Hey ya'll! So I feel like an update is in order. If you're one of those anti-love type haters who is irritated by things like people holding hands, cheesy chick flicks, valentine's day, and/or people getting engaged, then you are formally excused from the rest of the post.
On June 13th Dylan returned home from his mission. On June 23rd he proposed to me outside of the Draper temple with the most beautiful ring that he made himself, and of course I said yes.
The last 3 1/2 weeks have been, by far, the very best of my life. It's really amazing how when something is right, everything works out. In the 2 weeks we've been engaged, we've done the bulk of wedding planning/preparation/shopping. I've loved every minute of it. I can't remember ever being purely happy for so long. Even in the best of times there are little worries and stresses, fears, concerns, but right now there just isn't. I'm so excited, and so happy to have reached this point in life that has always been just a dream. I can testify even more strongly now that "no matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true." Obviously life won't always be this easy, but after the last couple years I am really grateful that I get to face everything the future holds with my best friend as my husband by my side.
Hey! So it's probably time to blog again, seeing as the last week has been so dense and full of happiness and joy. If you've seen me recently, you're probably very aware of my current ebullience (thanks for the vocabulary Krista), and if not you're about to read about it. Dylan Wake, the boy that I am in LOVE with, is HOME and here, and I can't remember ever feeling so wonderful and optimistic about life.
Time is a funny thing my friends. Some days 2 years seems like a blink, and other days you're sure that 2 years will NEVER end. 2 months ago time was going by slower than I can ever remember, 2 weeks ago I couldn't make up my mind whether it was too fast or too slow, and right now it is flying. I can't believe I've already had 5 blissful days that were devoid of any counting down and waiting-- and yet at the same time those 5 days feel like they're all the time in the world, and it's hard to remember anything that happened before. Currently life is so exciting, and feels so right, and normal, it's hard to believe it's really been 2 whole years since I've been with this boy.
Dylan's mission was great for so many reasons, but one is that I can even more appreciate the little things he does that make my life so wonderful. Things like sweet texts, being called a princess- and treated like one, having someone who is happy just to be near me, being told I'm loved, all these mean even more now that I know what it's like to be without them. I think Steve Perry nailed it when he sang "I get the joy of rediscovering you- I'm forever yours, faithfully."
So, maybe this all seems a little giddy and cheesy. Sorry, not sorry. But really, this boy is the best thing that's ever been mine.
Let's sing our feelings!
Point: "[a mission] cannot stop true love, all it can do is delay it for awhile."
Alrighty friends- unless this hasn't been blatantly obvious in every form of social media and actual human interaction and conversation lately- I have a missionary coming home REALLY SOON. Not just any missionary, mind you. My missionary. I have honestly never been so excited for anything in my life.. so naturally I'm going to blog about it.
Two years ago, June 8th was a Tuesday. It's officially been 2 years since we said goodbye, and that was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Saying goodbye was a conglomeration of emotions- happy, worried, excited, the whole deal. Now.. I'm pretty much feeling all those same things :)
Tonight I went to the first of 3 weddings that I'm attending this weekend. And pinteresting ideas for my own. Currently I'm watching a movie and reveling in the fact that no matter what happens from here- this is the last Friday night I will ever spend waiting for a missionary.
Alright, so pretty much I have the most incredible sister in the universe. She is the epitome of kindness and cuteness, and she is unfailingly unselfish. I don't know very many people who have been through things as crazy and hard as she has, and they happened during high school- which is in my opinion hard enough by itself. Despite everything, she's come out even sweeter. She lives to help the people she cares about, and she finds joy in the smallest things. She's super talented, super beautiful, faithful, and awesome. Having her in the same room as me = having a major party. She helps to remind me what is really important in life, all the while making me feel better about myself and the world. I cannot imagine life without her in it, and I am so grateful for the wonderful friend she's been to me.
Next week she is coming to be my ROOMMATE! We haven't lived in the same room for almost 13 years, and I am so excited!! So many times people have asked me if we ever fight, or how we get along so well. Honestly I don't know how I'd ever get along without her. When we were kids we looked forward to having people stay over at our house, because it meant I had to give up my room, and the 2 of us would have a sleepover. I cannot wait to see what havoc we create over a 2 month sleepover!
