For the laundry...

Currently there are four piles of clothes on my floor ready to go into suitcases. The 2 suitcases I will be living out of for the next year and a half. Oy! It is actually quite refreshing to go through all my "stuff" and figure out what I will or won't need. My sisters came and raided my closet for things that I wasn't taking on my mission that i'm sure they'd appreciate and i feel so muchless cluttered now! It makes me think I shoulda done this a long time ago...and how much I need to stop putting so much emphasis on material things. It's also given me some fun laughs going through things in my shelves that I had forgotten about. Yearbooks for one. Old journals are another. Photos, tickets i've kept, other random things that have no use except for remembering thrown in five or six shoeboxes used for shoes I don't even wear anymore! Books shoved into every corner I can find, my collection has grown into a nice library. Letters, school assignments, dance pictures, binders...It has been so fun. It got me thinking all over again how wonderful my life has been. How many wonderful friends I have, who have made such a difference in my life. My family is remarkable. I love them all so much for their love, support and guidance I've been given. I have a nice roof over my head, kept nice by my father who works so hard, delicious meals to eat prepared by my talented mother, and a great community that I grew up in. (Plain City RULES!) I have been raised in the Truth and love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and am about to embark on an 18 month service to share it with people who are ready to hear it, who need it in their lives to bring light and peace. I would not be prepared for this had it not been for my life up to this point. Though I still don't feel fully prepared, I know God will be with me.
2 Timothy 1:7 "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." And he will Stand by me. I KNOW that. :)What a great thing to know. Out of all the things in the world, I think I would prefer to know that the most.
I couldn't have asked for a better month of fun before I left. Full of camping, hanging out with friends, traveling, going to the temple so much and going to the airshow, it has been great. I am going to miss everyone, but I'm sure It won't be too long before i get a letter/wedding invitation or two...or ten ;-) *hint nudge*
I went to green river this past week and almost stepped on a midget faded rattlesnake and floated down the colorado river. I went to the airshow yesterday and determined once again that before I die, I will fly a plane.
It's about time to switch the laundry, so I'm going to sign of with a final goodbye from myself on my blog. While I am away, Ember, my cousin whom I love, is going to take over my blog for me. I'm going to miss you very much, but know I'm doing something great! I urge you to write me every so often to tell me how your lives are playin out. I promise to write back. Pinkie promise in fact.
thank you again for everything!

BYE

*~Mel~*

MTC address (june 10-june 30)
Sister Melanie Pehrson
Arizona Phoenix Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT
84604

mission Office (June 30-Dec 2010)

Sister Melanie Pehrson
Arizona Phoenix Mission
18001 N. 79th Avenue Ste. C 50
Glendale, AZ
85308

for four twelve year old, boy crazy girls....

So...It's been awhile. And it's been a busy long while, full of preparations, to do's and last minute fun times. I would call them last minute goodbye times, but goodbyes always sound far too final and impersonal. So I'm going to call them fun times.
I'm feeling good about how the way things are playing out these last three weeks before my mission. I'm getting a lot done and squared away. I still don't comprehend the length of year and a half, but i understand it more and more every day. I got a 4.0 GPA, I have my leave of absence in, I finally got a real driver's license (Yay!) and my tetnus and Hep A shots are done. Now all I have to do is start packing and pick up a few last minute items that I may have forgotten. 19 days! :D It is a really exciting thing to finally be leaving. I get to go out and serve the Lord. Sacrifice my time for God (D&C 4:4) and help others to be happy. I am grateful for friends who keep my prespective in line, who remind me when I forget. (Things that are sure: 1- God 2- Love 3- Change) I won't be forgotten and I'll come back and be blessed and happy. "Be of good cheer..." (1 John 16:33) I'm grateful that prayers are answered. I woke up this morning after a rough night of questions and tears (what else, I cry too much. I cry when I'm sad, angry, happy, frustrated, upset, guiltridden...) to have my eyes come across President Monson's talk on change and enduring it well.
"Our future is as bright as our faith." That really struck me. I realize that it is when I lose prespective on my goals, life spirals and I have a hard time forgetting myself and I wallow. But when I am faithful, and believe in myself and have something to strive for, the murkiness isn't so intimidating anymore. Anyway, his talk was an answer to prayers. I'm grateful God is sure and consistant. My mission is the most important thing in the world to me. Even when I cry about leaving.
I went to Lagoon today. Blast from the past I tell you what! I got to goof off with a bunch of twelve year old boy crazy girls. It was nuts. Fun, exhausting, worth it. I feel like a bad "babysitter" because I didn't make one of them drink enough water and I think she might've gotten heat stroke. Disorientation and nausea and the like....I will learn from that that's for sure. It was fun, but I think I've had my fill of Lagoon for the next three years or so.
I am exhausted so I think I will hit the hay. I would just like to end with a few last things.
get better
thank you for the blanket, I love it.
please don't get married while i'm gone?...or if you do, make sure it's someone I like.
thank you for hearing me.
thank you for letting me cry.
Find ways to be happy.


