Thursday, December 11, 2014

Our Story, Part 1


Our story began in April of 2012, when I met Mark for the first time.
I was having a bad night, something that was pretty common for me at the time This was associated with an on again, off again relationship that I was involved in. All the uncertainty and lack of commitment, had turned me into someone, who I look back on now, and hardly recognize.
My good friend Leah, knowing how sad I was, invited me to frozen yogurt with Ammon and her, (she pretty much told me I was going with her) .She also mentioned that Ammon's cousin( Leah's then boyfriend, now husband) had Recently started to hang out with him again, and she told me that he would be joining us too.
    Not knowing that I was being conned into going on a date, I decided to go with them, instead of sitting home being anxious and sad. ( This was during a break from the BF situation, who I still felt very loyal to).
My first impressions of Mark were to watch out! He had this troubled look to him, like maybe he was a troublemaker, and later I came to find out, he was a troublemaker at the time, he had just gotten over Pneumonia. .


( side note, Anyone who has met Mark, would find it very hard to believe that he may have ever been trouble, but its true, he was. Except for his long flowing locks that he now has)

The night ended, and I left it at that.

As time passed, I decided I needed to try to  branch out more and make more guy friends. Since I knew that Mark was trying to make good changes in his life, and needed good influences and friends, I thought it wouldn't hurt if I hung out with him on occasion. We were both going through difficult things, which were very different, but each of us could relate to in one way or another. The times that I hung out with Mark on my own, were pretty far and in between, but we talked about things that mattered, which is usually the good foundations of true friendships. You have to be able to be open and honest with another person to have a friendship last.


We were friends, and that's where our relationship remained for many months.

    It was around October, when I had ended things for the 15th time with my then Boyfriend, that I hung out with Mark, we went car shopping ( because I had gotten in a car crash), which turned into a search for a Halloween costume, and then lunch. It was a fun time, I went home and told Leah that I couldn't believe how patient he had been with me. because anyone who knows me, knows I  can be pretty indecisive sometimes.

I left it at that, though. I was still pretty attached to my previous relationship, and hadn't or wouldn't let go. I still had hope that it would workout. If I had been in my right mind, or a little older, I probably would have walked away months earlier.


Of course I didn't. I couldn't, wouldn't, I don't know. Maybe I was mental? Addicted? in love? I'm not sure, but the relationship came to a hard end with a loud thud, and if you had listened intently enough, you probably would have heard the sound of breaking glass. Because that is what it felt like.
What a mess I was. I had done things I couldn't take back, and made wrongs that at the time I couldn't right. I wasn't even myself. Although, the wrongs went both ways in a big way. I was extremely hard on myself. I take my friendships with people pretty seriously, so it was pretty devastating.



Looking back now, I realize I was a shell of who I am. I was a pretender, I wasn't true to myself, and I wasn't secure in myself, or self worth. If it doesn't workout, it is because it is broken. Move on, and don't look back.
Well that is exactly what I did.  Except it wasn't without its ups and downs.
 
The end of a chapter in my life, and a new beginning begins

One day I remember sitting in church, I sat next to Mark, because I felt small and unlovable, and sad. I felt judged, even though no one probably was judging me. I felt hopeless and lost, and like I had done things that god could never forgive. That maybe I could never forgive.  I remember this wanting to be near someone who had gone through hard things, but had changed his life around. I also noticed, for the first time, that what others had been telling me were true. Mark is a really good looking guy. How had I not noticed this before?

which was weird for me.
I started to talk to him more, he had been there for 8 months hearing either from me, or Ammon and Leah about how sad I was, and about this relationship I had. He was a very good listener, and gave me really good advice. He also tried to cheer me up by making me get out of the house.
One night, he pretty much came over and made me go to a movie with him. We were supposed to meet up with Ammon and Leah, but the movie had already started, so we bailed, and decided to go to see planet of the Apes instead, which started an hour later.

we had  a lot of fun that night, and we talked. a lot. This was the beginning of what sparked into a beautiful relationship.

Oh how everything works out :) where he was 8 Months after I met him, when I needed him the most was exactly where he needed to be in life, and where I was in life, although I was Sad, was where I needed to be too, so that I could find someone better that actually deserved to date me, that deserves the world from anyone .This begins the next chapter of my life. The Engagement.


 

Sunday, November 25, 2012

What are you Greatfull for?

I was thinking today, about the things I am grateful for.
 
The biggest one has to be that I have a healthy body.
 
seriously. You can have a lot of things go wrong, no house, no job, low on gas, or maybe no car, etc... but if you have a healthy body then you are able, and being able allows you to make so many things right.
 
