18 months in chicago

16 & 17 and things you wanna know

2012-01-24T16:40:00.000-08:00

Hola familia mia,

Como estan todos? Gracias for your letters and love. I really appreciate. Its fun to get filled in on the goings on back home with all of you and fill like I can be loving and serving the Lord, but also get to be a part of your lives as well. Thank you very much for that. I'm going to try to be better about writing some of you back time is limited sometimes. (And, if its a P-day like today then we have to end P-day early to go and teach some last minute things to our investigators/go to a early dinner appointment)

This week has been pretty busy with much to tell...and I'm not really sure where to begin! I suppose I'll go through with highlights of the week.

Last Tuesday night (17th)
~We went to the Castro's at 5:30 and taught the fam from D&C 59 on going to church to keep ourselves unspotted from the world as well as other laws that help us to keep ourselves unspotted. Mom (Shayla) agreed to do what she could to make it to church every week and to only drink coffee every other day!
~We were able to help the Ramirez fam get their testimonies of Pres Monson by having a powerful lesson by the prophet himself on DVD
~Went back to the Castro fam to teach EVERYONE and we sang "Familias Puedan Ser Eternas." Pa (Daniel) easily accepted commitments to read, pray and Come to Church!!...not to mention that he accepted the same baptismal date as his family (17)
-It really really helped to have our ward mission leader there to explain why its important for him to go to church personally (Especially with his own crazy work schedule that has kept him from church for a month.) It was perfect.

Wed
~Zone meeting of awesomeness. Our whole zone plus Pres and Sis doll were there. We ate breakfast together and then got to work with a lesson about our new contacting goals. Instead of QGC or quality gospel contacts (where you can count it if you have explained who we are and they have the opportunity to listen or not...usually is very short) we are doing Potential Investigators. You have to get to the point of scheduling a return appointment, or getting all their information-proof that they are interested to learn more. It’s going to change how we contact for sure and for the better. I want to get better at opening my mouth with everyone I see. Its easy to rationalize "Oh, well we only have 30 seconds standing here in line...etc" but if you have to find 12 potential investigators every week you need to be looking everywhere you can. I feel like I had that feeling the very first weeks here and I'm grateful for another reason to have that drive again!
~A totally Spirit driven lesson with Rosario-who's questions were everywere.
~Counselors at Juanzerias house-there was so much going on that there was no way we could have taught anything...however we gave pictures of the Savior to both Juan and Nazaria and Juan candy cane sticks to use in place of his cigarettes...and now we pray.

Thurs
~We had a NDH with Juanzeria and la familia Salazar (Elders Quorum pres). We waited forever for them to get home to follow us over there and then when they finally did and we got there then Jorge wasn't in the car! We got really sad that he couldn't be there because we knew that he would get along with Brian-at least because they are both in love with video games...so we sent Juan back for him....then at church he didn't want to go to class. There’s an iceberg-we've got to find what it is! It was great though that after we left they stayed and hung out. Awesome.
~Another lesson with the Castros-this time Presidente and his wife came! It was a really powerful restoration lesson and pres just took it away for the last 15 minutes on a really inspired personal-fatherly counsel and Bishop like commitment. (Them coming was totally an answer to prayer...I had thought earlier how that would be what would make the difference in our lesson so we sent out a text to all of the presidency and Hno salazar-we didn't even expect to get Hna Pres there!) (Hna Benavides)

Fri
CRAZY day!!! We had a full day in Beloit. After every appointment we had to scrape off the ice on our car and brush off about 3 inches of snow. It was so crazy nuts. It was pretty fun...just not when the windshield wipers would have ice on them so they wouldn't wipe very well. We were almost able to give Antonio a baptismal date. He is falling in love with the BOM and picks it up and reads random chapters here and there. He's getting his answer and testimony...we just have to help him the confidence to work past his doubts of going against his dad's wishes who is very catholic.
A RM sister went with us to the appointment with him and a few others and was a real help-she's a solid missionary.
On our way home and to the Ramirez home to eat and talk about the interview q's again we found ourselves in a pickle....
Have you ever seen the hot wheel car tracks? And how the tires are set on opposite sides of the track and then you send it off to go whizzing around the track>?...well that was us, but we weren't going anywhere. Haha. There was so much snow on the road that still needed to get plowed so I couldn't see the median very well. I turned to soon for the same reason into the oncoming side of traffic (there wasn't anyone on the road though). The medians in Belvedere are only like 3 inches high so Hna Noyes told me how I could try just going over it. I agreed...but we were in Rockford. Their medians are a little more mean. It was windy, 5 degrees outside and still snowing...and we were stuck high-centered on a median. We got out and just laughed. Soon the Schwan man, a random guy in a little car like us, a snow-plow guy, and eventually our zone leaders came and got us out. I'm grateful there are still reasons to believe in humanity-they were funny and nice (and one had a fowl mouth...the Schwan guy who I quickly told to hold his tongue-if you will so kindly. thanks.) Nubu is fine and handled the ordeal very well. We're still going to get it checked out though.

Sat
I had my first experience with interviewing a family! Elder Eager came over and gave the boys their interviews and we rescheduled the Parents to this Wednesday so they could be interviewed without a translator-aka by Pres Doll who speaks Spanish. The rest of the day we planned-an answer to prayer I suppose that all our other appointments canceled.

So 17 on date with Daniel
then 16 because we decided to drop Ezekial since we can't find him and he isn't ready. The ball is in his court. We'll happily keep teaching him when he's ready.
and 17 at church!!

Totally rocked to have all three of our families on date there plus rosario y agustin our eternigators.
We taught the lesson in YW-fun
We ate at the Gomez house-an answer to missionaries' prayers for quite a while (and she offered to go out with us-another answer to prayer-we know just who we'd use her for)
Lesson to calm some nerves at the Ramirez house and to plan the baptismal service!! Its going to be awesome I'm so so pumped!
Contacted 2 of our referrals from the English sisters and got 2 return appointments!! Its awesometown.

With all of that...that’s my week in more detail than I should've taken time for and more than you all probably have time to read. It was fun to see the whole week unfold like this though. The Lord knows his Children and is in charge of this work. He will lead and guide us to bring his children to him. We just need to be willing and follow the little impressions we get. Josh 1:9

Love you all!
Hna Moffat

Questions: Will you get to attend the temple if or when you are near it? “I can go on p-days if I'm in one of the areas closest to the temple. The area I'm in now is a definite no. I miss it though...I could definitely use a temple trip. It’s not very common though. We'll see what happens!”

Ano Nuevo

2012-01-04T15:39:00.000-08:00

Feliz Ano Nuevo!
Close but no cigar...today is my prep day. "Preparationday"...I don't know why, but there are some words that Pres doesn't likeus to shorten...PDay is one of them. Pres is one too...(ok I know why, butstill...)

So Happy New Year! Your new year sounded great! As always-a hugeparty! I can support the huge puzzle tradish.

I'm glad you had so much fun over the new year holiday! Completewith all of my friends it sounds! haha love it! I just got a little packagefrom Katie that had a picture of all the above mentioned...so fun! I agree-theyall seem happy and look good. Thanks for the updates. Love it.
Resolutions?
Mine?...there’s tons.
1. really being obedient with my schedule-waking up and reallygoing hard on working out/going back to memorizing scriptures in gym. Racingmyself in getting ready. Writing in my journal at least a sentence every day.In bed by 10:30
2. Finishing the BoM in Spanish by transfers in March...or atleast by the very next transfer...finish it again before the end of the year
3. becoming a scriptorian-having scriptures memorized, but beingable to bust out a scripture from memory on everything we teach. (also to sharewith someone throughout the day of what I studied that morning)
4. be better in my prayers-give a recounting every night. prayfor everyone by name, pray for specific blessings and work to receive them.

Ok there are some serious things to fill you in on in this lastweek.
First: Miracles (and then sad news...)
A. We were in Beloit on Friday and we were just deciding what weneeded to do after an appointment canceled and our phone rang. A man that theEnglish sisters tracked into 2 days earlier had given him a "Finding Faithin Christ" card with our number on it. We were happy to tell him that wecould be there in 2 minutes! He let us in and then we had a great discussion onwhat he believes and a little bit of what we believe. He confessed that he hasbeen very confused for a while and is looking for people to help explain all ofthe things of God to him because he really wants to be a good dad. As wepromised him direction and peace as a dad in this gospel he began to rub hischest. I know he knew what we were saying was true. We left the video with himand set a return appointment.
B. No one came to church. That isn't so miraculous... ouraverage of 7 a week was hurt pretty bad by the holidays. However, because somepeople weren't there we were able to go visit them. We went to visit Juan andNazaria at 6. Juan is still trying to decide if he wants to give up smoking. Wetook our picture book and taught him about priesthood power. It finally startedto click that we were promising him the same healing power that Christ has. Heagreed to get a priesthood blessing the next Sunday if he couldn't give it upon his own this week. He gave a very sweet and sincere prayer to close. (It wasalso very fun to count up how much money he'd save each month/year if he gaveit up...just another incentive that we think opened his eyes a little.)
C. The Belvidere sisters went on splits with sisters in anotherzone. One of them was bilingual and so they were able to go "zebra"and get into more doors. They knocked on
one door and were let in when the mom found out that they reallycould speak Spanish. Juanita had taken the discussions 2 years earlier and themissionaries just stopped coming. She was really happy to get in contact again.We went to go visit Monday night. They let us right in, called in the wholefamily and sat there soaking it all in. They had very good questions and wehave a return appt this Thursday!

Ok-your questions: Members. We are still building uprelationships with them. It’s going pretty well! We don't have many people inthe branch, maybe around 10 families, and so we end up having to use lots ofthe people really often.... It’s getting better all the time. Our favoritething to do is to do FHE's with them. We try to have one every night with oneof our investigator families and a family in the branch. It comes out to be 3times a week.
On the 9th we switch P-day to Mondays...but it bounces toTuesday on the weeks that have holidays...I think.

I have had to drive in snow...it was scary. We had to drive toRockford and on the way there were 2 accidents. However slow is the key I'm learning...andnow that I know the area a little better too I can plan better with my turnsand what not.
When we need a woman to be with us for a lesson we have to setup a time and pray that someone can do it (a woman that is) and if they can'tthen we reschedule. Lots of guys we teach live with someone and so thathelps...sort of...(except for the part that then we have to help them move orget married)

I love you all so much! Happy New Year!
Hermana Moffat

PS-I love this work. Have I said that before?

lit. up.

2011-12-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

Famwe! I love you! I loved loved loved getting to see your faces for Christmas! It was the best recharge to my batteries-and the best Christmas present I could ask for. Thank you to all that were there! I missed seeing/talking to Rich and Lo, Cammy, Emily, and the kids, so give them my love and belated Christmas wishes k? For the rest of you-sorry I talked your ears off-I wanted to hear from you too I promise...I just was so excited to talk to you! haha. I loved getting a few minutes with you! sigh...ok.

So a recap of the week:
MIRACLES, Christmas and all. Oh my goodness... so I have so crazy good news that I can't wait to share for its order in the week.

WE HAVE 16 SOULS ON DATE!

Our zone now has 41 people on date, and Chicago comes in after that with I think 26? Our district leader, Elder Eager, was telling us how Hna Noyes and I have 3/20th of the baptism dates in the mission. So cool. I'm so grateful to be were I am, with the hard working companion that I have, with the attitude that I have, the gifts I have been given thus far in my life, for the people who are prepared, and the leaders to inspire more from us. Its the recipe for some really delicious success.

Let me give some background on the week-and more detes on La Navidad and then I'll end with the miracles etc.

Friday we went to Beloit per usual and taught our investigators Rosario and Augustin. We were really bold and pulled out some scriptures on having faith and not waiting to be baptized. We committed him to make a step towards really getting his divorce finalized...they've been separated for 15 yrs!...progress, and lots of faith. Hopefully by March or at the latest May we will have had a divorce, a wedding, and then a baptism! They're like our little Mexican Abuelitos. I love them.

Saturday we took around little gifts to everyone in the branch and to all of our investigators/families. It was so fun and Christmas spirity to go do it. So so fun. We rocked out to Christmas music all day-even in the gym (that we have with the apartment...we really are spoiled...nvm that most of the machines don't work.)
Por La Noche Buena we went to Creston to spend the night with our little families down there. We had some crazy yummy tamales, tortas, and ribs, and crazy yummy ponche-aka Mexican wassail-probably my favorite think ever. (I probably ate my weight in tamales this weekend...and everyone sent us home with some...so I'm glad the time for new resolutions has come! haha.) We had the Raya crew and the Francisco and Jessica Raya crew as well as cousins that we're trying to start teaching. I felt right at home. The Raya boys are just like our boys. so so funny. I left there just so grateful to have that kind of experience...there really is nothing like a Christmas in the mission.

Sunday morning we woke up and opened our presents to the tune of Kenny G and JT (of course!) I was reminded again of how loved and supported I am. Thanks to all who gave me a little something-it was above and beyond the call, but I definitely appreciate it. Thanks! It was a sweet experience to have Christmas on the mission for sure. We immediately got ready for church and went to the chapel to await our investigators. We were grateful for the problem of having to set up translation for 7! so so cool (one of which agreed to be baptized last night!...more in a second)

We then went to the Romreills to talk to you sweet people and to use their kleenex. I was totally a kid in a candy store. How cool that we can skype our families and not just call them for Christmas. I wish I had more time with each of you...but we can always write!
Then we went to the church again to play games as a district...I almost won Settlers of Zarahemla, but then we got called by Nazaria to go make tamales with her. So...I learned how to make tamales!!! I have been wanting to! Another cool Christmas present. (I got right in with the goopy animal fatty grossness haha) She opened up on lots of their problems as a couple that their facing which worried us a little more for them, but shed some light on what we should teach them for sure. We also were able to place a LdeM with the dad of Maria's kids (Julio Cezar-Nazari'as oldest daughter)
Then we went and had a very american dinner at Presidente's house with 2 other families from the branch. It was lovely.

Monday I had to go take this language assessment for the MTC...ick. But its over with. Then we drove to Harvard to do exchanges with the Woodstock sisters! I went with Hna West in her area and got to see some sights and to help teach a few lessons and Hna Noyes got Hna Freeman in our area (the same sister that did my very first contact on the L with me)
Then yesterday was miraculous-we traded back...and then...

Hna Noyes is a planning wizard-she was able to get an appointment with Ezekial...family friend of Nazaria's crew who was at church Sunday. We needed a women/a place and somehow it all worked out! We were able to go to Hna Salazar's house and teach him the first lesson. By the end we gave him all of the classic commitments which he readily accepted. We testified to him of how much living the gospel would change his life and make him so much happier. I think he knew that before we ever told him though. He has been so golden. He accepted the date of February 4th. Now, we just need to really help him make the changes and stay committed with them. But when we gets there, he's going to be so solid. I'm so excited for him!

