Me and my companion Sister Goteberg having lunch!

Orebro, Sweden!

Downtown in Orebro

View from the Castle

At Orebro Castle

Orebro is rockin!

Hello again!

I can't believe another week has passed us by. Today for P-day we are traveling into Stockholm for fun! A bunch of the Elders are getting together to play American football... yuck. But luckliy Sister Detinne-Cassel and her companion will be there too. So we will go on splits and me and Sister Detinne-Cassel will go shopping!! I am very excited. It is a 2 hour train ride into Stockholm... so I will be writing letters and such. So, my time is short on email today. We have a train to catch!

Last week was good and hard. Surprise! I think every week I will end up saying the same thing. We had our first district meeting with 2 other elders in Västerås. That was fun and Elder Nelson talked about setting goals and how important it is to set them. He has no idea how much I needed to hear that. It was a really good meeting. We also ate lunch at a sweet buffet place there. Man, do I love Sweden!!

This week I met another one of our investigators... named Ronny. He is a total Rockabilly! The Lord knew that I needed some one to talk music with. Haha. He is super nice and has a major pompador. When we were walking up to him, I was thinking, no way is this our investigator!! I love it. He seems pretty interested and we will be meeting with him this week. He loves Elvis and so do I! I think I will learn Swedish so I can talk to him and more of the people my age.

The pictures I sent this week were of us in downtown Örebro. The castle is sweet. Life is getting better each day and church yesterday was very good. I could understand more and I talked to almost everyone! I love mission life. Oh, yeah we have dinner at a member's house at least 3 times a week. Which I love. We always leave a spiritual thought. I have not yet given it, but I think this week I will! Oh, and I got both of the letters from you! Thank you! It takes about 5 days for mail to get here. Not bad.

Well, I love you all! Listen to some real music for me! Maybe some ABBA. Haha.

Love, Talisa!!

Lots of pictures of happy Syster Vistaunet!!!

Official welcome letter telling me I will be serving in Orebro, Sweden.

My new apartment.

Our new companions!

The church building in Orebro! It's beautiful here.

Outside of my new apartment.

We are in a bike riding area. That makes me very happy.

It snowed when we got off the plane, but it is warming up. Spring is here. I took an hour long train ride to my new city. It is west of Stockholm. Beautiful.

More photos from Sweden!

My trainer...Syster Goteborg. She is from West Jordan, Utah.
My MTC district with our Mission President and his wife in front of the Stockholm temple.

Street singing and contacting on my first day. Scary.
My companions in the MTC. Notice that we are all wearing the same skirts in different colors!

I am in Sweden!!

This is my MTC district in Stockholm, Sweden with the Mission Pres. and his wife.


At the Stockholm airport!! We have arrived!
I am finally done with the MTC - we are on our way!

Hello one and all!

Syster Vistaunet here reporting live from Örebro, Sweden! Here are a couple of last MTC pictures and then some from Sweden! I feel very blessed to have been able to talk to you on Mothers Day. The Lord knew that I needed that to help calm me down. I will have to admit the language freaks me out. But, being able to talk to my family just a couple of days after being here really helped me. My Dad reminded me that every missionary who has gone to a foreign country has felt the same way I was and am feeling.

So, my companion is Syster Göteborg from West Jordan, Utah. She is super rad and way down to earth. She can speak swedish like nobody's business! And after this transfer she will be going home. I am "killing" her in missionary language. Strange. We are also in a BIKE area! I have heard that it is one of the only bike areas for sisters, which made me very happy. Another way the Lord has blessed me. I have come to realize how well the Lord really does know me. I can feel his love.

Today is my first P-day in Sweden and I can tell I am going to LOVE them. P-days in the MTC weren't that fun. But today we are going downtown and going shopping, sight seeing, and eating yummy food. There is a castle in Örebro and I am excited to see it. It looks like every week I will be able to send pictures...that makes me happy. We email every Monday from the church.

Family- The mission president should be sending a packet home to you guys with pictures and information. So, look forward to that. It should be good. And it will have a letter from me talking about my first couple of days.

