Happiest Day.

So... it has been awhile. Yep. Try a solid 10 months.
Life kind of happened, in the most unexpected, exciting way.
Do you remember that one time I started doing the challenge of 50 First Dates?
Some of you may know that I started dating a boy I met doing the 50 First Dates. You can read all about our first date {here}

I never, ever, ever would have thought that this   is the boy that I would end up with.

But Heavenly Father has a way of adjusting and tweaking our plans, don't get me wrong He likes us to make plans and have goals. But the big man always knows what is best and he will lead us down that path.

I have been fortunate enough, to date this guy for well over a year. Our first date was in May of 2012, I think that is when we started dating.. he begs to differ, he would say it was when we "officially" started dating, in September of that same year. 

Regardless of the amount of time, my heart is oh so happy that we did take that time to get to know each other. We have been through a ton and have been on so so many adventures together. 

Family Camping Trips

My friends date nights

His friends - trips to St. George and Lake Powell

Concerts

Jazz Games

Real Games

Movies

Hiking, lots of it

Christmas

Halloween

Birthdays

Job Changes

Semester, after semester, after semester.

The loss of loved ones.

Some health scares (on my part)

Now I get to call this guy mine forever. I love him with a different kind of love, I didn't know I was capable of. It is an unconditional kind of love and I know that is returned 100-fold. I am so blessed to have him in my life, he makes me better, he knows me way to well, and he is my best friend.

So in just a few short weeks. I am going to change my name. And I couldn't be happier.

I am seriously, one lucky girl.

Crusin' 2013

I haven't posted for in forever!!!  I have been pretty busy and promise to update everyone soon-ish.  So, the first update I would like to share is of the cruise, I went to the Caribbean with my friend Alison and a BUNCH of other LDS kids... there was about 400 of us total in our group along.  Seriously so so so so much fun, if you are wanting to get away from the cold.  Go on this cruise.

So here are some of my top favorite pictures of the cruise, enjoy!!!

Guys, I country dance... super legit.

Yes.. a sweet little 12 year old wooed me into shopping where ever he told me too, little Oscar.

Alison was willing to give the goods to get a ring for a lot cheaper.... this is just one of 4 kisses, one of which, was almost on the lips.

Getting on the boat!!!!!  {Alison, Me, and Whitney, our other cabin mate}

Just so perfect.

Cowboys and Indian Night.

We were prepared to re-inact the sting ray photo bomb.. instead we got the picture below. 

Evidently, I truly am afraid of sting rays.

This has to be the most awful picture of the trip.  Definitely my favorite.  It looks like we saw a train wreck or just finished a triatholon.

Me, Alison, Springer, Whitney, and Ashtyn.

Dolphin kisses. Pure Joy. 

Snorkeling in the Grand Cayman Islands,  so attractive.

The beaches in Honduras.

I seriously love this place... miss it, going back so soon.  

80's Night

Loved this guy, he is a doctor, he started coughing so we thought we would help him.  He totally appreciated it. 

Circle chairs with our best friend Dusty.. so magical.  Favorite spot on the boat. EVER.

Cabin Mates, all together.

Ugly Christmas Card Pictures 2012

 Every Christmas season our family does Ugly Christmas Card Pictures.

We are just that classy, 3 years running now.

My parents, brother in law, and my man even came to join us for them.

The wonderful, talented, super fabulous and sassy Missy Allen at Missy Allen Photography took these amazing pictures.  I love her and her photography, you can check it all out here.

Anywho, enjoy these few little lovies.

I know I did.. to the point of tears on my face.

My Madre and Padre.  Yeah my parents are way legit.  My dad even glued hair to his head. So Awesome.

Me.

Aubrey and my BIL, Tyson.

Liv

Josh

Gabster

And my most favorite-ist of me and my man... he makes my heart happy.  Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!

"What really matters is that he will love you, that he will respect you, that he will honor you, that he will be absolutely true to you, that he will give you freedom of expression and let you fly in the development of your talents.  He is not going to be perfect, but if he is kind and thoughtful, he knows how to work and earn a living, if he is honest and full of faith, the chances are you will not go wrong, that you will be immensely happy.
-Gordon B. Hinckley

50 First Dates? Yeah... I might have failed.

So remember that one time I had the dare/challenge... nay, the priviledge of trying to go on 50 first dates in a year? 

Well, I almost made it, by the beginning of September I was a meer 9  away, yep.. only NINE.

But a funny thing happened along the way and I met a boy, a cute, wonderful, shy-man-boy.  Who makes my heart so happy. 

I think the best part is though.. I found him on my 50 first date challenge, you can read all abou that date {here.}

Although this boy was only date #29, he left an impression on me, so we kept seeing each other, definitely not alot, he is kind of brillant and in school all day, every day.  But we would text, see each other at church, go on dates, and hang out with his friends.

And as the timing would have it I realllly started to like him at the end of August and in the middle of September when he surprised me and took me to concert of a band I really like and had never been able to see and even made me a pb & j because he knew I would forget to eat.

He totally made my heart melt.

So me and this boy are dating {much more on him, but for a later date}I don't know if any of this would have happened had it not been for me putting myself out there and going on 50, 41 first dates.

But still the things I learned about myself and what I wanted were all worth it.

I have learned patience.

What I can handle in a relationship.

That if I truly want something, I can make it work.

I know I am of great worth and should be treated like a princess, I should be as much of a priority as I make them in my life. 

I loved and lost love.

What qualities in a boy/man I want.

Oh so funny people were met and I didn't care to be myself, because that is the best version of me.

It was a wonderful experience, I got LOADS of free food, new experiences.. yes there were dates I just wanted to end and others I hoped I would see them again. 

But through it I was able to gain a greater perspective on what I want and what I need to be for myself and that man/boy.

And that my friends made the journey all worth it.

Love.

Dang you Nicholas Sparks.

So... I am a bit peeved, I finished another Nicholas Sparks novel, you know, the new one.  {I am a sap for a romance and I wont deny it I love his books.}  So I read the "The Best of Me."
I hated it.
That is all I will say about it, that dang Nicholas Sparks never lets them to be together and if he does they have to face some tragic accident where they need to emotionally come together or deal with this heart ache.
I have read all but three of his books.. if you haven't read them I will warn you now, I am not giving anything specific to a certain book away but seriously?
There is a total of 17 books, I have read all but 3 of them.  Here is what I tallied up ready for this?
-In 5 of the books they don't end up together.
-1 main girl dies
-3 main guys die
-A Dad dies
-A dog dies
-Ex-husband dies
-LOTS of deaths prior to what is going on in the story
-In 11 of the books they are dealing from the heart ache of a losing a loved one whether it happened prior in the story or during the story.
-4 they keep in touch/fall in love through letters and only 1 of them end up together but that is years later and she didn't even get the letters.. so really out of the three who corresponed with one another, NONE of them ended up together.
-If they do end up together.. the chick or guy is running away from something in there past.
-And in 6 maybe seven of the books they actually end up together.  Lucky sons of guns.

So...in conclusion to my rant of his latest book.  I have a love/hate relationship with these books, but I guess he is just showing a far off taste of reality that relationships are hard work and regardless of the fact that you try to make it work, sometimes it doesn't.

So thank you Mr. Sparks for another reality check...