Is it February yet?

I AM GETTING MARRIED!!!!

We are so excited!

I never could imagine anything that felt more perfect or right. I never imagined that I could love someone so much. We have too much fun together, we really do.

I feel so blessed to have found such a great man who wants what's best for me and for our future together.

Here's our story:

We met right after I moved to Utah, in May of 2010. We dated a little over the summer but when he wanted to get more serious, I wasn't ready and so we stayed good friends over the fall/winter. Having the same group of friends, we hung out all the time and I quickly realized that he was one of my best friends. We started doing things together, just the two of us. Why would I keep looking around for someone to date when I had everything I'd ever dreamed of right in front of me? Kasey taught me how to ride a motorcycle; we've had a few too many water fights in his mom's kitchen; we play football with his little brother, Cole; sing in the car at the top of our lungs; we like trying new things together and just enjoy spending time together. After "officially" dating for a little bit, we decided we wanted to be together forever and start a family together.

Kasey proposed on Monday, September 12, 2011, in front of the Mount Timpanogos Temple. We will be sealed together forever on February 4, 2012 in the Denver Temple.

I am not only in love with him, but I love his family. They are my family. It has never felt awkward being around them or going to family functions, with or without Kasey. I love his grandmas like my own and am thrilled to finally have a younger sibling. Not a day goes by that I don't thank my Heavenly Father for this great family that I am now a part of.

I'll keep you updated with the wedding planning!!

As of now, I have:

a dress!

bridesmaid dresses

a groom

....I've got a lot of work to do :)

Happy 23rd, Goose!!!

Crystal and I turned 23 yesterday. It's crazy how fast time flies! 23 years ago (it was also a Saturday) we were born, seven weeks early in Gallup, New Mexico. Crystal was born with a condition known as duodenal atresia. She needed surgery immediately and was flown to the closest out of three hospitals in the nation, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After a couple months in the hospital, I was finally reunited with my best friend and partner in crime. Since then, we have caused too much mischief, laughed until we cried, played pranks, gotten in fights for one another, traveled the country, won state championships, and so many other things. She's my best friend and feel blessed that I was sent to this earth with her. I couldn't imagine my life without her.

This was the first birthday that we spent apart, and it was much harder than I thought it would be. 22 other birthdays were spent together, and it was so weird not to be with her this year. The Lord blessed me with a new family and my soon-to-be mother in law to share the day with! I miss my family, but it makes it so much easier to have a good family out here in Utah, too.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is trust someone else. I like to get things done, and do them my way.

Over the last few months I have had the frustrating pleasure of seeing the hand of the Lord in my life. I say frustrating because it is incredibly difficult to let things in my life go they way they should go, not necessarily the way I want them to go. It's funny how He knows me better than I know myself, and He knows what's best for me.

This week I was reminded of why things work out they should. It doesn't mean that it's always easy to deal with, but it makes it easier.

I'm Proud To Be An American.

Happy 4th of July, folks!! I love this holiday and I love this country even more. I am grateful for the sacrifices made so I can live my life doing the things I love. I think the older I get the more I come to understand and appreciate the incredible sacrifices that were made so that we could be a free country. It's truly incredible and I can't wait to someday thank those that have sacrificed their lives on my behalf.

There is a book that I've been reading and I definitely recommend it! (And yes, that's Snooki's book under it. That's another one I'd suggest you put on your list to read.)

I am proud to be an American!!

8 inches later...

It grows back, right? I miss my long hair, and I want it back!

It's Britney, b*@&#!!

(That's probably not the nicest title for this post. Sorry, mom.)

I went to Las Vegas with Caitlin, Colton, and Scott for the Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj concert. It was an amazing show. Nicki Minaj is one ridiculous woman/artist, with a great butt. And that girl can dance! SHOOT!! I've got a lot of respect for her. She was SO GREAT. I'm still shocked at how amazing she was live.

Britney put on a good show and I learned a few new dance moves that I need to perfect. We had great seats, for Britney, (thanks to Colton) and I sang (and danced) my little heart out. I can't wait for Scott's pictures from his disposable camera :)

It was a concert I'll never forget. And another successful trip with good friends.

