Natural Lighting - Leah Naomi

So one of my friends on facebook mentioned that this fantastic designer designed his wedding announcements, so I checked it out and am officially obsessed with her work. Her name is Leah Naomi (her site is: www.leahnaomi.com) and she's all about "natural light photography". I've been studying her photography and i've noticed how she has an amazing talent with using light. It also helps that her house seems to be white and altogether adorable. If you're really into beautiful photography, I would totally suggest checking her out!

And btw...if anyone has any sort of article online that would teach me how to capture this amazing lighting, please feel free to comment!

Photoshoot at Liberty Park

So this last weekend I had a mission reunion in downtown SLC. With time to spare beforehand, I relaxed after work by stopping at Liberty Park and taking some pictures. The lighting was perfect!

I'm still trying to get used to my SLR. I'm better at photoshop than I am at taking pictures...that's why some of them probably seem very much digitally edited. I hope you enjoy! Comments/critiques are gladly accepted.

How to draw a tree

So, speaking of dreams, one of mine is to become an award-winning graphic designer that puts her fingertips on the keyboard and mouse and MAGIC happens. It's true. But, I realize that the first step to becoming fantastic is practice. And having drawing and visualization skills. Two of which I struggle with. So, I decided to face one of my biggest drawing fears (other than drawing people) and draw a tree. I remembered in my sixth grade art class, that drawing a tree is all about splitting the branches apart. But as I started, it just wasn't looking right. So I restorted to my trusty advisor as I always do...Google...and my search results came up with this: A tutorial on how to draw trees.

I started with a blank piece of paper, and an idea. I want a new blog background, and I remembered this beautiful tree with a moss-covered bench that I saw the other day while running over by Tumwater falls, and it became my inspiration.

(Quick side note: I've always had a fascination for beautiful things in nature. It's my favorite kind of photography.)

Here's what I came up with!

Now on to the drafting stage in illustrator. Wish me luck!

Dreams

For christmas, I recieved the book "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho from my brother Kent. Before opening it's pages, I had expected the book to be one of those fantasy adventure books that both Kent and I enjoy reading, such as the Wheel of Time series or Harry Potter. But as I opened its pages, the first thing that grabbed my attention was the introduction. The author talks about how we all have a personal legend in our lives to fulfill, and that we need courage to achieve our dream. But then he noted the obstacles that each of us face that we need to overcome such as the obstacle of the world telling us since we are children that we can't fulfill our dreams. Then there's the obstacle of having to potentially hurt those we love in order to fulfill it. Along with those comes the fear of defeat, and failure. The last obstacle is to have patience and faith. The author also shares his viewpoints on how to overcome them...by believing in yourself, realizing that those you love are truly rooting for you and your success, learning to go forward and overcome your fears, even if failure is looming in your face, and to trust in God.

I have always been a person with what I deemed to be "unrealistic expectations" for my life. A little along the lines of what every LDS girl has been taught to dream of since she was little...the white picket fence with a large spacious house in a beautiful neighborhood. Inside was the perfect happy family. A handsome, intelligent, romantic and spiritual husband who was an incredible father to my children, that enjoyed life and was always happy. Then I would have my little angels, obedient children who loved their parents and always did their homework, who were so talented and smart, and who all had big dreams for their own lives. We all would work together as a cohesive whole to create a family unit full of love, joy and compassion. As i've grown older, and served a mission and graduated college, I've started to ask myself, are these dreams possible? And I start to doubt my own fantasies. I know that it is possible to achieve our dreams if we are constantly working at it, but other factors have to be kept in mind:

1. Disney's idealistic world of happily ever after isn't necessarily reality. We can be happy, but happiness is something learned through experience, mistakes, and truly feeling sadness. After all, we have to know the bad to be able to understand the good. Pain for pleasure. Grief for joy. So of course, we can have that happily ever after, but it won't come as easily as it might have to sleeping beauty or snow white. This is something that I had to learn the hard way on my mission. I have to learn to be happy with what I have, and constantly strive to be a better person. A handsome prince may come into my life and sweep me off my feet, but a kiss won't fix all my problems. Happily ever after comes after a considerable amount of hard work, happiness, and sadness.

