Finally Back with a bit of an update!

So I am finally getting around to starting to blog today and obviously it has been awhile as some of my photos are out of order so just bear with me :) The first pictures here are of my final time as a missionary and the flight home. August 11th was the day I came home and what a day of mixed feelings it was! I was so happy to be reunited with family and yet heartbroken that I was no longer a full time missionary. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to serve in the Maryland Baltimore Mission. I absolutely loved it!! Below is a picture with me and some of the elders at the mission home. The gap between elders and sisters still makes me laugh. Glad those days are over :)
Below is a picture of our MTC group and the missionaries who came out with me, minus one who wasn't at that transfer meeting.



Oh how I missed these!
So a few updates on the transition home:
FIRST DATE: Holten
My first date back was with Holten. He was a great one to go with and we had a lot of fun! We had dinner and went minigolfing and got his icecream and then we were able to talk. Holten was a great one to help as he had gotten home from his mission in June and understood some of the weird transitions you experience!
I have to mention this date because it was so fun and such a nice surprise. Chris has been a friend of mine from young men's, young women's and if anybody could've just asked it was Chris and yet he had fun with it and created a fun surprise one morning as he had lined the kisses up to my car and had a little card on my windshield. We went to dinner, then got frozen yogurt, and went to Gibson Pond (first time I'd visited it since being home) and TRIED to feed the ducks. It was also great to talk to Chris who got home from his mission in December.
The month of September I hung out with Holten before he went to Idaho for work. He is a fun guy and he has a charming personality, and there is never a dull moment with Holten! That includes one memory when we went to Institute and he came out to this tire.
He was a little distracted because while we were at institute who should we run into but a mission buddy of Holten's, Ryker. They had served in the same mission and both live in Montana so that was pretty sweet. Ryker got home in February and Holten in June. They were catching up while everybody was working on the tire and I was taking pictures!
We had several guys, two of who did most the work, Holten had snacks, and we had three cars to provide light.
In September we went to the Sluice boxes--great idea Sam! It was so nice to be in the beauty of Montana for a little hike!
Then in October I was lucky enough to get the invitation from Ryker to go dancing. It had been 6 years since I have been dancing and I didn't realize how much I had missed it! I had a blast! Here are our little wristbands from the dance.
Here we are the night we went dancing, and it has been Ryker since then!
This was when we joined Creighton (Ryker's little bro) and Lil Lizer and we watched Wall-E. Such a cute movie! Momma Whitney offered to get blizzards and since DQ was closed, she made us each the blizzard we requested! Loved it!

FIRST MOVIE POST MISSION: RIO
FIRST MOVIE ALL NIGHTER: THOR WITH BENNY AND JAROM
In October I got my feather extensions. I loved them!
FIRST ROAD TRIP: IDAHO TO VISIT SOME MISSION BUDS AND GO TO THE ROCK OPERA
Here we are at the Rock Opera, Deep Love. It was awesome! The above photo is me with (from L to R) Krystyna (also known as Sister Hales from my mission letters), Trina and Bryce (Brother and Sister Kunz from Odenton-my last area)
As you already know we had a great weekend and then while driving to get Ryker in Rexburg I hit a deer. We were very blessed though thanks to all the rescue parties:

**Zach and Sara, Ryker's cousins who let us stay at their apartment for a couple days
**Richard Paul who brought my car back to Montana
**Dad who helped me with the decisions of what to do next
**Ken (Ryker's companion), Josh, and Lonny who came with Ryker to help me with my car and tow it to town
**Brother Davison and Creighton (Ryker's dad and brother) who drove us back home
**Ryker for being such a good sport and so flexible with everything

FIRST HEELS PURCHASED: I ended up not buying any for a couple months, but here were the ones that caught my eye!

The next morning it was pretty cute as I laid in bed because Roo opened the door and came inside. I figured there wasn't anything she could get into so I wasn't worried. Then I heard, "Ooohhh!" and opened my eyes to see her pulling the shoes out of the box and trying them on! So cute!
This is also out of order, but here is Krystyna and me when i was in Idaho!
One of my highlights with being home is that I have been able to get to know Lil Roo better and to bond with her. I am so grateful Holly and Barrett got her acquainted with my face so she would know who I was before I got home and let me tell you I have loved being with family and expecially to be Aunt Jessica! It has been such a joy thus far and I am so pleased with Barrett and Holly's little family. They are doing such a wonderful job and I love them dearly!

WORK AND SCHOOL: So I am working at the beach with Mom and I love it! School is currently pending as I am researching and trying to figure out where I want to be.
This was a little good luck wish from Mom and Dad. Isn't it beautiful!
Here is the note that went with it. It was when I was getting my license back by taking the test, and I passed! So now I am headed back to the hospital, waiting to get some hours!