Wednesday, November 28, 2012

A little photo update

This has to be the first thing on here... only because it is hilarious and will be a treasure someday. If you have seen Despicable Me... you know what this is :) 


I feel like all my blog posts lately have been about church and my mission... I need to also tell you what's going on in my normal day to day life right? What better way then PICTURES! I don't even know where I last left off with normal things... so I'm just going to guess...
*WARNING- these are NOT in order even a little bit. 
Took pictures of beautiful rainbows

Watched my dads funeral picture video and discovered he looked just like one of my cousins babies... 

Went to my uncle EJ's 60 surprise birthday party, and then went to the Bezzant pie party (no picture sorry) 

Took a pic of Kate sleeping after Karl hit her in the head with the car door... 

This creepy lady on the wall in Zach's cabin... 

Took another picture 

Took another picture..

Went to Ash's first basketball game against Orem. (nope... not a win)

Built this challenged snowmen with these great people.

Found this treasure and build a wall full of these lovely old pictures.

Taught Karl how to write a letter. 

Played apples to apples and I soooo WON! (I might just be a little competitive even in silly games... thanks for that dad)

Build this masterpiece with my besties. 

Hung out with Zach and his family at their cabin!

VOTED! Aren't they thrilled? 

Ate lots of food on thanksgiving!!! 




My Temple experience.


I've been sitting here trying to think of one word that would sum it all up... the only thing I can think of is indescribable (I know right. So unique). 
I kept telling people I was going to go through the temple soon and they would just say- "Oh it's weird. So don't get freaked out", or something to that extent. To tell the honest truth- I was not even a little bit weirded out. I have NO clue what they were talking about when they said weird. I had the most spiritual experience of my life and couldn't even control my emotions the whole time. Most of my extended family was there, and my mom was my escort. That made the whole overall experience even more special for countless reasons. I am so glad I have so many family members that are worthy to enter the temple, and that live so close so that I could share this special experience with them.

My mom and I began a fast the night before I was going to go through. I think that was one of the greatest strengths for me. I fasted that I would be able to listen to the spirit and that I would get the confirmation that what I was doing was all true, and that I would not be "weirded out." I think that was my biggest help. 
I feel so blessed and privileged to have had the opportunity to be invited into our Lord and Saviors house. I am grateful for my wonderful parents who raised me to always keep my eyes on the temple as my eternal goal. I am excited that I have made it to this point in my life and that I was prepared for this time in my life not only through my parents, but my wonderful sisters, primary teachers, sunday school teachers, young women leaders, friends, family, the scriptures, and most importantly my brother, best friend, and Redeemer Jesus Christ. 
I know without a doubt that through the temple, is the only way that we are able to return and live with our Father in Heaven in the Celestial kingdom with our families again. What goes on inside is powerful, binding, and scared. I know that we are the closest to our Heavenly Father and our loved ones in heaven when we are in the temple. I know this through my own personal, sacred experiences. I am so glad that we have so many beautiful temples surrounding us. I hope that those of you who are not yet eligible for a temple recommend will set your sights on the temple and make it your goal in life right now, I cannot even explain the blessings you will receive through doing this. 
I hope that each of us can find the time to go to the temple as often as we can, there we can serve others and learn of His will and purpose for us. 

Friday, November 23, 2012

Memory #8 & #9

#7 is my first fight with Christina. It was the dumbest thing ever. I found a new friend- M'kenna and I thought that I couldn't have 2 best friends. So, I wrote her a really mean letter. The mornings on the bus would go with me avoiding her and then she would usually punch me when she got on as I was sitting with M'kenna. We made up like a week later when I decided that I could have two best friends. That is the only fight I have ever had with one of my friends. Hahaha I'm glad we got over that. We are still best friends to this day.
#8 One day on a Sunday after church I think.... I taught Ashley, Christina, and Jackie how to drive a stick shift. It was in my dads really old Toyota. It was super fun and easy to drive. I don't even think Christina or Ash had their license. But ya...

