Life as Kiley Michelle...

So did you notice....

2011-08-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

how all of the pics in my last few posts are all of me and jason??

That is....

because.......

I LOVE HIM!!!

and guess what else.....

he loves me!

AND..... we are

E N G A G E D!!!!!!

we will be getting sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on October 13th. SO excited!!! I cant wait!!!!

so i did write about how we met in this blog http://adventuresofkileymichelle.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html

i dont know how to make it a link... so hopefully that will work. anyway....

long story short- we had institute (preparing for eternal marriage) together and he proposed to me in class as a joke on our teacher.

so when he proposed.....

he rented a sexy car.... :)

picked me up and pretended I was the one that was supposed to have made plans for our date! We started driving north... and passed Layton... and just kept driving! he said it was because he wanted to just drive the nice car. hmmm.

He eventually told me we were going to some place called Big Joe's just passed the Utah/Idaho border. so we drove into Logan and were heading out of Logan when he said.... "I am so hungry, lets just eat here!" as he pulled into Hamiltons Steakhouse.

suuuuuper yummy!! :)

he did have reservations by the way!

So after our nice dinner... we went to this place called the island.. and walked around a little outside. It was perfect weather among the trees and there was a river and waterfall. :)

Then... he said he wanted to take me on a walk/hike up the canyon. Only I wasnt wearing the best shoes for that.... oh well! It was an adventure! We had to wakl on top of these huge tubes... like water pipes. It was wet and slippery and slightly scary! Then we had to walk through a tiny dark tunnel! On the other side... we could see into the valley a little, and could see the beautiful pinky sky. SO pretty!

Then... we were heading home.. or so I thought... and we went and parked at the institute and walked around Old Main a little. He started talking about some childrens book he had seen and made him think of me. He said he bought it, and asked if I wanted to see it. He ran to the car and got it annnnd it ended up being a book that he made for me!

It was full of pictures of us, and things we have done. SOOOO cute!! Made me so happy! The last page, has a list of some of the things he loves about me. He told me I had to read them all out loud. So I did... and the bottom of the page says....

"Last but not least.... I LOVE YOU!!!!"

and I turned around and...

he was on one knee and asked, "Will you marry me?!"

ssoooo we were at the institute just like the first time!

Only this time it was real and romantic and amazing!

I just froze for a few seconds, then when I realized I hadnt answered him, quickly said yes and gave him a big kiss and hug!

We talked for a few minutes about everything and then he realized he was still holding the ring! So he handed me the box and told me to look at it... I then realized he hadnt finished his job! I told him this and he got back on one knee and took the ring out and put it on my hand :) :)

I couldnt be happier! I am so SO excited to begin our life together! Things have really just fallen into place and ended up amazing with us two and with just life in general!

LOVE this boy with all my heart!!

SUMMER!!

2011-07-12T10:19:00.001-07:00

There has been SO much going on for me this summer... hence why I have not posted in 2 months! (no excuse I know... but hey... here is the complete update!)

My dear sister got married May 27th. It was an amazing day, and everything went well! She is growing up and learning a lot!

Here I am with my cute cousin's adorable baby, Kamus!

Newlyweds!!

Jason and I have been on many adventures and done a lot of fun things! Here we are at the Colorado Rockies game! SO fun!!

His birthday dinner... at Tucanos! They sang "happy Birthday" in Portuguese! So fun for me :) and he is a crazy boy and loved the little dance :)

We road tripped to Colorado to visit his parents..... Yeah... we were driving and he wasnt watching the road during this picture!

REAL soccer game!!

Camping with my family. Jason rolled the 4-wheeler with us 3 on it. We are showing our road rash.... oh yeah... this was on my birthday :) He gave me an everlasting present!

Boating, boating, and more boating. I LOVE it! I am still too chicken to clear the wake but hey... I can do a little jump or 2 :)

I got a new niece!!! Sweet little Addison Mist Mccarty. She is the cutest thing ever!

Her oldest sister Aspen was baptized! She's such a goof ball!

Jason and I dressed up for the baptism, and also his friend's wedding. It was an awesome day!

Hangin with the fam on the fourth!

Ran my first race... just a 5k. But I met my 3 goals... cross the finish line...dont stop running... and do it in 30 mins. yay! next goal.... 27 mins!

oh and yes jason is wearing a metal... he got 2! One for taking 3rd place out of EVERYBODY and one for being the first in his age group. He's amazing!!

And this... is me and him laying on my roof watching fireworks after a long couple of days. It was such a relaxing perfect night! I love this boy!!!

Summer is my favorite time of the year! this year has been an awesome one so far!

shout out.

2011-05-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to give a quick shout out to people who take the time to get to know enough about you, to learn to love you, and to tell you they love you. To tell you all the good things about you.

I love the people that see behind the curtain. The people that see this, are the people that WANT to.

Anyone can help others. We can all be selfless and serve others. We can all go out of our way to do something nice for someone else.

This is a shout out to those who choose to do this type of thing.

I understand it cant be everyone all the time. We all have times in our lives we are super stressed or are trying to do too many things. I feel I have moments like this often! But I also often remind myself that even during these times in my life, I still need to reach out to others. They still exist. They still need someone there for them, maybe even more than any other time in their life.

It was humbling as I realized this last night. I was feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and stressed. I could list all the reasons why, but I would rather just mention that even though we often have these feelings, we can help minimize them by trying to focus on others instead of ourselves. So as I tried to release my ball of stress... I realized things really weren't as bad as they seemed.

I can do this!

I can balance life! No more feeling inadequate at everything I do. I am doing well!

I am soooooo blessed and have the best family ever. Parents that love me. Incredible siblings. I have great friends. The gospel is amazing. I have a home (well two!) I have a car to get me where I need to be. I am almost done with getting a college degree.

Life falls into place. :)

Randomness!

2011-05-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well... I cant believe it has been almost a month since I posted. So I will just do an update of all the random things I have been up to lately!

First off... my dear little sister Kinsey, is engaged and is getting married May 27th. I have helped her celebrate by going to FOUR bridal showers with her! They were all lots of fun, and she got soooo many gifts! I am sooo excited for her!

Brazil Day!! Erika, my MTC teacher, and Kimee, my MTC companion, and I went to see RIO in 3D! It was awesome!! We had so much fun and were able to laugh, listen to portuguese.. and understand all the fun jokes! I love these girls! We grabbed lunch after, it was so fun to see them :)

Dinner with friends... This is my friend Marina, she is from Brazil as well! She has been here in the states going to BYU-I and is taking a little break and hangin out, before she goes back home, just in time to send off her papers and serve a mission! It was so fun to be with her! We did some crazy things with her hair and just hung out :)

The NERDS!! :) at dinner as well.. perfect for each other!

Easter!!! Ethan, Carter, and Lochlan... 3 of my 5 nephews... had a fun little easter egg hunt!

We also celebrated Declans ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY!!! He is the cutest little guy, and I have been lucky to see hima few times now that I am home!

I also had the chance to see one of my best friends AMY dance with the Davis Dance Company, and it was amazing! SOOOO much fun to see! We celebrated at Wingers after.

Tanner, Kelsey, Candace, Jake, Amy, Me, Kenny and Drew.

Brazilian Day numero 2!!

A couple sisters from my mission and I got together to remember the good ol' days. We had guava juice, cuscuz, and lime mousse. It was awesome! We hung out playing Rockband 3 all night.. and just played it up. I love these girls sooo much! :)

And last the best of all the game.... I am dating someone! It is so fun/weird/awesome/different/interesting... to be back in the dating world.

He is amazing! His name is Jason Holt... we met in the fall of 2008 in institute... in the Preparing for Eternal Marriage class.
He proposed to me before we had even dated! haha It is a pretty funny story... Our teachers dream was for 2 people to meet in this class, start dating, and get engaged by the end of the semester. So as the semester came to an end.. we decided to play a joke on him. Jason was the class president and was making announcements and thanking Brother Irwin on the last day of class, when he called for me to come up to the front. He was nervous and shaking.. I was nervous and blushing! But he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I said yes, and our teacher started freaking out! He's all, "Oh my GOSH... my dream come true!!!!" One girl in the class kind of ruined it, because she doubted it was real, and made others doubt too. So most people figured out it was a joke.. and I think our teacher is a little bitter until this day!

Anyway... My friend reminded me of this story, and mentioned Jason had asked about me whenever he saw her on campus... so I decided to send him a message on facebook. (CLASSIC.. I know!) I had looked him up a few weeks earlier, wondering if he was married yet or not, saw that he wasnt, but figured he wouldnt even remember who I was. So after talking to my friend about it, I sent him a message, we talked all day, he asked for my number, and called me that night, asking when we could go out. We set it up for about a week and a half later, and ever since... things are just going really well! He is sooo sweet, fun, funny, hard working, worthy, strong (in more than one way.. you will see!) just a really neat guy. He is graduating this weekend and not sure where he will be after. Soooo if things are meant to work out.. they will! One way or another :)

My mom and I drove up to Boise to see this STRONG boy win his race! He always takes first... and I can brag FOR him.. cuz he wont! He is an amazing runner, used to run cross country, but due to injuries now runs the 800 (half a mile) and he can do it in 1 minute 49 seconds! He always takes first, and is ranked 30th in the nation. He still has a few more meets, that I wont be able to go to, and he is wanting to run it one second faster.. and he will be in the top 8 in the NATION!!!

Sooo.... yes my life is random, but I am loving it!

Also last week, I got pulled over TWICE! For the dumbest reasons! First, cuz my registration sticker wasnt on my plate.... and secondly for an unsafe lane change. I didnt turn my blinker on, wait 2 seconds, before changing lanes... like I should have! And also there is no light on my rear license plate like there should be. Good thing it is my parents car! I didnt get a ticket either time... it was just crazy, twice in the same week! After not having been pulled over for years.. ok maybe a year and a half of that was because I wasnt even driving... but still.. I think the last time I was pulled over, was when I was 18!

Life is good.. I am glad the weather is warming up and we can have more time outside!

Two amazing covenants.

2011-04-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

It all starts with baptism, and works towards temple sealings. On Saturday I was able to witness both, within my family.

The sealing was amazing. I seiously LOVE being inside the temple. It really is the house of out Lord and a place of comfort, peace, and love. In the beginning I thought, "meh.. I wont cry, I dont need a tissue." But the Lords presence really was felt in this wonderful sealing.

My stepmom's brother and his wife had adopted a family of four kids, and were sealed to them in the past, but in that process they were touched and knew there would be one more. So after receiving little Rachel, they were able to seal her to them and their cute family yesterday.

The sealer was amazing and reminded us that the sealing ordinance is the most important and most cherished ordinance.

I am looking forward to the day when I will be sealed to a worthy young man, and be able to start my own little family, inside this wonderful covenant of this amazing gospel.

Beautiful Logan Temple, covered by the April snow. Most of this half of the family, with the two special girls. Angela, Kinsey, Me, Dad, Anita, Taylor Shandy and Lacy The baptism was just as wonderful and when asked why they would be getting baptized, little Lacy responded, "To get all of my sins washed away." And Shandy added, "to get the Holy Ghost and so we can be perfect." They are both adorable, sweet, innocent souls and I am so proud of them for wanting to take this step in their lives! They are such great examples to their siblings and are the cutest little cousins ever! Kinsey[almost 19] Taylor[15] Kiley[almost 23] ALL the same height! Love these two :) This weekend was wonderful, especially being spent with my family. We are together through the ups and the downs. I am so blessed! My family is wonderful. The gospel is amazing. We have a perfect Father in Heaven to watch over us and guide us to all the blessings He has in store for us. Being at a baptism, I realized it was the first one I had been to, since I have been home from the mission. Reminded me of many stories... one of which I will be posting about soon!

obsession.

2011-04-08T16:42:00.000-07:00

.... with Grey's Anatomy!!!

My sister and I... have started watching allll the episodes starting at season one!

She is a little ahead of me, well I guess she has watched them all, and I basically skipped season 2, because while I was at the neighbors tending their kids. She sat on the couch over the span of 2 days and watched 19 hours of it.

I have been obsessed with it ever since it came out. I have always been a Meredith/Derek fan and am dying to see how they finally got married!

Not to mention Patrick Dempsey is gorgeous and just like... draws you in!

Someday I will marry a man like him. Well... maybe. haha

General Conference

2011-04-08T13:49:00.001-07:00

For the first time in my life, I was able to go watch conference at the Conference Center!! It was such a neat experience and so wonderful to really see the prophet, to be in the same room as him and all of the amazing apostles.

My gorgeous little sister, best friend, and one who I can always turn to, went with me :) I was able to meet up with some friends from the mission and just say hi. They are such fun and cute girls and I cant wait for out next reunion! Jessica Peterson, Crystal Degan, Me, Melissa Moyle The conference center is amazing! I am so grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I KNOW it is the only true church on this earth. I am grateful for our loving Heavenly Father, and His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for Christ's Atonement, and love for each one of us and the fact that He was willing to die for us. I know I need to rely on Him more, and completely TRUST Him. I know everything will work out, as long as we do our part. I need to focus on ME and do all that I can to do my best with my life. Best to be organized. Best to be productive. Best to be helpful. Best to be pleasant. Best to be loving, caring and selfless. Best to continue to study this gospel and strengthen my testimony. Best to work on being who I want to be. Best to be happy.

A little getaway to Dallas! :)

2011-04-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

Soooo this past week I decided to use my [free] southwest flight and visit a couple friends in Dallas! First off.... Allie!We became friends back in the day, I am guessing about 8 years ago! We worked together at Lagoon-a-beach, and also danced together at Luv2dance. She is seriously the sweetest girl ever! I still remember for my birthday one year, she got me the cutest present! And also one day in high school, her and Sarah brought me over some ice cream and a stuffed animal when I was having a tough time. She married her high school sweetheart, and they now have Crew! The cutest little boy ever! We went to the Money factory (Federal Bureau??) where they print all the cash! It was super cool to see the factory and learn all the cool facts! We then grabbed lunch and had to head back before rush hour. It was sad to leave, but I know I will see her again sooner or later! :)
Next.... Oziel... A friend from the mission. Ok, so he WAS my district leader in my last area. Before that we hadnt had the chance to talk very much and we came home on the same day. He is such a sweetheart and we had a lot of fun! We went to his friends wedding, to the Science Museum, the mall, to dinner at some fun places annnnnd this night we went to the harbor. We got there just in time for the sunset and it was beautiful!! We walked around a little and he messed around like boys do. Then we got some waffles annnnnd just had a good night! :)

It was a fun trip, I love seeing old friends!! And soaking up the sun wasnt bad either ;) I just hope for more free flights in the near future!

