No More...

frustrating language barriers...

people shoving things into my face and saying "please! please! quanto? quanto!"

people tearing up the store and sleeping on the floor on the busiest of days

No more... working late enough to say good morning to the security guards on the way home

No more... A Bus. or busses in general.

waiting for a late bus

shoving to get a seat that will only make your butt fall asleep

stopping and going enough to make you hurl

No more... fighting thousands of people to get to the other side of the store

No more... getting yelled at because Cinderella wasn't here today

No more... MOM JEANS!

No more... spontaneous torrential downpours

No more... palm trees at Christmas time

No more... watching tv on a 12x12 computer screen

No more... walking a zillion miles to the mailbox

No more... taking a 40 minute bus ride to go to WalMart and carry all my groceries home

No more... incompetent people (I can dream right?)

No more... magic

No more... fireworks every night

No more... mickey thanking me for making the magic every time I clock out

No more... late nights with my roommates because it's too late to even sleep

No more... giving a little kid cotton candy for their birthday, just because I can

No more... telling families the inside scoop on wait times and fast passes

No more... buying all the unhealthy food I want at WalMart

No more... making friends from all over the world

No more... have a magical day

This has been the most amazing adventure I've ever had. The one thing I've learned more than anything else is, Attitude Is Everything. There are more pessimists out there today than ever before. But, to them I say, don't let the man get you down. ha! Even in the worst of days, someone's got it worse, so the only thing you can do is smile and try to figure it out. Emphasis on smile.

To all who read this: This week, try a little harder to smile. It's the most contagious form of communication. Don't forget that someone is always watching.

I've also never been so grateful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This church contains the true gospel of Jesus Christ. As I've been here, I've learned that we are in fact a minority, and that there are so many people that are just ready to hear the gospel. Sometimes all it takes, is a smile, so that they don't feel uncomfortable talking about it with you. I've learned how to bear my testimony in a way that doesn't sound like I'm standing at a pulpit. A simple "No, thanks. I don't watch rated R movies..." and "Nah you guys go ahead, I don't drink..." have done me a lot of good in the last 4 1/2 months.

Now it's time to take a day to pack, and then go home and start 2011!! It's gonna be a big year. While I'm here, I'll go ahead and record my new year resolutions, because a goal not written down is simply a wish!

1. Budget. Well, learn how to budget. Have a financial plan for the next few years at the end of the year.

2. Be Healthy. I'm not going to make any eating or exercising goals, because those never work. But, I do want to have a healthy sleep pattern and a pretty healthy lifestyle.

3. Have fun. Secretly I'm making goals to stay home and do homework and not talk to anyone. But, I know that I need to be out livin a little. So I guess I'll make it a resolution to have fun. Heck maybe I'll even go on a date or two... if I can shut up about Trace, which I still haven't been able to do. I can't date till I can stop talking about him! Maybe that will be a resolution... nah.

4. Have missionary experiences. This includes praying for them, and searching for them. It's not gonna be as easy as it is here to have those experiences!

5. Don't get married.

Have a magical day.

Graduation And Such As.

Lookie Lookie! I graduated! My program is coming to a close. And it was been so wonderful. I've loved almost every moment. But, the terrible thing is. Now I hate it. only because there are 60,000 people in Disney World and it is overwhelming and stressful! But, I just keep thinking TWO MORE WEEKS! It's crazy that it's already over. Oh geez I can't even believe it.

It was freezing for a couple days here. No bueno. No bueno at all.

But we did get free hot chocolate! :)

Now here are a bunch of random pictures!

this is me and diana enjoying ice cream sundaes. in december. yes please.

Losto. Smells like strawberries! He's a hugger!

This is the spectacle of dancing lights at hollywood studios! They don't have the same spirit as the temple. but they sure are amazing! and every other song they're synchronized to the christmas songs and it's awesome!

This is me and my i love marriage face.

And here I am being a reindeer. You know, cuz it's christmas.

This is something that was George Washington's or something. I thought dad would like that.

Sleigh ride anyone?

Just hangin with the boss!

a word.

I posted some collages. Don't miss those just because you clicked on the link to this post, and not the one that goes to the blog. Life is good. I'm just trying to be a grown up and apply for jobs, and look for cars, and get some hard core loans because I don't have a dime to my name. I stayed home sick today. I have a tummy ache. and the weird thing is, that's the only way I can describe it. A tummy ache. I feel like I'm five. Oh well. I'll go to sleep and wake up all better (fingers crossed).

