The Final Countdown!!!

1. Marisa Nicole Buffaloe- July 6, 2011
2. Allison Nicole Porter- July 29, 2011 @ 11:45 a.m.
3. Catherine Ann Perkins- August 3, 2011
4. Lola Palacios- August 24, 2011 @ 2pm
5. Emily Sapp- August 30, 2011
6. Kallee Sue Cramer- August 30, 2011
7. Josie Tootill- August 2011
8. Lesha Bird- September 13, 2011
9. Marie Richardson- October 7, 2011
10. Lindsay Stringham- October 12, 2011
11. Heather Oates- November 1, 2011
12. Heather Stam- November 9, 2011
13. Alexandria McGahan- November 15, 2011
14. Katie Christina Fairchild- November 2011
15. Marlee Michelle Martin- December 7, 2011
16. Lara Jean- December 9, 2011
17. Tatiana Rugamas- December 23, 2011
18. Brittni Annalise Coons- December 2011
19. Janae Christenson- December 2011
20. Emily Sudweeks- January 2012
21. Paige Matthews- January 2012
22. Michelle Quinn- February 2012
23. Seantay Flemming and Matt Hall- April 2012 
24. Amanda Hill- June 2012
25. Megan McFarland- June 2012
26. Hilary Webb- June 2012
27. Jenna Vizina- June 2012
28. Jocelyn Ostermiller- June 2012
29. Kendahl Heffron- July 14, 2012
30. Lindsey Poole- July 2012
31. Talia Miller- July 2012
32. Layla Denise McDade- August 2012
33. Shannon Rose Gross- August 2012
34. Stevie Crook- August 2012
35. Esther Bolanos- August 2012
36. Katy Wilson- August 2012
37. Sarah Hansen- August 2012
38. Brittany McArthur- September 29, 2012
39. Lauren Schulthess- September 2012
40. Alex Barrett- October 12, 2012
41. Kailey Fawson- October 27, 2012
42. Garyn Jae Landrum October 29, 2012
43. Caralee Barrett- October 2012
44. Britany Schoenrock- November 5, 2012
45. Brittany Jones-November 2012
46. Tay Swensen- December 4, 2012
47. Addison AlmondJoy-December 2012
48. Mackenzie Miller, December 2012
49. Tayler Pond- January 8, 2013
50. Tessa Stokes- January 28, 2013
51. Hilary Hunt- January 2013
52. Emma Johnson- January 2013
53. Kylea Donaldson- January 2013
54. Jordan Harman- January 2013
55. Carolyn Bridwell- March 2013
56. Saige Bertschi- March 2013
57. Bri Carver- March 2013
58. Sadie Wheeler- April 2013
59. Alyssa Kankamp- May 2013
60. Maria Esther Cabrera- May 2013
61. Briana Petters- June 8, 2013
62. Kaityln Nef- June 15, 2013
63. Bria May Shrickland- June 2013
64. Jacey Lynn Young- June 2013
65. Kimberly K. Johnson June 2013
66. Stephanie Robnett- June 2013

Congrats to Holly and Jon!

Congrats to Holly and Jon who were reunited Friday, June 17th 2011. Here is their story!

