Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! It was so good to be with my family for the holidays, but I still think about the mission around this time of year (ok, so everyday...but especially now)! It is part of me...and I even started listening to Christmas music in October...it is the Filipino in me! It's not my fault...;) As long as there is a "ber" at the end of the month it is leagal to listen to Christmas music and decorate...yes, it is true! So sue me!

We made pizza, I ate it, Jen smiled, and Haley picked her nose...each doing what we do best! We all know that I love food!

Got PJ's (I am trying to convince my mom to start that tradition!) Check out how everyone has a matching buddy...except for the kids. Jen and I decided that we better get married if we want someone else to match with! Then on Christmas morning...

We shoveled LOTS of snow, and...

we got to watch Easton open his presents with all the magic of Santa Claus involved! SO FUN! Then, FINALLY...

We were able to talk to my baby brother, Kyle, on his mission! He is serving in the Kentucky Lousiville Mission! It was such a great Christmas...I can't wait for next year when we will all be back together! What a wonderful time of year! May the new year bring much happiness and joy to everyone!

I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!

Well, my dad's 50th birthday is coming up and so we are all going to Disneyland! This will be the first long distance trip that I have been with the whole fam...including the kids. I am so excited to see Easton on all of the rides, and Haley has been there with kids and strollers before so she knows how to work the system with that! Boo ya! Here is how my parents told us on Christmas morning...


Oh, and that is the adorable apron that Jen gave me! Thanks fam!

Well, what can you say? Change is inevitable! This past semester has been a blessing when it comes to roommates (and much more...) but really, they were all amazing and I am so grateful that I had the chance to live with them. Things are changing for this semester, but I am hoping that all is well in the roommate department. We are going to miss Debbie and Elise but I will sure be glad to have them back in the summer. Crystal is now graduated and we will miss her, but we are excited to see what her new beginnings bring her! Love you all, girls!

Digital Scrapbooking

So I do believe that this could become a new hobby. I have been home from school for a week now and here are some things that have been keeping me occupied...let me know what you think. It's addicting!

Nindota ang templo oi!

Is this not a gergeous picture of the Provo Temple? This is one of my favorite temples because I received my own endowments there and I went there every week during my stay at the MTC. Lots of memories inside of this holy edifice! So Jen and I went to the temple in Saturday. We were going to do initiatories since they are quicker and we had to budget our time. Well, we got there and the wait was an hour...for initiatories! Insane! But I am really glad that we ended up doing a session. When we took our seats in the chapel Jen leaned over and asked if I had ever done a session in Cebuano. I replied saying that I had never had the chance, I looked in to it at Rexburg but they did not offer Cebuano. She told me that Provo did and that I should get a headset. That made me really excited but people were proceeding to the endowment room at that point so I figured that I would just have to come back. Lucky enough we didn't make it to that session, so I hurried up and talked to a temple worker requesting that I get headphones for Cebuano. I was so excited! It almost made me cry and made my desire even greater to return soon to the Philippines. One the movie started and I heard the different voices I started recognizing some of them! The voice of Elohim was the Stake President in my 2nd area. All of the stake conferences I went to (along with General Conferences) on the mission I was in the same area and stake! Then the voice of Jehova was the voice of a member from my last area. He is a pioneer member there in Cebu and we worked to reactivate his daughter. What a neat experience to listen to the Temple Session in Bisaya and remember the blessings which I recieved from the misison! SO COOL!

I don't even know where to start...