Sage & Celesta

2011-03-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

The happy couple

[Draper Temple]

One my my best friends was married last week! They are perfect for each other and I am so happy for them! Welcome Celeta to the gang!

While we were in the sealing room, I felt overwhelmed with love from out Father in Heaven. I know he has a perfect plan for each one of us, and as long as we are where we are supposed to be, doing what we are supposed to be doing, being obedient and doing our best, He WILL bless us!!

I often have to remind myself to have patience. Buttttt deep down inside I really do know all the promisses in my blessings will be fulfilled.

I love this gospel, friends, and family! The boys showing off their [aWeSoMe] dance moves.

Newly engaged couple!

{SO happy for my little sister!!} Some videos from the dance floor!

Going Private...

2011-03-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

Everyone else is doing it.... I am a crowd follower when I dont have a strong opinion!
Also, with all the cute pictures from the family I nanny, I figured for their safety, their parents would appreciate it if I went private after my mom asked me, "Do you have their permission to post the pictures of their kids?" I hadn't really thought of that. So yes, I will be going private and although I have only 5 viewers, I would love it if you could leave your email addresses for me to invite you to follow! If you have stumbled upon my blog, you can continue to read up on my SUPER exciting life, just leave me your email as well!
Thank you!!

wow..

2011-03-10T14:18:00.001-08:00

I just realized I posted 3 posts in a row about love. and yet at the same time it isnt THAT type of love! haha oh well... I love optimistic days :)

... and other things!

2011-03-10T14:05:00.001-08:00

gymnastics.

"I wanna climb on the red balllll!!!"

cheeeese :D

"I wanna do it!"

...being sweet....

annnnd NOT so sweet!

...and thats all :)

love notes...

2011-03-10T13:53:00.000-08:00

I love being loved :)

love.

2011-03-07T21:38:00.000-08:00

I wish I could talk about the romance typer of love, but for now all I have is the other type.

Today, Alexa, the [almost] 6 year old told me,

"I love you over the hills and over the mountains and over the meadows, all around the sun and all the planets and around the moon infinity times and back to our house over and over again. That is the biggest eVeR!!"

I love being back into playing mom for a living.

I love being to talk to my amazing sister, and all my wonderful friends.

I love laughing and having fun.

I love... feeling loved :)

annnnd I'm off to bed :)

I love Sundays.

2011-03-06T22:52:00.001-08:00

[I LOVE this picture.... it is me and Alexa :)]

I wish I were more artistic, and able to express myself better through stuff!

I love the fact that I was able to listen and learn in church today. The angels definitely were there helping the kids [I am tending] feel the wonderful spirit!

LOVED the comments from the ward members...

"Hey, maybe their parents should go out of town more often! They were SO good today! (in Sacrament Meeting.) I was waiting for Joe to come sit with me, up on the stand!"

-Bishops first counselor

"We want to welcome Kiley, who is tending the Stone kids, and earning EVERY PENNY of it!!"

-The Relief Society Ladies

"So... are you related to them?" "No, just kinda like they're my second family." "And.. you are there with all 6 of them?" "YES... I love it! I love them!!" ".....Cool! Congrats!"

-Random people in the bathroom... and hallway.

So yes, there you have it... life is crazy, especially with 6 kids to take care of.

BUT.. I like crazy. I function best under pressure.

I want a crazy life. It is SOOO much better then sitting around not having anywhere to be, or anything to do.

So I will give a recap of my day. I know nobody reads this.. but.. it will be fun for me to remember the craziness!

1:00 am... I woke up to Joseph crawling into bed with me. I thought.. nooooope. and quickly/quietly he walked me back up to his bedroom and climbed in his bed without either of us saying a thing.

There was already one child, the oldest, in bed with me because she was a little scared of burglars!

6:30 am.. Joe and Alexa come down.... "I want Thomas!!!!" Joseph is obsessed with Thomas the train and wanted to watch an episode. I decided it being Sunday and all, it would be better to not turn the tv on. At least not yet! SO I took off his morning diaper, and let them start playing.

6:45 am... back in bed to try and get a little more rest. One by one the rest of the kids came down and I finally got out of bed (8ish) when I heard screaming... just silly fighting. But a nice sign that I really am needed.

Ok... I got a little bored of that... let me just mention a few more key parts to the day.

-Everyone wanted something different for lunch, so we played restaurant and I ended up getting them pizza, hot dogs, pb&j, annnd a quesadilla. Once they all had their 'orders' they all wanted to change and get what the other one had. Sooo round 2... made a few more pb&j annnd heated up more pizza. [The hot dog got thrown away]

-I got Joseph all cute and ready for church, and while I was getting Amanda and Alexa ready, Joe decided to go outside and play with his train... annnnd it was raining and full of puddles. Lets just say, he had to get ready all over again.

-The next few hours were bliss :)

-learned about being a true disciple in Sunday School

[Do the right things, for the right reasons]

{Follow the Savior's example of prayer}

(Treat others kindly and fairly)

-Once we got home, round one of dinner began. Eggo waffles, more pizza, string cheese, nectarines, grapes annnnd carrots.

-I spent the next 4 hours... chasing after kids, or just listening to the scream and wondering what they were up to. Annnnnnd cleaning up behind them. I found a naked boy with a poopy bum running around saying, "The doggy got the poo poo!" Yeeeahhhhh that wasnt very fun to clean up.

-We played beauty parlor... well... did mani/pedi's... on the little girls... anndd little boy. He wanted it! But then he also wanted me to take it off... good decision!

-I realized I needed to feed these energy balls... and decided on breakfast for dinner. German pancakes, bacon, eggs(Kira, the oldest made them for me!) juice and fruit. Went well... left a HUGE mess.

-Cleaning up, the cute glass blender fell over in the sink..... annnnd b.r.o.k.e. oops!

-Getting kids showered and in bed.... Its always tricky. haha last night I put 3 in the bathtub together. Yeah, that didnt work out too well. They couldnt even move to get their hair wet!

- almost 8, got Joe in bed.

-Braided Amanda and Alexa's hair so it can be curly tmrw :)

-Read books, got the girls down. Sent Matthew to his bed, didnt happen, but at least he stayed in his room playing quietly [kind of...]

-Got to braid Samantha and Kira's hair.. also.. to be curly, more like wavy, tmrw, whiiiille we finished watching The Blind Side. What a good movie!

-And after making sure those 2 got in bed... here I am now.....

Just wanted to say one more thing. Well two, first-sorry this post is so random. I doubt I will even post it, but wait, nobody will see it anyway!

Secondly.. I love this gospel!

It is the cutest thing ever to hear little kids prayers. We were looking for Kira's ipod that mysteriously disappeared this morning, annnnnd Alexa folded her arms, while still walking around, and said, "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day, thank you for please show us where Kira's ipod is, In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." :) Made me sooo happy! Also tonight in her nightly prayers, she said, "Please bless that I can be good for Kiley..." WiThOuT any prompting at all! What a doll, a stinker, but an angel.

Mani/pedi's

Silly braids...

Also.. trying to chase this ball of fun around! He.. kinda got stuck.. annnnd I laughed! :)

Danville CA.

2011-03-05T17:16:00.003-08:00

Ok... I just have to apologize, I get kinda annoyed when people post just with a billion pictures, but I am not feeling inspired to invent something to write about. I think my brain is on vacation today. But I also get on my blog and look at my friends blogs every single day, and feel bored when nobody has updated soooo... this is my update. Lame. butttt updated :)

I love the Stone Family! Here are a bunch of pictures of the fun we are having :)

The sun... and the street we live on... well they live on.. and where I am staying this week!

Amanda... holding a cute flower. It is actually a blossom, from a tree. And it makes me happy to see the signs of [spring]

Taking care of kids, you have got to always be ready to invent something to entertain them. Waiting for Matthew to finish at baseball practice, I only had my phone, and car keys. Alexa was getting restless, soooo we had a photo shoot! :)

She said, lets do a sad face.

Now, a crazy one!

"I want to kiss you on the cheek!"

She was 2 when I met her... now she is almost 6. All if the kids are sooo grown up, but I still love them so much!

A small portion of our many-papers-all-taped-together.... The biggest drawing in the world!

My Sammi... she is hilarious!! Also, a really great help. LOVE her!!

Boys will be boys.

Matthew pulling Joseph up the hill on top of Amanda's backpack. WOW.

4 of the 6 gemmmmmsss

Joe... my turn my turn!

Walking up the kill to pick the kids up from school...

Alexa is obsessed with their dog Scooter!

The 2 youngest.... So cute! (most of the time..... ;))

Joe swinging.. I swear he was going to fall off!

Slightly femi... a 3 1/2 yr old boy sitting at a princess vanity... annnnd wouldnt let any of the other kids play here!

Maybe, if I am feeling inspired, or if my brain comes back from vacation, I will write an intelligent blog about my feelings about being home, back in real life, doing normal things.

Maybe.

p.s. sorry about the quality.. they are all from my phone!

Flipped the switch :)

2011-02-27T01:32:00.000-08:00

I just have to say... My emotions are always extreme.

Yesterday I was a mess.

Today, I am happy :)

I am so grateful for my friends that are here for me.

I am grateful that I could realize that the first thing that needed to happen to be happy, was for me to BE happy!

I am grateful for all of the time I have to clean, and organize, and do fun things for other people.

I am grateful for telephones that can make the distance from one side of the world to the other seem like nothing.

I am grateful for others who give me advice and tell me exactly what I need to hear, although I normally already know it, it REALLY helps to HEAR someone else say it.

I am grateful for my mission and the chance I had to meet the people I did.

I am grateful to be back home and the chance I have to prove how much I really did learn.

I am grateful for surprises.. even when it is me that is giving them.

I am grateful for how comfortable things are when friends get together, that have been friends for almost 1o years.

I am grateful for other halves... although I have not found my other, I am happy for those that have.

I am grateful for butterflies in my tummy.

I am grateful for fleece blankets!

I am grateful for music, especially when the lyrics describe exactly how you are feeling :)

I am grateful for others, people that I can look up to, that I can learn from, that help me to STRIVE to be a better person.

I am grateful for alllll of my many blessings. I know I am so blessed and don't have any reason to let life get me down.

So.. just wanted to throw a big thank you out to those who love me. and help me. and support me. annnnd hang out with me :)

Amy, Kelsey, Me...

Ryan, Lindsey, Kenny, Stephen, Amy, Jake

Jake, Me, Tanner, Kelsey, Courtney...

All playing Battle of the Sexes.

[oh how great friends and family make the biggest difference ever!]

p.s... it is now 3:00 am, and I will be heading up to bed because my hands are FROZEN... I also have to wake up in 2 and a half hours...

oh how I love when inspiration comes.

Well.. way up and way down.

2011-02-25T18:19:00.000-08:00

The ups... Already hit the slopes with my friend Ryan :)

and the downs... me.. right now...

I am sure hardly anybody reads this anyway, BUT:

It is a Friday night and I am sitting at home-

FULL of emotions.

I am excited to be home.

I LOVE seeing my family [however I did forget how we have little

problems, all of the time]

I love seeing the mountains.

I love texting, facebook and listening to MuSiC!!

I am freezing, but I love snuggling up in a blankie to get warm :)

I have found out who my friends really are..

and that I don't have very many.

Everything is exactly the same, but completely different.

I am lonely.

I am lost.

I miss my friends in Brazil.

I miss always having spiritual experiences.

I miss having my life organized and planned out for me.

I am a mess, behind a smiling face.

I am full of tears, trying to not let them escape.

I need to make goals, and put into practice all that I have learned.

I need to be a [better person.]

I need to be happy with who I am, what I have, and not want others lives.

I need to have patience and rely on my faith that

I know everything will work out how it is supposed to.

Here is an inspiring quote from our beloved prophet Gordon B. Hinckley:

"It isn't as bad as you think it is. It all works out! Don't worry, I say that to myself every morning. It.will.ALL.work.out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, he WILL hear our prayers."

I am home!

2011-02-17T16:01:00.001-08:00

The snowstorm welcomed me home! :)

Well... I dont have much to say...

My mission was amazing! And it is hard to believe it is over. I will share more experiences throughout the year.. (Sorry this hasnt been updated forever!)

I am home now.. and completely lost, unorganized, dont have anything that I had before, including clothes that fit nicely!

I am sure things will work out after a couple of weeks...

But.. Just wanted to thank you all for being my friends! haha

My homecoming will be Sunday at 1:00 at my church in Kaysville. 1520 S 200 E (On the frontage road, by Ponds Park.....) You are all invited and welcome over to my house after :)

Well.. wish me luck getting back into the blogging, facebooking, texting, music, movies, dating (I will REALLy need luck with that!) nOrMaL life... :)

September 20th Email

2010-09-29T19:36:00.001-07:00

I cant wait for this weekend, to watch General Conference! (I am hoping I will be able to hear it in English! It is weird, when the Prophet has a different voice!)
We were able to assist the general broadcast of the Relief Society. It was amazing! I LOVE hearing from our leaders, and the Prophet. I am always amazed at how everything I need to hear.. is said!

So... we had the baptism of Thalison! He is a 12 year old boy, and his parents are separated but both are members. His dad is active, and his mom inactive. He was so excited to finally be able to be baptized! We had a few complications on Saturday, and ended up doing it on Sunday morning. But it was still special and a great day!

Other than that, we have still just been knocking a lot of doors. We were with a member one day, and he was all, "hey I have a friend that lives on this one street that is a little far away, do you want to go?" We said sure! And he led us there. We ended up in a part of this subdivision, that we didnt even know existed! It was funny! SO... we have been working there a little bit, and have been able to teach the Restoration a little bit more, but most of the people already have a church, and don't want to visit the true church! It is frustrating, and I wish I could do more... but I will have to just keep doing my part, and planting the seeds :)

Lets see... it is almost officially summer again... can you talk about HOT?? It is getting hotter and hotter each day... I seriously am going to be a popsicle when I show up at the Salt Lake Airport! Yikes! Anyway... I love you all and hope you are having a great fall!!

