Our Story Kaylee Herrick

BYU Print and Mail * United States

Copyright 2012Text Kaylee HerrickInterior Design: Kaylee HerrickCover Design: Kaylee Herrick All text and photos were done by KayleeHerrick unless otherwise noted

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2Being Away................................11

Chapter 3Engagement.................................22

Chapter 4Wedding.........................................32

Chapter 5Newlyweds.....................................35

Chapter 1Dating

6

6

Tanner and I met at The Elms, an apartment complex just off of BYU campus. He got

off his mission in October 2010 and moved into my ward in Janu-ary 2011. Apparently, we met at the opening social coming back from Christmas, but sadly I donít remem-ber him. He said he met me and went back to his apartment, looked me up in the ward directory, and asked all of his roommates who I was. That next Saturday we had a ward activityewat the bishopís cabin. I re-member sipping apple cider in the kitchen and a guy coming up and talking to me. I remember just feel-ing so comfortable around him and feeling a different spirit around him then any guy I had met before. I felt like I could read him like a book. He is one of those people who is who he is and he just permeates honesty and it was so refreshing from the other guys I had met that were al-ways trying to say and do that right things to impress me. Yet, at the time I was kind of writing someone on a mission and preparing to go on one myself. I was not interested in getting to know anyone in that way at the time.

A few days later, he asked me out on our first date. We went to the Nickelcade and The Malte Shoppe. He was amazing. So funny, kind, and I felt comfortable doing things in front of him that I hadnít been comfortable doing with other guys before. Our second date did not go as well. We went to the Carl Bloch exhibit at BYU and Sammyís. We

77

had an awesome time, but I had shut myself off from being open to dating possibilities by then and was just focusing on a mission. I remem-ber writing in my journal that he was an amazing guy, but for some-one elseónot me. The third date sold me when he invited me over for an authentic Italian meal and we just talked about nothing in particu-lar. I loved knowing we could just talk about whatever and still have plenty to talk about.

However, by this point I was get-ting scared. I didnít want to like him, but I found myself falling for him so I started backing off. A little while later we had a dance at the Bishops house and I tried to stay away from him. In the end he won me over with his amazing swing dancing and smile. We started hanging out a little bit here and there, watching the Pacifier and Inception, talking at church and ward activities, and be-

coming friends.

One night He needed help with pa-per citations, so he came over so I could help him. During the project he started getting a little more for-ward. Putting his arm around me and playing with my hair. I never let boys get that far and I always pushed them away before anything got too serious, so by this point, I was freak-ing out. Before he left that night he asked me out again and I told him I would have to see if I was free and I would get back to him. When he left I was freaking out and I decided I needed to talk things through with him to find out if we were on the same page. He calls this ìwhat does a fourth date mean to you?î speech. We had been hanging out and dat-ing for two months and I wanted to know where we stood. I was not ready to get serious and I wanted him to know that.

Long story short, the conversation went very badly. All he got out of the conversation was I have a mis-sionary, but he could keep spend-

8

8

ing money and time on me. What I was trying to say was that I wanted to keep going out with him, but I wanted to go slow and just get to know each other better. Well you can imagine that he called me later and told me I didnít have to go out with him if it was just going to be a pity date. When he hung up and I realized I may have ruined things, I just started to bawl. Up to that point I didnít realize how much I had grown to like him and rely on his friend-ship. It hit me how much I needed him. I was miserable the next few days until our date Saturday night. That night he was nice, but defi-nitely giving me the cold shoulder. All night I just felt I wanted things to be the same again. At the end of the night, he invited me to stay and watch a movie with his roommates if I wanted too and so I did. As I sat next to him about an hour into the movie, I felt a strong impression, al-most like a voice in my head that I needed to do something about this. I

couldnít let this boy slip through my fingers. So I put my hand in position to show him I wanted him to hold my hand, if he wanted to, and he went for it. I thought I would regret doing it because I was terrible with commitment, but I felt so happy and peaceful inside. After that we were inseparable. We would stay up every night just talking on the swing in front of my apartment while eat-ing cheese and wheat thins. One night, we were out there talking so long that the paper boy had come and gone by the time we were fin-ished. It would snow, rain, and our legs would go numb because it was so cold, but we would still stay out there on the swing every night talk-ing. We would go to church, the library, on walks, meet the parents etc. together. He became my every-thing. It wasnít all that easy though. I naturally freak out at change, So when we started dating, I freaked out that this was against the plan every time we were apart.

