Called to serve..

Dear Sister Sowter

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labour in the Oregon Eugene Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Centre on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language.

So this happened and it was the best thing ever. Words cannot express how happy these sentences make me or how they will change my life. My future starts here and I am so excited!


My testimony of the gospel is a simple but honest one, and seeing as for the next eighteen months i'm going to be doing nothing but talking about my beliefs and sharing my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ what better place to start practising than here? So here we are. I know that Jesus, my redeemer and Saviour lives and that he knows and loves me. I know that if we let him he will support us, carry us and lift our burdens as we endure to the end. I believe that families can be together forever and that our loving, kind Heavenly Father has created the most wonderful plan for us to all experience joy and happiness here in mortality and for all eternity. I believe that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet here on the earth today to help lead us and inspire us with words of encouragement and knowledge. I believe that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that the Scriptures are our guide through life. The gospel is true people!

I'm so excited/terrified to get my name tag and to share the message of peace, joy and happiness with the people of Oregon. Excited because the gospel is true and I love it! And terrified because eighteen months is a long time and missions are hard and what if they don't like me or my accent?? I don't handle rejection well, I really just want everyone to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives so we can all be happy. Ok? Cool.

Honestly I still can't believe i'm going on a mission. It's never something I aspired to do when I was growing up. I thought they sounded like too much hard work and sacrifice. They're tough, emotionally and physically. Early mornings, exercise, no naps, limited contact with family and friends and no entertainment, regular rejection... if you know me even a smidgen then you know the idea of early mornings and exercise is literally my worst nightmare. And now i've voluntarily signed myself  up to do exactly that for 24/7 for eighteen months. Some might call me crazyyy...

And they'd probably be right!

haha.

Despite my reservations, I know it's the right thing for me to do. It's the answer to many prayers. Over the past few years I have prayed and pleaded with the Lord for my life to just sort itself out already. I couldn't understand why things were so difficult when I was trying my best and doing everything I could. Let me tell you, getting rejected from jobs for no good reason is the worst. But I know now that the Lord was preparing me to go on a mission. I wasn't getting those jobs that were perfect and I would be so good at because I was needed for a different purpose. My journey to go on a mission started in January and I have hit every single bump along the way (literally). Doctors refusing to sign your medical? Been there. Papers being accidentally deleted the night before you Bishop goes on a three week holiday? Yep i've got the t-shirt. It's taken it's toll emotionally, there were so many times where I wanted to give up, when I just sat and cried and when I worried over how inadequate I am to serve. I still feel that way. Whilst everyone else is gushing over how exciting it is, "Oregon can you believe it?" i'm starting to freak out a little (read: a lot) . I deluded myself into thinking that three months was a long time to prepare. Hahaha how wrong I was. There is so much to do. Visas and vaccinations and ohmygosh missions are expensive to prepare for and I don't know enough of the gospel to teach it, and AMERICA??!

A m e r i c a ! I can't get my head around it. People don't go on missions to America. And yet me, miss anti-america is going over there for 18 months. The Lord must have a wicked sense of humour. But whilst I confess my confusion about this to every single person I meet I also know it's 100 percent where I need to be. When I read Oregon, Eugene in my letter I cried. And we're not talking the ladylike single glistening tear on the check (name that movie, Lydia i'm looking at you!) but full on ugly sobs. I tend to cry when I get emotional. It's unfortunate. But despite the tears, I felt an overwhelming feeling of peace. It was suddenly and overwhelmingly confirmed to me by the Spirit that this is exactly where I need to be. I have work to do there. And the more I learn of the mission the more perfect it seems to me. It has really confirmed to me that mission calls are inspired from the Lord and that he knows me personally. As my lovely sweet friend Georgia wrote me after I received my call, it's like Doctrine and Covenants 58:4 "For after much tribulations come many blessings..." Oh how I have struggled to get here, but the blessings for enduring my trials and having patience and faith in the Lord, are more than I could ever imagine.

I'm not going to lie here, I was glad I wasn't called to serve in England. And that may be wrong of me. A mission isn't meant to be an adventure, a holiday, a cool place to tell people you've been. It is not about where you serve but about how you serve. I, along with the 85k other LDS missionaries out there in the world, have signed up to dedicate our time to the Lord, to serve and to love Him and His children. Some people wonder why at the age of twenty three i'm deciding to sacrifice so much and uproot my life, but they don't understand just how much my Saviour gave up for me, and that the only way I can fathom beginning to repay my debt is by my complete devotion to Him. So yes, everyone keeps telling me how pretty Oregon is (I know, I can't stop looking at pictures on pinterest, someone take it away from me), and that may be a lovely positive bonus, but that is not why i'm going or what i'm most excited about. Seeing a mountain is probably going to blow my mind but serving my Saviour is far more of an exciting adventure to me.

