Bring On The Adventures!!

I'm ready.  I can't say that enough.  Its time for a new adventure, new places, new faces.  I'm ready.  I've been ready for a looong time.  And finally its almost here!! Tomorrow night I will be off to New York for a few weeks, it couldn't come any sooner!!

For now I'm just trying to pass the time without getting overexcited.

So I've been sitting in my room writing emails to a favorite missionary of mine:

And passing even more time taking silly pictures with my little brother.  I think we are all a little restless to leave. 

I'll be sure to post plenty of pictures, but for now I'm checking out!!

Temple

I had the opportunity to go to the Oquirrh mountain temple yesterday! It was my first time going since I received my own endowments two weeks ago.

The feelings I get at the temple are indescribable, I'm so blessed to live so close to so many of them!

Overall I was just impressed by the importance of family.  I know that this gospel is centered around that!

Emotions.

Today has been emotional.  I could end the blog post right there.

BUT... if you want to keep reading about the details feel free... just know that it might not make any sense... and there is probably far more written about Nikora and my feelings than you'd ever want to know.

Sooooo I got to talk to Nikora today.  BEST DAY EVER.   So then why have I been crying on and off all day? Answer: Because I'm a girl. An emotional girl.

My day started at 5 am.  Full of worries, confusion, apprehension, excitement. I missed my test yesterday and wasn't sure how I was going to fix it with my professor today, hence the worry.  Then I let my mind wander through all of the possible things that could go wrong and stop me from talking to my best friend (i.e. what if talking to him is just too sad? what if its too happy?what if he doesn't want to talk to me? what if he doesn't remember me? what if I get hit by a car on my way over there and can't make it because I'm in the hospital? what if an elephant steps on my car while I'm driving and I get stranded on the freeway?) Obviously some of my worries were more reasonable than others.... and none of them actually happened

Needless to say, I did not get stepped on by an elephant.

I made it to Nik's house and the wait began.  It felt like a year before the call came from Elder Anderson. As soon as I heard his voice the tears began flowing again.  I have the amazing ability to feel many emotions at once, sadly I do not have the ability to keep ANY of them in.  I was happy, relieved, excited, sentimental... but most of all it was just good to hear his voice.  Its funny how well you can know a person but how poorly your mind can imagine them.  I don't know if that makes any sense but often times I try to think of where Nik is and what he is doing and I can half create it. But I can never fully imagine what it feels like to be with him or talk to him.  That is only a feeling I can get from actually interacting with him.  It was so good to remember what it feels like to have a best friend. I can't even tell you how good it felt.

Nik got to call twice, in-between calls I took a nap and cried in Nik's basement.  Sooo many memories down there.  Whether it was talking for hours, watching movies, working on homework projects, etc we were almost always spending time down there.  I fell asleep crying but I woke up to these cute puppies scratching at the door.  Sam and Frodo, they always know how to make someone feel better!

I'll spare you the details of the next long call, all I have to say this that it was WONDERFUL.

Aaaaaaaand saying goodbye was really hard....

I went on a walk by the lake afterwards and just reflected on everything I was feeling.  I felt a little numb during the drive home.  When I got back to provo waterworks began again and I've cried harder than I have in 41 days.  Only 22 months left.  I can do anything for 22 months.  

Mission Envy.

As you all know, I take particular delight in writing this kid:

Isn't he cute? 

I love writing him and I am so very happy for him, but in all honesty I am green with envy.  I wish we could switch places.  At the moment he is training to be a missionary and in less than a week he will be off to Germany to serve the Lord.  I have a severe case of Mission Envy. 

I am ready to get out of Provo and do something even better with my life!! Hearing about all of Elder Anderson's experiences just make me want to get out there and get started!

I'm stuck living normal life without him and he is feeling the spirit and serving others 24/7! Jealousy!!

I visited his family like I mentioned in this post.  They posted some pictures from our visit, I figured I'd share! 

Nik's countdown chart may be a little empty now (in fact I cried when I saw how empty it was) BUT eventually time will pass, I'll focus on other things and before you know it I'll be writing some sappy post about how happy I am to have my best friend back!!

This is the painting I did for Nik's family!! I was flattered to see how much Nik's family liked it.  I was not expecting them to think it was that great!! 

Hopefully I'll get to see them all again when Nik calls from the airport.  I can't wait until it is my turn to leave!!

Ready.

Life has been busy, fun, emotional, rewarding, stressful, and a bunch of other things.  I've been experiencing lots of change and I can't say that I'm always the best at handling it, but as I've tried my best to accept change as God's way of preparing me for the things to come it has all been a little easier.  

I went through the temple on Tuesday! This was one change I was happy to make, I can't wait to go back again there was such a wonderful feeling of peace there that I haven't felt anywhere else!

The best part about it was getting to go through at the same time as my sister.  I'm so glad that through all of this preparation for the future I have someone else to do it with me!!

What a blessing it was to have so many family members there with me! I love that this gospel is centered around eternal family relationships!

As I take each step towards getting ready for my mission I can't help but get impatient to leave.  Its funny how Heavenly Father gives you experiences and trials to help you know that it is time to let go of life here and dedicate your life to serving others for a while.  

I feel like Nik leaving was the first step. Then realizing that I'm sick of school and need a break.  I love BYU and I love Provo but as all of my friends have been leaving and things have been changing I have realized that for now, theres nothing left for me here, I NEED to go on a mission.  I love socializing with a bunch of college kids but for the first time I don't really want to as much.  I just want to go dedicate my time to the Lord.  Instead of staying out till 3, going out to eat, and hanging out with friends I've been researching my mission, reading my scriptures, going to the temple, and writing Elder Anderson.  When Kyrstin would rather have quiet time than social time, its a sure sign that its time to go.  I am ready.  Maybe not completely prepared, but emotionally, I'm ready.