He's Home..

My dear cousin Austin is finally home from his LDS Mission to California! I was so excited to see him, waiting anxiously at the airport with my family and Jared. I made sign  the night before and asked my mom to bring balloons. We saw him coming down the escalator, waving, and I started to jump up and down and wave back. He was home. It was a sweet reunion. When I hugged him, my eyes filled with tears and I told him how happy I was that he was home. After hugs, we went to lunch at Cafe Rio, talked, and dreamed of our Oregon trip. Austin is an incredible missionary and example to me.

two years later.

Two years ago, my cousin Austin left on a mission for our church. He went to spread the happiness that is the gospel and he was an inspiration to me, and to many. He taught me so much before he left, he taught me from his letters home, and I'm sure I will continually learn from him. His plane lands in just a few hours and I have gone over the moment in my head many many times. I can't wait to give him a big hug.

Did you know they have internet missionaries now? Austin served with someone named Elder Menaso, who is an internet missionary. When their time together was coming to a close, Elder Menasco wrote some wonderful things about Austin..

"As a missionary, we are called to preach the gospel two by two. We cycle through different companions throughout our mission. Elder Hinton was my 7th one! From each of these companions, I have learned various life long lessons. Some were taught to me in joyful moments, other were taught as I was in the lowest of lows. But I have served with Elder Hinton for 4.5 months! That's 6 weeks longer than any of my other companions. There has been so much I have learned from him.

When I came up to Eureka, I was not quite sure what to expect. More than a year ago, Elder Hinton and I served in Vacaville together, but we never saw each other very much.

I would have to say that hands down, the biggest thing I have learned from him is Faith and how to apply faith in many various ways. Faith is always there when times are tough, when you feel like all is lost and you have no energy left to put forth. We can accomplish anything if we have the faith that we can accomplish the task ahead of us.

When I came up to Eureka, I was not the most faith filled missionary out there. I had many doubts about my efforts because I never saw very many results from anything I tried to accomplish. When I told Elder Hinton about this, he gave me the mindset that there is nothing that can ever get in the way of the Lord's work. But, it was not really in anything he ever said, but what he did. When trials came, or our goals were unreached, he would continue with the attitude of persistence. Nothing was going to get in his way, and if something tried to stop him he would shatter it.

It is something I am really going to remember: Elder Hinton has the most solid faith I have ever seen. It is amazing! I am going to strive my whole mission to make sure I keep that fire, and allow nothing to ever hurt my faith or bring it down what so ever."

I am so proud of him and the missionary work he has done. I look up to my 'younger brother' in so many ways. He inspires me. I am so happy to (almost) have him home.

Happy happy Tuesday.. :)

Sundays

My favorite day of the week is Sunday.

Big breakfasts, going to church, family time, relaxing, delicious dinners, game nights.. and a full day with Jared.

Last Sunday was Whitney's Homecoming. She gave a wonderful talk in Sacrament Meeting and afterwords, we had delicious pancakes and parfaits while we reminisced about our elementary days, trying to see how much we could remember. We remembered polka dot art, spelling on our desks in shaving cream, celebrating the Jazz with Miss Snow, and our lunch seating chart. :)

Jared and I were able to spend the rest of the day at home, just the two of us. We had chicken tacos for dinner, took a long nap, and watched a movie. It was bliss and I'm already counting down for next weekend. Happy Wednesday!



Today is the day

Today, dear Sister Whitney comes home to me.
If you don't know about Sister Whitney, please click here.
She's been serving a mission for our church. If you would like to know more about what we believe, please click here. She has been gone for a year and a half and today she comes home. For the last year and a half, I have missed her so much however, I have loved to read about her adventures in England. The people she has met, the sights she has seen, and the gospel she has shared. Yesterday, her dad forwarded me her last e-mail to her family as a missionary. Here are some pieces of that e-mail:

My mission means everything to me. I know that this is where I've belonged personally for the last 18 months. Heavenly Father truly answered my prayer by not only sending me to the exact mission that I wanted, but by sending me to the exact mission that I needed. What a loving Father He is. He created the entire universe, yet he notes the fall of a sparrow. He knows me. He knows all of us! I love this gospel. I love it with all my heart. I believed in the gospel before my mission, but now I know. This knowledge is cemented into my brain. This is truly Jesus Christ's church. The very same organization that was here when he walked the earth Himself.

Joseph Smith was an honest man. He told the truth. He translated the beautiful Book of Mormon by the power of God and not of Man. He had visions. Angels are still coming to the earth! It makes me smile! I've never felt the spirit stronger than while I was reading the Book of Mormon. This book is absolutely drenched with the love of Christ for us. You know such a huge indicator ot me of God's love? The fact that we have Agency. The freedom to choose. He wants us to be able to figure it out for ourselves. He'll help us as much as we'll let him!

