Having a Grand Old Time

Being home has been wonderful, but super busy. I don't think I have even switched sleeping patterns to this time zone yet because we've had so much going on to keep me off of it. There was of course Christmas, getting out two new lab puppies, the trip to Amish country, and we can't forget Haley's baby shower! It's been a crazy month. 

These are our two new pups who have been quite the handful. Giselle (left) and Kiera (right). They love my brother's dog Dopey who is also living with us right now. Potty training is going pretty well. We still have a few accidents every once in a while, but more often than not, they run to the door and whine to be let out. We are all so proud! It's weird to think that by the time I get home from my mission, they will be full grown. 

 Then, of course some exciting news is that we have all survived the end of the world (Congratulations) and have successfully made it to 2013!!!! 

I started off my New Year exactly the way I wanted to- talking to my fella (on tape). My family had a wonderful night with food, games, and friends. 

Next on my list of things to do was plan my sister-in-law's baby shower. My Chris and his wife Haley (well, mostly Haley) decided that they didn't want to find out what their baby was until the baby shower. So, we were to either decorate the whole room in Mickey or Minnie Mouse to let them know when they walked in. 

 Here's a majority of the decorations that we did. We lined pink and blue balloons and little Mickey head cutouts all throughout the hallway to get them more excited to find out what little Peaches (that's the nickname for the baby) was. Then when they walked in, we had a blue balloon drop and all of these fabulous Mickey Mouse decorations. My wonderful friend Mert and my sister-in-law Patti came up with all of the ideas. I just helped to execute them. We ended up homemaking the cake with a huge amount of help from my wonderful Aunt Linda. Chris and Haley are thrilled to finally know what their little boy is!

Now it's Crunch Time

16 days in counting until I enter the MTC and I get set apart 2 days before that. I can't believe how quickly this is all happening. I've gotten just about everything done that I need. Clothes shopping complete (except for one or two more pairs of shoes), shots done, set up missionary email address... It's all coming along very nicely. Within the next 2 weeks, I have plans to go out with the sister missionaries and start dipping my feet in the water of full time missionary service. I am going so extremely excited!

How's the Fella?

 Landon is doing great. He just recently got a new companion and the two of them get along very well and are having great success. This is his first transfer as a trainer so he's a little nervous about that, but I know that he will do a wonderful job. We are coming up on his 8 month mark in 2 days so that is really exciting! He is getting so excited for me to be out in the mission field with him. We can't wait to swap stories and ideas and help each other along in our call.

The mail service in Italy drastically slowed during the holiday season so, as of my last letter and email, he has not received any Christmas packages yet from either me or his family. Hopefully that will get to him soon. 

Now, before I enter the MTC, I need to worry about his birthday and Valentines Day package. I can't believe that he's turning 20 in just a little less than a month! And I am so excited to celebrate another Valentines day with him. The past 18 months of my life since I have met him have honestly been better than I could have ever imagined. Even with the distance, he's  my best friend. I couldn't imagine my life without him in it. He and I say all of the time that it feels like we've known each other an entire lifetime. I am so glad that we both ended up going to the Hill Cumorah pageant in the Summer of 2011. That trip not only majorly strengthened my Testimony of the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ, but changed my life by adding him in. I am grateful for that decision to attend every single day.

So, time is running up. But, I will write on here one last time before I go to serve the Lord. I love you all. Thanks for reading.