Officially Official

Can we all just take a second to appreciate the fact that my mission is officially official?

It is now an active mission!

An active mission that I report to in 9 days! 

Single digits my friends! 

But guys. 

It feels so good to know that my mission is in action.

My mission presidents are there.

There are missionaries there that I will soon meet!

I can hardly wait to get out there.

Welcome to the game 

Federal Way, Washington Mission!

Happy July everyone!

Nostalgic Bear Lake

As a final family vacation, we spent this weekend in the ever so lovely,

Bear Lake

We stayed at my Dad's bosses cabin which was just beautiful. It overlooked the Lake and the patio made a perfect place for us to sleep on every night. We got yummy shakes, went on a safari through the mountains in the RZR thing, spent lots of time at the pool and in the boiling hot sun. We watched lots of TV and movies and just relaxed. And you know what? Being the only girl on a family vacation {besides my mom} wasn't all that bad. I quite enjoyed it. I also enjoyed living in my swimsuit with no make up and never touching a brush for my hair. Aww the simple life.

I absolutely love Bear Lake, for many reasons.

{let's begin}

First, it is just so close to Logan town. I didn't think I'd miss that place but driving through it, seeing campus, the canyon, it all came flooding back to me.

I have so many memories there and just being in that little town brings them all back.

Second, the lake it just so freaking blue! It is absolutely gorgeous. Cold, but gorgeous. 

Third, me and that boy that I love ya know? Mike, that's his name. Well that place will just always remind me of him. For many reasons, including but not limited to this day and this day. 

This time, even though he wasn't here at all or anything, he was all I could think about getting out there. 

It had a lot to do with the sweetest package I got just before I left. 

It was Mike's "Remember Me" package {like I could ever forget about him anyways,..} 

It was things I could bring with me to Washington on my mission that are well, him.

Some of the sweetest, most heartfelt things lay inside that box.

That boy just knows me so well.

He sent me one of his sweatshirts, I have always loved stealing those from him but guys, it smells just like him. Opening that box and smelling that for the first time in a year was surreal.

The Colbie Callait Cd that has been on repeat since I opened it.

And one of his tags.

Holding that in my hand, knowing that he's been wearing it, that it has been a representation of him as well as Christ. It was just what I needed.

There were more things inside this perfect package but we don't need to talk about them quite yet. I'd like to keep them to myself for a while. 

Let me assure you though, that boy makes me the luckiest girl in the world, I'm just as head over heels for him as ever, and he is an incredible  missionary. 

I'm glad I got the package just before I left, that way I could bring a few things that reminded me of him with me, back to our place. 

Thanks for the fantastic, nostalgic weekend BL.

Happiness through Service

Even though I initially thought I would be choosing my own farewell topic, I am glad this one was chosen for me.

I needed it probably much more than those in attendance that day.

I learned so much from that topic.

It made me feel a lot better about my mission.

It gave me great comfort in knowing how blessed I will be for my service.

It was an inspired topic for the one giving the talk.

If you would like to listen to my talk and song you can click right here.

My talk ends at about twelve minutes and then the song.

{Who knew my talk was 12 minutes by the way? I timed it multiple times at 8...} 

It was a really great day.

Lots of happy tears shed that day

{A few sad ones as well but only for those tough goodbyes, more on that later} 

Again, service is an amazing blessing.

My favorite scripture I discovered in preparing my talk was:

Doctrine and Covenants 4:2

 “Therefore, o ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve Him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day”

Think about it guys, that is an amazing promise right there.

Thank you again to everyone who has shown my support lately.

I am one lucky girl. 

{i am overwhelmed}

The love and support I received today was just so overwhelming.

The kind words that so many people shared with me and

the gracious compliments I received were just all too nice.

The donations in support of my mission was just unbelievable. 

Today was just such a good day.

It's a pretty amazing sight when you are standing up there at the pulpit to get to look out and see so many people that you love and care about and know that they are there because they feel the same about you.

Even in my layers of nerves, excitement, fears and stress I have just an overwhelming love for everyone who supported me today. 

The love from so many people that I really just don't know that well. It was just all too nice. 

I have never felt to incredibly blessed in my life and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. 

Everyone just offered such kind words of encouragement and love, it astounds me.

I love each and everyone of those who supported me today and my farewell.

