15 gelati in 10 days :))))

This morning I am feeling super grateful as I reflect on the time that Kinny and I had in Italy.
Ever since I came back from my mission 18 months ago Kinny has been saving all of her money. She saved birthday money, christmas money, any kind of money that she could earn. Whenever I would start to get into a serious relationship she would tell me I would have to wait to get serious until after we went to Italy. I really laughed at all of this and in my mind I thought we would never make it back to Italy. Well we kept working hard to save our money, got some help from mom and dad, and found plane tickets roundtrip out of Salt Lake to Venice for $400!
We were oh so lucky! Kinny's desire to go to Italy and diligence helped us to keep looking for tickets and find tickets cheap enough to go.
On the airplane rides over we started to lose our luck a little. We were stuck on an airplane for 3 hours not moving, the pilot telling us that the engine had problems and they were checking it. (That is not something you want to hear when you are about to be flying in that plane for 9 hours). As we kept having flight issues and had to take a random flight to Germany haha I decided that all of these "trials" that werent really trials could relate to the bigger picture! God is our pilot. When you are on an airplane you only see through the side windows and the people around you on the plane. The pilot is totally in control and sees the whole picture up front. He knows how the engine is working and the procedures to help make the trip safe. Long story short, we are freaking out because we only see clouds, hear the baby behind us screaming, and trying to get through the flight by watching a whole season of Friends. But our pilot knows everything and will do everything he can to get us to our final destination safely even if that means trials and waiting, lots of waiting sometimes.

Anyway that's my preachy thought for you.

I loved my time in Italy with Kinny. We ate 15 gelati in the 10 days we were there, so I would say it was a huge success. We ate pizza, lots of pizza. We saw a few of my friends while being over there. Many who invited us into their homes and treated us like royalty. We saw all of my favorite places in Italy. Venice, Vicenza, Verona, Florence, Lucca, Pisa, and Milan. We bought lots of leather stuff from my salesman Raffi at the San Lorenzo leather market. We went to church in Florence where the spirit was so strong and faces of friends filled the chapel. I saw Julia & Henry and their family just days after they entered the temple and got to see the light in their eyes as they spoke of their experiences there. My heart was so full as I heard this couple who I saw baptized just two years ago talk about the promises they had made with God and the feelings they had felt in the house of the Lord.
Most importantly I got to see my sister, Kindra, experience and grow to love the people that I love so much in Italy. I loved being with my sister and showing her a place that is so dear to me. I know it was a once in a lifetime experience! Kinny taught me so much on this trip and I grew to love her even more.
These memories we shared will last forever! Ok...now that I took her to Italy, I guess this means I can find my Romeo. Haha jk, I will let the pilot decide when and how that's going to happen. For now like they say in Italy, Pazienza (Patience).

Ponte Vecchio with Alberta

Best Gelateria in Lucca (ate there twice in one day and proud of it;))

My Peruvian parents (Julia & Henry)

My darling Kinny

On top of the Duomo di Milano

Finding Blessings

This past week my family left on Trek. This means they left behind their cell phones, beds, normal clothes, showers, and everything comfy to go walk miles and miles through Wyoming and experience a little of what the pioneers did. I seriously was nervous for them and so glad that I got to stay home and be the cheerleader and shower every day. But really I was nervous and prayed for them every single day hoping they were healthy and strong.

It was a neat experience to listen to the experiences they had this week. Is it easy for a 16 year old to leave behind her snapchat for a week? Or a 13 year old to not have any way to find out about the basketball updates on his ipod? No but I think it helped them realize just how blessed they really are. Think of how hard life would be back then?! Have you ever thought of what your ancestors went through because of how much they loved the Lord and did what He told them to do? How amazing. Just think someday maybe someone will think that about you and the hard things you went through will be such amazing stories for your future family and friends to hear. 

Sometimes I think that we are so used to having everything instantly. We can find ourselves in a crappy mood when things are not going exactly how we want. It is so easy to count and see everything we are missing in our lives. But how nasty will our lives be if we only see what we don't have instead of opening our eyes to what we do have?

