Meet my husband:

Luke Bryan. Ever heard of him?
Yeah--well, we're in love. You heard it here first. What about JJ? JJ who? ;)

Wait, he can sing too? NO WAY! 

Woah-eeee<3

Despite the gloomy rain clouds, today is a day of IMPORTANCE :)

The date today is April 26, 2012.
Do we all realize the significance of today?
It is Elder Hyde's SIX month mark!!!!!!!!!

I can hardly believe that half of a year has already passed by since my best friend left on his mission.

In six months...

*I have received 24 letters
*I've received 30+ pictures

*I've finished my third semester of college, and started my fourth.

* I've started a new job

*I've turned 20 years old

*I've been out of the U.S.A.
*I've made countless memories
*Elder Hyde has had 2 baptisms
*I want to say he's had 4 companions, maybe it's three.

*He has been in both Lima and Trujillo Peru

*I've sent J two packages, and a lot of pictures and letters
& we both like each other A LOT. and by like, I mean....reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllly like. I am extremely fond of JJ. Okay, I'll stop beating around the bush---I LOVE THE GUY!!!

In celebration of JJ's six month mark, our apartment decided to have a little party :) So the roommates and I made a little trip to Wal-greens to buy a candle, cake mix, and cake gel..yes, I do realize our outfits are a little goofy. It was raining outside; I'm in soccer shorts and rain boots. What can I say?

JJ told me in his last letter that they are allowed to receive videos/pictures via SD cards in his mission,

so...yes, this is what he gets.
                                 

Then we made a stop at Jamba Juice....

Do you guys remember me posting about this picture that I drew at Jamba Juice? Well...

I am proud to announce that my picture made it up on the Jamba Juice "brag board"!! What a special little treat on JJ's six month mark--I got 20% off of my drink :)

He would be so proud of me.

                                         
Our camera girl, Aubatron, cut it before I could publicly make my wish--but there was a wish made, and I think you all knew what it was :) this video will NOT be going to Elder Hyde, I am too gooby in this one..but  I assure you he already knows I am extremely gooby.

I <3 JJ

1/4 of the cake pink...

My little 99 cent candle

supportive roommates

& here is to SIX months down, baby<3 

& now I'm going to go demolish that cake like it's nobody's business.

Bring on another six months!!

This weekend was quite eventful.

Friday, after I got done with class, the roommates and I went to Idaho Falls & ate at Five Guys and then went & saw "The Lucky One".

"The Lucky One" wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it was alright...there was one scene that was extremely uncomfortable...but, other than that, it was okay.

After that, it was bon fire time.

We got in our "scrubby" clothes & made our way toward "R" mountain, looking for this invite-only type bon-fire. Long story short, we got lost...and ended up driving around for an hour and half--scaring ourselves silly by imagining our car breaking down & crazy people getting a hold of us.

Alyssa, me, and Kait

Then on Saturday, we made our way to Aberdeen.

I thought MIDDLETON was country, wow--it in, no way, compares to Aberdeen, Idaho.

I can not express enough how much I loved this country town. I love my roommates and the fact that they're small town girls. They are so cute, and we had a ton of fun. I attended my very first "Junior Miss Competition", and that was pretty neat.

Shayla and I

Alyssa 

I love my roommate :)

Kayla and I 

Shayla :)

Reliving their cheerleading days--
where's a basketball when you need one?

On our way to Junior Miss

The girls 

After Junior Miss, we went hot-tubing and talked FOREVER. & then had a big sleepover in the living room :) The next day was Sunday...

Meet Kait, my beautiful roomie:

Meet Wade: 

Wade and Kait have been dating ever since high school..

& Today was Wade's farewell....

Wade reports to the MTC on May 9th, and Kait is happy and proud of him (of course), but she's also as sad as can be. BEEN THERE. Today brought me back to October 16th...just over six months ago.

It is crazy to see just how much Elder Hyde has grown spiritually in just six short months. His testimony is stronger than ever, and he is loving his mission. I am so thankful for his example to me. Kait and Wade remind me of J and I, in a lot of ways..I'm glad that we have one another to lean on, celebrate when letters come, and talk to each other on the sad days. This journey is amazing, and there is no place I would rather have JJ be, I can honestly say that with sincerity and confidence. :)

If there is any advice at all that I can give Kait..it would be these five things:

1. "Don't count the days, make the days count." -Elder Hyde

2. GROW. Do not become idle. Just keep swimming.

3. Read your scriptures. PRAY. Do all you can to continually feel the Spirit.

4. Write encouraging letters that, if read by others, would not embarrass you. Never tell them how much you miss them and wish they were here, & never bring up the dates you go on.

