what you find along the way

I would like to rewind to April 2014, when I had received my mission call to serve in the state of Nevada, speaking Spanish. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through the church young women at the age of 19 are given the privilege of serving as a missionary for eighteen months in a location that our Prophet has received revelation for us to be, if we so desire. For young men, they can serve at the age of 18 and they serve for two years. As a missionary, we leave behind our worldly comforts of smart phones, laptops, facebook, twitter, pinterest, television, movies, music (unless it's beautiful church music) and any books besides scripture, to help us better serve our brothers and sisters and be in tune with the Spirit. Communication is through a weekly email that can be sent on a missionary's P-day (preparation day) and dress is our Sunday best, everyday. Missionary's are representatives of Jesus Christ and are out to teach and share the beautiful restored Gospel to all who have an open and willing heart.

That said, I decided that I wanted to serve. I was a sophomore at the University of Central Oklahoma and received a small scholarship to pursue an education in music theatre. I have been singing and dancing since the age of 10, so why not get some money to do something fun in school? Plus I made wonderful, lovely, life-long friends along the way. However, serving meant that I was to put school on hold. But I made the decision and felt it was the right thing, and that is what Heavenly Father wanted me to do.

April 2014, the Friday before Easter a big white envelope is delivered to my house. This famous packet holds my future for the next 18 months, telling me where the Prophet and his Apostles feel I should go. Reno, Nevada. So much planning, preparation and spiritual growth to do! I was to report to the Missionary Training Center in Mexico City that year on August 6th. That was 3 and a half months away.

Jump to June 29th. I am sitting in the back of the chapel with my little sister singing the opening hymn at the homecoming talk that was to be given by an Elder named Preston. Preston just came home from his two year mission a few weeks prior and had invited me through fb to come to his ward's sacrament meeting. (um, wow, this beautiful, righteous, returned missionary who doesn't know me wants me to come. fate)

July 5th, I'm driving to a small town in Oklahoma called Okarche, to a private swimming pond for a party.  I was good friends with lots of kids in the stake (a region of wards in the church in one area) since going on church trek as a leader with them. But, my invite was through (guess) Preston. Is this real life? Was the motto of my day as we spent the day swimming ,laughing, eating. Little did I know, in less than 24 hours I would be kissing this handsome man (or he would be kissing me, he went 90). All of this exactly one month before I was to say bye-bye to boys and life for a while.

Things progressed and my weekends were spent with Preston, from sun up to sun down; getting breakfast at local diners, riding horses, playing with his beautiful nieces, watching movies, cuddling every chance we could, holding hands. All with the looming question "am I going to stay for this boy? or am I going to serve like I had been preparing to for the past months?"

Fasting and Praying for days. Literally. Spending every moment I could at the temple.

Miracle 1: I got my mission call postponed to October 29th. Both of us were more than happy not only for more time to think and pray, but more precious time to spend together.

Miracle 2: One September night, as we are saying good bye for the night in the church parking lot, Preston says to me "How soon should we get married?"

Miracle 3: September 6th, Preston is kneeling down on one knee at a beautiful garden in downtown OKC asking me to marry him. (That's another story) But there it was, my answer.

So, here I am happily married as of December 27th 2014 to the man of my dreams. Heavenly Father put us together for this exact reason and He trusted me enough to make the decision for myself. Preston is a dream and he is my best friend. 

We find our answers when we are closest to Him, and expect it the least. That's what I found along the way, my mission prep was really Preston prep.

oklahoma city temple