Back to the Swing...of Things :)

I can't believe it! I Kaitlin Elise Gray *Sister Gray* am going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! and I Could't be more excited!!

Tonight I went Country Dancing! I had almost forgotten how much I LOVE Country Dancing. 

Its Exercise.

I Love the Music.

Its a stress reliever.

It Makes Me Happy!

 Mi amigo Justin Learning the ways of Country Swing!

Thank you Dance for making me Happy :)

Now time for Bed zzzz......

Mission Feelings....

Welp...It Arrived! Safe and sound :)
Mission feelings... man I can not believe it FINALLY came. Waiting these past two weeks has felt like an ETERNITY! But its like they say
"Good things come to those that wait". People ask me.."are you scared?" "how do you feel now that you have gotten your call?" And honestly....
I feel HAPPY!! I couldn't feel any more at peace with this decision. Any one who really knows me knows that I take forever at making decisions!! However I feel SO good about this decision. I feel a sense of Peace and a Love from my Heavenly Father knowing that I have chosen to serve him for a 18 months. 
So today I could not concentrate on ANYTHING! For all I could think about was a large envelope that I had awaiting me in the mailbox. So I went to school as usual..then I went to study in the library for 4 hours...(thats normal) and then when I could not take it anymore (and not havent eaten anything yet) I decided that I should go home and check the mail. My roomates said that they had already checked the mail.....but I wanted to double check! ha So I rushed home in the FREEZING cold. It felt like my fingers were going to fall off...and I even had gloves on for crying out loud. Anyways i then got to my apartment and grabbed the key. My roomate Christine accompanied me as we anxiously went to the mailbox :) 


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Then the suspense... I opened the mailbox and screamed as I jumped for Joy! I could not believe that the white envelope that I had been waiting for sooo long was actually here.


I then flew back to my apartment with so much joy inside! Then I had to make a public announcement....so I resorted to the Facer! (facebook) and told everyone that I was to open it at 9 oclock!


My dear friend Sydney Sturgeon called me and told me that she could come! I was so happy, because I did not think that she would be able to make it, as she is from Layton Utah! But she came! She got here early and we were able to catch up, laugh and talk until the heard arrived :)


Then it began to hit me...I was REALLY about to open a letter from the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And that what was on that letter was going to determine the next 18 months of my life. It was coming down to it...


Minutes past, and people began coming back in. Time got faster and faster. I had my family on Skype awaiting to hear my call. SKype kept butting off my family....so I had to reconnect them several times :) but we finally got it working.


Now its real.... It is coming. I began to shake like none other and my heart began to race. I began reading and the emotions fled. 


Sister Kaitlin Elise Gray is hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the New York New York South Mission. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday May 18th, 2011.You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish Language!!!! ♥


I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!!!


I never would have guessed that! As soon as I read that it was Spanish speaking ..... the tears began to flow! I have wanted my whole life to be able to serve Spanish speaking! 


I know that THIS serving a mission is EXACTLY what I need to be doing in my life RIGHT now! I know that I will be blessed. Just as it said in my call, that I will be blessed with more joy and happiness than I have yet experienced. 


I know that there are peoples lives that I will be able to touch. I know that serving at this time in my life is the best! 


I know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me so dearly. He knows me better than I know myself. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet who restored this church upon the face of this earth. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of us and that he answers prayers. I know that we can strive everyday to become more and more like our savior Jesus Christ. I know that this is the only true church. I know that my family can be together forever.I know that God lives.


******


May 18th 2011, I am anxiously awaiting your arrival :) 


Thank you to all who have showed your love and support on my new adventure I am about to take in life! 

MISSION CALL :) :)

I.CANT.WAIT!!!

Change is Good :)

Sometimes... Change is good :)
I have a feeling today or tomorrow its going to be all about change!
and I CANT WAIT!! 


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Its like they Say, " The rest is Still Unwritten" 

By the Way....

I CHOPPED ALL MY HAIR OFF!!
Ok... not really.
But I did Cut 3 inches off. and when I say me, I mean my wonderful friend Lauren who is in Beauty School at Paul Mitchell.
And she did a Wonderful Job :)

Do you ever?