Love, Sister Porath

Kiley's September 20th Email

2010-09-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

Sarah here.... Ky asked me to start posting her weekly emails on her blog for people to read, Here is her email from last week:

Well... I will send a quick update of the work! We are still... knocking a billion doors. BUT are having a little more success!
A member, Raul, came up to us and said that he has 2 sons, with his ex-wife, and he wants them to be baptized. So we went to talk to his ex (who also is a member, but inactive) and she supports them to be baptized, as long as they choose it, and will be dedicated to the church. The boys are 10 and 12 years old! The 12 year old, really really wants to be baptized and he knows that the church is true and wants to go each week soooo... his baptism will be in the next couple of weeks! His name is Thalison. Leandro, his little brother, is a little scared of committment (yes... a little strange, cuz he is only 10!) But his parents are leaving it toally up to them and letting them know the responsibility they will have when they are members of the church. So Leandro is going to wait a little longer. But it ws really neat when we went to share a message with them. Ana, the mom, really felt the spirit and was so happy, she teared up, that we went to visit her. We are hoping she can return to church too, but not asking for all these miracles at once!

We also returned to visit an old investigator, who works with, and is a friend with a member (a stake high counselman... or something like that.) She isnt keeping the Word of Wisdom, but she said she wants to. She said she wants to be baptized and knows that she can quit smoking, and drinking coffee so that she can be baptized! It was another neat experience. Eliene is her name, and we are now visiting her a lot and trying to help her quit. She is slowly inproving.. and her baptism will arrieve sooner or later!

The members of this ward have woken up. They have realized that missionary work, isnt only the missionaries! It is for them to do too! They are starting to help us a lot more. It is such a blessing! After one day in the past couple weeks, where I almost started crying in the middle of the street, after knocking a billion doors, I have really started to rely on the members. We told them that we cant do this work alone. The youth have really stepped up to help us. They go out and work with us everyday, they introduce us to their friends and neighbors... it is great!

I know that the Lord puts us in the right places at the right time! I also know that "Anything easy, is most likely not worth it!"

We can all lose ourselves, for our Savior, and we will all gain eternal life! (Mark 8:35)

I am soooo grateful to be here in Maceio on a mission! I love the people, and I love this gospel! I love and miss all of you.. but the time is passing quickly... I hope you all have a great week!
Love, Sister Porath :)

Update!!

2010-06-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

Its been a little slacked here... we will try and get it up to date :)

Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 18:41:18 -0300
Subject: Its JUNE!!!
Hard to believe it is June already! On Saturday... I will hit my 10 month mark! And I know I keep saying this... it is winter now, but, it really isnt any different at all! It isnt even raining like it should.. I think all the moisture is heading to the northern hemisphere with the snow that you guys got last week!

This week, I want to write about Adriana. She is a 22 year old woman who is really really neat. She is living with a man, the dad of her son, but they need to get married. She has been going to church and reading the scriptures and she said ever since the first lesson, things in her life have gotten better! Her and her husband get along better, she has more patience and peace in her life. She is amazing! She wants to help her little sister and already has a testimony of the church.

We are also teaching a young woman named Patricia. She seems really interested, but she was sick on Sunday and didnt go to church. She is 1 6 and has already lived with a man, not to mention he was 40, but it didnt work out so she moved back home. She is in a rush to get married it seems like, so her and her boyfriend are going to come to church on Sunday she said. I really hope they do! She always has questions about everything... it is good!

We taught a lady named Angela... but she was a little creepy. In the middle of the lesson, she stopped me and asked if she could tell us about her life. We said sure! So.. she started talking and told us that... she sees things. And hears voices.. and we kinda got really freaked out! We hurried and finished the lesson, so that we could leave. When we were about to say the closing prayer, her husband showed up. So we waited for him to come in and get settled, then we prayed. We stood up to leave and they offered us cake and soda... but we kindly said no thanks and ran as far as we could!! It was crazy!

Speaking of crazy... I think I have lost a lot of my smartness I had. So we were walking down the street and I saw a low hanging power line. I have ALWAYS wanted to touch one... but word to the wise.. never touch one!!! I let my curiousity get to me and I touched it super quickly. Nothing happened, so I touched it a little bit more. Still, nothing happened, so we just kept walking. A few seconds later I felt this sharp pain in the back of my head. I asked my companion if there was a bug or something in my hair, she checked it and said, "No... why??" I explained to her that it was hurting... still... and then it clicked. The electric current had gone through my whole body and I got the shock in my head!! It was a weird feeling... But I offer a bit of advice...Listen to what you have always been taught and never touch a power line!!

On a more serious note, there was a recent convert that we talked to this week. It was really sad, she didnt go to church on Sunday, so she was telling us why. She had gotten in a fight with her husband, and it was a bad fight. She is now trying to decide if she should stay with him or not. I am praying for her everyday, I know she would be better of without him. She already has such a strong testimony (she has been baptized for 2 months now) and she is only 22 with a 5 year old daughter. She promised she wont stray from the church, and she reckognizes that all of these trials are the enemy trying to get her to not stay stong in the church. She is amazing. Her name is Nil. After she told us all that happened, we prayed with her. I started crying because I really felt the pain that she was feeling. I want to be able to help people have a better life and not have to deal with so many problems like this. Next my companion started crying, and then Nil cried. It was a good moment, the spirit was there too. I think she is doing better now, and I know she will stay strong and not let anyting get in the way of being a faithful member of t he Church of Jesus Christ.

I hope that we can all remember the importance of all the little things that we do. The church really is true, it is perfect and Christ is the head. He leads us each and every day.
Elder Cook said this this last conference,
"If we want the inspirationof the Holy Ghost, we need to slow down , listen, be worthy, and follow the promptings. "

I am so grateful to be here and to be able to help these people have better lives, recieve the blessings of the gospel, and eventually return and live with our Heavenly Father. :)

I love and miss you all! Have a great week!!

Love, Sister Porath

P.S. CONGRATS to the grads!!!! Kinsey... my sister is graduating from high school!!!! Also my cousins... some friends... :) Parabéns!!!

2010-05-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

2010-05-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

Thursday, March 11, 2010

2010-03-14T17:08:00.000-07:00

We had a great family night last night. This lady, Antonia, is an inactive member. Her husband and oldest son were killed in their house one night a few years ago. Her sister, Margarita, and her family are active members of the church. The elders that work in our ward too, just happened to knock on Antonia's door and invited her to come back to church. I know she needs strength and help so we all went there to have a family night. She chose my companion to give the message. She shared the scripture 2 Nephi 27:23. It says that God is a God of Miracles. The spirit was really strong. I know she was inspired to talk about that. Then each of us missionaries bore testimony. I had a feeling I needed to talk about Gods perfect plan for each one of us. I have a really strong testimony of this because of the things that have happened in my life. Antonia said the closing prayer, and almost cried. It was amazing. I know she will return to church, and be able to have strength to continue to go and to rely on the Lord. I know God works in mysterious ways, but everything happens for a reason. I am so grateful for my testimony and the fact that I am here to help people gain trust in the Lord and gain a testimony also.
Love you all!
I also have a new email address. It is kiley.porath@myldsmail.net Hope to hear from all of you!!

Kiley and her first family she baptized!

2010-03-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, March 3

2010-03-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

I cant believe it is March already! We had zone conference this week and it was really great. Also... on Sunday , we visited a few people and every house we went to, the person was sad or suffering in some way. It was hard for me because I didnt know how to help. One lady- Claudia- really wanted to go to church. So she went to the store in the morning and bought everything she needed to and then went home to put it all away and head to church with her little girl. But her husband was drinking and wouldnt let her go. He wanted her to stay home and stay in the kitchen and cook food for him and his friends that were drinking... all weekend. She was super sad, frustrated, upset when we talked to her because she is always working or at school and she had free time on Sunday but he woudnt let her go. We are going to try and help her but I am not sure how. The next house is a family that has 8 kids. And 4 of those kids, have ids of their own. Their dad died awhile back, their mom smokes like no other and doesnt have patience for them. Two of the teenage girls, that have toddlers, dont treat their babies very well. One is always smoking and they just yell at the kids. It is so sad to see kids that have no choice but to grow up in that kind of environment. We are teaching one of the older brothers, Cesar, who is going to get married and baptised :) But he has a hard time with how things are at his house too. The next house was Josefa. She is an old lady that can barely walk. She lives alone and doesnt have any help around the house. There is something wrong with her knee, and it really hurts her lower back to walk and stuff. SO my companion gave her a massage, but there isnt much else we could do. Her house had just been cleaned and we just visited with her for a bit because she is lonely. This day was hard for me. I wish I could do more to help everyone here. I know that the gospel of Christ will help them, so I am here to share it with them and help them make the little changes they need to in order to recieve the blessings. I am so grateful for the home and family I grew up in. Yes times were crazy... but things are great! When we keep the commandments, we recieve the blessings and happiness that come from God. I am so grateful to be here and am doing all I can to help the people here to have a better life :) Love and miss you all!!Love, Sister Porath

Wednesday, February 25

2010-03-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

Hey! Aw… it is always so great to get emails! This week was another good one :) Lots of rain, and lots of work. We have talked to a billion people, invited them to church, and asked them to listen to a message. But most of them had an excuse and we are still at level zero in the teaching process. It is kind of frustrating because we are working so hard! We even had 2 other sisters, Sister Viana (who got here with me) and Sister Moyle (who I met in the MTC and she got here one transfer after me) staying with us at our house and working with us everyday. With 4 of us, we were able to always be finding new people, while the other 2 taught people that accepted. I had the chance to go out with Sister Moyle a couple of the days and it was scary! Just us 2 Americans, with 6 months or so here in Brazil… out doing the work! BUT it was a huge growing experience for me. I had to actually converse with the people, and start and end the lessons, which I hadn’t really been doing at all cuz my companion always does it. So I got more confident with the language and realized how much I really do know! SO even though we don’t really have any investigators right now, the work is going well and I am still happy :) Oh and another really simple silly experience I had this week… so with the rain- the energy always gets shut off! One night, we were sleeping, but the energy turned off. And with this- off went my fan. I of course woke up sweating… checked my clock (that runs on batteries) and it was only 2:30. I thought I was going to die! I was so hot, and couldn’t sleep. SO I got up and got my hair wet… that helped a little. I laid back down and still couldn’t sleep. So I prayed for the energy to come back so that the fan would come on and I could sleep… annnnnd like 2 seconds later… it turned on! It was super simple, but I know that God is always there even in those moments for us! I am so grateful for this gospel! Annnnnd for all of you! Love, Sister Porath

Wednesday,February 17th

2010-03-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

Things are going so well! I love my new companion, Sister Cataca. We are working hard, and starting to knock on all the doors in our area, again! So far we haven’t really found anybody interested. It was hard with the holiday that they have called Carnival. Everyone travels, and drinks.. its kind of like our Mardigras I think, and spring break too! The city was deserted! It was so strange. But hopefully the rest of the week, the work will get better. I also had many episodes with ants. They are EVERYWHERE!! I hate them! They get into anything and everything. I have to keep things in the fridge! It is the only place safe from them. Grrr. It is annoying. Well… I hope you can all imagine me trying to kill an ant farm.. and they start crawling up my arms and legs and then the rest of the night I felt like I had them crawling all over me. YIKES!! Oh the great things about Brazil! Hope all is going well… miss and love you!!Love, Sister Porath

2010-02-15T15:42:00.001-08:00

Hey!! Its a new week, new transfer... and new companion!! Sister Cataca- She is super cute, and super sweet and fun and I am excited to be with her this transfer! Elder Gabriel was transferred too, so we have a new zone leader, Elder Holbrook. He is from Virginia. So this transfer will be different, but will be good too! Oh.. Monday night, my companion Sister Zorzo had to go sleep in Maceio so that she could be in a training meeting at 8 Tuesday morning, so… I went with her! I was sooooo excited to go! We got to sleep at Sister Englerts house! She was my first companion.. and her other companion, Sister Moyle was there, and her NEW companion, Sister Smith was there too. So in the mission the missionary who trains (who is the first companion of a new missionary) is the mom (or dad) and now Sister Englert has trained 3! So I have 2 sisters (Moyle and Smith) and Englert is our mom! It was soo much fun to be there with all of them. We stayed up until 2 just talking… in Portuguese! Then we woke up at 5 and had to get ready to leave. Sister Englert and Zorzo went to their training (Sister Smith went with, cuz she got here earlier than normal) and Sister Moyle and I got a bus to come back to Arapiraca. She had just gotten transferred here and I knew it would be good for her to have someone to travel with :) OH annnnd I went with Sister Englert to visit the family that we baptized! Nildo, Marisa, Janderson, Victor, Joyce, and Jamilly. The kids were all sleeping already, and they woke them up and we took a picture :) It was sooo great! They were so happy to see me, and even commented that I am talking a lot more in Portuguese! So that was one of the best nights so far! I hope I can visit them again eventually and talk more. They are super strong in the church. The dad is first counselor in the young mens presidency, the mom is compassionate service leader, the 14 yr old is president of the teachers…. Aw. They are amazing! It is one of the best feelings in the world to know that because I am here serving a mission, their family is blessed with the gospel in their homes, and with strong testimonies of Christ and His church. It is times like this that I will never forget :)Happy Valentines Day!! I hope you feel my love, clear from the other half of the world, where it is always summer! Love, Sister Porath

2010-01-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

So I had an email all typed up and I clicked send and it erased and didnt send! Grrr! But anyway, I had a great New Years Eve! We went to a members house and ate a ton of food and listened to music! Then we went home at about 10 because the Elders wanted to go and we needed them to walk us home to be safe. The next day we went to an activity with the ward and played by the water, and played soccer, a few other games, and had a bunch of snacks too. It was a lot of fun! They had a horse there for a little bit for people to ride too. It is a lot of fun to spend time with the members, I know I will miss then when I get transferred, and a ton when I go home! They are really neat people here. And on Sunday… I bore my testimony in Portuguese! I was super nervous, but I only messed up a few times and it went well! I am so grateful for this gospel! I know it is true. I know that we can always turn to Christ for help in our lives. He wants to help us, He doesn’t want us to suffer. I know everything about this church is true! And it is perfect! I am so grateful to be on a mission and to be able to help people hear about Christ´s gospel. I am so grateful for all of the love and support I have. I hope you all have a great year this year in 2010! Love, Sister Porath

2009-12-31T08:51:00.000-08:00

Hey! It has been a long week! Christmas was great! SO different, but so great to talk to my family! I got a package from my mom and stepdad, and one from my dad and stepmom, the day before Christmas Eve! It was super exciting. We were able to spend Christmas Eve with a few other missionaries, at a members house. They made a TON of food for us and we had a little message, and watched Joy To The World. It was neat. Christmas day we had lunch with the Bishop and his family and then I basically just talked to my family the rest of the day! We had a wedding at the church that night, a cute young couple. It was fun to be there with everyone. The people here celebrate it, but it isn't anything special, just another holiday (they have a billion!) Other than that, We had transfers this week!! Both my companion and I were certain she would be transferred because she hás been here in this área for a long time, but... she stayed! And.. I stayed too! So we will be together for another 6 weeks. We are excited and ready to work hard and teach, help, and baptize! I am learning lots... one of the big things I learned the past couple of weeks is that even if we have faith, we need to do ALL that we can to work towards what we want. If we only go halfway, our faith wont be enough to make up for the rest. :)I love you all and hope you had a great Christmas, and hope you have a super fun New Years Eve! Love, Sister Porath

The Pictures.... Elder Shawcroft, Elder Gabriel, Me, Sister Zorzo in front of a huge Christmas tree made out of 2 liter bottles! It is really pretty!

