for the "wailing wall"

you know, that place in church where they hang all the pictures of missionaries so the moms can walk by and proudly say, "that one's mine"...?

that's what these are for...

fotos by mcfotography

Movies I Need To See...

...Because they are set in Chicago (Chitown? Right?) Lets get real...there isn't enough time. However, it was fun to make the list.

Movies set in Chicago

Baby’s day out

Blues brothers

The break up

Bugsy malone

Cheaper by the dozen

Chicago

The dilemma

Dick tracy

Ferris beuler’s day off

The fugitive

Girls just want to have fun

Home alone 1,2, and 3

Hope floats (partly in Chitown)

I, robot

The lake house

A league of their own

Mean girls

Meet the parents

Miracle on 34^th street

My best friends wedding

My big fat greek wedding

Never been kissed

Prelude to a kiss

Return to me

Robin hood and the 7 hoods

Rooky of the year

Save the last dance

Shall we dance?

Sleepless in seattle (and Chicago)

Some like it hot

Stolen summer

Straight talk

Stranger than fiction

Tommy boy (parts)

Wayne's world 1&2

A wedding

When harry met sally

While you were sleeping

I've got 3 months still...so thats doable right? haha...right...! Crazy that my mission is so famous in show biz!

I may need to watch the movies put up by my mission pres. too!...and read all of the blog posts of Sis. Pres. I'm so glad I found her blog! It has definitely helped fight some anxiety knowing that she is just like Mom! (she's obsessive about centerpieces and everything!...they have to be kindred spirits)

Dear Sister Madison Anne Moffat,

You have been called to serve in the Illinois Chicago Mission. You will report to the Prove MTC on September 21st. You will be prepared to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.

Awesome! I am so excited! I was worried that I would have doubts or negative thoughts about where I am called, but I fasted and prayed that I would be content with where I am called. No worries here-I am totally stoked! I know its where the Lord wants me to serve. Let the preparation begin!

Where will Sister Moffat serve? *Give Away*

My cute and creative Bloggy sister has started a give away to the person who can comment on her blog with the most correct guess of the where/what/whens of my mission call! Go check it out! You won't want to miss out.

The winner gets a $20 iTunes gift card!

P.S. Everyone that guesses is put into a drawing for a $10 iTunes gift card.

Hurry and guess cause once I get my call (hopefully Thurs. afternoon) I will have a call and the guessing will be finished and the winners (and my call) will be announced!

Click here to guess.

Sitting on Pins and Needles

...is a triple entendre.

If you need definitions:

Pins & Needles - implies that one is anxious and nervous about what will happen

A double entendre is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. ...or in this case 3 ways The first meaning is literal. Mom and I have tried to school ourselves in organization and have used the sewing/laundry/card/jewelry/ironing/project/storage room as our first quest. It has taken us 3 days to clean sweep. However!-here stands the room in all of its masking tape labeled glory! So glorious. We didn't have the heart to take a before picture or the living room full of all of the contents of the previously unusable room. Way to go mom!...(also not pictured is the boxes of Ebay and garage sale items. [coming on a Saturday in the near future to you and your spending pleasure]. Another literal meaning is the sitting I did at the doc's as I got pinned and needled as I got blood samples, TB tested, and a shot. Fun times!...haha...well maybe not entirely. Who likes to go through a physical? I DO!!! Especially if it means that I AM GOING ON A MISSION!!! That's right baby! Which brings me to the implied definition of the phrase. I am so so excited to go on a mission. I have only been planning to go for a month now and I already have my papers *80% filled out. Such a whirlwind! In the rush I think I have freaked myself out. I have begun to be apprehensive to go because of all the unknowns...unknowns, but totally manageable with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. After a meltdown to Mama and a good scripture study I felt the excitement again. I have made a few changes in the plan [**setting my availability date for a month after my B-day in Sept so I could be to my nieces baptism/allowing myself a bit more time before I turn everything in]. I was reminded of this gem by Elder Holland "With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. “Cast not away therefore your confidence.” Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you." I have expected there to be pins and needles...but I'm going to simply focus on getting prepared. After all "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). Bring it on. *Actually, I am 100% done with my papers. I had my last 2 interviews on Sunday and they are off to Salt Lake! I should be expecting a call next week! Crazy :) **Actually, my availability date is only a week after my b-day now...so not too many changes really. Bring on the guesses too! :)

I have a problem

...its alias is productivity...

but it really goes by the name of "Crafty/Sewing/Fashion Blogs."

I'm freakin obsessed!

I just spent the last 45 minutes looking up more blogs to stalk. I get so many great ideas and I get really excited about all of the projects I'm going to start for my room or my wardrobe. But as my Aunt Glenna kindly reminded me: "Its just not your time Maddi." Sigh...if only. Check out some of my obsessions on the lower righthand side. (...If you don't have time to waste, but waste it anyways because you just can't help yourself.) Let me know which one is your favorite/what project you would just love to start!