Thank you.

You will never know how much I needed that and how grateful I will always be for it.

Today was an incredibly great day.

       

Let it begin

It finally started happening.

The realization that I am leaving in a very short amount of time.

It hit me.

It hit me as I tried to sing through the song that I so very last minute added to my talk.

So yes, I will be singing at my own farewell per request of my Dad and Grandma.

As I sat at the piano,  my fingers ran across the keys more gracefully then they normally do since I taught myself to play and therefore do it my way. The lyrics whispered out of my mouth ever so quietly, embarrassed to have my family hear, just then the tears started falling. 

Finishing the last few paragraphs of my final talk in my ward until I am a returned missionary. 

Appreciating the love of so many around me.

My parents. The two of them are so full of support and love. Always. 

My brothers. The three of them are such a joy. I can't believe how fast they grew up and how much they will grow while I am away.

My friends and fellow "Sisters and Elders". The 18 of them who set such amazing examples and showed me what it was like to experience a true happiness by serving with all that they have. 

My sister, who showed me what it is like to make the hard decision of leaving on a mission and hardly ever skipping a beat once she was out there.

The teachers and leaders who helped me gain my own testimony, understand the truthfulness of this gospel, and love it. 

My heart is so full today. 

Full with blessings and thankfulness.

Thank you.

Adventure Week

Guys, life is insane!
Seriously.
First of all I have no idea where the time has gone.
Literally it is just leaving me in the dust and I don't appreciate it.
I leave in less then a month you guys.
22 days to be exact. That number is just beyond small and it is really starting to creep up on me.
Things are starting to pile up on my "Things to do before July 10th" list
Most of those things are not going to be fun at all which is why they are still on my list.
Things like get things from the DMV {I hate that place}, get 2 shots {I puke every time I get shots}, Oh and did I mention, Write a Farewell talk?
Yeah my farewell is this Sunday.
I'm not completely overwhelmed by that at all, don't worry.
{WHAT??? HELP! CAN I JUST NOT DO THAT PART?}
It's fine guys.

But before I have to get to down to all this boring dumb stuff before I leave,
Lizzie came to stay with me and we had our very own

ADVENTURE WEEK!
{Let me tell you all about it! #lizzieseessandy}

Friday- June 7

Yeah, Lizzie isn't even in this.., her fault.
The roommates all got together again and celebrated the first wedding!

Mr and Mrs Michael Murray!

We were so happy for this girl on her big day! I love me some weddings so it was fun to be there for the whole thing and see it all {that is a whole lotta work guys, yikes}

Lizzie later joined for the festivities at the reception but there are no pictures from that because I'll be honest, at that point we were all so hot, sweaty, and beyond tired.

Saturday-June 8

We had made plans to go to the Bee's game and see some fireworks and enjoy ourselves some baseball and all that comes along with that but I have horrible luck and got tickets for the wrong day so we drove all the way out there and then had to come back. Instead we went to get some Ice cream and in the meantime won ourselves some lovely mustaches. 

Monday June 10

We celebrated our love for "El Tigres" and saw so many at the zoo! I'm so glad the Tiger was actually up and moving around, it even roared for us and came pretty dang close to us. It was a good day at the zoo. The monkeys of all kinds gave us quite the show that day too. We watched them for a good hour. They were playing tag, trying to get food, banging on their chests, smashing their faces right against the glass, all really great things. We love the zoo.

Tuesday June 11

Okay so this is still Monday but I'm thinking we didn't do anything on Tuesday. I don't really remember. But I took this girl to my favorite spot. Ocean. I don't know why I love it up there so much but it is so exciting to me. I'm not sure Lizzie liked the height thing very much but she did just fine.

Wednesday June 12

The three of us went to the Real game. It was actually a pretty fun game too! We went into overtime and everything! Soccer is the worlds favorite sport.

Thursday June 13

This was probably our best day of adventure. I had to babysit pretty much all day but that was fine. We took that little boy to the Aquarium which was Otterly adorable! I love that place. Seriously. The baby however did not. I did not love that we didn't bring his stroller. He was too wiggly and fussy. But luckily we had Drew-the Baby Whisperer with us.Then we finished it off with the ever popular Nickel cade! Man I love that place. We won so many goodies. I don't know why I don't go there every day of my life. Really.

