This Girl is Back in Action!!

It is about time that I rejoined the blog world. Seriously, what have I been doing?

So since you last heard from me, I had just returned from my awesome trip in Mexico as an English teacher. Let me fast forward through the past few months and give you a few details of all the crazy things that happened to me.

1. My missionary boyfriend returned home from Northern Mexico.
2. I got ENGAGED!
3. I had a fun summer job working at a 4-H camp in Kentucky.
4. I turned 21!
5. I started my senior year of college.
6. I got married and became a Turley!
7. I became an Aunt to a teeny little boy.
8. I started my last semester of undergrad schooling before I student teach-I am WAY excited as you can tell.

Obviously, this is what kept me from keeping up with all that blogging, but it is something I really enjoyed and want to continue doing, so you will be hearing much more from me!

I hope you understand why I have been M.I.A. for so long and find the time to read my blog this year... I plan on keeping it crafty, creative and....sweet! Get excited- there is some fun stuff to come!!!

-Sara Jacqueline

It's Mexican Monday!!!!

Basically it is the best day in the world, so you should celebrate Mexican Monday too. Eat some tacos, or pour a ton of lechera on your fruit, thats about as Mexican as you need to be.

Justen is doing super swell this week, and his email was nothing but smiley faces and exclamation marks, so thats good to hear. Here are some highlights:

• "I got my hair cut and the gay guy did a horrible job. Lucky you aren't here to impress."
• " My new companion is really cool, but pretty strict. I like him though, I think he is a good example. He is older than me, but looks pretty young."
• "We have been working really hard, but nothing is happening. It's the fourth quarter and I got no special plays."
• "I had a dream about you the other night. We were in high school, and I was watching you in a play and then we were attacked by spacemen with lightsabers. I know it's weird, but in the end I saved you and we lived happily ever after."

Yeah, he is still the same old goofy Justen. What a nut. Gotta love him.

Also, this past weekend I got an AWESOME package from my family. Woooohooo! It was full of girl scout cookies and reeses and Easter candy, all things that are not sold in Mexico. I have sufficiently stuffed my face with sugar.

Oh yeah! There was also a magazine in ENGLISH!! That was a blast. haha. I should buy one in spanish just to practice...we will see how that goes. Thank you for all the goodies! I am so sad I am missing Easter at home, but this made it a bit better!

-Sara Jacqueline

Adventures in Tehuacán: Free Food and Some Yummy Dessert

The other day we took a little visit over to a family's restaurant who has been dying to see us. The family once hosted a teacher named Paige a few semesters back and they are still in love with her and so therefore, they want to hang out with us too. Her family has a little restaurant where they make tortas (sandwiches) and also a ton of yummy desserts. We stopped in one afternoon, ate some tortas and also enjoyed tasting lots of treats.

We tried a few different kinds of cake, one with caramel and one with nuez (walnuts), but my absolute favorite was the postre do limon, or also called Carlota. The funniest thing was that Justen actually just told me last week that it was his favorite Mexican dessert and I had better try it...so of course I jumped at the chance to do so.

The carlota was amazing, and after some research I found out that it is actually very easy to make. Only some Marias cookies, lime juice, lechera and evaporated milk. Don't worry, I will probably be bringing it to your house one day, or making it for some church get together so you will get to taste it eventually. This was seriously SO delicious.

-Sara Jacqueline

Happy Mexican Nunday!!

Today is our last day of our four day vacation, and we said goodbye to the nuns this morning before we went back into town. They are really the sweetest Mexican nuns I have ever met....and the only ones I have ever met.!

We headed back into downtown Taxco and shopped around for a couple hours before we caught a bus back to Puebla. We finally made it home after six hours in a bus...Sheeeew. Even better when I got home, I had a nice sweet email waiting for me from Elder Justen Turley.

He seemed to be very very excited about his new companion who is a greenie, fresh from the Missionary Training Center. In the mission, Justen would be called the Father and his new companion would be called his son, because he is training him from the ground up in Mexico. I think it will give him something else to be excited about, and to be focused on so that is all cool beans.

