Life as of late...

Unpredictable. Exciting. New. Surprising....

And so much more then I could ever begin to put into words.The past couple of months have flown by! At this rate, I feel like if I blink my eyes, a whole week will suddenly disappear.

Looking back, so much has changed the past few months. And by that I mean....just about everything has. To be honest, sometimes so much change can be a little intimidating, and slightly scary..

However, I wouldn't trade one pinch of it. Not even the frequent moves. (I've become great at living out of a box..) As you could put it....I have loved being in love.

I know....hopeless sap coming out again. But the thing is. It's much deeper then that. People have tried countless times to describe what love is...how it changes a person... how it should be.. yet they always seem to slightly miss the mark.

Love isn't superficial. It isn't something temporary or fleeting. At first, everything seems so much brighter....because that special someone is in your life. Then love helps you to realize how much you have needed that person in your life. How just simply knowing them makes you a better person. It touches each aspect of your life...and enhances the good. It's like the comfort of a good book, a warm blanket..and hot chocolate combined. Most of all. It makes you incredibly happy, because if all else fails...you will still have that one person to face the world with.

And with that, my friends, you can get through anything.

That's not to say that everything will go perfectly. Let me assure you, 98.72% of the time, things haven't worked out perfectly. (In a perfect world...I'd be asleep by now...instead of rambling to the keyboard...)

Mostly. I'm grateful for life as of late. For my incredible friends who never fail to be a phone call away...for my family, (especially my sister this past week...handling my phone calls...multiple times a day)..also for the new family I've gained...

And of course, for David. The person who has shown me what it's like to truly love someone. Who will do anything for those he cares about.  I love his sense of adventure, and the way he always tucks pens behind his ears. I love that he does so many little things for me....simply because he knows it will make me happy. That he has so many of the same little quirks his dad has. The way he treats the people around him and when he laughs really hard. I love his curly hair...though unpredictable...it's something different everyday.  I love that he opens my door...and listens to me ramble. And that he plays with my hair...even if that means I miss half of most movies because I fall asleep.

Also, how could I ever forget....his slight* nerdy-ness. But I'll keep my sappy love rambles a little short.

Just five more days...I'll get to spend my forever with that boy. (That may sound like it was written calmly...but it was meant with a much more dramatic WHOOHOO attached...)

I. Can't. Wait.

On that note....here are a few pictures to catch up the past couple months!

Brandon Flowers fireside!

David is really great at doing hair.

Working on our picture taking skills... (For Aimee!)

The coolest dinner....ever. Thanks especially to David's parents! Everything just dumped right onto the table. Literally.

Bass Pro Shops!

My sister came to visit for the weekend....along with my little niece!

Drumroll....I went through the temple! Two words: Beautifully simple.

And finally.. A couple of our engagement pictures!

Danke. Gracias. Merci.

Not that I speak any of the above languages....but this morning....I have felt like bursting with heaps of "thank yous. You know the feeling? Sort of similar to Christmas cheer, but Thanksgiving style. (I just envisioned people going about handing out pies dressed as a turkey....that's not what I was going for...it's the overactive imagination...)

But I do have so incredibly much to be thankful for, especially this year. If asked, I don't think I could simply pinpoint just one thing. That would be like asking Willy Wonka what his favorite candy is. I have been blessed with the people in my life, my family, friends, past room mates, and even strangers. I have been on the receiving end of so much love, kindness and happiness. I have got to begin such new, exciting adventures. I have found even greater love through my family, and of course, have even been lucky enough to gain a whole new family as well.

And that's just skimming the surface. Transportation...health..beautiful weather....hot chocolate... boxes of soft kleenex.... I could go on and on. (Yet. My goal was to keep this short...)

The main point is, I'm so grateful for all that I have in my life. For all the things I have be able to learn, be a part of and experience. Of course it's not always perfect. My shoes come untied, I return library books back late, and occasionally, the car leaks oil. Plans fall through, roads become snowy...and some days can just simply be frustrating.

Yet, I think that's the great part of it all. As they say, "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful." Even when the road gets a little bumpy, or possibly filled with potholes....there can still be so much good through it all.

For the days when you're "Thankful List" is running a little short.... just look around.. Find something.

To everyone else....Thank you for being such a great part of my life! Watch the video. I love it. Sometimes, it's the simple things we forget that are the best!

 Also. One month from today.

30 days if you're counting....

But who does that... (Oh wait. I do..)

Talented.

