See you next year, no the next year!

CIAO TUTTI!!!!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!! In Italy it was perfect, we went to a members house and had lasagna, chicken, fish, and other things. They are from Peru and awesome! Then we went to Wildons house to skype the family, watch Frozen, and eat banana cake!! It was great! I loved seeing my beautiful family, that was a great blessing! 

A thought I had this week was this---What if they dont remember me? What if I leave this area and no one remembers who Sorella Skinner is, that would be so lame. But then I realized something, my purpose is not to invite people to come unto Katelyn Janet Skinner. My purpose is to help people come unto Christ!! So as long as I am following the spirit and helping them do that, then I should not worry. I want to help them feel near to their Savior!!

As for scriptures for the week...Luke 15: 4-10 and John 10:4. This talks about how every sheep is important to Christ and God. I love these verses!!! 

Others: Alma 13:28

1 Cor 10:13

These are great too

As for miracle this week! We taught our investigator Marianna. 

We decided we were going to ask her to be baptized! Sorella Boscia told me that I would be the one asking her. I was so nervous!! I felt like we shouldnt just invite her but invite her to be baptized at the end of January on the 31st. I have never been so nervous to go to a lesson before. Everything went smoothly, I asked her to follow the example of Christ and be baptized. I felt the spirit so strongly and was looking right into her eyes, then after she looked confused and Sorella Boscia had to repeat what I said. Her response was Yes! I was so happy that even though I made a small error and she couldnt understand me perfectly she still felt the spirit. We also taught the word of wisdom to her. We were nervous because we knew she drank coffee and were afraid that she wouldnt want to live it. Well obviously the Lord knows she is ready. She promised to live the word of wisdom without argument! It was amazing! The Lord is aware of His children!! It was so cool to witness this miracle this week! 

I am so blessed to be serving in Milano and witnessing small miracles every day. We can all witness miracles daily if we have faith that they will happen!!! 

I hope you all have a very happy new years!! 2015 will be great!!! I wont see my family or friends in America this week but I will help others come closer to their Savior so they can return to their Father in Heaven!!! There is nothing else I would rather be doing!!

I hope you all have a safe happy new year! We get to go home at 5pm to be safe. And then we will do some work in the apartment and maybe go to bed early. I am planning on setting an alarm for midnight and dancing to efy music maybe! WOOOOH!

See you not this next year but the year after that!!

Sorella Skinner

 

 

 

Buon Natale a tutti!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao Tutti!

This week has been crazy and oh so fun! I absolutley love my ward here in Milano, they have saved me! On Friday we had a Festa di Natale! It was a talent show with everyone. It is fun because in my ward we have Phillipinos, South Americans, Italians, and Americans. So we had singing in about every language. The missionaries we sang in Spanish, English, and Italian. It was very fun! Then also, the Relief Society had me and Sorella Boscia join in and sing a song with them. It was the hardest song of my life to sing, it was super high and I almost died before the program even began singing it hahaha. Also I wasnt wearing red like everyone else so the bishops wife gave me a red turtle neck to wear haha! I felt like I was in 2nd grade again, because I havent wore a turtle neck since then! It was great! The best part was there was 2 ladies in our ward who acted out Christmas Carol. Wow it was great! We were late getting home, that was the only downer. 

It has been great the spirit I have felt in sharing the gift of my Savior with Italy. He is the best gift ever to receive. Even though I am far from home and miss my family, I know I have forever with them---Because of my Savior. At this time of year I have thought what would I do if I was living at the time of His birth?? And my favorite question...Would I have run to see the Savior?? Would you run for the Savior? 

After all He has done for me I know without a doubt that I would run for Him, and I hate running. But He has given me joy beyond comprehending. I am so grateful for this knowledge. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and share this gift of Christ with yourself first and then with others. 

Here is a picture of me and my English students!! My favorite thing in the world!!! 

Love you all and hope you have a Merry Christmas!!! 

Buon Natale!

Sorella Skinner 

 

A boyfriend for Christmas- no thanks!

Ciao Tutti!!

This week was filled with its ups and downs. My first mom left me Sorella Smart. She is the most precious lady and I miss her dearly and I got a new momma, Sorella Boscia! She absolutley rocks! She is a great cook, and just happy all the time. I was nervous at first because she doesnt speak English but we became insta friends! I talk like a caveman to her and she helps me and I help her speak English. Her favorite words to say in English are Whatever and Broke it. She is the sweetest, I have definitley seen the Lords hand helping me each day. Is it hard to express myself all the time, yes? But I love it. I am choosing to make it a happy experience and that has made the difference already. 

