To Room 2202

Walking in my apartment I didn't know what or who I would find.  To my surprise I loved every single one of my roommates and I miss them terribly. 

--s a r a-m i r a n d a--m a r i a h-k a i t--e l l a-s a r a h--

Sara Tolman.  To the girl who sneezed as loud as a earthquake, got up at 6 a.m. every morning, encouraged me to stay home with her and not go to FHE, made me the richest chocolate birthday cake ever, and ate a weird spaghetti dish that I refused to try.  At first I thought oh another Sara...it was nothing new or surprising to me.  I was used to being called other names like "Stretch," "Sarah String," "Stringbean," "Munchkin," "Suurah," "Sar Bear" and "Saras." Sara: the most petite and cutest thing that left the land of South Carolina.  She did her best to hide that southern accent, but we all adored her for it.  I miss her dearly.  We shared a love for chocolate, studying, and relaxing whenever we got the chance.  Even during the worst of her days she always had something kind to share and a smile to bring.  Currently Sara is serving in the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania mission speaking Spanish.  I know she is bringing so much strength to her mission. There is not another girl I'd rather share the same name with let alone the same roof.  How can you not love Sara! 

Miranda Thomas.  The pro runner, peacemaker, STRESS BAKER (terrible for my diet), and worker at "Legends Grill."  She always spoke with a smile and laughed off her troubles.  She could be found in the kitchen making the gooiest of brownies, chocolate chip pancakes, banana spice muffins, and basically everything else known to mankind.  The most easy going and understanding person in the apartment.  Forcing me to get out of the apartment to go to Yogurt Land at 11:00 p.m. was one of the many late night activities she was always up for.  Thank you THANK YOU for doing your dishes, providing many roles of toilet paper, and being the selfless person you are.  Leaving a twix on my bed anonymously was the kind of person Miranda was.  To the humblest of friends, I appreciate your kindness.  I apologize for calling you Mariah one too many times.

seriously who wears this while running a half marathon?? only these two... 

Mariah Kolts.  Noteworthy's Allstar Arial singer right in our own home.  She always eased my mind as I sat in my pool of stress.  Eating peanut butter, converting you to popcorn, and finding you up all hours of the night were some of the best moments with you.  I'll never forget trying to decorate our bare Christmas tree when you decided to liven the things up with your own jewelry, classic! I will forever think of you when I hear the song "Brave," by Sara Bareilles. Never a dull moment with this chica.  From the most beautiful and power house voice, to the cackliest of all laughs, to cleaning out the shower drain filled with your red curly hair, you are a fire cracker! (literally) and I enjoyed all of you.  You livened up the place the moment you walked in.  Thank you for listening to my many many stories and giving me much needed boy advice.  Probably the most social of the whole bunch and the best RS teacher!  

Kait Beard.  Hold the phone.  To the blonde haired girl with desert hands who sat on Ella's bed EVERY night (picture shown) and became my favorite temple buddy.  The late night talks with you got me through the day.  Spaghetttiiii, yogurt & granola with cinnamon (on EVERYTHING), pumpkin cinnamon zucchini bread, turkey and cranberries, orange juice, peanut butter, and your obsession with my yucky quinoa were some of my favorite things about you.  I can't think of a more positive, pure, loving, caring, and sensitive girl.  I'll never forget your chimpmunk voice, contagious laugh, bright eyes, violin talent, running and weight lifting obsession, and your friendliest of smiles.  A big thanks to you for joining Ella and I in our weird nights of clicking our heals, singing, and dancing to the beat of our own tone deaf voices.  Sorry for frightening you...I get weird with you.  It's a fact.  I  will miss you so much while you serve the Lord in Vancouver, Washington!  But I can't think of someone more humble and honest than you Kaitlyn.  

El.  Since we were three you have been my sole mate and sister.  We haven't ever left each others sight.  You still live in Provo in room 2202 and I reside at Valley View Avenue without you or Grace.  But our friendship hasn't and won't ever change.  I miss you more everyday.  We understand each other better than our own mothers.  No one can dance as awkward as us, sing as ugly as we do, and laugh as much as we can.  Thank you for revising my papers, feeding me healthy food (black rice), letting me consume your whole life with mine, but most of all for being the truest of all friends.  I don't know anyone more giving than you.  I cannot wait to speak Spanish with you in 23 months! You will be the most amazing and giving missionary in "Arhentinnna".  I hope to be as good as you. Can't wait to share a backyard/pool with you in the near future.  You complete my soul.  So must never ever leave me alone.  And you better never tell my dirty little secrets!!  

Our last night together

 This picture explains us too well

Sara's first time seeing snow!!

a curve ball hit me for the better

one year ago today i was lounging on my couch in my pjs while listening to general conference.  it was a sunny autum saturday, and i was feeling, well, mediocore.  being the age of seventeen i didn't know how i felt most of the time, other than the fact that i was stuck in high school with 7 1/2 months left.  as always i was excited to hear general conference.  i was deeply stressed with applying for colleges, scholarships, taking the ACT, grades, friends, and my purpose in life.  i was feeling like my life was just floating by with not much effort or success on my part. after taking a rigorous ACT prep class in the summer i felt more confident and prepared to take the test again.  turns out that confidence doesn't improve one's ACT score...well at least it didn't for me. i had just completed my last ACT test and ended it with a 23, dang it--the same score i started with (five tests ago).  how on earth was i going to make it into my dream school, byu with a stinkin' 23?!  but general conference was on so i tried to push all my worries out of my mind and listen to our inspired prophet, President Monsen.  i was a little zoned out on the couch after the opening song and a bowl of shredded wheat.  suddenly my stomach dropped.  president monsen announced that the mission age for girls will be changed to NINETEEN what? thats right, NINETEEN. my whole life, plans, and mind blew up in a matter of one word. NINETEEN.

