I hope they call me on a mission!

Alright everyone, this isn't going to be one long text post as it usually is!!

If you would like to see a video of me talking about my mission preparation, please follow this link (I promise that Vimeo is safe!).

I made the video yesterday! I apologize if I come off as awkward, haha.

Originally, I was going to keep quiet about the evaluation and everything, but I have a strong feeling that I should post this video. Not sure why, but here goes!

Thanks for reading/watching, come back soon! :D

 

https://vimeo.com/87742977

"This is like one big object lesson!"

Yesterday, my really close friend Arianna and I went on a hike.

We climbed Thunderbird Mountain, around where the new Phoenix Temple is being built!

Now. If you know me, you know I have been anti-outdoors for most of my life. I tend to not like being outside, I don't like getting dirty or sweaty, I don't enjoy the bugs that are found often in the outdoors.

SO you can imagine my surprise, as I found myself agreeing to go hiking with her. I absolutely adore Arianna, so my motivation to go was so that I could get some time with her, and the fact that we would be going to see the Phoenix Temple construction sight!

It was such a beautiful day. We started climbing at about 5:30, around sunset (there we too many clouds, though, so we will be hiking another day to see it!). There was a slight breeze, so that was nice. There weren't many people, so nobody was really around to see me attempt to hike for the first time.

Let me just say, I am totally out of shape. Within the first 10 minutes, I was breathing heavy.
Within the first 30 minutes, I legit stopped in mid sentence and said "I think I'm going to vomit, yo."

Arianna kept telling me though, I'm strong, and that it'll be so worth it once we reach the top. It will be worth all the effort to just, be on top of that mountain and see the beauty of everything from high up.

There was a point where I stopped, looked up at the sky, and yelled a prayer.

''HEAVENLY FATHER PLEASE GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO FINISH CLIMBING THIS MOUNTAIN AND HELP US TO BE SAFE. PLEASE. HELP. I SAY THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, AMEN."

Suddenly, I kid you not, there was a strong breeze. I felt the pain in my legs lessen, and I knew Heavenly Father was answering my prayer, right then and there.

So guess what happened next?

 

We made it to the top, and let me just tell you, it was absolutely, 100% worth it.

Being on the top of that mountain, I felt such a sudden rush of peace rush over me. Everything was so silent, calm, and serene. All the pain in my legs disappeared as if it had never been there in the first place.
Looking around, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Arizona.

 

Arianna and I have such an amazing bond, and she is my favorite person to discuss the gospel with. While we were hiking, we talked about the many blessings that come from having faith in our Heavenly Father, and enduring to the end.

 

I compared this hike to when I decided to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: The beginning was rough. I knew at the beginning that the decision would be worth the end result, but it didn't mean that the journey to that point would be easy. I knew going into it how hard it would be, but I knew it would all be worth the trials and struggles I would face.

This hike was not only good exercise; it was such a spiritual experience that I got to share with one of my best friends. I was able to reflect on how much this church has changed and blessed my life. Hearing Arianna's testimony, and how much she loves this church, gives me so much strength.

In my prayers, before I went to bed, I thanked our Heavenly Father for this beautiful place we get to live in. I thanked Him for giving me the strength to be able to reach the top of that mountain, and truly realize the beauty of what's around me.

I think a lot of people in life don't take the time to truly look around and see the glory of what is directly in front of us. I'm so thankful for this earth we've been given to live on, I'm thankful for the gospel that I am living, I'm thankful for Arianna and for her strength and support.

It's interesting, one of the first things I said on the hike was "This is like one big object lesson!"

It really was (:

OH AND LOOK THE TEMPLE IS BEAUTIFUL EVEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

 

My goodness I can't wait to see it completed!

Thanks for reading! Come back soon! (:

"Why do you have a Pop-Tart box?"

I was cleaning out a bunch of my drawers the other day, and I had a bunch of the things you would typically find in a dresser drawer: papers, clothes, pens, pictures, dust, dust, and more dust.

Then, I came across something really odd...

I looked at it for a while, questioning myself, "Alexis, what sort of sentimental value does this generic brand of Pop-Tarts box have to you?"