CLICK RIGHT HERE TO WATCH ME OPEN MY CALL. This is literally the only way blogger would allow me to upload the video. But it's still the best. I've watched it on repeat to many times. Thank you to Elder and Sister Preece.

Please excuse the horrible mess I look like in all the pictures, it was an emotional night..

Ok so I wasn't fist pumping, I moved my hand and Ruth managed to catch it at just the right time..

This might be my favourite picture of me and my Nannie ever. Love her.

"I cannot live without books."

*

You might of heard recently of a man who got locked inside the Waterstones store in Trafalgar Square (x). And complained about it on twitter. Now I don't know about you, but being locked in a bookstore overnight would hardly be a hardship for me. In fact it would be a dream come true. I would create a little nest and happily read to my hearts content...

I l o v e books. There is something magical about opening the pages of a book. The thrill, the anticipation, the excitement. The smell! Nothing can compare. I have spent many a day lost in the pages of a book. I have been on adventures in the mountains and by the sea, climbed trees and traipsed through fields of gold. I have travelled the world and experienced unknown cultures. I have made new friends, felt love and longing and pain. My mind has been opened, my imagination runs wild and my creativity has increased, and all through the glorious written word. 

Every experience with reading is a pleasure to me. But my all time favourite is the familial comfort {like snuggling up in a cosy blanket with a steaming mug of hot chocolate} you get when you re-read for the thousandths time you all time favourite book. The spine is creased, battered and weary. There are smudged fingerprints on the pages you have thumbed countless times. You read the first sentence and it is like coming home.  

"Mr and Mrs Dursley of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

Recently I was asked on facebook to share my ten favourite books. Books that have influenced me, that have changed my life. A near impossible task. Only ten?? Every book I have read has impacted on me in someway. It's taken me a while to compose this list, to stop analysing what my choices would say about me. In the end I didn't study my bookcases, I simply chose the first ten books that came to mind as those have obviously been significant enough for me to remember them.

My top ten books: (in no particular order)

1. The Harry Potter Series - J. K. Rowling

2. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

3. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

4. Hamlet - William Shakespeare

5. Before I Die - Jenny Downham

6. The Princess Diaries- Meg Cabot

7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

8. Diary of Anne Frank - Anne Frank

9. 19 Minutes - Jodi Picoult

10. One Day - David Nicholls

I will be forever grateful for my aunt who made a reward chart for me when I was a kiddo, to help encourage me to read. At school, world book day was always my favourite. Any excuse to dress up and read books. When things got rough at home and I wanted to escape, I would reach for my books. Books are my best friends. As Ernest Hemingway said "There is no friend as loyal as a book." They've experienced life with me and hold sentimental meaning correlated to specific times and events. They have always been there, and always will. I encourage everyone to go explore! Bookshops, charity shops, windowsills, libraries, there are countless ways to get your mitts on some quality books!  

What are some of your favourites? Leave your recommendations in the comments!

*

Photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ginnerobot/4552277923/">ginnerobot</a> / <a href="http://foter.com/">Foter</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">CC BY-SA</a>ern Jukebo

A million little things.

Look! ^^^ I made a thing! (I'm so proud of myself i'm practically bursting with happiness.) I think it sums up the past few weeks pretty accurately.

I've been contemplating the meaning of friendship recently. How great it is, but also how... strange. You meet someone, decide you like said person and voila, you become friends. I can't actually remember how some of my friends and I actually forged our relationships. They just.. happened. I remember when I left University, I was worried about how I was going to make new friends, because how do you do that?? I had figured out at the grand old age of twenty one that unfortunately life was not like the TV shows I so desperately loved watching. That no matter however many times I re watched my dvd boxset of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. I was not going to be transported into Central Perk to hang out with the gang and be happy forever. Life is just not that shiny and perfect.

And honestly, I always used to feel pretty insecure about the state of my friendships. I would worry that I didn't have enough friends, that people didn't like me because I wasn't pretty enough, or opinionated, or because I didn't conform to their lifestyle 'norm'. I've never really had a best friend, a bff, finish each other sentences type of friend. I've had friends who at certain times i've been super close too, but people move on, grow up, drift apart. And i've come to realise (after a lot of tears. I was a tragic teenager) that that is ok. Because, get this, the friends that I do have.. are prettyyy cool.

