I'm getting Married!

July of this year was an extremely hard time for me. While Jillian and Carl were in Hawaii, I was so frustrated about my current life. I was crying and praying all the way home from work and then I was about to be home and I decided that I needed more than a few prayers, but that I needed a father's blessing.

I called my father and headed to my parents' home. I was given a blessing of comfort and the tears would not stop falling from my eyes. I was talking with my mom and she wasn't able to understand what I was going through. The loneliness was too much for my heart. I stormed out of the house sobbing. As I was getting on the expressway, Jillian called me from Hawaii. She was truly heaven sent. She just had felt like she needed to call me and it was so comforting to know that my prayers weren't just hitting the ceiling or the roof of the car.

A couple weeks later I was at church and the institute instructor, Sister Worlton took me over to meet this nice gentlemen. His name was Ben Allen. Our fist meeting was quite awkward, but every time that I would go to church, I would think, where is Ben, I want him to see how good I look today.

After weeks of this questioning, I asked Nalihda what she thought of Ben. Nalihda is good about getting the 411 on everyone. All that she said was reassuring. After we finished our chat, she turned me and said, he's a great guy, you should totally go for it. I was like, what I just was curious. At that moment, I realized that I was interested in getting to know him.

A few weeks passed by and I was on my last furlough in August. I left a few important facts out of my previous post about going to Tennessee.

While there, I had no TV, Cellphone, or Internet. I had quite a bit of quite time. While there, my grandmother gave me her wedding set. At that moment, it was confirmed that I would marry soon. My mind kept on thinking, there are no prospects. Several evenings I would be relaxing and Ben Allen would come into my mind. I was like, seriously, I don't even know him. It was really funny because one day on the way home from the hospital, I told my mom about my entire wedding reception. I even showed my grandma and mother a picture of the dress I had picked out in December of last year when I was visiting Jenny in Utah. I thought this is so bizarre that I'm telling them about this and I'm not even dating anyone.

The following Sunday after I returned Ben gave a talk in church, which was probably the best talk I've ever heard. That is the point, I started opening up to the idea of dating him.

That evening I texted him and gave him my phone number. The following day Ben called me before Family Home Evening. It felt so good talking to him. He asked me if I had a key to the building. I actually had never brought back the key from when my roommate was in charge of FHE, so I was able to give him the key. Afterwards, I had to meet with the missionaries. He waited for me to get out of my meeting. Then Dave, Mark, Jonelle, Ben and myself headed to Buffalo Wild Wings.

Ben and I talked the entire evening to each other. It was quite easy conversation. What truly made me hesitant is that he's an oldest child also. Two oldest makes for quite the pair. As we were leaving the restaurant, Jonelle and I headed one direction and the guys headed another. I thought that was absolutely the end of it. While I was driving home, feeling that nothing was going to happen, a text came to me from Ben wishing me a good night and that I drove home safely. I then thought, "maybe there is hope."

A week had passed and he hadn't asked me out on a date. I was playing the Organ in church and then he came up to me before the meeting and said that he had prayed that I would have angel hands when I was playing that day. Then I just blurted out,"Want to come over to dinner tonight?" He said yes and I could hardly contain myself.

He came over at 4pm and then he stayed and talked to me until 11pm. He basically told me his whole life story in one night. At the end of our date, we hugged and I thought that this might only be a friendship. I was disappointed and went downstairs to bed. I called Jillian and told her about my day and how I thought nothing was going to happen. She then told me to take a chill pill and that everything seemed perfectly normal.

The next day we went out and things seemed to be going well.

Things began to progress quickly and we have become best friends. Ben is so kind and giving. He will help me out with all of my responsibilities and lightening my load. I love him so much and cannot wait to be married to him forever.

The Last Week

About a week and a half ago my mom asked if I would take her to Tennessee to see my ailing grandfather. I agreed because I had the following week off.

We loaded up the car Friday evening and left around 5:15am for Tennessee. We arrived at the hospital around noon. Candy, Troy, Cassandra, Logan, Taylor and my grandma were already there. My grandfather was having trouble breathing, so the nurse gave him morphine. He then went to sleep and we went to lunch. We ended up at one of the only restaurants in Paris, TN. After downing some food, we returned to the hospital and talked with him for a little while longer. My mother and I were exhausted from our journey and left for their house, which was 45 minutes away.

Shortly after we arrived in Big Sandy, the rest of the family came back. There was quite a bit of things that needed to be done. We sat on the porch and talked about different childhood memories of our grandpa.

Sunday my grandpa came home from the hospital. He was pretty strong and was able to walk into the house. My mom and I went to church and then we came home and made my grandfather's favorite cake-German Chocolate.

Tuesday the home health nurse came and my grandpa was extremely weak by the time that she was done testing him. By 4pm he was having trouble breathing, so I loaded him and my grandma into the car and we headed to the emergency room. He was given a shot of Lasix and was released.

