Our Trip to Pennsylvania!

On the 7,8, & 9 of August, Michal and I went out to Pennsylvania for a nice short trip. Jeff Gochoco (who was the last person I saw baptized on my mission) got married in the Washington DC temple so we went out for that! It was so much fun. I have so much to say about it!

Our first day there, I made sure that Michal tried one of the greatest Ice-cream places EVER... it is called "RITA's." It is DIVINE... It is a refine balanced ice cream between custard and Italian Ice. The blend couldn't be better!

Michal really liked it too and ever since I had him try Rita's he's been asking if there are any in Utah. Sadly no, but if I was rich enough to open up a franchise... I would, because this place rocks! Michal was even a little heartbroken that we weren't able to go on Saturday and Sunday because we had so much to do.

Later that night - Michal and I went to an open house, casual dinner for Jeff's family and friends that had traveled a long ways out to see him. It was a blast. Sister (Katie) Bastian and Sister (Eleanor) Clark were there! They were two of my companions that were also a part of Jeff's conversion process. It was so fun to see them again. They are just great. I LOVED being both of their companions and was so grateful that they were able to come out for Jeff's sealing. They had the funniest stories to talk about and it was so good to catch up with them. Also, Dave Vagnoni was there. He is a good friend of Jeff's and was also the one who baptized him when Jeff joined the Church. Dave was a good sport. We all teased him and drilled him about Dating, but he gave some pretty darn good answers. I think so highly of Dave and I really admire his values and his friendship. Michal said that if we ever move to Pennsylvania, he'd like to hang out with Dave and he can be one of his "buddies".

Also, at the Luncheon, I was able to meet Missy's family. Her mom came up to me and said, "I know that this sounds really ignorant, but I feel like I know you and that I've met you before." So I asked her what her name was and when she said "LEEDOM" I asked her if she lived in the Lebanon ward. Once I had said that she instantly remembered that I served as a missionary in her ward for 6 months. Then she was confused at why I was here at the lunch. So after I explained that I taught Jeff and they came out for my wedding, everything seemed to click for her. She said "Oh you're THAT Katie that they talk about." I hope that is a good thing... but it was fun to see people from the Palmyra/Lebanon area come as well. Pennsylvania is my home away from home, and it always feels good to return home.

I was pretty bummed that I forgot to bring my camera to the temple for when Jeff & Missy walked out, but Bishop Wilson & his wife were kind enough to let me go back to their house and pick it up before heading to his reception. The reception was so much fun, mostly the company. Michal was so funny... and once again, Dave got harassed about being single. Then they had dancing, which no one danced except the DJ himself... and that was about it. Saturday was such a busy day for us that we were beat by the end of the day and crashed when we returned to Bishop Wilson's home.

On Sunday, Michal & I went to the Lebanon Ward. It was SO good to see so many familiar friendly faces. The ward there has since been added on to and attendance has doubled. Also, less-active or part-member families that we were working really hard with were sitting there in Sacrament meeting. I almost cried when I found out that they were there... it made me feel like all of my hard work had paid off! It was so good to see them. After sacrament, I wanted to visit some investigators that I had worked really closely with, so we snuck out to visit them. Unfortunately, none of them were home, so we went to Hershey's Chocolate Factory and rode the Chocolate World ride. At the conclusion of the ride they give you chocolate from the factory. During the Winter, they would give out regular sized candy bars, sometimes even 2 or 3 (if you asked nice)... so that's why Michal wanted to go. I felt really bad because he must have been disappointed when he saw that they were only giving us a single hershey kiss. I think that he enjoyed the ride though. Here are some pictures from Hershey.

After our experience at Hershey, we were able to visit a few more families, including the Robinson Family, Holland Family, Winters Family, Miller Family, and Mastracola family. Michal LOVED all the families that we visited. Espcially, he loved talking to Bob (brother Holland about the car's and "cash for clunkers." He also LOVED the Mastracola's farm. They showed us their Cow, Horse, chieckens, roosters, and we got to eat a yummy cafe-rio style meal there! Michal said that he can't wait until he can go back and visit them on their farm again! I think it reminded him of the farms he used to work on in Poland.

Anyways - here are some pictures from the Mastracola's (or as Michal says: "the Coca-Cola's") farm:

Overall, it was a really fun trip and Michal is excited to go back so that I can show him Penn State. He is really wanting to check it out! It was worth it to see the families that I love so much, see Jeff get married, and show Michal my mission.

Here's What We've Been Up To Lately...

We have had quite the summer... It has been a lot of fun - and it's sad to see that it's almost over!

