my best friend's wedding

well guys, SHE'S MARRIED!
 my girl is a sadie married lady now & i just know she'll be good at it!
the sealing was beautiful. after these two were sealed for time & all eternity, the guests were able to file past them on the way out the door to offer congratulations & give hugs. i waited my turn as patiently as i could, but i COULD NOT wait to tell her how very proud i am of her for choosing a temple marriage and better yet, choosing a man who could take her to the temple. even though marriage is definitely no walk in the park {though it can, in fact, include a few lovely walks in the park!} i know that this is what will truly bring them happiness. Heavenly Father will continue to bless their love to grow! i had too many things i wanted to tell her in that moment, but when my turn came for the congratulations, i couldn't hold in the tears. and then, she couldn't hold in the tears. and suddenly we were this tragically silly blonde duo--hugging & sobbing & smiling. unable to talk and holding up the line. me with a belly & her in white. the best of friends! it was a moment to remember.
 i am so happy for my girl, and i am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who prepared a way for us to be sealed in families for eternity.

xo lauren

how i know God loves me.

yesterday morning, i woke up before travis (an extremely rare event). before i got up & out of bed, i started my morning off with a prayer. i prayed that i wouldn't wake up travis, so that i could go on my run, and come back to surprise him with waffles in bed! i considered my plan to be perfectly perfect in every way, and i was prepared to stealth around the apartment as if i were playing Don't Wake Daddy (remember that game? it kills me!).
i very, very slowly rolled out of bed (it took me 3 full minutes) and slowly, slowly made my way to the closet for my tennies. so far so good!
then: SNUUUUGH! "babe, what are you doing?"

he woke up. of course he did.

i was a little sad Heavenly Father didn't like my plan as much as I did, but I consented that He must have had a better plan in mind. and as it turns out, He did!!
Travis decided to come with me on my run (who am i kidding? JOG.) turns out he used to go on a run every morning with his comp on the mission, and always wanted to do it with his wife. we had the most perfect time motivating each other to go just a little bit farther. i love that man so much! i hope we can make morning jogs a habit!
Just another lesson of how our Heavenly Father knows us far better than we could ever know ourselves.

xo lauren

Worth Waiting For

i absolutely loved this. the siblings are the most funny! i pray that my children are this completely adorable, and that they will understand the importance of waiting. sacrificing pleasure now, for happiness later.
just something nice to think about on this sunny monday.
giveaway winner announced here!
xo lauren

it's time

it's time that i blogged, don't you think?

we have been busy birds once again. we go to school all day and work all night, then we scrounge around for junk to eat before we pass out on our bed... then we do it all over again. general conference this weekend was such a blessing. it could not have come at a more perfect time for our tired selves! we invited a few friends over for "palacsintas" {the hungarian word for crepes} so that we could feast on food & the words of the living prophets alike.
it was so nice to take a little breather.
here's my favorite little nugget from this week:

i promise to be a better blogger this week.
♥ lauren

a challenge

 skirt: thrifted | flower pins: from my bouquet | shoes: charolette russe

Today in relief society we learned all about spiritual gifts.
Our talents, our faith, our specific promptings.
It makes me think about all of the many gifts I've been given.

I love helping people.
I love being around others & making them feel like two hundred bucks.
{let's be realistic here, you could do a lotta damage with two hundred bucks!}
 being new in town here, and now moving so soon already,
i haven't been as aware of others as I could be.

but i don't want to make excuses, i want to do what i love!
& i want you to, too.
i challenge us to help someone this week.
whether it be a warm smile, a plate of cookies, or a christmas dinner for the needy.
service is the most fun there is, after all!
happy  sunday, everyone.
peace & love

it's like a castle, only way cooler.

trav & i visited the temple yesterday, 

tuesdays are the very best of days, after all.

i love to see the temple! I love the peace that is all around and the many answers I receive to my many, many questions. & going with the husband makes it all the more sweet. 

oh how i love the gospel! i am so grateful for the truth & blessings that surround me everyday.

yesterday i could just feel that Christ loves me, very much. i was a happy girl.

okay, so let's keep chuggin with that fashion thing.

scarf: anthropologie | top: downeast basics| vest: F21 | skirt: thrifted | shoes: thrifted

i like this skirt very much, because it makes me feel rather "mary tyler moore". and trav thinks his grandparents had an old couch that was made out of the same material, and i almost got offended.

but instead i laughed.

