Farewell Talk.

Through my perusing of Sister Missionary blogs

(it's become my newest obsession for obvious reasons) 

I came across a neat idea: posting your farewell talk, 

just in case there's anyone who couldn't make it, but wanted to be there.

Thanks to my days at the Daily Universe, 

I have a nifty little recorder and recorded my talk yesterday, 

tears and babies crying in the background all included 

(only adding to the ambiance of course). 

Yesterday truly was one of the happiest days of my life;

I felt so much love from people in all areas of my life. 

If I saw you yesterday, it meant the world to me to have you there. 

If you couldn't make it, I missed you tons!

p.s a big thanks to Sis. Ah'Kiong and Sis. Vaifanua for my leis. I loved them!

not your typical "farewell."

This Wednesday marks the three week countdown! It's something I can't even comprehend, but am so looking forward to! The precious weeks I've had at home have been filled with as much family bonding time as possible and preparation in all things for the mission. (I got my flight plans to the MTC today :]) This here is a little farewell/open house invite sent to the closest of friends and fondest of family members. 

I've sent these invites far and wide to member and nonmember households alike. A "farewell" is a kind of goodbye in the LDS religion. A leaving missionary leaves the congregation with their last remarks for what may be 18 months or 2 years. While it's typically traditional to have a fiestasita of sorts after a farewell, we decided to do things a little differently at the Flores residence. With the food portion of my farewell held the day before at my humble abode.

I love me a good party, and planning this one has been too much fun.

Jane Eyre

As I'm writing this, the wind is blowing against my shutters in a very fitting Jane Eyre fashion.

I'd read Jane Eyre before (freshman year of high school), and yet all I remembered was that a) I hated it and b) there was a crazy woman locked up in a room who jumps to her fiery death. Honestly, my re-read felt like a first time adventure. Helen dies? She becomes rich? Mr. Rochester goes blind?

It was beautiful and at one point I felt like Mr. Rochester was talking directly to me with his whole, "people-will-tell-you-their-secrets-because-they-know-you're-not-big-into-talking-about-yourself" spiel. Also, how did I miss all the religion present the first time around If Miss Brontë was around in our day and age I'm for sure she would have been Mormon. With all her religious philosophies and her concepts of the hereafter, definitely. & oh what spunk Jane Eyre had! How much classier can you get than, "I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will."

amen.