Well, I am back...for a minute. Life has been incredibly busy for me these past few weeks and I don't even want to imagine how life will get when it is all real life. But this is as real life as it gets for me at this point folks! Let's see...mom left, jen came and I got a full-tuition scholarship for next semester. That about sums it up. The whole thing with the scholarship is why my life has become mad! It has created a monster in which I don't regret, however, life continues on with regualer duties and then I pick something else up...what did I do? Now, let me explain...I am involved on campus with a program called "student-led instruction." BYU-Idaho is a special place for many things and one of them is the opportunities in which it creates for students to be leaders. So I am facilitating a general studies course this semester and it has been very rewarding. In October they started requesting for applications for those who would like to be in a leadership position over this. There is a Director and 2 Coordinators with one Faculty Advisor over it all. So I applied and prefered to get the coordinator position, a lot less stress and more low key. I was in a one-on-one meeting with the director for this semester and when we were done he asked if he could talk to me for a minute. I didn't see why not since we had been talking for the past 20 or so minutes. It would be natural for him to continue on, right? Anyhow, he then proceeded to tell me that they (they being the advisor, director, and coordinator) had decided the positions for next semester's leaders. I was preparing myself for the worst. Then, the storm broke! (Name that movie....) He asked me if I would accept the position of Director, a pit dropped to my stomach and I am sure that I gave him a very stunned face. He said that he wished I could've seen my own eyes...whatever that means! So I decided to take the position and in return will be recieving a scholarship. So I have quit my job for next semester (and will pick it back up in the summer) so that I can focus on being a director. The first week that I was director we interviewed about 16 people to be facilitators for next semester, chose 12, started training and are now well on our way to next semester. That week created for VERY long days, I was on campus for an average of 13-14 hours a day between work, school, tests, and interviews! Can you say crazy? However, the program is growing in tremendous ways and I feel blessed to be a part of it at such a great University! The Lord really has blessed me and obviously wants me to get through school. I am glad to be doing it at BYU-Idaho. Now, a post wouldn't be a post without some pictures! So here you go! Oh and a shout out to my friend Terry who just got her mission call to the Los Angeles California Spanish Speaking Mission. She is going to rock the world with her testimony! You go girl!

Ok, so this is just a picture of random people...from my ward now and people that used to be in the ward and roomies! YAY! Love them all! What great people!

Teresa and I. I just really like this picture and Teresa is one of the best roomies EVER!!! Luv ya girl!

An Elect Lady

Well, this weekend was Mother's weekend for BYU-Idaho and it was absolutley awesome! My wonderful mother came and hung out with my roomies and I. We were busy the whole time and therfore she took a VERY long nap on Sunday, I guess we wore her out! But some of the highlights of the weekend were the Alumni Dinner, mom got to see an advisor of hers when she was here at Rick's College. Saturday we had seminars, a luncheon, Comic Frenzy (it is a BYU-I version of who's line is it anyway...so hilarious!) dinner with the girls and last but not least Natalie Macmaster. I told ya, we were busy, but it was so worth it! Natalie is a fiddler from Canada and it was amazing...she dances as she fiddles, truly a work of art! It was so fun to watch her and feel of her energy. She likest to perform in Rexburg because she loves that we say a prayer before we start the show and she loves being around people that "are so high on life!" Truly, there is something about Mormons that people notice...what a great feeling! Then on Sunday we went to my ward and listened to my beautiful roommate sing in sacrament meeting, Consider the Lilies. She is going to be an Opera star and for sure needs to be in the MoTab! GO ELISE! Every Sunday night we have a "sweet swap" and lots of people come over bearing sweets and we mingle and flirt and have fun! What a great time to be here at BYU-Idaho! Mom got to meet lots of my friends and she wooed them for me by her baking skills...she made "better than...well, Landon knows what I am talking about. But it was GOOD! Thanks for a great weekend mom! Oh and to top it all off, she did the dishes for me before she left this morning...what more could you ask for? She truly is an elect lady and I hope that I can become the woman she is! I LOVE YOU MOM!!

I Hope They Call Her on a Mission!

Here is my beautiful and perfect niece, Averie on her blessing day. It was wonderful to be with so much family and watch my brother perform this beautiful father's blessing. I think that she is going to spread the gospel on a mission...I can only hope, right? Oh, and check out the CUTE bracelet she is wearing...awe, precious! I love jewelry on little girls! Again, thanks Landon and Haley for providing free entertainment for our family! We love you guys!

For the Beauty of the Earth!