2. Humans are imperfect creatures, and we can't expect perfection from a being who is imperfect. What I mean by this, is we need to realize that sometimes people will disappoint us. Children are naughty, husbands make mistakes, and the wife sure isn't exempt from the imperfect list (though she may sure think she is sometimes). One thing that is in our control though, is our capability to love, teach, be patient, be kind, and most of all be forgiving to those around us. The savior is the ultimate example of this. In a world full of imperfect people who disappointed him, he came and saved us from our imperfections, with a perfect and forgiving love. So the sooner we learn to love with all of those necessary qualities, the sooner we'll discover the beauty in those around us, and the love and joy that was missing in our lives that we kept at bay through being overjudgmental, unforgiving, and disappointed.

So I guess in the end, my dreams aren't unrealistic, but they can come with a different view of the world. That perfect family can be the perfect one for me, with a husband full of quirks that I love, who is trying and I can see only love for. Children who are learning, making mistakes, but are the angels of my life and will always be there for me, as long as i'm there for them. The house doesn't matter honestly, as long as my family is comfortable and happy with food and shelter, all the riches in the world couldn't buy a situation more perfect than people who look at each other with love and respect, who are able to overcome, and choose to find joy in their lives.

I, like you, have dreams. Some of them may not be big and fancy, but no matter what a dream is, it is achievable. So go, make your dreams come true.

Vintage much?

2 Things I have been obsessed with since graduating 2 days ago, and all of a sudden having a ridiculous amount of free time that I haven't experienced for the last 5 years:

1. Cross-Processed Lomo Effect on Photos (for an example, and how to do it, go to: http://abduzeedo.com/cross-processed-lomo-effect-photoshop-tutorial ...love love love love love this effect!)

2. Etsy.com

I have found some of the most amazing hand-made items on this website! I'm a little obsessed with the vintage feel right now...you know, neutral color palette, vintage furniture and chandeliers, vintage wallpaper...anyways, etsy is my vintage heaven. I especially love how whenever I open the front page they have a different color theme that shows! So wonderful.

A few things I love on etsy:







ALL the pillows by iviemade:



3. Oh yeah, there's another website I forgot about: http://www.stylemepretty.com/

I love the ideas for photographs and designs. So beautiful and quirky at the same time!

So long, farewell!!

So I just thought I would write my last blog post for a year and a half. I'm about to embark on such an exciting adventure that I thought I would blog about it, and then check back in a year in a half. I'm probably going to laugh at it all, because i'm such a silly face sometimes.

I finally finished my talk today, and pretty much my entire list of things to do...minus my final packings ups. Oh, and can I just say HOW MUCH I am going to miss my babay kitty?? this iz why:

She's my little catbert. She loves to watch the mouse move around. The best part is she purrs like a motorboat the entire time. Aww, it's wuv! I feel like i'm leaving behind my baby. Be strong Jenessa, be strong. Big girls don't cry over kittens.

note to self: clean computer screen.

You know what else i'm going to miss? My family. I love my family. So so SO much. It's awesome that they've all pretty much gone through what i'm going through, so they'll know exactly what to write, and what to do when I get home and am all awkward and stuffs. I've been noticing the past weeks how much my parents do for me. It's kind of ridiculous how amazing they are. My mom hemmed both my skirts today, even though she had the flu. And my Dad did my taxes...I worked in 3 states this year. Not a small job. But really, so amazing.

Dad: "Carolyn, what do you want for dinner?"
mom: "i'm gonna eat you"
Dad: "That's kind of weird."
Mom: "I've been reading vampire books. Rawr!"

I don't want to say goodbye to anyone. I want people to just be like, "hey! I'll see you later!" and be all happy and pretend like nothing's happening. Goodbyes are always so sad and awkward, and they make me cry lots on the inside.

I am going to have an awesome hello coming up though! I haven't seen one of my best friends Tim Richards in over 2 and a half years...since before his mission! We're going to hang out monday or tuesday. No hugs though. From here on out, pretty much all boys have cooties.

