The question has been popped

John Cozzens and I have known we wanted to get married for quite some time. At the beginning of August we went on a camping trip with Kayla and Logan, Blaire and Julio. The topic was subtly hinted at. He told me that he had a very personal experience in the temple that made him feel good about me. Fireworks were involved. Literally. :) While I was at EFY I myself had prayed about him and got a peaceful feeling. I knew that I was going to marry him pretty early on.

We dated all through July and half of August without being official boyfriend and girlfriend. On 8/12/14 John told me he loved me and then asked me to be his girlfriend. That escalated quickly. ;) That night we started briefly talking about getting married. About a 2 weeks later, which was the week before school started, we went through the Ogden Temple open house. It was breathtaking! We decided that was where we wanted to be sealed! :) As soon as we were done we went out to the car and called and set up our appointment. Things REALLY escalated quickly! But when you know, you know.

It's been a great four months with John. We've definitely had our ups and downs. But no relationship is perfect. And I'm learning that to have a successful relationship you have to put in 100% every day! It requires sacrifice on both sides. It is built on a love of the gospel, love for your partner, friendship, and trust. Relationships aren't easy. But they are worth the work.

John and I went ring shopping and picked out a gorgeous ring at sears. :) I knew the proposal was going to be happening soon. This last Monday (the 22nd) I told John we should go on a date the next day to Temple square. I asked him what we should do before temple square and he told me he had surprise for me. I instantly knew he was going to propose that night. I had to work that day and it was thee longest day of my life, because I knew what was in store for me that night! ;) I was SOOO excited!

I met John at his house after work. He told me to put on all my warm clothes and get into the car. He proceeded to blindfold me. That was a weird experience, folks. We drove for about 10 min. and once he parked his car he lead me out of the car to a bench. I could hear laughing and I could see flashes. I knew people were there and were taking pictures!!!

 He took the blindfold off of me and we were in front of the Ogden Temple!! Jen, Kayla, Logan, Jenny, Andy, Desmond, and Johns mom and dad were there!! I felt a little disoriented because I wasn't expecting to see all these people and it was SO bright! haha John sat next to me with his guitar and sang me a song that he had written to me. It was SO sweet! :) :) All I could think about was how lucky I was to get to spend forever with the man of my dreams. The man that I love more than anyone of anything!

He then got down on his knee and asked me to marry him! :) Um, and of course I said yes!!


The question has been popped!

 

We took some pictures and then departed and went on a fancy, romantic date! He took me Macaroni Grill because he knew I wanted to go there for my birthday but didn't get to go!! (adorable) Our waiter was so nice. He bought us dessert because we just got engaged! I love Macaroni Grill because you can draw on the tables. But is fancy! So we played hangman upon waiting for our meals. :) After dinner we went to temple square to look at the lights. It was romantic. It was fun. It was freezing!! haha

I'm so in love with John Cozzens and I've never been more sure about anything! We shall be sealed in the ogden temple on May 1st. :) :) His proposal was perfect and better than I could have imagined! :) I'm excited to marry my best friend!

The ring! I'm engaged!!!!



"going to the temple and we're gonna get married"

Best hug ever!

Our first date as an engaged couple! :)

Temple square lights. It's on 14 degrees. No big deal.

24 never looked so good

So... it was my birthday on Saturday! I am officially 24, people. It's always surreal when my birthday comes because that means it's also Christmas and the end of the year is just around the corner. But I love starting a new year and looking back at how much progress I have made in the last year and thinking of ways I can improve myself for the upcoming year.

This years birthday was pretty great, although it didn't go exactly as planned. John called me around 10:30 pm the night before because he was at work and there wasn't a customer in sight. He was scheduled to work until 12:30 am so I wasn't planning on seeing him that night. We talked until about midnight, but seconds after I hung up the phone he called again saying he got off work a half hour early! So we talked on the phone for awhile more while I cleaned my room, because it was/is a disaster. He kept asking me if I was going to bed soon and how much longer I was going to clean. When I asked him why he wanted to know he responded with "I have my reasons". Not suspicious in the slightest. ;) A few minuets later, he told me he was almost to my house! Um... adorable! He showed up to my house with a present for me!! He made me a cute poster and got me some slipper socks! It was the best present to be able to see him for a few minuets! He is very thoughtful!

In the morning, the fam-bam decided to go to breakfast at Crackle Barrel. Jason flew in that morning from Texas so that was a great birthday present to be able to spend my birthday with him. After breakfast John and I decided to go skiing! It was his first time so I was teaching him! John knows how much I hate driving so he made sure that on my birthday I didn't have to do any driving. He also filled up my car with gas for me. :) Once we made our way through the long, snowy drive up the canyon to Powder Mountain, we found that the resort was closed. CLOSED! So unfortunately skiing didn't happen. And I admit I was pretty disappointed. But we decided to go bowling instead. We had talked about how we had been wanting to go! We had a great time, despite the fact it was our plan B. Wanna know the best part of it?! I beat John!! I BEAT JOHN!!! That never happens! Neither of our scores were good. But it was fun! After bowling we drove through the Layton Park Christmas lights. While we were waiting in the line of cars, we listened/made fun of Justin Bieber's songs "Little Drummer Boy". haha Just because it's so ridiculous. hahaha

Breakfast with the family!

Bowling! We worked HARD to get this picture ;)

Proof that I beat John Cozzens in something!!!! :) :)

After the lights we met the family at Roosters for my birthday dinner! To finish the night we went back to our house and opened presents. I got a temple bag, a book about taking our your endowments, a book to plan my wedding, a few piano books, a gift card to café rio, tabasco sauce, gloves, lotion, a smiths giftcard, charming charlies giftcard, and a scarf! :) John also got me the softest blanket! Over all it was a pretty fantastic birthday!! I'm super blessed to have the family I do and the amazing boyfriend I do! ;) The next day, (Sunday) Jen made my the dinner of my choice (Chicken-Cordon-Blu) since Mom and Dad were gone, and she made me 2 cakes! :)

Roosters Birthday Dinner with my favorite people!

We then played the picture game! John drew the funniest picture of an "awkward first date". It was so funny because it was of things that had happened to us!! He drew a picture of our awkward door step scene where we sat on the ground, linked arms, and then stood back up! haha He also drew 2 people getting flu shots on a date, which I did with Chase once! haha So, I'm pretty lucky and it was a great birthday!! 24 never looked so good!

John's interpretation of an "awkward first date" hahaha

Happiness Tips

There is an article going around on Facebook called "10 happiness tips from Gordon B. Hinckley". I loved it and felt it was something worth remembering. We all have moments in our lives where our happiness levels aren't quite where we want them to be. It could be due to the fact that things in our lives aren't going the way we want, or because of trials we are facing. Sometimes we simply just have a bad day! There tips a good reminder of how to keep a positive attitude and be happy no matter our disposition.

Tip 1:The Purpose of Life is to be Happy
"Life is to be enjoyed, not endured"

I feel that we are all entitled to bad days. It's okay to show upset emotions and to even complain once in awhile. It is alright to EXPRESS yourself! But when doing so, it's important to keep the perspective that life is supposed to be happy. In difficult times, I guarantee we could all still find happy things in our lives. Whether it be the sunny weather all the way to knowing there is a God who loves his children. By looking at the small details of our lives, we will see what really matters most and see all the happy things in our lives!

Tip 2: Happiness cannot be achieved if we are selfish and complaining
"Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others…By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves."

Complaining can be therapeutic. And sometimes you need to get those emotions out so you don't explode! But... it's important to not dwell on the negative and to know how to move on with life. Having a glass half full type attitude can change your whole perspective on life! No one likes to be around someone who is negative, selfish, and complains all the time. The more we think of others and participate in service, the less we think of ourselves. That gives us less time to dwell on our problems. Think positive thoughts! : )

Tip 3: God is in charge when we are obeying his commandments
"It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

God is with us every step of the way. During the good times and the bad times. This reminds me of that poem about the foot steps in the sand. It is one of my favorites!!

During times of trials, the Lord lifts us up and carries us. But we have to do our part and trust in him. We have to do what he asks of us and keep his commandments. He loves us. He listens and answers every prayer. He is in every detail of our lives.

Tip 4: Set realistic goals for yourself
"Aim high, but do not aim so high that you totally miss the target."

Don't set goals that are impossible to meet and that will make us feel like we have failed at life if we don't complete them. Remember that God typically uses positive motivation, while Satan tries to make us feel “not good enough” and discouraged.

