Proud.

After I totally bombed the lab final, I was sure I was going to get a C in Anatomy. I just took the lecture final and got exactly what I had to get in order to get a B+ in the class. Although I'm a tad disappointed about not getting an A, I'm pretty pleased with where I stand now. I have really enjoyed learning about the human body and have gained such an appreciation for the Creation and the majesty of our God.

Semester in Review

Here's to our first semester being married! :) I was just thinking about all of the fun things we did in the past few months, and thought I would share in the fun. Moving in together and trying to make our little apartment home. This is us the day we decided to paint our furniture bright turquoise! So bright and fun. Really spontaneous!

Water-skiing trip with some of JD's buddies. This is us on the boat. I was finally able to get up on the water. So awesome!

Date nights as married people! This is the first night we went out together after we got back to Provo. We  went out to eat, to the dollar theater, and to Nickelcade. So many games for only 5 cents. We won a little game that entertained us for about a day.

My mom and sister came up to visit for Homecoming. It was so good to see them, even if it was only for a little bit. Love yall :)

BYU Football Season. We went to all the home games and watched most of the others on TV. We were pretty big football watchers this semester. It's addicting! This picture is of my old roomies at one of the  games.

JD's birthday! Ah, my husband is 24 now. So old! (But also so wise and mature...)

Camping trip with the Davidsons. These are our neighbors. We went on a little camping trip. It was really cute and fun. We made tinfoil dinners and roasted hotdogs. We set up the little 4-man tent JD and I bought with our wedding money. Such fun memories.

BYU v. UTAH game! We won. In overtime. Against UTAH!!! Yay! JD and I thought about selling our tickets, but were so glad we didn't!

Lights at Temple Square. We went on a fun date to look at all the Christmas lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake. It is such a beautiful, happy place!

Then, we made gingerbread houses. Ours was super cute!

We love being together and playing together and laughing together. It's been a good semester. :)

Black Ice.

This weekend Tyler and Tiffanie came to visit us. They both brought friends, Jordan and Hayley. We had a fun weekend... playing games, watching movies, and eating food.

After church, some food, and a round of Pit, they were off and headed back to Layton.

They didn't get far.

They hit a patch of black ice on 1-15 heading north bound near UVU. Their car spun a few times before hitting the middle barrier. The airbags went off. Jordan's nose was bloody, Tiffanie's ankle was cut up and bruised, and Hayley has a bruised sternum from the seatbelt.

Tyler called JD and was pretty panicked. We left as soon as we could and tried to meet them at the scene of the accident. The police officer was really rude to us and told us to get back in our car and meet them at the hospital because they were trying to clear the lane. He was really short and snappy. ANND he gave Tyler a ticket for "inability to control the car in one lane." Jerky cop!

All four of the teens were released after we waited for a few hours in the hospital with all of their families.

We are just grateful everyone is safe and no major injuries happened!

Christmas Wishing and Lots of Thoughts

For those who've been asking, here's a list.

I haven't had time to do any online shopping or actual shopping for that matter... so I'm not sure how helpful these will be because most of it is stuff that I would have to pick out and try on. However, I thought I could give a few ideas :)

Hers
Medium color brown boots
Chocolate brown puffy coat
New Chocolate Brown Ugg Boots or something of the sort
Black pea-coat
Brown purse
Bobby Pins with pearls on the end
Happy flowers to put in my hair
Burnt orange sweatshirt with a white longhorn(something like this)
Running Shoes
Some cute gift wrap(for when I give presents, not receive them)
Gray cable-knit tights

His

Athletic Shoes
Tennis Balls
A fishing pole
Longhorn hat

Ours
Vanilla Cupcake candle(s) by Yankee Candle.. yum
Harry Potter book series
A pretty picture of Christ for our living room
Wedding canvas print for living room
Large black and white canvas print for above our bed
Camping chairs
A lantern for camping
Any cool little camping toys
2010 calendar

