Thoughts on the weekend...

This past weekend was General Conference. It was so wonderful and the Spirit was strong. President Monson, who is the prophet today, made a big announcement. Young men can now go on a mission when they are 18 years old and young women can go when they are 19. I became so emotional when he made this announcement! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED my mission. It is the best thing that I have ever done and I am so excited that so many more young women will have the opportunity to serve the Lord. So, for all of you sisters who may read this: if you are thinking about going on a mission-just do it! You will never, ever regret the decision to serve. Before I left on my mission, a close family friend told me that for young men, there is one time when they feel the closest to the Lord and that is when they are on their missions. For women, it is when they are on a mission, if they go, and then when they become a mother. I feel so blessed to have served the Lord 24/7 for 18 months and felt so close to Him. It is a daily battle to keep that feeling with me now. Speaking of missions, my mission reunion was this last weekend but I wasn't able to go due to some car problems. I decided it wasn't wise for me to make the long drive to Provo by myself until my car got checked out and worked on. I was bummed that I couldn't go but I had a fun weekend staying home and catching up on life here.

The cooler Autumn weather has been making me go through withdrawals and I miss this:

Nothing compares to a New York fall. Shelby and I went on a walk yesterday and I have yet to find anything that compares to the colors and scenery in NY. I don't know if I'll ever stop having NY withdrawals, I hope that I don't because those memories are forever a part of me. Life is good here in Idaho though and I'm grateful for all that I have been blessed with. I'm so grateful that I could watch General Conference this weekend and am excited for the goals that I have set for myself for the next six months. Go here to watch General Conference-it is definitely worth the time and I promise that you will receive divine inspiration for you personally if you take the time to even watch a little bit of it.

A BIG FAT SUMMER UPDATE!

To the few of you who read this, I apologize for being so MIA the last few months. Life has been crazy busy with lots going on. Here's a quick update from the summer via pictures:

One warm summer night in June, Shelby told me to dress in clothes that I wouldn't mind getting dirty. Little did I know what he had up his sleeve. We finger painted lots of beautiful pictures and ended up in a paint war. This was the end result. :) Thank goodness the river was so close-we ended up cleaning off in the river. It was so fun and spontaneous! That's just one of the many things I love about Shelby-we can have spontaneous fun doing anything. :)

In June, my roommate Amy and I made a quick trip to the Boise area. We stayed with my family and went to Payette the next day to get some decorations for Amy's wedding reception. It was so fun and Amy fell in love with Lila's ELEVEN kittens! I tried my hardest to love them, but let's face it, we all know how I feel about animals. I love my Lila and was glad to spend time with her even though it meant spending time with her kittens also. :)

In August, Shelby and I made a quick trip to Utah to go to the wedding reception of one of his mission buddies. It was a fun, fast road trip! We hurried back that same night because Lindsey and Brenen were in town and stayed with me. It was so fun to have them visit. While Lindsey was doing my hair the next morning, Brenen and Shelby played Mario Kart on the Wii...Linz and I just giggled at their comments while they played. Good times! :)

The last weekend of August Shelby and I were able to go to Middleton to watch Cameron run in his Cross Country meet. He did a great job and even got a pie at the very end. Now that's motivation to run! :) We also went to Calvin's soccer game but I didn't get any good pictures of him playing. They both did a great job and I'm so grateful that we were able to go to at least one of their sporting events this Fall. I love my brothers and can't believe that they are growing up so fast!

Shelby's best friend Sam returned home from his mission at the end of August. It has been fun for Shelby to have Sam home. For FHE on Labor Day we made Zuchinni Boats and raced them down the raging CSI river. Ours didn't win but we definitely won creativity points with our action figures!

My roommate and dear friend Amy and our dear friend Jesse were married at the beginning of September. Shelby and I were able to go to their sealing and it was absolutely beautiful! There is NOTHING better than a temple wedding-no words can describe that spirit that was there. Congratulations Amy and Jesse! We love you!

Here's my friend Nakia and I with the beautiful bride. The reception was great and was perfect for Amy and Jesse.

This picture describes something that we do often-ice cream at Sonic. It's what we do. :)

Have I mentioned that I love this kid? He's great and was absolutely one of my favorite parts of the summer! Now we've made it through the first four weeks of school-exams and everything! It's been rough with lots of withdrawals but it's been good! Here's to two more semesters of school and the changing seasons!

Oregon Coast

I can't believe that it is already the end of July! This summer is flying by and it has been one of the best summers I have had. I have been blessed. Last week I was able to go to the Oregon Coast with my family. We played around with just our family for a few days and then we met up with my dad's family and we had the annual Despain Family Reunion. It was wonderful to spend time with my family but I missed Twin Falls and am glad to be back and getting into a routine again. Here are some pictures from the coast:



We visited the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast, located in Yaquina Bay. We'd all been there before but it was fun to go. Every time I visit a lighthouse I think of Pete's Dragon-love that movie! :) I love lighthouses and all that they symbolize.



