The Russell Hustle

What with getting married and all I have created a new blog for our family. I will still try to post here about my experiences every so often but for now this is the go  to place for the news on the Russells!

http://kyleandaziekay.blogspot.com/

Hope yall stop by soon.. Leave some comments and let me know what you think!

AzK

T squared

Together to the Temple. This is our T squared time. I love the temple. I have developed a love for it in a way that most people don't. I learn differently from most people, backwards some would say. I have developed my desire to attend the temple, not from frequent visits, but from limited access.

Growing up where I did we could only go to the temple a few times a year because it was so far away. It is still one of my favorite places to this day. The Orlando Florida Temple is where I did my first baptisms for the dead, I took out my initiatory and endowment and where I hope to one day be sealed.

I remember hiking through the rice fields of Lallo, Cagayan, Illocos Sur and dreaming of being able to see the temple again. It had been 15 months since I was able to see, much less participate in the temple. I kept feeling like, as a missionary especially, I could use the help that comes so easily in the house of the Lord. I wanted so badly to take the families that I loved with all of my heart to the temple to feel the things I feel when I am there. To learn the things I had learned, to feel love like I feel in the temple. To Nanay and Tatay Galapon, who only ever went to the temple once, it was magic. The light of Christ that was shining off of them in that small little church in Laoag City, the Sunday after they came home was tangible. It filled the room and my heart. I know that Heavenly Father blessed them beyond measure because of their faithful sacrifices to attend this temple:

One Friday night Kyle and I were talking and he asked if I would like to go to the temple with him on Saturday morning. I told him that I would and woke up early the next morning. The whole time I was getting ready I was nervous. We weren't going until after lunch but I was up anyway. I made us lunch and we set out for the temple.

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It was a sweet experience. I love that place. I love that Kyle is worthy to take me there. I love that he loves that I love the temple. Out temple time together has taught me many things and I cherish those memories.

The big 21!

Happy Birthday Becki! I know these are WAY late to be posted but I decided that I wanted to post it anyway! We went out for drinks to Applebee's and had a blast. It was one of the few things we did as roommates the whole semester.

She is my roommate. The very first one that I ever had. She is the original sister friend. She is her own person and I admire her so much for that! She knows what she wants (well the important stuff anyway) and she is always steadily pursuing it. She does my hair when I can't and she listens to me talk for hours. She is the best secret keeper ever and the only human to live on noodles alone that I have ever met. I love her so. Happy Birthday beautiful girl.

Kyle and Jeanette sitting in a tree!

K-i-s-s-i-n-g! Or so she wanted! Let me introduce you to a woman that has forever changed my life. Meet Jeanette:

She is ancient. She has dementia and is losing her memory. She has taught piano her whole life and was born and raised in Texas. She has two daughters that married professors that teach here at BYU-I. She lives in an assisted living facility here in town. She has a crush on EVERY single young man that comes in the door and my sweetheart is no exception.

I first met Jeanette when we went with the Elder's quorum for a joint activity. She was so happy to have visitors and she and I bonded rather quickly. She is the sweetest thing and is always happy. I asked her once why she is so happy and she said, "I guess it is because I can't remember to be sad!" She is full of wisdom and courage. She is a sassy lady and I think that may be why we get along so well.

For Valentines Day my roommates and I made homemade Valentines cards and took them to the nursing home. When we walked in we saw her sitting at the lunch table with a friend. I came over to her and told her that I had a Valentine for her. I sat it down on the table and she read it. If you can see it in the picture it has a bird and a tree and it says "Your love makes we want to sing." It was made by Dollie Mae. She looked at me and said, "Shoot girl lets sing!" She was laughing and so happy to have a valentine.

She saw Kyle and asked me to have him sit next to her. I told her that I wanted him to take our picture. She agreed and started cheesing for the camera. She said that she would let me get her picture if "that handsome man" would take it, referring to Kyle. He turned red and I thought it was so adorable! While I was sitting talking with her she said, "Is that your boyfriend?" I told her that he was my fiance and she said, "Girl if I had a man that handsome I would tie him to a tree!" I thought I would die laughing! I couldn't tell if I was laughing at her expression or Kyle's! He was flattered and devastated at the same time!