Speaking of cootie heads (that's what i'm going to call all boys from now on), Krissa sent me the best letter ever today. It was super short, but absolutely perfect. She gave me her exact schedule on temple square for monday and tuesday (it's like she can read MINDS!) And she also gave me some advice: "in the MTC, don't drink the orange juice, and don't develop crushes on any boys or teachers." HAHA classic Krissa! I know it was all from experience. Love her! I'm so excited to see her in a couple days!!

Tonight was my last night of not being a missionary, so guess what I did? Yep, I went to the bar....just for kareoke though sillies! haha gotcha thurr.

Oh, and today I totally missed michael may's rugby game. I feel soooo bad/mad at myself. My Dad was like, "you have too much to do! Don't go!" but I was like, "no! I've been waiting for months to see him cuss out the other people!" (that's pretty much the entire reason I wanted to go, to see mike get angry and yell at the other people. He's probably the funniest angry person I have ever seen. His anger makes me laugh...is that weird? Yes. I just answered my own question. That's kinda weird too.) Oh, and after seeing him today I realized I'm going to miss him a lot. Like, a ridiculous amount. :(

Valentines day is so poopy. I ate a lot of chocolates to make myself feel better. Which actually did the opposite. blech.

And I guess this is goodnight, and goodbye. I love you bloggie, and i'll miss you and your pretty paris and old paper background. Be good while i'm away. Don't forget to write! Say your prayers every night. Jesus loves you. <3

VIVA ITALIA! eh, and viva MTC too I guess.

(From February 18,2009 until April 21, 2009)

Sister Jenessa MilesItaly Rome Mission

Provo Missionary Training Center

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604

(For letters from april 21st, 2009 to August 2010)

Sister Jenessa Marie Miles

Italy Rome Mission

CP 11/282 Montesacro

00141 Rome RM

Italy

Can't sleep

I'm pretty sure it's because of that pepsi I drank a few hours ago. I really should have learned by now to avoid caffiene. Curse you restaurant chains that only offer diet soda with caffiene!!! *shakes fist*

I've realized the past few weeks that I am such the classic case of ridiculous girl. I wish guys could read my thoughts rather than actually make me tell them what's up and that i'm thinking really overemotional things which made me try to pick fights. I also want to talk about my "feelings" all the time. I was watching this cartoon with my cousin today and there was a teenage girl on it who was acting the same way I do. Embarassing. I don't know if i'll ever change though, or if i'll just develop ulcers from trying to fight it.

I'm really tired right now. I should probably try to sleep. I have to wake up early to go and be beautiful for an ad for my friend. Then i'm going to the temple. I just want to sleep so I can have a good day tomorrow.

A million thoughts are running through my head, but I can only think of one word to sum it all up...

Ugh.

The Pursuit of Happiness

What is the secret to happiness? Is it found in the sunshine on a summer day? Or maybe it's the reunion of a friend you love and haven't seen in a long time. How about when you've won a race you've been working towards for years? Or the smile on the face of a baby that holds your heart?

Is this happiness?

Happiness seems to be like that elusive piece of dust floating in the sunlight in front of your face. You swat at it, close your fist tight so it can't get away, and when you open your hand it isn't there. You thought you had it for the moment, but realize it had never really been there at all. Sometimes you catch the dust, but feel the regret in a moment of supposed loss, even though it's hiding between your fingers. Then there are the times when you've caught it, open your hand, and are able to feel that pleasure and joy from fulfillment - for you have truly caught the dust.

I have had moments just like these all throughout my life. Times when i've felt the world could not bring me down from my mountain, where all I wanted to do was sing and shout, "This is it! This is why life matters!" Then there have been the times where I have wanted to hide under a rock and curl up into a ball away from the eyes of everyone around me. The pressure of the rock keeps pushing at me from every side pulling me down, and yet I don't realize that this rock I sought out for comfort is the reason my back is hurting and my head is aching. Every pressure has been sought for, and yet every pressure causes me pain.

I guess it isn't a huge surprise to myself, but I know that these are times when I am living my life in line with the spirit, and times when i'm shamed in my guilt so much that all I want to do is hide it to myself. Those times when satan and I share a little secret, are the times when I feel that lonely rock on my shoulders. Only when I have come to terms with who I am and what heavenly father expects of me, am I able to break down that rock.

