Motherhood

My thoughts on motherhood.

I was always worried that I was going to absolutely hate being a mom. I was convinced that I would have children because it was just what was expected of me. I was never baby hungry, but toddler hungry. I have always loved children, and knew I would have some someday. I did want to skip the newborn phase, though! I wanted to skip straight to a two or three year old. I was worried, especially towards the end of my pregnancy that I was going to not like it that much.

I am so very glad that I decided to become a mom. It has been the best thing I have in my life. I have LOVED having a newborn. She has been a dream for the most part. There is absolutely nothing better than snuggling a newborn baby that is your own. I had no idea how much love can exist in the human body until I had Eliza. I mean, I love my husband, and my love for him always grows. But the love a mother has for her child is one of a kind, and is indescribable. Having the love for my husband, which has grown since having a baby together, and the love for my sweet baby in my body all at the same time is quite the feeling.

My appreciation for my own mother has grown tremendously as well. She came and stayed with us for a week when we first got home from the hospital, and she continues to give me great advice when I have no idea what to do. I have always been grateful for her, but now I understand a lot of the things that she did for me growing up.

I never realized how much worrying happens when you have to care for someone so much. For this reason, I am so very grateful for priesthood blessings. They are so very powerful, and they work perfectly with mothers intuiton. God created men and women with such powerful gifts.

There are so many things that get put by the wayside everyday, and I have come to terms with it. I am such a type A personality, and it is hard for me to not do everything exactly when I want to do it. Especially when it comes to having a clean house. But when my baby wants to be held, I love holding her. Even if it means that I don't get all the laundry folded right then. I love that she loves me and wants me to hold her. It isn't always going to be that way, and I'm taking advantage of it right now.

One of the most surprising things to me is that when I'm exhausted because I haven't gotten anything done, and Eliza has been a little high maintenance, I love seeing her smiling face. She makes everything worth it.

I was worried I wasn't going to love being a mom. But I absolutely love it. I always wanted to be a working mom, and didn't want anything else. Until a year ago, that was the plan. I'm really glad that my plan changed, I think Heavenly Father knew exactly what was best for me. I just didn't know at the time, that I am meant to have many babies and take care of them. That is my main priority in life, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

Yes, there are hard nights. Yes, sometimes she wont stop screaming. But this job is the most worthwhile one I have ever had. I am so excited to have lots more babies and to raise them.

2015 Recap

January-
~We went on vacation with Mariah's family. A Caribbean cruise that left from New Orleans.
~Spring semester started up the day we got back.
~Mariah took all online classes with her new General Education major, while working 30 hours per week.
~Isaac was chugging along with his Civil Engineering degree.
~Mariah moved to the front desk position at work.

February-
~We celebrated our first legit Valentine's Day as a married couple (last year 2014 Mariah had her last wisdom tooth out).
~Towards the end of February we both decided we were ready to start trying to have a baby.
~We attended the Idaho Falls temple for the last time for awhile, because it closed for renovation.

March-
~One of our best friends Breanna came home from her mission to Louisville Kentucky this month, and we attended her homecoming.
~We were both convinced that Mariah was pregnant this month, but were sadly disappointed when it just turned out to be an ovarian cyst. This lead to a semi-hard few weeks.
~We signed up for Life Insurance this month.
~We looked at our new house in Mid March, and paid the security deposit and signed the lease towards the end of the month.
~We attended Mariah's work party at Outer Limits, where we played laser tag and mini golf. It was a lot of fun!
~We went out to eat at Big Judd's the night before our camping trip with most of Isaac's family.
~We went on our first camping trip at Twin Bridges together this month during spring break.
~We attended Maycee Kerr's baby blessing the end of this month.

