So

I think my expectations for tonight were too high or something.

Or things haven't changed.

First Article. Opinions?

Hey all. Before I send this to Lyndsey to post, I need some opinions!

Here it is!!

As MG’s we know that waiting is hard better than anyone. We have all the “what if” questions running through our heads – “What if he feels differently about me when he comes home?” “What if I meet another guy and he ends up being the one?” Those are scary thoughts, right? What could be a scarier thought than that? Let me give you one word: dating. As if dating wasn’t scary enough with the having to get to know the person better, having that awkward date where nothing goes right, or even having that amazing date and going home with butterflies in your stomach, we add the element of already being in a relationship. Personally, it’s hard to date because I know that the man I’m out with isn’t Elder Mallory; however, I WANT to go out on dates! How many of us find ourselves in that situation? In a BYU campus debate article, Jen Schofield, a senior from Provo, said, “Some guys would never ask me out since I had a missionary.” So guess what? Ask THEM out! That’s how I got my first date since he’s been gone.
Around the year mark, I got tired of sitting around not going out on dates. Going out on dates might not be for everyone. It’s a personal choice whether you want to date other people while your missionary is serving.It’s suggested, though, that we do get out there and date. If your missionary is the first person you’ve ever dated, it’s highly encouraged you date. Dating other people can show you how much your missionary means to you. Dating other people helps me become closer to my guy friends; it helps me make new friends. Going on a date with someone isn’t a marriage commitment. In general, you date to find the type of person you want to marry. Not only that, when you date, you find the kind of spouse you want to be for your eternal companion.
I’ve made a challenge for myself, and I extend it to you, whether you’re an MG or an MM – missionary’s man. I’m going to go on one date a month until Elder Mallory comes home, with the intention of strengthening my friendships, growing, as well as strengthening my relationship with my missionary. Remember – dating is not bad. Stay strong, be happy, and remember your missionary! Things will work out the way they’re supposed to.

Help!!!

So there's a website for girls waiting for missionaries. It's a forum where we're all able to help each other or brag about our missionaries. It's actually REALLY helpful, so a big thanks to Kaitlyn for showing it to me!

Here's where I need help. They've started an online magazine, and I've been chosen to write the Dating While Waiting article on a monthly basis.

I need some SUPER awesome ideas, if you all wouldn't mind putting your two cents in! Thanks! :)

What a Great Week!!! :)

Last week was excellent!
FHE on Monday was a ton of fun! It was a ward bbq at the Jones' house. It was great to see Scott and Emily. I should get over there to see Sandy soon.
Tuesday -- school started again. It was pretty cool. It's nice to be done with the busiest quarter and into a quarter with only two classes! :) I'm diggin' that one.
Wednesday -- started going to institute. It's great! Why the HECK did I not do that sooner??
Thursday -- watched the youth of the Kent Stake perform their dress rehearsal for their big show they were putting on. I'm going to quote my friend George and say, "I stand all amazed at the talent of the youth of the Kent Stake."
Friday -- hung out with Courtney. It was great! Grilled bratwursts, got ice cream from Coldstone, had a fire in the backyard burning our papers from last quarter, washed the dogs and three cars! Then we watched While You Were Sleeping. I LOVE that movie! It's super cute.
Saturday -- volunteered at the dragon boat races at Lake Meridian with the ward. It was tons of fun! :D I'm game for doing that every year now. My friend Eric got to row in one of the races because the team was missing a rower. It was pretty cool! Trevor and Suzi brought the kids over. It was the first time I had ever met Anna and Ian, which was great! Anna doesn't talk much, but she talked plenty to me! And Ian? He came to play with us with no problems. Haha. Ella and Grant are so funny! :) I love those kids a lot. That night, Hannah and I went to George's with a bunch of other people. We grilled kabobs and pineapple over a fire. Erin roasted us some starbursts. :) Yum! Andrew taught me the basic steps of the tango. I'm looking forward to getting better at that one. The tango is something I've always wanted to learn, though I'm not entirely a fan of Latin dancing in general. :) Anyway, it was definitely a great week.
I can't wait for this weekend! I have my first date in over a year.
Don't freak out -- I'm still waiting for and devoted to Tyler. I should be going on dates, though. I know that won't make sense to some people, but it does to me. He's happy that I'm going to do that, and I feel good about it. :) We're going to Seattle with sixteen other people for a picture scavenger hunt. I'm way excited!!!

I've Been Here Before

Monday, my parents sat us down to inform us that our dad has cancer. Again.

It felt like deja vu; we've been down this road before. Good news? It's not lymphoma. Bad news? It's leukemia, and thirty percent of the cells in his blood stream are cancer cells. It came on within the last month and a half, so it's classified as AML. He has a series of treatments in the hospital next week, where he'll be staying for about ten days. Roughly a week after that, he'll be tested for the number of blood cells in his system, and how many cancer cells there are. If everything looks as good as it can, he's going to have another stem cell transplant. Yep, I've definitely been here before. He got a blessing from Doug, Bevin, and MacKay on Monday night. I got one, too, from Eric.

What we're supposed to learn from this, I don't know. I just want him to be cancer free again.

"Oh, The Places You'll Go!"

With Kathryn graduating today, I've been reflecting on my own graduation two years ago. I cannot believe it's been two years already!

June 14, 2008:
With the rest of the graduating class, one of my best friends in the world, Madison DeGidio, and I walked to Pomp and Circumstance to our seats, beginning our commencement into the real world. I don't remember who our classmates were that spoke or what they said. To be honest, the only things I do remember about graduation are that Shannon (our security guard) was one of our speakers. He was everyone's favorite! The choir sang Omni a Sol -- it was Mr. McKee's gift to us because it was his last year as a teacher at Kentwood High School. Mr. Hostetter did the Soulja Boy dance on stage in front of all the families. Yikes? And then we graduated. The best part? Two of them. Throwing our caps into the air, and knowing we were finally done with high school!

Two years later, I'm going to the Showare Center in Kent to watch my little sister start her life in the real world. It feels like so much has changed. I'm going to school to be a medical assistant. I'm waiting for a missionary. Um, hello! Two years ago I would not have thought that I would be waiting for Tyler as he served in the California San Fernando mission. I'm a member of the single's ward -- something I drug my feet about -- and I love it! My life is very different from what I imagined it was going to be, but I couldn't have asked for a better one.

Congratulations, Kathryn Jane Bush! I am so proud of you. <3

Busy Weekend Ahead

So I have this super busy weekend ahead -- two papers, a chapter of terminology, and not to mention Kathryn graduates tomorrow! I went to hang out with Courtney tonight, but I was there for literally three minutes because I felt like I was going to puke. I decided to go home.

I can't be sick this weekend!!! I don't want to miss my sister's graduation! It seems like every time something important is happening, I get the stomach flu. It all started back a few years ago when Sarah and Bj got married. I missed their reception -- sick. Then more recently, Bret and Natalie came for dinner while they were up here last November-December-ish. It was the first time Natalie had ever been here and had dinner with our family. What happens? Stomach flu. Thank goodness for an amazing, fairly new sister-in-law who still came up to visit me. I'm telling ya -- Natalie is the greatest. :) And now when my grandparents are here and Kathryn graduates tomorrow, I come down with the flu. Thanks to some of my classmates who have learned that sharing is caring, I'm going to spend the day in bed tomorrow. Lame. Oh well, it could be so much worse. Even though I seriously have a fear of vomiting/vomit itself, I'm glad it's ONLY the stomach flu.