Planning, Planning, and More Planning!

I knew that planning a wedding was a lot of work, but I didn't realize just how much work it really was! I am constantly working on wedding stuff. Somethings are more fun than others, but this only happens once so I'm trying to enjoy it.

The most stressful things for me so far have been the registry and the invitations. Deciding what I want was so hard!! I hope I made some good decisions. And I will be able to relax a little bit once the invitations have been sent out... Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later!!

The fun things for me have been picking out my gorgeous wedding dress! Seriously, it's absolutely perfect!! I've also had so much fun finding an apartment for us to live in. It was really stressful at first because we couldn't find anything, but we found the cutest little apartment and I am so excited about it!! I told Brendan last night that I am so excited to make it our cute little home. He moves in this weekend and I cannot wait! I am also in love with our engagement pictures! Cutest couple ever award! I was really stressed about them but they are everything I have ever dreamed of and more. Another fun thing for me has been where we're going to have our reception. It is going to be at the State Capitol in the rotunda. Can you say perfection??? I am going to have my dream wedding. No doubt about that. Of course the thing I'm most excited about is being sealed together in the temple. If that was the only thing we had, I would be the happiest girl in the world. I am so excited to be with my best friend forever and to see where this journey will take us.

So that's what I've been doing all summer. It has been an incredible experience so far. Only 38 more days to go!! I'm going to try to make the most of them.

Engaged!!!!!

This little life of mine is going to become this little life of ours!! On June 22, 2013 Brendan Clary proposed to me! I am the happiest girl in the world! He is the love of my life and I can't think of anyone who would be better for me to marry.

Let me start at the beginning. One day in December of 2011 I get a text from one of my students saying that another one of my students had found my future husband. I'm, of course, thinking well that's great, saves me a lot of work (little did I know it would actually take a lot of work!). Anyway I find out that my student, Savannah, had had a very handsome, funny, and amazing substitute in seminary that day who she felt would be perfect for me. I kept joking with her and asking her when I was going to meet my future husband. In February she finally got my number to the secretary of her seminary and the secretary called Brendan and told him about what was going on. That night I got a message from him on Facebook asking if I would want to go to lunch sometime. We agreed to meet on Saturday and go to Subway. I am a little bit skeptical about getting set up, especially when the person setting us up doesn't even know the guy, but I figured you can't really go wrong with a seminary teacher. So we met and talked for a couple of hours and agreed to go on another date the next weekend. After that date, I was on cloud 9. I could not stop smiling and I was already falling in love. Well we just started going on a lot of dates and talking to each other on the phone for hours. I realized that Brendan wasn't perfect, but he was about as close as it gets. I was just dying to be his girlfriend, but sadly it didn't happen...

In June, I was getting a little restless with the whole situation so I finally just asked him what was going on. He said that he just wanted to be friends. Stab in the heart. But I was still crazy about him so I would rather have him just be my friend than have him out of my life completely so we still hung out all the time and talked all the time. I got the privilege of hearing about the great dates he was going on and I was really just hating my life at that point. I was going on dates with other guys but no one compared to Brendan. But I was determined to get over him because I knew nothing would ever happen.

So this continued on until October 23. We were just friends and it was miserable for me. Then I get a text this morning from Brendan asking if I wanted to go on a breakfast date. I was ecstatic! I was thinking that he wanted to keep going on dates again!! YAY!!!!! So we go to breakfast and then he suggests we take a walk in the park. I knew something was up because you don't just go for walks in the park... It was there that he asked me to be his girlfriend! The day I had been waiting 7 1/2 months for was finally here! So we started dating.

Our dating life was definitely not easy. We enjoyed each other and we laughed and we played, but I also cried, a lot... I am the biggest bawl baby in the world! You see, Brendan had major issues with the whole marriage thing. I honestly thought that we wouldn't get engaged for another year or so. Then came June 22...

