So a week ago Justin and I got back from our trip to California, which was awesome, by the way! The best part about it? While we were there, my mom, me and Justin's mom were able to have a girls day! We ended up going to a bridal boutique and I found my wedding dress!! I'm so excited. It is absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to get it! I ordered it and it should be here by the beginning of November, if all goes well! Unfortunately I can't post a picture because Justin does occasionally look at this blog, but if you want to see a picture of it, just email me and I'll send you the link to it! Its an Alfred Angelo gown, and just gorgeous! 

Also, we've booked our photographer (as of this morning)! Check out the website at www.pointedigital.com. I'm really excited about them doing our wedding! They'll be doing both a video as well as the photos! How fun. We will be having our engagements taken a week from Saturday, so it should be great!

Well, that's pretty much all for now, I think, and I'll post some pictures of things as soon as I can!

The date is set!!

Hello again! I've decided I'm going to try to keep people updated on my wedding planning through this for now, so hopefully that will help me to write more often! Justin and I set the date, we'll be getting married June 6, 2009! Our celebration will be at Millcreek Inn, which we are super excited about. It's about 3 miles up Millcreek Canyon, and absolutely beautiful up there! 

Millcreek Inn ceremony spot

Millcreek Inn at night

Bridal Path

There is still so much to do, but its really so fun, and exciting! Next step, find a photographer!!

Big News!!!

Well, for those of you who haven't heard (though I think most have) Justin and I are engaged!!! I happened a week ago, and we're so incredibly excited about it. We're planning to get married next summer, possibly in June sometime, depending on a few variables. I can't begin to explain how happy I am!!!!

Updates

So, I know I haven't written in an insane amount of time, but here is a short list of major things that have happened since:

• We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with 3 (count 'em) 3 families!
• I got my wisdom teeth out
• Had an amazing Christmas with all 3 (again, just to clarify: my mom's family, my dad and step-mother, and Justin's family) families! It was a very busy, but very wonderful celebration.
• Partied at New Years' with two of our best friends...drunk rockband is very funny!
• Made it through January (my least favorite month of the year)
• Celebrated at Stephanie and Michael's wedding - so beautiful, and I'm so happy for them!
• Got baptized to signify and celebrate my relationship with my savior, Jesus Christ!!!
• Just got a promotion at work, and I'm starting my new job on Monday! YAY! (I'll be the new Extended Day Program Coordinator for Newman Elementary.  My boss is leaving for nursing school, and I'll miss her, but I'm very excited about this opportunity!)
• Made it through my last semester as an undergraduate, and I GRADUATE TOMORROW!!!!!!

Well, I know that super short, but it will have to do for tonight. I hope someone is still out there who cares to read this stuff! 

A lovely autumn afternoon...

As I sat sipping my delicious spring cherry green tea in Beans and Brews yesterday afternoon, working on my French paper, and waiting to meet a great friend, I found myself watching all the chaos happening outside. I was at the coffee shop in Draper, right on 12300 S. so it was quite busy all afternoon. I wondered to myself if any of those people out there realize that they don't have to take care of things on their own...that God has it all under control.

It was so great to get together with my friend Kelsea, we haven't really seen each other for a few months now. We had a very uplifting and strengthening discussion and I left feeling happy and confident. I can feel things in my life changing for the better. Its amazing.

transformations...

Have you ever had the feeling that you're falling and grasping out for anything you can hold onto? I've been feeling sort of like that lately, spiritually, although I no longer feel like I'm falling. I finally feel like I've grasped onto God's hand, and now I'm doing my part to pull myself up, even though I know that's not how it works. All I really have to do is trust God to lift me back up, and he will. So why is it so hard sometimes? There is always a reason not to trust in him....we think we can do life on our own...how wrong is that. I've come to realize that throughout the last two years. I'm finally to the point where I feel like I am constantly thirsting for more of God's love in my life, more of God in me. I love it. I have finally decided to trust in him alone. And its the best decision of my life.

"The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
Psalm 32:8

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track."
Proverbs 3:5-6

As I sat in church last week, listening to Tom Davis, the president of the Children's Hope Chest, I felt the need to really do more to help those around me. Those in need. I know it seems like one can only do so much from here, in Sandy, Utah; however I really felt a passionate response in my heart for the children and people who are in need all over the world. Even within my own city. The church that we go to is called K2. We attend in a warehouse and praise God each week. For those who do not know a lot or anything about the organization, it is a non-denominational Christian church-not a religion.

