WHAT I'LL MISS MOST // 3 //

 

My family.

No words could ever describe the love I have for my family. It's impossible. They are my best, best friends and I'd rather hang out with them than anyone else. We are all so close and I'm so grateful for the relationships we share. I almost didn't go on a mission because I knew I'd have FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out. I struggled being away from my family while I was up at school, only 2 hours away. How was I going to deal with that when I'm in another country and can't call my mom when I need help? I bucked up and realized that my family will still be here when I get back. There will be a few new faces, but they're still my same family who I love sooo much. It's so comforting to know that I have the support of these people. I'll miss my parents and all they do for me. I'll miss my brothers and I'm sure they'll miss my constant ridicule and poking-fun. ;) I'll miss my babies.. their cute smiles and small laughs. I'll miss my sisters - OH how I'll miss my sisters!! I mean, who in their right mind drives to California to sleep on the streets of LA to see TWILIGHT? My sisters! Who would have a giant sleepover outside on the deck just so they could spend more time with each other? My sisters!

 

 

I'm so grateful that my family is forever. I get to spend eternity with these fools.. how cool is that?!

THE BRITISH ARE COMING

Sometimes I just wonder why other countries have such amazing musicians and we're stuck with Miley Cyrus and Nickelback. #likewhat

1 // Gabrielle Aplin. Again. Does she ever do wrong?

2 // I'm jumping on the Lorde train and hoping she's really popular when I get back. She's a killlaaa!

3 // If I didn't know any better I would marry someone from The 1975 in a heartbeat. Can't stop, won't stop listening to them.

WHAT I'LL MISS MOST // 2 //

 

Mis amigos supremos.

From the man-cave hang outs in Sam's basement to slumber parties with the girls, each one of these people have played a significant part in helping me become the person I am today. (Ann, you're in the picture with Cass and Ash.. just spiritually!) Through the negatives and positives, the ups and downs, the good and the bad, my peeps kept me laughing one way or another. I become more and more grateful for the people I've associated myself with throughout my life each and every day. Whether I was learning from their mistakes or my own, I grew in ways I never knew I could. High School + College - two very pivotal moments in ones life - these people have taught me true friendship and helped me make decisions that lead me to here and now. I have so many people whom I consider best friends and I'm so grateful for that! I am one lucky girl to have been touched and blessed by the lives of these individuals. I feel so blessed to be serving a mission at the same time as my guy friends - I really, truly do! We're growing together as we help grow the kingdom of God and the good times will start up again once we get back (all around the same time, eeeep!) Thank you all for being such amazing friends to me. I love you!

LAGOON DAY

As a last little family hurrah before I leave on Wednesday, we decided to head up to Lagoon for some good carny fun! A lot of us hadn't been for a really long time, so it was fun to re-live some childhood memories (all while droppin' 1K to get in.. yikes!) All of us went on Rattlesnake Rapids and got COMPLETELY drenched. That ride alone made it all worth it - we were laughing the entire time! Jensen, Aaron, Brooks and I split away from the group after awhile so we could go do some "big kid" rides. Haha Brooks didn't last very long, but the rest of us loved them! Samurai takes the cake for funnest ride at Lagoon. We all had a blast! I love my family so much. I'm so glad we were all able to go out and do something super fun before I leave!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT I'LL MISS MOST // 1 //

 

 

 

 

My home.

The one I've lived in my whole life. The one located just around the bend of my busy street where you nearly lose your life trying to pull out of my driveway. I'll miss Fruitloop. He's the only K-9 mom has ever allowed us to have. When I was little she told me that "He protects us from the bad guys" and I've believed her ever since. I'll miss the pretty deck that's the perfect shade of gray, lined with flowers mom has arranged. I'll miss the piano. Although it may not be in tune, I love sitting down and playing the 4 songs I know. (Sometimes when no one's around, I pour my soul out into that thing and sing at the very top of my lungs!) My bed. Oh, how I'll miss my bed! That warm, comforting thing I've slept in for years. 

I remember coming home for Christmas break, walking into my house and just feeling complete peace. It was filled with Christmas decorations, warm candles, and the people that I love the most. My home means so much more to me now that I've moved away from it. Although chaotic at times, it's a sanctuary. It's love. It's forever.

PHONE CALL OF THE CENTURY

 

"How are you calling?"

