She's the Only Ten I See

Yesterday was a big day for my twin sister, Courtney JoAnn. After pacing around her apartment all day, she finally checked the mail and saw that she had received her mission call! But she had to wait a few hours before opening it. I was so surprised when I got down to Provo that she was actually pretty calm. I was freaking out more than she was and I wasn't the one with the call. Her nerves picked up throughout dinner at the Sizzler so much that she was making crazy faces at all of us.

We finally got back to Glenwood and then we had to wait some more. People started showing up making the suspense build even more. Finally, everyone was there, whether in person or over the phone or Skype. She opened her call and read:

"Sister Smith you are hereby called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Tennessee Nashville Mission."

This is when we all screamed our heads off in excitement! She continued to read the call stating that she will also be a Spanish speaking missionary and that she leaves April 25.

I am so excited for her!! She will be such a fabulous missionary. Tennessee doesn't know what's coming there way. I won't lie though... It was hard for me to actually see her call. Its weird to think that my twin sister will be leaving for 18 months and that the only times I'll get to talk with her is on Mother's Day and Christmas. She was so busy talking with people and I was feeling emotional that I couldn't go up to her to give her a hug until a lot of people left.

Tender, I know. She is such a great example to me. I don't know if I will personally go on a mission, but if I do decide to go, I hope that I will be as prepared and willing to serve as Courtney. Regardless, I hope to become more like her. I look up to her so much (and not just physically speaking). It will be hard to have her gone and I know there will be times that I will just want to go visit Virginia and "accidentally" get lost and end up in Tennessee just so I can see her.

Court, I love you and am so excited for you! You will be an excellent missionary. I know Tennessee isn't where you were expecting to go, but I know that its where the Lord needs you. It will be nice for you to be back in the south, in a more colorful part of the world. We will start your training for listening to country music A.S.A.P. The country accent is something that Jacob will have to help you with, but I'm sure you'll master it. Then you will just have to incorporate that accent in with your Spanish. BAHAHA!! I can't wait to hear how different yours and Kaitlyn's accents are. I love you twinner! You are and always will be my best friend!

Inspiration's Power

I had one of the most incredible experiences at church on Sunday. I had started the day off thinking about what I wanted to fast about, since it was Fast Sunday. As I was reflecting on my life as of late, I realized what I needed the most was comfort to know that things would work out the way God intended them too. I decided to fast for comfort while I was feeling lost and confused.

I got to church, not thinking anything special would happen, and I was just focusing on my worship. One of the stake presidency members, President Chang, was visiting my ward that day. He was there to obviously see how the ward was, but also because an old student of his just got back from his mission and he wanted to come see him.

President Chang is one of my favorite leaders. He is so in tune with the Spirit and has a way of relating things to the YSA wards in a way that we understand them. After the meeting, I went up to him to shake his hand and say hello. As I was doing so, he asked me if I had a second to talk with him. I told him that I would love to. I had to wait just a little bit as he was saying hello to some other people in the ward. Finally, after he talked with the newly returned missionary he came to visit, we went into a classroom to have a chat.

I have gotten to know President Chang fairly well since he was called into the stake presidency. He knows what trials I have been going through lately and always asks how I am doing. So we started out our conversation with some pleasantries and I explained to him that I was feeling lost and confused again. I told him how I could not figure out what was right and how everything I thought about seemed like it would be good, but nothing felt right. President Chang explained to me at that point in time why he had asked me to talk with him. While up on the stand during sacrament meeting, he felt that he needed to talk with Alexa Smith. He did not know why, he had planned on talking with the young man he came to see, but knew that he needed to talk with me for whatever reason.

As we talked, I realized that it was an answer to my prayers. He was able to help me realize so many things that I hadn't figured out on my own. He gave me such great counsel and gave me hope that something great was coming my way and that I just needed to be patient and have faith in my Heavenly Father's plan for me.

We never know when inspiration will come to us, but when it does, we all need to act upon it. You have no idea what it will mean to someone else. I would still be feeling lost and confused with life, ready to give up all hope, if President Chang had not pulled me aside and gave me the guidance I needed. I'm sorry that I pulled President Chang away from seeing the young man he had intended on visiting with. I hope he will forgive me, but at that moment in time, Heavenly Father saw that I needed this guidance. Heavenly Father knows each of us individually and knows exactly when to send help our way. I am so grateful for this experience. It is one I will never forget.

