Called to Serve!

Sister Jessie Linford has been CALLED TO SERVE the wonderful people of BERLIN, GERMANY!!! I don't know that they know what they are about to get.....But what lucky people to have Jessie come teach them of the Truthfulness of the Restored Gospel!

Here is my perspective of watching Jessie get to this point....

I have been waiting for this moment for quite sometime. Before I left for my mission Jessie would tell me that she may be gone before I get back, which of course is heart wrenching....3 years! But as we wrote back & forth she would go back & forth on the idea of serving a mission & every time I would just tell her she needed to do it! I don't know why?? I didn't ever tell anyone else as frequent or as bold as I would with her. Well I then arrive home to find my dear sweet Jessie still here, still going back & forth. We would talk occasionally about it. Then one day.... I will never forget the conversation we had. I am driving not sure where to, but I was in the canyon leaving Logan & Jessie & I were talking once again about her serving a mission. I knew that she knew she needed to go, but in all honesty sometimes that answer is a hard one to face. I remember telling her to just go forward, don't fear! Do it & you would never regret it! You have your answer it is now time for you to be acting upon it before you can receive more revelation. We laughed & talked like we usually did. I didn't think too much about it, we have had that talk many times. But this time it was different. I got a call a few days later, she had an appointment with the Bishop, the next thing I know she is calling me telling me how different she feels, a feeling I remember well. We would talk about it often. Then before I know it my dear Jessie has submitted her papers. I couldn't believe it! I have been so overly excited about this whole situation. The next thing I know her call will be here on Wednesday! She is opening it at 6 that night!

Wednesday comes & I ended up coming down to SLC with a friend of mine & Jessie was going to come pick me up (don't ask why I would ask her to come do this for me, she had enough going on) However I am grateful I did because I was able to share such a special moment with her! Needless to say the girl was freaking out. I was dying of laughter in all honesty. I remember her asking if I had ever seen her like this, she quickly recovered with don't answer that! We got off the freeway & were minutes from her house & she turns to me & says Caitlin I need you to say a prayer!!! I answered like out loud or in my head? What do you want? She said out loud now!! So I began to say a prayer for my dear Jessie & that her nerves would calm. That she could feel the love He had for her. Thanking Heavenly Father for the opportunity Jessie has for the opportunity to serve the Lord full-time & what a blessing it is! I ended my prayer to find Jessie a bit of a different person, a little calmer. There was the sweetest spirit in that car! It is an experience that I will always treasure sharing with her!!

We arrived at her house & all her family & friends were there! You could see the nervousness on her face that comes from opening a mission call, but as soon as she began ripping open the envelope all you can see is pure JOY!!! Naturally when you are holding that paper in your hand you jump down & read where you are going & show your excitement then read it to everyone!

She did just that & finally read, "labor in the Berlin Germany Mission!!!"

Who would have thought?? She reports on a special day...Leap day Feb 29, 2012!! I couldn't be more excited for her! A mission is hard, but I know Jessie is a tough cookie that will tackle that challenge! Germany just fits her! I love Jessie with all my heart & the girl she is & I can't wait to see how much her mission will change her life!

Dear Berlin,

One of my best friends is bringing you the greatest message you will ever hear in your life! Please take the time to listen to her! Please love her & take care of her like I do!

Love, Caitlin

Jessie girl, I love you with all my heart! I am proud of you for

making this decision & I know it will be one you will never regret! Go get 'em girl!......&

Welcome to God's Army!!!

P.S. I will be here when you get back...hahaha!

Surgery!