Christmas Eve, with a family, Sister Costa, Me, Sister Zorzo, Sister Oliveira, Elder Guerra, Elder Luis and Elder Thomson.

2009-12-19T09:06:00.001-08:00

It is hard to believe it is p day again already! BUT I am not complaining! This week has been fast. We had our zone conference in Sergipe (the other state that my mission includes) with all the missionaries serving there. It was also our Christmas conference. It was a lot of fun! I got to meet a lot of elders, and get to know a few of the other sisters better. Each district acted out a little skit or something. It was funny! My group acted out the scripture 2 Kings 2: 23-25 (I think!) Me and my companion dressed up as bears.. kind of! Everyone laughed! President Beynon gave a talk about Jesus Christ and His Atonement. It was really neat. We watched a short video clip and he just cried. Then he got up and said he was crying because of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us, but also for the sacrifice of each missionary. He knows this time is hard to be away from family, and to be working hard here. He is such a neat man. His wife is amazing too. I am so grateful for them! Then on Saturday night and Sunday morning we had Stake Conference! It was super neat as well! Craig Zwick, Sister Beck, Elder Scott and Elder Eyring all spoke.. in Portuguese! Except Elder Eyring. But it was really neat! Elder Eyring talked about us being in a soccer game (cuz soccer is HUGE here!) About how the Salt Lake team unexpectedly beat LA because the LA star player missed a goal in the shootout because he lost his concentration for one second. So.. we need to never lose our concentration, our desire to always try to live right and work hard and serve others, because Satan is waiting for that one tiny moment, when he will attack. There is a recent convert, of about 3 months, here in the ward. He is a 24 year old man who left the world of drinking, drugs, colored hair, earings.. ect. In order to be baptized and enjoy the blessings of the gospel. He has been SO strong. He does visits with us, and wants to become a better member. Aw. He is such a neat guy. But yesterday he called us crying and said he needed help. We went to his house and he had been drinking… since Sunday. He didn’t go to church and had started a new job and someone offered him alcohol and he had a weak moment and accepted. He said it was because he is sad that his dad wont let anyone from the church into their house. None of his family accepted the church, or even the lessons from the missionaries. He is doing it all alone and I know it has to be SO hard. It made me so sad, he was so sad, he didn’t like the state he was in and I know all he needs are more friends and support from the members. We are going to do all that we can to help him and I know he will pull through and stay strong in the gospel and continue to be blessed by it. I am so grateful for all of my friends and family that I have to support me in this gospel, and here on a mission. I would not be able to do it without it! Thank you all so much! I love you!!Love. Sister Porath

2009-12-10T17:07:00.002-08:00

Oi! So..... its been another week! Oh and we switched p-day this week because we have zone conference tomorrow and people traveled here today so that they can travel there with us tomorrow. I got a hair cut. Mostly just a trim, but he/she (a man that wants to be a woman and dresses like one and I don’t know if he/she has had any surgeries or not BUT… it was interesting, my companion suggested him/her so I just went for it!) kind of layered it in the front. I like it though! That same night, there was a huge rivalry soccer game here. The team that won, Flamego´s, have TONZ of fans! Everyone was driving around after honking their horns, it was crazy! There was like a parade of 20 cars and 40 motorcycles with everyone hanging out the windows waving their flag or t-shirt. Elder Gabriel, one of my zone leaders, is trying to convince me to root for this team. I might choose them! But my companion and Elder Shawcroft, my other zone leader, want me to pick Palmares! So I don’t know! I am just going to wait :) A few other random things… I live on sweet and condensed milk! I have it on bread basically every morning and night! We have it on crackers, on this food called cuscuz, its like cornbread almost, it is so good! Every week the ward has a family night at the chapel and last week the Bishop got sick and called us and we had to teach the lesson! I was sp nervous… but it went well! We had a baptism last week, it was really neat. It was a man named Valdir, he is in his 30´s and is really spiritual. Now we just have to keep visiting him to help him remain strong in the church. Oh! This week was a trip to the temple for the stake here! They left Monday morning, and will get back Friday night. It is about 6 hours away, the Recife temple. I think they have a place there that members sleep at. And since they don’t get to go very often, they go into the temple for the first session early in the morning, and usually only leave at night after the last session. They do as much as they can while they are there up until the last second. I think it is so neat and they are so dedicated! I definitely miss being able to go to the temple every week. And I feel SOOOO blessed to have so many so close to me in Utah! This week I have realized I need to strengthen my relationship with Jesus Christ. I need to learn more about him and rely on him and apply the atonement. So, I have started to focus on this every morning when I study and I have the felt the spirit stronger! It has been so neat! I am doing well… Christmas is starting to go up everywhere… super strange because each day gets hotter and hotter and the other day I saw a picture an elder had of snow… and my heart loooonnged for it! Oh boy… I better just enjoy the next year and couple months of summer! I love you all and am SOOO grateful for your love and support and our relationships :) Have a good week!!Love, Sister Porath

2009-12-10T17:07:00.001-08:00

Hey! I cant believe it is December! Yikes.. anyway, the work is going, but pretty slow. So I will tell you about the city! Everyone blasts their music and tries to make it louder than their neighbors, so you actually cant understand anything because there are 5 different songs playing! The cars all rattle as they drive down the street too. We don’t have water for half of the week. It is really frustrating. They turn it off in the city on Sundays and it comes back Wednesday night or Thursday sometimes. So everyone has a reserve tank and makes it last the whole time. It is hard! Last week we had to shower by bucket for a couple of days but this week I was really good at conserving it and only ran out today… halfway through rinsing the conditioner out of my hair! But a bucket works wonders and I managed to finish just fine. Everyone has a motorcycle or scooter. And if they don’t, they have a bicycle! And the other day I saw a guy washing his, like you would a car. It made me smile! There are a lot of frogs… dried.. and smashed in the middle of the road! Every time I see one, I want to pick it up, stick it in an envelope, and send it home :) There are a billion cats, lots of dogs too. And TONZ of guys that walk around pushing a handcart thingy that has a speaker and says… (I translated it…) Popsicle and Ice Cream!... Caico! (The brand) so if it is in the afternoon, I always want to buy one, and more often than not, I do! It is only 50 centavos here, which is like 25 cents there! All the kids run around in just underwear… its funny! Annnnd it is because it is up to 100 degrees everyday! And only getting hotter… I am going to die! I saw the movie New Moon sitting at some ones house… I wanted to watch it so bad! BUT we are only allowed to watch Disney so I will have to wait. Oh and speaking of the moon, I always look up at night, and if I am feeling homesick, I just think about my family or friends sitting at their houses or wherever… under the same moon :) It makes me feel closer to home… We did have a baptism last week! It was neat, Jorge, a 22 year old boy. He is really nice and always smiling. We don’t have one marked for this week, we are hoping for a miracle! It is hard to find new investigators here… Anyway.. Christmas is getting closer! It is so weird to see all the decorations here, it is fun, but just so different because it is the middle of summer instead of winter! But I love and miss you all and think about you tonz!!... when I have a free minute! Love, Sister Porath :)

2009-11-25T16:27:00.000-08:00

This week has been good! I am getting used to the new city, and I love the members here. They actually have a chapel and have a decent size ward, about 200 people. The bishop is amazing and helps us out a lot. We had a zone conference on Monday.. it was really great! We had good training, and I met all the missionaries in my zone. I only knew Elder McKay (who is Sam and Taylor McKays cousin) and a Brazilian Elder Luis (from the MTC.) But everyone else is really nice and really fun! After, about 8 elders, my companion and I went to a Rodigio BBQ place! It was SO good! Then we took a motorcycle taxi back to out house… it was a little scary (in a skirt, sitting sideways!) but it was fun and exciting! And when we were doing visits and lessons and appointments after, I really felt the spirit. And I was so happy and I talked to people on the streets! It was a really, really good day! And also, everyone here does this snap thing, and I never had the desire to do it until today, so I tried it and got it down on like the 3rd try! It was awesome! Ah.. I always think of things I want to write and then I get here and forget everything! Or… I run out of time.. And on that note.. I love you all! I hope you have a great week :) Happy Thanksgiving!!!Love, Sister Porath

2009-11-19T07:48:00.000-08:00

I have to start by getting the HUGE elephant out of the room... I was transferred!!! I pretty much knew it was coming, so that Sister Englert could train one of the new girls, but I wasn’t ready for it or for the reality of it really happening. So.. I am now in a city about 2-3 hours inland called Arapiraca. My companion is Sister Zorzo. She is really sweet but doesn’t know any English. She is excited to learn so hopefully we can get a good schedule down and both learn a ton. It is so hard being in a new place, not knowing anyone or anywhere, and not being able to communicate very well. Especially for Christmas this will be hard, but I can do it right?? We do live pretty close to 2 elders, they are our district leaders and serve in the same ward, but the area is split into 2. We have lunch with them everyday and one if them is American so I can talk to him almost everyday so that I wont go insane. His name is Elder Shawcroft and his dad was a mission president in southern Brazil, the Campinas mission! So I was in the very outskirts of Maceio, the huge capital city, before and it seemed like the middle of nowhere. Now I am in a smaller city, but it seems like a bigger city! The roads are either paved, or most of them are big rocks that were laid down and then stuff between them, kind of like tiles.. anyway. It is more city like and I guess I like it. Hahaha We did have another baptism last week. It was a little girl turning 8, her older sister is a member, but her parents aren’t married and aren’t members but she had a big birthday party and baptism. It was a lot of fun! I guess that is all of the news… it is even hotter here.. I don’t like it! I am missing winter a lot! But last week when Sister Englert and I cleaned/defrosted the freezer, I mad a snow man! I will attach a pic, the internet is faster here now that we aren’t in Africa! I love and miss you all, I need your prayers, I need strength, but I know I am where I need to be doing what I need to be doing so The Lord will pull through on His end of the deal. Love you!!
Love, Sister Porath
P.S. Christmas is coming…. And I would love to receive a little love from you in the form of a letter! :)
All I want for Christmas are letters letters letters from everyone! I have been writing Kyler, he seems happy to hear from me and his strength helps me too. I wrote most everything in the weekly email this week… This is really hard but I know it will get better. I will hopefully get to see Sis Englert in a few weeks at Christmas Conference. It will be good to see the new sisters too.

2009-11-15T18:32:00.000-08:00

Kiley at the mission home in Maceio Kiley and Sis. Englert

Hey! The wedding and baptism were SOOOO great!!! The cake was gorgeous! We had to run around and get everything ready, we had a lot of help from a few people but it would have been a lot easier if more people had helped… but.. it was beautiful and the family is so happy and strong in the gospel already. It was so cute to see them at church on Sunday, they had their scriptures, and real church clothes (from the wedding) and looked official and like they had been members for years! It has been so neat! All of the other missionaries that I tell the story of them to gets jealous because they have been out a year and still haven’t been able to find an entire family that is ready to live and receive the blessings of the gospel. We had family home evening with them on Monday and we asked Janderson, the 14 year old boy, to prepare a little lesson. He did SO well! He even planned an activity which was questions everyone took turns answering. They were really good and thoughtful. Some were from the lessons we had taught them, some about the gospel, and some he wanted suggestions on how to have a better family night, and how they could be more united and learn as much as possible from the gospel. It is amazing. Next week are transfers… yikes! I will be happy to stay, or to go. I know The Lord is watching over me and knows what I need, and what will be best. I hope you are all letting The Light of Christ shine through you to others… just smile :)Love, Sister Porath

Everything went so well with the wedding and baptism! My feet are good… I just have a huge blister on the side of my big toe, so it doesn’t hurt and I can still walk and wear my sandals and all. It keeps getting smaller, then bigger, then small again and so on… soo I bet it will just be a huge callus. But I did get sandals here and they are great. I got 2 pairs they were on sale and should last me my whole mission. Transfers and new missionaries are next week… so I might be seeing them, soon and might not. I wonder if I will stay or go! Trev is doing a ton of genealogy and when I get home I want to go through the temple with you for everyone in our family. I think it will be SO neat! I am loving the mission and love and miss you all! I think that is all for this week… any questions? Haha thank you for EVERYTHING! I love you so much and an so grateful to be here! Love, me!

2009-11-08T17:54:00.000-08:00

For some fun pictures of Kiley and the missionaries of Maceio, Brasil to go brasilmaceiomission.blogspot.com

2009-11-08T17:28:00.000-08:00

This week was good! But on Saturday, it is going to be one of the best days in the mission so far! We have been teaching a family, and they are going to be baptized! We are having a big wedding too. A lady is making a big cake, and we are going to have it all decorated, I am so excited! This family is AmAzInG! The dad quit drinking alcohol, the mom quit drinking coffee, and the kids are 14, 11, 10, and 5. We have been teaching them every day and it has been so neat to watch them learn and grow spiritually and gain testimonies. I know they will remain strong, and the dad will be a leader here in the area. Not much else has happened, we just walk a ton, teach a lot, and sweat even more! We had a baptism last Saturday as well, a 15 year old girl. She is really excited and loves coming to church, and the activities. I wish I could carry a video recorder for a whole day so you guys could see what it is like here. It is so different. The other day I killed 2 cockroaches and we found a dead(luckily!) lizard about a foot long…. In our back porch area! The other day, we were walking back from lunch… My companion was on the phone, I was following her, and watching my feet to make sure I didn’t step in anything and I ran into a tree! I don’t even know how it happened, but it scratched my face! My companion is awesome, she is really forward and blunt and isn’t afraid to tell people it is their salvation that they don’t have time for, or care to change for. We laugh a lot, cry a little, and eat a lot of sweets! Haha well… we crave them.. and try to eat them when we can! I hope all is well with everyone, I cant believe it is November!! Keep smiling :)Love, Sis. Porath
Where is Drew going to go to school? Oh tell Mike… everyone here has a water storage tank! Because sometimes the city will just shut off the water…. I remembered that he thought it would be a good idea to invent that. How is his work going? Kins finally emailed me last week, it made me so excited! She didn’t reply yet, so hopefully next week. My comp wants to marry Kyler! Haha Things are good, different and hard, but I am still alive right! Here is more Christmas stuff… we only get letters like once every 3 weeks so hopefully I will get yours soon with the pics! Thanks for everything… I am getting more used to things, and am curious to know if I will be transferred or not. I think I will be fine either way. I know it will be harder with a Brazilian companion that doesn’t know English, but it will force me to improve. I better run, but tell everyone hi and thanks! Love you!!