Apparently he is also very busy with cleaning and teaching other missionaries how to teach, so it seems everything in Monterrey is peachy. Also, I am happy to say he said he sent me lots of letters and even one ALL in spanish. Basically I am gonna stalk the mail man, cause I cannot wait!

Hope you had a Great Mexican Monday!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Wooohoo Wednesday!!

Basically the Mail Man loves me this week because I got another package!!! Eeeek! I was stinkin' excited, because I was surprised to see it was from....drum roll please..my boyfriend!!! Elder Justen Turley sent me some sweet pictures of people from his ward and his friends and companions, two postcards, a little note, a spanish scrabble game and some candy. He is too too funny.

Clearly, I am over the top excited to hear from him. XOXO

-Sara Jacqueline

Hooray for Mexican Monday!

Top 5 Most Ridiculous/Cute Things My Missionary Said to Me:

1. "I'm just looking out for my Girl."
2. Talking about Mexicans always trying to speak in English to us: "All the girls in the street wanna practice their English with me too, but usually have different intentions...haha..yuck."
3. About his good looks: "Me and my companion were walking and an SUV full of girls pulled up laughing and waving at me and I waved back and they all started screaming like I was famous or something. It was funny." Ladies Man Much??
4. Speaking of my nasty hacking cough: "Just take the medicine from your (host) mom Sara. I know it looks sketchy, but it works. I can feel your stubbornness from here."
5. "Any creepy boys bothering you? I don't want to have to bring down the hammer."

It is official. Justen only has 9 more months on his mission. Yes that is it! Only nine more. So now all I gotta do is wait for Snookie to have her baby, and he will be back..haha. Lovely. Snookie will make a great countdown calendar.

-Sara Jacqueline

I Love Mexican Monday!!

Top 5 Things Justen told me today in his email:

1. "I'm never lettin you go"
2. About soccer: "I can play ANY sport with a ball Sara. Remember, I am Justen"
3. About his soccer skills: "Speaking honestly, I could probably play in college now, I am that good. I told you my companion is on a professional team"
4. "You are the prettiest girl I know"
5. About my students at the english school: "Stop hugging your kids Sara. If I can't hug you, then nobody can"

Thank goodness I am on a fast down hill to December, because I miss him SO much! Only 40 weeks to go!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday: Only 39.9% Left

Justen was sad to say he wasn't transferred to a different area this week, and he didn't get a new companion. But I think that is because they still have some work to do together in that area, and they just don't know it yet. Everything seemed to be going swell for him, and he was all happy and such. Mostly he just asked about where he should go to school when he gets home, and when I want to marry him. Umm, yes he is adorable and you can't have him.

In other news, last night me and my friends went to the park to have some dinner. The park is like a humongous party on Sunday and Saturday nights, it is full of vendors and people making food, and all sorts of fun stuff. So we walked around, and examined our options and then sat down to a little tent for tostadas, gorditas and empanadas. It was run by a family, the mom and dad were both making food, and the little boys took our order and just ended up talking with us the whole time we ate. It was cute, they were like out little dates. They asked us if we liked airplanes, and showed us some American money they had been given, and asked what it was worth in pesos. They were pretty excited to know they had a whole meal's worth of coins.

If you can see in the last picture, there is a grill where all the food was made for us. These are ultra common. Basically all Mexi food here is made on one of these in small restaurants, in the park or on the street corner. In the middle, there is a little pool of oil, and around the outside it is kept hot for the food. Some are run by gas tanks, and most have like little fire pits underneath. It is like the Mexican Weber grill, everyone has one, and everything on them tastes amazing.

My tostada was awesome, and the other girls ordered gorditas and empanadas, and I know they loved them too. My entire dinner cost less than 50 cents!

Today some of my kids were being extra malicious, and usually when I bring out a camera, they stop, so I brought out my camera..hah! I hate to say this, but I took pictures of my favorites...oops. I love little Leah because she is so so smart, and the other two boys are just hilarious always.

