Zion's Camp!

Little by little, I am starting to see that there is a reason that I had these 3 months in Ohio before my mission! This past week, I had the amazing opportunity to hear from Elder Holland with the rest of the missionaries in the area.  I got to shake his hand and listen to him speak for over an hour!  It was truly such a blessing, and so much of it was exactly what I needed to hear as I am preparing for the Philippines.  

Then, at the end of that week I got to go to Zion's Camp!! It was a weekend in Kirtland with Sister Dalton and other Young Single Adults from all over the Eastern United States.  Sister Dalton was awesome, and gave us such great council.  I hadn't appreciated living near Kirtland until this weekend!  There were groups from Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio, D.C., and Illinois!   I actually met a returned missionary from the Philippines, Sam!  She was such a tender mercy and gave me a heads up on so much that I'm going to see over there.  My favorite advice she gave was, "Just become a Filipino!" She made me so excited!! I also had such a blast with Emily.  She is such a sweet heart and I feel like we grew so much closer over the weekend!

Life is good in Kirtland!!

Happy Birthday T.J.!

My baby brother is 13!! Isn't that absolutely nuts?? He's almost taller than I am too. I seriously just want to shrink him up back into the little boy he used to be.  Even though he's my younger brother, I look up to him so much.  He has always been such an example to me of hard work, kindness, thoughtfulness and diligence. 

I remember when he was probably 5 years old I went outside and saw him sprinting down the street and into our yard where he fell, completely out of breath, into our lawn.  When I asked him what he was doing he quickly replied, "exercising!".  He then continued to get back up and sprint down our street a little ways before turning around and coming back to his place on the lawn.  He also reads his scriptures every single night and is always trying to choose the right.  But the best part about him is that even though he's the most righteous 13 year old you'll come across, he's always cracking jokes.  He quotes lines from movies in tense situations, and is always making me smile and laugh.  

I wove my wittle chee chay!  I'm so proud of him and all the he has already become.  Happy Birthday, bro!

Life is good for T.J.!

St. Louis Trip!

Last week I was able to visit my awesome family in St. Louis! Julianne and Keith and their 5 kids live there.  I stayed the week after I went through the temple.  Aunt J and I had lots of fun shopping and going to the temple! She took me to Nauvoo, too.  And seriously, I think that that might be the temple that I want to get married in. It is BEAUTIFUL!  I LOVED it!  Brooke also was baptized which was way exciting (:  Ever since Keith and Julianne adopted her, I have felt so much love for that little girl.  She is honestly one of my best friends and favorite people on this planet!  She is always giggling and giving me hugs and kisses.  I don't want her to grow up at all while I'm on my mission! 

Life is good in St. Louis!

Happy Mother's Day!

I know it's a few days past Mother's day, but I just had to share this DIY picture that is an awesome gift for Moms Dads and Grandparents!  All it takes is the cutting of a white poster board, a tripod (or latter in my case (;), and a camera! I just took the pictures to wal-mart, made one of their posters, put it in a frame, and ta da!

I know that everyone says that they have the greatest mom in the world, but Laura Lockwood is actually the real one. She is my role model, my rock, my shoulder to cry on, my fashion advisor, my spiritual guide, and my very best friend.  Since going off to college and spending time away from my amazing mother, I've realized how much I want to emulate her.  She is so tender and kind to those around her.  She is hard working and motivated.  She's the greatest Mom ever and I hope I can be as great as her when I grow up!! 

Life is good on Mother's Day.

I love to see the temple.

I had the wonderful opportunity to go through the temple for the first time this Saturday!! I went to St. Louis where my Aunt J lives. My grandparents were also able to come from Texas.  It was such a neat experience.  I felt such peace and a presence of the spirit.  I know what it means to really escape from the world inside!  I am so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.  It brings me blessings and happiness every single day!

Life is good at the temple!

Back in the 330!

As sad as I am to admit it, I am home in Wadsworth! I'm trying to make the best out of it and have a good time before I leave for the Philippines!

These are my girlfriends at home!! They are always jumpin on my trampoline or coming over to see if I want to play (:  They make my days so much brighter! I love Samantha, Mazie, Kenzie, and Hannah!

My first weekend home I took Trev on a date! We went and played put put golf with Nathan and his date and ate ice cream after. 

NATHAN IS A BRONZE MEDAL CHAMPION! I am SO HAPPY that I got home in time to watch this awesome doubles team play. 

And, to help with my oh so lonely nights, these guys are always down to party on google chat!  We have a constant group Facebook message going so I don't have to miss them too much.  We even still have crazy dance parties and make pinky promises over our online chat sessions, so the 2,000 miles or so doesn't seem quite as far.  I still feel so blessed to have made such an amazing group of friends freshman year.  2 years ain't got nothin on this crew!

It's been kind of a hard transition coming from Provo back home to Wadsworth, but I'm making the best of it!  Only 74 days until I report to the MTC in Manila! I'm starting to try to do more and more to prepare.  I go to St. Louis this weekend to go to the temple! I am so anxious and excited.  Brooke is also getting baptized so it's a big weekend ahead!

Life is good when you're at home!