Resolve.

9 DAYS!!!! Here's a little inspirational quote for the day:

When President Hugh B Brown spoke to the missionaries in the New England Mission, he told how Pres. David O. McKay was touched when he thought of the missionaries preparing the way for the Second Coming....

"I met with President McKay, Friday of this week, in his room. And he asked me if I would extend to you his love and blessing and his gratitude. And his voice broke as he said, 'Brother Brown, when I think there are 12,000 young men out teaching what you and I taught a half-century ago, and when I think of the accomplishments of these young people, I cannot but believe that God is shortening his work and that the final days are upon us. And that some young people, now living, will be instruments in [the] great work to be done in anticipation of and participation in those final wind-up scenes.' 

I think you men and women are chosen, not only that, I think you were held back from coming into the world until the time when your particular type of young people would be needed.

I call upon you young men and women to resolve irrevocably today that you will continue true to the truth while you live on the earth. First, because you were called and sent here from the other side. Second, because inspiration is coming into your lives as you go about teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ." (New England Prophet [New England States Mission Publication, Jan 1964])

Potential Bomb Threat? From Two Future Missionaries? Oh Our Adventures. :)

So once upon a time Summer and I were just minding our own business, doing homework, you know just being typical college students.  Minus the fact that I'm an art student, and nothing that art students do is typical. :) My final photography project is to take a picture using a "Pinhole Camera".  This "technique" is what was used to take one of the first recorded pictures; what you need is a box, a pinhole, and film.  The box that I used is a huge laundry detergent Tide box that just so happens to be bright orange.  You have to load the film into the box in a dark room and then expose the film for about 10 minutes, depending on the size of the box.

So enough with the background information. :) I went to the temple and the tabernacle here in Logan to take the pictures, and Summer was kind enough to come with me so I wasn't lonely.  I took a couple pictures at the temple and had to climb into my trunk to change the film so it probably looked like Summer was kidnapping me in the first place. :)  We then went to the tabernacle to take a couple and when we got there the view from the back was beautiful! I set the box on the sidewalk and we sat in my car for 10 minutes.  During that time a lady came out of the tabernacle and looked at the box really weirdly, so that made Summer and I crack up because it would be hilarious to see some random tide box on the sidewalk.  Her face was priceless.  :)  We put my box in a different place on the tabernacle grounds and were sitting in my car when two cop cars pulled up....  I thought it was because I was parked on the wrong side of the road....and I panicked because I didn't have my license....

So there we sat as the officer walked up to my window. Panicked. The conversation went something like this:

Officer: Hello, someone called in and reported a suspicious looking box on the Tabernacle premises.  Do you know anything about that?
Me:  Oh yeah, that's my box!!
Officer:  Well...what is the box for?
Me: Oh, it's just for an art project; I'm a student at USU and I'm working on my final photography project right now.  So essentially the box is a camera.
Officer:  You do know that it could be viewed a a potential bomb, right?
Me: Honestly....I didn't think about that at all....

Whoops!  So naive.  Pretty much they said I shouldn't take the box anywhere again because it does look suspicious and they almost called the bomb squad and we were almost arrested.  Two almost Sister missionaries almost arrested for a potential bomb threat.  What is this world coming to?

Hahahahaha it has given us a great laugh though.  Good times. :D

 Yep, just being shut in my own trunk. :)    

The Suspicious Tide Box :)

To Do's.

There is so much to do and so little time!! But I am so darn excited for the next few weeks and the next 18 months for that matter. :)  Here's the official picture from my official church missionary page.....

So there you have it! 30 days and counting. I was talking to one of my friends before he left in January and he said, "Kristen, just you wait.  Right now it seems like forever away, but you'll get to April, have a month left and think to yourself, 'Where in the world has all the time gone?!'  So just be grateful you have today."  So I've tried to do that. And I am super grateful for today, no matter how daunting and stressful it looks, it will work out.  I loved in General Conference this weekend when Elder Andersen said something to the effect of, "Faith will overcome doubt, and miracles will come." 

Aaand here's to 20 days left of school.  6 projects, 2 tests, 1 farewell talk, and lotsss of preparation.  And lots more prayer. :)

Time Flies When You're Having Fun.

Boy does time flyyy!! March was pretty much a complete blur.  And now it's April.  And I leave in 5 weeks.  One month and one week.  What in the world?!

Just a little March time lapse for ya:
 

The lovely 19th Birthday :) 

Family vacation to New Mexico

Dinner with a few marvelous friends!

The great chefs of 404 :D

Decorating the beautiful eggs of Easter

Family Easter Egg Hunt

And on a bittersweet note, one of my best friends and greatest roomie of all time leaves on Wednesday. Arcadia is super lucky to be getting such an incredible sister. She will do great things! Love you my Stina. :D See you in a month!

Aaand Happy Easter to you all! We had a great time at the Tuft household. We always do, but it was especially fun this year because we took a little journey back to when we were little and actually wanted to do Easter Egg Hunts....but this time it was with headlamps in the dark. And it was so great.  We had a blast!!

As I was reading through the Easter Story this year, the scripture Matthew 28:6 caught my attention more than normal:

He is not here: for he is risen!

I am so grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through him, we can repent of our sins and live with our Heavenly Father again.  I find peace in knowing that he loves me that much, that he would atone for my sins, die a most excruciating death, and rose again.  He is Risen!