& then i ate the rest of his tootsie roll.

the end.

twins have to separate sometime

and boise to indonesia... is a whole lot of separation.

as of last wednesday, my twin brother is an "elder"

& i am oh so proud.

my sister, trav & i took him to a brazilian grill before leaving his presh face at the mtc

sorry about the glop on his face: the kid always was a messy eater-- to the dismay of our mother.

and friends. and civilized people in general.

luckily, Indonesian culture eats mainly with their fingers.

i know.The Lord basically knows Andrew, perfectly. {smile} 

then the big drop-off came, and went.

as we were about to pull into the mtc i said, "not yet! let's go around the block a few times!"

trav replied, "it's either now, or fve minutes from now."

under my breath i whispered, " five minutes please?"

but andrew was quiet,

and we pulled in.

he walked away with such a smile on his face.

"he was ready," said trav.

though i'm not sure that I was.

i love my very own elder so very much. he is the brother that is always there, and always will be.

he will be strong these next two years, i have no doubt. he has become the man we both always knew he would be! & i love that right now he has the chance to grow even more.

see you in two years, brovs.

peace & love

Yesterday at the YMCA,

I almost forgot to do my routine locker room check

it wasn't exactly a most crucial thing,

but something told me to go.

everything seemed normal, until i reached the end of the long maze the Y calls a locker room.

there, walking in circles & looking helpless, was a woman.

she was blind, her walking stick tapping anxiously at everything around her.

watching her silently for a moment, i noticed her make a whimper of scared frustration.

& so i said, just loud enough, "Excuse me, can I help you?"

the look of relief that washed over her face could have made me cry.

"Oh hi," she said quietly, "This is my first time here... I just need someplace to change into my dry clothes."

With a smile she couldn't see, I took her by the elbow and lead her to a nearby bathroom stall.

"Thank you for saving me." she said.

& i went back to work.

i didn't exactly save a life yesterday.

but i was so grateful for listening to the Spirit, and the chance to help someone who needed me.

please, have a good day today.

{smile}

i got my G's

& they feel goooooood.

i loved everything about today

oh. my. goodness.

i just loved everything about today!

here's me, fresh out of the distribution center.

the smile is for every good feeling i had trying temple dresses.

the thumbs up is for the BEST shopping experience of my life!

minus the ring shoppin.

that was also hecka tight.

& here's my twin brovs & i.

our first time through those revolving doors!

as twins, we share kinda everything.

today was the sweetest thing we've ever shared between us.

oh how i adore this gospel!

 my testimony has been strengthened a hundredfold

& tonight i've learned even more of this gospel i hold so dear.

great balls of fire.

i can't wait to go back. 

again, and again.

the church is true.

the church is TRUE.

& i know it, with everything that i am.

trav & i are going to the temple every tuesday from now till the end of time.

basically.

{giggle & GRIN}

i go through the temple this week

Tuesday! to be specific.

{i love to see the temple. i'm going there someday}

today i had my temple recommend interview with my stake president.

it went well! {victorious smile}

before i left the office, my stake president signed his signature on my very first temple recommend- signifying his witness of my worthiness. as he signed, he was all business.

i was all emotion.

i've been preparing myself my entire life to enter the temple.

and now my time has come, and i'm worthy.

i'm worthy!

i qualify for additional blessings, knowledge, and covenants in this life.

all of which will start this tuesday. oh how i adore tuesdays.

my worthiness is an eternal question, but for now-- i'm good to go.

i think of this as a triumph.

i love to see the temple.

i'm going there, tuesday.

