I'm Waiting for a Missionary: May 2011

Friday, May 27, 2011

The Final Countdown!!!

Natasha Louise Rycroft- June 1, 2011
Carli Jo- June 7, 2011 (landing @ 6pm)

Katie Jo Barthel- June 8, 2011 (landing @ 1:30pm, released @ 7pm)

Kristen Lee Simmons- June 16, 2011
Holly Katherine Ludlow- June 17, 2011

Lisa Rozelle Wise- June 22, 2011
Holly Kathrine Ludelow- June 2011

Marisa Nicole Buffaloe- July 6, 2011

Rachel Angilau- July 2011

Lola Palacios- July 2011

Allison Nicole Porter- July 2011

Catherine Ann Perkins- August 3, 2011

Emily Sapp- August 30, 2011

Kallee Sue Cramer- August 30, 2011

Josie Tootill- August 2011

Lesha Bird- September 13, 2011

Marie Richardson- October 7, 2011

Lindsay Stringham- October 12, 2011
Heather Oates- October 25, 2011
Heather Stam- November 9, 2011

Alexandria McGahan- November 15, 2011

Jen Chugg- November 2011

Katie Christina Fairchild- November 2011

Marlee Michelle Martin- December 7, 2011

Tatiana Rugamas- December 23, 2011

Katie Jacobs- December 2011

Lara Jean- December 2011

Witney Wilson- December 2011

Brittni Annalise Coons- December 2011

Janae Christenson- December 2011
Emily Sudweeks- January 2012

Paige Matthews- January 2012

Micadyn Nicole Judkins- February 2012

Michelle Quinn- February 2012

Seantay Flemming and Matt Hall- April 2012
Linsey Huffman- May 9, 2012
McCall Mills Hodson-May 2012

Whitney Thayne- June 6, 2012
Amanda Hill

Megan McFarland- June 2012

Hilary Webb- June 2012

Kelsey Musselman- June 2012

Jenna Vizina- June 2012

Jocelyn Ostermiller- June 2012

Kendahl Heffron- July 14, 2012

Lindsey Poole- July 2012

Talia Miller- July 2012

Layla Denise McDade- August 2012

Shannon Rose Gross- August 2012

Stevie Crook- August 2012

Esther Bolanos- August 2012

Katy Wilson- August 2012

Brittany McArthur- September 29,

Lauren Schulthess- September 2012
Alex Barrett- October 13, 2012

Kailey Fawson- October 27, 2012

Garyn Jae Landrum October 29, 2012

Caralee Barrett- October 2012
Brittany Jones-November 2012

Britany Schoenrock- November 5, 2012
Brittany Jones- November 2012

Tay Swensen- December 4, 2012

Mackenzie Miller, December 2012

Tayler Pond- January 8, 2013

Tessa Stokes- January 28, 2013

Hilary Hunt- January 2013

Emma Johnson- January 2013

Kylea Donaldson- January 2013

Jordan Harman- January 2013

Carolyn Bridwell- March 2013

Sadie Wheeler- April 2013
Bria May Shrickland- June 2013
Kimberly K. Johnson June 2013

Congrats Dylan for getting your missionary back!!! May 26, 2011

This is Dylan's post from yesterday (I think he may be a little excited for her return ;p):

Tia gets home today. It took me forever to fall asleep last night. Hopefully the day goes by quickly until I can go to her parent's house to see her.

Dylan posted their stories a while back (with the new facebook page layout I had to go searching for the dang thing but it was well worth the wait just as Dylan is finding out :) )

Dylan and Tia (Tia served her mission in the New York, Utica mission)