Here's some adventures we've had in the last couple weeks-
She defeated high school!
Silly graduation present I made her..
To welcome summer, the 2 of us celebrated alien appreciation week. This was accomplished by a slew of alien related movies, music, and crafts. Aak aak!
Earlier this week she was even willing to go on an enchanted hiking adventure with me!
Oh yeah, and we got some hot dino tattoos..
...and massive snowcone awesomeness.
Isn't she adorable??
Here are some more nostalgic ones just because..
When I count my blessings, I count her over and over, and thank a loving Heavenly Father for giving her to me and our family. Thanks Colee for being the best sister and best friend that could ever be dreamed up in all the world.
Okay, so this month has been SO AWESOME. I've been so busy having fun that I haven't remembered to blog about it so here goes.
Things that have happened in May-
I woke up to a good rain storm
A couple superb hike/run adventures to my enchanted place, which Spring has given the most glorious makeover to
Singing my feelings in the mountains
Celebrated May day and surprised my mom with flowers
Saw the hunger games with my dad and sister (3rd time's the charm)
I've read a good deal
Temple trips
A celebratory joyous roommate outing to Cafe Rio, because we all had something worth celebrating!
I got a JOB for next year!
Like 8 IEP's. Inluding 3 re-evals.
Cinco de Mayo Avengers party
All sorts of cool space rare occurrences which I understand only on a minimal level
Edgemont 5k
Provo City Center Temple Groundbreaking (Elder Holland rules.)
Art Ball
Letters
Exorbitant amounts of end of year testing (I personally proctored over 500.)
Writing a song that is more legitimate than any song I have ever written
Snowcones
End of school parties
Playing with dear friends
Bike rides
Tree climbing
Adventurous outings
Meeting my new class
Blonde
Checking off 22 days on my countdown- and only having 22 left.
Sunshine
Bonding
Hope
I love love love it. And surprisingly, it's gone by really fast. I'm so sad that the school year is ending, I'm really going to miss all of the wonderful teachers and students of Edgemont. I can, however, feel the super adventures that are just around the corner! And as much as I really do loooove May, June is going to be even BETTER!!
If I could assign a quote to my life, it would probably be the opening line of "Dreams" by the Cranberries: "Oh my life is changing everyday, in every possible way." Week after week I am surprised by the amount of surprises that happen, but that's just life I suppose! I've been in some sort of delusion that the craziness and random nature of life is just a phase, but I'm starting to realize that phase is called "life" and it's going to last much longer than I anticipated. I'm also realizing that that's okay. Experiencing a wide range of emotions in a short period of time is okay. Life is okay! More than that, life is wonderful. It really is great, it's an adventure. And the more I look for beautiful things, the more I see.
This week I graduated BYU, something I don't think I ever really thought about doing. That sounds silly, but when I imagined things I'd do in life I pictured going to college, being a teacher, getting married, mission?, children, etc., but not actually graduating BYU, finishing it, walking away with a degree in hand and no longer being a college student. I should have, considering there was never a chance that I would choose not to graduate, and all of the choices I made to accelerate my college experience as well. Anyhow, it's done, so we'll just keep moving forward!
Truthfully this has been much less of a graduation week than a week of realizing how many dear and loving people care about me. I've been blessed to have sweet interactions with both immediate and extended family, neighbors, home-ward friends, college ward friends, co-workers, students, long lost friends, old roommates, new roommates, friends in my cohort, all in all a decent representation of the people I know- and I feel so incredibly loved.
It's easy to get down, and beat yourself up. It's easy to list all of your flaws and mistakes, but it can be so hard to see what you're doing right. I think most of us forget altogether to look for our own good traits. It's something I struggle with, but I have hope that I will get better. Anyway, I'm really grateful for these people who remind me that I'm alright, that I've got a few things going for me, and above all- divine and infinite worth. I have countless examples of pure charity in my life. Not only that, but people who care about me specifically. I really want to become more like them, and I hope that I can make people in my sphere of influence feel that deep love that I have for all of them as well.