What's on my mind:
Snowing everywhere and finals are fast approaching. Oh man.
Had a new couple from the ward over for dinner last night. So good.
They were nice.
Have so much still to do for school... it's overwhelming.
Been married for 115 days. BLOWS MY MINNNND.
Old roomies getting together this week. Whoo hoo :)
Miss my fam, can't wait to see yall.
Need to jump on Christmas shopping.
Need to do visiting teaching this month.
Work is long and boring.
Love the Conference issue of the Ensign.
Hope not to get lost in the craziness of the season.
Thankful for Christ and His example.
Reading Harry Potter 1 with the hubby. LOVE IT.
Made gingerbread houses on Saturday night. Won the competition :)
Lights at Temple Square=awesome.
Need to go through wedding pictures still.
Have a lot on my mind.
Stressed, but so grateful for life.
Miss Kelly-thinking of her alot.
Probably cry a couple times in the coming weeks.
Money from the government=huge blessing.
Stef's gonna get engaged soon.. wonder how he'll do it?
Time flies.
Miss hanging out with Jocelyn.
Wish Kylie lived in Utah.
New bangs.. not sure I like them.
Wish I journaled as often as I blog.
Not having a functioning computer at home helps me waste less time online.
Want to learn some new board games.
Can't wait to teach my Dad how to play Settlers of Catan.
Wish I had a ton of money to get everyone gifts.
Learned a lot this semester... hope I can remember it all.
Gretchen is a cute pregnant lady. She's showing more.
Wish I cooked more than I do. Grateful for a patient husband.
Visited nursery in another ward on Sunday. Cute kids.
I hope my little girls will keep their bows on their heads.
I'll shop more for my girls than I do for myself.
Think Cory's sister, Sarah, is very funny. Randomly read her blog sometimes.
Find people very interesting.
Love my major.
Hope I can get a job.
Should probably be doing homework instead of spilling my guts out.

Nothing new.

I don't have anything interesting or exciting to write about today. JD and I are just working, doing homework, picking up the house, and going to school. Dishes still get dirty. Laundry still piles up. Meals still need to be cooked. Our floor still needs to be vacuumed. I still leave piles of clothes in our room. Life's the same. I'll let you know if something new happens! :)

This picture was taken after our first shopping trip together as married people.
So excited to do the little everyday things together!
Ps. We still like doing things together (just for clarification).

123

Count it. JD and I have been married for three months. Blows my mind, really. Who would've thought I would be 20 and married? Not I.

It still seems unreal to me that I live in this apartment with this boy- a boy I've seen naked! So weird. JD doesn't think it's weird because we're married. I still think it's weird that we're married in the first place. Clearly, I enjoy being married and it's not weird because I love him and think he's fabulous and wouldn't want anyone else... but still, married? Me? No...

These months have flown by. It's incredible how quickly sand passes through the hourglass of life. Moments. Days. Weeks. Gone. I try to take memory snapshots in my head of things I want to remember. I try to enjoy the little stuff.

It's hard to accept growing up and moving on and being an adult. It's hard to balance expenses, and school, and the needs of a spouse, and your own needs, and church callings and responsibilities, and cooking, and cleaning, and maintaining an uplifting atmosphere in a home. And at the same time... it's a lot easier when you get to do it all with your best friend.

I'm a stressball. Whenever one stressful event passes, the next one hits me in the face. I get worked up about school and bills and projects and everything. I rarely just chill. I'm so lucky to have JD, who just hugs me and makes everything okay.

I was so nervous to get married because I didn't think I was ready. Now I realize... I might have never been ready... because life never stops. It doesn't get easier. I wouldn't have reached a point where I was "perfect" and prepared to be the poster wife I wanted to be. The point of marriage is to make each other better, to get a little closer to perfect every day. I say if you find someone who lifts you up, who carries you through your stressful days, who listens to you when you are overwhelmed, who makes you better than you are, who encourages you to be your very best self, who doesn't diminish your worries, who acknowledges you as a person, and who cheers you up just by being in the room with you.. marry him. :)

for my enjoyment (and yours!)

A few days before the wedding, my family took pictures. I just looked through them for my own enjoyment... and I must say my family is beautiful. I decided to share some of my favorites :)

People always say I look my mom. I hope they aren't lying.I hope I look like that when I'm her age. She's gorgeous :) And my dad's pretty good-looking too!

I can't believe Jake's a senior this year. It totally blows my mind. I am so impressed by how handsome he is

and how much he's grown up in the past few years.

