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!