My New Mission Blog!

http://sistermaureendavis.blogspot.com/

I won't be making anymore posts on this blog for a while. So if you want to hear about what's going on for the next year and a half, check out this Blog. Hope it'll be good. :)

:)

Could I express my happiness in one word? NO! I'm feeling a mixture of Pure bliss, excitement, nervousness (the good kind), gratuity, love and warmth!
So you're probably thinking shouldn't you post this as a facebook status or something? Well my friends, Facebook doesn't have enough room for me to write everything I want to... hence the blog.
This week has been absolutely Amazing; from Monday to Sunday and everything in between. I spent time with good friends the night before I drove 11 hours home to Arizona. It was the best evening Ever and the next thing I know, I'm sitting with my family again after months chatting about who knows what. Next day I'm learning to bake all kinds of Thanksgiving delicacies, for the future of course, and playing games with my sisters I forgot all about. Day after that is Thanksgiving where I stuffed myself on so much good food I didn't know what to do after. Then I went to watch the cutest new Disney movie - Tangled. Definitely up on my favorites list - especially with the voice of Zachary Levi as Ryder. :) Dare I continue? The following day I'm decorating the whole house with Christmas goods and listening to Christmas music all day long only to end up playing with my family all night. Yesterday - I wrapped a present, discussed mission particulars, picked my secret santa name, played the piano, went to a BBQ (where I filled myself again) watched a movie with old friends that I haven't seen in months and had an absolute BLAST! And guess what happens today? Only an 11 hour drive back to Provo to see my friends again and to see the sweet decorations my roommates put up while I was away.
I probably sound selfish... But can you help it when you're given everything that makes You happy?
:D

IT'S HERE!!!

We'll I FINALLY got it!
I woke up this morning slightly anxious to see if my call would arrive today. Bishop Lott said it should be coming this week. So I went to school hoping to stay busy for as long as possible. I came home at four o' clock, walked into my apartment, dropped everything on the couch, grabbed the mailbox key, walked to the mailbox and assumed they wouldn't cram the packet into the small slot so it must be in one of the bigger boxes. The first thing I saw was the kep needed to open the larger mail boxes and I got excited then I looked up and realized the huge envelope was right behind the keys. I had to stife a shriek of joy - not kidding.
I wasn't going to open it until 7:30 that evening so the next three hours were a bit crazy. I brought my envelope everywhere with me, and every now and then I went from completely giddy and sqealing in front of my roommates to quiet and contemplative. I didn't know where I'd be called but during the last hour I told my roommates that I wanted to go foreign really bad and because of that Heavenly Father was calling me stateside.
Everyone put their guesses on the map and I sat there watching everyone anxiously. Finally it was 7:25. Five minutes to go and I was getting really nervous, I almost wanted to wait longer because there was so much pressure in that room! Finally I ripped off the envelope and tossed it aside. Everyone in my apartment was standing up, staring, and the 10 people on skype were all staring as well. I placed the packet in front of the call letter. I got so nervous i'd begin reading then stop. I think I actually spun once before I actually began to read it, I was so excited! I finally began and read one line at a time:
Dear Sister Davis:
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 San Diego Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, Februauy 9, 2011. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.
I knew it - in states. :) I was happy for it and the more I thought about it the more I was sure that was where the Lord wanted me. So, sorry Canary Islands, maybe I'll visit you later. Well now I just need to get ready and WAIT! Oh brother! This is going to be the longest 3 1/2 months EVER!

To Do...

Can I tell you how exciting today is?!! (*Dripping with sarcasm*) Well for starters I've been cleaning my room. It was a disaster and now its only a little better... I'm still working on it, slowly but surely. It doesn't help that now that I'm actually writing in my blog I've been very distracted writing new posts, checking out everyone else's blogs, and checking facebook every half hour. My life is SOOOO boring! I've decided that I need to spice up life but I don't know where to start... or what to do to start.

I know what needs to be done today, I just don't want to do it. :P

1. Get new mascara and a new toothbrush from the store
2. Start reading my chemisty book (my mom says its the only way to stay on top of that class)

3. Pack up for my return to Utah

4. Start getting my dental and medical records filled out

5. Call Erin Anderson to get my hair cut and colored... I'm considering going back to my original color... brunette, yes? or stay blonde? Hmmm....

Me with brown hair

Me as a Blonde

Choices... Choices

6. Finish Cleaning my room... I finished my desk... now onto the rest of the room.
7. Update my Ipod's songs
8. Make a CD for my friend
9. Have a sleepover with my cousin :D
10. Practice the Piano for Church tomorrow
11. Practice a song to sing at church... yikes.
12. Finish my laundry
13. Hang out with my family before I leave for the next 2 years!!!
14. Study Preach My Gospel, the scriptures, etc.
15. Try new foods to prepare myself *gulp*
16. Hang out with friends before they all go off and get married when I leave. :P
17. Clean the car...
18. Learn new meals to cook up at school
19. Update my recipe book
20. Go visiting teaching

ETC.

