Missionary Girlfriend Q&A: Part 2

Here are the questions I got from other missionary girlfriends to ask Wyatt. I loved hearing his answers for these...they like melted my heart! This boy comes home tomorrow night!!! But I work tomorrow night and I didn't want to get in the way of any family time so I'm hoping to see him Thursday. Don't worry...I'll be updating everyone! Anyways...back to the questions! Hope these help any of you...I would have loved to have this from somebody when I first started :)

Questions for Elder Wyatt Johnson:

How did you feel about P-days?
-I thought P-days were the best because it was a day of having fun with the zone, playing games, eating at restaurants, and I also loved thinking about my family and Alissa and the rest of my friends. I loved hearing all the stories of my family and Alissa and of course seeing pictures. Also P-day is a day I thought of as a new week, new goals, more experiences.

How did people treat you knowing you had someone back home?
-My companions thought it was awesome that someone was waiting for me because it's very rare when a girl waits for a missionary. The members loved teasing me about Alissa because I would feel trunky sometimes haha. But the only people that were mad was when I had investigators that were teenage girls. Almost every one of them asked me if I had a girlfriend, so I would just make them jealous and tell them yup and she is sooo beautiful and awesome :)

Do you have any advice for girls waiting to help the girls be more supportive or keep their missionary focused?
-Well I think something that helps keep missionaries focused is if you always remind them why they are out there, and why they wanted to serve the Lord, or send them talks that talk about missionary work. For example, Alissa, I remember my first package she sent me, she not only put pictures of her and letters, but she put talks in the package that had to do with missionary work, as if she not only put "worldly things" in the package, but she also put things that the Lord would want for his missionary.
But an advice I can give you missionary girlfriends, so that God can direct your lives better, read D&C 4 and study it. "If all missionary girlfriends would embark in the service of others and their God, like their missionaries, their lives would be directed by God and very fulfilled. You will discover that by loving God and devoting your will to His, your understanding of the following scripture will apply to God, your missionary boyfriend, and your life." (Alissa's comment: His dad actually gave me that advice when I first starting waiting but I totally agree with it and love it)

What do you wish you had done differently?
-I think I could have worked a little harder and studied a little more of PMG, etc.

What was the scariest thing about having a girl wait for you?
-That I would receive a "Dear John" haha or some other returned missionary would come and steal her haha.

Alissa waited and dated, so how did you feel about her dating and how did the two of you come to the conclusion that it was okay for her to wait and date?
-Well I actually wanted her to date other guys so that she can enjoy life, and enjoy the different personalities of guys, so she doesn't well waste her time waiting for me just to start going on dates again. Actually I don't remember on how we came to the conclusion, I mean I thought at first she decided to wait for me and I told her she didn't have to, I don't remember fully (Alissa's comment: He told me one night that I could date other guys if I wanted to while he was on his mission and I told him good because I wanted to). I promised her that if she put her faith in the Lord, that He would guide our lives and whatever happens, happens. But I prayed about it throughout my mission and basically my mission president told me that the girl I have is the one the Lord wants me to marry soo I remember coming out of that interview soooo happy haha.

What do you love the most about the girl you have back home?
-Wow I could say so many things! I remember one of the things that really caught my attention was her love for children. I thought it was sooo cute to see her with children and how happy she felt. And not only children, but people in general you could say haha. In a way, before I couldn't understand that love for a child, and through my mission, I have learned to develop that love. Now every time I see a little child, I just want to hug them sooo bad haha :) Also I love the hugs that Alissa gives because it feels like an Angel is hugging me. Alissa has sooo much faith in the Lord and even though she isn't perfect, she tries to be perfect and tries to follow the Lord with all her strength. Also she is Latina :) and I love Latinas. She is very intelligent and independent. Last thing, I love the love that she has for the Savior, and how she would do anything for him :)

Were you ever afraid of losing her? What things do you think helped you continue to have faith about your relationship with her?
-Not really jk hahaha :) Yes, yes I was afraid, well a little bit. I think what helped me was that she would send me packages and that she would always write positive things in her letters. And I remember she would always tell me in her letters that she was with me all the way through the end and that she will still be there when I get back. Also I think just relying on the Lord to help because you just have to realize that God has a plan for us, and we need to do what He wants us to do. For example, from when I didn't write Alissa for about 6 or 7 months in my mission, I feel like that really increased my faith in our relationship. Even after giving up writing someone that I love so much to the Lord, who I love so much as well, well that was one of the most challenging things in the mission because I had to put my faith to the test, and once I realized that she was still there even after all that time, I knew we could do this.

