Another Week!

This week has pretty much been like any other. Nothing special has happened, but I just have felt really happy. This summer I had some problems with my anxiety and depression. I decided to take some time off of school to help with all of this, and this is one of the first weeks that I have felt normal again. I have finally begun to feel like myself. It has been really great. I know that I still have a long way to go before I am completely myself, but it sure feels good to at least have had that start.

Well, today was the primary program. This has to be the best Sunday of the year, besides General Conference, of course. The kids are so cute and the songs and their sweet messages just make for the most entertaining and adorable Sacrament meeting. In a single's ward you have to miss these, but luckily for me, I have nephews who wanted me to go to their program. They are so cute and I have never seen them more proud than after their presentation. They are so cute and I love them so much!

Time Flies!

I feel like I posted yesterday, but time is just flying and getting away from me. At least this week. I had an awesome week and I can't wait to write all about it.

First of all, my mom has been on vacation in North Carolina visiting my oldest sister and her kids. This past Wednesday was when she came home! I got to go pick her up from the airport. I got there a little early and her plane was just slightly late, so I just got to sit in the airport and watch 6 missionaries come home. It was such a powerful experience. I didn't know any of these young men, but watching them come home and embrace their loved ones was so inspiring. It gave me a preview of what it is going to be like when Jeffrey comes home and now I know a little bit better what to expect. It just made me really proud that I was going to welcome someone home who served the Lord for two years and really gave it everything he had. I am so proud of him and can't wait for the time when I get to welcome him home.

Then, on Friday I had the opportunity to go to the Brigham City temple and do baptisms with some fellow MG's. It was great being able to hang out with girls that know exactly what you are going though and with similar goals and aspirations. There are such cute girls and so sweet.

Saturday was my nephew's baptism. This is a pretty big deal. My sister, his mom, hasn't gone to church since she was about 16 or so. Dakota only knows about church when someone is babysitting and takes the kids. He started talking about baptism, which is another miracle because this kid never talks. He is super shy and might have some sort of Autism. They are still trying to figure a diagnosis and things like that, but he started showing interest about three weeks ago, because he had not consistently been to church the missionaries had to come over and teach him, but I think it is really awesome that he started all this, and I think that it really might start to bring my sister back to church too.

I also had stake conference this weekend. So I attended the Saturday night session last night and learned a lot. Craig Jessop, former director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, spoke about music and it's importance of it in our lives. I really enjoyed learning more about him. Our Stake President then spoke about family history and it's role in our lives. Now, my grandpa has done most of the work for my family, but I have really felt inspired to be more active in the work for my ancestors. And a lot of what we talked about today in Stake Conference was family history. I got the answer that I wasn't supposed to go on a mission. That I was to stay here and really focus on myself and my goals of marriage and family, but family history can really be my missionary work here at home. People who have already passed are anxiously waiting for their work to be done, and I want to aid them in their work.

How To: Survive Waiting for a Missionary

So I gave a list of things to do and keep in mind as you are waiting for a missionary as a comment on a thread on Facebook, and I decided it would be good just to put them all up on here. I think they are pretty standard things that everyone will tell you to do while waiting, but I think it's nice to have them all in the same place.

1. Stay super close to your Heavenly Father.

There are so many reasons why this is so important. First of all, you are going to get lonely and have doubts and be sad. In those cases, you will need to rely on Him. You need to make sure that you are praying and reading your scriptures daily. Also, I recommend that you attend the temple regularly. All of these will bring you comfort and also give you added perspective of why your missionary is out serving a mission, and all the blessings you will receive while he is gone, and those you will obtain when he gets home.

2. Create a blog and keep a journal.

These things have been so helpful to me. I feel that with my blog, I am getting my story out there, even if no body reads it. My voice is being heard. And I like my journal because I get to write things that I don't have to worry about people reading, and also I add my spiritual experiences I have. I like to journal so that I can draw pictures or add things like ticket stubs and such. It helps me look back on my progress, and it helps me from feeling like I'm keeping all my feelings inside of me. It is a healthy outlet for emotion and frustration.

3. Find people to support you!

Facebook is full of good waiting sites with amazing people that are so supportive and helpful. Everyone has met their fair share of "waiter haters". It is really hard to not let it phase you, and sometimes they do discourage you. It's a great thing to be able to have other girls that know exactly what you are going through and have them there to lift your spirits and give advice when you need it.

4. Stay close to his family

I know this is a lot easier said than done sometimes. The mish's family isn't always supportive of girls waiting, but I think if you just let them know you only want to support him and keep him happy, they will eventually come around. But his mom, especially, is going to miss him and have hard days too. When that happens, you can be there for each other and I think that is a really special thing.

5. Make sure you go out on the weekends.

I  know this can be hard. More so at the beginning, I didn't want to leave the house. But the time will go by faster if you go out and have fun. Even if it is just renting a movie and watching it with a good group of girls. Spending time with people will make you feel less lonely. Plus, your missionary doesn't want you to be miserable for two years. He wants you to have a good time, and you want to be able to share some fun times you have had.

