Update on Life

So Nathan and I moved to Rexburg the first full week of August. Life has been ever so crazy since then.
I love being in our own apartment. It's great. Except, I probably don't clean as often as a should.
School started September 16th. On September 5th I found out that my sister Rachael has breast cancer. So between school, work, and many Fridays spent at her place, I haven't made much time to work on this blog of mine. Maybe I can start another Sunday habit. We will see. I've actually not written in my journal in ages either.
I just finished midterms. It's seemed pretty crazy, and yet all is going well in my life.
I petitioned to student teach here locally, so Nate could keep his job. It was denied since I already have a placement with a teacher in Utah at South Jordan Middle school. So in a little less than 2 months Nathan and I will be moving back to Utah!
Crazy, and not really what I wanted to happen, but like Nate always says that when his life falls apart, it usually falls back together better than what it was before. The anticipation is kinda scary though.
Well, I'd better get to working on homework. Have a Happy Monday!

Bridal Photoshoot

Winter semester ended, and most all my finals where done early on in the week, so I had most all my stuff packed. Nate came up 
Well, The Saturday after Winter Semester, Brett, Kristy, My Mom and I went out and got all my bridal pictures taken. It was tons of fun! There were probably around 500 pictures when all was said and done! We went to a church building (The one Nate and I attended once we were married) and to a landscaped area for a big housing development in the area. Then for the grand finale, Brett and Kristy knew the owners of what I'd call a mansion, and took pictures all around their house, both outside and in. I loved it! Again, here are some of my favorites of that awesome day!

2012 Holidays

Well, the Holidays were spent with few moments Nathan and I got to spend together when he got to fly in to Utah from New Mexico.
Sometime between September and December I found a ring online that fit my finger better than the walmart one, and it didn't turn my finger green, so I asked Nate to buy it. He did, and I wore it until he could afford the real one!

Thanksgiving weekend was spent with 3 different dinners. On Thursday we went to Fairview Utah with Brett's Family. Part of which Brett took our engagement pictures.
Here are some of my favorite!

And then on Friday we had Thanksgiving Dinner with my family. It was a blast!

And then Saturday we went to a big Family party Thanksgiving Meal at Nate's Uncles House. It was fun being with Nate, but meeting that much of his family was slightly intimidating...I'm still not sure if I know half of his family. :) But I have eternity to get to know them!
And then Sunday both Nate and I had to go our separate ways, me to Idaho, and him to New Mexico!
I returned to the busiest most intense part of the semester. I focused hard on homework and pulling off good grades! I finished my finals, and moved all my stuff from APT 402 to APT 403. Then I headed off to Eagle Mountain with Marie. I then found out I got mostly A's with one B from my Education class, which was good given the teacher's grading style. So Nate took me out to dinner for my grades, and also made me dinner at his Mom's house. It was sooo yummy!
I spent Christmas Eve with the McLaughlins and it was sooo much fun! Best of all was the suprise I got as my Christmas Present!

 My ring and my truck! How I got it was he had it set out on the table, with a box over it. He asked me to move the box, and instead of picking it up like I usually would, I slid it towards me and then lifted...my ring kinda flew across the table. Nate got bummed and all he said was "There's your ring. And your truck!" It was pretty wonderful!
Then Christmas Day was spent with my family. Lots of fun and loved spending time with my family and with Nate. It was wonderful. I was sad when Nate had to leave. And even more bummed that he would spend New Years in New Mexico. But at least we had Christmas Together.
After the Holidays I went back for another agonizing Semester at BYU-I. Not really agonizing...just really hard being away from Nathan for that long, but I loved the chance to finish more of school, and for Nate to work and get out of debt and save money!

