Rejoice

I'm going to be completely honest:
I am deliriously happy.

I have endured a really difficult four months since I got my mission call. This semester I went to school full time and worked full time.  I got the worst grades ever in my school career.  I dealt with a couple heartbreaks that I kept under wraps from a lot of people.  I lost a lot of sleep. After losing my car mid-semester, I have hardly any money saved for my mission.  In a little over a month, I will leave behind all of my friends and family for a year and a half to get rejected and hated, to discover even more of my weaknesses, and to feel frequently inadequate.

I am so incredibly, undeniably, happy. Truly!

A friend once pointed out to me that if scrambled my name spells, "Rejoyce." I don't think my parents ever realized that when they named me.  Despite all the challenges I've dealt with this semester, I cannot help but smile constantly and feel blessed.  I finally understand my youth and innocence, and instead of feeling too old, I know I am not yet grown up.

For me, a time without challenges can elicit complacency that stunts my growth. Heavenly Father knows that I need to be strong and courageous when I report, because He needs strong and courageous servants to represent Him and to teach about His Son.

Every one of those trials has a blessing attached to it. I still come home from every shift thinking that I have the greatest job. Not only have my heartbreaks allowed me to be single and still eligible for the mission (haha), but I will also have the chance to meet that right man later, when I am more the person I want to be. The good experiences will far outnumber the bad. I will bless lives and learn and grow. I will come home a better person than when I left.

One of my favorite passages of scripture is Alma 26 in the Book of Mormon. The missionaries have faced trial after trial and suffered defeat many times. But Ammon starts the chapter by saying, "How great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?" He lists all the blessings that have come throughout that time.  He praises the Lord and is overcome with joy for all the good that has happened. Then his brother Aaron scolds him, telling him he's getting carried away and is boasting. Ammon gives a memorable reply:

"I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things...therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?"

He says that no natural man knows how great God's mercy is and how much He blesses His children. In order to recognize God's hand, a person must repent, exercise faith, do good works, and pray unceasingly. I've done a lot of that this semester, and that's why I have the same perspective as Ammon.

I feel that there never was a girl that had as great a reason to rejoice as I, and my joy is carried away unto boasting unto God for He has all power, wisdom, and understanding, He comprehends everything, and He is merciful (v.35).  Having faith in him has brought me joy because I've let Him lead me, and His direction has brought me greater happiness than I could have found for myself. Struggling has helped me draw closer to my Savior.

Christmas is a week away, and all month I have been celebrating. I rejoice in the Savior who came to Earth and lived the perfect life.  So, even if your Christmas season has crappy days and long nights, don't forget to rejoice. Because God has it all figured out for you.

The Raccoon Stamp

Did you ever have an experience with a child at school (or sibling) who was jealous of a toy you had, and he/she did everything possible to destroy that toy or get it taken away from you? He/she may have even been clever enough to talk you out of what you wanted, making your prize look worthless so you would give it up, and the child would then triumphantly claim it for himself/herself. I remember a time at a birthday party when we got to choose an ink stamp to take home. I really wanted the stamp with the princess on it because she was my favorite, but the other kid wanted his "girlfriend" to have it (we were like, five) and told me the princess was dumb; the raccoon stamp would be cooler. So I chose the raccoon stamp instead, and the other girl took the princess stamp. It wasn’t until later that I realized his trick. Every time I saw that raccoon stamp, I regretted my mistake. 

Why do Latter-day Saints take such care to follow specific rules about our bodies, such as modesty, the Word of Wisdom (no drugs, alcohol, etc), guidelines for tattoos and piercings, and chastity before marriage? We believe our body is a temple that houses our sacred, royal spirits inside, and to profane the temple is disrespectful. But I think of the principle behind the practice at its deeper meaning: These bodies aren’t ours. Heavenly Father gave us our physical bodies as a gift so we could experience mortality and learn to be like Him, and Christ suffered so we can all be resurrected someday. Our bodies are rentals, and we prove our worthiness to keep them for eternity by being obedient to God’s commandments.

We can use that same principle to argue pornography. I have a strong opinion about objectifying women (read my friend Jenna’s recent blog post about it). Using the principle that these bodies are not our personal belongings to do whatever with them that we want, then women do not belong to men to do whatever they want with them, and vice versa. We are not men’s property to be objectified, degraded, and violated. Likewise, men are not pieces of meat to be worshipped or criticized without regard to the person underneath. I am so tired of how mainstream sex has become and how "normal" it is to make jokes about bodies and their sexual purposes, especially outside of marriage. 