But, Michal and I have had a fabulous time together.  Here are some of the things we've been up to.

Michal & I have gotten to go on a lot of double dates with my brother and his girlfriend Bridgett.  Sam mostly plans activities, and Michal picks a place to eat.  My favorite activity that Sam planned was to go to the batting cages in Spanish Fork... however... they were closed, so we ended up going on this dirt road up a random mountain out by Lincoln Beach.  Sam decided to get a flat-tire and we were stranded because he had the wrong size tool to take off the things that screw the tire on(?).  So, our parents drove an hour and a half to come rescue us.  Luckily, we had reception, and I called a member of the bishopric who came and rescued us.  He brought all the right tools and (bless his heart) he didn't get home until after midnight.  Since my parents came down just as we finished, Michal decided to ride home with them and pick up his car which had been fixed up in Layton.  As he was driving back to Spanish Fork at 2:00 in the morning, he got pulled over!  The dumb cop gave him a ticket for not having a Utah Driver's License.  Michal figured that since his license cost him $1,500 Euros... why get a Utah one?  He'd asked several people, and always got the response that he didn't need to have one.  Now he has to appear in court in September sometime and try to get his fine repealed.  He's a charming guy, so I hope he'll work his magic in the court room.

Next...

Michal & I have been going to a lot of fairs.  This particular one was in Provo.  It's fun for me to walk around and see all the booths and creative things that people are trying to sell.  And, I don't really know what's fun about it for Michal. 

 We did however, go to a rodeo in Spanish Fork. 

 It was Michal's first Rodeo...

Michal had a blast.  He dressed up in a cowboy shirt and the tightest jeans he owned, along with a huge belt-buckle... and even a pair of cowboy boots that he bought at Forever Young for $3.  Behind us was seated a whole Asian ward from BYU who kept on asking Michal if he was a real cowboy and where his hat was to accompany his outfit.  Michal played along and told them he left it in his pick-up truck.  Anyways - I wish you could have heard this Asian crowd.  It sounded like we were in the middle of a Japanese game 

show. 

 They were so involved in all of the rodeo activities that it was so hard not to laugh at 

them. 

Needless to say... We had a lot of fun at this Rodeo.  Michal LOVED it and now wants to go to another one, so if anyone knows of any upcoming rodeo's please let us know!

Next...

I got called to be a beehive leader for the Young Women in the ward.  I absolutely LOVE this calling, it is such a blessing.  The leaders are fabulous and the girls are phenomenal!  

This particular activity we decided to do mud-masks.  Since I recently got a job at NuSkin, I get to try out all sorts of their cool products.  One of their products is Glacial Marine Mud which removes all the dirt and oil from your face for those who have oily faces.  So we used this particular product on most of the girls.  In the picture it is the lighter mask... the darker mask is Mud from the DEAD sea, which is better for people who have drier or normal skin.  This mud just leaves your skin soft and balanced.  Some wanted to try both.  Regardless, we had a blast and it was lots of fun!

Next...

Becky Miller decided to come out to Utah with her daughter for a convention-type-awards-thing for the Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) group that she works for called "In Every Home."  Becky tried to get me to be a distributor, but since I work at NuSkin as an administrative assistant, I can't do any other types of MLM groups otherwise I lose my job as a conflict of interest.  I still was so excited to see her!  

In fact, I was lucky enough to get to steal her for an after-noon and take her around Utah.  I showed her the Olympic Park, and I showed her various buildings in Utah.  Then we went to the Conference Center and Temple Square... by this time we were hungry - so I had to take them to Utah's Famous Costa-Vida. I think that they enjoyed it (or I hope so)... And then Ella ran through the fountains at the Gateway.  She got soaking wet, but it re-energized her and I think that it was the highlight of her trip by how much she talked about it afterwards.  Anyways - it was SO fun to see them!  I just love this family so much!  They mean so much to me.  Becky was one of the best member missionaries that I knew out in Pennsylvania.  She introduced about 6 people to us missionaries that we were able to teach while in her area.  Her family is amazing!  I love all of them and I feel like I am a part of their family.  I even am able to joke around with her husband and tell him that my next trip out to Pennsylvania is for his baptism (which I seriously hope happens one day).  I can't tell you how much I love this family, and after Michal being able to meet them and see where they live, etc.  He loves them just as much as I do and we can't WAIT to go back for "brother" miller's baptism!

Next...

My brother came home from his mission! It was so good to see him and hear all of his SCARY stories from Detroit.  I forgot how tall he is (6'6" - almost a whole foot taller than me!)!  I love him and I'm so happy he's home.  He seems to be quite the scriptorian and spiritual giant that I never knew before.  Michal & I are really proud of him!  We're also grateful that he's back to keep Sam in line, and that he'll be living in Provo so that we can have him over all the time!

