Second email to Amy--date with NICK PURSE, then Isaac

Man, sorry it took me so long to reply.

And so many things to respond to, I loved your email back! :)

Okay, so first things first. The DATE with Mr. Nick Purse was good! He came and picked me up, right on time (thankfully I was ready), and we headed out to his car. He was a perfect gentleman and opened my door always (car and buildings). We just started chatting and never really stopped. He is a great conversationalist. We went to Zupas, which we both love, and ate and then just talked for a while, and went home. I'm all about short first dates. So yeah, it was great as far as conversation. However, I don't think he is the one (which is really too bad because he dresses great, good shoes!, I mean really attractive shoes, he's almost done with his THIRD degree, including law, and he is going places). There were certain things he said that seemed surprising, in an unfortunate way. Just some comments he made. But no one is perfect, I need to not scrutinize so hard after a first date, I think. I definitely wouldn't mind a second date, to get to know him better. But I won't be crushed if there isn't one. Although, another good thing about him was that I think it was the least awkward walk-up-the-skinny-BDA-stairs-and-walkway-together and goodbye at the door that I've ever had there at BDA. That was really nice. He's a very non-awkward, comfortable person to be around, Gosh, I'm liking him more and more as I think about him! :)  I sent a post-date text thanking him and telling him I had a great time, and he responded with, "You're welcome Melissa, it was fun, thanks for coming!" So we'll see what happens. But the thing is that we've eliminated the "what if" of Nick Purse, so whatever happens, I am thrilled about that at least.:)

Oh, so then the funniest thing about the night is that seriously about five minutes after I got home from the date with Nick, Isaac called me. He had called earlier in the day, but I was at work and couldn't answer. I called him back and left a message. So then yeah, he called me after I got home, and we just chatted for a while, laughing and cracking up, it was fun, and then we started talking about a movie, then he asked me if I had seen Braveheart, and I said no, but recently I had been wanting to watch it, edited, and he said he had an edited copy from Clean Flicks! (exclamation mark because hewas so excited about this, he loves that movie, along with all other males). So he asked if I wanted to watch it, now, and I was like, "Sure!" He had been on his way home from Salt Lake, after a bad blind date, so a few minutes later he came and picked me up, and we went to his apt and watched it. Ha! It was surprisingly fun to be with him, actually. And I tell you what, I had been totally and completely done with him after the Easter dinner episode, and him just dropping me off, etc. I was surprised that he even called me, and it ended up being really nice to be with him. I am so comfortable with  him, I don't feel like I have to pretend about anything, or try to be impressive or anything. It was really nice.

But he's funny, I don't know what his intentions are. He never touches me, he's not huggy, nothing. We sat on the same couch for like half of the movie, but then I was cold and he was somehow warm (I was to the point my nose was cold), so he was sweet and went and got his comforter from his bed, and gave it to me, and then moved to the other couch (I think because he was already warm, and the blanket was huge and he didn't want to be hot). So I don't know. It was a great opportunity to hold hands, if he had wanted to, but nothing. And he dropped me off again, didn't get out of the car or anything. I don't get him. But he knows I'm leaving, so I guess whatever. It's just that he kind of made me interested in him again. Dang it!

Okay, enough about me--how has your first week-plus been? Have you gotten over jet lag yet? I think that would be so hard, to switch your sleeping schedule so drastically. I'm so glad it's such nice weather! And I'm sure your hands are only looking extremely hold-able..too bad those lovely boys can't! Tell them to be patient, only a few more months and they can...  Though I must say, that does sound very refreshing to not have any dating pretenses or pressure, to just be friends with everyone. I bet that makes you all even more attractive though, like how married men are so attractive cuz they are just nice, y'know? Is this true with the Jeru boys?

Other news--all my friends, pretty much, have moved out of the ward (you, Joylyn, Allison, Jenny, Joel..) so the idea of leaving Provo is getting easier and easier by the day, thank goodness. I just don't really feel like I am a part of this ward anymore. Which is kind of a blessing, I feel like it's my time to leave.

As far as roommates, it's been kind of nice to have Chelsey gone, not gonna lie, she sadly made the more immature side of Jessica come out more. They were a lot alike in some ways, which was surprising. And we have a new roommate, Kylie Simpson, who is Jessica Simpson's sister. She's nice, she's fine. Jessica (V.) and I still get along, I've concluded that she just doesn't like me sometimes, I think. At least that's what it seems like (though in her defense, it would be hard to like a roommate who snoozed her alarm every five minutes for large amounts of time almost every morning...poor girl.). Some days we're good friends, or at least buddy buddy, have good conversation, joke around, and other days it's totally the opposite, like pulling teeth to have a conversation. Strangest roommate relationship I've ever had, that's for sure.

