8.8.15

I am headed home today! Finally the summer is over and I get to spend every second of the day with Natalie. I have been waiting for this day for so long. It seems like this summer has been a drag but it's finally over. Time to party and prepare for our wedding. I am so EXCITED! I can't even express in words how I feel. Never ever leaving Natalie's sight again. Hardest thing I've ever had to do. 

-Cru Leavitt

Just got done with institute. Brother and Sister Hancock always know what to teach us about and what we need in our lives every week. Today's lesson was on the Priesthood and Personal Prayer. He got a lot of his information by President Henry B. Erving. We read a general conference talk by him and there were a lot of inspiring moments. Erying said, "a lot of people ask, what do you pray for? You pray that God may recognize you, that he may hear your prayers, and that he may bless you with his spirit." I love that because sometimes we are so quick to ask for things to God in our prayers. I like to take a step back and show him gratitude and ask for his spirit to be with me because in reality there is no greater joy than that.  He goes on and says,"it is because you have suck important and difficult priesthood calls that Joseph F Smith suggests that when you pray, you always plead with God that he will bless you with his spirit. You will need the Holy Ghost not once but as much as God will grant it to you for your constant companion. That is why we must always pray that God will guide us in our service to his children." I was talking to Natalie sometime ago about how the world is changing and constant getting worse. We got on the subject of what we want to implement in our home. We talked about many things and prayer was definitely one of them. We need to pray always in order to have his spirit to be with us. We need his spirit to be with us in all places and in all things more than ever before. I know Natalie and I will always keep strong and do the little things that turn into big things in the end.

-Cru Leavitt

Natalie and I were talking on the phone last night and I was seriously so tired right before she called me but then after hearing her voice she got me so excited! I was no longer tired. I love hearing her every second of the day. Every night I have dreams about her and we do crazy things together. :) The only thing that makes me sad is when I wake up and she isn't next to me. Last night I had multiple dreams with her and woke up this morning really excited that today is just going to be another day down and another day closer to never letting her out of my sight. 15 more days! I CANT WAIT ANY LONGER!!!!!!

-Cru Leavitt 

It stinks being away from this beautiful soon to be wifey of mine. I mean look at her! She is the prettiest woman I have ever seen. My heart just melts everytime I see her. :) I still can't believe she is crazy about me. I am so so lucky! I miss you so much. Summer is almost over. Thank goodness! 

-Cru Leavitt 

Dream

I had a dream last night that Natalie and I were on a couples edition of The Price is Right. We totally killed it and won so many prizes. Natalie couldn't spin the big dollar wheel so I had to help her. Ha 😂 We will make that dream come true one day! 

-Cru Leavitt 

Had another amazing institute class this morning. We read a talk that Elder Ballard gave concerning returned missionaries. He gave a lot of advice on what we should do to hold strong and to keep bringing forth people into the gospel. I really liked a part in his talk when he said "RM" doesn't mean retired Mormon. We still have a lot to do after our missions and are held to a greater standard than someone that hasn't served. We have a greater knowledge of the gospel. We spent two years and dedicated our lives that whole time day in and day out to preach/study the gospel. This talk really got me excited to do more with the ward missionaries and to keep reaching out to the lost sheep in the world. 

The missionary couple really hit the importance of marriage this morning and the fear that young couples have going into marriage. We read in Elder Ballard talk, "young couples have certain fears about marriage. Financially are we going to be okay? Is there someone better for me? All of these question come up when young couples contemplate marriage. I didn't know everything about my wife before marriage, and if I did I probably wouldnt have married her (joke) I know that when couples have the same spiritual goals personally and for a future family and will do anything to keep those goals and commitments nothing can come in harms way. Relationships are strengthened by the gospel. Read, pray, ponder, attend sacramenting weekly. These simple gospel principles will keep fear in the dark. The Lord will be bless you continually." 

I love that talk so much and started off this Thursday with a great spiritual uplift. 

-Cru Leavitt

NYC TRIP!

First I have to apologize because I haven't been updating our blog lately. Natalie and I have had a busy busy month of July. I went to Utah for the Fourth of July weekend and it was one of the best weekends of my life. I flew into Salt Lake and stayed there for a couple of days. Natalie and I camped out to save our spots for the Fouth of July parade in Provo. We pitched our tent and slept for a couple of hours until someone took over holding our spot the next morning. It was totally worth saving our spot for the parade. SO MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE! I have never seen a parade like that before and it was amazing to spend it with Natalie and her family. We are some watermelon and then got on the road to Kanab, Utah where my family was having our family reunion. My family had no idea I was coming to our family reunion so I surprised everyone there. We watched the firework show in the canyon of Kanab and Natalie loved it. She now wants to go to Kanab every year for the Fourth. Haha I love her for that. :) It was a very busy and event weekend. 