So this post title is slightly deceiving, I'm not going away anywhere, and certainly not on a boat, or a spaceship (to the best of my knowledge). It's a metaphor guys. I've been learning this tune on the piano lately, and it feels kind of appropriate for graduation.
I am sailing away- I'm a graduated professional, with a job lined up for the coming year, my dearest and best friend comes home in only 51 days and I am ready to begin the beautiful next chapter of my life. . May it be just as whirlwindy and saturated with growing opportunities as the last while has been!
P.S. This probably isn't proper blog etiquette, but being the curious creature that I am, I would love to know who reads these! If you do, thanks for being a kind enough soul to spend time reading about my life! Feel free to leave me a comment or message saying you read, or if you'd prefer, feel free to keep reading anonymously. Also- if you're a fellow blogger and I don't follow you, let me know that as well, because I want to hear about your lives too.
Happy Easter! What a wonderful holiday. I'll admit it doesn't feel quite the same now, what with living in college with no children about, but it was still wonderful. I got to watch my cousins have their Easter egg hunt, and my stellar roommates hid eggs in the living room for me as well. Not to mention both Easter bunny visits, I feel very lucky indeed. Also, I'm so grateful for this girl here- best sister friends forever.
The last couple weeks have been wild, but with the help of some truly wonderful individuals, I'm keeping my head above water, and with a smile on it to boot. Most of my worries right now are of the "endure to the end" kind of thing, and with the sweet scaffolding of the Lord, along with some angels, I know that things will turn out really well.
I don't publicly/formally bear my testimony all that often. As with many people, I tend to lack the confidence that I have anything to say that they don't already know. In BYU wards there is never a shortage of volunteers, so I usually miss those opportunities. I do try to bear my testimony in my daily conversations with others, and as it's Easter I'd really like to share it here as well.
I know that this- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints- really is the true, and only complete church on the earth. This is because we have the authority from God- which means that we have the power of the priesthood, along with an appointed Prophet and other leaders who facilitate Christ's direction and purposes. I have complete confidence in those leaders, and I know that they truly receive revelation to guide us at this time.
I know that the Book of Mormon is the truest book on earth, and have experienced it's unique power to convert and bring men unto Christ. I know that it was translated by Joseph Smith, who also restored the Church to the earth, and was a true prophet.
I know that there is a God, and we are his children. He loves us and is more aware of us than we can realize. Through the power of prayer we can communicate directly with him and receive answers to our questions and comfort throughout our trials. As his children, we all have infinite worth and potential, including the potential to become Gods like he is.
More than anything, I have a testimony of the Atonement. I know that Jesus Christ died, for us, and that he was resurrected- and we will be as well. He descended below all things and has a perfect understanding of us and the experiences we have. The Atonement is infinite in every sense of the word, and transcends time and space. I have felt it's cleansing power from sin, the power to be healed from infirmities, and the magnificent peace in times of sorrow. I've felt the Savior's love, and stood amazed at the perfect charity and mercy that he has shown me. In my darkest hours, he has never forsaken me, but instead has carried me through.
This is my favorite painting of Christ, and one that I have framed in my room to remind me of his ever-present love.
The painting is titled "Why Weepest Thou." When Mary finds Christ's tomb empty, she is overcome with sorrow and grief. Her Lord, who has taught her, served her, and shown her perfect charity, is gone. I can't imagine the loneliness she felt.
Jesus approaches her and asks "Woman, why weepest thou?" She doesn't recognize him at first, but realizes who he is when he calls her by name. Mary's immediate instinct is to go and embrace her Savior, knowing of the perfect love he has for her.
I love this painting because it helps me to realize that Christ has never left me alone. He knows my name, and he has succored me through every trial I've faced. Whenever I feel sad about my circumstances, or lonely, I see this painting and hear him say "Why weepest thou?" knowing that he will sustain and provide for me. Through the power of the Atonement, I know that I can become closer to him. And one day, I will have the opportunity to embrace my Savior.
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
I invite you to trust in him, no matter what wars are currently waging in your life. He knows the way because he is the way.