I met Tia Zwick at a dance party in Provo in June of 2009 when both of us were students at BYU. We started dating but it was never very serious because she had decided before she met me that she wanted to go on a mission. The entire time we were dating I was trying to think of how I could convince her to not go on a mission. She would tell me that she was busy sometimes because she didn't want to see me too much or get attached because she wanted to go on a mission. Needless to say I failed in convincing her to stay home and date me. At the end of the summer she moved to Henderson, Nevada where her family was living at the time. We saw each other a few more times when she came to Provo to visit, one weekend of which I thought I had a last chance to convince her to stay, but she didn't. Since we were never serious boyfriend/girlfriend before she left, she started spending a lot of time in Henderson with this guy that had just got home from a mission, and I was kindof hurt by that. She gave a farewell in Alpine, Utah because that's where she grew up and she had a lot of friends there, and I didn't really want to go because I knew that she had been seeing this other guy and I found out that he was going to be at the farewell in Alpine. But, my mom convinced that I should go to her farewell in Alpine, Utah, and looking back on it now I'm really glad that I did. When she left, she had told me to date other people while she was gone, and I already knew that I was going to date other girls no matter what she said. We didn't write at all the first six months of her mission, but I found that I was thinking about her a lot, that I compared every girl I ever dated to her, that no one really seemed to match up, and that I was thinking about her every day. So, I decided to write her. A day or two after I sent a letter to her and before she would have read it, I got a message from her sister on facebook and her sister asked me what my mailing address was because Tia wanted to write me. So that made me feel a lot better about writing her, because for all I knew she could have forgotten about me completely. Our letter writing wasn't very frequent at all until December of last year, and by then I was writing her every other week and getting a letter on the other weeks.

The biggest problem I was going to have to face when she got home is that she was originally scheduled to get home on July 7th, and I am applying for medical schools right now, that start between July 25th and August 8th, and that wouldn't give us time to figure anything out between her getting home and me leaving. So, I wrote her a letter and told her that I was crazy about her and that I didn't want to leave Utah without her in the Fall. We hadn't talked about our feelings for each other before this at all, so I was really nervous that she wasn't going to feel the same way, and that I would freak her out. But, turns out she was thinking the exact same thing and she sends me a letter back saying that she loves me and then she suggests that she gets her mission shortened so that she would get home on May 26th. 18-month sister mission fall right between 12 and 13 transfers, and she was originally scheduled for 13, but she told her mission president all about her and me and got her mission changed to 12 transfers. Before she asked her mission president about this, she suggested it to me and asked me to email her and tell her what I thought. I was so excited about this. I told her I was all for it, and the mission president agreed to it. That was about a month and a half ago. So I have 74 days left now!! For the last two months we have been writing each other every week. Things between us have quickly gotten much more serious in the last two months.

The other interesting thing is that I never met her family before she left. I talked to her dad for maybe a minute at her farewell and I had met one of her brothers, and I had talked to one of her sisters on facebook a few times because Tia had told her sister all about me. So, about a month ago Tia's mom invited me to have Sunday dinner with her family, and I was excited to meet them. That was two weeks ago. I was pretty nervous to meet her whole family (except for two sisters and their families) at their Sunday dinner, especially without her being there. I have kept in touch with her mom and am probably going to meet up with them again pretty soon.

I graduated from BYU in December of last year and my life is just a matter of waiting right now. I am living at my parents house in SLC now and I'm not in school and I'm trying to find a job, but I have a lot of free time. Tia gets home May 26th and I have been waiting for months to hear back from four different medical schools that I have already interviewed at. I'm excited for Tia to get home obviously, but I'm not too anxious because I feel like I already know what's going to happen when she does, but I am way anxious to get accepted to at least one medical school and figure out where I will be in the Fall.

Congrats again Dylan for getting Tia back-we all can't wait to hear about her return and all about the wedding ( so fill us in please!!)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Shout Out

Shout out to Kristen Giles who married her missionary yesterday! She has officially "graduated with honors" and we're so happy for you!!! send us pictures and the juice! Congrats again!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Congrats to: Tiffani Sommers

So... we'll admit... we don't know Tiffani's mish's name but we were ALL excited along with her for him to come home. Here is the bit of juice she did give us *cough* this means we need more dirt! *cough*

So.... um... is there such a thing as a 12 hour club!?!?!?! lol.. ;) my day was soo amazing!!!!!! ♥ but I want to do the whole "history and story" about us so I'm not going to share to much, but it is SO WORTH waiting! And all the waiter haters can hide their face in shame because I did it! and we are still in love and he is even more amazing and wonderful than when he left. (and I never though that was possible!!) I got a sweet handshake at the airport and then got the best hug in my life at 6:00, after he got released. He is my best friend and I'm so excited for our relationship to grow even more! Keep waiting girls! It is so worth it!!!

