tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611591541741858512024-02-19T08:29:49.464-08:00Duplo M LoveMichaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-45714263967613482112015-01-20T11:41:00.002-08:002015-01-20T11:41:30.983-08:0026.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Elder Hartvigsen is Back!! Mason was SO excited to find out that Elder Hartvigsen was transferred to the offices this week. They will be living together and working in the mission offices together for the next 4 months.</div>
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<br />Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-55498393727806210592015-01-15T21:07:00.000-08:002015-01-25T21:07:46.511-08:006 months.<div style="text-align: center;">
184 days, 26 weeks, 6 months, 1/4 done, and it's still not easy.</div>
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I miss him just as much, if not more now than I did on the day we said goodbye.</div>
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With that being said, it has gone by faster than I thought.</div>
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And I have grown in so many ways.</div>
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I've learned:</div>
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Missionaries are my heroes.</div>
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He is the hardest working/ most optimistic/ and loving man...ever.</div>
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He still makes me smile EVERYDAY despite being thousands of miles away.</div>
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Weekly emails are my saving grace.</div>
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Snail mail is the best mail.</div>
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I can do hard things.</div>
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Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-78349050026231010372015-01-12T18:00:00.000-08:002015-01-19T18:00:44.269-08:0025.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"I am still absolutely loving the mission! It is so incredible! Everyday I am just so happy with how good my life is right now! I wake up thinking about what is the Lord going to do to bless Elder Bentley today. And he never ceases to bless me. It is incredible! I love the mission!"</span></span></div>
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<br />Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-8246670735596721282015-01-05T17:53:00.000-08:002015-01-19T17:54:05.980-08:0024.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"So with us being able to work in our area more it has been super sweet! We got a big list together of all the less active members. (Or the people in the ward list that we dont know) and we have been going around in our giant area knocking on the doors trying to find these people. For the most part they have not answered or somebody else was living there… We havent been able to find any of these non actives but it is a good priority for us so we are taking some time to do it! We have also been contacting like crazy! We have knocked quite a few doors and yesterday we hit success! It was a sweet old lady. Neli. Yes! We knocked the door and she yelled to us asking what we wanted from her window and we said we were the new missionaries getting to know people and then she asked us if we were jehovas witnesses and we said no that we were with the church of jesus christ of latter day saints… She didnt recognize the name until I said… “Los Mormones!” And then she was like ohhh yea, I have heard of you guys. What do you believe and right there we jumped on it to explain and she asked if we wanted to come in and she went and found the key to her house and let us in and we had super good lesson about Joseph Smith and the first vision and she was loving it. That happened yesterday and today we went and got lunch from her house because we found out that she cooks lunches for people and we didnt have lunch today. So that was super sweet! Ahhh! She is a golden investigator! I left and I felt like I was in the clouds because I had missed feeling the spirit like that and doing the true missionary work of sharing the gospel! She will progress. I know it."</span></span></div>
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<br />Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-69679787958313188592014-12-28T22:53:00.002-08:002015-01-04T13:02:05.489-08:0023.<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I unfortunately didn't get to talk to Mason this week as he skyped home for Christmas, but I can honestly say I wouldn't have had it any other way. It means everything to me that he is obedient enough to follow the mission rules 100%, and I respect him for that more than he will ever realize. Plus he wrote me the most incredible email just 2 days later, and this was all he had to say to make it the best Christmas ever:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">What are you even thanking me for Michaela?!?! You are thanking me for continuing to be your Best Friend? Just because I am on the Mission doesn't mean that I am not your Best Friend! I can still talk to you about anything!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So in Love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The End.</span></span></div>