Örebro is about an hour away from Stockholm and the train ride here was amazing! It is super pretty here. My first night in Örebro we went and played basketball with the Young Single Adults and I met my first investigator! Her name is Djanita who is 20 and from Kosuvoo. I have no idea where that is. Haha. But, she has a bapstimal date of June 18th! And the next day we taught three guys from Africa in english. Which I was very happy about. It is amazing to me how strong the spirit can be felt in our lessons. The church is TRUE!

The people here are super nice and I love the ward. Sunday was a big blur. I couldn´t understand anyone. But, I did know that one of the speakers talked about missionaries. This ward is strong and I can tell that I am going to make some good friends. Especially with the people my age. Because, we have FHE, institiute, basketball, and soccer every week together. We bring investigators to all of those. I love missionary work!

Life is grand. Pray for me!

Love, Talisa! AKA: Syster Vistaunet

Orebro, Sweden

Talisa is serving in Orebro, Sweden. It is a city with two sisters, no elders. They bike everywhere and it has a ward with about 100 members! We just talked to her on the phone for Mother's day! She is happy, overwhelmed and eager to get started! Email her at talisa.vistaunet@myldsmail.net

Talisa has arrived in Sweden!!!

All is well in Sweden. They arrived happy, healthy and on time

Syster Lundquist

Correspondence Secretary

SWEDEN...here we come!

We got our travel plans...we're on our way to Sweden!


Talisa called this morning from the SLC airport and again this afternoon from the NYC airport. She is happy, and thrilled to be headed to Sweden!

I'm leaving on a jet plane!

Hello one and all!

It's crazy to think that the next time I will email I will be in Sweden! That is super rad. SWEDEN!! So, we leave Sunday morning at 5am! And we get into Stockholm around 9:30am Monday morning. Then we spend a couple of days at the mission home. Transfers aren't until Thursday, so I think the first couple of days are going to be sweet! We fly to NY and have a couple of hours and then we fly overnight to Sweden, which will be lovely. Hopefully I will be able to sleep.

Tuesday night we had Elder Dallin H. Oaks come and talk to us. It was amazing to get to hear two apostles speak while I have been here at the mtc. It was a good farewell, that's for sure. My favorite quote from the night was, "The Lord helps those who help themselves." I loved his talk. He also told us of three challenges most new missionaries have and they are:

1. The challenge to change.

2. To achieve specific skills like the language and teaching skills.

3. To become.

The most exciting thing that happened this week was...I finished the Book of Mormon!!! I finished on April 25th and it was the best feeling ever. I have never read it all the way through. I can now say that I know this gospel is true and I am so grateful for that knowledge. The stories in the Book of Mormon are amazing. i have never felt so ready to go and teach the gospel! Well, I take that back. I am so not ready to teach the gospel in Swedish. But, it will come. I know it.

Funny story: So, every week we meet with our district and have district inventory to talk about problems and to point out strengths and what not. Well, this week Elder Swenson said that I am the "Soul Queen" - which meant that I was the "bling" on a black shirt that is hard to miss. Haha. Well, this "Soul Queen" is ready to Rock 'n Roll in Sweden! I am going to bring happiness and joy and color to Sweden and they better be ready for the gospel, because I am coming!

I am so grateful for all the missionaries in the world.

I Love you all and thank you all for the support and letters! I love them.

Love, Talisa!

Aka: Syster Vistaunet

The saga of Harry Potter...

Hello world!

So, this has been a wonderful week! Last night we had Elder Richard G. Scott come and talk to us. It was amazing! I have never felt the Spirit so strongly. I know that he is an Apostle of God. He bore such a strong testimony. And he blessed us with an apostolic blessing of having the gift of tongues. And when he was doing that he was looking straight at me. I felt very loved. We sat really close and Elder Scott kept looking over at us and smiling. I felt like I made a real connection. One of the Norway elders knows him really well and got to have dinner with him beforehand and his family were the ones who drove him down. So, we all saw his family. Way cool.

I am finally becoming more and more like myself. Shaky gave me really good advice before he came to just be yourself. I don't think I really realized how hard that actually would be. I am very grateful for everything that I have learned about myself here at the mtc. And I can't believe that I will be leaving in a week and a half!! Tomorrow we get our travel plans!! Which means I will get to call you- my family - really soon!!

