And I'm off to California!

Roseville California here I come!! I probably won't keep up with this blog while on my mission, so just in case I will be posting my addresses here. Thank you for all your support and believing in me.

See you soon!

This is my MTC address. I will be there from June 12th to June 24th
Sister Michelle Giani
JUN25 CA-ROS
2011 N 900 E Unit 297
Provo UT 84602

This is my mission field address for the next 18 months!
Sister Michelle Giani 
California Roseville Mission
8583 Watt Ave
Antelope, CA 95843-9117

This is my email!
[email protected]

21!

The big day has arrived! I think 21 is the official age of officially becoming an adult? No excuses now you know?

Nothing too crazy happened but it was a very good birthday nonetheless.
Here is a video of my parents singing happy birthday to me. By far the funniest thing I've ever witnessed. I helped them by being overly excited too which cracked me up.

I hope this entertains you for a while....

On my mind...

Opposition in our lives are necessary. We must keep our heads up and strive forward. This has been on my mind lately, and this scripture came to mind... 2 Nephi 2:27

Wherefore, men are ^afree according to the ^bflesh; and ^callthings are ^dgiven them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to ^echoose ^fliberty and eternal ^glife, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be ^hmiserable like unto himself.

Then one day this came across my facebook page and all my fears were no more. It was a great reassurance to me to find this. Just remember that whenever you are having a bad day, and there are oppositions that come your way, just remember you will learn from them, and gain experience to last you a lifetime.

99 days!

99 days to prepare! This is the only time I have left to prepare!

In the month of February I had my nose in the Doctrine and Covenants all the time. I read all of it in the month. It was giving me a new hope, and learned so much about the gospel, the Priesthood, and about Joseph Smith. My next book up is to read the Pearl of Great Price, and then to start on the Book of Mormon.

So much has been happening that I haven't found the time to post in my blog.
My job at Jacob Lake Inn is great. It gives me time to save money, meet new people, talk about my mission, and to prepare. I even got to go on splits with the Sister Missionaries since I have been here. I take advantage of my days off and usually head to the Temple, and some shopping.

PIctures will be posted soon!

I got the big letter!!!!

Dear Sister Giani:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the California Roseville Mission.
I will be reporting to the Provo MTC on June 12, 2013!

Need I say more?

My first thought was oh man it's not foreign, but then I was excited because it wasn't Iowa or something. It became a relief to me that I was going to be speaking English. Of course I would have been thrilled no matter what but I think Cali is perfect for me. The one time I remember visiting California I absolutely loved it. I went this past March to Los Angeles. I am excited that I will be in the northern part of California too.

I am so excited to take part in the Lord's work. I am grateful to know of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to be able teach others about him. I am excited to devote the next year and half to the people of California and also to the Lord!

137 days to go!

Happy New Year!

2013!
My job is awesome.
Preparing for my mission is great.
I love learning new things that I actually want to learn.
I enjoy the woods, and the snow.
I love my friends and family.

And even though I believe a brand new day is an opportunity to begin anew, I love this time of year to completely rejuvenate and start all over.

Happy New Year everybody, and welcome 2013.

A close to another year....

2012 has come and gone just like any other year. This year in particular has been one of the best years. To recap a little bit...

I started a job up at school, and began going to school full time and working part time. I wasn't a fan of the job so much, but it paid the bills, and I have been able to keep busy since. I also officially changed my major to recreation management with an emphasis in community. This was exciting because I never officially changed it when I started taking some classes for it. I also went on an adventure to Moab! I went with my canyoneering class and I had an absolute blast. It was great.

Another milestone was that I turned 20! I am now a person in my 20's! Since I turned 18 and went off to college I have felt like an adult, BUT since I have turned 20 I really have felt like an adult. It feels like a little switch turned on, and here I am all adult feeling and all. I had a recent conversation with a friend about how turning 18 is big, 19 is sort of big because it's the last year as a teenager, and 21 is really big. She said that 20 is boring, and isn't big at all. For some reason, I beg to differ! I feel like 20 put a load of adulthood on me! It's weird. I'm not going to go into it....

Along with turning 20 I ran my first marathon! I ran it just under 5 hours, which for me I am happy about. I didn't train as much as I did, and have learned that I will never run a downhill marathon again because I just wanted to die in the process.

One of the biggest decisions that happened this year was deciding to go on an LDS mission!!! I am beyond excited. I can't wait to teach people about Christ, and to serve the Lord. It was a decision that kind of just came to me, and I stuck with it. Since I made this decision back in July, my desire to serve has just increased more and more. I will be finally submitting my papers mid January, and hope to leave  by the end of May or early June.

