mission pictures

Alrighty folks, prepare yourselves for photo a overload. 

The air was so crisp & cold the day we took these pictures.

So I'm happy she was able to capture some real smiles of mine.

Only 27 days until I move to New York, with a short stop in Utah!

Here's to 27 days!

xoxo

Day of Love

 my little love letters...

dear family,
mahalo for being my valentines this year
& for letting me crash on your sofa, raid your pantry & claim your free time.
have i told you how much i love you lately?
dad, mom, peyton, saulie, olivia
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

dear new york,
i've been working on my fast walk +  learning spanish phrases such as:
"me encanta el queso y jesús"
im really excited/nervous to meet you soon!
36 days!

dear spanish,
i'm gonna figure you out one of these days
in the meanwhile, ill just be grateful that:
LOVE is the universal language

dear sweet tooth fairy,
can you please come visit me in boise soon?
i could marry you!
i love you that much.

dear rain,
you gave me a chance to wear my beloved orange rain boots this past week.
i owe ya one

dear yoga mat,
hello! i am so happy that you have made a comeback into my morning routine.
i am also so sorry i'd forgotten of your existence for a little bit.

dear mom,
thank you for letting me spend the whole day with you
& for decorating your heart shaped cookies messy with frosting today.
you're right, sometimes love is really messy.

dear dad,
you sure know how to make a girl feel special.
the high school choir singing valentine gram was so cheesy-lovely.
i loved it!

dear valentines day,
i really do love love! you are my favorite holiday. thank you for reminding me to pause and reflect on the people & things that i hold dear to my heart....and for giving me an excuse to wear my red sparkly heart skirt all day long.

Xoxo,
mariah

Happy Valentine's Day!

Look Up

In case you were wondering,
things don't get easier when you decide to go on a mission.
In fact, sometimes things are harder.
The stake president warned me that
things might become hard in ways I wouldn't imagine.
 
So you might have to establish a winter motto,
just so you can get by.

This motto will be one that you can use when
change has filled all the air that you breath in.

You repeat this self declaration for
your changing friendships,
the last loaf of bread you sell at the bakery,
standing books on your shelves that now all rest in brown boxes,
all the Spanish learning fails,
writing goodbye letters.

Because life is still, oh so wonderful!
but sometimes you just gotta remember that
"it is better to look up" :)

I know that as we work to have brighter + happy days, they will come!

"If we exercise our faith and look to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life. We will not feel incapable of doing what we are called to do or need to do. We will be strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy."

I feel like the world is a much better place thanks to Thomas S. Monson! He has taught me that despite our circumstances, this life is meant to be lived happily- the choice is up to you.

Remember, it is better to look up! :)

pssst here is the neat talk that my current favorite mantra comes from:
It Is Better to Look Up by Carl B. Cook

Con mucho amor,
      your girl mariah

I accept

After you receive a mission call you write a letter to the first presidency of the church stating that you accept your mission call. I want to share my acceptance letter to keep a record of it for myself and to also share with you my testimony and thoughts about my mission call.

 2016-12-18

 Dear Brethren,

 

My heart is filled with joy and I feel extraordinarily blessed! I humbly accept my mission call to the New York New York North Spanish speaking mission. I feel great peace in my heart with where I have been assigned to serve a mission. I promise that I will work very hard every day. I will strive to be more like my Savior. I have a testimony of The Book of Mormon. It brings much peace, hope, happiness, and truth into my life. The faith that I gather during hard times comes through Christ's tender words that are found in The Book of Mormon. I am excited to share this knowledge that I have gained with the people in New York. I know that I have much to learn while I am serving. I have faith that my mission will help me reach my full potential in life. I hope to glorify my Heavenly Father. Thank you so much for this opportunity!

Sister Worley