Did you have a moment on the mission where you knew you were where the Lord needed you?
-Yea, it happened when I had about 6 months in the mission.

Do missionaries with girls waiting for them, talk about the girls to people in their mission? If you did, what kind of things did you tell people about Alissa?
-I only heard 2 missionaries in my mission talk about their girlfriends. But yes, I did talk about Alissa and one of the things I would say about her is that she is a very special girl, and she is a girl I definitely need in my life :) I would tell everyone that she is Latina and that's where everyone gave me a thumbs up to marry her, so I'm fine about that haha (Alissa's comment: If you weren't aware, Wyatt has been in the Chihuahua, Mexico mission). I would tell them she is a very strong girl and has a lot of faith and patience and that she loves children sooo much :) and I would tell them that I love her so much and is the best girl I have ever had in my life :)

What was something that helped you and Alissa grow closer to the Lord while you were on your mission?
-I think it was our faith and patience. I mean like I said before, when I didn't write her for 6 or 7 months and once I started writing her again and she was still there. Because you can apply that to many things in life. You could have a big trial in your life, and if you put your faith in the Lord, He will help you with that trial so that in the end you feel so happy and grateful. Also patience because two years is sooo long but it's so fast and just in two years many things happen. And applying that to life, usually we want a blessing from the Lord, but we have to do something for Him in order to receive it.

What was the hardest part about having a girl wait for you?

-Sometimes I would think just the pain the girl is going through of just waiting for her best friend and her thinking that she could go with another RM and just be done with the pain and have happiness, soo basically a "Dear John." And I would hate feeling pain when Alissa would tell me "this happened at work and it sucked or this happened in my family and I'm sad or I'm really sick," and you can't do anything physically; you can only pray for her and rely on the Lord to help her and sometimes I would feel really sad.

What was the biggest thing you learned about relationships while you've been on your mission?
-That it really doesn't matter about the distance. What matters is the love that you have for each other. That if you both put your faith in the Lord, He will make sure things work out, but in His way. Paul said in the bible that we should treat our wives the way we treat the church - we should keep it clean and with good care and that the way you treat your body right now is the way you will treat your spouse in the future. (Remember that)

What was it like having a girl wait for you back at home, knowing she was supporting you along the way?
-It was really nice actually just knowing that you have someone waiting for you at home and knowing that when you get home, you already have someone to date and marry ;) Alissa always encouraged me to keep going and work hard and especially STAY FOCUSED ON THE WORK OF THE LORD. Ya, she has no idea how hard that was with her lovely pictures hahaha jk. Yes, I focused hard, no matter what.

Did you ever have any doubts about how things would turn out?
-To be honest, no. I would just do what the Lord wanted me to do.

Were you ever scared of her forgetting you or not loving you anymore?
-When I didn't write her for a while, there were times I thought about it and lost my faith. But sometimes I would have a good friend named Elder Hogan, write her but he would tease me sooo much telling me "Oh she said she loves me and hates you." And I would get so upset and I would lose my faith from that so I told him to shut up and not tell me anything else.

