Oh to reminisce!!

Well, some of you may think that I talk about my mission a lot...and I might. But if you went and spent a year an a half with certain people that would be a large part of your life too, right? Well...lately I have been talking with A LOT of people from my mission and it has been so wonderful! Oh, how I love the Philippines!


This is from my 1st area with a family that we were teaching! Such cute girls. If you can imagine, tehy were a family with 6 children and one on the way and they lived in a little hut just off of a river. The hut was about 10 feet by 10 feet and I couldn't even stand straight up in it. Yup, what a humble people! I loved it!

Ate RubyAnne and the kids. She is one of the ones that I recently spoke with. I was teaching her older brother (Kuya Bryan) when I was in my 2nd area. Kuya had cancer with large tumors on his face and collar bone. He went through radiation and the tumors were getting littler but nothing more could be done for him to recover and he never accepted the gospel while I was there. When my parents came to pick me up this was one of the families that we got to visit and Bryan was humble enough to ask my dad to give him a blessing. I just found out from RubyAnne that he passed away about a month after we left the Philippines. What a sweet memory it was to visit there because I got to have a conversation with Bryan and I even asked him if he would accept and be willing to allow his mother to take his name to the temple for him. He agreed. I definatley think that his heart softened and he is now ready and waiting to recieve the full blessings of the gospel! (I found out as well that Nanay, Bryan's mom, is preparing his name so that when the Cebu Temple is finished he will be able to have those blessings!)

Finally, this is my last area. I just spoke with Malou, a girl that I taught who was baptized after I left (that happened more often than I liked...but at least it happend!) She is still strong in the gospel along with her older brother and younger sister. Oh, what a blessing it all is!

I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES!

Temple Worker and Temple Blessings

Is it not a beautiful sight? Well, this is what I can see from my window each morning when I wake up and every night before I go to bed. When I am on campus this is what I walk towards and it really gives me a sense of gratitude for the many blessings that we have as members of the church. I have been a temple worker, working every Saturday this summer, since the end of April. It has been such a blessing to help those on the other side of the veil recieve the blessings of the gospel and temple. It has also been such a powerful experience to help those patrons who come in and do the work for the dead. Try memorizing all of those ordinances (especially initiatory) it takes time, but what a spiritual experience! One particular experience that I had was watching a few young children be sealed to their parents for Time and All Eternity. There is nothing quite like it. I just happend to be on the 3 level where the Sealing rooms are and I was invited to witness this sealing. How precious it was and such a tender mercy for me at the time. I know that the Lord knows each of us and our individual needs. Working at the temple has strengthened my testimony and I have seen an increase of love from the Lord poured out upon me. I know that this is the true and living gospel and can bring us everlasting peace as we choose to follow the Lord's plan.

A Tribute

Well, this is to Sister Young. A dear friend and former roommate has officially left for the next 18 months to serve as an Ambassador of the Lord in the Salt Lake City South Mission. Well,I guess I can't say she has officially left to serve yet, but I just said my final goodbye's. She is from California and came up to Rexburg for a final visit and to go to her cousin's wedding. She will report on July 22. It has been such a treat to have her in town for the past week. She is one of the most pure girls I have ever met and I am so grateful for her loving example of patience and gratitude! She is going to be an amazing missionary and I am so excited for her to serve! Some things that we were able to do together while she was here, a traditonal run to Taco Bell and Taco Time...the latter is for the churros...they are heavenly! We went to the Temple yesterday morning and she came to to our ward on Sunday, for old times sake. Oh, and we can't forget our outing at Bishop Bradley's house in the hot tub...thanks Bishop! Thanks Teresa for visiting and making more memories...I am so glad we are friends. You are going to rock the Saints in Utah! You go, Sister! (sorry for the poor quality of the picture and the nastiness of me...however, I do look super dark compared to her...and she looks exceptionally pale!)

The Gift of Tongues

Ha! This totally made me laugh and think of Landon! Love it...oh, I am so glad that you all got a kick out of the end of my last post!

AHHH! The joys of being single...

That's right peeps...I AM GOING ON A CRUISE! I decided that since I will be 25 this August I am going to celebrate and I am going to do it right! So...why not a cruise. I have always wanted to go on a cruise and now is the time. So, Jen, Crystal Lyman, Heather Price and I are packing our bags for a trip to the Caribbean. I can't wait! We are going from Miami heading to Grand Cayman....

Then we are off to Roatan, Honduras...

Next up will be Belize (if you know your Geography...it is right next to Guatemala...3 of the 4 of us have lived there and we may just hop on a bus and never come back...don't be alarmed if we don't return!)

And finally...Cozumel, Mexico. I was just told to go swim with the dolphins...that is another dream of mine...so I am all about it! Who wouldn't want to do this?

Seriously! Amazing and I am so excited! The crusie is booked and the flight is ready and waiting for us...now it is just a matter of time! Happy birthday to me (and happy graduation I suppose...but I am thinking the the Philippines deserves a visit next!) For all of you single folk reading this who are jealous I say COME! To you married folk who are jealous that I get to go on a cruise with my best friends...all I have to say for you is...you get to have sex, I get to travel! Ha! Ha! Thanks, Jen!

9 Down 1 to Go!

Ok folks...if you think that I am a slacker because I haven't updated for awhile...you are right! But all things considered I applaud my abilities to get one post up this semester, this now being my second! I have been taking 17 credits and the hardest class of my college existence all this semester...plus math! (If you know me...you also know that I HATE math, it could one day be the death of me!) Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I have accomplished now 9 finals/tests this week and have my last one (math...I told you...the death of me!) this afternoon. So what am I going to do with my spare week inbetween semesters you ask? I am GOING TO DISNEYLAND! I welcome the warm sun and fun into my life!

2 years!

Well, the day has come and gone with much pondering and reminiscing about the Philippines. As of Thursday I have been home from my mission for two years. I had a great celebration with Filipino's and people who served in the Philippines, we ate great food, talked a lot, and luaghed even more. It was the best way that I could celebrate my 2 years from being home. Although it is hard to believe that the time has passed so quickly, I have been so blessed. It has definately been an eventful two years since my time back in the states so here are some things that have happend since my return...

*Colorado trip with Jen and her friends to see Wicked. Truly Amazing!*Took a trip to San Diego with mission friends to visit the Hamson's and the Brown's

*Moved to Rexburg with my best friend Crystal

*Took Kyle to the MTC to serve in the Kentucky Louisville Mission. We love you bud!

*Started school in the Early Childhood Special Education Program at BYU-Idaho

*Participated in the Open House and Dedication of the Rexburg Temple

*The birth of my brother's daughter, Averie Karren, in July...what a sweet girl

*Still in school at BYU-Idaho ;)

Some things I look forward to in the next year are...

*Vacationing to California with my family and celebrating Dad's 50th birthday in April and Mom's in September!

*Student teaching in Las Vegas and graduating with a Bachelor's Degre!

*Turning 25!

*A trip back to the Philippines (that may be a little more than a year away, but not by much!)

I learned to love the Philippines and the Filipino people while serving them in Cebu. I am so grateful that I made the choice to serve the Lord and his children for a year and a half, it changed my life dramatically and I hope that I was able to touch someone's heart through the spirit in me. I miss everything that I left behind, but the people will always be in my heart. I plan to return soon and visit the temple that was announced while I was there. It is half way done, I hope to make it out for the dedication. My life is amazing with the regular ups and downs of a college student but the Lord has blessed me in ways unimaginable. I thank you all for your support in my life and for the blessing you have been to me, expecially my family. What stregth they provide! I love you all!