Home

Well. After spending a year and a half in Santiago Chile, I now find myself in Lindon Utah. Im home!!!! 

I've actually been home for about three weeks now but I didn't get around to blogging (and a much needed blog makeover) till now.  Its been a wonderful three weeks and it sure is nice to be back.

As far as my future plans go, I start a new job as processing representative at Vivint Solar this Monday. I'm excited to get myself into a routine again. My family and I are also excitedly preparing for a cruise this upcoming April. And I am VERY excitedly waiting for the week after that cruise when this kid comes home:

It's been a long wait. And the end is finally in sight. That makes me VERY happy. 

Mission Blog

Alright, I know I've told lots of people that I'd post the link to my mission blog on here, so here it is!!

http://sisterkyrstinellenmillett.blogspot.com/

My mom will be posting my weekly email and any other updates at least once a week.  If you would like to send me and email letter or package my info can be found in the contact tab on my mission blog.

Well, this is it! I'm signing out of this blog for the next year and a half, but I'll be back with plenty of updates about life, college, cousins, boys, etc :) Thanks for following me through this past year of adventures, feel free to follow me through the next year and a half on my other blog!

Later!!

Goodbyes.

Have I ever told you how much I hate goodbyes? I think I have.  Yeah I hate them more than anything.  I like hellos.  But there aren't a whole lot of those happening right now because I am in a goodbye stage.  And sometimes thats not fun.

I gave my farewell talk today.  I cried A LOT.  I had to say goodbye today to people that I have never gone more than a month or two without seeing.  It was sad to watch each of my best friends and family members leave knowing that I won't be seeing them in a loooong time.

18 months is a long time, but at the same time its really short.  I guess it just depends on the day or how you look at it.

I feel like once I have adjusted, once I know what I'm doing its going to fly by.  Because 18 months of normal life as compared to the rest of your life isn't that long.  But when you take a year and a half out and look at it on standing on its own in front of you it seems like an incredibly long amount of time to leave one's friends, family, and loved ones.

It just takes faith I guess.  This is definitely one of those things that you just have to take a deep breath and step into the darkness of the unknown trusting in Heavenly Father.  So here goes.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous or a little afraid to take that step but its like what Nephi says when he goes to get the plates, "And I was led by the spirit not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.  Nevertheless I went forth." I don't really know whats in store.  I know it will be hard, I know it will be worth it, and I know its what the spirit has told me to do.  So its time to go forth.

Next Step

Well our wonderful girls trip to Cedar City has come and gone.


We ate giant scones....

We wore colored pants

We got Ice-cream at Bulloch's

We dressed up for plays

We stayed up till the wee hours of the morning

We took lots of pictures at Milt's Steakhouse

And we had an amazing time that we will never forget!

Lately I've been looking at the next few years as a series of steps.  Spring semester of BYU was a step, moving home was a step, New York was a step, and Cedar City was another step.

Up next: Mission.  Bring it.

2. Weeks.

I am freaking out.

2 WEEKS.  FREAK OUT.

In two weeks I will be on the plane heading to Chile for the next 18 months of my life.  FREAK OUT.

I've never been away from home longer than 3 weeks. FREAK OUT.

Me no speako español! FREAK OUT.

Its really weird going places and thinking "This is the last time I will be here in over 18 months" For example, "Grammy's" house has always been one of my favorite places in the world.  If I haven't been there in the past month or two its been far too long.  I need my monthly dose of family and chocolate chip cookies. The 24th of July was my last time there for a year and a half! STILL FREAKING OUT.

Its fine, sometimes I just sit in my room and cry.  And then I write my missionary a letter to make me feel better.

Don't get me wrong, I'm so so so very excited.  I guess it is just finally starting to hit me that this is for real! I'm actually doing this! And soon! Two weeks from yesterday I will be set apart as a missionary.  Two weeks from today I will board the plane to Chile.  Two weeks from tomorrow I will be in the Chile MTC eating different food, trying to understand a different language, in a different part of the world.  ...... YEP I'M FREAKING OUT

Last night as I got in bed and looked at the half-packed suitcases all over my room I sat there and cried.  I hopped on my computer to start typing an email when I saw "The Fourth Missionary" which was saved to my desktop.