Things I Love About You- Your sense of humor and how we

can laugh all the time.

- Your smile. I can mention that

one over and over.

- How we can talk to one another

- Your devotion. It makes me feel

so safe and loved to know you are

mine.

- Your ability to make me want to

be better

- Your laugh

- Our long conversations

- Your pure heart

- Your willingness to try to love the

things I love

Chapter 2Being Away

12

Things got serious pretty fast. By the time I left for study abroad two months later we had talked about what it would be like to spend a life together. I felt so much peace about being with him, but I was leaving the country, had an RA job set up for next year and was preparing for a mission. I didnít think it would be for a while.

When I went on my study abroad, I thought at least 8 months until we got en-

gaged because I had an RA job set up and we had talked about it be-fore I left as a possibility.

Well I didnít know at the time, but it wasnít going to happen that way. I went on my study abroad and it

was one of the most amazing expe-riences of my life. I learned so much about myself and what was impor-tant in my life. I had all of these dreams of going on a mission, do-ing a service trip abroad, and seeing the world that I felt I would regret if I was to get married right away. I had seen so many women in their life have so much regret and I didnít want that to be the story of my life. I had all these fears of getting mar-ried when I went on this trip. I was amazed what I learned compared to what I thought I would learn on this trip. I learned the world has so much to offer, but so does where you live. Every part of the world has something to offer and it made me realize, was I taking advantage of that beauty in my own backyard?

13

Here I was in the place I have always wanted to be and the thing that made it amazing was not the place, but the experiences I had with the people in my program. Life was about people, which are what made it all possible. Everything I saw and experienced made me think of Tan-ner and how much he meant to me and the life we could have together. I felt so strongly that we should be together.

I wrote Tanner everyday while I was on Study Abroad in a little red journal to give to him when I got home. The next page has excerpts from that book.

2-04-11 I had a date with Tanner last night. Man, what an amazing guy. He has a wonderful spirit, very pure heart and mind, and view of life. I donít know if his heart is for me or not, but he is going to make someone very happy.

2-27-11Wow, where to start. Well, I held hands with Tanner last night. I know, me, a girl against guys has fallen for a boy. It was not at all what I ex-pected. I thought the minute I did it, I would regret it, but I didnít. It was the most natural thing in the world. It felt so right and I felt so peaceful. I was so happy and content. I donít know what has happened. I still remember the first time I met him. We were at the bishopís cabin. I was talking to him about his major and life for 40 minutes. I remember being so impressed with him, but I didnít think much more of it. Then we went to the nickelcade for our first date. I was even more impressed with him playing with the kids at laser tag and how he talked and every-thing. Four our second date we went to the Carl Block exhibit. So fun! We had a good time, but I remember at the end of the date wondering though how I felt about him. Third date he made me dinner from Italy. So good! That was the date I really started to fall for him, but didnít want to because I was scared of where things might go. Then he came over to work on a project and he was like rubbing my back and play-ing with my hair and it really scared me because I wasnít sure where I

14

wanted this to go. So we had a talk. I wanted to be honest with him that I wanted to take it slow. It did not go well. I think he thought I was writing him off, telling him I just wanted to be friends. It was the worst night ever. I cried for a long time. He has sent me on a roller coaster this past week. I just wanted to be with him all the time. He called me after the talk and told me I didnít have go on the next date we had planned because I felt obligated. I was so sad because that was not what I wanted to have happen. But I wasnít ready to share how I felt because I wasnít sure. So Saturdayís date started out kind of awkward. I could tell he was still confused and hurt a little and I was feeling awkward because of the whole situation, but by the end of the night things were feeling good again and it just happened. We were watching a movie and we had a blanket over us and for the whole first hour of the movie our hands were in the blanket then out, in and out, in and out and finally it just happened and it was so perfect when it happened. He was like, ìman this movie just got a ton better.î It was really fun. Iím still so scared. I donít know what Iíve done or what to do. Iím so so scared, but Iím calm when heís here. Heís the first boy I am attracted to and admire at the same time. I love spending time with him. I still donít know why he likes me. I feel like we are similar, but so different as well. I am trying so hard not to be scared.

15

5-9-11Tan the Man!