Then we went straight from their to la famliia Castro. We talked to them about Repentance and taught them most of the third lesson. I pulled out the scripture from Mosiah 18 that talks about..."What would keep you from being baptized if you want these things?!" I asked Shayla (mom) what the scripture meant to her..."I guess that we're ready to be baptized." "That's right you are! How about we set a goal for the 4th?" The girls were giving us some weird looks, and were getting antsy. They told us about their mom in Panama which didn't like the idea of them leaving the Catholic church, but we testified again of how the Lord would help them in their decision. They had a big smile on their face, "Oh we know, we're ok with the 4th." Perfect! Prayers definitely were answered-by the whole district! Now if only dad could get a spare minute to get in on the action...

Just after that appointment the zone leaders texted the zone to tell us how we had 36 on date as a zone "4 more to 40! keep up the good work!" We...giggling shot one right back..."We got our family of 4 and one more!" It has been great to raise to the call. I'm definitley feeling the stress to not lose any of our investigators or the progress of the famliies that we have progressing right now. Its the best problem in the world to have, but all the same. I'm praying that I/we can remember all of the little things that need to happen to make this happen. We're going to have a busy month to be sure. A really exciting, busy month.

Monday morning before we split for transfers we had district meeting and a guest speaker RM who has been working with the ZL's in their area. He is awesome! He shared some of the things he learned on his mission-from experience, PMG, and other leaders to help us really get the fire for contacting. I LOVED it! It practically beat out Christmas. I was shooting out an amen to everything he said. The best part is that Hna Noyes was liking it too. She said that when she went out tracting with Hna Freeman later that they contacted 20 people! The way that he taught us to contact really is powerful and smart-and emphasises ( i can't spell anymore...sad day haha) how we aren't sowers-we're reapers. I love that idea. It is so so true. The Lord has already prepared people to be taught and except the gospel. Its our job to be the mouth piece to help them make the steps to receive all of the truth, peace and joy that we have to offer. We have some really glad tidings.

I have learned by now that tracting isn't the only way to find people to teach, but its still necessary. If you're going to do it-then you have to mean it for it to work. Find people with power. I think I'm being known for my boldness.

Anywho-I'm heading out. I love you all so much. I'm glad to hear all of the wonderful things that went down for Christmas. I'm a little sad the Christmas traditions have changed, but its a necessary evil. I'm glad that all of the individual families had such success with their own Christmas and there was still some classic Moffat fun for the holidays.

Make the new year resolution to bring at least one more person unto Christ. I'll do it with you ;) There really isn't any better feeling or purpose. The Lord won't let you fail. This I know and promise.

Love you!
Hermana Moffat

ps-its so fun to hear about everyone's business success. Keep up the good work! I'm so proud. :)

stuff

2011-12-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

So...First things first-so I make sure to give you the good details. I'm starting this week off with miracles (meracles...as my district leader calls them)

Miracles:
-The Ramirez family was first contacted by Hermana Summers and Brown...2-3 transfers ago. The mom Maria Reina has been investigating on her own for about 5 months now. So here is were Hna Noyes and I come in. Reina wanted to get baptised, knew that what we were teaching her was true, but wanted her family in on it too. We were able to get their whole family together for a family home evening where we sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" and talked about family unity-and the possibility they could have as a family to all live ogether forever. They agreed to ALL start learning from us. We then met with them 3 other times: Taught the restoration, read with them the 1st chapter of the Book of Mormon...which really got their attention (blessings), and then the plan of salvation. We have been challenged by our zone leaders to have the faith to give our investigators dates...so we thought we'd give them the 4th of Feb. We forgot in the lesson...and Hna Noyes thought to give them the 28th of January and they accepted!! I'm so so excited. I know that Jaime (dad) can really see the good that comes from what we teach...and his sons are enjoying the progress they are making in learning. Reina couldn't be happier. And for that-niether could I! (5)

-Every Friday we drive up to Beloit Wisconsin, because we have about 5 investigators up there...we drive up there and spend the day...save on miles and time to do it on other days. However, the work is growing up there! We have 4 contacts for up there...and only one day to contact them in...and then they will all (praying so...) will need return appointments...so when to put them? Its always a juggling act...So we had some time this last Friday to contact them in. Hna Noyes was putting one of their addresses in the GPS and fealt like she needed to put one of our antiguos...aka old investigators in the GPS instead. We pulled up to the house. "I was here just 2 months ago" she said. We went and knocked on the door of Asuncion. 7 months pregnant and ready for some comfort. Her daughter of 7ish years died a few years ago just after Chrismas time, so this time of year is always a little hard for her. She soaked in what we told her that she could live with her daughter again, and that what we wanted to teach her, and what God wanted her to know would bring her peace and happiness. She cried, smiling with her hand over her heart and one one the BOM...(she knew right where it was.) We set up a return appointment at a time when her husband would be there too...and then fealt like we should commit her to be baptised and gave her a date! It was powerful. (1)

-We have been working with Nazaria and Juan...they are progressing, trying to come to church and read etc. They're doing pretty well. They have some things going against them still with her papers, and now a huge car payment that she didn't know she had, as well as Juan needing to stop smoking. Prayers for them would be great. They want to make it happen...it just might take time and patience. But, we went over to teach them about the Palabra de Sabiduria and were able to talk really quick to the 3 youngest. We reviewed how to pray and asked them if they wanted to be baptised like the Savior...with their mom's permission. They all turned to her "Can we mom?! Yo quiero ser bautizado." So fun. (3 + Nazaria and Juan)
We are hoping to meet with the Castro family this Friday and give the 4 of them (and hopefully Dad too) dates as well. So so cool.
Our Zone had the goal of 30 baptism dates...and now our district alone has the potential for 41.

-inactive Maria Soledad: We were finally able to go see her. We read some in the Book of Mormon. We went back again and found out some of the real reasons she stopped going to church. We have her committed to reading 2 verses from the LdM every day and then set up a way to get her rides to church every Sunday (that wasn't too cold) for her to go.

The work is moving along. This area is so ready for some work. The fire is going...I just pray that we keep up fanning the flame. The members are really starting to trust us, and so the member involvment is getting better too. It really is cool.

Things I should've shared, but always forgot
-I had a dream that was half in Spanish!...ok, as I type that I think I already told you that
-first week here I was pulled over...its ok. I counted it as a contact. And no I wasn't speeding. I made a "death-bed promise." 'member?
-I feel like there was something else...but I can't remember right now

Sickies:
So, yes. We were sick. No me gusto. I already had my phlegmy type of sick...when I'm not really sick...it just sounds like it, so everyone makes a fuss over me. I said over and over "I'm not sick!" haha Hna Noyes was sweet to take care of me, trying to get us home to get to bed early/making me herbal tea etc. Then...we really did get sick. I'm pretty sure it was food poisining. Maybe? She was hit pretty bad come 1 AM and was up all night...I slept like a rock. (then again I was drugged from the other ickys I've been having. The zone leaders came over and gave her a blessing...but come midday we were both feeling it. We canceled all of our appointments and realized that we just had to stay in.
Everyone but the Beloit sisters came to pay us a visit. It was the funnest sick days I think I've ever had! The Belv. sisters (Sister Leahman and Sis. Donner) brought us gatorade and surprise Christmas presents for each other. Elders: Eager, Brailey, Antola, and McKamey sat outside our door for 1.5 hours telling stories. It was hilarious. Elder Eager was even able to call his convert in the last area "Agent Hope" (in an institution) to pray for me...it was pretty funny. "Praise the Lord Elder Eager!" haha

So today we're both feeling better...and on our way to buy the BRAT diet...haha.

Love you! iFeliz Navidad!
"Bend at it, Sweat at it, Smile at it too."

Hermana Moffat

the weekly

2011-12-15T14:55:00.000-08:00

Ok-I need to make this crazy fast...We've get a few families that we're working with this week-the family that we have had on date just had an FHE with the pres. of the branch..their progressing, but like all of our other families, have some issue that keeps them from getting married. We have 4 other families that have that same problem. we're praying for muchas bodas> Like 4 of them. If so, there will be some serious progress happening here in Belvidere. Its exciting.

we just started this new way of studying the BOM that i'm really excited for, and I've decided to do it all in Spanish. Its going pretty well, but slow. However, my goal is to have the whole BOM read by Mar in Spanish. Wish me luck!

Comp-she's lactose and tolerant. She's got some funny kidlike quirks that are just so funny and cute...she's a quite small (very) town girl...she loves to build things. She says that one of her favorite things is testing out hammers haha. She's funny. Our big convo of late is deciding where she will go for college.

We have the best apartment in the mission so I'm told, we both have our own closet and bathroom/room to study. Its nice...we have a fireplace that doesn't put out really any heat.
We feed ourselves our own lunch...and half of the week we are fed by members. So not that bad at all!...and I have no self control...so I'm usually full for another few meals anyways.

Music-bring it all on. Pres. has left our music choics up to our adult discretion.

I need me some recipes! I think I can get the ingredients myself. We've been making a sweet treat at least once a week. The Hispanic's love language is food...so we've been doing some of that, but I would love to have a few recipes...like the "jake/Maddi" fave.

please snail mail me-we totally get 'em

Sorry, it wasn't that full today...but all of the other sisters are done and waiting. But, I love you and will talk to you face to face (like a man speaks to his friend) in just over a week!

Loves and hiccups,
Hermana, Mads, Maddi, Mo-phat, Moffat

Miracles

2011-12-07T14:37:00.001-08:00

Parentals!
I love you-and have been thinking about you as we get closer to the holiday seasons. Its going to be great to get to talk to you!...just nothing too sappy...I may not have time to fix up the messed up make up problem if I have an appointment right after. haha. The hispanics celebrate Christmas a little differently-all of their parties/present opening etc. is done Christmas Eve (La Noche Buena). So our Christmas morning will be a little different I feel. We are getting together with the other wards and branches in the area for one hour of church from 9-10 our time. So, my guess is that we could call families in between that time and the time you have things. I might call about 11-12 our time which would be between 10-11 your time I think. We have our own cell phone which I think we are able to use. I don't know if you were hoping to skype or iChat...I don't know who we would use for that. Maybe Pres. Benevides?...Let me know next week/send me a snail mail and I'll see what I can do to do my end of things.

Miracles
The mission has a theme of miracles Moroni 7:35-37. Every week we are supposed to email our miracles in our letter to pres., every week in our district meeting we talk about how we did with an emphasis on the miracles. Pretty cool. I'm starting to get into the spirit of it all. Especially with the miracles we've seen this week.

Nazaria: Her and her "husband" are on date to be baptised, but she has only been able to come to church every other week because of work problems. We were trying to do some more frequent contact with the family and in the visit she told us that her schedule was changed! She can totally come to church every Sunday now! (And they did, 5/6 in their family.) I have a testimony of daily contact, because in the process we found other Word of Wisdom things we might need to address, found out how we needed to help them get to the point of marriage etc. Baby steps. God-directed steps.
Frances: We have tried to contact her for a very long time. The sisters in the area before initially contacted her, and she was really interested. Since then there have been health problems etc. We finally got in to talk to her and she was so prepared to hear the word. She accepted everything we taught her and had one of the most powerful/Spirit-guided lessons of the Restoration. Left there smiling our faces off.
Maria Reina: This sister has really wanted to be baptised and has the desires to come to church, but wants her family with her. We were able to have an FHE with them. We sang "Families Can Be Together Forever." Then, we discussed that families can only be together forever if we have family unity through church, baptism, and the power of God (then teaching a short restoration lesson). They accepted a soft commit to baptism and to come together to church! We have appointments with them ALL every week now.

I'm definitely seeing the miracles here in the mission. I know that if Hna. Noyes and her companion before me didn't prepare the way and put all of the work in we wouldn't be having the success we're having right now. I know there are more to be taught. Everyone says this area is hard and I don't dare believe them, not with miracles like those! Not when there are still people to be found!

Responses to Q's and Comments
Yes, I'm in a car. So I'm pretty warm for most of the day. I'm the driver, so I'm getting a little nervous about driving in snow...
Hispanic people are fun to sing with. Nuff said. haha.
P-days are wednesdays until Jan 9th when they will be on the mon of that week, tuesday the following, and then mondays from then on out.
Thanks for saving me the beater cleaner job! I smiled my face off-you're so cute Daddy. The peppermint ice cream sounds dreamy! I'm sure its a real hit! Heaven!

Nicknames
beruchita...I think. Means drunkard...cause of my hiccups. hilarious.
Hna. Muffin, or Hna. Muppet. Haha...I love when their faces light up...I don't know why its so funny to them
I learned that hipo is always just hipo...if you say hipos they will tease you for having hijos. Look 'em up. ;)

Totally had a dream 1/2 in Spanish! Maybe that means I'm 1/2way there. (Oh oh...living on a prayer).

I love the symbol of light for Christmas. The fact that shephards followed a light to find the light of the world, that angels come arrayed in light. That light dispels all darkness. Ponder with me this season will you? (from the Christmas Gen Fireside).

I love you all so much. Especially you-the most important 2. You are the backbone and life-blood of this family (not to mention the blood-line). Thank you for raising me up right, with love, discipline when needed, kindness, example, dedication...all that jazz.

Su hija
Hermana Moffat/Muffin

One week down and plenty to report

2011-12-01T08:40:00.001-08:00

iMi familia!
Yo debo escribir mi carta solamente en espanol, pero no tengo mucho tiempo...entonces...

Ok-Happy belated Thanksgiving! I'm so happy to hear that everything went so well! The festivities sounded awesome! Brined turkey huh? I bet that was good! How fun that so many people could be there-and that Meg and Rob could party it up too.

Ok-so la familia Castro was the family that fed us for Thanksgiving. I was surprised with how normal of a thanksgiving dinner we had! We had turkey, stuffing, yummy rice, and this purple potato salad (I think because it had beets in it). And then jamiaca. Look it up-its pretty good. Theirs was pretty strong so it took me a minute to get used to it. However, we had a great conversation about our blessings and what we were grateful for and their family friend was there too who asked many questions about the church so we (more like Hna. Noyes) taught pieces of the 1st lesson. It was a good way to spend Thanksgiving though.

Then, the following Sunday we invited them and they came to watch 17 Miracles at the church! They're moving along-I'm so excited to see where la familia Castro goes with meeting with us. It took us a while to get to this point, but now that we're finally to the teaching phase I'm pretty excited.

another family also came to the movie...Nazaria, Juan, and their kids (plus the friends of Victor, Nazaria's son). we had an appointment with them Monday night and...(drumroll) we set a date! I'm so crazy excited! We have a little over a month to prepare both Nazaria and Juan for baptism, but its going to be great. They really understand the importance of baptism and the Holy Ghost, and are willing to do what is necessary to prepare for it. They're so awesome. I left there smiling my face off. (*For the history books-first baptism date set for 1/7/11 on 11/28/11)

We have another investigator praying for what date she could be baptized and another family that we knocked into this last week that seem pretty golden: Teresa and her 2 daughters. So I'm sure there will be more on that soon.

