Raw

I've been crappy at blogging lately, but I've been rocking at emailing Tessa on her mission!  I figured I'd just copy and paste part of the letter I wrote to her.  It's a little more raw than my blogs normally are, more personable.  Life's so great :)  

  Tami came on Friday and it was so fun having her!  I just love her!  We had so much fun shopping and talking all evening Friday.  We went to dinner at Zupas and then to Cold Stone where we met up with Mary and Ryan.  When we got home we talked with Ashlee and her sister-in-law for quite a while and talked about how we wish we were as good as you at turning awkward situations onto the other people around you!  Haha!  Every time you get in an awkward situation, you are so good at getting out of it!  Example A: Your birth control shot and Toomer and Thompson.  Example B: When you farted on that date.  I literally have NO examples of getting myself out of humiliating situations.  I normally just make it worse.  haha! Anyways, we were talking and laughing our heads off!  I seriously haven't laughed that hard in quite some time!  Then Tam and I came into my room and talked for far too long!  I slept on the floor and her in my bed.  I love that us sisters all have such awesome relationships.  Seriously.  Taffy is 12 years older than me and Tami 10, and they both have come and had sleepovers with me this semester.  I'm so lucky to have my sisters as my best friends.  

  We shopped all day again Saturday.  It was so fun to shop with her because all I ever shop for is clothes, and I have done NONE of that this semester. (I'm so poor!)  We shopped for all of this fun home decor stuff and storage and home improvement stuff!  So fun!  I just dreamed of how I'm going to decorate my log cabin some day ;)  We left Provo around 3:00 and parted ways.  I went to Taffy's and she went home. 

 I went to Taf's to babysit her kids Sunday.  Her and Tone are in New Zealand and Mom was in charge of the kids.  Well Mom needed to go to Mya's blessing, so I went to get the kids up and dressed and to church and then took them to Angela's.  There's a reason why we have children one at a time.  Zero to 5 overnight probably isn't the best way.  haha!  They were really good though!  We had a little birthday party for Mariah (she turns 8 tomorrow?!)  It was fun and the kids were just so cute!  They were excited to see me, which always makes ya feel good ya know?  Us adults need to love more like kids do.  

  Anyways, I sure love ya Tess!  Sorry there's not much about school, but I figure it would be super boring to you.  My brain is going a million miles an hour about a million things right now though.  Boys, school, future teaching plans, January plans, my next trip, how I'm going to have $5 after I pay rent next month, ya know, all the things :)  I do know that my Savior loves me though.  He wants me to be happy, and he's trying to help me continue to love life!  I'm not sure what He's got up His sleeve on this next one, but it's gotta be good, I'm sure!  In Relief Society today it just really hit me that I need to just rely on him.  I'm just so dang independent that it's killing me to not feel good about what I WANT to do and that I actually NEED to do something else.  I'm going with it though Tess.  I'm taking a leap of faith!  Look out world!  Thanks for always walking by Faith.  Thanks for serving a mission.  I am just so proud of you!  You are definitely toppy on my list of awesome/best people and I feel so blessed that I get to be so close with someone as great as you!  Love you Sis!  Can't wait to hear from you!  Have the best week!!  

Love, Livi :)  

Temple Trips

I've been lucky enough to go to the Cebu, Philippines Temple not once, but twice!  The first time I went with the Institute.  We had a great time!  The second time I went with Angie, Yet-yet, Rix, Lillian, and some members of our ward.  We also had a great time!  

Our travel arrangements were the same both times, so I'll just explain it all once :)  To get to Cebu we hopped on a boat around midnight that went through the night.  The seating arrangements were bunk beds.  It looked like this: 

Top Bunk

Bottom Bunk

Both trips I slept like a rock!  No covers, lights on, people chatting--I'm a pretty good sleeper :) I woke up just in time for the sunrise and getting off the boat :)

We got there first things in the morning, around 5:30-6:00 and headed straight to the temple grounds.  The temple grounds in Cebu is kind of like a compound.  There is the temple, a stake center, the mission home, and a pension house.  The pension house has rooms for members attending the temple as well as a cafeteria and locker rooms.  Both times we were able to get cleaned up and get some breakfast there before we attended the temple.  I was able to do a total of 3 sessions of baptisms in my two trips. While we waited for people to get dome I got to spend some time walking and sitting around the temple grounds.  They were beautiful, as usual.  

The pension house is quite nice, and it was so convenient to be able to eat right there while we waited for other members of our groups to finish with their sessions.  I was able to find these 2 pictures painted by Grandma Minerva, as well as her painting of Christ in the Red Robe that was inside of the baptistry.  

The temple workers are called there on missions.  I was able to meet two different couples, both from Utah.  They claim it's the best mission on earth, and I believe them!  All of the senior couples live on the 3rd floor of the pension house, right next to the temple.  They get to go out and eat at different places around the city.  Then the temple closes for 2 weeks every 6 months, so then they get to go and vacation for those 2 weeks.  Sounds pretty great to me!

Both trips we stayed in Cebu for one night.  With the Institute we stayed at a place that was kind of like a hostel.  Then the second time we stayed at the Pension house.  To get home we caught a bus that drove us to the south eastern tip of Cebu Island.  That ride was about 4-4.5 hours with a nice stop in the middle.  Then we caught a short 20-30 minute boat back to Negros Island, and from there a short jeep ride to Dumaguete.   It was good for me to see the sacrifice that the members here go through to attend the temple.  

We had some neat experiences with members in my groups in both trips to the temple that helped to strengthen my testimony.  There are some strong members here and it has been so good for me to experience The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints here in Dumaguete.  It's the same.  There are valiant leaders, strong members, missionaries, and the same special spirit.  I love this gospel and I love my Savior.  I love attending His temples and the renewed energy it gives me each time I attend.    

People, People!!

I'm so happy because...

It's a gorgeous day, and I'm going home in like 15 minutes :)  I'm pretty excited!  It is going to be a great weekend full of family, friends,  food, and fun!!  

Guess who's here?!

My mom!!  Yea, who gets to have a sleepover with their mom at college?  This girl!   I've had the best afternoon/evening with my mom.  I've been so excited for her to come, and I'm so glad she's here.  I miss my mom while I'm at school, so I'm so glad I get to spend some time with her here.  We're heading home tomorrow after my classes, and I'm super excited for that too!  It's a great week people!