The Silly Saga of an Epic Enterprise (Part 1)

Okay.
So it just so happens that I had about the most wonderful week of my life.  Just barely.  And I MUST tell you all about it, BUT there is no way that I am going to fit it all in one post.  And as I am also opposed to posting more than once in one day (there have been and will be exceptions :]  ), you'll just have to log on that many more times to read about it.

The journey unfolds...

First, I threw my back out, had it readjusted, packed, kissed my family goodbye, and headed off to the thriving metropolis of Provo, Utah.  Here, I broke my journey to see this wonderful boy,

My cousin Benny-Man, to the MTC (Missionary Training Center).  That's right, ladies, he's off to Quezon City, and you won't be seein' him for two years.  Sorry!

This time, I was very lucky because I was able to see him be set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It was a wonderful night full of strong testimonies, good advice, wishes of luck, and lots of tears from Aunt Stacy and I.  (I know I shouldn't, but I'm gonna miss that kid so dang much!)

Some advice that was given to the missionary:

Alma 17: 2-3

"...they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.  But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God."

Some advice to his mother:

Doctrine and Covenants 84:88

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

It's a tough thing to let a missionary go, but I know the Lord will watch over him. :)

Later that night, I met my sister Liza-Jane and Sir Alex at Del Taco.  The three of us had some silly times before Alex left, and Liza and I settled down to sleep.  I love visiting with that wonderful girl. :]

The next day, I woke to Liza making me some home-made, whole-grain waffles complete with her scrum-diddly-umptious cinnamon/nutmeg/whatever-else-she-put-in-that-recipe-she-made-up syrup.  Needless to say it was glorious.  We chatted, and then I left shortly thereafter to let her study for the 3 finals she had to take that day. :]

It was B-E-A-Utiful in Provo and HOT!  I loved it.  From thence, I headed back to Aunt Stacy's to go with her, Granny, Jess, and Ben to complete a new tradition: taking the missionary to Chuck-A-Rama before we drop him soundly on the sidewalk at the MTC.  Lunch was grand!  Jess, Benny, and I were silly as could be, and we talked almost completely in movie dialogue.  (It's a very great and well-developed talent that I posses).  We ate ourselves silly...

Yup.  Silly.   ;)

From thence we traversed to the Provo Temple to take pictures and be silly some more.

 I told Ben to make his last (recorded) studly pose for 2 years.  Eat it up, 'cause it's gonna be a while before you see it again.  :D  I just hope they don't break his smolder out there....

 He was also very warm in his black suit and coat, BUT, being the resourceful man he is, he quickly found a way to remedy the situation…

 SPREAD-EAGLE AIR-CONDITIONING! :)  Who knew, right?  Turns out if you position yourself just right, the breeze can flow through your jacket.  Haha!

 What a great kid!  The roses were blooming like CRAZY! :)

 And then we headed back to the MTC to say our final goodbyes...for now. :)

 Benny and Granny:

 Benny and Jess:

 We said goodbye, and as he turned to leave with a gaggle of missionaries following him, I said farewell in my signature manner (much to the amusement of everyone who heard):
"Make good choices!  DO WHAT'S RIGHT!  And DON'T DATE AT ALL!!!"
Usually it ends with "Don't date hussies," but that isn't exactly catered to the life of a missionary. :D

After that, I headed to Miiiiiiiiiiichael ALAN's apartment to do his check-out cleaning for him, so we could leave for Temecula, CA as soon as he was done with his Calculus and Physics tests.  Bryce-ary (Bryce and Hillary) and I spic 'n span-ed the whole place, I paid a short visit to my brother Sambo and his wife Megan, and when the time came we (Mike, Bryce, Hillary, Carissa, and I) all loaded into Roger (my [parents'] very dear, burgundy Grand Prix) and headed off...at round abouts 6.....P.M.

Do the math.  It's a 10 hour drive--without stops.  And there's a 1 hour time-change.  And we had to stop...sometimes.

That's right.  We pulled into T-mec at about 4:00.....A.M.
Our drive was rather lovely.  We rather enjoy each other's company, and we were rather silly.  And Mike had the new Panic! at the Disco album (which has a few perty cool songs, by the way).  And there we sights to be seen such as this!

 The mountain on FIRE!....okay, not really.  Mount Doom is just in Central Utah.  Okay...not reeeeaaallyyy.... it's just the sunset.  .....aaaaand sights such as THIS!

 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand since we couldn't NOT stop for dinner....we saw sights such as this too!

I love these people. :)

So despite the late hours, and waking Eric William Malachi Hurkumer Jackman Smith up at the butt-crack o' dawn (excuse my language, please) to let Mike and I into his house to let us sleeeeeeeeeeep.... it was a rather thrilling beginning to a rather glorious adventure. 

THE END.

......for now....