I was an EFY counselor this past summer and we always taught the kids to make "SMART" goals.
S- Specific. When your goal is specific, it has a greater chance of being completed than a general goal. To set a specific goal you can ask six "W" questions. Who (who is involved), What (what do I want to accomplish), Where (Location), When (Time frame), Which (requirements and constraints), and why (specific reasons, purposes or benefits of accomplishing the goal).
M-Measurable. Measure your progress. This helps you stay on track and creates accountability.
A-Attainable. Don't set goals that is too hard for you to accomplish. But don't set goals that are too easy either. You want to challenge yourself, but in a way that will help you grow and not fail.
R-Realistic. Your goal needs to be something that you are willing and able to work at.
T-Timely. Set a time frame. When there is no time frame, procrastination is easier to develop. There is no sense of urgency. The mentality of "I'll get around to it eventually" sets in.

Tip 5: Laughter is the best medicine
"In all of living, have much fun and laughter."

Studies have found that laughter and exercise have similar effects on your body. A 2006 study showed that it took 10 min on a rowing machine for your heart rate to reach the level it would after just one minuet of heavy laughter. It also seems that laughter burns calories. 10 to 15 minutes of laughter about 50 calories.

Laughter is not only good for your body, but it is contributes to our attitude. Laughter is contagious and it creates a pleasant atmosphere towards the people around us. So laugh at yourself. And laugh at the curve balls that life throws at you.

Tip 6: Praying
"Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him."

Prayer is a powerful resource that we are able to use anytime. I know that I sometimes forget I have that tool available to me. God is willing to help us if we ask him. He wants to help us! If it is important to us, it is important to him! He cares about even the smallest of things. I have 2 examples of this.

I went to Japan earlier this year with my best friend, Nat. While I was there I got this ring. I am a very sentimental person, especially when it comes to jewelry. Ever since I got this ring, I haven't taken it off. It reminded me of Natalie (who was on a mission) and of Japan! I was at work at my spa, and I was cleaning and lost my ring! I looked and looked and looked for it and could not find it! I was SO upset. And I thought to myself "why am I so upset, it is just a ring!" But honestly, it meant a great deal to me. So I went into the bathroom, and prayed asking that Heavenly Father would help me know where to look. A few minuets later, I felt that I should look behind a chair in one of the rooms. It was there!! I know the Lord answered my prayer. There is no way that was a coincidence. He cared about my ring, even though it was something so silly. He cared because it was important to me, and I am important to him!

My second story is about EFY. I had a training week in Provo at the beginning of the summer. The last day of the week I went to the dance with my kiddos. One of my girls was having a hard time at the dance because none of the boys were asking her to dance. I saw her in the corner crying. There were so many people around that there wasn't much I could do. So I walked away from the dance and said a quick prayer asking that I would get a moment alone with her. Literally seconds later, she asked if I could take her to the bathroom. Girls ALWAYS go to the bathroom with their friends, especially teenage girls! This girl turned to her friend and asked if she wanted to come with her and her friend, after thinking for a moment, said she was going to stay at the dance. That was perfect because I would have a moment alone with her. As I walked her to the bathroom, I stopped and asked her if she was okay. She broke down and started talking to me! It gave me an opportunity to talk to her. It was amazing because I knew exactly what to say. It was like I wasn't the one speaking. Random scriptures were popping in my head! When we came back to the dance, I said one more little prayer asking that she would get asked to dance. The next 2 slow songs she got asked to dance!

I know God answers our prayers. Both of these experiences are things that are so simple. They were not extravagant experiences or huge things I prayed about. God cares about the small, simple things just as much as the life changing experiences in our lives.

Tip 7: Have a positive Attitude
"Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight."

Complaining all the time isn't going to solve your problems. It is only going to keep you in a bad mood and impact those around you in a negative way. Our thoughts are very powerful. I believe that if we were to realize just how powerful our thoughts really were, we would think less negative thoughts. Our thoughts lead to our actions.
"A negative mind will never give you a positive life"

Tip 8: Happiness requires work
"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served."

When we serve others, we forget ourselves. We forget our problems and trials. We become selfless. We become more like Christ. I think of all the stories of Christ and how almost every single one of them includes him working and helping those around him. He is always healing, ministering, teaching, forgiving, praying, ext.. He is always doing something that is going to help others. That is what we are supposed to be doing. By doing so, it will create a sense of happiness in our lives.

Tip 9: Study things that matter
"You can be smart and happy or stupid and miserable. . . it’s your choice"

I feel like this goes hand in hand with having good priorities. By spending our whole lives watching TV or playing video games, we are missing out on educating ourselves on things that really matter. We have to remember that the education we learn here on earth, we get to take with us in the next life. It is important to keep an eternal perspective. Studying and becoming educated in the gospel and school work that is beneficial creates happiness.

Tip 10: Read More
"It is both relaxing and invigorating to occasionally set aside the worries of life, seek the company of a friendly book…from the reading of ‘good books’ there comes a richness of life that can be obtained in no other way."

My patriarchal blessing talking briefly about how important 'good books' are. This goes hand in hand with 'studying things that matter'. I think that the scripture fall greatly into this category. By studying the scriptures and becoming educated on gospel doctrine, we will become happier and gain a better relationship with our Father in Heaven.

The gospel in the only true way to happiness. One of my favorite quotes is "Satan's way is the easy way, but Gods way is the happy way". I believe that. Obeying the commandments and trusting in God isn't always easy. Sometimes our plan and his isn't the same. But he knows what will make us happy. But we can be happy by gaining knowledge of the gospel, having good priorities that help us keep an eternal perspective, keeping a positive attitude, working hard, helping others, forgetting ourselves, praying, laughing even during times of tribulation, setting goals, becoming selfless, and remembering that God wants us to be happy.

I'm thankful to have this knowledge and to know that God loves us and wants us to be happy. :)

Because Of Him

I received an e-mail from Nat today! I love getting her e-mails and hearing how she is doing! Today

was a very inspiring letter. She included a great conference talk by President Uchdorf about managing your time and slowing your life down. When your life is full of stress, it's important to remember what things really matter. :)

I wanted to include some of Natalie's letter because it was SO good! She wrote:

?We ate Lunch at a member's home, Maria José. It was a wonderful meal. Except, Maria José kept returning to the kitchen to clean the dishes instead of eating with us. Afterwards, we shared a spiritual thought with her and her family. Maria José broke down in tears during the message and could not stop. Her tears grew and eventually the silence around us grew with it. "Maria José, Are you okay?" I asked. She replied, "I am so stressed. My home is a mess and I have so much on my mind. So many things I have to do."

How many times do we have moments like this? ...This is what made me think.

It reminded me of a talk given quite a few years ago in a General Conference. They gave an example of a child cleaning up toys. There was a box for a set of zoo animals and the child started by picking up all the small little animals like chickens, hens, sheep and stuffed it in the box. Nearing the end of all the toys to clean up, the last one remaining was a large giraffe. The child in frustrations tried stuffing the giraffe in and closing the lid to the box. But of course, the lid wouldn't close. Going to her grandma, she asked for help. The grandmother saw that what needed to be done was to dump out all the small animals and start over again placing the big ones in first.

How many times do we stress about putting in the small things first? How many times do we stress about our upswept floors or whether we will have a perfect meal to feed to our kids each day?...or even to feed to the missionaries?, haha.

What are the big things to put in the box first? Elder Uchtdorf explained here...

 

 

We need to remember our self worth does not reflect on our to do lists. We must prioritize our lives and decide what is good, better and best. Uchtdorf also talks about 4 relationships that are most crucial in our lives. Our relationship with God, our Families, our fellowmen, and ourselves.

 

Natalie continues on saying: "Don't let the temporary stresses of the world stop you from taking in the things of eternal value. Remember Mary, who chose the better part, something she will never lose throughout all eternity. Remember to put the small things after."

 

 

Lastly, Nat included an AMAZING Mormon message. It includes such basic truths, yet is so powerful.

 

In Alma 7:11-13 it says:

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities

.

 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

 

The Atonement of our Savior was an act the is unfathomable!! It effected every person who has lived and will live on this earth. Our Savior continues to live and continues to love us. He died for every single one of us and as he knelt, pleading with God in the Garden of Gethsemane, he felt each and every one of our pains and afflictions, individually. One by one. Because of him there is hope. Because of him there is happiness. Because of him there is life. Because of him there is repentance. Because of him we never have to be alone. Because of him there is no end!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love Text's

So... you know the love languages? Physical touch, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Quality Time, and Acts of Service. My boyfriend, John Cozzens, is pretty much amazing. He is stellar in all of these categories! But he is especially great at words of affirmation!! I was going back through my texts and he is absolutely adorable! :) I wanted to write down some of the things he said to me to remember how sweet (and hilarious) he is so I could remember them! This post is for me!! I'm so in love with this boy!!!

