On Top of the World

So, all week long I had a suspicion that it might happen the following weekend but I didn't really have solid evidence, just a feeling. Anyway, we went to Manti for the weekend so that we could spend time with Neil's family for Mother's day. The day before we left (friday) Neil asked if I would like to go 4-wheeling. My response was, of course, that I'd LOVE to go. I love outdoorsy stuff. :) So Saturday we get to Manti around noon and he asks if he can go, "hiking and shooting with Jaiden and the guys." I was totally okay with this because it's not unusual, but usually I go with them. I told him he could go and I stayed home with his mom, which is totally fine because I love her and we had fun.

While Neil was gone, his mom and I were chatting about what my relationship and the whole time I just kept thinking, "Oh. Ok. Maybe it's not going to happen this weekend. Ok, I just need to accept that and move on." Three hours later, when Neil got home, I was totally in the mindset that it wasn't going to happen. So I was a little irritated but I was getting over it, we can't always get what we want when we want it, right? Anyway, we head up the face of the mountain and just start going up. Up and up and up. It was A LOT of fun and I got to be on a 4-wheeler with Neil so I was a happy camper. About a quarter of the way from the top Neil says, "We should turn around and explore some trails closer to the base of the mountain." I was a little thrown because we were so close to the top of the mountain but eventually I agreed and we headed back down. 

A little later, we pull up on this hill over looking the whole valley. I could feel Neil's heart pounding but I didn't think twice about it, I though it was just the adrenaline rush... We hopped off the 4-wheeler and stood there gazing out over the most beautiful city in the world. He had binoculars with him and he starts looking off over where his house is. (His house is on the the very edge of Manti city. A few miles from the "cluster" of the city. Anyway...) So he's staring at his house, through the binoculars for what seems like FOREVER and I'm standing there squinting, cupping my hands around my eyes to block out the sun, trying to see what he was staring at. Now, keep in mind that I had already told myself it wasn't going to happen and so I really wasn't suspecting anything, I just thought Neil was being weird. Anyway, the next thing I know Neil is squatting on the ground next to me and for some bizarro reason I'm super confused because we all know he isn't proposing. Finally he says, "Hey, come here." I sit down next to him and after some instruction on how to best see through this particular pair of binoculars he tells me, "Look at the side of my house." 

So I look. 

And there is this sign.

I can BARELY read it but I know what it says (Marry Me) but I'm not sure if my mind is playing a trick on me so I ask,

"What does the sign say, Neil?"

"Can you read it?"

"What does it say, Neil?"

"Would you like me to clarify?"

"Uh, yes..."

Then Neil gets up on his knee (because at the time we're both sitting on the ground) gives a little but beautiful speech and then asks if I'll marry him. 

I didn't say yes. 

I said, "OF COURSE!!"

So, standing on top of the world, I became engaged to my best friend and I haven't come back down yet. 

I'm Engaged!!

Yup! It's true! I've got a ring on my finger and I am going to marry my best friend!!! Here are some pics!

I'll blog the story soon!

This is "The Boy"

I realized that there is this MASSIVELY important person in my life whom I have neglected to really talk about on my blog except for in code. So, here goes. I would like to introduce you all to my boyfriend. He's a cutie. :)

Name: Neil J Olsen

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Food: It's easier to say what he doesn't like-celery, egg salad, potato salad...He does really like chicken pot pie.

Hero: His Dad.

Favorite Song To Play (On the Piano): Debussy Reflets dans Lea'u

Favorite Place: Lake Powell 

Favorite Book: The Virginian

Favorite Activity: Spending time with...ME!!!

First Impression of Me: "That is a fun, classy, sporty gal."

My First Impression of Him: "He's a nice guy. Cool." -No joke.

Well, that first impression grew to be a little bit more than that. By golly, I think I'm in love.

From my sneaky photo shoot. 

YAY US!

Thanksgiving. Meg was so small!

A friend was taking pictures of people at church and snapped these of us. 

Afflictions Shall Be For Your Good

Trying to make everything work, trying to grow up and learn to live with roommates while juggling a job, school, a boyfriend and a calling at church...things can get a little hectic. I think one of my flaws, among many, is that I forget the little things and too often those little, daily things are so very important for happiness, sanity and spiritual well-being. Today I was struggling. I want a break. I can't wait for finals to be over, I don't want to go to work, I'm trying to be patient and rational in regards to my personal life but I'm not perfect. Today I think I just snapped and instead of turning to the scriptures for healing, I just shut off. I watched a movie and fell asleep. I got cranky when my roommate came in with a friend and they were being loud. I pittered around my apartment looking for things to eat and ended up eating pizza and oreos. What a great way to feel good about yourself, just plop down on the couch with some good ol' reality TV and veg on junk food. NOT. And anyone who knows what my health issues have been lately will know that the afore mentioned choice of sustenance only made me feel worse because it screwed up my tummy. Anyway, I was tired, apathetic and lazy. I just couldn't snap out of it so I said a prayer and began to read my scriptures. Numb. Completely numb and shut off I began to read my scriptures-in John 14- when I felt prompted to turn to the Doctrine and Covenants. Now, normally I don't get those "scriptures-fall-open-to-mind-blowing-passage" moments. It is rare for me but as I flipped to the D&C it fell open to Section 98. Verses 1-3 were already underlined. They are as follows:

1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
 2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
 3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

As I read these verses a FLOOD of emotions came over me. I felt free from the lazy, apathetic, tired nothingness and wanted to work, play, laugh, cry...The Lord will turn all of our uncertainties and heartaches and fears for our good if we let Him. We have to go to Him and ask Him to, He won't take away our agency even if it so that He can bless us. 

