January 9th Email

Dear Family,

  Ha ha yes, mom was right. Die Familie means the family and is pronounced like dee. I didn’t even think about it. Ha ha, that made me laugh. Life is great. Swiss-German is to German like Flemish is to Dutch. Which reminds me, mom can you send me the addresses of Ine and Julia, the dancers from Belgium? I made some friends at the MTC that are going there Dutch speaking. I'm starting to understand more and more and I'm speaking or trying to speak more. It's pretty hard because everyone speaks Swiss-German to my comp because she can understand it, but I’m trying anyway. So basically here isn't much different from there. It's warmer right now and there isn’t any snow. There has been rain but not too much. I haven't really noticed a difference in the people; they're kind of just like us Americans really. I mean obviously different culture, but I don’t know maybe I was just expecting the difference to be drastic. I get along great with my companion. She loves princesses and she’s very easy going. The food here is still pretty good although I think Laura cooks better than anything I have had. We eat a lot of brie cheese its only 1 euro for a triangle. oh mensch we had an eating appointment with an old lady from the branch and she made a spinach and bacon quiche or however you spell that and mensch that is one dish that I really don’t like I was fine for the first half of my helping, but by the last bites I just wanted to throw up and then she gave me more and I don’t know how I got it all down...but I did. I don’t usually like eggs. Anyway it was really painful. Other than that, the eating appointments we’ve had have been pretty good. I actually always eat slower than everyone else and never on purpose so I always feel kind of bad and they never really feed you more than you can handle. Oh yeah so yesterday I played the piano in church and ha ha the first song I botched really badly because it’s really hard for me to play while others are singing. But I pulled it together mostly and the others weren’t too bad. I’ve been practicing a lot and the lord is definitely blessing me because I can basically play all of the hymns and back home even the ones I semi knew were hard. It’s kind of incredible really, I love playing. And it’s such a blessing that I get to play for church. It’s pretty great. I can’t think of anything else to say at the moment, but I hope this finds you all in good spirits and if it doesn’t then I hope you do something to change that because it’s you who decides how happy and successful you are. Love you all!!!

Love,
Betsy

January 2nd Email

Hallo Lieblings,


  Ya, ich bin in der Schweiz. l'll be serving in Switzerland for most likely all of my mission. Man, this German keyboard is the worst. Ugh. Well, all is gut. My German is terrible. Well maybe not really, but I barely speak a lick of it. Ha ha it’s like every time anyone talks to me I freeze up and I have no idea what they are saying. Even if it’s as simple as wie gehts? It’s pretty bad. I'm serving in a little branch called Schaffhausen and my mitarbeiterin is a German from Freiberg de. I think maybe I’m struggling so much with speaking because she speaks English very well and I can just have her translate what everyone says to me. Mensch the z and the y on the keyboard switched places and its taking me forever. Awful. So with the language I understand more and more every day. I just need to start speaking it... that’s a lot harder than you would think. My comp says I have really good pronunciation though. I had to give my testimony in church yesterday and the branch pres stood up after and said that he had thought that I didn’t speak any German at all, but now he knows that I do. Speaking of church I am the new piano player for the ward. Apparently they had been praying that the new sister would be able to play the piano. It isn’t too bad though. I get to practice sometimes during the week which will be nice. So woot woot I’ll be playing the piano. Hope you’re proud mom. Man this keyboard is kind of putting me in a bad mood that and my comp curled her hair and the smell is powerful. Also this seat is really low and my wrists are starting to hurt. Life is so hard for me. Actually it isn’t.
 
  Oh meine gute, the food here is pretty great. I don’t know if it’s just better because I had to shove MTC food down for 2 months or if it really is just that good. Well not everything is that amazing. We had dinner at the, what do you call them, the old missionary couples house and it was awesome. We just had schnitzel with fried kartofln and rice and salad. It was good.  Then for dessert, this is my favorite, they cut up a bunch of fruit like bananas, mangos, cranberries, pomegranates, ginger, etc. and then the mix it in vanilla yogurt and then add chocolate shavings and top it with whipped cream and more chocolate shavings. It’s pretty much awesome. Oh meine gute, we have had so much chocolate since I got here. My comp has SO much from Christmas it’s ridiculous I can hardly believe it. So we eat it all the time... oh yeah another one of my favorites is lebkuchen, but it isn’t like what mom makes at all. It’s a brown really soft kind of spice cookie dipped in dark chocolate and its best fresh and soft as it gets older it gets harder and less yummy. I tried explaining mom’s to people and they said it wasn’t lebkuchen...I don't know. But this stuff is great. Almost every night we have abendbrot instead of abendessen where we just eat bread and meat and cheese. It’s the best. We’ve had a lot of what we would call Swiss cheese but it’s actually a German cheese and not Swiss.

