and I'm out!

I report to the MTC next week. Whaat!? This has flown by so quickly. But I'm so excited to share this JOY and HAPPINESS that I have in my life because of the Gospel! I know this is going to be the most difficult experience of my life, but I also know that it is going to be the most rewarding thing I will experience.

I have full faith in my Heavenly Father and Savior, I know that with Those two by my side that I will be able to press through the hard days and see the light. There is going to always be something each day to be thankful for and something that can make me happy. I'm so ready to give my life for 18 months to Him, and think of nothing else but how I can be more like Him, and how I can bring others unto Him.

For the next 18 months please follow along and read about my adventures through my mission blog! My mom is going to be taking over it so be patient. :) You can find my mission blog here. My contact information (I would LOVE letters:) will be there! I'll be waiting to hear from each of you! :)

I love each of you, and I am so thankful for how you each of touched my life. Just as Hymn #293 says, What greater gift dost thou bestow, What greater goodness can we know. Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways. Strengthen our faith, enrich our days. Each of you have helped me become who I am today, and for that I am infinitely grateful! I can feel your love and support, don't forget to pray for the missionaries! :)

I know that our Savior lives. I have gone through times in my life where He has undeniably been there with me. He loves us perfectly, although we are imperfect. I know that God answers each of our prayers, and sometimes we may feel that those answers don't come...but that's just Him showing us how much He trusts us. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and truly is another Testament of Christ! As we read from it we learn of our Savior's life, His attributes, and how we can each become more like Him. I know that prayer is real. Whether our prayers or concerns be big or small, He is listening and He always will bless us! I know that Joseph Smith did see God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, and He did restore the truest Gospel onto the Earth. I know it, I live it, I love it!!

xoxo,
Sister Izzy

photo dump.

I don't know how January is creeping up so fast. 

But it is.

And my emotions are totally jumbled. 

Most of all I'm so excited! 

The past eight days I watched the twins and then Victor then entire time, it was been such a fun time! I'm way to attached to my munchkins. :) The girls went to a cousin's house for the last five days and as I said goodbye I started crying! I don't know what's up with me. I guess I just imagined having to say goodbye for 18 months and that is going to kill me. Those kiddos have my whole heart. Good thing I'll stay the favorite and that I'll receive oodles of strength from the Lord! :) 

I'm done with finals, it's weird to think that I'm done with school for a whole year-and-a-half! But also a very nice feeling. :) I think I'm almost ready...I have most of my shopping done. I just need to gather up the little things! This is so surreal!

Since I haven't posted for such a long time...I'm just going to dump a whole lot of pictures. :) Starting from a whole two months ago! 

Halloween was so fun! I went to Shara's house on Halloween night and went trick-or-treating with her girls and Sherese's boys. Oh kiddos make holidays so much fun! They loved getting candy and Anna was so cute (and good!) to say thank you! Seriously, those kiddos...love them! The next day we had a family party and everyone was supposed to dress up! Well very few of them dressed up... I kinda stuck out! :)

Could you ever find a cuter monkey!? I'll answer that: NO! 

Bodee, Suzan, Anna, Wyatt

I had to get a picture with my little zebras...it was a zoo! ;)  

I finally met up again with my dear friend, Laura, and her adorable boys! Her little one on the right has a bit of a facial paralysis. It is so good (and fun!) to visit with her and share my story with others. 

My mission call came! I got it on the 13th of November, my best friend and I got it on the same day! That was pretty cool. :) I was called to the Ventura, California mission and I leave in under a month! It's so unreal that I'm going to serve a mission like I've always dreamed of! I'm so excited for this new experience, truly through the Lord do I trust in! I know that through Him I'll be able to make it through all the hard days and sleepless nights. But, it is going to be more than worth it in the end.

I have the BEST friends!! 

Caitlin & I with our mission calls. :) 

Sammm...

..so grateful she moved here and that we are bestest of friends!! 

My family...I don't know what in the world I would do without them. They're my rock! 