2009-10-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

This week was better! The language... still hard! But we had zone conference which was really spiritual and helped me a ton. We just had training on how to be a better missionary, and President Beynon and his wife both gave really good talks. We found a golden family! We knocked on every door except their´s for some reason, and had a feeling we needed to go back and knock on their door. So we did, and they came to church, and the dad, Nildo, stopped drinking, and the mom, Mariza, quit drinking coffee, and they have 4 kids! Jendersen is almost 14, Vitor is 11, Joyce is 10, and Jamile is 5. They are all so cute and always want to pray, and always read the Book of Mormon and it is SO neat to watch them grow spiritually and gain a testimony. They got married, civilly, and we are going to have a big wedding and baptism for them. I am so excited! The dad is strong. He reads the BoM everyday at work after lunch, even though his coworkers make fun of him! I know they will go through the temple in a year and he will be a leader here in this area. We baptized Edvaldo on Saturday. We found him one of the first days we were here, but then couldn’t find his house. We saw him on the street the next day and he said, I waited for you guys to come and was worried, but then I was comforted and knew I would see you again. He is 21 and is a neat kid. I hope he makes friends in the ward and stays active. We did splits the other day! We had too many appointments in one day so we got a couple of the ward missionaries and split up. Adriana and Wellington (a 17 year old boy who can't wait to be a missionary, super strong, a convert of about a year and a half) came with me and I spoke as much as I could in Portuguese and then they would talk to the people and make sure they understood what was going on and then they bore their testimony. They are super strong and it was a good experience. There is an elder that comes home on Friday, from Kaysville! Bronson Nye, he is awesome! It will be weird when I am in that position. I apologize right now, those of you that know me really well already know, but I either seem to say the same thing like 3 times, or I forget to say it at all. So if I have already written about something, I am sorry! But I love and miss you all and hope you are having a good week!
Love, Sister Porath

2009-10-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

The week of random things! I finally realized how hard the mission really is. The language is probably the hardest, everyone says it will come but I don’t understand how. So I had a few days where I just got completely overwhelmed and started crying. So if anyone has advice…. I would love to hear it! BUT we are teaching some awesome people, including a family who is really open to learning everything, and wants what will be best for their kids, they invite us to stay for dinner a lot, and the kids love us. They came to church last week and hopefully will this week and will be able to get married, and be baptized! It is so interesting because we knocked (or clapped) at every house on this street on one side, then crossed to talk to someone on the other side, then we were leaving and my companion said she felt like we should go back and do the one house we had missed, so we did, and this was their house! Also, there is one street, a really long one, that we have been working on everyday, except for one afternoon we decided to start in a new area, and that same day, there was a shooting where we would have been! Nobody died or anything but we were blessed to not be in the area. Sometimes I walk down the street, crunching leaves and think about home :) It makes me wish I was at school… but it makes me feel a tiny bit closer to actually being there! EW. I had to kill a huge cockroach that was in our shower! I will try and send a picture… it was so nasty! And then we had 2 more the next 2 days in our house too! In our district it is just us 2 and 2 elders. They are nice, one is Brazilian and one is American that just got here a transfer before me. My apartment and area is like 30ish minutes from the mission home, but we just have to jump on a bus to get there. We are really close to the airport. We don’t have cars or bikes, we walk! Everywhere always and take a bus or van if we need to go to district meeting or conference or something. The members feed us lunch everyday. It is always rice and beans, meat, juice or soda and maybe some sort of vegetable. It is good especially because we are always so hungry! Then we eat dinner at 9 when we get back and that is just food that we buy, so something simple like rice, soup, noodles, eggs…It is SO hot. I burn even with sunscreen, and drink lots of water and sweat like a pig! It is gross! But then at nights outside, I still get a little cold! Well I love you all and pray for you… pray for me.. I need it!

2009-10-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the update on everyone! We did have the baptism! I am trying to upload a picture. Wont work. I sent a letter home today with my christmas wish list, i did buy sandals today though. The mailman said it will take 15 days to get there though! So let me know when you get it. I am trying to get used to things here, its just different! But I love you all, tell everyone hi! Thanks for everything!! Love, Kiley
It is still hard for me to believe that I am a real missionary! This week was good, long, and hard! Not too bad though... I have a billion bug bites, I want a mosquito net! One morning I woke up and my eye was basically swollen shut... bug bite I am guessing, I tried to attach a picture but it wouldnt work! My companion is amazing! She is so cute, so sweet, and helps me with portuguese, and is fluent in english! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful trainer, I wish I could be just like her, right now! We saw a dead turtle in the median of a road, and a 3 foot long dead snake! I am glad it was dead and not alive! I got blisters my first day on my feet, in 2 different places, from 2 sets of shoes so it was hard to figure out which ones to wear, but I got some sandals today that should be perfect! We went downtown today! It was so much fun, like a regular day shopping! Downtown is more like a regular big city, new york or something, but where we live is dirt roads, small simple houses, and just tiny markets to buy everything. I got a skirt too, and some more shampoo and conditioner and body wash. We had a baptism last Saturday night! I really wanted to send a picture but again, it wouldnt work, maybe next week. It was Fatima a 52 year old lady, she is always so excited to see us and is so cute! She doesnt have any teeth and I cant understand what she says but she always wants to hug me! It was really exciting for her, and a great way to start off the mission. We have 5 more scheduled for this transfer so far, One is this Saturday but it is a 14 year old girl Fabi, and we have to get her moms permission and she doesnt want her to so we are praying and doing all that we can to help her. I will write about the others when they get closer.. We have a mission blog...Brasilmaceiomission.blogspot.comYou can go there and see new pictures and stuff! Being a missionary is great! It gets hard, but is rewarding when you help the people have such happiness in their lives :) I hope you are all doing well and striving to be the best you can be!! I love and miss you! Love, Sister Porath

More pictures of Kiley and Missionaries

2009-10-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

Pictures of our dear missionaries.

Last day at MTC:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikaguima/

Erika Guimar�es.

Maceio!!

2009-10-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

Hey! We get 200 Reis, which is roughly $100 a month. For food and everything so I hope it will last right. I would love to serve in an orphanage too. If I still have more free single adult time... I really want to do it! Thanks for the advice, I love you! Wow! I love Maceio! Yesterday was such a great day, we flew out, were greeted by President and Sister Beynon (who definately knew I was coming, and were so excited for me to come!) They are amazing! I am so grateful to be serving with them. President said this first transfer I am going to need to remind myself to survive. Everyday, and then it will get easier and I will be able to serve with all of my heart! My companion, Sister Englert, is amazing! She knows English, but is from the southern part of Brazil. She is such an awesome missionary, really confident. I cant wait to learn everything from her and be just like her. After going to the mission home for lunch, orientation and meeting everyone, we headed to our apartment. It is little and just cement walls, tiled floor... very humble. I even saw my first cockroach run under my bed. Ah! haha But we arrived there, and sat down and she said, Lets get to work! So we pulled out the area book and read about the investigators in the area (because she was transferred here too, so we both dont know where anything is, and I dont know the language!) and we planned who we would go meet, and teach. We didnt even know where they lived. But she just asked people on the way. And then we ran into a lady and her 2 kids who are members. Danielle is a 9 year old girl and she showed us where the streets and houses were that we were looking for to teach them. She even sat through all of the lessons with us. I will never forget this sweet girl and all that she did for us. It was a simple miracle. I am so excited to be here and to do this work everyday! I know it will be hard, but it will be so worth it! We even have a lady, who the other missionaries taught and she was going to be baptised on the 24th, but my companion asked her to move it up, so she is going to get baptized this week I think! SO neat! I love this work and am so excited and grateful to be here. The weather is nice, very sunny (I am glad, I missed the sun while I was in Sao Paulo) But also hot, we havent been out in it too much because it was dark last night at 7 when we went out. So today will be the test, but there is also a breeze which is nice. I am in the area that is farthest from downtown, big city, beach! But it is fine, it is kind of like the countryside and all of the houses are little, and the roads are very bumpy and all dirt. My p-day is now wednesday as you can probably tell. I was so lucky and blessed to have a letter and package waiting for me at the mission home!! :) The package was from my teacher at the CTM, Irma Erika... she is SUCH a neat girl! I miss her already and hope she is doing well :) It had candy, sunscreen, toothbrush stuff. notebook, pens... so many things that I need! I am so grateful to have had her as my teacher, and now as a friend! I will only be able to get mail every 3 weeks or so, but would still love to get lots :) I do know that when I am more focused here, and know the language better, it will be easier to forget myself, and not worry/think about things at home or with all of my friends, and just serve 100% and put my whole heart into it. I know this will prove to be the best time of my life if I can to that! Conference.... What an amazing little shove out the MTC doors and into the field.... oh boy! It was amazing! I swear each time it gets better and better. And I felt like all of it applied to missionary work! I know we need to have the spirit... and the way we can do that is by being obedient. An elder at the MTC gave me and my comps a blessing before we all left. I was blessed with health and strength IF I am obedient. I know this will be true and I am trying my best! I am so so grateful to be here, I know this is where I should be, I love this gospel so much! I love you all! Have an awesome week.... take a picture of the changing leaves for me :) Love, Sister Porath

A Link to pictures of Kiley and fellow missionaries!

2009-10-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Family Porath, Family Read, Family Young, Family Wardle, Family Smith, Family Feuz and Family Keicher!

This is the Link with all the pictures of our dear district ( last p.day in S�o Paulo )

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikaguima/

Have a great day!

Erika Guimar�es.

2009-10-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

Hey! I am flying to Maceio with 5 or 6 Brazilian Elders and 1 Brazilian Sister… I don~t feel quite ready to jump into all Portuguese but I don’t feel like I would be able to get much better staying at the CTM any longer. I just need to take the plunge! I cant wait to see wedding pictures… Wish I could have been there. Let me know all the details too! Oh they are just driving to Cali for their honeymoon? Are they staying at Crosbys place again? I cant believe they are married! I don’t know when my pday will be… it was good to hear about Tay and Kins, please tell them I REALLY want them to write me! I even emailed Kins and she didn’t reply. They can just email.. its fine but I miss them so much. I hope Mike can be successful with the loan officer! Will you post a status update on facebook when you add my email to my blog? Also put my email address on there and tell people they can email me whenever! Irma Erika said she doesn’t need the ring anymore… so maybe we can still just buy her one? I want to call you guys! Do you have a calling card with minutes? I guess the only way if you do have one, is you can write me on Dear elder and it will get to me before I leave and let me know all the info. If not.. its fine I guess, but President Woodward did say it is ok to call. I love you mom! Thanks for everything.. I sent a few pics home today with a letter, were you able to look at all of them from Irma Erika? Thanks again! This week has been a good one! We went proselyting again, in the big city! We went to a plaza… it was so neat! Just a big open space with people sitting everywhere. The first lady we talked to seemed really interested, after we were done and walked away, she kept reading the Book of Mormon! She was super sweet and was helping us when we struggled with a Portuguese word. We talked to a guy from Africa… in English! Because he doesn’t know Portuguese. He said he had a friend in Africa who was a member and he always wondered about our church like the origin, and why we are called latter day saints. So we taught him all about the restoration and it was awesome! It is hard to know if anything will come out of handing out all of the Book of Mormons but I bet eventually, somewhere down the road, it will bless or convert someone. At least I can tell myself that right :) Ok also… since we have been at the CTM FOREVERRRRR my companions and I decided to have some fun. We put on a puppet show! Hahaha It was SO much fun and ended up being really funny! We stole silverware from the cafeteria, made a dress for the sisters, and put toothpicks on for arms… And hung up a sheet, turned off the lights, and used the flashlight, and acted out a day in the life at the CTM! Almost all of the American sisters came, and a few of the Brazilians, and they all laughed a lot! The elders said they heard us, from the 6th floor! (and we are on the 2nd :) It was through the windows though. Anyway… just a little something for all of the girls to remember us by! I have to say the closing prayer tonight at the devotional…. In PORTUGUESE! I am nervous! Praying was the first thing we learned how to do, on like the 2nd day, but still… I have a feeling I am going to get up there and totally blank! I might not be able to write next week… but I hope I can after I get to Maceio! I love you all and am so grateful for your support and willingness to listen about my adventures! Keep smiling!! Love, Kiley

2009-09-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

2009-09-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

This week was pretty uneventful... but a good one! Only 2 more here! I fly out on October 6th, I was thinking If I had a calling card, or the numbers for one, I could call from the airport if I get a chance. But I have no clue! I forgot my paper that said everything I wanted to tell you all, ugh. I hope Tanner and Kelsey´s wedding goes well, just know I would do anything to be there, it kills me to be here instead. But even though it is hard I am grateful to be here. I have such a strong testimony of this gospel, of Jesus Christ, and His Atonement. I know Joseph Smith was called of God to restore this wonderful gospel on the earth again. The Book of Mormon is SO true and can help us through anything! I am getting so excited to be able to get into the real world, teach families and talk to people, and improve my Portuguese. I love you all and love hearing from you! My mission home address is
Brazil Maceio Mission
Rua Dom Antônio Brandão, 333
Ed. Work Center - Sl. 402 - Farol
57021 - 190 - Maceio - AL
BRAZIL
I printed some pics off, I may send some home, and then if you want to keep them, or give them to Grandma to scrapbook or something... who knows! That is fun for tanner and spence at farmington wrestling! Once again... wish I could be there! and you should have mike help you get a forward email list or something, a lot of people have asked me about being on one. I got Debbie Garners card, tell her thank you so much! And she can write me and I will reply... I can only print off my emails if I go out of the MTC to email. I will probably be able to more often when I get in the field. But it depends on if there is a printer and stuff. Oh... you got the blog to work.... GOOD!! Thank you for everything! Irma Erika was SO excited you emailed her! She said thank you for saying all the nice things!

Letter from Kiley's teacher with a link to pictures!

2009-09-20T17:46:00.001-07:00

Hi Family Porath!

This is Erika, I am Sister Porath´s teacher. Last p.day our district went to eat Sushi, I took some pictures and I would like to share with you.

This is the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42587855@N02/show/

I hope you like it!