3 Applications, 3 Interviews, 1 JOB....The best of them all!!

Since I have been up in Logan I have been watching the postings on IHC Logan Regional Hospitals faithfully. I had a job at this assisted living & it was doing it's job by bringing me in a little cash to support myself, but it just really wasn't working out & I was CRAVING the hospital. I wanted in SO bad! I had a week where I had 2 interviews in 1 day & was feeling great, one was a group interview, which I later was called back for an individual. Unfortunately I didn't get either one of them.....So I waited & watched & waited & watched for more postings.....NOTHING. I think I ended up going a week without checking, then I opened up to find a posting for Same Day Surgery. I applied & didn't think much of it, a week or so later I received a phone call about an interview. I actually was planning on being out of town, but decided to come back for this interview. Thursday was the day, I go in bright & early, did my best, feeling like I had nothing to lose. Left the interview & by the time I got to the elevator I wasn't feeling so great. You see they asked this question, "are you currently employed as a CNA?" I was at the time, but planned on quitting as soon as another job came along so I told them no. Why? Who knows? I had all these reasons for doing it, but for some reason it ate at me all morning. I lied! I couldn't get it out of my mind. I left for Manti & it was still just eating at me.....So the thought came to me to call back the manager & tell her. You guessed it....I called her back. She just laughed which made me feel so much better. Told me that they really enjoyed me in my interview which I thought was code for thanks, but we went with another candidate. The days go on, then the following week I get this call from Human Resources asking me who my current employer was. This is great news I am down to the bottom 2-3! Then a couple days later I get a call from the manager who interviewed me asking my for sure availability. An even better sign!! Then a few hours later the recruiter......She OFFERED ME THE THE JOB!! Don't worry it gets even better.....It is M-F 8am-8pm or close...NO WEEKENDS.....NO HOLIDAYS!!!! Are you kidding me?!?! That doesn't happen in hospitals! They train me to phlebotomy. They start my pay where it left off before I left for my mission. It is only PRN, until the new year! The manager is the best I could have ever asked for, she is taking me to lunch on Thursday! I start tomorrow!
This came at the most perfect time in my life, what a blessing! I went in this morning to pick up my new badge & tour the unit. I left & nearly cried at how blessed I am to be working there!!

A Country Girls Dream!

Ok I can't get over how much this song makes my little heart melt!!



AND to make it even better this young boy (he is 18!!) is on tour with THE Brad Paisley! Who will be here Jan. 27, 2010! Maverick Center! Let's get tickets!! He is also bringing The Band Perry! Honestly this concert will be the concert of a lifetime!

Today as I was driving my day got even better when I heard that......


Are coming to Utah on Valentine's Day! Seriously! This is a dream come true! Let's bring in the new year! I can hardly wait!!

Reunion Dinner

I think it is finally time that I post an update on my life.....
This last week I felt like taking a little break, why not right, I have been studying hard, staying in Logan when so many others have been taking off. It's is my turn to take off. So my little sister's 21 birthday was Monday, so I thought what better way to start my week then go down & spend some time with her, we used to hang out all the time pre-mission & since I have been home, I feel like I have hardly seen her. So we had a delicious dinner at Macaroni Grill with the Parents & Tia. We had the darn cutest waiter ever, his personality just killed me! They had the a server come sing opera Happy Birthday. Then back to the condo to hang out & laugh. Which I just loved! The next morning I was in a desperate need of some new clothes & TaeCee being the expert I had her take me, goodness that girl is good!! She found me a new dress for $7.oo, new pants for $17.00 & some cute new shirts to dress up my wardrobe a bit! Such a good time! I love that no matter what in life, you always have family!!Now my next family.....haha! We finally got a few of the Kenwood day's group together. Oh my goodness, I about died of laughter! Gosh it was SO, SO good to be with them all again! It was so funny to me how all of our lives have changed so much, but we get together & our relationship is still the same!
Jocelyn-has been through the temple & running marathons like crazy!
Hailey-Pregnant & bought a house like a real grown up!
Leah-She is married & in nursing school!
Jessie-Getting ready to serving a mission....FINALLY! Gotta love that girl!
Me-home from my mission & loving life in good ole Logan.
It was the fasted 2 hours of my life! We just laughed & laughed (water almost came out of my nose at one point) catching up on life, sharing awkward dating experiences, trips taken, how different life is now, garments & eating tons & tons of bread! I can't wait until we get together for dinner again! Too good to be true!
LOVE them ALL!!
While up in the SLC I was out & about with my dearest JW when I decided it was time to clean up the eyebrows that were over growing on my face! I was going to get it done earlier in the day, but for some reason just didn't feel like it was a priority??? Now I know why....We were cruising & I saw this super cuts & knew they had to do eyebrows & they will take walk-ins. So I pulled up & only saw a man working, thinking to myself well maybe it will be ok, we walk in & the entire time I just knew this was going to be a missionary opportunity, one I had been praying for....am I ready?? Thinking this might get awkward, I mean he is going to wax my eyebrows! He is the friendliest guy ever, I noticed he had a set of earrings, so thinking he may not be a member, wondering how in the world this is going to come back to the gospel, trying not to be scared of what he could do to my face. In talking about different places I live, he asks if I ever lived out of the state, PERFECT! Just have to say the mission, so I told him about going to WA, come to find out he served a mission, he joined the church 7 years ago & served a mission after only being a member for 1 year! We talked a little about our missions, then I wanted to bring up going to church, see if he is active, it seriously just flowed! The next thing I know I am asking if he attended a YSA ward, he told me he wasn't active, C-Do you want to come back, EG-(eyebrow guy) I am not sure, I keep running into the missionaries & it always seems to come up. C- don't you think that is a sign? & I mean here we are talking about it. EG-maybe, I just don't know at this point C-well there are many blessings in store for you as you attend church! EG-yeah I know, I still have my scriptures & pictures & things though. C-do you read them? EG-Sometimes....C-Well keep doing that!! Then he finished & we talked some more about missions. It was the greatest ever!! I love sharing the gospel! I love the feeling that comes once I do it! I hope & pray for the best with him!
I just can't give it up.....