Jon got home on Friday, June 17th. There were a few events leading up to that day. The dinner before followed by poster making with his family was a blast. But after that came one of the best parts. Jon's sister, Marissa, has recently moved out to South Carolina. She was flying in to see Jon upon his arrival. That Thursday, right before she was leaving to catch her flight, she had found out it was cancelled because there were too many open seats and all passengers were being moved to a flight the followng day. As luck would have it, that following flight was Jons connecting flight to Utah from Atlanta. Marissa had it all planned out and met Jon on the plane, to his complete surprise. What an awesome reunion for the two of them. Friday morning, I went to Jon's parents home around 8. While they were all finishing getting ready, I took it upon myself to decorate their yard with everything yellow POSSIBLE. Around 9:30 we took off to pick up Gram and headed to the airport. We arrived around 10, meaning we still had a dreadfully long seeming 22 minutes to wait until we got to see our missionary again. Because Marissa, Jons sister was on his flight, she was able to text us when they landed, when they got off, when they were rounding the corner to the escalators. It was great insight to know what his every move was ;) When Jon finally rounded the corner and started down the escalator, all I could do was start screaming. It was so surreal. He got the ground, hugged his family with tears of joy running down his face. A moment I'll NEVER forget. I was second to last in line. When he got to me, he stepped back and covered his face with his hands. I then immediately stuck my hand out, and recveived the GREATEST handshake I've ever had! As we were shaking hands he whispered, "I love you so much." Gosh. I love this boy. After a series of welcome homes, hugs, and discussion, we all headed back to our cars. I drove back with Jon, his mom and Gram. While on the freeway we passed the over pass that I decorated to say "WELCOME HOME, ELDER M ♥". He saw it and started laughing ans was all...."No way!!! I have the best friends and family ever!" Crosswalk signs are my thing, I guess. When he left the MTC to fly out to Paraguay I cupped a crosswalk on I-15 that read, "SEE YOU IN 2, JONNY BABY!" Haha. We got back to his house around noon, had a nice spaghetti lunch, full of conversation and laughter. The stake presidnent was scheduled to come over around 3 to release Jon, but ended up arriving at 1:41. Yeah, I know the exact time :) I sat in while Jon was released. What a special time. He got to report of his successful mission as a faithful and obedient missionary. After being released, he had a little interview for which I stepped out of the room. I went into the back yard and played with Alex, Jons nephew for about an hour. Finally, I went back inside, only to be greated by Jon with a hug. First thing he said was, "Okay, lets go." I was all..."We're leaving?" He said yes and we proceeded to go out to my car. He then blindfolded me and told me not to peek. Yeah, I was kinda freaking out. First of all, he hadn't driven in two years, and he was in my car, second I was nervous, third I had NO idea what was going on. He drove for about 10 minutes, just to make me feel lost which worked. When we got out he carried me on his back up a hill where he took my blindfold off. I looke around and we were at "Our Tree". Before his mission we had carved our names and the date in a tree just one street away from his house. Remember girls: Once it is written in a tree, it will always be. :) After realizing where I was I turned back to him, at which point he pulled me in for a kiss. It was incredible. NOTHING has changed at all. We have changed as people, but our love for each other has only grown stronger. There was no "awkward", second guessing or anything. Just how things used to be. We then walked over to a picnic table and we both reminissed of our past two years. We went back to his house, hung out with his Mom and sister, who later treated us to Cafe Rio for Jon's first meal home. At the end of the night, Jon and I left and went to my house so he could see my family. They were of course, more delighted than ever to see him.
I'm not sure where to go from here, other than to say, that for the past week we have kind of been inseperable. We are learning to communicate with each other again and focus on better ourselves so we can better each other. We had talked about marriage for September, since family will be in town for another wedding, but have decided that is a litte too soon. We are focusing on getting Jon a job and going to school. After that is established, I hope to have a ring on my finger :) Keep waiting girls. These boys are SO worth the wait. Do your best not to distract them and to let them be missionaries. They are out there to serve the Lord, not to be your boyfriend - that was one of the hardest concepts for me to grasp. Let him do his part, so the Lord can do his. I love you all, and thank you so much for all of your love and support! Keep waiting!!!!!!

The Final Countdown!!!