P.S. yes I will be going to Goodwill this Sat. for 1/2 off day...even though there is a whole butt load of things going on that day...because I have a problem.

I will not be blogging tomorrow.

Dear Japan,

I'm praying for you.

And yes for you I will also refrain from blogging tomorrow.

Love, Me

P.S. You see its funny because...I don't blog.

We may...

Choose Something Like a Star

Once upon a time I was crazy sick with strep. I had a fever, shivers, headaches, sore throat, earaches etc. So...naturally I spent the whole weekend watching amazing shows on TV like "Say Yes To The Dress" or movies with beautiful acting like "Step Up 2 The Streets." Amazing. (P.S. I have chloraseptic and "Serendipity" in my hand at this very moment.)

In one of my hazes mom calls me into the computer room to listen to a song. This song was special with great significance to her. Here I am to document the experience she told me. So cool: Back when Mom was my age the stakes from all over picked 4 singers from each stake to go to the conference center at Utah University...or University of Utah? (Correct me here mom...)

[P.S. While I was talking about this later to the PU (parental unit) Dad starts to remember the same experience. He was totally there! Other songs included: A choral medley of songs from the musical "The Fantastiks," "Windy" by The Association, and "Up Up and Away" by The Fifth Dimension. Also included in our chat: tears and giggles from the memory.]

With the conference center full of maybe 5,000 youth they sang this song (with a full orchestra). This beautiful song with an amazing message. What a great life changing experience!

I'm so grateful to be a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There are so many opportunities for inspiration and growth in the programs of the church like the completely unique YSA conference my parents got to be a part of.

Watch a video of images from the hubble telescope and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing that song here

Choose Something Like A Star

by Robert Frost - 1947

O Star (the fairest one in sight),

We grant your loftiness the right

To some obscurity of cloud --

It will not do to say of night,

Since dark is what brings out your light.

Some mystery becomes the proud.

But to be wholly taciturn

In your reserve is not allowed.

Say something to us we can learn

By heart and when alone repeat.

Say something! And it says "I burn."

But say with what degree of heat.

Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.

Use language we can comprehend.

Tell us what elements you blend.

It gives us strangely little aid,

But does tell something in the end.

And steadfast as Keats' Eremite,

Not even stooping from its sphere,

It asks a little of us here.

It asks of us a certain height,

So when at times the mob is swayed

To carry praise or blame too far,

We may choose something like a star

To stay our minds on and be staid.

(Keats' Eremite = hermit. Its a reference to a poem by Keats where he wants to take a moment had with his lover and store it way like a hermit hides from civilization, to make it last forever. Constant.)

How beautiful is the phrase "To stay our minds and be staid"? My new theme for the semester is found.

Reminded me of this. And also this.

Working on getting my constant in place. Work is my new favorite.

Take 5 steps forward and 2 steps back...

lady monthly sicknesses = 2 lbs gained for the week.

However! I'm ok with this...and life goes on! I am kicking this weight loss' butt!

I'll have some good numbers this next week guaranteed.

(The important thing...mom has lost 9 pounds in the last 3 weeks!

Hip hip hoorays may be in order...)

In other news: I'm back in school and loving my classes!...mostly because of the fun friends that I have in them. Last semester I was just getting to know everyone and was learning how the whole music college thing went. So, now I know how to get in there, get organized, and get all of the practicing, prioritizing, and playing that needs to be done.

Fun things about being a music student: You may have a semester where books cost you $900

But...then the books last for the 3 remaining semesters!

(ps-I have great friends who leant me books/sold them theirs for super cheap so I only paid $300)

Still...My stack of books that I use on a regular basis look something like this

Most of these books were specific to last semester, but the quantity and volume is the same with this semesters installment.

Phew. I have my work cut out for me. But I'm ready to

Get it done in 2 0 1 1 (two oh one one)

Just see my schedule...I mean business.

Pink Team

Have you noticed that all of the Pink mother/daughter teams on the Biggest Loser always kicked some serious hiney?!

It is decided...Peg and Maddi. Pink team.

"We are going to creep up like a ninja on their @$$&$"

~Ashley Johnston (fellow geek in the pink)

[P.S. I was totally getting my pop culture celebrity fix in and

realized that Ashely totally married Koli! Crazy!

Don't believe me?

Look it up. I dare you.]

In other news...

I'm down 5 lbs and counting!

More details here

(or at the bottom of my blog there is a weight loss tracker...updated yesterday as promised)

I'm a loser

A big one!!

I'm not talking about a social outcast...I'm talking Bob and Jillian style, working my butt off and counting calories style. Wanna watch my progress?

Follow my progress with the fancy "lbs lost counter" below or on my blog on myfitnesspal.com. You're totally welcome to join me!

(Weigh ins are Tuesday nights...so check in then if you want to see my progress)