I am beyond grateful for who my mission taught me to be, regardless of how hard is was, I seem to be forgetting some of those hard times & have really been seeing SO many blessings that have come! I sometimes even wish I could go back......

Bummed out....

This is a special week here in Sanpete County, its the FAIR!! Now I personally don't love the fair rides or the carni's, however I LOVE 2 special events. The annual Sanpete County Rodeo & Demolition Derby! I couldn't go last year since I was on my mission & the year before that I couldn't get it off work. I remember my mom texting me, "Are you ok?" Honestly I was a little puzzled so I called her & she said the derby is tonight & you are not here....are you sick? Yes I felt like I was! Ha ha!
As I drove passed the fair grounds last night to see the stadium lights on & trucks with horse trailers attached it pains my heart to think I won't be going for the 3rd year in a row!

These events are what I have called "the redneck convention" I tell you, there are rednecks that you had no idea that even existed show up to these events! They are too good to be true, prime people watching time!! The rodeo clown has always had a special little thing for one of my good high school friends. 2 years in a row he jumped the fence to come sit by her & tell her how much he loves her! Good times! One year we had a huge group of about 25 or so Snow College girls & we rocked & cheered & danced like no one has ever seen at a rodeo! When I was a sophomore in high school one of my buddies was going to be in the derby, but he couldn't come up with a number. So my best friend & I both played volleyball so we combined our jersey numbers & that became his number & it still is his number! I just feel like these events are a part of who I am as silly as it may sound. So I am bummed out to be missing them again!
I suppose I will eventually get over it....but mark my words I will be there next year!!!
& I must fine a demolition derby asap to attend!

BANGS!

Well it's official....I got bangs!

I have been told so many times that my hair can't do bangs, your callic (spelling??) gets in the way, it won't work with your face, or they will just be too much work!!
However I needed a CHANGE!! I have had the same haircut & color for over a year now and I have really liked it, but it is just time to spice it up a little bit. Look at something different in the mirror. I mean I am getting ready to make a big change in my life, why not change the hair too???
(don't mind my eyes popping out of my head)

ABC's of Caitlin Fran

So I stole this from Hailey! But I am not sure if I have to use the same words with the abc's so I am just creating my own.....basically these are my 1st thoughts when this letter enters my mind.

Arranging flowers is getting better....

Baseball.....I love watching it & the players aren't half bad to look at either!

Cats, mark my words I will NEVER own one!

Dreams of marrying a cowboy.

Exercise, I should do it more!

French fries are my favorite! Maybe why I should do a little more of E.

Grateful for Diet Coke.

Heights, I hate them!

Ice cream it just never gets old!

Jason Aldean is great but I wish he was better looking.

Keith Urban....LOVE HIM!

Laughing is my favorite hobby!

Miller time!

Nose came from my dad!

October reminds me of my favorite season which is Fall!

People watching never gets old!

Q-tips are essential

Reading is not my favorite thing to do......

Snakes, when I was little I loved them, but now I am scared to death of them!

Teeth, I have good ones!

Utah State University here I come!