Sweetheart
How I miss your heart
Beating next to mine

The right words
Were always hard to find
When all our time was fine
When darling you were mine, all mine

And I know, I know you had no choice
But I how I miss your voice
Singing right with mine

Flesh of my flesh
Soul of my soul
I come back home

All this darkness, cannot hurt us
Cause they made you from the light
Here on birthplace, don't be nervous
You will make it through, this night

Sweetheart
How I miss your heart
Beating next to mine

Flesh of my flesh
Soul of my soul
I come back home

For mothers...

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there! Not that any mother's read my blog...but I tried. I don't know if anyone reads my blog...but again, I try.
Truly, mother's are amazing. I once babysat for four rambuncious boys, loved it but promised myself I would not do that again. At least for a few years. It is literally a full time job and I don't know how my mom managed to deal with even the first three of us so well. And after she lost 85 pounds, she has become my hero for sticking to her guns and exercising willpower to the extreme, something I have very little of. Being a mother is an all in one job, plus they have to go through labor, which honestly sounds like one of th emost painful things in the world. And yet, I still want to be a mother one day. I must be crazy? but everyone already knew that. In fact, I want a larger family, maybe four or five kids, maybe because that's how I was raised and I find sisters/siblings really fun, despite the arguments and fights. I just hope I can be a good mom, as good as my mom.
It's been a really good mother's day. I was going to go to church with Jessika but when I remembered it was mother's day I was torn. Both were good options. As I was thinking about it, the talk "Good, Better, Best" from Elder Scott(I think) popped into my head. I knew it was Best to stay home with mom for mother's day dinner and cake. Luckily Jessika understood. The cabin is going to be lots of fun time with Jessika. We leave this friday! Yay! It'll be purely awesome.
It was worth staying home. I finally got my topic for speaking. I have a few ideas but I'm not sure where I'll go with it. AND lunch/dinner was marvelous. Fresh Halibut fish with rice and jello and salad. Mmmmm... and my mom liked her present.
There is so much to do before I leave! But not really getting ready stuff. I have most of that done. It's more on the "final hangouts", things to do before I go list. Go to the Zoo, Go to the Aquarium, Go to the Planetarium, Go to Settebello's at least once more, go to my sister's first softball game(i'm so proud she is following in my footsteps, and the coach says she's a natural), take lots of pictures, go to jess's cabin, prepare my talk, pack, so much to do so little time! I'm sure I'll get it done.
Well, it is time for the season finale of the amazing race. Yay for family traditions!

For the finished...

My Jounior year at the U is finished. That's right, things have wrapped up and tied with a bow to remember for the rest of my life. I'm feeling extremely nostalgic right now.
I'm not usually one for regrets. I find regrets pointless because it's not like you can go back and change it now. I mean take what you learn from it and move on. I have loved and hated this year both. The adjusting to the change of enviorment opened my eyes to how much I don't know. Sometimes I unfortunately regretting how I lived my life this past year. Not that I regret my friends or experiences at all, but simply that I didn't experience more. I didn't go out of my way to break out of my shell as much as I could've and as a result I probably missed out on some wonderful friendships and experiences. But like I said, taking what I learned into the future and moving, that will not be happening again. I loved the past year and I have found puzzle pieces to my life in the people and experiences I have been able to have. Blossoming under Kathy Pope's instruction, experiencing the wonderful bands of Bishop Allen, The Decemberists and Lavender Diamond, amazing dedicated friends, turning in my mission papers, the firm decision that I want to teach, the amazing education with amazing teachers, drawing closer to my family, going through the temple...so on and so forth. It's been a wonderful year, and I'm sorry to those who had to put up with my spirits of not so wonderfulness.
"Every person in this world knows something that you don't know..." This was a small part of a speech given at commencment yesterday. She was inspiring and I loved this thought. I'm going to learn all I can from the people I come in contact with.
I leave for my mission in 33 days! What a scary thought. The following month is full of packing, playing and studying and I'm supra excited to finally get going. It almost seems surreal, like I've waited so long for it and I can't even comprehend I'll be gone for a year and half. That's a long time. But I'll be arriving in Phoenix on June 30th and will be there so obviously I won't dissappear from off the face of the earth. Thank goodness for letters! *hint hint*
I had to say goodbye to a couple really good friends yesterday. Goodbyes are extremely hard for me, so I'm not sure how i'll handle the farewell thing...probably bawl. which is bad because becasue I don't really want peolple to remember me red eyed and puffy faced for the next year and a half. Hopefully I can keep my tear ducts in check.
I know a few people are putting on brave faces for my sake and that my leaving isn't a happy thing, family friends and such, but they all support me so much. I appreciate their enthusiasm on my behalf even if they are struggling. I'd just like to say Please do not dwell on the past and forget what amazing things lay ahead of them in the future if they are willing to go for it. We went to Settebello's and had a great time eatign the most delicious pizza on the planet. I said goodbye to dear Jim, who I know I'll see again in several years. I'm so proud of him. (Ultimate nostalgic song ever = "Time of your life" by Green Day...i don't actually think it's called that but it's what I call it.) after, I went to Sam's hiking portion of her party which was pretty fun becuase there was lots of snow in the mountains. What could be cooler then snowball fights in May? We didn't actually make it to the falls cause of the snow, but it was fun none the less. We all migrated to sam's house for more pizza, junk food and fun games. John Allred, a really well known local singer, whom sam loves, showed up and it pretty much made her night. An intense game of apples to apples ensued and it was wonderful. "Lucious, smart, fragrant, Glamorous, Crazed and Chunky." this is what Apples to Apples sees me as. It was probably one of the msot halarious games of that game I've ever played. We finally made it back to my house and at one in the morning, (a whole 19 and a half hours after i woke up) I was finally able to fall into bed and sleep. It was glorious.
Anyway, I must finish curling my hair...why do i put myself through this? Idk...
See you soon!