Happy Mexican Monday!!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday #60 ?

I think one day I will miss having Mexican Monday, cause I look forward to it so much, and I hype it up so much, it will be hard to let go of...haha..but then again, maybe not. Who am I kidding, it will be like Mexican Monday 24/7 when my missionary comes home.

So today I got this fabulous long email. Yay me! Justen seems to be doing really well. He was all excited because he has been teaching english to some of the people from his church, and they are able to have full conversations with him now, and they are able to understand so much more than before. Thats pretty neat to see him enjoying teaching so much, because he has always wanted to be a teacher.

Justen also mentioned, he thinks he will be getting transferred soon to a different area, with a new companion, which he is pretty excited about. He told me how he was riding in a car with a guy from church, and he accidently ran a red light. Well the next thing they know, they are surrounded at gun point by some police, because the police thought they ran the red light to go rob something or do something bad. haha. They laughed when they found out they had only busted two missionaries and a little man.

Perhaps the funniest part of his email was the end. "This morning I stood up and banged my head on the wall on accident, and then bent over and my tie got all covered in beans. It was horrible Sara." I can't picture Justen, the whitest kid on the planet, being Mexican and eating beans for breakfast without laughing. He is a trip.

Yesterday I spent the whole day with my family, and we took a drive out to the family ranch to meet my abuela, and lots of other family. My host sisters wanted me to see how to milk a cow....little do they know, I have seen it many many times. I told them sometimes my mom milks horses...They didn't understand that one. My abuela was so sweet to me, and she said she was so happy that I spoke spanish to her, because she thinks that I must really be smart but I was just happy that she was understanding me at all. We played with the dogs a bit, and I met their cousins. I got to see all the lime and orange trees and enjoy the weather. The ranch was beautiful out in the mountains, but I prefer the city better.

Only 298 more days!! I am under 300 now, how fabulous!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Mondays Make Me Miss You More.

Yesss, its true, I miss my missionary. A lot. He sent me a quick email this week, and did mention that he is baptizing people soon....so whoever these people are, I am super happy for them. I know they have many blessings to come! Unfortunately, he didn't say much more other than he needs to send a letter he wrote to me, so that sounds exciting, right?? Hooray for mail to come!

The good news is, there are only 10 more months until he hops the border and heads back to Kentucky, which makes everything seem so close and real. Yes! God Bless America.

41% to Go! XOXOO

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday: Finally February!

So Justen is basically the stinkin cutest thing ever, but he is also way crazy. I wasn't able to email him on Monday because I was in Cuetzalan, so I had to email him ahead of time and missed being able to email chat back and forth with him while I was out being adventurous. However, he emailed me back, but said practically nothing about himself.! I mean, I am glad he thinks the world of me, and wants to ask me stuff and tell me mushy secrets about love and hugs and clouds, but come on dude... tell me about your life!!

He said this week, he got a ton of snail mail from me, which made his week! What a blessing that the mail shows up at the perfect time, when he is struggling a little. Cool huh? I know he probably got a TON of cards and letters, because the mail was extremellllllly backed from the holidays. Mexico is ninety seven times slower than mail in Antarctica. The best thing he said in my letter that is sharable with the entire world was:

"One day we will go to tons of places to visit. But I would be completely happy sitting with you and just eating a bowl of cereal"

Yes that is true love right there! haha!

I borrowed the email he sent to his family from one of his sisters, so I would know what he was really up to this last week. First of all, he moved into a new house, and the missionaries have been busy fixing it up and making it much prettier. Jehu, a recent convert is going to get to go to the temple soon, so that is very exciting for everyone! The funniest part is what he told his family NOT to tell me:

"I have a Mexican Mom now, and she feeds us all the time, so I am probably gaining weight"

Yes, he is crazy I know. I love it.

