The East Coast Temple Trip

Beginning first with: Nashville, Tennessee

[I found a flower and put it in my hair!]

 Second: Lousiville, Kentucky

 Third: Columbus, Ohio

 and along the way we hit the Kirtland temple and Historic Kirtland Sites.

 Fourth: Palmyra, New York!!! its been my Dream to go there!

Fifth: Boston, Massachussetts.

  a Spectacularly Beautiful temple. They had gynormous Poppies, and I Love Poppies!

Sixth: Manhattan, New York

 Seventh :) the Washinton DC temple

The DC temple was not originally scheduled in our trip but I could not resist at least trying to convince my mom that we should go since we would be so close.  Luckily mom is so willing to  make things work out. I mean we were just leaving NYC at 7pm and I mention the idea. We were so fortunate to find a nice hotel that was nearly booked that night in Columbia, Maryland. It wouldn't have been an East Coast temple trip without the DC temple.  Plus, I really really wanted to go back. :) I absolutely love the Washington DC Temple!

Visiting all the temples on the East Coast was Amazing and I am so grateful I was able to experience what it feels like to go to the temple everyday for an entire week! I don't know how to explain. it is magnificent!

Other highlights of the trip included:

the Sacred Grove! :)

Meeting other sister missionaries, reminding me of what I will be doing for the next 18 months, making me so much more excited to go and inspiring me to be the best missionary I can.

This is Sister allison Jones at the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center. She lives in the San Antonio Mission!what a coincidence!

Rolling down the Hill Cumorah, just for Cassie.

 Visiting Walden's [Henry David Thoreau's] Pond

Finding relatives graves who were founders of Hartford, Connecticut :)

Squeezing into very narrow parking spots in New York so we didn't have to pay for parking.

 :) Celebrating Cassie's engagement with a Bridal Shower!! The less than 24 hours with her was more than worth it to extend onto our trip. Plus we got to celebrate Donut Day together with the yummiest donuts. Love you Cassie!

 and since you've wanted to see some of my missionary outfits, here is a layout of some of the skirts and shirts :) I'm going to be a cute missionary, ya?  

Weeks before the Mission

First, I went to the Washington DC Temple to recieve my endowments. I love the temple, beyond words.

Garrett and Valerie came for a week and Garrett stayed for my 21st Birthday!

 That following weekend Connor, Dad and I ran in another Mud Run, the Warrior Dash. Much more fun than the Muddy Buddy, for me.  Just look at all my friends crawling in the sand with me after we had just competed swim-running across the lake! I won but what great buds to push me :)

 For being tough warriors we won medals and Viking hats. 

Finals Week and Graduation!

The Weekend before finals week Cassie, Dallin, John-John, Don and I went to the temple.  It was so pretty the sunset made the temple look pink!

it was Look Alike Day! can you tell?

 Monday of finals week there was a killer sunset. Look at those colored layers and pop out clouds.  Pictures really don't do it justice. 

 Luckily my finals week wasn't bad at all to get through. two tests and a presentation. A smooth way to finish the semester. Cassie and I found some time to kick off some more of our bucket list items, including making a music video which is still coming along :) Friday we hit all of the cool swings around BV and had to stop by Penny Park.

 Friday evening family came into town and joined me at the Senior Banquet.  I received a leader-servant distinction award having done many service hours and a cap-stone project. Could not have been possible without Cassie.  She is AMAZING and has made my time at SVU truly the best experience ever!

 Well, after some adventures the night before :) it was time for Graduation!! it looked like the weather was going to hold up to allow us to have graduation outside on the front steps of Main.  It did until about halfway through then it started lightly raining and getting colder.  I was so happy to have on my gown, as oddly weird as they look, it kept my warmer.  :)

 Above are all the graduating Politics Majors plus Professor John
Cassie's mom bought us these funny glasses that say grad.  Can you see how cool they are? They were so sparkly and fun. :)

 Having been living in Texas her mom also bought a Texas shaped cookie cutter! So as one of our last to do's we made Texas shape and flag sugar cookies.  A+ :)

 I may have been a little distracted as I drove away from Souther Virginia but the pictures are worth it.  The sun sure does know how to grab my attention.

I LOVE VIRGINIA!! :)