Blast From the Past

A little while ago I mentioned to my mom that I wanted to visit my grandparents at their home. I mean I get to see my grandparents pretty much every year but it just isn't the same as being at their actual house. My family and I discussed it and came to the conclusion that it has been almost five years since we have taken the time to drive up to visit. How crazy!! I miss this old house that smells like my grandma and holds memories of Easters and Christmas' from the past! I am so glad that we had time to come up before I left.

The first night we got in town (which was last night), all the kids decided to go on a run. Ok, can I just tell you how completely out of shape I am in. Nut and Bob ran up ahead of Flip and me for the whole run. We only ran a little over a mile but it was harder than I thought it would be for me. Thankfully, Nut didn't want to run more than a mile because of what her coach told her! If we would have ran any farther I would have dropped dead. Haha.

Nut's boyfriend came with us on this trip and I am so glad that he was with us on our run!! We had an encounter with some young hooligans and Teddy almost got in a fight. But I think the other guys got scared when they say how big Teddy is!

So far this trip has been amazing!! I love it here with my family, having a great time!!! It will only get better from here!

Pictures will come shortly...

Moments That Make Life

Here I was thinking that this summer would be totally and completely boring. However, there has been a lot going on so far and as I look at a calendar, I notice how much I have to do and how little time I have until I'm off serving the Lord. It is so much better being busy rather than not. In the last little while I have gone to two weddings, shopped for my mission (and I still have more to get), been to a water park, helped prep my sisters rooms for painting, drove to Cedar City, and played tons of volleyball!! It has been so much fun!!

The weddings were for two of my cousins (you know the ones that are like twice removed or something of the sort). The decorations were so very different from each other and all so cute!! My sisters and I had fun with them.

The following pictures are from the first wedding.





I was also able to go to a water park with my sisters, brother, my sister's boyfriend and my mom a little bit ago!! It was so much fun! I hadn't been to this water park before and I had a blast being there with my family.




This last weekend my sisters and I played on a team in the Summer Games while my dad coached us. It was a great weekend in Cedar!! We were able to bring home a Gold for our division!! Now let me tell you, I am so sore from having to play than sit than play for two days. It was worth it though!

This was the first time the four of us sisters have played together!
It goes Me, Nut, Flip, and Bob!!
So much fun!!

The Lord's Ways

Today has been a trying day for me. It started out like any other day. I woke up and had chores to do. However, it quickly became a day for me to learn of my many weaknesses. Many missionaries have been known to say that they have never been so aware of how many weaknesses they have until they are out there serving the Lord. Well, I think the Lord has started early with me!! I have always known that God has a hand in every part of my life but I didn't think he would humble me in the way I have been today. I am truly grateful for the Love I have felt from the Lord and how much I know that He cares for me. I know that I have been sent to my parents for a reason!! I love them and they have shown me how much they love me today!! When I expected to be yelled at and punished severely, they have surprised me! Yes, they have been strict and shown huge disappointment in me. But they have also shown me compassion and patience. My daddy gave me a hug and a kiss like he has never done before!!! He comforted me when I expected more anger than he has shown before! I thought I had cried out all the tears my body can hold but even as I write this they leak out on my cheeks. I guess I've never cried enough to know how much I water I really hold. Haha. I have more than I am willing to admit. The Lord works in His own way and He can not be predicted! Word to the wise, don't try to predict him!!

Inspiration

I have a friend that is currently serving a mission. She just had her last week in the MTC and is now in Thailand! I'm sure she is loving every minute of her time there. I got the following quote from her. I just love it!! Hope you do too!

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminece, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be first, right, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear. My foundation will be firm.

Angels that God Sends

Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you hadn't met someone or if you had met someone? I don't regret meeting anyone. I've learned so many lessons from different people in my life. But sometimes I wish I could change the order in which I meet people. This wish came because I have started talking again with a good friend of mine that I meet a few days after I met D. (The guy that I go to the temple with). I met him on a blind date. I didn't expect anything to come from this date. I was really just doing a favor for V. I didn't even take very much time getting ready. So I went looking like a bum and found out that I had to drive to pick up my date (we'll call him George). I got to his house and George walked out holding a box of tile. I was surprised! Who brings tile on a date? Haha. It turns out that he needed the tile for his buddy's house. When we met up with V and her date, George took the tile to the other guy's car.

The rest of the date was pretty good! The longer it went on the more glad I was that I was paired up with George and not V's date. Well, the date ended and nothing extraordinary happened. George and I kept in contact through text for the next week. Then I was getting to know D more and so the next weekend I decided to blow off the date George and I set up. How horrible of me, I know. We stopped talking then because of me. How terrible, but I just wasn't sure if he was the kind of guy I wanted to get to know. Plus he was out of town and D wasn't. I was spending more time in D's presence, so naturally I went with what I had in reach.

Then a couple of weeks ago we started talking again! It turns out that the surprises didn't end with the tile George had during the first date. So many things I have learned about him have been unexpected!! With each new thing that I learn about George, I wish I had met people in different order or time of my life. Although I don't regret anything about my friendship with D, it would have been so much more interesting if I had stayed with George. Who knows where it would have led to. Some might say that it's not too late. I whole heartily agree expect for one small fact. He is now off on the other side of the country working for the summer and I'm getting ready to go to Guatemala.

This whole thing has gotten me thinking about the timing of when we meet people. You see, I am starting to really like this guy!! I know I have only spent a few hours with him, but we have talked every day for the last few weeks. I know that I have met George for a reason. God sends angels in the form of friends all the time. But why now? I really think that George is someone I can marry so maybe that is why we are talking. But I am needed out in the mission field! I know this as a fact! If George was here with me now, or if we had continued to talk when we first met, I probably wouldn't have even thought of a mission. So now, I will have to wait for a year and nine months at least before I see him. He might be the guy that gives me the support I need while I am out serving. Who knows?! All I can do now is hope that there isn't some other girl lucky enough to catch his attention while I'm gone. Haha. We already have so much that we want to do together! It would be a shame to not be able to do it!! So life goes on and patience is the lesson to be learned from this experience. Too bad I can't get a sneak peek of the future. :)

Summer Begins

It's official. Summer is here!!! When it is not raining the weather is so warm and beautiful! Don't get me wrong, I love the rain, just not every day. Haha. So what kicked off the summer in my area of the world? Nothing less than ME graduating from high school!!! We are all so proud of her! It was an interesting graduation because many of the people I graduated with were at the ceremony. I guess they all had someone they knew graduating. Small world!

Just before ME got her diploma.

Waiting to walk out of the arena.

Almost ready to leave and so excited!

Walking out. I think this picture is sweet!

All the siblings, a nephew, and a cousin!!

It was fun seeing her finish off her high school years! Now ME is off to my Alma Mater to play some volleyball!! I am so excited for her! The only thing that would make it better is if I could actually watch her play a game. Haha. But Guatemala will be amazing!

As for me, I've finally started to get things that I will need for my mission! I went shopping on Monday with my mom and Bob (the youngest sister). It was pretty fun! We headed to the Sister Missionary Mall for clothes. I loved that little store! I was able to get most of my clothes there and pay more for clothes than I ever have before. Hahaha. I'm on my way and it feels good to be doing something more for my mission!!