The more I come out of my shell that more I think my companions and district think I am crazy. Haha. I love it! One of the Dutch teacher's here gave me a strange compliment yesterday. I was wearing my blue skirt with a green top and he said "Syster, you're wearing a green shirt with that blue skirt? Hmm.. cool." It made me laugh.

Syster Detinne Cassel and I met an Elder here who looks like Harry Potter and he is stalking us. He shows up everywhere! At first it was cute but now it is getting creepy. Actually it is still really funny. We love him. The other day we walked into our classroom and on my desk and Syster Detinne Cassel's desk was a picture of him as Harry Potter. Haha. Syster Juker didnt get one though.. strange.

Man alive I have so much more to say but the time is done. I love you all!!! And I will be leaving soon.

Love, Talisa!

Aka: Syster Vistaunet

Hey, what's up? Tell people to email me!

Well, I must say that Monday evening was wonderful. My district and the Norwegian missionaries were outside contacting people and reading from the scriptures and then I look up and see Serina waving her hands like crazy, hanging out the car window. It was exciting! I was glad I was wearing a bright green shirt that day, I was told that that was how Serina knew it was me. My Mom and Dad were also in the car. I heard my Dad screaming "SWEDEN"! Haha. That made my night. Nice to "see" my family. I LOVE you! And thanks for yelling at me!

The last couple of days have been wonderful! I am trying my hardest to be my happy self and cheer up everyone around me. It is crazy to see the difference between Sisters and Elders. I sometimes feel like I am the glue holding them together. I love them so much and I am learning how to deal with all types of people. It is truly helping me to want to be a counselor even more. Haha.

Let's see....this week we were asked to write down what our vision is for our mission. This is mine: To be able to help as many people as I can to know that we have a loving Heavenly Father and that He sent His son, Jesus, who is the Christ, to atone for everyone's sins. I want people to know that they can be forgiven of their sins. I envision making many new lifelong friends. Most importantly, I want to have people see the light of Christ in me. That way I can help them to have that same light and to know that the Holy Ghost is real.

I have about 2 1/2 weeks left and I am getting really excited to go to Sweden! We will most likely be leaving early Monday morning, May 2nd. Well, today we get to go to the temple and I LOVE doing that. It's crazy to think that once I get to Sweden, everything will be done in Swedish. I better really understand the temple. I really enjoy going to the temple.

Love, Talisa!

Aka: Syster Vistaunet

P.S. Well, everyone listen to Noah & the Whale for me. My companions love country music and the other day I was telling them "Country is not music" and they freaked. Haha. I am SO different than everyone. It's amazing to me how much the Lord loves each one of his children, no matter if they listen to country music or not. I am Talisa & I am serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints & I love rock & roll! Thanks again for all the support!

They say it's your Birthday, well it's my Birthday too, YEAH!

Hello!

23 years ago today I was born into the best family in the world! Today has been an amazing day, I feel so blessed to experience a birthday in the MTC. I don't think very many people get to experience that. The MTC president and his wife even sent me a sweet note saying happy birthday.

This morning at 2:22 am I was awoken by my cute companions and the Norway sisters singing Happy Birthday to me! They had heart attacked the room too. I told them that was what time I was born, so hopefully I remembered correctly. Then the day just kept getting better. I got a birthday package from my family filled with birthday love and letters from my friends and family! And Yoo-hoo!! I also got packages from Caitlin Bahr and Grandma and Grandpa Powelson. I feel very blessed to get to experience a birthday in the MTC, it will be a day I will never forget. I feel loved.

WOW. General Conference was the bomb! I have never felt the Spirit so strongly as I did when all the missionaries were in the same room watching all the sessions of General Conference together. I had all of my questions answered and I have never felt my Savior's love so much. I can truly testify that He knows us personally and really cares about us. My heart grows more and more each day that I am here. I will give some high-lights that I got out of conference...

"Missionary work is the lifeblood of the kingdom." - President Monson.

"We follow Christ because we love Him and want to serve Him." - Walter F. Gonalez.

