Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The Lunch Bunch!

I went to lunch yesterday with a bunch of people and it was really quite fun!! So ya, here's a pic!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Happy Birthday Big Bro!

A pink cake? Manly!!

Keith and his wife Sarah

Some of the fam!

I love my big bro!!! Especially when he attempts to look cool- like in the above pic! lol


Keith turned the big "23" on Friday so last night we had cake and ice cream with the family to celebrate! I am pretty much a big fan of my big brother!! He is a great example to me. I love him and hope he has an amazing twenty third year of his life!! Woot Woot!

Friday, May 16, 2008

Back into The Swing of Things

Here are a few pics from my week. I have gotten back into the swing of things and back into life! I am loving it and am doing so well!! I am honestly so happy- happier than I have ever been before (with the exception of some of my really good days at the MTC). I have so much hope and I am filled with desire to live my life to the fullest and stay positive no matter what happens! I know there are tough times ahead of me, but I have already faced some way tough times the last two months and I know I am NEVER alone!! Life is GOOD!!!

Hanging out at Sonic and being silly as always!

My 'Ness!! So good to have my friends again!!

Cheese it up C Squared!! I love my 'Stina!

Pretty sure there is not a cuter 20 month old on the planet!!!

I loved spending time with my Annie baby this week!

I love love love this girl!!!!

So totally styl'n!

Ya that's right- best babysitter ever award, take her to Joe's BBQ and let her stuff her face with chocolate chip cookie!! he hee

And who can ever forget crazy fun friends who meet you at Joe's BBQ!! Boy did I miss those yummy giant baked potatoes!! Oh and Kilie I missed you too! lol

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

My Missing Piece

So it has now been a week since I have been home from my mission and I have had a lot of rough times this past week. I didn't know what to do with myself the first few days I was home, I felt like I didn't have a purpose in life anymore. The past six weeks my purpose was to bring others unto Christ or at least prepare to do so. When I got home I was totally lost. I would have given anything to go back to the MTC and when I say anything I mean it!! My iPods, my motorcycle, all of my skateboards, my snowboard, my truck, EVERY earthly possession I own!!! I seriously didn't want to be here, I wanted to be back on my mission SO bad. There were three things that got me through last week. First off I knew that me coming home was the Lord's will- that is the only reason I got on the airplane. I knew it was what the Lord wanted, I could feel it as soon as it started becoming a topic of conversation, I was filled with so much peace at a thought (coming home for a few months) that I personally thought was dreadful and the worst decision I could ever make. But I just had this indescribable feeling, I knew it was right, I knew the Lord wanted me to come home. The second thing that helped me through the week was that I know I will have the chance to be a missionary again!! I can feel it and so could my Branch President, the MTC Branch President, My Stake President, I mean everyone... We can all feel it, we all know that I am supposed to be a missionary, so that thought keeps me going. The last thing that helped me through the horrible week that was last week, was all of my wonderful support. I am so grateful for my family and friends who jumped in to be there for me! I owe so much to my parents, they have been so great and I have been a mopey mess and not very good at showing my appreciation. Thanks so much mom and dad for helping me out, you really are the BEST and I will try to be better at showing it by my words and actions!! I am also so thankful for amazing friends who clear their schedules to spend time with me and help me in anyway they can! Thanks to all of those who have been dishing out advice and have let me vent to them via voicemail, text or what not! Honestly these three things were the ONLY things that got me to today and my epiphany of sorts!


I kept living in the past, dwelling on my moments at the MTC both the bad and the good. I was missing the above pictured item so much!!! I thought that I needed that plaque to define myself, I wanted to be a missionary so bad that all I could do was dwell on the fact that I wasn't anymore. This morning as I was laying on my bed and I looked up at my wall (for those of you who don't know, I have two whole walls in my bedroom covered in Sharpie!! It is my quote wall that everyone writes on and it is amazing!) and as I was reading some of the quotes on there and I read one I had written a little over a year ago, I don't know where I got it at but it's by President Thomas S. Monson. I read this quote and then re-read it over and over and something just clicked in my head! (The one in brown writing in the center of the pic)

I realized that I have just been letting my days slip past. Ya I have a schedule and I follow it and ya I am doing "missionary things" but I have not been living!! I have been either dwelling on my days at the MTC or day dreaming of my return to the mission. I have been focused on "my missing piece" - My Missionary Name Tag-. Well no more my friends, no more dwelling and no more day dreaming!! I am going to look at the name tag (now resting on my dresser) as a reminder of the past and a goal for the future. It is my motivation, it is my past and my future and I will be living every day worthy to once again wear it. I will remember all of the things I learned at the MTC, I will prepare myself to return to the mission field all with one goal in mind- to be able to reunite myself with my missing piece. I will live these next few months to the best of my abilities as they are a gift from my Heavenly Father. It truly is a blessing to have this extra time to work on myself, the language and the doctrine before heading out into the field. I want to serve the Lord and I know that he wants me to be a full time missionary, but until that time comes again, with the Lord's help I will be the best Kristi Kleisler I know how to be, then when it comes time to be Hermana Kleisler again I will knock the socks off of everyone!! :)

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Girl Clothes?

So when I got up the morning after I got home from the MTC I could not figure out what to wear!!! I didn't want to put on my mission clothes- I had just worn those for 6 weeks straight and will wear them again for a whole 18 months!! But I also really didn't feel like only wearing basketball shorts and skateboarding t-shirts anymore. So off it was to the mall!! I ended up quite happy with the clothes I found and now I wear girl clothes all the time- Weird I know, but hey the mission changes people, even if you only spend 6 weeks in the MTC- you still change!

Still a motocross shirt- but a girl one, dude it's PINK!!


Apparently I like plaid shorts!!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Mother's Day!!

I was able to be here for my mom for Mother's Day since I am home now. It is such a bitter sweet thing. My mom knows that I don't want to be here and almost feels hurt that I don't want to be home with her, but I told her it should be a testament of what an amazing mom she is and was that I would rather be out serving the Lord than be here at home hanging out and doing whatever I want whenever I want. I am so greatful for my fabulous mom who raised me in the church and instilled gospel values in me at a very young age. She is an amazing support and she has been there through everything right along with me. I am going through the toughest thing ever in my life right now and she doesn't understand what it feels like- BUT she is understanding. It is such a blessing to have such a supportive and cheerful mother! I know the Lord loves me because he sent me her! I also got to spend time with my Grandma Joyce today and that was such a treat also. My Gma is so neat. She is one of the least selfish people I know!! She is always doing something for someone else and constantly giving of her self!! Look at these two amazing role models I have!! I already look a lot like them hopefully I can learn to act like them too!

-Me, Mom, Grandma- An Amazing 3 Generations if I do Say So Myself!!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

C Squared and K Squared Together Again!


I can tell you right now that I will be posting quite a bit for the next few weeks. I don't really have a life yet so I am keeping myself busy in anyway possible. But anyway this post has a purpose- a fabulous one.... I got to be reunited with my best friend today!!!! She was in Utah when I came home on Wednesday and so I had to wait all the way until today to be with Cristina!! It was so great to spend time with her, it really helped me to forget about my troubles for a little while! I don't know what I would do without friends like C Squared! We hung out and talked for a long time (I of course have lots to talk about) and then we went to Jason's Deli and then did a little shopping (retail therapy is the best ever). I honestly would never wish to be home from the mission but I am grateful to have this time to be with my friends- they are the best ever!!