Are you still there?

I know, I know...I have not updated in forever. Let's just say that things have been crazy. On Friday, June 24th, Jon came out for his visit to Utah. We had all sorts of fun and it was nice to show him my apartment, my work, as well as introduce him to my friends. We spent a lot of time with his sister Megan who happened to help with our ENGAGEMENT story and captured it here: www.megleanne.blogspot.com

She tells the story better than I can, but let's just say it was the best day of my life. Even over a month later I am still in shock but super excited. Wedding plans are coming along but we still have a lot to do. But let me jump back a bit.

After being engaged for a day and a half, we left on our journey back east. It was wonderful driving together but by the end I was so done with the car. We were able to take the trip fairly slow and stop and see friends who lived right on our way home. The day after getting home, I left for Florida for a week with my parents and nephew. The next week my nieces came home with us and then my sister and her baby came. The next weekend my cousins came to visit. It was a very busy first month back but I am getting into a semi-routine now.

I absolutely love my job and am starting to get sort of settled in there but will have a long way to go. It is only part-time right now but pays extremely well which helps. I have been offered another part time job as well but I am not sure how to balance the two together because of the hours and the distance...we shall see... I am still deciding if it is the right thing or not.

Life is so good. At times I have felt mentally overwhelmed from all of the changes I have made all at one time, but I am also extremely happy. I am so blessed and know things will all work out if I do my part. I am so so so very excited to marry my best friend in just a few months, I am the luckiest girl in the whole universe. And, I love the south, people are SO friendly!!

a teaser for you:



courtesy of the lovely and talented Devynn of: dbimages.ca

Padre

Today is Father's Day, and what better way to celebrate than to talk about my dad! (especially considering he is too far away to visit today).

I am thankful for my dad, espcially when we live in a world where so many people do not even know who their dad is, it breaks my heart. I am so grateful for my dad, my grandpas, my uncles, and my brothers who are now dads. My dad and I have grown very close over the years. We both love sports, epecially baseball and that has helped us build a special bond. My dad is one of the most generous and giving people in the world. He is not necessarily generous in the way of money but more with his time and his talents. Some important things my dad has taught me are 1) the value of hard work 2) the importance of keeping your word 3) how to serve others and 4) that I have the ability to do anything I want in life. I am so happy he has always believed in me and pushed me to chase after my dreams. I love you dad!

Inspired

When you get some time, perhaps on this fine Sabbath day, go here and read this: http://gateshopeandmiracles.blogspot.com/

What an incredibly sad but inspirational story. I love the following quote that is shared on the blog. I oftentimes am scared of what the future holds, but I know that through faith in the Savior and His atonement, I can conquer anything. It doesn't mean it will not be difficult, but it will be possible.

"Not one of the trials and tribulations we face is beyond our limits, because we have access to help from the Lord. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.” – Elder Paul V. Johnson

And I also love this quote. A lot.

“Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost. He didn’t just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others. He not only taught but also showed us how to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

“Christ knows how to minister to others perfectly. When the Savior stretches out His hands, those He touches are uplifted and become greater, stronger, and better people as a result. “If we are His hands, should we not do the same?”

“As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.” - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

2 Weeks Notice

Plans have changed just a tad. Instead of departing ways with Utah sometime in mid-July, I will be leaving in just over two weeks. Crazy. I have lived here for 6 years now have had some wonderful times. I will definitely miss all of my friends but I am excited to move on and start new adventures. Jon is coming out to visit me in 2weeks. We had talked about how it would be nice if I could just move home when he comes, but we weren't really too serious about it. And then, we talked about it on Monday and decided why not. So I talked to my people and he talked to his people and we are cross-country road-tripping all the way home. I am beyond excited!! I am sure I will be sick and tired of driving by day one but it will be a blast! I am already getting the tunes and snacks prepared. I put in my two weeks at work and I cried, it was really hard but I know it is time. I also have been packing away and have gotten rid of 2 huge bags of junk and there is plenty more that needs to follow that route as well. I am soooo pumped for the trip back and returning to N.C.!!



I just discovered this place that is pretty close to my house in N.C. It is totally on my list of things to do this summer, along with going to the beach!! Doesn't it look so fun?

For Those Who Asked (aka Mandi)

I will be moving in about a month and a half! Crazy! I still haven't found a job yet but have some pretty good leads so I am hopeful and have faith that I will find a job soon. Now I need to get on with the packing/decluttering and all of that jazz. I have been too distracted by long phone calls and escapades with my friends but I need to really start cracking on the move stuff. I know it will creep up on me in no time.

Here is a picture of Jon and I in Colorado after hiking some of the flat irons in Boulder. The other picture we took is better of our faces but is blurry so I went with this one.

and there is more

I suppose there are some things I neglected to blog about yesterday, the main thing being that my brother Brian and his family are moving back to the great white north. Just around the time I am moving so much closer to them, they will be heading back to Canada. I can't even pretend I am happy for them, but I am trying. I am super sad about it all, but I am trying to be supportive of whatever they decide to do. I just wanted for once to live close (even though it was still 12 hours away) to them. But, I know it will be fine, it is just hard.

Also, I am playing softball again this summer and am loving it. I played softball every summer of my life until I started high school. I played on a co-ed team last year and we won the championship. My team right now is all girls but we are pretty good. I am also playing soccer which I have also played my entire life. I can't explain how excited I get to play. I prefer playing something to just running or working out, although sometimes that is good too.

In other news, I highly highly recommend graham cracker gold fish, I am so in love.

Last weekend was so great! I was able to fly out to Colorado to meet my boyfriend's family. I was terrified to go, but I am really glad I did, things went really well and I had a lot of fun. While we were there we went to his nieces play, hiked, went to his sisters' graduation and her graduation party, hung out with the family, looked at pictures, ate tons of good food, etc...It was hard to leave but so great to be able to be there.

I can't believe I am moving home in two months. I am SO excited but also really nervous. I still am not certain what my work/school plans are right now. Some days I think the move can't come soon enough but other days I am glad I still have some time because I have SO much to do. I definitely feel like moving is the right thing and that the job stuff will fall into place in time. Anyway, that is just a quick update, I doubt anyone reads this anymore, but I hope everyone is doing great!