A Crazy Week!

What a week it's been! My cousin/one of my best friends Matthew left on his mission this week! He is serving in the London England South Mission. On Tuesday night the whole family went over to Julie's for dinner and Grandma and Grandpa kindly bought Potbelly's for everyone for dinner. Then we all went to the stake center for Matthew's setting apart. I was so grateful that I was able to be there! I'm not gonna lie, I got quite emotional. Thank goodness it was just my family and the stake presidency there, because I am not an attractive crier at all! Matthew and I then went with Grandma and Grandpa to drive Becky home! I just love having my family so close by again and spending time with them! The next morning I stopped by and said a quick final good-bye on my way to work! He is now safely at the MTC in Preston, England! He's already sent his first letter home and his MTC president sent home some pictures! It was so great to hear from him and he sounded so happy in his letter! I am just so proud of him for his righteous desire to serve the Lord for two years. I have had the Gospel for my entire life, and it blesses me each and every day. I am just so overjoyed that my cousin will be teaching the Gospel to people and allowing them to have the joy and blessings that stem from the Gospel that I have in my life. I miss him so much already, but I know that these two years will fly by and that he will have so many amazing experiences and learn so much! I know that the Gospel is true and I know that Matthew knows that too. He is one of the kindest people I know and has such a strong testimony that will radiate to those looking to join the Church. In other words, I'm just really proud of him and I know that he is doing exactly what Heavenly Father wants him to be doing and that he will be so blessed for it!

The morning Matthew left, I was just feeling super exhausted and emotional at work. I knew that I needed some extra strength to get through the day. I said a prayer and asked my Heavenly Father to help me to stay busy and to give me the extra boost I needed. There was a steady flow of customers all day, which generally doesn't happen, and I had tasks to do all throughout the day to keep me busy! This experience reaffirmed to me once again the fact that my Heavenly Father knows me and loves me. He is mindful of my needs, and all I need to do is ask. I am just so grateful for the knowledge I have that he knows and loves me personally and is so willing to answer my prayers!

The remainder of the week was spent working, babysitting, working out, you know the usual! Last night, I went to see Kristin Chenoweth in concert with Christine! IT WAS AMAZING! Kristin Chenoweth has been one of my biggest musical role models! In addition to all of the musical theater that she does, she is an opera singer and a soprano! Opera is my favorite genre to sing and Kristin is amazing at! Wicked was the first musical that I ever fell in love with and she's on the original cast recording, which I pretty much have memorized because I've listened to it so much! Needless to say, I was beyond excited to see her in concert! She is absolutely adorable and has so much energy on stage! She puts so much emotion and passion into her music and it radiates to the audience which I greatly admire! She's just amazing and I want to be her! Well folks, that's a rap. Until next time!