THEN I turned it over, and I realized why I had kept it.

Every year, the SMHS choir/orchestra/band department go on a California trip. There are performances, classes, and on the last day we go to Disneyland!

Well, I was lucky enough to be able to spend the entire day with my best friend, Andrew, in Disneyland and California Adventures!

That morning, we had gotten fast passes for Space Mountain (because, as many of you know, that is the worst wait line EVER). We got the passes around noon, and our passes told us to come back between 7:30-8:30.

So we had a lot of fun, we met the Dapper Dans, rode a good majority of the rides, took lots of pictures, Andrew bought me my first Dole Whip, all was right with the world!

Then at about 7:45pm, we headed over to Space Mountain.

While we were waiting in line, just before we boarded, Andrew turns to me and says "Hey, do you know at which point they take the picture on here?"
Well, I mean, yeah, of course I did because I don't even know how many times I have been on this ride!
So I tell him yes, and he says "Okay, tell me right before the picture is taken, okay?"
I was like yeah, alright sure, thinking he just wanted to make a funny pose on time or whatever.

We sit in the little rocket, and we are putting our stuff away in the little pouches, and I look over at Andrew and he was pulling a box of generic Pop-Tarts out of his backpack.
I asked him "Why do you have a Pop-Tart box?"
He didn't answer me, and I didn't even think twice about it.

The ride starts, it's super fast and all, I yell "POSE!" at the end, and the ride sadly came to an end.

Being the person that I am, of course I posed. I was super curious to see what Andrew had done, so I ran ahead of him to see the picture. He was like "Alexis! No, don't run!" (what why not rude).

I get to the picture area, and there's a crowd around a certain picture, and I was really confused. Then some dude turns around, looks at Andrew and I, and says "DUDE did you ask her?"
Andrew said "Yes, now can she please see the picture?"

And this is what I saw:

Needless to say, I said yes, and might've cried a little. Seriously the greatest surprise EVER.
Asking me to prom, in Disneyland?
A+, 5/5 would recommend.

Andrew is currently in the Mexico MTC. He has been in there a week now, and will be there for a total of 6 weeks. He will then head to Little Rock, Arkansas, to serve the rest of his 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As much as I miss him, I am also super happy for him, and so proud. I know how hard he's worked to get to this point! He has been such an amazing example to me, and those around him.

Here's a link to his blog!
http://littlerockspanishspeaker.blogspot.com/

Finding the Pop-Tart box, seriously made my week.
Just thought I'd share. (:

Thanks for reading! Come back soon!

"The days are long, but the years are short."

I really love this quote. I know that I am one of those people that looks ahead and stresses about the future and doesn't always enjoy the things that are happening *right now*.

So, I suppose that is the whole purpose of this blog. To document my life, and to be able to reflect on the events that are happening. Honestly, there are so many things that happened during high school that I told myself "I will always remember this feeling!". Yeah, guess what? I don't really remember that much, and I've only just graduated about a year ago!

I am 18 years old, and there is so much happening in my life. There is so much change, day to day, week to week.

For a lot of people, when they look at their lives, it all seems to be moving slowly and sometimes it feels like the days are never-ending.

For me, I do that thing where I'll say "Oh yeah! Remember freshman year when this-and-that happened? WAIT THAT WAS ALMOST 5 YEARS AGO WHAT?!" (actual reaction I have in these moments).

So.
The days ARE long.
BUT the years, themselves, are short.

I know starting a blog may not seem like a worthy time investment right now, but I know in 1 year I will thank myself for doing this. That's just, how I am! (:

I should probably introduce myself now...

My name is Alexis, I'm 18 years old and currently residing in Arizona.

I love cinema, literature, television, music, pop culture in general really.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (I was baptized just over 5 months ago!). I am preparing myself to serve the Lord, and go on an 18 month mission to wherever I am called. Keep me in your prayers, there is quite a bit I have to do to prepare to serve!
There is a basic summary of me. As I continue writing, my story will be told, and I'm just really loving life right now!

I may post a few frustrations here or there, but this blog is not intended for me to be negative and sad. In fact, I'll just, leave this here to close my first post...

 

 

Thanks for reading! Come back soon! :D