"Best friends are people you know you don’t need to talk to every single day. You don’t even need to talk to each other for weeks, but when you do, it’s like you never stopped talking." 

 I am a firm believer that every person you meet play a roll in your life.
I met 5 girls about a year and a half ago. All of us but one was from Utah the other was from Idaho. I consider these girls my BEST FRIENDS.
I felt like I have known them my entire life.

Cheyenne: She is one of the most caring people I know. she always has a big smile on her face. She is easy going. She has the best taste in music. Cheyenne is a great listener I remember one Sunday we sat in my room and talked for hours! she always looks at the positive in people. I admirer that about her.

Sheridan: She can make you laugh even if you want to cry. She is kind, she loves the New York Yankees more than life its self. She always is down for some kind of an adventure. between our weekly hot chocolate runs or simply just hanging out in Greenwich talking about life. She has the best personality!

Amy: My favorite sister missionary, Always gives the best advice. She is confident and doesn't take crap from anyone. Amy was my visiting teacher she is the main reason I was semi active. she would call me on Sundays and tell me I had 30mins to be ready for church and come and pick me up. Amy is a great example of "don't judge a book by its cover" and if anyone knows her you know what I'm talking about.

Jenna: Always has been there for me to lean on. I met her 2 weeks after moving to Nyc at that point I had been kicked out and really uncertain about the whole nanny thing, She gave me comfort and told me not to give up. As I was preparing for a mission a bunch of things kept bringing me down. She was the person who simply reminded me of my worth and how important I was, and that I would make a great missionary. She told me that she knew I was suppose to go on a mission. She is one of the strongest people I know. She knows what she wants and goes for it and doesn't stop until she gets it.

Kristin: She is my partner in crime. I know I can count on her, She is always there for me to vent to. She isn't afraid to speak her mind or let you know where she stands. I honestly don't know how I would have survived living in NYC with out her. She is my shopping partner. She would be the first person I would call if I need help hiding a body. She got me addicted to the band Parachute and I'm so happy she did!


I'm So grateful for each one of these girls. I'm extremely lucky to have such great friends!
I'm so happy I got to see kris chey and sher last weekend.
I wish Jenna and Amy could have been there!!

Going Going Gone!

2012 has been an interesting year to say the least.

This year started off amazing! I rang in the new year in Time Square with 3 of my Best Friends and 

about 1 million strangers. It was a night I will never forget. 

I moved back to Utah when I moved I really had no reason for moving just a feeling that I need to be home.

about a month later my family experienced betrayal that Shattered all our hearts.

It completely tore apart our extend family.

I remember many nights where my family cried together.

I remember writing a missionary to tell him what had happened and how heart broken he was.  

As time went on the situation just got worse to the point where we finally had to cut certain people out of our life's. It was hard but we didn't want anymore drama.

Looking back this is why I needed to move home Heavenly Father knew I need to be close to my family when this would happen.

 I went to Dallas with my mom and sister during the summer we had a blast. Dallas is one of my favorite city's (besides NYC of course) I love the weather. I love the shopping, I love the people. I would move there if I could! 

Back October of 2011 I had started talking to my bishop in New York about serving a mission, not a lot of people knew I was even thinking about going. I had a Very powerful missionary experience and I knew that I wanted to serve a mission. After I moved home and the "DRAMA" went down I put my mission on hold.

Finally in June I told my family and friends I wanted to go on a mission. 

Every little thing I felt was holding me back. I really had to trust in the lord and tell my self that it was on his timing not mine. 

November 23 2012 I went to the post office and picked up a large white envelop addressed to 

Sister Lauren Markel Crandall. That entire day I was so happy and excited. I remember looking at the envelop and thinking inside this envelop is a sheet of paper that will tell me where ill be serving the lord for 18 months yes I kinda freaked out. 

Later that night my amazing friends and family gathered to watch me open my call. 

Houston Texas Spanish Speaking!!!

I was so excited! My love for Texas and my want to learn a language all came together! 

This year has had its Highs and Lows but I'm so grateful for every experience I have had in this last year. I learned how to trust my Heavenly Father and with his help and love I became a better person. I know that everything happens for a reason. We just have to remember there is a reason why bad things happen to good people. We have to remember by trusting and having faith things will work out.

2013 is going to be an amazing year! 

TEXAS HERE I COME!!!!

Dec. 14 2012 Newtown CT

 

 

 

 twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled wit

h such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

 

 

 

Missionary Blog

I have made a new blog for my mission! Follow IT! :) 

http://sistermarkelcrandall.blogspot.com//

 My mom is going to be a peach and update it when I leave with Pictures and my letters! 

Me To the T

UPDATE!!!

OH MY WORD
I am so so sorry I'm such a slacker!! I keep telling myself that I need to Update My blog but do you think I ever do it??

WISDOM TEETH 
All i have to say about this is getting your teeth out Sucks!! Hunter and I got them out at the same time. and of course hunter is completely fine right after. I think i cried that whole first day. I'm sure my mom loved me that day! ;) Hunter would not shut up, and I couldn't talk to tell him to shut up! he didn't swell AT ALL!! and I on the other hand looked ridiculous !! It was soo soo bad! but I'm all better and back to normal. (thank goodness).


PARACHUTE 
 So about a month ago I went to the BEST concert of my life!! PARACHUTE! I am so in love with this band. I was front and center. They pretty much played every single song that I'm obsessed with!
(ask my coworkers that's all we listen to) So after they play you could go and meet and greet them! I got to meet the ENTIRE band! yes I about died, Boys Like Girls were also there and they actually surprised me, they were really good!

