Surprise!

Didn't think that Christmas came early did you?

Did you all see my beautiful blog? It's GORGEOUS! I just wanted to tell everyone a little about the updates and also give some great news.

First about the blog:

On the left you'll see a little "Follow by Email" Box. This is just in case you want to know when I update my blog. This is completely optional and perhaps useful. I suppose it just depends on how dependent you are on me to make you day better :) kidding. So if you're interested in doing that, it's right over here <<<

We also have a little facebook "share" button on the left which basically I have just because I want to share my own pages myself (sort of narcissistic I know). But, just in case any of you wanted to share, feel free to click away!

I'm sort of copying my cousin Markie's blog in that she has made a list of goals for the next 999 days. I did the same thing (in a way) except I have decreased the amount of days to 100 (the number of days I have until I leave Mexico) and decreased the number of goals to 25. Sound good? So if you wanted to check out my goals than click on the "100 Days" tab at the top of the page. I'll be sure to update and cross of things as I accomplish them. Fun huh?

Last blog news: I've changed the settings so anyone can reply to posts (even anonymously is you would like). You don't need to have an account or anything! So, if you would like to reply to a post, feel free!

That's basically it as far as the blog goes. Now onto the big news.

I'M GOING TO CHINA IN FEBRUARY!!!

Well, technically it's late January/early February but February just sounded better. I'm going with the same program that I'm currently working with, just to a different country. I'm completely excited and I really hope that everything works out so I'm able to go. I was just accepted to the program today and I was so excited I wanted to share it with all of you.

I'm not sure what city I'm going to or anything, I'll find all of that out later. I'm really excited for this unique and new opportunity. I absolutely love what I'm doing now and I'm excited to continue to serve those around me and get to know a completely new culture and some new, but probably equally amazing teachers.

I'm so blessed! Sometimes, I look around at my life and I realize how much my Heavenly Father loves me and wants me to be happy. He puts experiences in my life to make me a better person. This journey has definitely not been easy, but I have learned and loved every second of it. I am so blessed to have the gospel in my life. It's been such a steady foundation in my life- which is necessary to have in this incredibly rocky world of ours!

I know that right now this is where I need to be. I have people around me that bless my life in so many ways! I have seen so many miracles in this short amount of time. For example- on our way from Veracruz to Cordoba (the halfway mark between Veracruz and Tehuacan), there were only 5 seats left on the bus before we purchased our tickets. The next bus after that wouldn't be for a few hours. We were so blessed to be able to snag those last 5 tickets. Then again from Cordoba to Tehuacan there was only 5 seats left on the bus before we bought our tickets. WE ARE SO BLESSED! If we hadn't have caught those buses, we would have easily taken us 5 more hours. But, God knew how much we needed to get those buses so he made it possible! I suppose a few extra hours in a bus station isn't too bad, but God knew that we were already stressed and tired and could really use a break. How amazing is that?!?

I know that He cares about each and every one of our lives. There are so many tender mercies in our lives that perhaps we won't see if we aren't looking closely. Life is too precious to be looked at through pessimistic eyes.

I want everyone to know of my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the love that He and our Heavenly Father has for us. They know of our strengths, weaknesses, joys, and hardships. They want so badly to bless and help us through this difficult life.

So, look for all the tender mercies in your life! I promise you'll find SO MANY if you look hard enough!