What was the best thing Alissa did for you during your mission?
-Sending me packages and her lovely pictures, that was the best part haha! I would be soooo happy when I got something from her. And especially waiting and having sooo much faith in me and in the Lord. All I wanted was for her to be happy and that is all I will ever want for her but the only way she can be happy is if she follows the Lord and that is what I wanted her to do through these last two years. I am so proud of her for doing that and pushing through it. I love her so much and I can't wait to be with her for eternity! :)

Missionary Girlfriend Q&A: Part 1

My missionary comes home this Wednesday! And of course I'm freaking out! My emotions have been all over the place this last week. I won't be seeing Wyatt until Thursday but still...that's this week. This wait is coming to an end! I never thought I would be here writing about him coming home, but I'm finally able to say that my missionary is coming home and that there really is an end to the two years!
Because I am so close to no longer having the title "missionary girlfriend," I thought it would be a good idea to answer any questions other missionary girlfriends may have about waiting for a missionary. I asked a lot of missionary girlfriends to ask me any questions they might have about being a missionary girlfriend. Some of the questions I received were intended for me personally, while others were directed towards my missionary. This post is going to be all the questions that were directed towards me and then I will do another post either tomorrow or within the next few days with the questions Wyatt was asked. So without further ado, here are the answers to the questions you all asked me! If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer any of them!

Questions for me:

This is the DoingTime
countdown

Did you have a specific way you counted down the days?

This is how the countdown for
Dreamdays looks like.

-When I first started waiting for Wyatt, I had a countdown poster that I got from Deseret Book or Seagull Book...one of the two haha. And I had a lot of countdowns on my phone as well. But I broke my phone and so I ended up only using my favorite two countdowns for my phone when I got my new phone. I have used Dreamdays and DoingTime. As for the poster...I moved a lot during waiting for Wyatt cuz I'm a college student and in one of my moves, it got lost :( So for the longest time I've just been using the two on my phone but I love these two countdowns! And totally recommend them for iPhone users!


What was something that shocked you the most about being a missionary girlfriend?
-For me, the most shocking thing was the fact that I was a missionary girlfriend! I never thought I would be one. Before I was a missionary girlfriend, I was so against them. I was what missionary girlfriends would call, "a waiter hater."

How did you keep from not going insane?
-Haha this is actually a hard question because I'm pretty sure I did go insane. I feel bad for the roommates I had when Wyatt did leave on his mission...I'm sure they thought I was insane. But I think what helped me stay a little sane was having a support group. I tried to fill my life with people who would help strengthen me and support me. Missionary girlfriend FB pages are lifesavers! Shout out to all those girls...you guys seriously helped me the past two years! But yeah, you need to make sure you have people who will support you because when things seem hard or hopeless, they will help you so much!

How did you overcome the heaviness in your heart of missing him while he was gone, in order to stay on the right path with the right frame of mind?
-You are obviously going to feel emotions, strong emotions, because the person you love is so far away and there's so little communication, but I prayed a lot! And when the heaviness felt so bad that I didn't think I could handle it anymore, I would always kneel down and pray my heart out to the Lord for help and strength. And I always found peace. Like when Wyatt first left, I was so heartbroken and I remember one night it was so bad and since it was all new to me, I didn't think I could do all of it for two years and I didn't want to feel that way day after day. So late at night, I climbed out of bed with tears streaming down my cheeks. I knelt down by my bed and I cried out to the Lord. Telling him how hurt I was and how I knew Wyatt was doing something good but I couldn't seem to think about the positive and I couldn't shake the heaviness I felt. I prayed wondering if I was making the right choice to wait for this boy. And Heavenly Father gave me peace that night. I remember hearing rain hit my window and I felt this overwhelming peace and the thought, "remember to wait for the rain" came to my head. Which was exactly what I needed. Backstory: I had wanted to get a kiss in the rain with Wyatt before he left on his mission but every time it rained, we were either apart or there was no way for us to go out in the rain for a kiss. Finally like a few days before he left, we were parked and it started to rain. So we jumped out of the car and that night we got our kiss in the rain. It was perfect and totally worth the wait. So when I heard the rain that night, I knew that just like that kiss, the wait would be worth it. I promise prayer will always help whenever you feel that "heaviness." Heavenly Father knows what you need more than you think. And He is very aware of his missionary girlfriends.

Were you ever scared of him forgetting about you or not loving you anymore?
-Yes! Especially at the beginning because I just kept thinking how much time we would be apart and it seemed like it was such a long time!

