I seriously Love My family!

My Family loves me! They have this weird amazing picture in their head of me that sometimes I think are we talking about the same person! I received this text message from my Aunt Allison:
Hello there Miss Miss! I was wondering if I could ask a favor?  I know this is not always an easy subject, so if you don't want to to do this I totally understand. I'm talking about Relief Society on Sunday and the mission of it. Part of my talk is about strengthening homes and families and I wonderd if you would be willing to provide some perspective on how our single sisters can still embrace this principle and find fulfillment. I hope I have not sounded insensitive, know that I do not mean to be. You are such a good example and have remained strong and faithful even though I know your life circumstance is not exactly how you desired it to be. I feel you have a testimony others might benefit from in their struggles. Love ya! Feel free to say no!!!!!! :) but you can email me if you choose to share your thoughts!

We all know that there are very few times when I choose to not share my thoughts... ok never!  Here is how I responded:
Aunt Allison,
      I have been thinking about this and I hope that I can pull my thoughts together! I am a bit of a spastic writer so if something doesn't make sense feel free to let me know or fix it so that you can use it! I am not  going to lie I think that being single is one of my biggest trials in my life, but I have learned things that have helped to cope and understand my purpose in the church and in life!
1. Attitude! I remember during a relief society broadcast a talk that President Uchtdorf gave that really changed my attitude towards being single! He told a story of a sister that was faithful who wanted to be married but turned bitter and mean and became angry at God for not blessing her with her hearts desired because she was a good person didn't she deserve a family! In her anger and self-petty she missed many opportunities to serve and be a surrogate mother to people around her! This story hit me hard! I knew that I was headed down that path! I am a pretty amazing person (hahahaha so funny, Clearly I have an issue with pride) yet I was not married! I could see myself in that story I could see myself  choosing to be bitter about what was being denied me. So I decided in that meeting that I wouldn't do it! I would be that person! I would look for opportunities for the Lord to use my "mothering skills"! I find them every where! I find them at work with co-workers and even students! I find them at home with my roommates! I find them at church! Being in the older group in a singles ward I have many opportunities to share with people things that I needed to know when I was their age things that helped me through college!I find them in Visiting Teaching. I feel like I am strengthening families this way because I am strengthening people who are part of a family, who would one day have families.
2. Purpose! I know that the Lord has a purpose for me on this earth! He has a plan for me and if that is not to have a family then I will find what it is! I know that my life has meaning and that I need only ask the Lord what I should do! I feel like part of my purpose in life is to find those who need to remember who they are, who need to know that the Lord loves them and because the Lord loves them they can do anything! The Lord is always in their corner!
3. Trust! This is the hardest one for me! I have been promised that one day I will get married but I have to trust in the Lord that it will happen! It might not be in this life it might be in the next (my mom once told her whole RS that I was going to marry a soldier from the War of 1812 Lovely!). It will be a very tender mercy if it happens! I believe that every marriage is a tender mercy! We have to have faith and trust in the Lords timing! I have decided that I don't want just any guy! I want the one that will love me for who I am! I am willing to wait for him and trust in the Lord that one day I will find him!
I know that the church is true! I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that because of this I am never truly alone! i struggle with loneliness sometimes but because of my knowledge this is why I can pick my self up by the bootstraps and move one! I know that in times of trial and frustration all I need to do is turn to him and I will find peace and comfort! I know that Relief Society is of God. It has a divine purpose to help further the work of God!
Sorry this is so long! I am very long winded!
Love,
Melissa

What is funny is that Aunt Allison didn't know that this is something that I have been struggling with for a while now! I think it is because a part of me this last year thought that because I have tried to make myself more open to boys and love that something was going to happen! I was super annoyed that all I got was a lot of anxiety! But I am ever so grateful that for the opportunity to refocus myself and remember the things that I have learned! I am so thankful that my family thinks I am awesome cause it really make me want to live to prove them right!

New Goalish!

So there is a large part of my that thinks that I need to re-instate my goal of four dates this year! There is  small part of me that thinks that I should move it up to more! But I am not sure that any of those parts are going to win! I grew a lot from that goal last year but it is wasn't exactly fun for me! But then I think Melissa that is super lame! You can do that goal again is wasn't that hard! I have given myself by the end of January to decided! On a side note, today Jill decided that our friend Colton and I were perfect for each other! Wow thanks Jill! Then she decided that we should be back-ups to each other! You know the thing if by the time you are both 30 and you aren't married then you will get married! So Jill text Colton to see if he would like to be my back-up like on Friends! He said done! The one condition is that it is when he is 30 not me! Which I am fine with! 30 is only two years away! Which means in about 7 years! So for all of those people that have been worried about me no need to anymore! Because I have a goal to be married by the time I am 35! I know that you are thinking Melissa I am not sure that is an obtainable goal but if you have seen Colton and mine love life you could see that at the rate we are right on tract for this!