Compliments: I really do feel like I've been blessed with the language. I still have so much to learn-for instance I have no idea how to use subjunctive yet...however, I know I'm a lot farther off than lots of missionaries when they come out into the field and so I'm very grateful. Members of the branch tease that I have the gift of tongues (el don de languas). I understand about 90% of 80% of the people now and so I'm definitely progressing there...I just have less confidence in actually speaking up in lessons for some reason. In our lesson with Juan and Nazaria they spent 10 minutes talking how impressed they were "Hace dos meses solamente! De verdad? Ezekeial...isolo hace does meses que hermana ha hablado espanol!"

Embarassments: A. We went to met presidente of the branch...I still have to get used to the whole taking on and off the boots thing...and to not do it on the carpet...B. I should remember next time when I have to introduce myself into a new branch to not forget my name tag at home. C. I shouldn't offer to play songs for the stake nativity festival thing when I don't know how to play them. We'll see how that goes...maybe the one sister who sings really loud will drown out my bad playing.

So needy: So, nativity cd, Christmas decorations?...or apartment looks a little bahumbug, the warm hand warmer things...Hna. Noyes has tons! I don't want to lessen her stock...so those would be great. Also, I could always use more sweater/long sleeve shirt/thermal stuff. I don't expect you to get everything...we get to shop a little, I just know you were asking.

Love you so so much! Good luck with the holiday prep. My thoughts are always with ya'll and thinking about how all the holiday stuff is for you! I'll be getting snow soon, this weekend. So we will be in the heart of the cold. It will be weird to imagine ya'll with just one layer of warmth in the good 'ole AZ/CA.

Les Amo!
Hermanita Moffat

I'm here!!

2011-11-23T09:50:00.001-08:00

Ok Fam Damily!...I'm here!

I'm totally in Chicago and loving it! We hopped on the plane right after we got off the phone with ya'll and then flew in. I tried to sleep, but it was so freezing where I was sitting on the plane. There wasn't anyone I sat by, so I didn't feel guilty to take a nap instead of give away my handful of pass-alongs right then. We met Pres. And Sister doll by the baggage claim. I was so nervous/anxious/excited...I tried to act normal and be myself. I hope I hope my weirdness didn't show in the first impression phase. (However, there may have been an elder or two that outdid me there, so I think I'm ok.) I love them. They are so down-to-earth and friendly. I felt like I was with you two. Pres. has a similar Dadness and Sis. Pres. acted just how I though she would, but even more sassy and funny. The way she runs things is brilliant. So, whenever you two become mission presidents I have som brilliant ideas.

Loved flying in, the excitment was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I never pictured my first day in Chicago or even where I would be serving, so when they threw me on the L I was soaking it all in. I said a little prayer and patted Hermana Freeman on the back. "We got this." 2 stops later a couple got on and sat behind us. I hiccuped and the conversation got started. We talked to them about a little bit of their background. They are unmarried and have a 7 month old. They aren't really religious, but would like to be. I talked to him, Paul, about agency and the love God has for us, because he was struggling with the thought that there would be a loving HF with all of the things he saw in the army. She, (I think it was Sarah...but for the life of me I can't remember) said she felt something when I testified of eternal families through JS/the temples. It was THE PERFECT first contact. I was in love. He said he'd read and pray, she said she'd loko up more on mormon.org and look up a church to go see this Sunday. I hope and pray that they will. Oh they rock.

The rest of the day we went and saw some of the sights which were beautiful. Next to the beach, Chicago may be my new favorite place. It has the same feel as NY but way more down to earth. I even got my picture taken for the newspaper for Chicago's clothing do's and don'ts...They said my longer skirt was a Do. So...maybe Chicago believes in modesty for the wintertime. Go them! haha. We then went to the mission office and got some training on cars etc. and then drove over to have some dinner at the mission home and to bed we went!

Then we woke up and got some b-fast (Thanks Sis-pres!) and headed off to the stake center for a long but tasty training session with the AP's and Pres. Then...we got our trainers!! My mom is Hermana Noyes. She is from southern Utah. She has been here 13 months and this is her first time as a trainer or a senior companion. She is so sweet...and 6 feet tall! Her hair also goes halfway down her back. She has a ready smile-always. She wants to be a child psychologist...I think? And today?-her b-day! Our area is up in Rockford- closer to Wisconsin. It feels like a Sandy Utah or a Gilbert. Its beautiful.

It did rain quite a bit driving in, but I haven't seen much rain since then. I got a lands end hand me down coat from the mission home that I think will do the job really well! I have acquired some really cute boots from a past sister missionary. They may need som Dr. Scholls, but they'll do the job for now. I just need socks, I got most of my necessities though yesterday.

We're here right now in a college library just out of rockford and we can't take phone calls inside....so I had to go with Hermana Noyes outside. I freaked and sent this email before I was done! Our prep day is split this week because transfers fell on a Tuesday, and Thursday is Thanksgiving. Therefore...we sort of get 3 split up days of prep day. So we shopped yesterday, are writing emails hoy. Pero, nuestro dia de preparacion will be on Mondays starting soon. They're usually on Wednesdays.

Feelings as of now? I'm loving it. It is great to finally get out of the bubble that is the MTC (or CCM for all you Spanish speakers out there.) I have some high expectations for this area-including for myself and my companion. I am surprised at how much of a fireball I am! I can understand maybe 70% of maybe 50% of the people...so I don't have any right to be a fireball probably. I think I scare Hermana Noyes with my desire to knock doors etc. However, with an area like this one where I think some of the members are still iffy about their missionaries, I don't want to just be baking cookies to win hearts, which I guess is the name of the game around here. We have quite a few people we are teaching right now which are great. We haven't been able to meet with any of them yet, but we have 5ish appointments today and someone we need to visit that we met yesterday (Raul...I only understood his name out of everything he said...ahh!)

We'll see how things go. I don't want to lose my expectations and my working hard. I want no regrets, and to bring tons into the waters of baptism. I know-even in a difficult area like this one that attitude is everything. I'm ok to get rejected a lot of times if that means this area starts looking up. Bring it on! (Thanks to the new in-field orientation at the MTC and the 12 week program they've started all the new missionaries in the field on...I'm feeling even more confident. We literally have the most resources and the best training than any missionaries before. I just pray that I use it all to my advantage. Not set my expectations too high...but definitely at miracle status.)

Have a beautiful and wonderful Thanksgiving! I love you all and will be thinking of you as I eat a totally Hispanic Christmas dinner with a non-member family tomorrow. Pray for me that my Spanish will be well enough that they will be "thankful" we came. They seem really nice though.

Loves!
Hermana Moffat

ultimo semana

2011-11-16T10:40:00.001-08:00

iFamilia!

First, sorry to not have written sooner! I tried and then the computer kicked us off. Something about pop-up nonsense...however I'm so glad it saved most of my letter! Then I had to do laundry real fast and go to a special meeting becuase H. Brown and I were picked with 9 other companionships to be part of this new missionary experience this wednesday. I'm really excited and nervous. We get to go in and do a referral-style contact with someone in front of 70 new missionaries to show "how to begin teaching" from PMG. There will be 700+ missionaries coming in this Wednesday which i s twice as much as normal because next week is Thanksgiving and therefore no missionaries come in that week. Entonces...its going to be fun. Being a host and an usher were really fun this week. I'm excited to host again this week!...and for twice as many missionaries...ay carumba! (ok...I don't know how to spell that yet).

I loved to here about the baptism! I so wish I could be there-it sounded fantastic! I'm so proud of Jacie and that she was able to be baptised. How beautiful would that all be! I totally would love pics. I shed a tear-I miss ya'll, but as always I'm blessed to not have it be with me all day...just for a second, but I need to hear the news.
I want to add a love note to her!

Jacie!
I'm so proud of you for your decision to be baptised! I remember when I was baptised. I fealt so pretty in my white dress and so proud to have my older brother, your Uncle Rob who just recently returned home from his mission to Japan, baptise me. I remember a few nights before being nervous and had G-pa practice with me what I would do. I remember the water wasn't very warm, but fealt really good and the feeling after coming out of the water was even better. With my hair wet to my face I fealt even more pretty. I was confirmed a few days later by g-pa and fealt so proud of myself and so happy. I could feel the difference of the Holy Ghost in my life.

I hope you have a similar experience and can feel the Spirit in your life too. It is the most important friend! When you feel bad for something you said, did, heard, or have seen-do what you need to do to get that feeling back. You've got the gift of the Holy Ghost now so you are able to have that great feeling all of the time! Its such a blessing! On my mission I am doing all I can to have the Holy Ghost with me. It is the most important tool in the gospel and in our everyday life-with our relationships with family, friends, etc.
I love you dear girl! Congrats!
Aunt Maddi

OK-travel plans!!
So my flight is this next Monday-Nov 21st-which is Dad's b-day right?! I should be able to talk to him and you for 5-10 minutes! I heard it from a member of the branch presidency himself! So I go to the travel office at 4 in the morning, shuttle over to the SLC airport for a flight at 7 (SLC time...I don't get daylight savings...) so after we check in and get through security then I'm able to give you a call. I probably will just call the home phone or one of your cell phones-so be ready for all of the above. It's going to be early. I'll keep trying until I get one of you. I don't know how to make that work if you aren't together...but it will be before you go to work Dad-right? I'll arrive in Chicago just after 11 (their time) and then I get to do all of that fun/crazy stuff that we watched on those welcome videos!

I'm nervous-but thats too be expected. I spent some time yesterday studying in PMG on how to meet and contact people since the real world of missionary-ness starts when I enter this airport. I'll have pass along cards and a Book of Mormon in case I'm inspired/prompted. I'm praying for the confidence to open my mouth. I know that there is power with the calling and setting apart that I have if I have faith and am worthy of it...I'm still learning to keep the afraidness out. Its going to be great though. I'm feeling ready.

Anywho...I never feel like I get enough deets out to you. But I love you so much! I love this work and I love the plan that the Lord has for me and each of His children. He knows us, He knows what we need/who we need. I am so greatful for these experiences that I'm having that I couldn't have in any other form but a mission.

Love you all so so much!
Hermana Moffat

2 weeks from now...

2011-11-07T15:53:00.000-08:00

iHola familia!

me & hermana brown

Les amo mucho. Estoy muy animada salir para Chicago en dos semanas. Este Jueves recibo los planes viages. Divertido, no?

Ok...It drives me crazy that I can't figure out how to write the Spanish upside down ?. I will do the rest in English. But yes, we receive travel plans this Thursday! Crazy! All of the final 2 week privelages that we've been looking forward to are here! A. This wednesday we get to be hosts to the new missionaries. From my first day here I've envied that job-they were so cute and friendly and ready for the work. Hermana Brown and I will take pics of our outfits, cause we're going to have to look cute! B. This Sunday at the fireside we've been asked to be ushers. Let the countdown continue! I definitely am ready to see what the field is like and to test the waters, but I know I'm nowhere where I need to be with the language...and with teaching for that matter. As hard as it will be-and as butterflyish as I get-I know that I will only really learn how to overcome some of my challenges I have right now with native speakers and a real teaching schedule. I'm so grateful for the time I have to be able to study for the next 2 weeks...I know that will change and decrease a ton when I get out in the field. I just hope I can stay focused in that.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Pops! 37 years is amazing! Congrats! Have a hot date tonight! I love you so much-thanks for making that important decision to be married in the temple-your example to me in that-and then your example in how you respect and love each other daily-I can never thank you enough. You're some goodly parents. Daddy-thanks for being Dr. Mom. You're the best! I know she needs it-and of course you're there for her! I would expect nothing less.

Congrats Jacie on you're baptism this weekend! I'm so so proud of you! The Holy Ghost is the most important friend you want to hang with all the time. I'm excited for you! Write me and tell me all about it!

Momma-I love the grateful blog-keep 'em coming! Its fun to get even more detes on whats going on. May I say that I love technology for the reason that I get a letter from my peeps every week too?! Yea-its fantastic. The quote in fair weather friend was so Music Man. My new motto for Chicago may need to be Granny's "The cool weather is HF's way of showing that he loves us." It has started to snow and really be cold...and by that I mean its only about 40ish degrees...much more to go. Everyone thinks I'm funny that I get bright eyed at all of the snow on the leaves or the light fall of snow. But it really is beautiful. I hope I keep that up for the next 9 months...sigh.

I can totally handle the mushy stuff mom. I may be on a mission, but I'm still a girl. I love me some romance! I loved when we talked to our Branch pres and his wife the other day who gave us just a tiny bit of romance-their adorable. I loved when she talked about how great it was that she was married to someone that made it so she had to take her kids to church alone...I know that sounds funny. Truth is, thats not a bad thing to shoot for, someone who is worthy and able to serve. It was a great thought. Who knows what the Lord has in store for me with the opportunites he has opened for me by desiring me to serve a mission. I'm grateful for his trust, guidance, and love and confidence that I can change and become better. More of who he wants me to become. Its truly humbling.

I love you so much! More on the travel plans! I'll have one more time to write you I think while in Utah...crazy!

Hiccups (thats how fast this has felt)
Hermana, Moffat

Happy Holy-ween

2011-11-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

I must say-my title for this week's email is pretty rocking. Mom-you'd be proud. I'm totally sporting black white and orange in honor of this random holiday. I love it for its colors, festive fallness, traditions, and its cute little kid costumes...in the MTC I like if for its P-dayness.

This week has been a little more of a struggle because of miscommunication between me and other people this week, but this next week is looking to be better. I have goals, they have goals, H. Brown and I have goals as a companionship that I think will really help. One of which is to smile more. The big Sister Elaine S. came and spoke to us for our RS meeting. How awesome is that! I loved it! She gave lots of really good counsel, but my favorite was her example of smiling. She said that no matter the difficulties in your life you always need to smile-especially in your struggles. Our trials and struggles are evidence that God loves us enough to give us opportunities to polish ourselves. Loved it! Needed it. I hope to have as beautiful and as infectious of a smile as her one day. Other wisdom-I'm going to wear my YW charm every day. What a great missionary tool! I think I want to put it on a pretty longer chain (I also saw a sister with a pocket watch necklace...cool idea huh?!)

