Recent news

Not much has been going on since I've opened my call. Well, I have had many people congratulate me and tell me all about missions and the such. Its really fun! Hahaha!

Work is fun. We got a new girl in about a couple of weeks ago. She seems really cool and she gave me a ride home from work (she lives really close to me). And we hung out today and she let me dye her hair! Hahaha! It's a really intense red just the way she wanted it. We had lots of fun!

My throat feels like it's swollen on one side. It sounds weird but it really hurts. I tried the whole lemon-honey-hot water thingy but it didn't help. It was just sour. I squeezed the whole lemon in there too! Maybe I did it wrong.

Thanksgiving was a BLAST!! I loved hanging out with Dad, Kathy, John and V's Family, and Melissa and her family. Kathy is a great cook and I just LOVED being over there. Oh, and they did some beautiful remodeling to their condominium! Really nice; it makes the place look bigger.

Oh, and I received a $25 gift card to Joann's and I got a skirt and material to make for my mission. I'm really excited to get started on that too.

IT CAME! IT CAME!!!

Yes, it's true! My mission call finally came! It was a normal, Friday afternoon and my friend, Lowen dropped me off at home from work. I came home to find Morgan watching tv and Brooke asleep. Since my call was predicted to come the day before (which obviously did not come but I was glad b/c I feel like that day was specially reserved for baby Pierce), I decided to check the mail once again. I grabbed the keys from the garage wall and headed to the silver mailbox. As I struck the key in the lock, I was thinking that this HAD to be the day. Butterflies were swarming in my stomach as I opened the mailbox. THERE IT WAS!!! The long awaited big, white envelope! It was the first thing I grabbed (even though it was under all the other mail). "Sister Ashley Triskaideka Whitman" it read. Never before had my name looked so beautiful in print. (And my middle name was even spelled right!) Immediately, I bolted to the house with a handful of mail repeating "Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh!" As I entered the house, I yelled out to Morgan, "Morgan! It's here! I got my mission call!!!" Then I bursted into tears. Morgan screaming, "Yaaaay! Yaaaaay!"

5 O'clock p.m.

Everybody on the phone (3-way is great!) Except for Mom who was working, and Travis who could not be reached. Then my friend Sol to my left and the carters in front of me and the Carlsons to my right. "Kay everyone!!!! I'm opening it!!!!!" I ripped the envelope and removed the papers. As I read aloud the introduction, my heart began to pump harder. Then I read, "...you are assigned to labor in the Boise, Idaho Mission." What??? Are you SERIOUS???? Boise, Idaho??? I feel like the dude on The Singles Ward.

About an hour after the initial shock.....

"WHOOOOO!!!! I'M GONNA SERVE A MISSION!!!! YEAH!!!" I don't care where I'm going anymore! All I care about is that the work and word of the Lord is just as important in Idaho as anywhere in the world. The people of Idaho need me. I am there for them. I love the church and I love where I'm going. I love the gospel and I am so grateful for the sacred Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I haven't been able to write 'till now b/c our internet was down

Not Today

So, today was supposed to be the expected date that my call was supposed to come. But, it unfortunately did not come. Maybe tomorrow or next Thursday. It'll come. I was so set for it to come today. I even randomly had the day off. But oh well. I've got to learn to be patient with the Lord's timing as Derek said.

My teacher did not show up to class today. That was a bummer. I really needed his help. So I got a ride home. When I got home, I got another ride to the Environmental Health Dept. next to Vons to renew my Food Handlers card. It was $20. $20!!!!! At least I passed. If I didn't get it, I wouldn't have been able to work. It was super easy.

Today was kind of boring. My feet hurt b/c I walked a little over a mile to get to Dick's Sporting Goods to get a head light, a bike lock, and a pump. How do you cure feet blisters on the bottom of your feet? Not that a mile is a long way but I had been walking/biking a lot this week.

Anyways, I'm going to try to work on my paper more. The final draft is due on Tuesday.

Toodles!

The BIG Day... Tomorrow

OH! MY! GOODNESS! Tomorrow is the BIG DAY! What big day you ask? Well, If you had been keeping up with my blog (or spoken to me in the last three weeks), you would know that tomorrow is the day I am expected to receive my MISSION CALL! WHHOOOO!! YEAH! I wonder where I'll go. I had a dream that I went to Canada. That would be cool. That's where Dad went.