I also started my Junior year of college. I worked really hard this past semester. I was taking 12 credits (which I know is not a lot but I was taking social science statistics), I worked about 25 hours a week, babysat 2 times a week, and volunteered about 15 hours a week in the Intramural dept on campus, and had a big calling in Church. It was definitely a stressful and busy semester but am so glad I stuck with it. I loved the kid I babysat, I really enjoyed my job and the people I work with. I loved volunteering - it got me to meet a ton of people, and as much as I hate waking up at 6:30AM on Sundays for ward council at 7:30 I loved my calling! And the classes I took? Turns out my hard work paid off. I got an A+, 2 A's, A-, and a C+. The C+ was statistics, and although I would have preferred a B-, I am completely pleased with what I got. It was bittersweet.  This was going to be my last semester as BYU Idaho, for 2 years!

It is going to be 2 years not only for my mission but for my new job! I got a job in Arizona for the winter semester! This was a job that I was so blessed to have gotten. It is all expenses paid (rent and food) and great pay. It is in the Upper Rim of the Grand Canyon at a place called Jacob Lake Inn. I will be doing a little bit of everything down there. I will be cooking, waitressing, and cashier. I also was able to get my roommate Lily a job down there too! This was great because in case we get bored (which is very possible because we live in the middle of nowhere) we can entertain ourselves. And it's cold down there. I checked the weather and it said -13*. Holy cold!!!

Well this was my year. So much has happend, and so many decision have been made. 2012 was a great year, and I have been so blessed! This next year I am sure will be a great one. I will be working in Arizona, and then on my mission! 

Bring it on 2013!

I've got some cool news

I want to take part of something great,
Who knew this would be my fate.
It's a life changing event
I wonder where I will get sent.
Maybe it'll be Istanbul, France, or D.C.
Or somewhere in the lost sea.
I'll bring people to repent-
Certainly time well spent.
Eighteen months to give them a new chance
A new life to enhance.
I'll be starting a new chapter in my life, a transition-
And it's called an LDS MISSION!

You read that right, I am going to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints! I just recently started my papers, and will be leaving after I get back from my job in Arizona. Hopefully I will be gone by the end of May! I am beyond excited. I made this decision back in July, but wasn't so sure about it.
Overtime, my desire to serve the Lord, and to serve others became something that I needed to part of. I want people to know the happiness that I know. I want them to feel the joy in Christ that I do. I want them to love their life, and know that there is a life after death, like I do. I want them to experience the process of repentence, and know that they will have a better life if they do. I want to share with them the Book of Mormon. I know that it is the most true book ever written on the earth. I want them to know of Christ, and to know that one man changed the world forever. I want them to know that Christ is the best example of a leader, a friend, a brother, and the ultimate sacrifice for mankind. I can promise you that there is hope, charity, faith, and happiness in the Gospel, and I want to share it with the world!

Heres to a new chapter in my life that I never saw coming!

A New York October Wedding...

It was a hell of a time that is for sure. Having the whole family together was just awesome! And exhausting.
On the first day there, we got our nails done, and went to Charlottes Tea Room. By the end of the evening everyone had arrived, and we did a rehersal dinner at Pat's house.
Then came Friday, the wedding day! We got up bright and early to get our hair done, and then back to the resort to get ready! Later in the afternoon, Pat and Christina did 'first look' pictures, and then the wedding party got on the trolley, and heading to the Winery. Then we started taking pictures with the party and family. Then the ceremony, which was perfectly timed with the sunset, and then to the reception, where the real party started!
Saturday all the siblings, minus the newly weds heading to the city to see Phantom of the Opera. I ended up falling asleep for most of it because it had been a long couple of days.
Sunday was filled with the city also. We headed down to Little Italy, and Ground Zero. We also got to see the Statue of Liberty from afar.  It was a good day, but so long. By the end of the day, I was so done with it all. I wanted nothing to do with the 5 kids, they were cranky, and so was I. Haha!
Monday was the last day for most of us in New York. I wanted to take all the kids to the apple orchards to go apple picking, and have hot apple cider and donuts. It was a relaxing day for sure.

It was one of the best trips to New York. I can finally (and officially) call Pat my brother. I had been in the fall season in NY for the first time in several years, and I got to be with my entire family, which doesn't happen very often!

SO excited

Currently in the airport in SLC waiting to get on my flight to New York. I am SO excited! I haven't been in NY for the fall since my senior year of highschool which was 3 years ago. This next week will be loaded with a ton of fun including a wedding, Phantom of the Opera, and  my whole family! Woot Woot! Oh, and I can't believe I almost forgot, it'll be filled with apple picking, hot apple cider, crisp air, and the leaves changing colors. And great food, that I don't have to buy or make, which means that it can only mean one thing, this week will be PERFECT.