One of my favorite thoughts was that we all have angels helping us through our earthly life.The veil is closer then we think. - Kent R. Richards. (Who spoke to us at the MTC the week before conference.)

"We can't let our fears replace our faith." - Russell M. Nelson

"Have celestial traditions in our homes." - Richard Maynes (Who spoke to us a couple of weeks ago at the MTC.)

I could go on much longer. But because of time I cannot. All in all I LOVED conference and I learned so much about serving and how to serve. Serving the Lord is easy and fun!

To all you women: If you didn't get the chance to watch the YW broadcast, DO IT! I loved it and felt so much love for the YW of the church. They showed a cool movie about YW all across the world bearing testimony. My favorite thing was the idea that it's okay to have confidence when you are prepared! The Lord gives us talents to use them, so we must let our lights shine! Serina - watch this!! I was thinking of you the whole time and how much I admire you for being such a strong daughter of God. Thanks for your example.

On Monday I got the chance to teach Taylor Killian in the TRC. My companions and I taught him and two older ladies from Sweden. We taught the whole lesson in Swedish and it was such a cool experience, it also made me realize how much more I need to learn before I leave for Sweden. They talk so fast. Luckily Taylor was there and could help simplify their Swedish. I also saw Taylor Orton this week. It's been a good week!

For my closing thought: Read Alma 31-37. They are such amazing scriptures! While reading think that Alma is talking to you in place of his sons. I haved loved reading in the Book Of Mormon and I know it's TRUE!

I LOVE YOU ALL!! And a million thanks for all the birthday love! Eat some cake and ice cream for me.

Love, Love, Love, Syster Talisa Vistaunet!

Sisters going to Sweden and Norway: Syster Vistaunet, Syster Detinne-Cassel, Syster Juker, Sister Ray, Sister Fredrikson (Syster is Sister in Sweden.)

Hello!!

I have been here for one month!!! That means that I have one more month to go. The MTC is great and I am learning so much. This friday we are only speaking in Swedish all day! Each week we teach "investigators" and this last week went really well! We spoke with a lady in Swedish for 30 minutes! I am starting to get the hang of it. The hardest part for me is understanding all the different verbs. I have learned that speaking Swedish is like speaking the language of Yoda. All the sentences are put together in the opposite way we would say in English. One of these weeks I will write some Swedish for you.

Conference is this weekend and I can't wait! I have so many questions that I am excited to have answered. My teacher challenged us to think of 5 questions we had and to write them down and he promised that they would be answered during General Conference. That makes me excited and I challenge you all to do the same. Last week I started writing in my journal a miracle for every day. It is amazing to me how well the Lord knows each of his children and how much He loves them. Sunday was a really good day! It was Fast Sunday, so we had mission conference. Our MTC President Brown gave a wonderful talk on the Atonement. He walked us through Christ's last hours here on the Earth. Very eye opening. I don't think I ever realized that Christ suffered even more than He did while He was in Gethsemane for three hours on the cross. President Brown pointed out that God was closer to Him at the moment of most suffering. I feel like people usually think that that is when God forgets us, but in reality it is when He remembers us the most.

My testimony has grown so much and every day it continues to grow. I LOVE being able to have this much time to really feast upon the words of Christ. I have never read the scriptures this in depth and I now understand why people say it is their favorite book. I am even starting to understand it in Swedish! Ahh.

Last night at the devotional I saw Mr. Mendenhall - my Provo High choir teacher. He was playing the organ and it was very exciting to see him. He is a great man and was really excited to see me too. I LOVE you all and miss you like crazy!!! Be good and sing some Wanda Jackson for me.

Love, Talisa

Our Zone at the MTC.
My room at the MTC.
Spending time outside writing letters home!
With the only Sister going to the Netherlands.

I am doing good. This letter will just be photos, because I have no time. General Conference is soon! I can't wait. Love you all!

-Talisa

My district.

Hello once again!