Like the boy with the stamp, Satan, known as the Devil, does not have a body like all of us on Earth. Thus, he will do anything to get us to ruin our body: degrade it, trash it, objectify it, criticize it, and ultimately lose the ability to keep it. My professor said to us this week, “Sometimes I look in the mirror and hear the Adversary whisper in my hear, ‘My, Mary, you sure have a chubby body.’ I respond, ‘Well at least I’ve got one!’”

Tonight I was listening to Elaine Dalton’s talk “Guardians of Virtue” from LDS General Conference last weekend, and I am hurt that some of my friends, particularly men, who likely heard the talk have already reverted back to the world’s ways of degrading women to the status of a mere object.  “A Priesthood holder is virtuous. Virtuous behavior implies that you have pure thoughts and clean actions. Virtue is a principle of godliness. It is akin to holiness.”  

Is it really so bad to talk about these kinds of things on a blog? Sure, they may sound preachy and serious, but this is a real world situation, and the Devil would want us to trivialize these matters. Respect the body you have been given, and respect the men and women around you.

Feel free to share the link if you agree. 

Wings in Nashville

With shaking hands, I pulled the white envelope out from underneath the pile of ads in my mail box. I couldn't believe it was here.  This moment was so long-anticipated that the full impact of it never really hit me. (Even now it is still surreal.) I climbed into my car with shaky hands, set the envelope on the passenger seat, texted my family that it had come, and turned off my phone.

In what seemed like an eternity, I drove the two miles to the temple, singing to myself along the way to calm my nerves after sitting at the same traffic light for three rounds. Of all days, why did traffic have to be terrible NOW? It took every ounce of effort to be patient. Maybe the envelope next to me would call me to a place where there isn't a temple for hundreds of miles. Who was I to complain about an extra 10 minutes?

With measured effort I walked up the steps to the temple with my call in hand, singing "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go, Dear Lord" softly, and I sat down by the fountain. A man eyed my big white envelope as he walked by, knowing exactly what I was about to do, but otherwise I was alone. I said a prayer, then I carefully opened the envelope, shut my eyes tight, and pulled out the manila letter.

"Dear Sister Nordstrom:"

Oh my goodness.

"You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

I stopped there, crying with joy. That was the most important line. It didn't matter where I was called, when I would go, in what language I would preach. That information seemed so arbitrary (although I knew that my call was anything but random).

"You are assigned to labor in the Tennessee Nashville Mission."

I laughed out loud, and a fresh batch of tears began streaming down my cheeks. It's perfect! As soon as I read that, I had the strangest sensation. My call assignment was FAMILIAR. It was not some foreign, strange call, but rather it felt as if I was being reminded of something I already knew.

"It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language."

I didn't even notice those details until I read it to myself again later. The next few paragraphs stated that I was considered worthy to represent the Lord, that "[my] purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end."

Second-most important line in the letter? "Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children."

Then I stared at the signature of the letter for a full minute. Thomas S. Monson. The Prophet of the world, The Presiding High Priest, The Seer and The Revelator, the Spokesman of God, our closest link on Earth to the Savior, had personally signed the paper I held in my hand.

I have five months to prepare for this new adventure. Even then I will still feel unready for the responsibilities that lie ahead. I could not be more excited. I know that the church I belong to brings greater happiness than any human on this earth will ever find elsewhere. I am a member of Christ's church, and I can't wait to share His message with others. I have already begun praying every night that those I meet will have their hearts softened and prepared so the Holy Spirit can teach them through me, so they can receive the knowledge, wisdom, and joy that over 14 million people in the world already have.

Soon I will spread my wings in Nashville. =)

Everyone Needs a Mom

This weekend I had the privilege of having mom come stay with me for a while in Provo. Having her here has revealed many aspects of my life that lead me to the conclusion that, frankly, I need my mom.

As soon as she arrived (10pm) she started cleaning my place like nobody's business. She could not go to bed with dirty dishes in my sink so, yes, we were scrubbing dishes at midnight. This morning as we were getting ready she mentioned that she couldn't find my body wash in my shower.

"It's in there, I use it every day! It's the coconut stuff right on the caddy below the shower head," I reassured her as we left for Wal-Mart, "You can't miss it. But I'm nearly out; I need to pick up some more today anyway."

When we got home from Wal-Mart, she was determined to find my body wash. She went into the bathroom and retrieved it, "Is this what you were using?" She held it up.

"Yeah, see? The coconut body wash."

"Rycee, this is shampoo."

Sure enough, in hard-to-miss black font was clearly printed, "SHAMPOO. Family size." The worst part was that the bottle was almost gone! How did I miss that?? For two months, I have been washing my body with shampoo.