On the other hand, the times when I have had the spirit in my life i've never felt so much joy. I get this overwhelming feeling to run up and hug every person that I know, and tell them how much I love and appreciate them. I want to pray to my God, and tell him how grateful I am for his son's atoning sacrifice. I want to get on my metaphorical mountain, and yell, "World - you may have some really sucky moments, but all around, you're pretty swell!" I don't know how I get there, how this culmination of joy has filled me so strongly, but there is one pattern that I have seen, and it all revolves around family, christ, loving and serving my neighbor, and doing those things for myself that God would have me do. It may sound silly, but I know with all my heart that the gospel is the answer and has all the truths that any of us will ever need to really find joy in this life.

I am so grateful for everyone in my life. I love each and every one of you. I am only who I am today because all have you have made me a better person. I know with all my heart that my mission is what I am supposed to be doing with my life. Until then I will enjoy every moment of my life. The past few weeks have really taught me to live my life in the present. To enjoy every day as if it was my last day. To do something fun every day. I have this habit of living my life as if it will all be better in the future. "When I go on my mission...then my life will really begin." or, "When I get married, then i'll be happy and everything will be wonderful!" Also, "Once I finish will school, then i'll be able to start a real job and be happy for real."

If...then....maybe...what if...no. No. No. No. No.

It's all about now. Life is happening all around me. I don't want to miss the dust in front of my eyes because i'm not really looking. I want to live....and be happy.

Completely obsessed

My gum chewing habit reminds me of how Josh explained getting high last night. The more I chew, the more it takes to make me satisfied. But when I haven't chewed in a while, it lasts longer.

With that inspirational thought in mind...I think I will leave you now to ponder the depth and intricacies of weed, gum, and ridiculous metaphors. Ciao!

All else aside...

I have a headache, i'm tired because I was woken up early this morning and couldn't fall back asleep, I feel like throwing up, I miss my sister, I don't have a ride to work today so I have to ride my bike to work in the rain, and I have to work an 8-hour shift.

But i'm happy. :)

Nightmare Before Christmas

For some reason I rarely, if ever, seem to remember any of the dreams I have at night. But last night I had a nightmare. A nightmare before christmas.

It started off with me waking up. Then I walked downstairs, and the only person down there was Jonathan, waiting by his pile of presents to open them. I then proceeded to go around trying to gather up the family. The first person I went to get is Kent, who I discovered acting strange and angry. I asked him what was going on, and he disclosed to me his little secret...he had become a drug addict and an alchoholic, and he would get his drugs by riding his bike to his drug dealer's apartment. I proceeded to hide his bike in the local mission president's garage so he wouldn't find it so I could help him out with his drug problem.

Then my dream went off on a random tangent about taking pictures of the snow of the house across the street from the mission president's house, and then solving the clues from the pictures to find whose house it was.

After the tangent, I was then back in my house. Kent had found the bike and disappeared, but I was too scared to tell anyone about his drug problem. I walked into the living room then, and discovered that my Dad was so angry that no one was coming down to open presents that he had thrown all the presents away, and was cutting the tops off of the boxes to make cat beds. Jonathan was still in there next to his pile of presents waiting to open them. So I went to find Cherie, and I found her burnt body in bed, and she said she refused to come to Christmas because Dad had beat her up. My mom was still sleeping, and Kristen was a disappointment because she hadn't gone around waking everyone up at 6 am to open presents like she normally does.

This is where the dream ends. I'm pretty sure my subconcious was trying to tell me three things:
1) I was paranoid that Kristen wouldn't wake everyone up Christmas morning, so I would have to go around and wake everyone up who would get mad at me for doing so.
2) I miss Cherie

Burger King: "Fire meets desire"

I think I have discovered the #1 item of this christmas season that will be on every guy's wish list....