So today I went to Mesa Falls with my friend Stephanie. Ok, well we tried to get to Mesa Falls...it didn't work out exactly as planned...we went a little too far, like Island Park too far. If any of you know Idaho very well...you can start laughing now! *Wink* On our way to the falls this is what we found...FALL!! It was beautiful and I am so grateful for the beauties of the earth that the Lord provides us! We truly have so much to be thankful for, even scenic routes!

Say what?

"Your total comes to five-hundred and eighty dollars please." Yeah, not kidding! My eyes I'm pretty sure were bulging out of my head because the next thing the bookstore clerk said, "yeah, that's a lot!" HELLO!!! As if I hadn't noticed thank you very much!!! I am pretty sure that I am handing over the money as the cash almost shakes out of my hand! Ridiculous! So I am back in Rexburg loving the fall weather, and having a social life again; but for real, five-hundred and eighty dollars for text books...that is way too extreme for me! I basically threw up in my mouth (along with my eyes bulging out of my head) because that is just a disgusting amount of money to pay for books! Honestly, if you know me at all I am not a huge reader...so you think that I am going to read these books? I think not! Perhaps my money just went to the beautiful new bookstore that the school just built...it is ginormous!!! Quite lovely, but OH MY WORDIE!!

Well, enough with my woes of paying five-hundred and eighty dollars for books, wait did I tell you that already? Yeah, my books were five-hundred and eighty dollars people! Sympathy! I need sympathy! Ha! Ha!

On to a happier note... my math teacher is GREAT! I love playing kid games in PE and am getting so excited to be a teacher. Really, this is my greatest passion and I really can't wait for the day that I will have my own class to play with...it is going to be a party in my room for sure!

My roommates are AMAZING! That is probably because I got to hand pick them! Yup, that is right...we all chose to live together and so far so awesome! I have loved every minute of being with them, although I guess that is not very many minutes. I have had an incredibly busy week this first week back however very rewarding...I am exhausted. I only have classes on MWF so therefore it makes for long days. Then I work on TTH which in turn makes for also long days. The Lord has truly blessed me with accomplishing all that I need to and I am super glad that it is almost Friday...then I am off to Averie's blessing!

Oh, tender mercy...I don't have the funds to get to Utah by myself (yes, you guessed it...$580!!!!) however I had a friend call me today. He asked where my parents live in relation to Provo..."about 20 minutes north" I replied, wondering where he was getting with that. Then came the blessed question..."well, do you want to go home this weekend!" YEAH!! So I will be home tomorrow night to see my beautiful niece be blessed on Sunday. Oh, and go BYU!! Thanks a million Shawn...I owe you!

To Tri or not to Tri?

So my brother Landon and my sister-in-law Haley are going to do a triathlon next year...they invited me to do it with them and some of Haley's fam. I figure that gives me plenty of time to train, right? It could be lot's of pressure during school, but I think that this could be a great thing for me and help me get in to shape...yeah, this is just what I need! Count me in Landon and Haley, thanks for getting me started on a great adventure and wish me luck as I train in Rexburg!

The Girls!

I have been blessed with great friends who love to get together! The last time that we were together was before Katie was married, so congrats Katie in your new adventure! Thanks Sylvia for hosting us and letting us visit in your beautiful home! It was so great to see you all with your kids...or soon to be kids. We missed you Brendi! Love you girls!

The Greatest Change Comes From Within!