Lindsey is everything I wanted to be at 15. Gorgeous. Smart. Popular. Mature. Yada Yada :)

Morgie is so precious. I just want to kiss her cheeks. (I don't think that's cool anymore.)

Isaac is the cutest little bug on the planet. He's growing up way too fast!

I love this picture. My mom and dad look so in love!

I just think this picture is so great because of Isaac swinging randomly. What a monkey!

Classic jumping picture. Look at my mama's hair!

I love these guys. So stinkin much!

I hope my future family turns out as gorgeous as this one. Miss ya'll and love you too.

Favorite hat.

Whenever my husband goes to work on Saturdays, I get bored and lonely. I am supposed to have really productive study time... but that (obviously) doesn't happen. I just watched the BYU game by myself-

which was freaking awesome bytheway! But I missed my hubby. Today he wore his Y hat to work, and I love when he wears that hat. It's my favorite.

My mom bought him the hat for his birthday.

He's so dang cute!

Sunday Visit

We went to Layton on Sunday to visit JD's fam. JD ended up cutting Larry's hair AND Brayden's hair AND the dog's hair. It was taking forever. . .so Tiffany, her  friends and I decided to play dress-up. We put on crazy costumes and did fancy make-up. It was pretty fun to pretend like I was 16 again. :) Then we played Settlers of Catan. Tyler is supposedly the reigning champ. . . but Larry smoked us all. It was good to see them and to just get away for a bit.

JD thinking he is good at this game. He wore those nerd glasses the entire time. Freaky boy.

Playing Settlers... so addicting!
Tiffany and I in our costumes. So fun to have a sister-in-law :)

Some beach, Somewhere :)

Tonight my husband and I are at home studying. It's almost 11 and it's Friday and we're losers! But I just took a quick break from anatomy and daydreamed about what I would rather be doing. I'd rather be on a beach in Mexico. After my short vacation in my head, I realized that I never blogged about our honeymoon! So all you faithful bloggers.. here it is!

Cancun, Mexico This is our hotel room. Right off the beach. So awesome!
This is our first day on the beach... we're married!

This is us waiting for the bus. We rode it everywhere and all the Mexican people looked at us kinda funny when JD started speaking Spanish.

This is us eating on an island after went snorkeling.

This is us at Chichen-Itza. It was interesting to learn about the ruins... but I've never sweat so much in my life. It was dannnng hot!!

This is us exploring underground caves.

We went to Cozumel one afternoon. While we were there, we got couples' massages.. and they were wonderful!

We love the beach! And we love eachother!

(This is my favorite picture of the whole trip.)

We took naps on the beach and just hung out.

Love, love, love!

This is our last night in Cancun. We decided to go downtown.

We just liked to people watch. I kept dancing to all the music from the clubs. JD told me I couldn't dance in Mexico because everyone would stare at me! I danced anyway. :)

We ate at Chili's. Still good in Mexico.

This is us on our way back home. We had so much fun!

It was so awesome to be in Mexico without a care in the world... no work, no school, no stress, no long-distance phone calls or Skype conversations, no internships, no knocking, no waiting.. just being with the love of my life all day every day! But... now it's back to reality... heart orientation, the fibrous skeleton, and muscle tissue. Oh, anatomy!

journaling.

Today I had a lot of goals. I worked on and accomplished most of them (stay long enough after church to talk to the bishop, tidy up our house, get rid of our dying plant, shower.. because i didn't wake up in time to do it before church, shave my legs... because i don't remember the last time i did, meet visiting teaching companion, nap, make contact with the girls i visit teach, pass out visiting teaching assignments to the girls i supervise, go on sunday evening stroll with some neighbors, make dinner for husband, make birthday cake for said husband, and actually work on thank-you notes). It was a pretty productive afternoon. However, I also made a goal to write in my journal today because I haven't actually sat down to write about the wedding day or the honeymoon and life is passing so quickly that I'm afraid I'll start to forget things if I wait too much longer. BUUUT.. thank-you note writing has taken up most of my afternoon and I really just can't write anymore because my hand is cramping and I'm tired. I figured I could at least blog a little because typing doesn't hurt quite as much as writing things out by hand. And I am much quicker at typing than I am at writing.

