Well, it isn't like anyone reads this blog site anyway. Why would you? It's so boring! Too many words and an overload of pictures you don't care about.

I simply want to give a brief summary of my mission now that I've come home.

I left to the Provo MTC a month after turning 21, October 2011, and came home earlier this year in March, 2013. I served a full-time, honorable mission. My goal one of these days to write about each day I spent as a missionary before my mind totally gives out on me.

I had so many experiences! Looking back I wish I had written them down as each day passed. It's kind of funny because you don't realize you've changed until you're staring at your old self and asking, "who are you?" and your old self responds, "wow. you look amazing! I'm proud of you". That's how I feel now that I'm back.

My mission means everything to me. I learned that I am a daughter of God. He loves me. He wants me to be happy.

"I do not boast of my own strength but in the greatness of my God". I don't know everything but I know enough. He can be trusted and I must trust Him. I want to be happy, now I know how. Before I was just guessing.

Never will I forget the love I have felt from my Heavenly Father. Never will I forget the love I have felt for His children. Sometimes, I caught a glimpse of them through His eyes... it's beautiful. He loves us so much. He wants us to be happy and has shown us the way.

The hard part is for us to follow the simple truths He has outlined.

Pray always

Study the scriptures

Keep His commandments

I spent 3/4 of my time with the Hispanic people in San Leandro, Concord and Oakland, California. 1/4 of my time was spent in learning Spanish in the MTC and serving in the Oakland Temple Visitors' Center giving tours to curious walk ins. 

I love the Spanish people. I love their culture, their language, their food (oooh, how I love the food!) and their kindness. I hope to work with them in the future. I study Spanish now at BYU and hope to become a financial advisor someday. I also plan on going to hair school too. It's an interesting plan, I know, but I know it'll all work out! 

ONE DAY LEFT

Holy creation. The day is fast approaching. What happened to my 3 months to prepare?? Ah yes, it was spent with friends and family, playing games and watching movies, singing songs and going shopping, taking walks and having chats.

Thanks to all who came out to my farewell party! It was a wonderful time indeed.

Also, thanks to everyone who has been so helpful in preparing me for this new adventure! Namely, my parents; thanks for teaching me how to get along with others and how to treat people with respect, Mom and Dad. To my siblings, thanks for helping me to be patient and loving no matter what the situation is! To my extended family, thank you for being supportive and excited for me to take on a challenge that many of us are unfamiliar with - it really is unchartered territory so thank you for being behind me on this. I cannot and never will forget the many friends and leaders who have also been superb listeners as I've ranted and raved about my life. Thank you for taking the time to listen!

I will miss being home but I know the Lord will protect you in your daily adventures. I love you all and cannot wait to hear how you're doing. See you in a short, 18 months!

Christmas in the MTC!

In addition to getting that email this morning about my MTC mailbox, I called in to find out when I would be leaving for CA. Sarah, a very nice girl from the Travel Department looked up my mission, my name and said, "You'll be flying out on December 28," then hung up.

DECEMBER 28!!!

I'll be in the MTC for Christmas! My mom is excited because supposedly all the General Authorities visit the missionaries on the 25th, which, by the way, is on Sunday this year.

Being on Sunday probably isn't a big deal, or even a little deal, but it's still interesting.

Anyway, I'll be in Oakland when the Temple looks like this!! Sweet!


My farewell party is tomorrow and we have been cleaning the house in preparation. It's Fall Break so my sisters have been put to work as well as any friends who come over. I think it deterred quite a few people from stopping by to say hello. At least until tomorrow.

5 Days Before

Dear Sister KariElle Thalman , Congratulations on your call to serve!  We are excited about your arrival at the Provo  Missionary Training Center next week and are grateful for your decision to serve the  Lord.  We would like to share some important information about your stay at the MTC. This will be your MTC mailing address: Sister KariElle Thalman MTC Mailbox # 248 CA-OAK 1228 2005 N 900 E Provo, UT 84604-1793 Please share this address with those who may want to write or send packages to  you while you are in the MTC.  Please pay particular attention to the following items: 1. Your service begins the day you check into the MTC.  Remind your family that  complete separation from loved ones is part of the sacrifice that families and  missionaries contribute to the work.  For this reason, you should ask your family  and friends not to attempt to see or visit with you while you are at the MTC, not  even during your temple walks or at other places near the MTC. 2. All missionary mail must come through the US Mail or commercial delivery  services.  These services should not be used to send pizzas, fast foods, ice-cream,  or any items that will spoil if they are not refrigerated within 24 hours.  Missionaries  are not called out of class to receive packages, nor do they have access to a refrigerator.   For security reasons, we cannot accept any items delivered by hand. 3. Communication with family can be done through your missionary email account on  your weekly Preparation Day.  Communication to you from friends should be through  letters mailed to the above address.  We cannot accept telephone calls for missionaries. 4. Families and friends should not visit missionaries as they depart to their field of labor,  whether at the MTC or at the airport. Please do not reply to this email.  If you need to communicate with the MTC,  please call 801-422-2602. Sincerely, Provo MTC Presidency

The Help

I know I'm a few months behind in watching this movie but my tardiness does not take away from how incredible it was!! HOLY COW I was bawling by the end of it.

