It's never "Goodbye" It's only "See you soon."

Here it is. A new chapter of my life, and it's changed in a few different ways. I've moved to the Golden State and my best friend reported to the Provo Utah MTC for his two year mission. It's been quite an adventure getting used to the humidity, driving about 18 hours to come out here, and finding a job, especially getting used to the fact I couldn't say goodbye to Robbie face to face; only over the phone. It was also difficult to say goodbye to my parents, who've stood by my side since I could walk and have always supported me, who raised me all 18 years, and watching them say goodbye to their youngest and last child. But I love this chance I am taking. I love trying new things, so I knew taking this chance would be a piece of cake for me when I said I'd do it. But then again, It wasn't exactly a piece of my favorite cake...
Girls, of course it's tough to say goodbye to a guy friend or boyfriend when he leaves on his mission, and I knew it would be especially hard for me to say goodbye to Robbie only a day before I would head out on a week vacation before moving straight out to California. But I have found this week that when I write him, or I think of him after the day he reported to the MTC, I feel at ease, and I am very thankful in the end for this gospel. I am most thankful, because he's out on a mission, and I wouldn't want him anywhere else. But also because I am planning on going on a mission, and hopefully receiving my papers at the end of September. Being a missionary is leaving our own families for two years so that other families can be with each other for eternity. Becoming a missionary is taking the sacrifice from our daily lives we live with our friends and family, getting ready to teach families about the chance they have for eternity with their family, and especially taking the time to open the large envelope and to announce to our loved ones where we will be leaving and serving for the next 24 or 18 months.


I'm not complaining, I'm not sad, and I'm not upset. I am at ease, and I am happy. I am content with how life has been turning for me, and it's probably one of the best opportunities I've ever taken to move away for a few months. I never did anything exquisite in High School, and I honestly felt like I was nobody for the longest time. And it was until I actually took the time to meet people, to make better friends, and to change my perspective in my high school career. When you learn to take chances, you learn to quite dipping your toes in the water; you learn to jump in and hope for the best, which I exactly did... (Finally) I always wish I would've done something great in high school now that I look back, but It's the past. In order to change our future, we learn from our past. We don't keep wishing what we would've done. We accept the things we did in order to learn from them, and to prepare to work harder in the near future.
I am eternally grateful for Robbie and his chance he took to serve the Lord, and I am eternally grateful for this Gospel that he will be teaching, and I will be teaching in the next year. I wouldn't want it any other way.
It's never "Goodbye" It's only "See you soon."

My CTR ring

I spent my last few weeks in Utah traveling, and meanwhile got to be with him in Salt Lake City for a day. While Deseret Book was a short walk from where we met that day, I took my chance and dragged him along with me. I never really had my own CTR ring before, besides the cute, small, green shield ring we received in Primary. At last, I feel a sense of peace when I know I'm wearing it all the time, reminding myself that I'm not alone. I love mostly that this isn't one of my favorite rings that would always leave a ring of green around my finger after wearing it. This was a ring that I knew I would treasure forever and keep a part of my constant reminder of who I am, and what I stand for. Some of my family members and friends know I loose things easily, but this ring, I know I can count on for it to be there every morning when I wake up, already on my hand. Ever since I bought it, I've worn it every day, and for the most part, I've never taken it off... Yes, I'm a rebel. I've never had a reminder like this that was always there for me, at any time to stand for my belief, and for myself.
I believe that this come easier to you during a busy day when you have a reminder like this one, when you're always wearing it whether to work or to school, of who you are and reminds you of the blessings that Heavenly Father has for each of us. He has so much in store for us that we can't even contemplate how many blessings we'll have in the next few years, or how blessed we will be when we enter into celestial glory. I've never felt it more strongly that being a part of this church, and of this great and marvelous world, is one of the best things in our lives that we don't always think about.
I've started a goal and a project for myself, and I encourage you all to come on this journey with me. I've read the Book of Mormon all the way through, only once. I finished for the first time around when I graduated, to finish the Personal Progress for Young Women. After finding my old paperback copy of the Book of Mormon on my bookshelf (I never even touched it after I received it, due to the fact I had my large quad set) I decided to start the the book over again, and this time using my trusty scripture marker crayons, to thoroughly read and discover more to the book than just reading word for word. I started a new way to mark my scriptures as well!
Red-Stop Sign! reminds us what not to do
Green-Go-what we should do
Blue-Highlight blessings we are promised
Yellow-Things about Christ-the light of the world
Purple-Things to work on

I encourage you all to try reading the Book of Mormon, whether you're a member of the church or not.