  Sorry this is mainly all about food. I can’t really understand anything that anyone says so I don’t really have too many missionary stories. I have a longer time to email now and I’ll be emailing Mondays from usually 10 to 11:30. I love you all so much and I hope all is well.  

Love,
Betsy

The MTC

Dear Family,

The MTC has been a...I don't even really know how to describe it.  Most of the time it is the hardest thing I've ever done, and I just want to come home. It would be so easy. But then there are the amazing times that come every once in awhile and I know there is no way I can come home. I had a really big one on Saturday. Let me tell you about it. We were scheduled to teach our investigator Christian Saturday afternoon but it got cancelled because our investigator is also our teacher Bruder Bangeter and he had family stuff. So we had a sub, Bruder Michael and my comp and I didn't really like him because it always seemed like he was passing judgement on us all of the time. So he comes into class and starts off today we're doing this and this and this oh hey and those of you who were going to teach Bruder B will now be teaching me...right now. And we were all like no we rescheduled for Monday so we don't need to teach. He wouldn't listen to us and before we knew it my comp and I were praying at the door and knocking. I don't know if I can really tell you how hard it is to teach the gospel in German when you have no idea what you're saying or how to say it and how discouraging it is to know exactly how to say it in english and still not be able to say in german. We get there and I let my comp lead. I always say everything in the lessons and it's been really frustrating because any time she ever says anything it's completely off subject and we just have a hard time communicating. So she starts off and we have a whole 20 min. and she's done with the whole thing awkwardly in 5 and so I basically repeat all that she has just said and it was really awful. And then I turn to the first vision and as i am reading it in german... oh man it was so beautiful. Verses 11-13 basically. The spirit was so strong. I don't know if I have ever felt anything like it in my life and I looked at B. Michael and both of our eyes were just filling with tears. It was so amazing. and then I bore my testimony in german. Ich weiss dass Gott und Jesus Christus zu Joseph Smith erscheint. Ich liebe die erste vision... I don't remember all that I said, but it was so amazing. After that b M asked auf deutsch what this meant to us. and in german again I started bearing my testimony. I'll say it in english now. I know the God and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. I know that the first vision is true and that because of the prayer of a young boy we have the true and full gospel of Jesus Christ. We have what no other Church has. We have a Propet and Apostales that have been called of God and we have the priesthood authority. No other church can clame such things. This gospel is so important to me because I know that I will see Rachel again. This gospel gives me hope. It gives me a purpose to my life. I am here because I know this gospel is true. I know it bring happiness, it doesn't bring an easy life, but it brings happiness that none can know without it. I am here because I want everyone to know this, to feel the way that I feel. To know that they are loved by God and Jesus Christ. That they are not alone and there is a purpose to this life. No matter how hard times get, I know this and Everyone can know this if they just pray in faith. Do as Joseph did. "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God." That verse was for every man.

I'm out of time. Thank you for the emails. I have letters for everyone that I'm putting in the mail today. Thank you for the suppport and love. You are all in my prayers. I love you all so much you are so much to me and I don't every want to loose you. I'm sorry for all of the typos I reallly don't have much time to write, but thank you so much for the emails.

Love,

Liz  

I'm Off

I report to the MTC tomorrow at 12:40. I am really looking forward to the next 18 months of my life and I really want to make the most of them. I know this gospel is true. I love it with everything in me. I know that it brings true happiness and meaning into my life and the lives of those who accept it. I have been so blessed. I love my family and friends. They have taught me so much by word and deed. Thanks to each one of you.

"You must learn to walk to the edge of the light and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you."

You Bet Your Buttons That's A Rainbow

We've had a lot of cakes at my house over the last few months. Unfortunately I only captured a few of them.  

For Emily's birthday I made a Neapolitan cake. Brindley made me one of these for my 17th birthday. It was the best especially since she brought it all the way down to St George for me.

Brindley's masterpiece for my birthday this year. She also decorated the apartment.

The cake Emily made for me. Raspberry, lemon, white chocolate, with dark chocolate ganache.

I made this german chocolate cake for Father's day, I think.

Aaron's birthday cake.