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Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-10732551665059146892014-12-25T18:52:00.001-08:002014-12-25T18:52:15.626-08:0022.<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Elder </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Bentley has been in the office for two weeks now, and it's been nonstop the whole time. He is still trying to adjust to all the changes, has had a couple rough days, but he still has the most amazing attitude.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"The Christmas Season has been really busy but I have been extremely blessed. So many wonderful experiences to share the real meaning of Christmas and the members and missionaries are all so friendly and loving during this time of the year while we are away from our families. I know that we have this Christmas season because we have our Savior Jesus Christ and I am grateful for him and the sacrifice he made for us. I am also grateful for the sacrifice our Heavenly Father made for us to give us his begotten son. It is incredible and an incomprehensible amount of love. Enjoy the Christmas Season!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5135135650635px;"><br /></span>Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-1453647798682660552014-12-25T18:30:00.000-08:002014-12-28T22:55:18.021-08:0021.<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Remember that Jesus Christ is not our leader. He is our Mentor. Leaders at time just tell us what to do or show us a path. Mentors are in the trenches with us. They very much care about what we are becoming on a very personal level. They live alongside us. Their involvement is real and palpable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus is a great mentor. His words, his life, the way in which he points us is very liberal, very different. It's a chance to start to see the world in a very different way. Many call it being able to present and act from love and understanding. However you describe it Jesus is very involved and interested in WHO you are becoming and that doesn't mean just checking boxes and following rules." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">-Elder B</span></div>
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Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-82958837367145026082014-12-15T21:09:00.000-08:002014-12-28T21:39:14.257-08:001st missionary Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To: Mase </div>
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Love: Mich</div>
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Mason's first missionary Christmas is coming up, so obviously I had to put together a package for my boy. I kept it pretty simple: some socks, handkerchieves, pingpong set, lots of treats, but my favourite thing was definitely the personalized puzzle I included. Mase always does a puzzle with his mom Christmas day, and I didn't want him to miss out on the puzzle tradition even though he won't be at home this year.<br />
The last thing I included in the package was a letter with my testimony inside. Although gifts are fun and exciting, I wanted to include some aspect of the Savior—the true meaning of Christmas—into the package. It was just a small and simple way to let him know how much I love and am grateful for my Savior and Redeemer, and to #sharethegift this Christmas season.<br />
One Christmas down. One Christmas to go.</div>
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<br />Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-50973394629868817812014-12-03T12:12:00.000-08:002014-12-10T12:13:22.990-08:0020.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This was the last week in Santa Isabel For Elder Bentley. He ended on a high note, baptizing Ernesto on one of his last days in the area.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Before we entered into the font, I gave him a hug and could not believe that it was happening and I could feel the love of our Heavenly Father as I embraced Ernesto. We then entered the font and after the baptism I could feel the spirit so strongly. It didn't hit me until I helped him out of the font and I was in the bathroom changing just how incredible the experience was. I sat there and was s grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary. The mission is incredible, and I was so grateful for that experience."</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5135135650635px;"><br /></span>Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-88983154722441435972014-11-27T02:54:00.000-08:002014-11-27T02:56:01.782-08:0019.With only one week left in Riviera together, Mason and Elder Degn had some very exciting news for the week—They have a baptism scheduled! Sweet little Ernesto will be baptized this week into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!<br />
Mason will be performing the ordinance. His first baptism of the mission!<br />
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You know I can't wait to see my man dressed in white!<br />
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Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-59378472621637845562014-11-23T01:11:00.001-08:002015-01-27T09:54:28.304-08:00Say Something.It sounds a little contradictory, but I learned a lot about <i>myself</i> as I've gotten so close with Mase.<br />
Some good.<br />
Some Bad.<br />
But during the first week in February of 2014, I learned some things about myself that were especially revealing.<br />
I learned that I do not have to endure every hardship by myself.<br />
I learned that relationships are not one-sided.<br />
I learned that love means revealing EVERY single imperfection and having someone love you despite them.<br />
And,<br />
I learned that I cannot shut people out of my life when things get hard.<br />
But unfortunately...<br />
I learned that the hard way.<br />
<br />
It was one of those "climax" weeks in the semester. Where everything piled up on me and I felt as if I was suffocating.<br />
I was working as hard as I could.<br />
Planning a Relief Society Party.<br />
Studying morning, noon and night for my tests.<br />
Trying to balance school work with a social life.<br />
And on that particular night as I looked at the dreaded testing centre score board...<br />
I felt more than inadequate.<br />
<br />
If anyone knows me, they know that my biggest fear in life is being inadequate.<br />
I didn't realize it at the time, but I have now come to realize that these feelings and fears lead me to shut out the people in my life that mean the most to me. Maybe it's because I don't understand why they would want to be associated with such inadequacy. Maybe it's because I don't want to disappoint the ones I love most. I don't know what causes me to do this, but during this particular week in February I learned that this habit of mine is incredibly SELFISH.<br />
