Sunday, 11 A.M. Hinckely Building. BE THERE!

I want to inform you, if you haven't read this week's "Progress," that I am speaking in church this Sunday, the 15th. It's President's day weekend, so if you're looking for a get-away, come home! Come say hello (and goodbye) before I run away to Germany. :)

23 days . . . and random thoughts

Today's being February 2nd and all means I only have 23 days left before the 25th. Now, for the random thought. On the sidebar of my blog there is a picture from London of the Beast in a production of Beauty and the Beast. I quote, "I think this is an interesting interpretation of this story. It fascinates me because by the end of the play/movie/production, you LOVE the Beast! How could anyone love this alienated creature? He's a mixture of George Lucas' imagination and Christmas lights. He's scary looking! And tall! So . . . how do I love him? " I want to clarify something on that last bit. I am not opposed to tall people, in any way or means. Actually, when it comes to attractiveness, I prefer them. I'm short (tallest of the girls in my family, but hey . . .) My sons need a shot at tall genes somewhere! Anyway . . . random enough thought? yeah . . . it is.

I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents . . .

"What could you do better for your children and your children's children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?"

President Spencer W Kimball

My sister Heidi loves quotes. She sent us a text a few days ago asking if we had any really good ones to maybe be her theme for the year. I think she's amazing at keeping a journal, and when I read this quote I thought of her. I'm an awful journal writer, if you count journaling as only writing the events of the day in a diary looking book. I think I have to look outside the box to keep my record. I think I count blogging as a record. Then, if I do that, it's not so bad! :) I share my feelings and tell funny stories about stupid and cool things I do. I've shared testimony and talked about overcoming fears. And! you all get to read it! Luckies! I type a bajillion times faster than I write with a pen or pencil, so I tend to write more often. I like getting things done but I really love detail. Details are hard to capture when you write slow and there's a space or time limit to meet. Books can be restricting that way . . . anyway. I just wanted to share this cool quote, and you know . . . add to this record, which I know is a true account that I make with mine own hand. ;)

Mission advice?

My mission packet said I had to send 8 passport pictures to the mission president asap. I got those off yesterday with a note asking for advice of what to buy and where. I don't know if I'll hear back from him or not. My aunt's foreign exchange student from Germany shops when she comes to America because everything is so much cheaper but Heidi wishes she'd bought her winter boots and coat in the country because then she wouldn't have had to lug them all around Chile. Needless to say, and don't be shocked, but I'm really nervous! When I tell people I'm going to Germany I get one of two reactions. First choice: They look at me incredulously because how could somewhere so gorgeous and beautiful count as a mission when really it's the perfect dream vacation. Or Second Choice: They grin at me like they know something I don't know and wish me luck like I'm going to convert the Pope. I mean, I know European missions are hard, but isn't every mission hard? I love the people and I speak their language fair enough already. I love the Gospel and I have a testimony of it. That should count for something, right? So, you returned missionaries, what's your best advice? And you not-returned missionaries, what's yours? A friend on a mission right now just says to leave everything behind, excluding him. :) Haha! If you want to write me, I'd be more than happy to have mail! And, I promise no matter how long it takes, I'll write back eventually. - Lyndi

A-Z tag . . .

I'm copying Coley 'cause I'm bored :) so here goes . . .

A: ATTACHED or SINGLE? hmmm . . . single

B: BEST FRIEND? today, let's go with Heidi, my older sister


C: CAKE or PIE? PIE! PIE! PIE! PIE! I despise cake. It's dry and unless it's got divine frosting, any kind of pie is better. I experienced my first key-lime pie this Thanksgiving, and let's just say (I love lime) it was heavenly

D: DAY of CHOICE? right now they're all about the same, except for one little thing. tuesday is temple day, I'll pick tuesday

E: ESSENTIAL ITEM? kleenex . . . in any shape or size or color, though white is my preference. I can't seem to get enough these days stupid cold

F: FAVORITE COLOR? green, in almost every and any shade

G: GUMMY BEARS or WORMS? bears. The originals came from Germany. Haribo is the best!

