I like your shoes.

Hey! So I have not written anything in months and I have the feeling when school starts again in two weeks that it will be the same. But I am going to try to take a minute every Sunday to write something down that I hope inspires you and makes you laugh either with or at me.

This week I went to Sams Club with my Mamma. I love Sams Club and Costco. Samples. Do I even have to explain myself? That in itself is worth going there to get crackers with fancy cheese and juices and salami or whatever else they give you for free!

So after Mamma Skinner and I were about done shopping, I ran to the bathroom. And random fact don't you just love those vacuum things that dry your hands? Because I do. Well I walk out and my mom is in the middle of checking out and I felt awkward going in line with her so I sat at one of those food court tables near where they sell the pizza, churros, and sundaes. I sat down for a few minutes and am just looking around. I look at my shoes and realize that my new white converse have a small gray stain on them. Then out of no where a cute 10 year old skips on over in front of me and tells me she likes my shoes. I thanked her but she continued to just stare at me so we continued to talk for about five minutes. We just had a random conversation about families and her cute outfit she had on that she claimed was her "best outfit from California."

My mom then came over (took this picture) and I could tell I needed to leave the girl. I didn't get to know this girl very well (I didn't want to seem like a creepy 21 year old), I didn't even ask for her name. But I do know this much, she was an angel sent to me that day. It wasn't like my day was awful, my day was pretty good. I was shopping with my mom! Yet, I cannot help but think this girl was an angel sent to me by a loving Father in Heaven reminding me that life is so good. I am grateful that this little girl had the courage to come tell me she liked my shoes and took time to talk to me. It might seem like nothing but really it made my day. A 10 year old girl in a pineapple t-shirt.

My miracle minute this week goes to the girl who simply told me she liked my shoes. So I challenge you this week to go compliment someone or talk to them because you will help remind them that there is good in this world and that God loves them.

Also I decided to change my blog name. The purpose of my blog is going to be spiritual motivation mainly for myself but also anyone who wants to read it. One thing I loved about my mission was that I found daily miracles. I have noticed since being home I haven't noticed them as much because I am not constantly looking for them. I know that miracles are out there and that God sends us people or experiences that are miracles. We have the chance to be apart of these miracles as well if we act and sometimes, we are the miracles!

If you just jump in it won't be scary!

Hey!

I still do not have a name for my blog. So I guess my title just makes me look like I am a nun but that's fine for now.
Today was my first day going back to the Singles Ward. Don't really know what to say about that. The spirit was definitely the same. Just the back rubbing and checking out was a little more intense. #whattoexpect

The first week of school was good and intense as well! This semester I am working and taking 14 credits! Pretty crazy but a good crazy.

Today I am thinking lots about my brother, Elder Mitchel Skinner. He is my hero. He is so brave. I remember when we were younger and he had no fear at all. We have a home video when he is just jumping into the lake like a mad man and I am just over in the corner freaking out (swimming scared me growing up)! He said to me "If you just jump in it won't be scary!" I jumped in and as I jumped my body turned back towards the dock ready to climb up on the dock as quickly as possible after I came back up out of the water. I made it safely back up on the dock and my five year old brother at the time was right, I jumped in and it wasn't too scary.


This phrase has stuck with me through some of my hard times on my mission and I know it applies to me even now. Out in the mission field it was scary to stop people on the street and try to speak with them in Italian. The most beautiful language on earth! Haha I can only imagine what they were thinking as I spoke my caveman Italian at the beginning of my mission. I decided to stop caring what people thought and just jump in, and when I decided to just jump in, it wasn't scary.

So what is it I am trying to say to my three blog followers? Don't be scared? Yeah, pretty much. The world wants you to think that you cannot do it, most of the time you might even come to think that yourself. I know that the loving God who created us does not fill our minds with those thoughts. We absolutely can do this. Whatever that "this" is. Maybe it is graduating high school, choosing a major for college, having a kid, asking that cute girl out in your chemistry class (okay maybe it's physics), choosing to eat Taco Bell or Costa Vida (clearly it should be Costa Vida), what job to take, or which house to buy. I am sure that whatever is worrying us is important to the Lord and that the last thing He wants us to be is scared. I know if we trust in Him, we won't worry as much. So let us have joy! Let us pray to our Father in Heaven daily so that when the hard scary decisions come and we feel we have received an answer from Him, we can "just jump in and it won't be scary!"

This week let's jump in and not be too scared!

Summer 2014

First day in Italy, jumping in!

Give me a name!

Ciao Tutti! Hey everyone! So I am back. I am happy to be back in Idaho. Ok, wait, I am happy to be back with my family and friends in Idaho. I miss Italy, I miss speaking Italian, I miss Italian food, I miss eating gelato (ice cream is not the same, so I guess I am a food critic) I miss my friends, I miss serving the Lord, but I plan on not being one of those super depressed return missionaries.

 Happiness is a choice! I am happy for my mission and for the people I met along the way. I am grateful that Heavenly Father gave me the opportunity to meet His children and share the love He has for them. I know He loves us more than we know or feel. I know the Lord needed me there telling people that for 18 months and now He needs me here. Now I get to go finding in a different way...like finding my future eternal companion. Just kidding, I still enjoy receiving handshakes.