Also awesome: after our devotional on tuesday, we talked about obedience. I'm trying...but I hadn't yet committed to be 100% obedient. Elder McBride made the comment that when we decided to go on a mission that we decided to serve we decided to follow what the Lord wanted us to do. Why would we do it if we weren't going to do it His way? I'm not serving for me-even though I'm looking forward to the direct effects. I have to put myself in the shoes of everyone I will teach and in my future family taht I get to set an example for. Obedience is one of those "make the decision once" kind of things. Decision Made.

We had a rocking leson with Ramon the other night where we were talking about the power of prayer and repentance from the account of Enos. The lesson was amazing-H. Brown was able to give a very personal heartfelt testimony that brought us all to tears. Ramon was able to commit to repent, even with his drug problems. We were on this amazing high...and then we realized that we were getting "transferred" we would no longer be teaching Ramon. It was crazy how I felt. I had just gained such a testimony of how personal repentance can be for those we teach and how important my job as a missionary is to be able to bring this to others...and then I find out that my progress with Ramon was over. We were able to get a real account of the real Ramon afterwards. Hermano Harvey our teacher had taught him on his mission and told us how it took 3+ sets of missionaries and 9 months to help Ramon receive the gospel. I'm grateful for an experience like this one.

I love you so so much! I couldn't be more grateful for the examples you are in my life in how you love each other and the family. I couldn't be more grateful for this chance I have to get to know the Savior, myself, others (and how to be a roommate...etc...its been fun). I know God knows me and has been and will continue to guide me. I'm grateful that he has cared for ya'll too. It sounds like He has things under control.

Love you so so much! Happy Halloween!

Hiccups,
Hermana Moffat

Oh, I'm halfway there. Oh! Living on a Prayer!

2011-10-25T00:59:00.000-07:00

Never have lyrics been so true!

First, Thanks Mom for the package! It was like Christmas for Hrmna Brown and I. The cookies are delicious/the clothes much needed...not like I don't have enough! Seriously...there have been a few moments of embarassement at how much clothes I actually do have. Hrmna Brown only packed not even a suitcase full and I was busting out of 2 haha. I'll need a lot more layers though in Chicago than she will in Cali. though.

Language:
So The language is coming...but I'm definitely freaking that I only have a month left until I join the real world of fast/native Spanish speakers. This last Friday we had an English fast. I was so envigorated that I knew more than I thought I knew...but we still didn't know enough to get through a planning session for a lesson we had to teach. H. Brown and I speant 20 minutes trying to get to the same idea...but we didn't know we were on the same page all along because of our limited Spanish. It was frustrating. We are doing every other day this week of English fasts and then hopefully by next week we will be Spanish all day/every day!

Chicago:
I don't remember if I told you-this winter is supposed to be the worst on record for record,...scary! Look up Hrmna Alverez who should have a video up of her entering the mission. The sisters from Utah that I knew were coming in the same day ended up getting their assignments changed. They were put on the pilot program of 6 week training. They will go through the same spanish/teaching training that I have for the first 6 weeks and skip out on the last 3 we have review. So they came when I was already 3 weeks in and will be leaving with me to Chicago still. Crazy! I haven't decided yet if I would rather be in and out of here in 6 weeks-that sounds both glorious and terrifying.

This week we add 2 new investigators so we will be up to 4 we teach. We went from having 1.5 hrs for comp study/only teaching one person a day to teaching 1-3 people every day. There is a never a moment of security here in the MTC. Always changing and always improving. I guess if we didin't have things to stretch us we would never improve, but a break here or there could be nice! haha. I'm so grateful for Sundays though. They are such a bright spot. Although we are busy, I get to take the Sacrament and to be made clean again...to have that opportunity to improve. Everything in all of our meetings this last week had so much personal relevance to me-loved it!

A. Elder Scott came as our Tuesday night devo. He talked about writing down all of our revelation. When we treat all of our promptings as sacred then the Lord will bless us with more...and as always-he talked about the importance of dating and not hanging out when we get home. haha. I love him and agree 100%

B. Awesome RS and Sacrament meeting talks that talked about difficulties in the mission that lead to knowing that they were exactly where they needed to be-exactly where the Lord wanted them to be.

C. The thought that I may not see the light at the end of the tunnel, but God does. He is the light and the tunnel aka the way. I love that imagery.

D. Motherhood is beauty -Stephanie Nielson. I love that I get to train for this oneday...and that I have such great examples of wonderful mothers in my life. I really have been born of goodly parents.

E. All of D&C 25. Study it and apply it. Music/supporting your companion. Great thoughts to apply. (this is what our fireside last night was on from Bro. Stephen Allen)

I make the MTC sound like its so difficult...but really there are so many fun times along with the difficulty. Hermana Brown and I are always laughing...and trying to find the fine line of having a little fun and "putting away childish things." Probably acting like Jim Carrey as the dinosaur from Series of Unfortunate Events isn't always appropriate...but sometimes very needed. haha.

hug hug, kiss kiss, little hug, big kiss

Hermana Moffat

humility

2011-10-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

Hola familia!

I do miss you, but I pray to not be homesick and so far I've only get a 5 second thought here or there. I'm doing good. No worries. There have been many humbling experiences this week.

First of all I was so grateful that this week we had Sister Dalton...as in Pres. Dalton come and speak to us for our devotional Tuesday. She said that when God created the Earth and the Plan he had families in mind. When he performed the restoration He had temples and families in mind. She talked about the importance of our roles as parents and it gave me a new desire to treat my mission as mommy boot camp. I had that idea from the start-it was the idea that got me interested in doing a mission, and now it is part of my driving force.

There are so many things about myself and my service as a missionary that I need to improve on. I have an adapting list of what I want to become and I''m being more and more humbled all the time. I learned that the Lord gives us talents and gifts to humble us. We need to rely on Him always. It is never by our own strength that we are able to do anything, so why do we think that we can do it without Him?

Humbling things of the week: I took an aptitude test and scored really low in humility...I really wasn''t expecting that. Seems like I''ll be working on that more.

Next, I was asked to play for Sacrament Meeting this week. Why do I always get so nervous when I do any sort of performing or speaking in church? I''m fine on the stage, but put me in front of a room of LDS people and I'm a mess. I was asked to play earlier on Sunday for all the sisters in RS and I had to turn them down because I didn''t know how to play the hymns they wanted. I felt awful. I was humbled-I will be keeping up my piano etc. That can''t happen again. Finally, Hrmna Brown was called to be the coordinating sister over our zone. It is like a zone leader, but for sisters. It is a pretty big job-like a RS pres over 8 girls...but one that has to always be breathing down everyone''s necks...ok not that bad. I know she''ll do a great job. She is perfect for the job. She is kind, and friendly, and really knows how to get it done. I support her 100%. I'm grateful for another reason to be more obedient...if thats weird...get over it. It gets hard sometimes to be as obedient as I want to be with other things going on around me. If hrmna B has to set an example for everyone else then I by default have to too. I'm excited for the blessings that will flow from this calling for her...for me.

H Brown and I are completely opposite when it comes to organization and preparing of our time-especially when it comes to our lessons. We are trying this week to meld our two styles of teaching, which are both good and have a place...just need to be balanced. She wants to say it in the most concise way possible to get through the lessons in a timely way, and I have to explain it in as much detail as possible to make sure they understand it. When we get it down we'll be dynamite...and when we get enough Spanish down.

This week we are really focusing on the Spanish. We''re going to try to speak onlyu Spanish from here on out. I''m pretty excited. People have left here fluent before-there's no reason I can''t too if I work hard enough. Right? Right.

the LDS jargon -

2011-10-13T01:18:00.000-07:00

let's face it, mormons are weird.
we like ourselves though, and we like that we are weird.
we call it peculiar.

Ward: What everyone else would call a "congregation." basically, the people who go to church same place, same time as you. often referred to as "the ward family."

Stake: A handful of wards.

Companion: Every missionary is assigned a fellow missionary to be with at all times. They do everything together for the time they are companions. This is for many reasons, one, I'm sure, because God knows spouses need practice. {See "Transfers"}

Elder: What male missionaries are called. Also, apostles are referred to as Elders. It just so happens that many of them are old too, but that's not why we call em Elders. They just are.

Sisters: What the girl missionaries are called. Also a title given to adult women in the church. "Sister Moffat...etc." {Similarly, men are usually called "Brother" So-&-So...}

Mission: a "trip," usually for 18-24 months, where the missionary dedicates 100% of their time to serving the Lord through service, teaching, preaching, etc. Boys typically leave around 19, girls around 21. Missions are not a requirement but an expectation. Missionaries don't talk to their families except through letters so they can focus on their work.

Mission Leadership Positions: The Mission President is in charge of the mission. He and his wife are often viewed as the "mom & dad" of the mission. The rest of the leadership positions are filled by regular missionaries within the mission, and the missionaries who fill them change periodically: Assistants to the President (APs) assist the president in any and every way he asks them to. Zone Leaders (ZLs) are under the APs, and supervise a number of companionships. There are a couple of Zone Leaders under each AP. District Leaders (DLs) are under Zone Leaders and usually supervise 2-4 companionships. There are a few District Leaders under each Zone Leader.

Transfers: every 6-8 weeks, when (under the direction of the Mission President) many missionaries change companions and/or switch areas within their mission boundaries (ie moving to different "suburbs" in the western Santiago metropolitan area).eg. add chicago area, etc.

S.O.C.K.S. {its spanish} {#3}

2011-10-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

Phew!

It has been an eventful week for sure! I definitely have had a few minor homesickness spells this week...but all minor. When twin girls sang at the devotional I shed a tear or two for my sister, when conference came-I shed a few for everyone, when someone wore a token Mom outfit I went off about you. I love you guys and miss you like crazy! I'm so glad things are going well at home though! I really have been so blessed to not get too homesick, just a 3 minute thought of being homesick every now and then. There isn't any time to get homesick though! We've really trying to work hard. A. plan a crazy detailed schedule B. follow through C. qualify for the blessings of the Lord. We have a pile of quotes by our desk and hit it to remind each other to get focused and then get to work...but it can be hard sometimes to get focused.

The language is coming along! Starting today we are trying to speak only in Spanish. It can be difficult because there are still some words that we don't know and we don't fully understand conujugations of different verbs, but we have been doing ok so far and will only get better! We are teaching whole lessons in broken spanish now without notes. We have really tried to go in faith by not taking in a script and it has paid off. H. Brown and I have really really noticed the benefits of it.

Last Monday night I had one of the hardest nights thus far in the mission. We got a new investigator: Ramon. Ramon was sort of short with us/my mind hit a blank. We survived the contact, however I was cut down. for the first time it was me out of the companionship that doubted my abilities. I prayed so so hard that night. I will admit that I shed a few silent tears in bed after everyone else went to bed. However, the Lord didn't wait long to bless me. The next morning we had our first day in the TRC (teaching resource center) where members volunteer to come and be taught. Sister Thomas, this sweet old lady was so kind and spoke the same sort of Spanglish that we did that we left there so grateful to have done so well in the lesson. The spirit was there-we understood what she said and we are pretty sure she understood us! haha

Then we went back to teach Ramon two other times. 1. we commited him to read the restoration pamphlet. 2. he had read and had tons of questions. We weren't expecting any of the questions he asked and went in not very prepared anyways, but I know God answered our prayer and forgave us for our lack of planning. The lesson was a total success...our thoughts, words, spirit...everything!-was a gift. It reminded us of the reason we are out here. We had our first REAL lesson. I had to stand outside of the classroom for a minute to cry it out for second. It was such a blessing. I know we weren't the ones teaching the lesson...and I know how much work I need to put in for those like Ramon who need the gospel-bring it! Who knows...he may commit to baptism this week!

Answering q's:

I usually get on first thing mon morn to print off letters so that I can read them in free time and then go with a plan to write back so I don't take up the 30 mins...so if you have them sent to me before then its best so I can respond

Thanks to all those who have written me!-I'm going to be sending back letters this week (Even Spencer Moffat-loved it! Thanks!)

Last wednesday snow fell!...and by that I mean we saw it from our 3rd story window...but it didn't stick. so its starting to get pretty chilly round here. Please also send me the fam calendar! that would rock!...I'm sorry to miss Chantelle's b-day...Happy b-day sweetheart!

look next week for Hermana alvarez-arriving in Chicago.
She's awesome! More on her later...but she came to say bye and to tell me her mom discovered that Chicago will be the coldest on record this year...oh goody.

Thanks mama for your mom sense in caring for me. I really needed the prayers from all ya'll. Thank you. I know it was your added prayers that helped me get over that little pause of poopyness. I may have teared at your little love note. I wish I coulda hugged you for it...but the cyberhug was def fealt.

I need pics of the house and yard and stuff when its in full winter-running conditions...I'll need hope in the winter months of warmer weather...and the proof to non-beleivers that we have green christmases.

Thanks for the food advice...been trying them...been helping...(but not second helpings...oh I'm funny)

I need black tights and my scarves right now...its starting to get cold. other things...like skirts may be able to wait until chicago...and I'll send home a box of my warm weather clothes before I head out to chicago. Last wednesday snow fell!...and by that I mean we saw it from our 3rd story window...but it didn't stick. so its starting to get pretty chilly round here. Please also send me the fam calendar! that would rock!...I'm sorry to miss Chantelle's b-day...Happy b-day sweetheart!

look next week for Hermana alvarez-arriving in Chicago.
She's awesome! More on her later...but she came to say bye and to tell me her mom discovered that Chicago will be the coldest on record this year...oh goody.

I'm in love with the cookie business stuff!!! I literally squeeled for joy at it. It sounds like a great idea. Congrats on such a huge first order! You need to invest in some squishy mats to stand on in the kitchen for orders that big! I'm so excited and proud...and loving the classic Moffat army thats helping out with it.

I love love love seeing Cole...he's sassy. The familiar face really is nice. I'll be sad to have him go...as well as the 2 elders from the district that fly out tomorrow to the Guat MTC. It will be weird without them, I'm already sad thinking of losing some of these friends/bros. Elders Van Camp and Ellis are going to rock it in El Salvador!

Daddy-I love you so so much. Thanks also for the letters! They are so so great! I wish you could be in this computer room with me right now...the korean/chineses speaking missionaries sound like rappers as they practice. Its hilarious! Thanks for the update on the ward...its crazy small!...sad day. I think about ya'll often. Spread my love. I'm so glad to hear you've been playing with the RPM III's. Give my love to roger's fam k? I'd love to see rog's fam for thanksgiving...they should just ask the mission pres...they don't often give exceptions to the no fam thing, so I'm not sure how that'll all work.

Love you all!!!
Look up
Step up
Cheer up!