Awww... aren't they so cute too?! Goodness! Please give us the full story and background, we need to give the whole thing! Again, congrats Tiffani and the man! We wish you the best!

Congrats to: Autumn and Brandon

This is a slightly different story as Autumn will explain, but we hope that you all can find peace and reassurance, as Autumn did, that everything happens for a reason even if it is not how you thought it would turn out.

This story is a bit different then what you girls are used to hearing. I promise. Brandon and I met 6 months after he returned home from his mission. Prior to this, I waited for someone. I waited for him for 14 months actually. I was Dear Janed, and I moved on. I didn’t dwell. I didn’t hope for things to go the way I wanted. I realized that things happen for a reason. Always. There’s never no reason for something to happen. In April of 2010, I was on my way to my first DNA class. I was sitting there thinking to myself, okay, I’m going to sit next to a cute boy. I have to. I walked in, and being how shy I am, I sat next to a girl. It was the first empty seat I saw. I didn’t want to make eye contact with anyone else in the class. Our professor said “Okay, tomorrow where you sit is going to be your group for the rest of the semester. Two up front, two behind them is one group. So pick wisely.” I walked out giving myself a pep talk. “Sit next to a cute boy Autumn. C’mon. You can do it!” So the next class period, I fell back into my routine. I looked up to see that two rows in front of me was an empty seat and a SUPER cute guy. The professor came up and said “There’s five of you in this group. One of you, move!” We all looked at each other refusing to move. He looked at me and said, “Autumn, come sit up here next to Brandon.” “OH CRAP!” I thought to myself. I slid into the seat next to Brandon. For the next month, our conversations were awkward and short. He’d ask how I was, I’d say fine. That was it. I felt there was no way I’d ever get out of my shy zone and talk to this kid.

Middle of May rolled around and I was about to go up to Post Falls for an orthodontist appointment. This meant missing DNA class. An idea popped in my head. I would text Brandon and ask him to take notes for me. (I got his number at a group project meeting where I found out he was single and we got everyone’s number. How’d I find out he was single? I made a comment like, “Brandon, how’s the girlfriend?” He looked at me and goes “Girlfriend? Uhm, no.”) Anyways, I’d see if he carried on a conversation. If so, I could pursue. If not, then I’d move on. So I typed out the text. “Hey Brandon, It’s Autumn. I was just wondering if you could take notes for me on Friday. So good of notes that I could teach the class myself J” His response? “Of course. Anything else I can do for you?” I said “Take the test for me?” We talked for HOURS after that. I quickly gained his trust. With my past relationships, this was something that didn’t come easy at all. I came back, and he asked me to “hang out with him.” We went and played pool. That night, he stuttered as he asked me on a date. I was forced out the door both times because he “wasn’t my type.” The rest is history. We began dating on May 21, 2010. Engaged September 21, 2010. Married April 9, 2011. Bottom line here girls, is, sometimes things happen. I was waiting for Tyler at a time where I needed it. I had begun dating a guy who was VERY bad for me, and we had talked about getting married. I turned him down because I was waiting for Tyler. Waiting protected me from getting serious with guys that would have gotten into trouble. The missionary I waited for wasn’t right for me either. I’ve seen him since. He’s met my husband. Weird thing is, I grew up a lot faster than he did even though he went on a mission. A lot of times, there are reasons for waiting that doesn’t always mean you’re going to marry that missionary. Even if your heart is dead set on it. Trust in the Lord. Things go as they should. Brandon WAS my missionary. I waited 19 years for him, and I wouldn’t take back all the terrible guys I dated because they led me to my husband. They showed me what I didn’t want in someone, and they taught me how to appreciate Brandon and the kind guy that he truly is. I dated guys that needed changing. I met Brandon and he “wasn’t my type.” He wasn’t my type because he was already what I was trying to get the other guys to become. Takes risks girls. Sometimes, it could be the best risk of your life. I love you girls. I support the strength it takes. I’ve been there. It’s hard. Just know that sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But there’s a reason for it all.

Congrats on your wedding Autumn! We wish you and Brandon all the happiness and joys that come with marriage!

