Zink-ishness

80's dancing

2011-06-24T15:20:00.001-05:00

Now don't let this post fool you, I strongly disliked 80's dancing maybe because I was super uncomfortable in my get up but I did have AMAZING friends with me.

Here is how awesome we looked!

Utah Recap

2011-06-24T15:08:00.000-05:00

I have been in Utah almost 2 years now (official two years is August 8th). I sucked at blogging and so I thought I would just make a re-cap instead of trying to catch it all up by individual blog posts.

1. Started school at UCMT
2. Made some amazing freaking friends
3. Went through the Temple for my Endowments
4. Moved to my first apartment
5. Learned how to play Rugby, mainly by watching the sport and working on the Provo Lady Steelers team
6. Welcomed a new little baby niece Lena
7. Graduated from UCMT
8. became an L.M.T. and started my own private practice
9. made even more awesome friends
10. moved again with 3 of the previous awesome friends
11. played a lot to make up for all the work I did the first year.

Oh, there is so much more but those are the key points. I now work for eBay full time and UCMT very part time and then have the private practice!

New Roommates

2011-06-24T14:06:00.000-05:00

I moved again. Well, this happened in February but what else is new when I don't post on my blog? I had to emergency move (long story that only few will ever know) and I was taken in by 3 amazing gals and I live like a rockstar now!

These girls saved my life and have blessed me more then any of them will EVER know.
Here is just a brief list of things we do together:
Church
Gym
Dodgeball
Sporting events
Plays (well it was a dance thingy but it was awesome)
Cook

And well lets face it, we are all pretty inseparable. The sad news is one is getting married in August, well its happy news but then it will just be 3 of us instead of the 4+1 boyfriend.

Maria, Ali (getting married), and Bethany

Maria, Bethany, and myself at New Years Eve (before I moved in)

Get Well Soon...

2010-12-25T11:59:00.001-06:00

Anyone that has ever heard me go on and on about how much I dislike relationships and all the jazz that comes with them probably knows how much I dislike receiving flowers. Now the funny part is this, I always have that deep hope and desire that some Valentines day some guy will send me flowers to my house or even cooler my job, well I haven't found that guy yet and of course I still act like I HATE flowers.

Well, as you all know from my last post, I have influenza over Christmas and I am also not able to be in Dallas with my beautiful family sharing in the Christmas joy. So I have been rather bah humbug the past week and well the flu just topped it all off with disdain for everything. Let me just tell you how much my family rocks! Most of my friends here in Utah have steered clear of me since I am contagious still and well I don't blame them as it is Christmas and they all have little nephews and such to be around, well I am minding my own business yesterday watching a movie and someone rang the doorbell. This came as a complete shock because not many people know where I actually live, so I got up and covered my mouth with the awesome blue mask (as seen in the previous post) and answered the door to find no one there but a box of flowers.

Here they are, the wonderful Christmas Tulips sent by this awesome family:

Its amazing how something like this can bring the biggest smile to someones face. I lit up like a star at night when I saw the box and even more when I read the card that was sent with it. I can now say my little hate for flowers seems to be over. I just love how they look on my counter and to know that they were sent out of Love from my family to help me get through this Christmas just makes me feel so good inside! From now on I will not bash flowers or the idea of receiving them because now I know what it feels like to receive them in pure surprise! Again, I want to say I love my family and I am so thankful that Heavenly Father blessed me with them. Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas time...

2010-12-23T10:08:00.000-06:00

Generally very happy thoughts come to mind when the word Christmas is mentioned. Well, this year tends to ring a bit different to me as for 1. this is the year that all my siblings make the journey home to spend it with my parents and well family in general. I have a new niece and brother in law that I have never met so this year was the year of all years in my mind, however since I am a big kid with real responsibilities I could not afford the flight from SLC to Dallas. So I finally made that okay in my mind and was at peace knowing I will see everyone in April for my sisters church wedding!

I finally made other plans to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with the Gundersen's who have taken me in for Thanksgiving the past 2 years. Just as I am dead set to go and have a heck of a good time I start feeling sick. So I finally go the doctor fearing I have pneumonia, well I go and the verdict is well Influenza. What does that mean? That means that until my 102 degree fever breaks I am considered contagious, oh and for 6 days after. So they gave me a perscription and blue mask to wear in case I need to leave my house. I can't work the rest of the week and well, just have to spend it alone really.

My awesome blue mask that says "I have the plague" that I must wear around others for 6 days AFTER my fever breaks

Man oh man do I love Christmas this time of year, not. I guess its time for me to remember the real reason for Christmas and forget about what we have made it in our heads. I need to remember that Christ is the center of this "holiday" and without him living his perfect life I would not even have a life to live. Without his Atonement I would be nothing. So from now on I am choosing to remember him and forget about my "problems" and I will try my very hardest to put Christ in Christmas and have a great one no matter how bad I may be feeling!

Orem Park 9th talent show - Jessica Zink stand up

2010-11-03T22:51:00.000-05:00

I did a little stand up at my ward talent show. Let me know what you think...

Vote for my Niece...Please

2010-10-22T19:09:00.003-05:00

Hey Everyone out there in blogger land. My niece Lena that is 3 months old (going on 4) was entered into the casting call for Gap kids competition. Please take a moment and vote for her as much as you can on a daily basis if you have the time...thanks

Here is the 3 month photo we submitted! Please again go vote!

http://www.gapcastingcall.com/GapCastingCall/EntryDetail.html?id=855808

Temple Square

2010-10-18T19:13:00.000-05:00

What else is there to do with parents when visiting, well of course take them to the big City and show them some of the sites. So on Saturday we ventured to Salt Lake City to hit up the Gateway which is an outside shopping mall and then Temple Square.

I took them to an awesome place called Tucano's for lunch and had them feast upon "Brazillian" food, it was amazing and they loved it!

Here are the pictures!

Dad, myself, and my Mom! I love you all very much

Dad, me, Mom, and Tracy Robbins. Thanks for coming down Tracy and playing with us on Temple Square.

Bridal Veil Falls

2010-10-18T19:07:00.000-05:00

While my parents were in Utah I tried to show them the sites that I love and thought they would enjoy. So naturally I had to take them up Provo Canyon to show them Bridal Veil Falls and then drove up to Sundance and looked around as my Mom LOVES Robert Redford!

Mom and Pops at the Falls

I just love them so much! Beautiful parents and beautiful scenery!

Provo River

black and white

Graduation - October 15, 2010

2010-10-18T18:48:00.000-05:00

Well folks I finally did it. 12 months of hard work and dedication and I was finally able to walk across the stage with my fellow classmates and receive that beloved piece of paper that says I am officially done!

My Mother and Father made the 14 hour drive (one direction) to see me graduate. I love you very much. Thank you for always supporting me and being loving parents!

Char K. and myself!

This is my instructor Char K., I owe her a lot as she was the one who may not have always wanted to smile at me as I was a pain and well not professional in most her classes. But she took her own personal time to pull me a side and talk to me and show me how much I can affect others with my behavior and how much I could lead the class through a tough situation. So from that day on, Char and I had a special bond and she kept me going strong for 12 months.

Nicolle and I.

Nicolle, I just want to say how awesome you are. I know you probably don't read my blog. But I must say how much you changed my life and my opinion of people. I no longer look at a body and judge it for its size, shape or color, but I see it as a true body worker must. I see their structure and I look to see how it is I can help them. You do amazing work and have one of the most amazing personalities I have ever come across in my 25 years of life. Again, you are amazing and thanks for putting up with me for 12 months, oh and thanks for getting me off caffeine!

Jeannette (my TA) and I. She was fabulous and taught me bunches.

my classmate Kim and myself. I will miss you kid. Good luck out there!

Last day of class...

2010-10-18T18:09:00.001-05:00

So, it was our last day of class and we all were bbq'ing and just having a good time together. I will miss my classmates more then anyone will ever realize. They helped shape me into who I am today and helped to keep me going strong.

Clairise, Ashely, Chelsi, and Jade

Clairise, Tavez, and Nicole just chilling after a final

Mary vacuuming after our Hydro Salt Scrub final

Trying to get the grill started

Kelly holding Char back, shes a feisty one

Clairise and myself

Clairise, Annabelle and myself!

Nicolle (my teacher) and of course me!

Just a few of us girls from the class with 3 teachers!

Ashley and I

Lacey, Janae, and Ashley

Jesus and Daniel, they cracked me up!

Keisha (clinic director) and Steve (TA) (they are husband and wife and amazing)

Char (teacher) and her favorite Bieber! (they call me Justin Bieber b/c my hair)

Devon and I in class...

The Barrington's playing us one of their songs

Char and her AWESOME hand writing!

C-0137 for life. I will miss you all very very much. thanks for all of your support and love the past 12 months.

Eliane, Tavez, and Nicole doing the pose!

Chelsie and I.

yep, that's my whole fist in my mouth.

more of the Tavez pose!

Ashley and Annabelle, she was angry?

So, this next picture is of me giving my final "presentation" in Professional Development. It was worth 100 points and was half of our grade. We had 4 questions we had to answer.

1. What are my plans directly after graduation: Spend the weekend with my parents. Since I had at this point taken my licensing exam, I knew all I had to do was get the $100 saved up and go up and apply for my license. I also am setting up my own business to do out call massage around Orem area to friends I have met and well of course clients that hear about me by word of mouth.

2. What are your plans in 1 year: To be on a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have been planning on this for a while and it never worked out, but now it is in the books and I am hoping to achieve it by this coming summer!

3. 5 year plan: To be home from my mission, hopefully married with maybe one kid. I for sure want to be back in school at BYU (Brigham Young University, in Provo Utah) to finish my bachelors degree in Athletic Training (new major I picked). All of this while of course running my own private practice called Peaceful Elements Massage. Then after my bachelors, I am going to apply to PA (Physicians Assistant) school and go from there.

4. What is the most valuable thing I have learned from UCMT: I have learned who I am as a person and how to accept myself on all levels especially a physical level. I was not comfortable with people and had a huge personal bubble, that protected me from "harm" and heartbreak as I would keep people away from the "me" that only few got to see. But throughout the time, I learned to let go and let people in as I knew they wouldn't hurt me and if they did I could learn and grow from it. I now can hug people and be myself no matter who I am with! Also, I was taught how to be a professional when the time called for it, to speak Massage in an elegant way. I too was able to learn how smart I really am and was able to receive a 4.0 GPA for the first time in my life, and I kept it even in times of high stress. I learned how to truly succeed in life!

giving my final presentation:

right before our final exercise, which I might add was a complete water fest, as we all cried and laughed and got to hug each other before it was all said and done.

UCMT - 12 months of my life!

