2014: a Year to remember

Wow what a great YEAR! I have been so blessed this year! I can't even explain how grateful I am for this year.  Well to help  with understanding how blessed I was here are so high lights of my year!

January

9th: Started  my first job at Chick-Fil-A

18th: My Happily Ever After started. I started dating  Ransom Chance Wilde, The man of my dreams! 

February

10th: Eleanor Grace Bersie was born. 

14th: My love sang to me for Valentines day. 

15th: I had a great Valentines Date with Chance, Duncan and Melissa. 

March

17th: My Dad's Birthday

April

19th: Went to Prom with Chance 

May

6th: The Once Act I directed, Digging up the Past was performed. 

7th: I celebrated my 18th Birthday. 

31st: I graduated from MVHS. 

June

 Senior Trip to Bear Lake 

July 

4th: I went to The Stadium of Fire with Chance and His family. 

August

25th: Started my first semester of College.

started working as a tutor and a T.A at Cherry Hill. 

September 

13th: Chance gave me my promise ring. 

17th:Wyatt Johnson Left for Chihuahua Mexico. 

28th: Duncan and Chance had their Mission Farewells

October 

9th: Duncan Left for Montevideo Uruguay 

18th: Spent our 9 month anniversary in Salt Lake. 

20th: I said my farewell to Chance. 

22nd: Elder Ransom Chance Wilde reported  to the MTC. 

November

7th: I started my Mission Papers!

22nd: Elder Wilde's 1 month! 

27th: Thanksgiving 

December

3rd: Elder Wilde was in Frankfurt Germany

5th: Chance turned 19! 

22nd: Chance's 2 months in the field

25th: Christmas, I got to Skype Elder Wilde! 

27th: Got my patriarchal blessing

30th: Submitted my mission papers on my side, now the wait! 

As you can see it's been a great year!!! wow I am really blessed. I am so excited to see where 2015 takes me!  

I did it!

     So I just finished my first semester of college! wow has it been an adventure! I have loved it. I have hated it. I've had ups and downs and all arounds. But I have learned so much! I have learned to work two jobs plus be a student. I have also learned to be on my own. I haven't moved away form my home but I still have learned that being a grown up is hard. You have a ton on responsibility. You HAVE to be an adult. I have also learned that It's okay to fall. You just have to know how to get back up from the ground. You have to be okay with letting other people help you. You need to be humble enough to ask for help. 

When I first started I was very prideful and I didn't want anyone to know that I was having a hard time. I wanted to do it all on my own. But then I  learned, that's not what Heavenly Father wants us to do. That's not how he wants us to live our lives. Yes He wants us to learn to be independent but also humble enough to ask for help. I have had so many prayers where I just felt so hopeless. I wanted to give up.

     a few weeks ago I got to the point where I didn't know if I really wanted to go on to spring semester. I wanted to work full time, save money and not have to worry about school. I wanted to give up. As I talked with my parents they really encouraged me to keep going to school. They brought up that I would lose my works study job if I didn't do Spring semester. I had so many thoughts run through my head. I so many plans, If I lost my work study job then I could just find a full time job somewhere else. I wouldn't be paid as much but I still would be making money and saving it right? So many different things and plans going through my head. I finally decided I couldn't make this decision on my own I need help. Help from someone who knew exactly what I should do. I needed my Heavenly Father. I prayed and prayed. The end of the semester was coming up so I need to figure out a plan soon. I remember asking what I should do. I expected an answer right away but guess what didn't get one.  Gabby the lord will answer is his own way and time. He knows best. I waited.  

 I finally got my answer while I was in Church. one of the speakers was talking about how education helps us to learn and our knowledge is the only thing that we take with us when we depart from this world so we need to get as much knowledge or education as we can. I knew then that I needed to go to spring semester. I'ts not what I, ME, GABBY wanted but it was what the lord wanted and knew that it was best. So here I am at the end of Fall semester. almost to Christmas break!  and getting ready to go to Spring semester at UVU. I am now more excited then ever to continue my journey to becoming an elementary school teacher. One semester closer! 