Hugs, Erika Guimarães

Sept 15th

2009-09-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

got the package last week! Thank you so much! Everyone in my district enjoyed the fruit snacks, even my teachers! They dont have ones like that here and thought it was funny, LOVE the my little pony! Last thursday was a really hard day for our district, one of our elders went home. He had been struggling here and just wasnt happy. We are hoping he can get things figured out and come back out! But we´ll see. Everyone cried, even the boys. It was really sad. BUT friday was amazing! We got to go proselyting! We each got 2 Book of Mormons and got to walk around outside the CTM (in our boundaries) and hand them out. It was SO neat and made me really feel like a missionary! We gave them all away in the first hour! All the people were really nice and I really hope that they will read them and they will want to know more, or meet with the real missionaries. I was surprised at how well I could talk to the people. I definately have a TON of room for improvement, but we got the point across and that is what counts. We were so excited to tell both of our teachers about our experience, and all of the other sister missionaries too. Being coordinating sisters is fun. We were already pretty close to most of the girls but this has made our love for them grow. Some of the new Brazillian sisters that got here last week, asked us if we will teach them english everynight for 30 minutes, and they will help us with our Portuguese. We have only done it once, but it was so neat! I can~t wait to be a teacher! They are SO cute and so sweet and it is so beneficial for all of us! We went to the temple again and saw a cute Brazillian sister that was here in the CTM with us, she was so excited to see us and it was fun seeing her! I cant wait to be a REAL missionary, instead of just one in training! Our district leader shared a wonderful thought with us. It was about Christ, and suffering in the Garden. We all need to go there with him. He has suffered for our sins, and he still is. Each time we are sad, or struggling- He wishes we werent. It is still hard for him to let us go through it, but he really has felt all of our pain before and is there standing next to us, to help us with everything. I love this fact and I am so grateful for Christ. For His love, and for His sacrifice. I am so grateful for my knowledge about him and of this gospel. It truely does strengthen families and bring happiness into our lives. I only have 3 more weeks of training and then it is out into the big bad real life world for me! I cant wait! I know it is going to be SO hard, but it will be worth it! I love you all! Keep smiling :)Mom! I am glad the kids went to kennys homecoming.. I really hope he is doing ok. It has to be SO hard to find a job and get some money to live on for him. I did get the email from Mr. Barney- I dont think I replied though! I need to! THere has only been one Brazillian sister that went to my mission a few weeks ago, she is cute! THere is another one that comes in on thursday so I am looking forward to meeting her and there are like 7 elders going to maceio, Brazillian, but they are who I will travel with. My address is the same that I gave everyone I think, so you guys can send stuff there and I will get it, I will check on it for sure and tell you what it is next week. School is always busy for you! I am glad you like it this year. How is your ankle? Are you healed? Thanks again for the package! It is annoying that it is so expensive to send! I dont need another one... until Christmas! And you can put more stuff from my room in it, thanks! Like facewash.... and prob more sunscreen... I´ll let you know more what I need when the time comes. Irma Erika added me on facebook, so you can accept it for me and talk to her a little, she knows english! and tell her to tell me hi or something! She is SO amazing! Also... her friend send her a CTR ring, but it is too big. Could you maybe get her a smaller one and send it to her? I will send it to you guys in a package next week.. Maybe just look into it, she needs like a 4.5 i think. SO you will prob have to special order it. It is the one with the butterflies on it. So check on that, and let me know. Thanks! I want to hear from tanner kinsey and taylor, and kels agaiN! I will try and shoot them all an email. I love you and am so grateful for your example! Have a good week! LOVE YOU! -----Original Message-----

September 8 (Sorry I was so late!)

2009-09-15T11:59:00.001-07:00

This week was another great one! We had a missionary conference on fast sunday and we had really neat speakers! One Brazillian mission president related us missionaries to being the lighthouses to the brazillian people. It was neat! We learned that we really need to understand what we are teaching, and have a burning testimony of each part so that we can teach from our hearts. It is easy in english... VERY hard in portuguese! I dont have tonz to say this week, I did get an ear infection, and my cold has never fully gone away, so that hasnt been very fun. I slept until 4 on one day last week to try and get feeling better. I went to the doctor here and he gave me an antibiotic and some ear drops. It doesnt really hurt anymore but my ear is still clogged and I can~t hear out of it. It is annoying! Another boy from Davis got here this week, Jay Faust, I think he was on the basketball team. And Jordan Stuart left. It was sad! He is really cool, he said he will let me know how big of a difference it is out in the field than it is here in the CTM! It was sad seeing the sisters leave this week, I have a feeling it is going to be me before I know it! I love you all and hope everything is going well!
Love, Kiley

2009-09-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

September 8th (Sorry I didn't get it up sooner!)
This week was another great one! We had a missionary conference on fast sunday and we had really neat speakers! One Brazillian mission president related us missionaries to being the lighthouses to the brazillian people. It was neat! We learned that we really need to understand what we are teaching, and have a burning testimony of each part so that we can teach from our hearts. It is easy in english... VERY hard in portuguese! I dont have tonz to say this week, I did get an ear infection, and my cold has never fully gone away, so that hasnt been very fun. I slept until 4 on one day last week to try and get feeling better. I went to the doctor here and he gave me an antibiotic and some ear drops. It doesnt really hurt anymore but my ear is still clogged and I can~t hear out of it. It is annoying! Another boy from Davis got here this week, Jay Faust, I think he was on the basketball team. And Jordan Stuart left. It was sad! He is really cool, he said he will let me know how big of a difference it is out in the field than it is here in the CTM! It was sad seeing the sisters leave this week, I have a feeling it is going to be me before I know it! I love you all and hope everything is going well!
Love, Kiley

2009-09-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

hey! this week was good! Nothing TOO exciting, but we got to go to the Campinas Temple today! Look it up, it is beautiful! and has an amazing view. It is in a different part of the city and all the houses are really nice. I even saw an audi up there! My companions and I got called to be the new coordinating sisters this week, for the rest of the time we are here. We will be in charge of welcoming all the girls, even the brazillian sisters! It will be hard, to speak to them, but really rewarding. We are really excited! Ok so... I love you all dearly, BUT I still haven~t gotten a letter from ANYONE!!! SLACKERS!! I finally got my first letter like last thursday, but it was from Ryan Prince. So.... hopefully I have a lot on the way or maybe I will soon?? SO glad to hear everyone is related to my mission presidents! Tell them to warn Him and his wife that I am coming! haha How much longer do they have out there can you find out? I should know, but I dont. My companions are great, they are so smart and know EVERYTHING about the gospel, I have a TON to learn from them, but they help keep me going. I haven~t heard from kins.... I really hope she is ok! You can teach her how to drive my car and work all that out however you want, whatever is best! What happened with her accident? How is she liking school? And Tay? Did Tanner start this semester? I havent heard from any of the kids except Kelsey!! I had a rough day the other day, got really frustrated because we taught a lesson in portuguese and our teacher wasn~t very nice while being an investigator, and then he wasn~t very nice about giving us criticism. So the next day I fasted and just really prayed for strength, and that is when we got our calling, and a we got a letter from an elder that left here a few months ago, and my desire and strength was just renewed! It was SO humbling, and I really needed that to happen because I was letting myself be homesick and wish I were there instead of here. But I am once again so grateful to be here, especially with the spirit that is here at the MTC. I love it and love all that I am learning. My testimony is growing so much and I cant wait to teach people and share this happiness :)Sorry if its scattered again.... I miss and love you. Thank you for everything!! Love, Kiley

2009-08-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

This week was great! Last Tuesday, on pday there was a huge rain storm! It came so quickly, and was raining SO hard. The streets all flooded and there are hills, and everyone just stood on the sidewalks inside all of the little stores. We were at a little grocery store! But we were with our teacher sister Erika and she made us wait there until it slowed down, it only took about 30 mins. She is the sweetest little lady ever! She is like 4 feet tall and 27 I think. She wants to move to Utah, and I really really hope she can. She has been saving for a long time and I am going to keep in touch with her and help her if I can! She brings us treats like every day and is a really good teacher. Last week we went with her and got pastels, which are this pastry, filled with strawberries and chocolate and deep fried... SO good!! I have learned a lot of the language, but from just trying to buy a pillow at a store..... I don~t know anything! It is rough! haha it was hilarious. There was a teenage boy and I said (in portuguese) I want this. He said this?... Then He spit out a long sentence and I just stared at him. I kinda figured out that he meant the lady who owned the store wasnt there and I had to wait until she got back before I could buy it. Because he was looking up and down the street and also because that is what a lot of people would do in Chile last year. So we waited a minute and tried to communicate and realized how much we DONT know! But Gospel wise.. we know a lot! We are working on teaching the first lesson in portuguese. It is going pretty good, but still rough. Tomorrow we have to go 24 hours with out speaking english, I am SO worried!!! A quote from the Joseph Smith movie we watched on Sunday, ...The Lord calls us in our weakness, but he qualifies us for His work. It really hit me! That is totally how I feel! So weak and like I dont know anything, but I know if I work my hardest then I will be able to be a successful missionary for Him. I forgot that Nik Whitaker was Joseph from 14-17ish in that movie, it was cool. You can go to Dear Elder.com and write me I think! Maybe tell my friends to do that, or through missionties if you guys end up doing that, but I will only be here 6 more weeks so depending on how much it costs, we can just wait and see or something! It has been really cold here! And I was sick with a cold, so that made it all worse but I am kind of almost better so that is good! Classes are good, the language is coming... its hard but I am trying! I am still learning more and more about the gospel, It is a really great experience! I think I am going to buy a backpack so that my suitcase isnt over weight! There is a store here that has them and customizes them it is about $35. It will be good to have too if I ever need just an overnight bag or something. I love hearing from you! Tell Tanner, Kins and Tay I want to hear from them too!! Kelsey did write, and Grandma too... I don~t know why they wont forward, but the blog should be fine for now, make sure if you see Kenny to have him write me. Ah and tell him I am SO sad. I miss him so much I started crying when you said he came over! Did you guys all get my letters? I feel like there is more to write, but I can~t think of anything! And time is going quickly. So until next week, I love you! Love, Kiley

2009-08-19T21:15:00.001-07:00

2009-08-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

2009-08-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

2009-08-18T15:21:00.001-07:00

That is cool about my mission president, I should have asked the Beynons! I don~t think the email forwarded either... I dont know why. But maybe see if Tanner will help you figure it out. I haven~t heard from anyone else besides lindsey sweat, well rose! Only elder Eggertz is going to Maceio, all the other ones are going to Maneus, in the amazon! There should be another picture email coming, of us in front of the temple! I love going, we went again today, i dont think we will next time. Did missionties email you? If they didn~t then go to missionties.com and see if you can sign up, then i could get letters (emails) daily instead of only on tuesday in 30 minutes! I don~t know how much it is, but you can use my money too. Did you guys all get the letters that i sent? Lindsey said she was so happy to see you all at their reception! I am SO sad I wasn~t there. For the package, if you could maybe find a few little a-z address books so i can write down scriptures and stuff all under like the category hope, and be able to find it, i think that would be super helpful! Sorry about the not caps and no apostrophes this keyboard is weird and i am trying to hurry! I am sorry you have to be on crutches for longer! I really hope your ankle will be all the way better! Tell Debbie thanks and I would love to hear from her. I agree with what AJ said! I am sad to miss the logan reunion as well! Tell Tay good luck with soccer, that will be good for him! Tell Linda thanks! Thats too bad trevs roommate is struggling.... hopefully trev isn~t upset about it. I hope and pray that Mike will get a job! Have tanner or kinsey ask stephen about trevors xbox.... he needs to pick it up, cuz the guy couldn~t fix it or something. I got sick last week, just my stomach being dumb and the food doesn~t help AT ALL! But I am doing a little better... also when i was running during gym, my ankle kind of just went out and uh.. I face planted it! And it happened twice, so i dont run anymore because my ankles are retarded! This letter is SO scrammbled i~m sorry! We have 3 firesides a week, and they are always wonderful! One of them this week was a stake president here in brazil, and him and his wife are both converts and they were amazed at how many missionaries are here. they still think of the missionaries that taught them as angels and it was so neat to hear from them and realize that that will be me they are talking about soon! We got new blankets here, exactly like my white fuzzy one at home! The first day it made me super homesick! Now I love it though :) I have been dreaming so much though, and not sleeping very well... sarah is an amazing helicopter driver and courtney had a beautiful short sparkly maid of honor dress at lindseys wedding! We started giving the short lesson in portuguese! It is hard but is so neat! I have learned SO much! I love the gospel and am so grateful to be here! I miss the stone and maughan kids so much!!! We watched the legacy in port. on sunday... with english subtitles, it was neat. I LOVED the quote at the end, Promise me my legacy of faith will never die. That is how I feel!! I need Dane~s address! haha I will have to get it next week or something, I am running out of time. I love you guys so much! Write me back! Sorry this was all so scattered... I am glad michells wedding went well!I might try to get on again, but if not... next week. eventually i will figure out this system. i LOVE YOU!!!!!love, sister kiley :)

Kiley's first email-August 11, 2009

2009-08-11T14:45:00.001-07:00

Wow! It has been an adventure! miss you all SOOO much! This email is going to be kind of scattered because I am trying to hurry. I am at this place called Mr. Cheneys cookies and I am going to send something about joining missionties, I think it is 10 dollars and they scan our letters in or email you so they get there in 2 days, and you can write to me on missionties.com and it will get to me in the mail (they print it off and take it to the mtc) in like 1 day! So that would be really nice so that it doesnt take weeks to get the letters. Pday is tuesday, so I will get to email every week. The flight over was good, I only cried a little at the airport! This city is crazy huge! It has been nice weather, like 75-80 but today it is like 68ish and kinda rainy. Our teachers are really cool! They are brazilllian and reallly funny and are returned missionaries and kind of know english. Brother Bonofacio, and Sister Erika. The food is... interesting. I think they try to make us happpy by having some american food. We had hot dogs once, and french fries twice! Pasta, and chicken nuggets were super yummy too! But the rest is some sort of flavored meat, sometimes its nasty. Lots of salad and weird veggies, fruit every day, rolls, rice and beans every meal! My companions are awesome. Sister Read is from colorado, she has short red hair and reminds me of melissa heath(its a good thing, I miss you Meliss!). We get a long good. Sister Young is from provo, but she claims to be from alaska because her family moved there while she was going to BYU (her family moved around a lot her dad was in the military.) She is always giving compliments and reminds me of my roommate Katie sometimes J I need everybodies addresses! Unless... maybe all my friends could email you mom, in order to send through missionties if you decide to do that, so it would be quick, and make good use of the money! But friends and family.... Send me your home addresses just in case! And you can respond email, I will probably write a huge one back to my mom and have her divy(dish) them out ot each of you because I reallly want to keep in touch! I love and miss you all! The MTC President and Sister Woodward are amazing! She has been reallly sweet and always asks me if I am doing alright. There are 6 boys from davis here right now! Austin cooper, taylor read, taylor sorensen, kyle mcleod and (someone)hansen. Cooper and Mcleod talk to me when we run into each other, Coop the other day was all... are you doin alright, its kind of a hard adjustment! It was sweet. Have I gotten any letters at home? Send them to me if I have please!! I think it is 3 stamps, but I`m not positive. .I cant think of anything else I wanted to say, I know there is more but just ask questions and I will answer them. I love being here (most of the time) I feel trapped sometimes because I cant go anywhere without my comps and we can only leave the building (5 block boundary) on pday! I am learning so much! It is hard but will be worth it. They threw us into learning portuguese and I am doing pretty well... but still have MUCH more to learn! I love you all and hope to hear back! Love, Sister (weird!) Kiley PorathP.S.Happy Birthday Drew!!P.P.S Did you get the email that they sent you withthe district picture? One of the elders reminds me so much of Drew!