2010-10-18T17:18:00.000-05:00

Well for the past 12 months I have spent 3.5 hours a night for 4 nights a week at this place, then I started spending 5.5 hours there on Saturdays for clinic. It is very dear to my heart and it has given me everything in life that I need to be successful and professional and what not.

I owe the students and staff for all they have shown me and the very valuable knowledge I was able to obtain at my time there. I am going to miss this place and the people oh so much. I already do and have only been gone a week.

Working on a runner at a half marathon (volunteer work)

Again, working on a runner, amazing experience

some of the walkers for the 5K, July 2010

Kiley, Annabelle and Kelly after the 5k run/walk, July 2010

5K walk/jog

2010-07-31T00:31:00.001-05:00

So, my school UCMT held a first annual 5k run. I was pressured into signing up by teachers and other staff, so I did very reluctantely knowing I didn't have time to train for this bad boy. So July 16th rolled up and at 7:30 A.M. I registered and began to stretch and prepare for my first ever 5k run. I ran about half and walked the other. I had a blast and enjoyed my company. I finished right at 50 minutes.

Here is me crossing the finish line!

Update

2010-07-31T00:25:00.004-05:00

I am lame, I start that way with every blog, b/c well I just don't have the time to update this thing. Tonight is the first time with real down time with nothing requiring my attention so its nice. Here is my most recent update:

1. I have a new niece, her name is Lena Joan Koiner she was born July 8, 2010 at 2:31 P.M. in Dallas Texas. She was 8 lbs. 5 oz and 21 inches long. Proud parents are my sister Laura Zink and Kyle Koiner (my future brother in law!). They are all doing well and Lena is growing and looks just like a Zink!
People say she looks like me, and unfortunately for her she does. I hope she grows up looking a little better :D

2. I just finished my 4th term of 5 at UCMT (Utah College of Massage Therapy). I have kept my 4.0 and am doing very well in student clinics on Saturdays. I love it and I am glad I have finally been blessed with the smarts to have good grades and the talent to be a good therapist. I graduate in 10 short weeks on October 15, 2010.

3. I have been prompted to start my mission papers for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was not an easy thing for me to accept, in fact it took the Spirit a good week (and sometimes still does) to make me realize my time is now. My down fall is I still need about $1200 to pay off some medical bills I have accumulated and then I can start my papers. So I plan on being gone before the end of the year, or well we will see I guess. I am very excited yet very nervous because this time it was the Lord telling me its time and not me just wanting to go. In fact I tried to fight it with school and a job and working and moving but it didn't work. It is funny how the Lord works.

So that is my life in a nut shell. It has been almost a year to the day that I moved away from Kansas and said goodbye to my Parents. I love them more then ever and miss them dearly and in fact I will admit I cry at times just thinking about them. I have grown leaps and bounds being in Utah and living on my own and being a "grown up" and I wouldn't change it at all. I love who I have become and who I continue to be shaped into.

New in Life

2010-05-01T01:13:00.002-05:00

So, I haven't updated in FOREVER but what else is new?

I have been very busy, of course you all know my schedule, it hasn't changed much except I am adding Massage Clinic officially on May 8th, which in essence means every Saturday from May 8th till October 9th I think it is, I will report to my school at 430 to sign in and I will officially start my 5.5 hour shift. You may wonder what I will be doing in that 5 hours, so here you go

430 Arrive at clinic and sign in
440 or so start massaging
Every 50 minutes do another massage on some random stranger that paid....
1030 at night sign out and go home....

Yes, ladies and gentlemen my quota every Saturday is to do 5 full body massages in 5.5 hours, that means I am going to get good at Swedish style Massage and also learn some wicked time management skills!

Other then that, I was kicked out of my current residence and had to find an apartment. I was blessed to have my best friend who was there to support me and was kind enough to get a place with me. I think I will be able to afford this (lets hope so I don't end up on the street somewhere) but we have our first real apartment. Yes a REAL apartment, not a student housing one that comes furnished. So we have couches and a chair and that is about it....

I sleep on the couch and she sleeps on a futon mattress and has yet to buy the futon part of it. I will someday if I can ever afford it purchase a bed and dresser, but until then the couch is my place of residence!

So to entertain our selves in the apartment after work and mainly on the weekends we do stupid stuff like this:

New Year....new me!

2010-01-03T16:30:00.002-06:00

So, heres to 2010. I have done a lot on 2009...to recap a few things

1. was a pitcher for softball team
2. moved to Utah
3. dated a guy or two
4. met new friends
5. started massage therapy school

And to start 2010 I went a bit rebellious from the Utah norm....I cut my hair, dyed it blonde with purple tips!

Oh and here is what I am going to do this year that is set in stone!

1. Go to the Denver Temple and get my endowments!
2. Become an Aunt again
3. Gain a brother in law
4. Graduate Massage therapy school

Just a simple update

2009-11-14T20:21:00.002-06:00

Well, sorry I am lamesauce and do not update often. I will give you my schedule so you might understand why:

Monday - Friday I work 830 A.M. to 5 P.M. (but I leave my house at 8 am)
Monday - Thursday I have class from 7 P.M. to 1030 P.M.
Sunday I go to church from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. (1 is when choir starts)

That is what is set, then of course you have homework after 1045 by the time I get home, then on Saturdays I try to relax because in 4 more months I will start my clinicals for Massage Therapy and will no longer have them to enjoy. Now do you understand why I do not update?

I am still alive, I still love massage school in fact I am doing quite well, I have an A in Anatomy and Physiology and I am loving every second of that class to be honest. We went to the cadaver lab this Friday and played with a brain and heart and other bones, it was rad.

In other news, I am going to be an Aunt again (unofficially) of course, my sister is 6.5 weeks preggo and is waiting for the official announcement till around Christmas time. Oh and same said sister is getting married next year in November if all goes as planned and the creepy thing is her beaus name is Kyle, so now I will have not just one but two brother in laws by the name of Kyle, so I am pledging NOT to even date any Kyles for fear of making it a 3rd person in my family with that name...ugh...

I am not dating anyone, nor close to being married or pregnant...umm I don't have time to date but there are a lot of really cute boys here!

So that is my update, one of these weekends I will add pictures of my wild trip from Kansas to Utah and my life here thus far...

I love Utah!

2009-09-06T19:29:00.002-05:00

Okay so someone requested an update. I am sorry I haven't done so already, I have been busy (for the most part) and lacking my own personal computer so I was kind of waiting to use it so I can get my photos up so far. But oh well, here it goes.

The trip:
Drove to Texas to see Helen and her family (per their request), went to Amarillo and fell in love with the tilt a whirl which surprised me since I don't normally do rides, but had a blast and will post a video of the tilt a whirl experience when I get my laptop up and going on wireless internet.

Drove from Texas to Colorado Springs: Hung out with Sam and Helen at their home, had a good time just relaxing and made some wicked sweet homemade sweet and sour chicken.

Drove from Colorado to Utah: Was amazed at how beautiful the mountains are. Saw the Denver Temple from the highway! Fell in love with the mountains and did not have a hard time with the heights and so forth.

Arrived in Utah: The first person I met in Utah was Matt (in which I am staying with him and his wife Jen) he greeted me with a huge hug (even though we had never met before) and helped me move in to his basement. Then I was kidnapped by my friend Natalie Gurr which served her mission in Great Bend, or part of I should say! Went my first YSA ward and fell in love with the concept. Made some great friends that took me under their wings. I played rock band till like 1 A.M my second night here. I finally found a job and started last week. I work at HIT web design as a customer service agent. I have enrolled in school to become a Massage Therapist. I have gone on 3 sort of dates and have had a blast.

Needless to say I LOVE UTAH and all that comes with it. Oh and I LOVE the YSA ward and all the FHE activities, ward activies, ward prayer, institute, and all the other random things we all do together.

There now you are updated. I will post pictures and videos when I get my laptop hooked up to a semi awesome connection!

I'm moving to...

2009-07-30T09:09:00.002-05:00

Here!

I couldn't be more excited/scarred to death all in one. I decided it was time for a change in life, it came at a very weird time for me, but when things are supposed to happen then they fall into place. I might not be directly in Provo, but will be in the vicinity for sure. I am excited due to the fact that I will no longer be the only YSA in my ward my age and I will have the opporutunity to go to school again and follow my dreams. I am moving Monday and will be stopping in Colorado Springs to see my best bud Helen and her hubby Sam for a few days then onward to my new life!

Gumbo!

2009-07-18T21:01:00.006-05:00

My brother Jason is quite the cook, he gets it from his Dad! I have NEVER had gumbo, and so my brother made us some homemade good stuff! I took pictures of the process, well sort of. It was awesome and had some kick to it, and the sad thing was he didn't even do his usual spiciness to it. I am a wuss according to him. I love him though!

While he cooked the boys played games on a very large t.v and had a blast messing with them while they tried to "concentrate"

You call that a Lake?

2009-07-18T20:27:00.003-05:00

My brother took us driving around Louisiana on Sunday and so he drove by the "lake" by his house. Well me being from Kansas was used to a wide open area full of water, with no trees in it just people and boats and fish/turtles/snakes and whatever else grows in a lake. Louisiana however is mostly swamps, but this "lake" or so he called it had huge Cyprus trees growing in it. He told me that many people take boats out but ruin propellers like crazy hitting stumps they can't see underwater. I was amazed!

All in a days work

2009-07-18T19:57:00.003-05:00

Sunday Morning! Usually I am up and getting ready for church, but since my brother Jason lives out in the boonies for real, totally backwoods Louisiana if I have ever seen. It takes like a good 45 mins. to an hour just to get to church. With it being General Conference it was a bit of a different set up and instead of making a long day of travel and such we decided to watch it on T.V. instead of getting all spiffed up and driving for a satellite broadcast.

My brother Jason was real in-tune with what he was hearing, so much he was "meditating" over the words of President Uchtdorf!

Girls just want to have fun!

2009-07-18T19:42:00.008-05:00

After the second session of General Conference the Sister missionaries, Theresa and the kids, Mom and myself went over to another member of the wards home and did girly stuff. I was more into the backwoods of Louisiana so I went for a walk in her neighborhood and she went with me so I wouldn't get lost. We had a great time talking and getting to know each other and so forth. Louisiana is gorgeous but was sticky. The other girls did pedicures/manicures/facials, ate ice cream and just had a great time socializing!

Katlynn doing Sister Weichmann's nails.

Heaton and Weichmann playing cards!

Sister Heaton and Sister Weichmann did some crazy masks that like made their skin uber hard...they had a good time with it!

Baptism Time!