Some people can effortlessly play Stravinsky's 3 movements on the piano....upside down....with their eyes closed. Others can paint masterpieces that would put Picasso in the dark. Some can create food that makes you want to keep eating for days....and days. Others can hack down giant trees, simultaneously run three computers, run marathons, be crafty, design, draw.... or even jump rope (to name a few).

Me....well...I'm also rather talented. I have perfected the art of loosing things. Now, before you shake your head in disbelief...let me explain. I loose things at least on a daily basis. Keys. Phone. Glasses. Drivers license. Shoe. Shoes.. Sometimes, this talent even increases, and I loose multiple things throughout a mere couple of hours. Each time resulting in a frantic search throughout the entire area.

You see....this talent goes beyond just merely misplacing things. I know I have a tendency to loose things. So I try to outsmart myself to overcome this "talent". Here is an example: Most people come home and set their keys in the same place every time. My thoughts? "Oh....I'm sure if I set my keys on top of the fridge behind the oatmeal...I can't forget...because it's too absurd." But you know what happens without fail? I forget. And who even thinks to check behind the oatmeal..or in baskets..or under blankets.. when they're frantically searching for their keys!

I even tend to misplace random things. Here is a running total of my "lost items" the past week: The garage door opener, the can opener, stamps, floss, my purple sock, and last....but certainly not least....my favorite pair of pants. Now....one may ask....how does that even happen! Well let me assure you ladies and gents, it's because I'm talented.

Last Thanksgiving...I almost didn't go home because I had lost my keys so well..

However, I'm grateful for such a talent. (I may regret saying that in the next five minutes..) No matter how frequently I loose things....after frantic searches, and apologetic prayers for loosing something yet again...and asking for help to find it.....I always somehow stumble across whatever I'm looking for. Sometimes.....It only takes minutes. And sometimes....it takes a couple months. Either way, the lost is again found.

So ultimately...I'm thankful for an absurd talent...and many simple answered prayers.

And also for this boy. Who still loves me through my faults, freckles, and uncanny knack for loosing things.

37 days folks.

On a final note....in case you were worried.. My pants were found. Folded in the bottom of the blanket bin. The can opener and floss however...are still taking an extended vacation.

Navigation

I seem to have dropped off the blogging radar the past few weeks. I feel like I have started this post ten different ways. Yet...I've found myself at a loss of words. Or maybe the better way to describe it....is I couldn't find the right words.

I have officially been in the land of Las Vegas for the past two weeks...Which of course meant saying goodbye to Cedar. How does one say goodbye to a place that has grown to mean so much? Well. I still don't really know the answer to that question...mainly because I'm terrible with goodbyes... Though to be honest...it wasn't really Cedar that was tough to say good-bye to, (who likes to be frozen for a whole winter...) it was the people.

I met some of my best friends there. The kind that slide down the stairs on cookie sheets, brush your teeth for you on those nights when tiredness steals away your fine motor skills, stay up late just to bake or jump through rain puddles. The kind of friends that stay there through thick and thin....and thicker. I'll forever be grateful for them...especially this past year. Looking back, I was blessed throughout even the smallest of moments...Which resulted in slight teary-eyed goodbyes.

But just as every chapter ends....A new one starts.

Watching my family drive away after moving me in....I thought, "This is it, I actually live here." A thought that still pops into my mind at least every couple days. Living here has been an adventure in itself. I don't know what has been more fascinating to me..... The seven zillion cars driving around, stores for everything you could ever think of thinking about, bus routes (I don't know why that is so interesting...), countless bright lights, the lack of cold days or the constant motion.

Not to mention.....there are even multiple Walmart stores within a few mile radius! That sounds like it would be great. But for someone who gets turned around almost just walking out the door...it has been a quest. Lucky for me. My grandma...being the wonder woman she is...gave me a GPS upon moving here. Something that has been one of the best tools in navigating my way just about everywhere.

However. I haven't mentioned the best part of this chapter. In all of my imaginations....if you would have asked me a year ago if I could see myself living in the land of casinos...I would have laughed. That is of course, until David came into the picture.

So, yes. Vegas has been different then any place I have imagined. But to be here with him....has made it a perfectly exciting adventure. Seeing him everyday....is much better then the computerized skype version of him. Truth be told, I have loved to be here with him.

The best part about being in love with someone..... there is always something new you can learn. The best part about loving someone who is like your best friend...learning those things...figuring it all out...is fun. So even if that means I have to learn to work on my navigating skills, I wouldn't trade it.