Friday June 14

Wedding number 2! This girl is FINALLY Ashley Shields! Those two have been engaged since October and she has been dying. Not only were they engaged but they were at different schools. So I am so happy that the two of them can actually live together now! Yay! 

This was also my last time seeing sweet Britt. We took so many lovely pictures together, thanks to Lizzie, and said a quick goodbye before she headed out to Tennessee for the summer. I'll miss that girl.

So the goodbyes have started and that freaks me out.

Saturday June 15

Lizzie and I had a lovely night of Harry Potter 7.2 and a bonfire. Complete with hot pockets, starbursts and smores with Reese's. Delish. Then we wreaked of fire, that was no good.

Monday June 17

We got ourselves some snow cones and watched our Monday shows; The Bachellorette {team brooks!} and The Voice {team Danielle!}

Tuesday June 18

We had a little breakfast at Kneaders together this morning and got some haircuts and I sent her on her way only for her to be back in a matter of 72 hours. That's right, she will be back on Friday. 

I'm glad I got to do all my favorite things in this lovely town of mine before I leave. This week I gotta hunker down and get my talk written, and get working on that blog post I promised of all my missionary clothes and where I purchased them all after many requests to do so. I'm working on it guys. Don't worry. 

I Scream, You Scream...

We all scream for Ice cream!

AND because...

MIKE HAS BEEN GONE FOR ONE YEAR.

That is halfway my friends.

Half. Way.

I think we can all agree that I never thought this day would come.

But boy did it come.

And it came fast.

Past "Missionary-waiters" told me countless number of times how fast this goes and I never believed them until this point. 

I really didn't.

But now, you know what, it did go by so fast.

Yeah, while some days felt like they would never end.

I thought I would never make it out of the 700's, then the 600's, then the 500's

and now,

We are at 365 you guys.

That cute boy is half way done.

I am unbelievably proud of him

I really am.

But you know what?

I am proud of me.

I've grown up this year.

I've learned to do things for myself and sometimes, by myself.

I've learned that that is completely okay.

I've chosen to serve a mission, with much help from this halfway done Elder of mine.

I have prepared to serve.

I've made scripture reading a habit, and prayer.

I've learned that sometimes you gotta ask the tough questions,

sometimes you gotta take a chance, 

you have to try new things.

I learned that my Elder had more in him then I knew. 

He does believe, he knows.

And he did it.

We did it.

In celebration of his one year I sent him a package.

Now obviously this isn't the first package I've sent him.

There have been a few.

MTC, Halloween, Christmas, Birthdays, Valentines, you know the basics.

But this is going to be the last one that I get out before I leave and I,

1. Won't be able to tell you about it.

2. Won't be able to be as creative.

So I'm sharing it here, with you!

My theme?

Celebrate with Ice Cream!

"So here's the 'scoop', since you are already in your 'sundae' clothes, go get some ice cream and celebrate!"

The supplies

Waffle bowls and cones 

Chocolate and Caramel syrup

"You are as sweet as chocolate syrup...and caramel too"

Gummy Bears, Reese's Pieces, Sprinkles, mini M&M's

"I miss you 'beary' much"

"I love you to pieces"

"Celebrate!"

"You are a Marvelous Missionary"

#1 Candle

"Happy One Year! You're halfway there!"

Then of course..

The card! I freaking made this you guys! 

You can too! Click here for the shirt tutorial.

and Click here for the tie.

Inside the shirt (Yes, it opens like a card and you can put things inside!), I included $10 for Mike and his companion to go get some ice cream, my treat, and celebrate!

Then, I just had to do something a little crafty and scrap-booky (I've done this in every other package, I'm sure he just loves it...) So this is what I came up with.

Okay, so this wasn't all my idea. Click here for the tutorial.

I loved doing this you guys! 

And it was so small and easy to pack in with everything else and send it off!

Here's a quick little video of what the inside of mine looks like.

And by quick I mean real quick.

Yay! Then of course I filled it with confetti, and put the lid on. This kid needs at least one surprise!

That's it guys.

I'm a little sad that this will probably be my last, creative and thought through package.

Who are we kidding.

This will be my last package I have pinterest to give me great ideas.

Enjoy guys!

Go get some ice cream and celebrate with us today!