HIII!!! Wow, I haven't written in here in FOREVER!
The Lord still wanted us to stick to our original plan of getting married in Mexico and living there. And it felt so right to do that. It's what we wanted. I'm so excited to be back there with Ricky and his family and with my Queretaro friends, my Queretaro! But it will be so hard to leave everyone here in Kzoo!! Exactly 2 weeks from today, I'm going to Grand Rapids to spend a week with my family, and then, on May 7th, I'm leaving for Mexico! We won't be able to come back until about Christmas time. Luckily, I magically got $400 of certificates from Continental, and we're going to use those to come back together.. somehow, we have to magically save up another $800 to do that, but the Lord has been taking such good care of us. I know He'll help.
I wanted to write a gratitude list - so many great things have been happening.
I am grateful to my Heavenly Father that:
-Ricky and I have been together 11 1/2 months. The best almost-year of my life.
I love that sweet, honest, handsome, spiritual, hardworking, and caring young man with all my heart. We've grown so much, each of us personally, and in our relationship.
"True love we're absolutely giddy about." Elder Holland
-I have had this year here in Michigan with my family and friends here, to learn and grow and spend time with them.
-I have the BEST roommie (sorry to all you other roommies out there, but it's true). And I'm so happy for her. She just got a job, she got into her summer class, and an awesome calling in the RS pres- you go girl! and we did Yoga together last night! fun!
-Debbie did my taxes for me - I'm going to miss her so much! Thank goodness for skype!
-I'm grateful that I didn't get my summer class - It looks like I'm going to graduate in December instead, which is probably better because then it defers my loans! I can save up money.
-I have been finding ways to make money. I have orchestra gigs, babysitting gigs, tax returns, and my dad gave me $20. yay.
-I FINISHED MY RECITAL!!! I CAN BREATHE NOW! lol and go to institute! I TOTALLY ROCKED IT TOO!!! yaaaaaaayy!! Also, so many of my friends and colleagues were there. The biggest surprises were that my grandma and aunt and cousins were there! and my brother was able to come - he plays the cello so he has always looked up to me as a musician so it was so cool that I could play for him. Also, my best friend from high school, Amanda, was there! she ran off right afterwards but I smiled at her from the stage. That was cool.
- The most important thing was that I felt good about my playing. I prayed before I went out on stage. I have really learned a lot in the past 4 years, and even this past year my playing has matured so much. I have to keep it up, and it's looking good for my chances of that in Queretaro. There are 2 orchestras, and just a couple hours away, I can take lessons from Gela.
-I got my endowments! I love the temple, I love the garments. It was such a good experience. And Ricky and I found some temple work that we can do when I get down there! family file, yes!
-Conference was incredible!!! It was everything we needed and more. And the best part is that we have it, to remind us of the changes and goals that we are making because of its teachings.
-I had dinner with Sister Staples! I love and admire that woman so much! She gave me advice and listened to me, fed me AMAZING healthy food and gave me gifts! Debbie and I are going to babysit for her so that she can have some time with her hubby - who's Bishop! I'm so glad that we can serve someone who spends her life serving others, including me in many of those countless occasions.
-Today, I get to spend time serving another wonderful woman in my life, Rudi Betzold. She just had a baby, and I'm going to go clean and hang out with her and Lila. Hopefully my experience last year with Ethan will come in handy!
-Sister Doot and other sisters in the branch are planning a shower for me! And everyone is helping and doing everything (weird for me) and they are totally okay with giving me money and gift cards since I'm leaving and don't have room for presents - especially after the ones that Sister Staples gave me! (but I totally love them - you should see how well I used her graduation presents!) :) The truth is, we just really need money. We have to pay fees and bills and to alter the dress and get a photographer. That's the ONE thing I'm spending money on, if nothing else. That's one of the trickiest things though. But I'm going to ask my friends in Mexico if they know someone good and also inexpensive.
- I actually have time to work on homework! I turned in my paper and still got an 80 - without the re-write! I'm still going to do it though. Those tests are killers. Clare gave me her textbook to borrow in my physics class so hopefully I can have a better grade in that too.
- wow, there are so many other things to be grateful for, like my talk, the Spirit, the Atonement, our learning, growing, plans, prayer, and peace from Heavenly Father that this transition, with all of its changes, is what He wants and to know that He loves us and guides us every step of the way, when we ask for Him to be with us.
I know so many of you are also going through big transitions too - whether it be with school, marriage, children, work, or just learning something new. May God bless you in all that you do.
Love,
Stephanie