Tom Davis has written a couple of books, and because of his amazing, inspirational message to us last week, Justin and I decided to buy them. I am amazed by the people who attend K2, we went to the third and last service and one of the books was completely sold out...we had to be put on a waiting list, hopefully we'll get our copies tomorrow.

We also learned about some service opportunities, one of which greatly interested Justin and me. Each summer K2 sends a mission team (sometimes two) to an orphanage in Russia. It is only two weeks long, but from what we have heard from people who have gone in the past, it is life changing and absolutely amazing. We set a goal for ourselves to learn some Russian this year (a doubly good thing, since Justin is half Russian!) and to save up money so that we will be able to go with K2 this next summer. It is not that much, but it would be something amazing to someone. An orphan in Russia. Any way that I can help the life of a child, from something so small as taking two weeks out of my year, I just feel I have no excuse not to do that.

The website www.5for50.com, provides 5 simple things that everyone can do to help the 50 million people around the world who are suffering and dying of HIV/AIDS. Please join, and at least pray or send out positive thoughts for those in the world who are in need.

I know I am.

My apologies....

...for not writing as much now that I'm home! I've been meaning to post some more pictures and just catch up again with everyone, other things just keep getting in the way. For a prime example...just now...I was in the middle of writing this and got up and did a bunch of other stuff, like put away laundry and clean.... Back to real life, eh?

I do have some news though, I just got a new job, and I start tomorrow! I'll be working as a part-time teller at the University of Utah Credit Union. I think it'll be a perfect job for me....and especially while I'm finishing school. In case you didn't know, I only have 2 more semesters left! I'll have my degree next spring! So happy.

I do have more to say, but I definitely need to get to bed now, get some good rest before tomorrow!

25.07.07 London, England

Hello again everyone! Sorry about the hiatus this past week! I figure most of you are being updated through my mom's emails...I should just post those up here! We've had a fabulous time here in London, all 3 of us (me, my mom, Justin)....though I cannot speak for the other two, I'm very anxious and looking forward to getting home on Friday! 6 weeks is much much too long for me to be away! I'm looking forward to the strangest things....like doing laundry....this can't be healthy. Anyway, I most likely won't be writing again until I get home, but when I do write next, I'll be sure to post lots of pictures! Love you all! See you all soon!!! (except maybe Lacey and the fam....that may be a while yet :( ).

17.07.07 Dublin, Ireland (in a hotel!!!)

My mom arrived safe and sound (if incredibly exhausted) this morning! I met her at the airport, we had a nice ride back into the city centre. We did just a little bit of walking, she was running out of steam pretty quickly, so we headed over to the hostel to pick up mine and Katherine's backpacks...we then took a cab back up to our hotel. It was very nice. The hotel we're staying is absolutely heavenly compared to everywhere I've stayed in the past 5 weeks! So crazy!

We went literally about 2 doors down the street for dinner, and had delicious fish and chips, and homeade (free!) soup and bread before the meal! It was delicious! It started raining constantly again today, just in time for my mom to get here, of course! Although I'm sure she'll enjoy it seeing as the entire state of Utah is on fire!

I'm off to the hotel to shower and sleep for a while now, take care, and love you all!

15.07.07 Dublin, Ireland

So, it just figures with my luck, that as soon as I bought that cute jacket, it warmed up!! Damned weather! Oh well, apparently its supposed to start raining and being chilly again at the very least by the time we get to London! Anyway, yesterday was relatively uneventful, I had planned on visiting the National Museum, however when I got there, it was closed indefinitely for repairs or something. Not cool. No worries though! I wandered some more, something I'm getting very good at (as you may be able to tell!).

Though I haven't really done too much sightseeing while I've been here, there is a reason behind it. I am scouting things out to do with my mom when she gets here Tuesday. We're planning to see St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral, and Trinity College and the Book of Kells....those are the main, big touristy things here. Other than that, I've got some fabulous wandering routes scouted out! I hope you're excited mom!

Today I went to the National Museum of Archeology and History. The coolest exhibit is that of the "Bog People". I don't remember if I mentioned this before or not, but just a few years ago they discovered almost mummified remains of ancient people of Ireland who were preserved amazingly well in the bogs in which they were buried. It was a very cool and interesting exhibit....if a little bit gross....the skin was very noticeably leathery. Interesting how amazingly bodies can be preserved though! With skin and hair still on them!

