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.