But I'm leaving in six days, which will be good. Though at the same time, I'm really not so excited to be living at home. I honestly don't know how long I'm going to last. But I'm trying to be positive and hopeful.

Okay, I'm sorry this email has gotten so long and been mostly about me! Sheesh! I'm so glad we can email too, I miss you!! There is honestly no one like you, and I love you for it.

Anyway, have a great day/week!

First email to AMY

Oh my goodness! You are actually in Jerusalem I hear! Allison told me all about your first email tonight, and how much you are already loving it and not wanting to leave (careful there..), and how your dad forwarded your email on to President Samuelson, and he got a line back from him. Anyway, I'm so glad you are already loving it so much and that you feel so good about being there!!

Ideally, I would love for you to tell me all about it. But I'm sure you don't have the time. But tell me everything you have time to tell me! I would also like to know the following:

What's the weather like? What season are they in over there?

How often do you get to email, and how do you?

Are there any extremely attractive men on the trip?

How was your flight?

Have you already decided on Israeli names for all your eleven children you will have with your handsome husband you met in Jerusalem?

Can't wait to hear all about it! If you are sending your family extended and detailed emails about your travels, you should consider adding me to the forward list. My email address is melissagurr@gmail.com. :)

Also, NICK PURSE CALLED ME TONIGHT!!!!! And we are going out on Friday!! Aaaa!!!! 

Can't believe he actually did. Although, he seems like a man of his word, so in that way I'm not surprised, because he told Natalie that he would. So anyway, now my new goal is to not blow it on this first date. I've been really good at doing that in the past, on first dates, so we'll see if I can break my long-time habit of doing so.

But I must tell you, that after I hung up with him, I wanted to text you SO bad!!! (And you would have been the first I texted) So, this email will have to suffice.

That's all for now--

Your biggest fan here in Provo,

Melissa

PS. In case I wasn't clear, YOU MAY NOT STAY THERE FOREVER. I need you back as soon as possible. I already miss you!

Amy is gone to Jerusalem :(

So being the RS president this past semester has been a blessing in multiple ways, but the biggest way is that it brought me to the best friends I have now.
I would say my best friends are currently Amy Brown, Joylyn, Allison Brown, then Jenny of course (Joylyn's roommate), and...yeah, that's about it. I was closer to Natalie Hodges (my third counselor) more mid-semester, but we haven't been here at the end so much. I just don't see her much lately.
Anyway, Amy is my best friend, she is so amazing, and our personalities and temperaments really get along well. I am 25 and she is 21, I think (maybe even 20?), but she is very mature for her age (maybe I'm very immature...?). Anyway, I love her so much, and I am SOOOO grateful to have been called as a RS president because I don't think I would have gotten to know her this much. She (as well as Joylyn, etc.) has been such a blessing and a confident in my life. She is an incredible listener and cares so much about people. She always asks about my day and how it was, and about work and what I did at work. My heart is just overflowing with love and gratitude for her as I type this. She reminds me a lot of Anna Boyer (now Hansen) in those ways. She is so amazing and has (as well as Allison, her sister) made me feel so loved and cared about. I have laughed with them, chatted, had deep conversations, and have broke down and cried to them (about my roommates). They and she came into my life at such a good and needed time, and I can totally see the hand of the Lord in the timing. He is so good to me, I am eternally grateful.
Anyway, the sad thing is that, like how I became best friends with Elise Beckstead last year, winter semester, and then she left me and went to Jerusalem, Amy and I have become best friends, and she just left yesterday for, yes, Jerusalem. It was hard, for both of us. It was hard to say goodbye, it was quick because I had to go, but then we texted a bunch the night before she flew out (2 nights ago) and afterwards I was emotional again and just so sad she was leaving. I love her so much and haven't had a best friend for so long, and certainly not one like her. We are so similar in so many ways, it's been amazing. We both love country music and all things western; we both love a lot of things.
I'm doing better now, and just got word tonight from Allison that she is doing great and just LOVING it already, and already does not want to come home, and feels so good about being there. So I'm so excited for her to be there and have an amazing experience.
One thing we said we would do it email each other and keep a chain going, so she could tell me all about it and the cute boys on the trip, and she wanted me to tell her all about all the boys I date, or whatever. Ha. So I'm going to start posting our emails on here, to keep a record.
That's all for now, goodnight!