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Tampa Florida!

I have received my mission call to Tampa Florida, English Speaking (thank goodness), and I'm leaving April 3rd!!!!!!!!!!
You have no idea how long I have waited for this day! I went to the temple this morning, just so I could feel close to my Savior and do some service. It was fun because I was the only one there besides this other woman. She had some family names and she let me do some! I was honored! I got dunked (that so says DUNKED, not DRUNKED...) 10 times... now I know why they only do 5! 10 is quite a lot!!! I felt the spirit so strongly and couldn't help but cry on my way there and back. My Heavenly Father loves me so much and I could just feel my heart overflowing with that peace and love. I always listen to church music/talks/podcasts/books in the car, so I listened to the Called to Serve CD by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on my way to and from the temple. That really got me. Mainly because I knew I was going to get my call today.



Here's the funny part. Karly came home from school to go to the dentist. So when I got home from the temple she was the only one home. I had her play me a song on the piano and sing. While she was I was sitting on our chair in the front room that is right by the window. I get a text from my best friends mom (Cindy Gocken) that says- "The mail is here!" I immediately whip my head around to see the mail man pulling up to our house! I screamed "THE MAILMAN IS HERE!" We both jump, up and literally start jumping up and down! We watched him put what looked like a big white envelope in! We were SO excited! We screamed for a couple seconds and she was like- "Let's go get it!" I told her I didn't want to because I was scared it wouldn't be there. I told her to go and get it. Right as the mailman drove off she ran out there. She grabbed it all and then looked up and me with the biggest grin ever! I yelled- "Is it there!????!!!!" She screams- "YES!" Then for about a minute straight we jumped up and down screaming! I started texting everybody and freaking out. It was the best moment ever. I'm so glad she got to share it with me!
I waited to open it till 6:30 when Karly would get home. She didn't end up getting home till about 6:50. The wait was hard- but I had prayed that I would be calm and patient, and boy was I! Especially compared to my family! I only invited my Grandmas and Danny. I have too much family to invite them all or to just pick some. They can all come to the farewell :)
I didn't even cry when I opened it though! That was miracle! I just couldn't stop smiling! It was the greatest feeling EVER!

If you don't read anything in this post you have to read this-

We had been playing pranks on each other all day. Ashley came up while I was doing my hair and said that Nick had opened my mission call. I believed her and was beyond ticked. I just said- "Well, whatever!" Then my mom had a white envelope from the insurance company and I came downstairs and Daxton hid it under the table I grabbed it and it was opened! Again- I was ticked! I just told them they were stupid (I was so mad) and took it in the other room. Then I looked at it. OH man. SO NOT FUNNY GUYS ;)! Then they were planning on playing a joke on Karly with these glasses they had filed for there talent show. But it was 6:00 which was when we were planning on opening it. Everyone was there- except Katelyn (and Karly of course) so we decided that we would call her friend that she was with and tell her (faking) that I was going.... wait for it....... FLORIDA! This is not even a joke. That was the joking place that we made up. Katelyn totally believed it and was pretty mad that we had opened it without her. She rushed home and we told her it was a joke. It was just hilarious when I opened it and it really was FLORIDA!
After words we went to Texas Roadhouse with my grandma, family, and cousin. It was so much fun!

I just know without a doubt that this is where I am supposed to go. I know that there are people that need to hear the gospel in Tampa and I couldn't be more excited to share this great knowledge of the truth with them! I am going to be an instrument in the Lord's hand and I feel so blessed and honored to even have this great privilege. I love this gospel more than anything and I can't wait for it to be my whole life for a year and half! This church is TRUE! I know that! I could never ever deny it!
Thanks to all my family and friends for all the support that you have given me! I love you all!