Ahh...of course the new Elbow, and the new Sounds come out within weeks of me leaving. I miss music so much!! This past week one of my teachers was talking about Sweden and the music scene there and I said that two of my favorite bands are from Sweden. The Sounds and The Hives. She freaked out! She jumped up and down and gave me a huge hug. Then she told me how much she loves Sweden and the music there. She made my day. It is always nice to get a little taste of the outside world. Even if it's just through singing songs in my head or talking with Syster Ronndahl about the music in Sweden. I love her, she's a great teacher!

I am so happy to hear that my friends still come over to our house, even though I'm not there. I am so grateful for my good friends. Knowing that most of my friends have served a mission really helps me stay focused on the work and brings me comfort when I don't think I can do it anymore. There have been many times I have thought, "Well, if Kamalei, Mat6t, Alex, David, Nate, Danny, Amy, Sarah, Ilse, Jared, Luke, Rob, Tom, Dallin, Steven, and so many more have done this, then I can too!" So thank you friends!! I really look up to you.

This past week has been a lovely week. I feel like I am finally in my groove here and it makes me happy. I am finally feeling able to focus on others and strive to make the MTC a better experience for them. We get three new roommates on Wednesday and I am really excited! Every day here I learn a million new things. I have seen the Lord bless me in areas where I lack and point out weaknesses that I need to work on in order to be more humble. I have faith in the Lord that what I am doing right now is the right thing for me to be doing. I am becoming the BEST Talisa I can be, or the best Syster Vistaunet that I can be. Last night we had a devotional and Elder Costa from the Presidency of the Seventy spoke to us. His wife spoke too. They stressed the importance of being the best missionary you can be and to be the kind of missionary my parents would be proud of. My favorite quote from them was "I am a chosen spirit chosen to serve at this time." It is amazing to me how much I have grown up and how much I want to share this wonderful message with everyone!

This past week we have been learning about how to be the best kind of teacher we can and how to really listen to the Spirit when we teach. I have three teachers here and I love them all. I seriously feel like I am learning more here than I ever did at UVU. Haha. I am grateful for my schooling because I believe it has helped me more than I know. My branch president has stressed how important it is to stay an active member when I get back from my mission. I think the idea of me, one day being a return missionary, hit me today. What I am learning now is going to bless my family and life more than anything else I could be doing. I am very grateful for this chance to give back to the Lord and show Him what I can do! A question that I think would be good to ask ourselves daily is: Am I an active Mormon?

That's all folks!

Love, Syster Vistaunet!

AKA: Talisa

Talisa is going to Sweden!
Syster Vistaunet!
Talisa and her two MTC companions.

My area in our room.
Sister Juker, Sister Detinne-cassel and Sister Vistaunet.
Hello one and all!

Sister Talisa Vistaunet here, reporting from the Provo MTC. I have been here 2 weeks!! It is amazing to me how quickly time is going by. Time in the MTC is strange...it all feels like one really long day. The fact that I will actually be in Sweden soon, for the next year and a half, is so unreal. I am getting more and more stoked about that fact. My Swedish is coming along! My great companions are really helping me to feel confident about talking in Swedish. The more I get to know my companions, the more I love them. I am learning a lot from them.

Guess what!? Sister missionaries can wear basically anything. I shouldn't have stressed as much as I did about that. I am wearing my cute black and white mod shoes all the time and wearing LOTS of bright clothes and lipstick. I am SO grateful that I can be myself and wear the clothing I want. I really miss all of my clothes. But I guess that is one sacrifice that I can deal with. I'm excited for P-days in Sweden when I can purchase some amazing clothing there.

I am LOVING it here! Our P-days are on Wednesdays and I love it because it breaks up the week nicely. I get to see all of the new missionaries coming in that day. Since being here I have realized the importance of having a good family. I feel so loved. Thank you all for your great examples to me. I really look up to you! The scriptures are amazing and I am learning so much. The church is TRUE!! I love having personal, companionship, and language study every day.

So, we have gym every day and sometimes I just don't feel like doing much. So I shoot some hoops or stretch. A couple of days ago, as gym was ending, I was waiting at the door for my companions and the bell rang telling us that gym time was over. Within minutes about 40 Elders ran towards me to get their name tags and leave. I have never smelled something so strong. I thought I was going to pass out. I have learned my lesson and now I stay far away from the Elders during gym time. Haha. They may be serving the Lord, but they sure don't smell good during gym!