The way white people treated their colored help is disgusting. Aside from people who's behavior is disrespectful I decided that the second worst behavior to have, in my opinion, is being spineless. Stand up for what's right! It's hard when there are so many people who will belittle you in the moment but over time,  what you choose to say or not to say will be remembered.

After playing laser tag for our brother's 10th birthday party me and my sisters went to see The Help

I was talking with Edison, my sister, about how interesting time is. She's about to turn 17 and I'm 21; neither of us are in the second quarter of our lives yet and look at how big our decisions are! Great things are ahead of us - we have nothing but time and happiness to make the most of.

In one week I'll be leaving for the MTC. It doesn't feel real to me. How did it come up so fast? I'm pretty sure I have all my stuff ready to go. I have 10 pairs of tights, 7 skirts, 20+ tops and 5 shoes to interchange for the next 18 months. Good thing I'm not big into jewelry because I just picked up a years supply of make-up too; I go through mascara like no ones business and my supply of deodorant is impressive (not that you needed to know that).

What an exciting opportunity for me to go on a mission! I love this gospel and truly believe that it changes lives but I'm still nervous. People go and come back all the time - I'm not scared of dying or anything. Strange foods are eaten and digested regardless of what it tastes like - I'll be in California so I doubt I'll be eating spider eggs. I've been around Spanish my whole life - I'm anxious and happy to learn the language. I guess what I'm trying to prove is that I don't know what it is that makes me antsy about leaving. Maybe it's because I'm one of the first one to go out of my family and girl friends? No, that's not it. I've always been a Pave The Way type of person. I guess it must be that I'm not clear on what to expect - other than the best time of my life up to this point.

In a way, I'm jealous that boys, for their whole lives, are taught and expected to serve a mission. It seems like they have so much more time to get pumped for this major, life changing experience. Girls are taught to respect ourselves and encourage spirituality so that the boys will get on their missions haha. It's a two player game, for sure.

Anyway, I'm excited and nervous and also indifferent because I know that it'll be the experience I want it to be. Now it's time for me to pack my suitcases so I can get out of this beautiful 90 degree weather and off to Provo for some temps at 40 and below!

My mission plaque photo

Fences

Today was wonderful. The past few weeks have been surprisingly wonderful actually. I've spent a lot of quality time with my family and have deepened relationships with a quite few new friends (if you know me, which I assume you do, then you know how much I love my friends). I ALSO LOVE MY FAMILY so don't think this next thought lessens the love I have for them. With this amazing group of people I've been hanging out with lately we take time to think about other people and do activities for them just because. It's amazing!! If you know how much I love my family and how much I love my friends then you also know how much I love service. I feel like it's a great opportunity to help others feel good while at the same time creating better friendships with the people you're serving with. It's totally win-win; I love winning.

My farewell talk is this coming Sunday and I'm talking about Love. I'll probably throw in a few things that I heard from conference and a few tid bits of gold nuggets from my buddies (if you have any suggestions/comments please feel free to let me know). One of my most recent favorite ideas is that we need Love to become more like Christ and Heavenly Father. They love everyone and we need to obtain and work on that characteristic in order to become God-like someday. How cool, right!? If we all had love for each other then there wouldn't be so many horrible things in the world.

I went over to my buddy's house to sing a song for his grandparents - it was the best. In addition to being super loving grandparents, these two are so in love you could feel it from the front lawn. They are also incredibly spiritual. After we sang, his grandma sat us down and started talking to us about fences. At first I was thinking, "hrm. this is interesting", but after a few seconds I was so wrapped up in what she was saying I could have cried. I didn't - but almost did. She made me miss my grandmas. Anyway, Nonies wisdom, like I mentioned, was about fences. To every decision there is first a fence that either blocks us or lets us in. So true!!! It got me thinking, what are my fences? Do I have fences? Have I crossed some and gone through doors I shouldn't have? Are there some fences in place that need mending? Before she finished her pep talk I decided "yes" to all the above. In my effort to re-establish my fences, making sure they're thick, barb wired and electric like some of them should be, I'm going to write them down.

Fences for Myself
Don't make fun of people or their ideas, even in teasing; it's rude.
Always say please and thank you, don't forget to be respectful.
Stay out of a guys room! Bad things can happen when you're in there alone.
The same potentially bad things can happen if no one is home - go outside.
Don't kiss every boy who comes along. Kisses are not pretzels! That's just asking for heart ache.
Be nice! When you're kind people are usually more welcoming.
If you think it might hurt someone's feelings, it's probably best not to say it.
Stay away from places with drinking and smoking - staying away makes it easy to say no.
If you don't want to cuss/talk nasty then don't put that language in your head so listen to good music.
Don't try on clothes that aren't modest because it just makes it harder not to buy/wear.
Say 'I Love You' to the people you love or they might never know; don't over use the phrase till it becomes meaningless.
Eat your veggies and drink LOTS of water to avoid being unhealthy.
Listen to other people before talking about yourself - it makes for better relationships.
Don't worry about what you can't control so you're faith in God doesn't dwindle.

By the way, the photos are from a shoot I did last summer with my Jennie Rae.

October 19 1:10 PM

Go to this website to see other cool, helpful and interesting things to know before going into the MTC. The best thing I grabbed from going to this is MY ENTRY TIME. That will be vital to starting my mission off on the right foot haha.