It's Obviously Been a While....

Elder Woodland has officially been in the field for 6 months! WHOA. Time is flyin. But that's a good thing...I think.
For Christmas he sent me an assortment of........stuff, for lack of a better word. All of this "stuff" explains him and me in a nutshell for the most part. I love all of it, don't get me wrong. It just shows how much of a dork he is. :)

A stocking with a picture of me and him that says I love you!, a Transformers coloring book, Ironman crayons, hot wheels (Mustang, Challenger, Corvette, and Camaro), Chips Ahoy, balloons with my name on them, a window marker, a can of silly string, a rubix cube with pictures of us on it, superhero books, a keychain that has hearts and says love, a bubble bath Cars book (?), and money for a ring. A gorgeous CTR ring, shaped like a heart. I just got it today. I was soooo excited that I went to the mailbox in the dark and rain at 12 am to go get it. I was excited, OK?
So funny thing about Brandon being out for 6 months. He gets to burn an item of clothing every 6 months. Here's the schedule (according to him...)
6 months: a tie.
1 year: a shirt.
18 months: a pair of pants.
2 years: a full suit.
I laughed. And laughed. I asked him if his mom knew about it. He said no, it's just gonna be crappy stuff we burn. I laughed...some more.
Brandon got transfered for the first time not too long ago. He seemed a bit uneasy about it at first but he settled right in and is doing well.
If I remember right, Elder Woodland has another baptism this weekend! I'm not sure what number this is but he's had a few since he's been out. I'm excited for him and proud of the work he and his companion are getting accomplished.
I got to talk to Brandon on Christmas this last Sunday! I went over to his parents' house at about 7 and his mom was already talking to him. Then his little sister got to talk. Then his step dad got to talk to him. They saved me for last because they knew that if they gave the phone to me before they had all talked that he wouldn't want to talk to anyone else. This is most definitely probably true. :) So, after an AGONIZING 45 minutes or so, Brandon's step dad hands me the phone and I finally got to talk to him. It definitely made my Christmas and he said it made his too. We talked for about 45 minutes (probably more). His little sister, she's 5, came over by where I was sitting, talking, and told me that I'd been on the phone for FOREVER. I had to disagree...it'd only been about an hour! I could have talked to him for days. We talked about anything and everything. It was just good to hear his voice again. His sister and mom said that he sounded different...at first I didn't think so. But then realized that he'd really matured while being out on his mission and that he sounded more grown up, they were right. It's not a bad thing at all...the opposite actually. I hated when he had to go but that was the best part of the whole thing. I missed hearing "I love you" from him almost everyday before he left and I finally got to hear it after 6 months of just reading it. I fell in love with him all over again just through those 3 words. It was good to be able to say it to him back. Ok, I'm done with the mushy stuff. Teehee.
I'm off to Las Vegas for school in about a week! Me and Brandon will be closer (in more than one way) and I'm excited for letters to get to me in about half the time. :) I'll be mucho busy with getting ready to go to school and finding a job but updates will (hopefully) come more frequently about me and Elder Woodland.

Where Real Life Relates to Blues Clues.

"We just got a letter, we just got a letter!
We just got a letter, wonder who it's from!"

How sweet the simplest letter is. I haven't gotten one for almost 2 WEEKS so I was pretty psyched when I got one today. I also got to talk to him for a little bit on email which is awesome. I love being able to talk to him even if it's for 10 minutes at a time.

Elder Woodland is doing well. He's had a few major lows within the last little bit (and so have I) so it's really good to know that he's back on track and doing much better. But...he told me about an unfortunate thing that happened while he was playing basketball on Pday on Monday. He was playing basketball with some other missionaries and somehow got a black eye, a chipped tooth, a major headache (since MONDAY), and a possible concussion. Brandon tells me not to worry but I can't help but worrying. I told him to go get it checked out and, as most guys would say, he told me to not worry and the oh-so original "I'll be fine" line. UGH.

Through the past little bit, I've discovered (or rediscovered actually) how amazing the power of prayer and scripture study is. My days go by so much more quickly and they are generally better than if I wouldn't have done those things. I can tell that I'm growing on the inside and I know that Brandon is too. We're growing together and that's all I want for both of us right now. That's all we can do without seeing each other to make our relationship that much stronger.

He sent me a little kid bracelet shaped like a heart but it cracked on it's way up here. :( Sad face. He sent me me a sticker with Batman on it that says "see you next time!" to add to my little collection that he's already given me. I'm sure he got it from the doctor...and the Cars and Transformers stickers on the back of the envelope. He's such a dork. He also sent me a card with fall/Thanksgiving stickers that says I <3 U. Gosh freakin dang. I LOVE his quirky little things that he uses to tell me how much he loves me. :) He also had a song quote on the back that I really like.

"Don't give up, it's not the end...forgiveness can be given when you think it can't. For every passing second, there's a second chance."
-Relient K

From Where You Are- Lifehouse

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you, yeah I miss you

So far away from where you are
I'm standing underneath the stars
And I wish you were here

I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they'd mean everything to me
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here

I feel the beating of your heart
I see the shadows of your face
Just know that wherever you are
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here

I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they'd mean everything to me
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you, yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here

3 Months Out and I'm Just Starting This...

My name is Emma. I'm Mormon. I have a boyfriend serving a 2 year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. One of the hardest things I've ever gone through (so far).