Did you ever feel like giving up?
-If I had a dollar for every time I thought about giving up, I wouldn't need a job right now! Doubts are a real thing! And I got them a lot! And whenever those doubts would be so overwhelming, I would think about just giving up and things would get easier...but I love Wyatt so even when I would sometimes come close to wanting to end it all, I would pray to remember why I had decided to wait for Wyatt and then ask if it was still right for me to wait for him. We all know what happened each time, cuz I'm still here waiting haha.

How did you get rid of that aching pain in your chest?
-So this kind of goes with an earlier question. But I've been thinking a lot about this specific question and how to answer it. Just like the question about the heaviness in your heart, you are going to feel these feelings...and for me I felt them mostly at the beginning. But there came a point where I finally felt numb. And I hate saying that cuz I think it sounds sad and depressing, but I know other girls have felt this way too so I want to be honest about this feeling. There is no other way to describe it. I really just felt numb. I didn't feel hurt, sad, happy or anything. I knew I had a feeling but it was nothing (hopefully that makes more sense than I think it does). I couldn't feel anything and it was the weirdest thing. And probably the worst feeling because I would rather feel anything than feel nothing at all. But the numbing did help because it gave me some clarity in some ways. And after the numbing feeling, I felt like I could finish waiting for my missionary with a lot more ease. Obviously it would still be hard, but I knew I could handle it now.

How did you make him still feel real?

-If your missionary hasn't left yet, I encourage you to take TONS of photos and even more videos! Because that was what helped me remember him and make it so that I didn't feel like he was just a distant memory. Videos are so precious! I will watch the same video of him on repeat for like hours some days haha but that is what helped me remember that he was a person, a real person that I knew and loved.

Did you ever have any doubts about how things were going to turn out?
-Kind of already answered this, but yeah I did. I used to be afraid of him falling in love with some girl on his mission. Not gonna lie...sister missionaries scare me haha.

How did you keep going after the first year?
-How could I not?! After the first year, I was even more in love with Wyatt than from the beginning of the wait and if I was willing to try to make it work back when he first left, I couldn't imagine not continuing to wait if I had come to love him even more. Also the wait seemed less daunting now that it was going to be the last year. The first year can be hard because everything is about firsts - first area, first companion, first lonely nights, first Christmas, first birthday, etc. But the second year is all about lasts and that felt so much better and comforting!

What helped you once you made it to the halfway point?
-Just knowing that I was on the downhill part of the countdown made it so much better. I just kept doing what seemed to work the past year for us and just had faith. Having the Lord on your side will seriously help you so much in the end.

What are the last 6 months like? And how do you deal with it?
-Honestly the last 6 months is kind of blur haha. It's all kind of crazy and emotions are all over the place but just keep doing what you do and try not to pay attention to the countdown as much as you want to. For some reason, the first 6 months and the last 6 months, you want to be glued to that countdown, but give yourself some space from the countdown and it will help...I promise! How I dealt with the last 6 months was that I gave myself other things to look forward to...actually I would do this during the whole wait. Find something that excites you in the near future that you can pay attention to. For example, whenever there was a "MG Date Night" I would always focus on that rather than my countdown for my missionary. Or like the last 3 months for me, I told myself that I had one last summer and after the summer was over, Wyatt would be home so I just put my time and effort into making my summer amazing for me and I would focus on doing things that would make my summer great rather than just wait for Wyatt to come home.

How did you create a deeper Christ-centered relationship throughout the wait?
-I would try to say simple testimonies in my emails to Wyatt about good lessons I had in church or institute or experiences I had that helped me grow closer to the Lord. When I sent Wyatt packages, I would try to send a talk or a scripture in the package. And sometimes when I would send a talk, I would also write down any thoughts or questions that I had so that Wyatt would know what I was thinking while I read it. Also for Wyatt and I, one thing I think that help us have a more Christ-centered relationship was when we stopped writing. About 7 months into Wyatt's mission, we both agreed to stop emailing but continue waiting so that we both could focus more and because of that we had to give up a lot and we both turned to the Lord to help us and I think that helped us to really understand what it means to put Christ in your relationship.

What things helped your missionary stay focused?
-It's hard for me to say what helped him, but I think his friends and family really helped him always remember what was important. Especially his parents. And like I said, I would try to include Christ and I would often times tell Wyatt to remember his purpose for his mission.

