Cool stuff.

Just got back from a much needed get away with the family to

St. G

Me and Ty went to the St G Temple.

So pretty.

I love temples.

Shawn loved it when I sent him this picture.

His two favorite people! :)

Wanna see something cool?

Check out this picture.

I can't believe how fast time is flyin;

for now.

I can't wait to be with you again in 15 months babe.

I miss you SO MUCH.

and I love you!

patience.

"There is an important concept here:
patience is not passive resignation,
nor is it failing to act because of our fears.
Patience means active waiting and enduring.
 It means staying with something and doing all that we can
—working, hoping, and exercising faith;
 bearing hardship with fortitude,
 even when the desires of our hearts are delayed.
 Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"
 -Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

15 months to go

Mission Baby.

I'm sure you may be asking why the title is what it is?

Well today is March 8, 2012,
which means...

Me and Shawn just had our "mission baby".

9 Months Down!!

I can't believe I have made it this far.

I remember when Shawn just left,

and I was sitting in my family room talking with my family

doing the countdown.

"By the time school starts, it'll be 2 months. Then Christmas, it'll be 6 months,

then my birthday it'll be 8 months and then almost 9 months, and then the year mark!"

And look where we are!

9 months down

and 9 months that i'll never have to do again!

Good feeling.

Very good feeling.

i can't believe 92 days away from the

HUMP DAY!

Happy Mission Baby!! I love you :) :)

Okay.

So yesterday I got a surprise letter!

That doesn't happen often.

Letters take forever to get to the states from Chile

and so I was shocked when I got a letter yesterday.

I even screamed.

Well there was a part in the letter I want to share with you :)

You may agree that I have the cutest boyfriend ever.

"We are trying to get a family we found to get married, and I loved teaching about it cause I thought about you the whole time. I also told them something like this 'You two have been living together for 12+ years, and have three kids, It's definitely time to get married. I have a girl named Emily back in the United states waiting for me, we have been together for over 2 years and you two have no idea how jealous I am of you two because you can get married right now, and I have to wait until next year to marry her." Then we talked about the blessings of temple marriage and they even cried and felt the spirit so strongly. It was amazing. Everyone asks about you here Emmie, you are famous. So yes, we have people in the states that look up to us, but we also have people in Chile. amazing huh? Thank you for taking this journey with me Emmie"

Isn't he the cutest?!

Then he went on to talk about his mission and lessons he taught

and about how he loves me.

He's great.

15 months left?

Piece of caaaake!!

I love you Elder Shawn Larkin!!



Daybreak.

I just fell in love

with the Daybreak area.

Daybreak, South Jordan.

One of my bestfriends

Holly Ross

just got married.

Her and her hubby moved out to Daybreak

and I just visited her yesterday.

Here is what went down.

-Made Cinnamon Bread Twists

(thanks pinterest)

-Laughed so hard because I fail at kneading.

"Just add more flour Em"

-Made dinner for her Hubby and her Hubby's friend.

(Thanks pinterest. again.)

-Watched some sweet youtube videos.

-Went on a drive.

-Snuck into Usher's managers new house

that is being built above the Draper Temple.

ITS HUGE.

-Jordan showed me around Daybreak.

I fell in love.

-Watched Ellen videos about The Bachelor.

-Caught someone in a sketchy act.

-Made me a twitter.

-And planned my married life.

Never a dull moment with Holly.

And the more that I was with them,

the more excited I got about moving out there.

I hope Shawny loves it out there as much as I do.

Everything is just perfect.

There are tracks that go to the University of Utah.

Jordan can help Shawn get a job.

There is a lake out there.

Temples really close.

BEAUTIFUL neighborhood.

And the best part of it all?

While me and Holly enjoy pinning, cooking, girl time;

Shawn and Jordan will be upstairs "game-ing".

Oh, the married life.

I can't WAIT.

I can't wait to marry my best friend;

Shawn Brett Larkin <3



By your side.

This song.

Wow.

I've been dealing with a lot of battles the past two weeks.