Anyways, here is another picture of Cuetzalan as I sat and watched the sunrise this Monday morning from our indigenous village hostel. 44 Weeks to Go!! Happy Mexican Monday to my chicas!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Havin' Fun (not) in The Sun!

One of my good Missionary girlfriend friends tagged me in a fun blog post, and since its cloudy here in Tehuacán, we really haven't had anything better to do but sit around and think of lots of random facts and questions. I hope you enjoy!

The Rules

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself in the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.

4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.

5. Let them know you've tagged them!

12 Fun Facts About Me

1. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and am so thankful for all my many blessings.

2. I love to sing, and I really miss being in Choir.

3. Sending and receiving postcards is one of my favorite things to do, and my family even has a big big collection put together in a book. Send me one please!!!

4. You could feed me broccoli for days and I would be the happiest camper ever.

5. My Missionary only has 10.5 months left!!! :)

6. I love making lists. Lists for anything: baby names, places to go, states to live in, things to do, everything!!

7. Even though I tend to dread exercise, I love it, and spend a lot of time running around like a fool in the cold weather.

8. I love to kayak!

9. I have never dyed my hair, which lotsa people tend to not believe me, but this is All Natural baby!

10. I am obsessed with my sewing machine. I got a fancy pants machine for my 12th Birthday, and we have been best friends ever since. I have made a lot of my clothes, gifts, and also things to sell. At 11 years old, I sold over a hundred scarves I had made.

11. One of my favorite fattening things to do is bake. I have a huge collection of recipes, sometimes I just make stuff up, and I like to try everything from cookies, cake, bread, pie. If you want some sweets, just ask me!

12. I might slightly be obsessed with everything and anything Vera Bradley. Its ok though, I'm a girl.

12 Questions from Candice for Me:

1. What's your favorite season, why?
Fall because it is beautiful weather, and I love wearing big sweatshirts and shorts. With all the trees in Kentucky, the scenery is really wonderful with all of the changing leaves.

2. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
I am actually very happy with where I am, Tehuacán, Mexico is quite an adventure in itself..but I would love to be home for a quick moment to have some lunch..haha..I just want some normal food for a moment! haha

3. Why do you blog?
Well for several reasons: I think it is a lot of fun to share with my family and friends the stuff going on in my life, also I am waiting for my missionary, Justen, and I want to document everything so he won't feel like he ever missed out.

4. Who is your hero?
Probably my Mom, because she gave birth to a 12 pound baby, and without that great effort, I wouldn't be here!

5. What is your favorite tv show? Why?
Well recently I have been away from all sorts of T.V. But I really miss Teen Mom, and all other sorts of documentary series like that. I just think they are so so interesting. But Also, I love Gilmore Girls, and it's my go to series for lazy days, cold days, sick days, or long nights. It is just humor for smart girls, I love it.

6. Do you have a new years resolution? what is it?
Ummm...not really. Of course, I always try to eat better, exercise more, read more, help more, pray more,be a better friend, but those are things I always try to do I think.

7. If you could go back in time, where would you go?
To High School, when I was 17. Gooood times.

8. If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be?
Paula Deen Maybe?? She eats a TON of food, and its all yummy, and yet she is not a 300 pound lady. That could be fun.

9. Who inspires you?
I can't pinpoint any one person, but I would think that all the young women back at the Shelbyville Ward are pretty inspiring. When I had a calling with the young women, I learned so much from them and from the other leaders. I loved hanging out with them, they are all so beautiful and wonderful.

10. What makes you happy?
Mexican Mondays, frozen yogurt, black bean chili, finishing something, thinking about December 2012, Justen, 4-H Camp

11. If you could give advice to a newborn, what would it be?
Quit poopin' in your pants...?

12. What is your favorite blog? Why?

Gosh, I have SOO many that I am in love with and stalk, but my go to blogs would have to be: The Red Kitchen and The Brown Eyed Baker

You've Been Tagged!!

