..Videos..

Oh P.S. I made a video of Hawaii that can be found here:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bohpezRRLLo

and I also enjoy singing. Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7QOn6YAQb8

Maybe while I'm gone it will make you cry or something. 

I Really Struggle With Blogging.

Sorry I'm horrible at keeping up with my blog. Somehow I manage to update my Facebook and Instagram daily but my blog? Yeaaahhh...apparently I'm just not really a blogging person. I think the real reason I don't like blogging is because I feel like with every post I make I am expected to share my deepest feelings with the entire blogging world and honestly? I don't even do that with my family so I doubt that I'd be able to do it with y'all out there reading this. 

Anyways, its still fun to share exciting and funny stuff on here so hopefully you still enjoy reading my bloggie blog. Over Christmas and New Years my family and I spent 16 days in Hawaii. Can you say heaven? It really was such a fun trip. It was a great last family vaccay before I leave for the next 18 months. One of my very best friends, Nikki, joined us the second week we were there which made it even better! Here are some of my favorite shots! 

Needless to say, it was an amazing trip and we all had a fabulous time! So sad that I had to say goodbye to the Ale family for so long though... I will truly miss them. 

In other news, I LEAVE FOR ARGENTINA IN 15 DAYS. SAY WHAAAAT? I gave my first farewell talk yesterday and it was so surreal. I really never, ever, ever thought the day would come for me to give a mission farewell. But it did. And I had so many people there to support me. I could not be more blessed. My friends and family are top notch. The best in the world. They are always there for me and they are the best examples anyone could have. Every one of them has touched my life in a positive way that I can never forget and I will miss them so much over the next 18 months. But 18 months compared to eternity is nothing. I CAN DO THIS. Although I will miss my family dearly, I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (is that too much? Sorry not sorry.) excited for all the adventures that await me in the next year and a half! I am going to Argentina for heavens sake! I am going to meet so many amazing people and hopefully be an instrument in which God can change their lives. Here are some more fabulous pictures from my farewell luncheon:

I didn't get a picture with everyone that came...so regretting it now. 

For all you future sister missionaries out there check out this girls blog:

bellainberlin.blogspot.com

She's hilarious. And knowledgeable.

Also, with all this Manti T'eo stuff going on, I just thought I'd share this with you.

How great is that? I really feel bad for him but whoever made this picture deserves an award. For reals. 

Guess what?! The packing has started! Ahhh! I'm getting ahead of myself because I'm going a little stir-crazy. I just want to leave already. Its hard to focus on anything but my mission. I have a feeling these next 2 weeks are going to go by much slower than I'd like and then once they're gone I'm going to want them right back. Bleh. 

And last but not least, I have a new blog for the mission. It can be found here:

hermanavincent.blogspot.com

As of now I don't have any posts though. Each week when I send my family an email, my parents will post it onto my blog so you all can follow along on my crazy adventures. This might be my last blog post buuutt who knows? I might actually succeed at blogging right before it gets taken away from me. 

Choose the Right. 

Called To Serve Him, Heavenly King of Glory.

WOW. 

Thats pretty much all I have to say about his past weekend. I am so humbled and grateful for the amazing experiences I've had in the past 3 days. If you're wondering what I'm talking about, watch this video. 

Last week there was a FaceBook group created (by Lauren Hungate, Lyndsie Smith, and Sarah Kemer) for future sister missionaries to share our calls with each other and help one another prepare for our missions. Within a week they have had over 2200 sisters join the page and it continues to grow each and everyday. One girl that joined the page, Anna Finneran, decided it would be a great idea to have some of us get together to take a picture to send to the First Presidency to show how excited we are about the age change and our chance to serve! So we did. As you saw in the video that I created, around 200 future sisters gathered at Temple Square on Saturday December 8, 2012. Other sisters from the page that aren't in the Salt Lake area also gathered in Rexburg, Logan, Provo, and even La'ie Hawaii! 

As we gathered we found girls that will be serving in our same missions, took pictures, and sang hymns. I can't even describe to you how powerful the Spirit was present there that day. It was an amazing experience to be surrounded by so many worthy young women that are preparing to serve the Lord over the next few years. The work truly is hastening and I'm so glad I get to be a part of it at this time. 

I do want to make the point that although there is a very large surge of missionaries joining the army of missionaries around the world, you don't have to go on a mission to be a missionary. We should all be doing our part spreading the gospel even to those that we are around every single day at home. With this new age change the Lord has made it clear that He needs as many worthy members teaching His gospel as He can get whether they are on missions or at home going to school, raising families, or making a difference in their own communities. It is a wonderful time to be here on the earth and we are all so beyond blessed to have the knowledge that we have. We need to make sure that we aren't being selfish and keeping it to ourselves. Say what you know! He needs you in this critical time. 