Bridal Shower #2

2009-08-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends, Lindsey, is getting married in a week! We threw her a last minute shower. It was so much fun to get everyone together! I love all these friends and wish I could be at Lindsey's wedding.... but her and Ryan will be happy!

Also.... a few of my recents posts have been out of order so scroll down to find the other new ones! :)

A glimpse from the past...

2009-08-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

2 years ago at Kenny's farewell....

He gets home in 3 weeks... I leave in 2 days.

I miss him so much!

tHiNgS i aM gOiNg tO MiSs...

2009-07-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

My Family
Friends
Utah
Air Conditioning
Movies
Music
Sleeping in
Going to the temple whenever I want/need to
babies... nannying...
swimming! [and boating]
Weddings, babies born, graduations, more weddings, friends coming home
winter-snowboarding
a white Christmas

tHiNgS i nEeD tO GeT uSe To:

dirt floors
spiders, bugs, rats...EW
not always having hot water (or water at all...)
barely a washer, NO dryer
the HEAT and humidity
waking up early
always being positive
wearing a skirt
always being with another girl instead of my boy..
speaking portuguese!

.and i'm pretty sure both lists go on and on. yikes.

My farewell...

2009-07-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you let your darling 6 year old niece use the camera... :]

Missing Katie :(

It was a LONG day! [ok and marinda woke up before I took the pic, but I wanted her to pretend to sleep annnnnd she failed! haha]

Bridal shower #1

2009-07-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

I threw a bridal shower for my soon-to-be sister-in-law (with a LOT of help from my mom, and others!) It was a lot of fun and turned out well! We started with dinner, had people fill out advice for Kels, guess how many starbursts were in a jar (the winner got to keep it,) split into 3 teams and had them all design a wedding dress out of toilet paper and Kelsey chose her favorite, the winning team got candy bars. We also had a mad libs story where everyone chose a random word (place, number, adjective...etc.) and threw them all in a story, it was hilarious! We also played an ABC game where everyone had to come up with as many wedding related words as they could, one for each letter, and everyone was assigned a letter to bring a gift (that started with the letter) and also a food storage item that starts with the same letter as their name. We had about 40 people in our house and it was fun to meet all of the people that are important to Kelsey! She is such a doll and we are so excited and happy for her to [officially] become a part of our family!

Notice the gifts... from the beginning.. until the end! They are so blessed they won't have to buy anything at their new apartment!

Kels and Devyn [the maid of honor] are CHEESY!

Sharla (our stepsister) made this apron... it is DARLING! and also the colors Tanner and Kelsey want for their kitchen! (She didn't even know!)

Keep tuned for another bridal shower!

cutest little park ever!

2009-07-28T10:46:00.001-07:00

SO cute and so fun! The ferris wheel was my favorite, it reminds me of the 50's, or like the one on the notebook :) The octopus was such a fun ride! We went on it twice! We were the oldest kids there, and I think we had the most fun! Even the 16 year old ride opperator guy was laughing at us. Loved watching the little kids on the merry-go-round, and the flying airplane. Olivia started crying, and sarah, her mom, said to just keep going and she would be fine. Well.. she stopped crying and basically bit onto the side of the airplane the rest of the ride! They even had the most ghetto mini golf course. LOVE this place!

people I LoVe :)

2009-07-28T10:31:00.001-07:00

My parents!

Tanner & Trevor [Tanners graduation 08']

Kins & Tay :)

Sar, Me, Tash, Lizzy, Marinda

[more of my best friends, my roommates!]

Me, Sarah, Amy, Lindsey, Courtney

[my best friends since jr high]

Calley, Josh, Ethan and new baby Carter!

My good friend Kinzy from jr. high, we get together about once a year(or every other year) but when I get home, it will definately be more often!

(on right) My moms friend Collette who helped raise us kids, (on left) her daughter Sarah, who I grew up with, and her 2 kids Olivia and Cooper.

Collette's other daughter Ashley, her husband Coleman, and their 2 kids, Cash and (1 week old) Presley. Its so crazy these girls both have a family of their own, I remember when we were all little and rode bikes around the block a billion times!
Nephew Lochlan

Niece Caedence
Niece and Nephew Aspen and Celtin(not the best pic, but the only one from this day!)
Nephew Ethan (He's a new big brother!)
Niece Brindley
Niece Anika

(Stepbrother) Josiah, Sharla, Aspen, Brindley, Caedence
(stepsister) Shylo, Adam, Anika, Celtin, Lochlan

They live in Chicago now so we hardley get to see them, it was so fun to see how big the kids are getting and spend some time with them!

Camping!

2009-07-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

I love camping! We go [almost] every year, to the same spot, with my dads side of the family. My grandma, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings, and friends!

My roommates (from last year) Tasha and Marinda came up friday night. We went on a 4 wheeler ride, roasted marshmallows around the fire, listened to/told stories, and slept in the tent. I was so happy they came up! (As you can tell, I look BLAH in this picture, we struggled to get a good one of all 3 of us! )My boyfriend Stephen also came up with me. We survived about 4 whole days of being together 24/7! [it was easy!] And also a lot of fun :)
Probably one of the most entertaining parts of the trip was Tanners brilliant idea [learned from our Stepbrother Kyler, working long boring days in foods at lagoon!] of catching a bee, freezing it, tying a string around it, letting it thaw out, then watching it try to fly away, but you have it on a 'leash' on a stick! I am sure the bee was furious! But it provided some laughs from the whole family!

We played a game Kelsey taught us called Zip Bong. It was so funny! You aren't aloud to show your teeth, here are a few pictures of us looking crazy while playing!

Love my baby brother taylor :) Basically everyone that went.

And some more random pictures from the trip!

Just me.

2009-07-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Besides all of this nannying, I have been trying to prepare for my mission! I leave in 4 weeks from tomorrow. It finally hit me 2 weeks ago and I am sure it will even harder, the closer it gets, and I have kind of been freaking out since! I have bought almost everything that I need. I got a nice luggage set for my birthday from both sets of parents. And my mom and I went to Sams Club to get a bunch of things that they either won't have in Brazil, or that will most likely be TOO expensive to get there! I think I have enough clothes, I still need to make sure though! And I am a little worried about shoes, but it will all work out!

I have been dating a boy... :)

His name is Stephen and he's great! We have talked a little about getting married... but I still know I need to go on a mission and if he is the one then he will be here for me when I get home!

My car broke and I thought it would be the end of it but my stepdad took it apart and had it fixed in a few days!

I swear there have been moments where I have thought... I want to write this down somewhere so that I can blog about it!!! BUT I didn't, and now I can't remember what they are!

So on that note- goodbye until next time!

Maughan Family nannying!

2009-07-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

My daily job is nannying for the wonderful Maughan Family in Kaysville. We like to go to Cherry Hill a lot and hang out at the house and be creative with new ideas and things to do! The past couple of weeks we have given manicure/pedicures. Lounged around in pj's until noon...or 2! Made stories and collages from old magazines. Built a fort and watched a movie in it. Played school, farm, king/queen castle kingdom annnnnd... I am sure there are things that I am forgetting! Here are a few pictures and videos of the cute kids!

Marcus building the fort.

Zach hiding out.

All of us being CRAZY!!

In the fort watching the movie :)

Marcus turned 8 in the beginning of June and was baptized! This is the only picture I was able to snag of him (and the other 2 from his ward that were baptized that day.)

Last trip to Californ-I-A. Love and miss the Stone's!

2009-07-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

I have been spending my days nannying! I made my last trip out to California (for who knows how long!) and I enjoyed every minute of it! It was really a great week (although stressful!) Jani- the mom who I adore/look up to/is my role model- was gone the first few days getting a little break/having a girls weekend. Jared-the dad/bishop/wonderful/patient man! was home except for when he was at work or bishoping, which was most of the time! Jani's parents took Amanda (the 6 year old) with them to Utah for the week so I was tending Kira, Samantha, Matthew, their cousin Harrison (who was such a great listener and gave me ZERO problems, and even helped Matt be a better listener!) Alexa, and Joseph. The older kids were good, good listeners, and helped out a lot. The younger 2 were a lot of fun to be with even though Joseph is almost 2 and gets in to EVERYTHING!!! This is them in the bathtub (pardon the cute white bum!), it was so cute! Joe would stand at the end and say, "Go!" Then he slid down the side of the tub and landed in the water. The first time he did it it scared me and made me frustrated because he was splashing everywhere but then I realized that it was fine and I could clean it up! We mad a few trips to the swimming pool, one being on my birthday, and it was a lot of fun!

Matthew and Harrison

Samantha!

I love swimming, and being in the sun! On my birthday I also got to choose what to have for dinner [chinese-SO yummmy!] choose a cake [ice cream cake- chocolate and chocolate chip ice cream :)] and Jared and Jani got me a Juicy Coutoure watch! It is so nice and so cute and fun! They have a tradition at their house that on someone's birthday they all tell that person why they love them. Jared and Jani even participated and I teared up. What they said, and what the kids said, really touched my heart and I could feel how much they really do love me, and I love them SO much too! I ended up switching my flight, to stay an extra day, and was able to go watch their Showbiz performance. It was really cute! They sing and dance and I loved watching it (while I wasn't chasing Amanda or Alexa around) Kira did a High School Musical mix, she had a solo and was dancing and singing a duet with a boy, and I teared up, again! I just pictured her growing up, really liking boys, and I'm not even sure what else but I definately felt more than just a babysitter to her. Samantha did a Best Buddies song/dance, and she had a solo too! It was so fun to be there!

This is Samantha (in the blue and green) During Kira's I was holding Alexa (she fell asleep on my lap! and I couldn't get to my camera)

I am SO grateful to have had the chance to get to know, love, live with, and be a part of this family. They have played a tremendous part in me becoming who I am, influencing who I want to be, and been an amazing example of how to get there. I will always love them and hope to always keep in touch with them!

Joseph and Alexa (he looks huge!)

Them again, watching TV.

I can't believe he will be 2 in about 1 month. I met them before he was even born!

And Alexa posing for the picture :)

St. George... the place of all happiness :)

2009-05-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

I LOVE taking trips to St. George.. I'm not sure what it is, but its just a wonderful city! I love laying out in the sun, love being goofy with great friends, love shopping, swimming, eating yummy food (In & Out, Pizza Factory) and I love just being able to relax and have time to do nothing but be lazy! :)

Nieces :)

2009-05-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

... They make me happy! Today I drove down to Provo to (go to the temple) and visit my stepsister-in-law! haha She is the sweetest person ever and has the 3 most adorable girls!! Aspen graduated from kindergarten today, Brindley was SO excited when I finally got to their house... and Caedence was so smiley and happy the whole time! I definately love spending time with them and wish they lived closer!

Aspen is the cute blondie front/center in the purple skirt!

LOVE Brindley's smile! :)
Not the best picture on my part.... but I couldn't get her to smile for the camera! (I love her cute curly hair!)

My new 2nd family :)

2009-05-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

Here are the cute kids I am nannying for now! We just got done playing in the rain and then jumping on the tramp with the sprinkler! Missy (in the pink, her friend Lizzie is in the blue) is almost 10, Marcus (on the right) is almost 8, and Zach (in the back) will be 7 in September. Cody (will be 17 in August) and Caleb (is 14) are their older brothers that don't necessarily need supervision. But I am excited for the summer to be with them all day and do a lot of fun things!

I want to:

go to the zoo

swimming at cherry hill

visit the new aquarium

the dinosaur museum

.....

What else is there to do around the salt lake area with these 3 kids?? (The older 2 are going to live with their uncle and work construction all summer... yikes!)

Summer!

2009-05-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago, a bunch of friends and I drove down to Zions! We canped out, went hiking, then drove to St. george and stayed at one of my friends' grandparents house. It was a lot of fun!

I went to a demolition derby with my brother, his girlfriend, and some of my friends! It was really fun! I can't remember ever going to one before (I think I did when I was little, but I couldn't remember!) There was a really nice car in one of the heats and all of the boys were freaking out that it was in a demolition derby! And about 10 seconds after the flags were waved... this is what happened to the really nice car! (I think it was a Chevell?... something like that!)

Yesterday we celebrated my little, I should say younger because she is taller than me, sisters birthday with my dad and that side of the family. She is such an amazing girl! She also had a really big and long dance competition this weekend, it was fun to watch her, she is a really good dancer! Although sometimes Kins can be a grouch (all teenagers are, right??) she is SO fun and funny and fun to be around! She always looks SO cute and everyone loves her! I have always adored her, and I love having a younger sister. I think all girls should have a sister :)

The newly engaged young couple in love!

"I can't let go I'm-- SO emotional!"

2009-05-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

I guess I am going to treat this more like a journal for this post--

I am such an emotional person. I hang on to EVERYTHING. Whenever I drive past the house I grew up in- I have to tell everyone about it and I start thinking about memories that happened there. Same with my elementary school. And every other house I've lived in or school I have gone to. Lately I have been missing California SO much. But when I was there- I missed Utah. I didn't have very many friends out there but the family I lived with was amazing and although it was super crazy/chaotic and at times I thought I would go insane- I still love it and miss it terribly. I want to go back and visit, but its not really the same anymore, especially now that it has been a year since I moved back to Utah. Now- I miss being in Logan. (I miss my roommates! It is such a blessing I know them and are close to them!) But when I was there towards the end I was so ready to be done with school and move back home. I do love kaysville, but it isn't the same as it used to be (of course.) All of my good friends are gone (except one who never hangs out with me.... hint hint! ;) jk...but seriously!) And the people that do live here- It just isn't the same! I don't know how else to put it. I guess all I am trying to say is that I wish I were better at making friends. Or even better- I wish I didn't feel like I NEED to be out doing something. I mean- I am fine a lot of the time just hanging out around my house with my family- but there are some nights where I just want to go be social and hang out and do something fun there is one thing lacking- someone to do it with.