Here's the thing. After years of thought and searching, i'm a firm believer in having a few choice, supportive friends over a bunch of people who you never really connect with. It's a philosophy that works well for me. Mostly because large crowds make me uncomfortable. Also, because well, i'm kinda socially awkward. I'm the person who likes to spend all their evenings in their pyjamas, eating ice cream and watching TV. I have an utter lack of desire to do anything at all social after i've taken my bra off for the day. You want to go out out, like clubbing? I'm so not your girl. Want to have a pyjama party with a mountain of food? Look no further.

And luckily for my sanity i've found some great friends amidst the chaos and stresses of life. Friends who share my love of reading, Harry Potter, food and naps. Friends who laugh at my sometimes inappropriate sense of humour and share my standards. Friends who accept me for who I am, social awkwardness and all.

And friendship doesn't have to be some great big, grand expression of love and happiness all the time! Friendship to me is all about the little things, the late night whispered phonecalls and laughing fits, the shared memories of 2 for 1 Slug and Lettuce Mondays and appreciation of Caramel Nibbles and Appletiser. Friendship is about knowing you're not alone but being able to be your own person at the same time. Friendship is a million little things:

Friendship is staying up and talking until 5am.

Friendship is traipsing through fields, having serious life chats amongst the hoards of people and running hand in hand through the crowds at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta together.

Friendship is getting up at 4am to watch the early morning balloon assent at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta with me.

 

Friendship is pushing and shoving your way past each other in the dessert line at a wedding. Those doughnuts are mine!

Friendship is laughing together at inappropriate jokes in the back row of Church.

Friendship is whatsapping sneaky pictures of hot guys to cheer the other person up.

Friendship is watching films in your pyjamas, eating domino's and gossipping. (Friendship is ordering domino's because your hungry and not minding that the others can't contribute to the cost.)

Friendship is lending out your Netflix login details to the lame person who doesn't have it.

Friendship is sending postcards back and forth even with much speedier and easier methods of communication available, just because it's nice to receive pretty post.

Friendship is traipsing around countless charity shops with me whilst I try to find an outfit for that 1920s costume party or yet another floral skirt.

Friendship is hanging out on a Sunday afternoon, eating good food and talking.

Friendship is having deep and meaningful discussions in the car, even when we're parked outside the house.

Friendship is homemade Cd's and discovering new bands together.

Friendship is getting lost literally everytime we travel to Wales together.

Friendship is making up stories of Russian Spies wearing woolly hats and laughing uncontrollably on a park bench in London.

Friendship is baking a cake for someone. Just because.

Friendship is pushing back all the furniture and having a dance party in the living room.

Friendship is meeting up and then just taking a collective nap.

Friendship is watching dvds and crafting together. Even when it's sunny outside. Because it's ok to be lazy sometimes. 

Friendship is dancing in the rain together.

Friendship is having friends who just get you so much that they're more like sisters than friends.

 I have the best friends! Here is to a million more happy little things!

Catherine 

Getting to know you, getting to know me

The World Cup football final was last Sunday. Now normally the mere mention of the word sport elicits a groan from me and cues me rolling away from the torture I know is about to come my way. I can see the appeal of sport, really I can (those Rugby players are yum). I'm just not into it. Maybe it's because my first real memory of gym class at school is traipsing outside to play hockey whilst it was snowing and being frozen like a popsicle to my hockey stick. A hockey stick whacking you around the ankles hurts. A frozen hockey stick whacking you around the ankles is pure agony. Or maybe it's because I am the most awkwardly coordinated person ever and all I can think about when faced with the possibility of having to play sport is all the horrible things that could go wrong. Guys, I can't even walk in a straight line without tripping over my feet, why do you think passing me a ball/bat and asking me to run is a good idea??

But I am quite patriotic. And the World Cup is  all about supporting your country. Now, I love England. I am well proud of being British. Truly I am. But England are rubbish at football. And Argentina are good. And the majority of my family are Argentine... so I support Argentina during all football games. Sorry not sorry. (Argentina I still feel your lose deep within my soul. Germany, congrats and all that jazz.) Some people were surprised these past few weeks to discover my Argentine roots, which in turn surprised me. I just assumed everyone knew... It got me thinking of all the other little pieces of information about me, silly, nonsensical things that just make me, me. So here are 20 facts about me that you definitely didn't care about but i'm sharing with you anyway:

1. This is me. I'm British with some Pakistani and Argentine thrown in there somewhere. Also some Welsh and Irish further back. I don't even know. I'm 23 (urgh so old) and an only child (it's super boring). My immediate family is pretty small and i've always been envious of large families.