"I'm at a payyyy phhhooonnneee.. oh just kidding I can't sing that - I'm a missionary!"

Taylor, along with 25 other missionaries, are on their way to Seattle, Washington. Of course she sounds so great and has nothing but positive things to say. We talked like normal for about 45 minutes. There was so much to say! We haven't seen each other in 12 days, and although that's shorter then some of the times when I was up at school, we still talked on the phone every night. We mostly talked about how excited she was for me to go to the MTC. She honestly and truly had such a great experience there. Some positive things and some negative things - which is a good taste of how mission life is. I thought she was a spiritual giant before she left, but holy cow! She's amazing! I love her, I love her, I love her. Ahhh I just can't wait!

HALF WAY THERE

 

Someone's half way done in the MTC! That deserves a celebration 

and package filled with party supplies & treats :)

Being really close to the MTC has it's perks. There are so many places around here that do same day MTC delivery for super cheap! We found that Post Mart in Orem - right in between Smith's and Shopko - is the best. They charge $2 per missionary per day. Meaning, if you want to send more than one package in a day, it will still only cost you $2 total. Killer, right? (Just have it there by 3:00) I may have gone a little overboard on the package sending.. I just couldn't help myself! I won't be able to send many more packages considering the "international" postage from Canada to the U.S. costs more than a poor missionary can budget. I had to make up for it somehow :) Love and miss you everyday, Bayda!

OF COURSE..

 

People always ask us if we ever fight.. the true and honest answer is "yes". Of course we do! You can't say that spending 24 hours a day with someone 7 days a week wouldn't get on your nerves just a little bit. We fight, we argue, we bug each other.. but we're always, always, always over it in a matter of minutes. I can count the number of times we have "seriously" fought on 2 of my fingers. // 1 // She was certain some kid loved her, and I was certain he loved me. I think we didn't talk for 2 hours. (LOL) // 2 // Tay just "knew" something. I couldn't believe her and I didn't want to, but BOY did she know! She's always right. I feel so bad. Every mean or terrible thing I've ever done to her is just racing through my mind! All the times she did my laundry, when I wouldn't make my bed in the morning, when I wouldn't shut the dresser doors completely shut with clothes hanging out of them, everything! I officially feel like the worst sister on the planet earth. She's the only person who has never said something bad about me behind my back. She's never lied to me, never kept something from me, never hid anything from me. She's honest. She's true. Her opinion means more to me than anyone else on the planet. If my mom or sisters say something looks cute on me and Taylor doesn't, I'm on her side! Every time. Of course the one time I feel like she's the only one I can talk to, the only one I can explode my feelings on, she's not here. I just want to talk to her - tell her what's happenin' up in da club. Letters aren't cutting it. I can't explain myself correctly on paper.

Of course I'm being all Debbie Downer and feeling SO bad when she writes a letter saying all these nice things about me. "You're the best sister in the world! You've done so much for me!" and such as. Just what I needed to hear! Along with all those nice things, she said "I hate to say 'I told you so' but.. I told you so! People say mom's have 'Mom Intuition' but I have 'Twin Intuition' and I knew from the get-go." Hahaha. Lesson learned, Heavenly Father - Taylor's always right :) Her letters are HILARIOUS and so encouraging. I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready.. Can I just be a missionary now?

FIRST LETTER!

Wednesday: Sad

Thursday: Sad

Friday: BEST DAY EVER

Taylor wrote us Friday afternoon and we got a letter! (I actually got a separate e-mail and a separate letter because Taylor needed to tell me about all of the hunnies in the MTC. Momma Nelson doesn't approve of that) She is doing SO well! Ah. I can't even tell you. She sounds like such a sister missionary already. Haha she's so cheesy and excited about everything - especially the gospel. Seeing how happy she is makes me SO excited to get out there and start serving. I mean, I've been hanging out with my grandparents & my mom all day - much love, but a girl needs some young minds every once in awhile. ;) I honestly couldn't wipe the smile off my face the whole time while reading her letter. I miss her so much already, but she's so incredibly happy. I'm so jealous! I want to be her, learning the same things she's learning, experiencing the same things she is. Just a couple more weeks until I get to!

