1 Month Until I Enter...

Today marks one whole month until I enter the Lord's Holy House. I'm so excited words just don't do justice. Tonight we had Temple prep and we talked of Temples. I love learning of the Temple. I always have. I think about my journey growing up, and my own personal conversion back in high school. I'm so grateful I chose the path of righteousness, the path to follow my Savior Jesus Christ. To know, that my destination is the Temple. That my destination will always be the Temple. It is my place for escape. I truly believe the Temple is not meant only for work for the dead, I believe it is a place to simply go, and be. I believe it is a place meant to ponder, pray, seek guidance, and just enjoy the Temple. Just being inside is enough escape from the world.

We were shown a wonderful video at Temple prep, and I shared that it makes me reflect my own personal journey. My personal conversion, and my journey back to the Temple. I love that the destination/goal of this video is the Temple. I like that it reflects back on her baby blessing, baptism, and her family supporting her all her life.

Here, lets watch it.



I'm just really thankful for this gospel. For all the happiness it brings me. I'm also very grateful for my sweet fiance; for his loving, kind heart; for being patient and understanding with me. But most importantly, I'm grateful that he is taking me to the Temple; a goal I've had my entire life, but never truly had until high school. I'm grateful that, he too, wants to go to the Temple to be sealed for time and for all eternity, to have an eternal family, to be together forever. I love Brady so much. And I cannot wait for this month to pass.... I finally made it to the Temple, and I'm so excited!!!

It's My Blogs Birthday Today

I guess I should do some awesome post today, right?
Maybe throw a party, have a cake, give it a birthday present (print it off as a book)?

I've had this blog for 3 years. This blog has helped me rebuild myself. This blog has helped me find myself. This blog has helped me express myself more than I ever thought it would. Blogging/journaling is so therapeutic, its amazing what it can do for you.

This blog has treated me so well. It has been my journal. My rock, my shoulder to complain, to express my joys and gratitudes. I have loved reading other blogs. So many have inspired me to be a better person, do more in my life, which has brought me to meet tons of people, including some of my very best friends. This blog has done so much for me.

I have a surprise coming... One I'm sure you all are already aware of, BUT I'm not announcing anything until AFTER my wedding. Which is exactly 6 weeks from tomorrow. I can't believe it. I'm marrying my sweetheart in just 6 weeks!!

Anyway, I just want to wish my blog a happy 3rd birthday. I'm grateful for the three years we have been through.

Mom, Mommy, Mama, Mother, Ma...

Of all these names, they mean something, to us all. Today is Mother's Day, and like everyone else in the world I'll be blogging about the beautiful mother's in my life.

 My mother. I blog about her a lot, cause she is just that awesome. She's my best friend. She can make anyone laugh. She's just really funny and can easily keep a smile on my face. Her jokes are just... her and that's what makes them funny. I wish I could give her a hug from her mom this mother's day. She doesn't ever show it, but I know today, her heart must ache to see her mother again, but how grateful I am to have a piece of my grandma, every single day in my life. I know my grandmother is so proud of my mom, as am I. Her and I relate with a lot of things in life, so with her, I never feel alone. Thank you mom. Words can't do justice for how grateful I am. I love you!

 My sweet sister Linsey. She is SUCH a wonderful mom. This is her first mother's day, and her sweet little boy Sawyer will be 1 in just two months. I can't believe it! She is the perfect mom for him. I've never seen someone sacrifice so much for this little boy whom, himself has been through so much. He is the cutest boy. He smiles just like her. We're basically best friends and I'm grateful for the blessing she is in my life. Though we may bicker still, I'm grateful for all that she does for me. And especially Sawyer.

Crystal, is the sweet mother of Evan. My sister-in-law is awesome. She's really funny and I'm so happy to have her in the family. She is such a good mom to Evan, and I'm so grateful for the blessing he is in all of our lives. She loves and cares for him so much. I know he loves her, he is always saying mom. Hopefully they have another baby soon :) Cause I want another niece and nephew like Evan, he is so sweet and kind, just like his parents, especially his mom.

To Marla, my high school counselor. She is not my mom, but she is a mother-figure to me. This is an old picture, but I love it. I'm so grateful for her and her influence in my life. She has helped me through so much, just like my own mother. As I know, she is missing her mother dearly on this very day, I want her to know how thankful I am, for all that she has taught me in my life. She is like a mother to me, even if she isn't a mother herself. She's a beautiful person, someone I want to be like. Love you Marla!


And of course, to all you mom's out there, happy mother's day. You're special and your children love you very much :)

Registered

Tonight Brady and I registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond! It was a lot of fun! Brady immediately took the gun/scanner, and I just knew that would help him stay focused. It was cute to see how excited he got over certain things. He really liked the dishes section, "in case we have guests." Haha, it was real cute. And he'd hug me, and kiss me and tell me I was cute. We scanned a few fun things. I'd tell him I didn't really care, or that we would probably need one of those. It was fun! I had him scan some cute colored knives, just because they're cute colored not because we might actually need them. We got done pretty fast, which I was shocked, but it was pretty easy. 

When we left, Brady said, "I will be really sad if we don't get some of the things we scanned." And I couldn't help but laugh. It's fun wishlist shopping. Poor kid, hopefully he doesn't expect too much!

Engagements 2

So this was my favorite outfit choice. I loved the formal looking ones, but this was fun because of all the colors. I'm grateful for my photographer, Abbey and her help with our outfits! She was patient, and very kind! Of course, we had to incorporate our letters which turned out to be fun. We got to re-read the very first letter Brady ever sent me when he first left on his mission. Oh how glad I am that is over! ;) Anyway, enjoy some love, awesome pictures by an awesome photographer, and the cool colors. 

photo credit

I Am Beautiful

Today I am feeling beautiful, and I have had a lot of time to think about it.

Something hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday. It was early in the morning, I was getting dressed and as I looked at myself in the mirror, I wasn't really happy with what I was seeing. I couldn't stop comparing myself now with my old self in high school. It was hard not to feel ashamed for the way I looked, yet knowing in my mind I should love my body the way it is. God created me the way I am for a reason, and I should love and take care of this body, in many ways, not just exercising.

I always struggled with my face because of surgeries and the things its done to my face; nothing dramatic, but enough to be a struggle for me. I started accepting myself the way I looked when I got older, and understood that it's better to love myself alive and having surgeries, than it is to constantly worry about my face.

Dress:SexyModest Boutique//Shirt: Downeast Outfitts//Earrings: Walmart

Today I feel beautiful. I have thick, curly hair today. I'm wearing a new, really cute dress. I have my gorgeous ring, and it reminds me of the promise I'm going to make to my sweetheart in just 49 days. My cute watch gets lots of comments even though it's from Walmart. My earrings, hurt when I take them out, but they're pretty when I'm wearing them. I've got a smile on my face because even though I feel I need to work on my image with the constant pressure of society and gyms, I'm still happy I'm me, and that I have others who love me for me.

Today is a beautiful day. A beautiful day to say I'm beautiful. and so are you.

I'm doing a link-up. Join in! Share with the world why you're beautiful. Because you are! We all are! And it's time we help each other understand it! :)

2 Years Later...

I finally finished my quilt!!! Took me long enough.. ;) I started this quilt after Brady left for his mission/my second semester at Snow College. LOVE how it turned out and can't wait to take it to the quilt shop to be machine quilted!!! :)

Thanks Brady for holding my quilt up,

and yes I am wearing BYU pajamas,

and no, I have not converted (nor will I ever).

They're Brady's and they're so comfy.

If only they were red....