After talking to you on the phone yesterday, I decided I wanted to do something special for you and something that will connect me to you everyday. Something that I can give to you to show my thoughts and feeling when I get home. Iíll just jot some thoughts and things related to you from throughout the day on my trip. I love you so much Tan. It was amazing to hear your voice. I canít even tell you. Only so much can be said on the phone or in email so for now Iíll just write it in here. I love you so much Tan and I canít wait to be with you again, but for now Iím just working on being a better person and relishing in all God has to teach us while we are a part. Thank you for supporting me and making me better. You can make me and do make me so much more than I am. I hope to do all you do for me because you deserve the best. Love you! ñ Kay

5-10-11Tan!

I hope you have had an amazing day. You are still working which is so weird to think Iím going to bed and you are still in the middle of the day. Today was a good day, but hard. Our 8 mile hike turned into 12.

16

Which was fine, but everyoneís body was still recovering from the hike yesterday. I decided hiking in a large group is really hard. I want to push myself, but when I do, I feel selfish because Iím not talking to those who might need a friend. If Iím in the back talking to people, Iím hold-ing everyone up. Also, everyone moves at different speeds which puts everyone on edge a little and it takes a long time to get places. Hiking or I guess anything that causes me to exert energy on this trip, has made our group selfish to take more food at dinner when someone else might need it more than us and rushing to the showers when we should have waited. I know I am doing it and it makes me feel bad and Iím trying to work on it. Do you ever struggle with that? Also, I have had really good conversations with people, but I feel like it is becoming the same people which concerns me. It is getting harder in the friend category. It is past all the introduction questions and now to some people I canít think of anything to say to further the friendships which make me feel sad. It really made me think about you a lot today and how much you understand me and how much I feel I understand you. I donít need to explain myself to you or be afraid of being misunderstood. I love that so much and I know I took it for granted. I forgot how rare that is. I feel it is so much harder to do that with other people. That face we have talked about before that we are both good at talking to people that naturally comes up. It makes me miss and love your more. Knowing how much you strive to talk to everyone and put yourself out there helps motivate me to keep trying with these people even though it is hard.

We got to this little town on our trek today and there was this awe-some candy store and it made me think of you and how much you love sour and chewy candy. You would have loved this place. IT also reminded me of your candy from Honk that you would eat every-where we would go. Are you still going there often?

Sometimes through out day I see you in things around me and I feel you are right there and I feel it is a tender mercy from God. It is crazy to think it has only been two weeks since I last saw you. It feels so much longer. I have thought so much about us and where this is go-ing. How the Lord has answered the pleadings of my heart so plainly and clearly. What a blessing. My desires to travel or go on a mission havenít changed, but being here has helped me see I could do a lot with my life, but I am a better person, life is better when I ëm with you. Everything I want to become or do will be so much more fruitful and better with you by my side. Iím not giving up anything just recogniz-

17

ing there is a better way for me and I want it to be with you.

05-24-11A girl let me use her internet this morning so I was able to read your emails. I canít tell you how much they mean to me. You worry about emailing me too much, but it is not possible. My heart swells with joy knowing Iím close to your heart even though we are apart. If I could email you more and know it would be healthy for my sanity (due to in-creasing how much I miss you) I would email you multiple times a day. Sadly, but thankfully, I canít or I think I would waste away this trip just to be near you. I feel so lucky to have you. I canít even express it. I canít even believe it. Everything I thought I could have or feel with another person doesnít even compare to what is real and before my eyes. I never thought someone like you existed for me. Who you are, how you treat me and how you love me is more than I can comprehend. Like you said it just feels like a dream that at any moment Iíll realize this isnít real and Iíll lose you, but it is real! You are real. You are so kind, strong, funny, understanding, handsome, lov-ing, I can go on and on. I just feel so blessed, so so blessed.

18

5-26-11Tan!Can you believe I left a month ago today? We are making it! Can you believe how much we have learned and grown together? I feel so grateful for you. Our 3 month anniversary is tomorrow. Can you believe it? How I miss my best friend. The last 3 months have been some of the most pre-cious of my life. You have shown me what true love is. Iíve never known a guy or been in a rela-tionship that felt so freeing and healthy.

