HAHAHA, IRFAN MAHMUD.

I'm working on a "year in review" and found this gem. OH MY GOSH.

If you tell me you watched it without laughing, I won't believe you.

sunday in B&W.

Today was beautiful.

and that is all I really have to say this evening.

more life updates to come :) 

peace & love,

abs

Spring Break, oh emm gee. #OMG #STG

Oh man. Spring Break was so good. SO GOOD. 

The week leading up to it was crazy as flames (not sure what that means, but whatevs). I had a chem exam and an anatomy exam. It was madness. Friday, my Mother Deer got into the 801 and then Saturday, her, me, and my sista all hit the road for IDAHO! We stopped at a fancy place for breakfast on our way out and then got going. My cousin Jordan had her mission farewell (heading to Ukraine) and so a lot of the fam went up. It was so fun. 

Everyone says they love their fam, and their family is so great, and blah blah blah but SERIOUSLY. My family is so awesome. I love to hang out with my family and spend time with them.

We stayed the whole weekend in Idaho. We had family dinners, family game nights of UNO, and I stayed up way too late every night with my cousins. I was so glad to hang out with Jordan before she left- I forget that we are such good friends and it was SO good to catch up on life. Can't believe we're both serving missions. Anyway, the weekend with the DREAM TEAM (Me, Mom, Heidi) = PERF. We got back Monday afternoon, I worked 6PM-6AM Monday and then Mom and I hit the road Tuesday morning for St. George. 

my cute outfit, haha.

view from the backyard

Tuesday night, Grant met up to stay the week, and we cruised around the Steeg. I forget how much I love the Steeg until I get back down there from not being there for a while. I love all the "lookout" places. Dixie Rock, The Big D at the Airport, above the hospital, and over in St. James Place up kinda by Summit. We went and saw Elder Cameron Cox off. That boy is going to be a great missionary. I love him and am so proud/excited for him. 

Wednesday we babysat the boys in the morning and that was a blast. They are SO CRAZY but I love them. They loved Grant and told me that HE was the boss of ME. Those boys are so dang fun. We then ran mission errands all day. Immunizations, passport, you name it-we did it. 

Thursday we hiked the Red Mountain with Joey and Tirsa. It was SO good to spend time with those two. I was kind of a baby on the hike, but I did legitimately feel kinda sick. Haha, but I knew the view would be so worth it, so we made it to the top. We laid up there for a while, letting the breeze cool us off. It was such a beautiful day. We realized it was like 3:15... and I had to be AT the temple by 5:40. We cruised off that mount and I made it in time. 

Going through the temple Thursday night was beautiful. I seriously was so grateful my family could be there with me, it was so comforting. I missed Heidi, Eric, and Mikelle, but was so happy to have my Grandma Hafen, Kira Bott and her mom April. We saw a lot of other Santa Clara friends in there which was awesome too. We went to Larsen's Frost-Top after. Mmmm, so good. 

We were driving home from Larsen's and who's rolling down their window screaming to me? The one and only OLIVIA EARL. We followed her to Joey's and hung out there for a while. It was so good to see her and to chat with Joey's parents! 

Friday, I spent some time with Weston and Tirsa. Later, Grant and I ran some more errands and just cruised the town. John called and said he was going to take the top off the Hummer... and asked if we wanted to take it out. Heck yeah! We took it out by the new airport and just cruised around. Ah, it so so peaceful out there. That night we saw Jack Reacher with my parents. I was kinda out of it and fell asleep... but it was a good movie (from what I saw, haha)

Saturday we did homework and headed out. The next day was Grant’s sister’s farewell, so I headed up to Ogden Sunday morning for that. It was so good to hear his sister speak, she is now in Chicago, just bein' a full time missionary! So crazy. 

Grant's little sister, Liesl.

Life is good. More updates to come.

Peace & Love

abs

thingsweforget.blogspot.com

Why is this so hard?

Quick Reminder: Alma 7

23 And now I would that ye should be ^ahumble, and be^bsubmissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

 24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

 25 And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out.

 26 And now my beloved brethren, I have spoken these words unto you according to the Spirit which testifieth in me; and my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word.

 27 And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever. And thus I have spoken. Amen.

Well folks, here's to faith. *cheers* We've got this. Seriously. From the wise words of my institute teacher, Brother Case: 

"We're all gonna fail. We're all gonna learn. And we're ALL gonna make it. If you NEVER give up, NEVER throw in the towel, and just KEEP TRYING... you will make it. There's no way you can't."

-Brother Case

University of Utah Institute, 2013

Oh, blessed day.

Chemistry and Anatomy exams.... both finished.