P.S. I rather like the word rather. ;)

The Fantastic FanTAMily :]

Sooooo, the warmth that has finally decided to grace this land with its presence has caused me to have a happy and content mood...and a fantastic sunburn.  Oh well!  Still....

THE TIME HAS COME, my little friends, to talk of other things!  Like....my family--my wondrous, beauteous, fantasticulously splendiforous family!

The first area of business is that of one Tyler Dan and another Benny-Man.  These two are my heroes.  Memorial Day weekend, they both gave their farewell talks in church before they each head off to serve the Lord and his children in Panama and the Philippines, respectively.  These boys are some I have looked up to all my life...well...all their lives (because I'm older than both of them.)  :]  Tyler, because he's taller than me and funny and he breaks rules with me (nothing too major, don't worry) and he lets me tease the livin' daylights out of his blessed soul.  Bless his heart!  Benny, because he truly is one of the sweetest, kindest, funniest, most sincere and wonderful people I know.  They're quite unbelievably wonderful, and I'm one lucky girl to be related to them both!  I love them to the sky, and I will be writing lots of letters to them while they are gone.  What can I say?  I love my boys, and those closest cousins gotta stick together!

Second, my parents are the bomb.  I'll wager they're better than yours--I'd stake my life on it. ....Okay, okay...they are better than your parents were at raising me.  Happy?  :]  I get to work for my Dad, and I love having that opportunity.  Pa's a wonderful, hard-working man who has taught me a greeeeaaaattt deal (with and without power tools) ;).  Also, my Mamacita is so wonderful!  She is so fun to visit with and laugh at/with and cuddle to watch movies with.  She's a real gem of a woman, and I'm glad she's my Ma.

Third, last Friday there was a recital at my house.  Now, it promised to be a wondrous recital--full of tip-top talent and all that jazz (...well...actually it was classical music (with a lower-case 'c') but that's beside the point).  I was planning on attending, BUT....it was warm outside, and I don't think you will ever understand how much that word means to me at this point in time.  It was a lovely, sunny, warm evening, and I wasn't about to let that kind of weather go to waste sitting inside!  So, instead, I called the cousins up the road, and the cousins that...will live up the road, and we all headed to the church to play a game of Chicago Ball.  All that's needed is a big, soft Chicago Ball, and a bat--no mitts--which makes it very easy to put a game together.  We had a grand ole time teaching Mia and 5-year-old Petey how to bat.  We took turns, didn't play with any real rules, teased each other, switched teams, cheered for both, tried new tricks and made a night of fun, family ball.  'Twas a grand time, and what's even better?  All of us, even the smallest can hit the ball pretty well!  It'll be a grand, weekly, summer tradition!


Fourth, yesterday when the family went to visit the cousins that...will live up the road.  We were visiting outside, enjoying yet another wonderful, sunny, warm day when Petey informed me that my chair was on his rope...

Me:  Will you give me a kiss and then I'll give it to you?

Petey:  Yeah... >runs behind me and pulls my hair<

Me:  Hey!  That wasn't a kiss, Silly!

Petey:  >matter-of-factly<  That's how the Romans did it.

Hahahaha!  Who told that kid about the Romans?  I love the things that kid comes up with!  He cracks me up!

Fifth, Lizer-Lou gave her Senior recital in Provo on Saturday, and it was A-MAZ-ZA-ZING!  She sang beautifully, she smiled beautifully, and she looked...beautiful..ly. ;)  It was so fantastic.  If any of y'all ever have the chance to hear her sing, take advantage of it.  It's a glorious experience.  Just remember, I'm related to that voice and the girl who owns it. :)  It was great to be in Provo, and it was great to see her!  I miss her a lot since I moved away from Provo.  It was also great to visit with Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiichael ALAN for a few hours while the Fam went shopping.  He's just great! :]  After the recital, Megs and Sambodini invited us to their abode for a grueling game of Buzzword.  Can I just say...HILARIOUS!  Kudos to Alex Avery for keeping our team from sinking into the depths of loser-hood!  I miss Megs and Sambo a lot too since I moved, but it was fun to visit and be silly!

Sixth, even though Eric couldn't come, Beks and Blakers came to visit and ride with us down to the recital.  I just love them all, too!  Nephews are grand, and seeing them was so fun!  I'm still trying to teach Blakers to say "Abi," but "Dad" is still his favorite word, and he teases me by saying that instead and giggling at himself.  Hahaha!  Eric's got him trained perty well. :)

Last, Madi and Max are just so silly.  Madi can't walk in a straight line to save her life.  Max and I have elbow wars at the dinner table (left-handed little brothers are such a curse). :]  Madi makes fun of me.  Max is a goofus.  They both are silly as can be, and they both are just wonderful, and I love them very much.

Well, that's all for now!  Sorry it's so long, but now you can at least love my family too!  After all, they're pretty great!