What did you do to grow spiritually with him and what did you do on your own?
-Growing spiritually with him can seem challenging. He's constantly surrounded with the gospel and trying to grow spiritually. But if you are making an effort to grow, you will grow. We would share scriptures we found, we bore our testimonies with each other, and we would pray for each other. These things helped us not only grow spiritually together, but also helped with that whole Christ-centered relationship. I would try to go to the temple, even if it was to sit on the grounds. I would put effort into my callings, etc. I can't say I was perfect in constantly doing what was right...I did at some points fall behind in my mind, but each time I felt like I had failed, I would make an effort to try again. The Atonement is such an amazing thing and learning to use it in my daily life has blessed me immensely.

How did you improve your relationship during the two years?
-When you have Christ in your relationship, it will astound you how much that will help your relationship. Also, I opened myself up to Wyatt over the two years more than I had before he left on his mission and knowing that I could turn to him about literally anything and be honest to him helped flourish our relationship.

What are the dating plans for after he gets home?
-Well we are definitely planning on dating each other when he gets home. But here's where it may seem a little weird...so as many of you know, I dated and waited the past two years so I wanted to make sure I was giving Wyatt equal opportunities and I asked him if he wanted to date other girls too, and he told that if other girls asked him out, he'd probably go on a date with him but he plans on dating me still...so I'm not really worried about how things will be like haha cuz he's pretty serious about marrying me.

What was your least favorite part about the wait?
-There's a whole list of negative things about the wait haha but I think the fact that there was so much distance with so little communication was the worst part of it all.

What was you favorite part about the wait?
-I loved that I was able to grow closer to my Father in Heaven with my best friend even though we were miles apart. And making new friends with people who also were going through what I was going through was incredible. I met some of my best friends from waiting for a missionary and I probably would have never met them had I not been a missionary girlfriend.

What is the best advice you could give for those of us still waiting?
-Waiting for a missionary isn't easy. I wouldn't wish it for my worst enemy to have to wait for a missionary because it seriously is so hard. But at the same time, it also is the most rewarding experience. You learn so much about yourself and the person you are waiting for. Sometimes it doesn't end up the way you thought it would, but it changes you and makes you a stronger person. Wyatt's dad gave me some really good advice near the beginning of my wait that I have constantly gone back to. He gave me 4 things to focus on while I waited for his son. 1. Focus on your educational opportunities. 2. Develop habits that help a missionary grow. 3.
Grow in spiritual knowledge. This includes going to the temple, attending institute, and going to your ward meetings. 4. This last one Wyatt will actually mention in one of his answers haha but in short, his dad says to embark in the service of others and their God. Love God and devote your will to His. Doing these things will not only help you as you wait for a missionary but they will help you personally to become the person God wants you to be. When you have doubts or concerns, always take it to the Lord. He will help you more than anything or anyone else ever could. I can't believe this journey is coming to an end and I'm so grateful for all the friendships and all the lessons I have learned but most of all I am so grateful that I was able to do this with my best friend and the man I want to marry. I am so proud of you Elder Johnson and can't wait to see you again soon!

Last Package for Elder Johnson!

So I sent this off a while ago and I'm just getting it up on the blog. This is my very last care package for Elder Johnson while he is on his mission! Can you believe it!!! So here it is! I decided to do kind of like a summer theme. Anyone is more than welcome to take any ideas here :)

This is with everything. Now let's break it down!

 This is the box on its own.

The flaps of the box read "The only thing hotter than summer heat is...you!"

Wrote a little note :)

Some war heads, kool-aid, and otter pops

War heads tag reads: "I am EXTREMELY proud of you!"

Kool-aid: "Ocean Water"

Otter pops: "If things get rough, FREEZE and start to pray!"

Chalk, CTR gummies that I got from Deseret Book, water guns, stress relief lotion and a blow up Frisbee that I got from my work.

Chalk: "CHALK up your testimony with somebody!"

Water guns: "SHOOT down any negative thoughts!"

Stress Relief Lotion: "Don't STRESS babe!

Frisbee: "CATCH the wave of missionary work."

