7 days down, 725 to go.

Dang! 725... That seems like forever.

It's so sad to think that I will have to get used to the fact that Matthew is gone. I think about him 24/7 (not kidding). It's really hard (REALLY HARD), but it's how it has to be and I know that Matthew will be the most amazing missionary.

BUT, on the bright side, Matthew is LOVING the MTC and this opportunity to be out serving the Lord.

His "Personal Day" was last Saturday, so his family and I all got emails and pictures from him. I totally screamed in the car when I refreshed my email and saw a message from him.

He is doing so well. He loves it and is so happy with all that is happening.

He is learning Spanish very quickly, and he is enjoying the mission companions he's been assigned to.

I'm so grateful for that. I'm grateful I am able to write to him and I'm able to hear back about all of his wonderful experiences. He makes me so proud.

Also, on a side note, school is going well. Except for being stressful, but you know, that's normal of course.

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend!

(Below is a picture the handsome Elder Farabee sent on Saturday with his mission companions. They are all so happy and look like great friends.)

August 26, 2015

I always knew this day would come, but I never expected it to come so fast.
Matthew and I are pretty close, not only dating-wise, but also in friendship. He's so dear to my heart and today I had to watch that piece of my heart walk away, through security and onto a plane that would take him to the Provo Missionary Training Center. Yep, that's right. Matthew's gone for 2 WHOLE YEARS to serve the Lord.
I am so proud of him for making this choice to serve, but it's also the hardest thing I have ever gone through. As the date of his departure got closer and closer, I began to get really emotional about it.
I wasn't sleeping, eating, being happy, or being myself! All I could think about was that my boyfriend who I hang out with all the time is leaving for 2 years.
It's literally the most bittersweet feeling I have ever had.

Matthew and I go way back! (about 5-6 years approx.)
About 8-9 years ago, our wards combined due to a lack of members in each ward. In an effort to increase numbers in the ward, it was decided that "Lehi 3rd ward" and "Lehi 7th ward" would combine to make "Hillside ward".
Matthew and I didn't even know each other existed at the beginning of this combining... but that soon changed once we turned 13 and started going to the "Youth Sunday School" class.
I was sitting in my chair next to some of the girls in my ward and I reached down to grab my bag when I realized I had forgot to pack gum (which is a total shocker for me). In a moment of desperation, I called out, "Does anyone have some gum I could have?" But no one responded and I just forgot about it.
Then a few minutes later, this little native boy (who I had never met or noticed in class before) leaned over with a piece of mint-flavored "React 5" gum. I took it without hesitation and thanked him. As the class went on, I began to think why I had never seen him before and why I didn't talk to him longer.
Soon the class ended and I was on my way to my "Young Women's" class and kind of forgot all about it. But then the next week at church, I made a special effort to sit by "this boy".
I wasn't sure what he thought of me, but in my little 13 year old heart, I began to like him. ;)

-I HAD TO MEET THIS BOY AND FIND OUT IF HE LIKED ME BACK.-

So after driving myself absolutely nuts about "this boy", I finally reached out to his sister to ask her about him. Her and I exchanged e-mails and soon were chatting on Gmail chat (so professional and cool, right?)

Anyways, so I asked her if I could chat with her brother. She said yes and went to get him.

I waited and waited then saw the "typing" prompt on my chat screen.

"IT WAS HIM!" I had so many butterflies going crazy in my stomach.

I can't remember his exact words, and i'm kicking myself because I accidentally deleted the chat since then, but basically we talked for a while until I got the courage up to ask him if he liked me.

Boy, was I sweatin' bullets!

He began typing again and replied with a, "yes". 

I was on CLOUD 9! 

I laugh so hard when I look back on it now, but you know what, that is a great memory that him and I share. And look at us now. We still "like" each other, heehee!

Anyways, that's basically the story of M and I. Pretty cute and "13 year old style" right?

I love the story, though. I love that we both love it and can laugh about it now when we talk about it.

