Stepping Stones to Our Futures

Kory is going to Asia in a few weeks with the BYU Asia Business Study Abroad program!! I am so excited for him, it is going to be such an incredible experience.  I am extremely passionate about traveling, I think you gain so much education and experience through seeing other parts of the world.  I am so excited he has the chance to participate in this competitive program.  He'll be gone for 4 weeks, but I'll have people come stay with me and be working full time so I won't get too lonely.

Work is going really well.  I really, really like my job and I am having fun gaining more responsibility and learning more processes and procedures each day.  I've actually found that I really like having a career in retail, I like the random schedule that gives me a chance to sleep in a couple of days a week.  I like that there is something new going on every day.  I like that I can leave for work 8 minutes before I have to be there and have a couple of minutes to spare, amazing!

I have found a new love for reading.  I have NEVER enjoyed reading, but for some reason in the last couple of months I have started to really find it entertaining.  I have only made it through one book (which is amazing for me), and I have a good start on my second.  We'll see if this becomes a new love for me.  Anyone have any books they suggest?

I just started getting sick, so I had to come home early today.  I'm heading to bed now so that I can be rested for tomorrow.  Thanks to doTERRA essential oils, I haven't gotten sick for very long all year!  Hopefully that trend sticks!  Kory and I started learning about how essential oils work as natural remedies in December, and we've seen some powerful things happen by using them.  I love learning more about how our bodies work, and how we've been given tools in nature to keep them at their best.  We're going to have a doTERRA Wellness booth at the Utah Valley Women's Expo!  Come see us and get a hand treatment of facial, it's going to be lots of fun!

Sorry I don't have any pictures to post! When I get pics from the BYU Traditions Ball I will post them.  Love you all!

Bad News and Good News

Unfortunately, Kory was not invited to intern with General Mills this summer.  However, I am still incredibly proud of him because the competition was really tough!  I think it is fantastic he was one of only two BYU students that even had the opportunity to be flown out, even though neither of them got the internship.  Kory is doing well though, he's already back on his feet preparing to interview other places.  We're hoping we find something that will be an amazing opportunity and help him continue to grow in his educational experience.  I will also say that a very incredibly Asia Business Study Abroad program is being considered.  Anyone have any really good fund raising-ideas? haha

Overview of the Last Two Months!

My goodness, I have had SO much happen in the last two months. It has probably been some of the most exciting two months I have ever had in my entire life. Let me give you an overview of what I have been up to since my last blog. (By the way, I deeply apologize to each of you who have been patiently waiting for it to no longer be "Sunday" ha!).

June
25: Flew to Virginia to be with Kory!
26: I went to the Matt Nathanson concert Oceanside at Virginia Beach while Kory worked.
29: We made Sunday dinner with friends and played games then went to the beach!
30: Kory and I went on a very nice date to PF Changs (one of our favorites).

July
1: I hated saying goodbye to Kory then had to catch my international flight.
2: I arrived to Edinburgh, Scotland.
4: Missed America, and the 4th of July, and Kory... a lot.
5: We did baptisms at the Preston, England temple.
6: Saw Liverpool, England for a few hours.
7: Arrived in London, England.
10: Saw TWO shows for cheap! CHICAGO and Jersey Boys.
11: Day trip to Stone Henge and Bath.
12: Flew to Amsterdam.
13: Held our own testimony meeting then toured Amsterdam.
14: Drove through Belgium, stopped to visit EU Council in Brussels (and eat waffles).
15: First full day in Paris, France.
17: Day trip to Normandy.
19: Toured the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
20: Attended church at Geneva ward where they spoke french, then met ex-patriots.
21: International Business Presentation by Nestle.
22: Full day in Zermatt, Switzerland where we saw the famous Matterhorn.
23: First full day in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland one of the most beautiful places.
25: Travel to Salzburg, Austria.
26: The Sound of Music tour.
27: Matthousen Concentration Camp.
28: Day trip to the BMW factory in Munich, Germany.
29: Tour of the Neuschwanstein Castle (the one Disney's was based off of).
30: First full day in Milan, Italy saw The Last Supper.
31: Venice! We saw a phenomenal Vivaldi concert.

August
1: Spent the day shopping in Venice.
2: Florence, Italy where we saw Michaelangelo's David.
3: Bore my English testimony to the Italians. Then day tripped to Cortona Tuscany.
4: Rome, Italy!
5: Day trip to Pompeii (the preserved city) and the Italian beach.
6: Saw the sites and enjoyed making our last few memories.
7: Put a package together for my cousin Jonathan serving his mission in Rome.
8: A LONG flight back to the USA then a WONDERFUL REUNION with Kory!
9: I knocked door to door with Kory and watched him make a sale, so fun.
10: Kory and I sang as parts of a quartet in his branch sacrament meeting.
11: Kory finished his last day of work! We celebrated with PF Changs.
12: We got in the car and left Virginia Beach and headed for DC.
12: My first time to Washington DC! Played tourist, visited my good friend Kylee.
13: Drove to Cleveland, OH to see Carissa then Toledo, OH to see Kelli and their fams!
14: After checking to make sure the car was ok, Kory and I started driving again.
15: Kory and I made it back to Provo, UT!
16: Kory and I had lunch at my cousins Jon and Gina Cheney's.
18: We jumped back in the car and drove home to Boise, ID!
19: Kory flew home to Washington to chill with his family.
22: I flew up to Seattle to see Kory again! He picked me up with beautiful flowers!
22: Kory and I had a blast spending the day in Seattle and a the Mariner's game!
23: I met Celeste! Then visited my cousins in Puyallup (Don and Jodie Fowles' family).
24: So much fun enjoying the sabbath with Kory and his family.
25: Kory and I flew back to Boise.
29: HAPPY 6 MONTHS to ANA LEE and KORY! We had a cute picnic by the Boise River.
29: Somehow Kory and I squeeze in ANOTHER road trip this summer...Priest River, ID.
30: Kory, Mom and I do yard work at grandma's house and attend graveside service.
31: Attended church in Priest River then went to Lind, WA for Sunday dinner and drove home. Kory got to meet a lot more of the family! We loved seeing the Fowles.

September
1: Kory leaves for Provo after spending the day with me. School starts tomorrow. I will join him next week. But I am missing him loads already!


So as you can see I have a LOT to write about and a lot of pictures to share too. I don't even know where to begin? At least you have the overview now? haha. It is late so I am going to go to bed. But I hope you enjoy my little calendar of events!

Love you all!

Sunday

I love going to church. I love the feeling that you get when you are there. I love being able to think about our Savior, and the amazing power of the atonement. I love having the opportunity to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants with our Father in Heaven. I love how when you bow your head, fold your arms, and pray to our Heavenly Father you get this feeling that you are loved and you know that He is listening to every word you say. I love knowing that we are apart of an eternal plan, a "bigger picture." It just makes me happy, and gives me confidence in my life.

This weekend was really great. It had some stressful moments. I'm getting anxious about being gone for 5 weeks. But I think everything will work out well. Study abroad is a LOT of work and even more responsibility. I sure have my hands full, but I'm trying not to let it get to me too much. It is an amazing opportunity and I am thrilled to have it!

Today after church we watched a couple of movies, Remember the Titans and Mona Lisa Smile. I love both of those movies. They both have such powerful moments in them. I love just relaxing and watching a good movie sometimes.