Finally under 600 days. :)

Look at that countdown! I am finally under the 600's! Haha. That's another milestone in my time of waiting. I'm cruiiiissiinnn. :)

Oh and Elder Graham made sure to remind me in my last letter that he makes 6 months his next transfer (in May). I didn't acknowledge it but I thought, "Hmm..guess I'm not the only one counting up!" Lol. I still won't talk about how much time has gone by or how much time is left though. I want to keep him focused.

Only 2 more weeks of school then finals then I'M HOMMEEEE!!!! :D Summer, i love you.

P.S. - I don't know why, but I just love this picture. Probably because I can hear and see exactly what he's doing with the dog even though I wasn't there. I just know him that well. He makes me smile and laugh without even trying. He makes me smile and laugh by just living. :) I love him...

Oh dang

I can't believe tomorrow marks 4 months already!!!! I'm so stoked aahhh!! Haha I know it's only 1/6th of my entire waiting period but you gotta admit, that is definitely an accomplishment! 4 months of success! I only have to do it 5 more times. Cheehee!

And...yeah...a lot can happen in one week, I'll just say that.

March = Choke Birthdays = FATTY Month

Yesterday - Happy 19th Birthday Christine!! Happy 19th Birthday Tarina!!

Today - Happy 19th Birthday Jill!!

Tomorrow - Happy 55th Birthday Daddy!! Happy 19th Birthday Rachel!!

Friday - Happy 19th Birthday to meeeee!! :)

Okay. I think that just about covers it. Gosh...all these birthdays means eating ice cream and cake over and over again. I reeeeallly need to start losing weight. I'll start working out more and trying to eat less and stuff AFTER my birthday. I need to look hot this summer! Ahh nah, who am I kidding? It's not like Josh will be surfing with me this summer. :( GAY! Last summer was so amazing surfing with him. Oh well, these will be my last 2 summers without him and then I'll never have to spend a day without him ever again :D

Yes! I'm almost out of the 600's (days)!! Freak, I barely even made a dent in the number of days I have left of waiting, hahaha. Whatevers. He'll be home soon enough, right? :) I have to stay positive or else I'll just be making this harder on myself.

Te amo...
Aloha wau ia 'oe...
Elder Joshua Graham.

Happy Early Birthday to ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I got to celebrate my birthday a week early this year. Since I went home for my grandfather's funeral, my family threw a little birthday dinner for me last night before I went to the airport to come back to Utah. My mommy made me a birthday cake and everything. I didn't get any amazing crazy expensive birthday presents from my parents this year and I didn't expect anything because honestly I was just happy to be home with my family, I really missed them and felt like I grew a lot closer to them over these past 5 days. But can I just say it feels like a sick joke that I fell asleep in beautiful, warm Hawaii last night and woke up to freezing, snowy UTAH?! (Only about a month and a half left... I can do it...I can survive...blehhh).

But I came back to college HAPPY!!!!!!!!! thanks to JOSH! Goodness...if it weren't for his package lying on my bed when I walked in the door I would've felt miserable. But for my birthday he sent me a letter, a motherload of my favorite candy (Twix & Dove Dark Chocolates), and his memory stick with CHOKE pictures and videos, including a special video he recorded of himself telling me happy birthday..and stuff. :) :) :) It made me so happy to hear his voice again and to see his smiling face. Although I think it's kinda funny he's so pale now :P hopefully he gets some tan back during the summers in Florida...oh yeah! I forgot to mention I got two very, very long birthday emails from him this morning (it's P-day).

Although I absolutely loved being home despite the slightly rainy and overcast weather, it kinda made it harder for me academicaly because now I'm totally in summer mode! At least I managed to go to my classes today...but I haven't studied yet. I gotta get on that. My dad told me right before we left for the airport that I have to finish this semester strong...I want to do it for myself, my parents, and for JOSH. I love him so much... :) His binder is getting too thick and heavy...I might need another one already! :P

Oh and one more thing..Happy 19th Birthday Christine!