BEHOLD: "The scent of seduction, with a hint of flame-broiled meat"

Burger King has introduced a new product called "Flame" -- a "seductive" body scent for men. What are you in the mood for? The interactive flash website http://www.firemeetsdesire.com/ - inspired by the "flame" scent - can show you how "Flame" can bring about your true desires, including waterfalls, a fireplace, and a disturbing image of "the king" dressed up in... well, you have to see it for yourself.

This brings back memories of working at Wendy's for over a year and a half, and coming home from work every night smelling of hamburger B.O. I think it took me about a year after I quit to scrape off all the oil on my face from the fry machine and clean the odor out of every pore on my body.

I just hope this doesn't end up in the kids meals.

Gingerbread dreams

Right now I am imagining myself making the most amazing gingerbread house in the entire world... with gingerbread shingles, christmas trees, shredded wheat rooftops, and such a plethora of candy that hansel and gretel won't be able to resist. Mike and Halla are coming over on Tuesday to make some gingerbread houses with me, but I don't want to wait! I think I will make a tiny one out of graham crackers like I used to in elementary school, except this one will be amazing. I think I only have one packet of crackers so i'm going to have to be really careful. I think I will make something like this:

I am so excited.

EDIT

Here it is!

Well just kidding, this isn't the final product exactly... I wanted to show my progress pics. I started off with a cardboard box that I taped together in the shape of a house, onto some more cardboard. Then I taped together some cones for some trees.

Next came the icing. I realized that this made the graham crackers kind of pointless, but oh wells. It just felt lame making a carboard house covered in frosting. I decided to make it yellow because I was using this little cottage as inspiration:

After I finished decorating, I realized that I had made a spring cottage, that has no christmas appeal at all.

So I decided to dress it up with two christmas trees.
My mom said it looked like a barbie gingerbread house, which made me feel better about it being yellow, pink and green. I loved the finished product, and we took it over to my mom's friend's and gave it to her as a christmas present.


yay for gingerbread houses!

I wish I was a teddy bear!

I had the funniest moment today with my mom and 3-year-old cousin ashlyn. As I sat cleaning up the Barbie mess that Ashlyn and I had created from 6 ours of barbie hair brushing and dressing, I overheard this between my Mom and Ashlyn, who were in the kitchen making sugar cookies together:

Mom (thinking out loud): *sigh* "I wish I was happy"
Ashlyn: "I wish I was a teddy bear."

I laughed for hours. In fact, i'm still laughing. Oh how I love little kids! Ashlyn is the sweetest little thing in the world too. One day when I was babysitting her, we sat on the computer for hours looking at cupcake blogs. Ashlyn would tell me which one was mine, and which one was hers. Then out of the blue she turns to me and says, "I love you!" SO PRECIOUS! I love the innocence of children. They are so full of so much love, and they see past all your flaws. I wish I could be like that. It seems the older I get, the more flaws I see in myself and in others. There are few people with whom I worship the ground they walk on whose flaws I don't even notice, but I wish there were more people in my life I could do that with. I know I'm the only one that can make this happen too.


The main reason I decided to blog today is to vent a little bit. You know, throw a little pity party with ice cream cake and pin the tail on the donkey. Today as I was getting ready to leave for work, I got a phone call and when I saw it was payless I thought, "oh no... not again." And of course, it happened. I was late for the SECOND time this week. I can't even BEGIN to describe how embarassed I am. How did I let this happen? Not just once, but TWICE. This is the first time in recorded history that I have ever been over 5 minutes late for work. I don't even know what happened. Maybe it's because of my old age, i'm starting to forget things. But seriously, I don't even know how it happened.

I'm pretty sure that as a result my manager cut my hours. I only work 16 hours next week... and at minumum wage. That grass just don't pay the bills yo. I don't know what to do. You're all thinking, "just go find another part time job!" YOU go find another part time job. I've looked and looked blah. Yeah, I hate venting posts. I'm no good at these and I always sound complainy and they just end up putting me in a bad mood. Here's a good idea though: My boss said that I could try out this shared labor thing where I work at the other payless stores based on their need when i'm not working at mine. I'll try it out for a week and if it doesn't work out I might just have to resort to subway.