Depending a lot on the Lord for comfort

and to feel the love of Shawn thru these hard trials.

And today,

I came across this song.

And every word was an answer to my prayers.

I'm such a lucky girl to have

The Lord

and Shawn

by my side.

Where was I when your tears were falling?
Where was I went you needed a friend?
Where was I when your heart was calling?
Do you not remember?
Well I'll tell you then.

Know I remain
right by your side.
Push thru the rain,
and into the fire.
When I said I loved you
its just what I meant
so when you ask me
"Where was I when?"
Everytime;
I was right by your side.

Where was my love when your heart was bleeding
Was it not enough just to be your man?
When you had no feeling, where were my hands?
If you dont remember;
I'll tell you then.

I remain right by your side
Push thru the rain,
and into the fire.
When I said I loved you
it's just what I meant.
So when you ask me
"where was I when?"
Everytime;
I was right by your side.

Well dont you know,
that I give all the best of me.
I've done it all,
But you still dont want to see.
That I remain right by your side
Push thru the rain
and into the fire.
Cuz when I said I loved you,
its just what I meant.
So when you ask me
"Where was I when?"
Everytime;
I was right by your side.

100.

Wait......

100 DAYS?!

I've only got 100 Days until his

YEAR MARK?!

Time is flying.

I'm almost half way there.

I love you boyfriend :) :)

Birffdayy.

Happy Birffday to MUAH.

Yah, I know I'm late to post,

but I had another birthday.

February 21.

I turned 19 years old.

I dont feel at all different.

Oh the joys of still being a "teenager".

One Birthday down;

One more to go

til my best friend is home!!

Well, I had a pretty good birthday!

Here's what went down.

I woke up at 7:45.

Yes I had to wake up early on my birthday.

And got ready to go to the Salon.

I love the Salon

& all my friends were gunna be there.

Then, my grandma came in

to get her hair done.

She brought me a Diet Coke

and a cupcake.

A cupcake that I love so dearly.

Me and Shawn would get those cupcakes all the time.

Smiths is where its at.

My day was already off to a great start.

Love that woman.

Then, me and my bestie Sara Strong,

went to Olive Garden for lunch.

We sat in the booth right next to the one

me and Shawn would always sit at.

what a co-ink-a-dink.

Then,

I went home and opened presents.

Yay presents!

This is what I got:

Modest Swim Suit :)

130 bucks to Tilly's and a gas card :)

Another Bag from the man :)

Thanks babe!!

Book mark, Tea stuff?, earrings, bracelets, watches,

a LOVELY decorated birthday letter

I loved my gifts.

Thanks Mom, Dad, and Shawn!

Then after that,

I went to dinner at Lonestar

with my Mom, Dad, and little Brother.

And then hung out with my best friend

Sara Strong.

It was a pretty good birthday.

I'm a very laid back girl,

doesn't take much for me to have a great day.

Birthdays are a million times harder than holidays

without the boyfriend here,

but it was amazing how much I felt his love on that day.



Stupid Holiday.

While girls are getting spoiled by their boyfriends,
my boyfriend just so happens to be 6037 miles away.

I had a really hard day surprisingly.
I woke up this morning thinking
"Its not a big deal, you're day is gunna be fine"
But its much harder to have someone you love so much, so far away on this day.
(but yes, im lucky to even have someone to love)

But as I was driving to school it hit me so hard
that I miss him so much. I couldn't hold back the tears.
but I sucked it up and went to the Salon.

The day went on and luckily my best friend was there.
She has a missionary too, so we just made each other laugh all day.
Then noon hit.

Flowers started getting delivered to the school.
"Oh great." And I just tried to ignore it.
But I couldn't get my mind off of Shawn.
I just wanted him here so bad.
I started getting really sad.

This is where the cool part happens.
While me and Sara are in the car, I couldn't stop thinking;
"I just wish Shawn was here. I just want to hear him tell me he loves me. Thats it"
and within seconds, I hear the radio start playing our song.