{smile filled with all the hope & joy i can muster}

i'm not coming back to rexburg.

umm. hi.

this post is mainly to explain to my room girls why i'm not coming back to BYU Idaho in the fall, although that's been the plan since april. i love rexburg & all of the lovelies that live there, & the spirit that is all over campus-- but it's not right.

for the soon-to-be Mr. & Mrs., rexburg is only a financial sinkhole because- let's face it- we won't find jobs.

 too many students, too little town.

education-wise, rexburg has nothing for us. his anesthetics isn't even offered there & i can learn to be a kick-ace writer from somewhere else.

in boise, trav has a plan. he knows where our brand new little family is going & how to get there.

i'm so lucky to have a man with convictions. i'm so lucky to have fallen in love with a man who strives to make the best for his family. i'm so lucky to have fallen in love with a man whose kisses make me say, "wooooooHOOOOOO!"

i will miss my most favorite friends, dearly. but we will visit, and i will sleepover! & i will come to devotional & squeel about how awesome Tuesdays are, & i will wear flip-flops when it's too cold, & i will talk to your fishes like an absolute loon,  and i will pass around chocolate chips like they're popcorn, & i will fall asleep a little too quickly on the couch, and i will be overjoyed to see you, every time. i'm still excited for fall.

& i am excited to marry a man who'll take care of me.

this is my twin brother

right about the time when ladies started finding him all hot & what not.

yeah... he's attractive. we've gotten too many random chickies diggin' on him though.

this is my twin brother & me, when mom had us wear matching pink shirts.

our twin-ness is stifling right!?

the amazing thing about having a twin is that he's always there.

he always understands.

he's always excited for you

& you always get to be excited for him.

& this was my brother last night,

he's opening his mission call.

On Oct. 27th Elder Andrew Pulsipher is called to serve in the Indonesia, Jakarta Mission. He'll speak Indonesian, probably eat some weird noodles, and do his best to love & serve the people of Indonesia.

I am so ridiculously proud of this amazing man that I have as a brother.

Twins gotta stick together,

with me getting married & him off to serve the Lord,

we go through the temple together in August.

& I am so entirely blessed to have him in my life.

happiness is finding a pencil.

sometimes people ask me how i'm "always" a happy person.
and i wonder if it's because i annoy them?


truthfully, i'm happy with being a happy person.
that's the secret. it's a decision.
all those cutesy hand-outs you got from your teachers & church leaders were right.

image via weheartit ♥

it's a new year's resolution,
a blue top or a pink,
a decision to stop by the temple grounds before work, & think of my life to come.
an idea to turn off the radio for the long car ride home, and count my many blessings. one by one.
a song in my head, all day every day.
it's a thought process.
a workout.
a life.

grateful

today is a lovely day!

i'm so happy to have my wonderfully well paid, fun & rewarding job
i'm loving the last few months that i have to live with my wakidoodle family
i'm excited to tackle the huge to-do list that i have for my wedding
i'm so lucky to know the things that i do, to have Jesus Christ as an influence in my life and i'm anticipating the day that i can learn even more.

i'm grateful that i fell in love with a worthy man, who can take me to the temple. & i get to be in love with him for an eternity. i get to make him sandwiches for all time, i get to hold his hand for forever!
and if i get my way, i WILL hold his hand. every day. for all of forever.
{insert a giggle filled with glee.}

Trav in ARIZONA!

k i haven't blogged in like.... forever & three years. sorry!
i've been home in the lucious semi-tropical paradise that is AZ
& introducing Trav to everyone & their dog that i've ever met in my life.
i have much to say of the experiences, but i'll for now i'll only share Sunday.
Cause.... i like Sundays.

