I hope they call me on a mission...

Well, I stopped growing years ago (if you don't get the reference, watch this), but I submitted my papers to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

For those who don't fully understand what this means, follow this link to get some more information.  Basically, I will be teaching about the gospel to people somewhere in the world for 18 months.  I am so excited!  I don't have my official call yet, though.  If you want to guess where I am going or see where people have guessed, just follow this link.  However, my call should be coming this week, so keep checking back!  I will keep you updated :)

Some people were really surprised when they heard I was doing this.  However, I look back at my life and realize that this is something I've always wanted to do.

(Case-and-point)

Anyways,  I'm not always very good at sharing things close to my heart, but I'm going to make an attempt right here.

I am serving a mission because I have been blessed to learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know why I am here on this earth.  I know Jesus Christ atoned for my and everyone's sins.  I know that, through Him, we can have eternal life.  I know that families can live together forever.  Love and relationships do not end with death.  My own family is so close to my own heart and this knowledge makes me so happy.  I know that, through the Spirit, we can each receive personal guidance from Heavenly Father for our own lives.  (Do you know how stress-relieving this is for me?  He answers my personal questions and listens to my problems.)  I know Heavenly Father loves each of us no matter what we do because we are His spiritual children.  However, as His children, He wants the best for us.  He wants us to be happy.  That is why He gives us commandments-- they are the "recipe" for happiness.  I know that He sends His Spirit to comfort us when we are sad, to give us peace in this crazy world, and to reassure us.  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet who restored keys of the Priesthood to this earth.  I know that we have prophets and apostles on the earth today.  President Monson, the leader of my church, is a true prophet of God and gives us guidance for our trials today.  I know the Book of Mormon to be true scripture.  I know that there is so much wisdom and guidance in this ancient book, much like the Bible.  I know that the more I learn about my own religion--the gospel-- the more sense it makes, both intellectually and spiritually.  I know I am happiest when I am following God's commandments.

Because I know these things-- and please note, I KNOW these things, not just think them-- I feel that I need to share them with those who have never heard about them.

If you are feeling sad or confused or lost, please please please turn towards God.  He knows you better than you know yourself and can best assess your needs and comfort you.  If you have more questions about my religion, you can follow the link above or talk to me.

I will admit that I don't know everything there is to know.  However, that is actually something that I love.  There will always be more to learn, something to improve on, etc.  Progression is eternal.  But that is a hopeful idea to me.  Anyways, even if I don't know the answer, I am confident we can find it together through study and prayer.

I love you!

-McKenna

I'm back!

Well, my friend posted a link to my blog on her own blog, so I decided maybe it was time for me to finally update this thing haha :)

This is more of an FYI-Hey-I-haven't-died post more than anything else, but I think I will leave you with this quote:

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." -C.S. Lewis

They're After Me Lucky Charms!!!!

For St. Patrick's Day this year, I decided to forgo the traditional meal and just make themed-treats.  I was looking through random blogs when I happened upon this little gem of a recipe in FamilyFun.

Enjoy the creation process all ye lassies and laddies!  ('Kay, so accents have never been my strong point haha)

Rainbow Cupcakes

Make a white cake mix (either homemade or from a box).  Separate the batter into 6 bowls.

Using the chart below, dye each of the bowls of batter a different color.

Line a cupcake/muffin tin with cupcake liners.  Spoon the batter into the liners in the following order: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red.  Don't put too much in!  The cupcakes WILL expand :)

Bake them in the oven for your recipe's alloted amount of time (usually about 15 minutes) or till your cupcakes are cooked all the way through (you can test this with a toothpick-- poke a cupcake through the center with a toothpick; if it comes out clean, your cupcakes are done).  The cupcakes should look like the picture above when they come out.

Take your cupcakes out of the tin to cool.

(See how neat they look already!!)

All the colors of the rainbow :)

After your cupcakes have cooled...

Frost them white to look like a cloud, then put a cute topper on top.  You could also put a little gold candy bar or something like that instead!

Admire your creation!

Enjoy :D

I brought them into work and all my co-workers (mostly boys) were impressed.  These cupcakes are easy to do but have a big WOW factor!  I think they would also be fun for a hippie tie-dye party or something like that!

Anyways, I am going to leave you with an Irish blessing for St. Patrick's Day:

"May luck be our companion

May friends stand by our side

May history remind us all

Of Ireland's faith and pride

May God bless us with happiness

May love and faith abide."

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!