Sunday, February 27, 2011

Gratitude for Good Friends

Tonight I just want to express my gratitude for one of my best friends. Someone I can talk to about anything. And he's the same with me. We were pretty much talking all night. I started texting him on my lunch break, and he called me tonight, then we moved to chatting on facebook and when his internet died we went back to texting. (Okay, I know that some of you are probably wondering who this guy is. We both mutually say that it is NOT a love-interest. We're just really good friends...more like siblings than anything else) I wrote him his whole mission, he wrote me my whole mission. I watched him grow on the mission, he watched me grow on the mission. And we've always been there for the other. Back before he left, going on 4 years ago now, we talked regularly. He gave me boy advice, I gave him girl advice. Then he went on his mission, and we switched to letters for 3 1/2 years. This was the first real conversation we've had. And it was right back to the same old same old. I gave him girl advice...though didn't ask for/want any boy advice from him. We laughed and shared some memories. Yes, I'm very grateful to have been blessed to have him for a friend.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Negative Nellie...

*Disclamer* This is not exactly the most positive blog post. If you're having a crappy day don't read it. I promise...there's nothing important in here anyway, it's mostly just to get some disappointments out of my system so I can sleep tonight.

Wow. What a day it has been. Maybe it's because I slept in...until almost 11:00--I felt SO horrible and guilty for doing that. But I kinda don't think so, because everything that made the day not-so-great was completely out of my control.

I got a letter from Sister Cabello. That made me super excited to get because I love and miss her so much! But she started the letter by telling me that one of the families we baptized and love so dearly have gone inactive. Completely inactive. (The last I'd heard is that they were preparing to go to the temple later this year.) But even worse...she told me that it sounds like they'll be getting a divorce! That just made me sick! My heart is breaking. I'm so far away. Yes, I can call them (thanks to the blessing of having served in the States), but I can't go visit them and talk to them face to face to help them realize that it's just Satan trying to break up their family so they can't become an eternal family. Because, let's face it, what good would that do to Satan's plan if they can be sealed for eternity? That news has just put me into a slump today. I want to cry is what I want to do! This family WAS my family for the time that we were teaching them! I'm at a loss of words to explain how I feel right now...probably the only way anyone would understand would be if they've been through something similar.

And then later, I got a text from someone who was one of my really good friends before I left on my mission saying that he was up in Rexburg from Provo for the weekend. It just had to be on a night when I'd decided to stay home and help with the painting that I've been putting off instead of going dancing to save money. But, he told me that they were planning on taking a Denny's run tonight, meaning they'd leave Rexburg around midnight or so and come down here to IF for some fun times. Duh I was excited! I mean, I would have been able to see some of my best friends I haven't seen in a long while and go on a Denny's run, both things that I've missed. But that's right. Would have been able to. I texted them around midnight to see if they were going to be coming. No response. I texted them again around 1 because I kinda needed to know because I do have to work in the morning. And I got the reply of "Sorry Kira. We forgot to tell you. We got too tired and aren't going." Of course. Should I have expected anything different? So now, I probably won't be able to see him for who-knows-how-much longer. Because I work all day tomorrow and then have to finish preparing the talk I'm giving on Sunday in my YSA branch. And Sunday is full of meetings and church. Oh well. I guess I should be used to not seeing my friends...after all, I did have over 18 months of not really having any contact with anyone.

Sorry for the negativity to anyone who actually takes the time to read my random thoughts. But I just had to get this out of my system, and putting it on my blog will make it so much easier and more organized to find when I have time to actually sit down and write in my journal sometime when my sister isn't asleep and I can have my light on.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Acclimatizing...

Wow. It really has been a month. I remember back when I was a brand new missionary in the MTC, so homesick that I couldn't hardly stand it, I felt like I'd never go home. And now I've been home for an entire month. And it has been a good month. I've enjoyed getting to know my family again, and a few of my friends. I've jumped back into work. I've gotten over my fear of technology. I've seen a few movies. And I've thought about, and missed horribly, the mission every single day.

I used to think that people were crazy when they said that they still thought about their mission every day when they'd been home for several years. But now I'm beginning to understand why. A mission is something that changes lives. The 18 months I served my Heavenly Father changed me. They made me into who I am today--the person I want to be, and I know Heavenly Father wants me to be.

I have become one of those people who think about their mission every single day. And it won't surprise me 5 years from now if I still do. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve. I learned so many wonderful things. I received so many wonderful blessings. I met so many wonderful people. I had so many wonderful experiences. I've got the knowledge and the blessings. But the people, the experiences. Those are the things that I miss. There is nothing like being a missionary.