I have so many things that I want to write about and tell you...but the fact is that when I am sitting here, in front of a ticking timer, I just can't focus.

I have been studying the Atonement every day and I am so grateful for my knowledge of the Atonement. I know my Savior loves me, and each one of you. Someone told me that every time we pray we are praying to and using the Godhead. We say Dear Heavenly Father, we receive answers to our prayers through the Holy Ghost, and we end in the name of Jesus Christ. I thought that was a good point. So now, when I pray, I think of that every time, and it has made prayer that much more important to me.

Tell everyone to write me, they can use Dearelder.com while I'm in the MTC. It's free and super cool. I have received a lot of letters. Thanks to everyone! I am pretty sure people can email me - I just can't email back. I really miss my friends!

Well, I LOVE you!!

Love, Talisa!

AKA Sister Vistaunet

Hello Family!!

So, I just realized I don't have everyone's email...like Corryn and Serina's. I will have the chance to email every Wednesday for 30 mins. Man, I miss you guys like crazy!

My district is very jealous of me. I get the most letters. I have gotten something every single day! I really do have the BEST family and friends. Today I will be writing letters back to everyone. Meredith Blackburn has sent me a letter and rice krispy treats.

The MTC is a crazy place. There are 2,000 missionaries here at once and the Spirit is amazing. The first couple of days were rough, but I made it through the first week and now it is all starting to fly by. The swedish is actually coming along and I am very grateful for all the prayers I feel from home. I have never prayed so much in all my life. I can tell that while at the MTC I will be able to learn a lot.

Here are answers to some of the questions you asked:

1. I have two companions and they are both great! They are both from Northern California! Sister Detinne-Cassel (Jessica - you met her) and Sister Juker. We all have very strong personalities and sometimes I think I will go crazy. It's hard, but I am really learning a lot from them. We are like Charlie's Angels - red hair, brown hair and me, the blonde!

2. We have six in our district - 3 elders and 3 sisters.

3. P-day is on Wednesdays! I am LOVING p-day. We have a lot of free time and then we do laundry and go to the temple! Then we have class at 7pm.

My brain is totally gone right now...I have a feeling that I will be more in depth when I actually write letters. Tell people to email me! talisa.vistaunet@myldsmail.net

I LOVE you all and I am so grateful for all the LOVE from home.

I have realized that I can wear a lot more clothing than I thought I could. Please send me my skinny jeans, purple Vans and my black and white mod shoes. I will purchase some cute clothes in Sweden once I get there. We really have no way to send pictures...so I will figure something out, I promise.

Well, time is a tickin' and I miss you all!

LOVE, Talisa

Aka: Sister Vistaunet

The first (very short) note came from Talisa on Saturday:

The MTC is wonderful! Of course the first night was crazy and I couldn't fall asleep. Haha. Today is the 2nd day here. The language is insane but my teachers are so great! I have three teachers. Guess what Dad? I am in a threesome. My two companions are great. Both of them are from California. Guess what else? No music in the MTC - bummer. Oh well, I guess I will really focus on the Gospel and Swedish. Please don't worry about me. :) I am learning a lot and the Spirit is very strong. Thanks for everything. I love you! More later!

Love, Sister Vistaunet

The time has come.

My family and I on Feb. 27, 2011

During the past couple of days I have felt so loved. When I spoke in church on Sunday, I have never felt so happy and loved. I would like to thank all my dear family and friends for supporting me on this new adventure in my life!!

Now onto the list.

• Make a music compilation that I can listen to while on my mission and not go crazy without MY music. Done! With the help of my wonderful Dad.

• Finish my video project. Almost done. My dad will be working on the finishing touches.

• Visit friends I have not seen in a long time. Done. I visited so many people that I love.

• Work on a final education portfolio. Haha. Oops.. I started on this one.

• Go to the temple with my friends. Yes done and done. I had the chance to go a couple of times with the people I love.

• Print off some college pictures and scrapbook. Well.. thought about it.