Congrats to: Nichola and Damian

This is Nichola and Damian's story; Damian served from April 2009-2011

Damian and I met in august 2007 during a youth conference at Manchester University. He asked me to Dance, and then despite my terrible slow dancing skills he asked for my email address so we could stay in contact after the conference. - Damian says he was kinda gutted that I was still 15 at the time we met, because of course for him it was “love at first sight” - at the time, I kind of thought he was already with a friend of his so didn't really think he would bother getting in contact after the conference. (I know looking back that was a kinda silly thing to assume when he asked ME to dance)

So, a couple days after the conference ended Damian added me on MSN, We quickly became best friends talking online and texting for hours about anything and everything till late every night. After 6 weeks I had totally fallen for him and was finally 16!! it took him all day, but Damian finally asked me out on my 16th birthday! - he said he had been trying to work up the courage to ask me out all day! Personally, at the time I thought that was one of the longest days ever! (* yeah that was BEFORE the mission & the HOME COMING!*) I knew from the start that he was going to be going on a mission soon, and I wasn't worried about it, I figured things would work out however they were meant to… Although, we did talk about marriage.

We where together 6 months before we got officially engaged. At first no one was really all that happy about the idea; I guess they were worried he wouldn't go on his mission because of me. And well, they were wrong. Damian and I said our Goodbyes on 7th April 2009... Saying Goodbye to Damian, knowing I wasn't going to see him again for two years was the hardest thing I ever had to do...or so I thought at the time. Elder Fielder left on his mission to England London South on April 10th 2009.

Waiting was no walk in the park for me, I had problems with my health and all I wanted to do was to talk to him about it all, it was hard, I don't know how I would have managed it without the love and support of my family and the MG groups. Yes there were times when I just wanted him to come home but in the end it was worth it! During the two years Damian was on his mission I learned so much about myself and the type of person I am and who I want to be. In the past two years my testimony has grown so much; I have learned to turn to my Heavenly Father more than I ever have before.

So, the home coming... The plans for the home coming where only really decided the week before Damian was due to come home, originally we had planned that I would travel to Wrexham (north Wales) the day he got home and we would be able to spend the weekend together...but that changed when his parents invited me to go on a road trip with them to Oxford! And to pick him up from the mission office!! I'll be honest, as excited as I was, I was also major nervous, not nervous about seeing Damian again, but about seeing his family!! We hadn't really done very well at staying in contact over the two years and a lot had happened during that time.

When his parents came to pick me up on April 6th the conversation flowed so naturally it was like we'd been talking just two weeks ago never mind two years ago... the 5 hour drive to oxford was a great chance to get caught up on the happenings of the past two years.

Staying with Damian's brother and his sister in law, although I had only met them once very briefly before Damian left, wasn't awkward at all! While I was there I wrote this on a word doc to post on my blog, but I kinda forgot about it: So remember how I said I was going on a road trip with Damian's parents this week to go pick him up from his mission... well that’s where I am right now! I'm in OXFORD – I'm staying with Damian's oldest brother and his family. His parents and I are going to go pick him up from the mission home Tomorrow!! - I'm so freaking excited! I cannot wait to see him again!

He was so right when he said I would be okay here at his brothers... I seem to be getting on great with Adele his sister in law... sure I’m not as talkative as she is, but we seem to be doing okay conversation wise. And his two nieces thankfully have warmed up to me this morning...they were a little shy around me and not wanting to talk to me last night... but today they've been sitting on my knee and playing with my hair all morning... and the drive over here yesterday wasn't that bad either... I was major tired though because it took like 5 hours from St Helens to Oxford. But I got on with his mum and dad just like I did two years ago which was nice.... I was a little worried that things would be awkward after two years of very little talking... but apparently not.

His mum gave me his mobile phone yesterday to look after until tomorrow... so obviously, I switched it on last night after I went up to bed... so glad I did, it was great to be able to read through some of the text messages we sent each other the night before he was set apart... I was so scared that night, but his text where so reassuring that everything would be okay, that we'd make it through the two years apart... I wish I had some of that reassurance today... as hyper and excited as I am for tomorrow, im also just as nervous... I don't like not knowing what to expect. Well I guess if I can't get any hugs from Damian tomorrow... I can at least get some from the kids!! haha they're so cute. Okay my laptop battery is dying so I better go... later.