Jen and I just went and saw The Errand of Angels together and it brought many tears to my eyes as I reminisced about my mission to the Philippines. It seemed to follow my mission almost exactly, Sister Taylor had only 4 companions and 3 areas. I had 5 companions and 3 areas. Each of them she learned something special, but with Sister Keller she learned that it comes from within! I think I learned that lesson with Sister Santos and Sister Salvania. (I obviously hadn't learned it the first time and still needed some teaching!) Both wonderful women and taught me so much! I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve with them and come out better because of the trials and challenges that I faced. Bear with me as I walk down memory lane...I loved my mission and miss it a lot! I try to keep in touch with many and am glad to know that I have touched many people's lives. It was an wonderful experience to know that I was being an instrument in the Lord's hands and have the spirit testify through me. I haven't kept track of all of the investigators/converts/less-actives however the ones that I do know about are doing well! Jen Cosino was baptized the Saturday after I transferred. It was an emotional time leaving the area because I had been there so long, but it was wonderful while it lasted. She has now been married for time and all eternity in the Manila Philippines Temple to the ward mission leader that I served with in Pajo. Truly amazing! A less-active family that I helped reactivate is doing well and serving in stake and ward callings. My very last Sunday on the mission Bro. and Sis. Melendez quietly approached me to tell me of their news. They had just gotten their temple recommends renewed! They went to Manila shortly there after having not been in 5 years! The Lord works in mysterious ways! Serving the Lord and the Filipino's for 18 months was such a miracle for me! My testimony grew in tremendous ways and I worked hard to have no regrets! I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that Jesus is my Redeemer! Missionary work is awesome!

(Below): This is my trainer Sister Balita, and my lifesaver Sister Hamson. Sister Balita was incredibly patient with me as I struggled to learn the language and love the people. She taught me all there is to know about serving a mission..."forget yourself and go to work!" What a great example!
(Above): This is one of the districts from Pajo, bugoy kaayo! Sister Santos was my second companion.
(Above): Sister Jumao-as, we also served in Pajo together and I loved every second of it! We had such a great time together and many successes!

(Above): Nanay and Tatay Duero, Pajo Ward. They are pioneers on Mactan Island and used to walk to church with their little children across the bridge to Mandaue. It is about 6 miles. AMAZING! Thank heavens there is now a church not too far from their home now.

(Below): Sister Salvania, my final companion in Pajo. She turned 66 while I served with her and she loved being a missionary!

(Above): Sister Vera Cruz was my last companion in my last area. She is amazing and we had a blast together while teaching many! She kept me going strong to the end!

(Below): All of the American Sisters on the mission, Sis. Pressler, Me, Olpin and Watterson. Love you all!

"And no one can assist in this work except she shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care."
~D&C 12:8

Work Hard!

Correct! You have guessed it! The picture's are of my feet from working hard and a jar from...well, just keep reading. Now here is the story...yesterday about 11:30 am. I am ready to get to work! I had in mind for a long time now that the next project around my parents house would be their garage...now for any of you who have seen their garage, you know that is a large feat to take upon oneself! I was ready for the challenge and dug in! But before I went in the the jungle of dad's tools and mom's baby(see below for details)...there was a request. Mom wanted me to "inventory" her storage room. I was ok with that request and went on to find this! This is a bottle of rotten applesauce from the year 1989...yes, almost 20 blingin' years old! All I could say is NASTY and think back to the time that we were in the earthquake. *side note* my family was in the 1989 San Fran Earthquake and some of these applesauce bottles came tumbling down to their disaster. This one however, seemed to have manage the quake and we packed it up moved it back to Utah with us and has now stumbled upon my hands. Now, almost 20 years later it is still sitting in the storage room? I think NOT!

Well, after finding the masterpiece of a bottle full of mountainous applesauce (sorry you can't see it very well in the picture), I tackled the jungle with my flip-flops and capri jeans. Bad idea? Maybe, but you do remember that I served my mission in the Philippines, right? It was sunk deep into me that whatever you do...where flip flops! Oh and when you are cleaning, avoid the bra and where anything that maybe revealing, I skipped out on those 2 steps! Well, now the day after I am recovering...I still have a couple of things to do but I worked a solid 7.5 hours cleaning and organizing and throwing things out!