Here's My Christmas Post

So I realize this is quite a few days past due... But I am just now finding the time and motivation to write this post. It may be because I'm sitting at work with nothing to do. I find that is the best time to write my blogs. :)

The Christmas season is one of the greatest times of the year! Everyone's attitude changes and you can tell people are just genuinely happier even if they get stressed out and can be rude to other people in stores. There is something about listening to Christmas music that just brightens your day. For me, Christmas is all about the traditions. And in my family there are tons of them that I just love!!

Christmas Eve:
~Around noon o'clock we head to Cracker Barrel for an early dinner. I am not sure how that one started but it just wouldn't be Christmas without going there. Without fail, three of the siblings get basically the exact same meal: Chicken Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes, side salad, corn, carrots, apples, or country potatoes. Mom always makes fun of us for getting the same thing each time, but heck... ITS TRADITION!
~Then afterwards we come home and open our "Siblings Presents" where we each give the sibling we picked the present we bought for them. This year I got two books from my great brother, Bryson. Everyone should read Matched by Ally Condie and Legend by Marie Lu. Both are excellent Dystopian novels.
~Out in Virginia we would go on the Tacky Light Tour looking at all the pretty Christmas lights. This year we didn't do that because we were busy trying to help get Christmas together for a friend who had been kicked out of her home.
~We always end the night with reading the Polar Express. This is probably my most favorite part about Christmas Eve. I love that story so much! It holds a special place in my heart and is something I intend to read to my children each year on December 24th.

Christmas Day:
~We all wake up at 7:00 am. No matter what. When we were young this would kill me because I would be up at 5:00 that morning and have to wait for the parentals to come and get us. We then go into the front room where we have a Christmas devotional. I won't lie... I hated this when I was little. I just wanted to go open all my presents. But we do this devotional where we sing Christmas hymns and read the story of the First Christmas. It is now my favorite thing on Christmas day. I love starting the day off remembering what we truly are celebrating this day.
~Present time. Obviously I love opening presents too. Even if I already know what I'm getting. Its still great. We take turns opening them so that we can see what everyone got. This year I got a nice new camera, some sweaters, a gift card, and my favorite by far was my new HelloGoodbye gear. A nice new t-shirt with Forrest Kline's face on it and a sweatshirt just with HelloGoodbye on it. They are fabulous! Along with those two clothing items, I got a signed Christmas card from Forrest, a copy of their CD, and a bumper sticker that says "This car stops for puppies, kittens, and HELLOGOODBYE SHOWS!" Which is very true for my car.
~After we are done opening presents, we all go upstairs and help get breakfast ready, which usually consists of cinnamon and orange rolls, bacon, sausage, and eggs. Delicious in one word.
~This Christmas was a special one where we got to Skype with my dear sister, Kaitlyn Marie, who is serving her mission in Argentina. I loved talking with her and seeing her face. You can just tell how happy she is and how much she has changed while being out.
~Seeing as Christmas fell on Sunday this year, I had the opportunity to skip out on my YSA ward and go to church with my family. It was so great! I loved the talks and music that was shared. So beautiful.
~Christmas nap. 'Nuff said.
~Christmas dinner. Always delicious. We usually have a Surf an' Turf theme. There is grilled steak and shrimp. Twice baked potatoes. Salad. Rolls. And everything that makes the meal one of the best!

I love Christmas time! It is so great! I realize that I need to be better about keeping the Christmas spirit with me all year long and finding ways to be kind and serve those around me. It is my goal this year to try and remember the true meaning of Christmas and how Jesus Christ came to this earth and made it possible for me to one day return to my Heavenly Father.

Why Men and Women CAN be Friends

There has been a video circulating the Facebook world about if guys and girls can be friends. 

If you have not seen it (or just think its hilarious and want to watch again), take a minute to watch it.

I won't lie... Its hilarious. The sandwich guy is by far my favorite!

But... I have to disagree. 

This kid is saying its impossible because there is that underlying attraction,

But that does not mean the guy and girl can't still be FRIENDS.

