Letters♥

I'm pretty sure, no, actually, I know I have the cutest missionary EVER.

Okay, would you like to know why? I know you're dying to ;)

He's the sweetest, and his letters are amazing! It takes exactly one week to get a letter from my babe, and I got one last Tuesday, and he sent another letter last week, and it got to my house on Wednesday!!!! I know right!? Well, my cute little mother, wanting me to be happy, "half-lied" about me getting a letter.

I'll break it down for ya.

She texted me early in the morning asking for my address (and this whole week I had a gut feeling I'd get a letter from Brady, but when I checked the mail, there wasn't anything there.) So I got all excited thinking she had a letter for me! So I gave it to her, asked her why and she told me she was just "updating her contacts" in her phone. Well, if you know my mom, she's kinda forgetful, and I've given her my address at least 3 or 4 times, so I believed her thinking she really did need it, and I went about my life and forgot about hoping for a letter.

Well, while I was sewing this morning, she called me. She told me she half-lied about needing my address. I just knew she had my letter. I knew it. She said she really did need my address, but she also needed it to mail Brady's letter to me! :) :) :) Gosh I've never felt so excited! (Okay, maybe I have when I got my first letter.) Anyway, she said she just didn't want me to feel like I was waiting since Wednesday to get my letter, and instead only wanted me to think of waiting maybe a day for it. She took it to the post office herself, and it ended up getting here the NEXT day!!!! I was SO happy!! It was the cutest, most mooshy/love-dovey letter ever, but I couldn't have been happier :) The last letter and email I got (from his mother) was just FULL of all missionary work info, so I was glad to kind of get a more personal letter this time :)

Here is a picture from his letter:

At the top it says, "Here's a diagram of what seems to happen a lot:". Then the picture of the very far left, is stick figures of Elder Palmer & Elder Ziegler. Then an arrow pointing to the middle picture. Which is a stick figure of an angry drunk person, holding Elder Palmer in the air, with Brady standing next to them, and it says, "Me = fine". Then the sentence at the bottom says, "Whenever we encounter drunk people, they do something to Elder Palmer." - Hahahaha, this just makes me laugh. First off because it's the cutest picture I've ever seen Brady draw :) Second, I can truly see this happening! But I'm so glad that my babe is safe! :)

I've really grown a lot alongside Brady. I've have days where I just feel I can't go on, and all I want to do is cuddle up in my pajamas, Brady's jacket, Elder Babe, and all my letters and notes, and Brady's cologne, and his video and just sulk in my own misery. But then I get over it and move on, and re-read his letters and they lift me up. It helps me move on because not matter what, Brady will always love me. It sounds silly saying that's what helps me get over my hard days, but it does! Just telling myself, "Yes Ashley, he is far away, but his love is still the same for you, and he never ceases to let you know. So keep going :)" and I move on!

I'm seriously the luckiest girl on the planet :) When I look/think of Brady, it's the most content, happiest, comforting eternal feeling I've ever felt. I just can't help but be grateful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with this best friend. Brady is just amazing :) He's doing really well, and I'm going to do my best to serve right alongside him, in my own way, for the next 22 months! (Yup, that's right, he hits 2 months on the 2nd of February!!). This is the sweetest thing from his last letter. He said, "I've heard from several people about the chances of you waiting for me and they basically say it's one in a million... And that just brings me more happiness than anything else! Would you like to know why that is? :) It's because my babe truly is one in a million!" Isn't that SO cute?!?!?! At first, I was like, wait.. isn't that a sad thing? One in a million chances? And then I kept reading, and I was like... wow. He's the BEST thing that's ever happened to me. :) :)

Happy weekend everyone :)

(P.S. My giveaway ends tomorrow! Enter here!)

The Best Eternal Gift

Well, this post is a little random, but good and I want to share.

Most of you know all three of these:

1. I love the Salt Lake Temple.

2. Brady is serving a mission in England.

3. I miss my sweet Andy who is in Heaven.

Would you like to know something awesome about these three things??

