2 YEARS.
i am such a nostalgic.
i love to remember dates.
i know i have talked about this before ..
but i love to remember what i did the years before.
i like comparing them to the present.
i like to think.
i like to see what other people were doing at the same time.
its so interesting to me.
SO ..
2 YEARS AGO ..
i flew to the WMM.
i left the Provo MTC and got on a plane with 6 Elders.
we made the flight across the US safe and sound.
i remember a lot of things about that day.
feeling SO inadequate was def #1.
but we all went forth.
these fine young men and i.
the only thing we knew was we were to get off the plane in the Wiscons and find our President Barrett!
[my elders!]
President Barrett loves his Sisters!
i remember him coming up to me.
shaking my hand and just looking at me for a moment.
and then i quote ..
"Sister Warner. Your hair is a lot darker than your missionary photo!"
yep.
platinum blonde to dark brown.
the following day ..
SEPTEMBER 3rd 2008
that was an adventure.
we were all very anxious.
we were going to meet our ..
TRAINERS.
your everything in the mission.
this entire post goes out to my beloved
MAMA HOOD.
now jones. she will always be my sister hood!
as we were in the transfer van the APs were saying how much i was going to LOVE my trainer.
all they said was ..
"she will have you running from house to house!"
oh man.
did that freak me out!
BUT ..
i quickly learned that
PRESIDENT BARRETT is an INSPIRED MAN.
SISTER PAULETTE HAILEY HOOD.
she is my mother.
i am proud to be her daughter and of the Hood Legacy.
[i will explain later.]
[the day we met. 2 years ago.]
she called me earthy. i guess i look it right here!
but she soon found out i was from LA!
the adventures started and never ceased.
my mama was/is the best.
i REALLY wanted to KNOW WHY the Lord sent ME to WISCONS.
i expressed this burning desire to my mentor.
she prayed for me everyday for the Lord to show me WHY.
the answers came flooding around me.
one was our sweet corry.
[photos on fb.]
a special girl. an amazing experience.
another was baird creek road.
driving. soft music. sunshine through the trees.
simple and small confirmation.
we also covered STURGEON BAY.
the peninsula of wisco.
i really wanted to go there as soon as we could.
the little red lighthouse and families won my heart.
[algoma, wi]
i did my first tracting here.
every door shut in my face. almost cried.
but sister hood had my back and picked me up!
NEVER does anyone LOVE the Barretts more than Hood and I.
well maybe pammy jo black too!
sister hood also convinced me to CHOP MY HAIR OFF.
i did it. i listened. i am glad i did.
[it was a fun little do']
my mama helped me not only to see the literal beauty of wiscon but she taught me how to see the gospel literally change the lives of others.
just as the fall leaves changed.
she was OBSESSED with wisco.
i became OBSESSED with wisco.
she taught me the true meaning of love.
[door county, wi]
NEVER did anyone love the ROBERTSONS more!
these are our girls and our mama robertson.
THE LORD BLESSES US!
[lisa.annie.jocelyn.]
she liked to strangle me sometimes. i was ok with it.
i knew her love was more!
and it was usually just a photo opp.
[the gb dist.]
HOOD is the most COMPETITIVE person i've EVER met.
i would say ask her husband now.
she was dared to eat a CENTURY OLD EGG.
she did it.
[100 year old egg.]
we have many nicknames for each other.
mama rex and baby t.
thank you neville public museum.
but no thanks for NOT letting us volunteer.
[baby t. mama rex.]
fall brought halloween.
halloween brought the POPPINGAS.
brady poppina = GB Packer Line Backer?!
Poppingas brought ..
this.
like i said.
the adventures NEVER ceased.
it was DEF hood's idea to try and fit a bike box in a mini coop.
it failed.
luckly the ZL's had a van.
thank you e.hawkes and e.jolley for saving the day!
[thank you jrib and fami for the mini coop and driving us everywhere!]
promise we did ACTUAL missionary work!
on to the HOOD LEGACY.
hood trained a greenie right after she was done being a greenie.
she REALLY wanted one of her girls to do the same.
carry on the legacy.
hafen - girl #1
warner - girl #2
sometimes i still think Pres is crazy!
he asked me to train right after hood trained me.
the legacy lived on!
the coolest part was that hafen trained too!
at the same time!
[matching is required among sisters. not really.]
hafen was older than me in the mission.
i was terrified!
but my mama gave me AMAZING advice AND confidence.
she is the best.
[especially with those bangs! i am glad you cut them every saturday night.]
MY MAMA HOOD.
i havent seen you since this day.
november 26th, 2008
its been WAY too long.
Thank you for your inspiration.
for teaching me how missionary work gets done.
how to listen to the spirit.
how to plan.
how to find.
how to work with the members.
how to use the gospel in everything.
how to always teach.
how to reach our circle of influence.
how to be a missionary who knows.
how to increase faith.
how to look cute as a sister missionary.
how to have fun and work hard.
how to never give up.
how to keep running.
and most importantly ..
HOW TO BE SISTER MELANIE ELIZABETH WARNER
your legacy lives on ..
the HOOD / WARNER posterity is safe in the WMM!
[and then came the first generation of the warner line .. sister black! my soul sister.]
I LOVE YOU MAMA HOOD.
i miss you terribly.
you are gonna be the best mother to littlest ruby [elizabeth]
and you have the best hubby.
OUR REUNION ..
OCTOBER 1st 2010
its happening.