I often find myself dwelling on old memories- old loves, old best friends, old lifestyles.... and there isn't anything I can do about missing them! I guess it is good that I have a lot of good memories, but I hope I don't look back at where I am right now and see only a sad girl looking back even further.

I guess the moral to all of this missing-where-I-used-to-be is to start loving where I am so that when I have to move onto something else, I won't look back and have any regrets if things that I didn't do.

The family from California... I seriously love them so much! Kira, Samantha, Matthew, Amanda, Alexa, and Joseph. And yes I took them out for dinner at a pizza place all by myself! :)

my GPA was what?!?

2009-05-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

... I checked my final grades today, expecting 2 A-'s and guess what I found?
ALL A's!! I got a 4.0 in college! I am super excited... although my classes weren't extremely tough, and I guess I feel like if I would have gotten below an A- in any of my classes it would have been ridiculous, but still. I just wanted to share my excitement! :)

Love them!

2009-04-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

I just pulled out my camera, hoping I had some new, exciting, cute, fun, (any of the above would have been great) pictures! BUT all I have are some more sunset ones! I then remembered I left my camera in my room charging during the few times I wanted it! Anyway- The school year is finally over (summer semester starts in a week and I am taking 2 online classes!) I have moved back home to work for the summer, and no longer have my wonderful roommates to live with. I was so blessed to randomly end up in the same apartment as all of them and I am sad that it will never be the same. Of course that realization didn't hit me until yesterday when one of them had already moved out, and I was filling up my car with my last load, and two other girls were packing up their bedroom and cleaning everything. It made me so sad! They are all living together next year, but I will be gone. A few times one of them would ask me something about the fall.. and I would just stare at them blankly until they remembered that I wouldn't be there, we then hugged each other and said, I'm so sad... I'm going to miss you so much! (CHEESY but so true!) Each one of the girls added so much to our apartment, and here are a couple things I love about each of them!

Tasha- She really is the nicest, sweetest, girl ever! She is a morning person and every morning when I would come out of my room she would say good morning and ask if there was anything I needed. One time, she knew I had been sick (or something..) and she brought me in some hot chocolate! She cares so much abotu everyone and is willing to help them anyway she can. She is naiive (I don't know how to spell that!) and sensitive and just so loving.
Marinda- The best personality! She is so funny! And fun to be around. Says the most awkward sentences, without noticing, making them worthy for the quote board. The latest one was "I'm pro-crap. Oh boy, that came out weirder than I thought it would." (or something super close to that.) She is SO cute, all the boys want her and she just is innocent and loves having fun! We had a lot of fun just joking around with each other, I am going to miss her calling me KyKy!

Liz- Somewhat a blonde, (with red hair!) She is so funny, without even knowing she is! She is very comforting and I loved laying in her bed with her.. I think I did it like twice, but also, when I was super sick, she played mommy for me and brought me in a hair dryer to sleep with. She was willing to help, but the best thing, ok maybe not the best, but I loved how spacy she is! One time she 'lost' her keys. She came to my class and borrowed mine so she didn't have to be on campus all day. When she got home and realized they weren't in her room like she thought they may have been, she went back to campus and looked everywhere she thought they could have been. She still couldn't find them and came back home pretty worried. She sat down, grabbed her backpack to look through it one last time (she already had checked it like 8 times!) and guess what she found....?! Her keys!! They were there the whole time! She also was always losing her phone. :)

Katie- She's hilarious! She is SO outgoing, always meeting new people, and actually inviting them to hang out. She puts together so many activities. And she is an amazing singer! She plays the guitar and would sing and we always loved to hear her! She is so blunt, sarcastic, and yet loving at the same time. I don't know how she pulls it off! (this was the only picture of just her I could find!)

Sarah- Last but not least, my best friend of 7 years now.. wow! Her and I finish each others sentences. OR we say the exact same thing at the same time! We do it so often, now we barely even notice. A few weeks ago, when it happened, we just kept talking like nothing happened, and the kid we were talking to stared at us with a freaked out facial expression... haha it was so funny! We can just look at each other and know what the other is thinking.. I love it! We do so many things together, and she is always there for me, and always willing to listen, and help in any way she can. I am so blessed to have so many good friends!

Procrastination??

2009-04-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

...Possibly! I just had to write how much I am LOVING spring! I know it's supposed to be rainy and chilly again this coming week, but as for now, I am enjoying the short/flip-flop weather! I don't have anything super exciting to blog about, except that this is the last week of classes! Next week is finals week, and although I only have one on Monday, it is going to be tough! And that also means that this week has been full of final projects/presentations in all of my other classes! I am glad to say I am almost done and all that I have left is (the hardest thing of all.. of course!) a take-home final paper/exam for my teaching reading class. I have been taking classes for almost a complete year since I came back into the 'school scene.' And it doesnt' stop yet! I am going to take 2 online classes so that when I get home from my mission, crossing my fingers I will be able to make it home right before Christmas of next year, then start school in January, and do my level 3 spring semester, a few other random classes I have left throughout the summer, and then student teaching in the fall! Then what-- GRADUATION?? Crazy! It is still far away but that is the layout... for now. :) ALTHOUGH- I have become really interested in photography lately, not enough to switch my major from Elementary Education to it, because photo majors have to be extremely artistic in many ways and dedicate every fiber of their being to it- but I really do think I would enjoy taking a beginning photography class :) And on that note- here are a few pictures I took the other night, I was driving back into Logan to my apartment from my dads house in Mendon and couldn't help but pull over to take a few pics. I am obsessed with sunsets, and skies. They are so beautiful (sometimes) and it just makes me start thinking.. deeply about all sorts of things! ANYWAY... Here's to sunsets in spring! :)

Ugh.

2009-04-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

I seriously spent forever trying to make that last post look right. and the pictures kept deleting, and I had to re-upload them and ugh. it STILL turned out WACK. I'm sorry!!

The ABC's of Texas!

2009-04-13T23:09:00.000-07:00

A lot of fun!

binkies, baths, blankies, bedtime, bubbles...

Claire!

doggy!... or should I say 'goggy'

Easter eggs!... and eggo waffles :)

fruit 'nackies'

Grace!

hold you! (meaning: I want you to hold me! Quite difficult when both girls want you!)

I lub you!

juicy in my 'bo-du'

Kiley!

lovin' living the life of a mom! haha

Mailbox trips... everyday!

now that I'm gone, I miss the Frodsham Family SO stinkin' bad!

Outings outside in the wonderful summer weather..

parks, pigtails, popsicles...'po-ka-ka

Quite an adventure with 2 year old twins!

riverwalk... Rita's for dinner, with Bridgette and the girls! Downtown..

San Antonio!

terrible two's... TIMES 2! No no it wasn't THAT bad... ;)

Umbrella...?! It rained HUGE raindrops one day!

very, VERY cute and fun girls!

Windy-everyday!

xcited' little girls... LOVED being with them!

You are my sunshine... :)

zZzzzZZzzzzZzzzz.... great naps for them- and me!

...please don't take...my sunshine away...

2009-04-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

I have been SO emotional lately, I have no clue why. I was sitting here with the twins, and their mom, dad, brother, and sisters called and wanted to talk to them. They are 2 and didn't talk super well on the phone, but when their mom and dad started singing this song, they filled in the words. It was SO cute. I teared up. I have never actually thought about the meaning of this song. A good friend of mine, a mom, an old neighbor, died a couple of weeks ago. She has 5 kids at home, from age 5 to 16. I am going to start tending them after school until their dad gets home, and be with them all day everyday this summer while he is at work. I am looking forward to it but everytime I think about their family, I tear up. I know it is going to be so hard for all of them to move on in life- ah anyway. Here are the lyrics to the rest of the song, and I just wanted to share it because it made me smile that these twin girls would sing it back to their mom. It helped me see how deep the love these parents have for their kids is, how much they miss them when they're away, and it just really touched my heart.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

you make me happy when skies are grey

you'll never know dear how much I love you

please don't take my sunshine away

The other night dear as I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you in my arms

when I awoke dear I was mistaken

and I held my head and cried

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

you make me happy when skies are grey

you'll never know dear how much I love you
please don't take my sunshine away

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

you make me happy when skies are grey

you'll never know dear how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

SO sleepy... but not tired!...?

2009-04-07T21:11:00.000-07:00

I was laying in bed, I actually fell asleep, then I woke up and tried to go back to sleep but it seemed impossible. I was laying there thinking of all the things I still needed to do before I went to bed, but my body was so worn out and wanted to sleep, although my mind didn't! Here is what I needed to do (In no particular order):
-Change out of my jeans into pajamas
-Lock the doors (The front foor was locked, but I wanted to double lock it, and the balcony I lock just to feel safer... I am SO paranoid after being robbed in Cali a couple of weeks ago.)
-Take out my contacts
-Shower!
-Clean the house
-Decide on what exactly to do with the twins tomorrow, If I wait and come up with something on the spot.. it usually doesn't work out!

I'm so glad a friend texted me, and I decided I really needed a drink, so now I am up! Did I do all of the things I said I needed to?... Nope! But I did do the most important ones :) Hopefully next time I get in bed tonight, I will be able to fall asleep- for good! (That is until the babies wake me up crying... gotta love it!)

OH-- Twins, babies.... I am in San Antonio Texas tending 2 year old twins for a lady that is basically my role model! I will take some pics and post them as soon as I get home! :)

...and for the next 18 months of my life I will be living and serving in....

2009-04-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

Well before I tell you WHERE I am going, I want to tell you the story of opening my call! Today is Thursday, most mission calls come on Wednesdays. I think it would have been fun to get it yesterday, because it being April Fools dan and all... could have been awesome! BUT it didn't come, so I figured it would come next week. I left Logan around noon to head to Bountiful to watch Taylor wrestle his little heart out at the district tournament. Just in case it came, I asked my roommate if she would bring it home. So I was at the tournament, when Sarah texted me and said guess what? I didn't think anything of it because I had asked her the same question a little before that and gave her some silly answer. BUT when she replied this is what it said...

YOUR CALL IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:) Of course I immediately began freaking out and started wondering how I was going to make it possible for all of my family to be there when I opened it because everyone had conflicting schedules. My dad had to be back in Logan by 5, Sarah wasn't planning on leaving Logan until 5 to come home ( and bring it.) I guess I will stop giving everydetail and get to the exciting part! My stepmom (LOVE HER!) left work early, broke into my apartment to get the call, then drove over an hour just to bring it to me and be there with me while I opened it. Don't forget we were all still at Taylors wrestling tournament and he obviously couldn't leave, neither could Tanner because he is a coach. SO we all went outside good ol' Viewmont high school and I opened it! My dad, stepmom, stepsis Angela, my mom, stepdad, brothers Tanner and Taylor, sister Kinsey (and her friend Hali)... were there! Mike got it on video so as soon as he gets home I will post it :) ok ok enough chit-chat. I am going to... Brazil! I am SO exited! I would write it all in caps- but then you would have seen it and skipped down to the end of this ever-so-long-and-pointless post! Anyway, it is the Maceio mission, on the coast, right around the farthest east part of the continent! I am scheduled to leave August 5th, but my stake president is going to see if he can sneak me there one transfer early! In that case I would be leaving June 23rd. Crazy Crazy Crazy! SO exciting! welll here are a few pics of the country :)

(Im)patiently waiting!

2009-03-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

Life has been pretty crazy lately, filled with fun stuff...(Spring break-New York! California-Nannying! Sisters dance competitions, brothers wrestling tournaments, family get togethers... ) annnnd some not-so-fun stuff...(a viewing/funeral, parents getting laid off, losing hours at work...) but through everything- I am surviving! I am so grateful for all of my wonderful friends and family, for the gospel that helps me smile on even the hardest days, and for the chance to wake up each day fresh and having a new great attitude! :) My mission call should come tomorrow, or next week, orrrr the next week... who knows! I am trying to think of something more exciting to blog about- but its not working! So I guess I will leave you with some pictures :)

These are my AWESOME roommates. Love them ta' death! (From left to right) Tasha, Marinda(In the front), Sarah, Me, Katie, Liz :)

The paint dance last semester!

Sarah and I in Times Square, in New York!

And lastly... me and lovely Lady Liberty! :)

... To the West!

2009-03-24T19:54:00.000-07:00

I went back to visit the wonderful family I have been nannying for in California. They live in a little city called Danville, its not far from Oakland and San Francisco. I was only there for a weekend, it rained most of the days but we got a little sun! It was crazy while I was there, someone broke into their house. We were blessed and they only took a safe, (which happened to still be empty!) but I'm pretty sure I walked in the house when they were there. I left to take Alexa to preschool, then went back to the house real quick to grab my book and a bottle for the baby, so I could wait for Samantha and Matthew

to be out of school. I noticed the side door in the garage was open and thought it was weird but I just shut it and locked it. Then when I got back with the kids, the front door was wide open and my make up bag was scattered in the hallway. When I looked in the master bedroom, all of the dad's dresser drawers had been dumped out into a laundry basket (which i knew was full of folded clothes when I left!) Luckily they hadn't made it any farther into the house, and didn't take anything else which is what makes me think that they were there when I ran in for a second. It was so scary and I wasn't sure what to do! We got it all figured out and they had a security system installed the next day! It was really sad though, they had gone to the next door neighbors house first and went through every single room in the house and took everything valuable including their big screen tv, and computers. Then a couple of the kids were sick with a really high fever... it was just an adventure!

Not sure how to label the pictures, but the first one is me with Alexa... I got a hair cut and color! :) The next one is Baby Joe (Joseph) after he climbed into the ball bin!

From the East coast...

2009-03-24T19:52:00.001-07:00

I went to New York for spring break! It was so much fun! SO neat to see everything, very tiring to walk all over the place to fit it all in!

Sooo... the papers are in!

2009-03-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

I have decided to serve a mission! My papers are in and I am waiting for my call. I turn 21 in June and I'm hoping to leave around then. Everyone is welcome to guess where they think I will go, I should give a gift to the winner! Anyway, I hope you enjoy following me on my adventures through this blog. :)