Things i'm thankful for in friends

Last night at Ashley's birthday party, she went around and said something that she liked about everyone in the room. I've been thinking about that ever since, and the good qualities in a few of my closest friends that have always made me want to be a better person, and things that I think make our relationships strong:

Krystal Eddenfield Channel: If there could be a trait that I could say I love most about Krystal, it would be that she is one of the most loving and sweetest people I have ever met. Krystal is so kind to everyone, that she just glows. I've had a hard time liking everyone i've met, but Krystal is just so immediately unassuming about everyone, and just wants to be their friend. Because of Krystal, I have made friends who I never would have without her. She has one of those beautiful spirits that just glows with kindness, and I will always love her for it.

Jessica Smith: Seriously, what more could you ask for in a best friend? I love that I can talk with Jessica about anything, and not be scared about what she would think, because she knows who and what I am deep down to the core. Jessica is amazing. She will do anything for anyone. I have tried to emulate her spirit of giving and caring, but I don't think I could ever come close! She is also one of the most humble people I have ever met. She thinks she has no talents, but I look at her and wish I could do half of what she does. I think the trait Jessica worked on in the pre-existence was learning how to care and love for others, and I think that it the talent that Christ asks of us most.

Kristen Miles: My 2nd older sister is one of those people that I feel like I can talk about anything with as well. Kristen understands what i'm going through in life, because she has been there too. She is my guide and my shining star. I love her for her calmness and humility, and I appreciate that she never forgets about me. Kristen and Jessica have always reminded me of each other with their giving spirits as well. Kristen is so fast to jump to the occasion and help out when someone needs a helping hand. Her kindness has blessed the lives of many around her.

Krissa Jo: There are few people in this world that I believe have helped me to become more outgoing, but Krissa is definitely one of those people. When i'm around her I can get out of my shell and make friends. Krissa has also been the number one person to help me realize my dreams. Before I met her I felt like I was stumbling around in the dark with my life, afraid of the future, but she has shown me the light! I also appreciate how she makes people feel so good about themselves, and not out of jealousy or spite, but out of sincereness.

Cherie Kahmann: Cherie is one of those people that I think of and the first thought that always pops into my head is, "Wow, I love her. She is amazing!" Cherie has ALWAYS been the person whose example and advice I have looked to most in my life. If I ever have a problem, I just call Cherie and she has the immediate answer. She is also so beautiful and amazingly talented. I am also so grateful for her and Keith's kindness this last year in letting me stay with them in Massachusetts while I was doing my internship. Those were some of the happiest and hardest months of my life, and I would not take back the memories and the happiness for anything in the world.

My mom: There's not a though large enough that could hold all the things I love about my mother, but I will try. My mom is so giving. She always does those things that other people need most without any grumble. She loves her children more that anyone could ever dream of. All her thoughts and worries go towards her family, because of her genuine and sincere love for their welfare and their futures. I know also that listening to her advice has changed my life. She has made me realize things about my hopes and dreams that I had never realized for myself...such as how important it is for me to be a mom before caring about money. I have felt the spirit teach me that all the things that she tells me are true, and that if I listen to her guidance my future will be secure.

Tim Richards: One of the things I have always admired about tim is how much he loves people! If we were ever in a situation where somebody was saying something that wasn't very nice about someone, he would say, "gee! I love so and so. They're great" I love how positive Tim is, and how patient he is as well! I remember one time I was making him and his family late for conference, and they didn't even get mad or frustrated! They were so kind it made my heart melt.

Walt Gale: Walt has helped me to realize that the greatest thing you could ever ask for in a friend is someone who is like you, and someone who loves you as a person for who you are. Walt has also always been someone I have never been afraid of being around, because I know that he is so accepting of people for who they are.

Holly K!: Holly was one of those people in high school that helped me to want to become a better person, and do desire to do those things that would make me who I am today. She made me want to do better in school, and gain a stronger testimony. I have always appreciated how Holly has always known who and what she is, and no one could ever tell her differently. I love her strong spirit, and I am so happy for her and her little family!