2009-07-18T19:22:00.006-05:00

We arrived in Louisiana on Saturday late morning to finish watching the first session of General Conference. After the session was over came the change of clothes into the spiffy whites! I absolutely loved being their and seeing the family glow and get ready for their big step. We took tons of photos and had a great time, then started the service. The Spirit was so strong there and it gave me chills the whole time! I was privileged to be able to give the opening prayer, and to be honest I almost most cried and I got chocked up just being there. I will stop rambling and will post the pictures I hope everyone understands how much this did mean to me and how much I love this Gospel!

This is Jason and his family. L to R: Theresa, Alyssa, Katlynn, Jesse, Jared and Jason! (Katlynn decided to wait to get baptized till she felt it was right, which I admire for her doing that)

Okay so add in the two that did the dunking Jared and Zander Hutchinson (he was an Elder that started to teach my family down in Louisiana where he served his mission) then add in the current Sisters serving there, Sister Weichmann from Colorado and Sister Heaton from Utah!

To the right we have me and the ones getting baptized, I serioulsy thought this was the BEST day EVER! I love the way the Lord works!

Colorado here I come!

2009-05-21T19:45:00.002-05:00

That is right folks. I am going on another little mini vacation and I couldn't be more excited about it. My best friend Helen and her husband were re-stationed at Fr. Carson in Colorado Springs from a previous location of Ft. Irwin in Barstow, CA. I have not seen Helen/Sam in 2 years and I miss them a lot. Helen was the awesome member missionary that showed me by her example what it was like to be a true LDS member. She was amazing, I have considered her as my best friend for the past 6 amazing years. I can't believe how much time has flown and how long it has been since I have seen her. This visit is much needed and I can't wait to leave right after work tomorrow and make the journey to the land of mountains!

I will try to blog about the trip promptly upon my return depending on my schedule!

Much love!

On the road to Louisiana

2009-05-05T18:54:00.007-05:00

Saturday morning we woke up and got ready and hit the highway, a nice scenic 3 hour drive in which we crossed the state line from Texas to Louisiana. I must tell you it is GORGEOUS in that neck of the woods and I would live there in a heartbeat...again I take pictures while driving, my mom wasn't to happy I was doing so but she had no control over it!

So this picture is me cheesing hardcore with an ice cream bar, the story goes like this. My best friend Helen and family is from Texas. The first time I went down to her house they made me indulge in Blue Bell ice cream. They informed me it is the "best" ice cream ever and I would never want to eat anything else but it. So well now everytime I go to Texas I get Blue Bell ice cream. And so since my mom had to use the potty we pulled over and they had a thing of blue bell so we indulged ourselves in some...it was AWESOME! I shouldn't have done it do to my bodies revolt against all dairy lately..but it was still YUMMY in my tummy!

So, we made it to our destination, okay so it wasn't our specific destination but you get my drift, it was a tiny sign and I was able to capture it as I drove by at 75 mph ....

The Blue Goose Cantina

2009-05-05T18:25:00.004-05:00

This is my sisters favorite hangout, so of course when she found out we were coming to see her on a Friday she automatically assumed we would want to go hang out with her at her favorite hangout!

So I wasn't sure what to expect, she just kept saying The Blue Goose but NEVER told me what it was. In the car we got and we started going through some random Dallas streets then pulled up and she was like there it is...so I stared to think OH GREAT it is a bar and all I am going to see is drunk people. I was fooled, yes it is a bar and yes my sister/mom did get a drink and I was offered more then once but told them no of course....but the food was awesome and I did enjoy my "virgin" daiquiri.

<----There is the daiquiri, it was amazing.

Over there is the meal I ordered, it was a lot of food and was very awesome! ---->

Did I tell you just how often my sister goes? Well it is atleast once a week if not more and EVER waitress/waitor knew her, well okay so not every one b/c the guy who was waiting on us was new and my sister pinned him down and was like I am a regular and I don't know you, you must be new, and he was amazed...oh and the drink she gets, they named it the "laurita" so if you ever want a Dos Eqous at the Blue Goose in Dallas call it the Laurita and you will get it! It was awesome, I loved it thought, such a good atmosphere...

Dallas

2009-05-05T18:03:00.008-05:00

This actually happened the first weekend of April but what can I say? I have a sister that lives in Dallas, and since we (my mom and myself) were going to Louisiana and was going to be 3 hours from her, we decided last minute to go through Dallas and spend the night then head to Louisiana Saturday morning, so this is my journey from our house to Dallas!

So, this is my dash, it is dusty but so goes life. I had an awesome video but it got deleted on accident...anywho I had hit Denton, TX which is about 30-45 mins from Dallas and this was how fast I was driving on the 4 lane highway, it was AWESOME..and well also sad b/c it was 3 in the afternoon so no rush hour should be going on...

So to the right ----> I thought it was funny that almost every corner that was "fancy" had these 3 flags...Texas is very prideful, which is good to an extent....
Where is Waldo? I found him in Dallas, Texas..that is right, he is not a real person, he is a black and white magnet that floats around the world...I know I was shocked too, so shocked I took a picture while stopped a stop light....smart I know!

My sister, mom, and myself went to the mall so we can miss rush hour traffic and so forth and this sign is the first thing I saw before entering the mall. I thought it was GREAT and laughed hard, but my sister thought me pulling out my camera was a bit much, she was like you look like a "tourist" which in a way I was...so ha!

AHHHHH! I LOVE skylines, I am a city girl at heart and no one can convince me otherwise. I LOVE LOVE LOVE going to the city and driving in the has never bugged me either. So I was taking pictures while driving, my sister happens to live downtown Dallas so I could see a lot of this from the front parking lot of her apartment complex! I again LOVED it!

I was amazed at my sisters apartment complex, it looked like a piece of crap from the outside/parking area but once we actually entered where the doors to the apartments are I was in awe. I wish I had my swim suit b/c the pool was awesome looking, and it had palm trees and it was just awesome. Oh and the inside of her apartment was the bomb digity too, very swanky and high class looking..also a surprise.

Happy Birthday Dad!

2009-05-01T15:27:00.004-05:00

I love my faja (father) and he means the world to me. I have been a daddies girl since day one I am sure! He is my rock in which I can lean on any time if needed. Though he may be getting older he sure doesn't act it and I love him for that. His off beat jokes and his quirky humor can always bring a smile to my face no matter how grumpy I may be. I look like him, I sit like him, and I think I am funny like him. He is a people person when he wants to be and what I love most about him is his Faith and desire to be a good father!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clementine or Elephant?

2009-04-25T19:05:00.004-05:00

Alright so my friend Liz had her birthday back in March, and at her party that was hosted at Dedra's she was telling us about her mission that she served in London. While she was their one of her companions had this thing that every night she would take a clementine or some sort of smaller orange and would peel it to look like an elephant. If any of you really know me from growing up, then you know that I LOVE Elephants! I have collected them since I was little, so needless to say I was like a kid in a candy store watching her do this!

Thanks Liz for sharing that talent with us!

Night Out

2009-04-25T12:00:00.007-05:00

This also happened in February! But I thought I would take some time to blog about it, I went out to the Lounge again with my buddies from work. My friend Dena came down from Dodge City and we had a good time!

Dedra, Robyn, and Dena again! rocking out!

Dedra, Robyn, Dena, and myself!

Lynee and Julie! I was glad to see them out, their awesome husbands stayed home with their kiddos!

Wrestling

2009-04-25T09:31:00.012-05:00

My little buddy Bryce is a wrestler, and I love that kid so I started going to a few of his tournaments out of town on Saturdays back in February. I am not sure if I was his good luck charm or what, but every tournament I went too he got 1st place, and the tournaments I didn't attend he would get 3rd or worse. He is only 7 and he is in the heavy-weight division weighing just under 135. He is awesome and I love him to death. Here are just a few pictures of the events! Sorry so late!

This is Bryce and I waiting for one of his matches to roll around. We had some fun with the camera!

Then we got Alejo and Bryce and I...

Here are the two boys, I love them to death! Never a dull moment!

Alejo always got sucked into being Bryce's practice buddy, poor Alejo.

This has to be one of my favorite pictures that I have ever taken. Alex is here coaching his youngest son. It shows the last name and just shows the dedication of the family to wrestling. Love it!

It is blurry, but Bryce getting ready to wrestle a kid! I do believe he won this one too!

Bryce kicking some major butt! He had this kid scramblign the whole time. Oh and this is a kid he had never beat before, but guess what...he did this day!

This was Bryce's champion bracket he won at McPherson! He had to beat a kid he had never been able to beat before, it was awesome to watch!

Proud Papa here! Alex with his son, whom just won 1st place at McPherson!

This is Bryce at his Pratt tournament, and yet again he won first place! Go Bryce!

Bryce and his Papa Alex after he won the tournament in his weight division on Pratt!

Warning

2009-04-23T20:26:00.004-05:00

If you have a weak stomach you should probably stop reading and not go any further, especially do not look at the picture that I have posted..

Okay so now the story....I was asked to be on my employers softball team this summer. Last night was my first practice, and well from day one my parental units were like "you are going to get hurt, I don't think this is a good idea" I told them I would be just fine and not to worry. Well I went to practice and half the team showed up and I am the "pitcher" for the summer supposedly and so well after doing some batting they put me at the pitcher mound to get my groove going...and well about 45 mins into the practice a ground ball was about 20 feet from me and well I went running after it. I bent over to scoop it up and well I guess I am top heavy or something but I ended up tucking and rolling and well my end result is below....enjoy!

Oh and this really freaking hurts, I had to dig the gravel out of my leg..oh and I also bummed up my elbow but it is totally okay, just a few minor scrapes..but my leg is swollen and it burns like hello and so I am glad I have like dress like slacks for work..it hurts just to have anything contact it....so I hope you enjoyed the little story....my co-workers loved it...

Zone Conference again...

2009-04-19T14:38:00.004-05:00

Okay so this happened like the first week of March, and I only took like 3 pictures...just didn't have time or didn't take the time to take more pictures. Had I known it would be my last Zone Conference then I would of done so. I now work 8-5 again and so I won't be able to attend any more meetings or transfers with the missionaries. But so goes life I guess...

This is Sister Unsicker and myself...we were wearing like the same outfit well atleast the same color! So we took a "gansta" picture due to our collars being popped!

So this is Sister Fife and Sister Lott, they are currently in Hutchinson and I love them both a lot!

Large Ear Lobes?

2009-04-11T10:21:00.003-05:00

I was at work one evening when my co-worker Angie was like "Whoa Jess, you have a rather large ear lobe compared to the rest of the ear!" Needless to say I was like "No I don't" and so to prove it we measured our ears compared to our lobe ratio, so 3 of us measured away and I sure do have rather large earlobes compared to the rest of them. So my friend thought it would be awesome to draw on them, so I took a picture when I got home from work, after going to Wal-Mart like this!

