August, Sweet August

Adventures galore! That's the only way to describe this month for us. It started with attempting to make my birthday fun despite having to study for finals all day. Nate did a great job! He surprised me with an apartment decorated with balloons and toilet paper streamers (a Bushman tradition). Then he made me breakfast while I studied.  After a few hours of cramming he took me shopping (a blast for me but misery for him). It was fun to actually buy stuff for myself (usually I try not to spend too much on myself on our dismal college student budget), which I could do because the Bushmans and my family spoiled me with money and gift cards this year.

Had some awesome friends over for treats on my birthday :)

After scraping through finals, we headed off to Walla Walla, Washington. We rode with Nate's Grandma, and listened to The Undaunted on tape. That was the fastest drive of my life lol :) Washington was all in a fuss with the final preparations for Shanie's wedding when we arrived. Nate and I tried to help out where we could, and we squeezed in a taco wagon run on our lunch break. The immediate family and the bridesmaids stayed in a hotel near the temple (in the Tri-Cities area) the night before the wedding, and Nate's dad treated us to a family dinner at The Outback that night.

The next day (the day of the wedding), we all managed to make it to the temple on time (barely) and Shanie and Kyle had a wonderful sealing ceremony. Afterward we took a thousand pictures, and I got to wear a pretty red dress and hold a little bouquet of roses. Then we ate a delicious lunch at the luncheon held afterward, and I dragged Nate and Squire away to a little more shopping in preparation for our trip to El Salvador. We got back to Walla Walla and the Rowley's house just in time for last minute prep and more pictures. Then the people started to rush in and, being a bridesmaid, I got the privilege to stand in the line (which never ended by the way). Nate was so kind to stand with me and bring me food and water :) I guess standing there was also a blessing because it reminded a lot of people that were coming through the line that they forgot to give us a wedding present, and we ended up with several more cards. So I won't complain :) Once the line was broken up, I dragged Nate out onto the dance floor. The lights and everything were so pretty that I couldn't help myself. We might not be the "newly-weds" of the family anymore, but we are still young and in love :)

Dinner the night before the big day.

When the wedding was over and things calmed down, we had a lot of fun relaxing with the family. We went for walks by the lake, and had a picnic at Rooks Park for Sylvia's birthday. Nate and I drove all the way to Hermiston, OR to get the perfect present for Sylvia, and we stopped and played in the Columbia River on the way home. The fun ended too soon, though, and before I knew it we were headed back to Utah.

Walla Walla Sunset :)

Boys playing in the wheat fields :)

Nate and I at the Columbia River

Nate drawing a heart in the sand for me :)

We had fun trying to take cute shadow pictures :)

The family on a walk :)

Still walking :)

We got to my parents house around 9 p.m. and had to finish packing for our trip to El Salvador. We went to bed around 2 and got up at 5 to get the airport by 6:30. My mom (she is an angel) got up early to drive us to the airport. Everything went well with our first flight to Dallas. We even met some other mission presidents who were flying to El Salvador as well for the reunion. In Dallas we were delayed for awhile, and I took a very uncomfortable nap on the airport chairs.

We got to El Salvador around 7 p.m. their time. Once we made it through customs (very different from the U.S. customs), we were picked up by a taxi and Nate's old Bishop ("obispo" in Spanish). The Bishop and his wife were so kind to let us stay with them that night, and they even gave up their bed for us. This was my first experience staying outside of the country, and I was shocked at the living conditions there. Most people don't have running water, but instead have a reservoir of water that they use for everything: washing hands, clothes, dishes, and flushing the toilet. You can't drink the water, and it is dangerous to walk around, even in the house, barefoot. The houses are made of cement and are all connected together, with bars covering the doors and windows, and they rarely have a yard. It's not safe to be out after dark, and very few families have a car, so they take buses everywhere they go. Nate and I had the privilege of either catching a ride with a member somewhere close, or taking the bus everywhere we went. Another thing that struck me was the way that a lot of people made their living. Everywhere we went there where people selling things, from fruit and candy to strange medicines and clothes. We rarely had to seek out what we wanted or needed to buy, because they would always come to us.

For the rest of the trip we mostly stayed with the Martinez family, who also live in Soyopango. From there we went to the surrounding areas to visit people that Nate either knew or baptized. On Friday we went to the mission reunion, and I got to meet a lot of Nate's old companions and friends from the mission. Saturday we went to the Temple Celebration with the Martinez family, which was a lot of fun. It was interesting to learn more about the culture of El Salvador, though I couldn't understand most of what they said in Spanish.

Nate and I with his Mission President and his wife.

Mission reunion.

Nate and Chavez, his mission companion.