All in a days work... HA! I have a lot to do in the next three weeks.... oh why oh why must I procrastinate? Alright, I better stop blogging and get to it. If anyone has a suggestion on how to do these things any faster please let me know! :) Thanks! And may your days be uncluttered and organized!

To My Avid Readers

Dear Readers,

I'm officially telling people. I'm planning on going on a mission! No, this isn't the same thing as when I told everyone I was going in my senior year to convince them that I wasn't getting married. I've made the decision and I'm going!!! In about a month I can put in my papers, which means in a month and two weeks I'll find out where I'm going to be serving for the next year and a half! Which also means that in 5 or so months I'll no longer be here! I'm really excited, if you couldn't tell. ;) But what has really been interesting is that the more I've considered it, the greater I've also wanted to stay here, for whatever reason... It's a consistent fight that I've been putting up with but now that I've decided it seems to be a little easier. Hopefully I can get everything done in time, what with another semester of school, getting all my medical records, and preparing to go somewhere new (with challenges I don't know about yet) it'll be busy but I'm ready. Bring it on! :)

I'll fill you in when I get my call, keep your fingers crossed that I can go somewhere with Good food. ;) Haha well, till we meet again!

I stink at this...

Alright!!! Updates from Maureen's life; because she's too lame to write out a post for each new adventure she's merging them together.

So I went up to the Y for a semester, and pretty much loved it. Sorry Sun Devils, you are still a part of me but I've become a Cougar through and through. :) I love the weather changes, the mountains, living a social life, living on my own, even living with 5 other girls. (Not that that is a big change and all...) It was a blast getting to know so many other people from different states and with different ideals. I LOVED it! :D

Well I finally got home to good ol' Mesa. Which, needless to say, is Super hot, and I'm still not used to it. When I got off the plane I saw my sister and mom, Maddy started crying when she saw me. Aw, I love her too! Well I began to work soon after at my dad's office again. And every now and then I do some new crafts. Becca has become my craft friend. We just do whatever random idea comes to our heads. Such as Tie Dye...

Splatter Painting...

Etc.

Well I've also been to many receptions and showers lately as it is just the time of year for all my friends to get married. Oh boy. From Kristin Porter Pear (who's a year younger than me), to Tara Schlappi Bodrero, who just had to go through a brain tumor surgery and will have to continue with a year of chemo. She's been so strong during this whole thing. We all love her dearly and are praying for her and her family. She now is happily married to wonderful Josh!

Well I've also been given a new calling in my ward... Relief Society Pianist. I can't play to save my life!!! So I've been practicing to get better and at least play with my right hand! So far I haven't needed to play so we'll see how that goes. :)

I'm loving my ward and I'm trying to be optimistic when it comes to work. AND I'm trying to be more social and hang out with my friends before I head up to the Y at the end of August. So call me up and lets get together! ;)

Now when I'm not at work and not hanging out with friends... well I have a secret to divulge. I've recently become an Avatar fan. No, not the blue people. I mean I've become an airbending fanatic. My sisters and I have been watching all three seasons, because we want to, and to prepare us for the movie that's coming out soon!!! July 2nd - So go see it! And to add to that we've also been watching Sonny with a Chance. (I'm secretly a 12 year old, I swear) But I love its humor and the drama that surrounds Sonny and Chad. Haha this is funny to hear me talk about it, but its true, why deny my true personality? hahaha

As for guys in my life... eh I'm not falling madly for anyone right now, just trying to keep my head clear as I go to school and work. So boys, steer clear! I still want to go on a mission. :D Maybe to Italy? haha OH! that reminds me. My cousin Alison just got off her mission! And a month after she got home her little brother is getting married, her younger sister, Carly has a one-year old! And her older sister Emily got married and is now pregnant! My family has been changing a lot! :) But I love it. Haha now I feel like I'm rambling... so its probably a good place to stop. If anything major happens in my life I'll try to keep others updated... but I'm still working on staying on top of blogging. Anyway... Talk to the few of you left later. ;)

Ode to Utah

Wow, so I'm getting slightly sick of checking out blogspot and seeing the Bones picture every day, sooo.... I'm going to write a new post entitled... Ode to Utah.

OH Utah, with your mountains so white, your temperatures so cold and your shorts out of sight. When all the sky is dull and gray, I smile big and what do I say? I love you Utah! I love the changing seasons! I love the white of your ground and the.... Oh who am I kidding I can't rhyme!

So in that case I'll make a list of all the things I love about Utah!