Girl's road trip with Heidi and momma this weekend.

St. George all next week.

Praise the heavens!

peace & love...abs

Dear Sister Hafen,

"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 Philippines Cauayan Mission....You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, June 19, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Tagalog language."

In my stake president interview before I got my call, my stake president said "You are going to be incredible, Sister Hafen.... Even though I just met you, you are someone who has a happy disposition, am I right?" I responded yes and we continued the interview. "A mission call is inspired. How many times in your life are you going to get direct revelation through a prophet of God? Probably never again. This time of your life is incredible." I told myself that I knew my call would come from The Lord. But after it came, my faith started to shake.

Can I be honest? .... it's been a rough few days. The fact that I am leaving on a mission is unreal. If I can say 4 words that have never been more true in my life... they are "The Adversary is real." I thought I knew what it was like to be brought down by Satan and I KNOW that Satan is a piece of crap... But I didn't know how badly he didn't want me to go on a mission until the week I was waiting for my call. SO much doubt filled my mind. 

"WHAT AM I EVEN DOING? SERIOUSLY?" "DO I EVEN KNOW IF THIS CHURCH IS TRUE?" "I LITERALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ANYTHING IS ANYMORE." <----- i="">seriously. these exact thoughts ran through my head. 

Hundreds and thousands of these mission call letters get sent out every week, and I've probably heard over 30 of them read out loud by friends, family, and freak, even random people on YouTube. 

But what's funny, is that the last paragraphs of the letter often times don't' get read. We read the first part and freak out, and then that's it. We call everyone we know, post on Instagram, Facebook, EVERYWHERE. I got my call 3 days ago and read the rest of that page for the first time a couple hours ago. Here it is:

"Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized. 

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children. We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary."

These last two paragraphs give me real peace, comfort, and hope. 

The Lord knows us personally. He knows my mom, Miss Suzy Q. on the corner, the homeless man by the freeway, the President of the United States, and he knows me. He knows I'm supposed to go to the Philippines and he knows that I am capable of learning the language (not on my own of course. HA!)

If you don't know if God knows you, ask him in faith. Ask him a couple times. Be diligent.. he'll answer you.

I cannot wait to begin my "labor of love" by preaching the gospel and bringing the Filipino people unto Christ.

reading my call to my mom and dad each on FaceTime

one of my biggest examples, so grateful for my sister Heidi and that she lives so close to me :)

YES

I'm starting today.

peace & love,
Sister Hafen

All I wanna do is uke.

I got a ukulele for my birthday, and I kid you not, all I want to do is uke it up. I stay up so late looking up chords and learning new stuff, it reminds me of my junior and senior year. Ahhhh. I have MISSED it terribly.

Music is insane. It's so weird how it works and I love it. I crave it. I know it is a direct avenue into your inner workings.

Words from the [not so] wise: 

* If you are musical, stay musical. Keep your musical talent in tip-top shape and really strip yourself down to that raw, real experience. You know what I'm talking about. Really open up your heart and become vulnerable. 
* If you don't consider yourself musical, get over it. Everyone has a musical talent. Whether you can memorize lyrics fast, never forget lyrics, recognize any song on the radio, love musicals, can keep time, have a sick beat in your head all the time, whistling, humming, the list goes on. EVERYONE can love and benefit from music. 
-- Experiment with all types of music; classical (I suggest Rachmaninoff), Rap/hiphop (I suggest Eminem, Where is the Love-Black Eyed Peas, Runaway Love- Ludacris), laid-back stuff (Jack Johnson, Missy Higgins, Norah Jones, The Piano Guys), Rock/upbeat (Can't go wrong with Maroon 5 or Red Hot Chili Peppers) or a little country (Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Josh Turner). 

I seriously credit the person I am to 3 specific things:

1. the gospel of Jesus Christ
2. my incredible parents
3. music

I am so serious. I am who I am because of the impact music has had on my life. I gained confidence, which led me to find out who I was and TRUST who I was. TRUST that I could do hard things. TRUST that I can learn to love people. TRUST that I could change and be the best I could be. I have had endless opportunities to serve because of music and will forever be grateful for those experiences.

But I think the greatest thing music has done for me is give me a testimony. A testimony of the love of Jesus Christ. Call me crazy, but music speaks truth. Good music speaks truth. 

This post is so dang random, I kind of don't even want to post it. But I'm going to anyway.