Vegtables are really growing on me as I have gotten older.

Washington Kennewick Mission is the best mission!

X-rays I have had...wrist and teeth

Yacolt Washington was a strange town!

Zone Conferences....so spiritually enlightening! LOVED THEM!

Love it! For some reason on every letter an animal came to mind so I had to take the 2nd thought that came to my mind!

Missionary moment!

Ok one day I might stop writing about mission related things, but I just can't stop.....
Today I went to SLC to meet up with the ward mission leader & his family from my very first area. I loved them so much & they really helped me a lot in the early days of my mission. I loved seeing them! I love how many friends that I have made from my mission!
Then I met up with my dear friend Jessie for some Chipotle & we just had a great visit! Then I decided to finally head back home, but not before stopping at my most favorite maverick convenience store to fill up on gas! I was a frequent flier there before my mission. The roommates & I became great friends with many of the employees, however there was this one that I just loved! He was so nice all the time, there were times when I would talk to him for 10-15 min in the morning his name was Ruberto. Well I went in this evening to find him working! I wasn't sure if he recognized me.....he did! He asked how I have been? We had a little small talk & he said I haven't seen you in a really long time in his spanish accent, did you start working some where else? I had an immediate feeling that I needed to bring up my mission. So I told him I left for a LDS mission & just returned a few weeks ago. He asked where I went, then proceeded to say so you are Mormon? I said Yes! Are you? He replied no I am Catholic. I then asked if he was born and raised Catholic, he told me that he was & that he now teaches at a church out in Kearns. I asked him if he had heard much about the Mormon faith? He said no & since there were a few people behind me now, I remembered my stash of mormon.org pass-a-long cards. I pulled one out & said on the back here is a website, mormon.org, there are a bunch of really neat videos and it teaches what we believe & I would love for you to look at it! Then he read the question, Where do I go when I die? On the front and turned it over. Then said, for you I will look at it! Thank you!
I then left Maverick beaming! My first real missionary opportunity since I have been home from my mission and it felt SO good! And it was so easy!! I am so grateful for that simple little opportunity to share something that means so much to me with another! AAH! I am still so excited about it! We just never know who we touch and how it will affect that person! But we get to feel the joy that comes from sharing!

Transfer goals!

6 weeks ago I got off a plane from Washington and my life was completely different! However I didn't realize how different it was, I kept thinking I have just fallen back into life & I have, but I had a realization this week that has taken me 6 weeks to come to grips with...if you will.
6 weeks ago around this time my stake president said to me, "Sister Miller you can't go back to the Caitlin you were before your mission, and it wasn't a bad Caitlin by any means, but you cannot go back!!!" Well I thought about that and was like I am sure I will be fine, my mission changed me. Well reflecting on these last 6 weeks I have started to slip back into old habits. The last couple weeks I have really noticed a difference in me, a very distracted & not very happy Caitlin, finding myself in places & situations I don't want to be in & shouldn't be in. I was talking to a member of my bishopric here at home and told him I am trying to figure out who I am now that I am home and he said to me, don't do that! You take the you on your mission and you keep that you up and growing. I was so confused, how do you do that? But I finally got it today! & I am finally ok with letting go of the old Caitlin & bringing in the new one & letting her continue to grow! The mission was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, however it provided me with experience that helped draw me closer to my Savior & learn about who I am & what I have potential to be. Looking back on these 6 weeks I have lost sight quite a bit of who I am, what I have potential to be & how the Savior can truly help me. That results in my lack of happiness and my many distractions.
I always loved transfers on the mission, it meant time to re-evaluate, get out of old habits, recommit to working harder, serving better & set goals. As I got the e-mails today of previous companions and hearing about transfers I couldn't help but be so excited! I talked to a sister I came home with & before we hung up she said well I am off to make transfer goals!
So I thought I should write mine down......
*20 min scripture study everyday
*Weekly temple attendance
*Daily act of Service.....This has been so hard since I have been home...
*Relying more on the Lord with my life, my life is up in the air a bit at this time and I have struggled relying on the Lord with it.
*Keep a clean room
*Exercise daily
*Write letters to my sisters (I have neglected them!)
*Seek opportunities to share the gospel
*Spend money wisely!
This will be a good list to work on, some I have done pretty good at, others not so much. If I can do this then by the time school starts in Aug it will be habit!
I mean it is a new transfer.....fresh clean slate, why not treat it like it is?? Be the Sister Miller that walked off that plane & keep learning & growing!