I continued to talk with her and Kyle was standing at a safe distance. I asked her who the lady was at the table with us and she said, "I know I should know that because she is my friend but I don't! Some things just aren't worth worrying over." I really appreciated her insight and her positive attitude. She donated the piano that is in the nursing home and often plays it while she waits on the next handsome man to come through the door. She is wonderful and has taught me about finding happiness in the worst of situations. I dearly love her. I see a lot of my crazy fun side in her and it gives me hope. I want to be like her when I grow up. I want to make the best of every situation. I do hope however that my handsome man is always with me, even when I can't remember his name!

Hot and Ready

My roommate Jill works at Little Ceasar's. They only give them one t-shirt to wear to work. Since she is off track she has to hand wash her shirt at night and usually hangs it out to dry. The key selling item for them is the "Hot and Ready" pizza that is 5 dollars and always ready. It's like fast food pizza. She washed her shirt one morning and hung it out on the balcony to dry. When she brought it in we laughed hysterically! Here is the result:

It was FROZEN! We couldn't believe it! I don't know why it hasn't crossed my mind that hanging something wet out in the dry Rexburg cold wasn't a smart move but we really needed the laugh! Here is the other that we took.

Hot and Ready has a whole new meaning for us! :)

The Craze

Kyle and I started dating at the end of last semester. He loves to play laser tag and there is a place here in Rexburg called "The Craze" that offers a special on Wednesday nights. We went and played laser tag for a while and then we played mini golf and the arcade game, deal or no deal. We kicked everyone's trash at deal or no deal and Kyle spanked me at laser tag. I really enjoyed it and it was fun to have fun with him! My favorite part was the prizes you get when you redeemed your tickets. We wound up with a Chinese finger trap, a blue heart shaped bangle bracelet and these:

Now if any of you know me you know how much I LOVE mustaches (hope you don't step in the sarcasm dripping off this statement.) you know how much it took to get me to take this picture. My roomie Laura loves them and we surprised her with them when we came in. It was a good laugh. I just realized how crazy our hair looks! The wind was insane but we were laughing so hard we never even noticed. Ah, true love!

Extracurricular Beginnings

At the end of last semester I was asked by a co-worker to teach the learning model seminars one night a week for this semester. We went on a retreat in the mountains. I have never seen so much snow in my life!! It was really fun to learn about the seminars and how they help students. But waking up to the snow was so different than what I am used to, even in Rexburg. The picture below show a friend of mine walking on top of the snow. Notice the lunch bell and the basketball hoops. I am on the second floor taking this picture. It was crazy! But we did have a blast!

The learning model seminars teach students about the learning model here at BYU-Idaho and how to apply the gospel in all aspects of our lives, including secular learning. If you would like to learn more please visit: http://www2.byui.edu/LearningModel/src/default.htm

I love facilitating discussions on how we can apply these principles in our lives. It has changed my perspective and really helped me to understand the spiritual side of secular learning. Enjoy!

Whats in a name?

I have decided to try and be better about blogging, especially after Kyle and I get married. We need suggestions for blog names? His full name is Kyle Scott Russell and I will be Azie Kay Spikes Russell. Any ideas? I kind of like the Russell Report but I don't really know. What do y'all think? Any thoughts are welcome!

Lost and Found

As I sit here trying to decide what exactly to write I have tons of thoughts running through my mind. Where do I start? Where do I end? What is the good stuff in between and how do I include it all?! I am not often at a loss for words, a loss for words.......maybe that is where I will start.

I began my day feeling kinda bummed because I took off of work to get some homework done, feeling kind of lost because I rarely miss work. Then my roommate asked me if I was going to take a shower. Odd. She never asks me that. I went to the kitchen and started scrambling eggs. Odd. I don't ever eat breakfast. As I am standing in the kitchen Becki hands me a piece of paper. It details that I am to go on a scavenger hunt. I panicked! I showered in a hurry and put on a shirt I like and Kyle loves.