My absolute favorite thing to do on the coast is going whale watching! We went whale watching and it was the best trip yet. We saw a lot of one particular whale which was great and there were a few epic quotes from Lila. Once we got several miles out into the ocean, the boat stopped and we sat there for a few minutes trying to locate whales. All of a sudden Lila says, "I want to go here on my honeymoon!" Lindsey and I just started laughing and all I could think of was, what eleven year old is already planning her honeymoon-I haven't even planned mine yet! Second epic quote: we see a whale come up out of the water and Lila says, "Ohhhh, that reminds me of my baby kittens." Let's just say she was going through extreme withdrawals from her precious kitties.



This is our family-except for Curtis-standing on the whale watching boat.



This was on the car ride there. Cam, Lila, and I were smooshed in the back seat. It made for some good bonding time!



When I got home, these beautiful duct tape flowers were waiting for me with some sweet notes. Let's just say Shelby is super creative and he had a lot of free time while I was gone. :) It was a wonderful surprise to come back to, as well as all the window paint on my car. He is simply amazing! :)



Pickles! If only people knew what that really means. :)



Of course we all missed Curtis like crazy but he is doing wonderful things in the Phillipines and I am so proud of him!

Quick Update

I realize that I have been absent from the blogging world for the last few weeks. This summer has gotten crazy. I started working another job at the Boys and Girl's Club a few weeks ago and that has been fun so far. It has also provided lots of opportunities to work with kids again and has made me start to think about going into a field of nursing where I can interact with children. I also started an online summer class two weeks ago. Now I am questioning whether or not it was the smartest thing to do because I can't seem to find the time to get it all done. I have to give my first speech for the class on Wednesday and I have barely started on the outline! It will all come together though...somehow. Here are a few pictures of what I have been up to lately besides work:



We had Stake Conference last night (with the apostle Elder Quentin L. Cook.) After Stake Conference we came back to my apartment and decided to use sidewalk chalk and draw a hopscotch. My friend Shelby has this brilliant idea that we need a hopscotch for. We went to work and drew one of the biggest hopscotches I have ever seen. It was so fun!



Last week, two friends were having birthdays. We decided to throw a surprise birthday party for them. It turned out to be a success! Amy used crepe paper to make a "laser game" where we have to get through without touching the "lasers" (crepe paper.)



Last but not least, my roommate Amy threw a birthday party for me. Here I am opening a birthday gift. It was so amazingly nice of her and tons of people showed up. I am grateful for all of the friends that I have here in Twin Falls. I truly am blessed!

Arizona Trip

A few days after I finished finals and moved apartments, I headed to Arizona for a week with my grandparents. The purpose for the trip:

The marriage of my cousin Seth to Taylor.


It was a beautiful wedding and reception. It was also fun to catch up with family members that I don't get to see very often.



Me with my cousins Courtney & Lizzie at the wedding luncheon. Love them!



The first time Lindsey & I went to Arizona we had to take a picture with a cactus because it was the first one that Linds had ever seen. So I had to carry on the tradition with this picture. :)



The Mesa Temple where many of the weekend's events occurred. I love this temple and the palm and citrus trees that surround it. We don't have those in Idaho!

Perfect

Do you ever have those times when you hear a song and think, "Wow, that describes perfectly how I've been feeling lately?!"  Well I heard this song today and had one of those moments.  I just love music and the power that it can have in our lives!

Spring Semester Wrap-Up

I can't believe that the end of Spring semester has come and gone! I am officially half-way through the Nursing program. It's crazy to think that this time next year I will be graduated. I'm trying not to think that far ahead because with graduation comes lots of big decisions. I'm working on living in the moment-not looking back and not looking too far forward. I have plans but I've come to learn that once you think that you have life figured out, a curve ball is thrown and you have to figure out life again.

I am excited for what this summer has to bring! It's only been a week and I'm already going a little crazy with the lack of busy-ness. I kind of miss all the homework. It's weird to just go to work, come home, and not have a huge list of things that need to be done. I need to enjoy this time though because starting in the Fall, school will be insane. I have a feeling that my Type A personality will love this.

I finished off this school year well and in between all the studying I kept busy with packing, moving, and job searching.



My roommate Amy is such a sweetheart! I was welcomed to my new apartment with this cute sign. It was perfect!



I always get a little sentimental when I move. I've moved a lot since I graduated from high school. I've been living in my current location for longer than I've lived anywhere else in the last 3 1/2 years. I had to take this picture of my apartment as I was driving away. It was in this apartment where I really had to adjust to not being a missionary. Lots of tears have been shed in this apartment, but oh so many happy times have occurred in this apartment as well. I will forever cherish the memories of this apartment and the things that I have learned while living there.

I am excited to make many more memories in my new apartment and I am super excited to be rooming with my friend Amy. There will be lots of good times this summer! :)



The Saturday before Finals Week, I went to a Bridal Shower for my dear friend Stacey. She's getting married in June to her dream man. They are adorable together and I'm so excited for them!



During Fall semester, I actively participated in Institute Choir. I went the first few weeks of Spring semester but after the first few weeks, I realized that something had to go. Things just got too crazy with school, my church calling, and dating. So I prayerfully decided to cut out Institute Choir as well as being a temple worker. Having those few extra hours to study made the biggest difference! The last week of Institute classes, I heard that the choir only had two girls and they needed some help. :) So, I showed up to the last Institute Choir practice, did my best to sight read the music, and I performed with the choir at Institute Graduation. I've made so many wonderful friends by participating in Institute Choir. Many of them are leaving for the summer or transferring to another school...SAD day! I will miss them!