We had a lot of relationship con-versations on our hike today, and

it just made me even more grate-ful for you. People were talking about how they donít feel like an equal with the person theyíve dated or felt like they couldnít talk about anything or talk on deep matters. I feel no problems with that with you. Even things we donít necessarily have the same passions for, I know I can talk about with you like books, plays, world issues with you no problem and you can talk about absolutely anything with me. I feel like I can express my opin-ion to you, but you are also able to express what you want and we work through things and come to solutions together. Again incred-ible!

19

Chapter 3 Engagement

22

As the trip came to a close, I started getting these re-ally strong impressions that

something huge was going to hap-pen in my life, but I couldnít figure out what it was. The impression kept getting stronger and I was lit-erally losing sleep and my appe-tite over these feelings. One night, about a two weeks before the trip was supposed to end, I called my mom and told her of these feelings I was having and she just went si-lent and said, ìwell you better fig-ure out what this is because Tanner is coming at the end of you trip to proposeî. My heart just stopped and began to fill with fear. I just broke down in tears. How was I supposed to make the biggest decision of my life and the one that scared me the most in two weeks? Even though I had had so many strong impres-sions, I didnít feel ready or felt at the time that I knew what I should do. Life just seemed to be spinning in circles.

(Side note: Tanner served his mis-sion in Italy and a group of friends from the trip were planning on go-ing to Italy, Switzerland, and France for two weeks after the trip. He planned on flying out to Italy while I was there and proposing in front of the Trevi Fountain.)

Back in London I was trying to fig-ure out what I was going to do. I kept praying and I received a bless-ing that basically said that God be-lieved that I was capable of making the right decision. No matter what

23

23

I kept freaking out. Let alone ev-eryone on my trip was concerned for me and kept giving me advice, all great advice, it just made me more nervous that I might make the wrong decision.

I kept feeling this uncertainty un-til one day I got an email from my sister that told me that I didnít have to rush. I could take my time and if I relied on the Lord, everything would work out. At that moment I felt so much peace. I knew what I needed to doójust wait.

I felt so good about my decision and I thought it was going to be so easy. He would understand right? It was not like I was saying no, just not yet. I was horribly wrong. I had to wake up at 4 in the morning (if I

remember right, it was super early) to call him in this sketchy hostel in London to reach him when he got home from work. We chatted for a little while and then I just decided to go for it. I told him I knew that he was coming and that I wasnít ready, but that if he wanted, he could still come out and we could have an amazing time. The phone just went silent and I just hear, ìI have to goî and then he hung up the phone. I could tell that I crushed him. I called him back and we talked. He asked me where had he been led astray to think I was ready and what I wanted him to do because he only wanted to make me happy. At that moment, I knew I had an amazing man. I had been so angry that he had did all of this and in that moment I realized he had done it all for me. Because

24

he thought it would be a girls dream and he loved me. I also realized that we were hitting our hardest moment and he was so loving and under-standing and trying to do what was best for me through it all. I knew at that moment we could handle any-thing if we could get through this. We had to talk many times on the phone (by the end of the trip I had a $600 dollar phone bill!) to figure out what the situation was. He didnít understand how I could love him, but not be ready to marry him and we had to figure out that the root of the problem was really my fear of marriage so how were we going to overcome that.

Once it was settled that we needed to figure somethings out, we next needed to decide if he should still come out. Unknown to me my whole extended family on both sides, both of his extended family, his home ward, and our student ward were expecting us to come back engaged. I didnít realize I had put him in such an awkward situa-

tion and how embarrassed he felt. This ended up being another tender mercy that I need to experience be-fore I was ready to get engaged. It was such an awesome experience for our relationship to have to make our own decisions despite what all the forces were saying or what would look best, or what would make everyone happy, but for us. So he decided that he still wanted to come out and so he came.

It was the most amazing feeling getting off at the train station and searching for the love of my life and seeing him across the station and running up to him and throwing my arms around him and the time we were apart it felt like nothing had changed. The whole time we

25

25

were there I was walking on clouds. He was everything and more that I wanted. We talked and worked through so many of my issues. I also got to be in his mission and see that he was real, that the man I fell in love with was who he really was. As I met the people he taught and walked the streets he taught on I gained an even greater appreciation for him. The trip changed so much for me and I felt that if he had asked me by the end of trip I probably would have said yes.