One month! Good by November, Welcome wonderful December!

Well it's been a month since my best friend and love has been out on his mission. THAT'S CRAZY! I'm so proud of him! I have had the great blessing to email and write him every week. He is having a great time! He looks great too! He looks so happy and just full of the spirit. I love that!

This month has been full  of ups and downs. It's been a hard month to get through but I have learned so much about my self and about what I can do. 

     I started and finished (except my Doctors appointment) mission papers! But I still have to wait till February! I am counting down! I am so excited! I can already see and feel the blessings. Since Chance left and since I started getting ready for a mission I have noticed a lot more of Missionary opportunities in my day to day life. On Monday I got a really good email for a friend who is on her mission. Here is a bit of what she wrote that I absolutely love!! 

"I remember one time pre-mission I was praying for a "Missionary opportunity" because I was felt I was finally brave enough.  I went about my day looking for the opportunity and didn't think I found one.  As I was praying that night I asked Heavenly Father why he didn't give me one and he said, "But I did."  He helped me remember an instance earlier that evening with one of my dearest friends.  He was really struggling with life and I talked to him a lot about Christ and how He is the one that could give him peace. Heavenly Father said, "That the missionary experience I gave you."  It was then I understood better that a missionary isn't always inviting someone to church or to meet with the missionaries, but simply taking the time to love.  haha (are you getting the theme here?)  You are a missionary already.  You ARE having missionary experiences everyday you may not even recognize.  I invite you all to pray to recognize those experiences you are already having and I expect a report.  I promise you will find missionary work in unexpected places and that is the best kind of missionary work.  

Love you guys.  
Love, Sister McIntire" 

Isn't she the best!!! After I read that I realized that I was praying for a Missionary opportunity but I wasn't even paying attention to my day to notice that I was having Missionary opportunities every day! I started to look more intently for those amazing opportunities, and guess what? I HAVE HAD SOME EVERYDAY THIS WEEK!! (yes, it's only Wednesday, BUT STILL!!) how cool is that!! I was able to talk to my grandpa about a Mission, I talked to some co-workers about Religious things, I shared my smile with those around me. I was being an example of Jesus Christ "in all times, and in all things and in all places." I am a a Missionary NOW! I am so grateful for that wonderful insight Sister McIntire shared!  
Now I only have to wait.....2 MONTHS! to turn in my Mission papers. HOLY COW DOES IT FEEL LIKE AN ETERNITY!!! All I want for Christmas is for February to come faster!! 

The most frequent questions I have been getting from family and friends are:"Where do you want to serve?""Do you want to speak a language?""What would you do if you went to Germany." (That's where Elder Wilde is ) ;) "How excited are you to go?" "Do you feel ready?" 
Here are my answers to those question:ANY WHERE THE LORD WANTS ME TO GO! (I would really want to serve at the Temple Square ASL mission but probably wont get it because I am here in Utah already) I would love to speak ASL (American Sign Language) But again WHAT EVER THE LORD WANTS! I don't think I will go to Germany, I had to put on the application if I had any relation (family, grandparents, or boyfriend) in the mission field and where they are. So, I don't think that's where I will go. Unless the lord wants me to go there I will go! I AM SO EXCITED TO SERVE!!!! I REALLY WANT FEBRUARY CLASS!!! I  can always prepare more. I am nervous, but I am ready to learn! 
The month of November is done, now on to December! I am ready for December, Christmas and New Years! December also holds my Favorite time of year. I love the atmosphere of Christmas and winter. Funny side note Chance doesn't like Christmas, I'll change that! I LOVE CHRISTMAS! It's so romantic! 

SO now I say Good by to November, HELLO DECEMBER! 

The miles may be far, But our hearts will remain close.