Mike Ceccacci: Mike is that friend that I know will always care as much about our friendship as I ever will. Mike cares about his friends, and he sees the good in them. Mike has always known who he is as well, and what he wants out of life. I love talking to him about things, because he always talks about those he loves and how much he loves them. Mike has also been a strong part of building my testimony. In seminary I saw how much he knew about the gospel, and I could always feel his spirit so strongly. Sitting by him in church has always helped me to feel the spirit, because for some unexplained reason he has always helped me to pay attention better!

I could go on and on about everyone, but these are just some of the people that I look up to and who have changed my life a lot! I find it hard to lose friends as we grow apart, change and as our lives go in different directions. It breaks my heart to know I have lost the close bond of friendship with someone I have always loved so much, but I know that there will always be those memories that have lasted a lifetime. As I prepare for my mission, one of the things that I worry about the most is losing those friendships that are so important to me. One thing I do know, is that my family will always be there for me, and I don't think I could ask for a better family in all the world.

Called to serve!

Friday night I was sitting in the relief society room for enrichment learning how to prepare and cook a turkey when I felt my phone vibrate. I reached down, looked at my phone and saw my Dad calling. The first thought that came into my head was, "he must be calling because I got my mission call!" and all of a sudden I wanted to be anywhere but sitting there learning about how I can make my own bread crumbs out of old bread to make stuffing. Then came the longest 10 minutes of my life. My only thought was to get out of there and then home. Finally, the teacher asked if there were any questions. I frantically started clapping in hopes that she would end it, but of course people had their questions. Once the questions were over, I start to clap again. And again, it was another awkward moment where the teacher announced she wasn't finished and that someone needed to say the prayer. Needless to say, once that prayer was finished I was up and out of my chair and that room to check my phone. I had a voicemail from Dad, "Jenessa, it's here!" I freaked out and ran to find Kristen and yelled, "GET IN THE CAR MY MISSION CALL IS HERE!!" The next 5 minutes of getting everything to the car were fast and frantic. I was so excited I had a death grip on the wheel. I seemed to hit every single red light. Finally, we were at the last light and I turned left...............down the wrong street! After only a moment of panic, Kristen helped me maneuver my way home.



Once in the garage I ran into the house and yelled "WHERE IS IT?!" My Dad said, "In here!" and I yelled, "MOM! CALL EVERYONE AND GET DOWN HERE!" After many tries we finally got Jonathan, Kent, and a sleeping Cherie on the phone. My plan for opening my mission call was to read where I was going and then start freaking out and not tell anyone, but things didn't really go all as I had planned. I ripped open the envelope, pulled out all my papers, and then heard mom say, "HELENA MONTANA!" I was in shock. Really? She didn't even let me read it? Then I realized it was a joke and I let out a nervous laugh. Then came the moment. I turned it over and started reading out loud, "Dear sister Jenessa Miles..." then I saw and I started screaming. I could not believe it! It was more than I could have ever dreamed of. ROME ITALY! One of the most amazing cities I have been to in my entire life, and by far the most interesting. All this pent up excitement had to come out somehow, and I spent about the next 5 minutes screaming and freaking out. The screaming stopped pretty fast, but the freaking out lasted all but 2 hours. I'm still kind of freaking out. This is a dream come true!!








There are a few things I have learned about the Rome mission from my friends that just served there:

• It isn't necessarily a mission where there are a lot of baptisms. If you're lucky, you get one. Two if you're really blessed.
• The large cities in the mission (that i've heard of, at least) include: Rome, Naples, and Florence.
• There are about 14,000 members in Italy (I think? I'm not sure if my memory is serving me correctly on this fact.)
• One of the first LDS missionaries to set foot on Italian soil was Wilford Woodruff.
• One of the first missionaries EVER to preach Christ's gospel in Italy was PAUL! (you know, that guy in the new testament?) And his bones are there too, but his head is in Prague. I hope this isn't an omen towards my mission. ;)
• Until the mid 1960's, Italy was closed to LDS missionaries by the government.
• Sister missionaries are not sent to Naples (the southwest area of my mission) because the city is run by the mafia, and there is a lot of poverty.
• In Saridina (the island that is included in my mission), they eat this illegal cheese that is full of maggots. Apparently these small, clear maggots eat the cheese and poop it out, and it creates a very strong cheese. I have been told that I WILL eat it even though it sounds completely disgusting.
• The Rome temple will not be completed while i'm there. I'll be lucky if i'm even there for the groundbreaking.
• In order to get a permit for the Rome temple, the 15-acres of land had to be inspected by the italian government for roman ruins. The day it was inspected the saints in Italy held a special fast. Ruins were not found within the temple site, but there were ruins found about 100 yards outside of the area.
• When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore.