Ohhhh... and I finished the Book of Mormon for the 4th time tonight! So cool! I didn't even plan it to be on the same day! Last night I realized that I could actually finish it all today and I was stoked! I know that's it's true! I have asked him every time I finish it and I get the same answer every time that it is true! :)

Monday, November 12, 2012

The mail...


My favorite thing to do is check the mail. Mainly because I love getting letters from Austin!! He emailed me though and he was wondering why I hadn't written him :( sad because uhhhh I've only gotten one letter and I wrote him back... so I don't know where that letter is exactly. Kinda weird stuff.
Welp... that's it.

Oh the biking...

Last week me and my mom biked from our house to Olive Garden. We could have gone longer but we were meeting Danny halfway... it was super fun :) we didn't bike back... we decided to call Ash, Karl, and Kate to come and get us and we all had lunch at the Olive Garden :) it was way fun. We usually go there monthly...
The end... weird story.

When we thought that was cool...

Remember all of those silly things that we thought were so cool... whether it was fashion of the time, foods, or even just simple things that when you are a kid are just pure awesome?

Those poncho things that looked like weird grandma sweaters...

Or when the super long jacket knitted other grandma things were also cool...

We aren't going to even go into game boys, pokemon cards, pencil boxes, the glue bookmarks from the pencil boxes

In my 6th grade class hot Cheetos had just come out and everybody loved them... it was the biggest and probably cheapest auction item when we would auction off our points we had been saving for months. The person who won the Cheetos was basically crowned a hero.

Walkman's that skipped the disc when you walked.

DVD players in your car.

Automatic car doors on your van.

The fast drying nail polish.

Going into the teachers lounge.

Being able to skip class.

How the tables folded up in the lunch room.

Jumping the farthest off the swing was the coolest thing ever.

That huge colorful parachute thing (ok, let's face it... we all still want to do that again)

The one kid who would eat paper.

Making those long paper chains for events that seemed to take years not just months or days.

When driving in your moms lap was soooo fun.

When you are the first on the bus, at the bus stop, or get the very back seat.

Gel Pens.

Putting olives on your fingers.

Robin Egg lip stick.

Being able to make those paper fortune tellers.


2 more days...

I have 2 more days until my whole life is changed forever!!! I will be getting my call on Wednesday... I have very mixed emotions. I know I'm going to ball. I know that no matter where I get called it will be where I am meant to go. People have been asking me where I want to go. My first answer- I really don't care! Then they ask, "No. If you could go anywhere!"My second answer- Australia, Italy, France.  Then they ask, "Ok where do you not want to go?" My first answer- I will still go anywhere! I wouldn't even be disappointed if I went to Salt Lake!
Well fellas... I'm here to tell you that is only partially true. I have a strong testimony that where ever I am called it is where I am meant to go. But I also know me... I know that when I open my call and if I see Utah, Idaho, or Arizona I might be slightly disappointed... and that's just me being honest. I have no idea why that would upset me... it's not like I would start crying because I was so sad, I would probably still cry because I knew that is where I am supposed to be...and I would be so happy. It isn't about me, it's about the people that need the gospel and I am just an instrument in His hands. This is no vacation... but I would also like to be a little farther away from home than that. And I know that it would be good for me.
But- clarifying again, I know that I will go where I am supposed to go! Even if it is Provo Utah! :)

Also- I have had 2 different dreams about where I am going to go.
The first one was Saturday night- I had a dream I was going somewhere... I don't remember where because even in my dream I didn't know. People would ask me where I was going and I would say I don't remember and they would be so confused... but wherever I was going I was speaking "WAVES" as a language... hey guess what guys... that is NOT a language... weird dream.

The second dream- This one was last night (Sunday) I had a dream I was going to a place in South America that started with an F (hey guess what guys... this does not exist either). It was the poorest place in the world...