• Courtney
• Ashley
• Sheilani
• Elizabeth
• Betsy
• Mary
• Megan
• Danielle
• Britni
• Sierra
• Landri
• Annie

Please complete these 12 questions and Post them to Your Blog!

1. What place would you most like to visit?

2. If you could plan a month long vacation, without flying anywhere, what would you do?

3. What is the best meal/dessert/etc. you ever made on accident? What was in it?

4. Would you rather have Birthday cake or pie?

5. What is your favorite childhood activity?

6. What makes you miss home the most?

7. If you could speak any other language, what would it be? What would you do with it?

8. If money was no problem, how many children would you want?

9. What is something you think you can never do, but want to so bad?

10. How are you feeling about February so far?

11. Where do you see yourself when you are 65 years old?

12. What is the best advice you could give a 20 year old?

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday: Womp Womp

Alright, so my weekend was not so hot. I felt sick, and then ok, then sicker, and then just alright, and then SUPER sick, wanna die, and then today I am taking it easy. Basically I am not quite sure what's up, but until I feel awesome again, I am having yogurt and fruit only. Fun times.

Not only have I been Sicky Sara, my email also was hacked from the awesome mexican internet, so I have been locked our for two days now, and can't solve the mystery. The security questions are simple as pie, and somehow my answers are incorrect. Gahh! Does anyone know where I was born, cause apparently I have no idea.?!

Besides that I feel like I have a ton of stuff to do, its freezing cold outside, and I miss my missionary.

Yes I heard from him today through my school email account, but we didn't get to say much, because its very slow and much different than AOL. Yes I am disappointed, and yes this only added to my pity party. Woah is me.

The other womp of the 'womp womp' is that Justen didn't have such a funtastic week either, for unbloggable reasons. Poor guy. It was one of those, we both wanna run away together, I miss you so much kind of Mondays. So we swapped advice, and I love you's and hopefully next week will be cheerier.

Anywhoot, I finally had a mango on a stick here in Tehuacán, and it was fabulous and less than a dollar. I will definitely be snackin' on those again. Excuse my weird outfit, we were having a "swimsuit Saturday", but it was too cold for all that nonsense so we threw on some stuff overtop.

Next Mexican Monday better be better...hah..Only 45 weeks to go!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Dear Sara,

For those of you who have been asking for my mailing address while I am here in Mexico, here you go! I would love some mail, and you can ask anyone, I am a greeeeat pen pal :)

Sara Lauer

Heslington Institute

2 Norte 1210 Colonia Jacarandas C.P.

75730 Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico

Ready. Set. Random.

In case you didn't know I am in an Honors Theatre Fraternity at Morehead State, Theta Alpha Phi, and I love all my crazy friends. We all have characters that represent us, and mine is Violet from The Incredibles. It is pretty much perfect, because Violet is in love with a redhead and ummm so am I..haha... Justen is my redheaded lover. My big Mary sent me this video, which I think you need to atleast watch the first minute or so, because it is SOO adorable. I love Taylor Swift, my redheaded boy and The Incredibles, so it goes perfectly.

Can you see Violet kissing her redheaded boy in the comic??

I had spanish class today and I really think I am learning a lot. Me encanta Mexico!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday!!!

I feel like Mondays come so much faster than they did before when I was in school, but I don't mind a bit. I love waiting to hear from Justen and all the cool missionary stuff he is doing.

This week, he had lots of wonderful news. First of all, Today he had a baptism for a 15 year old boy. Soo exciting! Even better news, is that they have four more baptism dates set up for the next coming weeks, which is also a wonderful blessing! Him and his companion are very excited for their investigators, and so am I and I don't even know them. Missionary work is such a neat thing to watch and hear about from my perspective.

In other news, he finally got his Christmas package!! He is so sweet. I apologized for it being so late and he says, "I always have said Christmas should be all year long". Yess, we both LOVE Christmas. Also our anniversary is today, which he remembered, so I think its a good sign that he knows what day it is..haha.

Basically to sum up the mushy stuff, he is as cute as pie. The end.