Well Chance... Elder Wilde is now on his mission! I am so proud of him! He is such a huge example to me. The first week was the hardest. I miss him so much. I wanted to just crawl up into a ball and disappear. I still some days want to disappear. I still have my ups and downs but I do have more ups than downs. 

Well I was pretty much a overly attached Girlfriend the first week. I sent him an email everyday and tons of pictures. I also sent him a letter. I felt bad. I was being a huge distraction to him, or at least I felt I was. So I have now taken control of my addiction to emailing him and just write a little bit from everyday in one email and send one email with writing and one with pictures. A long with a hand written letter. 

I have heard from a lot of people to make these two years about me. To really take this chance and focus on me. To strengthen my relationship with my heavenly father. And I have already started to strengthen my relationship with God. I relied so much on him the first week for comfort and guidance. I wanted to know everything was going to be okay. I wanted this hole I felt in my heart to go away. The hole will never go away until Elder Wilde gets home. But for now it will be filled with love and memories and it will also be filled with Christ love. I am turning my self to the lord more than ever. He is the only one who feels exactly what I am feeling. He knows every detail of every thought. I find comfort in reading my scriptures and even more comfort in my personal conversation I have with my father in heaven during prayer. 

Prayer has been my biggest strength. My biggest asset. I am so grateful for prayer.

Well yes the first two weeks were hard but so great, I grew closer to my Heavenly Father, I grew closer to Elder Wilde. and I will continue to grow closer to Both of them through these two years.  I know these two years will be well worth the wait! I mean I only have 23.58 Months, 102 Weeks, 717 Days, 17208 Hours, 1032480 Minutes and 61948800Seconds. But who's counting.....

The Last Week: Part 2... Dooms day(s)

Okay The Last Week: Part 2. 

Man was the last few days rough but I'll go int more detail about them later. Lets start with the week end. 

October 16th-18th 2014

Well the 16th was a Thursday, We went to dinner with his family at Iggy's sports grill and watched a bit of the Giants Vs. Cardinal game.

 I had my first taste of Calamari. It was good. Than we went and watched Box Trolls. It was a really good movie. Super Cute! After the movie we walked around the university village area, Ran into my Grandma, and DANCED! I love dancing with him. It was a romantic Evening. 

Friday, the 17th I didn't see him. My parents and family were out of town for fall break. I stayed home because this would be my last weekend with him for 2 years. So Friday, like I said I didn't see him. But I did get to finish his "Open When..." Letters that was great! I also Hiked the Y while it was lite and that was way cool. Something I wanted to do on my "List". 

Saturday: The 18th, Our 9 Month anniversary. We rode the train up to Salt Lake City. Went to the Planetarium. Walked around Temple Square. Walked around City Creek. I forgot I had his promise ring in my finger and he saw it on the was home. He Loved it! I was so happy! I was even more happy that it fit! woo, I was worried. I gave him a CTR ring so he can remember to put the Lord and His work first. Than engraved on the inside I put <3 Ladybug. Ladybug if you didn't know was the NickName he gave me one day at school. We than  Came home, I took him to his favorite restaurant. Yamatos. He loves that place! I gave him his open when letters. He had made me open when letters too! I get to open my first one tomorrow. I can't wait to read them and write him and all of that Sappy stuff hahaha( but don't worry I wont take away from the Lord) We went to chuck -e- cheeses so he could play a game he has been wanting to play for awhile he said goodbye to Dante and Alissa (both good friends of ours) we  Watched a movie. Cuddled. and just enjoyed each others company. One of the greatest days of my life. 

 Sunday came and we talked on the phone that night. It was so good to hear him. I'm going to miss that the most I think. Just hearing his voice.

 Then Came....

