Our New Missionary

Chrissy, Scott's youngest sister, has been set on serving a mission for our church for I don't know how long. I don't think I know anyone with as much faith as that girl has!

She finally received her mission call this month to the Russia Samara Mission. Never in a million years did we think she was going to Russia, though Ashley guessed it and even dreamt about Scott and Chrissy speaking Russian together.

This was my first time being present for someone opening their mission call. It was awesome and Chrissy was beyond surprised and excited!

Scotty served his mission in Ukraine and learned to speak Russian. 

He's just a little excited to have another Russian speaker in the family.

Way to go Chrissy! You are going to be the best missionary!

Open House

My mom organized a little open house for people to come and see Scottie (my brother ... I know it gets confusing), since it had been 2 years since they had all seen him. My mom will use any excuse to have a party. Ha. It turned out so cute. My mom did such a good job and the weather was amazing. 

It couldn't have turned out any better. And my brother LOVED being the center of attention (not).

There was such yummy food there, including the infamous pretzel rods that were gone before I could get my hands on one. Darn.

Look who's back.

My baby brother came home from his mission this last week. I can't believe he is already done. Those 2 years flew by, well at least for me it did. I was able to fly home to Spokane on Saturday and spend a few days with him I am so grateful he's my brother. He is such a kind, spiritual, and all around awesome person!

All the siblings, except Adrienne were in town. She had a pretty good excuse though for missing. It was fun being all together!

Is it the Weekend Yet?

I am so excited to spend my weekend watching General Conference. I am so ready to soak in all up. The older I get, the more I need things like Conference in my life. ... and personal instruction/guidance from the man upstairs.

Honeymoon

Our honeymoon was spent in Southern California. Nowhere crazy. But I was more than ok with the quick flight, warmer weather and the beach!

We spent a few days in Oceanside where we visited the San Diego LDS temple, had the most amazing mexican food in Old Town San Diego, walked around La Jolla and Coronado.

 San Diego LDS Temple

La Jolla.

Then we went a little more north and stayed a few days in Newport Beach. I fell in love with that area. We rented bikes and rode along the beach, laid out in the sun, visited the Newport Beach Temple and drove up and down, gawking at the rows of amazing houses on Balboa Island. 

 At the beach.

I swear I didn't wear that shirt every day! That's embarrassing.

One of the highlights was when we took a day trip up to Los Angeles and "happen" to run into my brother who is serving in the San Fernando Mission. He had no idea (I hope I didn't get him in trouble) and with a little puzzle piecing and persuasion from my mom and Scott, we may or may not have figured out where my brother was. I wish he could've been at the wedding but he is where he is supposed to be ... and "running" into him made up for it a little.

Proof. I miss that boy!

Wedding: Temple Snapshots

Finally I am getting to pictures of the big day. The wedding ceremony was obviously one of my favorite parts of the wedding day. I hope I never forget that part of the day! Coming out of the temple and seeing our family and friends was also a big highlight for me. Here are a few snapshots.

 Coming out of the temple!

 One of my new nieces.She is just the sweetest thing.

Details.

My family! Love them so much!

  I love my sisters and nieces!

My older sisters. Adrienne on the left and Lindsey, with her family, on the right.

My new family!

Another one of my cute new nieces. I love her freckles.

Modeling my fur coat I got for $20. I mean what better time to have an excuse to buy one?!

 Both Scott and I have amazing friends. Some of them traveled far to come support us!

And one last one of us. I just love those doors.

My sister blogged about the wedding too.

becoming more

I've been thinking a lot about life lately. Mainly how blessed I am. My heart is full of gratitude for what I have been given, the people I am blessed to have in my life, opportunities that have come my way and even the challenges that have forced me to grow. We live in a world where nothing is ever good enough. There is always something more. Something better. What is wrong with being content with what you have? I say nothing. I've been told, after all, a grateful heart is the greatness.

With that said, I have been reminded of what I need and want to become. I am nowhere where I want to be! This girl needs to get her tush into gear.

I was recently reminded of the analogy from the Lion King. #justgowithme
Mufasa's ghost comes back and tells the grown up Simba ...You are more than what you have become.

