Hi honey, I'm home...

Have been for six months now, but still.

Oh how time flies.

It's been a wild ride.

One of my favorite questions since being home: 

"So! You just got home from a mission. What are you up to now?"

*by favorite I totally mean least favorite. Repetitive small talk kills me.

...

I'm working - I'm a paralegal.

No, I do not have a boyfriend.

(I do have a lot of GREAT awkward being-single stories though. Ask me sometime.)

I'm not currently in school - but yes I do have plans to return.

No, I do not know what I want to study. It's something I'm working on.

I'm 22 years old.

I'm living with roommates in Salt Lake City.

I go to a YSA (Young Single Adult) ward.

I have a calling in the church.

No, I am not trying to tell you my life story in an effort to get a blind date set up...

Did it kind of sound like I was?

I feel like it might have.

Please excuse the break we're having some technical difficulties*.

We'll return to the scheduled event in one moment.

*Technical difficulties in this situation meaning awkwardness.

...

Hi, thanks for waiting.

Sorry 'bout those technical difficulties.

Have I been home too long to claim that my awkwardness is because I'm a returned missionary?

Let's just pretend that my awkwardness is endearing and move on...

What this post was meant to be was an update to let you know that I'm happy and I'm doing well.

Reasons why I love being home:

-food

-family

-old and new friends

-opportunities to serve in church callings

-UTAH <3 <3 <3

-hiking

-seasons changing

-pumpkin hunting

-not missing friends' weddings

-very soon it's going to SNOW

-Netflix (not even going to lie. It might be an addiction.)

-brand-new-to-me car

-Mission Reunions

-the temple

-mermaid blankets

-hammocks

-concerts

Ask any returned missionary and they'll tell you that it's a mix of emotions.

I miss the mission and the people more than I ever thought I would.

And I also love being home.

Secret: my favorite part of being home is the food.

One thing that I've repeatedly learned in the mission and since I've been home is that I don't know who or where I would be without the gospel.

I'm so happy I chose to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I'm so happy that I chose to serve a mission.

And what brings me JOY more than anything is that I have the knowledge that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. That He suffered, died, and was resurrected for each one of us. That God is our Heavenly Father. That He and Christ love us, individually and infinitely.

Tell me, how do you measure happiness?

Is it in smiles, hugs, tacos consumed, temple visits, etc?

I'm not sure.

But I know that in whatever way you measure happiness, I sure do have a lot of it.

-Miss Hill