July 4th 2014
"I appreciate your face too! Have a happy 4th! You should have your kids yell BOOM! BLAM BA BAM BAM! Like fireworks... it might not work unless you hear my demonstration.... ;)"
(In reference to my EFY kiddos!)

July 16th 2014
"I'm home. Thank you very much for letting me come over! Thanks for giving me time to talk about my feelings too ;) I'm happy about tonight!"
(In reference to when he first told me that he really liked me!!)

July 17th 2014
"Thanks for caring about me! That helps by itself! Anyways I think you're amazing and I really enjoyed today! Have a happy night Kaylee Furlow"
(This was after our... first date as dating? We spent the day at Lagoon! He didn't feel very good after the date! But he was still so sweet and optimistic!)

July 22nd 2014
"So there are over 20 tiny little spiders in the bathroom between my room and James room. So far I've just let them be. I found more in the hall around the bathroom too. James said he would forget how to brush his teeth! I asked him what he actually said was he forgot how to brush his teeth. He won't go in that room because he doesn't want to get demons on him. He had to brush downstairs."
(this text needs no explanation. Just EW!)

 July 25th 2014
"hey Kaylee Furlow! Have a happy night, and also I miss you! Let me know if you need anything! :)"

July 30th 2014
"Do not be afraid of making mistakes. Everyone... makes mistakes. People will understand, and they will appreciate your efforts... (preach my gospel P.131)"

July 30th 2014
"The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has give at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well (Elder Neal A Maxwell)"
(John would send me quotes and scriptures while I was at EFY. He was so helpful!!)

July 31 2014
"From my spiritual journal: (21 June 2011) In contrast to what the character Thumper said from his mother in Bambie, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all", an EFY participant said "if you have something nice to say, say it!" something is as sacred as you make it. Life is an exciting adventure as you keep yourself morally clean. If you do not, you experience personal sorrow, you give up the ability to feel bit by bit. I especially like "if you have something nice to say, say it. You are amazing Kaylee Furlow! Have such a wonderful day!"

July 31 2014
"Hey good looking! ;) I hope your Thursday was awesome! Let me know if you need anything! You're the best! :)"

August 1 2014
"Thank you so much for just listening to me. That means a lot to me! I usually have a hard time admitting if I'm having a hard time, I thin I don't even realize to myself I am having a hard time sometimes. I guess that's life. Kaylee Furlow I really like you! Thank you so much for everything! You've blessed my life so very much too! Seriously, you put to shame other girls that I've dated. lol Kaylee Furlow, you're the best!"

Aug 1, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! I get to see you soon! You're amazing and those girls and your whole company is lucky to have spend the week with you! You may not get to see it yet, like Abinadi, but your influence will be remembered by your girls, and even if not, it will have done so much for you and your Father in Heaven knows of your efforts! It will come in hand in the future, I'm sure! I know its a suber busy night but if you want to talk for just a minute, let me know! Thank you for living the principles of the gospel and being there for those girls! :) :) :) thank you for being there for me too! :) You're my favorite!"

Aug 5 2014
"Kaylee Furlow (I misspelled your last name and my phone thought I was trying to say duplex) You are amazing! Thank you for being so sweet! And for letting me be a teacher today! Thank you for spending time with me! It means the world to me! Have a wonderful night! Also, you're amazing! :) :)"

Aug 6, 2014
"Hey beautiful Kaylee Furlow! I made it home! I'm glad I got to see you! Writing was fun! Thanks for everything! Lee Lee you are wonderful. Have a great night! ;) ;) (p.s this is hilarious, so when I tried to put your name as Lee Lee my phone tried to sabotage it by writing JFF JFF! You might be right about my phone after all!"
(So... Johns phone has it out for me. It will not remember me and when it did it put me in as Kaylee Furlong!! John had to memorize my phone number so he would know when it was me calling. JFF stands for Just friends forever! We decided his phone was jealous of me ;) haha"

Aug 7 2014
"Aw, Kaylee Furlow! You're amazing and sweet and can't be beat! (it rhymes, so it must be true!)"

Aug 11, 2014
"Dear Kaylee Furlow, thank YOU for an amazing perfect week! I adore you! I'm so glad I get to spend so much time with you, let's make that a habit pretty please! :) :) :) You make me so happy! I really am awfully fond of you. You're my favorite! :) :) :) You're so wonderful inside and out! Sweet dreams! I'll see you soon! :) :) :) :) P.s I love your family!"

Aug 12 2014
"Kaylee Furlow, time is going so slowly without you!!"

Aug 13, 2014
"Hey Kaylee Furlow I'm home safe! Sweet dreams! I love you! :) "
(This was the first text that he said I love you in!!!)

Aug15 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! I do love you! Really I do! You make me sincerely happy! I want to make you happy too! You're wonderful! I plan to keep you! Sweet dreams!"

Aug18, 2014
"My dear girlfriend, I adore you, and you made today wonderful! Thank you! I love you so much! I will see you soon! Sweet dreams Kaylee Furlow! p.s My phone forgot who you are again!"

Aug 18, 2014
(He wrote me a poem! Adorable!!)

Kind
An Angel
Your Adorable Smile And Beautiful Eyes
Lovely Voice
Everything I'm looking For
Empathy

Nice To Everyone
Obscure Songs
Enchanting
Loving
Living By The Principles Of The Gospel
Eye-Catching

Faithful
Understanding
Respectful
Love Of My Life
Obliging
Welcoming


I love you, you mean so much to me. Thank you for everything Kaylee Noelle Furlow!

Aug 20, 2014
"Good morning sweetheart. :) I'm thinking about you :) have a wonderful day at work! :) You make me very very happy! :) I'm still sick but I am feeling like I'm on the recovery side of it. I love you so much Kaylee Furlow! :) :) :)"

Aug 20, 2014
"Hi Rubber Ducky! (can I call you that? Because you're the one!) Goodness glaciers I'm excited to see youuuuuu! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) I love you! :) :) :) :) :)"

Aug 22, 2014
"Good morning love! I hope you have a wonderful day at work! I'll be missing you! I love you Kaylee! :) :)"

Aug 22, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! You're my favorite! Thank you so much for yesterday! Only 272 days, 23 hours, and 36 minutes left!! I love you so much!!"

Aug22, 2014
"Hey remember that time I kissed you and we started laughing? I love you Kaylee!"

Aug 26, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow, I'm thinking of you! I am excited to see you today! I hope your day is awesome! I love you! :) You are amazing!

Aug 27, 2014
"You are my sunshine, Kaylee Furlow"

Aug 28, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! I love you! I loooove youuuuu! Have sweet dreams! You are amazing! You make me better by your influence! You make me happy! You are sooo beautiful! :) You really are like a wonderful dream come true :) Sweet dreams! I'll see you soon"

September 1, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! I am soooo happy! I love you with all my heart! I am totes the goat, cray cray in love with you! You are the best ever! I want to make you soooo happy! You make me want to be the best I can! Have sweet dreams!"

September 3, 2014
"Kaylee Noelle Furlow, you are my favorite! I am so happy you are in my life! I want your life to be wonderful! I want to be the best John Cozzens I can be! My heart belongs to you Kaylee Furlow! I love you!! :) Have a wonderful night! Sweet dreams!"

September 3, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow, living the gospel, and my relationship with you are more important in the long run than a class. I'll always love you."

September 4, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! I get to see you too! I am totes the goat excited! You made more than my day, you make my life! Basically, you are the best ever! I love you! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)"

September 5, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! I want to be yours forever! I'm so glad I got to spend time with you today! I love you with all my heart!! Sweet dreams! I found the apples! I'll see you soon!"

September 7, 2014
"I'm home safe! Kaylee Furlow! Sweet dreams! I'll see you soon! I'll take good care of your heart! :) I love you!"

September 9, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! I love your face! And I love you! You are the best! I get to see you today lots! Thank you for reading scriptures with me last night! You're an angel! :) :) :) :) I've been very blessed to have you in my life and I'm excited for our future! I love you!"