I promised Miss Molly that I'd blog this morning. So here it is, short and sweet. (More details/pictures to come!)

I've had an exciting couple of months here in Utah.

-I finished the semester. ALIVE.

-I got a new job (YAY!)

-Molly and Crystal came to visit.

-I took a roadtrip to CO with Abby.

-One of my best friends got married!!!!

-Shelby is 6 months old!

-I went to Lake Powell with my family for a week!! (no work for an entire WEEK!!!)

Sorry this is short. But pictures are worth a thousand words, right? :)

Gratitude.

All day yesterday I was feeling incredibly grateful for a number of things in my life. I was especially grateful for answered prayers. Throughout the day I was sweetly reminded of the good life I live and how blessed I am to have great people in my life. It was a great day.

I cross University Parkway every day on my way to and from school. As I was on my way back to work from school, after my first class, I was almost hit by a girl who wasn't paying attention and turned while it was my turn to walk. I hit the window of her passenger door to let her know how close she was to me, hoping that would scare her and the next time she'd pay more attention. I chuckled to myself as I finished crossing the street, thinking of the horrified expression on her face. Grateful that I wasn't hit, I went about my day, forgetting this close call, since it wasn't the first time something like this had happened to me at this intersection.

As I was leaving campus after my last class of the day, it was about 8:45p.m. and starting to rain. I came up to the same intersection that I previously mentioned. I was the first person in my lane and I saw people getting out of their cars and traffic was stopped. There was a car parked in the middle of the intersection. It took me a second to figure out what happened, then it clicked when I saw a body on the ground. Someone had been hit. It looked like the girl who was crossing the street was crossing at the same cross-walk I had been crossing just hours earlier. As I studied the scene, put the puzzle pieces together, and talked with other witnesses, I realized the girl had been crossing the cross-walk on the other side of the street, about 50-feet away. I won't go into any more detail of the things I saw.

I'm a firm believer that if you want to say something, say it; if you want to do it, do it. You never know what could happen in the blink of an eye. This poor girl was just walking across the street with her groceries. My heart hurts for her, her family, and the man who hit her.

gimme, gimme more.

Working at a hotel, I have guests who are constantly getting coffee or tea, no matter the time of day. This morning I noticed a gentleman getting his coffee. He filled it to the very top, still needing to add his cream and sugar. As I watched him skillfully drag his feet across the breakfast area to his table, trying to avoid a spill, I wondered if it was worth the extra few sips of coffee. This was obviously not his first rodeo. I can't help but wonder why he filled it up so full, twice. The coffee is free and guests are welcome to as many cups as they'd like, until it all runs out and they have to wait for us to brew more.

One Day Without Shoes.

Take a minute, read about it.

If I wasn't at work, and wouldn't lose my job, I'd go without shoes today.

This is my small contribution.

get some.

Today!

YEEEEEEEEHAW!!! Welcome back to America! :)

Crystal is having her third, and hopefully last, shoulder surgery. Good luck!! I wish I could be there today!

Not much in this world is free.

Birth control is taken for a few different reasons. Some take it to prevent pregnancy. Some take it to help with acne. Some take it to help regulate their cycle. Whatever the reason, the side effects remain the same:

-dizziness

-headaches

-breast tenderness

-nausea

-mood swings

-blood clots

I experienced the best (free) birth control while at work today. Six children, under the age of 8 (or so), screaming and running around during breakfast. Not once did a hear a "shhhhh" or "Please, Johnny, sit down and eat your food." If I didn't know any better, I would have thought the parents were deaf. I'm sure everyone has seen a family like this one, and knows what I'm talking about. Maybe today was just an off day for this family, but I'm not taking any chances.

I'm grateful the only side effect today was a little bit of a headache.

3 Months Old!

She's getting so big!! I don't think she could be any cuter!

I love you, String Bean.

Less is more.

I'm not a fan of people who constantly need/beg for attention.

Like my mom always said, "Less is more."

I think that goes for just about everything, and everyone.

Pudding, anyone?

I went on a date this weekend.