5. Realize that this may look like a sacrifice NOW, but (if it does work out) when your future sons are preparing to serve a mission and look to your husband as a role model and example for worthily serving a mission...that's when it will truly all be worth it, because you were part of that journey and you saw the important transformation from a boy to a man..in just two SHORT years.

:)

Just some little "Happily Ever After" videos that will surely bring a smile to your face :)

Gotta love it.

"There's nobody like him, anywhere at all."

"So this is love

So this is what makes life divine"

Letter Day, Letter Day, oh hey--Its a LETTER DAY!!!!!!!

First of all, I finally finished decorating my little room...

The collage is so long, I couldn't fit it into just one picture

Its like wallpaper, I love it.

Some of my best friends :)

Wa-la!

Now, for my letter...:) It was so good, first off. Best one YET. I mean, they just keep getting better and better. AND they always come at the perfect timing. I loved reading this letter..over, and over, and over again. So blessed to have J in my life, he is so full of the Spirit and such an amazing missionary..

Him and my dad tease each other through my letters
my dad will tell me something to tell him,
and he responds..crazy boys!

In case you can't read it, it says, "Dear Alpha Male,  So you have been the "Alpha Male" for quite a while, I mean, you're just not in the same shape as you used to be. Its about time for you to step down, it will be much easier this way. If not, you wont even hear me coming, seriously! The rooster has spoken!" :)

So cute, this is definitely getting hung
on my wall<3

& a well needed letter!

Some amazing gems:

"This week was Comp inventory. This is where we share our feelings, goals, and give each other compliments on things that we are doing well. Anyway babe, I told him(Elder Quispe) that we were going to work harder than anybody in the mission and be 100% obedient. This week has been so awesome, we are already seeing so many miracles Gen!"

"We had SIX investigators come to church! We have never had six come to church before. My comp and I fasted for our investigators and the Lord poured out his blessings over us. Just from our little sacrifice of 2 meals. The Lord rewarded us with His spirit and blessings. My testimony has been strengthened by fasting. God is a God of miracles, but a lot of the time it depends on us to help make those miracles happen. He doesn't ask a lot but he always gives a lot in return. It sounds like you had a testimony builder as well, with the 40-day fast in your ward, that is so awesome babe! Always look for opportunities to build your testimony, and magnify your callings."

"I am so proud of you for staying focused on the desires of YOUR HEART. Lastly, thank you so much for sharing your testimony with me. It strengthened mine. Your testimony brought peace to my heart and made me want to be a better person."

"Fasting will always bring the spirit. That's one thing I've learned on my mission, the power of a meaningful fast. I'm so proud of you, and I'm glad a story from my mission helped you with your lesson."

Some funny/goofy typical JJ comments :) :

(Talking about Elder Quispe) "He works hard, and he is a little goofy. First thing we did was trade ties. So, he picks out the ugliest tie haha and just takes one of mine and says thanks and starts laughing. I though he was joking but he really took the tie and didn't give it back. It's all good though. He's still alive! HA! Anyway, we get a long great and I am supper excited to work with him more. So far we have been kickin' some serious booty!"

"...Then I showed Elder Quispe some pictures of you, he was going nuts! He asked me, "How did you even get her?" I was like, "I have no idea my friend." Then he grabbed my english scriptures and found a couple pictures of you and my family. He took one of the pictures and said, "OOOOOO!!!"

"First I'd like to say to "the Alpha Male"...you may eat chickens for breakfast but I'm no chicken! I'm a rooster! A fighting rooster."

& the lovey stuff, I'll save you from having to endure through that. ;)

Happy Thursday<3

I made this at Jamba Juice, a little bit of a double meaning--you think?

Then comes the study time..........

My friends are in the living room, watching a movie...

While I'm losing my mind, studying..

After studying...
(Who votes I send these to Elder Hyde?)

Yeah, this is what I look like after homework

The Jamba Juice had me hyper, but now I'm dozing off..

But hey...at least it was....

LETTER DAY, LETTER DAY, OH HEY--ITS A LETTER DAY!!!!

Goodnight :)