1. Kinzie Kay Sargent-June 28, 2011
2. Marisa Nicole Buffaloe- July 6, 2011
3. Allison Nicole Porter- July 29, 2011 @ 11:45 a.m.
4. Rachel Angilau- July 2011
5. Catherine Ann Perkins- August 3, 2011
6. Lola Palacios- August 24, 2011 @ 2pm
7. Emily Sapp- August 30, 2011
8. Kallee Sue Cramer- August 30, 2011
9. Josie Tootill- August 2011
10. Lesha Bird- September 13, 2011
11. Marie Richardson- October 7, 2011
12. Lindsay Stringham- October 12, 2011
13. Heather Oates- October 25, 2011
14. Heather Stam- November 9, 2011
15. Alexandria McGahan- November 15, 2011
16. Jen Chugg- November 2011
17. Katie Christina Fairchild- November 2011
18. Marlee Michelle Martin- December 7, 2011
19. Tatiana Rugamas- December 23, 2011
20. Katie Jacobs- December 2011
21. Lara Jean- December 2011
22. Witney Wilson- December 2011
23. Brittni Annalise Coons- December 2011
24. Janae Christenson- December 2011
25. Lari Marie Sidewell- December 2011
26. Emily Sudweeks- January 2012
27. Paige Matthews- January 2012
28. Micadyn Nicole Judkins- February 2012
29. Michelle Quinn- February 2012
30. Seantay Flemming and Matt Hall- April 2012
31. Linsey Huffman- May 9, 2012
32. McCall Mills Hodson-May 2012
33. Whitney Thayne- June 6, 2012
34. Amanda Hill- June 2012
35. Megan McFarland- June 2012
36. Hilary Webb- June 2012
37. Kelsey Musselman- June 2012
38. Jenna Vizina- June 2012
39. Jocelyn Ostermiller- June 2012
40. Kendahl Heffron- July 14, 2012
41. Lindsey Poole- July 2012
42. Talia Miller- July 2012
43. Layla Denise McDade- August 2012
44. Shannon Rose Gross- August 2012
45. Stevie Crook- August 2012
46. Esther Bolanos- August 2012
47. Katy Wilson- August 2012
48. Brittany McArthur- September 29,
49. Lauren Schulthess- September 2012
50. Alex Barrett- October 12, 2012
51. Chelsea Rae Malone -October 15, 2012
52. Kailey Fawson- October 27, 2012
53. Garyn Jae Landrum October 29, 2012
54. Caralee Barrett- October 2012
55. Britany Schoenrock- November 5, 2012
56. Brittany Jones-November 2012
57. Tay Swensen- December 4, 2012
58. Addison AlmondJoy-December 2012
59. Mackenzie Miller, December 2012
60. Tayler Pond- January 8, 2013
61. Tessa Stokes- January 28, 2013
62. Hilary Hunt- January 2013
63. Emma Johnson- January 2013
64. Kylea Donaldson- January 2013
65. Jordan Harman- January 2013
66. Carolyn Bridwell- March 2013
67. Saige Bertschi- March 2013
68. Bri Carver- March 2013
69. Sadie Wheeler- April 2013
70. Alyssa Kankamp- May 2013
71. Maria Esther Cabrera- May 2013
72. Briana Petters- June 8, 2013
73. Kaityln Nef- June 15, 2013
74. Bria May Shrickland- June 2013
75. Kimberly K. Johnson June 2013

Shout Out!!!!

Shout out to Lisa Rozelle Wise who got her man back today!!! You know what this means??? Storytime! Git-r-don!

The Final Countdown!!!

1. Lisa Rozelle Wise- June 22, 2011 @ 1:07 pm Released @ 3:30 p.m.
2. Kinzie Kay Sargent-June 28, 2011
3. Marisa Nicole Buffaloe- July 6, 2011
4. Rachel Angilau- July 2011
5. Allison Nicole Porter- July 29, 2011 @ 11:45 a.m.
6. Catherine Ann Perkins- August 3, 2011
7. Lola Palacios- August 23, 2011
8. Emily Sapp- August 30, 2011
9. Kallee Sue Cramer- August 30, 2011
10. Josie Tootill- August 2011
11. Lesha Bird- September 13, 2011
12. Marie Richardson- October 7, 2011
13. Lindsay Stringham- October 12, 2011
14. Heather Oates- October 25, 2011
15. Heather Stam- November 9, 2011
16. Alexandria McGahan- November 15, 2011
17. Jen Chugg- November 2011
18. Katie Christina Fairchild- November 2011
19. Marlee Michelle Martin- December 7, 2011
20. Tatiana Rugamas- December 23, 2011
21. Katie Jacobs- December 2011
22. Lara Jean- December 2011
23. Witney Wilson- December 2011
24. Brittni Annalise Coons- December 2011
25. Janae Christenson- December 2011
26. Emily Sudweeks- January 2012
27. Paige Matthews- January 2012
28. Micadyn Nicole Judkins- February 2012
29. Michelle Quinn- February 2012
30. Seantay Flemming and Matt Hall- April 2012
31. Linsey Huffman- May 9, 2012
32. McCall Mills Hodson-May 2012
33. Whitney Thayne- June 6, 2012
34. Amanda Hill
35. Megan McFarland- June 2012
36. Hilary Webb- June 2012
37. Kelsey Musselman- June 2012
38. Jenna Vizina- June 2012
39. Jocelyn Ostermiller- June 2012
40. Kendahl Heffron- July 14, 2012
41. Lindsey Poole- July 2012
42. Talia Miller- July 2012
43. Layla Denise McDade- August 2012
44. Shannon Rose Gross- August 2012
45. Stevie Crook- August 2012
46. Esther Bolanos- August 2012
47. Katy Wilson- August 2012
48. Brittany McArthur- September 29,
49. Lauren Schulthess- September 2012
50. Alex Barrett- October 12, 2012
51. Chelsea Rae Malone -October 15, 2012
52. Kailey Fawson- October 27, 2012
53. Garyn Jae Landrum October 29, 2012
54. Caralee Barrett- October 2012
55. Brittany Jones-November 2012
56. Britany Schoenrock- November 5, 2012
57. Brittany Jones- November 2012
58. Addison AlmondJoy-December 2012
59. Tay Swensen- December 4, 2012
60. Mackenzie Miller, December 2012
61. Tayler Pond- January 8, 2013
62. Tessa Stokes- January 28, 2013
63. Hilary Hunt- January 2013
64. Emma Johnson- January 2013
65. Kylea Donaldson- January 2013
66. Jordan Harman- January 2013
67. Carolyn Bridwell- March 2013
68. Sadie Wheeler- April 2013
69. Maria Esther Cabrera- May 2013
70. Bria May Shrickland- June 2013
71. Kimberly K. Johnson June 2013
72. Kaityln Nef- June 15, 2013