April-
~We got keys for our new home on April 1st.
~We went to Isaac's mission reunion the first weekend this month, and had a great time catching up with people he hadn't seen in awhile.
~We watched General Conference and absolutely loved the talks.
~We also moved the essentials into our new home the same weekend.
~Isaac's dad and brother in law, Hans, came down and helped us finish moving on the 11th.
~We also went to red lobster that night with Mariah's family.
~We found out that Mariah was pregnant on April 15. Even though we were "not preventing" we were still totally surprised. I felt great for the most part, except for nights when I usually felt minimally sick and so very exhausted.
~Mariah started working full time again on April 20.
~Mariah had her first doctor's appointment on April 23, which consisted of some blood work, and seeing how far along the baby was. The nurse tried the heart doppler, if we could hear the heartbeat then it was 10 weeks, if not only 6 weeks.We couldn't, so only 6 weeks at that time. 
~We went to our last couple of Sundays in our old ward, and also our last cub scouting events.

May-
~May started with a boom of Mariah being a lot more sick, although less tired.
~We finished up our semester the first few days, and took finals.
~Isaac had a little bit of a break after finals, which was nice for him to get a little bit caught up on his sleep.
~We went home for Mother's Day weekend to spend time with our families.
~We told both of our families that we were expecting a sweet baby in December on Mother's Day,  which also happened to be our 2 year Anniversary. Everyone was so excited, and we got some wonderful reactions.
~We went down to Utah for Memorial Day weekend and stayed with our friends the Bradley's. We went to the Payson Utah temple open house, and spent all of Monday going to baby stores and checking out prices and different products (Idaho has the worst selection of baby stuff).
~Mariah got stranded on the freeway for a little bit after the car overheated, while she waited for a tow truck.
~Mariah taught her first Relief Society lesson on May 31st. She was very nervous.

June-
~We had another doctor appointment on the 2nd. We got to hear the babies heartbeat for the first time, and the doctor estimated about 12 weeks. Mariah had to have her blood taken again, to test her thyroid levels. The nurse called the next day and said her levels were still low so they sent over a prescription of medication.
~After starting to take the Thyroid medication, Mariah started to have a lot more energy than she'd had in a long time.
~We announced the pregnancy the first week in June, at 12.5 weeks.
~Titus came home from deployment, and so the first weekend in June we went to Idaho Falls to see him.
~We went to the Manti pageant on June 20 with Mariah's parents.
~Isaac's summer class ended on June 25, and he was so glad to be done!

July-
~We started out July with Isaac starting work at Mariah's parents shop. He commuted everyday to work while living in Pocatello.
~July 4th was spent with family. Barbecue, Chukars game, and fireworks.
~We had a doctor appointment on July 8th.
~We felt the baby move for the first time on July 10th(M) and July 11th(I).
~We received our new callings this month. Isaac as the Sunday School 1st Counselor, and both of us teaching Sunday School (12-13 year olds).
~Isaac's 5 year class reunion was on July 24th, it was fun to see some faces we haven't seen in awhile.
~Mariah chopped all of her hair off again in July.
~We both spoke in our new ward on July 26th. It was nice to be done with that!
~We got to see our baby at the ultrasound on July 28th. We were both glad we didn't find out the gender yet!

August-
~Mariah's sister Lindsey went through the Logan temple for her endowments on August 1. It was a wonderful experience.
~We had another doctor appointment on the 4th. It's always reassuring to hear that everything is going well!
~August 7th-10th we spent in McCall Idaho with Isaac's parents and most siblings.
~Isaac was finally done working 2 jobs on the 14th.
~The 19th while we were in Idaho Falls, we went to dinner with Mariah's sister Lindsey and her boyfriend Jared. This was the first time we'd met him.
~School started back up on the 24th, Isaac taking 16 credits and Mariah with 15.
~Mariah also gave her two week notice at work on the 24th.
~The 31st brought another doctors appointment. We got to hear baby's heartbeat again, which of course the nurse had to keep trying because of our wiggle worm! Only 15 weeks to go!

September-
~Mariah started out the month with a sinus infection, which is seeming to be a regular thing at least once every fall.
~Mariah's last day of work was the 4th. Definitely mixed emotions.
~Isaac ran in the Pocatello Marathon on the 5th, and finished just under his goal time with a final time of 3:29:23.
~We also went to the last Chukar's game of the season with the Wood family. It was less than 50 degrees, so we were wrapped up in blankets!
~For Labor Day on the 7th, we went to the fair with the Stewart family. We were both exhausted after walking around for 5 hours. Mariah being 26 weeks pregnant, and Isaac having ran a marathon two days prior.
~Mariah took the glucose test on September 23, at 28 weeks. It was definitely not a big deal, like everyone seems to think.
~Isaac ran another marathon on the 26th, the Huntsville Marathon. It was definitely the hardest one he has run so far, with way too hot of temperatures.

