
-my perfect and wonderful roomie Abigail
-A Lagoon trip with my mom and niece, it was so so relaxing. And obviously I love Disneyland and I can't wait to be in Disney World; but what summer would be complete without a trip to Lagoon? That place feels like home.
-Polaroid pictures
-pain meds lol
-My oral surgeon for doing such a magnificent job with my mouth, and for my mom for taking such good care of my damaged self ever since
-Animal Kingdom
-SISTER SPEAKMAN IS HOME!!
-Connor for being so generous
-this beautiful spring weather *heart eyes heart eyes heart eyes*
-sweet, sweet friends
-getting my temple recommend renewed
-sunsets
-CONGRATS TO TWO OF THE CONNORS IN MY LIFE WHO GOT ENGAGED AND THE OTHER CONNOR IN MY LIFE WHO GOT MARRIED THIS MONTH LOL
Do you want to hear a totally sweet experience?? Last last Friday (so the 20th) I lost my voice while staying out late and singing with some good friends of mine. No big deal right? WRONG. I was supposed to sing in my Aunt and Uncle's ward that Sunday. I was singing "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul," and had even asked someone from their ward to practice the song to accompany me. We drove out there, since it was family, my mom praying and insisting I'd be able to do this. I wanted to believe her. I was praying with all of my might that I would have a voice, that I would have angels attend me, and I would have a miracle. What kind of person was I if I coudln't have a little faith? But I'd never lost my voice like this before. I literally couldn't push sound out. We went early to practice with the pianist, and sure enough, big tears rolled down my cheeks as I tried to get anything out of my crackly voice. Something kept nagging me though, I felt like I was still supposed to share the words. So I suggested I do just that. That my accompanist Debbie would play as usual, and I would read the words with as much voice as I could muster. It took a lot of courage to do that. I was completely out of my element. Singing is my comfort zone, and I just wanted to get up and sing my testimony more than anything. That's what my aunt and uncle wanted to here! That's what these people were expecting! They didn't want a little frog croaking out some words. But I got up there, and I read the words, and a spirit so strong accompanied me in saying those words. The Lord had heard my prayers: I did have a voice (though not a singing one), I did have angels attend me, and the fact that I had the courage to do that surely was a miracle. I was brought to tears, when I can usually sing without tearing up. Speaking the words in their gospel truths (Hercules oops), it made me listen to them differently and really hear what they had to say. And I think that's what a lot of people felt too. I was surprised by how many people came up to me afterwards to share that they had felt the spirit during my "song." A younger girl came up to me very first, she said something to me that really struck me, "I really felt the spirit with your song, and that's saying something for me." Someone who probably hasn't learned how to recognize the still small voice of the spirit felt something during my song. That I didn't even sing. And that felt pretty good. The Lord makes up the difference. You just have to be willing to give Him what you can.
So hey the gospel is pretty sweet and just thought you ought to know.
Well it's been a hot second.
HI HELLO I AM SO SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND FOR AN EXTRA COUPLE WEEKS I TOLD YOU I WOULD BE IN DISNEYLAND WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO POST NEXT AND COULD NOT BE COUNTED ON FOR ANYTHING RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE HELLO IT'S DISNEYLAND!! SOS PLEASE FORGIVE!
I was going to just write the week after to make up for it, and then of course I got busy and totally spaced it. And then here we are at the week I was supposed to write you again anyway. And being someone who just got her wisdom teeth out, and is still a bit swollen, it's a wonder I'm here writing you today at all haha. BUT I AM SO GLAD I AM.
HELLO.
I LEAVE FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD IN 9 DAYS PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT A DRILL; I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT. A. DRILL.
When did we get here? How did we get here? I had so many things on my calendar that were reasons I wasn't leaving for Florida quite yet, but they are all practically marked off and I am suddenly feeling very exposed. It CAN'T be time to go yet!! I am so unprepared!! I still have so much I want to do, so many people I want to see, and is my mouth even going to be completely healed by the time I leave??? Probably not. I'm going to a concert in three days what the heck was I thinking?? Seriously, the past couple of weeks have been nonstop last moments with friends. I've been squeezing in time with multiple groups of friends per day even. I'm practically at my time's end though. Next week I will be leaving for Florida. Next. Week.
