Sentimental Value

Happy news! I paid off Kevin's ring yesterday! I'm so excited!

The picture I have isn't actually his ring, but it looks exactly like it. The really cool thing about it is that it looks exactly like the duck tape one he wears now, but metal! It's perfect. I love it. It feels good to have it in my possession and it feels great knowing that I got him exactly what he wanted.

Productivity And Devotion

So I figured it's high time I did another post for my blog. It's been quite a while. Let's see... what can I tell you...

Well, for starters: school is going very well. I am taking two English classes, a Sociology class and a Government class this semester and they're all going well. My Critical Reading and Writing teacher can be very picky/demanding and I have to admit that at first I was getting a little discouraged, but I decided to look at it as a learning experience and that's exactly what it has become. I still have a long way to go, but I am definitely a better writer now than I was when I started. I'm really enjoying it.

Also, for those of you who don't know (which is most of you), I teach one of two Sunbeam classes in my ward. It is so much fun. They're a handful a lot of the time, especially since I have all girls and they love to talk, but they're so cute. It's one of the most rewarding callings, I think. There have been so many times when I think "does anything get through?" and then one of their parents will come up to me and thank me for doing such a good job. What a relief! And it makes it all worth while. That, and they say and do the funniest things! They're so cute and actually much more observant than we give them credit for.

In other, very exciting news! Kevin comes back on April 17th! I'm so excited! He's been gone for 94 days including today and I can't wait to see him again! I have to admit, though, that as crazy as it drives me sometimes to be away from him for long stretches like this, there are some very good things that come out of it. Every time I gain a greater appreciation for him. Being apart from him like this shows me that I love him for much more than just the physical demonstrations of affection. And it teaches me to never take him for granted. Kevin is my best friend and I love him with all my heart. He helps me to relax when I'm tense, laugh when I'm upset, cry when I've trained myself to hold it in and love without fear. And in 24 days I never have to let him go again. THAT is a great feeling.

"The One"

Okay Everyone! I have really exciting news this time! Last Saturday I went to look at wedding dresses with my mom, sisters and grandma. The first place we looked didn't turn out so great. We found one dress that was okay, but it didn't feel like "the one". So we went to a second store that, number one: actually had my size. That's always a nice thing, not having to come out of the dressing room with half your back exposed. Sheesh. And! They had a much larger selection of dresses. On top of this! I found my dress! It is so beautiful, I love it! I went wedding dress shopping that day expecting to narrow down the options, but I did not expect to actually find the dress. But I did! I can't give details because my fiancee reads this blog and he doesn't get to see it until our wedding day and the only details he gets to know until then are that it is white and has a train.

I'm so excited, though! I actually had to come home and think about it first. I knew I really liked it, but it all happened a lot faster than I expected. But after coming home and talking to my parents, especially my mom, I knew it was the one. That, and my mom cried. It's the only dress she cried for so that was a pretty good sign, too ;). I found my dress! I'm so thrilled!

So there you go. I've found all three of the things people refer to as "the one." I found, first and foremost, "the one" man who is my perfect match, I found "the one" ring that we both felt drawn to, and I found "the one" dress that makes me feel unquestionably beautiful. I'd say that's a lot to be thankful for.

An Uneventful Start To An Eventful Year

Well, I started my new semester of classes this week. I really like my teachers and the classes themselves are pretty fun. I will have A TON of reading and writing to do this semester, but I think it'll be fun for the most part. I'm pretty excited, actually, so hopefully that excitement lasts at least most of the semseter if not all of it ;).

I think that's really all that's been going on for me. My life is pretty uneventful right now, sorry.

In other news that's not directly related to my life... Kevin got a job in Oregon! Yay! He actually was able to get the same temp job he had before he left on his mission! It's kind of hard because it's graveyard shifts, but the pay is nice! We'll have to see what we can find for him when he comes back for school.

And there you have it, folks. I'll write again when I have something at least semi-interesting to tell you ;). Have fun out there!

Painful Separation

Well, friends and family, Saturday was the official end of Kevin's Fall Semester here at BYU-I. I am not at all embarrassed to admit that I spent as much time as possible with him this last week. On Saturday we made breakfast for my brothers and ourselves and then we got to work going through his stuff and figuring out what I would be keeping here and what he would be taking back to Oregon. We got it all sorted out and put his stuff in my car, said a few last goodbyes (he did, anyway) and then we went on a search around town for his iPod. Never fear, the iPod was found and is unharmed ;).

After the recovery of the iPod we headed for Idaho Falls. It was a mostly quiet ride, but a good one nonetheless. When we reached the airport I helped pull some of his things out of the trunk and then we said our goodbyes. I'd be lying if I told you it was not one of the hardest things I've had to do. It gets harder every time I have to let him go. He won't be back until April, just before Summer Semester begins. It's going to be really hard, but so worth it. Kevin is more than worth the wait.

So there you go. I actually had to come back and go straight to work after dropping Kevin off, which was probably a blessing because instead of going home and shutting myself up in my room I went and worked hard and distracted myself from my loneliness. It was a good thing. And Kevin was a gem and let me know every time he landed and when he was home at last so I didn't have to start worrying at all. Thank you, love, it was much appreciated.

I think that's all I have to say right now. Ummm... car updates: it cost a pretty penny for the essential repairs in Logan. I was sent home with the car and a list of other things that need to be taken care of on the car as soon as possible. How happy for me. It's always so nice to see all of your hard-earned savings gone like that *snap*

On a happier note! Christmas is almost here! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your families/friends and are able to feel the peace that the Spirit can bring at this sometimes (if not often) stressful time of the year. I love you all and appreciate all you have done and continue to do for me. Each one of you has left your own unique impression on my life. Thank you.

A "Real World" Smackdown

So this last weekend Kevin and I made a trip to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with his family. It was really fun. It was great seeing his parents and siblings again and a blast meeting his extended family. They're really fun people.

We decided to head back Saturday afternoon and stop off at my grandparents' house for one night so that he could meet some of my extended family that live around there. We made it there without incident, had a good dinner with my grandparents and my uncle and his family. After my uncle and his family left Kevin and I needed to go get some things from WalMart in preparation for Church the next day. We went out and got in my car... and it wouldn't start. At all. We finally had to borrow my grandpa's car, hoping it was just a dead battery (because that's what the picture on my dashboard showed). The next afternoon my grandpa tried to jump start my car to absolutely no avail. We towed it over to a Honda dealer and spent another night at their house hoping for early news on the car. Well, come to find out that my timing belt had broken. We were more than lucky to make it to my grandparents house, if you know what I mean. It took them all day to put in a new "timing belt package" and then the next day (yes, we spent yet another night) they found four bent valves; a result of the broken timing belt.

Needless to say the cost of repairs is not cheap and I am more than a little stressed. But I have faith that it'll all work out somehow. Kevin was a huge support, comfort and distraction during those three days and I am extremely grateful to and for him.

Well, because of the parts they had to order in it wouldn't have been done on Tuesday and we just couldn't miss anymore school so my grandparents were kind enough to drive us back. My car should hopefully be done on Friday and then we'll see what the damage really is. Yay for car ownership!

Sparkling Perfection

So, Kevin and I went ring shopping for the second time yesterday... and I chose my wedding ring! I'm so excited! It is gorgeous and incorporates all of the things I have liked in the rings I have looked at. In short, it's perfect. I'll post a picture after the proposal, the time of which Kevin is keeping completely secret. Love you all! Ah! I'm so excited!