Thoughts of the day...

This will be a look into the random mind of Abigail, but please don't get too scared. :)  These are just some of the things that happened to cross my mind today:

• First, I love my mother.  Happy Mother's Day to a wonderful, beautiful, fantastic woman!
• I love it when my sister, Eliza Anne, can come home to visit.  I find I miss her a lot now.
• Grandma Kate is a classy woman, and she's one of the sweetest people I know.
• Have you noticed that most of us pronounce it "every-buddy" instead of "every-body."  I thought that was pretty cool (as I was loading the dishwasher).
• I am veeeeeeeeeeerrrryyyyy thankful for a dishwasher.  After 8 months without one, I can't think of an invention I love more.
• I thought of all my missionary family and friends who called their families today for mothers day.  They're pretty great, and I'm a big fan!
• I love Primary children.  Endless hugs, singing mother's day songs in Sacrament Meeting, and just being so darn cute!  Peter was yelling the chorus to "I Am A Child of God" today, and there were about 16 of us busting a gut in church.  Haha!
• I'm glad I can cook.  Liza and I made a restaurant-worthy Italian dinner for Mamacita, and it was quite possibly the most scrumptious thing I have eaten in a while. :]

 Thank you, Alissa-Fred for teaching me about/how to make Bruschetta! Mmmmm..... :)

• I love my family to the sky and back.  They're pretty great....jus' sayin'.....
• I had herbal tea today,--Sugar Plum Spice--which made me think of my wonderful roommates, Alissa-Fred and Marie Morgan.
• I miss some people.  I love my family, don't get me wrong, and I miss them when I'm not around them, BUT at this moment in time, I miss Tyler Dan and Thomas Olaf and Alissa-Fred and Craig Hunter and Marie Morgan and Miiiiiichael Alan and Eric William and Kirb-Stomp and Jessi and Christel and Jaden and Hillary and Bryce and Teri and Aaron and Eric and Trevor and J-Hart and Liza and all the girls from Building 10 (oh so much!) and Broseph and oh, everybody that has been separated from me since I left Provo.  I love and miss you all (like, you don't even know), and I hope you're doing just swell!
• I spent at least an hour looking at a huge book of maps of the world finding and reading about where each friend/family member is from/is/will be.
• "Maybe I should look up my Chumbly home and my Bardsley home, and then I won't miss them so bad."  Didn't work.  Remember that.
• Sometimes, I'm funny.  Relish it...because it doesn't happen very often.
• Color-changing fingernail polish is (yet again) one of the coolest things ever.  Fo' really. ;)
• I am a giant and a half--especially when I'm wearing heels.
• Sunday is my favorite day of the week.  It's just so great!
• Life is still so good. :)

Congratulations.  You just picked apart my brain.  Don't you feel...confused?  I sure do!

The Coolest Thing!

Sooooo, you wanna know what it is????  Do ya? Are you suuuuure???  Okay, I'll tell you.  It's.....

.......drum roooooollllllll............

MISSIONARY WORK!  Tah-DAH!!!

I'm just really excited about it, okay???

For those of you who do not know, I am a member (and avid fan, I might add) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Yeah, it's really up there in the list of coolest things EVER.  Fo' rizzle.

So!  What event makes this wonderful proclamation of fan-ship so suitable at this very moment in time?  FIRST, I am writing two missionary letters right now.  I'm writing them on old-school stationary.  It's exciting okay?!  Hahaha!  Well, it's exciting to me anyways....

Second, the two missionaries I am writing  are Elders Thomas Olaf and Craig Hunter.  As I write, I have been thinking about all of my friends and family members who have gone on or are going on missions.  I've made a list (as part of their letters) of all of these people, and it just keeps growing!  Granny and Grandpa Christensen got their call to serve this week even!  Everyone is going to a different place.  I know people going to Europe, Pacific Islands, all over in the U.S., Mexico, Russia, Africa, Austrailia--actually, I know of someone going to every continent (excepting Antarctica :] ). Most of them are speaking different languages from any of the others.  BUT even though they are all in different places, in different circumstances, receiving different blessings, talking to different people, meeting different challenges, speaking different languages--they are all out there doing the same work.  They are serving their brothers and sisters around the globe--helping them, loving them, and sharing the Gospel with them.  They are bringing to them the good news of Christ's life, love, sacrifice, and goodness.

Needless to say, this makes me proud of my boys.  I wish I was out there, right now, serving with them.  It's a very great and exciting opportunity to be called by God to go and share your testimony and love of Christ with people all over the world.  I love getting letters from them.  Reading their many adventures is exciting to me, and learning about the sweet people each of them come to know has been a highlight.  I can't get a letter without smiling.  Their love of God and of Christ is so strong, and their love of the people they are serving is so evident in all they write.