And so the question goes: is it possible to squeeze one's life in two suitcases for eight months? I have too much stuff I want to bring! And once I get there, I know I'll have too much stuff I want to buy. I should not have been chosen for this opportunity because I am going to be more poor than I am right now when I come home! But hey I'll probably have a lot more Disney mugs! (I'm a keeper)
So in case you were wondering, Disneyland was lovely. I was blessed enough to celebrate my 21st birthday in Disneyland and my golly it was the happiest birthday I've ever had!! I of course had planned to be as extra as you could possibly be in Disney on your birthday: I had cupcake birthday Minnie ears, a birthday button, and a shirt that said "Birthday Girl." I was living it up. I had such fun interactions with characters--like The Evil Queen shooing me out of the way and saying "a dreadful birthday to you" or Captain Jack taking the time to really make me feel special by talking to me and snatching my ears away. It was sooo much fun. And another interaction, though it didn't happen on my birthday, was we just so happened to catch the Mark Twain Riverboat at the same time as Princess Tiana--what the HECK. ALSO I MET MY TRUE LOVE FLYNN RIDER I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. Dinner time was always amazing too; each restaurant that saw my button brought me out a special birthday treat with a candle and wish ready for me to blow out. I had my entire family there, minus one brother-in-law, and I just felt so spoiled rotten.
I somehow managed to catch the Disney rash (sunburn and rash on your legs from walking around so much in the heat) while I was there, so that was certainly an experience, but nothing could rain on my happy cloud of birthday Disney magic.
Or the fact that everywhere I looked I was seeing Disney cast members and I kept imagining myself in their spots.. because I am going to be in their spot. I can't believe that I will be the one making magic in literally just a couple of weeks.
We officially registered for housing! I should for sure have the five girls that I linked up with (unless something goes terribly wrong), and I could not be more excited. These ladies are treasures and I can't wait to make sure they all know that.
Anyone have a secret special recipe to make time slow down? Or to make jaws heal faster? I got my wisdom teeth out on Friday, and I am actually doing really well. So I am very grateful for that. But when my body is at anything less than my very best, it makes things just inevitably a little bit harder. And things take a little longer. Like, eating is a chore now you guys. (<< totally unfair) And when you have a list of things to get done, you really want to be at your best. Especially because nobody wants to just do all the hard work and not get time out with their friends before they leave. Really soaking up time with my people is what I need, because I know moving to Florida is going to be such a culture shock.
I finished up my job at Horizon Credit Union this past week, and that was a really surreal, sad feeling. I didn't think I'd be sad to see it go, but I've been there for almost two years. People sneak into your heart without even knowing sometimes. I had members I was sad to say goodbye to, and coworkers I'll be sad to not see everyday. And it was so weird watching my replacement do my job for a week. It was like I was a ghost before I was even gone.
She was warning me about Florida and all the dangerous people there. It was just so weird to me--I am so used to my "Utah Mormon bubble." How could there be anyone out there that would want to do something bad to me? I know bad things happen every day, and the world isn't always a safe place, so I am definitely needing to remember to be cautious while living out there.
But I think a huge thing I also want to remember is to be strong in the gospel, and strong in who I am. My dad came in and talked to me today as I was cross stitching. He was talking to me about how parents worry, and how I need the spirit and the scriptures in my life daily while I'm down there. I 100% agree with him. But am I up for the task? Am I casually living the gospel right now? That simply won't do once I move away from home. I want to shine and show others the light of Christ through my countenance. Anyone have any tips for me? I don't want to become a casual member of this church! I am avidly seeking and striving His light, knowing it is the only true form of happiness out there! Don't let me forget it, okay? Disney might work some voodoo magic (never making me deny the church, just simply forget it's vital importance in my every day life maybe). Smack me around a little if you must. Because I know it now. And I want to know it when I come back. This gospel is happiness.
I also finished up "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and don't have another musical in sight for at least another year. That definitely feels weird.
I think when you know when you are leaving, it makes everything that happens around you all the more sweeter. It has made me really appreciate my beautiful, loving friends. It has made me appreciate living at home where I can be best friends with my mother. It has made me appreciate the mountains and the trees and the seasons and everything that Utah gives us. It has made me appreciate living around so many members of the Church and the profound influence they each have had on me. It has made me appreciate the countless free tickets to musicals I have, and just the abundance of good theatre around me. It has made me appreciate so so much, and I'm sure I'll discover even more things in the days to come.
