Zzzzz..

Just a short note to add to the "Sleep Talking Diaries". . .

SJ. rental gas

NJ. what? did you just say rental gas?

SJ. no I said the gas is gone

NJ. no I think you just said rental gas in your sleep

<<<<<<snoring>>>>>

Thanksgiving Vacaaay

Thanksgiving break was so much fun. It started out with an amazing concert by JM! We have made it our goal that whenever John Mayer comes to town we have to go see him. Phillip Phillips opened for him so that was an unexpected treat as well. John changed his style of music recently which we were so opposed to but we bought his latest album and took it on a road trip with us. By the end of the trip we were fans of the new John (not to mention double points for dating my main lady KP).

We woke up the next day and headed to Columbus, Ohio to have Thanksgiving with our Wernli friends for the second year in a row. They are always so great with making us feel like one of the fam. The weekend was filled with Black Friday shopping, Settlers of Catan & Puerto Rico, eating eating eating (including some speciality items on the menu: orange pancakes and abelskivers) and staying up till 3am talking. We would shortly regret our late nights in the morning when their kids would get up at 7:30 but then we would stay up late again. Hilarious! We have not seen these friends since they moved away from Georgia in July so it was such a great time.

Don't worry, we CHOSE to sit at the kids table for dessert

party van

boys love their games

never say never

"I NEVER snore"

Well my husband --fiance at the time-- was wrong, but it's not that bad. It's only every once in a while. I cough once and the snoring ceases, and if I'm lucky he'll talk in his sleep. It makes for the funniest nights. Last night went like this:

Shaun was snoring softly 

I nudged him 

SJ: aba aba aba

Ni: you are talking in your sleep

SJ: well it's because there is a lot to say about…

Ni: about what?

SJ: well I mean I was talking because…

Ni: because why?

Ni: Shaun?

SJ: yeah?

Ni: do you know what you were saying?

SJ: I think I was half asleep

Then I'll tell him what he said and we laugh until we fall asleep.

I love being married to that guy.

for the glory of the skies

Last weekend I was in a scene from a movie. I just had to be. I couldn't believe how gorgeous everything looked around me {I can't imagine how heavenly it is in the summer time}. Shaun and I had made it all the way to the lighthouse when Shaun's phone died. My ears were also getting numb so we went back to the car. Shaun really wanted to film the waves so he went back out without me. While I was waiting in the car, I pulled up "For the Beauty of the Earth" on youtube. It was awesome. The creation of the earth and it's gorgeous details leave me speechless every time I think about them.

The Mission Field

The church outside of Utah, or the "mission field" as people call it, is such a different experience. The members here live in a world of persecution and have to really choose for themselves that they believe. I'm not saying that the church back in Utah doesn't get any persecution. I am sure Utah as a whole gets its fair share, but more often there are individual attacks.

In Michigan, I am in a ward where I am one of twenty relief society sisters. I found out yesterday that there are 8 of us that are baptized (which is awesome because investigators are so fun to be around and their learning). Yesterday in our lesson we were talking about persecution and how we react to it. The teacher asked the class:

How many of you first heard about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day 

Saints from a resource that was meant to be negative towards the church?

We counted 9 out of the 12 investigators! I was first shocked to see so many hands raised and then was overcome with happiness that they still showed up to learn for themselves. I learned that the downtown Grand Rapids area, where we currently are living is a very anti-mormon area. I heard stories about the Stake Presidency instructing the members to remove all bumper stickers or things that would reveal that you are affiliated with this church because of many accounts of trashed cars. There is also a cop on duty for the youth's mutual nights. I was so grateful for these strong courageous members! I know missionaries and people outside of Utah probably hear and see stories like this every day. Personally, my eyes would have never truly been open to this if I would not have left the Utah church environment.

One more thing, we were also discussing in our lesson yesterday about blooming where you are planted. One lady shared how her callings have really made her happy and the joy she gets from them (she is the choir director). She explained that she has been trying to get back West for the past fifteen years but for whatever reason she never made it. She has come to realize that the Lord has allowed her to stay here and be the strength in this area. She also has the opportunity to work in the area of the church that she wanted. She said "back in Utah you practically need a bachelors in Music to be considered for a musical calling. I never would have been a choir director back there." People laughed but I couldn't help but nod my head! Shaun and I always talk about how much more work we are being able to do out here. Having these INCREDIBLE experiences with the youth of the church and thinking, back home in Utah we were sunbeam teachers {which was a blast of course}. It makes me laugh. I know there is some truth in what she was saying but I really just loved her comment because it reminded me of all the "blooming" that I am doing out here on this adventure of ours.

I am so grateful for the pioneers and previous church members that truly gave their life for this church and went through unimaginable persecution. You always hear that we are "modern day pioneers" but I never really felt like that until I came out here and am hearing stories of strong courageous faith. The persecutions will come and they will come hard but this true church will NEVER cease to be on this earth! It will keep moving on like a train, a train that I will always strive to be on.


side note: my beautiful sis missionary came home from Albania due to some nasty parasite situation. she's on the mend. I'm grateful for her example of a person that has a love for the gospel and wants to shout it to the world.