My Mission Call

Cleveland Ohio. Yes, that is where I will be spending a year and a half of my life. In the blistering cold of North Eastern America, and the humid summers of Lake Erie. I'll be speaking in church on the 28th of December. I'm going to the Salt Lake Temple Saturday November 15th. It's the 4pm session and I'm inviting all my friends and family that can make it to be there. I'm so excited to serve the Lord and dedicate my life to him for just a small moment. For those of you who haven't heard there is quite the story in the opening of my call.

When I got my call out of the mailbox, I was the only one home. I was ready to rip it open right then and there. However, I decided that I couldn't handle the upsetness of my mother after. So, I called her and told her it was here. Well, Dad and Ethan are out of town for a couple of days and Emalee was...well doing whatever Emalee does...and Winston of course is down at school. So, we got permission to open it and I went up to the store where we got everyone else on speakerphone and mom and I and Emalee opened the call.

As I read the letter..."Sister McNeil you have been called to serve in the New Jersey Cherry Hills Mission Departing February 11." right on! I was so happy about this I've never been to the east coast so that will be awesome! Well, We opened my little booklet thing to see what my area was and mom says, "Abi, we have a problem" Oh dear, what could it be. Well, your booklet is for Cleveland Ohio! As you have probably guess we were in quite the predicament. We had to call church headquarters, figure out what the deal was. Well, after a while I discovered that the letter was addressed to a Sister Madeline McNeil. I just didn't notice at first because I was so excited to read the call. well, Yes, my call is to Cleveland Ohio where I will happily serve the Lord for 18 months. And my departure date it much earlier so that makes me happy.

Missionary Papers, Dancing with the Stars, the 1920's, and HSM3

I am probably the most anti-halloween person that has ever walked this earth. I'm so anti-halloween that it doesn't even deserve a capital when typing it into my blog. I despise it. Well, I was invited to a halloween murder mystery party last weekend. It was supposed to be set in the 1920's at a bar and you were to stay in character the entire time. Now, I like acting, but I went where there was a place of total strangers that I didn't know, and it's hard to act off of people you don't know. Plus, my date is now interested in another girl so i don't even think he wanted to be there with me, and it was SO long. Well, I had to go because we had been invited like a month ago. But I would like to say that it hasn't changed my feelings about halloween at all. In fact, it confirmed the number one reason that I hate it. halloween just gives girls and excuse to dress skanky. Like for instance, this one girl even still had her garments on with her mini skirt. It was a long and boring party, and I'm so glad it's over. ps. that is the very costume I wore, just with a little modifications. sorry, I don't have a picture of me in it.

On a happier note, Saturday was much better. Okay, I'm going to be honest...first of all I'm a BIG fan of musicals. I enjoy watching them, being in them, and listening to their soundtracks. Perhaps that is because my life is a musical, or I just wish it to be. Non-the-less I am partially obsessed with them. Also, I'm 100% convinced when I watch them that you will see me on the big screen one day basking in the full glory of my fifteen minutes of fame. Basically, for me, they do exactly what they should...they take me away from the world I'm living in now, and totally engulf me into their world. It's absolutely fabulous and it is for those reasons that I had been anticipating the release of Disney's High School Musical three this weekend, and for those reasons also why I most definitely enjoyed every minute of it. For those of you that for just a moment would like to get lost in another world, and remember again the wo's and o's of graduating from high school I would highly recommend it.
Sunday only brings more good news as my Stake President changed my final interview to that afternoon. I did my last interview and my papers are now to church headquarters. It will now be two or three weeks and I'll have my call! Also, it was my last class for Temple Prep so as soon as the call comes I'll be ready as ever to go through. (to the Rogers clan: I'll let you know what the plans are but I would love for you all to come through with me. Especially Aunt Lan and Uncle Dave. Hopefully you can come down, will have to scheduele and see.) All I've wanted to do for the past year and a half is go through the temple and I'm so excited for the chance I will finally have to do that. I'm so grateful for the people in my life who have influenced me for good and encouraged me all along to live my life in such a way to always be able to worthily enter the house of the Lord.