Miracoli: We had a neat experience in the park we went around with a white board asking the question, Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your Savior? Crede che Gesu Cristo e nostro Salvatore? We received 4 numbers from this finding activity and it was fun to see peoples responses and remind them what Christmas really is about. We also told them about a Christmas party we are having this friday and how we do english class every tuesday at the church! 

Spiritual thought: Enjoy Christmas. Enjoy it, not the presents but enjoy the time to reflect on your Savior. In the Ensign for this month Elder Uchtdorf tells a story about a family that doesnt have anything for christmas. Another family steps in to help them and they ask the 6 year old boy what he would want for christmas...He responds, I just want a bowl of oatmeal. 

Wow if only I could have that attitude and find the simplicity and the small joys of life such as a bowl of warm oatmeal. They ended up buying them presents and oatmeal for the young boy. I read this this morning and cried. Although I dont have much this Christmas such as material things and family to be with, I am blessed. I am blessed with the knowledge that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and gave his son so that I can return to live with him someday. I also have a place to live and a bed to sleep in and money to provide for my needs. I am blessed. I wish I could share more than this message but this is what truly fills my life with joy. 

As children of our heavenly father lets help others feel his love and the love of their Savior, the reason for Christmas. We can do this in little acts of kindness. In the mission we are not allowed to give homeless people money but it says nothing against food. So I try to find a small chocolate to give them. It can be small and simple but it helps others feel loved. 

I love you all! I love Christmas! I love this time we have on earth to prepare to meet our Heavenly Father! May we all try to act like our Savior and remember not only his birth but how he lived and follow his example. He is the way, the only way to return safely home to our God. 

Love you all!

Also Avarie told me I always have to quote a christmas movie. Well we always used to watch this for christmas -a boyfriend for christmas and i always wanted a boyfriend for christmas but this christmas i am fine thanks, I would rather be near my Savior :) 

Merry Christmas!

Sorella Skinner

 

 

We are all misfits!

Ciao my people!!

 

I am so sorry that I failed last week to email you all, it was a crazy day. For pday we went to a world market! Anyway...this week has been sad and terrifying and let me just get started.

 

Tomorrow Sorella Smart is leaving me, I know so rude, but she is going home to have a life of her own and get married so its exciting. I love teasing her about that. But anyway last week I found out what was happening to me, well I am staying here with my Navigli people that I love so much! And I am going to get a step mom, back up trainer, her name is Sorella Boscia and she is Italian! She is from Sicilia! I freaked out when I found out, I actually cried a little that night. But at the same time I knew that I have a Heavenly Father who is aware of me, He knows exactly what I need. This language is hard for me, its the hardest thing ever actually but now I am going to be helped with a beautiful Italian who can barely speak English at all. And before I was told this I actually had thoughts like, am I ever going to really be able to speak this language, well Heavenly Father could hear those thoughts, and yes, I am going to be speaking Italian a lot more now, because I wont have much of a choice. I was a little scared about this at first, but at zone conference on Monday I met Sorella Boscia and she seems so amazing!! We actually did a roleplay with her at the conference and she was just so kind and friendly! I am very excited! I know that I am going to learn lots this transfer. I know at times it is going to be rough, but I know I will rely on my Savior through it all. He will help me through it.

 

As for a miracles of the week!!! We had a baptism!!! It was great! Stacy is amazing and so happy! We could feel the happiness and light in her after her baptism. What a beautiful promise she made with her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to always remember them and do her best in this life! Aww she is the greatest!

 

We had 11 investigators in church on sunday!!!!!!!! WOOOH! And I sat by 2 of them by myself during sacrament meeting, it was very cool to have them in mind and be like trying to think what they thought of everything.

 

Glasses story! One investigator loves having us over, she treats us like her children. She has such great faith, only problem is she cant read the book of mormon. She cant see very well and doesnt have reading glasses so that makes it hard for her to know for herself that what we are teaching is true.In our apartment we found some reading glasses that had been left at the apartment by a previous missionary. So we thought we would take them and see if they worked for her. They did! We were amazed and now she can read the words of God. That was amazing, now she has no excuse to not read!!!

 

Wow this week has been truly amazing. I love my Heavenly Father and I know that He knows me perfectly and that was confirmed again when I found out who my companion would be this week. I know that he loves us all enough that He gave his only begotten son as a gift to the world. In our zone conference we were asked to remember the gift, embrace the gift, and share the gift. I invite you all to remember our Savior Jesus Christ, the greatest person to live and act like and remember him during this time and throughout the year.

 

As for the title of the email, Sorella and I were talking about Rudolph and I remembered this song. How true though, we all have our weird quirks about us, but our Heavenly Father loves us anyway and he made us that way!

Just like the cowboy who rides, the osterig. --sure i didnt spell that right  

 

Love you all! Happy almost christmas!