However, when I got home, reality seemed to set back in and I freaked out again. I remember crying so many times feeling lost and left to figure out the most impor-tant decision of my life. I remember so much doubt, fear, and uncertainty filled my mind and I couldnít find relief so I decided to go to the temple. I remember just crying the whole time I was there and then I went out-side after and just prayed. I prayed for help to know what to do. I decided to write down everything I did know amid this mass confu-sion that I felt. I knew that God loved me and I knew he had always guided me in the past. I knew that he would not let me go astray. After pondering and writ-ing these things down, I felt peace. I knew that God had given me this peace so

I needed to have the courage to do what I knew was right even if I was scared. I called Tan, because he was away on vacation with his family, and told him I was ready to move forward. It was still scary, but I knew I had felt peace about it and I loved Tanner so much that we could work through this together. Not long af-ter, Tanner proposed in his grand-parentís basement, recreating our trip to Rome with pictures and an Italian dinner. It was wonderful.

26

6-08-11Hello my love!

Can I just tell you, you are the most amazing man Iíve ever known? Iíve been thinking about your desire to marry me and all you are sac-rificing to come to Rome and make this special for us and Iím the luckiest girl in the world. Iíve known so much love from you, more than I ever thought possible. I may not be ready just yet, but I know there is no one I would rather be with then you. I really hope you still come to Rome. I would love to see the places you love so much and go through museums and talk with you as we walk through the streets and look at art. Iím excited to sit down and talk to you about everything weíve been thinking or wondering about since this trip has started. To meet the people you love so much. Iím nervous to talk to you tonight because I donít know exactly what to say since I found out you were coming to Rome to propose, but I know we can always work things out together. This is something we can work out together. I love you so much Tan. You are always saying you donít know how I chose someone like you, but I feel the same way.

6-12-11 I canít believe you are coming to Rome! Knowing you are coming for sure I can finally get excited. I didnít want to influence your deci-

27

27

sion. I wanted this decision to be based on what you felt right about regardless of pressures. I will admit, I am so excited for you to come! Iíve wanted you to come all along. Even weeks ago before I knew anything about your plans to surprise me in Rome, I had told Rachel I would have loved if you could come. Time for us to be together and talk about everything we are feeling and thinking and to see the city through your eyes. I am so excited. I love you Tan and Iím so excited to think I will see you in 4 days! Iíve been thinking about how it will be to see you again after so long and how it is finally here! Love you Tan. See you in a few days!

6-21-11It is amazing to me that since the minute I saw you in Termini station and held you, it was like I had never left. Seeing you again was better then I ever expected. From the first look I was more in love, more at-tracted to you and happier then ever. I canít explain how I felt, seeing your face after all that time. The trip was more than I could have asked for in so many ways. You are incredible. You are perfect for me. This trip calmed so many of my fears (qualm lol) and I canít wait to see you and plan our lives together.

After the engagement was in place, plans began to roll forward. Being engaged was a lot harder then I expected. There were a lot of tempta-tions that I was not ready for. I thought that if we were doing the right

28

things (we were reading scriptures together and praying together) that we wouldnít be tempted, but we were. And I mean in all senses sin, fear, doubt, and frustration. There was a lot to figure out and so much stress. It was a hard time, but a really good time to really get to know each other even better and help each other through it all. The Lord definitely helped me feel peace and remember what a right thing it was that we were doing and that we could do it and we did! I wish someone would have told me how hard it would be so I would have felt more prepared,

but the challenges helped us grow closer together and be more uni-fied for when we got married.

One of the best days leading up to the wedding was going through the temple. Seeing my family en-ter the celestial room felt like a glimpse of heaven. I just started to cry realizing that this is what heaven would feel like. Seeing everyone I care about and know-ing that we made it and we could be together forever. It was such a beautiful day up at the Salt Lake Temple.

29

29

Chapter 4Wedding

32

32

The wedding day came and it felt so peaceful. My heart was calm and I was ready to

marry my sweetheart. It was such an amazing day waiting with my best friend. In the celestial room, before our sealing was to start we sat and prayed together over our new jour-ney together. The ceremony was beautiful surrounded by all the peo-ple I love and the sealer promised us some very important things. The whole day was so peaceful and per-fect. It couldnít have gone any bet-ter.