My mom and I had fun shopping, this suitcase was huge! Does anyone want to come with me!? I'm sure you'll fit! :) 

Samantha was kind enough to come shopping with us. We found a matching outfit, no we did not dare buy the shirts but had to take a picture! It was a fun (but very long) day. 

She must have said something really funny.... :)

We're...weird. :)

The week before Thanksgiving I went to visit my sisters who live in Eastern Utah. I stopped at Sherese's first and we had so much fun! We decorated for Christmas and played with a lot of horses and cows. :) I can't believe how much these boys are growing! It was always so sweet to hear Wyatt say his prayers at night, each of my sisters are such good examples of how to be a righteous mother.  Their little ones are so blessed!

Wyatt & Bodee

I then headed to Angelene's house and we of course decorated for Christmas there too! Hiram also helped me learn how to feed his turkeys and count all of the deer! He is obsessed with Winnie the Pooh, so he of course had to get all of his friends (which he can barely carry:) together to watch a show! And of course they had to watch Winnie the Pooh. :) 

Hiram was SO excited to go see 'Papi' (grandpa) and his tractor! He's such a patient little boy, we finally made it and he got to ride the tractor to his heart's content! 

I had the awesome opportunity to go through the Temple on the 28th of November. I was so thankful my entire family could be here! I'm surrounding by the most loving, supportive people. It was an amazing experience, I was reminded of the reality of our Savior, and Heavenly Father and the plan that they hold for us. Such a special experience, one that I will always treasure! I wasn't feeling the best and made it home just in time to throw up...I was just praying I wouldn't do it in the temple! :) haha.

 such handsome brothers and lovely sisters!

I was on my way to a final one day and this beautiful sunrise was taking place. I felt like it was God reminding me that everything was going to be okay, and that this new day was going to be wonderful! I love knowing He's always looking out for some way to bless us.

 My parents, James and I ventured out to the BYU vs. USU basketball game. It was a crazy good time! Although we lost the game, it was still so fun to be with my little family. My dad doesn't especially love the games, but he was a good sport. :) 

 I got a few pictures taken for my mission...things are getting crazy real! This past week I found out that a girl I went to High School with is in my mission!! I was so excited because I haven't found many going to my mission! And if I have they're all speaking Spanish! I quickly emailed her and have loved hearing from her how much she LOVES the mission.  It was such a tender mercy to find out that she's serving there! 

The love I feel from my Savior is undeniable and something I never want to go without.  I know that He lives and I know that He knows us. As I've studied my scriptures this week I have really been reminded how much Christ wants us each to return. I'm so excited to share His love with others. I want everyone to be able to know of Him, and have an opportunity to know Him personally and one day return to Him. I know this Gospel is true, and I love it with all my heart. 

Sunday Ramblings.

Have you ever had your life planned out a certain way, thinking that if it worked out just how you wanted it to that it would be your perfect life? I feel like we all have done this at one time or another, and sometimes it is difficult to turn your plans over to the Lord to revise. Trusting in Him, and His plan for each of us is something that can change our life perspective. This past week as I was reading my scriptures, I read 2 Nephi 2:24. It says:

 "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things."

I had a certain course that I had imagined my life taking, and I was kind of starting to get frustrated that it hadn't done so. Through different interactions and things that went on throughout the next few days, I began thanking my Heavenly Father that they didn't turn out the way I wanted. It was at this time that I had an 'ah-ha!' moment. :) I was reminded that He does indeed have a detailed plan for each of us, no matter where we are in our lives. And even better, the plan that He has for us is one that is much better than we planned out. As we keep our covenants and stay near Him, we will be led what steps to take next to become closer to fulfilling that plan.
- - -
Angelene & Shara's family came for Fall Break, best weekend ever! We carved pumpkins, made silly faces, had little dance parties, read books, took pictures, and just had a most joyous time. :) Every day I think about how much I am going to miss my family (and especially munchkins) while I'm on my mission. I'll just say that we'll cross that bridge when we get there. :) It kinda stinks being a homebody sometimes!!