And it's then that I realize that I can do what they are doing, kind of.  I love God, Jesus Christ, and the Gospel, and I want to share it with people too!  Sometimes, I feel so inadequate, though.  So, as part of a cousinly-challenge (Thomas and I have lots of those ;)  ) I decided (and was encouraged) to read and study Preach My Gospel (the missionary study guide/manual).  It's been a great experience, and it's fun to know that I am doing at least one thing like my brothers (and cousins, and sisters...and....everyone) out in the field.  :)

So, here at least is a part of my efforts.  I've told you, and if you have any questions (any at all) I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.  It's an exciting thing, and I hope it makes you as happy as it does me! :)

Fabulous Freesomes!!! ....

Okay, I KNOW it's supposed to be "threesomes," but what isn't better with an alliteration?  Hmmmm??? (Juuuuust kidding... ) ;)

BUT it's true!  I've been blessed my whole life long to belong to some of the awesomest, coolest, and, dare I say, best looking threesomes that have ever existed in the history of this galaxy.  Honest!

It started in second grade with Elizabeth and Julianne, continued in fifth grade with Cynthia and Morgan....then in high school, I became a part of the group called....

Hawkeye, Guster, and the Kid in the Candy Shop.

TAH-DAH!  Hahaha!  Funny story about this picture...but it was (surprisingly) the only one I have of our manifold adventures.  That would be Me, Lis Lucy, and Emilie Susanne.  They're GREAT!  I love these girls to the sky and back.  They have been grrrreeeeeaaaatt buds with me, and I'm a big fan of their beauteous selves!  We have ransomed the world (which is precisely what is depicted in this photograph).  Our legendary adventures have been the stuff of legend in the metropolis of Declo.  No one that has ever met the three of us will ever forget us. :) This next picture pretty much sums up the three of us together:

Complete with kisses.  Yup.  That's us in a nutshell!  Hehehe :]

The next one started at the beginning of my freshman year at BYU.  It is the union of The Queen, Love, and Yusuf Mohammed:

Actually, we are the girls of apartment 133, Me, Alissa Fred, and Marie Morgan.  And we only used our aliases once.  Still, we had many epic adventures as we spent this year as roommates.  I think we went to bed before 2:30 a total of....four times during the past school year.  We just loved to stay up and have tea time and share stories of life and liberty...but mostly the pursuit of happiness.  :)  I was truly blessed beyond belief with these beautiful, wonderful girls, and I love and miss them VERY much.  Like, more than I can say (even though we've only been apart for...not even 2 weeks).  I'm ridonkulous....

Another epic threesome that happened this last semester is that of...the wonderful, practically-sealed custodial workers at the ASB:

My absolutely dashing brothers, Eric William Thomas Henry Floyd Archimedes Mordecai, Miiiiiiiiiiiiichael ALAN, and I had some epic adventures as we worked.  (Duster sword-fights, anyone?)  We were pretty much the life of the crew.  They are part of my wonderful practically-sealed FHE family of which I will tell more (toooons more) later.  I was at their apartment during last semester all the day long.  Needless to say, I love them.  We grew to be practically the same...which is why we're all wearing green in that picture...and all of us are raising our right eyebrows....yeeeeaaahhh. :)  Mike got both Eric and I hired there, and I can't possibly thank him enough!  That job was by far the smartest decision I made during Winter 2011.  Jus' sayin'...

Another of my favorite threesomes actually started at birth...well....Tyler's birth, anyways.  We have always been close, but the three of us didn't actually become (figuratively) welded together until this last year while we all were at BYU together.

Thomas Olaf, me, and Tyler Dan.  These boys are my cousins, and a girl has never been so lucky to be related to two such wonderful/handsome/smart/sweet boys as these!  We were all born within five months, and we have loved talking about life, school, family, blessings, problems, girls/boys, everything with each other.  I have many memories of hunting for crawdads, teasing, wrestling, playing games, breaking rules, visiting, and much much more with them.  They are two of my best friends, and even though my boys are leaving me for 2 years missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (one in Guam, the other in Panama) you can bet we will be writing back and forth.  I'm glad to have these boys because our adventures will last into the eternities!  I'm so excited! :)

The last threesome is the one for this summer.  It, too, started at birth, but only this summer will it be a threesome, and an epic one at that.  Here are the key players:

Okay, I know it's a dreadful picture.  I look a mess, and Max is half out of the picture, but this is Max, me, and Madi--the great!  We are the youngest three in a family of six, and we are all that's left of my parents' ponderous posterity (See?  Alliterations are alluring...okay, i'll stop now.)  Haha!  I love these two to death, and we are together for the summer to make some awesome memories, and I'm excited to spend some more time with them!  I'll give you updates from here on out because the summer hasn't started yet, and there are epic adventures to be had!  Now off and away YOU go!  Go make some of your own!  All the day long... :)