April 8th 2011, the day that seemed like it would never come. The day I finally got to see Damian again! I woke up around 5am and couldn't get back to sleep, but of course I refused to get out of bed until a decent time considering his parents didn't plan to pick me up from the house to travel to London until 9.30am! So I lay in bed listening to music until 7.30am when I got up to get a shower and got ready to go pick up Damian.

That morning was the longest morning of my life, I was ready to leave by 9am; every minute after I was ready to leave seemed to take forever! When his parents got there to pick me up I was pretty close to being a nervous wreck! If it hadn't been for a constant stream of text from my best friends I would have been a wreck for sure! The drive to London was... the longest 2 hours of my life! I had so many emotions flowing through me at once I was starting to feel sick! The closer we got to getting to the mission office though I started to relax and feel more at peace, I have no doubt that that was heavenly father telling me to chill out!

When we finally got to the London Temple, we didn't have a clue where to go! So, we had to ask at the visitors centre. Who were very helpful, even if they did think I was his SISTER!! =O haha. So, the sister missionary in the visitors centre called the mission office and got him to come round and meet us!! I was the first to see him coming! And I have to say, My heart honestly felt like it was trying to burst out of my rib cage! All I could do was watch him walking over to us, - not failing to notice his slight limp (my man hurt his knee with only 3 weeks to go) I couldn't even tell anyone he was coming, no words would come out my mouth! So you know in the movies when things happen in slow motion? Yeah that's what this seemed like... when he finally got to us he hugged his mum and his dad.... and I got a handshake. Haha, okay I knew before hand that I was only going to get a handshake but up until that moment, I still hoped I would get a hug.

One thing I have always known about Damian, he hates leaving something half done... So, we had to walk back to the mission office with him so he could finish a project he was working on for the mission president... 2 hours after we got to London, we were finally on the way to get some food and visit Damian's grandma. In the car on the way to the restaurant we were getting dinner from he grabbed my hand!! I didn't know what to do or say! Of course I loved that he wanted to hold my hand! - But at the same time I knew he was still technically a missionary and that holding hands was still against the rules.

But his dad didn't seem to mind nor did his mum. So we carried on holding hands. At dinner things where so normal, right down to me not being able to finish my food, Steven laughing about my small apatite and Damian eating my food for me haha. After dinner we went to visit Grandma, who is so lovely! Damian is so lucky to have such a lovely Grandma! - I don't have much luck in the grandparents department. I even got to meet Damian's mission president! Damian was right when he said the mission president and his wife are a lovely couple, we went round to their house so Damian could give the president the DVD of the project he had finished that morning, when we got there straight away they were offering us food and lemonade. And Damian says when he went to take his dirty plate in the kitchen Sister Shamo (the President’s wife) went into “mom” mode and said that I am a “lovely Girl” and they (she and the president) “approve” - I have to admit, I was more than a little pleased when he told me and his parents that on the car ride back to Oxford.

Okay, I am now going to skip a head a little to his release! Saturday, we drove all the way back from oxford, and all the way to Anglesy (north wales) it’s a little over a 6 hour drive. When we got to the Chapel in Anglesy, Damian met with the stake president for just over an hour and was released officially from being a full time missionary while I waited outside with his parents. I didn't know what to do or say after he came out the office and was no longer a missionary... so I didn't do or say anything! I just stood there while he talked to the stake president some more. After saying good bye to the stake president we all got back in the car to head back to Wrexham. It was in the car that I got my first kiss in two years!

The weekend passed by to quickly for my liking and I was soon in the car going home. But I am happy to say since Damian came home we have seen each other almost every weekend and right now we are super busy planning our Wedding this August!!

Waiting wasn't easy. But it was worth it.

Congrats Nichola! We're so excited to hear about your wedding in August!! Please send us pictures so we can do a shout out to you and be excited for you and Damian on your big day!

Congrats to: Nicole and Matt

This is Nicole and Matt's story; Matt served from March 2009-March 2011

Ok well I'll start with a little background. Matt and I have known each other basically forever. We have gone to school together since 3rd grade. The end of our junior year we started talking a lot more and started dating that summer, July 2007. We dated out entire senior year and then did the long distance relationship business while I was going to college my freshmen year (we were only 3 hrs away so not too bad). Matt left to the Australia Brisbane Mission March 25th 2009. While he was gone I transferred to Southern Virginia University.

