A few pictures from the farewell!

 Myself and my wonderful Aunt Carole!

 My good friend Sammie! She is awesome!

 My wonderful cousin Lisa! Her little boys and sooo cute! I'm glad we found a good home for Bozo the clown!

 The Yorks!

 Maddie and me!

 My cute cousin Austyn. We probably won't see each other for three years due to missions! An amazing blessing!

 Austyn, Ellie and me

 Aunt Bev and Uncle Merv

 My cute little neighbor girls. I'm going to miss them so much! They are the sweetest!

 My grandpa and Uncle Merv. I'm so grateful they could come up and hear me speak!

My cute friends that were able to come! I love them!

Mission Addresses!!!

If you'd like to write me while I'm off and away on my most excellent adventure, these are the addresses to use!

Provo MTC address:

Sister Courtenae Irene Nielson
MTC Mailbox # 263
TX-MCAL 0311
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793




Texas McAllen Mission Home address: 

Sister Courtenae Irene Nielson
Texas McAllen Mission
200 W La Vista Ave
McAllen, TX 78501-2131
United States



I will be in the MTC until about March 11, 2013. So after that point it would be best to send letters to the Texas address! If you'd like to send me an email you can do that as well but I can't email back! So add your address on if you'd like me to write back.
courtenae.nielson@myldsmail.net
 Thank you!

-Sister Nielson

Two Weeks!!

Just two weeks now until I leave for the MTC! How crazy is that? Not even really two weeks because today is pretty much over and I will be there at about 1:15pm on January 30th. I think excited beyond all reason doesn't even begin to explain how I am feeling.
I have had quite a few people ask me if I am nervous or scared about leaving. Oddly enough, the only things making me a little worried is the fact that I won't be able to talk to my mom all the time. She has been my rock and my hero from day one and it will definitely be difficult to not just be able to yell for her from my bedroom and have her come talk to me. I know there will be many difficult moments on my mission and maybe sometimes I will just want to cry and go home. But I am not going for myself. This adventure really isn't about me. It is about furthering the Lord's work. I know that He will take care of me and help me in every hardship I face. I know for elders they say a mission isn't just the best two years of your life, it is the best two years FOR your life. Well I know for sure the 18 months I spend serving the people of the Texas McAllen mission will be the best of my life!
My mission will in fact be my first real adventure from home. I spent my first college semester living at home and taking classes at the university extension. The only time I have really been away from family was when I went to cheer camps or girls camp... It is kind of a weird feeling thinking about how close I really am to my family and knowing that the only constantly communications I will have is in weekly letters. It is also funny to think about the fact that I won't really have a lot of friends to miss at home because most of them are leaving on missions as well! I love knowing that the people I surround myself with love the Lord and want to follow Him! Well that's all for now folks!
-Sister Courtenae Nielson