The Gift :)

Click on this to listen to my parents song for inspiration while reading :) then you might actually understand the title of this post ;)

  

(ok. They didn't have a song a long time ago and all of us were appalled. They would always listen to this song and sing it. They decided that it was their song a while back. I think it reminded my dad of my mom)

I thought for Valentine's day I would share the story of how my parents met. :)

When my mom was 17 she started working at Macey's. My dad was a manager at the time. I asked her what she thought when she first looked and him and she said- "Wow. He's really cute, and he's really well dressed." I thought that was kind of hilarious thing for my mom to say. 

She tried to get to know him but he actually transferred to Smith's. He would come visit his friends occasionally so she didn't see him too much. My mom's friend knew him pretty well and she told my mom that whoever he would marry, he would treat her like a queen. 

All my mom could think was- I really want to be treated like a queen. 

Look at that stash!

From then on she tried really hard to get to know him, but she knew that she was too young for him (they are 8 years apart). 

She said that my dad told her his friend told him that he should ask my mom out because she was really cute. My dad was a little bit shy when it came to those things so he didn't right away. His friend and his girlfriend were going to go to Lagoon in a couple days. They wanted my dad to ask a date so he could go with them. His friend finally convinced him to ask my mom because he told her that she REALLY liked him (everyone could probably tell. It's my mom haha she doesn't hold anything back). 

The sad thing was my mom had just barely agreed to go on a date with one of her friends on the day he was going. She was distraught because she had been waiting for him to ask her out. She told him that he better ask her out again, even though she knew he probably wouldn't because he was so shy. So a few days later she found out that her sister Karla was having a Lagoon day with her husband Jack's work. She asked my dad to go with her right away (I think this is hilarious because he had just asked her to go there so it was kind of perfect). He said that he would love to, but he didn't want that to be their first date so they went on another date to dinner and a movie before Lagoon. 

This was before my mom cut all her hair off ;) Look how cute they are in this blurry picture

A little while later (I really mean little though... after they "officially" started dating 3 weeks later they were engaged) my dad took my mom to our annual Flaming Gorge trip.

I love this picture for 3 reasons. The tie-dye. My grandpa.  And the love beaming from their faces ;)

A couple days later he "proposed."

Here is that story-

They were walking around the Provo Temple and had stopped to sit on the grass and talk. 

*My mom had mentioned in conversation earlier that this was the temple that she wanted to get married in. It was special to her because her grandmother had worked in it, and it had a special place in her heart. 

But just a a couple days before they were driving home from Flaming Gorge and she told him that she didn't want to get married until she was like 25. She was 19 at the time (they got married 2 months after she turned 20). So I bet she was surprised when my dad said this to her. 

He told her this story about a boy growing up and finally realizing what he needed and wanted (or something like that... I can't remember. It had to do with getting back to Heavenly Father though). After the story he looked her in the eyes and said, "Kristin, you are what I need to get back to my Heavenly Father." 

So he didn't "really" propose.... well not a "normal" proposal anyways. It was perfect in every way. The main one being that it was inspiration. My mom says he wasn't even planning on saying that at the time, but it was perfect and was meant to be through inspiration (I think my sisters and I just aren't patient enough. We knew what was going to happen and we wanted to get down here as soon as we could;)). But that is why he didn't have a ring or anything. It was simple and sweet. Which is exactly like my dad :) plus, this is the girl that didn't even want a reception. The proposal was perfect. 

A few months later on February 14 1992 my super hero duo were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Provo Temple. 

21 years later here we are :) and still going strong!  

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to have the best pair of parents anyone could ever even dream of. I am who I am today because of their examples and kindness. They showed me who I could become, and how I could get there. Giving up on my dreams was never an option, and I always knew that. 

I wish I learned how to do my makeup and hair just a little bit sooner... 

Nothing in this world makes me happier than knowing that I get to spend eternity with my family. :)

Couple side notes... 

How cute! I think it was on the napkins or something

I love that they put their kid pictures on the invitation

This is just hilarious and super cheesy but SOOOO my mom! Especially the theme... isn't she just brilliant? 

Mission Prep

I absolutely ADORE mission prep. Like, I would seriously go to it if it was every day. No. Joke. But sadly, it is only once a week. I look forward to it every single time though. Even though I only have it once more before I leave.... reality check..... wait.... no.... it still hasn't hit me. Sorry.