Winter Cabin Sledding!

There wasn't that much snow at the Cabin this year! It is a little sad because it is a lot of fun to  go sledding in a lot of snow! We still bundled up tight to go sledding!

Kimberly and Ruby already to go! I think Ruby has on 20 layers!

I know not the most beautiful picture! But it wouldn't be sledding without my bright jacket and even brighter pants!

Our Sled Hill!

We made it to the top of the hill!

A picture of the sled hill from the topish!

Tara taking a break!

Brad Snow shoeing!

Me and Ruby!

GG needed a nap so Rob took her on a ride in a sled! It worked like a charm!

Mellonee! She is a speed demon going down those hills!

Uncle Darin!

Proof I did go down the hill!

Rob and Charlie? or Ava

GG still naping!

The Train! It wouldn't be Cabin sledding without the Train!

I love Ruby's Face! I can't tell if I caught her at a bad time or She was super not happy!

Ruby sat with Mellonee through a whole book! We all thought it was a sign of the apocolipse! 

Winter Cabin: Glow Stick Dance Party

It was just Michael, Kimberly, and I that made it to the Winter Cabin from our family this year! We took Michael and Kimberly's Truck so Ruby and I were super squished in the back!

Sometimes the only time she likes me is in the back seat cuddles! 

She  was super funny! When I would try and sleep she would either pat me or push on my forehead so that I couldn't fall asleep! 

A favorite of the Winter Cabin is the glow stick Dance Party! It is a lot of fun!

Here is Ruby preping to get ready! 

GG practicing her moves! And Brad in the background getting a song list ready!

I can't remember exactly who is who in the glow stick pictures! But they look super cool!

I think this is Ruby wearing Glow stick earrings! 

This is Ruby wearing Mickey Mouse ears and Ava as the stick man in the back! 

A group photo kind of! 

I think this is Kimberly holding Ruby and Blake! 

Kimberly! 

Ava!  

Group Dance!

Love it!

Puzzels!

When Natalie and I were little we did puzzles all the Time! I really Love  them! Ryan got this one for a white elephant gift! We really had a lot of Fun putting it together! I made him watch White Christmas while we put it together! 

Christmas!

I have never been one that can go to be early! Most of my memoires from childhood are fits that I have thrown in order to not go to bed but that doesn't mean that I don't like to sleep! In all honesty I just hate waking up in the morning! So when I get up at 4:45ish for Christmas it means I really love it! I seriously love my family and seriously love the stuffing we make! So Christmas Eve was super not weird becuase it was just me, Julianne, and my parents! So I shouldn't have had any problem going to sleep! But my mother insisted that "Santa Clause" was coming to our house! I said no Santa isn't coming I am 28 and I want to sleep on the couch! So I lay down and try to sleep but I am not really able too! Why because I can hear my mom setting stuff up! I yell "Mom I am 28! 28! I don't need Santa!" To which my mother answered "Now that you are up look what Santa brought you" So like any adult! I rolled off the couch and looked at what Santa brought me! I was way excited to get cowboy boots! My father picked them out for me! My mom made me try the pajamas on cause she wanted to see how they fit! I did say no I have to be up in 5 hours! 

Look how excited I am! 

The Lucky Charms are because that is one of the reasons I believed in Santa Clause so long because I knew my mom would buy cereal like that from a box! 

I love this picture of my Grandpa it just makes me smile! Full Camo with Santa Clause Supenders!

White Christmas!

I love Christmas movies! I love the corniness! I love the happy endings! I love the true love! I love the part when they remember the reason for the season! So it is not really a big surprise that I have watch about a billjillon this year! But my favorite by far is has to be White Christmas! I love that it is old! I love the story! I love the Actors! I love the one liners! There is a lot of love there! I the part at the end when the General comes down in his uniform! Oh it makes me cry! So this year when the Mystic was doing it I really wanted to go! So I decided to give it to my parents for Christmas! I am such a good daughter! Really self sacrificing! 

When I got ready I decided to blow dry my hair!  Hello 80s hair! (My mom really missed out she is crazy to have short hair then) Then when I was waiting for my parents to get ready we also found out that I was wearing a blazer that had shoulder pads to round out my outfit! Then my mom's hair was a little big and I told her that she should wear a jacket too so she could be all 80s too! So she put one on to match! It was pretty funny! 

We serously could be twins!

Love that I can't take a normal picture! 

I really love my Mom! No Matter how crazy she is!

My dad really likes my mom too! And her vest! 

Us before the show starts! I loved it! I felt like I was the only one laughing most of the time probably because of my love for the movie!