More than 2500 youth danced in the Temple Celebration.

Nate and I at the temple celebration.

Nate and Freddy at the Temple Celebration.

After the temple dedication.

On Sunday we watched the Temple Dedication from the Stake Center in Soyopango. Afterward we hopped on a bus and headed for Usulutan, one of Nate's areas. We were hoping to meet up with some people and see the new church building there (the old one was horrible), but the church was locked and no one was there. We later found out that they had had technical difficulties and were unable to broadcast the Temple Dedication there. So we had to walk back and try to find a place to stay. Everyone was looking at us strangely (we were in our church clothes carrying suitcases), and we later learned that that part of town had become more dangerous since Nate had been there. We were lucky nothing bad happened to us. We found a taxi and a hotel (which I was super stoked about because it had a hot shower and a swimming pool) and visited one family. The next day we went to visit one more family there, but it took a lot longer than expected, and we were running late to meet up with one of Nate's companions in another city. We were blessed to get a ride back to the hotel and to the bus terminal with one of the members there. I was SOOO excited to get out of Usulutan.

Nate and I with the member that gave us a ride.

Our next stop was Sensuntepeque. It is a more colonial city with cobblestone roads, rolling hills, and tons of shops. I bought 4 shirts there for only $10 total. By far my favorite city in El Salvador. We went around visiting families that Nate and his companion Chavez had taught there. One family fed us dinner, and then we stayed with another family that had an extra room. That was my favorite day, despite spending 4 and 1/2 hours on buses to get there, and the rainstorm that started as we were on our way home for the night. All of it was fun somehow. Sensunte is just a magical place.

We met an awesome (and cranky) parrot :)

Sensunte even had a gazebo!!!!!!!

We came across some horses that were just roaming around without a fence. The sun is in my eyes, that's why my face looks like that lol :)

The view in Sensuntepeque.

Nate and I learning to make pupusas.

The next morning we had breakfast at Nate's favorite pupusaria in town, and headed back to the capital for the wedding of Nate's MTC companion (he married an El Salvadorian girl). We got to the temple and were so excited to find that they had delicious (and normal) food in the distribution center across the parking lot. That food was heaven. We finished lunch just in time to hurry over to the temple for what we thought was going to be his friend's sealing. But it turns out that they were going through a endowment session at that time and were going to get sealed after. So we borrowed some clothes from the temple and went through a session with them. It was really exciting to be in the temple on the very first day that it was open, but it was also crazy. They were still getting things organized (naturally of course), so they were running behind. Then, they told me to wait in the girls locker room and gave me a number. I had no idea what was going on (they were all speaking Spanish to me) and I had no idea where Nate and his friend were. Finally I ran out of the locker room to look for them, and some concerned temple workers followed after me, wondering what was wrong. They found someone who spoke English to translate for me, and eventually I figured out where Nate was and what was going on. Finally we got to go to the session, and afterward we watched them get sealed. We were in the temple for 5 hours, which would have been amazing if I hadn't been so confused a lot of the time. There is nothing scarier than being alone in a locker room full of temple workers who don't speak the same language as you. Yikes!

I discovered that Pollo Campero has the best fried chicken!

We ate lunch at the Mall with Putich and Krissa.

Nate with Putich, the friend who got married, and Krissa, his new wife.

I managed to capture one picture of the temple before the camera died.

We headed back to Soyopango and stayed with the Martinez family again. We spent the next day with one of Nate's converts named Freddy. With him we went to see some ancient Lamanite ruins in San Andres. I thought it was so cool to be standing in a place where so much ancient Book of Mormon history took place. I wish I could have been there to see it then.

Nate and I with Freddy and his novia (girlfriend).

Freddy in front of the ruins.

Nate and I with Freddy and his mom.

The next day we went with Hermano Martinez, his daughter, Cindy, and her son, Julito, to the beach. We went to a really secluded beach with black sand and huge waves. The only other people there were 5 or 6 American surfers. I saw more white people that day than I did anywhere else in El Salvador, which I thought was a little surprising and kinda funny. Nate had fun boogie boarding, and I played in the waves and the sand :) We ate lunch at a restaurant on the beach, and I was excited to eat some real fajitas (they were delicious!). On our way home we stopped by the fish market, saw some awesome ginormous fish, and bought some cool souvenirs for the family.

The perfect beach! As real and non-touristy as possible :)

Left to right: Nate, Cindy, Julito and Hermano Martinez.

The restaurant we had lunch at. 

Nate boogie boarding.

View from the dock at the fish market.

