this monday aug.2nd it will be THREE years since i got home from my mission in armenia. the experiences, the feelings, the language, the people, it all seems to be slipping away from me as time goes. but i know, or hope, it will never leave me entirely. i was reading my journal the other day from this time...

August 1, 2007:"I am really excited to go home. I have missed my family so much. I also miss the familiarities of home and am excited to be there again. What do I look forward to? Some serious things, some kind of not so serious.

Serious: seeing my parents, playing with Aubrie and Cory, attending an American ward, dancing again, going on dates, going to lunch with the old sisters and MTC sisters, going on trips, the TEMPLE, talking with my brothers, catching up with my friends.

Non-serious: CEREAL, sleeping when I want, listening to love songs, milk, not using a filter for water, a normal shower, driving, staying up past 10:30.

As much as I am excited to go home, I feel a sadness for leaving this calling and this country. There are many many things that I will miss, which are all serious to me: preaching all day every day, speaking Armenian, meeting random people and becoming best friends, seeing people's lives slowly change for good, the tatiks (grandmas) and papiks (grandpas), seeing the power and influence of the elders, P-day gatherings with the sisters, giving out copies of the Book of Mormon, seeing big miracles, hearing Armenian jokes that are never funny, the ice cream, the fruit, the bread, little kids speaking Armenian, mission conference, hearing missionaries' testimonies, getting advice from President, telling the Joseph Smith story in Armenian, feeling the hush and the spirit while telling that story, crazy drivers, laughing with companions, crying with companions, seeing and experiencing the gift of tongues, wearing Christ's name on my chest every day, flying with angels, knowing that I am doing the same work as the Apostles, teaching the Plan of Salvation to those who have lost a loved one, having conversations about Christ on marshutnies (buses), always carrying a Book of Mormon, and being a missionary for Jesus Christ."

August 2, 2007 on the plane home: "I'm not sure how I feel right now. I kind of feel like I'm in a dream and that any second I will wake up in a little apartment in Yerevan. I guess I will say that I feel peaceful. As weird as it is to actually be on the plane heading home, I feel good and know that I am in the hands of the Lord."

what an experience! i was excited to go home. i wasn't one of those missionaries trying to extend their mission or crying for days before they had to leave. it was freakin hard! by far the hardest thing i've ever done in my life. but if i could go back, i would do it all over again. it's an experience you can't get anywhere else. it makes you stronger. and more importantly, it touches people's lives and spreads the gospel over the earth.

my sister-in-law, jamie, just got her mission call today! she will be serving in the russia samara mission. wow. if anyone can handle a russia mission, it's jamie. i know she'll love every minute of it.

this morning tyler and i went to the mesa arizona temple. my first temple outside of utah. it was such a joy. i remember when going to the temple single i couldn't wait to have a man there with me. a lot of things are better married.

a fit woman that doesn't have double Ds, an inch size waist, and toothpicks for legs! ok. i kind of really like this. i'm not saying my butt is huge. actually i wish it was bigger. but this just makes me feel better about not having a victoria's secret barbie like body. i would be a liar if i said i was 100% satisfied with my body. i think any woman would be lying if she said that. but i'm trying. sometimes it sure is hard when i'm home all day watching america's next top model and underwear commercials. i see the impact media has on the image of my female students at school. most of them act, dress, and wear make up and hair like they're twenty years old. seventh graders are pulling out mirrors in the halls and constantly applying lipgloss. if there's one thing i hope to accomplish with my future daughters it is to instill in them a healthy self-image and a high self-esteem. my mom was so good at that. she always built me up and of course still does. "Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

Today was really fun! I went to a local farmer's market and a street faire at the mall. I never buy things at these outdoor splendors but I just think they're fun. I like the individuality and uniqueness. Then Tyler and I went to a bbq fest where they had tons of bbq vendors from all over the state who compete in all their bbq glory. We got to taste test some and it was delicious! I will never be a vegetarian. (Pictures were taken with phone.)

I am really loving life right now. I'm recovering from my first year teaching, having fun every day, I'm madly in love with my best friend, and perfectly content with things how they are. Ah summer.

here's some pictures from hike #2. this time we headed to tanque verde canyon, a suggestion from tyler's dad, jim. other news: we moved today from tucson to prescott. it's a lot cooler here and there are trees. joy! just a suggestion: never drive three hours in arizona in the middle of summer without air conditioning.

we're pretty intense

isn't that precious

so here's the tanque verde waterfall! wait...where's the water?

this snake decided to get in our way until i threw a rock at it

tyler got stung by...something. he now has one cankle.

yes those are bugs. yum.

my mom is so talented. she completely decorated and painted this entire room, including the bed frame, dressers, and night stands. i seriously want to hire her to interior decorate my house when i'm older. my parents bought this little home in west bountiful right before i left on my mission. it was all white with plain carpet. when i got home i found painted walls and brazilian hardwood floors that yes, she did all by herself. now my parents are trying to sell this little cute and much improved house. so cute mom. i love it. love you.

i love being outside and i love hiking so i was thrilled to get the chance to go hiking this morning with tyler. we went up sabino canyon on a short hike to sabino dam. it was hot. and wonderful.

my attempt to be artsy

these lizards are everywhere down here

gross

dead cactus. never knew they looked like trees when dead.

sabino dam. there's no dam water. welcome to arizona.

such a cute pouty face

July 4, 2010 was so much fun. We had a bbq and went to a park to watch fireworks. Watching fireworks is so much better when you've got a sexy man by your side.

Jeremy, Tyler's (special) brother, delighted us all with a new haircut.

Matching t-shirts! Tyler will do anything to make me happy.

i don't have anything to say. i don't have anything to do either so here i am. i guess i'll do my best to give updates that don't really exist and ramble on for those who care to read.

fortunately and to my great pleasure, life is just like it was the last time i wrote. i'm actually having a small panic attack that i only have six weeks left of summer vaca. ah! why is doing nothing every day making time go so fast?

this week has been great just like every other. yesterday tyler and i went to eclipse. it was his idea. no jk there. he tried to play it off to the ticket lady saying "oh, this is my favorite movie ever" in a sarcastic tone. but i called his bluff. he's a romcom chick-flick lover at heart. just one of the many reasons i love him! i mean, really, what other boy would love to sit down and watch "how to lose a guy in ten days" with you? i liked eclipse. normally i want to puke at any sign of cheesiness but somehow the twilight saga pulls it off. i can't read the books. too long and way too ridiculous. but i give eclipse one, just one, thumbs up.

i'm becoming quite the little cook. or so i like to think. maybe we should ask tyler about that. i'm trying to be creative and have had some tasty success, some of my favoites being manicotti, chicken parmigiana, lettuce wraps, and chicken cordon bleu. if anyone has some favorite recipes or ideas please let me know!

i'm so freakin excited for july 4th! it's by far my favorite holiday. i know, i'm a horrible person for not loving christmas. sorry. it's all about heat, bbq, fireworks, and american patriotism. for those of you who aren't aware, i'm a summer fanatic! i wish it could be july all year. apparently arizona has a monsoon season in july. what? who woulda thought. not looking forward to cloudy skies, but like it or not, it's on its way.

sytycd is rocking my world. this routine was a-m-a-zing! wow! funky song, ridiculous choreography, and alex - what? a ballerina, or ballerino, doing hip-hop like this? you go boy. i remember doing hip-hop for the first time after ten years of ballet training and seriously you have to throw away everything you learn in ballet. not easy. i gotta give this one to nappytabs too. they're my heroes.