San Antonio and the End of the Semester

Texas is AWESOME!! My dad and I had so much fun in the short three-ish days we've been here. He said at first he didn't want me to come because he didn't want to spend the money on my ticket, but he kept saying how glad he was I came. I was pretty much the best co-pilot navigator ever. Lol. We went out to eat with Isaac, Shy, and Fenix the night we got in. It felt soo good to be reunited with some family again! I knocked out around 6:30 pm and slept until 8 the next morning. We went straight to Isaac's Basic Military Training graduation after I finished getting ready. Somehow, I got ready in less than an hour! That was amazing, hahaha. But his graduation ceremony was really cool and nice and short (less than an hour). I was so proud of him as I watched him march with his flight/squadron. He said he was almost an Honor graduate and he exceeded the requirements to be one, but they only take the top ten percent and there were choke guys who took it. That's okay, I know he was an awesome trainee anyways. We spent a lot of time talking story pretty much the whole weekend, and he told us all about his experiences here at basic training on the Lackland Air Force Base. O.m.g. I could not believe some of the stories he told us. He said that, hands down, this was THE hardest experience he has ever gone through, and will ever go through in his life. But he feels the strongest sense of accomplishment now that it's over. I'm so glad we got to come and support him. For the past 8 weeks, he was not allowed any sort of device like a cell phone, laptop, any connections to the outside world. The T.I.'s (Training Instructors) were pretty much the devil. People got punished and yelled at and put down for even the tiniest thing like smiling at a joke. If you smiled, you got reprimanded and punished. Everything was harsh. Isaac told me that a girl last week tried to commit suicide by jumping off the third floor of her dormitory building but the T.I.'s stopped her. Men breaking down in tears isn't something they're not used to. My brother sometimes had 23 hour days, but on average they were about 19 hour days. Basic training pushes you to the limits physically, mentally, and emotionally. He said he looked forward to Sundays when he was allowed to attend church. They had a small little ward for the LDS members but had to hurry out after it was over for the next religious group to use that same room for worship. He told us about doing "The Beast" (which I didn't really understand what it was, but judging from the name it sounds not very fun :/). But the worst thing he had to do was this tear gas challenge.

Tear gas, or lachrymatory agent, is a chemical compound that stimulates the corneal nerves in the eyes to cause tearing, pain, and even blindness. It works by irritating mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, mouth and lungs, and causes crying, sneezing, coughing, hard breathing, etc. So basically it was a test to see if they could put on their gas masks properly (it sounded complicated). The trainees would put their own masks on, go into the room filled with tear gas, and if you didn't collapse in pain or go into unconsciousness or anything, then you put your mask on properly. After that, they were required to remove their masks, STILL in the tear gas room, and state their name, what flight they were in, social security number, etc. But the gas has an immediate affect right when you take off the mask, so my brother (and pretty much everyone else) could barely get past saying their names when they just couldn't speak. Mucous just starts running out of your nose and your eyes tear up like crazy and you can't even breathe. After they were let out of that room you just see everyone looking all gross and coughing for like ten full minutes. Terrible.

So, needless to say, Isaac had a very hard time adjusting to BMT at first. I mean, he went from living everyday in a happy environment with his wife and son, having it pretty easy and access to all his electronic devices to straight discipline, training, and zero contact with any loved ones. But eventually he gained enough strength and wisdom to get through it all. It was kinda touching because he told me that he'd have nightly personal prayers with this one other Mormon dude in his flight (but wasn't really active prior to coming to BMT) and towards the end they'd sometimes get 10 or 12 guys to join them in those prayers. I'd say BMT is one place where men really start to depend upon God a lot more than they used to. I am so proud of him for sticking this out and staying strong!

Other than the whole graduation and everything, we went to the Riverwalk which was so much fun! We took a boat ride along the San Antonio river and had a little tour. We ate at Chili's, got to talk some more. We were gonna go to the Spurs vs. Mavs NBA playoff game last night, but the tickets sold out way too fast. And I was gonna go with Isaac and Shy them to Six Flags Fiesta amusement park today but my flight leaves in like an hour. I'm excited to see my family this upcoming week though!! Everyone's flying up to Utah for Jake's graduation from UVU and Holden's baby blessing.

I can't believe I'm here. Not in Texas, but I mean...here. In time. At the end of my last semester at BYU in Provo. This semester flew by faster than a blink of an eye. Every school day was crazy busy with studying and work, and every weekend was party after party after party. Now I am one week away from going home and I'm so excited. I chose to work on the USS Missouri as a tour guide because it's the smart thing to do, and I just found out my friend from high school/cross country team mate/BYUH soon to be classmate, Christy Wong, got hired there too!! So we're gonna work together!! I'm so excited!! Heavenly Father has blessed me sooo much, there's not enough space or time to name everything that I'm so grateful for. But he has definitely hooked me up in every way possible. Everything I've been looking forward to has already happened or is already happening!! Holden being born, Adrienne being born, Isaac's BMT graduation, Jacob's UVU graduation, going home, surfing again, Robin coming home THIS upcoming week, Josh coming home in less than 7 months.....I'm trippin out. Today I was looking at myself in the mirror and was pretty grossed out...how did I let myself go for so long???