1. Mountains outside my window

2. There are actually seasons here

3. More cause for Hot chocolate, YUM!

4. BYU is lots of fun, and surprisingly I'm doing well in school. ;)

5. I see lots of fun people every day

6. I'm living on my own and loving it

7. My roommates are the BEST EVER! Ezackly...

8. WE non-stop quote up here

9. There are lots of fun guys up here..... ;)

10. I have found peace at last in a world of much chaos. Never have I been happier with my life. :) its FanTastic!

11. Oh and my family lives only an hour away! I love Sunday Dinners!

Ok so that list is kinda short, but honestly I can't think of all the different reasons I love Utah. I think the highest on the list should be *I love being Social all the time, and I LOVE living on my own and even though I have to work on my cooking skills I'm having a Blast! :) Thank you Utah!

THE END!

Bones, the Nacerima and a Light Bulb

(This is my final essay for my anthropology class, I loved it so much I had to share! Tell me what you think. :D ) The first time I ever heard about anthropology was when I watched the TV show Bones. The main character is a forensic anthropologist and despite her lack of feeling she has a very interesting outlook on life. The way she sees things is so different she sometimes needs a sidekick who shows more emotion to understand the human side of life. She is an example of a completely and solely scientific perspective. While I had no idea what this meant at the time, I did know I was nothing like her, but I wanted to understand her viewpoint. When I began this class I didn’t know what to expect; I didn’t know if I’d just be learning scientific facts about other cultures, or if I would read more about the ideas behind a culture. I found out when I read the first assigned article, “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” by Horace Miner.

I’ve always been the type of person that believes anything she reads, well almost anything. So it isn’t surprising to learn that I thought the Nacirema really existed, and that I was confused and almost disturbed about what they did. As the article states, the Nacirema believe the body is ugly. They have shrines in their houses devoted to ceremonies that avert the bad characteristics of the body. Just after reading about these rituals I was appalled to think that people would hate themselves and try to change through these rituals. Of course I didn’t understand much about the actual ceremonies, but it didn’t sound fun or nice. While I continued to read I learned that the Nacirema also went to these spiteful “holy-mouth-doctors” just to endure more torture to their body. I remembered thinking, “What are these people thinking?! Why do they have to hurt themselves to become what they think is good? Who started these traditions anyhow?!” I was completely confused and frustrated with the Nacirema. It didn’t help when I read about the temple ceremonies that poke and prod these natives to supposedly heal them. The Nacirema keep coming back believing it will work, even when many have died. I was thoroughly disgusted with these people and their beliefs in magic and witch-craft. I couldn’t believe that these people really existed, and if they did I didn’t understand how they could ever be happy.
When I posted my opinion of the article I quickly learned that I had been tricked. My reading skills had failed me once again. The Nacirema was really just American spelled backwards, and the whole article was someone’s perspective of me, and what I do regularly. I reread the article and each time I came to a part I had been previously disgusted with, I realized what the author was really describing, I laughed. The “shrines” seemed like bathroom sinks where we wash our faces to keep clean, and apply lotions and make-up to cover up our many flaws. The “holy-mouth-doctors” were really dentists who regularly check our teeth and mouth so that we stay healthy and don’t get sick, and yes we do go even if we know it will hurt. The “temple ceremonies” were actually just describing the hospital where we go to get better when we are really sick. Some people may die while they are there, but we know that the hospital saves more lives than it takes, and the doctors do try everything to keep us healthy. I even realized the article talked about privacy in the bathroom and psychiatrists. I was completely astonished at the reversal of my feelings towards the “nacirema.” I learned a few things after reading this article and discovering its real content. I learned to my embarrassment, that I need to work on my reading comprehension. I know that the author was trying to tell us that we can’t take everything we read and place opinions on what we don’t quite understand. He wrote the article this way to get a reaction from the audience, to astound us, and show us how easily we believe the chapter without reading the book. I now realize that as an anthropologist you have to immerse yourself in a culture and understand it before you judge their actions and beliefs.

Riding the Rails... Yet Again

Ok so most of my life experiences now take place on the Light Rail. I'm on their 4 hours a week which doesn't seem like a lot but when you're on the light rail it feels as if it takes forever. Whether thats a good or bad feeling I haven't decided.