This picture (below) shows just what a reminder it is in my life, that families are eternal. That this gospel is true. And that no man can grow closer to God, unless he abides by the precepts of the Book of Mormon. And that our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally perfect, and is watching over us everyday.

I didn't really realize the significance of the way I put up/placed these three photos, but now I'm grateful I did.

The top picture (of an LDS Temple) Is the Preston Temple in London, England. Brady has been there more than once now, and he loves it. It's absolutely beautiful, and he sent this to me so I could have it. It's beautiful, and it reminds me of where my babe is, what he's doing, and that the Temple is confirming the truth in which he's teaching.

The second picture is of my favorite Temple (SLC) and I put it up underneath the Preston Temple, 1. Because that's where I want to be sealed for time and all eternity to my rm ♥, 2. It still accomplishes the same work, has the same purpose, and has the same feeling as the Preston Temple, 3. It's where I am currently, and Brady has a picture of it as well, 4. Because that Temple is what I view as eternity. I know Heavenly Father dwells there, I know He visits, and I believe He'll come there one day, and I'll be there too. I want to live in it.

The third picture (at the bottom) is of Christ hugging my sweet Andy. Now I don't show you that, to put on the internet to show it off. I really looked at all three pictures in a sense that, after our life here on Earth, we'll get to (one day) hug our Savior, our Redeemer, our Best Friend, just like my Andy is in that picture. I truly believe we'll be smiling, just like Andy. I cannot wait till I get to hug my Savior. I'll prolly cry, and smile, and then cry some more. I can see these pictures EVERYDAY and they're a constant reminder of what my Savior has done for me. Because he came to Earth and Atoned for my sins, spread the gospel, was crucified and resurrected, our families can be together forever; we have the gospel restored, today; we can do Temple work today and for those who have passed on. Isn't it a wonderful thing when you look at it in that perspective?

But the purpose of this post was to show you, and declare to the world, that I have a testimony of this gospel. I know it's the only true and living church on the Earth today. I know what Brady is doing will bless the both of us tremendously, and the lives he comes across, even more. It is such a sacrifice, and most days I just feel like dying, but in the end, I'll be able to look at Heavenly Father in the eyes and thank him for letting Brady have the opportunity that I (at the time) couldn't have. I know that families are forever, and I will never settle for anything less than a Temple Marriage. I'm so grateful for my parents example, my sister & brother-in-law's example, and someday maybe my brother & sister-in-law, and little sisters example :) My family will be together forever and that's one choice I'll always have over anything in the world. I love this gospel. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Donut of Misery

I have no idea if any of my readers are curious as to what a "Donut of Misery" is. And believe me, I didn't know either. I am apart of a "Waiting For A Missionary" group on Facebook and I kept reading about this Donut of Misery and the girls talking all percentage and stuff. I couldn't figure it out! Then I found a link, and this is what they've been talking about :)

It just shows how much percentage you have done, how many months, days, weeks left and how many have gone by. It is a little depressing, not gonna lie, but helpful in a way.

I've been missing my sweetheart terribly today, but this group has kinda lifted me up. I'm hoping that this week will get better, but today I've just been sad. I feel like nobody understands. Even his family, I feel is a little standoff-ish towards me and it makes me sad :(

It's also extremely hard when I opened up Brady's letter on Friday and he just went off about how homesick he is, and how he misses me. And I'm encouraged not to say the same back; but it's so hard!! :( Today was the first day since Brady left, that I've actually cried over him being gone. I just want him. I just want a hug from him. I just want to hear his voice. I just want to be next to him, with him, forever. But I've only been in this 1.5 months and I'm already complaining. I need to stop too. Brady is doing something amazing and I need to do something amazing.