My #1 Goal for this summer = self-discipline.
Self-discipline with work, to be grateful for it and to enjoy it as much as possible, to do my best at my job and to work as many hours as I am offered.
Self-discipline with money, to SAVE SAVE SAVE and SAVE some more. Everyone knows how much deep kimchi I am in with this already...
Self-discipline with personal scripture study & personal prayers. Just because I am going home doesn't mean I need to lose all the great progress I've made with this while at BYU.
Self-discipline with physical fitness. Surfing and/or running EVERYDAY. Do not, and I repeat DO NOT overeat just because I can have GOOD local food again.
Self-discipline with waiting. Umm, I have no idea if I'm gonna go on any dates this summer. But I need to do better at writing letters than I did last summer. Last summer letter writing was an epic fail -_-.


Whew. Longest post ever. Gotta catch my plane now. HALO TOMORROW!!!! :)

Quad F.

Facebook Fast for Finals.
DON'T LAUGH!! I so can do this.

I got Quad F from something my surfer friends back home came up with. Quad S for Super Secret Surf Spot. I can't wait to go home and surf!! But I'm going to work sooo much this summer. I won't get to surf as often as I did last summer. It's okay though, small sacrifice to stay home for school :).

Seriously though, I want to finish this semester off strong. Well I just need to pass all my classes so that I can get the credits for competing it. When I start at BYU-Hawaii, my GPA from here won't transfer there. So I can get straight C's and get all my credits and be fine :) Hahaha. I should probably aim higher for that.

Random last note, 33 WEEKS LEFT!! Almost down in the 20's. Yay!

Gotta let go, to let it grow.

Last night, I made a very important decision.
Today, I am taking a hard step. One which requires immense faith.

I just hope I am doing the right thing... :/

I'm in love with a boy...

Whenever he looks at me with those deep blue eyes, I just melt inside...
His skin is so soft, I can't help but want to hug him...hold him...kiss him...
He has the most gorgeous hair
When I first saw him, I knew my life was changed and that it was love at first sight

Yes, I must admit, I am in love..........

with my new baby nephew!!!



Holden Ikaika McMillan a.k.a. "Pichu"
born Friday, March 26, 2010
at 12:00 PM, weighing in at 6 lbs. 13 oz.

It's amazing that he's finally here!!

I have the funniest/cutest nephews/baby sister EVER!

So my little brother Nainoa made this video...I've forgotten how hilarious they all are. I can't wait to go home!!! 5 more weeks!!! :D

Priesthood Blessings.

Yesterday started off amazing and then horrible then stressful then depressing and regretful.

And then I got a Priesthood blessing from my two guy friends (who are also my home teachers).

I cannot fully express how grateful I am that they remain worthy and honor their priesthood. I'd be so lost without the comfort and peace and reassurance I felt from the moment they laid their hands upon my head.

I know I will make it through all of this.

Turning to prayer.

My friend gave me this link to an AWESOME general conference talk by Richard G. Scott called Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer and it really helped me out with all these decisions weighing on my mind lately. It hasn't gotten any easier, but I've been able to go about it in a smarter way, with the Spirit.

Today started off pretty well. I was planning on sleeping in because my first class (which is normally at 11 am) got canceled. But for some reason, I haven't been able to sleep well at all lately and kept waking up. I just ended up getting out of bed at around 915-ish, which is when I usually get ready for class. So I decided to go running at around 10. It was such a beautiful day out and I really had no excuse not to run! Except how pathetically out of shape I am...I was dying and this thin air didn't help at all. I only ran for 25 min. But I got a lot of thinking done during that 25 min. Got ready for the day. Checked the mail and my day immediately got about ten times better. :)

First I got a letter from Josh. I love his letters! They aren't just boring, plain envelopes with one piece of paper in it that takes 2 seconds to read. For the past year our letters have been really interesting, haha. We always draw on the envelope we're sending (his artwork is WAY better than mine) and we always put little weird things in it from that week. Like in my Valentine's package/letter...I got some rocks and leaves from his backyard. It's funny how you treasure even the littlest, weirdest things just because they're from a special someone. So today's letter had writing and drawings on the envelope as usual, then I opened it and there was freaking...I don't even know inside. Hahaha. After reading the letter, I found out it was some stick that was from his dinner at Macaroni Grill and he broke it up into pieces, so it looked like a bunch of Christmas tree pine needles were in my envelope! I just shook my head and laughed and said "What a weirdo...hahaha."