 This cake was quite the production for me. I didn't make any of the actual cake from scratch. It's eight layers are from bottom to top: funfetti, coconut, cheesecake, pistachio, banana cream, apricot, strawberry, and funfetti. The layers are filled with rainbow chip frosting and the cake is covered with a homemade marshmallow like 7-minute frosting. It was pretty good, but I think we all enjoyed looking at it more than actually eating it.

Never Thought I Would

I ran errands with Brin on Friday. It was the best day ever because I got to spend ALL of it with my BF^3 (Best Freakin Friend Forever). I love her. We went to XXI and to be quite honest I usually don't like that store very much. It's just too much everywhere and I get flustered. Anyway this time I struck gold by finding the sweetest jumpsuit ever. Yeah, I'm tots serious. It is the greatest. I never ever ever thought I would buy or even wear one...but it was kind of love at first sight. No one in my family knew how to react to it. In fact the first and only thing Jon did was laugh, and it wasn't like a hehe that's interesting it was like belly rumbling hahaha that's hilarious. He tried to tell me that I could pull it off because I was wearing it to be funny. He wouldn't believe me when I said I was totally serious about it. Laura giggled and told me I could totally pull it off...and yet she giggled the whole time she was talking to me. Jane said that jumpsuits would never be in  in Utah just like high waisted skirts weren't actually in here... apparently high waisted skirts aren't in...even though everyone wears them. Princeton liked it...I like Princeton. My mom had to look up jumpsuits on the internet just so she could believe that people actually wore them. Cate was taken aback, but who wasn't? I hung out with Ethan that night too and when he first saw me his eyes got huge like what the...? And the next day he strongly discouraged me from wearing it to the movies... At least he didn't laugh right? My family hardly ever reacts well to my new fashions... and then all of a sudden everyone is wearing what I've been wearing for months... I like to think that I'm just ahead of the Utah fashion scene. Not that it's very hard to be ahead of. I kind of hate the fashion scene here. The point is if I can face my family's ridicule in a new outfit I can face anything in that outfit. Anyway, do you want to see my jumpsuit? Here it is...

I also bought the perfect heels for this, but that was the day after I took this picture and I'm not really into taking pictures of myself. AND I also bought some penny loafers that are so perfect. I bought both pairs at savers so it's not like I'm pouring money out on clothes that I won't be wearing in a month in a half...even though I kind of still am...oops.

Last thought for this post. Brin had her farewell yesterday and she did so great. I just know she is going to be the best missionary ever. I'm so proud of her.

Bonnie Tyler and Skinnies

I love Bonnie Tyler. Totally digging Here She Comes right now.

I was so inspired by that new blog last night that I took some of my sister's old jeans and made them into skinnies.

Before...

...After...

I accidentally made them a little bit tight, and by a little bit I mean A LOT a bit. They didn't turn out too bad for a first time go. I have a few more pairs I'm going to fix. I'm becoming addicted. When I am not addicted to the things I blog about? 

Toodles. 

"To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion,

to be worthy, not respectable and wealthy not rich;

to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly,

to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages,

with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, 

to all bravely await occasions, hurry never.

In a word to let the spiritual unbidden

and unconscious grow up through the common.

This is to be my symphony."

William Henry Channing

I suppose you all want to know what I'm doing with my free time. No? Well I'm going to tell you anyway. Two main things have taken over my life.


1. I'm having hilarious conversations with my self. True story. And I know they're not hilarious. I think I might be going a little crazy.


2. I'm writing a comic book, or more correctly I'm writing the beginnings of a comic book. There is no way I could get it done before I leave. I've been geeking out for a solid week and a half. seriously. Here's are some pictures to prove it. 

The Jade Duchess is going to be so awesome. She is of course going to be uber fashionable. I'm thinking...yeah I'm way too excited about this. Maybe I should find some friends to hang out with.

3. I just found this totally awesome blog and I'm going to start getting crafty with clothes... clothes that I can take on my mission obviously. Although I think I might make a pair of those pink grandma pants that she has made. She's brilliant I tell you. The only problem is she's from Provo and for some reason or other I am really not liking Provo girls right now. Especially zoobs. No offense meant to any of you out there, especially my good old friends. I just...yeah it's a difficult thing to explain. Let's just say another oddity I've acquired from my lack of friends.  

4. I'm so excited for my mission. Oh my goodness. I'm finally past half way there and it's going to be so great. I can't wait to leave. Also I really should be studying and getting ready. I'll start tomorrow, right?

