Halloween is almost here!

Happy almost Halloween everybody!! It's October 24th already! Wow. I can't believe how fast time is going by. Tyler leaves the MTC on Tuesday so to make sure I got him some Halloween stuff before he left I had to get it sent by tomorrow, which is Thursday. Anyways, besides the point. Here's everything I put in his care package!

Candy of course. Tyler likes butterfinger so I bought him that the other day at the store. And reeses and snickers, everyone likes reeses and snickers. Rolos... most people like those, too, right? And I sent him some kisses cuz everyone needs kisses! :)

 

Here's a list of whats all inside!

 

 Yes, I made sucker ghosts. haha I'm not creative so I have to do stuff like this. But It was funner than I remembered. You know, making ghost suckers.

And to the right are the lyrics of Hope of Isreal. Random yes, but I felt like I should send him the lyrics for some reason so I wrote them out on a card. The verses are on the other side.

 

I don't really know how to use blogger....I wish these words were up there ^. Oh well. So the little baggies are full of cookies and chocolate covered pretzels. I wanted to make them myself but I really didn't have time so wal-mart will have to do. I tried the pretzels tho, I approve.

 

  Scrapbook pages! So if you don't already know I made Tyler a scrapbook and sent it will him when he left on his mission. There were two pages in there when I sent it with him but the idea is that I'll send him a page or two every so often so we can keep in touch and hopefully he'll have a full scrapbook in two years if I don't slack off too much! The one on the left is of my visit right before he left. It was also the weekend of my birthday so there is a picture of the present he gave me and then some pictures of us. And farm stickers. Perfect. :) I love it there.  The one on the right is just a short note to help him stay motivated and uplifted. He is really awesome.

 Everything in the box! I dumped the candy out of the bag...I'm really hoping none of it melts that would be really awful.

And with the scrapbook pages and a Happy Halloween sign on top. :)

I of course wrote him a letter and put it in here, too.

 

 

I hope you are having a wonderful October day! There aren't many left.

Love,

Kelli

P.S. Sorry about the picture quality. I have to use my phone to take pictures, maybe I should invest in a camera...

Today is the day I got a Tyler email!

COLLEGE IS HARD. I didn't sleep at all last night because I have so much to do and I really really don't know how I'm going to get it all done. I woke up and went to work and class. We got out of class early so I was able to work on one of my projects! And then I remembered that my next class was cancelled and the one after that! So I went home and continued working on my project and then I got a text from Kristy (Tyler's mom) that Tyler wanted my email address. I really tried not to get too excited but...a little bit later I got an email from him! It was already the end of his computer time so he just told me he was writing me a letter and good stuff like that. It was short and perfect and it gave me the much needed strength to knock out a four page paper within the next hour. Thank you Tyler boy! Taylor should get his call this week I just remembered. I am soo excited, I hope he gets to learn spanish, but anywhere would be amazing. :) So many good things are happening! I can't believe its already October 23rd. Camille I'm going to see you in less than two months! The countdown is on :)
I love life!
Love,
Kelli


“It is a risk to love. wait
But what if it doesn't work out?
Ah, but what if it does. ”
― Peter McWilliams

Love you Tyler Schumacher :)

Thoughts and Happenings

Tonight, I accidentally ate a lot a lot of cookies. Tonight, I also listened to the talk by Elder Christofferson titled Brethren, We Have Work to Do. (To listen to it, which I highly highly recommend, especially if you are male, click here: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/brethren-we-have-work-to-do?lang=eng&media=video.) It talks a lot about how men need to step it up. This isn't the time for priesthood holders to be slacking! Don't get me wrong, women have A LOT to work on, too, especially myself but it amazes me how perfectly inspired our general authorities are. There are a lot of boys around me who act just as that, boys. We need men. We need men who will step up and act in the name of Christ, to take his name upon them, to bring the world his truth. We don't need boys who only care about impressing their peers. We don't need boys who stand idly by not knowing what they are doing with their lives. We don't need boys who compromise the values of those around them. We need those boys to step up! Especially the boys who have the gospel in their lives, you need to be the example to your friends! Pick up your pants, do your hair, shave your face, and take pride in being a child of God. You have the ability to go out and learn and do things, don't get caught in neutral. You will regret the time you lose. Everyday at school I am surrounded by every type of person. There are truly truly some amazing people, even those who don't have the same beliefs as I do, I love them and they amaze me with their goodness. Recently, I had an experience that really opened my eyes. And since that experience this quote has been playing over and over again in my mind: " 'Reverence, " wrote Ruskin, is the noblest state in which a man can live in the world. Reverence is one of the signs of strength: Irreverence once of the surest indications of weakness, '" David O McKay. 