The Lord works in amazing ways.
The Lord heard my cry and felt my pain
and I got something better than flowers, chocolates, or a date.
I felt my Shawny's love. I felt him there with me. I heard his voice tell me he loves me.

And even though I missed him soooooo much today,
this Valentines Day was one I'll always remember.

Thank you Shawn, for everything you do for me and for making sure I felt your love today.

Happy Valentines Day my sweetheart.

I love you so much.

Tator-Tot.

If my kids are nearly as cute as this boy, I will be happy :)

I love my Tator-Tot. He makes me so happy!
He can be my replacement til Shawn gets home.

i miss him so much.

It's a Friday night, and I'm spending it watching chick flicks and Facebook.
You've all guessed it.. it's one of those nights.
I miss Shawn so much.
So instead of thinking so much about it, or getting emotional.. I decided to blog.
Ignore this post if you dont want to read any further, because you know its gunna be an emotional one.

Shawn has been gone 8 months. Everyday is one day closer to seeing him again. I can't wait. (well, I can). As some of you may know, I'm on this Facebook page called "Waiting for a Missionary". Cheesy I know. But I always saw those girls posting on it saying "8 months down! I can't believe it. Almost to the year mark" and I kept thinking to myself, "Holy cow, I can't wait to be there" and I'm finally there! It feels great to know that I only have 4 months til his year mark. I mean, a year ago THIS MONTH he opened his call. Time really does fly. I'm doing so well, and i'm so confident in what we have.. it's been easy on me. Well, easier on me than other girls waiting. But every once in a while, I let it all out.

I've always been the girl to hold everything in and then when something big happens, I lose it. Tonight is definitely one of those nights. I've also always been that girl that thinks "look how far I've come". but tonight I'm thinking "I've got so much more to do." and it sucks.

I really am so happy for him and proud of him! This mission is what he needs to do and I support him completely, but I miss my best friend tonight. I miss always having plans on the weekend with him, always looking forward to date nights, spending every waking moment together, always having someone to make me laugh, watching those ridiculous TV shows he always watched, jamming out in his truck, kisses goodnight, "Goodmorning Beautiful" or "Goodnight, I love you" Texts/phone calls, I miss having him around. Things happen at school and I immediately think "Oh i GOT to tell Shawn" I miss hearing his laugh, his voice; I miss having that one person I told EVERYTHING to. I know people say this a lot.. "Having someone to love and love you in return is like finding that person who completes you." and I couldn't agree more. Shawn really does complete me. He's my better half. And although I hate nights like this, I'm grateful for them because I'm reminded how lucky I am to have someone to miss and be in love.

I know some of you, or most, may be thinking "Where is this coming from? You are always so positive". But even the strongest people have their weak days.

It seems like everyday someone announces an engagement, wedding pictures, or they're having a baby... it makes me miss Shawn more. But then I realize.. its not my turn. Its not my time. My responsibility and duty right now is to wait for my missionary, finish school, and better myself for my perfect boyfriend. I try to accept that, its hard, but I do. I just replay what Shawn always says in my mind;

"Emily, dont worry. Our love is better than anyones. What we are doing is incredible and think about what it will be like when I get home... out of this world. I love you. Our love conquers the impossible".

He always knows just what to say. and he's right. I look up to those girls that waited for missionaries. Its the HARDEST thing I've ever done, but the most rewarding thing I will ever do. I love him more than words can describe.

I'm also really lucky because I haven't even gotten close to IBS. (imaginary boyfriend syndrome). I see all these girls on the Fb page that have it, and I think "What in the world, how could you have that with someone you love SO MUCH?!" and I'm 8 months in and I'm not even close to it. I feel his love every single day! And maybe thats why I miss him so much tonight; his love is with me tonight.

I miss him so much, but next summer... he will be home. and home for good. That day will be the best day of my life. 484 days until he gets home.

Sorry for the rambling. You're bored I know it. So i'll end it here.

Time... please pick up.


I love you Shawn. <3