 

Sorella Skinner

 

 

29 more sleeps- Happy Thanksgiving!

Ciao!

 

This weeks email will be quick but I just want you all to know I have a testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ. He loves us all. He knows are deepest sorrows and our greatest joys. If we come unto Him and use his atonement in our lives that is when we can receive the greatest peace ever.

 

The big thing I learned this week is that we are all searching for one thing in this life. That is peace. We all want peace or happiness in our lives. I realize now that this true, real, never ending happiness only comes through our Savior Jesus Christ. No other way can we have it.

 

This week I am grateful for Him, He loves us. He is always there. I love 3 Nephi 9:14. His arms is always outstretched. But we have to act. We have to follow his example. He have to repent , be baptized, receive the holy ghost, and endure to the end. That is the way to come safely home.

 

 

I love you all, hope you all have a very happy thanksgiving and share this message of hope with others around you.

 

There will be a video coming out this week. It is on christmas.mormon.org

I hope you feel of your Saviors love as you watch it and share it. What a beautiful message.

 

There are only 29 more sleeps til christmas! AYAY!!!

 

Love you all. Sorella Skinner

 

 

Living the Dream Life

Ciao!!!!!

 

I am living the dream life here in Italy! This week has been so fun and crazy. Here is a summary of my week:

 

Wednesday--I bought a coat!! Bought some belgium waffle cookies! Yes they are the best and no I didnt share with my companion. Woops.

 

Thursday--We had two lunch lessons. Both were rice meals. And we were late to the second lesson so we ran with a stomach full of rice! I seriously almost started crying but then I started praying and laughing and looking back it was the funniest thing ever. I prayed so hard that I wouldnt throw up, I have never been so full and God helps me finish that rice! YAY prayers are heard. Packed with the spirit and rice.

Also on this day I sent out our daily text thinking it wouldnt do much good. Well a less active now wants to meet with us because of that scripture we shared! YAY!

 

Friday--the cat lady-Catarina (yes Avarie, that is her real name), she kissed me and told me that she is my mom here in Italy, then her cat threw up all over her couch. Some of Heavenly Fathers children are so interesting but I love them all!

 

Saturday--It was super rainy and I grew close to my Savior in the rain as no one wanted to hear our message I realized the sadness he must feel when no one wants to rely on him and come unto him. We finally found a member who is an older grandma and she feed us millions of brownie cookies! Score!

 

Sunday--ate at a members and slightly understood the spanish they were speaking!

 

Monday--Coolest thing ever. I realized that if I am praying and worthy of the spirit it will carry into the heart of others. I was sharing my testimony of the importance of baptism and shared a scripture when a sweet member started crying. She said she felt the spirit so strong and then asked us why we were not crying. aww so cute.

 

Tuesday--We had FHE at the church and I saw smiling supporting faces as I tried my best to share my testimony of letting our light shine. After my Italian ward family came up and complimented me.

Today--went to a small town and saw a beautiful waterfall and ate yummy pasta!

 

The thing I learned most this week was that I am just an instrument in the Lords hands. The spirit will work through me and others will realize why I am here.

 

I love this gospel and I love my Savior. I invite you friends to read in Matthew and learn more about our Savior and apply his teachings in your life. I know Christ is the only way to return to our Heavenly Father.

 

Love you all! Have a great week!

 

Sorella Skinner

 

Momma Mia!

Momma Mia this week was so great! Dont have a ton of time to write lots this week but here are a few cool things.

 

1. Sorella Skinner loves food, Italian food. She had gelato every day this week. Woops but not woops. Also who knew that you have to eat a whole box of pizza by yourself? And you arent even judged for it here....aka heaven.

 

2. Pavia is a dream place and I got to visit it. It is so pretty.

 

3. There is power in simple things and God is aware of our abilities. We each play a role in his beautiful plan of happiness. If we follow the example of Jesus Christ and have faith in him and repent we can find our purpose. At times it can be frustrating to share my testimony in Italian because I cant say everything that I want to say. But I know as I try and share simply what I know, God will carry my message into the hearts of his children.

 

4. Jesus Christ can comfort us. We have all felt very alone before and the knowledge that He understands us and knows us by name can give us joy. We can know that through him we can return to live in complete peace after this life.

 

5. Its rainy here in Milan and sometimes I feel like Mary Poppins and feel like I might fly away.

6. Kebap...nasty meat looking burrito, actually is pretty good. Momma Mia, the food here.

 

7. Love you all! Wish I had more time to chat.

 

Love, Sorella Skinner

 

Pictures: burritos, coolest street in pavia, and with a new friend who draws so beautiful giuzeppe!

Ciao Amici!!! Strength, the Duomo and Gelato in Italy!