October 20th-21st 2014

 I said goodbye to the love of my life and best friend yesterday. That was HELL. I felt like a part of me died inside. A part of me was torn out and taken away. My heart is with him and always will be. It was just SO HARD to go through that. He brought over a HUGE box of clothes, jackets, T-Shirts, the tank top I hate haha and His AXE. I love it. I wore his captain America Shirt today. Then we started our walk down memory lane.  We went to the place where we had our first date. The Scera Shell Park. We weren't dating at the time but that was the first date we ever went on. Anyways we went there and talked. Then we went to the temple where he gave me my ring. So we went to the first and "last" (not really) date places.  

Then we said our good byes. I was in hysterics. I have never ever cried that hard in front of someone I loved (other than my parents). I felt so bad. I didn't want to make it any hard for him. Once he left and I went in side. I ran to my dad and mom and lost it once again. I felt like I wanted to rip my heart out and just die. I did not want to feel that pain. 

We had our last phone call last night too, where we just cried and talked together. That helped so much, just hearing him for the last time and knowing he loves me. He sent me a voice recording so when ever I need to hear his voice I can listen to that and let me tell you, I will be listening to it often. 

So that was Day 0. (forever known as dooms day in my heart)

Today is Day 1. Today was easier, I could actually talk about him with out crying. I could think about him with out crying. I got so excited to email him today. I already have so much to tell him. I'm going to the post office or BYU bookstore to buy stamps so I could send him so many letters. I am just so excited to see what this new adventure has to offer! Yes I know it will be hard. But I know I can do it!  With the help of my heavenly father. :)

 I'm Just a girl in love with her best friend, A girl who can't wait to hear from her missionary, A girl who is excited to serve the lord in 6 months, A girl who can't wait to see what happens next.

The Last week: Part 1

Well it's here, The Last Week: Part 1.( Part two will be after he is gone) I have with the love of my life for two years. It's so crazy to think that he leaves in 9 days. I never thought this day would come. But here it is. One week. I a so excited and proud of him. He is such a great example to me. I know he will be a great missionary. I want to make this week speacial for him. But he also has time with his family so Saturday is my day with him. I can't wait! I want to just give my full attention to him and no one or anything else. 

      So.... I'm going to go a little tangent and tell you a story, Now about a month ago him and I were helping out a friend of ours ( Alissa Lopez). She was doing a scavenger hunt for her missionary Elder Johnson. Let me just say it was super cute. She has balloons and a note at each place. Chance and I were stationed at the Provo Temple. Super romantic :) We got there and sat down on a bench with the balloons and note for Elder Johnson. As soon as we sat down Chance said " I just got really nervouse." I was confused... "why?" I asked. He got off the bench, down on one knee and pulled out my promise ring he had made. That's right HE MADE MY PROMISE RING! " Gabby will you marry me?" "YES!" now, I know what you are thinking " well he asked you to marry him so you guys are engaged." Yes and no, we are promised to each other which is like an engagement, but we are not engaged. Just promised to each other. I'm not planning a wedding, although Pinterest might say other wise haha but Chance and I are giving our selves to the lord for two years,  than to each other for eternity. 

    Now the big question "did you get him a promise ring?" Yes, I got him a promise ring too, a CTR ring. To make it more personal I engraved the inside of it with my nickname he gave me :) Ladybug. I was having a really hard time deciding if I should get him a CTR ring or just a band, But I decided His mission is about the lord not me I want to lord to be his first Priority, I want him to know that I will always support him and think of him. I will always love him. I can't wait for him to go on this adventure. To bring people and himself closer to Christ. This week is going to be hard, knowing that everyday I get closer to saying good bye. Every moment I spend with him will be precious. They will be savored. I love him so much. I am so excited to hear from him, receive letters and send letters to him. It really is going to be a great two years!

Preparing to serve

     So as you know I am planning on serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (if you didn't know that read the post called "my call to serve") It hasn't really hit me until this past month that my time is getting closer! I am so excited. As you know too, I have a Boyfriend who will be serving in the Germany Frankfurt mission (if you know anyone in that mission now let me know!) I can't be more proud of him and excited for him. But back to this month, on October 7th I woke up feeling like the day was going to be different, but I didn't know why until I looked at the date. October 7th 2014, 7 months until my availability date! I am so happy, I get to start my mission papers next month!  I have gotten a lot of questions or doubts as to why I "really" want to serve a mission. 

