Can I just say...

I LOVE MY ELDER!

Here's a cluster of photos to prove it ;) There's SO SO SO much more from where these came from!

PACKAGES FOR ELDER MEJIA!

So, just as I have taken creative milestone pictures monthly, I've also put together packages monthly for Elder Mejia! I wanted all of the photos in one place, so I decided I might as well catch up on the blog with these photos as well! So here are a few photos from the packages I put together April-September 2015!! :)

APRIL 2015 PACKAGE - Easter theme!

MAY 2015 PACKAGE! - Star Wars

"May the 4th be with you!" theme

JUNE 2015 PACKAGE! - "Orange" you glad it's summer? theme!

JULY 2015 PACKAGE! - 4th of July theme!

AUGUST 2015 PACKAGE! - Happy Birthday theme!

SEPTEMBER 2015 PACKAGE! - Fall theme!

He clearly loves it! ;)

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, AND 9 MONTHS DOWN!!! {a very late post}

YIKES! It has been a HUGE CHUNK of time since I've posted on my own personal blog. Let's put it in a nutshell... time has gone by so fast!! It feels like such a long time since I've seen my best friend, but it has gone at a decent, steady pace. Each day is something new. The Lord has truly blessed me with peace. I know that everything will work out and fall into place, so I have been doing rather well these past 6+ months! I am very confident in the direction I'm headed, I know that waiting (or rather, preparing) for Ruben to return home is the right thing. He is my soulmate, he's it for me. And I'm so happy to be able to wait for him. I have learned an immense amount. I have learned things that I wouldn't have been able to learn or things I wouldn't have been able to experience if Ruben wasn't on a mission. This journey has solidified my faith in the Lord's plan and timing. His timing is truly perfect. He is in the intricate details of our lives. Every time I look back on my life, I see the Lord's hand in it all. I see why things happened the way they did.

I truly DREADED this wait every day leading up to it. From the first days of our relationship, I knew that this was something that was going to come. It always felt like a huge void, a huge barrier... A large gap of unknown, confusion, worry, and uncertainty that was waiting for me. As I've lived through over 9 months of Ruben being on his mission, it has been one of the BIGGEST blessings I've ever received. Ruben is my biggest blessing. But this opportunity to grow as an individual, to increase my faith, to mature, and to experience has been indescribable. It is what we needed. Our relationship is stronger than ever. I know that he is where he's supposed to be. I miss him terribly, but the day that I get to hold him in my arms again is closer with each second that passes.

I am a woman of armor. My strength has surpassed my imagination... I can't even put into words how much I've been able to improve myself as a person through this journey.

I am so excited to continue to grow and prepare for the day that I am reunited with the love of my life and man of my dreams! I am insanely proud of my sweet elder. He is working wonders out in Idaho, doing the Lord's work and bringing people to Christ.


Since I've failed at posting regularly, here are the monthly pictures that I have taken each month for the to catch up my blog to where I am now!! I am so proud of myself. I truly am. My testimony is where I'd never thought it would be. I am forever grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me just what I needed at the perfect time. He is mindful of us all.

4 MONTHS DOWN! - April 17, 2015

5 MONTHS DOWN! - May 17, 2015

6 MONTHS DOWN! - June 17, 2015

7 MONTHS DOWN! - July 17, 2015

8 MONTHS DOWN! - August 17, 2015

9 MONTHS DOWN! - September 17, 2015

SOOOOO EXCITED to be where I am!! Almost at 10 MONTHS! I have grown so much. And I continue to grow. I love Ruben more than ever. Cheers to this time, cheers to cherishing every moment we're given! Although through miles we're apart, we aren't truly apart at heart. HERE I COME 10 MONTHS! I love life.

3. Months. Down. Say WHAT?! | March/St. Patrick's Day Package

This is kinda late, we hit 3 months on the 17th. But... Okay, this feels pretty nice. 3 months down. That's ALMOST 100 full days without my best friend. That's one whole quarter of a year! 2015 is flying (kinda... sometimes...) It's crazy because I feel like the days fly, but the months go by slow. But! I'm only 3 months in and time will continue to pick up the pace, I'm sure of it.

Current struggles: Doubt. Fear. Worry. They are NOT your best friends. I REPEAT: They ARE NOT your best friends. Do not entertain these thoughts (advice to self). I've been feeling super numb and worried and all of the above. But I will not falter. I will finish! I'm determined to not give into the confusion and worry. This distance has made me feel like he is imaginary, which is an unsettling feeling. But I know it's normal. So I'm holding on to what I've known in my heart for the past 3 years.

My best friend rocks!! He is doing so well! He has already had a baptism at the end of February AND continues to touch the lives of sooo many. Him and Elder Dickerson have gotten so many people to come to church! They're awesome!!

I remember at the very beginning of this wait wishing I was already 3 months in.. thinking that it was gonna take forever (and it kinda did, yet it didn't.) Explaining this wait through words is just impossible.. haha. I've realized that you just have to experience things to get a better understanding, which is obvious for all things in life.

My boy is AMAZING. I still can't wait for the future!! And I'm striving to be the happiest I can be at this strange time in my life. It's this wait that has helped me to better rely on my Savior and my faith in the Lord.

My "lucky day" just so happened to also be St. Patrick's Day!!!

This is the St. Patrick's Day/March package I sent Elder Mejia during the first part of the month.