So as of last week I've seen some very interesting things on the rail. From gays cuddling (which I thought was just a bit awkward), to a girl making her own cigarettes. But what happens inside isn't always the best entertainment. While we were at a stop light waiting to go most of the passengers were glancing out the window at a few boys who were making a movie. One was on top of a wall while the other two were on the ground managing the camera. The boy on top started rollerblading on the wall (it was one of those decoration walls that looked like hills) and all the passengers on the rail gasped as he jumped off and did a flip onto the sidewalk. It was thrilling and I think the most excitement that some folks experienced that whole day. Haha

Well not even that experience compares to what happened two days ago. I got on the light rail after taking a test in Microbiology and I was ready to sit down and relax. Unfortunatley all the seats were filled so I had to stand. There were a few girls who walked in after me and we all stood clumped together trying not to fall over when the light rail came to a complete stop. It didn't help that one of these girls was on her bike and trying to keep that up as well. By the time we had hit the 3rd stop a few people had left but not enough for me to sit down. So I stood against the wall next to the girl on the bike (as her name shall be from now on). Just then about 40 students from a nearby elementary school boarded our car. (another 90 boarded the other cars) With no seats available they all stood in the center milling around aimlessly. The teacher of course was trying to get them to hold onto something before the light rail started up again, but too late. When we started moving 30 of those kids who hadn't grabbed anything started falling on top of the girl on the bike, which obviously lead to a domino affect and she started to fall on me, bike and all. Fortunately I was against the wall so I could help her prop up her bike as the kids got rearranged. I have never heard the light rail get that loud as it did with all those kids present. I couldn't help laughing as I watched all these fourth graders. One boy was stealthily walking around trying to avoid his teacher's eye while some of the girls were laughing and giggling in the corners. Another group of boys were all holding on a bar and glancing at me and the girl on the bike and smiling then quickly looking away when they noticed us looking back. Many of the adults there, whom I had never seen smile, were now smiling and laughing as they asked the kids how old they were, or what they were doing, etc. I don't think I was the only one sad to see them leave. Kids are astounding, they bring an innocence and life that makes many people smile. I didn't see one person on the light rail that day that wasn't smiling! :D

Oh to be young again and full of life.

Adventures on the Light Rail!

And now for the newest and most widely sold Magazine, The New Adventures on the Light Rail.
We have here with us today the Editor of the highly entertaining article, "The Tale of the Light Rail," that has been read and enjoyed by many, Maureen Davis. She is here to answer some of our questions about the Light Rail and what to expect when riding it.
1st question: So what is it like?
Maureen: Well, it is actually quite entertaining, I get to people-watch while I'm riding the rail. There are so many diverse groups that come on the train! For instance today I sat next to an african american family (mother , two daughters, and her boyfriend) Across from me sat an arabic man, an asian woman, her hispanic husband and their son and daughter. And of course there are the few caucasions spread through-out.
2nd Question: Do you talk to anyone on the light rail?
Maureen: Yes, not very often though, I usually just like to observe, but today an interesting lady was on the train when I got on to return home. She was a bit jumpy and never stopped moving. As soon as I sat down across from her she started talking. "Wow they look so young! Young lady are you in college?"
"yes"
"And what're you 19?"
"haha yes I am"
"Freshman?"
"No, a sophomore actually."
"So young! My son's 20 but he dropped out of high school, had to get his GED and now wants to be in the military, but he has to take a few classes in college first. He said if the teachers here were like the ones in high school he'da never dropped out! His name is Harbin, in French that means 'great warrior'. His dad named him, and our daughter too. I'd never have chosen french names. Her name's Mychelle - meaning 'sent from above'."
"They're beautiful names!"
"I know, but I named the last one, because my husband and I got divorced."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Happened a long time ago. Oh bye Patty! She's a good friend, so is here Lynda! We're all hobo's riding the rail."
Lynda chimes in, "She didn't really mean it she's just joking!"
I laughed
"Right, ya I like to joke around, its fun. So what's Your name?"
"Maureen"
"Maurie? Oh thats a nice name." Said to another girl who just walked in "I love you braids!" Back to me, "I used to have long hair, it went down to Here! But then this guy had me cut it really short and now it won't grow out. Thats why I divorced him. But I had to have it cut because I needed a surgery. I had cancer. What do you want to major in?"
"Nursing"
"nursing huh? well I did that too, though it wasn't as high as you plan to go, it was simple stuff thats why I have all these scars from shots! Well have you ever been to Bank-One Ballpark? I used to work there, it was fun but that was back when they won the world series."
Lynda says, "Ya I used to know one of them presidents there. Is that what they're called? Presidents right?"
"no hunny I think you mean the security guards"
"no no no it was someone else, president right?" She looked imploringly at me.
"I really don't know."
"Oh. Well there's one black guy there who knew my record, --I was in a least once for arsony --"
"But we All make mistakes, don't we?" She looks me up and down, "well most of us anyway."
Lynda starts up again, "Anyway he said hi to me! He was all like hey ya Lynda!"

(silence)
"Well here's our stop. It was so nice to meet you!"
I said goodbye smiling wide. What pleasant people!
Well that sums up our talk with Miss. Davis! Thank you so much for being here!