I've been thinking of that phrase the past week. You are more than what you have become. I can't get it out of my mind. I need to be better than I am now, especially with what I have been blessed with, which is a lot.

{found via}

Those are my thoughts. 

Here's to being grateful and becoming more.

i have a copyright. weird.

After encouragement from some family members I decided to copyright a photo I took.
Never in a million years did I think I would do that!

But it is submitted, pending the government verifies it is really my photograph ... which it is.
So don't even think of stealing this. Haha.
Just don't doven do it (only family members will get that).

I had to title it when I submitted it. 

I named it Entering His Kingdom. 

I thought it was fitting.

See those words above on the pic? I can do that now. Crazy.

on my mind

mi hermano

Everyone I would like you to meet my brother.
Brother meet everyone.
Don't get too acquainted though.

This week my brother, Scottie, will officially leave to serve a mission for our church in California.
San Fernando, California to be exact.

He is the first and only one in my family to serve a full-time mission. It's kind of been a long time coming as he's been delayed for 4 months due to breaking his foot exactly one week before he was originally scheduled to leave. But the time has finally come (again) and he is really leaving this time...well pending he isn't involved in another freak accident. It finally hit me yesterday that he is leaving. That our only form of communication will be through email. Though if he ever run's into a Kardashian I expect a personal phone call.

He is my only brother. Yes he is the only boy of five children -- don't feel too sorry for him though he's pretty spoiled. Haha. Scottie holds a special place in my heart. He always has. He probably thinks I'm just his crazy older sister, and that he has to be nice to be because we're related. I think he also hates that on trips people mistake me and Stephanie for his girlfriends too.

But I have always been so grateful that he is in our family. That I get to have him for my brother. I am so proud of him and his dedication to give up two years of his life to serve the Lord. I am going to miss my little Bud immensely (especially his sense of humor) but I am so excited for him and this adventure he is about to experience.

 

A'ight! I need to stop now. 

I'm starting to tear up. 

I love you Bud...see you (briefly) on Wednesday.

And at least act like you're excited to see me this time. Humor me? K thanks.

thoughts

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about faith.
Acting on it mainly.

Sorry this might get a little church-y for a sec but it's been on my mind.

A few months ago I had a decision to make. A big one. Probably in the top three of hardest decisions I have ever had to make. I thought it was what I always wanted. But there was something that just didn't add up. Something that didn't feel quite right. I have a hard time making big decisions like that. Ones that I know will affect my life significantly. It was a tough couple of weeks for me. I was so confused and I felt like I was being pulled in so many different directions in various aspects of my life. But I made my decision. Quite a quick decision if I do say so myself. I didn't know why I was supposed to choose what I did, but all I can say is that it felt right and I didn't look back. Talking with people in hindsight and event after event it has been reaffirmed to me that I made the right decision.

I have learned ... yet again ... if we act on faith the Lord will bless our lives. It may be different than how we thought and is sometimes really hard, but we will be blessed nonetheless.

Choose faith over doubt,

choose faith over fear,

choose faith over the unknown and the unseen,

and choose faith over pessimism.

Richard C. Edgely

.... aaaaand those are my thoughts.

it's here

The weekend. Finally. I don't know why but it seems like it has been the LONGEST. WEEK. EVER. You know it is going to be a long week when you wake up Monday morning already hoping it was next weekend. It is finally here though. I have been looking forward to this particular weekend for some time now. Why you ask? General Conference is here. I am excited to sleep in for ... wait for it, wait for it ... two whole days in a row! I get to have what my family calls pajama church. But most importantly I am excited to listen, learn and hopefully receive some guidance.

Have a lovely weekend. 

I know I will.

{ messages }

I don't know about you but I absolutely love The Mormon Messages the Church has produced. Sometimes it is just what you need. I can't believe I have never heard this talk before.

Here is the entire talk

So good. Read it.

{ i love to see the ... }

I took these last week while waiting for the wedding. I love the Salt Lake City Temple Square Grounds.


*The night one was after the reception.

{ december }

Saw the lights on Temple Square last night.
Such a great way to start the Christmas Season.

So excited to celebrate this year.
Let the festivities begin!