7, 2 & 198

I have always wanted to get married in the temple. Growing up, it was like a castle to me, pretty sure it is to all girls! It was my goal, and still is, to be sealed to my prince in the temple. 

Now I have 7 months, which is also 198 days left until I get to be sealed in the temple to Trevor for time and all eternity. 2 months until I can finally hold a temple recommend again. It's been 2 1/2 years since I've been in the temple and held a temple recommend. You best believe I'm counting down the days! I seriously can't wait. 

I don't normally talk about this story, only my family, husband, and a few close friends know this, but I feel like I need to share it. For those of you who don't know, I was going to go on a mission. When President Monsen made the announcement of the age change in the October 2012 general conference I knew that was what I was suppose to do. I didn't really know what I was going to do with my life. I wanted to go to school, but also wanted to get a job, but at the time was really marriage hungry. 

I couldn't ignore that feeling and started my mission papers in April. I got them all done in just a week! Things seemed like they were finally coming together. There was nothing more that I wanted then to be out serving The Lord with my brothers and be the first girl missionary from my family.

Well, after my papers were done and submitted to my bishop, I messed up, BIG time. I confessed to my bishop, and he told me something I didn't want to hear. I wasn't allowed to serve a mission anymore, for at least a year. All that work for my mission papers, went down the drain. I felt ashamed in myself, let myself down and my family down. 

I hit a rough patch in my life and didn't really know what to do now that I couldn't serve a mission. May came around and once again, things started getting better. I got a job, found an apartment in Provo, moved out of my mom's and started a new chapter in my life! 

I know without a doubt, Heavenly Father is watching out for me and is walking beside me all the time. If I didn't mess up, and served a mission, I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't have met my amazing husband, and living the life I am right now. 

I believe everything happens for a reason! One door closed on me, but another one opened up right away. I can't wait to be sealed in the temple to Trevor. I'm now in the habit of reading my scriptures and saying prayers everyday and attending church every Sunday. It has made such a huge impact on me, and with my husbands help, things just keep going up from here.

My testimony and faith is growing everyday and getting so much stronger. I know my Heavenly Father loves me. Without a doubt I know! I am where I need to be today. I am glad to be a part of this true church. I know he lives and wants me to return to him again. 

Reunited and it feels so good!

Once again it's been awhile. It's been a crazy past couple of weeks, but don't you worry I'm still here!

January 26th, I was taken to the airport where I waited for my first flight to Phoenix, AZ when there, I will fly to Salt Lake City, Utah. Home sweet home for me! Trevor and I kept talking about going down to Utah to visit my family and to get the rest of our stuff from our storage shed. We are pretty much broke poor and only I could go down. Well, we actually bought a ticket for me to go down there to visit family and get my car, which I ended up driving back to Washington. 

After we bought the ticket, I quickly changed my mind and didn't want to go anymore! This was mine and Trevor's first time away from each other since we've been married, heck since we started dating! But I needed to go and get over being so homesick and to get my car. 

I took that picture the day before I left. I love Trevor so much and being away from him just for a week was hard, but definitely worth it when I came back home! Of course we talked all day every day and had a FaceTime date every night before we went to bed.

Being able to see my family again was absolutely great! I have missed them a lot and was really homesick. I spent my week at my grandparents house with my dad and I couldn't be more grateful for them for letting me crash at their place. My cute nana turned 75 and we all went out to dinner at her favorite restaurant to celebrate! 75 never looked so good! I love my grandparents, I don't know how I got so lucky to call them mine.

While I was there, I was also able to go over to my mom's and visit my little siblings. Oh how I have missed them! It's hard being away, because growing up I would babysit them and now they're all getting big! Sometimes I wish time would stop and they wouldn't grow up so fast. Well, for those of you who do know me, I have a huge family. There is now 24 kids in my family. Crazy, huh? 

This is Zach! My new little brother. My mom and step dad adopted him a couple weeks ago. He's 3 years old, can't talk, can't see, can't hear and is in a wheelchair. I don't know how my mom does it. My siblings and I have our opinions for my mom adopting so many kids, but I've come to realize something. It's my mom's life! She's a grown woman and can make her own decisions. Who am I to judge her? We may not be on the best terms, but she's my mom. I love her and am thankful for all that she's done for me while I was growing up. She's going to be blessed for raising my 14 younger siblings. 

My second to last night in Utah, my dad, me, all my older siblings along with my brother in law, nieces, nephews and my cousin went out bowling! It was nice to get together with everyone for one last family thing before I headed back to Washington! One of the things I love about going bowling with my family is my nieces and nephews. They're all getting so big and learning things on their own! Being an aunt is one of the greatest things ever! Plus, I'm obviously their favorite ;)

My last day finally rolled around. My Nana was determined to get mine and Trevor's wedding present, even if we did have to go out and shop for it on a Sunday! My sweet Nana took me to Walmart and bought us most of the rest of the stuff that we really needed and registered for back when we got engaged. My grandparents are the best and I could not thank them enough for our wedding present from them. I'm seriously blessed with the greatest people in my life! 

Before we left to go shopping, I came across my cute grandparents like this in the hallway. Of course I had to stop and take a picture! Look how cute they are! They've been sweethearts since elementary school and have been married for over 50 years! Yes they get on each other's nerves, and only do things that make sense to one another, but they still have that spark and they love each other unconditionally. I told Trevor, when we get old I want our love to be just like my grandparents.

Good thing I got my car fixed, because Monday morning at 4:30 I got in my car and started my way back up to Washington. Talk about thee longest car ride of my life! 10 hours total. Most of my drive was in snow and I've never driven in snow before, so I obviously went super slow, while everyone else went the speed limit or faster! If I have to ever make that drive again, you best believe I'm taking Trevor with me and he can drive! 

Being away from Trevor and only for a week was torture for me. Every marriage has their own problems, and ours is definitely making us stronger as a couple.  That quote up there is so so true to me and I believe in it with all my heart. Trevor to me is definitely worth having! Our journey together has definitely not been easy, but it's all been so worth it. I wouldn't trade it for anything! I love him and we get eternity together. 

11 hours later and I was finally reunited with him! Probably one of the best reunions I've ever had. We had a week to just spend time together and relax and catch up on things! Like I said before, it's been a crazy past couple of weeks, but we made some great memories with many more to come!