I miss that boy so much. I try not to say it too much to him, because I don't want to make being away from home harder for him. 

This day has gone by so slow. And it's only the first day of him being gone! But, I am also so grateful and blessed to have the family I have and all of the friends I have who are cheering us on and supporting us through this time. I feel so lucky to have such amazing and inspiring people around me.

Two years will be so hard, but it will also be worth it and show the value we hold for one another.

I am so grateful that Matthew is able to do this and that him and I are both able to grow individually and become what God has in plan. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and that Matthew is able to share it with the people of Argentina.

((Below are a few pics from the airport this morning.))

Yes, we hugged at the airport. We couldn't help it.

                    

Roadtrip

As a tradition, my dad and I take a "father-daughter" roadtrip each year. This year we drove all the way to Washington, D.C.
The drive was so much fun, but also hard a times. There were times when my dad or I would say, "Why didn't we just fly?" But then we remember how much fun it is to be together and to drive 4,000+ miles. (Not kidding about the miles part. It was a long drive.)
But I wouldn't trade those 3 days in the car for anything. I love my dad so much and the relationship we have. We've always been really close and I hope it always stays like that.

So as part of the trip, we also got to visit family. My cousin Brook and her family live on the outskirts of D.C. and we got to visit with her and her sweet family. They are quite the host and hostesses and D.C. ain't that bad either. That place is booming with history and beauty. Every building had beautiful pillars and had such fine details. It was amazing to see everything; Especially the Lincoln Monument and the Declaration, Bill of Rights and Constitution. It's incredible that those documents are preserved and are able to be viewed today. Really powerful to be there and see it all.

After a few days in D.C. we drove to Pittsburgh, PA where my favorite aunt and uncle, Gwen and Howard, live.
And let me tell ya, being at their house blew the whole trip out of the water. My aunt Gwen and my uncle Howard are THE BEST hosts/party animals/tour guides/memory-makers/good food finders/etc. etc. etc.
They are awesome! We had so much fun with them and enjoyed the beautiful weather their town had to offer. (It was literally in the 70's and breezy the whole time. Dreamy.)
I am so tempted to pack up my things and move there. It definitely won me over.
But I think I'll stay in AZ for now.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer.



*Below are some iPhone snaps from the trip.

We even got to see Pres. Obama being driven off with his entourage after taking this picture.

This girl is a ham. She made everyone laugh. Missing this cute little red-head.

This butterfly wasn't about to let go of my dad's hat in the Butterfly Exhibit.

Uncle Howie and Aunt Gwen during our sparkler party.

Phantom!

Tonight I got to see, "The Phantom of the Opera" (A.K.A my favorite play) at ASU Gammage and let me tell ya, it was incredible.

I had chills through about 90% of it. 

That play is honestly the best thing I've ever seen every time I see it.

If you haven't seen it before, I totally recommend it. It's amazing when it's professionally done and well rehearsed. 

I could watch that play all day every day. Not kidding. (Coming from the girl who cries every time at the end of this play because it's over and I won't see it again until another opportunity arises to see it.)

I think you get the idea of how much I like this play, so I'll stop rambling. ;)

Hope you all have a great weekend. 

Father's Day

With Father's Day coming up soon, I thought I would share a simple project that is perfect for that special dad (or dad-figure) in your life.

So on a trip to Flagstaff a couple years ago, my family and I attended another church building there (it was Father's Day). At the end of the church meeting, each of the men were given these CUTE crafts made by the young women (12-18 yr. olds) in the ward. 

When I saw them I first thought they were adorable, but then I realized how simple these crafts really were. So I came home and I tried it myself.

"Easy-peasy".

Here's just a sample of one (below). You can also add little word strips across the top of the tie if you'd like?

Suggestions: "Happy Father's Day" or "I Love You Dad" or "You're the Best" or anything you'd like

So simple. So cute. So creative. And such a perfect way to show the men in your life that you love and care about them.

