The Best Day of My Life

Two years ago today I married the love of my life. We were just two crazy BYU freshman from Georgia who had to travel 2,000 miles from home to fall in love. Then one mission/two years of college, (and a very quick engagement) later, we were sealed together forever.

I remember it being very overcast and windy that day because we were experiencing the outer bands of a Hurricane over the Atlantic coast, but even that couldn't spoil my happiness. I remember picking up my gorgeous peach and coral flowers on the way to the Atlanta Temple, and how I felt seeing Sam just before the ceremony, thinking how amazing that this was really happening.

I remember my fabulous dress that made me feel like a real bride the second I first tried it on. I had looked at a few others, but had a gut feeling that this dress I had been eyeing for years was the one for me. (I found my groom the same way.) I loved feeling so beautiful for him.

I remember our beautiful late-summer reception lit up with all the lanterns that I had picked, and dancing with my new husband.

After mingling, more dancing, (and not eating nearly enough of the great food), we left amid gold sparklers for our Honeymoon and a relaxing cruise in the Bahamas.

Most importantly, I remember my wedding day that I had spent my life dreaming about came and went in such a blur like everyone says it does, because it's really not about the details, (nor does it matter that not everything goes perfectly,) it's about starting of a fabulous new life with your best friend. It's been a great two years and I can't wait for many more.

Happy Anniversary, Samuel!

We're still here in Georgia and have a few more days before leaving for our road trip to Utah with our new car. I'm so grateful we've had this time to relax here and at the beach. I'll give you the summary when we get back!

Almost There!

On a much more positive note than my last post - less than a week until we leave for Georgia and our 2 week vacation!! I am so ready!

Disappointing anniversary?

So Sam and I will be in Georgia on our Anniversary during our family vacation and I'm totally at a loss as to what to do to celebrate. For one, we're only in Georgia for a limited time, and are on a pretty tight schedule while there. Second, our real anniversary is on Sunday so we'll be celebrating on the 23rd. I'm perfectly fine with that, except everything fun we keep thinking up as an option is not an option on that day: The Braves are away, Six Flags (we were really excited about this one) is closed, nothing's showing at the Fox, etc. Even the Atlanta Temple where we were married is under renovation, so we can't go or even drive past to see it lit up at night. If it weren't for the fact that we would be leaving for our cross-country trip back to Utah the next day, it would be really fun to drive back to Tybee where we got engaged. We don't need to do anything too extravagent, but I was so looking forward to doing something besides going out to eat! That was all we did last year for our first anniversary, (well, that and waking up in a cold tent that morning after our ward campout.)

I guess the desperation comes as a result of knowing that in the next year or two we will have started our family and that will greatly limit where and what we can do to celebrate our anniversary, and I really want to live this one up. I sort of feel like it's our only chance to do it. I know that in the long run how you celebrate your anniversary is not so important as looking back and seeing how far you've come as a couple, remembering the promises you've made, and looking forward to your future. (Cheesy much?) Nevertheless, I'm really hoping to figure out something that meets all our criteria. Then I can relax and look forward to our trip. So, whatever we choose must be:

1. Not too expensive. We're willing to splurge a bit, but within reason
2. Doesn't require an inordinate amount of time, i.e. a trip to Tybee, but Atlanta is perfectly fine.
3. Fun! A movie or dinner alone just seems like a cop-out.
4. If possible, at least somewhat romantic. It's the anniversary of our wedding day, after all.

Here's to finding the perfect date!

Inception

Believe the hype. It was that good. Lest you get your hopes up TOO high for the experience, remember that it is NOT the start of the Apocalypse, it is still just a movie, (and not even the most highly acclaimed ever made for that matter), but in a world of cinematic finger paintings, it is a Monet or Van Gogh. I know I will be thinking about it for days.

I did something crazy

I bought a nursing cover. I kept hearing about this awesome sale here - (feel free to burst into laughter at the company name) - and how great they are even when not on sale, and how every new mom needs one, and I just broke down and got one. This one, actually. One less thing when the time comes, right? I've been meaning to start collecting things of this nature one at a time. Even before Sam and I were engaged I was planning little wedding details. Don't get excited, I have nothing to announce. It's just nice to feel prepared.

Good and bad

I'm-sure-I'll-eventually-be-grateful-for-but-at-the-moment-I'm-very-UNgrateful-for:

1. Medical debt. Love of money may be the root of all evil, but the need for it is what weighs most on my mind during the day and keeps me up at night.
2. Labcorp. It's the devil.
3. My gallbladder. After a few months of improvement and feeling really good, it's regressing again and no longer doing its job, it just makes me hurt - like the attack very early Sunday morning that woke me up in sobs and excruciating pain. Four attacks of biliary colic in one year is a very bad thing. Time for surgery to get me better once and for all.
4. Never having enough time to maintain my party blog. With my busy schedule, I sometimes feel the creativity slipping away from me.

But, I'm VERY grateful for:

1. Jean Brown Research. They paid us to take out my sweetie's wisdom teeth last weekend and took very good care of him in the process.
2. Samuel - for always reminding me that we'll be alright and that I have more strength than even I realize sometimes.
3. Visiting Teachers. I love sharing friendship and spiritual insight with other women in my same life situation - instant pick-me-up.
4. I debated as to which list this should go to, but Jennifer and Sterling are moving back to Atlanta! Yay for them getting to settle in Georgia! It's bittersweet, though, because we'll be all alone in Utah with all our family back east - possibly for 2 more years. Double sad.
5. In exactly 3 weeks I will be: on vacation, at the beach, with my family. I'm way excited. I can make it, I can make it!

Stress. Could this title GET less original?

You can pretty much get what I'm trying to express just by reading the title of this post, nevertheless, I'll provide you with more details. In case you didn't figure it out, I'm stressed. Earth-shattering, I know. I mean, who gets stressed anymore?! Psh. All joking aside, it's not life-shatteringly out of control or overwhelming stress, just enough to make me frustrated that I can never accomplish half of what's on my daily to-do list. Like many Americans, I get up, go to work for eight hours at a fairly stressful job, (and I actually work through lunch,) constantly pushing myself to be the best I can be because 1. I love it and I want to succeed and 2. I have to provide for my family, (yes, I'm currently the sugar mama), then come home mentally spent and too tired to want to do anything else all night. Sound familiar? Why do we work ourselves to death? To the point of not caring that our home is dirty, or not caring that we're too tired to work out, even though we've been sitting all day. In a perfect world, I would work part-time to stay productive and feel fulfilled, then come home to be active, spent time with my love, and do all my domestic things. Sounds good to me.

Sooooooo, this brings me to my diet update. To sum it up, it's slow coming, which isn't looking good for my 6-week goal. In 2 weeks I've lost maybe 2 lbs. I only guessing since I haven't actually stepped on a scale, but I do know that my clothes are starting to fit better. Despite what it sounds like, I have been trying. I've been working out more often, eating less, trying not to eat near bedtime, I'm avoiding practically all refined sugar (fruit, milk, and other natural sugar don't count), and occasionally even doing cardio when I'm very tired and dying to go to bed. I'm grateful to be seeing (well, mostly feeling) an improvement, and I know that in the long run, small changes and baby steps lead to longer results and more permanent change. It's just frustrating, because results are what keep you motivated to keep going. I doubt I'll be anything close to looking like Isla Fisher by the beach, but I can feel good knowing that I'm trying.

On a more positive note, I've heard this song on the radio a lot lately and I'm a little crazy about it. Maybe you are too?