I passed the 100 day mark! :)

I haven't blogged in forever! I think that's a good sign though, it shows I've been busy and focusing on other things rather than moping around missing Josh. I was so happy on Thursday! I got 3 envelopes in the mail from him! 2 letters and 1 pass along card with the temple on it with little notes written all over the back of it. He makes me so happy, I love him so much. Little things everyday remind me of how much I love him and how right this is. I can't help but smile. :)

Fast update: My grandfather passed away last week, so I'm about ready to go to the airport to fly home (YES!!) for his funeral. Although I am not happy he has passed away, it was definitely the best thing for him at this point because he was so depressed after my grandma passed away a year ago, and he's been in really bad health for a very long time too. It was his time, and at least he is happy with my grandma and at peace. I love him and he will be missed.

While I was unloading my little Hello Kitty suitcase to use for this trip last night, I found my old plane tickets from last October...when I flew home to see Josh for halloween weekend. I started crying because of course it brought back such amazing memories that I don't want to ever forget and I miss him...and also because...I guess when your missionary has been gone for a while you begin to wonder if it was even real..and just holding that plane ticket in my hands was reassurance to me that, yes, this is real: his love for me is real, my love for him is real, and the fact that we will be married for time and all eternity someday is real.

I Love Mondays (never thought I'd ever say that!)

Email from Josh. Excuse the spelling errors, he was rushing.

"Thanks for evrything!!!! Your the best friend ever!!!!! :) I wanted to share with something that I learnedd this morning after prayers!!! I was thinking about things and then i remembered the other side of heaven the movie and his wife did wait for him but she was his friend and not his girlfriend and he also waited for her!!! :) I promise that as we put the lord first he will make our pathways straight and will bless us!!!! "

Happy 3 Months!!!

Yesterday I officially hit my 3 month mark in waiting for Josh!! I've heard that the first three months are the hardest and the worst (and it's true!) so I'm definitely grateful and relieved it's over! I'm now 1/8th done with waiting! I'm so so thankful for everyone that helped me reach this point - especially Heavenly Father, Jaso, Phill, Josh's parents, and my Mom. Those are the people that have helped me most significantly and I have no idea how I'd have survived without them. I know I still have a long way to go, but I feel like celebrating because I've done so well so far! I know I'm not perfect, but I'd consider these past three months successful and I only have 21 more to go. Yay me :) This will be over before I know it. :)

Oh and tambien, I officially decided that I'm going to try and learn Spanish over these next two years. Of course Josh was my inspiration (lol) but everyone keeps telling me to learn something new to make the time go by faster, and I have Spanish speaking friends here at BYU who can tutor me. So far it's been fun!

And due to popular demand, I'll tell you all what that last post means (in general terms):

"If we both keep putting the Lord FIRST, it'll prepare us for what WILL come after my mission (marriage)." :D :D :D

:) More email love today!

"yo se que si nosotros enfocamos en el senor solomente, despues mi mision nosotros vamos a listos para qual es despues!!! :) "

He told me that he'll tell me what it means one day, but I cheated and got my little Chilean friend to translate for me. Isn't he the absolute best??? :) :)

I <3 Getting Emails!!! :)

Oh my gosh! I'm so happy! Got more emails from Josh today. Aaaaand he thanked me for the stuff I sent him for Valentine's Day...aaannnd he said he's been THINKING A LOT about me... annnddd yay :) :)

He's the best thing to ever happen to me. Ever.

Te amo mi novio <3

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know everyone expects me to be depressed today that Josh is gone, but what made me wake up happy was I had a text from my mom, "Happy Valentine's Day". I realized that Valentine's day isn't ONLY for couples who are in love and all that romantic stuff. It's also a good today to remind you of everyone in your life that you've been blessed with and that you love. I love my mom, and I know she loves me. I thought it was so cute to get that text, it shows she's thinking of me and knows I must be missing Josh. Of course I miss him, but it's not like I'm going to lay in bed with a box of chocolates I bought myself as I stare at his pictures. Nah. I'm going to spend the day with people I care about. So, Happy Valentine's day everyone!

And yes, Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Josh. ily :)