Oklahoma City Temple

2009-04-11T09:57:00.004-05:00

I am playing catch up again on the blog, last weekend I was out of town and so I didn't have time to do any updating to anything....On March 21 or so I went with the Great Bend Ward to Oklahoma City to visit the Temple. I was one of the "youth" and participated in the baptisms! I have a blast doing that, I could seriously do that everyday for the rest of my life! I went down with the Hudson's and we had a good time, it was a very long day but so worth it!

It was a cloudy day, kind of gloomy at times, but by the time we were done with the baptismal session the sun was shinning!

This is the Angel Moroni! He always faces East on the Temples due to the Second Coming going to be in the East. He is blowing the trumpet for all to hear!

As you can see in this picture, that is all of the youth that went with us. The Enfield children Jessica and Logan, then Curtis children Justin and Deiah.

Louisiana/Texas here I come...

2009-04-02T16:49:00.002-05:00

I am going to Texas/Louisiana this weekend to see my oldest brother Jason get baptized into the BEST church on EARTH! I am so stoked and can't wait to start the trip tomorrow. Friday we are driving to Dallas to stay with my sister Laura and see her for a little while then Saturday morning we shall wake and head to Shreveport for General Conference and the Baptism! Then we will hang out with Jason and his family and do stuff..not sure what....

Here is the picture of the trip, from Great Bend to Dallas then to Shreveport, it is an 11 hour drive and I can't wait to make it! Road Trips are my favorite!

16 inches of fresh powder

2009-03-28T13:43:00.003-05:00

Well, here it is! Proof of the blizzard we just had in Kansas! I went outside when I got up this morning after layering my clothing and made some videos and took some pictures! Enjoy!

Snow Day...

2009-03-27T13:30:00.001-05:00

This sucks! Simply put is that my workplace shut down all the phones and most everyone went home, but since I was sick a day last week and one this week I used all my "earned" time...so what does that mean? That means I have to stay at the office till 7 P.M. tonight most likely all by myself after 4 due to everyone else leaving the office.

They close the office but in order for us to leave we have to use the time we have saved up..that is a rip off to the extreme. The good thing though is that I can catch up on work I got behind in since I can't get a phone call to interrupt me in the middle of something....

I will post pictures of the blizzard later when I get home and have my camera available....

Baptized!

2009-03-22T22:27:00.002-05:00

So today is the most AMAZING day EVER..okay so not EVER but it runs a close tie to a few! This weekend I was able to attend the Oklahoma City Temple and then today was Ward Conference in Great Bend. So I had a lot of Spiritual highs this weekend, and what makes it so great is this. For one Sister Van Komen (Missouri Independence Mission President's wife) ordered me a missionary name tag like 2 months ago, today I picked up the missionaries for church and when we arrived Sister Gundersen was like like "Jessica, I ordered a new name tag but they spelled my name wrong" so I looked at the tag and it said "Sister Zink" I screamed and jumped up and down like a little girl. It was the greatest feeling. (I will post a picture later)

Fast forward to about 8 p.m. tonight and I checked my e-mail to see I have a message from my oldest brother Jason on Myspace. I go see what it says, and it reads like this "I just wanted to let you know I have decided to get baptized on April 4!" Oh my gosh! I wanted to scream and jump around like a little girl but my parental units were sitting in the same room, and he asked that I do not tell them yet due to him not wanting to lose their respect, but I assured them they are fine, they have dealt with me being a memeber going on 5 years now!

Along with my brother, 2 of his children have decided to enter the waters of baptism and join the wonderful church that I call home! I love this Gospel and I love now that I will have blood relation in the church! This was the greatest news, and it came at a time when I was doubting wanting to be a full time missionary, I have started my papers and nothing seems to be working, so I was thinking that I was going to tell my Bishop to cancel them out until I had the money and weight figured out, but I know this is Heavenly Fathers plan! I love this work and I know I am called to it!

Oh it looks as if I am hitting the road on April 3 to attend my brothers baptism in Lousiana! I am so excited to be there for his big day!

Zone Conference....

2009-03-05T15:34:00.011-06:00

This happened like the first week of February. Whoops! I love going to Zone Conference as I have previously stated in other post. This one was awesome though, it happened to be my day off but the catch was there was a trio of Sisters in Hays and well 3+3=6 so obviously my car is a 5 passenger car. So are you wondering how we pulled this off? Well, it went like this: I happened to be teaching Relief Society on fast and testimony (it was my turn as part of the presidency) and this year we have decided to teach about the modern day prophets and something they really focused on, so I picked Spencer W. Kimball and he focused on missionary work. So I gave what I was told a powerhouse lesson and after the lesson was over Sister Gundersen went up to Sister Siefkes and asked if we could use her van! She of course felt it was okay so there we go, we had a van in hand to use! So fast forward! I picked up the van after I got off work a bit early so we could make it to Wichita (2 hour drive) at a descent hour and on the road we went! 5 missionaries plus me! It was awesome, a little side trip in Wichita due to me double guessing where the memeber we were staying with lived, but it was so much fun! We took some pictures that night as all of us sisters gathered there and we had a lot of laughs and some good talks!

So fast forward to the actual conference, I looked like a missionary and many thought I was an actual missionary and that I had just left my name tag at home! So I got to see some of my most favorite missionaries and also got to feel the Spirit so strong! I can't wait till I am the missionary at one of these on my own mission! But what I love the most is that at the end of the conference you greet the mission President and his wife and say your goodbyes. Well I go through the line and tell them Thanks for being awesome and Sister VanKomen hugged me and said how much she loved the work I do with the girls and what not and said man we need to get you an honorary name tag. Then this look came to her face, and she said I know exactly what we are going to do, we are going to order you one and I am going to pay for it! So they ordered me a name tag to wear when I go to District Meetings and Zone Conferences, and she also told me she better see me at EVERY Zone Confernece in the future!

This is Sister Rigby and Sister Lott. They currently serve in Hutchinson, well shoot Sister Lott is still there and Sister Rigby is now in Manhattan. None the less Sister Rigby was given these awesome footy pajamas by a member in Hutch and she wears them well!

This is Sister Martin, Sister Freitas, and Sister Miller they are the trio that was in Hays, KS for a little bit. Sister Freitas was actually supposed to go home, but she extended her mission by I think 3 weeks so she could go with one of her Recent Converts to the temple in Denver, Co!

The Great Bend "Trio". Sister Montano, Sister Gundersen and myself! Don't I look like a Sister Missionary already?

So this goes a little like this! Sister Lott and Sister Reynolds. Middle pictures is Myself, and Sister Reynolds and then Sister Lott squeezing in the middle of us! Then the last is myself with Sister Freitas, I knew her as a "greenie" and she is home now, makes me feel really really old to see another "greenie" I have sort of helped train go home...ugh...
Oh and we took a group shot, if you notice Sister Lott and Sister Rigby are making some sort of weird frame for their face, but the rest of us all look "normal" but that was every Sister that was at Zone Conference! I love them all, if you want to know who is who just ask!

So on the way home everyone but me and Sister Gundersen took a nap! Totally not fair for everyone else to sleep but so goes life!

Bierrocks....

2009-03-03T21:30:00.011-06:00

Going going gone!

That is right, I became Sarah Lee or Betty Crocker or Rachel Ray recently, I have found joy in cooking as previously stated post. This time around I made homemade bierrocks, it was awesome and I had a blast. I took pictures of the whole process and if anyone wants the recipe or help making them from scratch just let me know! Oh and I did this for the Sister Missionaries as per normal, one had never had them before (her being from Mexico) so it was fun to see her try a new thing!

First you have to cut up your cabbage. I bought a large head and it produced way to much cabbage for the amount of bierrocks I was planning on producing!

I sat out the dinner rolls to rise so then I can flatten them (which I must say is good anger management if you need that sort of thing) I bought one large bag which had 72 rolls in it which you put together to make one bierrock so I made 36 total!

Ground the hamburger! I used 80/20 to make it easier when mixing the cabbage in to finish cooking. I also used 3 lbs. of ground chuck! My advice is to have a really really and may I say REALLY large skillet to do all of this in!

This is where I needed help, the skillet was to heavy for my weak wrist to lift and turn and sucessfuly dump the meat into the huge pan with the cabbage. Luckily my Dad LOVES to help in the kitchen, in fact I generally have to tie him down so I can cook in his kitchen, but this is the filling for the rolls!

I also enlisted the help of my mother, she was helping me flatten the rolls and then I filled them! It was a great bonding experience to be honest, I had a blast for once!

Here is the final product! I baked them for about 16 minutes upwards to 18-20 at max. They came out golden brown, this picture doesn't really do it justice, but they were AWESOME. I topped them off with a layer of butter to help soften them up!

Sister Montano enjoying her first ever bierrock! She was not quite sure what to think, but I think she enjoyed them in the long run!

Sister Gundersen on the other hand was looking forward to the bierrocks, I didn't tell them for sure I was doing it, I hinted. But alas, she said her whole mission people had promised to make homemade bierrocks and never did or did after she left, so she was very happy!

A night out

2009-03-03T21:22:00.001-06:00

Again, this is belated. And again let me state that I know me going to a bar/lounge is not right with my current faith, but I had a blast and yes I might of had some guilt in going and regretted it just a bit but I stuck to my standards and have since sworn off going past this weekend. So no worries about me in that subject!

Anyways this lovely group of people I went out with are my amazing co-workers. I have been blessed to have fantastic people at work that I love to call my friends outside of work too. They had a few drinks and were feeling good and I didn't drink but yet felt good too! We had an overall good time!

When your companion is sick....

2009-03-03T21:13:00.003-06:00

What do you do to entertain yourself? I am speaking of missionary companions of course, and well Sister Wells was out sick (yes I know she has been gone 6 weeks already, and we have already established I suck at updating this on time) so Sister LaBass found random ways to entertain herself throughout the day. This was part of it! Random bookmarks made of really old photos....good times for sure! Oh yeah and you make random music videos singing hymns!

Relay for Life

2009-02-25T09:06:00.001-06:00

The place in which I work is has a team each year in the Relay for Life! This is my first year working here and well my friends/co-workers have asked me to be on the 15 member team. So I finally convinced myself that it would be just fine to sign up! I am rather excited due to the fact that I have a cousin that is currently battling breast cancer and I have lost a life-long family friend the past 2 months to cancer and also my oldest sisters Uncle-in-law has cancer he is battling. So I know a lot of people with it and I figure the least I can do is walk for a night to support them and their battles!