This was taken a few weeks ago in London. I'm 23. Totally in denial about the fact that i'm OLD...

2. I am a third generation member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And I love it. It is the greatest thing in my life and has brought me such peace and comfort. I am incredibly blessed because of my faith. I have wonderful friends who support me and love me. But most importantly I know that I am a daughter of God.

3. I bake. Like all the time. Sometimes not successfully. My oven at the moment is a tad temperamental. And by tad I mean a big fat lot. It runs about 40 degrees hotter than it should and cremates everything within about 10 minutes. which makes following a recipe really hard. But despite my oven acting like a stroppy teenager, I live and breathe for baking. which brings us onto point number...

This was the first cake I ever baked

 4. I dream of owning my own bakery. I have it all planned out. I have folders dedicated to it on my laptop, pinterest boards and a hoarders collection of recipes. I will bake scrumptious treats and serve them on china in my cute cafe with mismatched furniture and squishy sofas. There will be fairy lights, bunting and book shelves. There will be board games and puzzles and newspapers, there will be art adorning the walls from local inspiring artists. I will hold book clubs and quiz nights and mother and baby groups. I will teach baking classes and throw birthday parties for kids. And it will be amazing.

5. I love ribbons. My Mum likes to tell the story of when I was little I was more enamoured with the silky label on my teddy than the actual teddy. And thus an everlasting l o v e was born...

6. Christmas has always been, and forever will be, my favourite time of the year. I L O V E Christmas. The smells, the food, the excitement, the carols, the presents... It makes me super happy!

7. Giraffes are my favourite animal. It all started when I was about 12 and was travelling on holiday with my Grandparents. I was bored and grumpy and when we stopped at the services I spotted a teddy shaped like a giraffe. I think to shut me up my Nannie brought me said giraffe teddy and the rest is history. 'Lofty' (because he has a long neck, duh) and I are still best friends and I get overly excited about anything giraffe related. Even though I have never ever seen a real giraffe...

8. I have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E). It is more commonly referred to as as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). I had Glandular Fever when I was fourteen but was really late in being diagnosed and treated. I spent a year off school before returning part time for the rest of my education. There is a whole long story that I might tell one day but for now I will just say that it sucked. It still does. Although I am way better than when I first diagnosed, I still have to watch myself everyday to make sure I don't relapse. And although people try, nobody really understands. Read the excellent 'Spoon' theory here to understand a little better what it's like to suffer with M.E.

9. I love thunderstorms. They are my absolute favourite ever. Especially when i'm tucked up snugly inside and can watch them from my window.

10. I knit. My Nannie taught me when I was a little kiddo and I thought it was boring and never did any. Then one day at university I was procrastinating writing an assignment and picked up my needles again. And now I can't seem to put them down... I only do small projects as my attention span is quite short but one day I will knit myself a jumper and it will be glorious! 

11. I can't ride a bike. For this I totally blame my Mum for not being interested herself and therefore not teaching me when I was young and fearless. Now i'm old and scared of learning and making a giant fool of myself!

12. I like brightly coloured nail polish. It just makes me super happy to have brightly painted nails. Hot pink is currently my favourite.

13. I only ever wear skirts or dresses. I own two pairs of jeans and I loathe the days when I have to wear them.

Even the weather being freezing cold, wet and foggy on the moors would not deter me from wearing a dress.

14. I am not a morning person. If I could I would probably sleep all day. It doesn't matter how early I go to bed the night before, come morning I am a grumpy mess. And don't even think about talking to me for at least an hour.

15. I have curly hair. Except it's not the nice, sleek curly waves that people are always envious of. It's a tangled mess of frizz and knots that I never really know how to tame. Any suggestions of how to style my mop of hair would be greatly appreciated!

16. I adore sending and receiving post. It makes me sad that all I ever seem to receive is bills in the post. Who doesn't love to see a prettily addressed letter waiting for them when they get home from work? I want to keep the art of handwritten correspondence alive! I send post cards to friends in far-flung and not so far-flung corners of world. If you want to get involved then send me your address, I would love a new pen pal! 

17. Charity shops are the best shops. I've gotten some real gems from browsing my local charity shops, and all for dead cheap prices! £40 for a Burberry trench coat?? Heck yes! My love of charity shops stems from having no money or decent fashion sense. The clothes on the high street are expensive and generic, whereas I am cheap and not fashionable. And that's how I like it.

18. I love the game Scrabble. A game all about spelling and words, what's not to like?? Seriously though, i'm trying to persuade my family to start a Scrabble championship...