On our last day there we wound this down by visiting Llobasco, a town with a lot of artisan shops (they make fascinating ceramic souvenirs there). We picked up something for everyone, and brought home a sweet wind-chime for ourselves. It was a real treat! Then we stopped in Sensunte one last time before we headed to Soyopango to have dinner with another family. The next morning we were up bright and early to get to our flight on time, and though we had some more airport drama, we made it safely back to Salt Lake just in time for a Bushman family gathering.

Me outside one artisan shop :)

It's safe to say that we had a nice, relaxing and exciting break. Now it's back to school and work and well...basically life :)

Independence Day

It's been a delightful July for Nate and I.  We started it off with an exciting trip up to the northern country. We went up to Logan with my side of the family.  We had a blast at the Freedom Fire celebration up at Utah State.  Diamond Rio played a delicious treat for our ears, and my mom and I embarrassed all those who knew us by standing up and dancing to the music.  It was worth it though because the camera noticed us and we got on the big screen (and I fulfilled my lifelong dream of kissing my sweetheart on camera.  It was an EPIC kiss I must say, but the kids were all grossed out).  After a wonderful closing song by Diamond Rio, the lights went off in the stadium and we all prepared ourselves for the fireworks.  It was quite a show, and made ten times better by the fact that I was there with Nate.  Everything is better when he is around :)

We had fun in Logan staying at my Aunt Christine's house, and we even squeezed in a trip to the penny candy store (the Island Market for those of you who know Logan) and grabbed a bag of my childhood to go.  Then we were on our way up to Hailey, ID to visit my mom's other sister, Angie, and her family (it was a miracle that Nate was able to find a sub for two days of work, or else we wouldn't have been able to go).  Haily is the perfect place to go to relax (you may know this if you've ever enjoyed a trip up to the ski resort in Sun Valley), especially at my Aunt's house.  We lounged around, eating watermelon, riding for-wheelers, roasting marshmallows, and going for evening walks.  My Aunt had a couple of extra tickets to the Allison Krauss concert, so they invited Nate and I to go with them.  This concert plus the one the night before doubled the number of concerts Nate had been to, and all in one weekend.  We had a lot of fun though, and I managed to read an entire chapter of O-chem (I know, boring!) as I layed on a blanket on the grass and soaked up the beautiful music.  It was fun to be there with my aunt and uncle and my grandma. 

Kylie (my sister) and I did have a little run in with the bugs in Haily, though.  I  got one in my eye when we were for-wheeling, and she got bit by one around her eye.  My eyes were all red, but hers were SWOLLEN.  We all stifled back laughs as our little Kylie looked like an adorable little Asian (her eyes were like slits).  It was miserable for her, but we all thought she was cute and doted on her.

The next day was Sunday, and Nate and I got up early and made it to the church that was meeting an entire town away (this would've been unusual in Utah lol).  There meeting was wonderful :) We got back just in time for the family feast they had prepared for breakfast, and oh that was some breakfast.  I haven't eaten a breakfast like that since Christmas morning (my dad always whips up something tasty for Christmas breakfast).  Nate and I were blessed to eat like royalty that weekend (or at least it seemed like that to us because we usually eat like poor college students).

Later that afternoon we headed up to Idaho Falls where my dad's parents live.  I was beginning to desperately miss Idaho Falls, not having been there for a few years.  It was like a dream to be there again with family I hadn't seen in years, and the same food, smells, and rooms that I has grown up in.  It was even better to be there with Nate, who was visiting for the first time, and introduce him to all that I loved.  He fell in love with my grandparents giant trampoline, and spent hours entertaining the kids on it. 

Then came the 4th, which is probably the second best day of the entire year (after Christmas).  I learned how to make Cinnamon Rolls (my grandma is a master chef and teaches me all her tricks), which Nate was excited about because they happen to be his favorite treat.  We helped my grandma with a few other fixings for the family BBQ, and then relaxed until it was time to eat up.  And oh did I eat :) There was jello pie, jello salad, my grandma's strawberry cake, and I can't even remember what the main course was because I was too busy enjoying all my favorite desserts.  Oh, how I love good ol' Idaho.  If not for the family, then for the food :)

After the food began to settle in our tummies for a bit, we walked over to the river and picked out a spot to watch the firework show.  Idaho Falls has the best firework show in the west, or at least that's what they like to say.  I happen to agree, though.  They always have fun fireworks that I've never seen before, which is good because who wants to see the same exact fireworks every year?  This year was even better, though, and I bet you can guess why.  When I was little, the fourth was a time to be with all my cousins that I only got to see once a year, eat a lot of grandma's cooking, play till I was tired out, and then stare awestruck up at the fireworks as they lit the night sky.  This year, it was about a lot of those same things, but it was also about being able to share these memories and experiences with my best friend in the whole world.  As we watched the fireworks, Nate held me in his arms, and I couldn't help but feel eternally grateful for him.  It was a wonderful experience for me, and I hope for him too. 