The luncheon was so fun, Tannerís mom did an Italian theme (how ap-propriate) and Brick Oven catered. Which was perfect because Brick Oven is a family tradition and a place Tanner and I went when we were first dating. It was so special sitting there with my sweetheart and knowing we had just been sealed forever. I had a good time singing ìHow Could Life Get Any Better?î with my sister for Tanner sicne that was a song I sang on study aborad when I was thinking about him.

Eveveryone enjoyed themselves and relaxed until the reception that night. It was so amazing to be there with my love and see my family and have them all talk to us and see all their wonderful faces. The reception was a blast seeing all of our friends on our happy day and dancing and celebrating together. My mom did such an incredible job with the decorations and the food and the atmostphere. I truly felt like a prin-

3333

cess. I felt beautiful in my dress and the reception all was beautiful as well. It was so fun having a whole table filled with pictures of Tan and I from Rome to allude back to where our journey of getting to that special day all began. We also had a table with all of Tanner and Iís grandparentís wedding pictures. It was wonderful to think that Tanner and I were fusing two family lines that day. We had a cake buffet with choolate milk (my favorite part). I love how personal it all felt and that everything that was done at my wedding was done by someone in my family. My sister did the music, my mmom did all the decorations, my great aunt did the flowers, and my momís cousin did all the cakes.

After we had seen all of our won-derful family, eaten all the delicious food, and danced the night away to Jourey and play that funky mu-sic, Tanner and I left for our hon-eymoon. We had such a wonderful time in our train car themed room up in Salt Lake and walking the temple grounds before it was time to come home to our new little home together and start school the next day.

I am so grateful for that day and for my wonderful husband who is so patient with me and loves me un-conditionally. I canít believe that a man like him even exists and that I get to have him. He truly filled my hopes and dreams and continues to amaze me every day.

Chapter 5Newlyweds

36

Starting our life together was so much fun. We got married on a Friday and were back

in school on Monday. That first morning was hilarious realizing all the things we didnít have such as a shower curtain. We had to bathe for the first few days. We also didnít have a table for the first few months because my mom wanted to redo one for us so we ate ìHerrick styleî on the floor. We had an awesome time together cooking together and putting our home together. We loved trying new ice cream recipes, watching movies, going to BYU events, and doing intramurals to-gether. It was wonderful watching our lives grow even more together and working and setting goals to-gether for our future. There were a lot of adjustments to make as well. I am terrible with change so just starting a whole new life was hard for me. We also had to learn how to communicate now that everything in our life involved one another and how to balance all the different fac-ets of our lives (Especially making friends which is like dating all over again.).

It was also a really fun adjustment for me to work on my domestic side. In the short time we have been mar-ried I have learned so many things about cooking, sewing, cleaning, and household duties and I feel a lot more well rounded. Through all the ups and downs Tanner was even more then I could have asked for. He was and is so caring and con-siderate. So many women are like

37

37

well you better enjoy your husband helping out around the house, be-cause it ends after the first month. Tanner is never been anything but helpful. He hates housework as much as the next person but he al-ways helps me whenever I ask. It was so fun coming home and find-ing notes all over the house or the dishes done or that he had bought me a planter and dirt when I wanted to try to grow flowers. We started having planning meetings every week and setting goals together going to the temple and starting a scripture study together. It has been an amazing ride together and I canít believe it has almost been a year! So much has changed in life just in the past year and I am so grateful

to have someone that I know will never go away.

Italy Trip Round 2I had the amazing experience this summer to go back to Italy with my husband. I felt it was such a bless-ing from God, and a manifestation of his love, to still provide oppor-tunities to fulfill my dreams of trav-eling, remind me of the beautiful, unique story my husband and I have, and spend time with my new family. It was such an adventure! It was amazing to actually meet the people my husband has taught and cared about and soak in even more of the culture of this beautiful place. There were a lot of amazing adven-tures from the start. I didnít realize how lucky I was to have been there before (I never dreamed I would be able to go back.) and know a little about the culture so it wasnít such a shock. While we were there, we got to share the gospel with people

38

everywhere. Explaining why we were there and what we stood for was amazing and people were re-ally impressed and had a lot of good things to say about our beliefs. We may not have said much, but at least we touched some hearts and had a chance to share our testimonies. It is amazing that even when you donít speak the language, you can still touch hearts and make friends. We made friends with some brothers from Mexico and even though none of our group spoke Spanish and they only spoke a little English, we were able to get along and they liked us so much they wanted us to come stay with them if we ever decided to come to Mexico.