My advice to myself for today and hopefully someone who reads this today is to not live in the past and not pray for the future to come faster or life is going to zip by way to fast. I challenge myself and you to look at the blessings you have in your life because if you look for them you will find them. 

I am incredibly grateful for my family. Each member of my family helps me in a different way. This doesn't mean we are perfect at all. I am grateful for my friends new ones and old ones that give me advice and help me through hard days or even just hard hours when I need someone to talk to about life. I am grateful for Jesus Christ. I know He lives. He knows me by name and has suffered every pain so that I don't have to ever suffer alone. I promise you that He is there and loves you.

I looked up the word 'blessing' on my scripture app and it showed up with 2,213 references. Even back in the days of prophets they were finding blessings. Here is one of my favorite hymns that keeps me going when I am being selfish or find myself in a pity party. The Lord loves you and blessings will come when you are ready for them! His timing is perfect.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.

Other Blessings:

Costa Vida chicken saladsssss

Breakfast burritos

mouthwash

nature

cars

the sun

dogs

Mission Comps
Rice Cookers
Drives through Provo Canyon with the coolest future parents (Jared & Avarie Olsen) (PS Thanks for the pesto pasta)

Italian food (22 more daysssss!)

Cute sis! Can't wait for Baby O!

My precious bestie. You may not recognize us without our double chins

Tacos, rowing, and going

It was 10 months ago that I last posted on my blog. I think it's because there has been too much going on or things that I feel wouldn't interest people. Sometimes it is hard to try to find the right words that would encourage others or making them laugh until their stomach hurts. I really enjoy doing both of those things. But today I realize that my blog isn't for any specific person. I have missed writing on my blog. Today I came home from church just thinking wow, I need to write some things down about church and life. 

Today I really loved church. Now I am not saying that I don't like it every Sunday but sometimes my mind wanders and I start thinking about the next weeks events, boys, or tacos. (Because to be honest most of the time that is what is on my mind) Today though, I loved the lessons and talks given. The ones that especially stood out to me were talking about the Plan of Salvation and Testimonies. In the first lesson, the teacher had many of her friends that had joined my church share their experiences about hearing about the Plan of Salvation for the first time. It was amazing their testimonies they shared. I sometimes take for granted all the truths I know and believe. Then in Relief Society we talked about our testimonies and what they can motivate us to do and become. 

I just want to share that I believe God loves me and knows me perfectly. I believe that I lived with Him before I came to this earth. I believe that my life has meaning and that God made a beautiful plan for all of us. I believe I chose to come to this earth and have trials and happiness. I believe God sent His son, Jesus Christ to show me how to live and be happy by loving others and coming to know God through His son. I believe that because of Jesus Christ, death is not the end. I believe that if I do my very best on earth and turn to Jesus and God I can have peace and live with both of them again. 

These truths have been taught to me my whole life. I am so grateful for them. They give me hope and happiness now. I know they are true because I have prayed about them and received a definite answer in my heart from God that they are true. Man He really loves me! And He really loves you too!

God loves my quarks. He loves me for me. I love tacos. I love puzzles. I love italian leather. I love having my clothes match. I love hoodies. I love rowing (yes like exercise rowing, I have no idea why but it's a new love). I love the lake. I love my family. I love having my hair braided. I love the store Jane.com online. I love laughing. I love jumping into my sister, Kindra's arms. I love caramel M&Ms. I love Dr. Pepper. I love having tickle fights with my brother Trey. I love going on walks to clear my mind. I love nice weather, especially in Rexburg!!! 

All these random things I love may seem dumb or stupid and some of them really are. God knows each of these details about me and more. And He cares about my love for these things!! That's how much God loves us. He knows the desire of our hearts and what we desire each day. If we include Him in our lives, he will make these fun things we love even more fun and special!

And even when life isn't going how we want, we just keep rowing. Also don't ever try to scratch your head and row at the same time, I almost fell off of the machine the other day. 

 

Kinny- she is 15 and so hot.