Wednesday, he slept most of the day and was not doing well at all. Thursday at 3am he was having trouble breathing. My mom and I had to return home, because my younger sister was in need of help getting ready for camp. He had a real bad bout and the nurse informed my grandma that he only had 2-3 days left before he would pass.

Friday, August 21st, around 3am Robert Marion Gaba passed from this life, no longer suffering. His wake is tomorrow in Frankfort, IL and his funeral is on Tuesday. He will be laid to rest near his daughter, who passed 2 years ago.

Earth Day

This morning I had to wake up early and begin my day with a little work. Even though I'm on furlough this week. Also, another memo came out today and we will be on furlough next month too.

Faith Mickley and I jumped in the car this morning and went to The Museum of Science and Industry. We went to a presentation on the earth and that we need to reduce, reuse, and recycle. After that, we traipsed through the entire museum. The highlight of my day was going to the Toy making factory. While there you get to design your own spinning top and watch it be made from start to finish. It is even inspected to make sure that it has been made properly.

After a couple of hours, we went on another adventure. We went to the Pupuseria El Salvador and picked up pupusas. They are so yummy! Pupusas have pork and cheese in the middle with masa on the outside.

Tonight a group of us went and saw the new Disney nature movie Earth. It was absolutely amazing. James Earl Jones did a wonderful job narrating it. I highly recommend this movie.

Slacking in my Writing

I can't believe it's April and I haven't written on my blog in a couple of months.

February 17th I went to the Jason Mraz concert in Dekalb, IL with Jillian and Carl. It was a wonderful concert, but on my way home I started reflecting on my life and where I was at and where I would be going in this next year. I began pouring out my soul to the Lord, and told him that if my work here in Chicago was done, to allow me to leave the area and be of more use somewhere else. Honestly, I was quite frustrated, especially with the current economic situation and my current employment.

The week continued and whenever something big is about to happen in my life, I freak out and I'm a bit annoyed with the change. Sometimes I don't even know what's coming, but get a feeling of uneasiness.

Sunday, February 22nd, I took Chelsea Barnett to the airport fairly early. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep the night before, so I thought I would take a nap at the church before my meetings. I decided I needed to read my scriptures, so I went into the nursing mother's room, where it was quite and began to read. I then read my patriarchal blessing and as I read the words of my blessing, "Relief Society President" came into my mind as clear as day. My first thought, "I've definitely lost it, and I need to get more sleep!" The feeling continued and I felt quite overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for the sisters' in the ward.

After sacrament meeting, the Bishop called me into his office and he extended the calling of Relief Society President to me. All I could get out was, "Ok, Ok....Ok" Then the tears started streaming down my face from the overwhelming task ahead of me. I then relayed the experience I had had only hours earlier. He then told me that that is when they as a Bishopric had determined I would be the next Relief Society President.

The rest of church was pretty much a blur.

While sitting in relief society, the lesson was about lifting where you stand. Our closing hymn was, I'll go where you want me to go." I purposely sat in the back and tears again streamed down my face.

That afternoon, I went home and fell asleep on the couch. When I awoke, I asked my mom if I was just dreaming that I was the new relief society president. She said, "No, you still are going to be the next relief society president." I asked my father for a blessing. The most poignant part was when I was told to not worry about my temporal needs and that He would take care of them, but that I needed to focus on the spiritual things and my new calling.

I know that the Lord is mindful of each one of us and our needs. He will not leave us comfortless. I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve and grow in ways I never thought possible.

The following Sunday I was called as Relief Society President. That day was filled with quite a few different tasks and meeting with quite a few of the sisters. We had a break the fast meal at the Stake Center and then a fireside. I was so overwhelmed. I was about to leave and Chelsea said she needed to talk to me. We walked away from the group that we were with and she said that she had been fasting that day to find someone to live in her house after she left. She told me she knew the moment I was called, that I was to live in her house. I was like ok, let me think about it. That was March 1st and by March 11th, I was completely moved into my new home. It has a beautiful back yard, and a wonderful area for entertaining the ward and my friends.

New Year, New Resolution

Christmas to New Year's was spent in Utah with the beautiful mountains and one of my best friends', Jenny. We spent much time catching up and took a drive around a few of the temples. The Bountiful temple is most beautiful. I really wish I would have gone to the temple, because the Chicago temple is now closed to early March or later.

December 30th in the evening Tim, Jenny and I were sitting around and started making our New Year's resolutions. This year includes running at least 5 5ks, 2 10ks and 1 half marathon. Over the past few months I have realized running has taught me life lessons. I'm looking forward to achieving my goal of a half marathon before I'm 30. I've also renewed my commitment to reading the scriptures. My other goal is to develop another talent. I have decided to get more involved in my writing. I love to write and would eventually like to write a book. Lastly, I'm going to start graduate school. I've been looking at several options. I figure it's been 6 years since I finished my undergrad and I should go back while I have the time.

Life is wonderful and I'm looking forward to embarking on these new adventures. May I complete these goals...