Water balloons, bubbles, and a blow up beach ball and a knapsack of hope.

Water balloons: "SOAK yourself in the spirit."

Bubbles: "Don't let anyone burst your BUBBLE! You have the Lord on your side."

Beach ball: "Continue to have a BALL on your mission."

This is the knapsack of hope I made for him. I put in it a STAR, STRING, ERASER, RUBBER BAND, BAND AID, BATTERY, PENNY, and a HEART. Hopefully you can read the picture for what each of them mean.

My missionary asked for some scripture stickers and tabs and I got him one last tie and tie holder thing that I got from the missionary store in Orem, Utah. 

The tie: "Bind them continuously upon thine heart, and TIE them about thy neck. -Proverbs 6:21"

Then I made those picture things which is something I have done for Wyatt during his mission. I'll go more in depth for those.

So for those who are just jumping in on this blog, I gave Wyatt a binder and every now and then I would give him some of these to update him on my life. That way he can also see what I've been up to. If you want to learn more about how I did the binder and the idea around it then you can just follow this link: http://missionarygirlfrienddiary.blogspot.com/2015/04/keep-him-posted.html

13 months continued

Some more from month 13.

14 months since we've seen each other

14 months continued...

The end of 14 months/the start of 15 months

15 months continued...

16 months

16 months continued...

17 months down!

The end of 17 months/and going onto 18 months!

18 months continued...

18 months ending/19 months starting

19 months continued...

Some more of 19 months

Twenty months! Can't believe he's been out that long!

20 months continued...

21 months

Sorry it flipped...but the end of 21 months! 

I plan on finishing up his binder when he comes home. So months 22-the end - I'll make sure to post those on the blog for all to see. I'm a little sad that I won't being doing month pictures anymore...which in a different post...another day, I plan to post all my month pictures so they are in one place :D

Most of the stickers and scrapbooking papers I got from Walmart, I got some also from Michael's. 

The thing I love about doing this, it's really not that expensive and you can make it as simple as you want or go all out and either way it will look cute! Plus, all he really cares about is the fact that he will have pictures of you :) 

When I printed my pictures out, I always used Walgreen's and I recommend them cuz they always have coupons for their prints so they end up being a load cheaper than you planned for! But you can order prints from lots of places!

All packed and ready to send off! Seriously can't believe I won't be making these anymore. It's kind of bittersweet! I loved putting my heart into these cute packages, but I'm also happy that I don't have to carve out a chunk of time and money for them haha. And now I'll be able to see his face when he gets his gifts from me! Most of the things I found for this package, I got at the dollar store! So to you new missionary girlfriends or missionary moms...when you are making these, they don't have to cost you an arm and a leg every time. Your missionary is just grateful for thought that you put into it and that it comes from you! The most expensive thing I got for Wyatt in this package was probably either the scripture stickers or the pictures and sending the box itself was about $20. If you have a missionary in the states, I would suggest using your own box cuz that tends to be cheaper than doing the priority mail box option.

Alright! I think that's everything! I'll keep you all updated as time gets closer to when I am reunited with Elder Wyatt Johnson! Less than 20 days left! But who's counting?! ;)

It Was Never Supposed To Be Easy

When I first told Wyatt that I wanted to wait for him, I did not for one second think it was going to be easy. But I was willing to give us a try because I loved him. So before I knew it, I entered the missionary girlfriend world. It was a world completely unfamiliar to me and something I never thought I would even have to think about. I was one of the "waiter haters" (yes, us missionary girlfriends have a name for those of you that are just that). I was not about that life, but there was something about Wyatt and our relationship that changed me.