This month they had us go and actually be with a companion and teach a family from a different ward! Crazy huh!? The weird thing was... I wasn't even scared at all. Everyone else was freaking out and so nervous. I was just excited because it was going to feel a little closer to actual missionary work! Ashley and I got assigned to the same "mission" (aka- the Harvest Hills 3rd ward) and family.
I felt the need to pray together before we went in. I just wanted to have a good learning experience and bring the spirit into their home.
Oh, and by the way, the family agreed to do this before hand. They knew we were coming and all were very active. The sprit was already strong when we walked into their house. They had 6 beautiful children and were such a cute happy couple. We introduced ourselves and got to know them a little bit. They even had this adorable little 1 week old baby :) we taught them about the atonement and about forever families. Even though I'm sure they knew all of the things that we taught them we tried to go deeper and just bring the sprit. It also felt very natural to me. I felt like I could share my feelings and that the words were just coming out of my mouth. It is one of the stronger times that I have felt the sprit speak through me. We ended with a prayer and all the kids were smiling. Ash and I were beaming. The father thanked us for bringing the sprit into their home and we I think we both left on cloud nine :)
Overall, it was a wonderful experience. It made me even more excited to go out and teach those who don't know these truths that we have and help them understand and give them hope and comfort for the future :)

Weekend at USU

I had such a fun time with Zach up at USU for the weekend! I left around 9:00pm on Thursday. I was nervous driving up the canyon in the dark, but everything went great! I stayed with my wonderful Aunt Kathryn and got settled in that night. I then met up with Zach and we talked with him roommates and watched The Office. The next day we did some of the same things. I wanted to go to the temple while I was down there, but my temple dress zipper broke.... so that sucked. I ended up just reading my scriptures outside the temple for about 45min and then going to lunch with my aunt and cousin. 

I had a lot of fun especially because Zach and his friend drove home with me in the snow storm and his friend drove. It made me so much more comfortable. :) 

Sitting in front of the temple :)

Ate good dove chocolate :) 

The place we were going to eat... that was not... there.

We went to the Pepperidge Farms factory and got all of this stuff super cheep! 

I want to do this one day! 

One of my new favorite missionary scriptures :) 34-35

Eating lunch with my aunt and cousin ;) this was some of the best pizza I've ever had! 

Amanda's Engaged!

One of my bestest and longest friends is ENGAGED!!! I almost feel like I got engaged myself ;) I am beyond happy for her! She is my first really close friend that is getting married... I will be missing the wedding on August 10th in the Salt Lake Temple :( it is very sad; but I couldn't be more happy for her! :D like, it is almost weird how happy it makes me! But I feel like that really is what true happiness is :) Being so happy for someone else that you can hardly stand it, and you feel like you couldn't even be as happy on the day you get engaged as you were when you found out she found her true love ;) 

I love you Amanda and I can't wait till you get to start your forever family with your prince charming :) 

Mission Blog!

So maybe I am a little anxious for my mission. I don't want to make this another post about how I'm so excited and that it's sooooo long away (59 days)... because there are a lot of those lately.

But I had to tell you all something...

I have already made the blog for my mission! My mom will post my weekly emails to the blog and then share them on her Facebook. I. Am. So. Excited!!! (whoops... I talked about how I am so excited again)

There is nothing on it yet. Ok. That was obvious. But it's very very simple. But I love it!

If you want to have a look... here ya go! :)

Christ's Atonement

You know sometimes when people say- "oh, I totally get you" or "yeah, I totally understand."

Really people? 

I just want to scream in their face, NO! YA REALLY DON'T PAL! 

Because.... well... they don't.

There is only one person who can understand you, your feelings and emotions 100% of the time. 

That's it. 

No one else. 

People can get close that's for sure. 

I lost my dad.

Jimmy (no idea who Jimmy is) lost his mom. So he kind of understands. 

Gina (weird name) lost her dad. She understands a little more. 

Ashley (this is a real person in case you still think we were playing that other game) lost her dad, who was also my dad. She probably understands the closest. Mainly because her and I are similar in a lot of ways. But we are also very different. 

See that? Even someone as close to me as Ashley doesn't understand me completely. 

Everybody is so different. 

No two people on this earth are the same. 

So no two people can understand what each other is going through 100% even if they think they can. I'm sorry. That's just not how it works. 

That is why the atonement is so important and had to happen. There are other reasons, but I just love to know, and it gives me comfort to know, that my brother Jesus Christ, knows EXACTLY what I am going through. I can talk to him about it. He can help me through. He really can say, "I know how you feel. I've been there. Let me help you through it because I overcame it." 

He knows.

I know he knows. 

Feeling the power of the atonement in my life has helped my find peace and strength to carry on even in my darkest times. 

And that is why we have it in our lives.

I REALLY don't think you want to know what goes through my head

I feel like I should just write down things that go through my head as I'm writing this... it will be very boring. But I think it might just help me relieve somethings.... and it would help if I knew it was public.