I can't believe how BIG these two have gotten since September!! 

My friend, Meagann, and I did a Jimmy Fallon lip sync, we were supposed to post in on YouTube, he would watch them all and then make a 'supercut' of all of his favorites. To our BIG surprise, we made it onto his video! I still can't quite believe it, but wahoo! hahaha. We were giraffes in the video...quite embarrassing but hey it paid off! :) 

To see Jimmy's video (yes, we're on a first name basis now;) go here: 'Ew!' Supercut We're at 1:48. I promise Meagann is behind me, sadly he didn't show her. :'(

 Elder Russell M. Nelson came to my stake conference. After the Saturday night session I went up and shook his hand (as well as Elder Larsen, of the seventy), such a sweet man. It was so amazing to meet him! After the Sunday session I went to take Ava to meet them both, so I of course shook their hands again. And, they both remembered me! I asked my family if they remembered them and they said they didn't! It made me feel kinda special. :) The meetings were so amazing and the spirit was so strong. I truly know that President Monson is a Prophet of God and that the Apostles are the Lord's mouth piece! 

At our recent work banquet, Lee and I got matching outfits. I got basically a whole new wardrobe consisting of 'Pointe' attire. :) haha, I love it! Lee may not always love to match me...but I kind love matching that cool kid. [If you have bug problems let me know, I'll hook ya up. ;)]

Chopping grain with my daddy is always usually a fun time. :) This time Angelene was with us so we just had to capture a picture of the fun, haha. I sure love this farm life. 

And, really!? How more beautiful could this get!? Seriously, country the life can't be replaced.

Life is good. 

We are family!

Isn't there a song that goes along with the title? Maybe not...

We recently had an Izzy family reunion and it was a blast. A bit chaotic and crazy with nine nieces & nephews ages four and under...but that's how I like it. :) It was so fun to be back with my whole family, Heaven must be a bit like what this weekend was.

We met at Sherese's house and went to a beautiful reservoir, the kids loved playing in the water and the boys enjoyed fishing and bow practice! That night we slept in tents in her back yard, oh how I have missed camping! No, that wasn't real 'camping' but my summer wasn't quite complete without sleeping in a tent. :) The next day the boys helped Eric on building their new house, while the ladies stayed home with the children and tried to entertain them. It was such a fun weekend and one that I will always remember! I'm so blessed with such great best friends.


Obsessed with my munchkins. And sunsets. And the beach. And life. :) 

If you click on this picture, you'll notice that there are two Kyles (brown sweatshirt). He must have moved as I was taking my panoramic picture. :) 

Loove sunsets. 

Snack time for the kiddos! 

Sherese made this awesome plastic thing filled with water, the kids loved it!!

What kiddos don't love bounce houses?!

The boys - hard at work! 

It's coming a long quite nicely. :) 

This little man loves his grandpa (and namesake!). 

Trying to be in the shade and eat some snacks. :) 

I'm such a lucky, lucky auntie. 

Star & Moon (mini ponies) were a hit!

I could eat him. 

We missed Loren & Meg for the picture, as well as Eric & Kyle! 

I looove these crazies. :) 

- - -

In other news...I've almost completed a month of school! And for those who missed my announcement, I'm engaged!!!

Just kidding...that's somewhere down the road. :) I've decided to serve a mission and couldn't be more excited. Accepting the Lord's will is an amazing thing, and the peace you can get from that is life changing. I didn't really want to serve a mission, but I know that is what I'm supposed to do, and I know that with Him I can do anything. So excited to share this joy, happiness, and peace with others! Life is just too good. 

Sam & I went night hiking the other night...so fun! We didn't even die, or get lost (almost did:), see any scary creature...or fall down the mountain! haha. But we did see tender mercies...our flash lights lasted the entire time! I love seeing how God watches out for the little things in our lives.

I heart nature. *above taken at Maughan's Hollow...below taken in my backyard during a thunderstorm!*

And I just have to say that I love having these two so much closer now!!