I then flew home on Tueaday and Natalie flew out to New Jersey on Thursday to spend some time out here with me. I was so greatful to have the opportunity to show her where I am living and what I am doing everyday out here. We went to New York twice over the weekend. The first time we went to NYC was on Saturday to meet up with a couple of Natalie's family friends. These people were so nice and so much fun! They live in Long Island and know the area pretty well so they showed us around. We were mainly in Little Italy and had dinner there. That place was simply amazing! It really felt like we were in Italy together. I wish it was Italy but definitely wasnt Italy. Natalie said it was pretty close. Hahaha we came back to NYC the very next day to shop and lay in Central Park. 2 trips to NYC with my best friend and nothing could've been better. We are going to have a lot more NYC trips together! 

I don't have a lot of pictures on my phone from the trips because Natalie has them all on her phone but once I get them I will post them. 

Going home!

Finally the time has come! I am at the airport once again and couldn't be happier! I am spending the weekend with Natalie and my family. I can't wait to see Natalie in about 8 hours from now! We are going to have such a good weekend. See you soon wife! 

-Cru Leavitt

ONE MORE FULL DAY AND I AM BACK TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE! CANT WAIT TO SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH HER AND FAMILY. I LOVE YOU BABE. I AM COMING HOME! 

-Cru Leavitt

We already know who is going to win. It's just our decision if we are going to show up and contribute. We all have agency and a freedom to act. Jesus Christ died for us so that we can live with him again but we have to contribute in order to receive that glorified state of happiness. We already know we will prevail but it's not just going to be handed to us. It's an on going fight.

Church has been amazing today. 

www.lds.org to find out more.

-Cru Leavitt

I miss her and love her so much. She is nannying right now over the weekend. So proud of her and how hard she works. July 2 come faster! I need to squeeze this womans lights out!!!!

-Cru Leavitt

How is he mine? 

Just look at that sweet angelic face. 

Cru is so selfless and just so PERFECT.

Everyone who knows him just goes on and on at how wonderful they think he is. 

Just always so positive and ALWAYS has a smile on his face. The poor guy like broke his ankle the other night playing basketball and just is still walking on it and working ALL DAY with a smile on his face. Such a hard worker. He never makes any excuses. He never complains. He is always just happy. Of course no one is perfect and hard things happen... But I think if my ankle was broken, I wouldn't be walking around all day on it... I would be home crying and complaining. Cru just handles everything in the best way. How could I ever be in a bad mood when I'm surrounded by someone who CONSTANTLY lifts me up? Cru never puts me or anyone down. He just gives and gives and feels good doing it. 

Cru the giver Leavitt:) 

He makes me a better person. In a lot of ways, I am weak where he is strong and we just fit perfectly. We balance each other out. I am so grateful for a relationship that is true. It's so sweet. We are friends! We laugh and play constantly. we make each other feel safe. There is so games. There is no threats. There is no pointing fingers and manipulation. There is just Cru and I. Two people who work perfectly together. Who make each other feel confident and loved. Who are open about everything. Who tell each other our mistakes and when we need help. 

There have been so many days where being away from each other has been really hard for me. 

I NEVER picture my fiancé and I being apart our entire engagement. 

To be honest I always have pictures us being with each other every day. Just being busy planning stuff. 

Sometimes I feel lonely because I'm busy all day and so is Cru and we barely talk, and I literally just cry. 

But then the second I let Cru know how I am feeling, he drops everything. One day during a work day Cru sat in a car on the phone with me for hours just talking to me and listening to me being sad. And of course he made me feel so much better. I am grateful for someone who I can talk to, and who actually cares. Most of the time Cru and I talk nonstop all day long. While we are doing everything else in our lives. We can't get enough of each other. But that's just how it goes when you're in love.

The best part is I am 100% myself around Cru. I have been since day 1. And so has he. I am a COMPLETELY different person today than I was a year ago. A completely different person. I have people tell me it all the time. And it's just that I am myself! I am happy and just so excited about life. I have things to look forward to instead of worry about. I have real life plans with someone who wants and believes everything I want and believe! I have someone who can take care of himself and me. He is just on top of it and has it figured out. Just the way he talks and the things he notices are so different from anything I have ever had. He reminds me of my brothers so much! He is just good. He wants what is best for me. I don't have to give or sacrifice anything I love in my life for him. He wants me the way I am. If i love it he wants me to have it. Even if he might be a little jealous, and doesn't really understand why. He is 100% supportive and is happy when he sees me happy. And I am the same way with him. Because we are constantly open about our feelings and we ALWAYS put each other first. I love you Cru. 

I could go on forever and I always say that, but it's so true. You are so different in the best way! 

I am the luckiest girl to have found you so soon in my life. 

Now get that ankle xrayed. And make July 2 come faster because I need you home with me!! Xoxoxo

Institute

Just got done with another wonderful lesson by Elder and Sister Hancock. I was craving some watermelon the other day and guess what... They brought us watermelon this morning. The blessings of doing what's right. Haha

Today's lesson was on why marriage and family's matter. We read two talks, one by Elder Perry and the other by Elder Christofferson. What I loved in Elder Perrys talk was verse 10 and 11...

