Nights of Glamour and Glitter

This past weekend was splendid. There are several reasons for the splendidness of this past weekend, which include, A) I got to spend it with people I adore, B) I got to dress up...twice, and C) I purchased a Hobbit Moleskine Notebook.  

The weekend kicked off with an all night Glamour Night to celebrate Miss Emily Rita Hale turning a quarter of a century. We got all dolled up and took some hilarious shots. My hair was so full of hairspray that my bangs stood up without bobby pins. That is a lot of hairspray. I also had a ton of glitter put in my hair, which meant that every time I moved, I moved in a cloud of glitter. 

Then on Saturday I got to attend a murder mystery party...as a flapper. Which is my dream come true! I love the 20's! I altered a dress I found by adding fringe to the bottom and made my own headband.  I got to spend time with Miss Melissa and boy did we laugh. We looked up some 20's slang, drank fake alcohol, and tried to guess the 'murderer'.  

Honestly, I love dressing up. I have decided that I would be entirely happy dressing up in costumes to make my living. Just for fun, not to be an actress or a model.

Anyone having a costume party they want to invite me to?

Entering the World Of Pinterest

Source: baubauhaus.com via melissa on Pinterest

Since I got home from my mission, people have been talking to me about Pinterest. It sounded pretty neat, but knowing my obsessive nature and my desire to collage things, I decided it was probably better not. Until last week when I secretly joined. Well, not so secret now.

What I like best about Pinterest are not all the great recipes or funny quotes. Most delightful to me is that Pinterest is a fountain of all things nerdy. Which is why my one and only board, "the Nerd Herd" is mostly filled with things about Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, with a few pictures of libraries thrown in for good measure. And of course some cats.

So, if you like Harry Potter, or Cats, or Libraries, you should probably join me on Pinterest.

Mother Knows Best

My Mother seeing into the future...

At the beginning of July, I decided to spread my wings and fly away to live in Salt Lake. In order to do that, I needed transportation. Cheap transportation. My friend offered to sell me her car for an low price and my parents agreed. Perfect. Time to fly away.

There were a couple of things needed so that I could drive my new car...registration, a new battery, gas...so my Mother and I headed out to get my car ready to drive.  As we were driving to the DMV, it started to smoke a little. My Mother said 'That would be bad if your car started on fire'. Truer words were never spoken. Little did she know that she had just seen into the future. 

Two weeks later, I sat waiting on the side of the highway because my car was smoking. One more day and my engine burst into flames two houses from my destination. Luckily my clothes nor my cowboy boots caught on fire. AHHH!!

Then, I rode my scooter around Salt Lake for about two months. I was given candy by some homeless people, I got hit in the parking lot at work, I got whistled at everyday.

Now, I am a proud owner of a beautiful Canadian Toyota....

Isn't she pretty?

If you want, you can leave a suggestion for a name in the comments...

Obsessed

Our Olympic Wall 2008  or Michael Phelps tribute

I don't think I am alone in my recent obsession of the Olympics. Everyone I know has been watching them almost non-stop. Everyone has their favorite Olympic sport. Mine is swimming. And Michael Phelps.

I need to be clear. I liked Olympic swimming way before Michael Phelps entered the scene. I can still remember watching the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. And the special Olympic pins we bought. I remember wishing that I could swim that fast.

Which brings me to my Olympic wall of 2008. Emily and I decided that we would put on our closet door, all the moments of Olympic greatness. Well, after about a week, it was clear that it was only going to have pictures of Michael Phelps. For some reason we have never taken it down. It was still hanging there when I came home from my mission. It was just waiting for another run of glory in 2012. And it happened.

I love you Summer Olympics.

So, this is farewell my dear London Olympics of 2012. I will miss watching your swimming golden boy race. Maybe you will still be hanging on my closet in 2016.

Also....my obsession went as far as this. In 2010, I bought a Michael Phelps calender for 25 cents at Hallmark. I still haven't quite decided what to do with it, but my family teases me endlessly. 