" It's just because your boyfriend is leaving and you think it will make that time go faster." 

"Why do you want to serve a mission? it just seems like a huge sacrifice to go out and not really know if you are going to convert anyone." 

"You want to be a teacher! if you go on a mission you have to put 18months of school on hold." 

I will confess I have had all of these questions or doubts in my mind at one point or another. Going on a mission will make the time Chance and I are apart go faster. It is a HUGE sacrifice to go out, and it's true I don't know if I will convert anyone. I do have to put 18months of my life on hold. But to be honest, I don't care. I am going on a mission to share Christs love. I want to remind people what life is really about. I want to share with families that their family can be together forever. I don't know if I am going to "convert" anyone, but I do know that I will change the lives of many. Sharing the great message of the gospel to so many people, no matter if they reject it or not, will have an impact on their life. I know My heavenly father is preparing people. I am so excited to find those who are prepared and share with them my testimony. I know God loves everyone. He wants all who have fallen from him to return to him. I want to bring his children back to him. 

  May 7th is a short time away. I don't know where I am going to be called or when I will leave, but I am so ready to serve the lord!

A Blast From The Past :)

I recently got a new job doing what I love to do. Teaching and Tutoring Kids. And guess what! I get to work at Cherry Hill! My Elementary School! HOW COOL IS THAT! YES I AM SO EXCITED IF YOU CAN'T TELL!

I get to work with some of my old teachers! so cool. :) The school recently was remodel so it doesn't look the same as it did when I went there. The funny thing is, when I went there they added on the "new" part of the school. We call it the six grade hall. Now the "new" part is the "old" part haha.  It's so weird going back through the halls, the halls I used to walk through aren't there, but it's still my school.

I have so many memories when I walk in those doors, Playing on the play ground, Art class, Music Class, Computer class, The Gingerbread man hunt, The Renaissance fair, Guys and Dolls Jr. hahaha Oh man, all the boys I used to have a crush on! I was teased for liking a new boy every week! But that's Elementary :).

  

I have never been so excited to have a job! I was so nervous to get this job, I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted it and when I was offered the job on the spot I almost yelled my yes hahaha! I started on September 2nd and it was so much fun! I have had a great experience working with all the students and my old teachers. Everyday I get even more excited to become a teacher. 
I will admit it's weird calling my old teachers by their first names now, I am so used to calling them Mr. or Mrs. But now that I work basicily beside them, Its just a bit weird.

It's going to be throw back Thursday EVERYDAY!! HAHAHA 

I SURVIVED!

I SURVIVED MY FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE!

Wow, was today an amazing day! I started my day with my mission prep class. I have a great teacher and a great class! I was surprised by how many students didn't really have mission plans but were still taking the class, IT'S GREAT! This class is so much fun, after today, I am even more excited to serve a mission. 

I than had a great work out getting to my next class. I have institute on one side of campus than my math class on the other side of campus. A 15 minute walk I have to make in 5..... boy.... I better look good after this semester ;) I'll be honest I was late to my math class but my professor is awesome!  She is so understanding and so funny. I know I will have fun in her class. 

BREAK TIME! My 2nd class ends at 10:50 and I don't have a class until 1:00 so I have about 2 hours of free time. I am so glad I have that free time because I can use that time to study and work on my online class. I can also eat and just rest. IT'S GREAT! 

Than, English. My professor looks like Sybill Trelawney (for all you harry potter fans out there).

I KID YOU NOT! She even kinda acts like her too. It's awesome. English is the one class I actually need a text book in. That's great! Less money to spend on text books.  