A little help for a friend

2009-02-19T17:51:00.001-06:00

Hey Everyone,

I am posting this as a little plea for my friend. Her mom is going through a rough time so she is having a little fund-raiser to get some things going for her mom. I hope you all can take a look at her blog and maybe even help out if possible.

http://www.aprilshowersblogdesign.com/2009/02/uh-oh-plea-for-help.html

It's Official

2009-02-19T16:26:00.001-06:00

I have started my paperwork to become a full-time Sister Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

I am so stinking stoked about this. I want to Thank my Bishop for putting up with me and for letting me even get to this stage of life.

Also I want to send huge Thank You's to everyone who has played a role in me becoming a Latter-day Saint and has supported me through thick and thin and dealt with my not so whoopy attitude and has also see my triumph and become a young lady who is ready to put in 18 months for the Lord. I love each and everyone of you and I am forever indebted to you for all you have done for me!

Now the next step is to get the money figured out and I am as good as gone....Oh happy day!

Tiny Frogs...

2009-02-19T15:07:00.003-06:00

I was sent this e-mail at work and I just LOVED it....it has a AMAZING message behind it. I hope you all enjoy and really take what the moral of the story is to heart!

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs.... who arranged a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.

A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....

The race began....

Honestly:

No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:

'NO WAY too difficult!!'

'They will NEVER make it to the top.'

or:

'Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!'

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....

Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher..

The crowd continued to yell, 'It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!'
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....

But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....

This one wouldn't give up!

At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out....

That the winner was DEAF!!!!

The wisdom of this story is:

Never listen to other people's tendencies to be

negative or pessimistic.... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have. (There's life and death in the power of the tongue - Proverbs 18:21.)

Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!

Therefore:

ALWAYS be....POSITIVE!
And above all:

Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!

Always think:

God and I can do this!

meatloaf and mashed potatoes

2009-02-13T21:43:00.003-06:00

Wow, so I just realized I never posted these photos. So a few weeks ago (again with Sister Wells/LaBass here in Great Bend still) I signed up to cook them supper and they requested just as the title suggested homemade meatloaf and mashed potatoes. So that is what they got after me asking them like a billion times if they were certain that is what they wanted. So off to Wal-Mart I went to round up all the supplies. And yes to all of you out there I did the cooking by myself with minimal assistance from my parents! I am becoming quite the chef these past few months!

So after the girls ate we took some photos b/c well face it we weren't about to go outside in the bitter cold b/c that would of made Sister Well's worse so we played with the left over mashed potatoes! I had a blast!

Sister LaBass thinking she ate entirely too much meatloaf!

Sister Wells thinking she also ate to much, but she doesn't look as stuffed as LaFish..er LaBass!

Mashed potatoe snow man, that was my creation! Woot!

Sister LaBass working on her masterpiece. It turned out well in the end...see below!

Can you figure it out? If not it is a mashed potatoe lady with crazy awesome hair! Sister LaBass did this..she is awesome!

Exchanges

2009-02-13T20:54:00.004-06:00

I am once again behind in posting and I am not in chronological order at all, so forgive me for that. But a few weeks ago in the last transfer with Sister Wells and Hermana LaBass we had a lot of down time due to Sister Wells being sick and not being able to leave the house in the bitter cold weather. So after I got off work at 7 P.M each night I would go over and we would entertain each other, and well finally after 1.5 weeks of this and a missed district meeting (very rare for missionaries to miss this, especially when the President of the mission is going to be there) and so the Sisters in Hays got it approved to come down and help do some work in Great Bend and well one night I cooked grilled cheese for them all and we had a little picnic in the apartment and had some fun with it!

The bread that we purchased was a bit awkward and was squished on one side and we determined it looked like a bunny rabbit so we had even more fun with it! I hope you enjoy the little video and the pictures of the awesome night!

See the bunny?

The final product!

The Picnic, from l to r: Sister Martin (Hays) Sister Reynolds (Hays) and Sister LaBass!

Sister LaBass can never do a serious picture, okay so that was an exaggeration, but it took us like 10 shots to get a good picture of the 3 of us.....

Here you go, Sister LaBass, Sister Reynolds and myself...the 3 Amigas!

Holy Cow

2009-02-11T21:21:00.002-06:00

So have you ever just wanted something so bad, that when you actually are going to get it you freak out?

Well, for 2 years I have been trying to get on a full-time mission for the church. I just haven't been able to afford it or I get side tracked with a male figure or school draws me back in. Well folks, it is going to happen. The stake president is coming to my ward this Sunday and my Bishop is going to get me the log-in and I will officially start my paperwork this Sunday. It seems to surreal. I will finally accomplish my biggest goal and I am so stoked but yet I stress. I still do not have my debt paid off, and to be honest I am not even close but I know Faith preceeds all Miracles so I know it will all fall into place. I am just so excited and ready and i can't believe this will actually happen this Sunday.

District Meeting

2009-02-09T20:29:00.004-06:00

Again, I am behind on posting, but my time is limited and on my last couple days off I have been out of town with the missioanries hince no time to blog. So here it goes! I went to District Meeting with the girls back in December possibly January and Elder Eckern had just got a "Dear John" letter and was heart broken so the girls in GB made him a little present and we had some good times playing piano and what not!

Transfers....

2009-02-09T20:07:00.006-06:00

So I am way behind on posting on this thing i call a "blog"...I will admit I suck at this type of thing, but we have had 2 transfers that I haven't posted about, well at least i don't think I have...so her are the photos that I really like and what not!

This was the whole gang that was at transfers this time around. We lost a lot of amzing Elders/Sisters to different Zone's...

Sister Hyrns and Sister LaBass. It was Sister LaBass's 9 month mark so hince the "stomach" picture! Oh and Hyrns was her "Mother" (a.k.a she trained her as a greenie)

Me, Sister Hyrns, and Sister Favikiowana (sp?)

Sister LaBass, Sister Hyrns, and myself

Sister Wells and myself....

Sister Freitas, Sister Hyrns, and Sister Gundersen!

Sister Reynolds and myself!

Elder Eckern and Sister LaBass!

Goals

2009-02-09T09:37:00.002-06:00

Well, I have decided as of this morning that I have some goals I want to try to obtain by the end of this month. Some may laugh because they are pretty out there, but I know they are obtainable!

1. Drop the remaining weight to qualify for a full time LDS mission. Which in the long run means I have to lose another 15-20 lbs. I have already dropped about 25 to get to this point. I want to lose it by the end of February. I told my mom this goal this morning and she laughed and seems to think I should only try to lose 9 lbs to start out with. I am not going to use diet pills or any of the sort, just healthy eating and exercise to accomplish this!

2. Become more devoted to my daily scripture study and prayers.

3. Actually prepare my lessons fully before Saturday evening's and just have to do a review on Saturday then do all of the whole lesson.

4. Start the work on my dental/health portion of my papers (even though I have not yet officially started the mission paper work. I know what needs to be done, so I want to start it to be ahead of the game on the health portion, like getting my shots and all of that good stuff)

Well, there they are. I hope I can get this stuff started and can actually keep the weight loss rolling and get the weight off so that will not be an issue for later down the road when I actually get to start the papers. I know it is obtainable and I know I can do it. All I need from my friends/family is encouragement, don't laugh at me and think it is impossible just help me to remain steadfast and what not!

Independence/Liberty, Missouri

2009-01-25T19:58:00.005-06:00

I just realized that I never posted the pictures I took while in Missouri a few weeks ago. I traveled up to KC, Mo and surrounding areas in one day and the whole purpose was to go see Sister Lisa Madsen at Liberty Jail and to get a tour from her before she went home. While I was up there I also went to go to Independence and went to the Visitor's Center in hopes of catching a few of the Sister's that I have met through-out their missions there. I got a tour from Sister Ayala and she did so well, she told me I was one of her solo tours. She taught me a lot and funny that I drove 4.5 hours one way to learn about Faith and how important it really is in day to day living. While I was talking with Sister Ayala, Sister Tedrow (A senior Sister) thought she recognized me, and which she did, I was up there a year ago with my parents and she remembered me! But I had looked outside and saw another set of missioanries walking in and one looked familiar, and I was like that looks like Sister Higbee and sure enough it was! She came to the VC to bring 2 of their investigators there. It was AWESOME to see her! It was time to leave and I was disappointed that I did not get to see Sister Brooks or Sister Abad, so I left and made sure Sister Ayala told them I said hello and that I loved them, and so I was on my way out to my car and I see a set of Sisters get out of their car and it looked a lot like Sister Brooks/Abad; sure enough it was! I got to talk to them for a few minutes and took a picture with each of them. I think my trip to Independence was a success, I got to see all my friends and I also felt the Spirit and learned a little while I was there!

Sister Abad and I! She is from the Phillipines!

Sister Brooks! She is from Utah! I love her to death!

My tour guide! Sister Ayala!

Okay so now on to Liberty, Missouri to hit up the jail! I have been there several times before, and I must say I love that place and the Spirit it holds! I was able to go to Liberty Jail before I was an official member of the church and I learned so much about Joseph Smith and all he went through while he was restoring the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He suffered so we can have this Gospel in our lives and he in the end gave his life so we as members today can enjoy the fruits of the Spirit and so forth. I love the Jail and I was so thrilled to see Sister Madsen again! It was rather funny, I walked in at 3 P.M. when she got on shift and of course she was downstairs, but the first shift of sisters were still around, so when I walked in a Sister hops up from her chair and said "She is here for Sister Madsen, and everyone meet Jessica, she is the most awesome team-up in Great Bend!" I was so shocked I had no clue really who she was, I mean I had seen pictures and knew her name (Sister Williams) but I had never met her in person and for her to know who I was and what I was doing there kind of freaked me out. But she said she had seen tons of photos of me and heard stories of all the crazy times Sister Madsen and I had had! So they called Hna Madsen and it was AWESOME to see her one last time before she went home.

She gave a power house tour and the Spirit I felt was so amazing. Talk about feelings of joy that overcame me. I left there with again a greater appreciation for the Gospel in my life and an appreciation of Joseph and all he went through for us Latter-day Saints! I love this Gospel and I love all it has done for me in the past 5 years. I am so Thankful for a member missionary who was firm in her testimony and was brave enough to share with me her testimony of the church. I owe a lot to Helen and I am just so thankful for each missionary that has helped me learn and grow while I have been a member, for the love they show to me and all the wonderful things they have done for me!

Sister Madsen and I in the routunda!

Redeemer of Israel

2009-01-17T12:44:00.002-06:00

We are just in a singing mood! This features 4 Sister Missionaries and myself! Sister LaBass, Sister Wells (sings the solo in verse 4 or 5) Sister Reynolds, and Sister Martin! I hope you all enjoy these videos, they are a bit of our sanity while Sister Wells gets herself better!