And this is on a good day.... I don't even want to tell you about the bad.

Right now I am really just loving life. I just got finished watched 2 new episodes of The Office. I am really confused though because I watched the most recent one last week like I always do, but there were 2 new ones on hulu this time. Best. Day. Ever! I just got done talking to one of my best friends on the phone, laughing and having fun. I  received and read a letter from Elder Trotter. Work was a blast today and I'm very grateful that I'm not blind from the sausage juice...
My window is open and my fan is on. And guess what... I'm still hot! Holy cow! I'm in shorts and a short sleeve shirt! How on earth did I get called to the hottest place in America? I get hot very easily. It's not very often that I'm very cold. Plus, I get really uncomfortable when I'm hot as well.
I love most of the people I work with. They are just hilarious and we have so much fun. I pretty much have a sweet job. My cute cousins baby shower is tomorrow and then my other cute cousins baby blessing is on Sunday! I'm prepared for an awesome weekend! I'm even about to go to my sisters game.
I've been having trouble finding skirts. They don't quite have the spring clothes out and all the skirts in the mall are too heavy of a fabric. Or they are too short. Or too long. Or too tight. I have a feeling I will be getting most things from the missionary mall.
I was having kind of a rough week with my self esteem and things, but it's been better the past few days. I really don't know what was going on. I was being so hard and down on myself. Being with my mom yesterday really helped. Also- actually finally being able to get really ready for the day helped a lot too. With my work I don't really do my hair and when I get home I just change into something comfortable. Good stuff. My mission feels closer. It will be exactly 60 days tomorrow and 2 months away on Sunday.
I really like my family. A lot.
We are getting our basement finished soon! Hopefully. If everything goes as planned. The only thing I wanted was to get mine done before my farewell so we could have more room. Our house is not big. But it's not really small either. It's very... average. But having the basement finished would give us SO much more room and would be perfect for a farewell! But I don't think it will happen. The guy who is doing it is out of town for this week and won't be able to get us the bid till next week. And then there is getting is started and everything. They said 2 months. I'll be gone by then if they start in 2 weeks.
My dog is really getting old. It's sad. I really hope she doesn't die on my mission. But then maybe it would be easier...
My mom is really happy. It's been a rough couple of months for our family. There have been some hard days with missing my dad. But we just keep going!
Katelyn is getting better at basketball.
Ashley is stressing about the end of a season. I don't know what she's going to do with her life when she doesn't have basketball...
Karly is doing the pageant! I can't wait to help her! I know that she'll do good! There are 19 girls doing it this year! Darcey was freaking out!
I'm good. You know. I'm just me. I feel extremely un prepared for my mission. Hopefully that will all change soon. I found this awesome blog to help sisters prepare for their missions. Already it has helped me sooooo much!
I'm going up to visit Zach next weekend! That'll be fun!
Wow. I cannot set up lamps.
I think I need to take a shower.
Hamburgers are soooooo good sometimes.
No. I do not think setting up a shed would be very much fun at all.
Salt would not be good on top of chocolate cookies.
It's weird. I'm more excited to send out my package to Elder Miller than he will be receiving it!
Sometimes I just want to slam people's heads on the wall and knock some sense into them...
I have been dreaming about things too much lately. I think I've got my whole life planned out. I mean everything. But I know I don't. I hope that I don't get heart broken in the end. Who am I kidding? Of course I will.
I have amazing friends.
I have an amazing and true religion that I wish I could just scream at people and tell them everything that I know!
Someone need to conrol me so I don't eat all of Ash's toblerone...
I just want to sleep right now.
Why the heck am I writing this....?
I wish American Idol was on every single night.
How do they make stuffed animals...
Tolblerone gets stuck in your teeth so much!!!
Why do my only pair of pants that aren't ripped have to be too big for me all of the sudden. I guess that's a good thing. No.
Smoking is so stupid. Like seriously. Probably one of thee dumbest things you could do.... sorry. I know that was probably offensive to people. But this is what this post is all about. Tell you stuff that is in my head right now.
My dad used to watch Andy Grammer a lot. My mom was watching is when I came home from work today. I really liked it.
I miss my dad a lot. Every single day is a struggle.
I would rather go wait in line at the DMV for 10 days then go and get the cement off the back of my front teeth again.
My orthodontist makes me want to pull all my teeth out and get dentures.
Plastic for your teeth cannot cost 35$ on a discount. That's impossible. Yet I am in debt 70$ because I like my teeth to be straight.
Winter is the best because you do not have to shave your legs.

Yeah. That helped.