I just

need to talk. It shouldn't be so hard, but I can't seem to do it.

Time

I didn't realize until this week how fast time has really flown. Today I talked to a friend who served his mission out here. He's been home for about three years. Um, hello! When did that happen? That's crazy. Then! Two weeks from now, I start my externship at MultiCare in Covington. ONE mile from my house! Holla! :) I'm extremely excited about starting to really get out there in the medical field, but the closer it gets, the more scared I'm becoming. I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing, though, and the Lord will help me do my very best!
Hannah pointed out that Logan's one year mark is coming up in November. That's incredibly exciting for her, and I'm thrilled! Tyler's been out for fifteen and a half months now. What?! Tell me when that happened, please! By the time I register that he's been gone that long, two years will have hit and he'll be home again. Let's be real -- some days it's still hard, and I wonder if I'm going to remember the way he sounds when he laughs, or if his arms are still going to hold me as tight as they used to. Most of the time, though, I remember how all of that really is, and I remember why I'm doing this. :)
Thanks, Hannah, for the AWESOME countdown you started!! :D

I'm Just Sayin'

...I have the best friends in the WORLD!! I'm so grateful for them.

Courtney --
She's been there through thick and thin with me. I'm so thankful for the fact that I've had someone to turn to when I have something awesome to tell, or when I haven't had the greatest day. Or when I'm in the mood to get into some really deep discussion about church or the temple. :) I'm WAY excited for her, because she gets to go back to the 'Burg to attend BYU-I. :) Good luck! Oh, and she's a master bug-killer, too. ;)



Erin --
Yup. She's pretty much great! It's so wonderful having someone to go to missionary lessons to, and to laugh about absolutely everything with. Not to mention some freaking fun games with a deck of cards! :) Aaaaand card-making. And Will Ferrell marathons. :)



Elder Waite --
It's so too bad that he can't watch The Office with Erin and me! We talked about it last night, and he was laughing so hard trying to describe something from an episode. :) Elder Waite cracks me up. It's so great to have someone who likes to check in on me, or is there to give me a blessing, um, whenever. :)



Elder Bunton --
Dear man, you are so hilarious. :) I like when he comes over and plays the guitar after a lesson! He's super talented!! He always has a wonderful spirit when he teaches a lesson, and he's right there with Elder Waite in just checking in. It's cool because they are best friends, and it's funny to watch them. Especially when a bird is involved. Haha.

Aaaaaaannnnnnddddd.....

Tyler --
I'm pretty much in love with him! Need I say more?? :) He's always the one to be there and be the best. Always has been, always will be. :)

Bunton, Waite, and a blessing

Lately there's been so much going on that things have been absolutely crazy around my house! My dad's chemo, unfortunately, has been kicking his butt; he's been sicker than I've ever seen anyone. My mom's life is on hold until he's better, which is the way I think it should be, because she's taking care of her life by taking care of him. Hannah's going back to BYU on Wednesday. I'm so excited for her because she loves it there! I feel like I've just existed lately. To be honest, I've not been the happiest person lately, but I definitely know that's something I control. I'm a much happier person when I'm out doing things like school rather than sitting at home. Break's almost done, and I'm actually sighing for relief! :)

I've gotta say I'm SO thankful for missionaries. I'll bet you think I'm going into something about Tyler now, right? Nope! Elder Bunton and Elder Waite are pretty much the greatest missionaries to serve in our area ever. Sorry guys. One of my closest friends, Erin, and I went to a baptism along with her friend Michaela yesterday. After the baptism, Elder Bunton gave me a blessing. Um, can I just say that my testimony of the power of the priesthood and blessings was strengthened at least tenfold?! I mean, blessings are absolutely miracles. I love Elder Bunton and Elder Waite; they are people I consider to be good friends. With that being said, it's not like I sit down and pour out everything that's going on in my life to them. I don't even remember telling him that my dad was going through chemo, and I for sure know that I didn't tell him what was on my mind or anything like that. The words spoken in my blessing were powerful, and I am so grateful that he was ready at that moment to give me that spiritual boost. Heavenly Father knows who we are, and exactly what we need. There's no way that Elder Bunton knew what I needed to hear or what was in my heart. Man!! Our missionaries are the best!!!

Definitely I cannot wait to go grocery shopping for Elder Waite's muffins tomorrow. "You know, the ones with like, 1,200 calories each" from Costco. :) Those guys crack me up.

Dear California

If you haven't heard the news, been online, or seen what's going on, you've obviously been hiding under a turtle shell or living in a hut with no civilization around you.

Today, a California judge overturned Proposition 8 and made gay marriage legal in that state. Okay.....so.....let's think that we have more power because we wear a stupid robe and have a gavel. The voters in California passed Proposition 8 with 52%. People didn't want gay marriage in that state. Yes, they are people, but marriage is between a woman and a man.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World -- an statement issued by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1995 -- stated the following:

"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."

Marriage between a man and a woman is ESSENTIAL to the Plan of Happiness -- also known as the Plan of Salvation. Heavenly Father didn't intend for people of the same sex to be together as a couple.

We live in a wicked, wicked world where the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman has been lessened by the temptations and persuasions of Satan. The scarier thing is that the world is going to get even more wicked before it gets better. There aren't really too many things that I will stand completely firm in, but this is one of them. Same sex marriage is wrong -- there's absolutely NO other way.

I am not saying that homosexual people are not American, and that they're not people. I'm saying that marriage is a sacred, beautiful covenant. I have friends that have chosen that kind of lifestyle; I love them, but will not support the way they live their lives.

Lucky

To sum it up, this is how I feel about my relationship with Tyler.

I'm pretty darn lucky to have fallen in love with my absolute best friend!

Life with him couldn't get any better. :)   

"Do you hear me,
I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying

Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss                                              
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair

Though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday"

I love you, Tyler Scott Mallory!

Hello August!

What the what??
When did August get here?
Just sayin'.
I'm definitely not complaining about how fast this year has gone so far. By the time I know it, Tyler will be home again! It's weird how you keep track of time in monthly increments when you have a missionary out in the field. I think school helps a lot, too, because I'm always busy. I love when I have free time now! :)

August is going to be a good month.
We have our graduation ceremony this month, even though we technically don't graduate until November. They only do it once a year.
My cousin, Amanda, is coming to visit for a few days! I haven't seen her for over two years, and even then I only saw her for a little bit.
I have a two week vacation from school before I start my final quarter.
My last quarter of school starts on the 29th.
Tyler comes home in nine months on the 27th. :)

Yep. It's going to be a great month.

Right now? I may kill my youngest sister for being a butt head.