Hiccups,
H. Moffat

letter numero dos {#2}

2011-10-04T13:19:00.001-07:00

Hola mama y papa!...(sorry Dad, I just called you a potato...I don''t have enough time to figure out the accents on this keyboard haha)

First: Thanks for the package! The comb/money are definitely helpful, and the cookies made me and all of my roomies really warm inside. We are still eating them and loving them! Thanks! It was great to have a little taste of home, and even more fun to get to talk about you mom and all of your awesome talents and child-spoiling abilities. I love you-thanks again. Thanks for looking for the rust cleaner...it would be appreciated if you find it. Thanks for the addresses! Also...I need a way to organize letters. Help me figure that out...if I just need a rubber band I can do that, but would it be better to use a little organizer thing?...if so I think I may have one somewhere in the mess that is my room. Sorry to leave it so bad for you mom!...Have you started trying to clean it up? or is it too weird still?

The name of the boy on the plane I learned is Bobby Burkey. I saw him one day when H. Brown and I were exercising outside. His mom told him how she talked to you too...she told him as well that she thinks its BS...bless his heart! Thanks for being 100% supportive. I'm so grateful I don't have to worry about you guys in that way.

H. Brown is from Wyoming...Star Valley. AKA where the new temple was announced...we had an overwhelmed/teary moment. It will be a huge blessing for her and her part-member family and the other people in Wyoming. It is their first temple! So so cool. She says her mom is a party so I think you two would get along just fine! P.S. Her favorite cereal is Marshmallow Mateys and Wheaties...except not with milk cause she is lactose intolerant. H. Brown's first name is Bailey...she is going to Arcadia California. She is just a month older than me, but a year older in school. She has been going to Utah St and hopes to finish her degree in 2ndary Ed History to be a teacher in Alaska...cause she's crazy.

Cole Leaves next week. I'm going to try and get one more pic with him before he leaves...but we did get one, so thats good. I also got one with Tate! I have taken a few pics. I'm going to try to load some here if there is time.
I wish I could share everything with you...but yes...a full review from the journal will definitely happen. I just have to get into a better/more concise/detailed way of writing.
Meals are good...No gained weight yet, so I guess I'm not too far off.

President Elaine S. Dalton

How great is general conference that you have to get together! I'm so grateful you could all party. I was thinking of you the whole time...and I cried like a baby when Sis. Dalton talked about Dad's. Thanks daddy for always being one of my best friends and such a great example. P.S. bonus time with the museum trip with the g-kids! Sounded like fun!

What is up with that heal!?! Stupid! I'm sorry mama...thats no fun at all! It will still be a nuisance. I'm glad we know what it is now! I've had a weird ankle thing the past little while too that has been swollen. I think it started with a blister from my gym shoes and then it may have gotten infected?...I think it is on the mend though.

I'm so glad that you got to play with your friends...I've said it before and I'll say it again-you're friends (including Jolene) rock!

Daddy thanks for writing me! I love it!
I do get to use the computer every monday...we get only 30 minutes...so depending on how fast I can write more. if not then we write while doing laundry snail mail style we also use the computers to do TALL which is a language program that rocks. I did pay for the health thing on my debit card. Is that ok?

Everyday but P-day and Sunday we have class with Hermano Harvey who is hilarious and so down to earth...he reminds me of my brothers, always has some sass and a good story. We will get another teacher here soon who I think was our progressing investigator. We were teaching someone for about a week-we taught her 3 lessons. Her name is Theresa...however she is going to be "Maria", now. The teachers take on the persona of someone they taught and then dress out in regular clothes to be our investigator. So we are preparing to teach lessons in Spanish... however with us not knowing very much Spanish we have been taking in a script of our lesson. We have the goal to go in and only have an outline this week though and rely on the little Spanish we do know to get by... use a little more faith.

Today H.Brown and I also decided that we would try to talk only in Spanish...but because we know just enough to get by, we have little signs on our plaques "Solamente en spanglish por favor"...I think we are hilarious. Haha. I think this week we get 2 new investigators...so I'll let you know how that goes!

We haven't sat down to answer phone calls yet...I dón't know if we will have that happen later?...but we at least aren't doing it now.

Have so much fun at camp LoMia! Tell me all about it when it happens!

Update with me. I really loved conference. They really do shut down the MTC. We all meet in the gym with all the bleachers pulled out and there is an overflow area as well. What is crazy about it all is the eating schedule-it was caos! I think my favorite talk was Elder Cook...of the 70. My new motto "Look up, Step up, Cheer up."

This week I'm really planning to be more diligent with how I study. We have a lot of fun...and not enough studying. I need to be better with the covenant I've made to dedicate all my talents and time to the Lord. I have so much to learn still and not enough time to do it in. However, I know that even if I don't know it all when I leave, but I leave with no regrets with how I use my time, then I will be happy. I'm making a quote board to go by my study desk in the classroom to remind me of this. Any favorite quotes you want to add to the party?...send em!

I love you so so much! Thanks for the letters! I get dearelders day of/emails only on Monday...and I only have 30 min.s (although I'm over time this week).

Love you so so much!
Hiccups,
Hermana Moffat! aka Maddi

P.S. I tried to upload a pic and I couldn't figure it out...maybe I can do it next time?...or take my camera and make regular copies?...
P.S. I don't know how you want to send this out to people...sorry...there's not enough time to be creative with how I organize this thing.

letter numero uno! {#1}

2011-09-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

iHola!

I´m so excited to be able to send you a letter and fill ya´ll in on the goings on around here! Yes Mama, you can call me Madison still. My official MTC address is

Sister Madison Anne Moffat
MTC Mailbox # 302
IL-CHI 1121
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Anyone is welcome to send me mail to that address and the district leader passes it out daily. I don't have much time to write back, but its always appreciated! Dearelder.com is also a brilliante option.

Thanks mom for the encouraging text message! This was mine back when I got on the plane:

Dear Mom, I'm sitting on the plane on my way to SLC. I can't believe I am on my way to the MTC-I'm a missionary! I'm at peace...I left your supporting, teary-eyed faces at the security check point and had my own tears at by by the time I reacghed the metal detectors. I can do this. I know I can. I know that my Heavenly Father knows I can too. He has blessed me with peace. There are 4 other elders on the flight with me...I don't remember any of there names (but the girl in the airport is named Lexi Jones...FB her). They're going to Honduras, at a Spanish and english speaking elder to the states. ....& lift off!

I loved the story of the elder's mom in the airport...hilarious! I'm so glad you could have a mom-to-mom with her and help her be at peace with her son being on a mission, even though she didn't understand it. You're doing the whole missionary thing with me-awesome! If you can't find her on FB then let me know! You can also google her sister on her mission...her name is Jennifer or Jenn Jones-she has a mission blog too.

So funness-I saw Cole and Tate first day!! I gave Tate and got a picture...and Cole and I got a hug. I don't suggest doing this however, because then your host sister giving you a tour will give you a little chastisement. I'm glad I got to give him a hug cause I haven't seen him forever, but she's right...its not really appropriate, even for cousins. Hand hugs are ok though...don't ask. haha.

So What is a day like?
6 if we are brave we can wake up and do a workout with the other sister missionaries like step aerobics or yoga.
6:30-7 we get ready
7 we have personal study
8:30 we have breakfast
9 we have either TRC, class or companion study (TRC is teaching resource center for us language learners...haven't done it yet so I don't know what to tell you.
lunch for an hour
class for 3
dinner for a half hour
then either a fireside, devotional or class or study time of the language or lessons until
9 when we sit down as companions and plan our next day.
9:30-10:15 is get ready for bed/companion prayer/journal writing etc...
10:30 is lights out!

The day is packed, but its the Lord's time so we try to use it the best that we can. It has been frustrating the last few days because everyone is just getting into the groove, including myself...and some of the elders don't know how to self motivate yet in their studies. I feel like I'm pretty behind with my studies, seeming as we have to teach a lesson tomorrow morning in Spanish! We are praying only in spanish and are learning how to testify and conjugate verbs etc.....but we still have a long way to go.

Honestly though, I love it here! Besides the frustration last night of feeling like I couldn't focus, I am loving it! Hermana Brown is the best companion I could ask for. I love her so so much! We fill in each other's blanks so much and we both want to work hard. I'm grateful I haven't had any homesickness yet. It really is a blessing from the Lord. I show off my family pics all the time though which is fun. I just can't wait to get into the groove and really learn how to study...and fast. I don't want to be wasting my time and regret it later. No regrets!

Pray for H Brown and I as we prepare to teach our investigator Theresa! We need it!

P.S. Fast and testimony meeting all in Spanish is fantastico. It was definitely the best thing that could have happened to me yesterday...and today...the temple!

Te amo mucho! But seriously.
Hermana Moffat

and some photos saying goodbye in phoenix...

barely making it under 50 pounds...

and leaving two sad parents behind

leavin on a jet plane: day 1

2011-09-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

my bags are packed, i'm ready to go....

and as of last night @ 9:30ish.... i became hermana moffat...

and now i am here. in provo. at the mtc.

{obviously not the one writing this blog}

wish me luck!!

Contact info:

2011-09-12T12:15:00.001-07:00

will be added as a little button on the side or a link on the top sometime on/after Friday 9-16-11 (as I will then have emailed to me my official MTC address).

Thanks for stopping by! More to come...18 months more.

for the "wailing wall"

2011-09-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

you know, that place in church where they hang all the pictures of missionaries so the moms can walk by and proudly say, "that one's mine"...?

that's what these are for...

fotos by mcfotography

Movies I Need To See...

2011-06-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

...Because they are set in Chicago (Chitown? Right?) Lets get real...there isn't enough time. However, it was fun to make the list.

Movies set in Chicago

Baby’s day out

Blues brothers

The break up

Bugsy malone

Cheaper by the dozen

Chicago

The dilemma

Dick tracy

Ferris beuler’s day off

The fugitive

Girls just want to have fun

Home alone 1,2, and 3

Hope floats (partly in Chitown)

I, robot

The lake house

A league of their own

Mean girls

Meet the parents

Miracle on 34^th street

My best friends wedding

My big fat greek wedding

Never been kissed

Prelude to a kiss

Return to me

Robin hood and the 7 hoods

Rooky of the year

Save the last dance

Shall we dance?

Sleepless in seattle (and Chicago)

Some like it hot

Stolen summer

Straight talk

Stranger than fiction

Tommy boy (parts)

Wayne's world 1&2

A wedding

When harry met sally

While you were sleeping

I've got 3 months still...so thats doable right? haha...right...! Crazy that my mission is so famous in show biz!

I may need to watch the movies put up by my mission pres. too!...and read all of the blog posts of Sis. Pres. I'm so glad I found her blog! It has definitely helped fight some anxiety knowing that she is just like Mom! (she's obsessive about centerpieces and everything!...they have to be kindred spirits)

Dear Sister Madison Anne Moffat,

2011-06-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

You have been called to serve in the Illinois Chicago Mission. You will report to the Prove MTC on September 21st. You will be prepared to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.

Awesome! I am so excited! I was worried that I would have doubts or negative thoughts about where I am called, but I fasted and prayed that I would be content with where I am called. No worries here-I am totally stoked! I know its where the Lord wants me to serve. Let the preparation begin!

Where will Sister Moffat serve? Give Away

2011-06-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

My cute and creative Bloggy sister has started a give away to the person who can comment on her blog with the most correct guess of the where/what/whens of my mission call! Go check it out! You won't want to miss out.

The winner gets a $20 iTunes gift card!

P.S. Everyone that guesses is put into a drawing for a $10 iTunes gift card.

Hurry and guess cause once I get my call (hopefully Thurs. afternoon) I will have a call and the guessing will be finished and the winners (and my call) will be announced!

Click here to guess.

Sitting on Pins and Needles

2011-05-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

...is a triple entendre.

If you need definitions:

Pins & Needles - implies that one is anxious and nervous about what will happen

A double entendre is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. ...or in this case 3 ways

The first meaning is literal. Mom and I have tried to school ourselves in organization and have used the sewing/laundry/card/jewelry/ironing/project/storage room as our first quest. It has taken us 3 days to clean sweep.

However!-here stands the room in all of its masking tape labeled glory! So glorious. We didn't have the heart to take a before picture or the living room full of all of the contents of the previously unusable room. Way to go mom!...(also not pictured is the boxes of Ebay and garage sale items. [coming on a Saturday in the near future to you and your spending pleasure].

Another literal meaning is the sitting I did at the doc's as I got pinned and needled as I got blood samples, TB tested, and a shot. Fun times!...haha...well maybe not entirely. Who likes to go through a physical?

I DO!!! Especially if it means that

I AM GOING ON A MISSION!!!

That's right baby!

Which brings me to the implied definition of the phrase. I am so so excited to go on a mission. I have only been planning to go for a month now and I already have my papers *80% filled out. Such a whirlwind! In the rush I think I have freaked myself out. I have begun to be apprehensive to go because of all the unknowns...unknowns, but totally manageable with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. After a meltdown to Mama and a good scripture study I felt the excitement again. I have made a few changes in the plan [**setting my availability date for a month after my B-day in Sept so I could be to my nieces baptism/allowing myself a bit more time before I turn everything in].

I was reminded of this gem by Elder Holland

"With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. “Cast not away therefore your confidence.” Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."

I have expected there to be pins and needles...but I'm going to simply focus on getting prepared. After all "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).

Bring it on.

*Actually, I am 100% done with my papers. I had my last 2 interviews on Sunday and they are off to Salt Lake! I should be expecting a call next week! Crazy :)

**Actually, my availability date is only a week after my b-day now...so not too many changes really.

Bring on the guesses too! :)

I have a problem

2011-04-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

...its alias is productivity...

but it really goes by the name of "Crafty/Sewing/Fashion Blogs."

I'm freakin obsessed!

I just spent the last 45 minutes looking up more blogs to stalk. I get so many great ideas and I get really excited about all of the projects I'm going to start for my room or my wardrobe. But as my Aunt Glenna kindly reminded me: "Its just not your time Maddi." Sigh...if only. Check out some of my obsessions on the lower righthand side. (...If you don't have time to waste, but waste it anyways because you just can't help yourself.) Let me know which one is your favorite/what project you would just love to start!

P.S. yes I will be going to Goodwill this Sat. for 1/2 off day...even though there is a whole butt load of things going on that day...because I have a problem.

I will not be blogging tomorrow.

2011-03-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Japan,

I'm praying for you.

And yes for you I will also refrain from blogging tomorrow.

Love, Me

P.S. You see its funny because...I don't blog.

We may...

2011-01-22T16:39:00.000-08:00

Choose Something Like a Star

Once upon a time I was crazy sick with strep. I had a fever, shivers, headaches, sore throat, earaches etc. So...naturally I spent the whole weekend watching amazing shows on TV like "Say Yes To The Dress" or movies with beautiful acting like "Step Up 2 The Streets." Amazing. (P.S. I have chloraseptic and "Serendipity" in my hand at this very moment.)