I know I am ready for a big adventure. And I know this adventure has my name written all over it, and the Lord has so much in store for me. People to place in my path, experiences to test and try me, moments to savor for the rest of my life. They're all there, safely waiting in a perfect Jenni sized 8 month package. I know these things, and yet I just want to hit pause for just one more week at least. I don't even feel 21! How am I supposed to do this? I've lived away from home all of 4 months of my life, and those 4 months were as a missionary. Do I think I know how to adult because I most certainly do NOT!!! Even when things are exactly as they should be, things can be scary. And that's what I'm feeling right now.
I'm going to be okay. Don't worry you guys. *tries to reassure self more than anything* And don't think I'm wavering in testimony; my whole point is that I'm worried I'm SO solid in my testimony that nothing can shake me--and that's when something might. So just don't let me get careless, okay? The next time I'll be writing to you will be when I'm in Florida. That's a crazy sentence to write and read. The next time I'll be writing you, I'll be in FLORIDA.
If I don't get to see you in the next nine days, please don't forget my love for you! I want to see each and everyone of you, but God just simply doesn't give us enough days in a week or hours in a day. Hold our memories close, I'll come home and we'll make new ones. Just don't forget about me, okay? Because I can't WAIT to share all my experiences!! And I can't wait to bring you along for this crazy ride. Are you ready?
<<Please forgive all the pictures in this post. That's what you(I) get for not posting two weeks ago when I was supposed to. >>
What's Bringing Me Joy Right Now:
-watching old musicals from high school with Celeste while we just laugh our heads off
-squishy pillows
-the fact that my niece insisted I get the medium sized Baymax so she could get the small sized Baymax
-my cross stitching coming along
-turkey steak
-NEW GARMENTS (am I allowed to write that lol)
-my perfect and wonderful roomie Abigail
-A Lagoon trip with my mom and niece, it was so so relaxing. And obviously I love Disneyland and I can't wait to be in Disney World; but what summer would be complete without a trip to Lagoon? That place feels like home.
-Polaroid pictures
-pain meds lol
-My oral surgeon for doing such a magnificent job with my mouth, and for my mom for taking such good care of my damaged self ever since
-Animal Kingdom
-SISTER SPEAKMAN IS HOME!!
-Connor for being so generous
-this beautiful spring weather *heart eyes heart eyes heart eyes*
-sweet, sweet friends
-getting my temple recommend renewed
-sunsets
-CONGRATS TO TWO OF THE CONNORS IN MY LIFE WHO GOT ENGAGED AND THE OTHER CONNOR IN MY LIFE WHO GOT MARRIED THIS MONTH LOL
Do you want to hear a totally sweet experience?? Last last Friday (so the 20th) I lost my voice while staying out late and singing with some good friends of mine. No big deal right? WRONG. I was supposed to sing in my Aunt and Uncle's ward that Sunday. I was singing "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul," and had even asked someone from their ward to practice the song to accompany me. We drove out there, since it was family, my mom praying and insisting I'd be able to do this. I wanted to believe her. I was praying with all of my might that I would have a voice, that I would have angels attend me, and I would have a miracle. What kind of person was I if I coudln't have a little faith? But I'd never lost my voice like this before. I literally couldn't push sound out. We went early to practice with the pianist, and sure enough, big tears rolled down my cheeks as I tried to get anything out of my crackly voice. Something kept nagging me though, I felt like I was still supposed to share the words. So I suggested I do just that. That my accompanist Debbie would play as usual, and I would read the words with as much voice as I could muster. It took a lot of courage to do that. I was completely out of my element. Singing is my comfort zone, and I just wanted to get up and sing my testimony more than anything. That's what my aunt and uncle wanted to here! That's what these people were expecting! They didn't want a little frog croaking out some words. But I got up there, and I read the words, and a spirit so strong accompanied me in saying those words. The Lord had heard my prayers: I did have a voice (though not a singing one), I did have angels attend me, and the fact that I had the courage to do that surely was a miracle. I was brought to tears, when I can usually sing without tearing up. Speaking the words in their gospel truths (Hercules oops), it made me listen to them differently and really hear what they had to say. And I think that's what a lot of people felt too. I was surprised by how many people came up to me afterwards to share that they had felt the spirit during my "song." A younger girl came up to me very first, she said something to me that really struck me, "I really felt the spirit with your song, and that's saying something for me." Someone who probably hasn't learned how to recognize the still small voice of the spirit felt something during my song. That I didn't even sing. And that felt pretty good. The Lord makes up the difference. You just have to be willing to give Him what you can.
So hey the gospel is pretty sweet and just thought you ought to know.
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