Tonight will be awesome also. Dancing with the Stars is on again. It's on at 7 on ABC. Please join me in watching it. and call and vote for Cody and Julianne!

Goodbye to Toni and Alec

I'm pleased to say that Cody and Julianne have made it through another round. Yahoo! and, one of my least favorites was kicked off! Yippy! Nothing new and exciting other than that for today. OH, Missionary Update: My papers are to the Stake President. I have an interview on Thursday October 30th. So, I'm predicting a call around Thanksgiving. Maybe I will get to go through the temple on my actual birthday. (dec 11) That would be awesome huh? Well, I'll let everyone know more as more happens!

Dancing with the Stars

My TV show lately has been Dancing with the Stars. I'm not sure why but this year I've just really been into it. It's on at 7 on Monday nights and the eliminations are on at 8 Tuesday nights. watch it. It's good! go Cody and Juliann!

Another Trip

Yes,I'm definitly a cowgirl. I got to spend the weekend with dad and Ethan riding. It was so fun. I cherish every moment I get to spend with them. It is so special. We went down by Castle Dale (southern Utah) and rode. It was beautiful. You cannot see the things we saw without being on horseback or hiking. It was wonderful. It's weekends like this and seeing the things we saw that make me think we had a say in the creation. Love you all!

Another weekend horse riding.

It seems I'm turning more into a cowgirl then ever. Our family friend from Hawaii was in town for a conference for school and she was able to spend a day with us. It was so good to see her and just feel of her presence and goodness. Thanks Shanoa for a great ride and the chance to see you and get to know you even better! Love ya and Aloha!

What a weekend!

WOW! I don't think I could have asked for a better weekend. I loved every second of it. One of my old roommates from school came and stayed with me. It started off with us going to the high schools homecoming football game. It was a lot of fun, mostly because she's from California and loves the hole "small town" thing. Well, the game got a little boring, to say the least, so we headed out with my parents to see "American Carol" it was a pretty funny movie and I would recommend it if your in for a short lived laugh.
Saturday, of course, was perfect because it was the start of General Conference. But what made it even better is I got up early, went for a run, and then dad asked me to come help him outside for a little bit. So, I got to spend some time with him and just talking to him. I cherish every moment I get to spend one on one with him, with each of my family members in fact. They are so precious to me and I cherish every one of those memories. Plus, the calm of a gentle rainstorm and a slight chill outside made a peaceful atmosphere for watching conference.
There were many things about conference that I liked, like many of you it was exactly what I needed to hear in this time of my life. I loved the laughter and council that we were given by many. Mostly, I'm grateful for the reminders from Elder Wirthlin and President Monson to laugh and to be grateful and to live in today, no matter how hard it is. There isn't a heartache out there that a little laughter can't help and the atonement can't cure. All shared beautiful messages and all filled my spirit with a great calm. After the sessions on Saturday my friend and I carved pumpkins and then we went and had a girls game night with our neighbors as the boys were at the priesthood session.
When Sunday came my entire family was happy to relax together and enjoy the words of our prophet. We love him so dearly. After the session my friend wanted to go on a horse ride so Ethan willingly took us on a simple Sunday cruise. It was fun and certainly enjoyable for the rookie. We had the neighbors over for dinner and sang Happy Birthday to Caitlin (My friend) because she turned 20 on Saturday. Thanks Caitlin for a great weekend and all the great memories.
In other short and quick news, I have turned in my mission papers and actually have an interview with the bishop tonight. I can't believe this is really happening. I've dreamed of it for most of my life and I'm so excited to go out there and share the joy that I feel, the knowledge of the restored gospel, and the blessing of a prophet on the earth today, with others. I'll keep you all updated as more things happen. Please pray for me as you can. I would appreciate all of them as I embark on this most wonderful, and most anticipated journey in my life!