After that I wandered back to the hostel for a bit, and I've really just been taking it easy here. I'm trying to rest up before the blitz of the last week and a half of this trip. I have one more day of rest and leisure, then the pace picks back up again, and I can't wait! Love you all!

Great News!!!

Great news! Justin got his passport yesterday (yes in only a month!) so he is for sure coming to London next Friday to spend the week with us! I can't wait!! London will be amazing!!

I'll write more soon, just had to spread my super good news....can you tell I'm excited?

13.07.07 Dublin, Ireland

Hello again from Dublin!! I've had 2 full days here now, and its been wonderful!! Yesterday I basically just explored the neighborhood I'm staying in now, and then the one we'll be in when my mom gets here on Tuesday (which I'm very excited for!!). Temple Bar is a very hip, fun district, where we are now...just down the street from Trinity College (where Katherine is researching) and right across the street from Christ Church Cathedral. Its a beautiful city....what is crazy though, is that the rain is a constant drizzle. Which really doesn't sound all that bad, and at first its not. Then once you're out in it for over about 30-45 minutes, you realize you're completely drenched....not good...especially when I definitely did not come prepared for cold, rainy weather.

Good news though....it gave me an excuse to buy the adorable blue coat I saw this morning in a shop! I needed it!! I was drenched! Haha....you all know me well enough to know that it really didn't take that much convincing for me to buy the coat. But I'm definitely glad I did. That combined with the adorable hat I got in....I think it was Paris...anyway, tomorrow I plan to be at least a bit warmer and dryer than I was today!

Today I walked down Grafton Street towards St. Stephen's Green, and then across to where the National Gallery is. There were some wonderful works of art there, some fabulously less well known Caravaggio, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Poussin, Boucher, etc.
And I found a lovely little cafe for lunch...I had a tomato, mozzarella and pesto pannini sandwich and probably the best cafe mocha I've ever had. It had chocolate shavings on top! So yummy!!

Tonight we met Katherine's professor for dinner, got some sandwiches at subway and sat on the banks of the Liffey while we ate. We had a great time, with great conversation....all in all I've had a wonderful couple of days! Hopefully the next few will be just as fabulous!! Love you all!!

11.07.07 Dublin, Ireland

Finally we made it to Ireland!!!! I really can hardly believe that I'm actually here. As some of you know, this has always been one of my life goals to come here to Ireland....my dream vacation that I've wanted to take ever since I was about 11 or 12 and did my country report on Ireland.

First I'll start with Edinburgh though. Yesterday we wandered quite a bit, and the town itself is really quite gorgeous. We found a Marks and Spencer *(a department/grocery store) and bought some fabulous ready made sandwiches (I really hate that we don't have quality ready made sandwiches and salads at home....they're cheap and healthy and very tasty!) and crossed the street to a park where we sat overlooking a gorge with the Edinburgh castle atop a hill at one end. So beautiful!

After that we went in to the National Gallery of Scotland, which is wonderful, because all the museums here are free! There was some amazing work from the Romantic period, which I studied in a class just last semester, so it was amazing to see so much of what I studied and wrote about not very long ago. There were some wonderful works by Poussin, and Boucher especially.

As we walked along the Royal Mile, we found a meeting place for an underground "ghost tour". We ended up going on it, and it turned out to be quite fun. The guide was in costume and provided a great history. We walked a bit through the old city, then went down into some of the vaults. They were apparently inhabited by ghosts. It really was quite unsettling right up until the super hokey ending where a cloaked man jumped in front of the entrance to one of the vaults we were in. It was a really lame and somewhat disappointing ending. Before that happened I felt fairly unsettled, but that completely ruined it. Oh well, what can you do? One of the really cool things we saw was a working Wiccan temple in one of the vaults. It was very interesting and super cool to see it all.

So, this morning we wandered a bit more and found Waterstone's....a wonderful bookstore, much like Barnes and Noble. We spent quite a while in there, just browsing, and sitting in the Starbucks cafe. It felt like home!

Dublin is wonderful so far....and definitely very green and wet. I'll write again soon!! Keep in touch!

10.07.07 Edinburgh, Scotland

Here I am in Edinburgh....We just got in so we haven't had really any chance to explore quite yet. The Scottish countryside is quite beautiful though. I really loved it, its so green and....really just what you might think of. We took the train from Glasgow here, and it was a very short trip, less than an hour, actually. The hostel we're staying in here is called "Caledonian Backpackers" and its a very funky place. We have a 38 bed dorm room, which is slightly reminiscent of the types of photos you see of shelters that are set up in gymnasiums after a hurricane or tornado. Though it is much cooler with random funky murals all over the walls. And lockers scattered throughout the room as well!!