Acting Finals Are The Best

Here is my "Scene" from my acting class. This was part one of our finals. We have part two next week on Tuesday for our monologues. 

Enjoy!

This is a scene from Proof, my scene partner is Courtnie Beatty

My PINspiration.

I love Pinterest. I do. And often times I find myself actually making/doing the things I pin. My latest creation? 

CANDY HOLDERS. 

Funny, I don't actually eat much of the candy, my roommates and neighbors do it all without much help from me but I am SO HAPPY that they are putting my creation to good use. 

So here is my Pinspiration:

And this is my completed project:

(The middle one holds mints that's why it is so shiny!)

Here's a hint. Don't get too impatient when waiting for the paint to dry or the glue to solidify. It gets messy and then you have to redo it. 

So there you have it! YAY!

100 Things To Do Before I Die

I've always had these I've just never posted them anywhere so here they are in no particular order. 

Some I have already done and they are crossed out.

1. Visit all of the Temples in Utah 
2. Run a 5k
3. Feed a baby farm animal: cow, horse, pig etc
4. Go to Ireland
5. Kiss the Blarney Stone
6. Get a Bachelor's Degree
7. See Les Miserables on Broadway
8. Portray Millie in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
9. Go to San Francisco
10. Visit Denmark
11. Visit Greece
12. Go on a cruise to anywhere
13. Serve in an orphanage
14. Fall in Love
15. Be kissed in the rain
16. Be in a play at The Terrace Plaza Playhouse 
17. Steal a street sign
18. Be sealed in the Temple
19. Go Mudding
20. Go Skinny Dipping
21. Skydive
22. Learn a foreign language
23. Learn how to snow board
24. Meet someone famous
25. Visit 221B Baker Street
26. Vacation to Harry Potter World (Florida)
27. Visit all 7 continents
28. Learn to Ice Skate (well)
29. Take a dance class
30. Visit the Sacred Grove
31. Go rappelling 
32. Go on a cross-country road trip
33. Visit all 50 States
34. Eat a food I'm not familiar with
35. Visit The Four Corners
36. Learn to Water Ski or Wake Board
37. Do balloon painting
38. Ride in a horse drawn carriage in New York City
39. Learn to "Sports Game" whistle
40. Learn to sew
41. Design an evening gown and then make and wear it
42. Sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
43. Visit Anne Frank's attic
44. Take the 30 Day Book of Mormon challenge
45. Donate/Sell Plasma
46. Be a registered organ donor
47. Write then perform a song
48. Fly 1st class
49. Name a fish Fluffy
50. See the Northern Lights
51. Paint a room an irregular color
52. Watch the Sunset from a beach
53. Build a bookshelf 
54. Do service at a Children's Hospital
55. Own a Boxer and a Maltipoo
56. Have $10,000 saved in my Bank account
57. Swim in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
58. Swim with Dolphins
59. Have a Family 
60. Grow a garden
61. Go to Disneyworld
62. Meet the Prophet
63. Ride and Elephant
64. Hold a Koala Bear 
65. Upholster a couch/chair
66. Make a t-shirt quilt/blanket
67. Visit the 7 World Wonders
68. See Celtic Women in concert
69. Have a library like Belle's in Beauty and the Beast
70. Not feel incompetent on a horse
71. Live in a yellow house
72. Own chickens
73. Record an album 
74. Drive a race car
75. Go on a mission with my husband
76. Learn a choreographed dance 
77. Be in a flash mob
78. Stay the night in a castle
79. Go to the Kentucky Derby and sit the "Fancy Section"
80. Buy a star
81. Read "A Christmas Carol"
82. Have a picnic in a row boat in the middle of a lake
83. Own a pair of purple shoes
84. Own a pair of cowboy boots 
85. Go to a rodeo
86. Take archery lessons
87. Get a concealed weapons permit
88. Hold a panda 
89. Make friends with a Gorilla
90. Sleep on a waterbed
91. Make freezer jam with fresh fruit
92. Throw a glass of water in someone's face 
93. Take the Sound of Music Tour in Austria
94. Build an upside down snowman
95. Go up in a Hot Air Balloon
96. Blog once a week for a year
97. Co-pilot an airplane
98. Milk a cow
99. Have a garage sale
100. Learn "Pride and Prejudice" style dancing