Steps: (for making 1) 

1. Take one small envelope (a baronial style envelope)

2. Cut off one of the ends of the envelope (just cut off a very small section) 

3. Cut a slit down ward where you just cut out the section from the envelope.

4. Fold the two sections down in a "shirt collar style".

5. Take scrapbook or colored paper and cut into the shape of a tie or bow tie.

6. Slide into place under the "shirt collar" on the envelope.

7. Fill the envelope with candy (or item) of choice.

Hope that all made sense. I'm not the best at direction giving... ;)

Enjoy your Father's Day!

Mother Dear

Judi Ann. She's one of a kind.

Now I know I'm double posting, but this woman deserves it. She is honestly the greatest mother (and mother figure to others) I have ever witnessed. She is constantly selfless, she is patient, she is nurturing, loving, kind, grateful, righteous, and just plain amazing.

I don't know what I'd do without her. She is my rock, and she always makes me so happy. She constantly shows her love for me and my family and we love calling her ours. 

I'm so grateful families are forever and I get to be her youngest daughter even after this life.

I love you mom. xoxo. 

(P.S. Here's a ridiculously cheesy picture of my mom and I from a ward party we attended many many years ago. Talk about awkward family photos...)

My Weekend Went A Little Like This...

I am exhausted. This weekend was super fun/super tiring all at once.

For the past 3 days we got to watch my 2 nieces and 2 nephews while their mom and dad went on an "LDS pioneer trek activity" for their stake. My parents and I got to keep the kids for a whole weekend and let me tell ya, taking care of 4 kids is hard work. But it was also very fun. I love those sweet kids so much!. They are the cutest, sassiest, funniest, smartest, craziest, most FUN kids I've ever met. I'm so glad they're family. 

All in all, looking back, it was a fun weekend. (Even though I had to lose my boyfriend (Matthew) for a weekend while he went to Disneyland with his family. LUCKY GUY! But he is home now, so all is right again in the world.)

....Anyways, I had a fun time with those kids, but it's also nice to sleep in my bed alone tonight, not having to worry about any of the kids waking me up in the middle of the night. 

But you know what, even if I was still watching them and having to wake up in the middle of the night, I'd still do it anyways. ;)

I love being an aunt, and I'm so blessed to have those kids in my life. 

Class of 2015

So today I got to attend Westwood High School's 2015 graduation ceremony. Let me tell ya, there were a few times I was about to shed a tear thinking about this amazing school. I seriously love that school so much. It gave me so many wonderful experience and friendships I'll remember forever. It's a school so full of spirit, loyalty, love, excitement... And I just love it!

Today was the day that my boyfriend's little sister, Carly, graduated. It was so fun to watch. Our group yelled and screamed so loud when they said her name as she crossed the field. (I felt kind of bad because we basically blocked out like 3 other names that were called after her... But I guess it happens right? Oops.)

Anyways, it was so fun to attend since just last year I was on that same football field graduating. Can't believe it's already been a year! Wow.

I hope you all had a wonderful week and maybe you even went to a graduation tonight? 

          (The Westwood football field)

My Heart

Wow! It happened. Matthew opened his mission call and is headed to Comodoro Rivadavia Argentina to speak Spanish and preach the gospel. I am over-joyed!

I can't wait for him to experience that. He will bless so many & so many will bless him. I am so proud of him! 

I can't wait to hear about all of the adventures and stories he has. 

Today's The Day!

Today's the day that Matthew finds out where he's going on his mission.

I have never been more scared, happy, and nervous all at the same time. There are so many mixed emotions about the whole experience. I'm so proud of him and his decision to choose to serve a mission, but it's also really hard thinking that he won't be living 1 minute away from me anymore for two years!

Tonight is the night that he will be opening his call to see where he is going. I will keep you all updated once we find out where he's going. 

So proud of this guy.

I know the church is true, and I know that he will bless many lives wherever he goes.