• Throw a couple of parties!! Yes! And I think my mom will miss them. Haha.

• Finish reading the Book of Mormon. Almost. This will be done in the MTC.

• Live in the moment and enjoy all my free time! YES!! It's been good.

All I can say is, SWEDEN here I come!

The days leading up to my 18-month departure.

The list.

• Make a music compilation that I can listen to while on my mission and not go crazy without MY music.

• Finish my video project.

• Visit friends I have not seen in a long time.

• Work on a final education portfolio.

• Go to the temple with my friends.

• Print off some college pictures and scrapbook.

• Throw a couple of parties!!

• Finish reading the Book of Mormon

• Live in the moment and enjoy all my free time!

Time.

I am starting to get nervous. I leave in 13 days! I have so much to do before I leave. My room is not packed.. and that is because I want to make sure that I get enough time with all my stuff before it goes away for 18-months. I have some cool stuff.

Pictures.

Last trip with my Aunts to Arizona to visit family!

Mountain Biking with my really fast Aunts.

Lunch with the UVU mentor team leads!

Bowling night.

Visiting my 95 year old Great-Grandma

Temple Trip with some of my friends.

Before, I leave I will post one last time and hopefully I will be able to say that I finished all the things on my list.

Talisa’s List of the Best Albums of 2010!

At the start of each new year I always come up with a list of my favorite albums that have come out that past year. If you have not listened to these wonderful albums, please do. Because they are great! I usually try to just have ten on my list but I couldn't forget Kate Nash, thus I have eleven. The listing is not in order of how much I like them.

As you read my list, think of your own and share them. Enjoy music!

1. Guster- Easy Wonderful

Favorite track - “Do what you want”

2. The Futureheads- The Chaos

Favorite track – “ Heartbeat Song”

3. Ed Harcourt- Lustre

Favorite track – “Do As I Say Not As I Do”

4. The Drums- The Drums

Favorite track - “ Let’s Go Surfing”

5. Devo- Something for Everybody

Favorite track - “What We Do”

6. Chumbawamba- ABCDEFG

Favorite track - “ Ratatatay”

7. The Weepies- Be My Thrill

Favorite track - “ I Was Made for Sunny Days”

8. The Vespers- Tell Your Mama

Favorite track - “ Cottonfield”

9. The School- Loveless Unbeliever

Favorite track - “ Hoping and Praying”

10. The Pipettes- Earth Vs The Pipettes

Favorite track - “ Stop the Music”

11. Kate Nash- My Best Friend is You

Favorite track - “ Do-Wah-Doo”

A new year means new things.

This New Years Eve was the best one I have ever celebrated. I held a party at my house that night and had tons of good friends show up. I have the best friends in the world! We talked, played games, ate food, and danced the night away.

My friends and I on New Years Eve!

Looking back on the past year, I have accomplished a lot. Graduating from UVU and getting a call to serve a mission for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Sweden are the biggest ones. I have also seen many friends graduate, get married, have babies, and go on missions. Life is good and it's just going to get better.

UVU's website showed me that my diploma has been mailed! I graduated in Social Work from Utah Valley University in the fall of 2010. Crazy cool.

The classes that I took regarding my major are:

Human Development and Life Span

Multicultural Societies

Human Sexuality

Psychology of Interpersonal Relationships

Interpersonal Communication

Culture Ecology and Health

People and Cultures of the World- China

Career Prep- Behavioral Science

Study Aboard in Wales- English history

Applied Parenting

Abnormal Psychology

Stats

Social Welfare and Policies

Clinical Interviewing Skills

Clinical Research

Intro to Counseling Psychotherapy

Intro to Group Psychotherapy

Practicum

While at UVU I have also been involved with the UV mentor program. Which means for the past 3 1/2 years I have been team teaching a Student Success class each semester. Being a mentor was the best thing I ever did while in college. From 2009-2010 I had the opportunity to be the mentoring team lead- which meant that I was in charge of ten other mentors and I helped run the program. We also got to present at conferences and I attended a national conference in Denver, Colorado last February. My experience at UVU has been wonderful and I will always look back on my time there with happiness.

I AM A COLLEGE GRADUATE!!