September 10, 2014
"You make me soooo happy Kaylee Furlow"

September 12, 2014
"Good morning, good looking! I Loooove you! I want to make you macaroni and cheese today! Have a wonderful time at work! You're my inspiration, Kaylee Furlow! I am completely totally in love with you! you have changed my life! I want to marry you! :) :) :) :) :) :) "

September 14, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow, you are perfect for me! I love you with all my heart! I'm excited to see you! :) :) :)"

September 17, 2014
"Good morning sweetheart! I love you! Have a wonderful day! I will see you soon! You are my favorite! Kaylee Furlow, you are an answer to many prayers of mine! :) :) :) :)"

Septbemer18,2014
"Kaylee Furlow, love of my life, my rubber ducky, my sweetheart, good looking, my girlfriend, my fiancé (no official ring yet, my sunshine, my best friend, my favorite, the most attractive girl in the whole choir, angel, beautiful, exactly who I need, my happy thought, the answer to so many of my prayers, mine, choice daughter of our Heavenly Father, soooo sweet, I love you with aaalllll my heart! Sweet dreams! I will see you soon!"

September 21, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow, I am home safe. I am so grateful for you! You've changed my life, and I am so glad it's you that I will get to marry and spend eternity with. I love you! I will love you forever!"

September 23, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! You are my favorite! Along with the gospel and my family ;) You are a priority to me. You make me so happy Kaylee! I love you so much!"

October 5th, 2014
"I'm thinking of you! :) :) :) :) You are the love of my life! I don't just think that, I know that (Just like my grandpa said I would!) I loooove you!"

October 6th 2014
"You make me so happy Kaylee Furlow! YOU complete ME! I love you!"

October 13, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow, you are an amazing girlfriend! You're the best girlfriend I've ever had! I love you!"

October 19, 2014
" "Open when you feel hopeful about the future" I just read your letter, you make me sincerely happy, and I am sincerely in love with you! I love you forever! I'm so excited to be a family with you and I'm excited for eternity and especially with someone as sincerely good as you! Also As I have mentioned, and will mention again, I love you! You are SOOO sweet! :) :) :) :) :) :) ) I am gladyou are home safe! Sweet dreams!"
(For Johns birthday I gave him a bunch of letters that he is supposed to open on certain occasions! This specific one he read was meant to be opened when he felt hopeful about our future. There were others such as open when you are stressed, or sad, or happy!)

October 27,2014
"You made today better :) I'd rather have days like this and see you than have easy days with you. I love you!"

November 8, 2014
"I just saw a little girl in a snow white dress! ;)"
(John is in love with Snow White. I hate her. haha)

November 10, 2014
"I want to see you. You are so very very important to me. Kaylee Furlow I wish we were neighbors. I would love for you to come over for a little bit!"

November15, 2014
"I really Really really love you Kaylee Furlow! I want to marry you! You make me so happy! You are a sincerely good and kind person! You really do love the Lord and live by the principals of the gospel. You are good for me! You  make me better!"

November 17, 2014
"Kaylee Furlow! I loooove your face! I am so very lucky ;) ;) I want to talk to you tonight! And I want to spend more time with you tomorrow! And I want so spend forever with you! And I want to marry you! And you are wonderful! :) :) :) :) :)"

November 19 2014
"Um, I adore you!"

November 28, 2014
"I love you Kaylee Furlow! I want to marry you! You are very good to me! Thank you for a wonderful thanksgiving! Have a good time in the morning when you read this! Also thanks for being so kind listening to me about my worrying about the future. You are wonderful! Happy Christmas! I'm glad you got to spend some time with my family! And thank you for being ok with sticking around when I wanted a nap! I really really love you with all my heart! We still have lots in that question book to go through, and I'm excited to! I love talking with you and I loved figuring out our future and getting to I know you better! You make me soooo happy! I love how considerate you are!And you are so pretty! I'm so lucky! You really are so kind and I'm in love with you! I will love you forever Kaylee Furlow!"

Having Faith in God's Timing

Life doesn't always turn out the way we plan. I speak from recent experience. I look at where I am now compared to where I had planned to be and it's not even close. With that being said, sometimes the things you want most in life come when you least expect them (so cliché, I know). Timing is EVERYTHING!!! I've learned just how important it is to have faith in God's timing. He really does know what is best and WHEN it is best.

I had planned on going to school full time, working part time at the spa, maybe taking a few institute classes. I was basically coasting through life not really knowing what to do and not going anywhere. I was done with choir which was my whole social life. All my friends were married. I was still finding out what direction my life was taking. But then I got the opportunity to be an EFY counselor this summer! :) (I'll write more about that later!) I got to do 3 weeks in Provo, 3 weeks in Tacoma, and 1 week in Ogden.

About 2 weeks before I left, I started hanging out with John Cozzens. We spent the day together at the park where we had a picnic and played catch. Little did I know at the time, but this would become a crucial day in my life. John and I have always had an up and down relationship when it came to "liking" one another. Our timing was ALWAYS off. I was casually dating 2 other boys at that time but after that day I had the thought that I could like John Cozzens. But I honestly didn't believe anything would happen. I wasn't planning on acting on it. I already had 2 other boys that were occupying most of my time.

The weekend before I left for my first EFY session in Provo, I hung out with John Cozzens. It was filled with long talks, the game "life", musical video games, and guitar playing. It was pretty great. That is when I knew. I knew I liked this boy. And I was pretty sure he liked me too.

I was gone most of the summer but I called John almost every day. I had some very hard and lonely weeks at EFY. Some weeks where my faith was tried and tested. John was my rock. He helped me through the some of the toughest times just by listening and giving me great advice. There was one particular night where I had one of the worst days I've ever had (dramatic, I know). I called John and just sat in the stairwell of my apartment and cried on the phone. I don't remember what he told me, but I remember how he made me feel. It was at that moment that I knew I loved him. And I knew I needed him.

Upon my return home for the summer, and I never left each others sides. One night, as we were hanging out he told me he needed to talk about "his feelings". He then sat there for a moment with his eyes closed and took a few deep breaths. He then told me that he liked me! :) I told him I felt the same and we had a short discussion about how we should go on dates. We went on a date to Lagoon the next week (which is SO expensive!). It was the "first" date we went on while we were actually "dating". John was in a super weird mood though and was singing to strangers. haha (oooh John).

After that, I saw him every single day!! And we were both okay with that. The day I got back from my second to last week of EFY he took me to the Ogden rodeo. My favorite part was when the kiddos rode the sheep! Hilarious! When the cowboys were putting the sheep back into their stalls, there was one defiant sheep that would not move! It took at the cowboys to drag the poor sheep to it's kennel! It was good entertainment. After the rodeo we went to John's house and he held my hand for the first time. :) He gave me butterflies.

Fast forwarding to a month later.... On August 12th, John Cozzens asked me to be his girlfriend. :) He then told me he loved me for the first time. I'll never forget that moment. I have never had anyone look at me the way he did. I've also never loved anyone like I have loved him! :) It was a special moment!

A few weeks later we went to the Ogden Temple open house. Wow was it beautiful!! It has the most stunning pictures in it! I love that even though it's not dedicated, it still has a feeling of peace. I'm so happy that I got to go through it with my best friend. I'm also excited to have the Ogden temple open again. I have greatly missed it, it has always been one of my favorites!!

A few weeks later, John, his sister and I went to Comic Con. :) Okay... so going to comic con is so out of my element. I have never done or gone to anything like that before so I admit I was nervous. I didn't know what to expect. But it was actually a blast! I loved it!! They have SO many booths and speakers. We went to this panel where it was a symphony playing popular songs. It blew my mind! They played star wars, walking dead theme song, Dr. Who, how to train your dragon, and many others. I would have never thought Comic Con would be something I would enjoy, but I liked it and would definitely go again. Especially if I get to go with my man :)

These last few months have come and gone so fast. With school, my new full time job, working at the spa, and having a new boyfriend, there isn't much time for extra activities. But October just ended and that is my favorite time of year! I was able to go to plenty of haunted houses with my co-workers and my partner in crime, Julio! :) (john's not really into that sort of thing) Although John didn't go with me to the haunted houses, he did paint pumpkins with me! :) That is one of my favorite October festivities. I look forward to it every year! We went over to Kayla and Logan's' house and painted/carved pumpkins. He carved his into a batman while I painted mine like minion. :)

These past few months have been amazing, but not even close to where I imagined I would be. If you would have told me 5 months ago that I would be dating and in love with a boy I've known for years, I would have said that you were cray-cray!! I've known John Cozzens for about 5 years now. He has always been one of my closest friends and I never thought we would become more than that. But I'm so happy we did because he makes me so happy. Timing is everything. It took us 5 years to be ready. It still blows my mind that for the last 5 years I have been dating and searching for that person to marry when he was standing in front of me the whole time. Never give up on anyone and never count anyone out. You might miss out on a great opportunity if you do. God knows what we need and when we need it. He see's the big picture. :) I'm sure glad God prepares us and guides us to where we need to be at the time we need to be there. John Cozzens is my best friend and the love of my life and he was SOOO worth 5 years of waiting!!