These super weird dreams probably mean nothing... but they are pretty hilarious!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Memory #7

This one just came to me as I was reading my patriarchal blessing tonight. I remember the day I received it perfectly. I had fasted all day and was anxious to receive my blessing. I go knock on the patriarchs door, and he answers. Apparently he wasn't expecting it because he was in casual clothes and looked very surprised. I told him who I was and he said ok can you give me like 20min? I just need to prepare. So my mom and dad and I drove around for a little bit just talking and having fun spending time together.
We came back and I remember how strong the spirit was. Their home felt like a temple. We sat down, talked for a bit. He got to know me and my parents. Then I received my blessing. I remember listening to the patriarch and hearing my Heavenly Father through him perfectly. There was something in my blessing that stood out to me... a part talking about how I will teach and lead others. As we were getting into the car I told my mom and dad that meant I was supposed to serve a mission. They both agreed and explained that things can have many different meanings and we may not see them until we are right in the middle.
It's funny to look back and see that even me as a little weird 15 year old listened to the spirit and I knew what I was supposed to do. I have thought of that moment a lot, especially when I read my blessing. I always thought that I would get married before I had that opportunity, or that I was just being crazy when I thought that I could serve a mission. Well folks. Here I am, preparing to serve, and I couldn't be happier. :) :) :)

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Something BIG


So back in August we had our annual back to school blessings. My cousin Dustin came over for dinner and we had him give us our blessings. I love the amazing spirit that just fills the room when blessings are being given. I feel it is especially strong when my family receives blessings because we can all feel, every single time not only our Heavenly Father and Brother Jesus Christ in the room, but also our own father. This might sound a little weird to some people, but we can feel our own dad speaking to us through the blessing. We have had many times where the priesthood holder acting in God’s name actually says things that my dad wants us to know. The experience is always indescribable. In my blessing I was told that something very big would change in my life this year. I thought… oh crap… I’m gonna get married. Mainly because that was the only thing going through my mind at that time. It scared me a little.
I didn’t realize until a couple days ago that it was not talking about marriage... it was talking about my mission! I just know that Heavenly Father knows us, what we need, and knows what is in our future. This just shows that blessings are straight from our Father in Heaven and that inspiration is real, and I know that will all of my heart.
The second thing I wanted to talk about was my scripture reading. I just love the scriptures. Sometimes I can’t stop reading them! I know that sounds really cheesy, but sometimes I cannot stop reading them! I got so into the scriptures, Preach my Gospel, and Jesus the Christ that I was up till 2:00am the other night. But I have been noticing that I keep reading about the gift of tongues. That scares me! I said that I didn’t want to speak another language (not that this means that I'll speak another language). I just think I could do a lot better if I were to just say things that I want to in my own language… so people could actually understand me… although I do have a first testimony that Heavenly Father will send me where I need to go. That is for sure. Even if I have to speak Chinese… I’m go where I’m mean to go and where I can find the people that need to hear the gospel. 

Memory #6

Since Halloween was yesterday and I was planning on writing this earlier this memory is about costume contests. I kind of like winning. I think anyone that knows me... or has even met for for 5 seconds knows that about me. I'm super competitive... about everything. I get that from my dad.
 Combine my favorite holiday and competitions is a bad idea.
I have won 3 costume contests in my life.
The first one was when I was 15 I think. I was Giselle from Enchanted. I don't even have a picture of me that year. Which my mom and I are still mad we didn't take. Although- I looked pretty awesome (I know you are wondering... I have been all of the red heads... Viona from Shrek, Ariel... Giselle... is that is.... ok not that impressive. I plan on being the girl from Brave when I get back from my mish... crap... here I go again thinking about it.)
The second was when I was a senior in High School. Andrew and I dressed up as old people. He actually shaved his head. I had my grandmas old wig and the drama teacher did our make up. We had so many people fooled. We actually acted like old people. That was the funny thing. When we went up for the contume some people were surprised because they actually thought we were real old people. That was a really really fun one.


Third was actually last year my family dressed up as the incredibles. We won that at our ward party. 



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