October-
~We went to Idaho Falls for conference weekend, to spend time with family. We were able to make a lot of freezer meals with Isaac's siblings on Saturday the 3rd.
~Mariah went to Witchpalooza at Gardener's Village with her mom, sister, and a few extended family members on the 10th.
~We both had dentist appointments on the 14th, and found out that Isaac had two cracked fillings. He hadn't noticed them a ton before, but they got increasingly more painful until they got fixed!
~Isaac had a job interview on October 21, for a promotion at FedEx to an assistant manager type position. He ended up getting the job, and we felt very blessed and happy about it.
~Towards the end of the month, we took a sequence of preparing for baby/birth classes and a hospital tour. We both felt a lot more ready after attending all of those, especially the hospital tour.
~The baby shower was October 24, and we were lucky enough to have so many supportive family and friends bring gifts over to help us prepare for the baby.
~The last weekend in October, we went to Utah to finish up some baby shopping. We stayed with our friends the Bradleys. We were able to get the baby's carseat and many other important things.

November-
~We were lucky enough to do a temple session at the Rexburg temple on the 7th of November. We had to wait over an hour, but it was worth it. It was the last planned temple trip until after baby.
~We registered for classes at midnight on the 8th. Mariah registered for her very last college semester, which seemed so surreal.
~Mariah's first contractions were felt on November 10th. Braxton hicks contractions had been going on for a couple weeks prior.
~The weekend of the 13th-14th, Mariah went to Utah with her mom and sister for a girls weekend, and to do some Christmas shopping. It was a nice, last trip before baby came!
~Towards the middle of the month, we started to finalize all the things for baby around the house and really started to make sure that everything was completed for baby.
~I started feeling a lot of contractions while we were out shopping on Nov 20. We were thinking baby would be coming very soon!
~At our 37 week checkup for baby on November 24th, we found out the contractions I had been having for days were making things progress. I was dilated at a 1-2.
~After our appointment, we went out to a movie, The Martian, and although I had contractions the entire time, we loved our last movie date night for awhile.
~Isaac's 23rd birthday was on the 25th, and he spent a majority of the day taking care of me because I was feeling lousy. We did go out to eat for his birthday at a restaurant called The Bridge. It was the most expensive meal we've had as a date night for just the two of us. We loved our last date night before baby came.
~For Thanksgiving, since it was so close to my due date, and since I'd been having contractions, we had decided to stay in Pocatello for Thanksgiving. Mariah's parents came down and made food/ate with us.
~At our 38 week appointment, I was dilated to a strong 2, and 50% effaced.
~The first week of December, we were both so busy trying to get a bunch of school stuff done before the end of the semester. It was a very stressful, busy week with so many due dates.
~My labor contractions started on the night of December 4th, although I figured it was nothing, since it had been nothing every time before.
~We finally went into the hospital on the afternoon of the 5th, and our sweet Eliza girl was born that night.
~We came home from the hospital on the 7th. Mariah's mom stayed with us for the week, and that was an awesome blessing. That week was dead week at school, and Isaac was busy busy with work.
~Finals week was the following week, and it was very busy and stressful with a week old baby. We survived, and both ended up getting the grades that we needed.
~We went to Idaho Falls for Christmas, and it was wonderful that we were able to go for more than just one day.
~We received a lot of wonderful Christmas presents, but we mostly loved how relaxing our Christmas was and how much we got to see family.
~We ended our year visiting with the Titus family. They are basically a second family to us, and it was wonderful to see them.

2015 was an extremely busy, wonderful year. We had our lives change entirely when we became parents, and we wouldn't have it any other way. This time last year, we never would have guessed where we are today. We are so very excited to see what 2016 has to offer and what is ahead of us!