September 16, 2014 - I woke up knowing that it was going to be a very difficult day that day. Because I knew at the end of the day, I would be saying goodbye to my best friend, my boyfriend, my soon to be missionary. I can still remember spending time with him right before he was set apart. I can remember our final hug, tears streaming down both of our cheeks. I didn't want to let go of him. I was afraid to let go because I knew once I put my arms back down, I wouldn't be able to hold him again for two years. Walking away from somebody you love is unimaginably hard. But I kept reminding myself that this was not forever and what he would be doing the next two years was something incredibly good. So we whispered our last 'I love yous' to each other as we parted that night, hoping and believing that in two years we would be reunited.
Now back to the present time and I am here writing this with almost a month left before I get to see Elder Wyatt Johnson. Our waiting journey has not in any way, shape, or form been easy. But even through all the heartache, pain, lonely nights, ice cream binges, and heartfelt prayers of sorrow, I can honestly say that I have come to love him more each passing day. I am full of excitement to be able to see my best friend once again. And I can't believe how fast these two years have gone by. Looking back at everything, I am so proud of the both of us to be here now, awaiting for that reunion hug.
I want to share mine and Wyatt's love story with all of you now.
Wyatt and I went to high school together. We had a bunch of mutual friends in high school but we somehow had never really met each other. We finally did meet the summer before our senior year. And honestly, my love life was a mess when I first met Wyatt. But that was okay because Wyatt and I were just friends, getting to know each other. My first impression of Wyatt was that he was really cute haha. And as I got to know him, I realized how sensitive, humble, caring, and loyal he was. I started to form a crush on him after he took me to our school's homecoming dance but I didn't act on anything because I still was having a crazy love life. Eventually, the two of us started dating our exes again and we just continued our friendship. Well things didn't end well with either of our exes and before long, I found myself not being able to deny the fact that I was forming feelings for Wyatt.
We both went on our school's choir tour trip and while we were on the trip, he told me he liked me and we kind of had a "CTR" (choir tour romance). After choir tour, we continued to see each other and before long, we were dating. Not too long after, Wyatt received his mission call. He would be going to the Chihuahua, Mexico mission on September 17th. So in about 4 months he would be gone! I didn't choose right then to wait for him. We just continued dating, seeing how things would turn out.
So Wyatt left on his mission, and I had decided to wait for him. I understood things would be complicated, but I didn't fully understand how hard this waiting thing would be. Things started out great and as time went on, it seemed to be going just fine. I felt blessed for the "wait" I had. I could email him, send him packages or letters, he would email me, sometimes return a letter and I got a call from him on Christmas so I wasn't complaining. I knew other girls who were waiting for a missionary that had a much harder wait and I remember thinking how strong they were because I never could be in their shoes. I felt like I could hardly stand in my own shoes at times and I felt pretty blessed!
Then one Monday, I got an email that would change my wait completely. Things had to change and the more I read that email, the more my heart would break. Wyatt and I stopped writing. He had reminded me over and over the email that it wasn't a breakup and that he wanted me to keep waiting for him and have faith, but he had to focus on the Lord. The email shook me up. I had previously felt a similar prompting but I was too afraid to say anything, but I am so grateful that he spoke up and did what we both knew was right. The Lord had to come first.
So we stopped writing and communicating became so hard. I often times felt like I was dating a ghost and thought I was crazy to keep waiting for this boy. Everything felt so one-sided. There were many sleepless nights or nights where I would cry myself to sleep, worried that I would lose the man I loved. But the Lord always gave me strength when I needed it. And I continued to live my life day by day, just like Wyatt did on his mission. I don't know how I did it, but I always seemed to be able to continue on and any little thing that happened with Wyatt, seemed to be so much greater,
Now, I not only was waiting but I was "waiting and dating" (and before you condemn me for that please hear me out). Prior to Wyatt's mission, we had talked about what would happen dating wise for me while he was on his mission. We both felt like going on dates, getting to know other guys and making sure I had explored my options was what was best for me. We made that decision together. That doesn't mean I've just been going around dating any guy I see. Believe me! Starting to date anybody while Wyatt was gone, took months! And for those that are waiting and dating or thinking about waiting and dating, everyone is different. Take your time.
I did start dating one guy in particular. He was a really great guy and I still think he's a great guy. He made me laugh, he was there for me when I felt down, he understood my situation with my missionary and was supportive about it. To be truthful, he was quite amazing. But things got messy and confusing and I also started to see that I wasn't always who I wanted to be when I was around him. His family situation became chaotic, a part of it being because he was dating me. And even though things felt good when I was with him, I couldn't see myself with him past that present time. Things never really felt complete with him. And a part of me was still deeply in love with Wyatt. Eventually things became too much with this other guy so we went our separate ways. He's still in my life and is a great friend, but things aren't how they were before.
So, back to Wyatt...eventually he started to write me again and things started to be really good again. He had grown so much and I could see his new, found strength. For me, it was a little weird starting to write again because I didn't know what to say all the time and was always afraid of becoming a distraction again. But we made it to where we are now and pretty soon I will get to see the man I've been waiting for the past two years.
I haven't written every sad and lonely moment from the past two years here and I don't plan to because that would be sad and depressing, but talking to you missionary girlfriends, I know those days exist. And they exist way more than you wish they would. It's not easy being a missionary girlfriend. But it wasn't supposed to be easy. But I can promise that it was meant to be worth it! I know that things still may not work out with me and Wyatt, but I know this journey has made me a better and stronger person and so I know that no matter what happens, this will all be worth it.
Speaking to my missionary girlfriends in particular, it's rough, I know. Remember that it's okay to be sad and to feel upset or hurt or confused. It's okay to break down and cry. But do not hold onto those feelings forever. Let yourself break down. Let yourself cry. Let yourself binge watch Netflix as you scarf down a tub of ice cream. But always, always remember to pick yourself up again right after. Take it to the Lord and He will help you. Continue to grow as your boyfriend grows in his own ways. And find a support team! I couldn't have asked for a better support team than the one I have. It's filled with missionary girlfriends who also understand what I am going through and are so willing to help. I am so grateful for all the friends and acquaintances I have been able to make over the last two years! I will forever hold a special place in my heart for all the MG's out there. No matter what happens, the wait will always be worth it!
I seriously cannot wait to see you again, Elder Johnson! It's coming up so fast! I am so proud of all the work you have done and I cannot wait to hear about everything in person! I will forever love you and support you. I am thankful for this crazy journey we have been through and I can't wait to see what lies ahead for us!

