one year ago today....

my oh my how time flies. what a cliche saying, i know. time really does do that though. one year ago today, i said my goodbyes to the great state of texas and hopped on that plane. i remember it feeling totally surreal. i could't possibly be going HOME already! insane. i think it became more of a reality to me when i saw my mama...and then the rest of my loved ones. it was weird because they kept calling me mindy. it was a joyous time though. it's nice to be home but boy do i miss texas. i do. a. lot. :)

what have i done within the past year? hmmmm. stuff. i've done a lot of stuff. here's just a few that come to mind. the list:

1.baby carter born 

2.being a group-ee for imagine dragons (brother's band)

3.camping 

4.disneyland with my family!

5.first thanksgiving and christmas at home after 2 years.

6.back to school...it was nice to go back.

7.working as a baptistry worker in the temple

8.brother getting married...they are so happy.

also, living in provo has brought many great and not so great experiences. however, it's the not so great ones that have taught me the most. funny how that works. it's usually through the hard things that we grow the most. so, i guess all in all the "bad" things are actually good. yup. i have gained so many friends while being here in provo town. seriously. bosom friends...if you will. ha. we have all helped each other through some hard things and THAT is no coincidence. God is good. He is great.

so, i LOVE <3 my mission. i love it. i will never forget. never ever. it's crazy and almost makes me sick to think that i almost didn't go on a mission. that was the hardest decision for me to make. i was terrified to go. it was all SO unknown. i learned in an institute class once that sometimes you have to take that step or leap of faith into the darkness/unknown and then the Lord will reveal packets of information and light along the way. it's scary but i would never change my decision to serve a mission.

Elder Bednar said this...

"Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that ‘leap of faith,’ as the philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and stepped into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two. ‘The spirit of man,’ as the scripture says, indeed ‘is the candle of the Lord’ (Proverbs 20:27)."

amen. :)