H: HOMETOWN? sometimes we call it the Armpit of America, but it's not that bad :)

I: INDULGENCE? bread. I'm not a chocolate fan, ice cream makes my stomach hurt. I have allergies to wheat and dairy, but if there's bread around, it's SO tempting. oh, and brownies. they're not safe from me either, so it's a good thing there aren't any around . . . haha :)

J: JANUARY or JULY? July. I prefer summer to winter. I like heat

K: KIDS? do I have them? no. do I like them? yeah, especially when they're happy


L: LIFE ISN'T COMPLETE WITHOUT? family. I have the tendency to think mine is the best, and I look forward to starting my own someday

M: MARRIAGE DATE? hmm . . . well, let's not say december anything because then my birthday, christmas AND my anniversary would all be in the same month

N: NUMBER of BROTHERS and SISTERS? 2 sisters and 3 brothers

O: ORANGES or APPLES? if the orange is perfect and chilled, oranges. if the apple is pink lady and there's peanut butter around, apples. actually, my favorites are beautiful, ripe, juicy nectarines and peaches

P: PHOBIAS? being alone, cancer (not dying, that's ok, but cancer really scares me), going blind

Q: QUOTE? "Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort." FDR
"In vain I have struggled, it will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." Mr. Darcy


R: REASON to SMILE? I'm going to Germany!

S: SEASON of CHOICE? summer, but they all have their ups and downs

T: coley left this one out . . . .

U: UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME? my eye doctor told me my eyesight is so good I should be a fighter pilot

V: VEGETABLE? all of them but brussel sprouts. I live on vegetables and protein

W: WORST HABIT? cleaning my fingernails with whatever I can find, including my teeth

X: X-RAY or ULTRASOUND? neither if I can help it

Y: YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? hmm . . . I love food, can it all be my favorite?

Z: ZODIAC SIGN? sagittarius

Beautiful Temple

I went through the temple on December 27th. I took some pictures of the temple I love most in the world. It's beautiful. And, someone who thinks I'm beautiful took one of me. I liked it. So here they are, though I have many many many more. :)

Mission Call!

I must confess, I received my mission call weeks ago. I opened it on the night of Friday, December 19th. However, I'm not telling where I'm going until I tell the story.

Thursday: After I'd finished all of my exams (yes, it was finals week at BYU) I could finally focus on the project I'd worked on throughout the week, due the next day at 11. I am a costume design major and my final project for my design class was to costume 6-8 characters from a show. I had my ideas, fabric swatches, history and images to work with, but I hadn't started drawing or painting or anything like that. I had all my supplies and a work space cleared. At 4 pm I sat down to work. At about 7 pm my sister called and wanted to know when we'd be able to go home. I was sure I'd communicated that I had to go to work Friday until 6 pm, and then I would have to go back to my apartment and pack and clean. There was no way I would be ready to go until at least Saturday. This is the best (almost anyway) part. Heidi and Trevor really wanted to go home (so did I, but didn't think it was possible before Saturday) so Heidi came to my apartment and packed all of my things! I pulled out the few things I would need before the next day, and she packed everything else. From the kitchen to laundry, the bedroom to bathroom Heidi put everything in boxes and bags and hauled them from my apartment to her car to Grandma's house. I sat in the same chair the entire time drawing, tracing, coloring, painting. Heidi left around 1 in the morning, my apartment was bare. She left me my computer and a few movies with whose company I could finish the project, a change of clean clothes for the next day, and a can of tuna and one of V8 for lunch. She also left the sheets, blankets, and pillows on my bed, hoping that I'd make it there before work. I didn't. not really. I'd started the project at 4 Thursday afternoon and finished in Friday morning around 8.