The first clue sent me to Sammy's, a favorite local hangout of ours.I know it doesn't open until later but I went anyway. I called my mama and was trying to keep it together while I was on the phone with her. I called grandma and she giggled with me like my best childhood friend, which she probably is. Then I turned the corner and there stood Jill and Julie, two of my roommates. They both gave me a clue that lead me to the Kirkham.

The Kirkham has a history for Kyle and I. In that auditorium he got the courage to ask me out for the first time. I said yes. We also spent an afternoon there shortly after we were officially dating and he was supposed to be helping me practice clogging. Instead he helped me understand what it means when an honest man loves you. He left a clue taped on the door for me to find. It lead me to Freshens.

After our first date, which was on a Sunday night, he called me Monday morning and asked if I had any breaks in my classes. I told him that I did and he suggested that we go to Freshens since I had never had a smoothie from there. I remember that he bought me a smoothie and we watched the cello guys on youtube until I had to go to class. I remember him offering me a sip of his drink repeatedly. I thought to myself (so proud that it did not come out of my mouth) "If I am swapping spit with you it ain't going to be through no straw!" I told him that and he included it on his next clue for me, which he left with the cashier. She apparently told everyone that was sitting in the area that I was on a scavenger hunt and when I asked for the clue from her she handed me my favorite smoothie and the clue. The people were cheering me on and it made me laugh. I wish Kyle had been there with me! The clue that she gave me lead me to the BYU-I center.

In the BYU-I center there are beautiful bronze statues of the pioneers. One is of a family with 3 children. That is where the clue was supposed to be. I looked for it everywhere! I searched high and low and every single sculpture I could find and there was no clue. I went back to the family one and asked the girl sitting next to it if she had seen it. She started smiling and said. "He took it." pointing at the janitor. I walked over to him and asked for the clue. He told me that he thought it had been there for a while so he tossed it in the trash. I was beside myself. I told him we had to find it because there was a boy at the end of these clues and I was trying to get to him. He said that we would have to search the trash for it and before I knew it the girl that told me he took was up to her elbows in trash trying to help us find it! We finally managed to find it and I was told to go to Gator Jacks.

Gator Jacks is a little sandwich place here and it is the very first place Kyle and I went on a date by ourselves. I walked in and Becki was sitting at a table with the last clue. I was sent to the lounge at my apartment complex. As I walked out the door, she said, "Girl go get your man!" I was so excited I just started laughing.

I walked into the lounge through the laundry room and everything was quiet. I turned the corner and there was my sweetheart, kneeling on one knee with a ring box in his hand. He said very softly, in almost a whisper, "Azie Kay Spikes, will you marry me?" I hugged him while he was still kneeling and said, "Yeah." Then I immediately thought "Yeah?! What?! I am such an idiot!" But I don't think he even noticed. I was teary eyed and asked him to stand to really hug me. He did and he put the ring on my finger. I laughed. I cried. So did he. We had sparkling grape juice and cinnamon rolls. About the time we say down and got control of our trembling hands some guy walked in and sat on the couch to study. Jerk. But honestly he had no idea what was going on. Then the maintenance man came in vacuuming. I was so happy I didn't care that we had terrible luck. I was too busy trying to get my feet back on the ground!

I called and texted everyone that I know and shared the exciting news. Kyle immediately changed our facebook status and we had tons of comments. It was all very exciting for me.

I began the day feeling lost and having no idea where I was going. I trust Kyle so I knew that whatever was in store was going to be wonderful. I found myself at the end in his arms feeling loved and cherished. I could not help but relate today to my life in general. Sometimes when I have felt lost and abandoned I had only to look for the clues in my life of my loving father in heaven and all the blessings that he has given me. I had no idea where to start but I listened. And the best part of this story is that it has no end. Eternity is forever. It is still not long enough for me to spend with my honey, Mr. Kyle Russell. I was lost and wandered for a long time with no direction, and then as my Heavenly Father saw fit, he helped a man find me that will help me return to him. I am still floating on air, but no longer lost. I am found in my Heavenly Fathers plan for me.