Cats Being Catlike

Eleanor, our favorite foster kitty

Sometimes I just really love my family. And cats, Last week, I posted this picture of our 'foster' cat, Eleanor, on Instagram. Within a day my Mom, Devin, Emily and Meagan had all posted pictures of this darling kitty being a funny cat. Cat Wars.

The best part was when I asked my Dad if he was going to post his own picture of Eleanor. "I would never post a picture of that cat. I hate cats". Now we just need to figure out a way to photo bomb him, only with Eleanor.

My family. And cats. Aren't they just so cute?

Come On Melissa, Jump!

Today, I jumped into the pool. With all my clothes on. It was fun and felt so summery. I love doing silly things like that and making my siblings laugh.

Monday, I am moving to Salt Lake...to start my somewhat grown up life. Which is exciting? terrifying? A mixture of both. I am not good at stepping into the unknown. I like to see where I am going and what is in store for me. But maybe part of being a grown up is enjoying not knowing exactly what is going to happen. Maybe it is jumping, not knowing, but ready to smile and laugh.

So, Wish me luck....

I am about to Jump

I Need A Laugh

When I need a good laugh, I like to google images of Snoop Dogg.

I mean, how could that face not make you laugh?

Oh Hey!

Is there anyone still waiting in anticipation to read about my incredibly fabulous life?

I am emerging from my post-mission funk...who knew it would be so difficult to come home?

But, I have had some wonderful experiences in the few months I have been home. Traveled to Arizona, California. Watched a lot of baseball. Read books. Sewed. Thought about my future. Spent time with family and friends. Danced.

I am excited for Summer. And for all the adventures that are coming!

While I was Away...

Sarah started writing notes. Now, she writes me notes like this one...

I love notes like this.

Right Now I Am Listening to Enrique Iglesias in Spanish...

Apparently people want me to blog...namely my Mom, which I find humorous since I am with her pretty much all the time.

So, a peek into my post mission life.

I am looking for a job. Is there any activity that I loath more? I think not.

I spend a lot of time with Kimberlyn. She is my new best friend. She thinks I am funny. Perfect. Even if we have to fight over Justin Bieber.

I read Mockingjay. I got my haircut. I went to Arizona. I practice my Spanish. I play Settlers of Catan. I laugh with my family.

I 'adjust'.

Sometimes...I miss Spain.

Everything Is Just So Fancy

Right now I am at the Seminary, typing on my Dad's tablet. It has only taken me like 5 minutes to write these 2 sentences. It is a slow and steady process. I am trying not to say at every moment 'oh my goodness how things have changed'. Difficult. I am beginning to understand how Rip Van Winkle felt. Minus the long white beard. I have watched Tangled and read Mockingjay, so I think I am pretty caught up on what I missed.

Anything else I need to know, watch or read...from the last 18 months? Also I need to decide what to do with my future....any suggestions?

John Denver Said It Best...Hey It's Good to Be Back Home Again

So, I am back. Whenever I visualized myself back at home, I always pictured wearing my Great Harvest sweatshirt, wool socks and my Snoopy pajamas. Dreams=Reality.

How was the Birthday?

My Birthday was grand! It truly was a great day and the mailbox has been flooded! Letters=Love. Hna. Soderquist is not a big birthday person(she would rather people ignore her birthday) but she made me an amazing crown and let me celebrate my style! It was a good way to start out the next quarter of a century! Thanks to everyone for all the Love! We had district meeting, so the Elders filled my bag full of confetti...obviously while I was not looking! It was a fun day!

The Best of all was that Joselyn got BAPTIZED!!! She was so excited, and when she was all dressed in white, she told us she felt like an angel. She was nervous but in the end it was perfect. She went under the water like she had been baptized a million times before. She had told us that she did not want to give her testimony but in the end she got up and testified about the Hope she now feels for her life! She is amazing!!! Her mother, Julia, was telling us how Joselyn has a stubborn personality, that she never does things unless she truly wants to. This is true...she said that she does not like to read but she reads everyday in the Book of Mormon! I do not think I will ever get tired of seeing people baptized! It is beautiful!