There are a few words that I know in Italian from my last visit:

Bonjourno (hello), Ciao (hello/goodbye), bella (beautiful), bello (handsome), Molto (very), bene (good), male (bad), quanto coste (how much?), dove (where), banyo (toilet), prego (go ahead/you're welcome), arrivederci (goodbye), amici (friends), amore (love)

My friend Jordan gave me the advice to get preach my gospel in italian before I go into the MTC, and study it so that I can know the language and what I will be hearing better. Makes a lot of sense to me!

Letting go

A couple nights ago my friend Ian called me, and told me about his goal to lose some weight before christmas. I've been debating it for a while, and i've decided to make a goal of losing 5 lbs by new years.

So far i've gained two. :)

But hey, I have been doing cardio and weights almost every day! I think my problem is the whole eating healthy thing. Europe kind of ruined me. It was easy to get used to eating chocolate and desserts every day.

Another thing to note - I was reading fitness articles on msn.com (great motivation by the way... it always helps to put me in the right frame of mind) and I found that the no-calorie sugars lead to bone density and calcium deficiency problems. I think it's about time for me to cut back. No more crystal light lemonade. Instead, I will drink water with lemon in it!

Late night snacking

There are 3 things my stomach is capable of:

1) Eating an entire box of wheat thins in one sitting. Take tonight for example -- I opened up a brand spankin' new box of wheat thins, dipped them in a tub of fat-free philadelphia cream cheese, and ate them until I looked in the bottom of the box and realized there were only about 10 wheat thins left. I wish I could say this was only the first time it happened, but after counting all the times in my head, I realized i've done this about 4 or 5 times. It's delicious...you should try it!! Sorry mom, you can't though... I ate all of yours.

2) Eating an entire bag of guacachips in less than 4 hours. This one was pretty sad. Now, I'm not talking about one of those little grab bags. I mean, one of those honkin big party bags that you're supposed to be able to share with about 20 other people. I only did this once, and after eating that entire bag, I burped up guaca for the next 3 days. I don't suggest trying this one at home. I still haven't been able to manage to eat guacachips since this occured.

3) Drinking an entire pitcher of Crystal Light in a 2-hour period. I think i've done it about 3 times enough this week, too... and always at night. Therefore, I wake up a lot in the morning having to "spend a penny" at the loo. My english friends should know what I'm talking about. Not that I actually have any that read this...

Oh, and one other thing. This doesn't exactly involve my stomach directly, but I am also capable of chewing 2 packs of gum within a 12-hour period. I went and bought one of those huge packs at walmart that has somewhere around 150 pieces in it, just so I wouldn't have to go back 3 times a week. I've tried to kick my gum-chewing habit about 4 times, but I always seem to give up.

I wonder if missionaries are allowed to chew gum? I'm waiting for my mission call right now! It should be here within the next few weeks, as long as the first pres has decided that the right fit has come along!! I'm checking the mailbox every night. I'm really hoping it comes on a night when my Dad is home.

Winter Wonderland Blog Background and Header

Directions for background:

1) Change template to minima

2) Under the layout tab on blogspot, go to page elements, and choose "add a gadget"

3) Choose the html/java script gadget

4) Copy the html below, and paste it into the html space

5) Hit save and check it out!

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/wishuponastar422/blog/layouts/snowflakes-1.jpg?t=1226162060"); background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; }</style>

Directions for header:

1) Under the layout tab on blogspot, go to page elements, and choose "edit" under the header

2) Paste this link under html:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/wishuponastar422/blog/layouts/snowflakeheader.png?t=1226160758

(if you know how, please save the background and header to your own server! photobucket works great)