I'm really busy this semester, and It's been good for me. As much as I hate feeling like I have no time in the day to do anything, it's good for me. I'm going to read the Book of Mormon again, 1. Because I've missed reading it every night. 2. Because I want the blessings 3. I want to feel the Spirit 4. I need the knowledge from it 5. It's true 6. It brings happiness and peace to my soul 7. I read it in two months, I can do it again :) Also, I'm just getting into crafting, spending good time on my quilt, working full hours (even when I don't want to) spending time with my friends, writing letters, blogging, doing homework, studying, eating right and working out, going to church, praying, going to the Temple. There is SO much that I need to be doing, am doing, and could be doing right now in my life, and I've only got two years to do it. I want to study abroad or volunteer over the summer internationally. Wouldn't that be sweet!? I think so :) Also, my first nephew is coming next month! I'm stoked :) I want to send Brady a package but I have no idea what to put in it!! Any ideas??

Anyway, I hope everyone had a good Sunday, and has a good week!

My Addiction

Like I've mentioned before, I'm making a quilt in school as one of my classes. And let's just get it over with.... I'm addicted. Yeah! I know! I want a sewing machine and all the money in the world to buy fabric and ribbon and just everything. I'm in love with sewing and I'm so excited to see how my quilt turns out to be :)

This is the second block to my quilt.
I made four of these, and I think I'll put them in the four
corners of my blanket.

And if that addiction isn't enough. Check out the craft I made with my sister Friday night!

I had so much fun! It was with her friends celebrating a birthday and just catching up!

I had a lot of fun spending time with my sister! I miss her a lot so I'm really grateful I was able to spend the night with her! We both chose the word Love and hers turned out pretty cute! I just didn't get to take a picture of it :( Anyway, so I'm pretty addicted to crafts now. I have my own business running and I make hair clips for girls of all ages! I just bought myself a hot glue gun and some glue sticks yesterday so I can start making more, and I'm not sure how great of an idea that was! Now I'll never stop! But it's so fun :)

Anyway, I went home and spent the night at my sisters and then I went home on Saturday. I stopped by my "home home" and said hi to my dad and my babylove (Scooter) and just chatted for a while, and then decided I needed to head back to school before the storm. I had until Monday to be at home, but things have been going so well with my roommates this semester that I actually missed them a lot!! We've been spending a lot of time together, and we're getting along well and school is going good for all of us and I'm just really happy this semester :) So when I left Friday afternoon, I was a little sad to be leaving all of them! Guess I won't be going home again until they all go home!

I also was pretty sad to leave my own home to come back to school. I guess that's another reason I wanted to go back. I get attached to my house quickly when I come home on weekends, and it's extremely hard being there without Brady :( :( Plus, I love my dog and my family so much that it's hard to say goodbye. I almost cried last night when I left them to come back. But I'm so grateful for this sacrifice, and for the support I'm getting from my family. It makes it so much easier!

I also got a letter from Brady this past week :) :) I was seriously on cloud 9 :) He is just the sweetest boy ever and I'm never letting him go. He's mine forever :) He's doing really well. Got pretty homesick there for a while, but he's just trying to do what I'm trying to do, stay busy. But I'm proud of him :) Also, my cousin just left to Hawaii on his mission this past Tuesday! I'm so excited!! I'm just so blessed to know so many missionaries :) I'm going to read the Book of Mormon again. I sincerely miss it :( And it's weird having nothing to read at night!

Anyway, well I had a good week, and weekend! I hope everyone did too :) And if you made a craft, I would love to see it! Have another good weekend, and happy Sunday :)

Believe

As most of you know, I've been struggling with making decisions in my life (at least those who read my blog! :p..).

Well, lately I've felt like the Lord has been pushing me, like literally pushing me into the direction of prayer. I know it sounds silly, but I really feel that way. I feel like the Holy Ghost just constantly pops that word into my head no matter where I'm at, who I'm with, or what I was even talking about before the thought. My cute friend Megan shared a book called Stand A Little Taller by Gordon B. Hinckley and I loved her blog post about it, so I bought myself a copy! It's been good to me!


Well, yesterday when I came across what the date said, was a word that stuck out to me.

SEEK THE LORD IN PRAYER

Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

- 3 NEPHI 18:20

"Call upon the Lord. He has extended the invitation, and He will answer. Believe in prayer and the power of prayer. Pray to the Lord with the expectation of answers."

