Leaving on my Mission!!

I'm being set apart as a missionary in about 36 hours so here are the addresses to write me. My mom will be posting my emails here as well as pictures on my missionary blog, sistercloward.blogspot.com (you can also click the above tab, "Leigh's Mission". If you want to receive the emails when she forwards them, email sister.cloward@gmail.com. 

MTC address: (I will be in the MTC until May 28)

MTC Mailbox # 250

BALTIC 0528

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604-1793

(you can use the MTC mailbox number above to write me via dearelder.com as well)

Mission home address:

Sister Sarah Leigh Cloward 

Baltic Mission

Cesu iela 31-2K2

Riga LV-1012

Latvia

Also, my mom will be printing emails sent to sister.cloward@gmail.com and mailing them to me every other week.So, feel welcome to send emails there if you don't want to pay any money for postage.

In case you didn't get the chance, read up about my mission call here.

Once Upon a Time Season 2!!!

So, it isn't actually time for season two to start, sadly, but there is a sneak peak that was just released today that makes me so excited! I can't believe I have to wait until this fall to see it, but here is the sneak peak for you all to enjoy. And if you haven't seen Once Upon a Time then you are sorely missing out. Anyways, here it is!

The Moments That Matter Most

I have to thank my good friend Kristiana for inspiring this post. I read her post which got me thinking. Do we go through life too fast? Do we savor the moments that are most important? Honestly, I don't think I spend enough time enjoying the most important things in life. I'm busy with three jobs and sometimes I forget that there are important things besides the jobs. Well, anyways. Here is a video clip that shows many of the great joys in life that we get to experience and look forward to experiencing.

Three jobs!

Yes, I really am working three jobs right now, and I love every bit of it! I have two food jobs and a sales job. I work at Red Mango (a really good frozen yogurt place) and Teriyaki Grill. I also work at an art gallery in Salt Lake called Al Rounds Studio. The art gallery is probably my favorite job. I really enjoy my work and while three jobs keeps me pretty busy, I definitely enjoy every bit of it. Some say I'm a workaholic, but I don't think so. What do you think?

Also, here are some paintings of Al Rounds.

City Creek 

Joseph's Nauvoo

Sacred Grove

Bones

I've been watching Bones on Netflix, and I love it! But at the same time I hate it. Why? Because the writer has done way too good of a job keeping the viewer watching. They keep stuff hanging so that you just always want to keep watching it. It is so awful! I really wish that Booth and Brennan would just get together! That is all I am going to say. I just love this show and I recommend that everyone watch the show and try it out!
Here is a picture:

Just a little humor.

Here is just a little comic to brighten up everyone's day. I have had it for a while, but recently found it again and thought I would share. Enjoy!

Photos

 So, I went to the Mount Timpanogos temple. I have never been to that temple before and it was really great! Here is a picture of the temple when we arrived.

Below is a picture of me and my roommates from left to right it is me, Kristiana, and Brittany.

The temple was a lot busier than it usually is, so by the time we got out it was night. Here is a picture of the temple all lit up.

Well, the temple was so great and I am glad that I sacrificed the time to go. It was so much fun and I felt the spirit stronger there than I have in a long time!

What a great day!

Today was just a really great day! I enjoyed myself a lot. I went to all my classes and had my homework done on time and understood everything we learned in my classes. It was so great! I especially enjoyed my church history class today. We are talking about all the great doctrine that was revealed in the Nauvoo period of the church. There was a ton that was revealed during this time, and it was crazy how much there was revealed.

Also, today I got my clicker! I am so excited that I get to finally start my new goal. I'm so happy that I already have 31 clicks and I only have had it for about five minutes. I really challenge everyone who is reading my blog to look into doing this challenge. It is so easy and so much fun! I already am so glad that I chose to do this and I haven't even been doing it for that long. For those who  may have missed the previous blog about this, the website that talks all about the clicking challenge is www.billionclicks.org. Also, my blog post that has a video about the clicking challenge is http://sarahleigh-corner.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-hate-waiting.html. I hope you decide to join me in this great endeavor!

The last thing that has really brightened my day was being able to go to the temple with my roommates. I haven't been to the temple since I came to school and I really regret this. I'm glad that I get to go now. It will be a big blessing for me, and I am so grateful that I live so close to so many temples. I have the Provo Temple walking distance away, and several other temples just a short drive away. Today we are going to the Mount Timpanogos temple. I'll share some pictures later, but in short, I'm excited to be alive, and I am so grateful to be where I'm at in life. I love life, and I love myself. I know I am a daughter of God, and I know that He loves me and I love Him. Enjoy your day and I know that you can have a great day if you put your mind to it! Here is a picture of the Mount Timpanogos temple.