The Porn Pandemic

This video is long, but I promise it's worth the time. It's very interesting because it shows how pornography SCIENTIFICALLY affects the brain and the consequences it may have. As people, we tend to get addicted to things easily; Video games, tv shows, drugs, alcohol, caffeine, foods, ect... Why is pornography any different? However the effects of pornography and the addictions it causes are much more severe. This is a topic that has been on my mind recently. I feel like it is something that is becoming more and more common in our society.



I'm a Criminal Justice major and have a weird obsession with the criminal mind. I find it fascinating to see the correlation between different crimes and the activities and addictions people participated in prior to committing said criminal acts. Ted Bundy, on his final interview with James Dobson right before his execution, said the following:



JCD: For the record, you are guilty of killing many women and girls.

Ted: Yes, that’s true.

JCD: How did it happen? What are the antecedents of the behavior that we’ve seen? You were raised in what you consider to be a healthy home. You were not physically, sexually or emotionally abused.

Ted: No. And that’s part of the tragedy of this whole situation. I grew up in a wonderful home with two dedicated and loving parents, as one of 5 brothers and sisters. We, as children, were the focus of my parent’s lives. We regularly attended church. My parents did not drink or smoke or gamble. There was no physical abuse or fighting in the home...

As a young boy of 12 or 13, I encountered, outside the home, in the local grocery and drug stores, softcore pornography... From time to time, we would come across books of a harder nature - more graphic... The most damaging kind of pornography - and I’m talking from hard, real, personal experience - is that that involves violence and sexual violence. The wedding of those two forces - as I know only too well - brings about behavior that is too terrible to describe.

JCD: Walk me through that. What was going on in your mind at that time?

Ted: Before we go any further, it is important to me that people believe what I’m saying. I’m not blaming pornography. I’m not saying it caused me to go out and do certain things. I take full responsibility for all the things that I’ve done. That’s not the question here. The issue is how this kind of literature contributed and helped mold and shape the kinds of violent behavior.

JCD: It fueled your fantasies.

Ted: In the beginning, it fuels this kind of thought process. Then, at a certain time, it is instrumental in crystallizing it, making it into something that is almost a separate entity inside.

JCD: You had gone about as far as you could go in your own fantasy life, with printed material, photos, videos, etc., and then there was the urge to take that step over to a physical event.

TED: Once you become addicted to it, and I look at this as a kind of addiction, you look for more potent, more explicit, more graphic kinds of material. Like an addiction, you keep craving something which is harder and gives you a greater sense of excitement, until you reach the point where the pornography only goes so far - that jumping off point where you begin to think maybe actually doing it will give you that which is just beyond reading about it and looking at it...

I knew it was wrong to think about it, and certainly, to do it was wrong. I was on the edge, and the last vestiges of restraint were being tested constantly, and assailed through the kind of fantasy life that was fueled, largely, by pornography.

JCD: Do you remember what pushed you over that edge? Do you remember the decision to “go for it”? Do you remember where you decided to throw caution to the wind?

Ted: It’s a very difficult thing to describe - the sensation of reaching that point where I knew I couldn’t control it anymore. The barriers I had learned as a child were not enough to hold me back from seeking out and harming somebody.

JCD: Would it be accurate to call that a sexual frenzy?

Ted: That’s one way to describe it - a compulsion, a building up of this destructive energy. Another fact I haven’t mentioned is the use of alcohol. In conjunction with my exposure to pornography, alcohol reduced my inhibitions and pornography eroded them further...Those of us who have been so influenced by violence in the media, particularly pornographic violence, are not some kind of inherent monsters. We are your sons and husbands. We grew up in regular families. Pornography can reach in and snatch a kid out of any house today. It snatched me out of my home 20 or 30 years ago. As diligent as my parents were, and they were diligent in protecting their children, and as good a Christian home as we had, there is no protection against the kinds of influences that are loose in a society that tolerates pornography.

JCD: You asked me to come because you had something you wanted to say. You feel that hardcore pornography, and the door to it, softcore pornography, is doing untold damage to other people and causing other women to be abused and killed the way you did.

Ted: I’m no social scientist... but I’ve lived in prison for a long time now, and I’ve met a lot of men who were motivated to commit violence. Without exception, every one of them was deeply involved in pornography - deeply consumed by the addiction. The F.B.I.’s own study on serial homicide shows that the most common interest among serial killers is pornographers. It’s true.

JCD: What would your life have been like without that influence?

Ted: I know it would have been far better, not just for me, but for a lot of other people - victims and families. There’s no question that it would have been a better life. I’m absolutely certain it would not have involved this kind of violence... What I hope will come of our discussion is that I think society deserves to be protected from itself. As we have been talking, there are forces at loose in this country, especially this kind of violent pornography, where, on one hand, well-meaning people will condemn the behavior of a Ted Bundy while they’re walking past a magazine rack full of the very kinds of things that send young kids down the road to being Ted Bundys. That’s the irony.


Whoa... this interview is chilling! Ted Bundy!!! TED BUNDY, who killed somewhere between 25 to 35 girls, says himself that getting involved in pornography is entering dangerous territory. In all my criminal justice schooling I've come to realize that Bundy is correct. Most criminals who have committed either sexual crimes or murders have been involved in pornography. It is my thought that pornography is even more dangerous than we realize. Obviously, those involved in pornography aren't automatically going to become criminals or serial killers. But I believe pornography is a gateway for these situations to happen. It is a gateway for sexual crimes, infidelity, sexual thoughts, depression and many other harmful actions.


I believe once you are involved in pornography it becomes a lifelong struggle. But I also believe in change. At the end of the documentary they say "it's important for those struggling to always remember that there's not anything that's happened to you that you can't heal from." I believe in the healing power of the atonement and the ability we have to be forgiven. As God's children we make the same mistakes over and over and OVER again but yet he is merciful and forgives us continually. His love is unconditional and never ending, regardless of our mistakes. Our mistakes don't define who we are and I would never judge someone for the mistakes they have made or are making. It doesn't matter where we have been or what we have done; it only matter where we are going. Sometimes all we can do is our best. When our best isn't enough, God makes up the difference and makes us stronger. :)

I think I'm turing Japanese, I really think so!

Bear with me.... I believe this is going to be a longish post.... but a majority of it is pictures so it's deceiving. It's not as long as it seems! ;) 

You know those life moments that you know you will look back on and remember forever? I recently had one of those. I got to go on the trip of a life time with my best friend. I visited Natalie in Tokyo for two weeks this last month and it still feels like a dream.

This was the first time I had been out of the country, so it was kind of intimidating traveling alone. The plane ride to Japan was 13 hours with one layover in L.A. It wasn't nearly as horrible as I anticipated and actually went by quite fast. Flying International is kind of fun because you have the options of watching movies and tv shows for free. It is like having your own personal little netflix right in front of you! (only the options were better!) Out of all the movie options, I chose to watch the movie Taken. I had never seen it before.... This was a mistake seeing as the movie is about a girl being kidnapped while traveling to another country (and she wasn't even by herself!) But besides that, the flight there was a breeze!

That night when I got to Japan and saw Natalie it was one of the most exciting and happy moments of my life! (did that sound like I was exaggerating?!) Because... Seriously. It took some time to register that everything around me was real. But we didn't waste any time getting started on our adventures. We went to dinner that night at a little restaurant. We ate Pork Raman, Kimchi (fermented cabbage), Chicken, and Gyoza, which is Japanese Pot stickers and my favorite thing I ate there! American's are doing pot stickers very WRONG! :)

Our first picture in Japan right after I got off the plane! :)

 

We feasted like royalty our first night! :)

After dinner we made our way to do karaoke. Karaoke is very popular in the Japanese culture. It's the McDonalds of Japan; you can find it on every street corner. Karaoke is very different from here, it is not done in bars, but it is a business all on its own. You get a room all to yourself with big screen TV's and fancy equipment. Some of the places even had themed rooms with disco balls and cool lights. There were hundreds of songs to choose from. It was my favorite thing there, and probably what I miss most. We did Karaoke 5 or 6 times while I was there and I loved every minuet of it!