I also wouldn't trade the spending my evenings with David, with his furrowed brow look, studying everything from head to toe...literally. Or even just watching episodes of Smallville....(Advice...don't start watching it! Walk away. Or else, you'll inevitably fall into its enchanting powers...the only remedy is to donate part of your life to finishing the seasons). He is so witty at times, and never fails to make me feel better.

And even though being here meant leaving Cedar, I'm still happy. A place or distance doesn't determine friendships. Besides....with technology...I'm sure teleporting is the next thing to be developed.

Life in Vegas? Stay tuned. 

Also. In case you were somehow wondering, this post was written while being serenaded by glorious Christmas music......68 days until Christmas...58 days until we get married!

Not that I'm counting...

Picture Perfect..

You know, getting lost isn't as bad as most think. Actually....in this case...it was perfect.

Imagine Snow White. Up Cedar Mountain...without black hair, flowy dress and seven trailing dwarfs. And just replace the singing birds with little frogs....and there you will have the place. A stream...small cabin....sheep and deer in the distance...little frogs hopping everywhere.. It was like something stamped out of a book.

 So naturally, I had to catch a few. And just in case you were wondering....climbing a fence while holding a wiggling frog is much more difficult then one would imagine....

This little guy enjoyed his picture being taken much more then the other little frog. At one point...there was a fish....but believe it or not....fish are even harder to hold one handed and take a picture simultaneously.  

At places like this...there isn't much room for worry. It took an afternoon spent with slimy little frogs and splashing in the stream to remind me what really matters....and you know what? It was perfect. 

To top it off....I came home to a room mate who let me warm up my water frozen feet under her while sitting on the couch. (In case you needed to check....you know someone cares if they let you stick your half frostbitten feet on them....ok...frostbite may have been an exaggeration...)

If you're a little amused envisioning my story...that's great.. Or possibly..if you were worried...no frogs were harmed in the taking of these pictures. They were all safely returned to their little frog families. Most of all, I was thankful. Thankful for a day of perfect little moments....even if they were moments of simple happiness, comfort, and slight silliness.

"In Terms of Forever.."

The past few months, I've been thinking about a simple question that most of you will think is a little silly. I've been trying to figure out what makes people want to do hard things. I mean, granted...we all tend to be faced with trials and hard times whether we choose them or not...yet...

How do people do it....get through grueling school programs, handle loss, disappointment, hurt....or overcome challenges like surgeries, broken arms, family problems or even learning disabilities? And even more....what makes us, as people, want to go through them? 

I mean, many of the hard things we face are a result of our own choice. For example, a choice to pursue further education isn't exactly going to be like a nice day at the beach. Or choosing to move to a new place, buy a house or a car, travel, raise a family, learn a new instrument....

All of those things pose some level of challenge. There comes a  point with each....that one might have the sudden overwhelming desire to hide under the blankets for an extended period of time with a spoon and a bucket of ice cream...(Or maybe that's just me).

Can you see why I've had this on my mind for a while? I mean, I wasn't so blind as to not see the immediate answers...personal growth...becoming more, finding a greater purpose, furthering our talents... 

But I felt there was more. 

And lucky for me, I'm blessed to have so many incredible people in my life....people who were able to answer my question without even know it...simply by the way they live their lives. To top it off, the simple answer from a great friend...

"Sometimes, it's through the hard things that we feel our hearts and souls stretching the most.....but as a result....He allows us to feel that much greater happiness and joy."

The best part about it...is that no matter what we are facing....no matter how hard our burdens may be, even if it may simply be in learning a talent....There is someone to help us carry that burden. To help us through those hard times whenever it is that we may face them. 

Even more amazing....is that when we do face those hard things, we begin to see ourselves in terms of forever. And after all... that's part of the point of this life....right? So of course it's going to be hard...maybe at times, even a little scary. Yet, it never fails to be worth it, and in the end....those moments that once seemed so hard....will allow far greater moments of true happiness. 

This video....goes along perfectly. I've loved it so much that I may or may not have watched it 6 times...this morning. 

I know this is likely common knowledge for most people. I just thought I'd share my a portion of my thoughts...since I haven't been so great at the blogging business as of late. 

So for me...it means....to not have a fear of those things to come. To be prepared to enjoy the journey of it. A journey which I'm sure still includes days of blanket hiding and ice cream.

But that's okay....because I'm prepared....and will have an emergency spoon for those moments. 

Happy Monday!