Adulting or loosing my mind?

     Now that my mission is over and I have "adjusted" back to "normal life". I feel like I need to start blogging again. I am on a path to self discovery. The past six months while I have remained silent on the blog, I have found myself in the fun stage of life where I am trying to figure out adulthood.

     Yes, I got a taste of it my first year of college. (Which I all but flunked out of... But that had a lot of stresses attached that I'm not dealing with anymore) But now it's time I put on my big girl pants and start figuring out what I want to do with the rest of my life. But I know I can't do it alone. If there is one thing I learned from people watching, it's that I need a village. And there is only one way to find you village. It's to go where you feel like you belong.

    I have always had the opinion that you don't go where you don't belong, or feel like you do. And it's that reason why I find myself back in Cincinnati. It's not because it was my first choice. By far not my first choice. It's because right now, in this stage of life, it's where I belong. It's where my village is. It's where I need to be for this adulting phase. And more importantly it's where I have been told to go.

    When you follow that God, or your higher being tells you, things work out. Because I listened to the spirit I was lead to a wonderful, and trying, job. I be starting a program through a college out west that gives an unprecedented tuition cut. And I have the support of a village behind me.

     Do I feel like I have it all figured out? Nope. Do I feel like things are falling into place? Why yes, yes I do. Do I feel like things are so out of control that I'm loosing my mind? Absolutely. But that's all Adulting really is isn't it? It's like a baby just learning to walk. We take a few steps and fall back down. And the village around us is who cheers that we took a few steps.

     What we all need to remember is that Adulting is trying to take a few steps. And we'll still toddle around for a few years after we start walking. But that's the fun of it. Reaching out, branching out, trying to figure out who exactly we can become. This stage in life is the time we can be the boxer, the dancer, the mom, the worker, and have really nice cars. It's the time we learn to balance. It's the time we learn to grow again.

     So what will you choose to do while you're Adulting? Will you make it an excuse when things go bad. Or will it be your excuse to have adventures?

#adventuring

Matchers...

So the entire Zone got matching sweatshirts...and took some pictures trying to look cool...Yup, we're weird.

Happy New Year!!

The holidays are a great time of year! Hope all of you enjoyed Christmas and got some of the best memories in the world. I definitely know that I had lots of fun!

Enjoy the new year and make some good goals! But make sure they're achievable! I don't think a goal of going to the moon this year will pan out too well. But who knows, I could be lacking faith in your ability and resources.

Love you all!
Have fun adventures!

~Sister Martineau/Marty/Aronora/Kaitlyn

PS. This missionary mama stole some pics from the Mission December Conference (supposedly NOT focused on Christmas but it looked like they did that fun anyway).

That Awkward Moment When...

That awkward moment when your companion is talking about how many baptisms she's had and you reply, "Well....um...this is my first."

That awkward moment when members of the ward are talking about Christmas and you don't want to tell them that your family is delaying Christmas until you get home because you don't want them to know how long you've been out.

That awkward, yet fabulous, moment when you find pants that fit really well in the pile of left behind clothing.

That awkward moment when it starts snowing before you realize that you left all your scarves, hats, and gloves in your last area ... (don't worry, I got them back the next day).

That awkward moment when your Mission President calls to just say Hi and tell you that you've come a long way, and that your companion thinks the world is going to end.

That awkward moment when you reach the end of the week and realize that you've been wearing the same pair of tights since Monday...

That awkward moment when you put on a pair of boots to look cut, step into the snow, and they get flooded... (don't worry, I got them fixed).

Life is full of awkward moments...more so as a missionary than anything else I swear! But it's fun! Love you all and hope you enjoyed this email of awkwardness!

~Sister Martineau

Indiana!!

Well, I am now at the top of the mission!

Woot! Woot!

I do miss the baby mountains and everyone I met down there but now is the time for a new adventure! And I'm going to make it one.

 

It still has it's charm. I'm just back in the city. Lots of people, lots of roads, busy, busy, busy.

Sister Gessel is my companion and she's fabulous!!

That's all for this week! Love you lots!

~Sister Martineau

It's transfer day!

Another great transfer day when wonderful members feed this Missionary Mom super secret information.

Here is a wonderful text I got not long ago:

Hi Marlene. I was at transfer meeting and today and guess what? 

Yep, she's on the move again! She decided to take a selfie to send to you. I adore your daughter. She's collecting people again. I think it is equally fascinating and entertaining to watch her collect her little "band of campers." 

So, here's here new address:
5491 N. Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46825

And, of course...the selfie...

She also got to hang for a minute with Sister Low, the Sister Missionary with whom she worked in the office. Sister Low is heading back to Scotland (home!!) tomorrow. What a blessing to connect one more time. 

I also got the following text from an, as yet, unknown source. 

New Companions! Sister Giesel and Sister Martineau already love each other so much. 

I do love that I am also able to connect with people that mean so much to Sister Martineau. It has been a fun afternoon. 

Goodbye Kentucky!

Well if you can't tell by the Title, I'm getting transferred. To be honest, it doesn't feel like I've only been here a month and a half. I've made too many friends to be here that short a time. But hey, life is life right?

Some of my favorite moments in Kentucky...

Horseback Riding

The moments that remind me of home

And Sister Langitao

This transfer has been great and lots of fun! But now it's time to pack and continue the adventure! Who knows what's in store right? 

Hope you are all having lots of fun and can't wait to hear about all your adventures! 

~Sister Martineau