But now, I am an RM. That is definitely taking some getting used to. Life is so much better when I am busy. If I'm just sitting around I go crazy! I can't stand it! I am so used to the rigid schedule of a missionary. I miss the mission a whole lot more when I'm not busy. It's hard not having the depth of studies I had as a missionary. I still study every day. I don't leave my room before I've done my scripture study. But it's just not the same. I've seen several of my male friends, and when I do I stick out my hand for a good, hearty handshake...but they hug me. The first little bit that was REALLY hard. Now it is getting easier, but it's still weird. Hugging a guy? It was completely off-limits for 18 months of my life! I couldn't listen to "worldly" music for a few weeks. I tried, but immediately turned it off. I can't in good conscience sit down and watch TV. Not that I watched much before, but I feel weird watching TV. But I have started listening to "worldly" music. I've got the radio in my car tuned, not to the country station I always listened to before I left, but to a Spanish station. Yea! That makes me happy! And I do sit down and watch a few TV shows with my family...Wipeout, Hawaii 5-O...Yeah, I'm hooked. And I stay up late at night (obviously, from the time I'm posting this). But life is so different. Everyone tells me that it will continue to get better with time, and I'm sure it will, but for now I'm working to get used to life as an RM. (Too bad it's not as easy as taking off my coat and saying that I'm going to get used to the weather if it kills me, like I did on my way to church today despite the snow. And ya know, it really wasn't that cold!)

Friday, February 11, 2011

When Life Throws it's Punches

Wow. Today was a day that I most certainly didn't expect. Well, I did expect the day. I've been planning for a while now to go up to Rexburg to figure out my life for the next little bit in terms of school. I've only got 17 more necessary credits to graduate. That's student teaching and my Senior Practicum. Not bad at all, is it. But then, life threw a punch. I now speak Spanish. That's not something I did 2 years ago when I was planning out my education/ graduation plan. And I found out today that if I take 3 Spanish Language tests (and pay a very affordable $30 to get the grades put on my transcript) and 13 extra credits I'll be able to get an endorsement in Teacher Education for Students of Other Languages (technically minor, except as an elementary ed major I'm not allowed to have a minor so they call it an endorsement) in Spanish. Yeah, that would be SUCH a blessing. I would normally jump all over that...but here's the real punch. I've already got 100 credit hours. BYU-Idaho wants you gone at 120 credit hours. If I do get my TESOL endorsement, I would have to take 12 -14 credits the next 2 semesters, plus have up to 12 credits added for the Spanish classes, and my student teaching which would put me way over the 120 credits. But honestly, the more I think about it, the better I feel. I mean, Heavenly Father didn't call me to speak Spanish to use it for 18 months a put that language ability at the back of the junk drawer never to be found again! I want to use Spanish for the rest of my life! So it sounds like something that could potentially be a HUGE blessing. This is definitely something I'm going to have to make a serious matter of prayer, because this has all been thrown at me in the past few hours. I know that Heavenly Father will take care of me as I follow the promptings of the Spirit to do what is best for me. But I may not be student teaching and graduating in the fall, but rather in the winter.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Kira-ology

So, I was bored the other night, and looked at my facebook notes... I found a couple on there that I figured I could up-date and put up here so y'all can get to know me better!

The world according to me! :) After you read this, do your own. Label the note (your name)+ ology!

***********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice? -Honey Mustard

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? - Olive Garden

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? - Mexican! Oh how I miss real Mexican food. I just can't make it the same as the wonderful sisters in the mission made it.

What are your pizza toppings of choice? - Pepperoni and JalapeƱos

Pancakes or waffles? - waffles, but they have to be crispy

Chocolate or Vanilla? - I don't like chocolate pudding or ice cream, unless it has lots of additives (ie rocky road)
***********TECHNOLOGY***************
How many televisions are in your house? - 3

What color cell phone do you have? -Black

Do you have a laptop? - Sure do...a brand-spankin' new one that I get to play with

***************BIOLOGY******************

Are you right-handed or left-handed? - Righty

What color are your eyes?- It depends on what I'm wearing. Some days they're green and others they're blue

Have you ever had anything removed from your body? - My tonsils and a couple of moles. And a chunk of my calf thanks to a lovely Rottweiler.

What is the last heavy item you lifted? - A laundry basket full of stuff I needed to re-stock at work

Have you ever been knocked unconscious? - Not that I recall, but then again, if I had been knocked unconscious, would I remember it?
************NONSENSEOLOGY**************

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? - Nope I kinda try to live every day like it's my last.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to? - I'd give myself a middle name of Lynn. Now that my mom looks back, that's what she wished she'd done in the first place, but oh well.

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? -Psh. Yeah. When it comes to my taste buds, the hotter the better

If you had to choose between being blind or deaf, which would you choose? -Well, I've simulated sight impairments and that was rough, so I'd have to say deaf

************DUMBOLOGY******************


How many pairs of flip flops do you own? - One, and they have been all over the place (they went with me on my mission)

Last time you had a run-in with the cops?- On the mission. I know...you're probably all thinking "Kira! What did you do?!?" But I wasn't driving. I wasn't even the co-driver. I was in the backseat. It was dark, and my companion pulled out in front of a cop and kinda cut him off. He pulled her over to make sure everything was okay. It was...she just didn't see him coming.

Last person you talked to on the phone? - My mom

Last person you hugged? -Sister Reed

**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
Season? - Spring

Holiday? - Christmas

Day of the week? - Sunday!