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints we believe and know that marriage is beyond the grave. It is eternal. EVERLASTING! That made me have the biggest smile and feel the spirit so much in that moment because I immediately thought of Natalie. I can't imagine being with anyone else in the world besides her. I love her. I adore her. I deserve her. She makes me the happiness person in the world and when I start to think about the eternal prospective of marriage with us I am truly happy. 

Some advice that this talk gives parents is to lead by word and by example. A perfect example is if you tell your kids not to smoke and your are smoking they are most likely not going to listen to your council. We have to lead by word and example! 

When he closed this talk in verse 31-32 it was such a perfect closing to such an amazing talk. He could've testified of anything he wanted but he found families of great importance to testify of and bare witness from personal experience. It is the KEY to eternal happiness. 

Natalie I love you! My eternal companion in less than 2 months. :)

-Cru Leavitt 

Finalized Honeymoon!

So I have been planning our honeymoon day in and day out for a week straight and finally got everything done last night. I was on the phone on and off with different travel agent, people that have experienced Phuket, Thailand before all day yesterday. I am not kidding you when I say all day... from 1pm-1am in the morning yesterday I was on my computer looking at places to stay. If you ever want to go to Thailand and don't know where to stay come talk to me. I think I know that island better than any native there.

Dewa Phuket Resort Nai Yang Beach

 

 

This has always been Natalie's dream vacation. So excited to be there with her! We have been long distant all summer and can't wait to just be with her and relax for a week. JUST ME AND HER! I can't wait to spend this time with the most beautiful woman that my two eyes have ever seen and by then I can call her my WIFE! She is the best thing that has ever happened to me! 

What a dream this vacation is going to be! Now we need a really good camera because these views are going to be amazing. 

-Cru Leavitt

Car accident!

Well today was awesome! 

I was driving my friends car and a woman hit us going 30-40 mph. Back hurts, neck hurts. Time for some ibuprofen!

-Cru Leavitt 

Institute

Every week we have a institute class in my apartment that we set up while we are out here in New Jersey. Elder and Sister Hancock always brig us breakfast once a week too! I am so grateful for them and all that they do. 

Today we talked about Elder Oaks talk about The Parable of the Sower. One of my favorite parts of his whole talk was...

The adversary is slowly turning the morals and attitudes of the world to make them seem okay. Every year the world keeps distancing itself away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Technology is a huge issue. We talked about technology a lot this morning. We can use it for good to bring about good in the world or people can miss use technology and use it for the wrong reasons. Recently on Facebook I got tagged in some photos that were inappropriate. It hurt me inside, it made me furious, and most importantly that isn't me. I immediately deleted my Facebook, Instagram, etc. The adversary is tricky and will sneak around. He try's to make those incidences seem okay and right. I see the way where our world is going and I will not follow that trend. 

Next we talked about our testimony. 

This is a little diagram that we looked over that explains our testimony. One thing that I love that we read about our testimony was by Heber J Grant, "There is but one path of safety for the Latter Day Saints, and that is the path of duty. It is not a testimony, it is not marvelous manifestations, it is not knowing that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.... It is not actually knowing that the savior is the redeemer, and that Joseph smith was his prophet, that will save you and me, but it is the keeping of the commandments of God, the living of the life of a Latter Day Saint."

We need to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and do the little things everyday with our families like: read the scriptures, have family prayer, hold family home evenings, etc. Once we do all of those little things then those will then turn into big things in the end. That's what Natalie and I will do and will do constantly do with our family. I can't wait!

-Cru Leavitt

Honeymoon

So Natalie and I changed our mind where we want to go on our honeymoon. Thailand is in the works! 

My fiancé!

So this morning I woke up to this text from Natalie...

Cru, I can't believe you are mine.

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. You're so patient with me. And understanding. You forgive me instantly and always give me another chance. You make me feel important and loved. You are always so happy and positive and supportive. You make me feel like everything's good all the time. You make me feel like I can do anything I want to do! I always feel like you have my back. You're so passionate about things and it's so cute. You are so handsome and smart. And you have the sweetest purest soul and spirit. I can't believe God trust me and blessed me with one of his perfect souls. I love you more than anything Cru. And I promise I will keep loving you forever. I'll never give up on you or turn my back on you. You're my biggest blessing and I wouldn't trade you for the world. 

Natalie is always sending me messages like this randomly. She is the most caring, loving person I know. You not only know what she says is true but can feel it so much more. I love you so much Natalie! Thanks for making me feel so special everyday. I love you!

-Cru Leavitt

Manhattan

Went golfing at Chelsea's Pier today. 

Koltons creepy look on the subway 

We were on the big screen in time square 

Menu at the shake shack in Manhattan 

Lincoln tunnel