Little Black Dress

So, it's not "little."

But it's black.

Lay-see and I love it :)

I'm wearing it for Karlee's wedding Tuesday.

I'm a bridesmaid and she gave us colors to choose.

And we pick the outfit :)

Hopefully it doesn't look like a funeral dress :/

Anyway, I wore it to church today.

And dang I looked good ;)

But f'real.

I felt so pretty.

Seminary Teacher

Hank Smith, I do hope to be as good of a teacher as you someday :)
Thanks for being the best.

My 40th Letter

I've reached 40!!! I'm so stoked, and let me just tell you, it was one of the most perfect letters I've ever received :) My Valentine's Day letter is #1 and this letter is #2 :) Gosh. I'm so in love it's prolly disgusting. My friend Bubbles told me this tonight (after reading the letter), "If you're this serious, you should not be dating!" And at first I'm thinking, Yeah I know. I tried that and it didn't work out. But the more I thought about what she said; she's pretty much right. If I know without a doubt that I love Brady, and that he is the one I want to spend forever with. The one nobody could beat, why am I even trying to "date"? Anyway, this letter was beyond cute. Lots of melting, oooo's and awwwww's. Lots of screaming, and giddiness, with hurt cheeks from smiling for hours. I actually carried it around with me I was way too excited about it. I also love knowing my mom supports me and Brady. It makes it that much easier when I'm excited about letters :) She's so sold on Brady it's just the best. I'm so grateful I've found someone I get to spend forever with :)

I always thought it was silly when people say, it's amazing when you experience that moment. That you just know you're in love, or that you could marry them. And I always wondered when that was going to happen with me.. And honestly, it's happened more than once, but with one person, and one person only.

Basically I just realized how much I just go on and on and on about Brady on here, but hey, I'm a pretty lucky gal, why not? (: Hehehehe So here is my 40th letter ya'll!

"We're going to be senior missionaries someday, okay?!"

"Seriously, you are the cutest girl I have ever met."

"I've committed myself to the Lord.."

"Hi Babe! I miss you!"

Basically I've got the sweetest guy ever. I love him and I cannot wait until he comes home. 400 days down, 330 to go! :)

Jordan River Temple

I decided to head to the Temple after that feeling you get inside when you should bear your testimony on Fast Sundays. I made it a goal to go each and every week this year. Sometimes I feel silly because I'm almost 20 and I can only do baptisms, but then I have to remind myself that's not the point. Jordan River has a special place in my heart, because they have a prayer room. When I got there this time, they'd changed things. I guess the Temple Presidency wants the "prayer" to be optional instead of the first thing you do, but when I was there, all by myself, I couldn't pass it up and I never will. I almost started crying when I started praying. It was one of the most powerful prayers I've ever said. Sounds cheesy, but I felt like the priesthood do when they say, "It didn't come from me, it came from God." I really felt that way. I was the only person in the Temple at the time, so I felt sort of special. The clothing all the Temple workers were wearing seemed whiter than usual; more holy. I got changed into my favorite Temple outfit (sometimes I imagine us being in pure white when we get to Heaven, and that's what I feel like in the Temple; pure) and when I came out the kind Temple worker asked if I was waiting for anyone else, I said, "No, it's just me!" And he said, "Well I'm sorry." And I said it was okay, but then got to thinking, it's fine that I'm alone. At first it was hard to go to the Temple by myself, but sometimes I prefer it. Temple time is me time. My favorite part is the confirmation room, so when I was guided by 5 priesthood holders, I seriously felt the Lord surround me. That moment when they place their hands on your head, and there is a moment of silence before they start reading the names, that's my favorite part. That's what captures my heart. I'm such a lucky human being; to have this gospel in my life, and the knowledge that work goes on after death, and that everyone has the chance to accept this gospel. When it was my turn to go into the font, there was no one, but me and the priesthood, I felt special then too. I baptized 5 people from the states; it was wonderful.

This experience was different and changed me. I thought I was going to show up to the Temple, have it be busy, wait and hour or two, try to read scriptures and "clear my head." But all I needed was to feel special. That's all it took. No clearing of my head, no getting things off my mind. No trying to read scriptures or magazines, just a simple, in and out of the Temple with the feeling that my Heavenly Father is aware of me. That He knows exactly what I need at this point in my life. It's in His house that we can feel of His love. It's where He communicated with me. It's where I know I can always turn to for peace and comfort. I wonder if that's how it's going to be when we greet him in Heaven. Just Him and I, ya know? That's how I felt tonight, just me, "angels" (aka Temple workers) and Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, with the blessing of the Holy Spirit. I'll never turn away from the Temple. Nothing is EVER worth sacrificing that recommend. I can't wait to go again next week. In fact, maybe I'll go twice. :)

Thanks Heavenly Father, I know they truly are your houses.

Daybreak Lake

I can't believe the weather lately. It's stinkin' January and I didn't wear a coat today, that's how warm it was!!! I blogged a lot last month, and this month. Honestly, my friend Jenna inspires me. I hope she doesn't think I'm copying her, but the more I blogged the more I realized how important it is to me to record all of my memories since I'm not good at handwriting and such. Anyway, today I stopped by Daybreak Lake on my way home from Orem. That place really means a lot to me. I've brought so many close people to me, there and it's always been special. That lake holds so many memories; good and bad. Today I decided to walk because I needed fresh air, and just to clear my head. I've had so many experiences there, and it felt nice to go there today. New year, new slate, new memory slot, new me, new everything. This year has so much in store for me and I'm really excited.