When Mormon boys turn 19 years old, they are asked to serve a 2 year mission to serve the Lord and spread the gospel to the rest of the world.

Elder Woodland is currently serving in the Arizona Tucson mission in the southwestern United States. He's been out since June 29, 2011 and all he can say about Tucson is that it's HOT.

Brandon...I mean Elder Woodland...and I have been dating for a little over 7 months. When he left, we'd been dating for a little under 4. He's so far my longest relationship and I only have a couple more months until I'm his longest (but I WILL beat it!).

We never met in person until our first date. We talked on Facebook and knew each other from church but didn't actually "know" each other. He told me he liked me after we'd been talking for a few months after finding out a common like in the band the Script and a lot of other music. It was really bad timing on his part because I just got dumped by the previous bf and I didn't think of him like that. But right around Valentines day, he came over to my house and made pizza with me, watched one of the old Batman movies, and had a pillow fight with me and my sisters. It was really really awkward, let me tell ya. He didn't say much of anything and left just as awkwardly as he came. We went on a few more dates after that and I realized that I really did like him back. He came to my house at about 11 pm after he got off work to see me. It was snowing and really cold outside but we stood outside on my porch in the dark for a bit and talked. February 26, 2011, Brandon asked me out and I said yes. We have been dating ever since.

Elder Woodland and I spent a lot of time together after that. The most amount of time we didn't see each other for was about a week when I went down to Utah for a band audition at Weber State. Of course, we fell in love very quickly after we starting dating. We've been through ups, downs, prom, laughs, cries, and everything else in between. I was really excited for him when he got his mission call but I was nervous at the same time. It hit both of us really hard a few weeks or so before he left. We both had meltdowns every little bit where we would cry for literally hours on end. The worst one was when both of us knew it was the last time we would ever see each other for the next 2 years.

We spent the day at his house with his family. When he dropped me off back at my house so he could go home and get ready for dinner before he was going to be set apart to become a missionary, we both realized what was happening. We couldn't do much of anything but hold each other and cry...a lot. 2 years is a long time and it just seemed like the end of the world. Brandon and I knew that we'd never be able to see one another again until roughly summer 2013. After we said our final goodbyes and he left, I went and cried on my mom's lap for about an hour. I was so sad that the time had finally come where he had to leave me. But, I knew it would all be worth it in the end.

Brandon's step dad called shortly after and asked me to come back over to their house when they got home from him getting set apart. I said I would go even though I knew I would probably be an emotional wreck like I already was. His parents wanted to talk to both of us and I knew that it would make it better to see Brandon one more time.

Larry said a lot of amazing things. I can't remember all of them but I'll just put out the things that stuck out in my mind the most. He, and Brandon's mom, told me how thankful they were for me and the support I am to Brandon. They were happy that he had found someone to support him and lead him down a path in which he could always choose the right. They said that they knew what our plans were and that they wanted to see them work out...they wanted to see US work out. Larry reminded us about a part in the movie "God's Army" where one of the sister missionaries tells about her previous engagement before coming on a mission. She waited for a missionary and they got engaged when he got home. She realized how strong he was in the gospel and knew that she was not as strong as he was. She wanted to find that for herself so she broke off the engagement to go on a mission of her own. He said that both Brandon and I have to grow towards the Lord so we can ultimately grow together. He doesn't want Brandon to come home, being incredibly strong in the gospel, and me being only so so because I haven't done my part or the other way around. This whole talk was super emotional for all of us. It hit all of us that were there pretty hard and Brandon and I knew how important this was for both of us. I had to give him my full support to let him know that I cared for him and want him to do well on his mission, to focus and be determined in the things that he should be doing. As well as Brandon, I need to be reading, praying, and choosing the right every day of my life. I know that there will be good things to come because of it.

So, to all you girls who have a missionary out there in the field and are diligently waiting for them...a few tips from what I've learned so far from my own missionary.
1. DO NOT tell him that you want them to come home because you miss him. That will only make him more homesick. Oh and...keep the mushy to a minimum.
2. When you get a letter from him, send one back! There is nothing that a missionary loves more than a letter from his girl back home.
3. Give him all the support you can muster up. That's ultimately all they need and it means a lot coming from YOU.
4. Pray for him all the time! Thank Heavenly Father for putting him into your life when he did.
5. Find things to do to pass the time. Being busy will only help those 2 years go by faster. Those first few weeks are the worst (emotionally break downs tend to become more frequent, I've noticed).
6. Read and pray. Send your missionary scriptures that you like, ask him to send ones that he finds while he's doing scripture study. Praying will help you to have more spiritual experiences that make you and your missionary grow closer together. I've already had a few...they are the coolest!
7. And just remember, a "Dear John" letter is never a good idea. If you're not fully committed for 2 years then don't make it worse on him.

I love Elder Woodland with all my heart and I support him through all of this, no matter how hard it is. We're just best friends going through the two hardest and the best two years of our lives so far.

-Em

Ugh...

I spent like FOREVER writing out my first post only to lose it to the stupid thing called the "WORLD WIDE WEB". I'll finish it when I'm done hating the internet...