So Many Gems, So Little Time

So, we might have a little free time here at school.

Operation Maddy

Becca made me come to Utah this weekend. Who am I kidding? I was more than willing. I was basically begging her to make me come. If I was coming, there was no way we were going to leave Maddy alone.We made her come too.

I was on strict orders from Domanic this weekend. He had an operation for me. It was called Operation Maddy. She was having a rough couple of weeks and I was supposed to help her have a great night. I couldn't have done it without the coaching of Dom. 

Part one: Doll her up! 

I did her hair all fancy like and then her awesome make up. What happens after you get all pretty-fied? A photo shoot. 

Done and done.

Part 2: Ice Cream

I guess ice cream does the soul good but it was too cold for it. We hit up Mavericks instead for some hot chocolate. 

Part 3: Flowers

"Every girl deserves to get flowers at least once a week." -Domanic

So that is exactly what we did. She chose this cute potted set of purple flowers.

Becca and Spenser got home really late that night. We all crashed on the couches upstairs at the Hatch's home. 

The next day we all wanted to leave early. How do we do this? 

Go back to Garlick's ward again. 

Somehow we got there super early. We left and did a short photo shoot at the park across the street. We came back to the ward with time to spare. Mike wasn't there because he was sick. He served in Becca's ward back in Dallas. 

We quickly got over that, returned to the Hatch's, packed and left back to Rexburg. On the way home we stopped at the temple. It was awesome.

From the Field

Mike Garlick is formally known as Elder Garlick. He served with Kev! 

This is the story. Warning: I am a super creep. 

Okay, I knew this kid was coming home soon and he was Kev's first district leader. I have only heard great things about him and I knew he was from Orem. I wanted to meet him. After talking to my cousins who lived in Orem, I learned he was in their stake and just lived a few blocks away. 

Brilliant. 

I talk to them more and further find out that it is his homecoming talk that weekend too! 

Even more brilliant.

So what do I do? 

Show up to his 9:00 AM church. Of course.

KeiLani, bless her soul, came with me. We get to church late. Of course. We found ourselves sitting on the front row of the gym section during sacrament. To make the situation even more awkward then it already was, no one else sat in the gym with us. We're cool. You don't have to tell us. 

The awkwardness continues...

It has come to our attention rather quickly that this is not a mission homecoming. We are defiantly at a fast and testimony meeting. Wow, I am so creepy. There was no bailing out now. We were stuck. Oh crap.

The funniest testimony meeting I have ever sat through concluded and I knew I had to approach this blessed son of god. 

Do I have any tactics or plans for this?

Heck no.

KeiLani and I burst to the end of the row he will be coming down and wait for him. Everyone in the flipping ward has to talk to him. It feels like forever until he reaches us. 

It was now or never. 

He was right there.

"Hi Mike!" 

"Hey?"

"My name is Megan, you served with my best friend."

"Who is your best friend?"

"Elder Forsell"

A huge grin came across his face... "So, you're the best friend?!"

"Yup, I guess so."

After that little bit of convo we found ourselves in the foyer. We talked some more and took that little gem of a picture together. As we were saying our goodbyes he just couldn't resist on asking the question I bet all the missionaries in Dallas are wondering.

"So are you like, in love with Elder Forsell?"

Ummm... 

I am going to leave this blog with you guessing what I said. 

I should have seen that bombshell coming. 

Kenya, Here I Come!

Dear Friends and Family,

            I am going to Africa, more specifically Kenya! During the spring semester here at BYU-Idaho I signed up with Global Volunteer Network to help at a children’s shelter in Africa. Originally the plan was to go to Uganda, then it switched to Ethiopia and now we are sticking to our guns and heading off to the colorful land of Kenya. As most people know there are a lot of homeless children all over Africa. I will be working hand in hand with one of the 14 local children’s shelters. I get to teach, plan and implement activities, help with daily duties and so much more. I am so excited to do this. I will leave the end of December and be home the beginning of April.  I have dreamed about going to Africa since the first time I noticed it was on a world map. I want to serve right now and with braces this is the best way for me to do it. Silly braces.  Now you ask, why is she telling me all of this? Well, the truth is I really need your help. The program fee is $1,997 plus flights – probably another $1500. This is a lot more than I can pull together as a student.  Can you help? Anything helps, even 50 cents gets me that much closer. Forget my birthday and Christmas - help me get to Africa.

Thank you so much.

Megan Butler

3554 Olsen Drive

San Jose CA 95117

The Beach Was How We Coped

This is a blog that has been needed to be written for a very long time but you see, I got really busy with life. 

I will never forgot the call that told me I was I leaving Rexburg for an indefinite amount of time to go back to California to see my uncle for the last time. It was a race against time but time won. I was going home to be with my family in their time of need. 

Who am I kidding? Being in Rexburg away from the family was too hard for me anyways. I was more than willing to make that long journey back. 

The beach was how we coped. Almost every night we made that trek over the Santa Cruz mountains to the sand and fire where everything was peaceful. The adults never came with us. I am pretty sure Zea and I were the oldest ones there. It was always perfect.

The second time we went to the beach we brought the adopted family members. In steps in Charlie and Freddie. We played a game of chicken in the waves. Charlie and I chickened out really quick while the youngins got soaked. I can only handle so much chaffing in jeans. 

The rest of the week was mostly a blur. I don't remember how things happened but they all did and of course I fit in time to take fake engagement pictures. The wake was the hardest part for me. It really finalized everything. The funeral service was really nice. There were so many great things said and it was all true. 

I know that families are forever more than ever before. I know that I have the most awesome family ever. I would not trade this week and a half I had with them for the world. Everything does happen for a reason even when it sucks and is hard. 

Without my family who would play the ridiculous games that I love and pop balloons tied to each other's ankles? I love my family a lot and know that I was born into the right one.

As a family all we have is each other and the beach is how we cope. 

Uncle Zea, I love you more then I ever told you. Thanks for being there moments after I was born. Thanks for letting me be apart of my cousin's life and the people they have become. Thanks for being at my baptism, birthdays and graduation parties. Thanks for all the gifts on Christmas and the fun and pies on Thanksgiving. Thanks for always being a phone call away when I needed you.  Thanks for being the best you could be. You are such a good example. I really miss you a lot. I love you.