Ciao amici!!!!

 

 

I made it to Italy!!!!! I live in Milano! Thats right, they put little Katelyn Skinner in the biggest city. Sometimes I question my Heavenly Father but I am sure He knows best. So is Italy as beautiful as you would think it is? Yes and more! The people are so awesome and just beautiful culture here! Gelato...yes I live right by a gelato and pizza place and yes i loveeeeeee it! Its the best life. My companion is Sorella Smart from Draper Utah. She is smart and super cute. Also... President Dibb and Sorella Dibb are the cutest couple ever. Awww love them.

 

The first thing we did in Italy was go to the Duomo. It was actually so cool, I walked out from the metro and started crying...so beautiful. I talked to two girls about God and how he answers our prayers...luckily they spoke some english so I spokes Italian and english to them.

 

This week has been crazy. I love being a missionary. Cool experiences throughout the week but I want to share two with you.

 

1- Sunday I got to share my testimony. In Italian!!!!!! The ward is so cute, i got up and said this is my first sunday in italy! they all gasped! haha i shortly shared how i know Jesus Christ lives. Through him  we can return to live with God again. It was amazing the peace as I said that and the spirit I felt. In a different language!

 

2- Okay so on Monday we had a scambia which is when you switch companions. I was with a sister who is a transfer ahead of me. so she has been out 2 months. And we stayed in my area. I know nothing hahaha...luckily she was so supportive and so fun and i wasnt as worried. Her name is Sorella D Ambrosio. She is a cutie. We went back to the apartment and did our personal and companion studies. She found the perfect scripture. Doctrine and Covenants 24:12. It says that strength would be given to us that no man knows if we shared the gospel. Awww we were so nervous that scripture pumped us up! So much joy. So we didnt have any appointments so we went out to go finding. We literally dont know the language at all and we walked out the door and down the street and a man stopped us and asked if we were Jehovahs witness. We said no and then talked to him about the gospel. DAmbrosio was amazing but I had a few bold sentences as well. We got his number and we said a prayer with him on the street. And I said it! Wow we knew then what that scripture really meant. God gave us strength! We continued to do finding and had 6 lessons on the street.

 

Another cool one was that we prayed with a homeless lady that didnt know italian or english. She was albanian. But we pointed up and asked if we could pray with her. She said yes and then we asked her if she was always at that corner. She said yes. Yesterday Sorella Smart and I went to find her but it was raining. I got her a book of mormon in albanian and hope to find her another day when it isnt raining and hope and pray she is there.

 

I have studied lots about christlike attributes while being out here. I was scared to teach the homeless lady but then I remembered as a missionary I am representing Christ and He would pray on the street with them.

 

I am so blessed to know these truths. They bring me peace. I hope I can help others have peace even this early in my mission by the strong one liners I have to say.

 

I am grateful for my Savior and His example. Because of him I know all is possible, because of him i want to keep trying to speak Italian and share this message of hope.

 

Love you all! Hope you have a great week!!!

 

Ciao!

 

Sorella Skinner

 

Pictures: Duomo and Gelato on the nose...i know...you cant help it here.

Peace out America!

Ciao!!!!

On Tuesday I will be leaving the states and heading to Italy! YAY!

Not much to say this week other than a few neat experiences I had.

So yesterday our teacher Sorella Teichert gave mini talks/testimonies in Italian and we each had to translate everything she said into English. I was so nervous and I was the last one so I had to wait and see everyone do a good job and was nervous I was going to butcher it but then I said a little prayer in my heart and I got up there and I knew everything she said. It was AMAZING! I know that Heavenly Father heard my prayer even though it wasnt majorly important, he heard it and helped me. He hears every sincere prayer we say because we are that important to Him. My Italian is very broken but I am trying my best and God is aware of that and so He will continue to help me as I try.

Also on Thursday we did our TRC. We skyped a real Italian and had a lesson with him! He knew English and wanted to speak English with us but we didnt let him. It was really cool. Kind of hard to hear him but amazing.

I know that all is possible through our Savior Jesus Christ. If we build our foundation on Him we can accomplish all we need in this life and the next life. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. I used to be afraid of teaching about repentance. But repentance is a beautiful blessing. It is the happiest part of the gospel that through Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of dumb things we do and strive to be like Christ and return home to our Heavenly Father. This is true joy. 

Anyway I want to just thank you all for your love and support. I have amazing friends and family. I love you all! Keep me in your prayers this week as I fly across the world to share my testimony of this beautiful gospel and the hope it brings in my life!!!

I love this gospel!!! Io so che questa chiesa e vera! (I know this church is true!) 

Io so che Dio ci ama! (I know God loves us) 

Love you all! Have a happy week.