For perspective...

There seems to be a pattern developing in my life. I feel great for a couple days, meh for a day or so, and some days, usually fridays, I become an emotional monster, so look out! I make mountains out of molehills and I feel terrible for the people I subject my headaches to. I suppose studying for finals (why is it that I study so hard for so long and still hardly get anywhere, when many can study for an hour, or sometimes not at all, and they get just as good grades as I do?) and the whole immenant biggest change of my life thing doesn't help the whole emotions thing.
Feelings I should be feeling aren't there and vic versa. Feelings are overrated, but unavoidable and that is annoying.

Things I love(in no particular order): God, family, education, friends, letters, emails, facebook notifications, music, clarinet, scriptures, Jesus Christ, trees, photography, camping, the sun being warm, laying on the grass in the sun being warm, computer, Presdient Thomas S. Monson, general conference, beds/pillows, fire, talking to people until all hours of the morning, weddings, baby blessings, family get-togethers, money security in a time of economic struggle, working headphones, Hot Chocolate, Ice Cream, Writing, Reading, peace, epiphanies, UTA/public transportation...to be continued...

It's amazing what perspective can do....Back to Mozart, Hayden and Peroglesi...

For late nights...

It's so close. I've been preparing for so long that I can't believe that it is getting to be so close and I'll be gone for a whole year and a half.
Change is not my thing, but for it not being my thing, i sure do a lot of it!

for bioengineers...

It's been quite the week so far, and it has flown by! I played in master class an tuesday which went swimmingly. Better then swimmingly in fact. Glidingly perhaps? In any case, I had fun and loved performing the first two movements of the Finzi five Bagatelle's. Everyone else did extrodinary as well and I fell in love with the sound of the clarinet all over again.
Wednesday was also quite specatcular. I had great classes, I understood Form and Analysis, wind ensemble is always a good thing and I got to spend an hour downtown taking pictures again. Wow, how I love photography! I want to explore it more once i return from my mission.
Today was JAM packed. I got up early to take my grandparents to the airport. My uncle is getting married this weekend over in Pennsylvania. How exciting! We've been hoping it would happen for a long time now. My uncle is following tomorrow, which means the house will be completely empty! Institute was particularly needed, especially for what portion of Ether we were on today. I love Brother Wilcox and his remarkable teaching skills.
My mom came and picked me up after piano and we headed off to the distrubution center. I'm going through the temple next saturday! I'm very excited. Not only is it the bountiful temple but many of my family members will be able to attend. =-D It was great to spend a few hours talking to my mom. I have been blessed with wonderful parents and a loving family. I don't know how I got to be so blessed, but I'm not going to complain about it!
Creative writing was next, which is always a good class, cept i forgot my assignments that i stayed up so late last night doing. That was a little frustrating. But derek was very understanding, and things will get worked out. Thank goodness for email!
Next came Karyn! Oh How i love and miss her. She came down to surprise her boyfriend and to see me. It wasn't the normal "hanging out" as we spent all evening at a Medical Bioengineering symposium at the WEB building on campus. As dull as some may find it, I LOVED it. It was completely out of my element, and though I had a hard time connecting at times, and some things just went completely over my head, there were some things that i just couldn't stop asking questions about.
For instance, did you know that venom from poisnous animals are used very often in the production of drugs to help dieases by trageting only the mutant cells that might be causing it? One presentation discussed the advantages of using a slightly altered form of Cone Snail venom to fight very specific cells that cause neurological dieases in the Striatum(which controls fine motery skills and a few other things) completely elimnating parkinson's disease. I wondered if this kind of research could help people with the disease ASL, which my grandfather died from before I got a chance to know him on this earth. This was just one among many, many presentations that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a whole new world (now that song is ny head! lame!) and I enjoyed exploring it. And meeting Karyn's boyfriend finally, that was good too.
finals are soon, but it feels strange to not feel as tight for time as I think I should be. I'm studying and working hard, but I feel like I'm missing something because..well idk, it just feels like there is something i'm missing. I shouldn't be this relaxed. I'm almost excited to be out of school, but only almost. I'll miss everyone.
Anyway, it's about time I made it to bed.

Farewell.