Love...

Here are some things that I LOVED about my reception.

Number 1:

I love that we had cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory for my wedding dessert.  And I love how my mom decided to decorate and garnish them with fruit.  She did a fabulous job.  And I love it how we didn't get any cheesecake to eat that night - so we had to go to the Cheesecake Factory on our honeymoon TWICE to make up for it!

Number 2:

I loved my bouquet for my wedding.  It had my favorite flowers: Stargazer Lilies.  It was absolutely beautiful and some good friends from the ward put it together like they were tying their shoes.  They have some serious talent and I'm so grateful that they made it look so nice - just exactly what I wanted.  I also love it that during the day, Michal was so sick that he didn't realize that he was carrying my bouquet for me more often than I was carrying it.  Our photographer kept on having to take it from him and give to me for our pictures.  Even though he was out of it, at least he was still being such a gentleman, plus... doesn't this picture look just absolutely amazing of him with flowers?  I think so!

Number 3:

I loved the fact that I had goldfish for my centerpieces at my wedding.  For those of you who don't know, I have given Michal two nicknames:  before my mission it was "What fish" and after it was "Fishey."  It not only had a sentimental reason, but it was fun and unique, and I let those who wanted take home goldfish with them. Amazingly enough - Melinda's fish are still alive - going 2 months strong!  

Number 4:

I love that I had a harp at my wedding for my wedding music.  It just added so much to the atmosphere of being in my back yard.  It was perfect!  To me, it would have been tacky to have been playing music from a stereo, or too hard to bring a piano into my backyard, and a harp was just exactly the extra touch that my reception needed.  Even better - it was MY harp teacher who came and played for me.  I took lessons from her when I was 16 and 17 years old.  She was really fun and amazing, and I'm glad that she was able to come and play for me at my wedding.  I just loved it!

Number 5:

I love the way that the yard looked and was decorated.  My mom spent countless hours and solicited a lot of help to make sure that the backyard looked just perfect.  I took a huge risk in having an EARLY May wedding, it was almost certain that there would be rain.  But I got really lucky and had great weather (so glad I didn't have a rainy wedding in June!).  It just made for a good day to become even better.

Number 6:

I love that Michal was caught drinking a coke instead of a pepsi!

Number 7:

I loved the way we "escaped" from our wedding reception.  

My story...

You've heard the phrase that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well, I won't write a thousand words about each picture... but there might be quite a few that I absolutely LOVE from our wedding day.  Here is my story...

Here we are walking out of the temple.  I was so excited to make "our appearance."  After we were married, I left - got dressed (which you girls know putting on a wedding dress can be quite an ordeal and take a while)... waited for Michal for a long time.  He was sick in the bathroom.  For those of you who don't know... Michal was sick on our wedding day and bought a barf-bucket into the sealing room with us.  He didn't know if he would last the day.  At this point, I was getting nervous if he would be able to escort me out of the temple at all!  But I was really excited to greet family and friends.

After you leave the temple you greet your family and friends.  I think that this is my FAVORITE photo of one of us hugging our loved ones.  This is my favorite because this was the Sister Missionary who taught Michal the gospel in Poland.  Her name was Siostra Carter (now Jennifer Kinghorn).  Michal asked her if she would sit in the waiting room with his Mom since she wasn't able to attend the sealing ceremony.  She sat there for over an hour and just carried on conversation in Polish with Michal's mom. I thought that it was so sweet of her to spend the time with her.  She could have come to the sealing, but it meant a great deal to us to have someone there with Michal's mom so that she didn't feel uncomfortable.  I am really grateful for Siostra Carter for if she never had taught Michal, this day never would have been possible.  It is because of her decision to serve a mission that I was able to get married to such a great guy.  That's why this picture means a great deal to me!

This picture describes how crazy my veil was ALL DAY LONG.  It was so windy and would always blow at just the wrong times.  As we came out of the temple, it blew across my face making it difficult for us to do our "exit kiss."  And then everytime during the day when our photographer wanted to do a "flying veil shot"  the wind just seemed to disappear.  I couldn't believe how crazy the wind was. 

These are two pictures that I like that we took while we were waiting for other wedding parties to finish their pictures on the temple stairs.  Doesn't Michal look super handsome?

Of course - you can't forget the friends either.  My friends, his friends, and all of our friends!

(I have some good candids too for those of you who are in these!)

And everyone else who came to support us!!!

Here are a few more pictures that I really like of just Michal & I...