I'm going to be graduating college with my AS in Psychology. First college graduate in my family; it's been tough, but I'm really happy. My siblings and even my mom are going back to school now so it's really nice :) I'm going to be graduating Institute with my 14 hour diploma. I worked really hard for that one too, but it's made more of a difference in my life than anything else. I'll be leaving my teenage days this year, and Brady will be old enough for anything. He'll come home, and we'll see where my life takes me from there. I have a good job, and I'm learning a lot from it. I sat down today and came up with some really good goals for myself. Instead of "resolutions" I thought I would give myself goals in different aspects of my life: Education, Social, Physically, Spiritually, Financially, etc. They're pretty reachable which I'm happy with and I'm excited to make a difference in my life :) I've been doing good with some already and the one I'm most excited to work on is Spirituality. There is always room for improvement.

I've decided to start going to the Temple 4 times a month, which is basically 1 time a week. And if I miss 1 week, then I have to go 2 times the next week, and so forth. I'm also going to start reading the Book of Mormon and hopefully have it read twice before Brady gets home :) I want to stay at Institute and get to know more people, same with my YSA Ward. I want to start spending more time with my family. We got rid of our cable box, which is going to benefit us so much. I'll have to watch my tv shows online, which I don't already have time for. School is starting next week, so I'm going to be studying like CRAZY pretty soon here. I want to continue saving money, and pay off some things I've purchased. I want to learn how to play acoustic guitar, so if you know how, you should teach me :) I want to start working out, which can happen now that I have my asthma medicine! I've been better about eating sweets too!

Anyway, I can't wait until Brady and I can go to daybreak again. I've brought many boys there but the one I think of the most when I'm there, is him :) Here is to 2012 :)

11 Months Left!

Guess what?

Brady has 11 months left!!!!
I'm so excited!! :)

I cannot believe my best friend comes home this year. I'm in shock, just like I was when his year mark came. I know I still have a long way to go, but I can't believe I'm at this point. My mom was always telling me when he first left, "Girls are going to wish they were in your shoes at some point." And, not to be cocky, but some girls are but mostly because their boy just left. It's amazing how fast time can fly when you're busy with school and work. I have 1 week left of my break, and then I have school Spring, Summer and Fall. Brady should be home before I graduate in the Fall which makes me super happy :) He'll be home for Christmas AND New Years!! I'm excited! It's the beginning of my lasts. 2011 was full of "1 year ago" this, and "1 year ago" that, and so many more General Conferences or phone calls left, holidays, birthdays, etc. Now I'm down to my last holidays, birthdays, General Conferences, phone calls, etc. It's exciting! This year I get to find out his release date :) Which should be followed by his flight plans. I'm just really excited that I've made it this far, and I still am so in love with him, if not more :) I've learned so much this past year and I'm grateful. I have tons of stories to tell him, things for us to do, movies to have him watch, music to have him listen to, places to travel, country swing, etc.

Brady is my very best friend.
I'm very proud of him and how far he has come.
They all say the last year goes by the fastest,
and I'm really hoping that is true!
Keep going Elder, I'm right by your side,
even across the ocean.
I love you :)

(Don't tell him I posted these photos ;) hehe..)

New Years!

So basically I drove down to Jenna's in Orem! Gilbert made it all the way; I was SO excited! It'd been a few days since I'd seen her, but even then it had been weeks! I arrived just in time to make dinner. Jenna's first dinner might I add. We had Top of Ramen :) Then we got ready, as more girls came to join us! After getting all dolled up, we moved our cars, piled in one and headed off to UVU! Their dance was called Newphoria, and there were a ton of people waiting in line! It was freezing and some people were wearing ridiculous outfits!! We got in, some awesome photographer took so crazy shots of us, then we headed to party :)

The music was crazy loud, the stage was full of people (so full of people they were almost falling off!) There was tons of shoving, dancing, yelling, etc. It was fun! Played tons of good music, had dancers, contests, and then the clock almost struck midnight when I discovered if you tweeted and then "hashtag" uvunewphoria, it'd show up on the screen, so I did.... TWICE! :) And they both showed up, it was the coolest thing!! The clock struck midnight and everyone cheered, tons of bouncy balls dropped and the party continued :) We had some strawberry drinks, while Jenna and Kilee had crepes. Ran into some friends and partied on until we were through. The party was good up to midnight, after that it got kind of boring! We headed back to Jenna's place where we then had "Mormon champagne" and made cheers to the new year :) Jenna, Kilee and I had a jumping party on the couch and fell asleep to Friends.

We woke up Sunday, ate breakfast, headed to Church where we learned of goal making, and how the Lord can lead and guide us in this new year. It was really good! I read two chapters in Mosiah, and a few talks from the New Era magazine. We stopped by the bishops office so he could talk to Jenna and her roommate. Met some of Jenna's neighbors and got an invite to ward prayer :) Afterwhich we headed home, had dinner, made premade cookies in the oven, headed over for prayer and some fun games including: hacky-sack, and spoons! Afterwhich one of the fellas and Jenna pulled out their guitars as we sang along to some songs for a while :) It was such a blast! I think I want to learn how to play! Jenna Skyped while I blogged until we both got too tired to stay up any longer. I woke up this morning, and headed home where I ran errands, cleaned and got ready for the week.

It was such a fun weekend, thanks Jenna :)