I met this guy, who shall remain nameless, a few months ago through a mutual friend. We went to dinner (along with three other couples) and then went to our friend's house to play games and finger paint with pudding. When I found out we were finger painting (with pudding!!!!!!), I tried to keep an open mind. (Everyone knows if you have a bad attitude from the get-go, it's not going to be very enjoyable.) We played Catch Phrase while the pudding was chilling.

Then it all began.

Everyone started painting on their own pieces of paper, except us. He had the brilliant idea of sharing a piece of paper and doing it together. Romantic, right? After a few swirls and hand prints on the paper, I was about done. (It wasn't as fun as I remember it being in Kindergarten.) Just then, he said, "I think this would look better.....HERE!" slap! There was pistachio pudding all over my face; he then went for the vanilla. Really? REALLY?! I was shocked. I got him back with chocolate pudding, and after a few minutes of this "food fight" (and too much touching), I was ready to leave. We played another couple rounds of Catch Phrase and then I let him know I was ready to go home (since I was covered in pudding).

This was our first, and last, date.

I will never agree to fingerpainting again.

Lessons Learned

The last few weeks have been rough, to say the least. This time of the semester is always difficult. It feels like every class adds an extra assignment (or two) at the last minute, and all my tests are scheduled for the same day. I have been rather unhappy with my job, I am easily irritated, I've been grumpy and short with people that I care about most, and who do the most for me. Needless to say, I have not been a very pleasant person the last few weeks.

Two weeks ago, I got a phone call from my dad telling me his brother, Kent, was in the hospital in Las Vegas. It seemed pretty serious and no one sounded very hopeful. Thankfully, a few of us girls heading to Vegas for the long weekend. We drove down late Thursday night and headed to the hospital Friday morning, where we met my dad in the ICU waiting room. They were just finishing up a procedure on Kent while we waited. The nurse then came in and told us he was gone. It felt so unreal-I think we all sat there for a minute in disbelief. I will never forget the way I felt that morning. I am so grateful that I was able to be there to comfort and support my dad. Having my friends there meant so much to me, and I know my dad appreciated their support, as well.

Life isn't perfect, and I know I'm not going to be happy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And that's ok. We are supposed to struggle and have trials-the way we respond is up to us. We're in charge of our own happiness. I, although it's been tough, am grateful for these obstacles in my life. I know that the Lord will never give me more than I can handle. It's easy to forget that promise when you feel you're at your lowest low. It's so easy to get discouraged and I feel like I am easily tempted during these times. I can't blame my bad attitude on unfortunate circumstances, or other people. There will always be something unexpected that doesn't go according to plan. Just when life feels close to perfect, I am sweetly reminded that I'm here to learn a thing or two.

Ready to Run.

I'm ready for this to be healed 100%:

I'm ready to spend my days doing this:

I'm ready to make more of this:

I'm ready for another night like this:

I wouldn't mind a week (paid vacation) somewhere like this:

I'm ready for warm weather, night games, shorts & sandals, softball, the lake, roadtrips, no school, concerts, volleyball, BBQ's...gosh darn it, I'm ready for summer!

Love, True Love.

Happy Valentine's Day, folks!

I don't particularly love or hate this day of the year. Some people call it "Single's Awareness Day" and like to focus on the fact that they're alone. Although it is nice to have the person you care about show you a little extra love on this special day, Valentine's Day doesn't make me feel bad that I don't have a boyfriend. To me, today is a day to be happy and thankful for the people, and things, you do have in your life.

Even though I won't be getting one of these today:

I will be getting one of these:

Now that's what I call true love. You never let me down, Chipotle.

Thank you, to the kind guest who gave me a very generous tip this morning, for dinner :)

Blog Buffet

You get a little bit of everything in this post.

I struggle. These last few weeks (especially at work) I have been incredibly irritable. I have had a lot on my mind, and I bottle it all up until I can't hold it in any longer.

I am grateful for opportunities to grow. Although I absolutely hate feeling weak, or not capable of completing something, I am thankful for little opportunities I have to become stronger and learn about myself. There are a few experiences in my life that have made me who I am today. We all face difficult challenges and, even though they're not the same for every person, we can relate in one way or another. (I struggle with A, you struggle with B. In the end, we both struggle.)