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I walked home that night feeling as cold as the February air. I locked myself in the bathroom the minute I got home because I knew no one could see the tears streaming down my face in the shower so I stayed there until they stopped.<br />
Mason had been texting me throughout the day. At first I was so busy that I just didn't have time to respond. But then I just didn't want to respond.<br />
I didn't want him to see me like that.<br />
I didn't want to show my vulnerability.<br />
It was too scary.<br />
He kept messaging me. Worried. Confused. Unaware. I never responded. Eventually the next night I told him that I didn't want to talk to him in the mindset I was stuck in. I said he didn't deserve that. In my mind I was doing him a favour. However, the message I got back has changed my perspectives ever since.<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"W<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">hat I don't deserve is a day of you ignoring me and then a second day where nothing changes except saying that you just don't want to talk to anyone and that you will be fine the next day... I know how you sometimes get these thoughts and feelings and you can do whatever you want, I don't have control but it has sucked and it will continue to suck."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading this still makes my stomach drop.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was exactly in that moment that I learned that this was about far more than just me and my trials.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My life now included someone else.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I realized that if I did't change I could lose him.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was one of the very few times that Mason and I ever struggled in our relationship, and although I never want to see him so hurt again, I do think it was also one of the most growing experiences in our relationship.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I learned a lot about love that day. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And a lot about myself. </span><br />
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<br />Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-12634914167153353022014-11-18T00:06:00.000-08:002014-11-23T10:42:41.993-08:0018.<div>
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This was part of Mason's letter from last week:</div>
"It is weird Michaela because here in the mission I know that a missionary in a leadership position does not mean they are better than other missionaries, and to be in that position does not mean your mission is better. But I have this awful mindset where I would love being in a leadership position, and for that reason I am actually trying super hard to work as hard as I can to achieve that...Even though I know that is not what it is about and in the end that is all done through revelation. And it doesn't matter what my abilities are because it is all done by the spirit..."<br />
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Normally I don't specifically address the things that Mason mentions in his letters when I write my weekly emails, but for some reason that section of his letter stood out to me and I ended up writing this in response:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"As <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">you talked about wanting to be in a leadership position in the mission in the last letter I received, I was not surprised one bit. In fact, I could have guessed that without you even telling me. That just sounds like my boy. And you know what? It will happen. You know why? Because we are talking about Mason Bentley. The boy has gotten almost everything he has ever wanted in his life (except for a trampoline and puppy which I'm sure he will get in the future). And I can almost predict that it will happen sooner for you than for any other missionary. I joke about it happening because you are such a lucky individual, but what I truly believe is that it will happen because you are an AMAZING missionary. I'm so proud of you."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Well I guess I shouldn't have been too shocked when I received an email on Monday morning saying:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Michaela!! My whole mission just got flipped upside down today!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Of course I got it as soon as he sent it because Monday's consist of me watching my emails and refreshing them every 20 seconds. So I quickly wrote back to find out what he was talking about.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sure enough....</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I am going straight to the offices!! Michaela! I only have 4 months in the mission! I am going to be the Financial Secretary for the mission in the offices in Montevideo!!!! Ahhh!!!!!!! Elder Degn tells me that this never happens this early!!! And! Not only that, but my comp is going to be a Brasilian and I am going to be learning Portuguese!!!!!!!!!!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yup.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I predicted it first folks.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Elder Mason Bentley will not only be in a leadership position, but he will also be learning Portuguese.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">What can I say?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">He gets what he wants.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">And I am so incredibly proud of my hard working missionary.</span></span></div>
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Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-53589878703993272292014-11-15T15:29:00.002-08:002014-11-15T15:29:46.937-08:00Canada in JanuaryOne of my favourite memories with Mason to this day has to be our first trip to Canada.<br />
It was January, and by that point Mason and I were tied to the hip. Knowing this boy had such a special place in my heart, I wanted my parents to meet the boy I talked so much about.<br />
We talked about the possibility throughout the week. Who's car we would take, when we would leave, who would come with us.<br />