Dead on. Take time to remember the things that matter and show reverence where reverence deserves to be shone. We have a work to do. We are all needed. 

For Motor Development, a couple friends/classmates and I went to the Nursing Home to observe for an assignment. We interviewed a really lovely lady name Karin Grover. She is originally from Germany but moved here when she was 18 because she married a man in the military. Shortly after, he left her. She remarried and had a good husband and family, but she is now lonely and she's only 69. Her father is still in Germany and she isn't healthy enough to go there. It was sad. It really showed me how important family is. That's why I am living close to my family, unless they all move away...Cami. Anyways, after we interviewed Karin we kinda wandered around talking to people and I sat next to this lady name Sandra Lee. I started talking about Grease and Sandra Dee. haha but she didn't like that. She was looking at a giant book of birds, I wont go into much detail but I was asking a lot of questions and just trying to visit with her. Well, the guy that was with me was sitting next to me and after I asked her like the 20th question she was like "You married her? Is she always like this? You're going to have to get used to this." hahaha and then she turned the page and the bird had its beak open and she was like see even the bird is yawning! Ah. Shot down by a lady in the nursing home. I guess I shouldn't talk so much lol. It was hilarious and then she asked if Hannah was our kid. At the same table that Sandra and I were at, there was a lady across from us saying a bunch of stuff in spanish, a man and a woman arguing about what time it was and a lady that was asleep. It was nice, sad, eye opening, and rewarding all at the same time. 

It's the weekend!! Woo hoo. :)

Have a wonderful Saturday and Sunday!

Love, 

Kelli

Racquetball and All Things Fun

Five good things that happened today:

1. Ran 45 minutes and felt good.

2. Got a 100 on my taping practical.

3. Saw my beautiful nephew! 

4. Got a letter from Tyler.

5. Played Racquetball with Justin, Hannah, and Scott. 

First off, baby Showley, the cutest little baby I have ever seen in my whole life! Look at his perfectly round head and cute nose and upper lip. oh my GOODness I can't wait to meet him. We love you so much already boy! :) He is the next little boy blue (that's whats my grandma calls her grandsons and great grandsons lol). 

I met with my advisor today....4 classes for next semester totaling to 14 hours. Exciting. And then after this semester I will only have 21 credit hours and then I am DONE. I cannot wait to be a senior again! haha It's the best ever. I am planning on living with Cami and James this summer in Minnesota, as long as James is okay with that. lol It will be awesome helping with the baby. I will most likely work at the Y teaching swim lessons with Camille and then try to get another job at one of the gyms there. Time is moving quickly! It's weird. I got a letter from my love today. He is so wonderful and I know that he is learning so much. I am proud of him. I can't believe he's already been in the MTC for over a week. It's been almost two weeks since I've talked to him. I have a bunch of cool ideas of things I want to send him but if anyone has any ideas please share! Tonight I was able to hang out with really awesome people! After Ward Correlation Meeting we went to the Institute to talk to the mission prep class. We ate some pie and played ping pong. Then Scott suggested that we go to Melanie's to play racquetball. They have a racquetball/basketball court in their house! That her dad built himself. It's.so.AWESOME. It was a lot of fun. I was on Justin's team and we were against Scott and Hannah, same teams as the other night when we played indoor soccer. Well, Hannah and Scott kicked our butts but it really was a lot of fun. My knees and ankles hurt so I hope that I didn't make a poor decision for tomorrow's practice but hey, you're only in college once right! I also haven't blogged about the picture of the Albq Temple that Tyler sent me.

 

He is truly amazing and I don't know how he does it but he always knows what I need EXACTLY when I need it. I love the Albq Temple, it is so dear to me and I can't wait  until I can go all the way through!!!

I really should go to sleep but there are so many good things out in the world. You are only as happy as you make yourself. "Your future is only as bright as your faith," -Thomas S. Monson

I KNOW this is true. Get in lost in helping others, that's the only way to find yourself.