In one of my hazes mom calls me into the computer room to listen to a song. This song was special with great significance to her. Here I am to document the experience she told me. So cool: Back when Mom was my age the stakes from all over picked 4 singers from each stake to go to the conference center at Utah University...or University of Utah? (Correct me here mom...)

[P.S. While I was talking about this later to the PU (parental unit) Dad starts to remember the same experience. He was totally there! Other songs included: A choral medley of songs from the musical "The Fantastiks," "Windy" by The Association, and "Up Up and Away" by The Fifth Dimension. Also included in our chat: tears and giggles from the memory.]

With the conference center full of maybe 5,000 youth they sang this song (with a full orchestra). This beautiful song with an amazing message. What a great life changing experience!

I'm so grateful to be a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There are so many opportunities for inspiration and growth in the programs of the church like the completely unique YSA conference my parents got to be a part of.

Watch a video of images from the hubble telescope and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing that song here

Choose Something Like A Star

by Robert Frost - 1947

O Star (the fairest one in sight),

We grant your loftiness the right

To some obscurity of cloud --

It will not do to say of night,

Since dark is what brings out your light.

Some mystery becomes the proud.

But to be wholly taciturn

In your reserve is not allowed.

Say something to us we can learn

By heart and when alone repeat.
Say something! And it says "I burn."
But say with what degree of heat.
Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.
Use language we can comprehend.
Tell us what elements you blend.

It gives us strangely little aid,

But does tell something in the end.

And steadfast as Keats' Eremite,

Not even stooping from its sphere,

It asks a little of us here.

It asks of us a certain height,

So when at times the mob is swayed

To carry praise or blame too far,

We may choose something like a star

To stay our minds on and be staid.

(Keats' Eremite = hermit. Its a reference to a poem by Keats where he wants to take a moment had with his lover and store it way like a hermit hides from civilization, to make it last forever. Constant.)

How beautiful is the phrase "To stay our minds and be staid"? My new theme for the semester is found.

Reminded me of this. And also this.

Working on getting my constant in place. Work is my new favorite.

Take 5 steps forward and 2 steps back...

2011-01-19T22:21:00.000-08:00

lady monthly sicknesses = 2 lbs gained for the week.

However! I'm ok with this...and life goes on! I am kicking this weight loss' butt!

I'll have some good numbers this next week guaranteed.

(The important thing...mom has lost 9 pounds in the last 3 weeks!

Hip hip hoorays may be in order...)

In other news: I'm back in school and loving my classes!...mostly because of the fun friends that I have in them. Last semester I was just getting to know everyone and was learning how the whole music college thing went. So, now I know how to get in there, get organized, and get all of the practicing, prioritizing, and playing that needs to be done.

Fun things about being a music student: You may have a semester where books cost you $900

But...then the books last for the 3 remaining semesters!

(ps-I have great friends who leant me books/sold them theirs for super cheap so I only paid $300)

Still...My stack of books that I use on a regular basis look something like this

Most of these books were specific to last semester, but the quantity and volume is the same with this semesters installment.

Phew. I have my work cut out for me. But I'm ready to

Get it done in 2 0 1 1 (two oh one one)

Just see my schedule...I mean business.

Pink Team

2011-01-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that all of the Pink mother/daughter teams on the Biggest Loser always kicked some serious hiney?!

It is decided...Peg and Maddi. Pink team.

"We are going to creep up like a ninja on their @$$&$"

~Ashley Johnston (fellow geek in the pink)

[P.S. I was totally getting my pop culture celebrity fix in and

realized that Ashely totally married Koli! Crazy!

Don't believe me?

Look it up. I dare you.]

In other news...

I'm down 5 lbs and counting!

More details here

(or at the bottom of my blog there is a weight loss tracker...updated yesterday as promised)

I'm a loser

2011-01-07T10:19:00.001-08:00

A big one!!

I'm not talking about a social outcast...I'm talking Bob and Jillian style, working my butt off and counting calories style. Wanna watch my progress?

Follow my progress with the fancy "lbs lost counter" below or on my blog on myfitnesspal.com. You're totally welcome to join me!

(Weigh ins are Tuesday nights...so check in then if you want to see my progress)

I'm so freakin excited!

2010-08-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

So school is back in session.

I am now taking only voice lessons as a music major-studying music therapy.

I have a new calling that I'm both scared and excited about.

I have an amazing family and great friends.

My sweet brother just GAVE me a guitar!

Another brother is co-producing a movie/1st assistant directing. So proud of him!

My sisto is prego!

(Yes...Baby Clifford is the size of a lime! Bring it on little one! We'll take you!)

I get to visit said cute fam at their new home in Cali over Labor Day weekend!

All of this makes me want to sing!...(oh yea...check!)

friends leaving the nest

2010-05-27T00:02:00.000-07:00

I just had a moment of nostalgia and was inspired by this girl to document.

I've been so bad lately to write my missionary friends!

I know that a blog that they will never see doesn't really cut it...

...but I have to pay tribute where tribute is due...

My dear friends and examples...who knows!...on day I may be in their shoes and in the mission field as well (a more girly pair...I hope)

Some of the first to go

Elder Aaron Webb (Webby, A-dog, Aaaron)

Chilé, Santiago North (Oct.)

I love this boy!

(I once taught him how to hold hands...inspired by The Prince and Me)

(Elder Webb, myself...and Abby and Lyndz)

Elder Michael Thurber

San Bernadino, CA

Elder Matthew Speakman (aka Matty, Mafew)

I miss Matty!!

Seriously such a sweetheart...

Plus - he took me to my senior prom!!

(pics on mom's computer though...add them later...)

Elder Bradley Bishop (B-rad, Boo Radley, B Squared, Brad Brad)

Prolly one of the boys I miss the most...can't believe I don't have a pic with just him!)

Jackson, Mississippi - Spanish speaking

(Katie, Me, A-dawg, B-rad, Abbs, and Cal)

Elder Tanner Green (Tan man, Tanner Blake)

My best friend Tanner.

Such a good example to me and such a good friend.

In all of his perfectness he gets called too...

Salt Lake City, Utah (haha)

Seriously though...he is having so much success there, the work is moving and he is so happy.

Love him!

Wiggle pic :)

Elder Joshua Boatright (Joshy, Roderick)

Geneva Switzerland, French speaking

Me and Joshy started our mad love affair at Steve's Krazy Sub the summer of '08...

...only to be continued at ASU..

See how sad I am that things have to come between us?

(sneaking one last hug...)

(Ashy...not crying...)

Elder Bryce Clifford (Brycey, Bryce Jay)

California Roseville mission

I miss not being able to just call this boy up to do anything...any time.

He was so fun!

I need to hurry and write him before he thinks I'm married or dead haha...

...cause those are the only two reasons he would accept for me to not be writing :)

Not a missionary...but leaving the nest nonetheless.

Lyndsie Lenkersdorfer Walker (Lyndz)

Thats right...the Walker part is new! This cute girl is married and living in NY!!

Crazy!

Check out her adventures!

Us girls at her bridal shower (Kates, Juliet, Lyndz, Beth...aka Michelle, and Me)

And what do you know...Marc got the garter and I got the bouquet...

Maybe Mrs. Tellef was right in 9th grade...we're getting married

...hahahaha...

Marc Johnson (Marcus, Marcy, MJ)

While we're on the subject...

Guadalajara Mexico (leaves Aug. 11)

We've been good friends for years

Even when he's come home from his mission and we're both married...

...to other people...I hope we staygood friends.

He's weird, but I love him.

Leighton Carrol (LJ, Leighton John)

Baltic Mission, Lithuanian speaking

I could talk to him about anything and everything...and have.

He's going to rock!...wherever that is haha

Other missionary friends of note: Elder Mason Rhett Crandell (Massachusetts), Randy Cox (Mexico City East..leaves like this next week), Elder Andrew Niccoll (San Antonio Texas), Elder Chase Farnsworth (England London South...just left) ****can't believe I don't have a picture!!

New Habits and Goals

2010-03-21T03:01:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for the chord to my camera...and then you bet I have a few new posts for this here blog. The truth is...blogging is fun...but not as fun as getting my other goals accomplished. I'm happy to announce that I have made a habit of working out every MWF!

I've made myself a little home gym, got a crazy cool watch that checks my heart rate + anything else you could ever dream of! (except fold your laundry...but that would be dreamy!)

I keep adding on little things that I have to do until it becomes a habit and therefore can and forevermore has to fit into my life e.g. reading.

I just finished reading Les Mis.

Awesome.

Maybe your wondering if I wept for a good long while at the end?

Sure did.

If you're up for it, I would recommend this book to anyone.

I was at a forum at the pimpstitute (of the ASU variety) that was all about finding the Savior in the secular world. Along with different paintings and poems etc....we talked about this book.

I got inspired and read...it was amazing. Jean Valjean was such a powerful type of Christ.

Also, the book was full of so many wonderful themes: forgiveness, repentance, hope, charity, love, personal worth, faith...blah blah blah...

aka Read This Book.

'nuff said.

What are my habits to be?

clean room, a personal churchy thing or two, crafty projects, and playing...

yes playing...

Welcome: "Alphabet Soup"

I need friends...and its very quite possible that being a Moffat I need parties...

So with a community brainstorm of Ma and I...

and a litte inspiration from here...

We decided that I needed to host some letter themed parties.

First installment is of course brought to you by the letter "A"

(documentation in picture form to come)

Fun idea...future goal: plan ahead

Creeper World Training Simulator

2010-02-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

K...random story...

So I was driving home in the downtown Mesa area and stopped at a light.

Who should pull up next to me on a motorcycle but a 40-50 year old man with a culdesac-mullet?!...

He backed up his bike so he was in line with my passenger window and was just staring at me...I was already creeped out. I hadn't looked over yet...it was just one of those moments...I knew I had to look to verify even though I knew he was looking...but really didn't wanna look. argh!-so I finally had to turn my head and see this nasty old man give me a gross smile and a little wave...lusty gross old man! I gave him a semi-half smile and then happily looked forward and tried not to think about it.

Just before the the light turned green he made a false start and passed the stop line and then...

...as the light did turn green he peeled out of there making a wheely on his motorcycle!

haha I was sitting there thinking...really creepy old man?...you're going to try that on me?!

I was debating whether or not I needed to think of things to do in case he followed me...

(call 911...little defense tricks my sister in law taught me etc.)

Little did I know that there was a police car just behind me in another lane. Before I had time to think through too many safety measures the popo had turned on his sirens and pulled around my car and began to chase this guy!!

VICTORY!!!

One for me...0 for the creeper!

haha Oh man I laughed so so hard!

(Too bad I was in the car alone...that moment needed someone to share it with!)

Pre-Christmas (picture packed)

2010-01-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

Gettin in the mood for the season...all that jazz...

Saturday before Christmas: I was in the Christian Dance Company at my alma mater.

(celebratory production of the life and message of the Savior by music and dance)...

One of my favorite parts of the season.

A plus: doing it with cute friends and fellow alumni

(Darlene, Michelle, Tori-love them!)

Best friends that I don't see often enough

Graced the audience with their saintly voices

(Jen and Cal)

Love this girl! (Kelsey-BFFB aka best friend from birth)

cute neighbors that danced my favorite dance of the show

"Consider the Lilies of the Field"

I tear up every single time I see this dance

Helps to have people I love dance it too...

(Calli Overstreet and Candice Huffaker)

Aren't they beautiful?

I flew out the next morning to California.

(Thanks mom and dad-I really appreciate that!)

My 2nd oldest brother, Rob, wrote and produced a Musical Nativity...

Soloists and a choir depict the feelings and thoughts each person involved in the nativity must have had. The angel that comes to announce to Mary that she will bear the Son of God, because with God nothing is impossible. She sings a sweet song of how the Savior could have come to kings, she may have seen him speak, but that he came to her...I cry every time at those sweet words. Mary and Elizabeth sing "Hope of a Child" (Elizabeth played by my Aunt Marrianne-she does amazing!), Joseph sings "Build Him a Home"-a sweet song about he has to build a home for a child not his own. A 5 part harmony of the shepherds takes your breath away, and then my brother (shown below seated on the piano) sings the final song "It had to be this way." I wept.

He sings with a gospel style choir behind him

At the end the words say "Because he walked the earth, new the earth, suffered on this earth, He knows my soul and my heart!"

I love the music and am so proud of him!

The fam that was there

Adopted Earl family also in representation below...

this is the amazing chapel that the "oratorio" was at. Pres. Hinkley once said that this was the most expensive chapel in the church!...pretty cool!

(I know that pictures in the chapel aren't usually allowed...so I'm a sinner...)

up above the choir is a stain glass of the Savior

(the back light was off when I took this though-sorry)

the "throne" that the bishopric and speakers sit on...haha

the rest of the chapel has tons of little passageways all around to different classrooms

the baptismal font is actually just under these chairs...really cool

(the first picture was taken By my brother Jacob-filming the event from a loft for people to sit at in the back of the chapel.)

My brother Mac recorded the whole concert and is now mixing and editing...

We have a working copy that I will try to put on here soon just as a taster...

More good times...

Some of my friends and I wanted to play a little after our wards FHE...

We had ourselves some yummy burritos at Los Taquitos and then headed to Main Street...

(Rachel, Wis, and my boyfriend)

Kyle...haha

CJ...He's new to the ward...this is the first time we've hung out...

what the hardcore? haha

a Chad Leroy sandwich! I love this boy!

(PS...definitely on a pig)

CJ said that he had to stick with his kind: Pig and Pig...made me laugh

whateva CJ!

Statues can be creepy sometimes...like when they leave the eyes hollow

Poor guy-that must've been uncomfortable for him-sorry...

In the window of a knitting store!...love it haha

"You're trying on my shoes?..." (name the movie)

naughty

Then the fun continues!!!

This crew decided no presents this year but that we would have a photoshoot!

This was such a party!

It was raining hard all day (thanks random AZ weather) and so we hurried some pictures in when the sky cleared up a bit...

Me, Abby, Cal, Katie

(I love these girls)

Our skilled photographer.

Thanks so much Megs-you are such a nice sister...

and doesn't she look so sassy?

before we left-Steve Cox graced us with his presence!

haha-so fun...we made sure to take a few with him too...

after we took all we could handle in our "bright and cheery" we hopped back in the car to change into our black duds and head to a new location

...did you know it is illegal to take pictures on a railroad track?...oops

Final destination: My house for some chill pictures of us showing both our Christmas and school Spirit

It makes me sad that we all go to different schools so we can't see each other that often...

except for the holidays and occasions like this.

We are so sappy...we even created the "sisterhood of the traveling ring"

No huge magical happenings...but the ring does help us stay in touch!