Sorella Katelyn Skinner

 

 

Ciao popolo bello! Week 4

 Ciao!!!

My love of the gospel has increased this week! I have been at the MTC now for about a month! I only have 2 more weeks left until I get to go to ITALY!

Highlights of the week:

- Our teacher told us we could no longer use notes in our lessons. My thoughts: "What no notes???What the...how is that possible!?" Then on Sunday we had a devotional and the speaker said that it doesnt matter how our language is coming along, we could talk like a hill billy in the language but God will pick up the rest for us if we are doing our best! So on Monday and Tuesday we didnt have notes and it actually was amazing! I know that because I have faith in Jesus Christ and that I am a missionary teaching the words of God that He will help me!!! The spirit is real people, it brought things to my remembrance as I was sharing about the spirit of God!

-Fun fact: I love being a missionary! I wake up and get to put my nametag on and sometimes think what the, I am a representative of Jesus Christ! How cool is that?! We all can be, even if we arent set apart as missionaries.

-Best scripture find this week: 3 Nephi 17 (i think), Its when Christ is praying with people in America after he is resurrected. Sister Besco and I read it together and just started balling in our classroom! How neat would it be to hear Jesus Christ pray for you? And the people couldnt even write down what he said because it was just that powerful! 

-As for fun...my district still makes me so happy every day! I love my companion! She has such sincere prayers, being her companion has helped me want to have more sincere prayers. Sister Besco and Anziano Jaques quote Napolean Dynamite with me, it makes me feel at home. Our favorite we use daily after we eat our froot loops is; "This tastes like the cow got into an onion patch." Anziano Jaques can almost do a Kip voice as good Tyson Schwartz!!  

Also they sing da-who-doris from the grinch!  

The question I invite you to ask yourself today and this week is when did you know for yourself that Jesus Christ atoned for your sins? 

I want you all to know that I love my Savior. Sometimes life is hard and we want to give up but with Faith in Christ we can make it through the rough patches. We are never alone, Christ is always there!!

Love you all so much! Have a fantastic week!

Love, Sorella Skinner

 

 

 

Week #3 Half way through the MTC!

Ciao!!!!

I cant believe its week 3! I am half way through my time at the MTC! I enjoy it so much! Every morning I wake up and I just feel so blessed! Its hard to wake up at 6:30 every day but then I remember my purpose! I am a representative of Jesus Christ! How cool is that? What I learned this week is how blessed I am to know that God has a plan for us! A beautiful plan of happiness and joy! I am so glad this life is full of 2nd chances! I really loved Isaiah 53:4-7

Conference was of course AMAZING! I loved Elder Scott's talk about the little things that help us grow closer to God. And being aware of others needs, we seriously never know when we can be an answer to someones prayer.

Sunday Devo we had Vai Sikahema come! He was a great speaker! He talked about sharing his testimony on a plane ride with a lady and it having no affect on her but it had an affect on a 10 year old boy who was sitting there and helping him explain that we dont blame eve or adam for the fall! 

I could hear the BYU game from the MTC, I heard a touchdown too! Wooh! 

My favorite dessert this week was definitley an ice cream sunday with m&ms and marshmallow topping! Wooh! I cant wait for real italian food though. Gelato here I come! 

Most spiritual experience/ progress in italian! Yesterday we taught Alessandro about prayer and scripture study and how through these we grow closer to God. During these lessons I try hard to look up from my notes (which is difficult at times). But it was my turn to talk and I said one sentence that wasnt planned! And guess what? It made sense and he understood me! The spirit was so strong! The language is coming slowly but it is coming! 

Embarrassing story: (aka your favorite part) I have a little cold because the MTC is a germ magnet. I started to have a cough attack during my lesson with Martina (new person we teach). I coughed so hard I started tearing up while my companion was talking. Then it was my turn to share my testimony and I was wiping away tears haha. And I dont know if she realized it was because i was coughing but it was super funny and slightly awkward! I may be a missionary but I still am awkward! No worries friends!

Love you all! You are in my prayers!

Love, Sorella Katelyn Skinner

Ciao! Week 2! I can go the distance!

Ciao!!!

 

This week has been so great! I feel like singing that Hercules song called I can go the distance! So when I was set apart as a full time missionary for this church I was promised that I would have joy that I couldnt explain or write down. And I already feel that joy! Each day is long and hard but its so rewarding! I know more than ever that I am where I need to be! 