This Karaoke room was themed "The Girls Room". It included fuzzy carpets, fancy flowered pillows, and pink walls!:) 

Day 1: My first full day was very eventful. We went to Harajuku and did a little bit of shopping. :) We then went to the Japanese photo booths, called Purikura, and took pictures. They are entertaining because you can edit the pictures. The booths are GIANT, unlike the ones you find here in the mall, in which you can barely fit one person let alone you and your friends. It however doesn't forewarn you of when it starts taking pictures.... :) The Purikura's enlarges your eyes and makes your skin really pale. They kind of make you look like an anime character!

After the purikura, we ate lunch at a little cafe with the most amazing panini sandwiches. It could easily give Zupus a run for their money! :) After lunch we made our way to Meiji Jingu Shrine in Shibuya. It was SO fun to be at a real shrine! When we were done touring the shrine, we went to Institute where we learned about the creation. I loved being able to go and feel the spirit and meet new people. It was an interesting experience to know that no matter where you are in the world, no matter the culture, the language, or the people, the gospel is the same. It is never changing and the spirit it brings is real and is always present. God is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." Kind of a cool side note :) I also met some amazing people that day, who became an important part of my trip. My vacation truly wouldn't have been as great as it was if I wouldn't have met them! Once class was over, Nat and I went to dinner to a french restaurant (I got to experience all kinds of cultures) with my new friends Aiki and Brian. Nat decided I needed to try escargot because it "tastes just like mushrooms" Well... she was sorely wrong. It tasted nothing like mushrooms, it tasted just like snails. And it was disguising!

The escargot. The smile is on my face because I hadn't eaten it yet! :)

Before you enter the shrine, it is ritual that you cleanse your mouth and hands with this water. There were found at all the temples and shrines. :)

I don't know what these are.... but they were cool!

Shibuya was such a lively city!

Day 2: It was pretty cold almost every day I was there, but this day was especially frigid and rainy! Tokyo is a big city, right? So you walk EVERYWHERE!! So the cold rain was a little inconvenient and was raining on our parade. We had planned to go to lunch, then Tokyo tower, and then do baptisms at the temple. So we went at got tendon for lunch. It was DELICIOUS!!!! It was a rice bowl, with different kinds of tempura fresh fish and veggies on top. The day before, Nat and I had joked around about her going up to a boy that she thought was cute and telling him she thought he was attractive. Today... we put this plan into action. Natalie dared me to go up to the boy behind us and in English (obviously) tell him he had beautiful eyes. I... refused because I was much too mature for that kind of behavior. But really I was just too chicken. haha So she said that she would do it if she got to dare me to do something else. I agreed, not believing she would really do it, but she jotted down a fake phone number and walked up to the guy behind us. She told him he had beautiful eyes, thinking he wouldn't be able to understand English. But he understood everything she was saying, and even thanked her in English! She quickly slipped him the fake number and we bolted out of the restaurant! haha It was a pretty epic moment and was the start of our dare war for the rest of the trip!! ;)

The Tendon!

After eating our delicious meal, we went to Tokyo tower only to realize once we got there that it was very cloudy and we wouldn't be able to see anything! So we moved to plan B. KARAOKE!!!! :) After singing our hearts out for hours, (literally, we were there for HOURS) we made our way to the Temple where we met Brian! Unfortunately, we didn't make it in time and when we got there all the workers had already left! The hours at the temple are very short for baptisms, because there are limited members. So instead we went to dinner at a raman restaurant and walked around the city. The raman restaurant was interesting because you order and pay in a little vending machine. Over all, it was kind of a crazy day. All of our plans fell through and we didn't really end up doing a lot! haha But it was still really fun in its own way! :) It is days like this that make life interesting and spontaneous!

Day 3: Before arriving to Japan, we had an idea of some things we wanted to visit and see while I was there, but we didn't have anything really planned out. Every day was spontaneous! And it was fun planning it right before bed what we were going to do the next day. It was still semi-structured, but had some spontaneity. :)

On the third day, we went to Ginza and went shopping! Man, did they have some big stores!! One of the stores we went to had 5 different levels. So it was basically a mall, but it was all one store. After putting the phrase "shop till you drop" to good use, we decided to go to Tokyo tower since we weren't able to go the day before. This was something I was really looking forward to. We had invited one of Natalies Waseda friends, Fumi, to join us. Fumi was super great and gave us lots of tips for sight seeing on the rest of my trip! He was also good at teaching me Japanese. Or... attempting to teach me. haha Tokyo tower was even more amazing than I imagined it to be. It was modeled after the Eiffel tower and was so beautiful. This was my first time in a real big city so when we got to the top and I saw the view, I was in total awe. It seemed like the city lights went on forever. We then all went to the food court in Tokyo tower and ate dinner.

The view from Tokyo Tower. This is the view of Odiabia's Rainbow Bridge! :)

In Ginza, on certain days of the week at certain times of the day, they close the streets so cars can't drive on them. They set up tables and chairs and let people just chill in the street. It was both the coolest and strangest thing I have seen. I loved it!

Day 4: This was the day I had been looking forward to since I bought my plane ticket to Japan. TOKYO DISNEYLAND!! It was really similar to California Disneyland, but yet really different? They had a lot of the same rides, but they were all in Japanese which was hard to get used to. I would be on a ride and forget I was in Japan. It's easier to do than you would think. Then they would start talking in Japanese and It would surprise me! The first ride we went on was Pirates of the Caribbean. The yo ho song was alllll in Japanese! But I loved it, it was a brand new experience. They didn't really have any new rides in Disneyland but some rides were a little different. It's a small world was very different because the main song was in Japanese. It was SO fun to go to the happiest place on earth with my best friend!! But after the day was over, my feet hurt SOOOO bad. I was so excited to sleep. :)

In line for Pirates. It was crazy busy so we had to entertain ourselves somehow!

Exploring Tom Sawyers Island for my first time! I'm pulling a Kronk. Pretty good, eh?

Serving some time in the slammer in Toon Town.

Greetings from Tokyo Disneyland! :)

See that girl in my picture? ya... She's cool.

I kind of hate this picture of me. But I love the Blue Bayou! They give you BLANKETS while you eat!! Classy.

The teacups. Nat was cruelly laughing at the dizzy people getting out that were falling. Ironically enough, she fell out after the ride. Karma, my friend! ;)

Day 5: Disney Sea was how we spent my fifth day in Tokyo. It had some well known rides including Indiana Jones, Tower of Terror, and Toy story Mania, but It was exciting getting to experience new rides. Tower of Terror is my favorite ride but it was very different. Instead of using the Twilight Zone it was base on some kind of monkey statute. It was all in Japanese so I couldn't quite follow. . . But  by the looks of it, a monkey statute put a curse on the hotel. While waiting in the THREE HOUR line for Indian Jones (so worth it), I decided to get out of line to get Nat and I snacks. I owed her a snack because we made a bet that we would both talk in British accents the whole day and whoever quit first owed the other a treat. (this bet was my idea). I lost and only lasted a few minuets because my accent is kind of horrible. Actually, that is an understatement. My British accent is a mix of English/Australian/British/Made up Kaylee Language. It's awesome. I waited in line for 20 min. to get Nat her well earned snack, so by the time I got back to the line, it had moved way ahead! I was slightly panicking, not knowing where Nat was and having no way of reaching her or communicating with anyone around me! I ended up having to cut through the whole line and I felt SO bad! But I finally found Nat who was worried and about to leave the line since I had been gone so long. That was probably the only time Nat and I weren't together on our trip. ha ha Disney Sea also had a ride that was similar to the Star wars ride, only it was weather themed. The seats moved but you were in the middle of a tornado and tsunami and it spit water at you. While we were waiting in line for it, it started snowing. SNOWING!! It was really cold my whole trip, but this was one of the coldest times. It was ironic it started snowing while we were in line for the weather ride..... ;) Luckily it didn't snow very long! I loved Disney Sea, but by the end of the day I was pooped. My feet have never hurt so bad! (That probably sounds dramatic, but it's true). We left Disney Sea kind of late because we were taking pictures. The train lines stop running at 12:30 in Tokyo and Disney Sea is 2 hours away from Natalie's' house. Upon our ride home, we discovered we weren't going to make the last train in time to get home!! So we had to get off a few stops early and walk 30 min. At the moment... I admit I wasn't on board with the idea because I was tired. But I look back and it definitely added excitement to our trip. :)

In line for the Stormrider, the weather ride  We took this picture right when the snow started :)

The volcano behind us was a ride called "Journey to the Center of the Earth". It was a mix between Indiana Jones and Splash Mountain. You are in a car on a track, like Indiana, and then go down a drop at the end just like in Splash Mountain. :) It was SOOO fun!