I am very much looking forward to getting into Dublin tomorrow, since, once I'm there, I have 10 days without much travel! The only time I have to load up my backpack again will be to move it to the hotel we're moving to when my Mom gets here. And at that point there will be an extra bag for me to redistribute some of the weight! So crazy....I really haven't bought all that much, but today my backpack was really getting to me....of course that could have been the fact that we had to hike uphill to the train station. Did I mention that Glasgow reminds me of San Francisco, with all its hills? So insane!

I am glad to be here, and sad that I don't have more time here in Scotland, but oh well....on another trip!

I'll write again soon, take care! Love you all!

09.07.07 Glasgow, Scotland

Hello from Glasgow! I finally made it to Scotland. We arrived last night at about 11:45 pm. Caught the last bus into Glasgow at midnight and after a bit of wandering the streets of Glasgow in the middle of the night we made it to our hostel and collapsed into bed by about 1:30. Not too bad really! I was very impressed with us. Today we split up to wander the town. I went to the Glasgow Cathedral which is absolutely beautiful. I walked nearly everywhere in the city center before heading back here to meet up again for dinner. It really is beautiful here, and even though I really wish I had more time to spend here in Scotland, I am definitely looking forward to getting to Dublin on Wednesday and staying put until mom comes! I cannot wait!

Take care....love to you all!

07.07.07 Paris, France

Hello again from Paris! I know its been a couple of days since I've written, but things are going well here! Two days ago I got up, had breakfast here in the hotel, then ventured out and took the metro down to the area where my mom and I stayed a year ago when we were here. I wandered the Rue de Rivoli a bit, then decided I would go to the Musee d'Orsay. I got there and it was a long line, as usual, but I waited through it (I was very glad, I'd brought the book I was reading which was Dubliners by James Joyce...fabulous book, which I finished yesterday....anyway, it made the time go by very quickly). I finally got into the museum and I was SO glad that I'd braved the crowds and the insane weather (it was warm then freezing cold and rainy!!!).

The Musee d'Orsay is definitely one of my all time favorite museums now. It is FABULOUS! It has nearly all of my favorite artists all in one place. It really was overwhelming, the magnitude of masterpieces within the walls of this building! I paid €7 to get into the museum, plus the special exhibition they have going on called 'From Cezanne to Picasso'. There was so much there, I'll have to just give highlights....

• An amazing collection of Rodin sculptures, including the Gates (from Dante's Inferno)


• Renoir, including the famous Boat Party


• VanGogh (one of my all time favorite artists) and a beautiful piece of his called 'La nuit des etoiles, Arles' meaning Stary night, Arles. It is beautiful and sadly looked over I think, in favor of his more famous 'Stary Stary Night'.


• Monet, and many of his Water Lilies, as well as others from his earlier days, which are incredible, what he does with light is astounding.


• Manet, and many of his famous works, including other little studies, which were fantastic, including the Picnic in the Garden


• Gaugin, many of his Tahitian paintings, including Odalisque reclining on a Divan, which is a gorgeous painting, and one I studied only last semester....it is amazing to see all of these in real life and up close, to be able to really study the individual brush strokes of these artists.


• Degas, a very extensive collection of his pastels, as well as oil paintings. I have a special place in my heart for Degas, ever since I first saw his work when I was a little girl, and an aspiring prima ballerina! He really has an amazing ability to capture the romance and softness of the beauty of ballet. (It reminds me of the song from 'A Chorus Line' called 'At the Ballet', part of the lyrics say that 'Everyone is beautiful at the ballet, every prince has got to have his one!').


• Cezanne, who is amazing if only for what a difference he made in the art world during his life, he was one of the avante garde, who pushed for a change in the way art was both created and percieved.


• Derain, who is one of the famous Fauvists (the group of artists who believed in the power of arbitrary color, which is basically the use of colors that would normally make no sense in the world, like a pink river and a yellow sky.) Also one of my favorites.


• Picasso, a wonderful selection of many different periods of his works. Simply fantastic!


• And numerous other amazing works!!!

I had lunch in the restaurant there, and it was FABULOUS!!! I had the most delicious pork filet mignon (funny note, mignon in French means 'cute') with gnocchi in a sage tomato cream sauce. Then afterwards, I had an espresso (so delicious) with a little selection of goodies.

