Letter to Family after first week thrown into reality...Jan 7th

Hello family!
But Hello from the local town of Provo rather than New England. It was so wonderful to see and spend time with most of you over the break. That truly was the greatest Christmas present for a missionary. I want to sincerely thank each of you for your thoughtful gifts and help to get me up on my feet with cars, phones, computers, clothes, work, school, cash, blessings, or just a listening ear or helping hand. I have been catapulted into life and what an adventure it has been. I have been wanting so bad to sit down and write you each a thank you note. But, realistically a mass email is better than just not doing it at all, so please accept my gratitude for all of you and your help.

This week has been a whirlwind, but a lot of progress has been made and the Lord's hand has still been felt. I am grateful the spirit of the Lord doesn't leave with the mantle of the missionary. I pray I can continue to stay worthy of it's close companionship. The home events started with phone and computer choices, then getting some fresh new clothes (it has been so nice to just feel nice and presentable!) Shopping is a lot of work! But I thank you again for your help. Then the next adventure started when I planned on moving down to Provo Thursday or Friday, but put it off, then Saturday, but still put it off. Then late at night, I just broke down. I just felt so uneasy about moving to my new apartment. I don't know why, but any time I thought about it, I just felt up happy and uneasy. I felt relieved when I realized I never even signed a contract. So I looked around at some other places. I ran into Amy Street on campus (miracle- haven't seen her for about 3 years while we've both been gone on missions) So good to see her. I told her of my housing plight and she told me some girls upstairs were moving out! So we went and checked it out. I instantly felt so much peace and joy there. But it was WAY out of my price range. Long, very long story short, bouncing back and forth between refunding, to we wont refund you, to okay we will, to never mind, to new contract, 2 contracts, to way to over priced to very good deal, from living out of the car to gma and gpa's and home and back to Provo and back to home and Provo and home (where I woke up one very early morning so rudely by my large shelf over my bed crashing down on my head along with the frames and glass dish, books, candles, and all sorts of knick knacks- SCARY!) and back to Provo and home, and some indecisiveness and headaches,... I'm a happy resident in a very cute lovely homey condo which I got a sweet deal, I have the most amazing roommates, good location, covered parking and free laundry and tonight I finally got my internet to work, so hour, by hour, the dust is settling. I was reminded of the lesson of commitment, that you just make a choice the best you can and stick to it and things work out. I learned that stress comes from fence sitting and I learned that no matter what, no matter who, in all of our interactions, above all we must have integrity and kindness and character.
Other note worthy events this week... started classes, LOVE them! It is great to be a student. I am taking many dance classes, but am trying to keep myself well rounded with a history class and family finance.
I am also loving my job, It is the center for service and learning at BYU. The people I work with are wonderful and fun and I get to work with a lot of neat students who come through the office. I feel very blessed.
Dance has been great, it feels so good to dance again, yet I am SORE, my body is not what it used to be, but already in one week, I am feeling a little more up to speed. Thanks to dad and kates inspiration and encouragement I was able to still pull off a 12 miler! The Lord definitely helped me get my body up and out on that one.
I also ran into a guy at Amy's who was the same guy Jen and Derek were trying to set me up with, but met him there instead, eliminating the whole awkward blind date phone call or first meeting. It was pretty random and a funny connection.
Last night I had a sleepover with an old friend and past roommate who is now graduated and lives in Salt Lake City, it was fun to catch up and see her new grown up life in the city. It was refreshing and fun to be with her again. Then we went to Music and Spoken Word in the morning. I have felt so spiritually fed. I am so used to being the spiritaul feeder on a mission, that it has been fun to sit back and be so richly fed. Church was great, I love my Bishop and people who I have met in the ward. Tonight we had Elder Neil Anderson speak to us at the Marriott center for a CES fireside. All day there was a theme of service and helping the spiritually weary. Thank you to all of you who have buoyed me up spiritually at various times. I love you all and just wanted to touch base with you and fill you in on the many blessings the Lord has blessed me with.