The next day we packed up and headed back to Utah, but not before stopping by Reed's Dairy for some classic ice cream.  I got my usual, pink bubble gum.  Then it was back to work and back to our normal, hectic lives, but a little bit of Idaho stayed with us.  It was an Independence Day to remember. We felt so grateful for our God, our family, our country, and especially for each other :)

The rest of July has been fun.  Nate has enjoyed playing on the ward's Ultimate Frisbee team, which season just ended.  I have been called as the Sunday School teacher in our ward, which is guaranteed to be an exciting challenge for me.  I have enjoyed starting up my new nutrition blog.  I even designed my own business card for it, which I am super stoked about. 

What do you think? :)

The summer term is almost over now, and then we'll be off to Walla Walla for Shanie's wedding.  I'm so excited for her and Kyle :) Then Nate and I will be going to El Salvador for a belated honeymoon/mission reunion.  It's going to be fun to meet all of Nate's mission buddies and families that he taught.  We'll also get to be there for the temple dedication for the new El Salvador temple.  We are so excited for our brief two week holiday before we have to jump back into school in the Fall.

Overall, Nate and I have been super blessed.  Things have fallen into place for us, and the hand of the Lord has been in our lives always.  I'm realizing that the story books have it all wrong.  Fairy tales don't end when the princess and her prince fall in love and get married.  That is when they begin.  Nate and I are just at the beginning of our fairy tale, and I'm excited to see how the story plays out.  Hopefully there will be lots of ninos lol :)

-Kamie and Nate

Life is NOT a burden!

Wow, sometimes we all need a wake-up call, but me especially for the past few...maybe years lol. What is it that I so desperately needed to understand? Well, it's simple really...LIFE IS NOT A BURDEN! You would think a girl like me with piles of blessings on every side of her would have realized this by now, but apparently not. After all, it's hard to see all the blessings when you hold the two or three things that are going wrong in your life directly in front of your eyes so that they are all you can see. Step back, take a look around you, count your blessings, write them down, and you will soon see that LIFE IS WONDERFUL! This is an excellent cure! But what is the source of the problem?

For me, one of the easiest ways I fall into the trap of "burdendom" is by viewing my life through the lens called "I HAVE to be perfect." Man, no wonder I get exhausted when I try to live like this, since being perfect is impossible! Seriously, I need a new perspective. I've come to realize that our motivation for doing things is just as important as the result of our actions, if not more important. So why do I really get up every morning and do the things I do everyday? To be honest, for a majority of my life my motivation has been either because I know it is right, or because I feel like I have to. Though those aren't the most terrible reasons, I can think of much better ones.

The best reason for living my life the way I do should be because I love the Lord. I do love the Lord very much, but when I get so caught up in doing all the little things perfectly, it is easy to get discouraged and then forget about the role of the Savior in my life. I don't believe this is the way the Lord wants us to live. After all, we "are that we may have joy" (2 Nephi 2: 25). So what is a better approach? How about waking up every morning, looking in the mirror, and saying, "Today I am not going to do anything because I have to, but I will do it because I love the Lord." Then, when you come to a point when you have to make a decision, it becomes a joy rather than a burden. For example, should I continue school or drop out? Well, usually I would think that I can't quit school because I HAVE to graduate and get a degree. However, if I'm living my life the Lord's way because I love Him, I instead think that I should finish school because I know it's what the Lord wants me to do, and I have faith that He knows what is best. Then everyday in class, doing homework, or taking exams, I can think about the Lord and find joy in doing His will. Wow! I just turned a burden into an uplifting faithful experience.

Obviously this change of perspective is important because it can greatly increase our happiness in this life, and maybe even in the life to come. Another reason I think it is so important is that it will make a difference in the legacy we leave behind us. Our motivation is the mortar that holds together the bricks of the legacy we are building everyday of our lives. People watching us can tell why we do what we do. We are a much better example for others when we live our lives out of love. Others can tell when the smile on our lips is sincere, and they can tell when we are serving them because we truly love them and the Lord. Not that what others think of us is super important, but if we want to make any sort of difference that matters in this world, we have to have the right motivation. Otherwise, be leave a behind a taint that nearly ruins anything we may have accomplished, and our building of legacy may end up toppling over.

I know most of you who are reading this probably already understood everything I've written about so far, but for the few out there like me who struggle with perfectionism and "burdendom," I hope what I have discovered is helpful to you.

-Kamie and Nate