We also met a man on a train who was very impressed by the gospel and he gave us a shirt and a fan from his country to remember him by. It was amazing also just to try new foods I didnít get to try last time (like an authentic Italian dinner made by Italians which was like 8 courses!) and experiences new places like Mi-lan, Venice, and Como. I had a lot of awesome adventures jumping on last minute trains, watching the Eu-rope world football cup with thou-sands of Italians in a piazza, kayak-ing in Lake Como, and swimming in the Mediterranean (my husband and sister-in-law even got stung by jellyfishes).

We also had a 24 hour layover in Germany so we got to see two countries! It was also nice just to

Our Songs

What are Words by

Chris Medina

Sheís Got a Way by Billy Joel

I Wonít Give Up by Jason Mraz

Faithfully by Journey

Open Arms by Journey

Wanted by Hunter Hayes

Marry Me by Train

Love Like Crazy by Lee BryceAfter All These Years by Journey

Iíd Rather be With You by Jo-shua Radin

Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars

39

39

be with my husband, because he usually worked nights until just recently, and we just had time to talk and catch up. I also learned a lot about my in-laws and grew a lot closer to them through sharing this adventure. It was also a good reminder of how much we miss the moment sometimes when we worry about other things. I had an amaz-ing time, but sometimes I would let myself get caught up in petty things and looking back I wish I hadnít spoiled such an amazing trip with a bad attitude. It is a good reminder for me in the future to remember the big picture and be grateful for what I have.

The main message of the trip for me was enjoy the moment and take life as it comes. Wherever it takes you might just be the biggest adventure of it all. It was an amazing adventure and I hope to make everyday as ad-venturous as that trip was.

Birthday FunWe celebrated Tannerís birthday this last weekend. We have been trying to save as much money as possible, so I was trying to think what I could give him that would be special, show him how much I appreciate him, but inexpensive. Of course Pinterest always helps in this category and I modified an idea I found to give him a coupon a day and celebrate a whole birthday week. It was such a fun opportunity to serve him everyday by making him breakfast in bed, have his fa-vorite dinner ready for him when he got home for school, or go out for slurpies.

Celebrating the life of my husband for a week made me recognize again how special my husband is. I

40

just want to take a moment and ex-press that I am so grateful to have my best friend by my side every minute, who knows me so well, supports all my hopes and dreams, and truly lifts me up and cherishes me more then I could ever have imagined everyday. He pushes me to be my best, is so patient with me when I am not my best, and lets me cry on his shoul-der when everything goes wrong. He is so vibrant, fun, active, car-ing, driven, thoughtful, friendly, and supportive. I am so grateful to have Tanner who strengthens our home spiritually, physically, and mentally. I could not imagine my life without him and I am grateful I didnít let my fears overcome me so I am able to share my life with such an amazing person.

As I was listening to conference today the prophet announced that the age of women serving missions would be lowered to 19. I thought about how much that would have changed my life if I had been able to fulfill my desire to serve a mis-sion earlier in my life. At first it was hard for me to think that maybe I could have gone if that had been the case. As the talks went on so many of them spoke about follow-ing the will of God and how much that blesses our lives and I felt the peace of the spirit. I am so grateful that everything happens in life the way it is supposed to. I remember how many promptings I had that marrying my husband was the next step in my life and that everything led to that wonderful union with my

41

41

wonderful sweetheart. I am grate-ful that even when we donít see it, when we follow the Lord he guides us in the direction we are supposed to go. Conference also spent a lot of time this morning discussing the importance of slowing down and getting away from the things that donít matter, appreciating our fam-ilies, and avoiding comparisons and the race of life. I commit to do bet-ter at that, because sometimes it is hard, so that the family Tanner and I have created can thrive and flourish. Tanner thank you for making life so special and I am so grateful we have many more birthdays to come to-gether.:)

The One Year Mark! The Good Times have just Begun...This might be a random post, but I just wanted to express my grati-tude for my sweetheart Tanner. We have had a lot of fun over the last few weeks celebrating homecom-ing and our one year anniversary together!!!!! Yep. I canít believe it ei-ther. He has made my life so sweet and special and I am grateful to have him in my life. Here is to a wonder-ful year and so many more to come.