My Uncle Donald and my Aunt Jackie Keyes were called to serve as the new mission president for Independence Missouri. They left for 3 years this week and they will surely be missed! Don and Jackie have the most amazing testimonies and beautiful spirits. They will make WONDERFUL missionaries. They will touch so many lives and hearts and plant many seeds. What a wonderful and joyous experience. I tell Brian all the time that I hope to follow their lead and take on such a great challenge and journey as this. But they and their family will be SO blessed! It has been hard to see them leave because it is very true that you don't know what you are missing until it's gone. It just has made me realize that I should have spent more time learning about their wonderful lives and sweet spirits. When they return home in 3 years, Brian and I will probably be living in some foreign land. (aka not in Utah)
The whole family! (Uncle Scott, Grandpa & Grandma Gooney, Aunt Jackie, and my daddy!)
This really has just opened my eyes to how blessed I have been growing up by all my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc! I have taken this for granted far too long! My cousin Kim and her husband Brett are also moving to Iowa for PA school this week. I have missed out on some great memories and experiences and have been telling Brian we can't do this anymore! We have one more year in Utah and we better make the best of it by doing as much with our families as we can! These are the relationships that matter most! Now is the time when we need to start realizing what we have and appreciating our families. You never know when someone will be called on a mission, unexpectedly pass away, or in my case---get married! When I left for college last year I thought I would have YEARS left with my family. Now I regret not spending more time with them and am grateful to have at least another year to stick around Utah!
This is a cute cake we had at their goodbye party. They have 10 grandchildren they are leaving behind
Most of the Kendell Clan :)
I tell all my friends that are leaving on missions this awesome quote,
"You leave your family for two years (in this case three)
So that others can be with theirs for Eternity!"
We love and miss you! We will be praying for you!! :)
Brian finally received his MCAT score! Drum Roll Please!
37!
I am SO proud of him! We looked it up and a 37 is in the 98 percentile! That's incredible! Way to go baby on your big accomplishment! Woot! All his studying paid off! :)
I don't know about you.. But I'm SO ready for the sun to come out.. and STAY OUT!
I'm SO excited for:
bike rides, boating, green-Green-GREEN, lemonade stands, hobo dinners, thunderstorms, fireworks, watermelon, hammocks, sunglasses, the smell of chlorine and sunscreen, picnics, the beach, drive-ins, swimming, camping, Zeppes, rolling down hills, sprinklers, sandcastles, hiking, painting toenails, no make-up, braids, homemade popsicles, blowing bubbles, sidewalk chalk, reading, finger painting, Frisbee, mini golf, water balloons and water fights, the feel of the A/C in a sun-warm car, crickets, fresh mowed lawn, rolling down the windows, sand between your toes, the sound of the waves, flip flop tans, BBQ s, skinny dipping, spotting hot air balloons or para-sailors, blue skies, smiles, peaches, smoothies, campfires, volleyball, fish&chips, bright colors, parties, fruit, ice cream
There are only 2 things I hate about summer...
ALLERGIES! -worst thing ever. My nose runs so much I get sores, my eyes itch so I have to wear my contacts, and I'm always sneezing uncontrollably!
Mosquitoes -I swear they love the taste of me! I absolutely hate itching them!
Summer Bucket List:
Go to the ZOO
Watch fireworks!
Go Roller Skating
Play Tag in the Rain
Dance in Public
Shaving Cream Fight
Sleep on the trampoline
Make s'mores
Release my inner cowgirl at a rodeo
Float the river
Sing karaoke
Make sidewalk chalk creations
Shoot guns
Go camping
Go on a four-wheeler ride
Go down a slip-N-slide
Fly a kite
Make Marshmallow Guns
Pull an all-nighter
Play night games
Ride a horse
Run through sprinklers
See a movie at a drive-in theater
Build a blanket fort
"It's gonna be a long hot summer!We [are] together"
By August we'll have been married 5 MONTHS! YAY Summer!
So the other day when we came home, I walked in the door and a squirrel ran past me. What?! So Brian and I spent the afternoon trying to chase the little creature out. We named him Steve from the movie Over the Hedge. After that little adventure we enjoyed the rest of the night. The next morning while I was getting ready we found another squirrel in our closet.
Most people get invaded my mice or rats, but not us... we get invaded with squirrels. We named this one Hammy because it was like he was on caffeine. Squirrels are SO fast! While we were trying to scare Hammy out, he ran at me and I stepped on him on accident! Brian and I both started screaming our heads off until Brian grabbed a shovel, scooped up the squirrel, and threw him outside.
Brian and the "Squirrel Scooper"
So we thought we were squirrel free until a few hours later when we found a hole in the ceiling where a projector's cords extend. Three more squirrels were poking their heads out! Great! So we've moved from a leaky apartment to one full of squirrels! What will be our next adventure?!
Time has been zooming past! It’s been 3 months and 2 whole days since we get married! What?! I already feel old! This weekend we went kayaking and chased the pelicans. Those birds have got to be related to the Teradactyl dinosaur because when they fly away they totally look that way!
I have crossed something off of my bucket list! I beat Brain in bowling! He is so stinking good and has this awesome curve on the ball.. But for some reason he just wasn't up to it today or something because... I WON! Yep! I just have to boast for a moment! This must be how he feels.. all the time! :)
By the way.. He's the first one under BUBBA... and I'm the second one under FLAPPER.. Don't ask about the names haha