Matt came home the 30th of March 2011. Since our families are pretty close my family went to the airport to see him, not gonna lie, I was a tad jealous. I didn't talk to him until Friday. We talked on facebook chat and through messeages basically all day. Later that night we skyped for about an hour. It was super great! He was still a little out of it but it was still good. Since I was on the other side of the country (Virginia to Idaho) I wasn't able to see him for a month. We talked every couple of days so it wasn't too bad. But I missed his homecoming talk, in fact two of them. He moved wards right after we graduated so he spoke in his ward and his old ward. But I missed them both which was pretty depressing. Especially since everybody said he did an amazing job.

April 30th, 2011, I'm done with school! I flew home to Boise which is about three hours from my house. My sister, her fiance and my brother came to pick me up. Matt came with them! I'm not gonna lie the walk from the plane to meet my family was a tad nerve-racking. My heart was beating pretty fast ha! Then I came around to the waiting room and they were all sitting right there. We looked up and we made eye contact and just smiled at each other. Then my sister jumped in our way to give me a hug. And then my brother...I don't know what they were thinking haha! But I finally made it to him and we gave each other a huge hug! I didn't want to let go! It was so nice to be in his arms again! We got my bags and then went to lunch. I'm not going to say things were completely normal because they weren't, but it was awkward either. Just different. Part way through the meal he held my hand and then kinda freaked out so he pulled back. Ha but I helped him get over that! haha! After we ate we went to the mall and then to a park before driving home. Somewhere in all of that we had our first post-mission kiss! Since I have been home I have seen him every day but one. Our relationship has definitelyu changed, but in a good way. We still love each other and want to be together. Having him home is better than I ever imagined!

The last two years with him gone have been hard. But I wouldn't change the experience for anything. I'm so glad he had the opportunity to serve a mission and that he loved it so much! I am also glad that I was able to experience the things that I did. The experiences the two of us had the last two years have helped us grow and mature. They have helped us become better people which has made our relationship better! The wait is worth it girls! Keep holding on! You got this! :)

Congrats Nicole! Way to make it! We wish you both the best of luck and please keep us updated on how everything goes!

Nicole and Daniel

This is Nicole and Daniel's story; Daniel served from February 2009-February 2011

I have no idea where to even start this insanely long story.. but.. I'll try and make it good so stick with me guys. When I met Daniel.. We were 14 - thats righhttt, one of those gooey predicable childhood sweetheart stories.. Except .. when we first met, we hated each other. Sounds harsh, but completely accurate. We used to bicker and argue 24 7. One of our friends once said that we argued so much that we were bound to end up together. We were absolutely outraged!! Time went on and as we got to know each other.. hatred cooled to mere irritation, which turned to interest.. which eventually became love. We were completely and utterly head over heels the whole time we were together, which was 3 years (started dating when we were 16).Then that time came.. Of course I knew that he would go on a mission, I wanted it too.. But as time got closer, I realised how difficult it was to have your heart want different things. I've never wanted something at the same time as dreading it. We both knew it was absolutely the right thing for him to do, and in February 2009, he left for the Armenian mission, where he served in the Republic of Georgia.

Our story is somewhat 'unconventional', I have never been officially waiting for Daniel. Before he left, we discussed it, and felt it was best for us to write each other, as friends, and just see what happened when he got home. Honestly I didn't think I'd be capable of waiting for him (i've never been very good at doing as I’m told) but in the 2 years he's been away I've hardly dated. He's a hard one to beat.I don't want to spend time on this, but Daniel leaving was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, to date.The first 4 months, I was a mess. But with a psychology degree, volunteering for a charity, church callings, a part time job, plus cheer, dance & gymnastics, the time has flownnn. (I know its annoying when people say it, but KEEP BUSY! make yourself busy, its the only way to stop time dragging)
Ok so his homecoming.. I didn’t plan to be at the airport - hadn’t wanted to pressure him, didn’t really know where I stood etc. So I was quite calm and chill about him coming back, tried really hard not to have any expectations, didn’t have any plans about when I was going to go home (uni is 2 hours away from our hometown) .. but then..