Me: ASU Abby: BYU Katie: NAU Calli: Mesa High

Yep...this is how we roll :)

for a look at more of our shoot check out some of the photos by Meg here

Festive Makeover

2009-12-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

I thought it was time for a change in the festive direction. Enjoy :)

Christmas Ball

2009-12-09T15:00:00.000-08:00

I'm a big girl now and going to college which means an institute ball with fun people and lots of Christmas cheer. I went with my good friend Josh Boatright. Probably one of the funnest people I know and also one of the funnest dates!

1. Ashley Tucker

she is crazy cute! She has become one of my best friends-love her!

This is us at the dance...the dinner part.

(the entire thing was free! free food...DJ...and professional pictures!)

2. Me and Josh wanted to get some of the professional pictures but the line took forever!

Thought we'd have some fun while we waited.

Many wiggle pictures and weird looks from standers by ensued.

3. 2 of my favorite people that we got to play with all night.

Olivia is just hilarious and Ryan...made for some good laughs...haha

4. K-I don't know these people that well...

...but they were all over each other the entire wait in line...

...at least 45 minutes.

Its ok...I guess...since they were getting married in 2 weeks.

(picture totally taken on the sly-no worries)

5. Didn't stop us from making a little fun though

(They were right behind us in line too)

6. There was a pretty tree in the middle of the dance floor so we took advantage of it!

7. Isn't he so cute!

There are maybe 50+ more pictures of the two of us from this night...just saying.

8. Mistletoe!

(self-explanatory)

9. ...haha

10. Dan and Ashley being awesome!

11. My cute friend Jessica that I met back in all state choir in high school and goes to ASU.

Such a cute cute girl!

And I was lucky to be the provider of her dress from the evening.

She totally rocked that dress better than I ever could!

12. After the dance Josh and I went for a little refreshment

...if you will...

at the neighborhood Sonic.

Josh is a dancing fool!

We were dancing the entire time!

Even in the line...in the middle of people :).

It was such a party! But that kid wore me out! haha So fun though.

He was thoughtful to stop here-and I got to see my good friend Carl!

This dress got its first debut with this boy at Prom junior year.

That date was like this one: super super fun-lots of dancing and good food...and a really fun awesome guy friend.

Couldn't ask for a more festive evening! LOVED IT! And love Josh...

..and that awesome dress!

(I may need to find a way to get it white...for sometime in the future)

loving life

2009-12-09T13:35:00.000-08:00

1. babies...namely this one (and her cute sister)

Her name is Chantelle Lorraine~Mac and Cam's second one.

bonus: she's cuddly!

She was blessed this Sunday.

2. institute: I had two classes this semester...

...which is too much but they were great.

Here's a highlight-we had a sub one day who played pictionary with us

so funny! (old guys getting excited over winning ='s awesome)

(yes that is Paul Green helping out. He was a needed addition to the class)

3. ASU/being manless...for now

I really do love ASU

(and the fact that I have a camera to document things like this)

Ma says that girls are poison until they turn 20...I've still got a while.

4. missionaries

This is Chelsea Wells the first day she got back from her mish to the historical sites in NY

I was standing in proxy of Abby...we are the same person after all :)

I love all of my other friends that have decided to go on missions.

I'm so so proud of them!...I could be better at writing though.

5. being a missionary

I have had so many experiences to share the gospel at ASU its crazy!

More in the last few months then in my entire life so far!

I'm so grateful to be at a place that allows that kind of experience.

6. spontaneity

For my buddy Nay Nay's b-day we went to Denny's...

at 4 in the morning!...it was early

(notice the shoes...earliness ='s confusion)

but totally fun and worth it

7. new hair cut

I've been wanting to donate my hair for a very long time.

so when I had a free saturday I was just going to go in to get my bangs fixed because they were driving me crazy!

I cut off a little more than that...

when I left the lady asked me if I was holding a rat...

..."no...uh, thats my hair" haha

classic

I didn't realize that you had to send in your hair yourself, but thats ok!

I sent in all 11 inches of it!

8. cousins...namely this one

Cole has been my buddy forever! We get so excited to hang with each other come time for thanks day (only every three years). It was so fun to play and to sing with this boy!...he is crazy good at anything musical. We spent a good 2 1/2 hrs in the chapel (of the church where we were having our lil reunion) singing songs that he would arrange on the spot. Piano. organ. doesn't matter, this boy is a prodigy I'm convinced! I love him...too bad he lives so far away in Vernon Hills, Illinois!

9. sisters

this is a pic from the reunion...

but I have loved having meg not move away like she wanted to this time last year.

Seriously, what a blessing! She is now married, getting her masters, and close to me!

In addition-she is getting us all healthy around these parts.

she's real fun

Thus ends my update for today...I've stalled from studying long enough!

Getting so excited for Christmas...16 more days!...(but who's counting?)

Matt Speakman ='s prom bliss...

2009-09-07T00:42:00.000-07:00

(I had this written but never posted...don't know why)

Matty and I have been good friends for quite a while. Lots of fun memories including being in Chamber Choir together and Seussical the Musical.

Matt was the GENERAL GENGHIS KHAN SCHMITZ. "He wants only regimentals to make him completely charming."...check! He asked me the last day of our show in between our matinee and night performance. So cute! I was changing out of my costume (always an ordeal that took some time...it laced up in the back!) Someone came in to check on me...or to hurry me up so I would walk out... A few friends were lined up in the hallway and started chanting "Schmitz. Schmitz. Schmitz...." like they did in the show. Then Matt walked around the corner with a balloon tied around a fancy invitation "cordially inviting" me to prom. I was giggling and beaming the rest of the day. I couldn't have been more excited to go with Mafew! He's only one of the sweetest, funnest, cutest boys I know!

Only pic I could find so you'd get the idea (yea...stole this off of facebook)

We started the evening of right

Had a delicious dinner

And then danced as ugly as we knew how and had the funnest time doing it!

(Now this boy is on a mish!...man how time flies)

Catch Up #2 (Warning: lots of pictures)

2009-09-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

So the next big event (according to the few pictures I actually have)

Prom!

Meg decided to come over before my date (Matt Speakman...more on him in a minute) to take some pics. For those of you that don't know, my sister is a budding photographer. That works out for me!...Meg needs people to take pictures and I gladly volunteer. I'm not the best subject, but its fun! But lets talk about the cutest photogenic girl ever...Shelby Clifford! Meg and Chris grabbed me and Shelbs-(going to the Westwood prom that night too) and had a little sister photoshoot. It really was so fun.

Here's how it turned out...

(All fotobymeg)

(so just go ahead and guess where I found this dress!

Thanks Ma for adding the bussel and the sleeves!)

Yea, she's perfect. So so pretty Shelbs!

Candid!...What am I 5? (oooh...wet shiny ball!...look there's my face!)

So right after our shoot...courtesy of Gilbert, AZ we sped home to try and get there before our dates got there. I got home literally only minutes before Matt!

Thanks for the fun Cliffords (all 3 of you).

Catch Up #1

2009-08-19T20:26:00.001-07:00

Meg Clifford!

Megs was the first huge event since my last post. Holy cow! Who woulda thought round X-mas time that my sister would be married by the time I graduated! haha...crazy. I love you Meg-so happy for you! If you want some update on her and her amazing husband then check em out here http://nutmegs12.blogspot.com and better yet...here! http://m-c-squared.blogspot.com

Sad I missed this day...I was at All State for choir. But what a beautiful couple, day, and place to be! Meg was so excited for this day and still talks to me about how amazing it was. I can't wait until when I can go through the temple and have all of my family there...I'm so lucky to be the youngest for that reason alone!

Congrats Megs!

Shortly following that fun day...

Bridal Shower!

Check this out! How freaking cute is the B/W and Green?

We had maybe one too many creative minds on this wedding...Mama Clifford, my mama, and the whole HP crew etc made this whole wedding catalog worthy. (more pics of reception and whatnot so you can see what I mean...their nuts!)

This would be the refreshment table...

doesn't do it justice really (of course I start with the food)

Bride Shower Babe = rubber gloves, cooking utensils, ironing board, apron, kitchen towels

(became the focal point behind Meg as she opened gifts)

Me and some of the cute new fam (and Allise, friend of Megs from way back)

Notice the pad in my hands? I may be a little cheesy, but I made myself a notebook all decked out in the wedding colors for my MOH (maid of honor) duties. I have dreamed my whole life of the day when Megs would get married...including being the one to write down the gifts for the "Thank You" list instead of the one picking up wrapping paper or handing the bride the gifts...I got to be the one to smile at her and giggle over each little gift...you know-enjoy it! haha I'm a little sappy...maybe...

Red Kitchen Aid...nuff said

The whole Clifford/Moffat Crew! So happy to be connected to you cute peeps!

(Darlene, Jayme, Megs, Kelly, Shelby, Cammy, Ma, and I)

Stay in tune for more catch ups...I'll do my best with the few pics I have on my computer...

(note to self: talk to Megs about my MOH book and get more pics on my cute little computer...thanks Daddy!)

Get ready for the roller coaster ride Maddi!

2009-03-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

Update!

I have loved having my sister home and getting to play with her for a little while...and now she is enGAGed!! (jk-not about the engaged part though). Congrats Meg!!-I'm so happy for you and Chris. Way to pick out such a good one. I couldn't imagine a better-suited boy for my brother-in-law ;)

I have decided on going to ASU. It was a hard decision to make. I battled out the positive and negatives of ASU and BYU and decided that it would be better for me to not miss the fun family things (two babies in October: congrats Lolo and Cam!! Thats so fun!), transition of married life, and then having my support team for my transition into adulthood as a college student. It sounds so scary! I could be okay being away from home and doing school...but it would not be easy. I'm having a hard time right now keeping up with the little schoolwork that I have without the added distractions of roommates and boys and singles wards. It would be best to have school payed for and just get used to school and then after I get that down I will most likely transfer to BYU. I won't want to do much performing studies at ASU...haha a little liberal. Then again...who knows what my major will be...I may not do anything performing at all. However, I would still want to live out of the home in a few years.

Lets add to the fun shall we? My show, Seussical The Musical "goes up" (aka: we perform...for those that don't know show lingo) in a month. So I am working out and learning how to sing like crazy in the next month. During that time sister and I are sending out invitations for the big changes in our lives: May 21st Mesa High Graduation (yay) and May 23rd Wedding. Yea...that will be an eventful weekend! Get ready for a roller coaster ride of emotions Maddi...that week has it in for you!

Crying Cuz-a Christmas

2008-12-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

Thoughts of Christmas...

and sister...

and Pero while snuggling on the couch with a fire...

watching "Muppet's Christmas Carol"...

playing with my cute McKenna Bug...

making homemade Christmas...

Christmas Songs...

Christmas lights-colorful/white...twinkly or not...

James Taylor...Kenny G...Hotel Café (have yet to get)...

no school...

are enough to make me tear up!!

I'm seriously such a baby...

and ready for a break...

and for my sis to be home...

And then while enjoying some Christmasy James Taylor I never realized what the lyrics were to his song "Some Children See Him" were...

Some children see Him lily white,

The baby Jesus born this night.

Some children see Him lily white,

With tresses soft and fair.

Some children see him bronzed and brown,

The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.

Some children see Him bronzed and brown,

With dark and heavy hair.

Some children se Him almond-eyed,

This Savior whom we knell beside.

Some children see him almond-eyed,

With skin of yellow hue.

Some children see Him dark as they,

Sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.

Some children see Him dark as they,

And, ah! they love Him, too!

The children in each different place

will see the baby Jesus' face

like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,

and filled with holy light.

O lay aside each earthly thing

and with thy heart as offering,

come worship now the infant king.

'Tis love that's born tonight!

love it!!-its definitely one of my new favorite Christmas songs now-

where have you been all my life?

Updates with pic's coming soon...promise (member?...no school!)

"moldy & old, decaying"

2008-11-30T13:11:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Steph Romney I learned the error of my ways...I haven't blogged in so long! Everything left in this thing has become old, moldy, and decaying. I hope I will be able to catch up soon...maybe today if I can finish some applications and jazz...?

As I looked at my sister's blog I discovered some of the happiest news that is very worthy of giving thanks (in honor of the weekend)...

as of 2:33 my time and 5:33 hers...

12 days, 2 hrs and 25 min.s

until Megs gets to come home!!! Oh the countdown is so on!!!

I've missed her like crazy!! I have only seen her via the internet for the past 4(ish) months and it is so time. I miss scattergories, swigs, laughing till we cry, talking about boys, singing like crazy to songs, taking wiggle pic.s...its just so time to have her back! And we need you girl because Christmas can't officially start until you're home...and we need you to help put up the trees! (we have two!)

"I love cake!"-Be smart

2008-08-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

It kills me! Welcome to my super creative together YW pres. Who, without fail, provides me with a back-to-school trinket to giddy-up and inspire me. If you see me carrying this around tomorrow for the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (yuck) then you will know who it came from. (ask me for the "smarties" tomorrow if your interested-I'm not a fan...haha, you are what you eat?)

Disclaimer: sorry, I don't know whats up. Apparently if you click the underlined text its linked to this picture here. You don't need to do that. The pic. isn't all that amazing, just look at it right here k? Good deal.

Mac and I made a chocolate cake from scratch today. It was fantabulous!! With my brother there is always some kitchen concoction to be made, its hilarious.

During the making of our cake we had a constant quotation of, "I love cake! I do! I just looouuve cake!" see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxXGNSx4CBc

"Do we want nuts in this?...do we even have nuts?" Mac-"No! This chocolate cake contains...no nuts!"

see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9r25GhBWjc

Enjoy the cake!!

So here I go to my first day of my senior year! I'm slightly scared...slightly over it. I'm excited to play with my peeps I haven't seen in a while, be in Baser's class, and be the "big dawg" on campus. It will be weird getting off to school my myself though. My parents are off in Utah-miss you...but congrats Jake!...(good luck?! haha)

Comfort Cushion-Its not a Toy!

2008-08-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY finished English!!! I sent my last paper off at 11:59 last night. I was cutting it close...but I got a 92!! Thanks Hank! I'm feeling really good about it. I'm getting an A in a college class! (Except for the incomplete I have from my second paper. But, that will be shortly fixed. It was an email problem on his end, I guess.)

I wouldn't have been able to make it through yesterday though if it weren't for my "comfort cushion." This thing kills me!

Here's what he looks like!

And sorry you have to see his rear-end...

The tag says:

(Cation:

This product is a comfort cushion, not a toy.
Keep away from infants and younger children.
Do not poke the cushion with sharp objects.
Excessive weight or pressure may cause the fabric tears that will realease the beads.
Ensure caution to keep the beads from eyes, mouth, nose or ears. Immediately rinse eyes, mouth, nose and ears, seeking medical assistance if necessary.
Do not expose the cushions to open flame, cigarettes or excessive heat.)