Ok so this week we are teaching our teacher who is playing the role of Alessandro! He is atheist and he drinks and smokes. He is hard to teach because his knowledge is very basic. It is so sad to think some people dont believe in a God who is there for you constantly to help you out. We taught Alessandro about God and that he hears and answers our prayers. We invited him to read Alma 32. I love that chapter about faith. That is the first step to come unto Christ. We cannot feel of our Heavenly Father's support and love without faith. He invited Alessandro to pray as well. I know that Heavenly Father is aware of each situation that we have. Life is hard but we are never alone. This week I have grown to be closer to my Savior then ever before and to know my Heavenly Father is there, ALWAYS! He is ready to help us and guide us if we allow him to. We have to communicate with him though! 

I love this gospel, I know its true!

I would like to invite you all to read Alma 32 and pray about it as well! It has strengthened me, I hope it strengthens you. 

Quotes of the week from district 33C:

"I feel sick to my stomach with Satan!"

"One time I was on my bus for track and I had potato soup but I didnt have a spoon so I used my keys"

Oh these friends help me out as well. We are constantly laughing and feeling the spirit!

Love you all! Have a good week!

Sorella Skinner

 

Ciao!! From the MTC!

Family and Friends,

I made it my first week at the MTC! Yahoo!!! Okay so, it has most definitely been the most challenging and rewarding thing I have ever done in my whole life! Italian is very hard, I walked into class that first day and I just laughed the whole time, the teacher doesnt speak english to us so that is hard but good. The MTC food, I am used to it now, most of it just tastes like nothing now! I like the cookies and the brownies best. I have always loved my dessert. My companion is awesome! She is 24, her birthday was yesterday so our zone stole like 10 cookies each from lunch and we made her a cake and stuff! So fun! She is half korean and her family is not active in our church! She is such a great example to me! She also minored in Italian in school so she is a few steps ahead of me but so patient with me! 

Every time I begin to doubt my being here something happens that changes my perspective. A very neat experience was being about to watch the rededication of the Ogden Temple! It was very cool. Feelings came back of being in the temple with my family and the joy that cant be explained being there! I also thought about my grandpa limburg who grew up in Odgen! I love temples and I am so excited I get to go every Pday!  I want my Italian friends to feel that joy of feeling close to heaven and their families.

I have never felt closer to my Savior being here! He literally knows every feeling I have had while being here. He struggles when I struggle. And even though the struggling is difficult I feel such love from my Savior. We are never alone! He is always there! I cant boast in myself, I will boast in my God for he knows everything! I pray like crazy here and I know he hears my prayers. 

So far I have learned my purpose in Italian and the first vision! Very cool! We asked our investigator (who is really a member who is acting) to be baptized on our 4th lesson and she said yes! It is hard to understand her in italian but the spirit is definitley there! No doubt!

Elder Ballard came and spoke at devotional last night! That was awesome! He said to enjoy your mission now and that it will prepare you for the rest of your life! He said each soul is important to God! And I believe thats true. This mission will be hard but I know there is one person I need to help come unto Christ and I am so anxious to find that person! 

I love this gospel! I love the MTC!  l love my district! It is so fun here! Even when its tough there are amazing examples all around me that cheer me up!

My camera wont let me upload photos so hopefully by next week I will have an SD card reader so you can see me and my comp and district!

Love you millions! You are in my prayers!

Love, Sorella Skinner 

 

P.S. This is Katelyn's Mom. I finally figured out the picture thing!

 

 

Sorry Mister, I'm a Sister

I really struggled picking a new name for my blog. I love being Katie-bug in the Burg! But I am no longer going to be in the Burg for the next 18 months and that is weird for me. But I am thrilled to be going to Milan, Italy! I had a few thoughts and suggestions but a Sister from my mission facebook page suggested "Sorry Mister, I'm a Sister!" That's right for 18 months I am off limits and handing myself over to the Lord! I feel so very blessed!

My mom is going to post on this blog my weekly emails for my readers!!! Good luck to you all these next few months!!

Love, Sorella Katelyn Skinner

10 things that melt my heart

1. Sitting with family watching the beautiful fountains in Boise. (While listening to Save the Last Dance for Me)

2. Laughing and crying about 14 year old Katelyn with my family. (no picture for your eyes, sorry)

3. Having Homemade lasagna for Sunday dinner made by Alisa Skinner.( Best mommy!)

4. Talking to people at my sister's reception who I had not seen in forever that were so genuine.

5. Playing tennis with the skilled Marc Skinner.(Who do you think won?;))

6. Going to lunch (Dairy Queen--love their gravy and chicken strips) with handsome Mitch Skinner.

7. Karie Anne's Gelato Date night with Kinny, Trey, and Kori! (best date ever?!)

8. Saying cya later to dear friends that will probably all be hitched when I am back and family that will grow and change a little. (tears but cheers)

9. Shooting baskets with my family. (Trey has got skiiiiilllls)

10. Having Trey share his testimony in church and tell me how proud he is of me and how he wants to serve a mission someday too! :)

So grateful my Heavenly Father has blessed me with these moments before I head off to Italy in 10 days!!! I know He is aware of my life and will bless my family while I am across the world!