On June 22, 2013, Brendan and I drove up to Park City and went to some art galleries. While we were up there we passed a jewelry store and I made some joke about wanting to go look at rings. He acted the way he always did when I brought up marriage, he just brushed it off and told me that I was going on a mission. On the way home, we started talking about marriage in general, but not about us getting married. We never ever talked about us getting married. Then he took me to Red Robin, one of my favorites!!, and then we went on a hike. I thought to myself that it would be so cute if he proposed on our hike, but I immediately pushed that thought out of my mind because I knew it wouldn't happen. We got to the trailhead at sunset and then started our hike. We were starting down and saw some big rocks and I suggested that we sit on them because I kind of wanted to have a romantic moment and talk about feelings. As we were sitting on these boulders, Brendan said "This might be a little bit cheesy, but I brought some candles for us." I thought it was so cute!! Unfortunately, the wind was blowing out the candles. So we had to look for somewhere else. We found a few rocks that were a little more sheltered just off the trail. We set up our blanket and started lighting the candles. There were so many candles! It was just beautiful and absolutely perfect. But then our perfect night got really scary really fast. All of a sudden we hear something running towards us, crashing through the brush. Please note that it is pitch black and nobody else is really up there. Brendan shines our flashlight towards the noise and he saw two glowing eyes looking at him. I just about lost it. I was shaking and on the verge of tears. Brendan was trying to be manly and brave, but I later learned that he was terrified as well. We had no idea what kind of animal it was so of course our mind goes to the worst possibility, a mountain lion. Basically we're thinking that we are going to die. It was terrifying. Brendan started yelling to scare it away, but we never heard it leave so we were still really nervous. Brendan said a prayer that we would be safe and calm. He then asked if I wanted to leave. I kind of did, but I wanted to enjoy our candles so I decided that we would be ok and we should stay (probably the best decision of my life). We start talking about some of our favorite moments that we shared together and Brendan shared some things that he had never told me before (I don't know if he wants me to publish them to the whole world). It was really sweet. Then he pulled out a card that he had written. This needs a little back story... I am scared of everything. So we would go on Fear Factor dates and I would have to do things that scared me. I always teased Brendan that his Fear Factor date would be to proposed to me because that was the only thing he was scared of. Anyway, he pulls out this card that says Fear Factor on it and on the inside it listed all of the scary things I had done. At the bottom it said something about how I had helped him not be scared of marriage and it was time for him to do a Fear Factor date. I was kind of in a state of shock and I couldn't exactly figure out what was going on. So he told me that I might want to stand up. I did and he proposed!!! I started bawling like a baby and I was trying to figure out if it was real or not. Then I finished reading the card. He had listed about 70 reasons he wasn't scared of marrying me. It was the sweetest thing in the world!

So that's our Fear Factor proposal. It was absolutely perfect! Well I might get rid of the part where we thought we were going to die, but it really is one of my favorite parts now. It totally fit in with our Fear Factor theme. I am so happy to be getting married to my best friend and the greatest man I know. I love you Brendan Clary!!!

Recital Time!

It's that time of year again!! Recital day is so extremely stressful! I feel like my dances are never quite where I want them to be, but there's not much I can do about it once recital day is here. Today is the last one for the year and I've already been through 2 others. They both went really well! I'm always so proud of my students and what they have accomplished.

I feel like the recital today is the big kahuna. Probably because it's the most professional and because it is for the studio that I grew up at. I kind of feel like I need to prove myself; that I need to show that I'm not a student anymore, but a teacher. Also, it's very nerve wrecking having all of these other teachers that I respect and admire watching my work. I feel very inadequate at times. However, they are always so complimentary and only have kind things to say about my dances. I'm a nervous wreck for about a week leading up to recital so it's nice to hear those encouraging words every now and then.

Despite all of my stressing about how I look, I care even more about how my students are feeling. If they love their dance and feel good doing it, that's what really matters at the end of the day. I had one mom come up to me during dress rehearsal and thank me for being her daughter's teacher. I just kind of brushed it off, but she was very persistent. She told me that her daughter's self-esteem and confidence had sky rocketed because of my class. She said that her daughter felt like I was more than just her teacher, I was her friend and that meant the world to her. It brings me to tears just thinking about it. This  is why I teach. It's so easy to get caught up in my student's technique and if they are growing as dancers, but what I really want is to influence my student's to become better people. I am so grateful that I was in a position this year to help this sweet young girl feel better about herself. I hope she remembers how special she is to me when tough times come. I truly love all of my students and I want to help them become amazing dancers and incredible people.

So here it comes, the big kahuna! After tonight, I can relax a little bit and gear up for next year's recital season. I know my students are going to perform wonderfully tonight! I am so proud of all of them for the dancers they are becoming and for learning to love themselves and to see themselves as I see them, beautiful children of our Father in Heaven. I love my job and I love my students!

2012

Well it's New Year's Eve so I've been thinking about everything that has happened to me in the last year. I just keep thinking that a year sure is a long time. I year ago I never could imagine where I would be or who I would know. It's been a great but hard year.

One of the biggest things that happened this year was I decided to take a little break from school. I know a lot of people don't agree with this decision, but I know that it was the right one for me. It was a hard decision to make, but I have never regretted it (except maybe when I hurt myself and I want Ron, the dance trainer, to fix me). I will be going back to school next fall. I'm nervous but I need to this.

I have moved a couple different times this year. It was definitely a headache and extremely stressful, but I'm glad for the experiences that I have had. I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of incredible people and they have all influenced me in some way. I have finally ended up in Holladay and I am very happy. I have 2 amazing roommates and my ward is fantastic!

I have been so blessed to work for some awesome people. I teach dance at 4 different places and I love it! I have some of the sweetest, cutest dancers. I love being a teacher. Probably the best thing about my job is being able to influence my students and be a good example for them. There are so many things that I can teach them besides dance. Another great thing about my job is when I see my students grow and succeed. There is something so special about watching their faces when they understand what I have been teaching them and they finally are able to do it. I love my job!!!