Getting ready to leave Provo

BYU's finals have ended, as well as my housing contract. However, because I don't start up at the U til May 9 (orientation), I am working down here at Courtyard through Monday, May 7. So after debating extensively moving out and then just bouncing around friends' apartments for the next 2 weeks, I decided just to pay the $75 our management would charge me to stay an extra 2 weeks. It was much more worth paying and saving me mentally than it would have been to try to move out when I would have, which would have made for a much more stressful few days.
About starting nursing at the U, some days I'm more excited than others. The thing I'm most excited about is having someone I know there with me, a friend. A morning PCA, Sam Flake, is going too, and I see her all the time at work, and it's been so nice to have someone to talk to about everything, and everything we have to do before we start, etc. Definitely been a blessing.
As far as living at home, I haven't thought about it too much, I think I try not to, but in all honesty, I'm not looking too forward to it. It will be really nice to have free rent for a while, and to be there for family stuff more, but I'm nervous about being around Dad a ton. He often still talks to me like I'm a kid, not a 25-year old RM who has a college degree and whatever. But I hope it gets better. So we'll see how it goes, and how long I last. I could last a week, or I could last a year. We'll see.
And the singles ward. I'm slightly excited to meet new guys, and hopefully older ones, but nervous about going to a new ward, starting over with being the new person, not knowing people or feeling comfortable at first. I hate the new-ness of change. That part I don't like. It's uncomfortable. But I guess we have to be uncomfortable to grow, right?
Anyway, if I sound like a Debbie-downer right now, I have been slightly moody tonight. I think I'm about to start my period soon, and that's adding to it.
Anyway, better head to bed. Tomorrow I'll hopefully feel better emotionally.

I need to write more about my job, and what I will miss when I leave in a couple weeks. Esp. Dean, Nora, Jo Stewart, and Bob Horner. Also the employees, like Megan the housekeeper, Kathy the nurse, the PCAs like Kemari, Jen, Liz, Ridge, and Paul; and Derek the scheduler, love the guy. He's like a brother in law.

Catchup!

So many things I need to update on...boys--the category in general, including how I finally got to talk to Nick Purse today! And that now he has my number! We'll see if he uses it. And that Isaac is totally out of the game. And how I asked Rob on a date last week, but he was already busy, so couldn't go, but hasn't called me since (I was really hoping he would then ask me out, no luck, yet anyway.). Oh well, I'm just not sure I could marry someone who religiously goes to bed before 10:30 pm every day, I don't know if I could even date him. Or a guy who passionately is against Disneyland. Oh, well. And that I had a little crush on Dallas in our ward, recently, but that I think that's passed. And that my feelings, or love I could say, for Joel (Anderson), have been increasing lately. He is moving home the end of this week, and then will be in San Antonio for the summer on an internship. It's been so fun to be in the same ward this year, I'm going to miss him. We both still love each other, we g-chatted the other night, and both said it in our own ways, it was really sweet. I love the relationship we have, it's so unlike any other I have with anyone. It is very special.
And my mission reunion still, which was amazing and everything I hoped and dreamed, specifically because I got to see President, which always makes my life, but also because Bishop Day and his wife (Vicki) were here in town and came to our reunion. It was so good to see him!!! I absolutely loved Bishop Day (Bishop of Burgess Falls, my last area), and he really liked me. Then the Monday after the reunion I went over to President's house, where the Days were staying, and had breakfast with them. Just the Hutchings and the Days and me. It was so so great. I feel like a million buck when I am around those people, I love them so much, and it was, again, so SO good to see and catch up with the Days! They are going to be mission presidents in Taiwan later this year, I'm so excited for them, they will be amazing.
Also that I just got released today from RS Pres., and that I love my job, especially my good friend, Dean, who is 82 and who I spend hours a day with. He's like my best friend, I just love him. And I am going to miss him so much.
And that I've been able to see a lot of good things about going to the U, or at least staying in Utah. But that I'm not ready to leave my friends in Provo yet, and that I probably never will be, so it's just gonna have to be hard for a while I think. Especially living at home, not really looking forward to that too much.
And that Sally and Joe are seriously thinking about and looking into moving to Utah after his residency is over. How great would that be??!
Anyway, but I've got to go to bed, I'm getting worse and worse at getting up on too little of sleep, it's sad. I've resorted to sleeping on our non-full-size couch sometimes lately when I go to bed so late that I'm really afraid of not waking up if I'm in my bed.
K, goodnight!