Congrats to Kristin & Zack

Rough times are presented to give us strength, as the saying goes what doesn't kill you makes you stronger-Kristin's waiting gave her the chance to become a stronger woman and learn more about herself. Each woman/man goes through this experience of waiting differently. This is the story of how Kristin experienced Zack's two years. 

Zack served from June 2009-June 2011 in Eugene Oregon!

Zack and I dated for 2 1/2 years before he left on his mission, he converted me, baptized and confirmed me May 9, 2008. My experience waiting for a missionary has been very up and down from the get go. Right after Zack received his call he broke up with me to date another girl. I was heartbroken (and that's putting it lightly). We didn't speak for over a month. A week before he was set apart he text me and said he wanted to see me, so we met at Subway and he told me he made a huge mistake and he wanted to be with me. We said goodbye with a handshake June 7, 2009 and he entered the MTC June 10, 2009.

During his mission he was very warm/cold with me. Sometimes he would talk about his love for me, other times he'd say "we need to see other people when I get home". etc. I wrote him weekly and sent packages monthly for the first 8 months. He stopped writing me right after his year mark and I still wrote faithfully because I knew he was busy. Around my birthday he began writing again, seeming to be very in love with me. We spoke this past Christmas and then after that he he started getting stand-offish again. In Feb. he told me he didn't think we should talk anymore until he got home. So we didn't. After I wrote him weekly for 21 months, I stopped writing him. I can tell you these past few weeks were almost literally hell for me. I was so nervous and I wasn't sure if he'd even want to talk to me when he got home.

Well, he was supposed to get home Thursday night, I found out via his sisters facebook statuses that his flight was cancelled, he was rescheduled to come back Friday afternoon. So all day at work Friday I was freaking out, not sure what was going to happen. I saw he was home via facebook again around 4:30, when I drove home at 4:45ish (I have to pass the church) I saw their cars ourside of the church, I was freaking out. Around 6:30 when there was still no call so I expected the worst, I went to my friends house after buying a tub of ice cream with the intentions of just having a "poor me" night. We decided to wait to do that until after the baby was asleep...at 8:50, 10 minutes before we put her to bed I get a text from him and this is the conversation we had:

Him: "Guess who?!"

Me: "Who?"

Him: "You have to guess silly."

Me: "Hmmm...I wonder what random stranger would be texting me..."

Him: "I dunno lol must be someone crazy. Kinda like a stalker."

Me: "I have lots of those, you need to give me hints."

Him: "He eats food."

Me: "Okay, so it's not one of my anorexic stalkers...any other hints?"

Him: "He has eyes and hair too."

Me: "M'kay, not a bald or blind one...and not a girl...that's a relief."

Him: "You at your parents house?"

Me: "Nope. At Georgias, you outside my window?"

Him: "No. Just out for a drive thinking about the last 2 years of my life."

Me: "Hm. Maybe I do know who you are..."

Him: "Pretty sure you do. Did you hear my flight got cancelled yesterday?"

Me: "I saw on Facebook. I haven't really been much in the loop."

Him: "I suppose so. Well I made it home today. I promised you I'd see you the day I got home."

Me: "I don't want to intrude on family time."

Him: "family time is done. I left to be alone. I'm headed to see your family."

