My sister, Sister Peterson

Well, she's off. 

Kyra left today for her 18 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I picked her up from the airport yesterday and we spent a few hours in Salt Lake City before having dinner at Texas Roadhouse. It somehow became a sister tradition to eat there whenever Kyra visits.

Today we ate at Brick Oven in Provo because they serve missionaries entering the MTC (missionary training center) for free.

At around 1:20 we loaded up the car with her luggage and braved the traffic as we drove the two miles to the MTC. Jared, Crystal, and I were the only ones there to drop nervous little Kyra off at the curb.

Kyra hugged Crystal, then Jared, and then me. When she pulled away, her face looked either very sad or very nervous, but to me it looked as if she were about to cry so that's when I broke down. Mom had asked me to take pictures of Kyra walking away, but I was too emotional and embarrassed to remember. I just wanted to get in the car and hide.

Salt Lake City temple

Mimicking mom from her wedding day

Lauren, Crystal, Kyra

The drive to the MTC

Waiting in traffic

It's time!

Her eyes were closed so I had to give her new ones.
I'm sure she'll be able to laugh at this 18 months from now.

The "see you later" hug with Crystal

Goodbye Sister Peterson! See you in 18 months!

1 Year

Jared & I celebrated our first anniversary yesterday. That year went by fast because we were so busy; we were both in our final year at college and graduated, Jared traveled and interviewed for a post-grad job, we took two trips to Pennsylvania, two to Idaho, and one to Arizona. Now Jared is studying daily for the CPA exam, so it was nice this weekend to be on vacation and slow down a little. 

August 11, 2012

For our anniversary I gave Jared a notebook filled with memories and lots of text conversations that we had while dating. My sister Ami didn't have texting when she was dating her husband and she is proud of her stack of love letters. So after I had known Jared about 3 months, I bought a nice journal and started recording our "love letters" in it.

Jared and I read it together last night. He was amazed at how "smooth" and romantic he could be, and I felt a renewed connection with him while we remembered our dating life.

Jared gave me a back massager that attaches to a chair. It's as much a gift to him as it is to me. It is awesome.

I love you Jared. Let the second year begin!

This was me one year ago:

And this is me now:

You don't even want to see the rest of the apartment.

At least I'm moving to California (woohoo!)