Here are 2 things that I learned about my parents after moving pop bottles full of water, a run to DI and trying to convice...
1-My mom has a baby...Totshot...apparently. She does not want to get rid of ANYthing from this blessed business adventure she took about 10 or so years ago. Thankfully she let me take the t-shirts to DI. Toilet paper anyone?
2-My Dad has early onset hoarding syndrome!! Doesn't hoarding come when you are about 70 years old? Holy crap...my dad has letters from when he was a baby, broken tents, college math books (yeah, pretty sure that Einstein has been one-up'ed Dad! Those theories are out the window...as should the books be!) and blueprints that he will never need again! Oh, and why wouldn't he throw in a 1968 National Geographic? Wait...I must add...when dad and I went to DI to bid farewell to the t-shirts, he told the worker that we would keep the boxes...I quickly rebuked that idea!

Being a stay-at-home daughter is the best!

Play Harder!!

I am 24! Can you believe it? My birthday was last Friday, but I had a great birthday week with all the happenings that went on. It was great fun...however I think that I played so hard that I made myself sick. Yes, that is right! I was sick on my very own birthday and YES it is the middle of August! Hello....how does that happen! But no need to fear...I am back to almost full health, and no it did not stop me from playing more!

GIRLS DAY OUT...this time we had Averie join us for her first girls day...officially tradition!

Getting my 2nd pedicure ever...it is really nice to have someone rubbing your feet. However...I am pretty sure that I wouldn't go back to Capelli's again! My nail polish already looks foul and it hasn't even been a week yet! It was sure fun...thanks again Daddy!


My dear friend Heather invited me to go to the Brain Regan Show with her at Thanksgiving Point. Freakin' hilarious! Checkmate!! Everyone now needs to go and look Brian up on Youtube...you will not regret it, trust me...good, clean fun! Look at the Emergency Room one first...."SAY 8! SAY 8!"

I have officially decided that when I am a big, big girl (in Easton's word's) I want wave runners...it is a hobby of mine, but at this point in my life, I must use someone else to enjoy the beauty's of the earth! It will be a splendid day when I can go wave running whenever and where ever I want! The Lord created this earth to enjoy...so why not do it on wave runners?

Thanks Jen for this amazing birthday gift...just you wait until I am graduated and you will see the beautiful things that I am able to get you for your b-day! Luv ya!

We went to Park City for our annual Castillo Family Vacay...too bad it wasn't NYC!!! But hey, it was a lot of fun and we played HARD! These clothes are the outcome of our trip to the outlets...thanks Dad! My family teases me my ability of being a "Daddy's Girl", but you must agree that I made it out good this time! (And really, I didn't spend that much of his money...thank you outlet stores!)

Boat Running Anyone?

Yes, I am single but I still have cute kids in my life...my wonderful niece and nephew. So since the last post was dedicated to Averie, this one is to Easton...yup the love of my life! And if you ask him who his favorite aunt his, he will reply with no hesitation, your one and only...Aunt Shelly! So cute story, we went wave running a couple weeks ago at Jordanelle with my dad's company and Easton came along too. What a blast! He loved every moment of it and had fun pretending he was driving the wave runners. We are headed up to Park City today and going to go wave running again on Tuesday. So, Easton so lovingly called me the other night and we chatted. (What a cutie!) I asked if he was going to come wave running with us and he said, "Yeah, and boat running too!" Too funny! He has also been running around in his brand new life jacket that grandpa bought him and he is just waiting to go wave running...or is it boat running? What more could I ask for in a nephew? I am pretty sure that I could win any 'cutest nephew' competition!

The Cutest Girls on the Block!

Ok, so I know that many of you reading this already have seen pictures if my beautiful niece Averie. However, I can't resist her! She is so adorable and she looks even cuter with her cute Aunt Shelly holding her! Actually I think it may be the bow that she is wearing that makes her look exceptionally beautiful...but really it all just works together! She is so fun to have around! Thanks Landon and Haley for providing the kids to play with! I will try to work on that 2 year deal that we worked out yesterday Haley, but you could help me too you know!

Testing...Testing...123

Ok Folks! Here it is...this is all under the influence of peer pressure and you all made me do this! (You know who you are!) This is a trial run and hope that it all goes well! Here is to many more blogging moments. CHEERS!