Friday: After the project was 100% finished, I took about 15 minutes to just lay on my bed. I don't think I was asleep. After telling your body it can't sleep for 16 hours straight, I don't think it wants to afterward. It's like missing the exit from the freeway. Once it's gone, it's gone and you have to keep going. Anyway . . . after sleeping failed, I jumped in the shower to freshen myself up. I hate being dirty. I was in the process of straightening my hair when my mom called. This is a very rare occurrence. Don't think that my mom is a bad mom because she never calls me. "It just does not work that way." (That's a quote from President Packer, I love it.) My mom is the most thoughtful and wonderous person ever. She doesn't call because she knows we're busy. She keeps herself free so that we can call her when we're not. It works nicely. :) So, I was a bit surprised when she called. I thought something had gone wrong, someone had died or something. I asked what was up and she said something like, "I think you should call your boss and tell her you can't work today." Mom, I have to work today. Nobody else is qualified to do my job and those that are are already gone. "Could you get it off if you told them your mission call was waiting for you at home?" Is it?! "Yes." AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! I woke two roommates and danced around my apartment screaming for what felt like 10 minutes, even though it was probably only 2. I had despaired when it didn't come on Thursday like the Post Office said it would if it was coming. I was sure it wouldn't come for another two weeks since the next Thursday was Christmas. But no! It was waiting for me at home!!! All the tiredness and aches from denying my body sleep were gone. I was so excited. The rest of the story isn't important. Well, let's rephrase that. I finished my hair, said goodbye to roommates and friends, exchanged Christmas presents and wishes with few, and went to turn in my project. It was beautiful and I got 100% on it. My mom called me and said she'd called my boss and arranged it that I wouldn't have to go to work. She then said she'd asked Trevor, my brother, to help me with my cleaning check so that we could get headed home before the weather got nasty. Trevor came over and mopped my floor! (Holy smokes . . . he must really have wanted to go home.) We finally left Provo around 5 pm which was LOTS earlier than I thought was possible. We drove through terrible snow from Provo to Filmore, taking three hours for an hour and 20 minute drive. We arrived in Overton, and at home, at about 11 pm Utah time.

After hugging mom a couple times, Grant and Pamela at least once, and pacing up and down, I thought "Just get it over with." More than once in the car, I fell silent and Heidi said, "Mission call?" Yeah. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I SO wanted it to be the Lord's will for me. I was so nervous . . . I wanted whatever it said to bring peace to the churning sea of nerves in my stomach. I knew that in order to serve for 18 months I would need to know the call was perfect for me. People asked me where I wanted to go and I simply told them, wherever the Lord sends me. I can't pick a place because I can't start out disappointed. So, I finally braced myself and grabbed the envelope. I sat down in the blue recliner, indian style. My fingers fumbled as I broke the seal and ripped the contents out placing them face down. I didn't want any surprises before I was ready. I placed the envelope over the text so that I could slide it down, reading only one line at a time.

Dear Sister Mecham,
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

That's about how it went. :) The name of the church fills up a whole line! The next line . . . I didn't get a whole lot out of! Heidi, who was standing behind me screamed too. She saw it . . . :) I tried to get the rest of the words out through the tears that had already begun to flow.

You are assigned to labor in the Germany Munich/Austria Mission. (Then everyone else screamed.) It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Missionary Training Center at Provo, Utah on Wednesday, 25 February, 2009. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the German language. . .

The rest was very beautiful, but I won't share it here.

Sincerely,
Thomas S. Monson
President

So, that's the story. I immediately began calling people who expressed desire to know ASAP, like Grandma and Carolyn Jensen. Bradley was on the phone listening, but you know he's deaf, so I re-read it for him. I sent out texts to everyone in my phone (if you didn't get one there's a post on my blog previous explaining why. It's not because I don't love you, it's because I no longer have your number!)

If you don't know where Germany, Munich, or Austria are, these may jog your memory.