It was a Thursday—the same day I met Mason's brother for the first time—we were listening to a guest lecture in the Varsity Theatre. It wasn't too long after the speaker started that I looked at Mason and he looked at me. We knew we were going to Canada.<br />
That same night we had his Acura packed up and we were on our way. It was just the two of us, and it was perfect. We drove through the night, I was in the front seat drenched in blankets and Mason was such a good sport to drive the whole way. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. 12 hours is a long time to be in a car with one person, but we talked the ENTIRE way. It was by far the best 12 hour car ride I've ever experienced. We stopped at one point at a rest stop (parking lot haha) in Montana so Mason could sleep for a while. We cuddled up in the trillion blankets we brought and both fell asleep quickly. We ended up waking up at 7:00 that morning and finished the rest of the drive to my little town.<br />
Our days in Canada consisted of snowy hikes in Waterton, bonding time with the rents, and sushi dates. Pretty much my favourite things ever. I wouldn't change anything about that short trip. It was gold. We weren't there long, but the adventure we experienced will never die.<br />
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This was definitely a Notebook moment—Canadian Style.</div>
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<br />Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-15347074105794273572014-11-14T23:53:00.002-08:002014-11-14T23:54:35.401-08:0017.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"The Lord blesses me every week Michaela. Because I am madly in love with you. It is the truth, I am madly in love with you and I am so stoked for the future. But like I said, Heavenly Father has blessed me so much on the mission. Because I am able work all week. 168 hours in the week and I am able to be completed devoted except I get to take about 9 hours to let my wander it whatever way to think about you! (that is my pday time... :) haha) But it is such a blessing that I dont have to worry about focusing on the mission to much. I have been blessed in a way where it doesnt cross my mind to feel homesick or anything until my P-day time and then I am enjoying it so much I am just happy and I cant be sad! And then as soon as P-day ends at 6:00</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> my mind is right back on the work and I have no problem. I know that is the Lord blessing me because I dont have the right amount of control to do that by myself. It truly is a blessing Mich."</span></span><br />
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The only picture Mase sent this week......Enjoy?</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-83529468717094609252014-11-06T23:45:00.000-08:002014-11-14T23:54:15.737-08:0016.<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So Thursday was one of the best days ever thus far in the mission. We have been working really hard to have a lot of success and Thursday was a day where everything just worked. It was incredible. Everywhere we went we found people that we could talk about and share a small message and get it set up to the point where they were comfortable with us coming back. Oh goodness gracious it was such a good day. We got home and just looked at each other and we were so confused how it turned out to be such a good day!"</span></span><br />
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Don't think I didn't notice the pictures in the background. Presh.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-16078994588005138232014-10-28T21:19:00.000-07:002014-10-30T21:20:16.144-07:0015.This week I got to chat back and forth with Mason on email! Such a different experience than just reading the weekly email. He sounded amazing. He is such an optimistic guy, and I know he brings a light to Uruguay that no one else could. He's decided to learn Portuguese, because he is so close to Brazil and also because I will be learning Portuguese! Of course Mason would learn 2 languages while he is on his mission. Such an over achiever! But how can I complain?<br />
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Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-29424184276171928852014-10-25T16:04:00.002-07:002015-01-27T13:53:00.674-08:00Celebrations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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October and November are full of celebrations. Thanksgiving, halloween, and probably the most exciting for Mason and I this year—Our one year mark. I cannot believe it has only been one year since I met my sweet boy. It feels like I have known him my whole life, but at the same time this year has absolutely flown by! <br />
It took me such a long time to come up with something to give Mason for this special event. Missionaries are complicated! Combining practicality and meaning into one gift that fits into a standard rate box is extremely difficult. Trust me. In the end I ordered him a leather bound journal, and I am extremely excited about it! It turned out better than I was expecting. That was one thing I admired about Mason, he always wrote in his journal. I also included my favourite book of the moment: <i>The Continuous Atonement</i> by Brad Wilcox. It is an AMAZING book. I know I have loved this book, so I figured Mason would enjoy it. The only downside is that I'm not sure how strict his mission president is when it comes to the books they read.<br />
This package had a little bit of everything. Spanish CTR rings to hand out to the children in Uruguay, Nutella—because who doesn't like nutella, pringles, and as many fall/halloween treats as I could pack in the box. There is no better feeling than seeing all the time and effort come together to make a package for someone who means so much to me. I wouldn't trade it for anything.<br />