Home is where the lake is.

The past few weeks I got to escape from the Burg and go to my favorite place on earth, the lake! It is the trip I look forward to every summer. It is my home. Everything about it makes joyful, even our random Hawaiian punch guy we see every year! I love not wearing makeup. I love not worrying about a care in the world except trying to get a good burn, I mean tan. I love catching up with old friends and family who knew me in my awkward years, oh wait!

Cya in Summer 2016 CDA Lake!

Car hair at its best and flirting with the starbucks worker, why not?

Mother Daughter Lake Selfie

 

 

Tube tanning

 

 

No one will drink out of your cup if you write random person on it. Oh Trey.

Noodle Man.

Dad painting my nails!

Great ladies, great view.

Trying out the new tube with my handsome brother

 

 

Sistas

Trey is a daredevil!

Sunset walk

Random fact about me: I love puzzles. This year we did an Italy puzzle. And when I say we I mean me and my mom. When I told Avarie that someday I will find a man who wants to do puzzles with me, and I will marry that man. Her response, "So you are going to marry an 80 year old man?"

Mom, I'm sorry but I feel very hipster, take a picture.

Mom, am I a nerd?...just laughs.



 

My Best Friend's Wedding

Readers, you are probably even debating on even reading this post. I can feel you saying to yourself, oh great, this is going to be one of those sappy posts about how much she loves her sister and is going to cry on the wedding day and miss her when she is gone to Italy, blah, blah, blah. And you are right, it kind of is, but with some spunk. What you don't understand is although our relationship isn't perfect, she is my best friend and I am soooo excited that she found herself a best boyfriend forever!

Instead of being super sappy I wanted to share with you a few fun memories that take us back to the 90s! Woot!!!

 

We loved this group growing up, Bewitched. We have a home video of Ave, Mitch, and me dancing around the living room singing this to our grandparents! Our dance moves involved shaking hands with each other (still our best moves to this day;)).

 

 

We loved/still love Parent Trap, Sister Sister, Gilmore Girls, our truest sister show is anything involving Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Avarie was Ashley and I was Mary-Kate. To this day we still watch Full House re-runs and their movies even though they are pretty stupid and cheesy, we still love them. It pleases me even more that she is marrying Jared Olsen and going to be an Olsen!? WHAT?!! Shivers run throughout me every time I think about that!

 

A story to sum up our sisterhood: When Avarie was about 6 and I was 4. My mom was out of the house and Avarie and I were just chilling inside. I was coloring and then Avarie was curious to play with mom's spinning brush. While playing with it Ave's hair got stuck in the brush. She came running to me and said very calmly, "Katelyn my hair is stuck in the brush." Me being the very dramatic four year old that I was, I thought it was the end of the world and that we would have to chop all of Avarie's hair off. So of course my reaction was a bloody murder cry! Then Avarie started crying because that made her scared, plus she was probably not thrilled about my reaction. As mom came to the front window she saw us in our perfect picture front window balling our eyes out. That is my favorite childhood memory that I wanted to share. We have many more memories like that, they will never be shared in order to keep the semi normal status in life. Lets just say sometimes I bring that drama back.

I am in the orange jacket, Ave is in the yellow jacket. Still to this day she helps me when I am struggling and having my blonde moments. Who knew that it is probably best to put water ski's on in the water? Who knew to make scrambled eggs you should probably scramble the eggs and milk in a bowl instead of mixing them on the pan? (Thanks Aves;)) 

The point of this post is to show Avarie and friends how much I love my sister and though we have had our rough patches we love and forgive and continue to have fun. Isn't that how every good relationship should be? Yes we know that we are imperfect but we get over it. We realize that each person is going to goof up and we get through it together and love them anyway!!  Even at 15 years later I still cry when my sister is in pain and cry when she has excitement in her life! I literally tell her every fun thing that happens in my life. When I see a cute boy, she is the first to know, when I dump a boy and am single, I call her and sing "Single Ladies" to her. Although I am at times a hyper mess, Avarie loves me despite it and tells me to chill when I need to grow up. I can always count on my best friend to pull me through crazy times. I cannot wait to help my best friend on her wedding day and help her look and feel like the beautiful angel that she is. I look forward to Jared joining in on our goofball friendship and making my sisters life even happier!

Avarie, I love you, thanks for being an awesome older sister!!