Strength

One of the hardest things in life for some people is to be strong. There are times when I feel discouraged and I don't feel strong, but then there are other times when I feel so strong that I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to. 

A lot of times things can be hard and we might feel weak... But as I reflect on the different things that I have had strengths and weaknesses in, I reflect back on my Aunt Christa: the epitome of strength!

This woman is the most amazing example of strength and righteousness. About three years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer and of course everyone thinks the worst when it comes to cancer; But she made it completely different. She gave new light to the stereotype of a cancer patient.

She is like no other! She constantly showed strength as she battled this cancer. She constantly taught her children amazing lessons about patience and faith. She constantly taught our family about how sometimes bad things happen, but that we can still make it through them and we should never give up. She is such a great example in my life and in others.

Sadly, her journey did come to an end last April 2014, but her legacy still lives on. Her kind and beautiful spirit can be felt inside her home. Her kids radiate the love that she spread throughout her life. And you can feel little pieces of her that she left here before she left this earth.

She may not be here physically, but she is constantly felt in our hearts spiritually. We miss her a lot, but we know that we will see her again.

Families are forever!

http://johnsonstories.blogspot.com/?m=1

{Here is a link to her blog that she constantly wrote in and kept much like a journal. So fun to look back on all the memories. 

Her husband now updates it occasionally.}

Do Yourself a Favor

We've all heard of this dreamy treat at Disneyland right? The classic pineapple dole whip.

Well, to be completely honest, every time I've gone to Disneyland I'm too stubborn to stand in the typically huge line for one (which is silly because at Disneyland all you do is stand in lines...) And to this day, I still have not tried an authentic one. But, I do know how popular they are. So in a moment of curiosity I googled a copy-cat recipe.

I then pulled out my vitamixer and began the process, and let me tell ya, BEST IDEA EVER! A simple and healthy treat.

(Especially for us Arizonans who have to deal with 100°+ heat all summer.) 

So if you're a pineapple lover and in need of a sweet cold treat, try this one. It's delightful!

Ingredients:

• 1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and chopped (or frozen pineapple chunks; I get mine at Costco)
• 1 cup almond milk, or non-dairy milk of choice
• 1 tablespoon honey or agave (optional, for authentic sweetness)

Instructions:

1. To get started, you'll want to freeze the pineapple chunks. I chopped mine a day ahead of time, and froze the chunks overnight.                           {You could also purchase frozen pineapple, if you prefer.} As you can see from the picture below, the frozen pineapple reached the 6.5 - 7 cup mark on my blender pitcher.
2. This recipe works best in a high-speed blender, like the Vitamix, because you'll need to be able to pulverize the frozen pineapple into an ice-cream-like consistency. A normal blender will most likely not work, but a food processor might.
3. Combine the frozen pineapple with the almond milk and honey or agave, then blend until a frozen sorbet texture is achieved.
4. OPTIONAL: For an authentic Dole Whip presentation, transfer the frozen dessert to a large plastic bag, and cut off the tip to create a piping bag. Pipe the pineapple whip into 4-6 dishes, and serve immediately!

Super easy, right? 

Enjoy!

Recipe thanks to website: "Detoxinista"

The Best You

Wowza! I just want to start this post by sharing my admiration for this woman. Amazing, right! 

I always try to thank God for the healthy and strong body I've been given. I think a lot of times people take for granted that we have these amazing bodies that move and wiggle and get us around. It's incredible all that our body is capable of. Now I know that not everyone has a body that can fully function, but even then we still HAVE the body, and we still have the opportunity to live on this earth in that body.

Moral of this post...

Here's to living healthy lifestyles one day at a time. Whether it be exercising a certain amount of time a day, moderating junk-food intake, or even just taking some time to meditate and relax your mind after a long day. 

I mean, who doesn't want to end up like that healthy grandma who can stretch her little leg that high in the air? 