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Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-18861405415141855912014-10-21T21:08:00.000-07:002014-10-30T21:08:58.200-07:0014.3 months down, only 21 to go!<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The weeks are still flying by and before I know it I have finished a change with Elder Degn my trainer! How crazy that I probably only have one more with him. It is also crazy to think that I have been out on the mission for 3 months!" </span></span><br />
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<br />Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-82671709434253637972014-10-18T22:20:00.000-07:002014-10-20T22:20:34.579-07:00single pressed rose<br />
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Thousands and thousands of miles apart and he still manages to let me know he cares for me. Every letter is filled with more than words. They are filled with love. Today it was a single pressed rose. It was the perfect gift to mark 3 months being apart. It hasn't gotten easier being away from my best friend, but every passing day makes me realize more than ever just how lucky I am to call him mine.Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-45434115252964383512014-10-18T11:24:00.002-07:002014-10-18T11:24:28.330-07:00our first kiss went a little like thisThings moved fairly fast with Mason and I. It was only two short weeks after we had our first conversation that we were sitting on a hill, on a freezing November night, bundled up in blankets watching Fantastic Mr. Fox. My favourite. Was I expecting it? To be honest I wasn't sure what to expect. As the movie was ending Mason asked if I was cold. On a late November night as the weather was approaching -20 degrees celsius, of course I lied and said I was fine. I asked him the same question. Of course he lied and said only his nose was cold.<br />
Ok, opinions: when someone says their nose is cold....does that not sound like some subtle hint?<br />
What happened next still shocks me to this day.<br />
I made the first move.<br />
WHAT?!<br />
This went against absolutely everything I believe in. My act of playing hard to get went down the toilet in a matter of seconds. I began to press my face up against his to "warm up his nose". I didn't know exactly what would come of it, but it didn't take long before our lips met. This is how Mason described it in a letter to me, " The feeling was incredible. The heat rushed between our lips. Not because it was cold outside but because it was special. The kiss was unbelievably in sync between the two of us."<br />
I found out months later, that Mason's roommates had told him he shouldn't go that night. It was late and with church the next morning it probably wasn't the smartest decision, but he was determined to go. His roommate Sam asked him if he planned on kissing me that night. Mason said he was sure it wouldn't happen, but Sam still told him he had to text him if it was going to happen. Mason promised he would, and when Mason makes a promise....he doesn't break it. Ever. As soon as Mason realized what was happening that night he pulled out his phone and texted Sam. Without me even knowing it! Sneaky devil!<br />
It was the agreement in Mason's dorm that if they ever kissed a girl they owed the dorm ice cream, so after our special moment I reminded Mason that because of me he owed his roommates some ice cream. We ended our night with a quick trip to the nearest 7/11. I never wanted that night to end, but things just got progressively better from there on out.Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-80153900754200391352014-10-14T10:34:00.000-07:002014-10-18T10:37:11.646-07:00times like thisI opened package #2 at the end of a long day. More than anything I was hoping that the letter would feel like the warm hug I was so badly craving. But what was inside touched me much more than a hug ever could. The letter addressed "open when you need to know how much I love you" was simple and sweet. That alone was enough to make my heart content. But when I opened the box that went along with that precious letter, I lost it. Inside was the most beautiful watch. Honestly, if I could make a custom watch for myself, it would look exactly like the one I saw inside that box. He knows me unbelievably perfectly.<br />
When Mason came up to Canada in the summer, we were scrolling through my pinterest boards (a typical activity). I had a Nixon watch pinned to my board, and I specifically remember Mason asking what I had pinned that for. I said simply that it was because I liked it. He then asked me why I didn't ever wear watches, and I said it was because I had a hard time finding watches that didn't look huge on my little wrists. He got the hugest grin on his face and just nodded nonchalantly. At that point I was totally confused at his response, but now I know exactly what that was about. He had ordered me the watch I'm wearing on my wrist right now (not the one on my pinterest board, but an even more perfect watch), and was thinking "Oh I did good!" haha. And yes, yes he did.<br />
It's times like this that I don't understand how I got so lucky. I will question that until the day that I die. I'm blessed to have someone who loves and cares for me in ways that touch me so deeply. To love me in the way that he does despite being thousands of miles apart is incomprehensible to my little mind. He is the most thoughtful human being I have ever met. I'm the luckiest.<br />
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<br />Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-28340834107612093922014-10-13T18:54:00.000-07:002014-10-18T10:37:30.410-07:0013.<div style="text-align: center;">
This is what I love about my elder:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">I almost cried this week. We were on the porch of a lady when I was doing divisions with Elder Lopez and he got to the point of contacting in a way that I don't like... Because for me, I like to be friends with them before I try to tell them how to change their religion but he didn't really do that and it got into a brawl with scriptures and stuff with this Christian lady and then at the end I just stopped and I told her that I didn't want to fight with her and that is not the reason that missionaries are here and we are sorry if it came off that way and then I explained that we do not get paid to be there, we do not receive anything for what we are doing in a far away place away from our families, that we had to leave things behind, miss things such as my brothers wedding, and we are there for people like her, because we love the gospel and we love our Heavenly Father and because we know that everybody is a child of god we want them to have the knowledge of all Heavenly Father has given us including his scriptures the Book of Mormon and his restored church on the Earth today.... Michaela, I have definitely felt the spirit since I have been here on the mission, but I was just about in tears as I said those things to her, I was really holding it back! Ahhh!!!"</span></span></span></div>