We were SOOO tired by the end of the night. Walking around Tokyo all week, and then Disneyland two days in a row killed us. We were both falling asleep in line. LITERALLY! Poor Natalie.... haha

This is the Roller Coaster called "Raging Spirits" It was pretty great!

The Disney Sea Castle was Ariel's!!

This is Ariel's Grotto, which was inside the castle. They had mini teacups, a splash pad, jungle gym, and a Ariels grotto with all her Human trinkets! :) SO fun!

He is pretty dreamy ;)

Nat's first time on Toy Story Mania! Turns out it is her new favorite!!

This picture is what made us miss our last train home and caused us to walk 30 min. It is literally worth a thousand words ;)

Day 6: On this sabbath day, we decided after the long weekend we could truly use this day of rest. The church was an hour away from Natalie's house by train. It was very different riding a train for so long in order to get to church. It made me really thankful to live in a place where I can literally walk in any direction and I will eventually run into an LDS church building. It's a blessing I definitely take for granted. It was Natalies farewell talk so we went to her ward and I got to hear her speak! I am so thankful I got to be there for her farewell. Her talk was so spiritual and inspiring. She was so exuberant and full of excitement to have the opportunity to go and serve the Lord. The other speaker was a returned missionary named Sherry, who was giving her homecoming talk. She did such a great job on her talk as well.  Our friend Brian, whom we met at Institute a few days previous, was giving his homecoming talk as well so we went and saw him speak. All the missionary talks were amazing and truly brought a special spirit. It was a day centered on missionary work and I loved every minuet of it! After church, the ward was having a linger longer so I got to meet all of Natalies wonderful friends! They were all so incredible and made me feel so welcomed! I wish I could have gotten to know them better because they were all such exceptional people! :) After linger longer, we went home and cooked dinner in her apartment. Nat made me some kind of noodle goodness and it was so yummy!! For dessert I had my first tim tam slam and first melon float. They were like heaven in a cup! Whenever Natalie and I reunite, it is tradition for us to play Scattergories. That is OUR game and we have no mercy on one another when playing! Natalies number one rule: No stupid answers!! ha ha I recently had gotten Bible Scattergories and we finally played it this Sunday evening! And... pretty much every day after that. :) Although this was by far our most low key day, it was one of my favorite days there. I felt the spirit so strongly and I just felt all around happy because of it! It testifies to me that the spirit really is the source of our happiness! :) I also got to meet lots of new friends who made me feel so loved and welcomed. Our original plan was to sight see after church, but I know if we hadn't taken this day of rest, I wouldn't have been able to function the rest of the week. God knows that we need that seventh day of our week as a day of recovering from the stresses and to-do's from the week. I truly believe we were blessed because we kept the sabbath day holy and decided to stay home. :)

My First Tim-Tam slam! They have the BEST Hot chocolate there, by the way!! :)

Melon Floats!

Melon float with Melon ice cream! TO DIE FOR!! :)

Day 7: Natalie, Brian and I spent the whole day shopping in Asukusa, which is where I got all of my souvenirs. It is a very common tourist location with so many shops filled with Japanese trinkets. They were so patient with me and my indecisiveness. They didn't mind me staring at a key chain for 20 min. debating if it was worth buying. ha ha After making your way through the shops, they had a temple you could go inside. It was tradition before you enter the temples and shrines to pray and donate money for good luck. You would throw a coin into a container, clap your hands 3 times, and than pray. I know the ritual didn't make a difference, but it was neat to experience. After shopping, Natalie and I went to dinner with Kanasa and Akino, whom I met at church! They are seriously some of my favorite people!! :) We went to an Okinawa restaurant and Kanasa used her mad skills to get us an amazing deal. She told the waiters that she had friends visiting from the U.S and we wanted to try lots of different things, so they basically brought us samples of everything on their menu for us to try! We first ate sea grapes, which were pretty good. We also ate tempered goya, which is a VERY VERY bitter vegetable, but I liked it. I decided I like anything tempered. ha ha :) Next, a bowl with pink stringy things was brought out to me. Kanasa and Akino told Natalie and I they would tell us what they were after we ate them. They then pulled their cameras out to record us trying it and that should have been my clue to not eat it. haha It was pretty disgusting. . . It was slimy but crunchy and tasted plain horrible. Come to find out it was pig ears!! PIG EARS! I wouldn't classify me as a super picky eater, but I definitely have a few things I don't like, pork being one of them. I can definitely say while I was there I kept my promise and tried everything that was put in front of me. We also got to eat pig stomach, several types of salads, and taco rice! It was all so yummy (well for the most part) and was fun to try new foods not of my culture. While we were waiting for our food we decided to play a game. Akino and Kanasa are sisters (and basically best friends) so we decided to see how well we all knew each other. We split into two teams; Nat and I vs. Akino and Kanasa. We all had to answer a question secretly on a piece of paper and see if we could match answers with our teammate. We were creamed. haha We asked favorite color (which we totally got), what country you most want to visit, and how old you want to be when you die. :) After dinner, our dare war resurfaced. It had been a few days since Natalie had done her dare and she really wanted me to do something just as embarrassing. She dared me to walk up to someone and stand right in front of them, face dance, and walk away. Now, I think my dare was WAY worse than hers... but I totally did it! As we were crossing the cross walk, I stopped in front of a man and face danced. He gave me a look of horror and confusion, and went around me. hahaha It was actually kind of exhilarating. ha ha I had such a good time with Akino and Kanasa and I wish I could have spent more time with them!!

Upon riding the subway on the way home, we came to a sudden stop on the tracks. Apparently, Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world and they have problems with people jumping in front of the trains. :( It delays all of the trains in the station, but the station alerts the passengers by saying someone was "injured". But in most cases, it is unfortunately worse than just an injury. :( When the train stopped and they came on the intercom saying there way an injury, my heart fell into my stomach... It's hard to explain exactly what I felt. But it really upset me knowing that something tragic had happened just outside my window. My mind was going a million miles an hour thinking about how I wish I could have done something... which is kind of irrational because... what could I have done?! We were stuck on the train for what felt like forever, but eventually started moving. I honestly don't know if it was an injury or worse. I think it's better not knowing... This incident really had me thinking about life and just how valuable and short it is. It made me think about my future career and how I cannot wait to become a counselor and help people who feel there is no purpose to life. It makes me so sad to think there are people out there who feel so alone and unhappy. I truly just want to help them feel a sense of purpose. It was a very thought provoking experience. Once we returned home, Natalie and I stayed up all night talking, which was something we hadn't done since I got there because we were always so tired. We had some very important, deep, and personal conversations which literally changed our friendship and brought us closer. We laughed together. We cried together. We hung up our laundry together. We had some major bonding time that I won't ever forget! ;)

Askusua shopping. There were streets and streets of shops with cool souvenirs.

Photo Credit goes to Brian Skinner! :)

This photo took us 3 tries to get. On the first try, the nice lady forgot to get the shrine in the picture, which was kind of the point of the picture. haha Next, Brian's eyes were closed. Third time is the charm. Please pay close attention to the gentleman behind me with the puffer fish cheeks :)

Inside Askusua Temple

you could see sky tree (the tallest building in Japan) in Askusua.

Dinner date with my favorite ladies at an Okinawa resturant

Pig ears. Mmmm...

Sea grapes! :)

I'm bringing the art of face dancing to Japan, one step at a time :)

Taco rice. It was mexican tasting! And SO yummy!

Tempered Goya! SO bitter but still delicious!