The challenges will never stop. When I was five it was staying inside the lines while coloring. Or learning how to share. And maybe I still struggle with those, but there are a few more things I'm dealing with, too. I'm grateful for learning experiences-I don't always enjoy the experience, but the important thing is the lesson learned.

---

On to the next piece of business. This cute girl:

I had such a fun weekend in Colorado! Great food, a lot of laughter, a baby blessing, and quality time spent with family and friends. I can't think of a much better weekend. Nothing compares to time spent with that sweet little baby.

My mom made her blessing dress. The picture doesn't show the beautiful detail on the dress. My mom is so talented, and patient. Our family friend, Sheila, made the bonnet to match. Shelby looked beautiful on her blessing day.

---

Girls night. I am so excited. There's nothing like spending an evening with 14 of your closest girl friends! :) There are a couple girls who are out of the state, or out of the country, that I wish could be there. No boys. Just food (and lots of it), dancing, movies, and girl time. There's never a dull moment with this group of fine ladies. It'll be refreshing. Nights like this are definitely needed-especially when the majority of our time together is spent with the boys. (Not that we don't love the boys, but we need our girl time.) I'm excited to get to know some of these girls a little better. You'll hear all about it later.

I'm pretty sure the majority of the people that read my blog will be there. So you'll already know all about it.

Tomorrow!

By this time tomorrow, I will be landing in Denver with Caitlin. We're going to visit my family for the weekend, and my niece will be blessed on Sunday. I can hardly wait to see this little munchkin.

Tomorrow she will be 8 weeks old--I can't believe it. My mom said she's starting to be more alert and interested in her surroundings. AND she smiles when you talk to her! I have missed her, and I'm so excited to spend the weekend with her.

Work or Play?

Today might be the best day of work I've ever had.

Why?

Because we're playing this and eating Mexican food.

Perfection.

Just because I only have one and a half working feet doesn't mean I'll be sitting out today. No way, Jose.

Amigos

I believe people come in and out of your life, for different reasons and times, when you need them most. I believe there are some people who will help you during certain situations, or get you where you need to be, and that's why (and when) they were meant to be in your life.

Obviously, we can't keep in touch with every person that has ever come into our lives. Your best friend from second grade probably isn't your best friend anymore (of course, there are exceptions). The people you hung out with in high school (who you promised to be best friends with forever and ever) are living their own lives, just like you, and maybe you "keep in touch" over Facebook. The people you hang out with now most likely won't be the same group you hang out with in 10, or even 5, years from now. People move, get married, have kids, get a new job, change schools, etc. Just because you're not BFF's with your best friend from high school doesn't mean that you would ever change the time you spent as friends. You grow up, grow apart, and move on.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the friends I used to have, the friends I have now, and the friends that got me where I am today. I am grateful for each friendship and the things I've learned from it-whether it be positive or negative. The saying "it takes one to know one" I find very true in this case. If you want a true friend, you have to know how to be a friend. It takes effort from both parties.

There are a few folks that I know I'll be friends with until I'm old and gray. And fat.

all you need is a few good friends...

...and that's exactly what I've got.

Probably more than I deserve and they're definitely better people than I am worthy of.

:)

I love:

-the smell of rain on a summer day.

-a bigger paycheck than expected.

-a good run after a rough day.

-Just Dance 2.

-getting a manicure and pedicure.

-Grey's Anatomy.

-making new friends.

-laying out.

-my niece, Shelby.

-music.

-Chipotle.

-getting to visit my family.

-Suns games.

-motorcycle rides.

-finding money in your pocket.

-taking pictures.

-my mom's cooking.

-Lake Powell.

-teaching Primary.

-NCA Staff.

-sleeping in.

-visiting Portland.

-a good cry.

-snuggle time.

-getting mail.

-Genaro's.

-finding surprise notes from a friend.

-the iPhone4.

-gift cards.

-giggling.

-TOMS.

-jet skiing/tubing/wakeboarding/slalom skiing.

-breakfast...at any time of the day.

-giving gifts.

-singing in the car at the top of my lungs.

-Colorado.

...this list could go on forever.

I love my life. It's a pretty fun one to live :)

Shelby is One Month Old :)

I can't believe she's already a month old!!

(She was one month old yesterday...close enough :))

I love you, Mustang.