The pictures are pretty self-explanatory ;)

2 MONTHS DOWN, 22 TO GO!!!

WOW. I honestly feel like I just did my 1st month update last week. It did go by a lot faster than the first month! It definitely did drag some days, but I've come to know that that's how it's going to be. Some days will be easier than others. And that is okay. I'm still adjusting, but I feel like I've gotten the hang of this. I'm proud of myself, I've stayed suuuuper busy with classes, homework, and work. I've also been getting more involved at church, and have my first lesson to teach next week!! This will be my first time EVER teaching at church. I'll be teaching in Gospel Principles, not too hard.. but I'm a little nervous. Mostly looking forward to it, though! I also got to hang out with the YSA for a movie night at Angelica's which was really fun! Then bowling yesterday with the Elders from CL1 and CL2 ward, and the YSA sisters!! It was a blast!!! Month 2 wasn't so bad, I'd say. I do miss my boy so much, it remains tough and challenging. But the Lord is blessing me with peace, and I'm so grateful for that! And I'm so grateful for my missionary for being so supportive of me always and for loving me. I'm so grateful that he makes time for me in his busy schedule to write me and reassure me. I'm the luckiest girl in the world!!! <3 I'm happy to say that I never have to do months 1 & 2 ever again!! 22 months to go, I can do this! One month at a time. It's difficult, but we can endure. Elder Mejia motivates me so much.

"I'll try to be more creative next time, you're so much more creative than me:p I cut it out and colored it red though!!" He is beyond adorable! When he first went out, I told him to send me monthly pictures like this if he had time, to go along with mine :) And he said okay and to remind him each time before we reach our next month mark.. Well this time I forgot to remind him, but he did it and sent it!! <3 I love him to pieces.

My Hero Wears a White Shirt and a Name Tag - A Valentine's Day Package for a Super Missionary

WOAH. Okay, so first off. Hi! It's been a while since I've updated.. Ever since spring semester started, I've been so busy. But that's a good thing, right? Well anyways, I'm here to document the wonderful Valentine's Day package I sent out to Elder Mejia for Valentine's Day 2015! :) <3 I'm very happy with how it turned out and all of the things I was able to put into the package.

Okay, so I didn't get as much pictures as I'd like or as I should've gotten... I was too excited to tape it up and send it that I forgot! OOPS. But you can kind of see everything in the pictures. :) I heard back from him & he loved everything. It's superhero/Superman themed because he is my hero, and he is a hero in Christ's army. He is out serving and helping people to learn about the Savior. And he has impacted me more than anyone else in my life. He is the best. PLUS, he loves Superman.

Items: Chili cheese fritos, Doritoes, Superman cup, Nutella n' Go, Sheep soap on a rope, Superhero box of chocolates, Airborne, Halls Cough Drops, Lysol To Go spray, Avengers tissues, Jolly Ranchers chews, Sour Patch Kids, Missionary Reminders book (x2), stationary, a journal with keys (Priesthood keys reference), body wash, Crunch hearts, Sweetarts, Two ties, Twin Falls Mission shirt, Krabby Patties gummies, Superman stickers, Superman growing towl toy, Super hero bandaids, sewing kit, Dipps granola bars, handmade conversation hearts, and a USB with pictures and videos! + a card/letter! :)

These are the handmade conversation hearts I made!! I even made the paper box that I put them in.. (being a child had many perks, but I did have to look up how to make it again, haha)

Also, I made a more in depth video of the things in the package that I will include the link to below :)

http://youtu.be/_WcHOJdC_Jw?t=1s

Ruben is a sweetheart and sent me a video of him opening the package!! <3 Here are a few cute and funny screenshots of him opening it throughout the video. :)

"Herding His sheep to His fold" - Sister Stortz and I thought this would be hilarious to send since it's a cotton flower scented sheep soap on a rope... LOL

I LOVE my adorable missionary! This was the first Valentine's without him while he's out on his mission, and while it was tough and tears were shed at work (embarassing).. We will get through this. I'm so blessed and grateful for the sweet letters he sends and I am so proud of him! He amazes me and inspires me to become better each and every day! I'm grateful to be waiting for him, he's worth it. I wouldn't trade this cutie for the world! I'm so glad he loved his package and that I was able to brighten his week :) I love putting together packages for him. Happy (Late) Valentine's Day!! Every day is a day to express love.

xoxo Angelina

ONE MONTH!!!

Today, January 17th, marks ONE WHOLE MONTH since my Elder Mejia has been on his mission!!! Wow... Ok, I'm not even gonna act like I'm shocked only because this month was kinda slow (not gonna lie). But that is perfectly okay! Because now I am working on month 2 and I am making progress! Which is what matters most :) I'm happy to finally be able to count in months!!!

One Month Down! 23 to go! I can do this!!!

Here is cute Elder Mejia's one month picture as well! HOW ADORABLE <3

HONESTY HOUR. This was so frustrating to take!! The friendship that I had with marshmallows is suspended because they seriously were so hard to work with!! At first, I had mini marshmallows that came with the packet of cocoa. BAD IDEA. RED FLAG!! RED FLAG!! These little guys do. not. cooperate. I am telling you!! So I ran to two different stores to get marshmallows before the sun goes down (because I initially wanted to take the picture ouside).. Finally, after rushing around and speeding, I finally decide to just go all the way to Kroger instead of trying the gas station down the street from the house.. (don't judge, I thought they would have them and I was frazzled!) ANYWAYS, I finally got THESE. The medium ones are a go! Still a little difficult but not as bad as the teeny tiny ones! Fun fact: I used a tooth pick to hold them together. 

Here's to the next leg of my journey! Reaching month 2!! BRING IT.