Yup. That bold word, is the word. Haha :) I've been reading a book called Talking With God by Robert L. Millet and I just got finished reading the chapters about asking questions in prayer, and receiving and answer, and when we feel we've received no answer.

Well after reading yesterday's page about prayer from President Hinckley. I feel like I know what's missing with my prayers. I'm not believing in my Heavenly Father. I'm not believing that I'll receive my answer. I'm not believing in Him to be there and to hear my prayer, no matter what it's about. I always thought that when you pray, not to expect an answer right there. But then I felt like, the Lord will just give me an answer when I'm ready, and I would move on. Well, I need to believe while I'm waiting, that it'll come. I can't just sit around and watch my life pass and do nothing till I get my answer. I need to continually live my life believing that I'll get my answer. I shouldn't care when I get the answer, how, or even if it's the answer I want. I just need to believe every single day that I'll get it. Heavenly Father will help me, and answer my questions. He knows all, and I am His Child :)

I was really inspired by that and it's been on my mind all day today. Now today's entry in Stand A Little Taller, it talks about families :)

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

See that ye love one another,...learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires.

- DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 88:123

"God has brought us together as families to bring to pass His eternal purposes. We are part of this plan in this marriage relationship. Let us love and respect and honor one another. We can do it, and we will be the better for it."

I've been thinking about my family a lot. I love them, extremely. I've gotten homesick a little since I've been back in Ephraim. Which I think is weird, considering I just spent 2 1/2 weeks with them, and I've already lived in Ephraim for 4 months, but I can't help but miss them. I'm so extremely lucky to have grown up in a gospel centered family. I'm so glad that even though, with my dad being in the Marine Corp, my parents were still sealed for time and all eternity! And not only that, but in my "Little Home" (the Jordan River Temple). I really found all this out when I did some family history. But I'm so proud of them. To set that example for me.

My family @ Linsey's wedding.

When I go to the House of the Lord, I really feel closer to Heaven. There is something different about the Temples that I just can't ever get enough of. When I went to the Temple after Brady took his endowments out, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed (see here). Heavenly Father's plan really is centered on families. How hard would it be, to come to Earth, alone? Never having a "family", just here to live for yourself as a Child of God? I'm sure it'd be a terrible journey. Most of my favorite memories, and things I can't wait to personally thank my Heavenly Father for, are memories with my family; immediate, extended, etc. We truly are a blessed people, and I can't wait to have a family of my own :) I'm seriously the luckiest girl in the world :) :)

I hope you are grateful for your families, and tell them you love them very much everyday!

Sewing

This would be the cute fabric I just bought for my quilting class :) I'm so excited! I've never sewn anything before, and if I have, I'm sure my grandma helped... maybe even made it for me. I'm really excited to learn how to sew and even use a sewing machine! I love that my major is helping me become a mommy :) It's always so fun and I enjoy it a ton! I loved the flower fabric piece and then the others just gradually grew on me, and I had my roommate Katie help me! :) I'm so excited to make it and I can't wait to show you all a picture of it!

Not A Nutshell

I guess I could try and cover everything that's on my mind right now, in a nutshell. But I can't. It's too hard and there's too much. I've got a lot on my mind and I just need to get it off, here on my blog. So this may or may not be a long post!

First, it's about blogging. I feel like I have NO idea what to blog about, and I worry. Isn't that silly? Yeah, completely. I feel like I should only blog about certain things, and never blog too much but not too little, and it stresses me out. Can you believe it? I stress out over blogging! Hahaha It's such a silly thing, but I don't know what to do about it. I feel like the people who read my blog aren't going to be interested in what I have to say. And maybe they won't be, but if they are, I want it to be good and worth reading. But this is my blog. Right?...

I am going through a lot right now. I just started my second semester of college and it is keeping me a lot busier than I expected it to. I literally wake up at 8 every morning, and don't get home till about 5 or 5:30. I have school all day, then I work. And now I have to fit in working out. Ah! Where did my day go for that!? Sheesh! I am happy with it though. Last semester I had all the time in the world to do ANYTHING and most days it got depressing. It can be hard here in Ephraim without my family, Brady and my close friends, but I just have to remind myself that I'm here for school and nothing else.