Last and certainly not least, I started dating the wonderful, handsome, charming Brendan Clary. He is honestly the most incredible man I have ever met and I feel so lucky everyday that I finally convinced him that I am girlfriend material. Every single day he helps me to become a better person. For those of you who know me really well you know there's something special about a guy who can get me to eat chicken and salmon and who knows what else. He is my very best friend and I so blessed to have him in my life. 

Well that pretty much sums up my 2012. It has been a fun year! I can't say that I have loved every minute of it, but I can say that I am grateful for the lessons that I have learned. I have grown so much this year and I feel closer to my Heavenly Father than ever before. I can't wait to see what 2013 holds for me!

We Will Always Remember

I have had so many thoughts today as I look back on the events of September 11, 2001. I was only 11 at the time, but I can remember how I felt that day. I remember laying in bed and listening to the news. I didn't understand at the time what was going on. After a while my mom came in and told us that someone was attacking America. It all made sense at that moment. The impossible was happening. I was eating breakfast as the towers fell. The feeling that day was eery. It was too quiet. I didn't feel like playing. I was so used to hearing airplanes fly over my head, but that day there weren't any and it was a horrible reminder of what had just happened. I was just a child. I didn't know about terrorists or hijacking or war. No child should. But that day I learned all about it. I was too young too fully comprehend what had just happened, but I knew it was evil.

One of the main thoughts on my mind today is that we never know when we will talk to our loved ones again. We should always let our family and friends know that we love them. I am definitely not the best at this, but I am trying to do better. You just never know what can happen.

Along with that, I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that there is life after death. We will see our loved ones again. I can be with my family forever. This brings so much comfort. I wish with all my heart that everyone knew this. I wish that I could tell every soul about the glorious message of the restored gospel. Not only does the knowledge of life after death bring comfort, but we can bea comforted and our hearts can be healed through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

As I was thinking about the events of that day, I turned to the words of the prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley that he spoke in the General Conference in October one month after. His words bring comfort and remind us of what we need to be thinking about at this time. America is a blessed nation and will continue to be so as long as we put God first. I encourage everyone to read this talk.

Now we look back and remember those we lost and the impact that the events of that day had on all of us. We will never forget. The best way to remember them is to press forward in our lives and to live each day as best we can. Remember that our strength as a nation comes from putting God first. I know that as we do this, God will bless America.

Big Changes

Today I decided to move up to West Jordan. Since I'm not going to be going to school in the fall, I decided I wanted to be closer to where I work. I found I good apartment with nice roommates and decided to just go for it! It's a little bit scary to be out on your own, not really knowing what you're going to do, but I'm excited. I just keep telling myself that I have to grow up sometime and that there are a billion other people doing the same exact thing. I need to stop just waiting around for my life to begin. I need to make my life begin. This is just a little step in the right direction and I feel good about it. Here's to some big changes and a new adventure!

National Parks and a Solar Eclipse

My parents decided to take my sister and me down to Bryce Canyon and Zion's National Park to see the solar eclipse and to enjoy nature. First stop was Bryce Canyon. We hiked around for a little while and then went back to Ruby's Inn to watch the solar eclipse. It was really cool to watch! And we had fun taking goofy pictures of course.

Munchie was king of the world

I loved the hearts

And Munchie loved the buffalo

It was so bright!!

Solar Eclipse!

Mom wanted to do the sexy one...

Next we were off to Zion's! We did several easy hikes around the park. My favorites were the Weeping Rock and the Riverside Walk. The Riverside Walk takes you to the mouth of the Narrows and Munchie was dying to see it. When we were about halfway there, my injured foot started to hurt so I decided to stop and just soak my feet in the river as my family kept going. It was so pretty and the water felt so good on my feet. Not to mention it was about 100 degrees outside and so finding a nice spot in the shade was exactly what I needed. We didn't do Angel's Landing or the Narrows. I don't think I could ever do either of them because of my extreme fear of heights and claustrophobia. It's too bad because I'm sure the sight is beautiful!

The Court of the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. With Moroni in front of Jacob. I wonder what people who aren't LDS think of all these names when they visit.

Just doing some exploring

The Weeping Rock

Mom and Dad in the shady spot by the river

After soaking my feet, I felt good enough to dance!

We saw lots of wildlife: Birds, lizards, squirrels, and deer

Zion's is absolutely beautiful. I want to go back, but maybe on a cooler day. We spent the night laughing our heads off in St. George. On our last day, we went back to Zion's and watched 2 short movies on the IMAX screen. One of them was just weird and I had no idea what was going on the entire time. The other was one that my dad and I have been wanting to see. It's called Tornado Alley. We wanted to see it because we love the show Storm Chasers and it's about the making of the movie. Yeah, we're nerds... Overall it was a nice little vacation!