I stayed up for another hour or so and read it.  So good.  For anyone planning on serving a mission you NEED TO READ THIS.

I took a good look at my attitude about a mission and found that for the most part I was headed into the mission with the right attitude, but there are a few things I need to do or change to be the best missionary I possibly can.  I want to be the right kind of missionary, with her head and heart in the right place.  Sometimes I don't adjust to change very well.  I can get really sentimental and I often think back on how life used to be and miss it.  This has been the case for most of my life, especially since Nikora left.  But now, its time to put my old life in a box to be opened only after I get home.  I'm not gonna miss life the way it was or the way it is right now before I leave, because its never coming back.  I'm just going to be happy with life the way it is.  I'm going to do my best to be happy with every part of my life as a missionary.  I'm going to do my best to look forward instead of backwards realizing that my mission is where I'm supposed to be.  So for now, there's no where else in the world I'd rather be than Santiago Chile.  I'm freaking out, but I'm ready.

Cumorah

Well... I believe I mentioned I'd be spending a few weeks in Palmyra New York while participating in the Hill Cumorah pageant.  The pageant has come and gone and I'm left with some wonderful friendships and memories that I will always cherish.

I'm sorry I didn't post more during the month.  We didn't get much time at home, when we did it was usually sleeping time.  And that small amount of sleeping time was often split between actually sleeping and letter writing, emailing, uploading pictures etc.  Not a lot of time left for blogging.  Whoops!

So here is a little glimpse of this awesome experience:

 We started out really tired but excited to start our new adventure. Some of us were so tired that we put our clothes on inside out (*cough cough* DAD).  Oh how we love red eye flights..... or maybe not. We were so tired that we got to palmyra, plopped down on a plot of grass and slept for a few hours.  Yes.  We looked like Hobos.

Of course I had to find the Maori Book of Mormon! Or the "Pukapuka A Moromona" I'm still missing my bestie Nikora can you tell?

 Lets just say spencer likes weird new foods.  Horseradish wasabi anyone?

We sure did work hard.  Falling asleep was a common occurrence.

Everybody at pageant spent their free time with their "cast team" which was determined by age group.  Mine was by far the greatest.  Loved it.  Love them.  I will miss spending my days doing crafts, playing games, and making fun crazy memories with friends. 

I spent a few nights "sleeping" with my friends in the dorms.  I'm not sure if we actually got much sleep, but it was fun!!

One of my favorite parts of pageant was sharing my testimony and a message with audience members before the show.  I love missionary work and I love sharing my testimony that Christ lives and loves us.  Guess who I found? Elder Zachary Harris (a friend from high school) has been serving his mission in New York for about 18 months now, so good to see him!!

I was especially grateful for the 3 opportunities I had to visit the Sacred Grove.  There is an amazing feeling of peace there.  I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith.  And now I can say that I've been there where it actually happened!

Pageant was great.  BUT there was one thing I hated about it.  The ending.  Come on? Why can't we just stay here and do this forever? Ok jk jk I understand it has to end and we have to get back to real life but man I really hate goodbyes.  People come into my life, I love them, and then they have to leave.  Thats just how it works.  I get it. But I hate it.  It happened in high school, summer trips, college, and it even happened with Nik.  Today it happened with pageant, I had to say goodbye to these great friends.  Most of us will be serving missions over the next two years which means we won't see each other for a while, God be with you till we meet again! 

I'm so grateful for this opportunity.  It gave me the emotional and spiritual boost I needed.  It helped me to realize why I'm going on a mission, and how much I'm going to love it.  It helped me understand what Jesus is like and how much I want to be like him.  My heart has truly changed and I'm ready for the next big step!

I can't wait to get out there and serve at the same time time as my best friend. My testimony of missionary work has grown over the last few weeks and I'm so blessed to have so many people I love out serving the Lord.  

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!!