Me: "So you want to see my family andnot me?"

Him: You're the one not home silly."

Me: "Well I'm not a hermit haha"

Him: "Good. When can I see you?"

Me: "If you ask nicely I might just be in the car right now."

Him: "Pretty please..."

Me: "Where do you want to meet?"

Him: "Where ever...I'm just chillin with your family."

In retrospect I wish I would have told him to meet me somewhere else but oh well. So I drove back from Georgias and I was strangely SUPER calm. Autumn called me asking me if I was freaking out and we both thought it was weird I wasn't. So when I got home I saw him sitting on the front porch with my mom, dad, brother and brothers friend. I got out of my car and he stood up from the chair and we hugged. It was kind of awkward because we were in front of my family and I didn't really want to let go, we whispered our "I missed you's" and then I sat across the table from him because my dad and brother decided they should sit next to him...how fair is that? I was kind of irritated by that whole thing. I felt kind of ignored to be honest. But I guess it was good because my family and Zack weren't exactly on good terms right when he left because of what he did to me. (He had asked my dad for my hand in marriage already by the time he broke up with me).

Anyway, they talked for a long time, about cars, new things in life, etc. Whenever he got the chance and no one else was paying attention he'd give me compliments, "You smell good." "you look good...you're so happy now." etc. He played us songs on the guitar and he's REALLY good. It gave me butterflies. Especially when he played and sang "Must Have Done Something Right" by Relient K. Which was one of our old songs. He looked at me while he was playing and I just smiled at him. After awhile my brother left and my parents left (after a long while actually) and he looked at me and said: "Wanna go for a walk?"

So we took a walk there in the dark just talking about our plans for the future and he apologized for cutting me out these past few months but he thought it would be best for us, he said he was scared that I would hate him for it. We hugged a few times and he'd grab my hand to hold while we walked. He told me how much he cared about me and he stopped me at one point to ask me why I had such low self-esteem and while I thought about it, he grabbed me and started dancing with me. Then we stopped and he said, "I really really care about you, Kristin. I just want you to be happy, whether it's with me or someone else...but I was hoping we could get to know each other again and see if things would work out."

I didn't really answer but we turned around and started walking back to my house, then he wanted to sit down on the sidewalk when we were almost back and he told me he wanted to make sure that I knew he didn't want to get married any time soon, and then he said, "Would you be willing to date other people?" "I've been willing to date other people for the past two years." "And?" "And no one asked me...I'm unapproachable everyone says." And I shut down, but I pretended like I didn't care.

We talked about some other things and then we got back to my house and when I was walking to my door he grabbed my arm and turned me around to him and pulled a piece of paper out of his wallet and handed it to me so I could read it while he said, "You know, I got this Christmas gift and I want to redeem it." It was a piece of paper I sent to him in his Christmas package that said "One free kiss". I looked at thim for a second and then he added, "not tonight, I don't think either of us are ready for that tonight, but just know...I want to redeem it soon."

I walked him to his car and he looked at me and said "what's the biggest change in you?" "I'm stronger, more independent...you?" "...I actually care about other people more then myself." We said goodbye with a hug...and that's how the night he got home went.

Not really some fairy tale day but it was so...normal...it's so werid, having him home again, and it's like he never left, but he's a different person...sort of...he's also the same in a lot of ways. It's hard to explain. Anyhoo. It was a pretty good night aside from the things that I didn't really want to hear but knew I would...It was good to hug him again.

Congrats to Tiffani & Nathan

Tiffani Sommers got her man back at the end of April after him serving our Lord from April 2009-April 2011

We are so happy that Tiffani is back with Nathan and the two of them are super happy together!

Here is their story :) Enjoy & congrats again to them!

          I'm sorry it has taken me so long to write my story!! It's been crazy! But better late than never right?! So my missionary, Nathan Johnson, got back on April 28th! So about a month and a half ago!! TIME IS FLYING BY SO FAST!!! But here is our story: (enjoy!)

