Ode to Riley

You know how there's that childhood pet that left an impression in your life? And no matter what, that pet will always be the BEST pet you've ever had? This is my dog Riley.



We got her when she was just a weep pup and after 7 years we had to give her to another family because my fam is moving to Miday, Ut. I've been trying to act like a grown up and not be sad every time I see a happy person with their happy dog, but..... I don't hid emotions very well.... Being home for Christmas has been GREAT, but with out Riley it's just not the same. For Christmas, Steven gave me one of the best presents anyone has ever given me. He surprised me by taking me over to the new owners of Riley and I got to playing with her until we were to tired to play any more!!!!! She totally remembered me! I seriously missed her and being able to have a official goodbye made all the difference.

Christmas spirit

Mormon Message for this month

This is my favorite picture series from our engagements:



This is the look he gives me when I say something bad (disclaimer: I don't think I said anything bad but you never know)



This is me trying to make up for whatever I said saying "It's funny Steven. It's funny!"



And then he forgives me...

1 Week and We're Still Hitched

Today we've been married for 1 week! For anyone who has been married for years this may sound funny but time has flown.! I can't believe we've been married for a whole week.
Recap of our first week of marriage:
Tuesday was supposedly the biggest storm Utah's seen in a long time. I'll admit that around the point of the canyon it got pretty bad but Provo didn't even have snow stick. Steven received the scariest phone call of his entire life. The temple receptionist called to inform him that due to the storm the temple was going to be closed on Wednesday (our wedding day). He asked if they were joking. They said no and that all ordinances were canceled. His mind started racing of what to do, so he asked how much longer they were going to be open (trying to see if we could drive up that night and get married) and if he could make a couple calls then call them back. They said they were closing and Steven said "Well I was only planning on getting married tomorrow." The receptionist realized she had called the wrong person because she went on to apologize and informed us that the temple was closed for all ordinances except for our wedding. Scariest phone call EVER!
The wedding was great! Yes, I cried. How can you not cry as you look at the person who is making your dreams come true. The sealing room was packed full of people we love. Then we went outside to take pictures. I have never been more cold in my entire life! But I think the pictures turned out great.


The reception was a blast! The reception hall was decorated exactly how I had imagined it. It was fun to have so many people that I love gathered together. My family was so patient with me as I bossed them around and my bridesmaids did a great job at keeping me calmed down.


For our honeymoon we spent our first night at Zermatt in Midway. For our first Thanksgiving together we flew to Whidbey Island in Washington. For our first Thanksgiving meal we had turkey and ham sandwiches. Yummmmmm. hahaha. It was so fun to get away from worry and spend time with my husband (I love calling him that). Being apart on monday when he had to go to work and I went to school was a lot harder then we thought. We'd been together for the past 120 hrs and then had to be torn apart by obligations. haha. I had to laugh because, when I'm with him I'm the funniest person and what I have to say is the most important. So when I went back to school I had to realize that that's only when I'm with him and not amongst my classmates. =)
Well, there's a very short summary of our adventures. Happy 1 week babe!

Bonified Lovin

I'm obsessed with this song right now. Jessie my Jerusalem roommate/ other half showed this song to me while we were drugged up on sleeping meds for a 9 hr flight.
We looked like...


This songs a little different but hummmmm.... SO GOOOD! Check it out and tell me what you think... Well tell me what you think only if you liked it. For all of you that don't like it... Well... I guess we can still be friends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF2AWXyfT2Q

LOST

We are obsessed! I’ve been a LOST fan for awhile now but I’ve only just turned Steven into a LOST crazy. After only the second episode he was quoting it.! When the last season ended I didn’t know what to do. I felt like I lost 6 of my best friends. But now… THEY’RE BACK!!!

Happy Halloween
Q. Do zombies eat popcorn with their fingers? No, they eat the fingers separately...
Q. What did one ghost say to the other ghost?"Do you believe in people?"
Q. Why do mummies have trouble keeping friends? They're so wrapped up in themselves...

Great Halloween this year. Every year at track practice we dress up for Halloween. It's started to become everyone's goal to have the best/funniest costume.
Here's a look at past track Halloweens:
Freshman year


Sophomore year:


Junior year:

The team this year:


Mindy and I:


Here's my favorite this year:
Liz as an Avatar

26... Twenty Six... Just under 4 weeks... That’s less than one month… Until… WE GET MARRIED! Everyday I feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world.
It all started when we were 15.


Lasted Clements High School.



Freshman Year of Collage.


Jerusalem.


And now…


Why I love this boy:
-opens doors for me. Even when he has an arm load
-makes funny noises when he’s thinking or trying to get his idea across
-rubs my back and doesn’t even ask for a rub in return
-is the most ticklish person I’ve ever met
-hardest worker I know
-conveniently always has chocolate with him
-quick to forgive and slow to judge
-probably doesn’t understand my breakfast habits but accepts them (I eat lunch/dinner foods for breakfast… For example: this morning I had Taqitos and ketchup)
-puts up with my music ADD
-waits for me to hang up…Every time… With out fail…

Perfect? Yes. For me.

My new passion = HANDSTANDS! Slater (one of my besties here) and I have a goal whenever we go out to take the most creative handstand pics. This was our first time to start the handstand pics but there are plenty more... Trust me... We've gotten MUCH better since this pic was taken.






In front of Petra. Recently added to the 7 Wonders list. This place breath taking.



Cam and I at the Treasury


We have a tendency to dress like nerdy tourists... ALL THE TIME! But I've come to terms with it. Me, Slater and Blake


I was trying to blend in...


The Girls getting ready to go into a Mosque while in Jordan.