If you don't know this for sure, read the Book of Mormon, and then pray about it for yourself. I've seen many occasions of other people finding out for themselves that it's true. It's really special for me to know that I personally know this is true. Heavenly Father is really patient with me. He's told me over and over again that it is true. And I know if I ask again, he'll tell me then too!

Welcome home, Whita!

My handy Countdown App...

counting down the hours

My dear friend, Airwoman ShayLee is in town! Last week, we had such a great time. We had a party, went to the Cheesecake Factory with our moms, and went to breakfast at 6 in the morning. She left for a few days to visit her sister, Airwoman Lyndi in Missouri, but she came home yesterday! :)

This weekend is going to be amazing! Kristie is coming in town for the big girls night and sleepover! I am so excited to have almost all of the girls together! Sister Penny actually returns home from her mission today but, it might be too soon. :)

Have a very happy weekend! I know I will.

in just about one month..

..this lovely will be home! I can't really believe that is true but, I am beyond excited to see her. Sister Whitney has been serving a LDS mission in England, that lucky soul.. Some things I would like to do with her when she returns:

-listen to her stories and look through her pictures
-drive around singing Sara Bareilles and Taylor Swift.
-going to Taco Bell
-a girls trip to Manti
-hiking

I definitely can't wait!

You can learn more about missions here.

daydream believer

I recently received a card from my aunt Joleen, who lives in (my beloved) Oregon. She says the weather right now is wonderful, just like it was the February I came out 7 or 8 years ago. I went alone to spend time with my Grandma and Joleen. We stayed in a room with the view of the beach right out of our window. We had crab cocktails and fudge and went sight seeing everyday.

The Oregon cravings are starting and I am daydreaming about June.. My cousin, Austin will be home from his mission and the whole family will be together in my favorite place.. :) Here are some pictures of Jared and I swinging on the beach last year:

the love month

(flowers from Jared on our first anniversary)

Of all the months I dreamed of my wedding, I wouldn't have guessed February. (May, June.. October, yes please!) But, that October date was looking too soon for my liking and I was determined to take my sweet time. Thus, the month of love is the month we got married and I am so excited it is here! I am counting down the days until our 2nd anniversary!

My goal for February: take pictures!

I believe the only picture I took in January was of one sunset. January always does that too me.. February will be a month of pictures, I'm determined! I get so antsy when I'm not creative and not documenting our life.

Some other things to look forward to this month:

-P & P's baby blessing

-Valentine's Day

-spending time with old friends
-a visit from Airwoman Shay and Kristie

-Sister Penny comes home from her mission!

Happy February!

The Random Song

I love this time of year and the magic of Christmas. I am trying not to be overwhelmed but, I could use more hours in the day. Luckily I am leaving work 4 hours early tomorrow to do some much needed Christmas shopping and package sending! (yes, I am worried that they wont make it to England and Korea on time.. Yes, I am a procrastinator..)

I look forward to the fun things planned for the rest of December. Last night we went to a Voice Male concert with 5 couples, 10 of our closest neighbors. :) Our friends. We are so blessed to have found a whole neighborhood of some pretty wonderful people. I love our home and I love where we live.

I have been missing Sister Richmond something fierce lately. I can't believe I haven't seen her in 14 months. I was reading my happy list from the week she left and about our one tearless hug goodbye. She told me not to cry so, I didn't (against all odds). She comes home in about 4 months.. four. I can't believe it. I'm beyond excited and for some reason, just a bit nervous. However.. Mostly, thrilled!

Speaking of missing people.. I miss my friends. I sometimes long for the days of doing nothing together. Hiking in the mountains, going out for pizza after working out to a silly work out video, having Office parties, sitting around talking.. This is for you, my group. My loves. You know who you are. Come to me now and let's have fun. (after Christmas of course because, this is a busy time for all, you know)

I've been thinking a lot about the new year that is knocking on our door.
2011, I am excited for you to be here.
I am ready to take on new and challenging goals. I am ready to grow and become better. I hope you will bring with you some wonderul life changes and I know there will be hard times but, I promise to grow stronger.

If you've read this far, bless your heart. Random thoughts are sometimes needed and today, they were.

Happy Wednesday to you all. :)

We love you

This is my family.

I love them, so much.
In Oregon, I started this project for my (dear, sweet) cousin Austin. He is serving an LDS mission in Santa Rosa, California. I hope this brings a smile on his face when I send this to him next week. He comes home in 9 months! :) I've already planned out balloons and signs and pictures for his airport homecoming.. Ah, can't wait!