This morning we went to an extreme Zumba class. It was crazy fun, and pretty different from home. Those Mexican Zumba instructors will kick your buns. I loved it!!

Also today in my part of Mexico, we got our first dance lessons with our friend Edwin. Its not really hard, but I still feel awkward. I kept slipping all over the place in my sandals on the tile floor, which only added to the humor. I spent the rest of my day doing school work, and lounging in the sun before teaching time. So lucky.

Hey, did I mention they sell these babies everywhere?? They are seasoned grasshoppers and you can buy them by the bag full like peanuts. Gross times eleven. I haven't tried them, but I have heard they are good with lime!

Happy Mexican Monday!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday!

Yess, oh yess how I love Mexican Monday. All my MG's know it, and they of course celebrate with me. Gotta love 'em!

Today I missed when Justen was on the internet, so we didn't get to email back and forth, which is kinda sad, but he did send me a nice happy email!!

Justen is doing wonderful, in every email he seems to get happier and happier. I know he loves his mission and the work he is doing. It warms my heart, to hear how much he loves Heavenly Father. He said that this week he baptized a woman, and that him and his companion have been working towards many more. Apparently his investigators have been in a little bit of a rut lately....but no worries he says.

He always plays a lot of soccer but he says he played football for the first time in Mexico since he has been there, which is shocking..And he also told me he is so out of shape, that I could whoop his butt. What is that supposed to mean?? Am I a weakling?? haha.. thanks Justen. Its ok though, because his english stinks real bad right now and my grammar could whoop him any day.! Love you too!! :)

Okay okay, most of the rest of the email was mushy, or random, or not really important for America to hear...but finally, he asked me to watch this video, and thought it was a Perfect song for us. Dang, he is adorable. So go check it out, or say "barf they are so in love" a hundred times. Your choice!

Yes, I want to watch this cute video.

Mexican Monday Countdown: 47 weeks to go!

-Sara Jacqueline

And I'm the Weird One??

My host family tends to laugh at me a lot, and well I am totally okay with that, cause its all a bunch of fun anyways. However, there are things about me (me?? Yes.) that I know they are thinking are very weird. Let us begin..

1. For the first few days I was here, I got sunburnt because we were always outside, and my red nose and arms are plain bizarre.
2. Not drinking milk is odd and down right illegal.
3. This one teeny tiny blemish on my face is suddenly a huge magnet for attention, practically screaming out some insane curse word at everyone. These Mexicans have perfect skin.
4. Sometimes when my family talks to fast, I cannot understand, and they ask me to repeat, in which I say stupid things like, huh.. Pepperoni?? And they crack up....for what seems like hours.
5. I am directionally challenged. This map stuff is just not for me. So sue me.
6. I am still thrown off when the salsa is SOO green. Like something in a diaper.
7. I don't have a scarf or a coat to wear in January...in Mexico...and sometimes, I take my cardigan off (gasp).
8. I do NOT like mayonnaise, it is worse than boogers. These people want to lick the jar with a spoon.
9. I have no Aunts, Uncles or Cousins that live in the same state as me. All of theirs live in the same block.
10. I run in shorts when its 60 degrees out. Apparently, I am supposed to wear a parka and a hat. Even though I am in Mexico, I am STILL that crazy girl running around in shorts.

Well I am sure there are many more things about me that they think are weird..and there will probably be many to come. But thats ok with me. :)

Also,

Today was my missionary's Mom's Birthday. Mrs. Turley turns 23 today!!! She is such a sweet and caring lady, and I know how much Justen loves her. He is SUCH a Mama's boy, and I know he really really misses her. Something funny I remember is that Justen's friends would always tease him about his hot mom...haha. That drove him nuts.!! She always would take care of him, and well, I think he was a little spoiled by his Mama..but thats ok, it makes him sweeter. I hope you had a fantastic day Mrs. Turley!! We love you!!

This is Justen and his Mom before our High School Graduation in 2009. Precious Right??

-Sara Jacqueline