Wish you could go back in time?
I do! 
I wish I could replay those moments where you belly laughed for minutes at a time. Or when you felt that never ending happiness and joy, and you didn't know why, but you just were happy!
Or when you felt your heart pitter pattter when you were with that one boy :)
Or when you aced that test!
or when you had a great talk with one of your girl friends for hours, and you two just giggled as you talked about life.
or when you worked hard at something and finished it?
or when you stuck that landing at a gymnastics meet? and scored that 9.45?
or when you had that one church lesson, or devotional or girls camp meeting that just hit your heart hard.
I wish I could replay those moments....but for now..
I'll just look at pictures :)

Cravings....

You know everyone has those days where they are really craving something?.. For me sometimes its Mexican food. ( especially my favorite Gecko Grill) Other times its some delicious fruit, usually grapefruit! but you know what I am craving right now?

Macaroni and Cheese!!

Is that weird?

The Anticipation is KILLING ME!!!

This whole waiting game is a killer.

Two.More.Days....

I can do it! 

I am just a LITTLE ok.. maybe REALLY excited!!

A Letter From C. Vaterlaus....aka Clare :)

I couldn't be more excited when I woke up to having a letter on my desk from my dear Friend Clare Vaterlaus. Who just entered the MTC to go to Albania! :) She is going to make such an incredible missionary.

If anyone knows clare, just knows that this is SO her!

Glad she could spice up her letters with some creating drawings! 

im taking my medicine and going to bed....

I feel like this little girl....

sick. and tired.

Im taking my nyquil and going to bed...

Yes Early on a Friday night

I got exams to take, places to go and shows to see.

Dear Saturday,

Please allow me to feel better than I did today. On Friday.

Love ,

Kait

When it Doubt...

This is where I have been Living ...

In the library.

Sometimes on the 5th Floor..

Other times on the 1st...

and 

everywhere in between.

If you want to come visit me and dont know where to find me.

Your best bet is

La Biblioteca (studying spanish)

p.s. if you want to send me a letter you should probably address it to

the Harold B. Lee Library :) 

It happens :)

You know when you have those days when EVERYTHING seems to go wrong? When nothing goes the way you planned?

Well....

Today was one of those days :)

* I woke up Late.

* I showed up to Class Late.

* To find out that my class had been moved.

* My phone went off during Class.

* I am now sick... (dance partner was sick and I got the bug) 

* My dance review was 45 minutes late. Meaning the line was backed up.

* I found out that I have an exam tomorrow that was last minute.

*I forgot my key and had to wait out in the 12 degree weather for my roommate to come save me.

Well....When you have days like these all you got to do is ...

Smile and Laugh! 

" Come what May and LOVE it!" ~ Elder Wirthlin

Hope you all had a great day, and Don't forget to Smile :) 

Remember that one time?

Remember that one time that I told you that almost all the snow was melted?....

Well yesterday it was a DOWN pour!

and when I mean down pour, I mean it snowed like alllll day! 

So now the ground is white as snow! (well it is snow)

Gotta Love Provo :) 

from Ali :) 

P.s.

Almost all the snow is melted...hm.. Weird.

I dont presume that this will last too long.

Well I like living in the snow. I mean..Its pretty to look at. ha 

Ok its fun to get all cute and dressed up..until you get to class and have to take off all of the million of layers.

ha Did I mention that I LOVE Provo? 

Cause I do! 

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On a side note...People are SOO nice here! Infact too nice.

So today I woke up late..and well did not have time to pack a lunch and I could not find my wallet. And I had school until 6:40 at night... so long day!  I went to the Cougar Eat to go and buy a burrito. When I got in line I realized that I was a LOT hungrier than I thought. I then asked the guy next to me if he had an extra dollar, and explained to him that I forgot my lunch today. He said, " Let me just buy your lunch"! I insisted on giving him the dollar and fifty cents that I had and he would not take it. Instead he just kept talking to me and asked me lots of questions about my life. Turns out we are both from Arizona and have some mutual friends. 

CRazy! 

Yay for new Friends, Nice people and Taco Bell :) 

Do you Ever?

Do you ever?....

Get so happy you want to scream!

Dance around your room and hope not one is watching :)

Skip for Joy?....and dont know why?
Smile so wide your cheeks hurt?

