More Engagements

These are a few of our engagement photos.

Thank you, Lauri!

Our favorite picture

I love this one SO MUCH!

I Love The Muppets

I felt that it would be appropriate to share my new found love for The Muppets. 

Here are some videos I love!

"Goodbye Mexicans!"

No, I'm not being racist. That was simply the send off we received as we left La Casita in Springville last night. The owner is one funny man but really nice. He was actually outside when Neil and I got there and ushered us inside and sat us down at a booth. I love booths. Anyway, the food was yummy, the waitress was nice and the atmosphere was fun! I was so happy we went because, I kid you not, I've been craving good Mexican food for quite sometime. So last night when I asked Neil what we were doing for date night (if you haven't been following my posts, Thursday night is our date night every week) and he said, "Oh, I thought we'd go get some Mexican food and then go play pool," I just about flipped! I was so excited! So, we drove to Springville and ate at La Casita and had a grand ol' time!

Beef burrito, rice and beans. YUM!

I didn't finish that. In fact, I'll be eating the leftovers for lunch!

 As we left, the owner (I wish I knew his name) shouted out, "Goodbye Mexicans! Come again!". I guess that his food is so authentic that if you eat there you become a Mexican. It was pretty darn yummy. 

It had been raining all day yesterday (Hallelujah!) And I snapped this pic of the sunset. 

Neil was driving so no worries.

After dinner we headed over to Miller Apartments where they have a pool table in the basement. I won a game and Neil won a game. We were going to go best two out of three but we decided to keep it at a tie.

All in all it was a fantastic evening. I am so excited to get married to this wonderful guy! (That makes me think of a song!) 

GOODBYE MEXICANS!

Wedding Bee

Bridget, Neil's Aunt, made this banner and I absolutely LOVE IT!

Probably the best idea I've heard of in regards to weddings. 

You know how back in the day there would be quilting bees and barn raisings etc? 

Well, Lauri and Anna (Neil's mom and sister) came up with a genius idea to have a Wedding Bee. 

We tied and cut and glued and wrote and got a very good portion of work completed.

Miss to Mrs. ME!!!

Though I wasn't expecting any, I did receive some AWESOME gifts. Here are some lovely artistic pictures that Lauri took of them. 

Cleaning supplies!
I don't think I've ever been so excited about cleaning before...

Muffin pan, muffin mix, a candle, dish towels, oven mitts and a silicon spatula!
Simply divine.

These bowls ROCK! I am super pumped about having them!

Lovely towels made by Anna. I'm excited to use them!

This is another banner made by Bridget. It says LOVE! 

Coordinating aprons! I love them. 

It was a great afternoon and though I wished my Mom could be there, I did get to show off my wedding dress (which will be receiving it's own post here in the near future). My mom made my wedding dress and my temple dress and she did it from across the country!

Thank you to everyone who came and helped out with all of the work. As Lauri kept saying, "Many hands make light work" and that was certainly the case for this event. It was so much fun getting to know everyone a little better or for the first time! Thanks again!

Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles

Guys. I am SO BLESSED! Seriously! Do you ever have days where blessing after blessing keeps being brought to your remembrance? Um, yeah. That would be today. 

Here are some that have come to my mind in literally the last hour:

1. RAIN!!!

2. NEIL!! I am realizing that I can never be too grateful for him.

3. My Mom (Guys, you have no idea how awesome this woman is. See this post to get just a taste of how amazing she is.)

4. In-laws. (or rather in laws to be!)

5. My car

6. Working windshield wipers

7. The talent to cook well

8. The talent to sing

9. The Gospel

10. Temples 

11. My bed 

12. Air conditioning

13. Free standing fans

14. Cool weather (I clearly don't like being hot...)

15. The Backstreet Boys (laugh if you want but sometimes you just need a good dose of these guys!)

16. Visits at work from Neil. (Different than #2)

17. Paved roads

18. Pinterest

19. Friends

20. Deodorant (aren't we all grateful for this?)

21. A beautiful country to live in

22. Freedoms and Rights (they aren't free by the way)

23. Agency (also, not "free" as some people say) 

The list goes on. Some of these things may seems trivial or silly but I don't care! I am grateful for every last one of them!  I think this video accurately describes my mood right now. Enjoy!

What Drives You?

(Other than your car...)

On Sunday during Relief Society we had a lesson that was based around this question. Our teacher posed this question and then related a story about hiking a pretty intense trail on the mountain. 

Believe you me, I know what "hard hikes" are like. 

I mean, I like hiking but not when it's hot and sticky outside. Gross.

Anyway, we were just discussing what drives us to do the things we do. Why do we go to church? Or school? Or work? Why do we hike mountains? Exercise? Eat healthy food? What drives you to do it? 

I decided that my drive comes from the Lord. I know that if I have been praying and communicating with my Heavenly Father about the decisions I'm making in my life, I'll be on the best path I can be because He directed me there. Because He put me on that path, I know that He knows I can "make it to the peak of the mountain" and because He knows that I want to do my best. Heavenly Father believes in me and wants me to succeed. Who am I to not believe in myself? 

So...What drives you? What is your motivation?

Mormon Miracle Pageant

Awesome. 

That word describes the pageant perfectly granted there were a few "cheesy" happenings that occurred but it  was worth it. 

I can't accurately describe the joy I felt after seeing all of those events come together to tell one story. The spirit was so strong and I loved it. 

There were two parts in particular that I loved the most. 

Part 1: 

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matt 19:14

Neil and I ended up sitting next to a relatively young family. The wife-I didn't even get her name-saw my BYU shirt and immediately started chatting with me. The Cougs have to stick together but that's another story for another time. She let me hold her CUTE baby boy and then later that evening during the pageant another one of her children, a little boy, came and sat next to me. He'd been a little antsy throughout the whole thing but there was one very touching moment that probably touched me the most. 

There is a part in the Pageant where Jesus Christ comes to visit the Americas. As soon as that spotlight came up and the actor portraying Jesus walked into view the little boy gasped and in utter and total amazement said, "It's Jesus!" He sat up straighter on his chair and leaned forward as far as he could to see Jesus. Then when the children all run to Jesus, the little boy got out of his chair. He was totally ready to run up that hill to be with Jesus. His eyes were GLUED to Jesus and he wanted to go up on the hill so badly. 

I couldn't stop myself from crying. This little boy loved Jesus and knew who He was. He was willing to run  up a massively steep hill just to be with Him. It made me think, "Am I as willing to sprint up the steepest hill for Jesus? Do I know and love Him like this little boy does?" Children are refreshing and so very in tune to the Spirit and I have that little boy to thank for making me re-evaluate the condition of my own spirit. 

Part 2:
When the temple lit up. 

Holy angels on high, it was awesome!

When that temple lit up it hit me that in just a couple short weeks I will be getting sealed in that holy place. I got a little emotional at this thought. I am so blessed to have the gospel in my life. I am so blessed to have Neil in my life. I am so blessed to know that my Father in Heaven loves me. There are so many emotions that that one event stirred and I am so happy that I got to go. 

It was a great experience and I hope that anyone who hasn't been able to see it will someday get the chance.