5. I'm working. It's pretty dang exciting if you know what I mean. 

6. I'm experiencing a loss of appetite. Let's blame it on the Hepatitis A&B vacs that I had to get. Don't worry, I'm not going through an eating disorder or anything like that...or maybe I am? Who knows? Because I sure don't, but I do know and I can tell you that I'm not. 

7. I'm going to be playing on a BYU intramural team. Dang, I had better come to terms with my zoob hatred/zoobphobia before I start playing so I don't get banned from the league.  

8. Spanish Fork league is going well. I'm on a new team now. Not my High School team. Did I ever blog about that? I don't know. At the beginning of the summer I was playing with the girls from HS and it was great. We took the championship. This season there was some miscommunication and I joined another team. Which is good because now I'm meeting all 

kinds of new people...they're just all married with kids, or most of them are anyway.

9. I'm trying to mentally prepare for my farewell. I haven't given a talk in church since...oh young womens...? Over 3 years ago. 

10. And now I'm going for a small bike ride with my best friend Brin who is still here, thankfully. 

1 Down 2 To Go

Just started my immunization today.

Who isn't afraid of shots? Superman. Yeah true. If I were made of steal I wouldn't be scared of a puny little needle either. I tried not to be nervous at the doctors today, but for the life of me I couldn't stop my heart from racing. Good news is they're over until next Monday and the Monday after that and I'm done. Wahoo.

Mission clothes stress me out.

I'm definitely over thinking this one, but I can't help it. I will only have a few outfits that I can wear for the next 18 months and they have to be fabulous because that's just how I roll. And by fabulous I don't mean extremely expensive or over the top. In fact I just want them to be simply elegant and inexpensive. I bought some dresses from Walmart.  Gasp, You read right. I bought three dresses from Walmart and they are very cute. Here's the problem though, they won't be good for the winter. Something tells me that winter in the Alps isn't a picnic in the park. I need to find some good, longer skirts and tops for the winter. I also need to find a good coat and boots. Yep, clothes stress me out.

Learning German.

Brin bought me a little green book of German words, phrases, and grammar right after we got our calls. It has been one of my greatest resources. I'm currently learning how to pray. Lieber Himmlischer Vater (Dear Heavenly Father), Ich bin dankbar fur meine Familie (I am thankful for my family)...and well you see, I can't remember what comes after that, but it's a start. I've also been reading the Book of Mormon in German. I read the verse first in English, then in German, after that I listen to it in German, and then I read it again in German. When I'm feeling extremely studious I'll go through and figure out what every German word means. I haven't done this as much as I should have, but I already feel like it has helped so much.

I got meself a job.

I'm working at GNL Heating and Air. This is the same place I worked last summer and I'm pretty much doing the same things I did then. The only difference is that I have fewer hours. Some days it is extremely busy, but other days I can use the time in between sparse phone calls and paper work to study and read.

Speaking of Superman.

Oh my goodness. Have you seen Thor, The Green Lantern, and Captain America? Have I? Why yes, as a matter of fact I have. I loved them all. I went to Thor with Ethan and his family the day he got home...As you can imagine I was much more focused on the boy sitting in the seat next to me, wondering what in the world I would do and say, than I was on the movie in front of me. So it was just alright in my opinion. BUT then I saw if a few months later with my dad and absolutely loved it! The Green Lantern, I was totally expecting it to be the worst movie ever. I mean seriously the previews looked pretty dang cheesy and I REALLY dislike Blake Lively (no thanks to the two seasons of Gossip Girl that the very beginning of my summer was dedicated to). It was totally great. I almost every second of it. They did a pretty good job with what they had and true they could have added more depth and story, but still I enjoyed it very much. Captain America was mind blowing. I thought I would hate the guy who was playing Captain America. I had serious doubts about him from the beginning. He was great in Scott Pilgrim, but as Captain America? It just didn't seem right. Once again my pretty low expectations were beaten to a pull and turned into the best orange juice I've ever had...That probably doesn't make much sense. When do I ever make much sense to anyone but me? It was beautiful. One of my favorite parts about the movie was that Captain America didn't going whoring around, but instead he was virtuous and everything I feel like a superhero should be in that sense. And to any who is wondering they didn't just pull the Red Skull out of thin air. The Red Skull to Captain America is like the Joker to Batman, Lex Luther to Superman, Loki to Thor... If you don't believe me then Kelsi can confirm it for you. I loved Captain America, but then I would so see it for yourself and love it if your cool like me.

The End