The 19th..630pm – The words ‘freaking out’ don’t do me justice.. ahhhh! He just emailed, saying he wanted to see me and come home. So I’m dropping everything and getting on a train I guess.. What am I doingggg! Felt like I was in a film, everything happened so fast.

700pm – Train to London, then I get the Tube (underground train system in London) for 7 stops.. I made it 6 stops – SO CLOSE, then comes the announcement..
‘Sorry, but the train in front has broken down, so all passengers.. oh wait, 1 second, I’m getting a message…. (everyone holds their breath)

….

‘Oh no, no, sorry, yes, it’s definitely broken down, all passengers will have to exit the train at the next stop.'

Crap.

I have no idea where I’m going, and I end up following some random lady from Portugal called Sara. I’m convinced she was an angel because she was wonderful, and showed me exactly how to get back on track. So after running around London for half an hour, I’m finally on the 3rd and last train home. Though Dan had emailed telling me to come, he had no idea I was hurtling towards our hometown, so what do I do, just show up?? Call first?!

10pm - I call .. (his mum answers) ‘Hi Nic love, how are you?’

smalltalksmalltalk.. (I’m a very blunt person but no one wants small talk at a time like this – I was on. the. edge.)

‘So is Daniel there, I thought I might pop over and see him?’ Easy breezy. (or it would have been if my heart wasn’t about to pound out of my chest.

‘Actually darling.. he’s asleep’.

What.

A taxi, 3 trains, and a car ride of preparing myself, and the kid was in bed.

1030pm – my best friend takes me home, emotionally e x h a u s t e d I lay in bed and freak out the whole night..

20th, 9am - I go over to his before church.. Oh boy, that walk from the car to his door was the longest I’ve ever done.. We see each other and hug ‘Heyy! How are you?!’ He’s exactly the same, and not weird at. all. My behaviour however.. He sits on the couch, I stand stupidly by the table.. ‘What are you doing, come sit down’ I sit at the opposite end to him.. (loser!!) it’s just so, so weird. This guy I’ve been dreaming and thinking and imaging for 2 YEARS is just chilling in front of me, like time has never passed. I have a pretty expressive face, and I must be doing some interesting facials, because he looks at me as if wondering if I’m going to run away screaming at any moment.

‘So how is it being home?’

‘It’s weird. So, so weird being home.’

‘Anything I can do to help?’

‘You can hug me..’ (see, he was so normal, no idea how he did it! He was almost weird BECAUSE he wasn’t weird)

Then we go to church, after church his family comes over to see mine, his best friend Olly comes over too, and everyone’s just catching up, such a nice evening. I’ll skip to 9pm because this is a novel already...

‘so when you going back to uni..?’

‘tomorrow, in the evening I think..’

'wanna do something in the day?’

‘mmkayyy..what do you wanna do?’

‘I don’t knoww...’ (as you can see we already have an extremely mature and sensible relationship)

Before he leaves my house, he pulls me into the most delicious hug. My weirdness melted away, and all I'm thinking is 'Yes, thats what I've been waiting for..'. That feeling of being completely safe, and just content. 21st, 11am – he comes over to mine, we’re talking.. he asks about things I found hard about him being away. Girls, I was so surprised about how difficult I found it to talk about that with him.

'It was hard, but I got through it.’

'Is that it?’

‘Well..I don’t know. I.. It was hard.’ Then he says ‘Hey, you don’t have to be brave anymore, I’m here’

I start to cry, he wraps his arms around me, tears just run down my face. I’ve never, ever told him how difficult it was, I’ve never really even admitted it out loud to anyone. He pulls away, looks into my eyes, and wipes my tears away. He puts both hands up to my face and kisses me for the first time in 2 years. It was so emotional, there isn’t even a word to describe. The rest of the afternoon we went for a walk, and talked, and kissed, it was divine..

At one point he looked thoughtful, I asked him what he was thinking. He grabbed my hand, and gave me the most amazing smile and said 'It's just so simple, I'm home with you.' I’m not really sure of our ‘official status’, but I guess we’re dating and it’s completely fantastic. I had to leave yesterday to come back to uni, (horribleee) and I still have 4 intense months left before I graduate. I’m not sure how we’re going to figure things out, but he told me to ‘stop thinking’. I trust him, so I have.