We started the religious excitement with my home ward & their fast & testimony meeting
everyone who's seen me loose my zits, date pointless boys and become myself...
met Trav. & every one of them shook his hand.
Trav & i bore our testimonies. Yes, Trav bore his in my home ward's meeting.
Why?
Cause he's amazing. & hilarious. & he thought it'd be fun.
Yes ladies & gentlemen, THAT'S the kind of man i'm marrying.

Jrd then had his farewell & we made silly faces at him from the folding chairs
& we went on to eat all of carrots & veggie dip that his mother had to offer us.

& then i gave him a tour of the Mesa Temple,
where we'll be married, and sealed, and where we'll start our sweet sweet life together.
i took him to that tour of "God's Plan for Families" thing
lots of videos of family fun & explanations of the plan of salvation
it gets me everytime.
but this time, it really hit me. it hit me hard.

I'm going to be with Trav for forever. I get to be his girl, his loving wife for time & all eternity. I get to pull him close for always. Whenever I want I can listen to his thoughts of the world & make him biscuits and gravy. He is the man that I will start my sweet family with, he is the man that will make all of my dreams come true. There are only a precious few things that i have felt passionately about in my life. i love Trav with all of the passion that i am-- boy does it feel good! 
I'm in love with you Travis Whiting!
always, & forever.

i heart Sundays

I am grateful for my Savior, and his loving Atonement. My soul is singing with the love that i have for Him, as well as the knowledge that i have of His love for me. & even though sometimes i forget, i am a princess--the daughter of a King. And according to President Monson, i am worth the blood of a God.

Do we all know of our Savor's love for us?

i pray that we do.

Today was good.

Important Decisions.

Today is the day.
The day that I, finally, stop debating. Stop procrastinating. Stop worrying.
Stop being a silly girl.
Today I get down to business. Through much studying, planning, advice and prayer- I've found my answer.
I'm just waiting for conformation.

What helped:
1. D&C Section 9
2. Elaine S. Dalton & CES Article - Zion Is the Pure in Heart
3. D&C Section 131
4. Gift of the Spirit
5.

Today is a wonderful day.

My Heart is Full

Today was one of those days. That day when you sit in sacrament meeting, your tummy is rumbling because it's on empty, and your heart is beating fast, you can't sit still... Because you have to get up & go.
You have to get up & go to that pulpit,( being careful of how you strut in your pumps) in front of that microphone, in front of that crowd,
To pour out the contents of your heart.

How blessed is this life? I have a knowledge of the truth. I have a family who misses me, and wants the best for me. I have sweet friends who raise me up & help me to laugh. I have a man whom I adore, who recognizes my true & individual worth. I have a Savior who gave everything for me, without whom I am nothing, without whom I could never have true happiness. A Father who loves each of His children, wholly and eternally.

I have a testimony of the power of prayer. No matter the question, there is always an answer. The key is to have an open mind, an open heart--willing and able to hear and know the will of the Lord.

Today was one of those days.

That day when I'm grateful for all that I have, for all that I have the ability to do & know.

My heart is full.

Break Up

I've recieved several promptings that I just can't ignore! I've fasted, I've prayed, and I've come to a decision.
I've broken up with my boyfriend.
Youth in the church have been counciled not to be in "serious" relationships while in highschool. Youth should date around and just have fun, and boy do I like to have fun!
Cody and I are still best friends, burning bridges is not a thing I like to do. I'm so happy for this opportunity to prove my obedience to the Lord, and I'm glad to know he'll forgive me for ignoring his council!

So, I am now a Single Lady!

Young Women in Excellence

I stole this from the Young Women's blog! These are the girls who've completely completed their Personal Progress. I'm the one in the pink, of course! You just have to throw up a peace sign every now and then. They gave us medals for being finished! Definitely the best tasting golden-painted ding dong I've ever had. It feels great to have finished my Personal Progress all those years ago, I learned so much from it! So much about myself and the gospel, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. My favorite project I think I ever did was gathering names of my ancestors together, to do baptisms for the dead for them. It truly meant a lot to me, and i'm sure my ancestors couldn't have been happier!!