Baby Baby

We are so excited about the baby we are expecting in December.

The estimated due date up to this point is December 15, but we will see how close that is after the ultrasound in a few weeks. Last week, on June 2, we got to hear the babies heartbeat for the first time. It was a strong 165. We are both so excited, and nervous for the upcoming months. December will be a busy, crazy, exciting time with finals, peak(busy season) for Isaac's job, Christmas and baby will be coming! We aren't finding out the gender until birth, which we are very excited about waiting. It will be an adventure, but one of the best ones yet!

Memphis Day 3

For the other Memphis posts see the links below:
Day 2 and Day 1
Saturday, October 11. Day 3.
Saturday morning we were able to go through a session at the Memphis Tennessee temple with Josh and Alicia while the grandparents watched Emmett, Melynn and Tucker. It really was a great experience. Isaac said the temple reminded him a lot of the one in his mission, the Canada Edmonton temple.
After the temple, we went back to Josh & Alicia's and headed out to the Civil Rights Museum. This is the site of Martin Luther King Jr's Assassination. The Lorraine Motel. It was very cool to walk through and see a lot of the civil rights artifacts and to hear a lot of stories. I probably could've spent a few days there, but unfortunately didn't have a few days to do so.

They had this station in the beginning that had telephones you could pick up that were connected so you could listen to the stories of several different people.

Tucker was very into listening to the stories of these people

They had some news videos going on in this room.

They had a lot of great exhibits to portray the real life things that happened.

They even had a replica jail cell that MLK was in.

There was a huge thing that happened right in Memphis.

We were able to look into the room he stayed at, room 306, the night before he died. I don't have any pictures of that for some reason. There was a piece of glass up but everything was original inside.

Up until 1988, it was a working motel. The square was cut out, because it had MLK's blood on it.

 

This is across the street from the Lorraine Motel, where they suspect the shooter was. There was also an exhibit of the events and suspects of the shooting in this same building.

After we left the museum we went and had some Tennessee BBQ! We ate at Central BBQ. It was delicious and had such a good price. The meal fed 8 adults and 3 children very well for around $50.

After dinner we went back to Josh and Alicia's house for games. The kids were allowed to stay up a little bit later and play games since it was our last night there.
We had such a fun time, and we were both really sad to leave. We can't wait to visit the other Wood family again in a few years.

On Sunday morning Wes drove us to the airport way before the sun came up.

We were in Idaho Falls around noon, and were able to see our best friend Titus off before he left for his deployment in the Navy.

Quotables

Life always seems to go according to a plan. But it isn't necessarily my plan. It is evident that it is my Heavenly Father's Plan. Each time something changes, I am a little hesitant. However, in the end, I am always grateful that I didn't get what I thought I wanted. And in time, His plan becomes my plan. Each time my major has changed, it has been in result of a huge life change that I didn't know was coming. A change that has made me progress into what I need to become. I can't wait to see what this change of major is going to change in me. I'm excited to see what is to come.

 

It's also a reflective time of year, with the year wrapping up, and I have found myself looking back over this past year. And looking towards the future. There have been so many great things that have happened in the last year. I have absolutely loved the time I've had with my sweet husband. I've learned a lot about him, and a lot about myself. Each and every day I am so glad that we ended up together. He is the one person who can make me the most infuriated and then two seconds later make me laugh with an uncontrollable laugh. Sometimes I feel like my heart will explode because I love and care so much about him. As cheesy as that sounds. We aren't perfect, and neither is our marriage. But what makes it my absolute favorite is that we work at it, each and every day. Marriage is the most rewarding, difficult thing there ever was. But I'm grateful that I can be married to Isaac.

I look forward to all of the upcoming adventures of the next year. It's crazy to see all that has happened in the last year. I am excited to see where we will be a year from now, and all of the exciting adventures that we will get to experience. Life is good. And, it will be a whole lot better once finals are over next week! :)

Lagging behind

I didn't think it had been so long since my last blog post. Just all summer.

Not too much has happened with us since April. Just working a ton, loving our new place of residence, and enjoying each other's company.

