Happy Birthday, Elder Pike!

Today is Cody's 20th birthday! AHH! I can't believe it! I can't believe that it's his birthday already. Honestly it seemed just like yesterday that he left for Uruguay (it hasn't always felt that way, believe me.)
Today has kinda been a rough one on me. I wish that I could have been able to call him this morning on his cell phone to wish him happy birthday. I wish that I could have had the chance to give him his present in person. I wish that I could have been able to say, "I have a date planned (even though it wouldn't necessarily have to be on the same day as his birthday) so let's go!" I wish that I could have been able to give him a huge birthday hug and kiss. All in due time though, one more birthday of him being gone and then I can do all of that.
I love you, Cody! I hope you and your companion had a great day and I hope that he did something nice for you :D I miss you, but I wouldn't change you being where you are and doing what you're doing for anything in the world right now. Come home to me soon, sweets.




Happy 20th!

Tabernacle Fire

I realize that most everyone and their dog in Provo are probably blogging about this same subject, but I have to share as well.
This morning as I was getting up to get ready for work, I turned on the radio as usual and was listening to the news and traffic news that they have inbetween songs. They were talking about a road closure here in Provo on University Avenue and Center Street... unusual. They didn't say why right away and didn't think anything of it until about 2 minutes later.

This beautiful building...

...looked like this at 2:00 this morning...




This building was constructed in 1883 and took approximately 15 years to build, being completed in 1898. The craftsmanship of the pioneers was amazing, and the windows... beautiful.

This is what the windows looked like.

Here they are now. Gone.

Some of the beautiful hand carved craftsmanship and organ pipes.

What a beautiful anterior. The balcony, as you may or may not tell, goes all the way around the top and there's seating completely underneath on the floor. This was all destroyed in the fire.

I was reading a story on the news internet site of a lady who was driving by with her 8 year old daughter. This lady thought that she saw a man standing through one of the 2nd story windows, then decided that her eyes were playing tricks on her until her daughter said, "Look Mommy, there's Jesus in the window." I also saw this picture on the news website in the album on the fire, I don't know if it's altered or not, but it's a cool picture anyways...



This may be a blessing in disguise, and we don't even know it yet. Only the Lord knows. What a sad day though. I am just hoping that it's not a complete loss and that they can still have the "shell" of the tabernacle and be able to restore the inside. The church won't be able to come and evaluate the damage until the smoke and flames are all gone. That may be at least another day or 2. Hopefully there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

Elder Stringfellow

My brother is now officially a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He reported to the Provo MTC today at 1:30 pm. This week has been rough for me. My brother and I are really close and so to have him gone will be tough. But, I know that he is doing what he's supposed to be right now in his life and that he will come back a better man then he left.

I thought this was going to be a little easier for me, just because I've done it before with Cody. But I was wrong. Plus, Cody was a different situation, if you know what I mean. Who knew having a boyfriend and a brother out on their mission at the same time would be so difficult? Good thing Cody's home in a year... that'll make it easier.

My mom's friend, Elizabeth, gave us a quote block that says this:

Missionary: (noun)
One who leaves their family for a short time so that others may be with their families for eternity.

I love that! It really put the time factor in perspective for me, for both Cody and Parker. 2 years is seriously nothing compared to the length of eternity. This is only a short time that both are gone from my life, and I will have more time with them then not.

I love my brother. I am grateful to have him in my life. And I'm grateful to have him be a messanger and representative of the Lord. He will be a great missionary. The people of Brisbane Australia will be lucky to have him.

Happy Kangaroo, Elder Stringfellow!

I caught this picture at the perfect time! He was tripping over his suitcase and I snapped the camera right when he made this face. :D

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today is my Dad's 50th birthday! I love my Dad very much! He always takes such good care of us and he's always willing to help us out with no complaints. He doesn't ask for much, and when we ask what he wants for his birthday or for Christmas, he always says he doesn't want anything because he has what he needs already. He always knows how to make me laugh and smile when I'm not being myself. He's always willing to play board games and video games with us when we ask.

This is just a classic Dad picture/face. BAHAHAHAHA!

I love my Dad very very much! I am so grateful that he is in my life and that I am able to call him my Daddy :D Thanks for everything, Dad! I love you so much!

Thoughts

So I have been thinking lately about moving out. I'm not going to for a while, but I really would love to. I want to have more independance and responsibility that I don't have while still living with my parents. Don't get me wrong, I do have a lot of independance and responsibility at my house, but I think it would be different on my own. I love my parents for letting me live at home without having to pay them rent or anything like that. I, obviously, am going to stay at home for a while, just because I can. But in the near future, in the next few months or year or so, I would love to move out. I think it would be good for me.

i want to watch!

There is a Lakers game on tonight.

Guess who can't watch it?

I'm home... so you'd think that I would be able to.

It's because it's on a channel that you have to order. Not TNT or ESPN like usual.

Sad day.

Scrapbooking

I love to scrapbook.
I need to scrapbook more.
Especially now that I have the time.
I have lots of pictures to scrapbook for Cody's mission album.
But I want more pictures of him to scrapbook. :D
Guess I'll have to wait to steal his pictures from him when he gets home.
I get to start on a mission album for Parker soon too :( Sad day. But happy day cause then I'll get to scrapbook more!