Waiting!

So, my big goal in life right now is making my life more positive. I started the clicker challenge on Sunday after I heard Hillary Weeks talking about it, and I'm so excited to get started. Sadly, my clicker isn't here yet and it is so frustrating because I am so ready to get started. Well, I'll just have to do my part to convince others that what I'm doing is a good cause. So, in light of that, here is a video of a talk by Hillary Weeks talking about this cause and I hope that you'll give it a look. Anyways, I'm excited to begin to make my life positive and I hope you have a magnificent day!

Movie Review

Well, the magnificent day that I have been waiting for finally came and is gone. It was so great! I had a lot of fun waiting in line and then watching the movie with my friend. The theater was a really good size. I was surprised by how big it really was. It had 12 theaters in it and they used all of the theaters to show the film at midnight. I won't spoil the show for any of you, but I do have a few things to say. It is a long movie. It was 2 hours and 15 minutes long, not really long, but longer than most movies. The other things about the movie is that it was really good. I was very pleased with how they made the movie. I was a little nervous that they wouldn't be able to pull it off. In the end, I suggest that all of you see it, and I think that you will love the changes that will shortly be coming over this blog. And don't forget, may the odds be ever in your favor!

Right now next week!

So, for those of you who haven't looked at the countdown recently we are pretty much about a week away! From what, you ask. Hunger Games midnight premiere of course! About this time next week, I will be close to on my way to wait in line for the midnight showing! I am so excited! This is such a great opportunity and I am so excited to be able to attend. I hope this is a great movie. I'm also excited, because once the midnight premiere is over, my blog will be getting a makeover, so look forward to that. Have a great day, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

The Midnight Showing!

Yes! I got tickets to the midnight (well technically 12:04) showing of The Hunger Games movie and I am so excited! this should be such a fun event. Two of my roommates, my friend, Shayla, and I are all going together. It will be really fun to go with people who share my love for this series with me. I am worried at this point that the movie is going to disappoint, but I don't think it will. I guess in less that a month I will know how good it is! I'm so looking forward to this great even and the blast I am going to have while participating. I hope you get your ticket!

Roommates and Friends

I have realized this weekend that family is great! I love mine and I love being around them, but I also realized that I love roommates that are there to supplement that love, to care, and to listen. To trust in you and support you in your struggles, but also give advice and tell you the truth when you need to hear it. They make you laugh and smile. We cry together, but we also celebrate together. My roommates are my friends and I love it! I love being able to look forward to leaving my family now, and instead of being homesick for my home in Idaho, I look forward to coming home to my apartment just to see my roommates smiling faces again.
They are all different but so great! Kristiana is always making me laugh, but she also knows how to listen and give advice when it is needed. She is so smart and beautiful! Brittany is so enjoyable to spend time with. She is not afraid to be herself, and is always honest to herself with who she is. She is also responsible and good at her job, being the RA. Ayne is a great person to share a room with. I love the times that we have stayed up later into the evening just talking about life and what is going on at the moment. While I don't remember exactly what has been said, it is just good to know that she is willing to sacrifice her sleep to share her ideas with me.
Now, I can't write this post and not include two more people who aren't my roommates, but I wish they were. Sabrina was only originally my friend through association. She was friends with Kristi and Brittany and so, therefore, we did things together, but as we did things together I realized that I really enjoy her company. She is energetic and loves to make one laugh. She is almost always smiling and laughing and I love the cheerful influence she has in my life. And last, but not least, is Shayla. While we haven't been friends for long, it seems like we have known each other for a long time. We really have grown close and already know a lot about each other. I love hearing about her life, family, and classes. I also love cooking with her. She makes sure I keep eating healthily and that is such a good thing.
Well, this has become a lot longer than I wanted it to, but I thought I should share what a great influence friends can have in ones life. My friends, old and new, have always been there for me, and I know they always will be there for me. Friends are just as important in our lives as our families are, and at times I think they can be more important. Our families are going to be with us forever, not doubt about that, but we won't always be able to be in each others companies. So, we have friends to be there to support us as we are away from other loved ones. I believe that our Father in Heaven gave us families to become who we are, and He gave us friends to provide a support so we continue to stay strong to who we have become. Friends are the best and I love all of my friends out there!! <3

Hunger Games

Okay. So, for those of you who know me well, or who have been reading my blog regularly, you know at this point that I am super excited for the Hunger Games movie. I loved the books, and I feel bad that all I have talked about so far are the movies, but really I loved the books, and probably will always love them more than. I hope, I love the movies.I read these books from the very beginning. I thought the first one was a stand alone novel, but when I got to the end it says, "End of Book One", and I was pretty upset. I didn't really want to start another series, but at this point I couldn't stop. They were such a good books. So, I have followed them from the beginning and am so excited for the movie. I hope that I don't set myself up for it to be so great and be let down in the end. Well, I guess I'll have to find out, and I hope my countdown is helpful for those of you who read my blog.