(P.S. I have no idea who that woman is. Thanks to Google though, I now have a picture to motivate myself into a consistent healthy lifestyle even into my late 90's.)

Mmmmm!

I am addicted to finding yummy and healthy recipes on Pinterest. I enjoy making things for my family and my friends. It is seriously the most rewarding feeling!

Just today, I found this new recipe thanks to my favorite baking icon "Sally's Baking Addiction".

Go check out her website! She rocks when it comes to all things food.

This new recipe I found is super simple and a yummy snack for on the go. 

Enjoy! 

{Recipe Below}

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup (114g) honey or brown rice syrup
• 1/4 cup (30g) almond meal
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon (15g) almond butter
• 1 and 1/3 cup (200g) raw unsalted cashews; roughly chopped
• 5 dates, coarsely chopped
• 3/4 cup (60g) shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1 Tablespoon chia seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F (149°C). Line an 8 or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper with enough overhang on the sides to easily remove the bars from the pan. Set aside.
2. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, mix the honey, almond meal, salt, and almond butter together until combined. Fold in the cashews, chopped dates, coconut, and chia seeds until combined.
3. Transfer mixture to prepared baking pan and press very firmly into an even layer. You really want it packed in tight- as tight as possible. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack for 1 hour, then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for 1 more hour. This helps firm up the bars which makes them stay compact. Remove bars from the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into bars. Individually wrap each bar in plastic wrap or parchment. Store at room temperature for 1 week or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I find they get a little sticky at room temperature over a few days, so I prefer the refrigerator.
4. ((Make ahead tip: These bars are freezer friendly. After wrapping individually, freeze for up to 3 months and thaw before enjoying.))

He Deserves a Post.

As I sit here thinking about my earlier post about "trying new things", I also think about some people who have helped me be brave and try new things. One of the first people to come to my mind is Matthew. 

Oh man, is he great or what!

Now before I start writing a novel about how great this guy is, I just want to say, I'm not meaning to gush about my boyfriend or embarrass him (even though I probably will)... but he truly is a one of a kind guy who deserves some recognition. 

Matthew always helps me try to be my best, whether it be academically, personally, athletically, or anything else.

He pushes me to strive for my best and he constantly compliments me on things I do (which then helps motivate me to keep doing even better).

He has the kindest heart and the sweetest soul. He loves me inside and out, and he is such a blessing to me. If you don't know him now, you should meet him someday. He's pretty great!

To New Things! (Take 2)

Freshman year, you've been good to me.

I was terrified to begin a new (first) year in college, but it ended up being the best thing ever! I enjoyed most of my classes, I kept good grades throughout both semesters, and I enjoyed the friendships I made in my classes.

Do you all remember my earlier post  back in August about me being "terrified about starting new things". Well, each time I DO start a new thing, it usually  turns out pretty well (even though I always have a mini panic attack before it happens). 

Anyways, this post is just a way of saying that because of my bravery, I was able to do a full painless year of college. If there's anything holding you back from new things, then just take a leap of faith and try it (unless it's something like sky diving or participating in American Ninja Warrior, then maybe you should think about those ones a little bit before trying them... Ha!).

"A few seconds of courage and bravery, can lead to millions of seconds of happiness and joy."

Can't wait to see what my sophomore year brings!

Adios year 1 of college. 

Good Friday

It was just a normal Friday at the Court house. I was babysitting, the kids were all rolling in from their days at school, and Ellie & Chase were DYING to have a sleepover at my house. 

So, being the "sucker-aunt" I am (I literally can never say no to their sweet little faces), Ellie and Chase came over for a sleepover. And that's not all... 

We even took a Friday night trip to JumpStreet! 

Okay, now I'm not complaining or anything, but why wasn't there a JumpStreet around when I was their age? Such a fun place!

We stayed for 2 hour, and the kids loved every second of it. They were exhausted after, which was great for me because once we got home, we took baths and watched a movie till we fell asleep. 

I'd say it was a good Friday.