Kira (my BFF) stayed with me over the weekend and we made time to just jam together. We packed us some snacks, headed to Liberty Park with blankets and water bottles and sat on the island and just jammed. She taught me new licks and we sat, sang, and played. It was warm and life was good. So good. People stopped and talked to us and sat on the bench near us to listen. It was awesome. Thanks for inspiring me to play the uke, Kira.

mid-jam. taken by one of our passerby's

But if I die tomorrow, I want all of you to know that I know music is raw and real and good. Let yourself be receptive to good music and use it to bring others to find themselves and become the best they can be. That is seriously why I love music. I love bringing people closer to Christ through my music and I hope I do that until the day I die. 

The best kind of music is the selfless kind. 

Some fave (maybe cheesy, I don't care) quotes:

I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.
Billy Joel 

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.
Bob Marley 

My favorite:

Music can change the world because it can change people.
Bono 

Peace & Love,
-abs

Middelowday

Ya know those nights when you just want to stay up and:

-continue on in deep scripture study
-talk about life with those you live with
-clean out every cupboard in the house
-blog about everything
-run laundry
-talk on the phone/ Skype old friends
-jam on the uke
-write letters to close friends

???

Yeah. I wish I could have those nights every night. I decided there should be 8 days in a week. 

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Middelowday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday.

Middelowday would come after Wednesday, and it wouldn't be a considered a weekday. It's a "weekend" day, but in the middle of the week. How nice would that be? A "Saturday" in the middle of the week. Ah. BLISS. PURE BLISS.

I think I'll petition for that later in life. HA. Can you imagine if all of a sudden that changed? If it does, you all will know it was because of me. Feel privileged to know me, I'll be famous for this later.

Goodnight,
Peace & Love - abs

Series of unfortunate events.

Last week was the worst week of my life. I've been meaning to blog about it and McKelle's blog post reminded me.

Tuesday: 

-Drove Grant to the train station, get pulled over. 

-I start freaking out.

-Cop was quiet. 

-Cop asked me why I had my lights off.

-What kind of question is that? "Oh, I just felt like having an adventure, sir. You know, just a good, healthy adventure." No of course I had no idea they were off, you idiot.

-Cop gave me a ticket for driving with my headlights off. Grant forgot they were automatic and turned them off earlier that day. 

-I cried.

-Grant told me stop.

-I stopped.

Wednesday: 

-Had class from 8:30am-9:30pm with one 1-hour break.

Thursday: 

-Class at 8:30.

-Had a meeting at noon. Work at 1:30. 

-Went to get in my car. 

-Car is missing.

-Still can't find car.

-WHERE THE EFF IS MY CAR.

-Frantically run around my complex, searching for my car.

-Roommate thinks I'm crazy.

-I THINK I'M CRAZY.

-Call Grant, asking him where the flame my car is.

-Call my landlord.

-Call the tow company

- "Hi, I'm wondering if my car got towed from Trolley Regent." "Do you drive an Acura" "Yep." "Well then that answers your question, doesn't it." "Awesome. How do I get it?" *gives me address, tells me its a $200 tow fee, I cry, he gives me fake sympathy, I cry more, hang up phone.*

-I hug my roommate, bawling.

-She says it's going to be okay.

-Stop by bank, get cash.

-Roommate drives me to car towing place.

-Swollen-eyed, I give him $200 cash. 

-Tow guy opens gate. I go to grab my lanyard. No keys on lanyard.

-Drive back home. Get keys.

-Go back, get car.

-Walk to the front door of car place. Completely biff it on ice. 

-Profanity escapes my lips.

-Tow guy treats me like I'm six.

-Open car door, and my apartment parking hang tag is by my gear shifter. Thanks for searching around for the hang tag before towing my car, idiot.

-Drive to work.

-Get off work at 10:30.

-Cry driving home.

Friday:

-School.

-Bank calls, tells me I took money that didn't exist. My transaction of tuition the few days before hadn't gone through yet.

-I realize I'm a bank robber.

-I realize I'm a BROKE bank robber.

-I swoon the banker and tell her I'll put money in later that day.

-Work meeting.

-Go to bank, deposit pay check.

-Patient's spouse yells at me.

-I stay calm.

-They keep yelling.

-Get off work at 10:30.

Saturday:

-Work 1pm- 10:30.

Sunday:

-Church

-Home teachers.

-Work until 10:30

-Total of 35 hours in one weekend.

Monday:

-Wake up at 4AM. 

-Man, I don't feel so good.

-Go to school.

-Run out of anatomy 3 times.

-Hang out by the toilet in the biology building all morning.

-Go to chem lab.

-Run out of chem lab.

-Drape myself over the toilet during the entire chem lab.

-Girl walks in bathroom, goes in adjacent stall, asks if I'm passed out.

-I say no.

-She says feel better.