Dearest Children/Be Still my Soul

2009-01-16T14:24:00.004-06:00

Another rendition of a couple of hymns, except this is sung solely by Sister Grace LaBass (Newberry Park, California) and Sister Rachel Wells (Hanksville, Utah) and it is not to beat-boxing. I made the choice to record things in their apartment that are central to missionary work and what really encompasses the song. I hope you all enjoy and can really relate to the Savior and his request to us in these hymns!

A Child's Prayer

2009-01-16T14:13:00.002-06:00

A little rendition of a Child's Prayer. You heard the intro so I think you will understand the reason why! I hope you all enjoyed!

Scriptures...oh how I love them

2009-01-15T18:20:00.002-06:00

I love them. There is no doubt about that. I have not always used them in my life, but since I joined the LDS church I have come to love the scriptures and to truly delve into them. Lately, I have been struggling, and even last night I had the chance to talk to a RM from the MIM and she and I challenged each other to get blessings on Sunday for comfort and maybe for some direction in our respected decisions we both are facing. So I poured my heart and soul out to Heavenly Father last night in prayer and then again this morning while sitting in my car before work right before I would read my morning scriptures. It was after my prayer was over that I opened my Book of Mormon/ D & C and just let it fall open, and low and behold it fell to D & C 75. Some of you may know it and others may not, so I will post the introduction to the section and then I will tell you why I loved it so much.

1–5, Faithful elders who preach the gospel will gain eternal life; 6–12, Pray to receive the Comforter, which teaches all things; 13–22, Elders shall sit in judgment on those who reject their message; 23–36, Families of missionaries are to receive help from the Church.

Now I know it says faithful "Elders" but this is my thought process. I have been struggling on wether a mission is truly what Heavenly Father wants of me or if he wants me to focus on a guy I like and follow that. After I said my prayer last night/this morning and randomly opened up to this scripture I KNEW with all my HEART that my time is now to serve! I can't wait to get my papers started and to get out there and faithfully serve for 18 months. Now all I have to do is get the money to pay all my bills but faith preceeds all miracles right?

Christmas Eve Tradition

2008-12-27T11:14:00.005-06:00

My family and I have ALWAYS gone to what the Catholics call Midnight mass. Well you guessed it, it is at MIDNIGHT on Christmas Eve which turns into Christmas of course. It is a gorgeous mass and the choir is full stock and just rocks the house with some amazing voices. Well, when I changed churches my sister Laura made me promise not to ruin the tradition, so for the last 5 years I have been going to mass with them just to keep that alive. Well, the new priest in Great Bend has decided that it needed to rotate between the two churches here in town and well none of them are actually at midnight anymore. Way to ruin things new priest.

Needless to say, since my family was all dressed up and looking good, and plus since I hopefully will be on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by next christmas then I really wanted a family photo, the closest we got was the 2 Sisters and myself. So I hope you all enjoy seeing my family and what not!

My Dad Mike and Mother Yvonne

Sisters Forever! Christa, Laura, and Myself

Christa and her husband Kyle!

Brakes

2008-12-27T11:03:00.003-06:00

Well, my front brakes were close to going out completely. So, I told my brother and he told me if you buy the supplies I will change them out for you. So of course it is a lot cheaper to do that so I took him up on that offer! We went to the Cheney's (Thanks Ken & Dedra for letting us use your garage that night) and used their garage and got the job done. I was Thankful for the garage to use and most of all even though my brakes were giving him troubles he only cursed once. Which if you know my brother that is a MIRACLE!

Needless to say I went picture happy so I could blog about it! And I am just now getting to it.

*shameless plug* If you EVER need car work done and don't want to pay a mechanic outrages prices, my brother is very very handy with cars, and has changed my brakes and will soon be changing my oil, so just let me know if you need anything done.**

I bet

2008-12-17T08:32:00.000-06:00

You didn't think I could do this!

BMI Christmas Party

2008-12-17T08:03:00.005-06:00

Well, on Saturday it was the BMI (Benefit Management Inc,) Christmas party. I had heard nothing but rumors about these so called parties. Well, turns out it is a drunk fest with lots of laughter. Seems how I am LDS and do not drink, I took my trusty camera and got me some footage. I will post the good photos. But we had bowling and good laughs for sure!

My co-workers attacked me with their beer label seems how they knew I didn't drink so this was the closest I got to it!

We were rocking. Dedra and Robyn and myself!

I had just slipped and said the word S***. Whoops!

Tessa and I can't stand each other!

Just kidding we love each other!

I decided to kick "butt" and take names. I ended up with almost every single persons name tag, and I also got to kick some "butt"

Robyn, Dedra and I

Dedra and Chris. they took over my camera while I was bowling!

Dedra and I!

Robyn and I

Transfers....again

2008-12-13T15:15:00.004-06:00

So, we had transfers again in Wichita. This time around the Guatemalan left and we got a Utard in to replace her. I had a blast, I switched my days off with a co-worker so I could drive them up to the bus. I love Transfers for the most part due to being able to see all the Elders/Sisters again and be able to hang out and talk. And this time I played catch with a few of the Elders for quite some time! It was a blast. So here are some pictures!

Sister Rigby with my business card.

Sister LaBass with her "greenie" Sister Wells!

Me with my Guatemalan before she left

Sister Segi and myself!

Sister Lott and I! I finally was able to get a picture with her almost a year after meeting her!

M.A.S.H

2008-12-09T22:26:00.003-06:00



		I will marry alex.
		After a wild honeymoon, We will settle down in Washington in our fabulous Shack.
		We will have 2 kid(s) together.
		Our family will zoom around in a silver mazda 6.
		I will spend my days as a photographer, and live happily ever after.

This really cracks me up. I found it on my friend Aubrey's blog and thought I would give it a whirl. And well some of it makes me very very happpy and I would not mind at all if al of this came true sometime in the future. Enough said!

If you want to be an Elder....

2008-12-03T22:19:00.001-06:00

I love youtube and even more I love heather who showed me this awesome video. It cracks me up so enjoy!

How can I be?

2008-12-03T22:09:00.002-06:00

I love this song. Plus it is a huge bonus that two Elders of the church are in their mission singing this. Makes it that much more special. I just wish I could be one of those missionaries! Someday soon!

lost it all

2008-12-03T15:14:00.001-06:00

Well the verdict is in. I went to the computer store and was told that my computer wiped itself of everything. I am so stinking sad because that was all of my memories, my pictures and videos and my personal files just GONE. I have never had a computer do that to me.

My advice to everyone is BACKUP all the time. At least ONCE a WEEK. Just do it, don't ask why just do it. Backup!

Joseph B. Wirthlin

2008-12-02T11:31:00.003-06:00

SALT LAKE CITY 2 December 2008 Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, the oldest living apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died last night, age 91.

Elder Wirthlin had gone to bed at his Salt Lake City home, and died peacefully at about 11:30 pm of causes incident to age. His oldest daughter, Jane Wirthlin Parker, was present. A member of the family had been staying and caring for Elder Wirthlin, whose wife, Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, died in 2006.

He had continued to work at his office right up until the Thanksgiving holiday.

Funeral arrangements will be announced.

Christmas

2008-12-02T10:25:00.002-06:00

So, I am sitting here at work and thinking about the purpose of Christmas and what not. And a lot of my friends blogs have list of things they want or stand in need of. And so while thinking about it I thought why not put a little list up of things I am thankful for and things I would like to receive or accomplish this season!

1. I am thankful for my family
2. The gospel of Jesus Christ
3. Missionaries
4. Friends that make me smile even when I am in the most rotten mood
5. My talents and hobbies
6. Temples

Now things that I would really LOVE

1. to be able to submit mission papers ASAP
2. The money so I can accomplish number 1 on this list
3. to attend the Temple
4. To see my family for Christmas
5. to move to a new area with more Young Single Adults to hang out with

Okay so I am done. I got it off my chest and out of my brain so now maybe I can get to work and get my stuff done. I just want to mention that I love my savior Jesus Christ and I am very thankful for all he has blessed me with! I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas season full of fun and good memories!

Urgh

2008-11-26T10:29:00.004-06:00

Just as I have been doing so well this week going and working out before work and even last night I went again, that made 2 trips to the gym in one day. I am feeling on top of the World and knowing that the weight I need to lose to serve a full time mission for my church is going to melt away soon and plus I am gonna get ripped again! This morning I got up and went to the gym before work and went home to get ready for work by grabbing my laptop to have some tunes to sing to while showering (yes I sing in the shower and quite loudly too!) and well my computer had a boot error. For you non-computer people that means my computer CRASHED and hardcore too, which I don't understand b/c it worked just fine last night at 1030 when i went to bed. I am so frustrated but it is Thanksgiving week so I am going to be thankful that I even have the computer and that it worked this long, but you best be betting that i am going to make a trip to Radio Shack and see if they can get it fixed for me.....or else I am going to be really upset that I am out a laptop and all my awesome pictures/videos...UGH....so goes life though!

Reflections of Christ

2008-11-25T22:15:00.000-06:00

I love apples

2008-11-18T13:37:00.001-06:00

I can't even start to explain the craziness that naturally comes from me, and even more so when I go to see Dedra and Ken Cheney. It is ridiculous what things I do, and what ends up on video. So this was a couple of weeks ago but I finally put it on Youtube for my own personal embarrasment!

Addictions

2008-11-13T16:43:00.002-06:00

So, I am sitting here at work pondering life and what not and well I have come to the realization that I have a few really odd addictions and I am going to tell you all!

1. Triaminic childrens nose spray. I owe this to my co-worker/friend Tessa who told me about it while I was sick, I couldn't breathe through my nose and I sounded horrible so she told me what helps her kid, and well I went and made the purchase. Well I was using it "as directed" until it was pointed out to me the other day that is says "only use for 3 days" WHOOPS it has been easily a WEEK. MY BAD! I love it, it makes me breathe so well.

2. checking my e-mail. So this one might seem odd to you all, but I am truely addicted, I can't go an hour with out logging in to my hotmail to see if anyone e-mailed me or if some one wrote on my wall on facebook (which I get notified through e-mail) it is HORRIBLE, I try to concentrate at work but the shear knowledge that someone MIGHT of e-mailed me drives me crazy.

3. facebook, blogger and other random websites that are a shear waste of constructive time. I spend way to many hours a day sitting at a computer (10 at work) then add another 1 to 3 while at home during the evening time. And then my days off and weekends are jammed packed full of it computerness. I just can't stand to sit here at work or at home and not check my blogger to see if anyone of my friends blogged or to see if someone beat me up on "Mob wars."