19. Cereal is the greatest food ever. I love it probably an unhealthy amount. When I was a kiddo my church snack used to be a pot of dry Cheerios. And at university it was a main staple of my diet. It still is too be honest..

Photo not mine. I found it on the interweb here and liked it a great deal. I hope you don't mind me borrowing it! You are very talented and have great taste in cereal...

20. Talking of food, I am addicted to jaffa cakes. I have been known to eat an entire packet in one go... don't judge me.

And that's me folks. This has been fun! Send in a message telling me fun facts about yourself, I want to know you all too!

Catherine

Oh England, my England...

Summer in Britain, is there anything more wonderful? I vote no. Well... kinda. To be honest i'm more of a autumn/winter person, I prefer the crisp bite to the air, crunching through leaves, the long cozy nights, curling up with a blanket and hot chocolate and getting lost in a good book, the anticipation and excitement of bonfire night and Christmas, the smell of cinnamon and spices...

... Where was I?

Right, Summer. Glorious summer. Alice pretty much summed up my feelings with her blog post on why it is a stressful time of year. Summer for most (normal) people is all about carefree living, having fun and relaxing and living life to it's fullest. Instagram is full of happy, over-filtered snaps of the beach and half naked people and reckless activities like jumping of cliffs (health and safety people!). You see the young and the carefree teenagers hanging out in the parks and making cool (annoying) summer playlists full of preppy poppy artists i'm really too old and uncool to know/care about. You want to go do things but it's too humid and you become a hot mess as soon as you exit the shower. You wear sandals as it's sunny when you leave the house but then you get caught in a typical British summer rain storm.

The struggle is real.

BUT for a few short weeks, just before the schools break for summer, Britain can be a peaceful, magical place. And I got to spend those magical moments in my happy place..

Be jealous.

Let me introduce you to the wonderful place that is Exmouth, Devon.

I took lots of pictures of boats. Just because.

So it's not some exotic, white beached, clear blue seas, foreign destination.

But look at this sunset and tell me this place is not special. I dare you.

Seriously. 

We ate fish and chips overlooking this view of the Exe estuary and it was the best night ever. We also decided that we could walk on the mud banks like the cockle pickers were. Except we both forgot that my  Mamma has the worst coordination and balance ever. And that mud is kinda slippy. It was an interesting walk. Also the state of our feet... they were not a pretty site. Even the friendly stray cat that wanted our attention once we got on dry land was put off by all the mud.

Good memories. 

I just love this place.

My family have been coming here for as long as I remember and then some. It's home away from home, in the best possible way. I know the best spots on the beach away from the noisy tourists. I know the best fish and chip shop, the best pizza place and the best place for a cream tea (crucial information). I know what time the trains leave the one platform the station has. Exmouth is as much my home as Bristol is but much more exciting.

You can't go for walks like this in Bristol.

Hi Mamma!

This was about eight in the evening. And it wasn't getting dark anytime soon. Coastal walks in the balmy evening summer air? Oh if you insist...

I dare you to tell me this isn't a magical place.

It rained pretty heavily one day when we were there so we decided to go the cinema. It is literally the cutest place ever. It only has four screens. The theatre we were in seated 40 people so you have to get pretty up close and personal with the strangers seated next to you. Maybe it's a small town thing but everyone is super friendly and we were personally escorted to our seats. Talk about customer service.

We walked through the park in the rain on the way home, because yolo this is England, and there was bunting in the trees! I l o v e this place.

The surrounding places are pretty cool too. My favourite is Topsham. It has dutch styled houses and a pier called " The Goat Walk" and amazing charity shops. I brought some real cute skirts and a Burberry trench coat! Who the heck gives away a designer coat?? "One mans rubbish is another's treasure" has never rung so true. I guess I win this one! Ha!

On a food related note (what isn't with me?) Topsham also has the BEST cheese shop. I am not exaggerating. The cheese is sublime. I'm drooling just thinking about the shop... It's our main reason for going to Topsham. We brought a small fortune in cheese, as per. I regret nothing.

I love Lympstone as well because it has a book shelf and home made jam and washing lines on the beach.

I'm seriously all about the food.

I don't even care.

I didn't get to go this time as I ended up going to London for a couple of days (a story for another time) but my Mamma walked there whilst I was away and thoroughly enjoyed it. Mostly because she brought some more jam..

It was pretty much had the best week ever. I loved being able to spend time with my Mamma and relaxing. Every time I go to Exmouth, I never ever want to come home.

Where are your happy places? Comment below, i'd love to know and maybe discover some unknown corner of the world! Maybe i'll become one of those summer people who plan exciting adventures in the sunshine..

Anything is possible.

Catherine xoxo