This is the video of my "face dancing dare". hahaha The angle isn't very good so you can't see the mans reaction, but he didn't look at me for very long, and for good reason. He was in total shock! haha

Day 8: Since we had stayed up extremely late the previous night, we decided to sleep in the next morning. It was nice to get a little extra sleep and take it easy in the morning. I am not a morning person, so when I go on vacation I like to sleep in. I hadn't been getting to do that as much on this trip because I wanted to sight see, so this was a nice change. We spent the afternoon in Harajuku again. This was my favorite city we visited, hence why we went there several times. haha We looked around the clothing stores and went souviner shopping. We also got the most amazing tapioca smoothies. They had several fruity flavors you could choose from and they put mini tapioca balls in it. mmm :) Since Nat was going on her mission to Brazil, we decided we needed to eat Brazilian food before she left. They had a Tucano's there, and neither of us had been before. So Natalie, me, and our friend Jann from the singles ward went to dinner. It was really fun going to such a fancy restaurant. Most of the waiters there were actually from Brazil and were telling Natalie about the climate and bug situation. haha We tried the chicken heart, a Brazilian delicacy. It... wasn't my favorite. Natalie and I got up to make one last visit to the dessert table, and when we returned, we found Jann had paid our bill. It was SO nice of him to do that for us. I don't feel like I was able to fully express how thankful I was for his generosity. After dinner we went to Institute where we had an awesome lesson on the fall of Adam. We had planned after institute to get as many people in the YSA as we could to go sing Kareoke. It was so fun singing with such a big group of us! I love the Japan YSA and how close everyone is! :)

Tapioca Drinks that were to DIE for!!

Tucano's :) 

The grilled pineapple was the best!! Natalie is sad because we wanted more!! haha

Day 9: Natalie and I went to lunch at a Monjaki/okonomiyaki restaurant which is something I was looking forward to since I arrived. ( I say that a lot) At this restaurant you got to cook the food yourself on a grill in front of you. You are given a bowl of ingredients such as cabbage, fish flakes, cheese, and whatever else you want in your Okonomiyaki and you mix it up and pour it on the grill. It is almost like a pancake, but with vegetables, cheese and sometimes fish. (That description sounds disgusting, but it was actually one of my favorites) Monjaki is similar but is more liquidy. Its consistency is very similar to a paste as opposed to a pancake, but it is equally delicious! Because you are grilling the food yourself you end up smelling like you were deep fried in oil. They even provide you with garbage bags to put your coats and bags in so the fried smell doesn't infect your coats. After lunch, Natalie showed me her old apartment and the area that she used to live in. We then went to Denny's (which was very different by the way) to get a fancy ice cream Sundee. We had plans to meet up with Brian and Sherry at the temple to do baptisms, so we decided to kill some time by playing scattergories at Denny's. :) It was a nice change not playing it on the train. haha After a brutal game of Bible scattergories, in which Natalie cheated, we went to the Temple. haha They were all so nice to do baptisms with me, especially because all three of them were endowed. I got down into the baptism check in desk, and we had to sign in, only they wanted our names written in Japanese. Sherry was the sweetest and helped me the whole time in knowing what they were saying and where I needed to go. No one spoke English so if I wouldn't have had someone there to help me, I would have been utterly confused. This was a truly rare and sacred experience. All of my ordinances were done in Japanese, which was a neat experience. Even though I didn't fully understand what was being said, the spirit that was felt was stronger than ever. It doesn't matter what language you are speaking, the spirit can still be felt in the temple.

Okonomiyaki :)

Monjaki :)

Cooking our own food!

This is Melon Pan. Natalie told me about this when she first moved to Japan 4 years ago. Ever since I heard about it, I have wanted to try it. It... was SOOO good! It was a sweet, sugary bread! :)

At Denny's getting our Ice Cream Sundees

The ice cream sundees in Japan are so fancy! :) They had all kinds of fruit and pudding and syrups. SO yummy!

After the Temple :) LOVE these people!

The Tokyo Temple had amazing stain glass windows! It was beautiful!

The dare wars continue, although they weren't quite as drastic. I dared Natalie to draw a mustache on her finger and ride the train with it up to her face. hahaha It was quite entertaining :)

Day 10: Natalie and I went to Kamakura, which is a city outside of Tokyo with tons and tons of Shines and Temples. It was an extremely rainy day, but of all the things we did on my visit, it impressed me the most and was the most unforgettable. We visited the giant buddah, which is a very famous landmark. It was a GIANT buddah statue built in the 1200's. You could also go inside of it, where they had plaques that told more about the statue. Natalie and I then ate at McDonalds. I'm lovin' it. I know what you are all thinking. You are in Japan? And eating McDonalds?! Guys, I don't even eat McDonalds when I am at home, but I had to at least try it to compare it. Plus it was the only food place around us. We chose it by default... It was the exact same, nothing special.But it was an experience!

Day 11: Shrines are found everywhere in Japan. There are tourist sites with extravagant shrines, but there are also miniature ones all along the sidewalks. There was a Shrine very close to Natalies'' house that we decided to go visit. Seeing the shrines and temples never bored me, I found them all very unique and interesting in their own way. This particular shrine was my favorite (I think I have said that a few times) because it was so peaceful. We were the only humans on the premises. I felt a sense of tranquility and spirituality. We did the routinely act of throwing our coins into the box, and  praying. This time I really, really prayed. I felt very close to my Father in Heaven, despite being in a Buddist temple. It was nice to get away from worldly ideas and distractions. The spirit can be heard so much better when we are surrounded by silence.

One of the mini Shrines on the sidewalk!

The entrance to the peaceful shrine :)

After the shrine, we visited Odiabia, a city outside of Tokyo. It had a massive mall called Venus Fort that had all sorts of activities inside. We first visited the Toyota mega web, which had all of Toyota's newest models which you could test drive if you had an international license. Fun fact: this exhibit was featured in Cars 2. :) This mall was modeled after a hotel in Las Vegas. The ceiling was made to look like the sky and the architecture was Roman themed.

Odaibia is famous for Rainbow Bridge. At night it lights up and is different colors. It is SO stunning! 

They had a deck with a beautiful view of the lake outside of Venus Fort.

This is the race track at the Toyota Mega Web exhibit where you could test drive cars!

Roman architecture

 Venus Fort also contained Lego Land, a Wax museum, and a trick eye museum. We only had time to do one so we chose the trick eye museum. It was really fun to take lots of pictures and there were quite a few that looked fairly real. After the trick eye museum, we played Karaoke, yet again. Brain tagged along this time which made it much more fun!! It was great to get to hang out with him before I left and get to say goodbye.

Natalie didn't quite understand what she was supposed to do... hahaha

And the dares continue. I had to also draw a fake mustache on finger and sit on the tracks, until we get off.

Natalie's next dare was she had to wear her mask over her eyes as she crossed the bridge. She was freaking out! haha

Day 12: This was my last day in Japan, and it hadn't quite hit me yet that I was leaving. The two weeks I was there had flown by! We had heard there was a leisurely hike that had a cage of monkeys at the top that you could actually go inside! That is the whole reason I wanted to do the hike. We brought a group of Natalies friends with us and hiked up the mountain. Unfortunately the hike wasn't that leisurely, at least for me. It was straight uphill the whole way, but it was a great leg workout!! Natalies poor friends... they were fast hikers, and I was so slow! I was cramping their style! What kept me going strong was knowing we would get to play with monkeys at the top. Come to find out, we got to see the monkeys in their cage, but not go inside. It was basically a zoo. Disappointing. But at least we got to see them, and it was still enjoyable and they were adorable!! Natalie and I decided to ride the sky ride down the mountain as opposed to hike down so that we would have more time for other activities on my last day. Natalie was TERRIFIED because we didn't have a bar to keep us secured in. It was almost comical how scared and irrational she was. ;) But we made it safely to the bottom and she eventually felt much better. :) After hiking we went and ate at a new restaurant. It is funny because we were looking for a okonomiyaki and monjayaki resturant. We throught the place we picked was just that but we were sorely mistaken. We sat down and the waitress had already brought us water when we realized we were wrong. We almost left, but then realized that would be weird and not to mention, exremly rude... I am glad we stayed because the food there was one of my favorites! We ate skewers with different fried foods on it. (SOO healthy). There was bacon, shrimp, quail eggs and many other foods we tried. After dinner we went and sang more kareoke. I could have sang kareoke everyday and never gotten sick of it.

On the sky ride sporting our awesome masks :)

It was so beautiful!

The view from the top! It was a hard hike but it was so worth it!!

The monkey zoo at the top of the hike :)

It was so sad leaving Japan and Natalie. It all felt like a dream and I still miss it daily. I love the culture, the people, the friends I made, and their ways of life. It is different than anything I have ever experienced and I will remember it forever. I am so glad I got to create these moments with  my best friend/sister. I will go back someday. Until then, I will remember and cherish the memories of my many adventures. :)