(cousin Jeremy, me, aunt Deanne, grandma Bev, Mommy, Mister, Daddy, uncle Jon, aunt Joleen)

Hannah Banana

This is my lovely Hannah. She just returned from a difficult and wonderful mission to Slovenia and I am so happy she is home. I enjoyed her Homecoming talk more than I can say. I loved how the congregation sang the hymns. Like they believed it. Like they were praising. I loved hearing Hannah's stories about the people she taught. I loved her testimony that she bore in Slavic. It brought tears to my eyes, and I love that.

Also, I held a chicken. Yes, I am turning to quite the farm girl.

lollipop lady

Today, I received a letter from my Whitney. She is still crazy.
She told me that I should be a "lollipop lady."

I have no idea what that means. But, it sounds like fun.

Is 8 months too early to start the countdown until we can go to the movies together?

:)

Reading about the wonderful adventures makes me want to go to Europe even more..

..Also it makes me very happy that she is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I must admit, I miss her. I miss her.

But, reading this blog helps! If you miss her too, please read. :)

-From the sound of her letters, it sounds like she is doing fantastic!

I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes..

To my best friend,
Good luck in England! I will miss you terribly but, I am so happy for this new adventure.
I love you! Love, Sarah

To follow Whitney's adventures on her blog (that I will be running -she's too busy) please click here. It's not much yet but, her adventure just started. :)

Whitney's Farewell 9.27.09

Whitney's Goodbye Party 10.9.09

Farewell to Penny Sue

Another missionary to be proud of. :) Good luck, Penny! Have fun in Canada!

You will be amazing.

The Lord really loves Whitney. A lot.

Whitney opened her call last week.




She's going exactly where she wanted. Exactly.
And it makes me think: How wonderful that the Lord loves us and knows us. Oh, does he know us!

She leaves October 16th.

P.S. Richard has just returned from his mission! He was serving in.. Leeds England.
He was very excited to hear about Whitney's news.

Passion

Austin is my brother. I know the rest of the world thinks I'm an only child but this kid is my brother.
You see, technically he is my cousin.

But, nearly everyday when we were young, we were together. We grew up.. together.
We were good make believers, too.

Some days, we worked in a very busy and important office. We had dinner trays for desks, papers to doodle on, and calculators to pretend we were doing important business-like work.

Other days, we'd go fishing. In my kitchen. There's nothing like fishing out of a bowl although, we didn't get a lot of bites.

When swimming, he even wore girls swimming suits to be just like me. (When we were little, of course.)
And that's our little secret.

Yesterday, it was Austin's farewell.
I woke up extra early, curled my hair extra pretty, and when we got stuck in Sunday traffic (Sunday traffic? Really?) I may have freaked out a little.

Nevertheless, when 10:59 rolled around, so did we.

When Austin finally walked to the pulpit, my eyes and ears were all his. His voice so humble, he spoke of the Prophet Josesh Smith with admiration and love. He told stories of him and read scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants. And then he spoke of passion. He said that the most important attribute Joseph had was what he also found the Savior has as well. Passion.

And it made me wonder.. What am I passionate about?
And I wondered it all day.

He ended his farewell talk to his family and friends with his beautiful testimony. It touched my heart so deeply I couldn't help the tears from falling. He spoke of his love for this gospel, for the Savior, and for the temple. "I've never felt so much peace as I have felt when I have gone to the Temple. It is incredible", he said. A testimony so pure and so true. He is such an incredible example to me. I am so proud of him.

Austin has passion.

In 2 months..

...Austin (my awesome cousin) will be leaving for his mission to...





Santa Rosa, California


(he opened his call just last night!)

Congrats, Aushi! I love you!

p.s. Can I come?

THIS made my day...

In a weekly group email from my good friend, Elder George, I read something that put a (big) smile on my face. Read for yourself:

"Well this has been a really interesting week. I don't remember if I told you but a few weeks ago, I had a bird poo on me. Then on Monday, I had an egg thrown at me. We were just waiting for a bus to go back into the flat for the night. We were talking and laughing and having a good time, when a car came driving by and they threw an egg out of the car and it hit me in the back.
Elder Robison and I had a good laugh about that. How I am always the one get hit by something. First the bird poo then, the egg. I guess I have had everything hit me that is from a bird. I wonder when the whole bird is going to come and hit me next? Elder Robison and I talked it over and we figured out what really happened. A guy and his friend had just gone to ASDA and bought an egg. The passenger of the car was playing with the egg. Tossing it back and forth between his hands singing, ' I love my egg, I love my egg.' When the driver asked him a question which distracted him for a split second and he missed the catch. The window was open and the egg went flying out and hit an unexpecting victim. (that would be me) That is why we heard a noise come from the car. It was really he yelling 'Oh no!' from losing control of his egg. That poor man. I wish I knew who it was so that I could give him another egg to play with."

I know you must be thinking, "What optimism!" (Just like I was) But, I was also thinking,

"I miss Richard.."

and now you know why.

Richard even let me beat him up... once.