That would be "The Sound of Music", Neuschwanstein Castle, and Hallstatt. Very famous, very beautiful. I'll get to the Alps in the Spring. May. Oh man . . . it's perfect. :)

December 2, 1987. 1:36 a.m.

A little girl was born twenty one years ago. She grew up and is now heading off into the world to do crazy and wonderful things! Ok, so it was my birthday today (tomorrow doesn't start until I've gone to bed and woken up on a new day). I just wanted to post something special . . . to commemorate all the amazing and wonderful things that happened! I finished and turned in a psychology research paper, I got two papers turned in, and graded with perfect scores(!), I had many many many birthday wishes, I made some sweet Saturday Divine Comedy plans, I got asked out on a date for Friday night, I went to the Temple, I watched Bolt with Heidi and laughed really hard, Bradley took me on a lunch date to Bajio where I thoroughly enjoyed my delicious meal, I was treated to free Jamba by an incredibly sweet coworker, I got lots of movies (my favorite thing in the whole wide world - with maybe one or two exceptions) and a digital camera! My home teachers and visiting teachers gave me presents, my roommate made me dinner (and it was delicious!) My secret santa brought me orange jello (MY FAVORITE!), I have amazing roommates, an excellent bishop and an awesome stake president. I had a little meeting with him tonight, and if you're still reading this post, you'll know that my mission papers are in and I am awaiting a mission call. :D There . . . it's official. Now you can tell everyone you know, and I'm telling everyone I don't know too! I had two friends get engaged on my birthday and I'm going on a mission. A really good friend dropped balloons onto my balcony, ballasted with candy (with gummi bears, my favorite chewy candy), and now I have to either do homework or go to sleep. Maybe one before the other? I'm exhausted because the day has been literally, so incredibly amazing. Thank you to everyone who made my birthday wishes come true. Thank you to my wonderful family, without whom, I would not be a Mecham. Thank you to all those who gave me their love today. I felt it in great abundance. :) And, I love you all back that much more.

Enamored with Enamel

So, this morning I woke up with something hard in my mouth. Obviously I spat it out and went promptly back to sleep. I forgot about it until about half way through psychology when I discovered that the back of a bottom tooth wasn't nearly as smooth as it used to be. I remembered the hard thing in my sleeping mouth and made some connections. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I believe that somehow, my tooth chipped during the night, wound up floating around in my mouth, and then shortly thereafter ended up somewhere on my pillow, on my bed, or on my floor . . . The only other suggestion I can offer is that a large amount of cement used to hold my former "permanent" retainer in place finally decided to dislodge itself from my teethies. The reasoning behind that suggestion is that on a recent trip to the dentist, I noticed the hygienist scraping those bottom teeth quite vigorously. New dentist, doesn't know my tooth history, thinks they're dirty or something . . . whatever. That is the latest in the life of Lyndi, literally. Back to homework now . . . there's lots of it. :)

Water + Cell Phone = sadness

Hey Everybody,
Sad day, but my phone had a run-in with some water and I had to get a new one. They couldn't get my phone to respond at all, so I lost everything: Contacts, messages, pictures, the works. If you read my blog and have my phone number, just text me or call me with your number so I can add you into my new phone. Much love,
Lyndi

Oh I feel amazing . . .

You should ask me why, but since I know you won't really, I'll blog about it and you can read it! I feel amazing because I read a 221 page book yesterday for a class, wrote a paper on it this morning, took it to my TA and only had to change 3 measly things! She liked my application, thought it was a strong paper, with a firm stance in opinion, and the things I had to change were only citing sources and a sentence re-wording!Oh I feel amazing . . . Usually my papers require extensive rewrites. The points are awarded out of ten and usually, if I don't get help on a paper, they give me about 8.5. When I go in and get help, I can get 10s. They always say my papers are good, but that I haven't quite applied myself enough to it. Well, not today! :D It gives me much more than a slight level of satisfaction knowing that I can read, apply and schpeal in a sociological mindset. The book was Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. Apart from the foul language and graphic settings (to which we were forewarned) it was a very interesting read. I admit that I didn't get it until after I'd read it, and even now it blows my mind that things like dehumanization and degredation happen all the time and we think it's ok. I have to go to class and turn in the paper, but I could really talk about this forever . . . or as Helena Bonham Carter says in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, when grown-ups say forever they mean a very long time. :)

Lameness of our lives!!