Anyway, I need you to give me a name. I am no longer a sister missionary. The tag is off, the sandals are on!

The Skinner gang has been trying to help me think of new names for my blog. I am not going to go back to Katiebug in the Burg because people at college before my mission started calling me Katie and that is only okay if your name is Tera Schwartz or if you are in the Skinner family.

These are Dad's ideas:

I'm Kate...looking for a mate!

Back in school...fool!

I'm wearing jeans!

Italian at heart!

Looking for my next companion...

Good news Mister...I'm not a sister!

I fed His sheep...don't be a creep. (This is my personal favorite)

Mom's ideas:
My mom is the bomb
I am a gem, if you're an RM.

Trey's idea:

Winner winner, chicken Skinner.

Kinny's idea:

I'm Kate, lookin' for a date. 

Please give me name ideas if you think of any! Or vote for one of these names! Normal names are acceptable as well. (Please)  Just something maybe better than "The life of Katelyn Skinner."

Okay, thanks! Happy Sunday!

Oh yeah and pictures, sorry to be over the top.

Time to say goodbye

How I miss Sorella Visconti! My French companion I got to see before I left.

Leaving a note on the love wall or whatever. 

I am home and I have got some great cheerleaders, I would not have made it without them!

See! They are just so great!

Thank you Rebecca Johnston for your awesome photography skills! 

I leave with you my testimony...

Ciao Tutti !


I remember scared Sorella skinner coming to Italy on the plane. Not
knowing what to expect not being sure if I could do it. I had
questions and I was a missionary. How is that possible? And I come out
of my mission still having questions. However...I cannot explain how
much I have learned and how incredible I think our Heavenly Father is.
I know he knows me perfectly. I know my struggles and pains matter to
him enough that he didn't want me to face them alone.  So he gave me a
savior who knows how to help me. I know that he has led and guided me
these past eighteen months. "In moments of distress and grief my soul
has often found relief."
I've been protected and led to help my brothers and sisters in Italy.
I have seen Gods hand in this work every single day....even the harder
days. I have grown a testimony of the restoration of the gospel. I
know that the Book of Mormon is true. I found comfort in this book
when I wish I had my mom or dad to talk to....I turned to the
scriptures and God comforted me.

I found a great testimony by elder uchtdorf that I want to share.
It must have been this kind of testimony that transformed the Savior’s
Apostles from fearful, doubting men into fearless, joyful emissaries
of the Master. In the hours following His Crucifixion, they were
consumed with despair and grief, unable to understand what had just
happened. But one event changed all of that. Their Lord appeared to
them and declared, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.”
When the Apostles recognized the risen Christ--when they experienced
the glorious Resurrection of their beloved Savior--they became
different men. Nothing could keep them from fulfilling their mission.
They accepted with courage and determination the torture, humiliation,
and even death that would come to them because of their testimony.
They were not deterred from praising and serving their Lord. They
changed the lives of people everywhere. They changed the world.
You do not need to see the Savior, as the Apostles did, to experience
the same transformation. Your testimony of Christ, born of the Holy
Ghost, can help you look past the disappointing endings in mortality
and see the bright future that the Redeemer of the world has prepared.
Elder uchtdorf


I leave you with my testimony that I know the Lord Jesus Christ lives.
I have not seen him. But I have felt him in my life. And this has come
through searching for his help and humbling myself a lot. I can never
thank him enough for what he has done for me. I will continue to look
to my savior and know him because I know it doesn't stop here. I have
lots more to learn.

I love these Italians so much. They have a special place in my heart.
They have taught me lots. I know the Lord needed me here in Italy. And
I can't thank him enough for the experiences I have had. I am sad it
will soon be over but I know he needed me here these past 18 months
and now he needs me back home with my beautiful family and friends. He
has a plan for me!

Love you all! I will see you soon everyone. But not too soon...first I
get to travel Italy and visit my friends here in Italy with my two
best friends!

Love,
Sorella Skinner

No better feeling than that!

Tutti!!!

Aiuto!!! It's March. But we don't talk about that.

The opera was soooo fun!!! I felt fancy. The scala is beautiful and
hen also we climbed the duomo today!

Cimiano is a place of miracles!!! Ok so last week was bumpy for us but
we grew lots. And this week we are doing three exchanges which is
crazy but fun!!! I got to go on exchange with Sorella distante from
Rome. She is amazing!!! Man I love these italians. She is hard
working...we talked to every person God put in our path and the spirit
prompted us to talk to. We testified lots of the Book of Mormon.

I have a testimony that the book of Mormon is the word of God and that
with the bible and the Book of Mormon we can have a fullness of truth
and do all our father in heaven wants of us. I know God continues to
speak to us today and we are not left in darkness but we have his
words that can strengthen us day by day.

I share with you guys 2 Nephi 29
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word?
Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you
that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another?
Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another.
And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two
nations shall run together also.

9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same
yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words
according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one
word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is
not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither
from that time henceforth and forever.

God loves you. Oh how he loves you. I know it because I know he loves
me. I have felt his love he has for the people in Italy. I know that
the Book of Mormon shows us even more that God loves us and answers
our prayers. Please if you haven't read this book in awhile or ever I
invite you to read it and pray about it. I promise you will feel even
more the love God has for you. And there is no better feeling than
that.

Love you!!!
Sorella skinner