Recovering quickly, I pulled out the new body wash I bought today and said, "It's okay, I just bought a new bottle!"

Mom took it from me, and looked at it. "No, you didn't."

It was conditioner.

So......since my mother has been here I have learned:
1. How to sew a blind locking stitch.
2. Substituting Suave shampoo for body wash works great.
3. Baking soda + vinegar = excellent drain cleaner.
4. The yellow can of Raid smells better than the others.
5. My store-bought fiber smoothie tastes good only to me.
6. I still don't have body wash.

XXI

I couldn't have imagined a better way to celebrate turning 21. My sisters and I drove up to Provo, my Mom met us there, and the four of us went to Stadium of Fire to hear Brad Paisley.

The concert was amazing...with the best fireworks.

Sunday night was my birthday party up in Provo Canyon!

Everyone sang happy birthday....

....then my sisters did this

They got me good....I had blue boogers for two days. My sisters are SO lucky that I'm good natured about these things, or they would have been in big trouble. It did make things awkward when friends showed up later, not knowing what had happened, and wondered why I had blue eyebrows and a blue nose. I just told them I was still learning how to eat birthday cake, even at 21.

The following week, I ran my first half marathon! It was the Hobbler Half in Springville, a beautiful course along Hobble Creek. Verdict: half marathons rock. I can't wait to run another!

Well, here is the "big announcement" I promised: I'm going on an 18-month mission for my church! I never planned on going, except when I was a little girl and was convinced I would serve a mission in Italy. Honestly I had only chosen Italy because it was the easiest country to find on my globe since it's shaped like a boot.
Well, this May I had an epiphany at church that I wanted to serve a mission! My papers will hopefully be done in a few weeks. I'm so excited! I know that my Heavenly Father knows me better than I know myself, so wherever I am called will be right. How crazy to think that in just a month or so, the brethren will be looking at my name and my picture, and they will receive inspiration from the Lord on where to send me!

California and New Harmony Trip

I spent two much-needed weeks in California to ring in my big 21st. It was paradise. I stayed with Rikki for the first week, watching her house while she was at work. I spent the days tanning at the pool, running circles around Ladera Ranch, walking Rikki's adorable puppy, Leia, snuggling with her cat, KiKi (and consequently breaking out in hives and having sneezing fits), and parading around in these, my first birthday present:

I've always hated shopping and I suppose that makes me a bit unfeminine, but these shoes compensate for it. I hope I marry someone tall so I can wear adorable heels like these all the time.

It's because of this hot lady here

that I didn't have a single boring moment during my vacation in California.

We played cribbage, danced Kinect, ate Sushi, 

pigged out on Mexican food, "got crabs" at Joe's Crab Shack (I love Brian's face in this picture),

golfed,

watched Brian play softball,

bathed Leia,

and took a road trip down to Imperial beach for the day.

 

 I went kayaking with my Dad in Oceanside and got sunburned, but it was SO fun! We pedaled out to the buoy and I fell in love with the seals.

My best friend Becca was getting married that first weekend, which was the reason I planned my trip to Cali. It was exciting to be a maid of honor for the first time. It was a beautiful wedding at the Redlands temple, followed by a reception in her family's backyard in Wrightwood. I can't believe she's married!  Becca and Andrew are such a beautiful couple.

 

 The following week I stayed closer to the beach with Randi and my cousins. We ran and biked to the ocean, basked in the sun, got pedicures, and went to an Angel's game. 

Unfortunately, my frolicking in California couldn't last forever; luckily, we had some pretty fun stuff lined up. Like a family reunion in New Harmony!! I may be the shortest sister in the family, but I still wasn't short enough for the cramped spot I had in the back seat of the TEENY TINY rental car we drove to Utah. The road trip was made more bearable by listening to Harry Potter on CD in anticipation for the upcoming movie. (We are all Harry Potter geeks, through and through.)

Aunt Deb and Uncle Gary own a gorgeous ranch in Southern Utah, and they spent a lot of time teaching us to ride horses! I won't put up pictures, because I discovered later that my posture was DISGUSTING, and that's just embarrassing. My horse, Chexy, totally took advantage of my sweetness and it was an adventure to say the least trying to steer her around. I guess I have to learn to be more demanding and in-control.

Stay tuned for the rest of my summer adventures....and an exciting announcement!