So the history of Nathan and me: hmm… well we have grown up together and known each other since kindergarten. I remember in 4th grade when we raced on a math assignment and I won! But I failed the assignment and he got like a one hundred percent! Lol. But I first started crushing on Nathan in the 8th grade!  (Pretty young I know!) I remember thinking, “I could marry this boy!” haha.. I also remember thinking that I didn’t have a chance. He was such a little stinker to me!! He threw snowballs at me all of the time and would pick on me! (He says that was his way of “flirting” and that he was sorry he didn’t know how to flirt! Lol.. We were only 13!) When we were freshmen, we had many classes together and I always wanted to sit by him and talk to him, but he was very shy and would kind of turn his back to me L sad I know! Haha. But every once in a while he would talk to me, and that made all of my effort worth it! But in the middle of the year, Januarish, I decided I had enough chasing and not getting anything in return. So I “gave up” and moved on. Even though I never stopped liking him and “watching him from a distance”. We hung out in a large group of friends, my girlfriends would hang out and do things with his guyfriends, but we would never hang out. His friends would always tell my friends that he liked me a lot, and they would tell them that I liked him too. But we never actually did anything about it! Haha. These types of things happened my sophomore and junior year. Then the summer between my junior and senior year, I got a phone call from him! I was completely shocked! He called to see if I wanted to go four-wheeling, but I couldn’t go because we were going on a “stupid” (I felt at the time) family vacation that week! I told him I couldn’t and I was sorry. I thought for sure I had lost my “once-in-a-lifetime” chance of going on a date with Nathan. Well school started and him and I started “flirting” and talking more than we ever had before, and he asked me to homecoming!!!!!! (in such a cute way! If you wanna know just message me I suppose J) So we went to homecoming together and after that we hung out in our large group of friends every weekend after my volleyball games and his football games. Then on Halloween, about two months after homecoming, we held hands for the first time!! He was very slow moving, but I thought it was cute and he told me it was because he wanted to make sure that he really liked me! How cute! Anyway, then on Christmas Eve was the first time he told me he loved me. He was walking me to my door and we were giving each other a hug good-bye (a long one ;) and he was like, “I really like you Tiffani.” And I replied, teasingly, “Oh no you don’t!” and then there was a brief silence and then he said, “You’re right …*pause*… I love you.” I was in shock and all I could do was just pat him on the back. When I got in the house I realized I didn’t say it back! And I actually didn’t say it to him for a week or so just to make sure that I did love him, but I figured it out pretty quickly! Lol. Then in January was the first time we kissed! It was outside and barely sprinkling snow: perfect memory. We graduated from high school, and I had to go up to the spring semester at BYU-Idaho two weeks later. He didn’t start until the fall, so that month and a half of only seeing him once a week was so hard for me! (boy, I didn’t know anything then! Lol) Then we both came back in the fall and we weren’t separated a single day from that point on until his mission. He got his call on January 19, 2009 to the Illinois, Chicago North mission, and then he left on the 22nd of April. The last time I saw him was after his setting apart on the 21st though. Shaking hands good-bye and watching him pull away in the car with his family was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to face. Then the two-year roller coaster ride of happiness, patience, impatience, tears, letters, and growth started. Looking back, the months zoomed by! But while I was waiting they seemed to take forever, BUT! It isn’t forever :) and I can honestly tell you that mine and Nathan’s relationship and love has grown so much! A mission is the best thing that a young man can do for himself and his future. I also was able to grow and learn so much about myself, Nathan, and the gospel as he was away.

The Day he got home: He flew in at 12:09 in the afternoon! His flight was supposed to come in at 12:30, so good thing we were early!! Seeing him for the first time was so amazin!!! He looks the same but so much more grown up. The airport was awkward! haha.. but he went down the line and gave everyone a hug (including my partents) and then when he got to me it was a handshake :D it was cute though! Then after we left, I got to ride in the car with him to lunch at sizzler. By this time it was totally normal to be with him again. We just talked and glanced at each other. (smile). After lunch we went back to his house and waited until he got released. I just sat and talked with him and his family. Just still in shock that he was actually home!! (I still sort of am!) Then at 5:30 we went to his release. After he was released I got my hug!! oh man it felt soooooo good!! Then we went back to his house and I sat on his bed while he unpacked. Then when we were getting ready to leave, he gave me a nice "close" hug and then we kissed :D :D :D :D (24 hour club!). He took me home that night and ever since he's gotten home I have seen him every day. He is still the boy I fell in love with, except now he is a man and the mission made him so much more amazing. We are dating very seriously and hoping to be married by the end of this year!! :] 

 Ladies, waiting is SO WORTH IT! Don’t just sit around and wait the time out. Get up, get going, and make something of yourself during the time you wait! He is growing and so you should be too! Set goals and get them accomplished, and I promise you the time will fly by and you will wish there was more time to improve. I am so glad I waited and that I had you wonderful girls to help me along the way!

