Two Years and Counting

Two years ago today, my cousin came home from work and handed me an envelope.

Last year on this date, I spent my first full day in Miami and met the Branch Mission Leader and the awesome people of Snapper Creek YSA.


This year, I went to see Star Trek: Into Darkness with my family and got a poster.


All three were pretty epic.

Really, the last two years have been the most incredible 24 months! I am so grateful for them! So many amazing experiences that I never would have had and wonderful people that I would never had met if I hadn't gone on a mission.  My life has been and will continue to be affected by my mission. I have thought of it everyday that I've been home and will no doubt think of it every day of my life. I am so happy to be a returned missionary!
And if you didn't think I loved my mission, now you know I do.

But cool things happen after the mission, too. The last 2.5 months have been a very interesting experience.  Going from teaching and working and sharing the Gospel everyday in a warm and humid climate, to sitting at home in the cold dry air with practically nothing to do was a very big change.  I needed an intense amount of lotion and a purpose. Due to the random events going on in the lives of my family, I have been kept fairly busy so I didn't go completely insane all at once.  (Have you ever gone from being totally busy to having nothing to do? It's harder than you think.)

So here is how I've been occupying my time:
The day before I gave my homecoming talk, my friend got married. Then a week later,

Brianon and Thomas

these two were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.  Thomas, you chose well.

The Salt Lake Marathon runners ran past our house in the rain and we held a baby shower for Jamie's new baby girl - which came about an hour before the shower started. Welcome to the world, Greta!

Pink much? This is missing the pink deviled eggs.

Then, because why not, I went to Florida!

Angela and I with a Britto Peacock.

I got to hang out with the extremely nice Sobkowicz family and we went to the zoo.  

But the real reason for the trip was to be there for Cesar as he went through the temple for the first time. We met and taught Cesar and his family a little over a year ago. They were amazing them and they are incredible now.  I am so proud of them and where they have come.  Congratulations Cesar!

Joel and Cesar

We also got to see several of the people we taught while we were in West Palm Beach. It was almost magical to be able to visit people and do missionary work without actually being a missionary.  I wish I could go back right now! I'm so glad I know all those wonderful people!

As soon as I got back, my parents got to celebrate their first grandchild's 1st birthday.

Mommy and Daddy are very proud of their child who is stuffing his face with cupcake.

James Tiberius Bullen has officially completed one year of life.  Just in time for the new Star Trek to come out!

Then, not but 3 days later, I went up to the lovely Logan, Utah.

Way to go, Jaron, Ian, and Jill!

My awesome friends did something I only pretended to do, and GRADUATED!!

Two days after I got home from Logan, the wonderful and amazing Diana Hourrutiner come to Utah! We had the wonderful opportunity of being companions until she went into the MTC.  We got to visit several temples, which were all beautiful!  One day, she went on an exchange with another great former missionary, and I helped my parents out with the landscaping.  I moved all the flagstones, that were originally part of the ditch out front, from the backyard to the side of the house and made a path.

The path that will one day be magical.

It was more work then I imagined it would be. My arms were incredibly sore by the end of the day.  At least they still work! And the path looks great, right?

After many days of being a missionary and not being able to do missionary work, Diana finally went into the MTC!

Danielle, Diana, Anna, and Jessica. Las Hermanas!

And with a trip to In-and-Out and some pictures, she was off!  Suerte Hermana Hourrutiner!

Now life can move steadily onward.  Even though I don't know what else is coming in my future, at least I've had these last two years to prepare me for it!