But not only did I get a letter from Josh! His family sent me a care package for my birthday! And not a small one either, it was the biggest flat rate package box you can send (costs $14.50) and it was FULL of local snacks and ohhh my gosshhhh I was SOOOOO HAPPY!!! I wasn't even expecting it either!! I love his family so freaking much, I feel like I was truly meant to be a part of it. So later on I'm going to call Mama Graham them to thank them. They really didn't need to send me anything, a simple card would've been fine (which I also got :smile: ) but I'm just really grateful for the care package! I must send them a thank you card too.

I know that these past 15 1/2 months have been a crazy ride. Literally. I don't think it was that many significant events occurred (even though there kind of have been a lot..), but a lot of changes have occurred within myself. I've never tried this hard to be so faithful. I've never consistently had an attitude of the eternal perspective in my everyday life. I've never so consistently studied the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon with such depth and patience and respect. My testimony has grown so much. This is why I want to serve a mission so badly. I look at myself and my whole life as an "active" member of the church and then I look at me now. I know I was young and had yet to grow and mature, but I haven't had an active Spirit until now. And I credit the spark to the flame to Josh. The very fact that he is on a mission made me want to be a better person. In the beginning, I told myself "If I don't stay close to God, I won't be close to him. Whether or not I'm successful in this waiting process depends on the brightness of my testimony." So initially, I wanted to do it for him. But as I have further indulged myself in the gospel, there's this fire, this desire I can't really explain. I actually look forward to reading my scriptures each morning/night. It makes me want so badly to share it with the world. Everyone is equally loved by our Father in Heaven, and they deserve to come to this knowledge too. This knowledge of hope and love and peace.

I used to tell myself that going on a mission would be my back-up plan. Even though I was so very determined to make our relationship work, I just told myself, just in case, that I'd serve a mission if things don't work out between us.

Things have been working out. In fact, it's more than that. We've been so edified in each other and our testimonies have bonded and grown together. I love him on a level I never knew possible before. I thought it was all about feelings and passions for a special person. Now I see it as something so much more. It's as if we've become one with and in each other. His success equals my success. His happiness equals my happiness. Maybe this is what being sealed to someone for time and all eternity means? I hope that one day we will share that experience together. I suspect that in marriage, it doesn't mean life will be easier and more comfortable now that we are united, never to be separated again. It just means we covenant to take on greater commitments, to aspire to accomplish greater works with each of us contributing our spirits and personalities. I sure as heck don't expect parenthood to be easy, haha. But I think that's why it was meant to be shared by two people: both a mother and a father. It's not so that their ideas and methods of parenting can clash, it's so they can share the burden and build upon each other.

I really believe that choosing marriage or a mission would both be great works to undertake. I can't even imagine all the opportunities to serve that would come up. Bringing souls unto Christ, or bringing spirits into this world. We'll see which path I decide to take when I come to that fork in the road at the close of this year. The best thing to do now would be to turn to prayer. To continue to diligently and sincerely pray to be guided by the Lord. For now, I'll just prepare myself to enter the temple of the Lord. So that when I do make that decision, I will, without a doubt, be ready for what God would have me do.

If I had a billion dollars...

I would spend it on:

-paying off my debt
-paying mine and Josh's tuition
-buying a truck that fit all our surfboards/beach bums in the bed
-buying Josh an English Bulldog puppy for his 22nd birthday/homecoming present
-taking me and Josh on a surf tour to Indo, Ozzy, Mexico & Tahiti
-and live happily ever after in a beach house with Josh

Now alls I gotta do is become famous/ridiculously smart and/or good looking so I can make a lot of money. TOTALLY possible!!!

Yeah right. Sigh. Now back to reality.. -_-

9 months.

So as of today I officially have exactly 9 months left until Josh comes home.

Wait a second...9 MONTHS?! Are you kidding me??? I'm finally down to the single digits in months before he comes home?? This feels too surreal. And exciting. I feel so accomplished. But I shouldn't get ahead of myself, there are still 9 months left before I can feel totally accomplished.

Yesterday my boss called and said I could have the day off because it was so slow at work, so when Ben called me at 12-ish to ask if I wanted to go hiking, I was like HECK YES!!!! The sun was out and it was SUCH a beautiful day. All the pictures are posted on my facebook in an album. He took some amazing shots. It was just awesome. All my muscles are pretty sore now, but it was totally worth it.

9 months...wow....that's like a pregnancy. Those go by pretty quick right? Haha. I wouldn't know. But I know that my sisters' pregnancies felt like time just flew by. They're giving birth in like a month!!!! Ho.ly.crap.

I really hope these next 9 months fly by. Seriously. I'm tired of waiting, but I don't want to give up. Sigh. I've come this far, I can stay strong until the end.

Just a little jealous.

So my room mate is officially/unofficially engaged. They both talked about marriage and are setting a date. The reason I say "unofficially" is because she hasn't gotten the ring yet. She will soon, though. They went ring shopping this weekend and she picked it out. It's beautiful! I'm just a little jealous though...it makes me miss Josh so much more. I'm kinda sad. All good things come with time though, right? I keep saying all this waiting will someday be worth it. And I know that day will come.