3. Mob wars on Facebook. Ugh so my friend invited me to play and well I have been ADDICTED since I first started. It is ridiculous, I do nothing but click the mouse and make "money" and then I beat people up and rob jewelry stores and do drug heist and all sorts of "hoodlum" acts as my mom calls it. She told me one night when I first started (20) days ago maybe that I was going to turn into some hoodlum and start running around and doing stuff I shouldn't be doing. It was a good little arguement we had but it turned out in a huge laughfest!

4. Gum. I LOVE orbit gum. I almost ALWAYS have a piece in my mouth, and if it is not Orbit I prefer watermelon gum. Ugh I just love all gum ever made, it makes me happy! And it gives me "jaw excercise!" and plus if I get the mint flavored it makes my breath smell good! So what can beat that?

5. Missionaries. I LOVE it and you all know it just as much as I do. I can't stand going one day with out seeing the Sisters or at least talking to them, and when I do go a day without em I seem to lose my mind and I tend to get a bit "bitter" it is ODD but what can I say. I love the work and I love the girls! (in a non-gay sort of way)

Okay that is the start of my list, I am sure I will add more to it later! Now that I just told on myself!

Haiku...

2008-11-11T16:53:00.002-06:00

So, the other night I was over at Dedra's (big surprise?) and well for some reason she is on a huge "let's write a poem" kick. Needless to say I wasn't to fond of the idea. Dedra however was very fond of it and printed off a bunch of "how too's" on writing different types of poems, from limericks, to Haiku's and all sorts of different types that I can't remember. Well along with the two of us she invited Liz Draper over and we started the poetic process, which went a little like me sitting there trying to do it and Liz and Dedra whipping out Haiku's like crazy. Well finally once they started their next type of poem I got the inspiration for my Haiku. And for your reading pleasure here it is!

the leaves fall slowly
vibrant, brilliant colors glow
bring in winter snow

I am doing this by memory so I hope that comes out right!

Cheetos anyone?

2008-11-09T23:12:00.005-06:00

Well, we got back today from Stake Conference about 8:45 so we had a little photo shoot in my car after a few phone calls were made and well you will see for yourself the awesomeness of the pictures!

Picnic

2008-11-09T23:02:00.003-06:00

I didn't take many photos, but today (November 9, 2008) was Stake Conference and well I took the Sisters and we drove to Salina and got to see a bunch of awesome members and to see the other Sister Missionaries from the Zone so we took a picture ( see attached) and then we had a picnic afterwards and I took a couple of photos, I didn't take many on my camera but needless to say we had an amazing time and I left feeling loved and uplifted!

Sister Labass (California) Sister Rigby (Idaho) Sister Ayala (Guatemala) Sister Reynolds (Utah/Texas) Sister Pollock (Idaho) Sister Hyrns (Arizona) Sister Maludrik (Marshall Islands) Sister Montana (Mexico/Chicago)

Sister Rigby is Number 1! Whoop for Idaho!

Elvis is in the building!

2008-11-09T22:49:00.003-06:00

Well, this past week or so I have spent a lot of time over at the Cheney's home in the replacement of the missionaries. And well to cheer me up and what not we did some pretty nuts things and these awesome photos are just a few of what we actually took! Oh and as for the Elvis mask it was told about in an earlier post, but I got it as a gift and well it has certainly got its use!

friendly faces

2008-11-02T15:45:00.005-06:00

I love transfers most generally speaking. I get to see missionaries in bulk! What a delight! This time around was awesome because I got to see Sister Grange, whom served in Hays as a greenie oh about 18 months ago! She was on her way home this time around, so I got one last picture with her! I also got to meet Sister Schiess which was Sister Grange's companion in Derby. Among many of the missionaries was Elder Caviness, Mendoza, Reta, Vivas, Dodds, Sister Lott, Segi, and a few others! So, the transfer bus was running roughly an hour or so behind so there was a lot of down time where soccer, volleyball and chatting took place. And a few pictures!

The after affects

2008-11-02T15:30:00.002-06:00

of riding 2 hours in a car crammed in a car with 5 people is usually enough. Then add one large suitcase behind the passenger which in turns makes the passenger kiss the dash, then also makes the person sitting behind it sit almost indian style. Well then add no stops to stretch due to time contraints, and well the result is as follows! The girls like "fell" out of my car, it was quite funny to see them try to get out and walk normally.

2 hours...

2008-11-02T15:19:00.003-06:00

On the road, waiting to get transferred does some amazingly weird things to people. Here is the proof! I don't think it requires any more explanation.

How much stuff can you fit...

2008-11-02T15:08:00.003-06:00

in your trunk?

This is a very valid question to ask especially when it comes to transfers. The tranfers I speak of are the ever so wonderful missionary transfers. They are only wonderful when and if you don't like the missionary getting transfered, which this time I was very upset as you all know. But what is awesome was I woke up very happy on thursday, and I realized that my drama about having Sister Madsen leave was not that bad. I was actually very and may I say VERY blessed to of even met her. She was not even supposed to come to Great Bend and for her to be here for 6 months was awesome! Anywho, on top of Sister Madsen moving, so was Sister Gundersen whom was serving in Hays, America! So, on Wednesday Sister Madsen gave me this puppy look and was like the Hays sisters can't find a ride so can you take them too.

Two missionaries worth of stuff does NOT fit in a Mazda 6 trunk to just make it a shorter story. Here is the picture evidence of it!

Larned time...

2008-10-31T21:17:00.006-05:00

I went with the Sisters to Larned on Sunday and we did some tracting and had a few laughs. We found the newest "most ghetto" planter. It was a toilet, Hna Madsen and I thought we found it last week when we saw old tires inverted and used as planters, until we saw the toilet! It was AWESOME! Then we found a tree overtaking the sidewalk, so Hna Madsen started climbing on it...and took some photos! It was honestly one of the best days I have had out doing the work. It was a good last memory together!

So, this has nothing to do with Larned. Last Saturday the girls came over to help me clean off the table so I could cook dinner for them all the following evening. Well, when we got home my mom and dad had already done it! So I put on my awesome Ninja mask and surprised the girls, and of course they wanted a picture of it!

This photo, goes a little like this I work at BMI, and we have a secret pal program and well my secret pal hooked me up with a Halloween present that consisted of candy and a Elvis Presley mask, so I knew I had to go get the girls in Hoisington to take them to a supper appointment, and so I decided to put it on while I pulled up to get them in downtown Hoisington, they laughed so hard. It was awesome! So they grabbed my camera and took a picture....

Artsy Fartsy

2008-10-30T21:42:00.003-05:00

I have moments of "artsy fartsy" that come out. Here is an instance of that. Last week my friend Debby P. left BMI (my work place) and she bought us all yellow roses well kind of white-ish, anyways I thought perfect time to have a photoshoot, plus I was home sick after the weekend and so I had nothing else to do! I had fun with the rose and my scritpures, I personally think it is an awesome beautiful thing, especially in the black & white. I hope you all enjoy!

Sad Day...

2008-10-29T08:22:00.002-05:00

Well, I was having like the best day on Earth yesterday, work went extremely well, got my 90 day eval and was given a raise finally! Just was having a good day for once, and then I went to Hoisington after work to pick up the Sister Missioanries and take them to an investigators house for supper. That went well too. Then as we were on the way home, Sister Madsen showed me the phone and was like look who we missed a call from today. It said "President VanKomen" for you non-LDS people out there and some of you LDS that still don't know he is the Missouri Independence Mission President, and well Transfers are tomorrow, and well usually when he calls it means someone is training. So I got excited and thought WOOHOO Sis. Madsen is training a new one and is staying, and she goes "nope" I am getting transferred to Liberty Jail to be the Leader there. I lost it, I cried the whole way home, what an awkward ride, but seriously I just hate that I get a good friend and really start to get to know a person and let her know who I really am and she gets pulled. It happens everytime, but this time is different. So I went from the best day ever to the worst night I could think of. The ease was lifted a bit when I found out Sister Labass is coming to Great Bend, but still, my heart hurts. It sucks.

So, I had to get this out to someone, and this was the only way I could think to do it, my Mom just doesn't understand nor anyone in my family, so anyone who reads this is subject to this. Sorry.

Montage time...

2008-10-22T13:30:00.003-05:00

Well, a couple of weeks ago I went over to the Cheney's, and well there was a ton of video being taken of me which some I was not aware of. And well I already posted the Kung Fu video, well Dedra my good buddy made a montage for my German friend, and well for my public humiliation, and I think it does quite well, so I thought why not post it on my own blog because personally I think it is great work! I hope you all get a good laugh like I do every time I watch it!

What a "Tripp"

2008-10-22T13:02:00.004-05:00

I went with the girls last week on my day off to Hoisington and then to Claflin, and the last stop was Lorraine to go see Brother Tripp and Sister Hoddy. They are this awesome married couple that moved into our ward and made it very energetic. One main reason for me to go out there was so I could fix their computer, it had a malfunction and they learned that I was computer savy, so they invited me out, and of course the Missionaries too, which in turn we invited both Carbajal families out for dinner and a lesson. We had a very very good time like always. I mean who can go to a school house with a full basketball court and trampoline not have fun? Well, we did, I talked Sister Madsen onto the trampoline, which we shot a video of it and so I will post that! Then we took a group shot before we all left, I was the photographer so don't look for me. Oh oh oh and in the tour of the schoolhouse for Sister Ayala we found some wicked sweet glasses of Sister Hoddy's and so they took a picture with them on! Enjoy!

Random Signs...

2008-10-21T12:28:00.004-05:00

I love randomness, it is my life! Well, while with the girls at Rush Center a couple weeks ago, I pull up to the gas station and it said "Self Service" then below that it said "Gasohol". Well me being the clever person I can often be I said "I can self serve myself gas anytime, but eating beans and cheese!" I know funny right? Or not so much but at the time it was so I took a picture of the really old sign!

Now for the explaination of this awesome sign! I was with the girls out knocking some doors and contacting a referral I had given them, and then I saw this on a trailer. Now the awesome part is most of you know my last name is indeed "Zink" and so I got really uber excited and just had to have a picture! Someone related to me or maybe not had made a business and it holds our name. WOOHOO!

District Meeting

2008-10-21T12:11:00.003-05:00

Once again I suck at updating this thing, nothing new there. But this happened forever and a day ago or so it seems. I had the chance to attend a District Meeting and see all the wonderful missionaries and enjoy their Spirit! Here are some pictures that we took!