Life is so fast paced it's unreal. The older I get, the faster everything goes. 

A few things that we are looking forward to in upcoming months are: seeing Wicked (the musical) in SLC on August 1st, visiting Isaac's brother and his family in October, and we may have something tropical in our future.

On another note, I chopped my hair all off about a month or so ago. Which was so exciting. I have loved it. It is starting to grow out, and I'm definitely not liking that one bit.

Accounting

Everyone says that accounting is boring, well it may be. But I am extremely enjoying my accounting class. I think I have finally found the major I will enjoy. I can finally wrap my head around all of the things I am learning in my classes. I also feel like instead of being in the bottom half of my classes like for the past two years, I feel like I am in the top half. I am finally starting to enjoy college a little bit. I feel just enough challenged, but not too much so that I'm overwhelmed with life.
My kickboxing class is kicking my entire body badly. After not working out for so long, my body is taking what seems like forever to get back in shape. But I know that eventually I will be glad that I am getting back into shape.
Isaac is doing pretty well in his classes. He has a few tutors to help him with a few things here and there. But he will do well. He is smarter than he gives himself credit for sometimes.

One of the craziest things lately has just been when Isaac gets home from work at 7:45 and has class at 8. I usually drive him on those days, so that he can change his clothes and get something to eat.
I cut back my hours at Downeast, since it was proving impossible to get home at 9:30 or 10 at night, and then try and eat dinner and get to bed at a decent hour. Especially since Isaac has to get up at 3:30 am in the mornings to go to work, and then go to class until 1 or 2 in the afternoon. But we are making it quite well now :)

We enjoy the little bit of time we get to spend together here and there. Occasionally there are a few bumps along the way, but as long as we have each other, nothing else really matters. We couldn't be more glad that we are married to each other, and that we get to be together for eternity.

I do exist!

Oh hey..... I'm here. To post. But can't promise being back for a long amount of time. But. Updating....
Well. Life is different, and grander than before.
I married my best friend in the Idaho Falls temple on May 10, for time and all eternity. And lately I have been thinking that eternity just doesn't even seem long enough. I love that guy with my whole heart and then some. Love notes, built in personal chef, cuddle time all the time, endless kisses, love that is unimaginable, happiness that has never before existed, constant laughter. I never would've thought living with my best friend could be this amazing. It's always an adventure, and I can't imagine anyone who I would rather be with.

Dreams

I was a little girl, alone in my little world, who dreamed of a little home for me.
I played pretend between the trees, and fed my house guests bark and leaves and laughed in my pretty bed of green. I had a dream, that I could fly from the highest swing, I had a dream.
Long walks in the dark, through woods grown behind the park, I asked God who I'm supposed to be. The stars smiled down at me.

Growing up is great fun. There are so many wonderful things, as well as so many hard things that come along with it. I can't even believe that I am 20 years old. It is crazy how fast time has gone. I love having Isaac along on the ride with me. He makes decisions quite a bit easier, he makes the stress a whole lot less, he makes life better.
Today as I was driving in the car, this song by Kenny Chesney came on and a part of it got me.

Don't blink. Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife.
I am marrying my high school sweetheart in 5 weeks tomorrow. I can't even believe it. I met Isaac when I was 15 years old. We started dating when I was 16. We had a two year "separation", and now that I am 20, we are getting married. That is crazy, and so wonderful. I love that he is home from his mission, and that everything is working out like I dreamed it would. Two years of waiting and dating was more than worth spending eternity with him :) Crazy to think that all of this time has passed, and that my feelings for him have only grown.
Here's to eternity, in 5 weeks that is ;)

50

I'm getting married in 50 days. WOW. I am so excited.

