Adios 2008...here WE come 2009!

At the end of 2008 as I reflect on the past 12 months I am in awe of all that has changed in my life. I made decisions in the early part of the year that will and have already affected the rest of my life. I returned to Utah after living in Arizona for 18 months and managing the Modern Exposition office there. When I left that company and the job I was scared to death that I was making the wrong decision but ultimately it has been one of the best I have ever made. I started massage therapy school at UCMT in Salt Lake one day after my last event with Modern Expo and haven't looked back. My decision to attend massage therapy school was a long time coming. I have made some lifelong friends while in school and more importantly made time for me and for living life since I started school. In that process, I met the most amazing and wonderful man that in just 86 short days I will get to call my husband for the rest of forever!

I never expected the decision to leave behind a job and go back to school would lead to such wonderful things in my life. I have been blessed to be a member of a family that has always supported me and for that I could never be grateful enough...thanks Dad and Mom for always supporting me even when you didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel that I thought I could catch a glimpse of. You have always been my best cheerleadears and I can't thank you enough.

This year has had some scary parts too...mom's snowmobile accident last April will not soon be forgotten. I am so grateful that she is such a fighter and is alive and kicking today. Just yesterday she had another surgery to fix her hand that hasn't been working properly since last April and the accident. What a woman! I'm so glad you're a fighter mom! Mom is frustrated with her recovery but we keep reminding her that she has come a long way. Although I have to say I would be just as frustrated if I was in her shoes.

My dad who is always my inspiration to try harder and have fun. Dad taught me to work and in the past 10 years he has taught me the importance of enjoying life too not just working yourself to death. I remember talking to him about leaving my job with Modern. He said, "If you enjoy what you do you will never work a day in your life." That is great wisdom dad. I have found in my time working at the student clinic on Saturdays that I love the art of massage. I love to help people and make them feel better. I feel better when I do it and I am so grateful for the quiet advice you give to me. I love you more than I can express in mere words.

I am so grateful for a sister and brother in law with whom I shared an apartment in Salt Lake for 6 months when I moved back to Utah. I thought Tiff had lost her mind when she asked me about living together to save money but I gained so much more than financial benefit from the situation. I got to see them work at their relationship on a daily basis that has helped prepare me for my future. I am so grateful to a wonderful brother in law, Ryan, who is a perfect match for my sister and such a good example. I sure do love you guys and I can't wait to meet that cute little nephew of mine that is scheduled to arrive in May. HOORAY for another nephew and he is going to be a heart breaker!

For my J.D... I don't know how I got so lucky to find such a wonderful man that loves me more than I ever thought possible. I want to be a better person when I am with you and I look forward to many more tomorrows with you. Only 86 days, sweetheart! YIPPEE!! Thank you for being my inspiration to be a better person and encouraging in my dreams... you are the best!

Last night was the farewell to 2008 and while it was a wonderful year for me I know that it was a rough one for many others. I hope and pray that 2009 will be just a wonderful year for everyone.

Until next time...

It's Official

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!!
The date has changed to March 28, 2009 at The Historic Shelton in Idaho Falls!

For those of you that have been wondering and following my love story with J.D. we have some exciting news. We are engaged! I posted a picture so you can see the mystery man that I have been gushing about. It is a picture of us at Zion's National Park over the Thanksgiving weekend. It was absolutely beautiful and I like this picture of us. (No we were not intending to match in the picture but everyone likes to point out we are "matchy-matchy")

I know my girlfriends are just dying to hear the story of how he proposed... so here goes. It is finals week at school and most of my classes have a written and a practical test. However, on Tuesday I had my pathology final and that class doesn't have a practical test. I hadn't missed any Pathology lectures so after I was done with the written final I was able to leave. J.D. and I had planned ahead to go to see the lights at Temple Square that night. We had talked about going a few times before Tuesday but the First Presidency Christmas Devotional was one Sunday and The MOTAB Christmas Concert was the next Saturday so we decided to not go down with all the craziness and crowds on those days.

Since it was Finals week and I wanted a break from studying Tuesday seemed like a great night to go. J.D. had his company party that night that I wasn't able to attend because of school so he drove up to Salt Lake after his party and after I was done with class. We met at my apartment and drove to Temple Square. He had his camera with him and handed it to me to take pictures because he said I take better pictures...I don't if that's true but who was I to argue. The lights were absolutely beautiful but it was ooooh so cold. We walked by the big nativity scene by the North visitors center and circled around in that area. I wanted something to warm up so we went to the street vendor and go me some hot spiced cider...YUMMY!

We walked back in the South gates and took some pictures of the temple with the sparkly lights there then headed out to the reflecting pool and up by the Church office building. It never occurred to me that there were lights and nativity scenes and such up by the Church office building but some of my favorite stuff was up there. So we proceeded up to the fountain by the Church office building. If you haven't seen the "bags" they have in the area around that with cut out scenes you need to go see them...they are beautiful! Anyway, we got to the east side of the fountain and no one was there but us. J.D. asked me to take a picture of the temple including the lights on either side of the lawn area going towards the temple. So I climbed up on the ledge of the fountain and took a picture- which turned out really nice. When I turned around my J.D. had a big smile on his face and was holding up the ring and asked me to be his wife. I was so excited! I knew it was coming sometime soon but he did such a great job surprising me!

I requested that when he proposed that we not have a crowd around so we don't have a picture of us right after the proposal but I do have a picture of us at Temple Square that night. They are on J.D.'s camera so I will have to upload them later. I can't express how grateful I am for such a wonderful man. I am adding a picture of my beautiful ring both in the box and on my hand. J.D. said it fits my hand perfectly and I couldn't agree more. How lucky am I!!?!!

This is not a great picture as I took it with my camera phone. But you get the idea. I sent this to my mom and sister and promptly got calls from both of them that I needed to be wearing it.

So this is the ring on my hand...where it will always be! Again, not the best picture because it was taken with my cell phone but you can at least see the ring.

We have set the date for March 21, 2009. We are going to look at sites this weekend while we are in Idaho celebrating Christmas with my family. I am really leaning towards the Historic Shelton Chapel & Reception Center. I just love the look of the building and grounds. One of my sister's friends had a reception there and I fell in love with it when I saw it 6 years ago. More info will be coming, I promise!

Until next time...