It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, but absolutely incredible. I’ve had a great 2 years, and I don’t regret anything. Since Daniel and I weren’t official, it was difficult to know what to expect when he got home. Though I think that helped us to have no expectations and just let whatever happened, happen.

I have a journal entry from 2008 that says ‘How can our relationship be fine for 3 years while I go to university, 2 years with him on a mission - as if we can just come back together after that and be better than ever?!’ But it’s looking that way, and I can’t wait whatever happens in the future.Girls, I think if you’re doing the right thing and you have the Lord with you, He will always have your back, even when it doesn’t look that way. Trust him, and go with it. You’re an amazing group of people, I’ve LOVED having your support, and thanks for letting me be there for you too!

Nicole and Daniel are no longer together at the moment, but we share this story because it was a success in that they both followed what the Lord had and has planned for them! We wish them both the best of luck!

Belated Congrats to: Chrissie and Matt

This is the story of Chrissie and Matt Roberts; Matt served from August 2008- August 2010.

The Background: Matt and I were 13 when at a Stake Youth activity... But we didn't really take much notice of each other until we were both almost 17 haha. Well ok, I liked him for a little while when we were 14 but nothing came of it and so I kinda forgot about it until EFY 2006. It was the first EFY to ever be held in Europe and we had the privilege to go! We hung out a more than usual at that EFY and he was going to ask me to the Formal dance but chickened out :P But being in the same Stake we saw each other again at a dance that October - After that dance, he asked a friend of mine for my email and after some confusion because my email has two underscores and not one; we started talking pretty much every day from the start of 2007. We became close friends and it started to develop into something more around April time. On the day after my 17th birthday we admitted to each other we liked one another and 2 weeks he asked me on a our first date! It was on July 21st ‘07 and we instantly hit it off. It was such a fun date! By August 23rd he had asked me to be his girlfriend. It didn't take us long to realise we were falling in love! But then 10 months after that amazing day his mission call came: England Leeds Mission to leave for the MTC on August 29th 2008. This was a hard time for us, we were both so excited he was going on a mission but we really didn't know what it would mean for us... After some thought and advise from parents we split up a week before his mission, saying goodbye was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But things didn't feel right, I felt I needed to pray more about the decision for me not to wait, so I did and a couple months into his mission, my status went from single to waiting! I never looked back.

The Homecoming: Matt returned from the England Leeds Mission on August 18th 2010 at 11:30pm. (his parents and youngest brother went to pick him up from the Mission Home at 9:30pm) The last 3 days were probably one of the hardest parts of waiting... The emotions I felt were crazy. I couldn’t sleep, I felt sick with butterflies... It wasn’t fun. But soo so worth it!! When he arrived at his house I was in the front room with his family and his uncle just turned to me and said “He’s here!” at this I FREAKED OUT. I was so nervous and excited and happy! Oh and when I finally saw him, it was completely surreal and the first hug... well watch the video ;) After everyone had said their hellos and things settled down a little we all chatted until the early morning and Matt and I were able to be alone for literally 10 minutes to say goodnight and he kissed me!! I was so surprised... I love him!

After: These past few days have been a total blur. All I know is we are still completely in love with each other and know we want to get married someday. He called his last companion on Friday and he was telling Matt to go on speaker phone and ask me right then. Haha! But I think he wants my Dad’s “permission” first. So he’s been trying to get into contact with him but no luck yet... Once he’s asked I dunno exactly how long it’ll be but I doubt it’ll be much time at all!!! I’m so excited!!!! I love Matthew Roberts!!!!

Last thought: Girls, it is worth it. Every tear, every lonely night, every waiter hater comment is almost forgotten in the moment you see the one you love again. I am so grateful I have been able to experience waiting for a missionary. It was hard but I have learnt so much about myself and grown closer to my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ and Matt too :D

Chrissie and Matt were later sealed in the London Temple, December of 2010. Thank you Chrissie for your amazing example and wonderful attitude to us girls, we love you!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Shout Out

This goes out to one of the girls in our group whose missionary is returning today! Congrats, Taylor Branson! We need the story soon. You did it!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011