In other, less exciting (yet painful news), my thighs are still on fire. Well, okay, when I'm biking. I'm fine when I'm not biking. But I do really like to bike. I still need to get a headlight for the early mornings where there is no street light to lead the way. And reflectors too. And a lock for when my bike is parked outside. (Usually, I keep the bike in the breakroom at work or in the garage when I'm outside.) Those would be good. Dick's Sporting Goods, herrrre I cooome!!... on my biiiiike!!! Oh, and uphill is the worst... like, EVER. And the uphill incline on Whitewood shall be walked with bike in hand for the rest of whenever I'm less whimpy to do it. Um, and then I saw this man who seemed to be about like, mid-50's who was biking the Whitewood. Just went right past me. Show off. Wonder what he was thinking. I bet it started with, "Kids these days...."

I have a Math final in a couple of weeks. I've one good in class thus far. I think I will do well on the test. But I do still have a few concerns in some areas. Derek Whitman, dear brother, be prepared to answer more math questions as time progresses slowly to the day of the Final Exam. Mmkay? And I'm working on a paper for my English class. This should be the last paper sooo I guess this is the final assignment for English. Can't wait for this semester to be ovah! Once again Derek, be prepared to be hit with a double whammy! Only because you are so talented. Becca has already helped a lot with my content. I am still stuck on a lot.

I was going to go to a movie today with my friend but complications presented themselves as always. So, didn't do that.

Today was an okay day. At first, it was kinda crappy b/c I had to clean big messes made by the closer from the night before after a 45 minute bike ride in the dark. She's new though so she deserves the benefit of the doubt which she will get. She'll get better.

I discovered the show Community... funny as heck show! HAhahaha! I laugh just thinking about it.

Alright, my eyes are droppin' like a falling man without a parachute. So, I got to go.

GOODNIGHT NEVERLAND!!

THE BIKE

I drove my bike to work today to see how long it would take me to get there (32 mins). It wasn't bad on the way over there. It's mainly a flat-to-downhill ride. Not bad. But, OH. MY. WORD, the ride back KILLED! Seriously, my thighs are in flames! But Mom says I'd get used to it in about three weeks...... oh great. But, I did get there safely and overall, it was pretty nice. I enjoy being outside. Now I have to get some sunblock, tons of water, and a helmet that does not make me look goofy. The voices in my head are already telling me, "Pfft! Yeah, good luck with THAT one." .....Not that I'm Schizo or anything.

Thank you Beth and Mom and Lizzy for reading and commenting on my bloggie. I really appreciate it. It really makes me feel included, special, and happy.

My genealogy paper is coming along. We did a workshop today (group paper critique) and my teacher comes to visit each group. He said mine was doing well, gave me some pointers, and seemed to be happy with what I had so far. So, that's goooood.

And now, my room needs some attention. It's been neglected. So I will go do that and get sumpin' to eat.

Love y'all!

It's All in the Attitude

Today was a tough one. Though, I do have a lot to appreciate like: it is my friend's birthday today, I got a ride to work and back, got to talk to mom, was very productive on my argument paper, crystal dropped off her beautiful bike for me to use until I get my own bike, and I found out that I have the sunday after next off, and had some delicious chinese food from Peony's. Yay for blessings!!

I say it was only tough because I guess my attitude was out of wack today. (Happens every month... Why oh Why??) But I kept my cool and tried my best from snapping at certain people who got on my nerves. Amazingly, it wasn't the customers. And pulled it off with a fake good attitude... which worked in the end. (Faking it till you make it is worth all the self-control in the end).

I also got to see some sister missionaries!! I swear, I about teared up when I saw them. I'm not kidding. I saw myself instantly in their place when I first glaced at them. I think I scared them though when I came bouncing up exasperating my "HHHHHHHellooooooo Sisters!!!!" They either thought I was a wierd stalker, wierd employee, or must be a weirdo member. It wasn't until I finally said, "Oh ya, I'm a member" when they looked at eachother before letting out a nervous laugh. But I swear, I just wanted to talk to them. I just felt SO much better when I saw them that I almost let it all out. LOL. Yyyyya, aaaanyway, it made my day. I'm glad I got to see them it makes me want to go on a mission even more.