I miss Brady a lot too. I didn't expect to have so much remind me of him when I got back from Christmas break! I almost cried when I got back. Brady & I Skyped almost every night last semester and I got back and had to go without it :( I did for a week and a half when he first left, but for some reason this time it was really sad for me. I miss Skyping with him when my day is over and having his voice be the last one I heard every night. I just dreaded being back in Ephraim and I felt depressed and homesick the first week or two. But I've got a wonderful family who lets me call them whenever I need to! I am so happy for Brady though. I hope he has been getting my letters, and I hope to hear from him soon. He's amazing, and my love for him has grown so much since he's been gone. It's stronger than ever, and I can't believe this is happening. So many people have talked with me about dating, and asked if I was going to date, and that I have to get rid of the pictures of Brady & I and all these things just so I can date. I feel like I shouldn't have to. He's gone, what is that going to do!? Plus, it's not on my priority list to date while Brady is gone; it just isn't. I don't seek out boys to date, and I don't want to. I truly feel like I could care less if I date while Brady is gone. No, I'm not putting myself on hold, I just don't have that interest, and it's okay.

Church. Holy smokes :/ I feel like a huge chunk was taken out of me when the Read With Me Challenge stopped. It became a habit and the one thing I depended on for my happiness. I feel tempted to read the Book of Mormon over again just so I can get that back! It really helped me and got me ready for things I have to face this year. I feel prepared since reading that Book of Mormon before last year ended. 2010 was a really rough and amazing year and to have the Book of Mormon help me be ready for 2011 was a blessing! I'm really grateful for this gospel.

Which leads me to my next thought, families. I love the Temple. In fact, I wish I lived in the Salt Lake Temple. I'm not going to lie, that has been my dream forever. The Salt Lake Temple is beautiful and just being in its presence at any time of the year, I can't help but feel closer to Heaven. I haven't been to the Temple to do baptisms since before Christmas break, but that is really a goal I want to set for myself this year. In fact, I'll make it a new years resolution. Temples are amazing places. They are the one place you can literally reach for Heaven, and it reaches back. You feel so close to your Savior and Heavenly Father, and it's a place you never want to leave. Amazing ordinances and promises/covenants are being made and I'm just left in aw. I know I have a while before I go through the Temple myself, but I cannot wait for the day that I get to kneel across the Lord's altar, and be sealed for time and all eternity to my sweetheart. I know that families are forever and I can't wait for my own. I'm such a blessed Daughter of God and I'm grateful for all the Temples ♥

I've been struggling with friends lately. I get really sad when I see friends from high school hangout and I don't get to hangout with them. Sometimes I feel like nobody likes me, and because I dated Brady, that's why they don't talk to me. Ever since Brady left I've been feeling really lonely, and I'm always needing a best friend since mine left and the only communication we have is letters. I really miss all my old friends, and feeling like I have people to hangout with. I don't feel like I have anyone I can turn to when I'm feeling sad, and I wonder if that's why the Holy Ghost has really been pushing me with prayer. I loved all my high school friends, and I wish I was still really good friends with them. It's a silly thing to fret over, but I'm tired of feeling lonely. I have some wonderful friends and I'd like to say to them: Thank you. Truly, from the bottom of my heart.

Well, it's been a long post, and I'm sure I could keep going on, but I think I'll stop here. There is so much I need to work for and to keep going on with. I'm currently reading a book called Talking with God by Robert L. Millet and it's been good so far. I really feel like the Holy Ghost has been pushing at me to pray more and council more with my Heavenly Father, and I need to act upon that prompting. I'm so glad I have Institute every other day because if I didn't, my life here at college would fall apart more than I feel it has some days. Reading has become a love for me, and I'm happy :) So if you have any good books you suggest I read, please feel free to tell me! I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday, and a good new week next week!!