Ugly Cry:
We dropped Aani off at the Provo MTC on April 8, and I was ugly crying before we even got out of the car. I really didn't think I would cry. She was ready, we've been talking about this and preparing for years, and she's all in. We said our goodbyes, went home, and I had to lie down and feel my feelings. Later that evening, I went to the SLC Costco with Ava, and cried all the way there, and all the way home. Geez. The MTC was good. She loved her comp and did well in general.
Worst dang day.
She flew to Kansas on the 21st, and is in a great area with a great companion, has taught lessons already and is enjoying it. There was a tornado on her 2nd day there, so that was exciting.
Saying goodbye to Sister Taylor, MTC comp. They love each other.
I'm sending two emails today I'm so sorry! Yesterday I experienced the most amazing miracle and I think it deserves it's own email
On Thursday my district went to the Timpanogas temple and did endowments! I was so blessed that my brother Anders got to join the session and I could see him. We said bye, he gave me the girl updates (successful), and it was so nice!
On Friday, we went to the temple again but for sealings. As I walked into the temple, something Anders said the day before struck me. My cousin livvi's wedding was today! In the exact temple I was walking into.
I started to freak out, I had no idea when her sealing was, but it was a packed day so there was no way to know. I asked all the temple workers if they recognized her last name or knew anyone's live sealings today. One kind temple worker told me, "it's a Friday in april". Essentially, there were a million and ten weddings happening.
I went on with my day and began doing sealings. The way that it was set up for missionaries was 45 minutes of sealings, 15 minutes in the celestial room, then 45 more minutes of sealings. So, about half way through the session we all got up and walked single file to the celestial room, my comp and I last.
When i walked in to the celestial room, I literally jumped, gasped, and ran. The first two people sitting there were my cousin and her about-to-be husband, preparing to get sealed. I ran straight into her arms and we both started sobbing.
Before i keep going, i want to go back in time a little bit. Just a few days ago, I had a really hard day. I had bombed a teaching lesson and felt super inadequate as a missionary. I felt like no one was proud of me or saw my efforts. I had prayed to God asking if He was proud of me, and received no answer. For a couple days I have searched for this answer in prayer, scriptures, even asking others to look for scriptures about it. Nothing. I have felt so sad and struggled a bit with patience.
The first thing Livvi said to me when I ran to her was,
"I am SO proud of you".
God spoke through her in that moment and I have not one doubt in my mind about that. We hugged and cried, then talked to a temple worker about any possibility of me joining her sealing. The workers sadly told us that there's no way a missionary can, but we were just happy to see each other anyway. What a blessing!
As she left to go get re-ready, I sat in the celestial room thanking Heavenly Father. In the middle of my prayer, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up and two temple workers were staring at me, and they asked if I'm Sister Rasmusson. They looked relieved and a little bit scared when I said yes, then told me "this is completely unprecedented, but come with us". I wish you could see the grin on my face as me and my companion hurriedly followed them through hallways and into a small room. We changed our clothes super fast, and suddenly, I walked into a room with my entire family.
I was immediately barreled into a hug with my aunt, and suddenly I was sobbing again. The shocked look on my parents face and instant tears will forever sit in my mind. It was insane!
They told me that the temple workers kept whispering "Olivia's (livvi's) cousin is here" but everyone was confused what that meant. My cousin Oakley said he watched me walk past and thought "wow that looks a lot like aani". And then I walked in like 30 seconds later.
Livvi started crying and hugged me immediately as she walked into her sealing room and saw me sitting there with my parents. The spirit was so unbelievably strong. As I got to watch my cousins live sealing, I got such a confirmation that God had everything to do with this. Over and over temple workers told us "this is not a coincidence".
I got to hug her and my family one last time, then hurried back to my own sealing session and finished there. I bore my testimony for the people in my session and the workers were so happy and excited for me. I even saw my family in the lobby as I walked out. I got to talk to them more, and I broke the rules and held my baby cousin. What a miracle, I've missed babies.
God is so aware of us and our struggles. Jesus suffered in Gethsemane and died on the cross for that exact reason, so he can understand us and succor us, which means "run to" us. Although my prayer was not answered immediately, God knew exactly when that prayer would be answered most clearly and powerfully to me. He is so happy with my decision to serve a mission, and on those hard days he helps me grow. Seeing Livvi in the celestial room was not a coincidence. Witnessing her get sealed to her eternal companion was not a coincidence. God was in every single detail. I am so grateful for the spirit that was felt in the temple yesterday, my mind has been going back to it over and over. I know God loves me and is proud of me, and He is proud of you too. If you have a question, ask. Then wait. The answer will come.
I love my Heavenly Father and brother Jesus Christ. And I love you! Look out for a more silly email about my week! And thank you for reading this far if you did 
-Sister Rasmusson
So... that was amazing. God is good.
Haper and Ava
Alex and Anders, of AlexAndersProductions
Anders' has a girlfriend. And she wanted him to dress nice for her graduation, so he went to Ross to buy a polo. That is love.
Addie in sticker form.
Baby Graham on his big day. Pweety fweekin' cute!!
Anders and Cameron at Blake's graduation
Ava and bestie Harper. They went to prom with a group of friends.
My pretty baby girl. Oh yeah! She got her license. She gave me a picture to post, but I thought I probably shouldn't post a picture of her driver license on the internets.
We celebrated our 26th anniversary last week. We went to Park City for a couple of nights and discussed starting a new business and it was very romantic. Then on Saturday, Nils made me these little shelves so my nightly medicine regimen would stop clogging up my nightstand, I wuv him.
Baby Graham in his bespoke blessing outfit ala Addie. She's a master.
Other big happenings/blessings this month:
We did our taxes and owed $0 in federal taxes. Last year, our tax payment legitimately wrecked us, so this was a complete shock and we nearly cried from relief.
We purchased a plot of land to build a future home on. It's in Woodland Hills, which is an hour southeast of us. Right now it's a mere dream, but we have the location secured should things work in our favor in the next few years. We drive down there sometimes on a Friday or Saturday night and just look over the valley and dream about our future deck.
Leaps are being taken! Thanks, April, for being a good one!
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