Congrats to Katie Jo and Tom!!

This is the story of Katie Jo and Tom... at least their reunion. Tom served his mission from July 2009 until June 2011

The day went great. I killed a lot of time with my wonderful friend Michelle. We went to Tom's house in the morning (so now she's met his family before she's even met him!), out to lunch, hair salon, nail salon [I'm still learning to type with fake nails on so I apologize in advance for any typos...], and shopped around Arbor Lakes. It wasn't a great distraction because we talked pretty much entirely about Thomas, but it was a least a ton of fun! And in the afternoon, Tom's mother called me to tell me if I wanted, I could just wait outside while Tom is released, and then I don't have to get dressed up in a dress. Well I was all for that, so I ended up going with outfit one: Blue top and boots - but the gray ones not tan.

Anywho, Michelle left about 6, and I spent another 45 minutes getting ready, then left and drove with shakey hands to the stake center! Well, as if I wasn't nervous enough already, go figure, I pull a Katie Jo and got lost. So I started freaking out even more. I wasn't outwardly crying yet, but the tears were definitely welling up! Lesley told me to be there about 7:15 and I was driving in circles unable to find the building. Turns out I kept missing the last turn I needed to take but I figured it out eventually. And it ended up being okay because Thomas was not done at 7:15...

...I arrive about 7:20 and immediately get out of my car. I'm staring at the doors of the church just waiting for them to open. I parked right next to their car, so I knew they were still inside. Well, eventually it got to be too much, so I had to start pacing the parking lot....But after about ten minutes I got cold (the wind really picked up, grr...) and so I went back in my car and sat to get warm...and to keep my hair from getting too damaged from the wind...sheesh.

Well, finally about 8:00, I see Tom's little brother and sister walk out of the doors, so I jump out of my car. I stand there for a minute and see the rest of the famliy behind them. As soon as Thomas walked through those doors, I was running. Literally, running. I jumped into his arms, wrapped my legs round his waist, my arms round his neck, and buried my face in neck. We were whispering things back and forth, but I honestly cannot tell you what the first thing he said to me was for certainity. I'm fairly sure it was "I've missed you." But I'm not positive. Can't remember the first thing I said to him either...

 

We hugged for a long time...long. Time. And when I finally loosened my grip round his neck and pulled away, he pulled me in for a kiss. It was magical. Simply magical. I could kiss him forever. I forgot how amazing his kisses were.

Finally I got down from being wrapped around him, and there was more hugging, laughing, greeting, and smiles. Thomas rode with me back to his house, holding hands the entire ride home just like we used to always do - - and kissing at red lights just like we used to do. Once we were back home, we all sat together in the family room. There were some wrestling matches (I lost of course, just like in the good ol' days), tossing of a football (which led to the breaking of some ceramics...), reading of the scriptures (Luke 8), and family prayer. Then more sitting and talking (our wedding may have popped up once or twice in convo...) once the kiddies had gone off to bed.

Eventually, Thomas and I went downstairs and we were opening his boxes. He showed me a bunch of things from his mission, his tie collection, and we went over old letters, cards, and talks. We sat and talked and talked and talked....and kissed and cuddled bunches too. Just as I was about to leave, Tom's wonderful sister Sammie came down and told us the pictures she took were edited and ready for facebook. So we quick uploaded those, then he walked me to my car and kissed me goodnight.

It was bliss. There really is no other word for it. It still feels like I'm in a dream. It was the most amazing feeling to be able to talk with him, feel him again. To be able to reach out and he's actually there. To feel his heartbeat while we're hugging. To feel his warm breath on my cheek as he whispers he loves me in my ear. It was completely blissful. So surreal. I'm almost afraid to go to bed tonight - I'll wake up and realize it really was just a dream. Tonight could not have been more amazing. It's as if no time has gone by. Everything felt perfect. Not a moment of awkwardness or questioning or doubt. It just fit. Perfectly. The night was filled with kisses and cuddles and hand-holding and "I love you's". It was simple amazing to be able to {feel} his love for me, in the way he holds me, brushes my cheek, kisses my forehead, looks into my eyes. I can't believe it's been two years. It just honestly feels like we were never apart.

I love him so much. I'm so grateful he served a mission. And I'm so grateful he's home now.