-I cry.

-She says it will all be okay.

-I believe her.

-Swollen eyed and haggard, I tell teacher I'm leaving.

-Cry on the bus.

-Go home, sleep.

-Wake up at 4PM.

-Throw up.

-I feel like a champion at this point. Literally. I felt so good.

-Go back to sleep.

-Roommate has throwup-o-phobia.

-She leaves for hours, comes back with sprite and crackers.

-Other roommate plays "nurse" and makes me eat.

-I fall asleep.

-Wake up burning hot.

-Go back to sleep on cold leather couch in bra and underwear.

Tuesday:

-Only had one class. What a great day. I now start to believe that I am doing something right in my life to deserve a good day. Praise be.

Wednesday: 

-Class from 8:30-6

-Chem exam at 6.

-Can't find assigned seat in chem exam.

-5 minutes later, still can't find seat #123

-Find seat 123.

-Begin test.

-Can't find the pi button on calculator.

-Finish test.

-Run out of test, across campus in my black concert dress and church shoes, backpack, lunch box, and viola.

-Dodge lots of puddles.

-Don't dodge a puddle.

-Shin deep in puddle.

-Keep running to concert hall.

-Get to concert hall.

-Run to bathroom, dry dress and shoes in hand dryer.

-Perform concert

-Mingle with pals.

-Roommate gets engaged

-Sleepover party

Thursday: This is the day I'm leaving for St. George. St. George= Safe Haven. This is the day I was trying to get to all week. Come on. I can do this. One Anatomy lecture, and I'm on my way. YOU CAN DO THIS ABBEY.

-8:00am- miss the bus

-walk to class

-leave class

-head for home

-pick up kira from provy.

-cruise on home.

-call my mom to tell her where i'm at.

-2 semis block my way.

-I try to pass one.

-Finally I'm away from those semis.

-Kira hits my arm, "There's a cop"

-I look down at my speedometer.

-More profanity.

-Still currently on the phone with mother.

-Drop phone, still swearing.

-Cop follows me.

-Get pulled over.

-Tells me he clocked me at 100.

-I agree.

-Gives me ticket for 100 in a 75.

-I cry.

-Call Grandma, schedule in times for me to work for her.

-Call brother, schedule times for me to babysit.

-Call Mom.

-Mom says she already told Dad.

-Mom asks if I was accidentally going 85 in a 75. HA!

-I ask Kira if we can turn around and just go back up north.

-She says no.

-I tell her I'm serious.

-She says no.

-Drive home the rest of the way. Going 65 MPH exactly. Mmmmmhmm.

Friday/Saturday- St. George

-Saturday afternoon, cousin gets life-flighted to Primary Children's

-I run to the house to watch the kids

-Drive home to SLC that day.

-Visit aunt and uncle at primary children's

-Walk out of hospital.

-Cry.

-Can't find my car.

-Imagine it being towed again.

-Cry some more.

-Find car.

-Drive home.

-Grant had been waiting 2 hours for me at my apartment. I realize I'm a terrible friend.

Now. Tell me that isn't the most unlucky 9 day sequence you've ever heard. They were the worst 9 days of my life.

Sometimes in life, we want someone to "throw us a bone." We want SOMEONE to let us off the hook, catch us a break, give us a freebie. I wanted a bone so badly that week. As I tell Kira in the car about me wanting a bone thrown, she laughs and agrees. But then she says, "Abbey, someone has already thrown you one, HUGE bone." I look at her and know exactly who she is talking about. The Savior. 

Cruddy weeks come and go, and I literally thought this one would never end. But it did. The crappy times AREN'T endless, and they do end. I told my ward in my testimony on Sunday that I am pretty sure I broke a world record for most prayers said in a week. I literally said over 30 prayers a DAY.

Boy am I grateful for those crappy times, but BOY am I glad it's over. As I thought about those weeks, I realized I had SO many tender mercies. 

-All the nights I came home from work late, I got a parking spot. 

-I made it on time to my orchestra concert. 

-I didn't throw up the day of the exam. 

-It HAPPENED to be payday the day the bank called. 

-My roommate HAPPENED to be home when my car went missing.

-My co-workers and patients were my family that weekend and comforted me.
-I got to sleep over with Tori and stay up late talking about life. I seriously love her.

-My cousin left the hospital days later and is doing great.
-Phone calls from friends came at the most perfect times all week.

-I have a mom that I can call at anytime.
-Found the most sincere hand-written note that a best friend snuck in my laptop.
-I have the best siblings in the world that have my back at all times.

Life is life, and I'm so grateful this week was better. 

Peace & Love,

abs