HALLOWEEN
I hate Halloween with a passion. I have really never liked it. This year my plan was to hand out candy to all the little monsters who came to my house (fun right). Then Connor said there is a Jazz game that night so of course I was sooo down for a Jazz game! so then they tell me I have to dress up for the game. NO NO NO!!  They were NOT going to get me to dress up! Connor dressed up as Peter Pan, Kalli went as Minnie Mouse, Jake went as a Construction worker (very original right??) and guess what I went as........ a ARMY Girl. for some odd reason I actually trusted Jake to do my face paint, big mistake! Over all we had a Blast! I'm happy I went along! oh and the Jazz Won! :)

I'M THE BOSS
For almost 2 weeks my mom and dad went to Houston and guess who was in charge? yup you guessed it MEEEE!! I guess you could say that I really like being the Boss! It was actually really fun Clayci and I pretty much had a girls night every night. Hunter seemed to survive well (he was never home).

AND NOW ABOUT THE MISSION!!!! 
okay so everyone I think knows how long I have waited to turn in my papers / get my Call.. well Hunter and I had a meeting with the Stake President November 4th he told us that our papers had been sent and to expect them about a week later. That next Monday I got a Phone call from my Bishop he told me that Hunters papers were in the mail and that mine were not. I felt very disappointed and discouraged, for a split second I wanted to give up and just not go. I felt like I had been waiting for 7 months and every little thing was in my way of going on a mission. I called my mom in tears, the first thing she told me was "its not your time its Heavenly Fathers Timing and he isn't ready for you to serve quite yet" after hearing that it made me feel a lot better. It was so true who knows why I hadn't received my call I might not never know but it happen for a reason, and I just needed to have faith.
Last Wednesday Hunter received his mission call! I was so excited but a bit jealous because I wanted my
call. For the pass month or so I have been telling Hunter he was going to go to Ghana! I think I told him everyday or close to everyday. so when he opened his call he paused and just looked at me, at first I was a little confused? Then he said Accra Ghana! I couldn't Believe it! I have never felt so excited for one of my siblings! I know that you are called where your needed. Hunter is going to make a great missionary.
On Saturday I got a text from my bishop telling me that my MISSION PAPERS were in the MAIL! I wanted to cry/scream/laugh/jump all that the same time! Now I'm anxiously waiting to pick up my call... 2 more days 2 more days.. I have waited 7 months whats another Day right??  WRONG its bee the longest weekend of my life and 2 days feels forever away! moral of the story??? HAVE FAITH and TRUST IN HEAVENLY FATHERS TIMING. EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT HOW ITS SUPPOSE TO WORK OUT!  

You Decide 2012

    Honestly I had no idea on how to start this post, I was kinda scared to write my feelings on this touchy subject. Every one has an opinion when it come to who they think is best for OUR Country.
 I recently stumble upon this Quote by Abraham Lincoln which says,
 "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln
   
    I sat and really thought about this quote, and to be honest it kinda scared me. How could we lose our freedoms?? No one can take that away right?? WRONG!! The government can. In New York City they now have a law where you can not buy any type of soda over 16oz, umm hello I love Pepsi if I want to drink 20 or 32 oz of it I'm going to. Small things are being taken away from us. the past 4 years have been no quite what the American people expected when Obama said he was all about CHANGE. what did he change??  Gas Prices from $1.85 to $3.79 Health care.. so now we pay for peoples health care who can't afford it but can afford iPhone, new cars, trips and whatever else? hmm doesn't seem fair. Obama said College tuition would go down so that everyone can go to college,  yeah I'm pretty that hasn't happened. 

     As you all know in 15 days We The People of this Great Nation will elect a man, who we want to lead our country for the next 4 years.


   I am one of those weird people who love Politics. I have watched all the primary debates between the Republican Nominees. I watched the Republican Convention and I also watched the Democrat Convention. I watched the previous 2 debates and the Vice President Debate.
 

     As I looked in to both candidates I have found things that I REALLY like and things I REALLY DON'T like. I am 21 a lot of the things are being decided that will affect me. I have a lot of friends who don't care about politics. I just want to shake them and say " HELLO ARE YOU STUPID THESE THINGS EFFECT YOU!! EDUCATE YOUR SELF"  I think that is my biggest problem with people and politics, you get people who only vote for some because he is a Republican or Because he is a Democrat or because he is black or because he is Mormon or because Mitt has great hair.. lets be real Mitt has a great head of hair but don't vote for someone because of that!!! Vote for the Right reasons. Education, Jobs, Business, Values etc. do you want small gov. or big gov?

The candidate that matches my Values and what I think is the right path for America is Mitt Romney.
EVERYONE should check out his 5 Point Plan   http://www.mittromney.com/jobsplan
I honestly think that  he can do what he says he will do.
   He has experience in Making jobs. how many of us College students want a good job when we graduate?? I know I do!!
    He was the Governor of Massachusetts and while he was the schools were in the top 5 in the country.
    He obviously knows how to budget money, and obviously we need someone who know how to budget 16 trillion dollars.
  
I am not writing this to tell you to vote for Mitt Romney (even though I think you should.. ;))
I am writing this to tell everyone to be educated about this Election. not just presidential but on a local  politicians. People in Utah say that voting is pointless.. but its not!! you still need to elect  your local leaders. IF YOU DON'T VOTE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMPLAIN!!
I encourage everyone to watch the last debate tonight and then VOTE on November 6th. Only you can decide which of the two is a right fit for you!!