I took that tag totally to heart. Seriously, this guy is no toy. He is made for those that are seriously in need of some comfort. But warning!!-you don't want to hug him too tight or else you might squeeze him in two...which could be fatal to your health.

A whole day inside the house in the pjs I wore to bed the night before. Now I have to finish Spanish this weekend and then I am ready for summer! Haha-that's pathetic huh?

Thanks all for your love and support!

This Week-A Taster-A week of ups and downs

2008-08-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Like the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! (my favorite Disneyland ride)

Sorry to all who I've vented to one-too-many times this week--it shouldn't have been as big of a deal as it was/is. Explanation to all those I haven't vented to yet...sorry again haha: I decided at the end of the school year I would take three online classes so that I would have a "chillaxed" school year. So I'm just now finishing Eng. 102 online, trying to make myself finish Spanish 2 online, and jogging about 12 miles a week (sometimes haha) for my online jogging class. I'm a little insane. I have successfully avoided many fun summer things. But, the summer is almost over and so will my stressful classes (I couldn't be more excited)! So with all of my self imposed deadlines and a big family vacation shining around the corner I was (a little more than) sad that I had to do the classes in the first place and that I couldn't break my double-threat-bad-habit of perfectionism and procrastination. Long story short...I lost. I had to bring my homework with me this week on my family trip. I've been hiding myself in my cousin's room all week like a nerd so that I could finish my English paper...while my brothers trash talked each other on their Wii golf game (yea it can get pretty hardcore jk), my nieces do back handsprings outside, and as family I never get to play with...play. With tons of help from my Dad, Megs, Rob, and Ma I was able to send off my English paper and I'm so grateful (and thanks for all of the sanity checks from my cute cute friends...I'll admit maybe another one of my ADD moments). I guess the only other downer was the morning before we left for Cali. I had to go trudge out the 2 1/2 hour wait at school to talk to a counselor and then go through 30 min. of intense heart wrenching change. I hate change...sometimes it is good but oftentimes...ugh not fun. I had a few classes to switch around leaving three of my performing classes in the first four hours of the day-the only time to take two other classes that I've been wanting in my life since forever!! I had to give up anatomy, a dream I've had since 8th grade. Now I'm taking Physics with Fife...maybe I'll love it cause I know that my Dad LOVES physics, but it was a little shock. I really wanted to take that class. I surprised myself with how sad I was to have to miss out. There is always college. (Meg laughs at me... "Oh!-But I wanted the AP class and now I have to take a general?!...This sucks!" but really it kind of does)

But this week has been awesome despite my stress (minor in spite of my complaining.) I've been able to spend time with my cute adorable nieces.

M C K-E NN A M O FF A T (sing to the tune of the Mickey Mouse song)

She is adorable as all get out...and as cute and happy as they get.

I like to think that I'm her favorite.

Then there's Cameron-she was so funny.

She was terrified of the water but loved to roll around in the sand!

She LOVES food...just fyi haha (sorry thats totally random)

Shocker of the week-Jacie.

She is so big!! She's doing back flips on the tramp and taking coasters like a champ.

She is already more awesome than I was at her age...or am now.

She totally loves the beach...it took us a little bit but now she will hold "just one!" sand crab and she totally gets in the water.

We have the whole gang here! All of my brothers and sisters (married-ins included). We are beaching it at least 4 times this week (my paradise), playing lots of our favorite domino game "42," and eating lots-what Moffats are good at! We went to Disneyland last night too, which was a blast! We had a private meeting with Cinderella for Jacie (She has never been so shy! It was funny.) Fantasmic-my favorite thing about Disneyland. (I teared up over Snow White of all things...really what is happening to me? haha)

There is also amazing jogging over here. I'm not one for jogging outside-but if I were to-it should be here. Despite the fact that there are hills...something I'm totally not used to back at M-Town it was amazing.

Tons of random thoughts and tasters of the week-I'll fill in the big gaps later (When Meg loads more of her tasty shots on her website (all fotos used courtesy of Meg)) So far just some ups and downs: in school, the waves at the beach, and the rides...and actually with my nieces-I'm their personal Jungle Jim, up and down they go...tired arms :)

Um...I'm basically illiterate

2008-07-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Megs just posted this list on her blog. Me, thinking that I am so well read, did not fear to look this list over. It is somewhat depressing. I'm 6 away from the average adult. I guess I can get some slack cause I'm not really an adult for two more months...come on I think its a good reason. My "want to read" list is obnoxious. I can't possibly read all of those in the next two months...but I see some more reads happening very very soon! (on my stack-literally-is LOTR and The Hobbit, Oliver Twist, and Les Miserables)

Here's how it works:

The Big Read says that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed.

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read

2) Italicize those you intend to read.

3) Make the ones you loved obnoxiously larger than life

4) Reprint this list so we can try and track down these people who've read only 6 or less and make them read.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now..... THE BIG READ TOP 100

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien

3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

4. The Harry Potter Series JK Rowling

5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

6. The Bible

7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell

9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott

12. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy

13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller (I own this but have yet to read it)

14. Complete Works of Shakespeare

15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks

18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger

19. The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

20. Middlemarch - George Eliot

21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell

22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens

24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

25. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh .

27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis

34. Emma - Jane Austen .

35. Persuasion - Jane Austen

36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis

37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

38. Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres

39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne

41. Animal Farm - George Orwell

42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving

45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery

47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

48. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding

50. Atonement - Ian McEwan .

51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel

52. Dune - Frank Herbert

53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov Nabokov

63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt

64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas

66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac

67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

68. Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding

69. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie

70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville

71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

72. Dracula - Bram Stoker

73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson

75. Ulysses - James Joyce

76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome

78. Germinal - Emile Zola

79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray

80. Possession - AS Byatt

81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker

84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry .

87. Charlotte's Web - EB White

88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom

89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks

94. Watership Down - Richard Adams

95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute

97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas

98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare

99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Want to read: 14

Catch Up 1. Vegas and DC!!!

2008-06-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

I promised a recap of past stuff...and pichas! I went to Vegas w/ Ma in a spur of the moment trip during spring break this year because Rob was going to be playing Robin in his show Spamalot. It was so much fun!!! Ma and I partied and read Frankenstein some of the way up and back and then we saw all that there was to see in Vegas by our amazing guide Gail de Jesus (wife of friend and patsy in Spamalot).

And of course playing with my brother was a BIG plus! I seriously get homesick for Rob. We had a little voice lesson while I was there too-thanks to him I have hope to ever be able to sing. If only I could just take him with me!

Washington D.C. was our big music department tour. It was such a blast & a half! These pic.s don't do it justice but here you go anyways.

This is my friend Bryce with one of the many ways we passed the time in the airport to DC.

Yes, this is called "The Portable PROCRASTINATOR DOODLE PAD Get Busy Wasting Time"-hilarious

This bus is in honor of Megs...she just began her little St. Patty's obsession and it was only fitting!-only in DC

This was my favorite monument. Can you guess which one it is?

(Vietnam)

My peeps: Carl & Chase

Boy: Tyson

Kiddos: Katie, Lyndz, Bryce

And Josh Dalton!! I was so lucky to see him here! We met up at Union Station for lunch. We talked about boys, family, and of course...

...How Freakin' Huge our Gyros Were!!

Cuteface: Rhonda Guthrie

Again, for Meg

And this is what was goin on the WHOLE plane ride home! Just kidding, but he IS wearing my shirt I just bought. "If you fit into my pants I'll kill myself!"-While You Were Sleeping. My feelings exactly.

It was such a blast! I want to find a way to get back to DC in the fall when Megs moves there. The only downfall to visiting then, is the lack of this!...

A Lecture Laden “I Am a Child of God”

2008-04-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

So Baby Mac was over for some play-time and Grandma started singing her a song that went a little something like this:

I am a child of God, and he has sent me here.
Has given me an earthly home, with parents
(And grandparents (and aunts)) kind and dear.
Oh lead me, guide me, walk (or lay right) beside me,
help me find the way (to be good and nice like your aunt).
Teach me all that I must do
(or not do-like not sticking your hands in your throat till you choke)
To live with Him someday.

I basically smiled my face off! Way to start her early on those lectures grandma!

Excitement

2008-03-08T16:25:00.000-08:00

So the past two weeks have been crazy! Mom put up her show "Music Man" at Taylor Jr. High which was such a success! McKenna was blessed. (There were about 5 rows of crying Moffats and Englers...We sure know how to take over a ward's testimony meeting!)

My bro, Jake, took me on a little date to our friendly neighborhood Krazy Sub...we even met Ned...but I'm more proud to say that "I know STEVE!"
Here's my peeps...we are all a little insane! Everyone was trying to "Big Chief" this shot and I was just plain confused.

I just auditioned for All-state choir last night. It was pretty nerve racking...why do I put myself through those things? I asked my friend that...he said, "For competition!" I don't know. I'm not very competitive. Maybe if I make it in then I will realize why I do it. (P.S. Mike Rogan was judging tenor sight-reading and says hi to the fam...so, "Hi."

And also...I got my hair permed...so you will start to see a lot more Brooke White/Emily Dalton hair from me!

My Baby Love!

2008-02-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

So Even with all of the amounts of homework I always can find time to dance. Coed was just a little bit ago and I went with my good friend Aaron Webb...don't we go so well together?

On such a lovey dovey date, could you expect anything less than a little smooching?

So there wasn't any kissing that night, but Aaron did acquire the the nickname for the night: kissy lips..but don't ask me why I can't remember! (sorry its a bit blurry)

But someone I can't help but give kisses to is my sweet niece baby Mac (McKenna Camille Moffat born Jan. 10th-I was able to miss school for this exciting event...then little memory-I went that night with Mac and had Ice cream sandwiches with the ice cream from DQ and monstrous oreos...way fun! Mac jumped up to change McKenna, who then of course started crying, and new daddy, Mac, just cupped her up onto his chest and instinctly she calmed down, it had to be one of the sweetest moments yet of her little life for me)

Baby Mac's blessing is this Sunday!...welcome the fam...

Does anybody really know what time it is?....Does anybody really care?

2008-02-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

So whoever can tell me who sang that song...you will get a big fat juicy smile and much self satisfaction.

So if anyone still reads my blog...then thanks for stickin with me! Uh...and sorry but, I probably can't ever fill you in! This pic. has been me the past months....homework, caffeine, and trying to stay sane! There is more where this came from!

Lucy-I'm home!

2007-09-01T10:42:00.000-07:00

Holla family! Back by popular demand...or just demand! So a few things...1. finished my spanish course except the final which I need to study for, 2. I got to go to the beach before the summer was out, 3. School has started and so has all the drama Juniors are blessed to receive, and 4. I am Lucy in MHS's Charlie Brown!

1. My last Spanish project was really cool-thanks to Rich I found iPages and made a really nice Mexico newspaper. The next semester just arrived but not in the paper version...and now that Meg isn't working there anymore we don't have all the luxaries but no big.
2. Megs came to visit the last week of summer and we stole away to the beach for some cool weather and just play time!
3. All my friends are in the pairing up phase...we finally have drama potential. All my academic classes give me quite a bit of homework a night except Trig.-I dropped Pre Calc. That class is for people that want 2-4 hours of homework a night and no life! Trig. is taught by this hispanic guy with an earing. It is very hard to understand him through the accent sometimes, "Ober de demonater." (over the denominator).
4. I'm so excited to be a bratty little girl. I'm good at it too! I have never had a leading role like this one before, I'm kind of nervous but always excited. Look for more info. come October-opening night is Halloween. (complete with a costume contest ect. for the little ones. Maybe even some Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin?

A happy happy b-day today to my sweet little Cameron. You just keep getting cuter and cuter. I miss seeing the play by play of my girls and the rest of the fam.

This Thursday I will be in Provo with Meg's to see her show...maybe some play time could be in the works for everyone?

"Gone...he's never gone!"

2007-07-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

School is male-fyi. So when I said that school was over after summer school I was horribly wrong. I have even more schooling now. Just a quick look at all my academics...the rest of my Spanish course by Sat. (next week we need to order the other half of the course-to be finished before actual school), memorize maybe 100 lit. terms, read "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream," and do the classes for my jogging class. Whew! I shouldn't say that my life has been sucked away by homework, that wouldn't make sense since I have been gone the last two weeks on fun vacations and haven't really started up on the homework yet. Thanks to all my cute family in LV and UT for letting Mom and I and sometimes Dad a place to play and stay. I really loved seeing everyone.
This past week I was meeting people in Thatcher for EFY. There's a hick town if I've ever seen one. And if anyone is offended by me accusing it such, talk to my Thatcherian counselour who agrees. EFY was fantabulous! A completely different experience from last year. This year we got the "Disfunctional Family" award-last year we had spirit. Last year I needed to start some habits like reading my scriptures regularly, a habit I never had-this year because I was that much more prepared for the experience I was able to have 'strengthen my testimony moments' instead of focusing on the basic stuff.
My favorite part of EFY however would have to be when I found out that my friend Bekah Turley died. Wierd and kind of morbid sounding I know. A mom called a girl there who told some people who told us. I found out in an afterlunch class Independence day. My best friend Michelle cried her little face off and we just hugged and mopped up until we had to go to the next class. We had freetime right after that so we got the lowdown on the whole accident-the kids were going to Cali. for a vaca. and the sister was driving and took her eyes off the road. They were in Palm Springs and the wind and some overcreating sent the car into a roll. It was my favorite part because I was able to recieve answer to prayer and really feel comfort as me and Michelle cried, prayed together, and found scriptures that applied as well. I'm thankful for the plan and that me and my fam can be together forever.
One more side note-for 7-7-07 we had 7UP floats ("Make 7 up yours!") and Me and friends went to the midnight of Harry Potter 5. It was kind of dark but way good. There were some things that I missed...some flying brain action...the love thing between Tonks and Lupin...the room of requirement producing lots of pillows...little things that the movie didn't need so they left out. The only thing that I had to open my book at and yell "Wrong!" to was when Sirius dies...doesn't he fall half into the veil? Yeah turning goastlike and getting sucked in wasn't how I pictured it.

Adios to Escuela de la Summer

2007-06-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished summer school today and I refuse to take the finals tommorrow! lol jk I will still get an A if I don't take them so I'm not going tomorrow! Besides all of that, not much is happening except everyone else's summer flings...yea the couple thing is funny in summer school, I mean everyone falls in love there! I had a little love affair with the random pillow that Randy brought but that was pretty much it! I was so tired today cause I stay up late talking with my cuz, Austin, then wake up early and go run a mile and a half for my jogging independent course...and yes Meg's I am going to do my spanish...sometime And notice the shirt...just one of many funny moments that happened at summer school.