Handstand at Betshin while in Galilee

Way to much trust

Back in the JC. It’s funny how this place feels like home to me. We were welcomed back with 79 students all wanting to use the 10 washers and dryers… Mass ciaos! You know you REALLY know someone when you can open up a dryer and tell exactly whose clothes are who’s with just a glance. For instance the other day, I was trying to find an open dryer so I would look to see if there were any clothes in them. First one = Jessie’s clothes, second= Camerons and third= Bro. Manscilles (my Old Test teacher). When I could recognize my own teachers clothes, that’s when I decided I know the people around here WAY to well.
My roommate asked me last night to cute her hair. I had to laugh out loud seeing as I have NEVER cut someone’s hair except for maybe my sisters when I was 4. Then my roommate say’s that all she wants is a trim and bangs… AHHHHHHHH! I told her that I have no idea what I’m doing but she said “Kt, I would trust you with my life.” My response, “your hair and your life are two completely different things.” After an eventful hair cutting experience I can officially say that my future kids will either end up bald or just come to grips with having choppy hair. Solution to this problem: live by Kindy or La so that they can cut their hair. Solved… After cutting my roommates hair she tried to convince me to put my last bag of popcorn in the “extreme dryer” to see if it would pop… What do you think happened?

Missing Galilee Already

Got lost in Nazareth (I almost had a panic attack), Capernaum, The Mt. of Beattitudes (sermon on the mount), Mt. Hermon (mount of Transfiguration), went on a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, Church of Nain, rafting down the Jordan River, hiking to waterfalls, bonfires, morning scripture study on the shore, tanning while reading the four gospels and Jesus the Christ and much more! It's amazing at where the spirit can be felt. Lauren posted this on her blog while she was here and it kinda sums up my feelings (if that is even possible):
"Lord, I am living in the land where you once lived. —
I am standing where you stood;
I am wandering the paths you walked,
Though I cannot hear your voice teaching at the temple,
I can hear the testimonies of your pupils.
I cannot feel you in these erected holy places,
But I feel you in sweet hymns that lullaby my heart.
I cannot see you in the icons of lavish churches,
But I see you in the faces that surround me.
I cannot touch your pierced hands and feet,
But your mercy touches and pierces my soul.
I will not taste the slightest of thy burdens
But you have tasted the bitterness of mine.
I cannot comprehend your tender mercies,
But I know you comprehend the paths I’ll walk.
I cannot forget you, I will not forget you.
Not here or anywhere.”
Galilee was amazing. We did a lot of spiritual growing, bonding with the other JC students, reading and pulling pranks. When we came back from Egypt I couldn't wait to get back but Galilee was so peacful. I wanted to finish out the semester there. We have Jordan in 7 days! I only have a short time left here and I want to make the very most of it!

Usually when a semester is done you would typically be happy to be done with a class. Yesterday, I cried because it was my last Old Testament class with Brother Manscill. Yes, I cried… I had to muster every ounce of my strength to not just fall apart when he would look at me. He’s changed the way I read the scriptures and helped me grow in my testimony. I came here with a goal to become more scholarly in the scriptures and that is exactly what he’s helped me do.

A couple of days ago we celebrated a fake Passover. It’s during a different time of the year, but to get the experience we had our Judaism teacher, Ophier, do the entire celebration with us. It’s like a big Thanksgiving dinner but Jewish style. We head to Galilee in 4 days! I can hardly wait!
This is my view during sacrament meeting... AWESOME!

Dilemma

Here's my options:

OR

Again...

ORRRR doing something like this

See my dilemma?...

There’s no such thing as “alone time” here at the center. I live with 3 other girls so there is typically at least someone in our room. When we go out during the day we have to be in groups of 3 and if we go out at night there has to be 5 people including 2 boys. So if you like personal space…. Sorry …. That doesn’t exist here… BUT I have found a solution! Grab your headphones, computer/ipod, pick a playlist and TURN IT UP till you drown out the world! If you’re in the mood for chill music, pump up, sad, church music, anything works. Drown out all the noise around you and all of a sudden you are in your own world.
Disclaimer: people might think you are mean or stuck up because you don’t answer when they try talking to you. People might even get annoyed at how loud your music is because they can now hear it. My answer to those people… Sorry, can’t hear you. =)

Simple Things

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday. ~Don Marquis
Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment. ~Robert Benchley
I am the QUEEN of procrastination Today was packed with things due in my classes. I woke up early to try to get everything done. I didn’t…. I was finishing a Old Testament paper while in Old Testament. Luckily I was able to print it off before class ended. When all of my classes were done and I was walking back to my room took a deep breath to finally relax. In that moment I thought, “I REALLY don’t like rushing to get things done.” I laid down for about 4 mins when someone knocked on the door to borrow something. I figured that since I was already up, I might as well go do something. As I was walking back up to the 6 floor I said a little prayer thanking Heavenly Father for helping me get done with all of my assignments. Then I had this impression to stop and read the Ensign. (Every floor has a table of Ensigns laying out… Now I know why. haha) I really didn’t want to so I walked up one more floor and “oh look, there’s some more ensigns.” I’d already read the presidency message in this months issue but I felt like I should read another article in it. As soon as I opened it my eye was caught by the article titled ‘Don’t be in a Hurry.’ Coincidence? I think not. The article gave four areas where the tendency to hurry may blind us to the “immediate goodness of God.” As I was reading I kinda had to laugh at Gods hand is ALWAYS in our life, but we just have to see it.
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=9decc79fed3b8210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

World Cup

Steven and I are in the process of finding a sport/team to root for. I think we’ve narrowed it down to soccer but now we’re looking for a team. Here’s what I’m thinking:


Yes, yes, I think soccer should be our sport...

Thanksgiving point!

These are pretty late but I thought I'd still put them up:









Tulip fest