Independent Study Class...

The doom of my summer has been the Independent Study Class (Motivational Psychology 365) I signed up for last January. Yep, call me a procrastinator or whatever you want but I put it off until 2 days before the August graduation deadline. (I kind of tricked everyone into believing I had finished school when I walked in the graduation ceremonies in April...but in reality I still had to finish this one last online class). And it has turned out to be one of my most terrible ideas. I should've known that I wouldn't want to be inside with my nose in a textbook during the summer months AFTER I had supposedly finished school! What in the world was I thinking?!?

So...that's it! I'm officially finished and graduated and should be receiving my diploma in the mail before too long. Whoo Hoo!!! I feel so---free! Now if only I could figure out what it is I would like to do with the rest of my life I would be on the road to success.

If you had a degree in Psychology, what would you do with it?

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

July 14th, 2010 was a really special temple trip. We went to the Oquirrh Mountain Utah temple to participate in a session while Cara Spohn and Clarence Jessop took out their endowments. We didn't have many opportunities to take pictures because we were totally late when we arrived but what we have will just have to do.

Way neat thing: The person I went through the temple for was from Linares, Chile (where my last mission companion was from--Ana Maria Bustamante) and her last name was Quezada which is the married last name of my friend Lauren, whose husband is from Chile.

After the temple we went to Olive Garden with the Spohns in celebration of the upcoming marriage of Cara and Clarence! (A post on this to come...)

Vernal Temple

July 6, 2010...Bella's first road trip! (My car) We drove her the 3 1/2 hours to Vernal, Utah to do a session at the temple. It was dry and hot and there's not much out in that region of the world but some parts of the drive are really beautiful areas. Especially this year since the mountains and everything are so green on account of all the snow we received. (And YES we're still bitter that we had snow until June...even if good things have come from it!!!)

While in the temple we sat down in the chapel and I looked around and realized that not only was I the youngest person by 50 years (minus my Mom of course) in the room...but my Mom was extremely young in this crowd too! Really young! I would be willing to venture out and say we were definitely outsiders in this room full of elderly farmers but nonetheless the people were so kind to us and we enjoyed the opportunity to experience one of the Lord's houses that neither of us had attended before.

A neat fact about the Vernal temple: It was built in 1907 and then remodeled in 1997.

It's the WORLD CUP baby!

I admit that I quickly jumped on the World Cup bandwagon this year! I had to cheer on my two favorite countries! Luckily Argentina made it a little further than the U.S. and were part of the quarter finals.

My favorite game was Argentina vs. Mexico. I lucked out and it was totally cloudy/rainy in Maui the day they played...so I didn't have to feel guilty staying inside to watch them dominate! I got so into the game and didn't even realize I liked futbol/soccer all that much until I found myself yelling at the T.V.

For the game against Germany some of my mission friends (Harrison Taylor and Logan Reynolds) and I woke up early (it started at 8:00 on a Saturday) and got together to watch Argentina get stomped on. Totally disappointing but still fun! Emilee made us homemade doughnuts on account of our loss. Bless her heart. And then we swam--mostly just to make ourselves feel better about seeing our team lose so badly! A pool day ALWAYS makes a person happy.

Maybe next time we'll be a little more prepared for those dang European teams!

Bountiful Temple

On July 2nd, 2010 my Mom and I went to the Bountiful Temple. It was a beautiful day and we of course had a great experience. Afterwards we stopped at a little hamburger shop and ate delicious burgers! I absolutely love having these special dates with my Mom where we can chat and I can learn more about her and her life from before I existed. She's wonderful!

Logan Utah Temple

My Mom and I decided to visit each of the temples in Utah this summer. On Thursday, June 10th was our first temple trip to the Logan, Utah temple. Neither of us had ever been inside the temple so it was a neat experience for both of us. I enjoy so much having this special thing to share with my mom and being able to spend time with her apart from the craziness that somehow has become our lives.

Santiago del Estero Argentina

Wednesday, May 19th:

• 7 hour bus trip which was okay because we ended up sleeping most of the way. Thanks for the pillow...err...your shoulder Ramiro! Some sights...

• Arrived at the hotel and went to visit Julio, Mariela, Santy, Jorgelina, and Florencia. I couldn't wait one more minute to see them! It was a very sweet reunion with lots of hugs and kisses (cheek kissing is the custom in Argentina). It felt like a dream, one that I had been dreaming of since I left the area-- to be back with this family. They are just the most remarkable people and were baptized right after my companion and I were emergency transfered from the area. (Thanks stalker!) Their extended family continues to accept the gospel and join the church and they are now the biggest family in the ward. It felt so wonderful to be in their home with them again.

Flor, me and Jorge...beautiful little girls, aren't they?

Our hotel room

Thursday, May 20th:

• Shopping in centro of Santiago!
• Lunch with Julio, Mariela and their kids. Mariela is so sweet and made my favorite lunch-pasta with chicken and sauce. She is just the most thoughtful person and I can't believe she remembered that was my favorite! Julio says his daughters want to sit as close to me as they can because I'm a life size Barbie doll for them...because they don't know anyone that looks like I do. haha

Jorge with a mouth full of American candy

Florencia counting in english for me...over and over again.

Santy, Julio, Flor, Mariela, me, Jorge, and my Mom

• We walked through part of my area in La Banda-9 de Julio...where my Mom found quite a few surprises!

My Mom thought this looked like a gingerbread house

A little big of garbage...

A bus similar to the one my stalker drove...that we had to ride in everyday

The bodyguards: Ramiro, me and Luis in more garbage...They appear to be doing a pretty good job don't you think?

And dogs...LOTS AND LOTS of dogs in Santiago

• Visited my converts Marisa, Noelia, and Solange. I was worried they wouldn't remember me because I haven't been able to contact them at all since I left the area but when I clapped at their gate Noelia instantly came running out and gave me the biggest hug I think I have ever received...a teary reunion. It was amazing to see that she and her mom (Marisa) were doing so well and her baby was huge!

• Swimming at the hotel with Ramiro and Luis where they teased me endlessly about how white I am. Hahaha...I don't feel like I can be blamed for that!

Friday, May 21st:

• Ramiro bought us Grido's ice cream for breakfast...bless his heart :) Best ice cream ever.
• Lunch again with Julio and Mariela...milanesa. YUMMY! Santy had drawn me a couple of beautiful pictures of Christ. He is an incredibly talented artist. Walking away from their home to go get on a bus to travel to Tucuman was SO difficult. I just wanted to stay with them forever...Julio and I have decided the only thing that makes our time apart livable in this life is the knowledge that because we are now family we can be together forever. I enjoy talking with them because I learn so much from their faithfulness. Should be reversed seeing as how I was the missionary but I am certain I've learned more from them than I could've possibly taught. This family aspires me to do and be better each day. What a blessing I've been given!

• Visited my Mom of Santiago, Rosa and her family. We drank hot chocolate and talked about some memories...unfortunately we only had a few minutes to spend in their home before we had to go get on the bus and were in such a hurry we forgot to take a picture!
• Bus station waiting for our bus that showed up 2 hours late...Think we brought enough luggage?

On the bus...just before Ramiro drank someone else's soda that he FOUND on the bus!!