LOGAN!

So it is official....I am going to school in Logan this fall!
Honestly I can hardly believe it, on my mission everyone always asked oh where did you go to school? Where are you going after the mission? I hated this question, I would just say I was at the U before I came on my mission. Those that knew me well I could tell them everywhere I have been.
I feel as though my influence has just been needed throughout the state and so why not move a little farther north so they can enjoy me too!! hahaha! That's what I tell myself to feel better.
Anyway, so my 4th of July weekend was spent with my wonderful sister, Chelsey and her family, they took time off of work to take me to Logan, show me around and find a place to live. Which is not the most enjoyable activity! Especially since I am late with housing anyway.
But I feel like since I got the answer to be in Logan, then things would be provided, i.e. housing, classes....job (I am still working on that!)
Well we had looked all morning on Tuesday, called all around I was lucky if they said we only have 1 opening! While we were out, we decided to just pop into a couple of them and the one my sister said was the place to live, everyone wants to live there, well they had 1 opening! So I looked at it, but was supposed to look at another right after. I didn't love the place, but thought I should just be ok with it. Well we left for 20 min and came back to sign the contract and come to find out....it was filled! In 20 min! I couldn't believe it! So we went back to look online and to break for lunch, I found online a girl trying to sell a contract, so I called. We went to look at it after lunch and I loved it. I felt like it was just where I needed to be and the manager went to my mission before it was split into the Washington Kennewick, we left to look at another one and I just kept feeling like I should go sign a contract. So we called the manager back up and went and filled out an application, paid the deposit and first installment of rent! I couldn't even believe it!
I found a place to live! I move in Aug 25th.......

June 14th.....I'm home!

As a missionary there were days that I could not wait for this day to come, however there were days that I prayed it wouldn't come. But I found myself feeling as if I just woke up and only had 1 week left on my mission! I could hardly believe it!
June 13th we report to the Mission Home, where we have a delicious dinner, a touching testimony meeting, laugh and cry!

Here are all the elders and sisters that departed the same day! They usually stick the sisters on the bottom, we felt as though we should be at the top.
As soon as the elders left we had a special surprise for my mission president's wife, Sister Greer.
When I was really struggling on my mission, S Greer was always there to comfort my weary heart! I LOVE this woman, but this one day I was not feeling well and was just really struggling, so I laid down for a quick nap during lunch when I began to dream. My dream consisted of S Greer consoling me in a yellow moo moo and telling me I could do it, I can keep going! I will make it! I then told her this and she died, "yellow is not my color, I have pride, good pride!" It became this big joke between us all, so I decided I would get her a moo moo for my last night in the mission home! I got me a yellow one and she told me that blue, red and black are more her colors. She ran in her room and changed and made President come take pictures. Then we did the dishes all together and she told us her and presidents story!
President had said something really funny here....I can't remember it now.
I LOVE THE GREERS!
Then next morning they took us to the temple and then to the airport! I bawled like a baby saying goodbye to S Greer, I felt like I was leaving my mother all over again!
I then boarded my plane in Pasco, WA and headed straight for Salt Lake City, UT. The plane ride was rather surreal it didn't feel like I was headed home, I was just on an airplane with a bunch of other missionaries. Then we started descending into Salt Lake, we all started looking at the mountains, the U on the hill and ALL the churches. We were back in Utah! S Kendell and I got off and headed straight to see our families, we then decided we better wait for everyone else to get their carry ons and come out in our big group. They said Sisters 1st. I was SO nervous, I thought my family isn't going to be there,they are going to be late, they didn't make it. Then I got to the corner of the escalator and I peaked around the corner and saw all these people and I couldn't see mine and I turned a little more and right below the escalator they were! So I headed down.....

S Greer hinted to us all the night before that the 1st person we are to hug is our mother!
I already was planning on that...It was a long awaited hug!


The whole family (-1)



It was one of the greatest moments of my life! To see all my family after 18 months!
The mission was the hardest 18 months of my life, however I could never, ever trade those 18 months for anything else! The Lord has truly blessed me!