Conversation Help

Today you will be blessed with this wonderful resource called "conversation starters." This is partly for me to know how to talk to people normally, but mostly for people who can only think of "Are you dating anyone?" when talking to returned missionaries.

My favorite creeper questions from this site:

1. What was the last thing you purchased?

2. How often do you exercise?

3. What did you have for dinner last night?

Overly-ambitious family conversations from here:

1. Can someone be educated if they haven't gone to school? Explain.

2. What political freedoms have you witnessed come to fruition in your lifetime?

3. Would you rather go to Hogwarts or your school? Why? (Dumb question)

Please note that the entire title is in quotations:

"No-Fail Conversation Starters for a First Date":

1. What are you most proud of? (No better way to start a relationship than with pride)

2. What are you looking for in a relationship? (......)

3. So, what are your thoughts on cheese? (They said it, not me)

I hope this help jog the brain for the next RM you run into!

Aqua Time

My wonderful, glorious, marvelous parents decided to take the potty-trained grandkids down to The Living Planet Aquarium in Utah for the day. 

And guess what? I'm potty-trained so I was able to go too!!

^^I was able to pet this bad boys ^^

^^ 3-D Movie that terrified all of the kids^^

From my parent's lips:

Their parents can deal with the nightmares. 

^^Oh the happiness^^

^^Oh my happiness of seeing God's most beautiful creations^^

And me traversing through the Amazons in style:

Thanks for the adventure Mummsie and Dad!

Sisterly Love

 A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty

 Having a sister is like having a best friend you can’t get rid of. You know whatever you do, they’ll still be there. ~Amy Li

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves — a special kind of double. ~Toni Morrison

I know there is mostly just one of my sisters here, but I have been bombarded with the world's best sisters in the form of best friends, roommates, missionary companions, and, of course, my biological sisters. 

Despite kids, husbands, jobs, and life events, my role as a sister will always be high on the list. 

Music Monday

No, not every post is going to be church-y. This is in celebration of "Meet the Mormons" coming out this weekend in theaters!

After the Manner of Happiness

After listening to Jeffrey R. Holland's talk titled, "Living After the Manner of Happiness," here are some of my things from my life that invite happiness:

1. The gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the many blessings that come from the gospel is General Conference every six months. Another blessing was being a able to serve a mission of inviting others to live the gospel. The best? Being able to combine those blessings by watching G.C. with Courtney who I met on my mission!

2. Being surrounded by God's beauty and creations on a daily basis. The trick is to take time out of your busy life to actually enjoy it. 

 3. Creating memories with the people I love. 

What helps you to live after the manner of happiness?

And Now I'm Back

.....from outer space.

(Please say that at least one person gets the reference).

Because of my 19 month hiatus from this blog I will treat you with a 19 point list of random loveliness. None in order.

1. I'm truly back from Tennessee and Kentucky (its own planetary system to be sure).

I flew into Salt Lake City on August 27th, and received quite the royal welcome from mi familia.

2. Reunited with the Mizzy!

3. Playing the most beautiful instrument with some talented youngsters.

4. I'm thinking Stevie is not too excited to have me back as her mother 

and I like to play around in Provo. 

5. One of my favorite places to be in on a college campus. Especially with those gorgeous mountains behind! (I really missed the mountains!)

6. Can you find the "Y"?

7. Seeing mission buddies! You talk about these moments as a missionary, but it seems surreal that you are able to hang out...in pants.

8. Stalking my childhood home. Those trees were definitely not that size. 

9. Visiting Jeb's grave in Malta. So glad he is closer to the rest of the gang!

10. Seeing MANY General Authorities! D. Todd Christofferson is somewhere in that mix. 

11. Being overwhelmed with all the new nephews and nieces. "They're everywhere, they're everywhere!"

12. Still being entertained by the elder ones. He asked me to handcuff him to the chair. Being the charitable aunt I am, I had to oblige. 

13. One of the members in my mission sent me this picture. Her daughter named her African American doll and stuffed pig "Sister Johnson" and "Sister Johnson" from when I was companions with a Sister Johnson. What a honor. 

14. Reunited with Pickle! Both proud of our Southern missions!

15. We received a knock on the door one evening and a guy from the ward bought a dozen roses and was giving a rose to each apartment. I happened to be the one to answer the door so they all claim it was for me.

16. What happens when you add Halloween and S'mores together? You get orange marshmallow cream = deliciousness. 

17. Mission Reunion!!! It happened to land on my one month of being home anniversary and was such a tender mercy to see so many of my good friends. Luckily I didn't have too many awkward "do we hug or shake" experiences. We all just went in for the hug.

18. 8:30 am church means special roommate bonding time.

19. And just another picture of the siblings. Thanks for singing in sacrament meeting!

Goodbye

It started with this:

See you in 18 months!

In the meantime, be sure to watch for my new blog:

Little Light