Crystal came to drop off her cute, pink, beach cruiser for me to use until I get a bike of my own. I'm actually super excited for this! This must be a good thing because I was so nervous about it before. Now, I feel like I'm going to be totally fine and I haven't even ridden to work yet! But we'll see how I like it in a few weeks when I have to do it everyday....four miles a day. Let's see if my attitude remains upbeat then.

Reading the scriptures is blessing my life the more I read it. I do have a testimony of the scriptures. I love them. And I'm so grateful that Mom tried her best to help me appreciate them more. I didn't get it until a few years later but, her efforts were well worth it because she is such an influence to me. Love you mom!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BETH!

Waiting is Tough

Great, I don't have a car anymore... again. I freaked out at first when Steven said he needed his car back because the Stabile's Explorer's transmission went out. But I prayed and pondered. I think I should bike to work and take the bus to school. I've taken the bus to school before but i've never biked to work. This will be quite an experience. But I'm kind of excited to do it. It'll give a work out and teach me to be frugal. I think this is mission-worthy work. It's going to be scary in the morning. Morning shift starts at 5:45 am. So it's really dark when I leave. That's what I'm really scared about. I do NOT like to be outside in the dark. But this seems to be my best option at the moment. I'm just going to have to deal.

No Mission Papers Yet

My mission papers are still a no-show. Many of my siblings were expecting it to come today at the latest. But alas, no large white envelope. So, concerned, I called my branch president (who happens to be in Hawaii... Oops!) and asked him if he knew the progress of my paper work. He told me he checked about two days ago and they were still being processed. He was a little disappointed at the delay as well. He also said that I can expect my papers next Thursday. These last two weeks were long and grueling; I guess I can stick it out for another week. This is definitely a test of my patience, which I need. I've been so impatient with the whole process.

Still need to write my argument paper on genealogy. Haven't started it yet.... Sorry Becca.

I went to the temple today with Steven and our friend Vanessa to do baptisms for the dead. Vanessa is a temple worker on Saturdays and was a great help and was so fun to be around. While I was in there, I wasn't conflicted with all my worldly troubles. I was calm. I have been waiting to go to the temple for soooo long. I was so grateful to go with such great people.

Work is work. I'm having to work more sundays through church. But I guess I'm going to have to stick that one out too. I know this is a test for 1. my patience 2. my faith and 3. my anxiety. Not that i have any major anxiety. I just get really upset and anxious when I see my schedule with my sunday full. It is definitely something I need to work on b/c when I get upset like that, my thinking gets exaggerated and blown out of proportion. Not good for a mission. I want to be a good mission companion. I want to be a good worker too. I'm working on it.

Anyways, I'm so grateful for the gospel. These past three weeks have definitely been a test of my faith. I am reading my scriptures everyday and trying to build my testiomony more. I love the scriptures. I love the book of Matthew in the Bible. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and His Atoning sacrifice.

It's Been a While...

Woooow! It's been a while. I tend to do that. I'm so inconsistent with just about everything: blogging, homework, visiting teaching, exercising, yada yada yada...

Anyway, my papers have been in for a couple of weeks now and I'm just waiting to get my call in the mail. EEEeeee! So nervous!

My classes are great! My math teacher is insanely crazy/funny/funny looking. Hahaha! but it definitely keeps me entertained. My english teacher is a good teacher (when he's not imposing his atheist beliefs in class... gets a bit annoying). He's a fair grader, and he directs his classes based on the majoity of the classe's issues. This next paper I'm writing for class is an argument paper. Ugh! I hate those! So I decided to stay away from poitics or really controversial subjects like: abortion or gay marriage. I was thinking about Rebecca and had the idea to do my paper on "Why Geneaology is Important". I'm excited to write this paper!

Work has been rough. Not getting as many hours as I had been getting before and I'm working more and more Sundays. Twice through church. It makes me upset and dampens my spirit. I'm trying to be strong and work through this challenge as best as I can. I am reading my scriptures frequently lately and I LOVE IT! My favorite scriptures so far are: D&C 4, and Matt 6:19-21.

But whatever comes my way, I know my Savior lives and hears my prayers. I just have to trust him and be patient to hear his kind and gentle guidance.