All the time I spent fixing that stupid format junk and the post still looks weird . . . I hate the writing snaking its way between the picture and the line. Dumb. Dumb. Dumbness. Bah . . . :)

ten minute breaks

So I've been sitting at the same computer in the library for about an hour and a half, working on the same paper I've been working on for three days now. I need a break; I don't have facebook; I don't have any food; if I get up I'll feel guilty that there's a line of people waiting for my computer. Hence, I blog. I have my flash drive stuck in the computer because, obviously, when writing a paper on a school computer you must save to an external device. My external device happens to have pictures on it. What an excellent diversion! Flipping through the pictures I found these. It's a good thing I trust Luke. He says 15 minute breaks are better, and I needed the extra five to get a good format. Wish me luck with the paper, and the exam I have to take tonight before 8. :)

Tiffed

Ok, I just need to blow some steam. I study in the library. I like studying in the library. It's quiet and, for me, productive. I came into the library after my 10 o'clock class to study for an exam. However, I had a thought. "My buddy so-and-so studies in the basement! I'll bet he/she's down there now. I could write that paper on a computer down there and run into him/her. Sweet plan." So, I took the stairs to the basement comptuer rather than the 5th floor cubicle, in hopes of seeing my friend. Ok. I sit down, log in, get all my little windows open . . . gmail, blackboard, and Microsoft Word . . . and take a little look around. There he/she is! :) I wanted to surprise the friend in question, so I just sat taller and made myself look more prominent. This is where I set myself up for failure. The party in question either totally didn't notice me or totally didn't recognize me! It has NOT been very long since I've seen the person, so they should remember, even at least vaguely that we are friends and not just acquaintances. I just bide my time, waiting for them to notice. He/she was packing up to leave and I was getting nervous. What if they didn't come over? I put all of this effort into coming to see them and they were just going to walk away. But then, I see him/her look up and smile. It's got to be at me, right?! We even made eye contact! They're coming over! I scoot out of the desk to stand up for the hug . . . and they walk past and up the stairs behind me. :( Devastating. I don't think I'll be able to bring myself into the basement of the library for a long time. 5th floor cubicles don't allow you to make stupid mistakes when you want to surprise someone. You're all enclosed, with no one to surprise, and no distractions to keep you from studying for that History of Costume exam. I'm done venting now. Thanks for reading.

Takin a break

I'm supposed to be studying my brains out for a psychology test, but I've been in class and doing homework since about 8:45 this morning. I've eaten lunch, but ditched out on the shower idea . . . something I NEVER do because I HATE being dirty. . . and am now sitting down to have a ten minute break. :) School is going well! I have 16 credit hours and am working 13 hours a week at Jamba Juice. I tried to figure out how much free time I would have if I was really doing the homework schedule - 2 hours a week for every credit hour the class is, or whatever - and technically, not including sleeping 8 hours a night, I should have 23 hours of free time. This is not including Sunday, so I just made it a 6 day week. I have no idea where those 23 hours are . . . I haven't had 2 to rub together yet! I really like working because then I get a paycheck! Today was payday, which just makes the day lovlier. I wish they didn't take so much out for taxes, but so it is. I like payday because then I can get out of debt. I owed a roommate for a choir concert ticket and I owed Trevor for Sushi! I love sushi . . . oh deliciousness . . . anyway. My ten minutes is up. I have to study/read/memorize Psychology stuff now. Much Love!! - Lyndi