SISTER NELSON & THE MTC

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tried my hardest not to cry that morning. It was a special day for Taylor, a happy one. I didn't want to ruin it and be sad. I woke up feeling peaceful and truly excited for her! We hung out in our room and packed the rest of her things while watching // The District // and listening to the LDS Hymns station on Pandora. We finally got 5 minutes of privacy when I gave her the locket necklace. One side has a map of Seattle and one has Vancouver.. so we're always close. (Don't look too close at the picture. I had to do it in secret and couldn't get the maps right so that heightened my frustration and I just finished fast). We both cried and hugged for a long time. I didn't want to let go. It finally set in - the better half of me was leaving.

What a bittersweet feeling it was to send my Tayda off to the MTC. Obviously we were all so happy and excited for her to finally be a missionary, but the thought of not being able to see her, hear her voice, laugh at dumb things, have serious talks and car jams for 19 months was really hard. I wish we could have left at the same time so we could experience the MTC together.. (but then again, saying goodbye at the MTC in front of other missionaries - in a very public location - could've been a lot worse). I wish we could have finished a few more things on our Twinner Bucket List. I know that she is going to be the best missionary. She has always, always, always been the greatest example to me. People often referred to Taylor as the angel twin and me as the devil twin. (Hey, I'm just a little more vocal about my feelings then her, okay?) She's sweeter, kinder, nicer, everything better than me. I'll never forget her calling me up at school, reminding me to "Stay out of trouble, choose the right, the Holy Ghost goes to bed at midnight" and such as. :) She was so excited, prepared, and ready to go on a mission (I mean just look at her.. she's GLOWING!)

When people came over after we dropped her off and asked me if I needed anything, I just said "I need my sister!" kind of joking, but mostly for real. The fact that I couldn't just text her or talk to her on the phone just made me want to that much more. But I could not be more proud of her. Her example and desire to serve a mission really helped me make the best decision I will ever make in my life - and that was to serve a mission as well. Through this we will grow SO MUCH! More than I can even comprehend. The Lord has blessed me with a built in best friend who I will always love more than anyone else. He has blessed me with a calling to serve in the Canada Vancouver mission.. only 2 hours away from Taylor (if I'm right in Vancouver). That gives me great comfort! Even though we're far apart (yet so close) and in different countries, we'll always be with each other. I already know that the day in February 2015 when I return from my mission, when I get to hug Taylor again, that will be one of the greatest days of my life.

Go get 'em Tay! Baptize the hell out of those Washingtonians. :)

FARE THEE WELL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had the best day filled with the best people. We truly are so beyond blessed by all the support we have received from family and friends. It's such an amazing feeling to be loved and supported by wonderful people who have helped you get to this point in your life. (How cute it was to look down at our littles and see their precious "Future Missionary" tags). Some people don't get this.. They are disowned by their own family when they decide to join the church, they don't get special parties with gifts and glorious food. We are so, SO blessed! There are no other words to say it. We love each and every one of you.. Thank you thank you thank you!

- Sisters Nelson :)

SHE STRIKES AGAIN

We'll always have the biggest crush on her.

SUNSHINE LOVIN'

We've had the craziest, busiest, everything-est summer ever...

and we're loving every second of it!

 @tarynelson @taylorcatherine13

SISTER SISTERS

 

Here are a few of our mission pictures! Our wondrous sister // Paige // took them last minute for us up at our Grandparents home in Sundance and we looooooved the way they turned out. Thanks Peeps!

BEST DAY OF OUR LIVES

 

JUNE 21: THE DAY OF ANTICIPATION

Going inside the temple has always been our dream but the sooner we found out we could go inside, the scarier the thought became. We were so nervous! (And how silly we were to think that) Luckily we had many great examples, temple prep classes, and interviews to help us get ready.  

What a special day it was to make sacred covenants inside the Lord's house. To be surrounded by so many great family members in the Celestial room. To look around and see our mom and dad, our brothers and sisters, our best friends! We could feel our angel brother McKay there with us - there wasn't an empty seat! The gospel is all about families, and there aren't any greater people we'd rather be stuck with forever then the fools we call our siblings :)

We will remember this day forever and ever. When times get tough on the mission and we miss our family, we'll remember and pray for comfort - knowing we have the best support system back home. Words can't express what our family means to us. From baseball games to twilight trips - they've been there through it all. Love you family! Forever and always.

MEMORIAL DAY // B&W //

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Land of the free because of the brave..."