Farewell Sunday

Pretty much Abby and I spent the whole day together. We woke up at, what Abby refers it to, the butt-crack of dawn and headed north to a friends farewell! It should have only taken us about 20-30 minutes, and it took us about 45 minutes to an hour! :/ Yikes! It was the craziest drive ever! There was lots of screaming, lots of GPS's not working, lots of "no it's that way." Or "no, I know we go this way!" Her sweet aunt saved us seats, but we still got lost. Going up and down random streets, almost up a mountain on I-215... making illegal turns (oops...) all the while laughing our heads off, loving that we're best friends, with thick snow falling to the ground, and praying Gilbert doesn't die on us! We finally go the address from her aunt and we then found it! It was the neatest looking LDS Church ever! We ended up missing his talk, but we were just glad we were there. It was sad to say goodbye, and we hugged him afterwards! He's going to Georgia Atlanta North mission! He'll do great things!!

After we headed to my house, where we ate lunch (we were STARVING) and then took a nap. I crashed on the couch, and Abby ended up in my bed (which is usual for us) and we both woke up at the same time. It was hilarious. I woke up and just laid there and all of a sudden, my sister starts laughing so I look over and Abby is walking upstairs because she had just woken up! Lol, we finally went to Abby's house to get ready for another farewell. This time it was for TJ. Now, let me tell you TJ's story (at least, the best that I can). I grew up with TJ, so I've watched him grow; he hungout with the tough crowed. He liked to party, and play football, hangout with the ladies, and only go to church when his family made him. Now I know that doesn't mean he was a bad person, or that anyone who does that is, but I just didn't think he'd ever serve a mission.

Last fall he moved to Snow College with a scholarship/football team position. (This is where his story comes in from his talk on Sunday) He felt very unhappy, and kept fighting what he knew he could no longer fight. He said as he was unpacking his last box, he began to be very homesick, as his scriptures fell out he thought to himself I know I would never pack those and as he picked them up, his Patriarchal Blessing fell out, which again, the same thought entered his mind, I would never pack that. He instantly knew it was his mom who packed his scriptures/blessing. He then went on to say he had this intense feeling come over him that he should read his scriptures for comfort, as he began reading, he began to cry with comfort and happiness... he then turned to his blessing where the tears kept coming. He called his mom and thanked her for packing those and that he knew what he needed to do. He could no longer fight the truth. He knew the gospel was true, he knew that Heavenly Father was watching out for him, and he couldn't fight it. He knew what he needed to do. And that was to serve a full-time mission. He started working on his papers, changed his act and became the better person, and he was happier. He said he has never been so happy in his entire life. And it's all because of the gospel. He continued to share more of his story, but it really was one of the most life-changing/inspiring stories I've ever heard... I'm so very proud of my dear friend TJ and I just know he'll do a fantastic job in Virginia! Good luck pal, you'll be great :)

To end my Sunday, I headed to Abby's where we ate too much junk food and finished up homework (story of our lives) and then I headed to Brady's house where his mom let me take over his mission scrapbook and then I played a game of pictionary with his family! It was one of the funnest visits I've ever had! :) What a great day!