holy cow, what did he just say????  my eyes literally jumped out of their sockets and my life turned upside down.  i was ecstatic!!!!!! i ran to my mom who was in her closet to tell her the news.  my mind was literally BLOWN.  i had never felt so excited in my life!  i've always wanted to go on a mission, however marriage had always occupied my mind more.  twenty-one was just at the wrong time in my life, that's when i wanted to start dating someone, maybe even get my first boyfriend if i was lucky.  those were vital years in my plan!  i selfishly never knew if i would be strong enough to serve at twenty-one when my life would be at its peak (so i thought).  but now i could go on a mission at nineteen---WHOA.  so what do i do!?  inside i wanted to go, but was still unsure and i wanted to make the right decision.  would if God wanted me married at nineteen? it happened to my mother and i'm not opposed to the idea.  i didn't know, anything could happen ya know?  i knelt down on my knees that day and prayed hard, very hard to Heavenly Father.  i wanted an answer now, and he gave me it two days after (thank you).  prayers are answered hallelujah. 

it was a monday afternoon and i had just finished a regular day at olympus high school.  everywhere i went the buzz was are you going to go? i felt more pressure to go on a mission than ever before.  i didn't like it.  how was i supposed to respond to people.  i wanted to go, but i couldn't say with surety that i would be going.  who knows i could be a hypocrite, so stop asking me people!!!!  i feeling overwhelmed.  people, friends, and family expected me to go. i knew they did. but this was my decision not theirs. i had 13 months until i would be nineteen, i needed to decide.  it felt like every girl and their dog were  now going on a mission.  but i didn't want to go just because everyone else was.  i came home from school feeling uneasy.  i drove to the tahiti stand (tagge's fruit stand in foothill village).  i had the afternoon shift that day.  i felt relaxed at work, although the whole mission thing wouldn't leave my mind.  

a bigger man with some scruff, around the age of fifty walked into my stand.  i said, "hello, how are you today?"  he looked at me with a grin and said, "well you look like a young church going girl."  i replied, "you're right, i am."  he asked me where i was going to go to school, i gave the answer i always do, "hopefully byu and then maybe a mission."---my life was full of hopes, maybes, i think, and probablys.  he wished me luck and went on his way with a bag of apples.  

i sat down for five minutes when i heard a car drive up.  the same man was back.  he rolled down his window so i got up to see what he needed.  i looked into is watery eyes and said hi again, not sure what to do.  had i done something wrong? why was this man crying in front of me?  he beckoned me over to his small white car and said, "i forgot something." then he reached out the window and handed me five dollars.  he explained, "i just wanted to thank you for your willingness to serve the lord.  if it weren't for young people like you serving missions i wouldn't be in the church today, i'd be lost."  he explained that he had grown up in the lutheran church and was a payed minister for most of his life.  at that point he was weeping, and could say no more.  i was completely taken back.  his sincerity moved me.  i just smiled and said thank you so much that means a lot.  my chest burned more than ever before as he drove off.  i felt the spirit soo strong.  right then i knew my prayers had been answered, and i quietly thanked Heavenly Father in the fruit stand.  i knew i needed to go on a mission.  there are people like that sweet old man who are searching for the truth, and i was to bring it to them.

although my prayers were answered the day after conference, i still struggled saying that i was going to go on a mission.  but i continually felt that i was supposed to go, so i took the biggest leap of faith and in june 2013 i started my papers.  after months of waiting and denial and more waiting, my call came. (thank you mom and dad for going to Italy at a convenient time for us all, and stopping the mail for two weeks so you and dad wouldn't miss my call opening...geez...longest weeks of my life).  finally i was "allowed" to open my call on september 25, 2013.  

it reads......

Dear Sister Sarah Anne Stringham,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Piura, Peru Mission.

I report February 12th to the Lima, Peru MTC speaking Spanish! 

ahhhhhhh here i am a year later!  thank you sweet old man, you changed my life! 

I could not be more happy right now. I know that this is exactly where God needs me to serve and there are people being prepared to hear the gospel.  wow the Lord's work is hastening, and i feel so honored to be a part of it.  

somehow steve got piura, peru right on the money. don't ask me how. notice he is the only person that even guessed in south america...yeah i'd never thought i would go there either.

                                                                 

fat cheeks

 college is here! like it or not i am a full time student at byu. stuck in provo with no car and granola bars. can't afford the good stuff anymore..sigh. anyway, tuesday was my first day of college. thought i would look cute for my first day and first encounter with older men, but no i woke up to a fat cheek and an aching mouth. my exact thoughts were, "are you kidding me?!" i bagged the idea of getting ready, instead i embraced my baseball sized cheek and accepted that my day would be ugly. hiding the cheek was not an option.  as always my dad came to the rescue, driving 50 minutes to pick me up in provo, he took me to the dentist where they told me what i already knew...my wisdom teeth were infected. sticking a tube in my mouth, he drained the puss inside my left wisdom tooth hole (kinda like a zit--i know sick).