  I think something I have learned as a missionary is the importance of following the Spirit. I am still not perfect at following it, but I think I am able to better recognize when the spirit is speaking to me. On saturday night, after the baptism, we did not have a lot to do. We had tried passing by a couple of people but no one was home. There was a member in that area that we hadn´t seen for awhile, so we decided to pass by. It turned out to be the perfect moment. She has been sick and on top of that she has been passing through some hard family things. We were able to call someone to come and give her a blessing, and then we made a cake for her son´s birthday. I am so grateful for the spirit, that it always guides us to people that need love. I am so grateful for the priesthood and for righteous priesthood holders, who when we call them say 'I will be right over'. CHARITY! It is so beautiful. And it is in those moments that I truly feel like I am an instrument in the Lord's hands! 

 This week is going to be great! With tons of miracles! I am so excited! I love being a missionary. There is no greater joy than sharing the gospel! It just fills you right up...with joy, light and happiness!

I am praying that this week will be the best of my mission! Pray that we will be able to find lots of prepared families!

I love you a million beautiful perfect baptisms!

Love, Melissa the Beautiful

RaRaRa...the letters come pouring in

In other news, I officially can not spell in English.

In even more other news, I officially turn a quarter of a century tomorrow. I am AWESOME!

True to my character, I have let everyone know that it will be my birthday and that we need to celebrate. Thanks for all the cards...

This week has been great! The weather has taken a turn for the sunshine, which I attribute to Heavenly Father´s love for me in this my birthday month! This weekend should be amazing with the baptism of Joselyn, as well as the baptism of Carlos...the man from Mexico I told you about!

I have decided that I truly love teaching the gospel. It is fun to share the things that bring me such happiness! Because everything that I truly love comes from the Gospel!!

Last week we were calling some old investigators...ones that neither Hna. Soderquist or I had ever met. We got in contact with an old man named Guiseppe, who is in the hospital. We asked if we could come to visit him and he said yes! It was a wonderful experience. He is very ill and can barely speak but he asked us to sing 'I am a Child Of God'. We sang it first in Spanish, then in English. His face just smoothed over and he had a smile on his face, with his eyes closed. I guess I forget sometimes that we are all children of God, no matter what our age is. There was such a peace in the room- Heavenly Father truly does love each of us!

A nice compliment to me...some of the members have said that it doesn´t seem like I am going home because I am still working hard! YES YES YES! There are still more miracles out there waiting for me! And I still need to find my family! Dad, Mom and Child!!!

I love you a million sings of 'I am a Child of God'

Love, Melissa the Beautiful

Family and Friends- Here are a couple of the latest emails from Melissa.

Melissa’s Birthday is this month. I asked her what she wanted, and she said letters, as you can read in this first email.

So, if you have a minute and a $1.05 stamp, send her a letter, note or card.  She really loves mail (remember she did an internship at the Postal Museum!) 

Thanks so much!

Karen

January 22, 2012

   I am still here in Barcelona! HAPPINESS!!! I am happy to stay here and enjoy my last transfer. Plus that means that I do not have to search for a new suitcase until I come home!!! YEAH!! I love this ward and I am excited for this new transfer.

   I do have a new companion. My kid, Hna. Smith, is off to Pamplona...the land of my mission birth. I am sad to see her go because she is amazing but I know that she will have a great time in Pamplona. It is a bit hard because I know I won´t see her until she comes home from her mission! AHHH! My new companion is Hna. Soderquist! She is an experienced missionary...she has a little less than a year in the mission. She has a lot of energy, so I am excited to work together. She comes from a big family as well...bigger than ours -10!

  I think the best part of my week was seeing Steven pass the sacrament. We had called him Sunday morning to make sure he woke up, but when we got into Sacrament meeting, I could not find him. I was a bit sad because he had said he was coming. Then when the deacons stood up to pass the sacrament, there he was! He is adorable and I cried a bit. He takes his responsibility as a priesthood holder very seriously. My heart is filled with gratitude to see his love for the gospel and his desire to serve the Lord.