16 pictures, 20 years

I accidentally deleted my previous post about my Stomach Saga, so if you missed out on the toilet humor, I'm sorry. Anyway, I felt a void since I only have one post this year. The 30-day picture challenge: one of the most innovative journal ideas.  Pictures capture so much more of a person's essence. BUT I don't believe in posting every single day for 30 days. Nor do I want to use all 30. So since 16 is my favorite number, here are 16 pictures of my 20 years of life.

#1: A Picture of Yourself with 15 Facts. 

1. I can say "Shut up and Kiss me" in 21 languages....And counting. Anyone want to teach me Danish, Hindi, or Thai? 

2. I have an acute sense of smell. I'm talking abnormally strong. 

3. By age 4, I was reading chapter books and reciting the 50 United States in alphabetical order.

4. I was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 8...with the chicken pox.

5. I eat popcorn with chopsticks so I don't get butter all over my fingers.

6. I weed out potential suitors based on whether or not they can spell "definitely" correctly.  

7. I have a pink guitar named after Taylor Swift.  

8.  My name comes partly from my Welsh great-great grandfather, whose name was Ricy Davis Jones.

9. Professions I seriously considered pursuing throughout my life: best-selling author, professional DJ, veterinarian, astronaut, schoolteacher, WNBA basketball star, professional singer, brain surgeon, and mental health counselor. I'm sticking with the last one. 

10. I hate shopping.

11. I'm allergic to cats, walnuts, mosquitos, fleas, and tics. And occasionally boys. 

12. I like rapping (Eminem, Nicki Minaj), especially with my sister. 

13. I love to sing. 

14. The clothes in my closet are color-coded and categorized, and they all face the same way. 

15. I drive a Toyota 4Runner named "Eileen" because her alignment is off and she "leans."

#2: A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest

"Sweet Pea and Baby-head"

Just finding a picture is evidence enough that my sister Randi and I have spent a LOT of time together. I had over 70 pictures to choose from! She is sooo smart, beautiful, and has such a cheerful countenance. Sure, we argued a lot growing up, but we know we can't live without each other. She understands all I've been through because she went through it too. She is honest with me and I know we will always be best friends. I love my sister!


#3: A Picture of Your Favorite Night

It's obviously impossible to pick one favorite night of my whole life, so I chose one of my most recent favorites. On our last night in Sweden, after dinner we decided to sing for the Helgesson family as a little thank you. Two separate cultures came together, and Anna (in the picture) and I discovered that we both knew America's "Horse with No Name." Music binds people together, and I will always hold a special place in my heart for the Helgessons. (Read about that adventure here). 

#4: A Picture of a Person You'd Love to Trade Places with for a Day

Jamie Lee Curtis is fantastic, but who I want to trade places with is Dr. Tess Coleman from Freaky Friday. She has my dream job: Psychologist, counselor, mom, and best-selling author! I love her office, her clients, and especially the store scene when she's talking through her ear-piece to her client and the cook behind the counter thought the compliments were for her. Mental health counselors truly make the world a better place. I can't wait to be there. 

#5: A Picture that Makes You Laugh

I literally had to get up and pee after looking for this one, I was laughing so hard. I found many hilarious pictures but this is, hands-down, the winner:

I somehow got a hold of my dad's swim cap, goggles, and jock strap. I know I will be blackmailed with this picture for life, but somehow, I'm okay with that.


#6: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

No one messes with Becca and I. We're tough. We go shopping dressed like Kickboxing Lunatics and WE DON'T CARE. Becca and I lived together my first two years of college. We have been through SO much, and we've stayed best friends through it all. Becca is the kind of person everyone goes to for advice and comfort. Now she's getting married and I get to be her maid of honor!!


#7: A picture of the person you do the craziest things with

We began as folder partners in Women's Chorus, and before you knew it we were flying to London together! I have experienced some of the best adventures of my life with Christiana. She is a blast; I couldn't have had a better roommate in Europe! Even now, we still try to find time to have adventures, and it's always a party.

#8: A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

I LOVE my mom. She is my absolute best friend on this planet. Not a day goes by that I don't talk to her or at least think of her. She is my rock, my shining star, and my example. She has taught me so many important lessons, like how life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. She is one of the most compassionate and selfless people I have ever known.


#9: A picture of someone who inspires you

When I grow up, I want to be just like my sister Rikki. She is one of the most intelligent people I know, both career-wise and also with street smarts. She is beautiful--no GORGEOUS, athletic, musically talented, funny, dependable, and caring. She's even better at picking out clothes for me than I am. Whenever I consider settling for average, I remember her shoes I want to fill (and quite literally--she has the cutest shoes ever!!) and I aim higher.  Rikkiann has encouraged me more than anybody to spread my wings and live life.