JD and I really trying to make friends. We are putting ourselves out there more at church I think.. or at least trying. We actually really like hanging out with eachother though.. so it isn't all bad.

My mom and sister were here this weekend. Their stay was good, but much too short. I feel like I didn't even see them. My mom came down to cheer at the Homecoming game for the 25 year reunion of the national title. I totally missed her performance. I was anxious and excited for her, but completely unaware of when they did their little jig. I don't think the announcer actually said what was happening... because I was listening for the announcement and never heard anything. I'm bummed I didn't get to see her, but am glad it was an excuse for her to come to Utah.

Lindsey stayed with us for one night. We went to watch a women's volleyball game against Utah and we went out to Spoon Me. I hate frozen yogurt and don't understand what all the rage is. I didn't get anything, and JD got his for free because it was his birthday. Oh yeah? JD's 24 now. OLD officially. I got him some socks and a homemade coupon saying we could go pick out a tent. In my defense, all he said he wanted was socks. I am not totally lame. I also bought Lindsey some clothes on Saturday for her birthday. I felt super dumb about not wrapping either of their gifts. Sometimes, I think half the greatness of a gift is it's presentation.

I am still trying to get used to the orange in our apartment. I really like it now, and I hope I still like it after Halloween passes.

Speaking of Halloween, my program management class decided to cancel our 5K costume run on the 31st. You would not believe the technical, legal, and financial problems we ran into in the planning process. It was insane. But I guess we did learn alot about programming. I also learned firsthand why people get zits! STRESSSS. But it's over and now we just have to evaluate how it failed.

I am tired of school. I always wish the weekend lasted longer.

I don't want to go back.

Orange?

JD and I went to IKEA yesterday. Yikes! It's hard not to buy everything you see in that store. We went with the purpose of buying a bookshelf. On a whim, we decided to buy some orange accents for our living room. Mostly, we like color and wanted more of it. Also, we agreed that right now is about the only time in our lives when we'll be able to pull off a turqoise and orange living room. We are trying to get used to it... but I think I like it. And I am not going to post pictures... in hopes that you'll come visit us and see it in person.

We want friends. We are pretty lonely lately. We would love to play games or go bowling or miniature golfing or make you dinner or have you make us dinner. Or anything.

I am still adjusting to married life. I would really like to meet some of the neighbor girls and do girly things with them. I'd like to have someone to go to if I run out of an ingredient or if I need a quick ride somewhere. I'd like to order pizza on a Saturday afternoon and have another couple come over and watch football on the floor with us. But I'm dreaming. Hopefully soon we'll make some good friends here.

As of now, JD and I are playing board games alone in our orange-accent living room.

(And I'm smoking him 9 times out of 10).

Ballerina in the Backseat.

Dear ballerina in the backseat,

Today I rode the bus to the grocery store to surprise my husband with food in our pantry and dinner on the table. He thought I was in class, but it got canceled today. I ended up with more groceries than I could handle and was struggling to get home on foot. With welts swelling on my arms from such a heavy load, I waited at the crosswalk for a long time. The little green man didn't show up to let me pass. I must have looked tired and pathetic. Your mom pulled up on the curb and asked me if I needed a ride somewhere. Hesitantly, I looked around and wondered if I should get in a stranger's car. When I saw you in the backseat, I agreed. Your mom helped me load all my groceries in the front seat and I got in the back with you. You didn't say much and I could tell you thought it was a little weird that your mom picked up some strange girl on the street. I asked you if you were a dancer because you had on a leotard and tights. Your mom said you were coming home from practice. You said you were a ballerina. I smiled. I told your mom where to turn to get to my apartment. Your mom said life gets a little easier, you told me to have a nice night, I got out of your car and walked up to my apartment with all my groceries. Your mom didn't have to stop for me. But she did. And I hope that when you grow up... you'll be like your mom- kind and selfless, charitable to strangers, not bothered by the dents in your car or the fact that your clothes are worn and your hair needs cutting, Christ-like, sincere, and aware of people more than time. In fact, I hope that when I grow up... I'm like your mom too.

Love,

the lonely girl on the street corner.