   As for my birthday...what I really want is a letter or card from everyone! Friends, family, etc! I want a million letters in the mail. That would be the best!

  I can not believe it is already the end of January! The time is passing much too rapidly! I want to make the most of this transfer and really go out with a BANG! And just be the best Hna. Roberts that I`possibly can!

  

I love you a million adorable deacons passing the sacrament

Love, Melissa the Beautiful

February 6, 2012

   I am doing great, even if it is freezing! Everyone says 'But you are from a cold state, you must be accustomed to it'. NOT SO!! The cold is my worst enemy! Besides Satan of course!

  This week was a great week...best of all...Joselyn has decided to get BAPTIZED! On Febrero 25...which if my horrible memory serves me right, the day I got baptized many years ago! She is honestly adorable. Her one 'fear' about being baptized was that she thought she would have to invite lots of people. We assured her that she could invite whoever she wanted. Also she wanted the 'guapo' Elder to baptize her but unfortunately he just got transferred! She truly is amazing. She is reading in the Book of Mormon  and is now in Mosiah! We are praying that her mom will decide to be bpatized on the same date. Julia, the mom, just wants a little more time to prepare! Julia has been telling all her friends that she is attending the Mormon Church and that she is there to stay!

We had a broadcast Stake Conference on Sunday. It turned out great, even if it started a little crazy. Our stake wrote down the wrong time...we all thought it started at 11 but it truly started at 10. Then we had to wait until 1 to watch the re-broadcast. Some investigators ended up leaving-4 hours is kind of a long time- but a lot of them stayed, got to know the members and enjoyed the conference! Everything works out in the end!

We have been seeing so many miracles and I have felt truly guided by the spirit this week. I love that feeling! I feel so strongly that Heavenly Father truly does love each of his children! We are so lucky to know that!

I love you a million baptism dates on the day that I got baptized!

Love, Melissa the Beautiful

My Week

Things are going good in Barcelona. I have had a couple discouraging days but I think this week is looking up. We have been struggling to teach lesson, really to anyone. Pres. Hinckley in my interview invited us to teach 20 lessons...to whoever we can teach. It is going to be a little hard, but we have been making tons of calls to less active and active members. We will have 20 lessons this week, and hopefully lots of references. We also have started praying that we will find prepared people in OUR area...we find lots of prepared people who live in the Elders areas. Though they do get baptized which is the most important thing.

We had a baptism...ALBA. well it was slightly a combined baptism...we taught her, the elders taught her. She lives in the other ward, but goes to our ward! She is amazing. She has been praying for 4 years that her mom would give her permission to be baptized. It was absolutely beautiful because her Dad was able to baptize her. Her face was absolutely radiant when she came out of the water! I love BAPTISMS!!! It never gets old!

I am just so happy because our recent converts have started coming back to church! And Lina found a job! Obedience brings blessings!!

I am really focusing on talking to families this week! The time is getting short- and I still need to find my family!!! I will find them!

I love you! I hope you have an absolutely fabulous week! Take care of our health!

I love you a million Baptisms...and she is a Spaniard!

Dec 4, Dec 11

Dec 4  

   I think the biggest miracle I have seen this week is the baptismal invitation. We actually had a pretty rough week, as it goes with lessons and everything. But I felt like we worked hard to teach and find prepared people. I have been studying a lot about baptism, which has given me more desires to invite people to baptism. The more I am understanding and really receiving a testimony of baptism, the more I am feeling bold and confident in the invitation. We have been inviting all of our investigators to baptism and even though they do not always accept, I leave the lessons happy because we have testified and invited them to baptism. Heavenly Father just loves his children so much.