This man is going to be with me for forever! :)

Luckiest

Seriously. I lucked out. No idea how in the world I got so lucky! :)

Isaac helped clean my apartment yesterday. We had a clean check, with less than a 24 hour notice, on my busiest day of the week. I got home about 10pm last night, and had to finish a project, study, and clean the oven, stove, and bathroom. Needless to say, I was thinking I was never going to sleep. But, I have the most incredible other half. While I worked on my project, he cleaned both the stove and oven. Just so that I didn't have to do it.
When my internet wouldn't work, he drove me to campus at around 11 so that I could print stuff off. He was watching a basketball game at my apartment, and I told him he could stay and watch it, but he told me he didn't want me to go by myself. He leaves his sports games willingly for me :) Which is saying a lot, that boy loves his sports.
On other news, 63 days until he is mine forever! :)

Learning

Life is hard folks! We've all got our own trials and struggles. College is definitely mine right now. Boy is it hard! But, I can do it. Somehow, I will find a way to do great. I am so incredibly blessed with so many people who are here to help me along the way. And I hope I am a help to all of them as well.
My fiance is the sweetest man to have ever existed. No joke. The things he does for me on a daily basis are literally astounding. The more serious we get, the better he treats me. I love him. When I am upset and feeling like my to do list is just too overwhelming, he is there to comfort me and help me think clearly about everything. When I don't feel well, he takes care of me and is willing to do anything for me. When I am a complete grouch, he puts up with me until I am happy again. He loves me so much, and has so much faith in me. With him by my side, I will be able to accomplish anything in this life. I hope to be the strength to him, that he is to me. He continually is helping me be a better person. When we disagree, and I just want to get angry, he has a way of calming me down and makes me talk it out. I know that neither one of us is perfect, and that our relationship isn't perfect. But, we both try. Ultimately, I think that is what it comes down to. You've got to love each other so much that nothing else matters. You've got to support one another, and do anything for them. I don't pretend to know everything, especially about relationships and marriage. But, I want to write this down now. So that later I can look back and remember how great this stage in our life together is. Being engaged is hard, yet great. I wouldn't trade this time for anything.
I also have the best roommates ever. I have had fantastic roommates in the best. I've definitely always lucked out. But right now, we all get along. All 4 of us. Which is a rarity, when it comes to 4 girls living together. We have a good time every time we are all together. It makes life so much fun. We all just help each other out whenever it's needed, and just talk all the time. I love it. This being my last semester living with roommates (besides my husband, when we get married), I think I definitely was blessed to enjoy it.
Friends, oh boy. I have the best of these too. And too many to mention. So many supportive people in life. Holy cow.
Family has always been and always will be a rock in my life. They are seriously the best people in life. I love them. So lucky to have them for forever.
Laughter really is the best medicine for stress. Stressed? Find something to laugh at. It truly works wonders :)

Engaged.... FOR REALS!

So. We are engaged. Isaac DeMar Wood and I. Best feeling ever. I was completely shocked, because my best friend told me it wasn't happening until next week. I'll post a video here as soon as she sends it to me. But I will tell the story of the engagement, and post a few pictures.

 