I have many a guy friends who I think are very attractive, but I know they are just FRIENDS

Example:
When I was with my ex I got to know his roommates and some of his friends pretty well. There were a few that I thought were so cute, but we were just friends because I was obviously with someone else. They still were my friends and we would talk about things that any friend would talk about. Even after I broke up with the ex, I have still remained friends with one in particular and he's helped me with things and I've helped him. But we still are just FRIENDS.

Another example:
Last year around this time a lot of the guys in my ward just got home from their missions. There was one in particular I thought was so cute and at first I was definitely interested in him. Then I found out that he was dating someone and now they are happily married. But I didn't know him at all before his mission and I feel I got to know him after even though he was dating/engaged/married. He is someone that I love to see and spend time with whenever I can. His wife knows that I'll talk to him. He is probably one of my most favorite people and he is just a FRIEND.

Last Example:
I have had a great guy friend here in So. Weber for the past year and half. He has been a constant friend. I'm pretty sure he has been interested in me from time to time. But in my mind he is just a FRIEND. Once he figured that out, our relationship completely changed. You might think that our friendship ended, when in fact it became so much better. There is just so much more we can talk about and joke around about now. I mean the other night we went to a friend's birthday party together and on our way home he was asking me if I was interested in a guy. My dear friend then went on to give me advice on how to show interest and make sure the guy knew that. It was so great! And you know what he is just a FRIEND. In fact he's one of my BEST FRIENDS. (I even have a friendship bracelet to prove it)

So I disagree with the video. 

There may be an attraction to your friend, but you can still be FRIENDS. 

Just because there is that instinctive attraction to each other doesn't mean that you can't be FRIENDS. 

I personally hope that I will marry my BEST FRIEND. 

I may not know him at this time, but I hope we take times to become FRIENDS first.

So its ok to be FRIENDS with people you are attracted to.

New Hair

It is definitely time for a new hairstyle. 

I am sick of my hair! 

Its driving me up the wall! 

But... 

I don't know how to get it styled. 

That's where you come in...

Here are the four styles I like

You tell me which one you like.

Emma Watson:

Mandy Moore:

Jessica Alba:

Kelly Clarkson:

So let me know which one you like. 

Just comment the actress' name 

I'll take a poll of which one gets the most votes. 

:)

Two Months Gone By...

It is weird to think that it was two months ago that I made one of the hardest decisions of my life. It is one that I have struggled with for a good portion of these last couple of months. In the beginning, I had lost all hope that I would ever be able to figure out what the Lord wants for me. I had just hurt someone that I loved (and still love, just not in the same way). I didn't feel like I was good enough for anyone or deserved anything. There were so many times I just wanted to run away.

If it were not for the help of some amazing friends and my family, I would have given up hope. They helped me realize that all I needed was to turn to the Lord. It has been a struggle to strengthen my faith and turn to my Savior in order to become happy once again. Through much prayer and reading and listening to the council of prophets and apostles and other motivational speakers, I was able to change my way of thinking. I am thankful now for this trial I had to go through. I've learned so much from it already. I have made changes in my life in order to be happy.

Sure I have my days when I just wanted to cry all day long, but I think that the Lord has something else in mind for my life and my ultimate goal in life is to serve Him and do what it is He would have me do. I know there is something better out there for me (not to say what I had wasn't good). I know the Lord has a plan for me. I should not try to make things work the way I want them and in the time I want them to. I need to trust in the Lord and give my will over to Him.

"Faith in God includes faith in His timing"-Neal A. Maxwell.

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, in a town called South Weber, there lived a girl named Alexa Rochelle. Alexa always dreamed of being a princess and living in a princess castle. She was searching for her Prince Charming but it was to no avail. She loved reading stories and watching movies about princesses. Alexa was determined to one day be a princess. Then one day, she heard about a wonderful television show that she began to watch immediately.



As soon as Alexa began to watch it, she was obsessed. It was a dream come true! It was a great story that incorporated all the different fairytale stories into one central story. It showed how a girl that grew up living a hard life was starting to do something great with her life, trying to help all the people from Storybrooke remember who they truly are. Sure, Alexa knew that it was just a story, but she couldn't help but fall in love with the story.

If you have not already started to watch this wonderful show, you most definitely need to! It is excellent!