This is the whole Salina District, it is amazing we almost doubled in size. Wow I just said "we" like I am one of them, I guess in heart I am! But it goes like this
back row: Sister Madsen (Great Bend), Elder Powell(Concordia), Elder Caviness (Zone Leader), Elder Barnes (ZL), Elder Dodds (Salina), Elder Vivas (Salina) Elder Mendoza (Salina) Elder Reta (Salina DL) Front row: Sister Powell (Concordia), Sister Ayala (Great Bend), Me, Sister Gundersen (Hays), Sister Rigbee (Hays)
After the meeting we went to a little Mexican restraunt in Salina, and we all had this really long table and had us a good time. Elder Caviness here wanted his "napkin", at first the waitress told him $3 dollars, so he picked the one he wanted and finally at the end of the lunch she let him have it! Oh and the reason he wanted one so bad was because his last companion Elder Blanchard had him one, and well it was like a watch this Elder Blanchard!

Kung Fu Fighting

2008-10-14T21:40:00.001-05:00

So I am a bit ashamed to be posting this, but I think it is quite funny myself. Yes someone caught me on tape, which is hard to do I avoid cameras all together unless I am behind it. But I was over at the Cheney's and Dedra and I had gone to Wal-Mart and I found this awesome Ninja ski cap for Halloween, and Dedra talked me into purchasing it. And then she was videoing me and I had no clue and well here is the true me!

Michael Jackson?

2008-10-14T09:57:00.001-05:00

So, out comes Sister Rigbee from the "ladies room" and she says, "I feel like Michael Jackson!" Naturally we all said "why?" and she pulled up her skirt to show off her sweet get up!

She will probably kill me if she knew this was on here, so please don't tell her! Thanks!

Feeling "Trunky"

2008-10-14T09:45:00.002-05:00

Yes yes I have more of the exchange switch-off. The girls wanted to take pictures together so while Sister Rigbee was using the "ladies room" we had some fun in the trunk!

Exchange Switch-off

2008-10-14T09:05:00.004-05:00

Well, the previous blog explains why we went to Rush Center (a town with a 4 way stop and 1 bar, 1 liqour store, and only 1 running gas station, that is never actually "staffed") So we stopped and switched back with the girls from Hays! And well we had a surprise lunch in my trunk of a roasted chicken, rolls, grapes and cookies. Here is the end result, a bunch of laughs and a few great memories!

We needed plates of course, so we found these really rather awesome Arthur and Friends plates, and well there were 4 designs so naturally I stood behind the scenes and took the pictures!

Now you see them! This was what they really looked like behind those awesome plates!

Getting the chicken cut in the trunk, I am so glad the juice didn't get in my trunk!

Sister Gundersen, Sister Rigbee, and Hermana Madsen enjoying the chicken, rolls and grapes!

Here comes the cookies, this was Sister Rigbee and Hna Madsen showing their District Leader that they do indeed eat "healthy" hince the grapes, but I guess Sis. Madsen didn't get the memo!

Sister Ayala drinking her favorite Life Water, she tends to hide from me when I have the camera out, I can't figure out why as of yet...

So, this is what happens when you open a water bottle with one hand an armpit, it comes flying out with force and soaks your shirt. Good times but yet rather chilly!

This is how it went I said "Sister Rigbee will you do me a favor and put two grapes up your nose?" She responds with, "My nose is not big enough." I said "oh yes it is, it will stretch!" She turned around and claims to "have stage freight", but this was the end result, and I am totally going to print this off and send it as a postcard through the mission office so they see what kind of fun we have been having out here!

HAHA, everyone has a little capt'n in them! What makes me laugh is Sister Rigbee totally understood what I was making them do this for, and Sister Gundersen being a sheltered Utard had no idea, so I had to explain after much convincing to get the to do this!

She is the cookie monster!

Cookie Monster!

2008-10-14T08:56:00.003-05:00

She is at it again. So it was a Saturday afternoon, overcast, windy and well down right chilly. It was my day off and I get this call. "Jessica, we love you, do you want to come out with us?" I said "sure, where we going?" They said "well, we have a couple appointments then we have the switch back in Rush Center!" So, naturally since I Love Missionaries! I said "of course!"

So, the girls wanted to buy the other Sisters in whom we were meeting up with for the switch (they were on exchanges) lunch, so we ate out of my trunk at a gas station, it was quite fun. Sis. Madsen/Gundersen bought cookies and this was the end result!

How many pieces?

2008-10-10T20:56:00.003-05:00

Well, the Cheney family came down from Washington to visit. So I went over for a hang out session, and all the sudden the idea of buying some bubble yum and seeing how many pieces we can chew came into mind, not only that I wanted to shoot a video of a bunch of non-sense going on. So here it is!

(okay so it was pointed out to me that it was the Anderson family that came in from Washington not the "Cheney's"

Old Men!

2008-10-10T20:46:00.003-05:00

Here we go again! Sister Madsen at her best! It was P-day fun again for us, and this time we actually got to play sports for an hour or so. And this was a nice little immitation Sister Madsen brought up! Enjoy!

Greater Kansas City (2)

2008-10-07T18:51:00.001-05:00

Well, it wasn't quite where I thought it would be, but pretty darn close. I am so excited. It will really boost the Visits to the Liberty Jail and the Visitors Center, and will help the Sister missionaries whom give the tours to stay on their toes.

Have I told you all that I am very very very excited about this?

SALT LAKE CITY 7 October 2008 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today gave more details about the locations of the five new temples announced by President Thomas S. Monson at the Church’s general conference in Salt Lake City on Saturday.

The Philadelphia temple will be built in downtown Philadelphia, at Spring Street and Broad Street. Several other temples occupy urban sites, including those in Manhattan and Hong Kong. No designs have been completed for this temple or the others announced on Saturday.

For the temple serving the greater Kansas City area, the site will be in Clay County, Missouri, on residential land within the Kansas City limits that is already being developed by the Church. The development is known as Shoal Creek.

The temple in Córdoba, Argentina, will be situated on the Belgrano meetinghouse site, next to the present mission home of the Church, and the Calgary temple will be built on Church-owned land next to an existing chapel in the northwest part of the city, at the intersection of Rocky Ridge Road and Royal Oak Road.

In Rome, the temple will occupy part of a 15-acre Church-owned site near the ring road skirting the northeast section of Rome.

Greater Kansas City

2008-10-05T21:46:00.002-05:00

I am so stinking excited I can hardly contain myself. This weekend was General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Which means that we have the chance to listen to our leaders and our current Prophet. And usually during the first session on Saturday mornings the Prophet will announce if any new temples are going to be built. Amazingly this time around he announced 5 new ones.

Here is how he started the list:
1. Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2. Cordoba, Argentina
3. Greater Kansas City area!
4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5. Rome, Italy

I must say when I heard KANSAS CITY I almost stopped listening. I know I let out a big sigh and a bit "AHHHHH yeah" but I had to contain myself due to being in the chapel. But my heart was full with joy and anticipation. Knowing that the temple was announced means that we will have an hour less to travel as a Ward in Great Bend, and also that the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just that much closer to happening.

I am overjoyed, and so I thought I would share the article that was posted on the lds.org website! I will definitetly keep you all posted as to where the specific location is and when the groundbreaking and all that good stuff will take place.

SALT LAKE CITY 4 October 2008 One of five new temples announced this weekend by Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be built in the greater Kansas City area.

Since the early 1830s, Missouri has played an important role in Church history when the Latter-day Saints established communities in Independence and Far West. Kansas also saw early pioneer settlements, but these were abandoned when members of the Church moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually Utah.

The Church maintains visitors’ centers and commemorative markers in Independence, Liberty, Far West and other historic locations.

As the Church has spread throughout the United States congregations have been established in every major city in the Midwest. In Missouri and Kansas there are approximately 100,000 members. The first Latter-day Saint stake (a stake is similar to a diocese) was established in Kansas City in 1956. In Kansas, the first stake was organized in Wichita in 1962. Today there are also Stakes in Independence, Liberty, Springfield, St. Louis, Platte, Topeka, Salina, Derby, Lenexa, and elsewhere.

More details concerning architectural design and the exact location of the temple will be announced as they are available.

Chins...

2008-10-03T23:00:00.007-05:00

"I have an idea...all I need is 2 blankets, black eyeliner, and missionary approved music and your camera." That is how the phone call went on Monday, you see me and the girls were going to play some sports on their P-day since I was off, well turns out time ran out and we were tired or they were so I got this call and that was what Sister Madsen told me. So I said you have all that at your place and my camera is in my back pocket, so off to their apartment I went. And it didn't take much persuading on their part to get me to participate, I didn't want to but well here you go. This is rather fun to do and I think I will do it often if the mood is right!

The Cheney's

2008-10-02T21:42:00.006-05:00

I love this family....they recently moved to Great Bend from Larned (which they lived in WA before that) and well I go to church with them, but I must say I am uber happy they live in GB now! I have gone over and enjoyed dinner and some good laughs with them in the oh week or so they have lived here! They have some animals they recently got so I took some photos and then we took some awesome video's for FHE one night...so here you go!

Matthew doing his thing!

Nichole doing her thing to "Dancing Queen", funny thing is we didn't finish shooting b/c right at the end you see a bit of a shadow coming in, and well it was their puppy Animal coming in to lay on the blanket, well he caused it to fall ruining the whole concept...good stuff right there!

All I have to say is "Silence, I KILL YOU...."

Zink-ishness

80's dancing

Utah Recap

New Roommates

Get Well Soon...

Christmas time...

Orem Park 9th talent show - Jessica Zink stand up

Vote for my Niece...Please

Temple Square

Bridal Veil Falls

Graduation - October 15, 2010

Last day of class...

UCMT - 12 months of my life!

5K walk/jog

Update

New in Life

New Year....new me!

Just a simple update

I love Utah!

I'm moving to...

Gumbo!

You call that a Lake?

All in a days work

Girls just want to have fun!

Baptism Time!

Colorado here I come!

On the road to Louisiana

The Blue Goose Cantina

Dallas

Happy Birthday Dad!

Clementine or Elephant?

Night Out

Wrestling

**Warning**

Zone Conference again...

Large Ear Lobes?

Oklahoma City Temple

Louisiana/Texas here I come...

16 inches of fresh powder

Snow Day...

Baptized!

Zone Conference....

Bierrocks....

A night out

When your companion is sick....

Relay for Life

A little help for a friend

It's Official

Tiny Frogs...

meatloaf and mashed potatoes

Exchanges

Holy Cow

District Meeting

Transfers....

Goals

Independence/Liberty, Missouri

Redeemer of Israel

Dearest Children/Be Still my Soul

A Child's Prayer

Scriptures...oh how I love them

Christmas Eve Tradition

Brakes

I bet

BMI Christmas Party

Transfers....again

M.A.S.H

If you want to be an Elder....

How can I be?

lost it all

Joseph B. Wirthlin

Christmas

Urgh

Reflections of Christ

I love apples

Addictions

Haiku...

Cheetos anyone?

Picnic

Elvis is in the building!

friendly faces

Warning