We went ring shopping last Friday, the first of February. We weren't planning on buying a ring that day, but I found THE PERFECT one. Which is odd, because it is not at all what I thought I wanted. But, it's gorgeous, and I am excited to wear it for the rest of forever.
Originally the plan was to wait a few months before we got engaged, but, when it's right it's right. Why wait? :)
So I knew an engagement was coming, and thought it would happen a few times, but he kept me guessing. I kept getting little clues here and there from conversations I overheard, or texts I accidentally saw when we were together. AND, they were ALL misleading. He changed his mind a couple times about what he was going to do. I was talking to my best friend Breanna earlier on Friday, and she told me to not be upset if it didn't happen this weekend. She told me that he was planning something for next week, because he wanted it to be perfect. So I expected NOTHING! I didn't want to be bummed.
Now that the back story. Isaac had involved both of our mothers and also Breanna. He called my mom and told her that she needed to get me to Idaho Falls right after class on Friday, so to make up an appointment or something. She called me Thursday night and told me that the appointment we had with the cake lady had been changed to the next day at 1:00, and that I needed to come down right after I got out of class. Isaac supposedly had to work from 5:30 to about 11, in Pocatello. So I drove to Idaho Falls, and waited for my mom. She was running late, (because Breanna and Isaac were running late). When she got into town, we started to head over to the cake ladies house. Or so I thought.
She stopped by Hillcrest (our high school), and said that she needed to drop something off to someone. She went inside, and was gone for like ten minutes. Then she walked back out, and had Breanna with her. Breanna was carrying an envelope and a blindfold. I was shocked. Because the first thing I thought was, "You've got to be kidding me!" Excitement and disbelief all at the same time. For some reason, I believed them all when they said it wouldn't be until next week. Breanna came around to my door, and told me to get out. I got out, and my mom told me that that was what she was dropping off. She then left. I asked Breanna what was going on, and she said that she just wanted to drive up and hang out with me and go shopping or something. I was so confused. But anyways, we walked over to the front doors and she handed me the envelope to read. It was about how we have so many memories there, and such.
We got into her car, and she made me put the blindfold on. We drove around. I could not see a darn thing, and I was just as confused as ever. I asked about a billion questions, and said that I hated everyone because I didn't know what was going on. But, I really love them all. It was just a joking comment of course. We arrived somewhere, and she helped me out of the car. I couldn't take off my blindfold yet, so she helped me walk to where we were going. I climbed through a bunch of snow, and made it to a pavilion. Peterson park holds a lot of memories between Isaac and I. I opened another letter here, and wanted to cry. This next letter talked about how we always came to that park to talk, and how our first kiss happened just down the road :) A flashback of memories came to mind, and I remembered so many happy things.
We went back to the car, and she made me put the blindfold on again. We drove again, and Breanna claimed to be lost. A few minutes later, we arrived at our location, and I was instructed to keep my blindfold on. Breanna helped me out of the car, and helped me trudge up over a mountain of snow. It seemed like I was walking through snow for forever. I just wanted to get to that next envelope. She instructed me to step up, and I put my hands in front of me to help guide me. I felt a grated playground like material. I had no idea where we could possibly be. I still couldn't take off my blindfold, and I touched something with my left hand that I shouldn't have. She quickly moved my hand away so that I couldn't figure out what it was.

 I was then able to take off the blindfold at the same time music started playing on Isaac's laptop that was sitting in front of me. He had made a slideshow of pictures and music. Where we first met, and a few other memories in between. I cried. A lot. Also, next to the laptop was sitting my favorite flowers, white lilies (which his mother had gone through a lot of trouble to get). At the end of the slideshow, there was a slide that said something about having one question for me. I stared at the screen, expecting it to change. Still thinking that Isaac had had to work that night in Pocatello. And he comes out from the side, pulls me up and takes me down from the playground set. He gets down on one knee, and yeah, I'm really crying. He then asks me to marry him, and I just nod my head. I couldn't even say yes. I was so happy. He put my gorgeous ring on, and then proceeded to hug and kiss me.

I love him. I knew a proposal was coming, and he still managed to propose without me having figured anything out. It was a complete surprise, which was everything that I wanted. He had my best friend involved. He had her take pictures, and video record the entire thing. Our families knew. Everything was perfect. He made me cry, which was his goal. Because then he knew that he had done a good job. I am so excited to marry my absolute best friend and future eternal companion on May 10, 2013 in the Idaho Falls Temple. <3

Today

Here I sit, in the institute building. Doing homework. Listening to this great song that I just discovered. Just loving life! :) Also, could the semester get better? I think not. Unless I could possibly have less homework. Impossible!

:)

I love this song. Also, I am so extremely blessed. With a boy who loves me enough to go completely out of his way to help me out. I have been struggling with my 8 am class this week. I have been a few minutes late both times this week, because I can never find a parking spot. Which makes it so I end up sitting in the very back. Which makes it so I can't focus. So I've been trying to leave the house at 7:15. Which is nearly impossible when I wake up at 7:10 usually. (Yeah, I have a rough time waking up early). So last night, Isaac told me that he would come and pick me up this morning, so that I wouldn't have to worry about parking. He didn't have class until 10 today. So he woke up, texted me to make sure I was up, and then picked me up around 7:30 so that I could get a good seat in class. And guess what, I learned a lot today, and all of the things that didn't make sense earlier in the week, all became clear today. I love you, Isaac. Thank you for wanting me to succeed, and doing whatever you can to help me do so. So for now, I am going to figure out a way to make sure I am out of the house by 7:15, so that I can get a parking spot. Even if that means going to bed at 9pm. Wish me luck :)

OH HI

Life is great.

