this is a true story of a minor heart attack i had:
the other day, i was writing in my journal and stopped mid-sentence, almost dropped my pen, saw my jaw hit the ground, and felt my heart skip a beat as i realized...
it's already been six months.
(-->correction: i started this post weeks ago but couldn't bring myself to actually face the truth. and it has now been over seven months. and yes, i am still being evasive about it.)
but i feel like this transpiration reasonably calls for a mission reference.
not only that, but today is Pioneer Day!
...
i may or may not have spent my mission in a pioneer dress. let's just say, i love today.
my love for our heritage has grown immensely.
i celebrated last Pioneer Day with the San Diego East Stake. there was the traditional butter shaking, quilt-tying, etc, but the beeeeest was how the spanish branch was incorporated in the festivities...
HOMEMADE TORTILLAS.
i'm grounding corn and hermana garcia's smile is warming the universe : )
1816 flintlock musket and accompanying gear.
pausing in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to grab some equipment.
dressing up my cousins as adorable soldiers or laundresses.
i always wanted to take pictures of all the things we did in our pioneer dresses...we seriously lived in those things! we cooked in them,
cleaned in them,
slept in them,
laid sick in them,
ate in them,
planned in them,
had parties in them,
panned for gold,
climbed roofs,
rode (toy) horses,
and one time i even fixed a tire
in pioneer garb.
it was fun.
cleaned in them,
slept in them,
laid sick in them,
ate in them,
planned in them,
had parties in them,
panned for gold,
climbed roofs,
rode (toy) horses,
and one time i even fixed a tire
in pioneer garb.
it was fun.
and we may have switched dresses quite frequently, so here's a little show (although in these pictures i'm not doing anything interesting at all. boo.):
_______________
in honor of the whole horrifying seven month ordeal, here are a few things i will always and forever more be grateful for:
gorrrrrrrgeous san diego
(early morning hiking)
doing my morning studies from the battalion. : )
just seals, chillin, no big.
rainstorms that leave me lookin like this but feeling SO ALIVE.
mexico. period. culture. spanish. latinos.
legit taco tuesday.
mornings like this...studying the gospel and loving my life!
aaaaw, special little things from home.
unbelievably funny times...
clear vision, purpose and everything.
the radiant temple.
being a missionary in such an exquisite place as a tool for the elect that are guided there.
serving los lamanitas y nefitas!
preaching the restored gospel of jesus christ. period.
BEST. TIME. OF. MY. LIFE.
__________
all that was grand and great and seriously the best. but, ah, what i miss the most isn't the amazing food, the beach or the pioneer dress(es).
it's the people.
seeing a branch grow from so few to so many in such a short time!
what's weird is that i still feel so close to them... and that's because they made such an impact on my life.
i was blessed to meet so many modern-day pioneers--people who made changes, left the past behind, and marched forward with faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
they inspired me then, they inspire me now, and they will always inspire me.
when i think about pioneers, i don't only think about my mission and those dresses and the mormon battalion with the 1916 flintlock musket and all that goodness...nor do i stop at thinking about my pioneer ancestors who sacrificed so i could have the freedoms, blessings and privileges that i have today.
i think about the pioneers from my mission.
pioneers who changed their lives and gave everything to the Lord...and who inspired me to do the same. their sacrifices live on in my mind and in my life because they helped me become who i am today.
so when i honor pioneers, i have so. much. and so many people to be grateful for.
(kinda cheesey family fotos: haha.)
Pioneers
They cut desire into short lengths
And fed it to the hungry fires of courage.
Long after -- when the flames had died --
Molten Gold gleamed in the ashes.
They gathered it into bruised palms
And handed it to their children
And their children's children. Forever.
They cut desire into short lengths
And fed it to the hungry fires of courage.
Long after -- when the flames had died --
Molten Gold gleamed in the ashes.
They gathered it into bruised palms
And handed it to their children
And their children's children. Forever.
-Vilate Raile
_____________
"The path of the modern-day pioneer may look different, but it is no less difficult, presenting hardships and requiring sacrifice, perseverance, and faith."
-President Monson ("Pioneers All")
-President Monson ("Pioneers All")
1 comment:
I adore paper lanterns! We must do them on your visit to Canada.
Love hearing about all your adventures this summer! And seeing the photos :)
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