Month? - June!
***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
Missing someone? - Lots of someones...most of them are in New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas

Mood? - Relaxed

What are you listening to? - Kinda the Superbowl...but not really

Watching? -Again, the Superbowl is on in the background, but I'm not paying much attention.

Worrying about? -I've been pretty care-free since I got home.

***************RANDOMOLOGY****************
First place you went this morning? - A meeting before church

Do you smile often? - All the time

Do you always answer your phone? -Unless I'm working, yeah

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? - I don't really go to Sonic

Do you own a digital camera? - Yes. It helped me get lots of memories on film to always remember the mission!

Have you ever had a pet fish? - Yep

What's on your wish list for your birthday? - Umm...I just got Christmas like 2 weeks ago. I haven't even started thinking about my birthday. I guess it would be a great birthday present to be able to go on a date with someone

Can you do push ups? - Maybe...but I doubt it

Can you do a chin up? - Heck no

Does the future make you more nervous or excited? - I'm kind of a fan of the unknown, so the future makes me pretty excited

Do you have any saved texts? -Not on my new phone. At least not yet.

Ever been in a car wreck? - Yep. It'll be 5 years ago next week.

Do you have an accent? - I kinda have a Texan accent...and when I speak Spanish, people say that I've got a pretty good Mexican accent. So yeah. I do. And Sister Cabello (my companion from Peru) tells me that I just have a really lazy accent.

What is the last song to make you cry? - Umm...all I remember is that it was one of the songs we were listening to as we were driving to the mission home. And I think it was on one of my Kory Kunz CD's.

Plans tonight - Hopefully I'll talk to a good friend I haven't talked to since before the mission. And I think we're gonna watch a movie.

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? -Actually, I know I have. That was NOT a good time, but with the help of my Savior and His Atonement, I was able to overcome it and am SO much

Name 3 things you bought yesterday? - Nothing

Have you ever been given roses? -Unless you count corsages from dances in high school, no

Met someone who changed your life? - Oh yeah. Lots of someones. I'm sure you know who you are

How did you bring in the New Year? - Waking up to the fireworks that were going off over my missionary apartment, groggily wishing myself a happy new year and wondering for a split second what adventures this new year would bring, and rolling over to go right back to sleep

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? - Yes

Have you ever dated someone longer than a year? - No

Do you have any tattoos/piercings? - Just my ears

Does anyone love you? - My family does, among other people

Have you ever been sung to?- Yes, for my birthday

Do you like to cuddle? - Yes I do

Have you held hands with anyone today? - No

Who was the last person you took a picture of? - Me personally? The last time I used my camera to take a picture was as I was going down the escalator at the airport to take pictures of my family. But the last picture on my camera is of Jill and I being reunited!

Do you believe in staying close with your exes? - It probably depends on the guy. I don't know

Are most of the friends in your life new or old? - New

What is something your friends make fun of you for? -I had some missionary friends make fun of me for baking Bob the Tarantula

Have you ever ridden an elephant? -No

What are you saving your money up for right now? - College

When is the last time you ate peanut butter and jelly? - I honestly, truly, don't remember

Suriving Civilian Life

Well, here I am again. I'm still alive and kicking. And I'm adjusting to life quite well. I love my job. It's a great way to adjust to "normal" life again. Let's see...what have I done this week? I worked a couple of days. I went to the mall with mom...and found yet another super cute outfit! I babysat my cousin's daughters...SO adorable! We played wii...and they wanted to break out the barbies just as their mom got back to pick them up. So I told them that one day that I'm off work this week I'd go pick them up and bring them back here to play barbies.

I was also able to go to the temple a couple of times. Once I went with a former District Leader from the mission. It was great to see him again. But I'm not gonna lie...it was a little weird to hug an elder from the mission. The other time I went with my dad. Mom was going to go with us, but she wasn't feeling well, so we got to go on a daddy-daughter date. That was nice too.

I went out to the YSA branch again today. There were lots of familiar faces, though several new ones as well. It was good to be back out there. I already have a calling: I'm the FHE coordinator. I like that calling! I've had it once before...except in the summer. So I get to plan all of the FHE activities until I go back to school. That will be fun! I'm pretty excited!

So...I feel like there were all sorts of things I wanted to say in this blog, but I can't remember any of them right now. So I guess I'm not going to blog about those things. Oh well. Enjoy!

OH! Before I post this! I remember what it was! I went Latin Dancing Friday night! It was SO super amazing! I had 18...well, 19, months of built-up "I wanna dance" energy. The music started, and my feet started moving. And they didn't stop moving until I got in my car to come home over 2 hours later. I had so much fun! The first guy who asked me to dance asked what I'm studying and where I'm living and all that good stuff, and when I said that I'd just gotten home from a mission, he kinda jumped back (mid-dance) and was like "Are you okay with this?!" It was pretty funny. And there was another guy who was spinning me right and left. Yeah, that was pretty fun. I really had forgotten how fun Latin Dancing is! I can't wait to get back there and be able to go dancing every weekend. But for now, I'll be up there as often as my schedule permits...and gas money.