Love, 

Kelli :)

Still in Transition

My heart feels a little bit achy today. Pictures aren't helping, they make me sad. I hate that I can't hear your voice or your laugh. I hate that I never get good morning or good night texts anymore. This is..so..hard. I can't text you and tell you funny stories or text you to tell you anything. I have to write it in this little notebook that you don't respond to and it is hard. I can write you as many letters as I want but you can only write once a week. That's hard. I don't want to overwhelm or distract, but I don't know if I am because I don't hear from him a lot. I never thought that I would ever be in this situation, but here I am completely in love with someone who will be away from me for quite some time. Dont get me wrong, I know that this is the best thing for him and I wouldn't for one second wish that he wasn't doing it. It's just hard. It's not only a sacrifice for the missionary. It's a sacrifice for everyone who loves him and that is so true.

Let's talk about my experiment for one moment shall we. Yesterday Lori went out of town so this morning we didn't have our study time and look how I feel? Satan pushes doubts on you the SECOND you allow him to.

I'm going to read a talk or doing something uplifting. Everything will be okay I know. <3

"The best decisions I've ever made were sacrificing something I love for the God I loved most."

Love,
Kelli

Knock and Ye Shall Recieve

I am so glad that today is over! I had a motor development test and an exercise phys test this morning and I was so stressing out. This weekend I put my gospel responsibilities before any of my school work, I'm doing an experiment. My theory is that if I put Heavenly Father first always that everything else will work itself out and be better than it would have been than if I would have not put him first. For example, last night there was a bi-stake fireside in La Jara, which is about 15-20 minutes away. By yesterday night, I had barely studied at all. Normally, I wouldn't have gone to the fireside and I would have stayed home and studied. I am SO glad that I chose to go to the fireside. I learned so much about missionary work and the importance of it. I heard one story in particular that is one of the most amazing stories I have ever heard. I got home and sat by the fire with all my notes and my computer (eventually I want to get to where I don't study on Sundays at all, but starting this in College is really really hard). It was so easy for me to remember what I needed to. For the past couple weeks in ex phys we've been studying the cardiovascular system and I just couldn't get the blood flow down! I couldn't remember where it went or where it came from or anything. Right when I opened my notes last night I picked up a pattern and had it down in 7 minutes. Bam, already one blessing. I didn't study for motor development at all until the next morning because it wasn't nearly as hard, but as you know, you can fail the easiest tests if you don't study for them. I woke up at around 8 to study with Lori. Gospel study mind you. We read about Christ's ministry and I learned a lot! After that I glanced over my motor development as I was getting ready and felt okay as long as the test was pretty much the exact same as the study guide. lol Anyways I got to class and there was maybe 3 multiple choice questions I wasn't entirely sure on and there was about 5 short/long answer questions and I answered every single one and felt good about them! Bam. Blessing number 2. (Please note that I do very much realize there were probably hundreds of blessings before 1, in between 1 and 2 and many more after that I'm not noting-the Lord is in the details of our lives!) Okaaay so now it was exercise phys time. It was rough. I can't say that I breezed through it without any trouble but I can tell you that I felt just as good or BETTER than I did on the other tests but I was better off because I had been spiritually fed.

My experiment has been going on for about 5 days now, I wake up about an hour earlier than I would and study the New Testament, side by side with the Institute Manual The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. It is amazing, AMAZING the difference that I feel in my days. My happy times are so much happier. My heart is completely full. I love people! I say hi to people I don't even know. And then after I think, that will be cool to talk about that when we are in heaven. I just have a better perspective about life. I still experience sadness and stress but its so much easier to get over. It's over so fast because I have a stronger testimony about what matters. I love that I am getting an education! I love my major and I love learning new things! :) But I love my Savior more and he will always, ALWAYS come first. 

God speed people, 

Love, 

Kelli

Count Your Many Blessings!

"I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness..... I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives."
 President Thomas S. Monson

I have a had a rough few days. Without the Priesthood of God, I would not be making it, nor would I feel as strong as I do right now. Tyler is serving my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He will be gone for awhile and although I want with all my heart to be with him forever, if Heavenly Father has a different plan for me then I will do it, praying that he gives me the strength to that. But I wont think like that, our love is strong. I trust Tyler with all my heart, I trust God with all my heart and that's why this sacrifice is worth it, because I love him...because of everything that I have and everything that he has done for me. It will be hard, but I am willing to give it my best shot and not back down even when I feel broken-with the Savior I can be whole. Holy cow I am so off track from where I wanted this blog to go lol Okay I'm going to list my blessings, no matter how big or small because I am truly blessed and surrounded by my Savior's love. Here are my blessings for today:

1. My car didn't die and got me everywhere I needed to go.
2. I had friends around me.
3. Lori made hasbrowns that were so good.
4. I got to go to institute.
5. I have clothes to wear.
6. I am feeling better.
7. None of my limbs are broken.
8. My family is safe.
9. Patti gave me some really good cake.
10. I colored/made a couple scrapbook pages.
11. BC was in a good mood, therefore he was nice to me.
12. I am alive.
13. My phone works.
14. I have internet access/service.
15. I know how to read and write.
16. I can run.
17. I can lift.
18. The weather is nice.
19. I'm not having a bad hair day....and just having hair period is a blessing.
20. I enjoyed eating.
21. I am at work! So I have a job.
22. I can taste, hear, see, touch, and smell.
23. I laughed in exercise phys.
24. None of my fingers or toes are jammed.
25. I dont have a black eye.
26. I don't have a walking cast on my foot!
27. I can shower...we have warm water.
28. I have a house and a bed.
29. I wasn't freezing last night.
30. I didn't get hit by a car when I crossed the street.
31. My teeth are straight and I don't have any new pimples today.
32. I have a car to get me where I need to go.
33. I am at school and have the oppurtunity to learn more about what I love.
34. I have good eyesight.
35. My tongue isn't burnt.
36. I don't have pneumonia.
37. I can walk on my own two feet.
38. I have the restored gospel!
39. I read an awesome parable in Luke 8 today.
40. I'm sitting in a comfortable chair rather than a hard cold one.
41. I've only cried once and it wasn't even a lot. (Rejoice in little accomplishments)
42. Half the semester is over.
43. I'm not on crutches.
44. I have a warm jacket.
45. I know people around me.
46. I dont live in the dorms.
47. I have Lori as my roommate.
48. I have an eternal family.
49. My make up wasn't all ran out.
50. I didn't lose my toothbrush.

I could name more but I will stop for now. I am blessed and am surrounded by many good things!

Love,
Kelli

Exhausted.

My brain has been working overtime.

My heart has been racing around, and around, and around, and around, and around..... for quite awhile now.

Thinking of my life, my future, my now... and mixing school all in with that.

Not just school. Hard school. I have to try and pay attention while my thoughts are so far somewhere else. I have to try and pay attention because, naturally, I'm really not that smart, you have to work to get places.

The human body is amazing. It really is, but there comes a point where you're just tired. I'm tired of trying so hard. I'm tired of working so hard just to be mediocre. I'm sore all the time. If I think about certain things, I can be scared all the time. I can be stressed out all the time.....if I allow myself to. 

The beautiful thing about knowing what I know is that I have a Savior. I am loved. I am never alone. Sometimes I get caught up by things that.....are just dumb. Let's talk this out a little shall we:

1. Fear. Feeling fear comes from Satan. Hope and Peace come from Christ and our Father in Heaven. If you feel fearful, its impossible to be completely faithful. 

2. Jealousy and Selfishness. Two WORDLY feelings! Have you ever noticed that almost ALWAYS when a relationship (of any sort) is ruined that the root of that break was jealousy and selfishness. There is absolutely no reason for me to be selfish or feel selfish EVER. Heavenly Father has a plan for me! And if I don't have trust in him then there isn't hope for me. Simple as that. 

3. Track- this stresses me out a lot. But let me tell you, this is TEMPORARY. Sure, I do not want to go through my life without being fit and I love hurdles with all my heart. This isn't what matters, though. It's important for me to develop my talents and glorify my father in heaven in all that I do but if its to the point that it is taking away from the things that matter, or the progress in things that matter the most to me is being affected by this, its not worth it. I'm learning this, I'm a child of God first (ABOVE ALL), Student second (School before sports...College---->school...duh....) and thirdly, a runner. I care about it but I'm not going to change who I am for it. 

4. The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes up for everything we lack. EVERYTHING. All the cracks that I feel in my life, all the craziness in my head, for the "mediocrity" (I just quoted myself in the same paper-not sure if that's allowed-I'm so not an English major) that I feel in my life...that comes from Satan, too. That is from the world! If I try my hardest and do my best, I WILL get the highest and best reward in heaven. I have complete faith in that. And this is why at times when I feel like this, I can get through. I can get through hard times because I have the gospel in my life, I have faith in my Heavenly Father and his Eternal Plan, I KNOW that he loves me, I know I have loving family members and friends who will support me when I have trials, even if the trials are just ones that are created in my head. 

I'm thankful, even though times are hard. That's how we grow.

Love, 

Kelli