And they were sealed for time and all eternity...

It's about 4 am and I can't sleep. I want to talk to Nate but I know he is probably sleeping. I'm not nervous- I just miss him. It is finally the day I have been waiting for. For 3 years I've wanted to marry this crazy guy from California but that was not His plan. But we did it. We suffered through being apart and grew even closer. And in a matter of 3 months we planned this wedding. And it was now. Today. And I just felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I call Nate and he talks to me. I realize just how lucky I am to have him. I eventually fall back asleep for less than 2 hours. And then its time. Hair, makeup, hair again, fixing a mascara smudge, and again my hair that just won't stay flat. It was a long process of getting ready, and I just couldn't wait to get to the temple. And now I am all ready but no one else is. All the men's ties are missing and its getting later and later for us to leave. But we do leave. And I am at the Temple. And I see Nate drive up and can't keep myself from jumping in excitement. It's finally time! Inside the temple I felt so much peace and so much excitement. I was about to be sealed to my best friend. Nothing could ruin my day. And we are sitting there waiting to go in and be sealed and I realize what we are about to do. We are about to be sealed for eternity. I couldn't believe how lucky I was. I knew my Heavenly Father was proud of me. I knew we did this the right way and at the right time. Everything was right and perfect. 

And then I was sealed to my best friend for eternity. 

And then the rest the day was fun and good. We celebrated with everyone. We danced and ate and had a great time. But nothing topped my happiness from the temple. To think I spent 3 months planning this wedding, caring about all these small details. And on that day I didn't care. I was happier than I ever thought possible. My wedding was perfect. It wasn't everything I had ever posted on Pinterest. It wasn't a huge ball with 1000 people. I never actually got to eat any of the cake that I debated so much about. But nothing will ever change the fact that my wedding was truly perfect. I began my forever with Nate and became the luckiest girl in the world.

HAPPINESS is a CHOICE

Flashback to July of 2013 and I was kneeling by my bed praying because I felt so alone and had no idea who I was. I had no idea how I was going to survive in a foreign country where I was not myself anymore. I felt so alone. I felt so small. And I felt like I had no one to talk to (well I literally could not speak the same language as the entire country so this may have been a justifiable feeling). Slowly, it got better because learned then that HAPPINESS was a CHOICE. And for many weeks I was not choosing it. I was letting myself be depressed and feel lost. But choosing happiness was one of the greatest lessons I learned on my mission. 

And now, 6 months of being home I seemed to have forgotten this lesson once again. I find myself getting upset over small things. I feel alone and that I have no one to talk to. I feel lost because I have no idea where I am going in life. And I am letting myself choose sadness. I thought the hardest adjustment I'd ever had to make in my life was getting used to those cold Filipino bucket showers but I was wrong. The adjustment I have had to make over the past 6 months of being home has been much larger. And I'm still not done. I am not yet perfect. But after all the tears, I know, HAPPINESS is a CHOICE. And it is one that I need to consciously make daily.

Outfits of the Week

This was my first week! Aren't I so fashionable?! Hope you all enjoy!

         First day of school!          

                                                                    temple                       hanging out with friends

                                                                    church

2015!

1. Go to the temple. Every Week. 
2. Study the scriptures. Every Day.
3. Write in my journal. Every Day.
4. Become self-reliant. Or at least more so..
5. Exercise regularly and not eat the typical college kids' diet. Well do my best.

So more or less this isn't a big shocker of goals this year. I am in a good place and have good habits so right now I just am goaling to keep them up. Which is over half the battle. I love to go to the temple so I need to make a priority in my life, I mean I need to take advantage of it being so close. And the scriptures give me so much more clarity to my life and any challenges that come. So I need them daily. Keeping a journal has become to special to me. Being able to go back and really see the change in myself is very rewarding. And so becoming self-reliant probably won't happen in just one year. But I realized I need to learn how to... so at least I'm going to start. In 2015 I am going to get my very first job. I am embarrassed really to even admit that. But I gotta start somewhere! And also, we all know how every college kid eats, and I despise that. I cannot survive off of prepackaged food. And so I will try my best to take care of myself by eating and exercising well. I mean I'm not like bawaling junk food because I need that to live, I just want to have normal meals with healthier food more often than once a week. So yeah those are my goals, lets all see how well I do! I  wish you all  a Happy  New Year!        