So, I love college. I couldn't have survived today if it weren't for my Heavenly Father, My Family and My Friends. I woke up this morning to a cute little note from my brother Sam. My mom told me he was worried about me, that he was crying because he was going to miss me while I am in my mission.  SO CUTE!  It made me cry. Again I'll be honest with you I was so scared about starting college last night.To the point I couldn't sleep well, I was shaking, crying and everything else. I was a mess! But after all my moms encouragement, My dad's blessing, Sam's note, a Young Womens' leader posting on my FB wall, and finally the faith I had in my Father in Heaven, I SURVIVED!

My Next Chapter

Here it goes. I start my first semester of college TOMORROW! So many emotions are running through me. I am scared, excited, nervous, anxious, stressed, crazy, calm, blessed, peaceful, EVERY EMOTION you can think of I have going on! I can't even express what I am feeling because there are so many things to express. But the underling emotion I am feeling is stress. I have so much going on, so much change, I don't even know where to start. I am scared. I don't know how I can deal with all of these change, but I have too. 

     Today though, was a much needed day of reminders. I had the opportunity to go to a close friends Mission Farewell. He talked about the power of the atonement. How Christ not only suffered for our sins but also for the hard times we would go through. How the atonement changed him and how it can change all of us. We shouldn't just think about the atonement one day a week, we should think about His great sacrifice everyday. Christ knows each of us personally, He bled and died for ME. for YOU. He has felt every feeling I have felt and understands me COMPLETELY.  I am so grateful for my friend Elder Johnson, and his great reminder of the atonement. 

 I also had a great lesson in Relief Society, based on the talk Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease by Elder David A. Bednar. It talks about the burdens we carry, and the load we have to bear. there's a qoute saying 

" Each of us also carries a load. Our individual load is comprised of demands and opportunities, obligations and privileges, afflictions and blessings, and options and constraints."

 I was thinking a lot about my load to carry, My demands, opportunities, obligations, privileges, afflictions, blessings, options, and constraints. We mad a list of each of those. Than we were asked the questions " Is the load I am carrying producing the spiritual traction that will enable me to press forward with faith in Christ on the strait and narrow path and avoid getting stuck?, is the load I am carrying creating sufficient spiritual traction so I ultimately can return home to Heavenly Father?"

 I reviewed everything on my list and realized that not everything is helping me obtain my Spiritual goals. I am not doing everything I can to get closer to my Father in Heaven. I spend to much time on my phone, FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest. ETC. I need more time growing closer to my Father in heaven. After reviewing my list more I realized all the things that I am stressing about are things that I can lay at the lords feet. He can help me with my load. My favorite quote from this talk is 

" There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice (see Alma 34:14), He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power. Indeed, His yoke is easy and His burden is light."

He understands me, my yoke is made easy by him. I am so grateful for all those people who have made my burden light. who have loved me for everything. I am mostly grateful for my Savior and His sacrifice for ME. His love for Me. and for helping me carry my yoke. I am ready to start this new chapter, with Christ on my side.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

"Life isn't Measured in how many breaths we take, but Measured in moments that take our breath away...." :)

     Through out my life I have found my self counting the seconds, minutes, and hours to something. Whether it be to go somewhere, to leave something, to finish something, or to start something. 

I forget about the now. 

     Only in the NOW are we able to experience the moments that take our breath away. 

I can't help but think about a few experiences that have taken my breath away and I hope it's okay that I share a few. 

The one that came to mind is my Senior Trip to Bear Lake. I had so much fun! I was with my best friend Alissa, My love Chance and our friend Josh. With my grandma as a chaperone. :) I think it's safe to say for all of us we had a blast! 

We had a cave tour, 

Went to the lake

Went to a Play House,

Rode a four person Bike,

 

Went on a walk on a Board Walk,

 Shopped,

  and just relaxed...

 Every moment spent with them were adventures, a moment that took my breath away I gained such great memories that week I will never forget. 

     Look at the moments in your life and remember what took your breath away. Don't count down the minutes to when you can leave or stop doing something. Look at the Now. Cherish each moment you have, You aren't going to have that moments again.