#10: A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

This is Venice, Italy. I'm going there someday. Other than my lifelong obsession with Italia, I would love to go to one of the world's centers of liberal and performing arts....and the best food. And I'd definitely spend lots of time in Italy's capital too, to see the Vatican and the Rome Temple.


#11. A picture of something you wish you were better at

I never went through the ballerina stage as a young girl. I was raised to like sports, and I spent my childhood roller blading, climbing trees, and scraping my knees. I really wish I could dance. I've taken ballet at BYU and I'm okay. But I'm certainly not graceful.


#12: A picture of something that means a lot to you

I love singing. I love being in choir. I really wish that there was a greater appreciation for choral music. I think the reason it is hard for people to enjoy choir is because they actually have to think at concerts. Rather than just have everything wash over them, they have to pay attention to the harmonies, the lyrics, and the tone of each piece. Music is NOT about entertaining. It can provide joy, but the real purpose of music is to touch hearts.


#13: A picture of yourself and a family member

We used to look so much alike when we were younger that we referred to each other as Siamese twins. I still call Lauren my Siam, and I love being at college with her. I have so many fond memories of our sleepovers, conversations, and games. Lauren always helps me remember the big picture of things when I start to get too detail-oriented. I also love her family...Craig is the older brother I never had and I talk to him about SO MUCH. Eric and Ben are so fun to hang out with, and Evan is not so little anymore--he's a bundle of energy!

#14: A picture of someone you miss

My dad. I really miss my dad.

#15: A picture of something you're afraid of

Yeah, spiders and worms are pretty awful, but my biggest fear is actually earthquakes. When one begins, I have a complete panic attack. I break out in a cold sweat, huddle on the ground, and often start crying. It's weird admitting this because it seems so silly, but there's no humor to be found when the very ground you walk on every day--maybe the only constant think in your life--is suddenly shaking beneath you. I feel like ten seconds could turn my life into utter devastation, and I couldn't do anything about it. You can kill spiders or step over worms, but there's no getting out of an earthquake. 

#16: A picture of you when you were little

This was the epitome of me as a kid. I'd pull up the clothes hamper and prop my books on it and read. I'd sit on the toilet for hours just because it was so fun. My mom would always knock on the door and ask, "Are you okay in there, Jo-Girl?" "Yeah, Mom! I'm just reading 'I Wish That I Had Duck Feet.'"

Resolve to BE

I went to California for 10 days over Christmas break. I had hoped to get warm sunshine, a tan, and an escape from the Utah ice chest.
It rained most of the time. (Just my luck)
Provo greeted me with frigid weather and lots of snow. Before winter semester began I spent a few hours going through old journals. For nine years, I have faithfully made New Year's resolutions; it's hilarious to read my teenage goals. I'm kind of embarrassed to share some of these but hey, no one reads blogs anyway, right?

2004 (Age 13): #3. Have a new posture! Remember: confidence = sexy  (Yes, I really wrote that.)
                         There are 6 or 7 other resolutions about having more fun and enjoying life. I must have been a stiff or something......

2005: #6. Eat no popcorn. (Wow, that must have been a depressing year....)
          #28. Do not kiss (That wasn't a problem as I didn't have my first kiss for another two and a half years. What kind of person resolves NOT to kiss anyway??)
          #39. Do not be so inquisitive (My mom will appreciate that one)
          
2006: #4 Be a bag of sunshine!! (Be careful what you wish for.)
          #12. Avoid procrastination as I would a spider. (I sure had a way with words)


2007: #13. Eat more vegetables. (REALLY?! How old was I? This was still a problem?)

2008: #9. Eat vegetables. (No comment...)
          #13. SIMPLIFY. (I love this one)
          
Ever make resolutions you know you'll accomplish without a doubt, but you make them just to feel better about yourself?  Like:

2010 #9: "Go to a different country (suckas!!! I AM!!!!)"


Soooooo....what about this year? For 2011, I made a list of all the things I wish were part of my life.  This time, I printed it out on bright pink paper and hung it up on my wall.  Some (lofty) goals:

• Read the Book of Mormon entirely in Spanish
• Run in a half marathon race. 
• Don't get sick once.
• Take the GRE
• Go skiing or snowboarding for the first time
• Bowl a turkey, and bowl at least 200.
• Go on a road trip or use my passport

Basically, I resolved to BE. To live and love life. To do things I've always wanted to do. This year, I'm living like I've never lived before. Besides, I turn 21. Isn't 21 supposed to be the magical year? So how have I done so far? As of this last weekend, I already broke "don't get sick once." But I've already checked off another resolution, so I guess I'm 1 for 2.