Walked around a bit more that day, then headed back here to the hotel and had a little picnic on my bed of a salad, sandwich and a Heineken. Good stuff.

Yesterday I slept in and wandered down the Rue La Fayette (the street my hotel is on) and found a lovely little shopping district. I went into the Galaries La Fayette, which is one of the most massive and amazing department stores I have EVER been in! It is huge!!! I spent most of the morning just wandering around that neighborhood, and on my way walking back up to the hotel, I found a lovely little cafe to stop and have lunch at. I sat down and had a coca-light with tortalinni in a meaty tomato sauce....with cheese on top....baked. It was amazingly delicious!

After my lovely meal, I wandered back to the hotel to meet Katherine. She got here around 4:30 and it was wonderful to see her again, it felt like it had been forever! We caught up on the last two days, and then went and found a grocery store and had a nice little picnic on our bed.

Today was quite the lazy day as well....we didn't even get out of bed until after 10 (which I think we deserve since we've been running from place to place for the last 3 weeks! This is the longest we've been anywhere!) then we came downstairs to breakfast. We took the bus down to the Rue de Rivoli and went shopping today! It was very fun....we splurged on some really cute things. We both felt amazing not to be in something dirty (lets face it, doing our laundry in a bath tub in a hotel room just doesn't compare....) and slightly trashy. It was so fun! We were out all day, and found a delicious Kebap place for lunch. *Note: I hate that we don't have Kebaps at home....they are amazingly delicious.

Now we are more or less in for the evening and about to have another little picnic on our bed while we watch some more international news loops, and Friends in French!

Tomorrow we will take the free walking tour (the same company as the ones we did in Berlin and Munich) and then go to the airport....tomorrow night we will be in Glasgow!!! YAY for English speaking countries!

Love you all!!!

04.07.04 Paris, France

Finally I'm somewhere where I can actually understand what's going on around me! Happy 4th of July to everyone....let it be known that I am VERY upset that I am missing both the 4th and the 24th....I did not think this trip through!!!

C'est la vie. Today I left Amsterdam (thank God! I know you love it Chels, but its not quite my speed!!) at 12:30, and finally arrived in Paris around 5 pm. I was so incredibly happy to be here, in a place where I can read all the signs, understand the language, not to mention a city I already know incredibly well!

I wandered down the Rue La Fayette this evening, and I'd forgotten how the streets in Paris are not straight, and it isn't as easy to circle a block as one would hope! Anyway, I am here for the next 4 nights, and sometime between now and Sunday, Katherine will be meeting me here! She went her own way this morning, I think to Brugges, or Ghent.

I'll write again soon...thanks for all your messages! Time is flying by, I've already been here for 3 weeks! Halfway through!!

Love to you all!

03.07.07 Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Today we left Zurich at 9 am.....went to Basel, Switzerland, then changed trains once again in Frankfurt, Germany. It was a beautifully scenic train ride, even if it was gray and rainy all day. We got into Amsterdam at about 6 pm, then had to wait in line at a ticket counter so I could get my reservation for my trip to Paris tomorrow. (for those who weren't apprised of the changes in our plans, I am going ahead to Paris tomorrow for 4 nights, Katherine is stopping in a few towns in Belgium then meeting me in Paris on Friday, most likely).

Finally got my reservation, and headed out to find our hostel....its called the "Budget Hotel Tourist Inn". No joke....that is the full name.

We went up to our room to drop our stuff and while we were getting ready to leave again, we definitely smelled hashish wafting through the hallways. I guess its what you expect in Amsterdam! Katherine and I decided we'll probably get high just walking through the city.....so INSANE!!

We then went for a short walk and saw the following:

• And old man band playing "Johnny Be Good", "Blue Suede Shoes" and "These Boots Are Made For Walking" on a bright blue Chevy.
• The Red Light District: the girls definitely sit in windows on the street to advertise themselves. Sex shops and "Live Porno Show"s abound!
• Found a cool looking square with a bunch of old buildings around it, and got caught in a monsoon. No, I am not exaggerating! We both looked not only like drowned rats, but like we had both just jumped fully clothed, bags and all into a lake!!

Suffice it to say we made it back the Budget Hotel Tourist Inn, and changed so we could come downstairs here and use our internet!

Tomorrow I leave at 12:30 for Paris, and I am very excited to be there!! Great times! Talk to you all soon....sending much love!