Well I do! 

I am SO HAPPY! 

Not sure why...

But.

I 

LOVE 

it!

Sunday is a Special Day :)

I just really love Sundays. It is a day to reflect. A day to Ponder. A day to go to church and be spiritually Fed and Uplifted. Sunday was great today! I loved the lessons. We learned about Education in Sacrament Meeting, and the importance of gaining an education. ( will post more later)

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After church I made the Famous Kaitlin Grays Salsa!! (okay its really not famous, I just like to think it is) I ate some muddy buddies that my roommates made. mmm! Then took a wonderful nap, and read some articles from the New era. I was able to talk to my mother today, I could take to her for the whole day if she would let me :) Then after that I went to Tamara's for a game night! That is always fun! Then me Tamara, Jayne and Katie stayed up talking really late just about life and such. I love those girls! They are so nice, sweet and inclusive. Now its time for bed. 

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I am ready for a new week! Bring.It.On!!

Hot Tubing, Hawaii Lu'au,Swing Dancing fun!

Today was an adventure! I woke up bright and early on a Saturday....and by early I mean 8 :) and walked to School. Now you might be wondering why on earth I was going this early and to school. Well ill tell you! I am in the BYU Lu'au. I made it for Samoa, Tahitian, and New Zealand. Can I just tell you how Happy and Excited I am for this?! Well I am! It reminds me of Hawaii and makes me want to go back soooo bad! I love this culture! They took me right in and measured me right away, even though I was out of town for the first two practices. Then after that Laura Garcia and I went to study and do homework together. She helped me with Spanish and she studied as well. After that I got invited to go Hot tubing with Cj,Tamara,Boston,John,Jordan and Andrew. It was really fun! We played colors and just chilled. Then some girl came and told us that there was a Lu'au in the Smith Field house with FREE food. Yes you heard me correctly FREE food :) Ha we were on that one real quick. So we all went home and showered as I tried to quickly finish some Laundry that I had started. Then we were on our way. It was so much fun! I seriously felt like I was in Hawaii all over again. Free Food, People dressed all Hawaiian like, they even had lays for us,and not to mention a wonderful show that they put on. We were able to participate as well. I felt like I was at the PCC watching a show. They represented all of the Countries. I loved it! Then after that we all went home. Tamara and I had some laundry to finish so we did that. Then Kristen Lee called me and we went swing dancing together. That was really fun to be able to start that back up again. I have really missed that. Then we got a ride home from a new friend we met. And then I came home and my roommates and I started watching Disney Channel. Hannah Montana forever..(dont judge) haha Then it was off to bed. Very Successful first weekend in Provo! 

I love it here.

 We even got to go up on stage!

 The Haka, Cj was really good at it haha

 The Island of Samoa

 Beautiful ladies :)

 Groupy!

Tiki Man :) 

First FULL Weekend in Provo!

Tonight I went with my Roommate Christine,Ashley and Sydney to go and see Peter Pan! And Let me tell you! It was absolutely incredible! They set that they had was awesome! Not to mention Peter Pan herself :) This might confuse you, but Peter Pan was a girl. I am impressed and continue to be impressed by the fine arts here at BYU. I loved it! After that Christine and I came home and just chatted away about life. I am so lucky to have such a cute,sweet roommate :)  

 Peter Pan! 

On the Balcony :)

Temple :)

This morning I woke up early and went to the Temple to do Baptisms for the Dead. It was such a wonderful experience. I could not believe how many people were there bright and early on a Friday Morning, taking time out of their day to be able to partake of the sweet spirit that is at the temple. I felt a sense of peace when I was there. I was able to sit peacefully and read my scriptures while waiting in the chapel. The baptisms that we did that day were from the 1700's from Hungary. I thought that was so neat. The temple President spoke to us about how thankful he was that we were there doing the work of the lord, and told us how important it really was. I feel so blessed to be able to enter into one of Lord's Homes. I love the Temple so much and the ability that I have to feel so much closer to my Savior and Father in Heaven.

I love Temples :) 

I was reminded....

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. The brave my not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all. From now on you'll be traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be. The key is to allow yourself to make the journey." ~ Princess Diaries