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Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-47778672931567345662014-10-10T20:54:00.001-07:002014-10-18T13:25:33.551-07:00small encountersThere are so many memories that I cherish with Mason. Although there are too many moments to write them all down in detail, I want to start writing down as many as possible. I have to make up for my bad habit of not writing in a journal, and this is the easiest way to do it. I don't plan to write these in any particular order or significance, just as they pop into my head. Ready.Set.Go.<br />
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Although I always pretended not to notice the attractive boy in my ward that all the girls seemed to be chasing from day one, I have to admit that I did get caught up in his perfect teeth, hair and eyes once or twice before actually meeting him. After dating Mason for a short period of time, he admitted to taking a special interest in me (without my knowledge) from the day he saw my name on the ward directory. I might have done the same.</div>
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1st encounter: It was break the fast on the first Sunday at BYU. It was outside of Carroll hall. Mason was sitting on the grass under a tree. He didn't seem super talkative, and seemed content with just eating his food. He wore a kitten shirt. I didn't talk to him nor did he talk to me. It was the first time I saw him.</div>
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2nd encounter: Obviously I was doing more than pretending not to notice him. I was definitely noticing him. Not only was I noticing him, I was hoping he would notice me. It was only a short day later that I saw him at an FHE activity. I may or may not have worn my Messi soccer jersey to that activity because I new he liked soccer (but he doesn't know that) #pathetic. But I later found out that he did notice. Winning. He was wearing his white sweat shirt that I have come to love and adore. Again, we didn't say a word to each other, but if I remember correctly we made eye contact in the ice cream line. That's progress right?</div>
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3rd encounter: 6 days later, second Sunday of the year (are you picking up on the pattern) Mason was asked to give a talk. I was sitting near the back on the right side. He got up and made a joke before beginning his talk. I thought he was starring directly at me, but I couldn't be sure. He later told me that he had intentionally looked to see if I'd laugh. It worked. I found myself becoming more and more interested—not that I would admit that.</div>
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4th encounter: it wasn't until we had an activities committee meeting that Mason finally said something to me. We didn't have long conversations, just an opinion here or a comment there. What made the biggest impression was the fact that he remembered my name at that first meeting even though we had never talked. Again, he made an impression on me and I found myself thinking about him more and more.</div>
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I will treasure these small encounters forever. They are simple, vague and incomplete in so many ways. We didn't know it at the time, but we both had the same goal in mind, and eventually these small encounters led to a special night in November where it truly all began.</div>
Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-22240045047643610922014-10-09T22:33:00.003-07:002014-10-09T22:33:25.160-07:0012.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Conference week was really exciting for Elder Bentley and Elder Degn. They spent the week trying to invite as many people as they could to hear the word of the prophet. Mason was pretty disappointed when it was Sunday afternoon and no one they had invited had shown up. Fortunately, halfway through the last session they had one lady they had talked to show up. They have been finding so many promising investigators lately, but they've found commitment is a struggle. There is still so much promise in Riviera though because the other Elders in their area had a baptism this week! Mason loves his service, so he was pretty excited to get to do some more of that this week for the ward mission leader. Overall it was a highly productive and uplifting week for Elder B.<br />
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Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061159154174185851.post-61724364172989763912014-10-05T16:47:00.002-07:002014-10-05T19:03:53.973-07:00always in my head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are days that are so much harder to endure than I ever comprehended. When looking through old pictures and listening to nostalgic music is the worst thing that I could be doing to my heart, but the only thing that seems to suffice. When everything I see reminds me of him. When all I can think of is how little time it has been, and how much longer there is to go. I'm an amateur. It hasn't even been three months and I feel like he's been gone for three years. I heard it gets better, but I'm not so sure. I can't help but think of the future. How perfect it would be. I just need to tell my little heart to be patient, because it will happen in due time. But it is just.so.hard. So now I just pray I can get through the rest of this semester without totally letting myself go.Michaela Selkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17442524500340837479noreply@blogger.com0