From North to the South...Idaho Style

When people ask me where I am from, although it has been seven years since I moved from Moscow, Idaho I still feel like up there is my true home. I love the Burg still and moving here is possibly the best thing that happened to me. But sometimes I miss the rolling hills, I miss my family and some friends, I miss beautiful Lake CDA, I miss the simple Moscow pool, I miss hippies, and I miss diverse people!!!

Here are some pictures from some exciting things of summer so far. Life is busy because I am working and trying to get ready to leave in 70 days but I feel extremely blessed for the support you all are giving me and the prayers in my preparations.

Laughs at the lake on Kinny's birthday

Grandma Limburg came for a visit for when I went through the temple!

Chilling with my favorite man at my favorite place!

New glasses!!

Rigby Lake...we got a paddleboard this year. Not my favorite lake but its what we got 10  minutes from my house.

 

DADS and HAGS

HAGS- that awful acronym that people write in your yearbook if they don't care about talking to you ever again. But seriously I hope you blog readers are having a great summer.

Okay so it may be cliché on this day but I have to talk about my dad, my two grandpas, and my Heavenly Father.

Dad: My dad is one of my best friends. He is the hardest worker. He is young at heart. No matter how crummy my day is going he can pull me out of it. He has the funnest facial expressions which I am still trying to master. He is athletic. He is a professional omelet and hamburger maker. He is a shoe expert. He is WAY smarter than our GPS (Lost Lori). He makes a better gun sound effect than I ever could. He is intelligent. He is fun. He is spiritual. He is amazing. I love him.

Grandpa Skinner: Grandpa Skinner is an amazing person. He treats everyone like they are his best buddies. He is a musician and can play so many instruments! He gives the best hugs in the world. He makes the best sandwiches. He is easy to talk to. If you are emotional already or even not emotional he is good at making you feel loved and cry. He wears Hollister cologne. He is intelligent. He
 is spiritual. He is amazing. I love him.

Grandpa Limburg: Grandpa Limburg was a spectacular man. Though he passed away about nine years ago, I still feel a connection with him. He was kind to everyone. He stood up for his beliefs without offending anyone. He was a great teacher. He showed me magic tricks. He read books to me and acted out every voice in perfect character. He swam with me at the lake. He was funny. He was patient. He loved every minute of life. He was quite the charmer in snatching my grandma. Though he is no longer here on earth I believe that God had another plan for him. He needed his sweet spirit to help out up there. I know that I will see him again and be able to grow a better relationship with him. I feel him near when I am at the temple. I know that is the place where families can be bound on earth and will be bound in heaven after this life.

My Heavenly Father: My Heavenly Father is the most loving of all. He is incredible. He knows me perfectly. He sees the whole picture. He sees my full potential (even if I may be a goof). He is merciful. He is willing to forgive me after I have done wrong. He has blessed me with a wonderful family on earth. He has blessed us all with prophets for this day to guide and direct us. He has blessed us all with the power of God on earth today. He really has blessed us with EVERYTHING! He trusts us to do our best. He knows what we are capable of. He wants us to return to live with Him. He hears and answers our prayers. He loves hearing from us daily. He has given us all the chance to learn and grow and if we strive to do our absolutely best, we can be a God like Him someday.

No picture of Him. But here is a picture from yesterday when I chopped 7 inches off my hair! Sometimes I can't believe that he is sending my goofball self to Italy. But if the Lord says go to Italy, what the heck, go to Italy!!

I love all these incredible men in my life. I feel extremely blessed.

HAGS.

Are you a Soccer Mom? You go girl!

As I have said before living at home I get spoiled, a lot. One luxury of living at home is that I get to borrow a car. Mitch is most the time driving our Honda civic and my dad his truck and that leaves my mom and I with the van. WOOT! And can I just say I love the looks I get driving around campus in a van. The expression on students faces is priceless and I know what they are thinking. Is she a student or faculty? Nope she has got to be faculty. She is a soccer mom!!! Let them think that. I rock that van look!

 This week I had fun splurging on many fun lunch dates with my old roommate Darbie and my new friend Blake. It's probably not my best idea to have a chocolate crepe for lunch and a large fry from McDonalds for dinner but when you work from 8-11 then 5-11. Its what you do. And I have made up for it by eating salads for most meals since. A fear I have about going to Italy, its kind of a fake fear but it could be real. I am going to be eating well because well duh I am going to Italy (the land of carbs!). I am a little bit afraid that I am going to gain tons and come home a fatty, I know I will be walking and people compare me to twigs but its still a huge fear.

 I would like to introduce you to this invention. Its a Go Girl. To be blunt its used for girls to pee in the wilderness. They sell them at the Missionary Mall and I about died. Some may say I should've gotten one but seriously I would be laughing so hard before using it I would probably wet my pants before I got to go girl. Plus I don't camp out, I cabin. Duh. Indoor pluming for life!!