One Long Weekend

So the week after I got engaged, we went to my Grandfathers funeral. They scheduled it on a Thursday. Kathryn flew in to Salt Lake and rode to Libby with Rachael and her kids. Korth, Jeremy, Matt and Nathan all had work going on, and Matt had a class on Wednesday that he couldn't miss or he would fail. So Nate picked up Matt on his way home from work, and they met up with Korth and Jeremy in Eagle Mountain, and they left about 6 pm. I got a ride from a friend to Idaho Falls around 9pm, the time that Nate and everyone got there. Then I rode with them, I kept Nate awake for the next four hours. Then Matt took a turn, and Korth finished off the last hour when Matt got too tired, but we made it to Libby around 4-5am. Then the 5 of us took a nap until 9-10am and got up and got ready for the funeral. Here are some of the pictures my sister took of the day.

 Holding me in the Relief Society Room where Grandad's Casket was before the services

 Nathan being the tall man helping carry the Casket

 During the Ceremony the wind blew a few leaves around, one landed perfectly on the casket, as if we were in a movie.

 This is the Gun and Helmet that people wore during the Korean War, which is the one my Grandad served in.

 21 Gun Salute

 Presenting of the flag. You can just see Nate holding me and resting his head on mine in the Left.

And her his Nate holding little Joseph. It's amazing! Nate rarely holds kids.

And then after the funeral there was a big luncheon. On Friday morning, Kathryn, Matt, Nate and I took off for Utah. We dropped Kathryn off at the Missoula Airport. Then finished our drive to Utah. Nate and I went to Provo to drop Matt at his house, went and switch Jeremy and Sarah's Car for our Nadia, and headed up to Bountiful to spend Conference Weekend with his Mom. I listened to the Announcement that Men can serve missions at 18, and Women can serve at 19. Nate was outside helping his mom take out a big tree. We then had to leave and go to a wedding rehearsal. That took up through the second session. Then we spent the night there again, and drove down to Eagle Mountain for the Morning and Afternoon sessions of conference. I listened to the morning, but slept through most of the afternoon. Needless to say I didn't get much out of conference that weekend. Then I meet up with my Roommate Bethany and she drove me back to Rexburg, since she was in Utah for conference. :)

This Is Real

So I went to Rexburg for my Junior Year of school. I had it in my head all summer that I needed to go off to school before I could make a decision between Nathan and Carl. Nate came to visit me the middle of September. We went on a walk around the Nature Park. I saw our shadows and just had to take a picture. As I was walking with him, there was just a feeling inside that I knew Nate was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. 

The next day (Saturday) we went to Monkey Rock to swim behind the waterfall...we never made it, 1 the water was freezing, and 2 the current was to strong to really get there. But it was really fun. Then we drove around and ended up at the Teton Dam. We cuddled in his back seat. It was quite and I looked at Nate, who was staring off toward the dam lost in thought for a long time. I finally asked what he was thinking. His response? "Will you marry me?" I was excited but still scared. I told him yes, but that I wasn't ready to make it official yet, that I wanted to tell Carl about it and all that. But we both knew then that we were going to get married.

Well, a week or so later my Grandfather was taken to the Hospital. He was the one we went to Libby for the first time around. My family just knew it was going to be time for him to pass on. It was a Friday, and my mom left Utah with one of my sisters and they drove down to see him. I was having a hard time and I called Nate. He left to come to Rexburg to be with me. I told my mom Nate was coming. She called him when my grandfather passed on, and since he was within 20 minutes of me by that time, my mom waited to call me until He was with me. He picked me up and we were on our way to his car Nadia, when my phone rang. I knew what was coming, but it was so nice to be able to cry in Nathan's arms. He's so big I get swallowed up. That night we drove out to a place in Parker that's pretty secluded and just talked, and I cried, and he held me. When it was almost curfew, he drove me back to my apartment. It was really hard to say good bye.

The next day (Sept 29th) he picked me up and we went and bought sandwich food. We went to Park Street Park and had a picnic. Before we had left my apartment that morning, I handed him an $8 walmart fake engagement ring and he put it in his pocket. So then we went to the park. We played on the merry-go-round and then set up a blanket and our food. As we were sitting there, Nathan pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him. I  said yes!

Then we made all the phone calls you make to friends and family when you get engaged. And then just spent time together being happy, even with so much going on in our lives.