I got my christmas package from home. I have a lot of pride in the fact that my family is so big that they can all give me a present and it makes the 12 days of christmas :) I was ecstatic to open up a pound of the most glorious fudge EVER! mmmmmmmm!!!!! My roommates didn't mind either. haha! I can't wait to start on number 2 in 6 days. Also still waiting patiently for my package from Elder Rodgerson. Christmas won't be so bad. it's just around the corner and the end of my program is too! Which is crazy! straight up and down! It's been the best and it will be bitter sweet to leave.

Peace out girl scout.

Formal

We had so much fun at formal!! Brad took as all as his dates and got us all pretty roses. We danced the night away and were quite sore the next few days.

such character!

Emily and I had a lot of fun meeting characters on our day off! I also accomplished Mission: Space. Which I'm still feeling the consequences of. Getting blasted into space puts quite a toll on your stomach. But, we had a lot of fun.

Just an update!

On the cutest missionary out there!

Here's the family email he sent out today. Can't believe it's been three months! yahoo!!

It's beginning to look a lot like christmas!

We finally have snow here in the england manchester mission! Tuesday and Wednesday were absolutely beautiful with all of the snow fall! It was incredible and all i wanted to do was be outside and street contact! And then something very interesting happened. It rained. Apparently it rains year round in england. It was the weirdest thing seeing the snow melting from the rain fall. And then over the next couple nights it froze and the whole city is an ice rink. Crazy weather. The sun came out today, so that was nice to see. But I really wish it would snow some more.
I finally took the time this morning to go get my haircut from my boy ramin, however, I walked all the way there and he was out today. He wasn't exactly top today. If you know what I'm saying. So I come home to just cut my own hair with a three all over (I don't even think it's approved) But then I go to get in the shower and of course, all the hot water is gone.So I spent an hour heating up water on the stove and then dumping it into the bath tub. I got it all figured out and I look so fresh and so clean. The life of a missionary right?
I got some pretty big news for all of you at home. I purchased a winter coat and boy is it fresh. I strolled on into the Gap and stumbled upon a wool overcoat for over half off. it was originally £120 and I got it on sale for £50. The Gap still stands as my favorite store of all time and has yet to let me down. I also saw that denim looking button shirt that i got from michelle inkley there, apparently she is a little ahead of the european fashion curve. Did bryan ever get my letter? cause I still haven't seen his response. Some hometeacher he turned out to be! JK yall. I also went to legoland but it was a total bust. It was like fifteen pounds to get in and it was tiny. Got some good pictures though. I also sent katelin a christmas package and you will all probably make fun of what I sent her and yes, it was extremely bold. But, make sure she knows not to open it until christmas. Thanks!
The other big news I have is that Elder Green and I will be getting a new companion. We will be in a threesome until the end of the transfer. I am not exactly excited. His name is Elder Mlynar from Detroit. He was my district leader at the MTC. Apparently him and his companion were struggling so he is getting put with us this evening. It's gonna take a lot of adjusting. We have a young man named Hadrian in our ward who is leaving on his mission to Brisbane, Australia in january so we will be going on a lot of splits with him. Get twice the work done, you know?
We also got a new ward mission leader this week. His name is Brother Wood and I'm not sure how good of a job he will do but we will find out. He is super nice and always feeds us. Which reminds me. I may be sick of the food they feed us but it is delicious. The lady at the distribution centre doesn't know what she's talking about. It's like having thanksgiving dinner at every meal. and they always have dessert. No matter what. But it is rare to find a napkin at the table, which I find odd. Also they eat with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. I can't do it. It's way too hard.
We are going to the sullivans for christmas and I am trying to work out a way to play fifa on christmas as well so make sure ashton stays on x box live! I am looking forward to calling you as well, I only get an hour though so keep that in mind. Thanks for the christmas packages as well! Our flat looks great still and I am looking forward to opening all of my christmas presents! The whole mission goes to the preston temple together for christmas so I will be going there on the 23rd I believe so I am looking forward to that. I sure hope you didn't forget to send a christmas card to me! Feel free to send me pictures of the family and things going on at home. I love getting pictures in the mail!
That is pretty much all that is going on over here. We have found some solid new investigators and the ones we do have are progressing incredibly! There is too many people to tell you all about but we are continuing to work hard and I will let you know how the adjustments to two companions goes! I love you,

Trace