Oh, India!

I am intriqued by the people of India. One day, I would love to travel there simply to get a taste of their culture and lifestyle. I am particularly fascinated by the notion of laughter therapy that is popular in India. Groups will get together for a laughter therapy session and begin by breathing deeply and reaching to the sky to release their inhibitions. Then, one member will start with a "ho-ho-ha-ha" until the laughter becomes absolutely contagious. Dr. Madan Kataria, who founded the laughter club, says,

"Laughing is my mission. I want to spread it all over the world."

The people participating in these clubs believe that laughing at least 15 minutes a day will drive away depression and other ills. Although I haven't conducted any experimental designs to test their theory, I can't help but agree with them instinctively. What an awesome, remarkable tradition! I think it's totally rad. I wish I could see a session in person some day :)

Too perfect.

Can I just say that JD is too perfect for me? Two prime examples:

1. He didn't work Monday and decided that would be his day of errands. I was gone at work and school and was busy busy all day. I come home to find a platter of pumpkin shaped taffy on the kitchen table. Random? Yes. I asked JD what it was... and he said that he saw them at the store and felt like he should buy them to put out in our house to decorate and bring in some Halloween cheer. Even though they are nasty black licorice flavored, the taffy on the table makes me happy. It also makes me happy that my precious husband thinks like that. :)

2. So we finally got a new door knob... (Our old one was a royal pain and took about 5 minutes to jiggle wiggle open)... and I lost the key on the first day JD gave it to me. Bummer. On his day of errands, he decided to run to Wal-mart and make me a new copy. I think most men would just choose a stinky old silver key, but JD picked one of the decorative keys- a leopard one! whoo hoo :) And it made me really happy to use it today.

Those are two itsy bitsy examples of why we just go together.

Beauty Rush

mmm. Love this stuff! Makes my lips wanna do a happy dance everytime!

I have so much to do right now.. it's ridiculous. However, I sometimes get carried away with my internet browsing and blog hopping. I don't have enough time to write anything of substance.. but I do wanna give a plug for this little piece of heaven.

Top 5

I feel like I haven't really blogged in forever and I am excited about all the news I have to share. The top 5 things going on in my life are...

First, I got a job! This is exciting... but it's definitely not my dream job. I work as a security guard at the Museum of Art at BYU. (You can make your jokes now.) I know I'm not very intimidating, but I do what I'm supposed to and that's what counts. I just ask people to check their backpacks at the front desk and not get too close to the art. Today I got to escort someone important back to the control room. That was huge. Haha :) Basically... I don't do a whole lot. I just get to wear a not-so-cute outfit and carry around a walky talky and set of keys. The good thing about the job is being able to study whatever I want to on a clipboard. The bad part is that most of my shifts are at least 4 hours long and I can't study effectively off a clipboard for that long. JD visited me today before he went to class. Hooray!

Second, I am taking anatomy... and it's hard and it takes a lot of work and studying... but it's so incredibly rewarding. I love knowing the intricacies of the human body. It hit me the other day how incredibly sacred the study of anatomy is. The mere fact that we were created in the image of God, a god with parts and passions, is miraculous. I am so grateful to have an understanding and testimony of my origin, to know with a surety that God walks and talks as we do. Because I know that God was once as I am, I can also conclude that I have the potential and incredible opportunity to be as He is. Get this: when we study the anatomy of humans, we are in fact studying the make-up of gods. Absolutely remarkable, I tell you. Absolutely. What an experience for me! (Now let's just hope I can keep this perspective as I study for my first big test this weekend!)

Third, I am falling madly in love. Everyday. It is crazy that every day that passes I find more reasons to fall in love with my husband. He rocks. Today he washed and folded the laundry, cleaned the bathroom, did the dishes, vacuumed our entire apartment, and tidied up our bedroom. He also makes delicious meals all the time, which is so lucky for me because I really struggle in that area. He works three days a week in Salt Lake and studies diligently for his chemistry and EMT classes. I am so impressed with him and all that he does. We've read our scriptures everyday together since we've been in Provo. It's not always a lot and sometimes we are both really sleepy, but I love that we are trying to be obedient together.