    We are having a baptism....Steven. It is a little sad that we won´t actually get to see it! It is fun teaching him, just because he enjoys it so much. He is so excited and talks with his Dad on the phone about his baptism almost everynight!! He is adorable!
  I have been reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish and I am now in Alma 24. I am hoping to finish before I go home- I am learning a lot of things by reading in a different language. I love the story of the Anti Nephi Lehis. I have never really noticed, when the Lamanites come to kill them, that the King-all the words he says are of gratitude. He gives thanks for the missionaries, he gives thanks for a loving Heavenly Father, for a merciful Savior, for repentance. Not once does he complain that God is letting the Lamanites come and destroy them. Now I am trying to apply that- to stand on my feet, with a heart full of gratitude for all the blessings that I have recieved this year! I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ! I am so excited for this Diciembre and for all the miracles that are still to come!
   
  I am so lucky. There are so many miracles and amazing things that are happening. 

Dec 11

It is still hard for me to believe it is the Christmas season! For awhile here it was not that cold, so it did not really feel like winter! But the last week the cold has set in. We did not have heat until about 4 days ago! We have been trying to get it to work...yeah I know nothing about heaters especially Spanish ones. A magical man came and fixed it and now we are living in bliss!

Hna. Smith was sick this last week, so we spent a couple day in apartment so that she could rest. I organized a lot of things...and probably had a bit of cabin fever! There is only so much time I can devote to organizing before I go crazy! Also we had our special conference with Elder Causse of the Seventy. It was amazing! He taught us all day! It is incredible to me how he did not use notes, he was just guided by the Spirit. I had brought a couple of questions that I wanted answered and they all were answered. Heavenly Father hears our prayers!

 I love you a million hearts full of gratitude

Love, Melissa the Beautiful

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

November 21, 2011

I honestly can not believe that Thanksgiving is already here! Today we are going to look for the American food store, to see if we can find some PUMPKIN!! This is my heart´s fondest desire this week...that and find more families to baptize!!!

  I do not know what is going on with the mail. I just recieved a package from Aunt Amy that she sent at the beginning of October...it was delivered to our neighbor. It might be something to do with the zip code... I guess the real zip code is 08013. Hopefully that will help things come better but you can just send packages to the mission office if you are worried.

  This week we are having a fireside of Past, Present and Future Missionaries. It is to help the returned missionaries in our ward have desires to still be missionaries, concentrate on our efforts now and encourage the young people to serve missions! It should be pretty amazing because President Hinckley is coming...I will be speaking as well!!! Bahaha.

    We have some baptismal dates set for this next month! It is pretty exciting because the last Saturday of the month just happens to be Christmas Eve! A White Christmas indeed! And what better gift to receive than the resmission of your sins and the Holy Ghost! There have been lots of miracles as usual- people walking in from the street and wanting to know more, people who have investigated long ago showing up at church. The Christmas Spirit is in the air!!

I love you a million baptismal fechas for the perfect White Christmas

Love, Melissa the Beautiful

More pictures

Happy Halloween...a day late

  Today we get kind of a short preparation day because...it is my duty and privilege as an 'experienced' missionary of the Spain Barcelona mission, to lead around a new missionary and show her what it is like to work hard! Bahaha. And in the words of the Assistants...to know the amazing Hermana Roberts. My fame will spread far and wide. It is hilarious that I am now an 'experienced' missionary! Surprise! It should be fun and there will be lots of miracles to be found, especially with  TWO new missionaries!! I will teach them what it means to be Amazing....bahaha.

Also I told the Elders that I was the new Assistant...and they believed me.

  I am putting all the conference talks on my mp3 player so that I can listen to them while I am getting ready! There were so many good ones in this conference!!

  This week was a lot of missionary-ness. Talking to people in the street, visiting members and seeing miracles. On Sunday one of the members gave us a reference...Member references are GOLD, so I called the man yesterday. I told him that we were the missionaries that his friend Jorge had given us his number...He said 'Is this a joke?' I started laughing and said 'No we would love to meet with you!'. He agreed and we are meeting with him today!

  I have decided that my happiness as a missionary is very much based on how much I talk to people during the day! When I am sharing my testimony, I come home exhausted but so happy. It is the best. I don´t think I ever realized how satisfying it is to share what you believe!

I love you a million member references...even when they think it is a joke!

Love, Melissa the Beautiful