Over the weekend I have received multiple messages from people I don't know asking about the events that took place this weekend and even one young man asking how he can learn more about the church and how I came to know of its truth. As much as you think its not true, social media is a great way to share your beliefs. I have made connections with these people that I would not have had these events not taken place this past weekend. For example, one sister messaged me wondering about the sisters gathering having no idea that I had been called to Argentina. Turns out, she has been trying to find someone going to Argentina for the past few years because she has been trying to contact a former companion of hers that lives there. Well guess what? That certain companion happens to live in a city that is in my mission. Now I have this woman's contact information so that if I am able to find this companion of hers for her she will be able to be reunited with her. God knows what he's doing!! He has a plan for each and every one of us and we just have to trust in His timing. 

Never forget that you are a loved and cherished Child of God. 

I am overwhelmed with all the views, shares, and comments that have been made about the video above. I feel so humbled. I wish I could link all the sisters that were apart of it to see all the lives that they have impacted for the better. I want them all to know that they are making a difference and that I couldn't have made this video without them (obviously). I credit those sisters who created the FaceBook page and the event for the sisters to unite. You ladies are truly inspired and wonderful! All the future sisters missionaries, whether you were a part of this video or not, you are a part of this work! Get out there and teach until you can't teach anymore...and then go even further! God is watching over every single one of us! Good luck and GOD SPEED! 

As Sisters In Zion!

Also, if you would like to read my initial reaction to the announcement, you can read that here.

Catching Up.

I haven't blogged in a while and A LOT has happened since the last time I did. The biggest thing that has happened since then is that I got my mission call! I have been assigned to labor in the Argentina Bahia Blanca Mission. I report to the MTC on February 13, 2013, same day as one of my dear friends from Belize, Hilary Munger. Pretty cool. I honestly could not be more excited to get out there and serve! My uncle Steve and a kid that came to Belize with me, Mike, both served in the Bahia Blanca Mission as well so its been fun to hear what its like from people that have served there. My moms brother and his wife actually live in Argentina just 4 hours outside my mission in Buenos Aires which is always very convenient. (: My parents will most likely come pick me up so we can go visit them after my mission.

We're a little bit crazy.

For those of you wondering, Nic gets back in June of 2013. That means that we wont see each other for a whole 38 months (3 years and 2 months). That is a LONG time and its really hard for me to even think about. It just seems crazy. Hopefully time will go by fast. I'm just glad he supports my decision and couldn't be happier that I will be able to experience all that he has while he's been out on his mission. It will also give him the oppurtunity to get a year of school in and to actually date outside of high school since he left the week after we graduated. All around, its a hard situation but a good outcome.

A week ago I got to go to Arizona for a friends wedding. It was such a blast. I'm so excited for Carly and her new husband and wish them the very best. Words can't really express how grateful I am for my trip to Belize. Thats where I met Carly and all the girls that came with me to Arizona. Belize brought me knowledge, gratitude, friendships and so much more. Really, I think all these girls will be in my life for a very long time. The trip down to Arizona was a sketchy one because of the huge storm but these three kept me awake and aware the whole time. Lets just say we had fun the whole ride. Music is perfect for these sorts of situations.

Carly's wedding went great. She looked beautiful and her reception went off without a hitch. Minus the wind the whole time while we were setting up for her outdoor reception. Her mom was a little stressed but we got it all set up and the wind stopped just in time for everyone to arrive. It was a beautiful reception with very delicious food (most of which didn't make it out the door because all us Belize girls were working eating in the kitchen), amazing decorations, and wonderful people.

This past weekend I went up to Logan to visit my roomies from last year. They were in charge of Mikelles Baby Shower so I came up to help out a little bit! Let me just tell you, Nikki, Jami and Kelsi worked so hard on this Baby Shower and it was PERRRFFEEECCCTT. The games were fun, the food was great, and the decorations were to die for. I love Mikelle and I'm so happy for her and her husband. Their little baby girl will be arriving sometime in early January. So excited to see how adorable she is!
I always have fun when I go up to Logan. This time we put the baby shower on, cooked a delicious meal with fried mushrooms and a honey mustard chicken (Mmmm), ran in the rain, went and saw Breaking Dawn part 2 (Loved the second half. Not a fan of the first half), painted our nails, watched more movies, and of course we had to stop into Kneaders and Cafe Rio where I used to work. I just love my friends and I'm so blessed to have each of them in my life!

142 Bottles 'O Nail Polish. Nikki is cray cray. 

So excited to see Breaking Dawn 2. Obviously. 

The cute baby shower! 

Bringing Gideon hot chocolate because he expressed the last time I went to Logan that it would be a dream come true to have me bring him hot chocolate on a cold day with my rosie cheeks all bundled up. We might have even sprinkled flour and had bells ringing in the back ground while I stood at his door like this. hahaha Needless to say, he loved it.

Pretty much, I love my life and I'm so grateful for all that I have been blessed with. 

Happy Thanksgiving Week Y'all! 

Allie is Preggoooo.

No, not me.
But my lovely sister-in-law, Allie.
Tricked ya, huh??
Anywho, a few weeks ago they announced they were pregnant--my brother and Allie, that is. They asked me to take a few pictures to announce they pregnancy. I just got around to editing them, and thought you would like to see how freakin' cute these two are. The pictures look good not because of the photographer but because of they're Barbie and Ken good looks.

Here are just a few.