Fourth, I am having so much fun. JD and I have gone on dates to the dollar theatre, Nickelcade, friends' apartments for game nights, country dancing, and to yummy restaurants. We play games all the time and I love it. I do have to say that my skills at Settlers of Catan are greatly improving. (JD would call it luck. It's skill!) We've had Gretchen and Whitney for dinner and games, and Holli and Abe for dinner, and JD's family for dinner, and Ty and Tiff (JD's sibs) up for a weekend, and my old roomies for dinner, and Ty for a second weekend (We need to work on our grocery budget... it's been a little ridiculous!). Jocelyn comes over to play with me/us sometimes and I love it. We love BYU football and watch it on our living room floor and eat pizza. :) It was super exciting when they beat Oklahoma! And we loved that #7 spot while it lasted. Also, JD has baked home-made bread for us a couple of times, which totally rocks.

Lastly, my sister turns FIFTEEN in a week. And Tiff turns SIXTEEN in 2 days. And JD turns TWENTY-FOUR in less than a month. (He's so old!) Andddd Jake and Dad are visiting in 2 weeks. And Lindsey and Mom are coming in a month for the homecoming game against TCU.

October will be a fabulous month!

That's pretty much it for me! I am feeling pretty good about life lately :)

Letter to Me.

If I could write a letter to the me that was me a year ago, I would tell myself not to be so scared. I would tell myself to let my heart guide me. I would tell myself that it's okay to let old things go so new things can come into my life. I would tell myself that no matter what I did to try and stop it.. I would still end up marrying him.

It still freaks me out a little that I'm married. It kindof feels like a dream. Sometimes I'll ask JD if it feels real to him... and he always says it does. Then I feel guilty because I sortof feel like I'm pretending sometimes. Like, I don't know...really? Am I really married?

But then he says something I'm thinking before I say it or finishes my sentences or I come home from school and he's made something for dinner that I was craving or he plucks my eyebrows for me... and I remember that we really are married. And it's okay because everything about it is right. :)

10 Days.

I am getting married in 10 days. I can hardly believe it. It's so crazy to me, still, that I'm doing this... that I'm 20 years old and getting married. But I know it's right. JD's convinced me pretty darn well that married life will be fabulous. Nevertheless, there's so much I am going to miss about just being one of the girls! I spent the night at Cory's house the night before last and realized it was probably the last sleepover I'll ever have. Total bummer!

It's scary and uncertain what the future will bring, but I'm so grateful that in 10 days, I'll have someone to stand by me always when I start to feel unsteady and unsure. I can't really put into words how I feel right now because there's a rush of emotion from every angle. I'm excited! And nervous. And anxious. And so happy. And impatient. And a little afraid. And smiley, mostly.

10 days!

Dang Pretty Family.

My family is a lot prettier than the last time I saw them. Morgan's hair is longer. And she's older. Jake's teeth are braceless and whiiiite. And he's tall. And he's getting over puberty. Lindsey looked like a supermodel at the airport. And everyday. Isaaac is big. And has brown beautiful eyes. And is growing up. And I never really noticed how much my mom and dad love each other. They do. I think love makes you pretty. They're looking really fly (but my dad thinks he's gonna lose 15 lbs before the wedding. doubt it!) Maybe my family has always been so pretty. . . or maybe not. . . I'm not sure. But since I've been home, I can't help but think to myself- You have a dang pretty family.

Grateful.

Today was a wonderful day. I am feeling incredibly grateful for a lot of things in my life. Namely:

....an adorable wedding shower put on by my lovely friends ...people who are really crafty and cutesy ...pink and yellow
...gorgeous bridesmaids :)

... and time just being with my girlfriends.

I'm grateful for Camp K and the incredible opportunity I've had to spend my summer there, for the joy I find in the work I'm doing, for the satisfaction in knowing I'm making a difference to someone somewhere, for being nicknamed "my friend" by this little angel.

I'm also thankful for:

...such fun friends

...nights spent on a blanket beneath the sky

...laughter and memories and red, white & blue!

...silliness

...sunshine

(the literal and figurative kind)

both of which seem to be crowding my life as of late...

and i love it

...the U.S.A.

and my dang cute fiance.

There is just so stinkin' much to be grateful for!