6. Find something to take up a lot of time.

Keeping busy will make time go by so much faster. Go to school, find a job, or two, volunteer, find a hobby, do something that is going to take up a lot of time. The less extra time I have, the less Jeffrey is at the front of my mind. That means I am worrying about him less, and things go by much smoother and faster.

7. Make sure you are only writing uplifting letters.

Missionaries want to know what is going on in your life, but he doesn't want to know every time a boy flirts with you. That will just make him worry. Tell him spiritual insights you have and always make sure he knows you are proud of him.

8. Eat lots of ice cream.

It is my theory that ice cream is just the right consistency to get in all of the cracks and mend a broken heart. It is the ultimate comfort food and goes well with a good chick flick. Seriously, ice cream has become one of my best friends.

I hope this helps with your wait. I know it can be a long and hard journey, but we should always look to find joy in the journey!

What A Weekend!

Whoa! I'm not even sure what happened this Conference. President Thomas S. Monson came out and declared that effective immediately the mission age for young men is now 18, instead of 19. The age was also lowered for young women to 19, rather than 21. This was crazy news! That means I am eligible, if I so choose, to go on a mission. I know a ton of girls that are waiting for missionaries that have now decided to go, but I just wasn't sure that it was right for me. As I continued watching conference I really felt an impression that it was right for me to focus on my marriage and family goals. I guess my question of "Am I doing the right thing by waiting for Jeffrey?" was answered.  I still want to go to the temple and really continue to pray about this decision. But for right now, I'm staying here.

Well today, my sweet friend, Emily, also a missionary girlfriend made these cute nametags! I am going to use mine for a Christmas gift I have in mind for Jeffrey.

I hope everyone else had a great Conference weekend and was edified by the beautiful messages of hope, and love. I especially liked Elder Holland's talk about loving Christ and coming unto him. I also loved Elder Bednar's talk about the relationship between testimony and true conversion. I was inspired and motivated to do better by Elder Scott to not only go to the temple, but to do my own family history to partake of many more blessings. 

I love conference because of the opportunity to hear from men and women called of God, but also because of the great family time it provides. I love sharing this time with my family and being able to have spiritual conversations. I can't wait to share it with my future family! 

Conference Weekend

I don't know about anyone else, but General Conference is like another holiday. Holy amazing. I love this weekend. It's good food and family togetherness and you get to hear direction from men called of God. I didn't appreciate Conference as much as I should have until just a couple of years ago. Then I finally tried asking specific questions for my life. It totally works! Almost every talk touched on something that I asked Heavenly Father about. It was amazing. Ever since then, I have really tried to prepare for this weekend and recently all my questions have had to do with my missionary, but that just comes with the territory of being an MG. It's honestly a great experience though.

These men are truly called of God and they have the foresight to let us know how to prepare for the future. I know that if we listen to things they tell us that we will be able to live happy and successful lives. Christ is the way the life and the light. These men will bring us closer to Christ. I am so grateful for this weekend and the opportunity to listen. Have a great weekend!

Discouraged?

Tonight, I was reading some things about girls who are waiting for their missionaries and how many of those relationships actually work out. The place I was reading said only 7% of girls actually waited the whole two years and only 3% actually married the missionary they sent off. I know I have seen plenty of girls who say they are waiting and then a year into decide to write him off, or get married, or go on a mission, and the missionary doesn't wait for her. There are lots of reasons not to complete this journey.

I was so discouraged when I read this. Only 3%? I want it to work out for every girl I know that is waiting, and I most definitely want it to work out for me! But, trying to realistic, I was starting to doubt everything. Maybe Jeffrey isn't as serious about me as I am with him. Maybe he is going to feel differently about me when he gets home. All of these things have been running through my head all night. I had to take a step back, take a deep breath, and just relax.

Truth is, no matter how it turns out, it is because Heavenly Father is leading you to what is going to make you the happiest. Also, I have absolutely no reason to think Jeffrey has changed his mind at all. In fact, in his email on Monday he said things he hasn't in a long time. Thing about having an eternal life together and how much fun we have together. It's hard because it has been so long since I have been able to hang out with him. I almost don't remember my dynamic with him, but I just have to trust that it will be as natural as it was before he left. I mean look at how concerned he looks when I'm just making faces as we wait to be seated at our table. Why was I so worried?

The good thing about this whole waiting business, is that my mom waited for my dad. I have a built in support system and success story. I know that these feelings of doubt and discouragement aren't just going to go away. Satan knows that this is my weakness and he is going to use it against me. But I have the Lord on my side. That is better than anything. Ever. General Conference is coming up and a question I am asking to be answered is if this is something I should be doing and if it's going to be worth it. I'm a little bit scared for the answer, but I have faith in my love for Jeffrey and our love of the gospel. I know that we are righteous people and can overcome any adversity together. I just have to put my faith in the Lord and trust that the promptings I feel from the spirit are real and leading me to my best future.

Have faith and always remember what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said. "Don't you give up. Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead... It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come."