This picture is currently my desktop photo, and I love that it has the mockingjay from all three books.

A New Discovery

So, I haven't written in a while, and Thanksgiving break has passed in that time. Thanksgiving break is one of my favorite times of the year, because all my family does is play games and eat food. It is really great. Well, this Thanksgiving break I brought home two friends, Ryne and Giselle. It was really fun to share my traditions with my friends. One new game that I discovered was Spot It. This game is incredibly genius. The game consists of circular cards that have only one exact match. The math behind the game blows my mind. The best part about this game is that there are six different games that can be played with it and it can be played with a wide variety of people. Below is a picture of the game:

 

It is such a great game and I really recommend it as a new family favorite.I would recommend that everyone try it out. :) Enjoy!

Something To Look Forward To

I can't even begin to express my excitement for the movie Hunger Games. I loved the books, and read the first one before anyone ever knew about them. These are going to be incredible movies. I hope you enjoy the trailer as much as I did. Enjoy!

Unexpected surprise

So, I was exploring Youtube videos last night and found one that made me laugh so hard. I watch and rewatch it constantly and laugh just as hard each time. I hope you enjoy my moment of happiness as much as I did.

Offered Only At BYU

As I have come to find out, BYU offers quite different experiences. You really have some good opportunities both academically and spiritually. Classes at BYU really challenge me to think and not only learn facts, but apply the facts. My American Heritage class does this the most, which is what makes it such a hard class. It really takes a lot to learn how to apply knowledge learned.
Not only do I have a lot of wonderful experiences in my academics, I also have a lot of great spiritual opportunities. First of, I find that I learn a lot from a young single adult ward. It is really great to go to church with people who are all in the same place in life as me. I really learn a lot because they have all experienced the same stuff as me. I love sacrament meeting because it is super quiet and it is really great! I love families, but I really like quietness, where I can feel the spirit more. I love being able to fill the Holy Ghost as I listen to the talks and take the sacrament.
Another great opportunity I get is to listen to general authorities. I have gotten to listen to five up to this point. I have listened to Elder Oaks, Elder Andersen, Elder Ballard, President Packer, and President Monson. So, I have also been in the room with Elder Perry, Elder Cook, and Elder Nelson. It really is incredible to be in the same room with such amazing roll models who have such an incredible spirit.I have learned a ton of just simple concepts by listening to them. They really talk about the basics of prayer, love, and scripture reading a lot. They talk about a lot of topics, but they always talk about the basic topics as they talk about this and tie it all together. So, overall I am loving  life at BYU and love the experiences I am having.

Changing Seasons

Well, fall came quick, and is leaving just as quickly. I wish I could say that I'm disappointed in the coming of winter, but I have always loved the changing of seasons. Whenever I'm asked what my favorite season is, it changes every time. I really love them all, and I especially love watching them change. So, if anyone would ask me right now what my favorite season is, right now it would be fall, but soon it will be winter. I am just really loving all of this. I love the crisp air, the changing colors, and the snow on the mountains. I'm looking forward to the holidays, and I'm definitely excited to be with my family again for both Thanksgiving and Christmas break. I am definitely hoping that this winter is a calm one though, because the last thing I need is inclement weather to keep me from seeing my family. Overall, I'm loving life and I love the Earth that God has created for us.

So, my roommates and I are hooked on the show the sing-off. To be honest though, I probably won't watch it past this season. Why? Because I am only watching it for BYU's group Vocal Point. They are by far the best group on the show. They are really representing BYU and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints very well. Every week so far they have gotten only positive from the judge, and two of the judges give them a standing ovations (every week!). They are the only group to have either of these things happen! That is incredible! I really think that this group will be able to go far, and that is amazing to me. So, every Monday night (if it doesn't conflict with Home Evening) I am watching the sing-off as Vocal Point's #1 fan! To share in my joy, I have shared a link for their most recent performance on the sing-off. (and by the way, if you can't watch it on TV, the show is online every week at nbc.com) Enjoy!