Look what I came home to in the mail yesterday!!!! My missionary sent me flowers!!!! He is sooo cute! It's funny that letters come exactly when you need them too. They come the day you really need someone to cheer you up. Can you tell how excited I was to get this? So far, this is my 3rd snail mail letter. The first one was a letter he wrote me his first night in Brazil, the second was a few cute pictures he printed with a cute note and this is the 3rd. Mackenzie always has known how much I love receiving flowers and it means the world to me he still managed to be romantic by taping some flowers to my letter. I'm going to start a scrapbook pretty soon for safe keeping of letters, emails and mission ties letters, this way, once he's home we can remember the best two years of his life.

Sunday Support

I wouldn't be as strong or confident as I am without my support system. They've made it possible for me to believe in myself and follow my dreams. Thank you! <3
My Family- I am greatful for my family and how supportive they are. They've always encouraged me to find my passion and chase after my dreams, no matter how big they are. My parents have sacrificed so much for me to be fortunate to grow up in a beautiful home and have a wonderful childhood. They are my true heroes. I hope I grow up to be just like my mom and touch people the way she has. My sister is my best friend. She knows what to say at the right time. We've grown so close over the years and I look up to her more than she will ever know. She inspires me to be a better person and to enjoy life. I love my grandma and all she's sacrificed and done for me, especially this past year. I've always had a close bond with her and I hope to someday have that with my own grandkids. I love my family and could never imagine my life without these people. Families can be together forever and I am so happy I get to share forever with these amazing people. 

Mackenzie's Family- I am so grateful for the Sant family and for all the things they've done for me the past 3 years. I am so lucky to have fallen in love with a guy that comes from an incredible family. Mackenzie has 4 brothers that are the brothers I never had and in a few years, will be my brothers in law. Mackenzie's parents have been nothing but supportive of me and Mackenzie's relationship and have been so supportive of me waiting for him. They inspire me and give me hope from their own story of writing each other during Mackenzie's Dad's mission. Mackenzie was truly blessed into a family that supports him and they are the reason he is the man I fell in love with. Because of them, I met him and I will be forever grateful for that. I love their family and can't wait to be apart of it someday even though they've made me feel apart of their family for almost 3 years now. :)  I love them and i'm so thankful for their constant support. 

My Friends- Although I have a lot of friends that are not members of the church, for the most part, they've all been very understanding and supportive of me choosing to wait for a missionary. Many of my friends ask questions and are excited with me. I am so blessed for everyone in my life who's made a postive impact in my life. I am also thankful for the power of forgiveness and to be able to move forward and reconnect with friends and let the past be in the past. 

Missionary Girlfriends- I've become aware that there are sooo many missionary girlfriends waiting for missionaries. These girls inspire me and give me hope. By sticking together, we can stay motivated and happy! I love all these girls! I am also so grateful for Gloria, her boy is serving in Brazil as well and is in the CTM with Mackenzie! She also lives in the area one of my best friends, Elder Nonu is serving! I just love her! We were meant to be best friends!!! Also, special shoutout to her helping me organize this blog. Go check out hers, glorialittlefield.blogspot.com

Picture from Elder Sant

 This is a picture Mackenzie put in his most recent snail mal & asked me to keep it with me always. It's his scriptures, name tag and CTR making a shadow of a heart. It's the little things that he does to put a smile on my face :)

23 Months to go!

Friday was Mackenzie's official 1 month in Brazil! It's crazy how fast time fly's when your being comforted by the Lord. I've only received 2 awesome snail mail letters from him, but I am soooo grateful for Mission Ties which is a program for the missionaries in Brazil (because the mailing system is so horrible) where missionaries can write a letter and walk it to the office where Mission Ties will scan it and email you a PDF file with the letter. We can also type a letter and send it VIA Mission Ties and they will print it and walk it over to the MTC in Brazil. Many "Missionary Girlfriends" have been finding me on Instagram sharing their experiences with me and how long they're guys have been out or thanking me for inspiration. But honestly, it's these girls that inspire me. The girls that know our missionaries are worth the wait, the ones that stay strong and keep their word. It's these girls that inspire me. Our missionaries need our support. They need to know we believe they are doing the right thing. At least for me, I know choosing to serve a mission was the best decision Mackenzie has ever made and I too, am grateful for his obedience, courage and service to our father in heaven. It's all worth it.

Pictures of Elder Sant

Our Story.

So I decided to make this blog for all of the missionary girlfriends out there or for anyone who needs a little hope in their lives. I am currently waiting for my boyfriend of almost 3 years while he serves a full time LDS mission in Goiania, Brazil. Here's a little background story of how we met: I went to a performing arts high school where cute, straight, single boys didn't come around very often. My junior year of high school, there was a cute new boy at school, his name was Mackenzie and he also happened to LDS. Ding, Ding, Ding, I knew he had to be mine. After a few shy Facebook convos, he started walking me to class and pretty soon, we were inseparable. He took me to his old high school's football game and asked me to be his girlfriend October 2nd, 2009. Our journey had just only begun. Here we are almost 3 years later, with more love in our hearts for each other than anyone I know. The lord places people in our lives for a reason and I truely believe that. Through Mackenzie, I've been able to grow the courage to be able to follow my dreams while he serves the Lord. I know the odds are against us, and millions of people who tell me that "2 years is a long time" "A lot can happen in 2 years" and believe me, I know. But I also know that if it's meant to be, these best two years can help me and Mackenzie grow stronger together. I know these two years will be worth it. I am so proud to have a boyfriend who's worthy to bring me to the temple and who can spread the gospel to the people of Brazil. I know by his obedience, we will be blessed. Elder Sant has been out for exactly a month tommorrow, he left July 24th 2012. This past month has been much easier than I expected. I am not sad, I am not heartbroken and I don't miss him in a bad way. I have been so happy and so excited about life. This is a happy time and so many blessings have come. I know the Lord is truely on our side and I can feel his comfort. Everyone's story is different, but this is mine. I hope this blog will help you find courage or hope in your own life and inspire you with happiness. :)