I will definitely keep everyone updated! Thank you to those that have supported me and helped me along the way. I would not be where I am if it wasn't for you guys! Here's to the last of my journey!!!

Care Package: Valentine's Day/Birthday Themed

So this package I made back in February for Elder Johnson. I did it for Valentine's Day and his birthday (since that also is in February). 

First I made this birthday card for him. I had actually gotten the idea from another missionary girlfriend who also has a missionary in the same mission as Elder Johnson, I just tweaked mine a tiny bit. (The Chihuahua, Mexico mission)

Making the box itself was pretty easy for this one. I just painted it red, put hearts all over, a picture and wrote on the flaps of the box, "You may fall from the sky, you may fall from a tree, but the best way to fall, is in love with me!"

In past blog posts, I've mentioned this binder I made for Wyatt for while he was on his mission. It's pretty much so that he can still be in my life and what not as he's on his mission. If you want to find out more about it or do something similar this link will go more in depth about the binder :) http://missionarygirlfrienddiary.blogspot.com/2015/04/keep-him-posted.html

These are the pages I made for him to add to that little binder of his! :)

This one says "Happy Birthday To My Prince Charming"

Happy VDay to my love :)

I got him a plastic rose and wrote him a little note with it. The note said, "A girl gives a boy 12 roses...11 real, 1 fake. And she says to him, 'I will stop loving you when all the roses die.'"

I wrote down a whole bunch of cheesy pickup lines and put them in a little box for Wyatt to read :P

So I tend to fill my packages with some random things. I got some little "dino blasters" which I actually got from my work haha. I got him lots of different types of chocolate, including some french chocolate. I put in some cotton candy as well. I put in a box of cake mix to go along with his birthday. I gave him two ties that I got from my favorite tie website: https://www.cheap-neckties.com/ 

I put in a "Sweet Talk Nifty Note" that I got from: http://knockknockstuff.com/product/sweet-talk-nifty-notes/ 

I put in a couple of talks that had to do with love as well which can be easily found on lds.org.

I topped the package off with a big heart and some rose petals.

Just a little recap of the package :)

I hope you enjoyed this! :D