What Is Your Gift To Christ on His Day?

Its Christmas Eve. Families are together and happy. Kids are not so patiently waiting for their gifts. And it's the night before Christ birth. Isn't it so amazing that we all go ALL OUT for our Saviours birth? We give presents to all our loved ones. Cook up the best dishes. But do we really remember Him? We give gifts to show people just how much we care for them and how grateful we are for them. Shouldn't we do that with our Saviour? So What Is Your Gift To Christ on His Day? Will you donate a bunch of money to some place? Give away all your clothes and toys to those in need? Or will you Use His Atonement To Change Yourself For Him. His Atonement is the greatest gift ever given to you. Do you remember this gift and how it's been a part of your life? Analyze your life. What could use improvment? What could you do to make Him happier? How can you be close to Him? And so in the mist of the great Christmas crazy of giving gifts to all, don't forget to give Him a gift. Give Him A Gift that is Yourself, but a better YOU.

Maligayang Pasko!

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

Since I've been home the mission I've had lots of questions ask about my experience, one question stood out. 

"After all this, what do you see when you look in the mirror?"

My answer to that question made me realize a change really happened. I see a daughter of God. I see something to be proud of. I am so happy with myself. Not because I have the best clothes, hair, or make-up. But because I know my Father in Heaven is proud of me. I served Him. I did my best. I became the best me that I could in the time I had. And I will never forget that 18 months of my life. It was the most hardest, tiring, challenging, and most best, happy, and rewarding thing I could have done. I love how it's changed me. I just hope all my old friends and family notice and accept this new and improved Kendal. And that I continue on being her. I love who I am. I know He approves. I Know That He Loves Me. And that is what matters to me.

Week 75

Hello po! So this is kinda crazy- I am writing my last email. (I think... pretty sure we don't really have time next week. but if we do... you'll get another!) I honestly don't feel like I am going home. It just feels like another transfer is coming up. But anyways. This past week was super crazy. We had exchanges on tuesday which went super well. I was in the other Sisters area but I really enjoyed my day. We did a lot of finding which is tiring but I can tell the Sister was happy because they have some new investigators- which has been their struggle. But the next day we had more exchanges with the other set of Sisters in the apartment. But yeah things happened. And the exchange didn't happen. Don't really want to go into detail but it was one of the most stressful days of the mission. Grabeeee! On thursday Sister Sanchez and I taught District Meeting about finding. We had a really good activity so the Elders all had a lot of fun. On Friday it was the birthday of the Branch President here in Bacon so we bought him a cake and ice cream. And had a party at his house with his family. It was super nice and he was really touched. He really does so much for his calling even though there are so many problems in his family. On sunday we were upset because we didn't have any investigators scheduled to pick up to come to church. Just no one wanted to. But when we show up- Juliana is there!! She's come to church before but only when we pick her up. She always is like too shy to come on her own. But she did! It made me SUPER happy. She is really progressing and will probably be baptized in the coming weeks. I was reading in Mosias 5 this week and really liked this because we learn how important it is that we learn who our Master is. Serving the Lord for the past year and a half, I have gotten to know my Master. I know what He wants for me, and I am doing my best to follow. I wish I could share with you all the amazing things I am learning here, but really you just need to get to know your Master. And have His name written always in your heart.

12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.

 13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

Mahal ko kayong lahat! Alam ko na ito yung totoong ebanghelyo ni Jesucristo. At na ito ang daan para sa atin na maging maligaya sa walang hanggang. Alam ko po na ginagawa pa ng Diyos ng mga himala araw-araw. Alam ko na buhay ang ating Tagapagligtas si Jesucristo at sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Pagbabayad-sala- makakatanggap tayo ng kalakasan para sa lahat ng mga pagsubok na maranasan dito sa mundo. Alam ko na mahal tayo ng Diyos. Salamat sa inyo lahat at sa supportahan na ibinibigay niyo sa akin. 

Sister Ianuzi