Utah

So other than the temple, 

which was AWESOME, 

we also did a lot of other fun things!  

I stopped in Provo to see Matt, checked out his apartment, and gave him a little missionary present.

We picked up my Dad at the airport AND my Aunt Sherri and Uncle Brad from California surprised everyone!  It was so tender to see the look on my grandparents faces! Papa stopped dead in his tracks and gasped and grandma started to cry.

I love the DI/Goodwill etc.  it is THE BEST place to look for sister missionary clothes.  Mom got so many cute skirts and we even found this super ancient vintage white dress with baby yellow embroidery.  It is gorgeous!

Went to the park with my siblings...as follows...

 

We spent a ton of time with family! BBQs pictures and story tellin'.

Grandma and Me

I love my Family:)

Mom's girls <3

I <3 my mommy

Look at them guns!

 

 

Endowed

Last weekend I had the most wonderful opportunity to meet my family in West Jordan, Utah. 

 Why? 

To go through the Temple and receive my endowments!

We got to the temple and sat down in the little office where they check you in and I realized I forgot part of my recommend at my grandma's house! 

 They said it had never happened before and everyone was really stressing out and running around trying to find someone that could run back to the house but no luck.  So they let me continue with my initiatory.  It was amazing! The happiest moment ever.  The words are so sweet ad beautiful.  

So the endowment session started and no one told me I couldn't be there...so I went but was flippin' out because I didn't know what was going on with the recommend issue.

  Finally my dad told me that I was fine as long as I brought it back later.

  Phew! That would have been nice to know before starting everything so it wasn't constantly worrying me.  But Oh well.     

I was very nervous and stressed just because it was something new and unknown and I'm even a little nervous to go back because I'm still not totally familiar with what goes on.

But even though I was nervous, once it really started I felt so much peace and I really realized the importance of it all.

  It was so wonderful to be there with so many of my family members. 

 Many people traveled far to share that special day with my and my family and I am so thankful for them.  You are the best and I love you!

Me and Mommy.  Promise we didnt plan on matching.

Me and Daddy

Airi, Ken, Dad, Mom, Me, Grandma DuRee, Grandpa DuRee, Brenda and Dwight

Brother and Sister Jensen

Mom, me, Grandma DuRee, Brenda (Sister Danielson)

DuRee Grandparents:) They came all the way from California

Downing Grandparents:) Grandma has pink hair... hahaha

I am so happy and thankful that I got to go to the temple.  It is a very special and sacred place.  The spirit is so strong there and  I'm excited to go back:)

Happiest Day of my life so far!

In the Furnace of Their Affliction

There was a fire in Black Forest. 

MY HOMETOWN!

It was so sad...

A few weeks ago the youth in one of the wards in Black Forest built up a border of pine needles around the church building  as a fire precaution. 

 That activity was truly inspired.  The church building was saved! Over 500 homes were burned.  And only one house in the our old ward was burned!  It was our old house...  So many good memories in the house and in that yard.  I'm really going to miss it.    

I realized, from facebook and such, that the people who have been affected by the ire have stayed so positive about it.  This huge trial confronts them, 

and the majority of them say they are thankful for what they have; 

they are glad they have their families; 

families are the most important thing; 

"a house is just something that holds all our stuff while we go buy more stuff";  

God has a plan; etc. 

 How could these people react this way?  It makes me wonder how I would react...Obviously they must be devastated to lose their homes and things they care about, but it seems that most of them are looking at the eternal perspective of things.  It amazes me. I am so thankful for these kinds of people because they set such an example for me.

  My heart goes out to all of the families who have been affected by this fire.  Please pray for the families who have lost their homes, or have had to evacuate, or even those who have been mildly affected in the slightest.  They need your prayers.

Heavenly Father loves you and cares so much about your well-being.  He has a plan for you and you may not be able to see what that plan is now, but it will be revealed to you as things get better.  As one door closes another opens.  I Promise :)  

Howdy Y'all

Last weekend Tenesia took us all to her hometown in Burley, Idaho.

We had a wonderful time camping, and being cowgirls!

Things I learned from being a country gal

1. when a cow dies...it bloats...and it can exlpode. gross.

2. a cow having a baby isnt a big deal like in the 

movies. the cow just moans and the calf slides right out! no biggy.    

3. being on a horse while it's running is not a graceful thing like you see on TV. You fly in the air and but hits the saddle so hard you have bruises.

4. If you leave a tent door open it will seem even windier than it really is.

5. Cows arent milked by hand. They are milked by machines that look like little vacuums that suck the milk right out into a communal tube.

6. calves are separated from their moms right after birth! cruel

7. Cows dont get pregnant the old fashioned way.  ALL the cows on a dairy get pregnant from artificial insemination.  

8. potatoes carry an awful stench when rotten and dumped into a pile with thousands of other potatoes. 

9. dont overdose on tylonel.

10. farms bring out my allergies.

11. horses do not listen. 

12. dont wear tight jeans while horseback riding. You'll flip your leg over and riiiipppp....

wienie roastin

this little girl is so flippin cute!

cows on the schroeders property

new jersey cows for 4H

Hannah imitating a chicken i think?

cutie patootie

 

wiener roastin'

4H calves

i love these girls!

rotten potatoes...yummy....

potato cellars are huge!

dead bloated cows. look at how tight that skin is! Chandler and I were gonna go touch it but were scared it would literally explode.

playing in the cotton seed. Its so fluffy Im gonna die!

Hanna was flippin'

so was i...scared of getting kicked!!!!!

Dairies are so much more organized than I thought

booya grandma! fear conquered.

brand new baby cow!

We got to watch a live cow birthing! Welcome to the world baby cow!

we love the dairy!

My horse's name was whiskey. haha

 

farm kitties

After singing in Tenesias home ward.  "Usher in His reign!!!!!"

  

I Believe I Can Fly

Last weekend I went on a date to the ropes course on Campus.  

Honestly I was quite scared to play on the rope swing and the rock "wall"
--soooo not a wall by the way.

Far from it.

Glad I didn't chicken out 'cause this was so fun!!!

waiting to let go of my cord

champion dancer

 

he got so high

taking our turn belaying

half way! this was so exhausting...

and we made it!

My family is coming to rexburg in a few weeks and hopefully I will be able to take them here! They'd love it.  Cant wait to see you guys! :)

Also,

Theres a sister missionary page on facebook and some of us that have been called to moscow have put together a moscow sister missionaries page.  

I am so hapy that I get to communicate with my fellow sister already! Half of us report July 17 and the other half report August 28.  

So glad to know Im not the only greenie on that day.  

I mean I already knew it but its good to REALLY KNOW it.

Dad got me this awesome Russian Language Learning Program so i can start learning the language!  I cant wait to be fluent!

Also, I have been reading this book by John Bytheway called,

 "What I wish I'd known When I was Single."  

If any of you know John Bytheway, you know he is a riot! He is so funny.  

I encourage my single friends to read this book! Its great and Its a quick read.  I read it in 2 days.  It's so helpful and inspiring. read it read it!

I hope everyone is having a super fun but also super safe summer so far <3