"You are the light in the dark"

Also, this song is just great.

Also, this boy is home.

I stole this from his sister Karlee. But I also look like a weirdo. Not quite sure what I was doing..

Service

It's amazing how doing a tiny bit of service can change your entire attitude. It's dead week (the week before finals week) around here, and I definitely didn't want to go to FHE tonight. Especially since they announced that we were to be going to an elderly care facility to put on a musical program, and then help them decorate some cookies. My first reaction was, seriously? I have better things to do, like study. But I go every single week, and I shouldn't not go one time just because I don't like the activity. So I went. It was easily the best decision I could've made. It was one of those heart-warming experiences that just leaves a great spirit.
There were some of the cutest people, and they were just happy to be alive. So kind and filled with love. Most of them couldn't really do much but sit there, but they were still happy. It kind of put things into perspective for me. I am so stressed out about finals coming up and doing everything just right. I just need to take advantage of my opportunity to be learning all that I am, and do my best. Stressing about it, is really going to solve nothing. I just need to get it done, and I need to be happy while doing it. There's no time like the present. I won't be young forever, so I might as well take every opportunity I can now to do everything that I want. And I might as well be happy doing it, otherwise, what would be the point?

I've taken a step back more lately and tried to serve people as much as I can, even in the simplest of ways. And each time, when I do something for someone else, I feel a small portion of the love that Heavenly Father has for each of his children. He put us all here together, so that we can learn to love each other through serving one another.
Let's make the most of this Christmas spirit, but also make this a year long thing. Serve someone everyday. It doesn't have to be a huge. Even the small things are noticed and needed.

50

Yep, yet another post counting down. It's kinda a huge deal to me. Don't want to hear it, don't read it :)

Anyways. I love Isaac DeMar Wood. Pretty much ecstatic that he comes home in 50 DAYS!!! A lady at work asked about my dating life, and then she remembered that Isaac comes home soon. She instead asked how long until he comes home. It took me a minute to think about it, but I sorta freaked out when I figured it out. "50 days! 50 days? 50 DAYS?!?!"

While driving today, this song came on, and I cried. It is the truest thing there ever was.

Also, I got a letter from him on Saturday. For the first time in three months. And boy was it good to hear from him. He sure does love me. All those doubts, that build up after waiting so long between letters, disappeared the second I saw that letter sitting in my mailbox. Each day that I went without a letter was made up in that two page (front and back) letter. I've spent the majority of the past two years not getting letters. Which has been the hardest, best thing. I've been able to become strong, and not rely on that communication. But to rely on the communication between my Heavenly Father and I more. Going anywhere from 2 to 3 to 6 months at a time between letters, made each letter that much more special. And somehow, it made me fall even more for that sweet missionary. Knowing that he has put the Lord first, always.

66

What once was considered a devilish number, just so happens to be my favorite number today. 66 days until Isaac comes home! It seems very miniscule today. Going from 730 to 66. Yeah, that is small in comparison. Also, today is his 22 month mark!

Tears

When I feel like having a good cry, I watch missionary homecoming videos. Yeah, I'm a sap. That is definitely one thing that has changed about me in the past two years. I cry at the stupidest things sometimes. When anyone from my bishopric says how much he loves his wife, I cry. When I watch a movie with an incredible love story, I cry. When any man at the pulpit at church says how much he loves his wife, I cry. When I hear a song with particularly touching lyrics, I cry. When I read my scriptures, I occasionally cry. When I think about having children someday, I cry. When I think about going through the temple someday, I cry. When I think about how soon Isaac comes home, I cry. When I start to tell someone how much I love Isaac, I cry before I can even form a sentence. There is something about love, it just makes me cry. Seeing it in others, seeing it on movies, hearing it through music, seeing it in pictures, I just love love and so I cry. Happy tears.