 
So I'm grateful that the worst physical pain I've experienced was appendicitis in 8th grade, and then probably shin splint/ IT band problems.
 
my fears in life consist of not being able to run which is pretty minimal compared to some of the terrible hardships other people go through with there body's.
 
other things I'm grateful for...
 
My family- quirky, crazy, out of control, hilarious, fun, Loving! and most of all, supportive and honest. I love these people. we may be a crazy, combined family, but they are my blood even if its not biological, and I love them.
 
 
My best friend Leah. (Ammon can be included too). This little (grown up ) girl has been my best friend since we were young ins. I'm seriously so blessed. She has stuck by me through thick and thin. Her and Ammon have been there giving me advice, watching me have break downs and helping me see the brighter side of things. They make one amazing team, and I'm super happy to call them family..well in 3 and 1/2 months it will be official. I love you two.
 
 
Obviously I'm great full for Mark. What an interesting bunch of events that led us to each other. When I think about all the things leading up to us dating, the irony of it all is just to perfect. I'm thinking Heavenly Father had plans for us for sure. Love this guy with all my heart!
We had a hard time being serious.. shocker I know.
 
 



I'm grateful for my new Job. although sitting is hard, the people are great, the pay is decent, and the hours are good. I got pretty lucky.
I'm grateful for the temple. I'm so happy that I'm getting married there. it feels like such an accomplishment to me, and I'm so happy for Mark and me, and way excited.
I'm grateful for food. self explanatory.
I'm grateful for this nice weather.
My thanks giving was spent with the people I love, and I got to eat a lot of pie.... and I've been eating it everyday since.. guilty. Next week I'm going back to my healthy eating ways.
Happy November everyone! guess what?! in December it will be three months until my wedding! woot woot!!
 


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Choices that I make.

Choices I make.
 
Where do I begin? I have been so far from the right path before that I felt hopeless and lost completely, so lost that I had numbed out.
 
The other day I realized that its been almost a year, well it will be a year in a few days, since my life changed in a major way.
 
Changes come around from decisions. I am bad with judging myself, but I have learned that sometimes we make choices, they weren't good choices but that doesn't make me bad. It just means I made the wrong decision, and I had to pay the consequences of that choice.
 
 
Anyway this being said, since November of last year there have been so many choices that have been made.
 
I realize that those choices were hidden blessings.
 
 
some of the blessings since last November.
 
 
I deal with my emotions, and don't numb out
 
I returned to being an active member of the church, I have a strong relationship with my heavenly father, and I know that he loves me.
 
I have strong bonds, and relationships with my family members, and best friends.
 
I stopped thinking so negatively about myself, and I don't have anxiety anymore.
 
I found my own reasons to work out again, instead of literally working out to get rid of the emotional pain, and anxiety I had.
 
I had my eyes opened about people. guys. relationships. friendships. love. being happy. fixing people etc.
 
I started dating Mark
 
I fell in love again, in a healthy normal matter that was so foreign to me.
 
I found out that relationships aren't hard when they are with someone that really loves you
 
love isn't selfish
 
I'm  got engaged
 
and I'm getting Married to my best friend in March!
 
I'm also doing better in school, work etc...
 
Overall, I feel that I understand the world better, from a different perspective.
 
Our choices don't make us bad, but they do shape us. some things we can't change, some things we do will leave us different, scared, never the same. we become stronger in the aftermath of a storm, because we learned how to survive .
 
I'm grateful for the things that have brought me here in my life.
 
 
okay so that was my sentimental, reflecting back on time part of the post. here is the real choices that I'm excited about lately!
 
Well, I've been engaged for two months, and here is what I have accomplished so far.
 
Booked our reception center
paid for our photographer
figured out flowers
got my dress, bridesmaid dresses and one of the moms dresses
got ideas for center pieces, working on getting all the stuff
and booked the Salt Lake Temple for March 7th,2013 at 11:40 AM!!
 
I'm so excited to be getting married in the temple!
anyway there you guys go. enjoy the ramblings. 


Sunday, October 28, 2012

7th out of 80. not the worst.

 

 Saturday I ran the Runawaybride 10k in St. George Utah. On Thursday I was having extreme panic, Leah and I went running, and she calmed me down. Something about running with your best friend, and catching up, eases the mind.

When Mark and I arrived at the Lauren James bridal store in Bloomington, my nerves were still kind of high; the race last year was pretty small. Maybe 24 people total. I felt a lot of pressure.

Questions galore in my head, none of which I had answers too.

What was the girl’s time from last year?

How many people will run this year?

What will the course be like?

How many crazy fast girls will there be? Or will I be really fast compared to them?

Other things, like I was alone. No team at this point, except of course my number one fan Mark, and my aunt and uncle cheering me on.

This fear was also associated with the four weeks of training I had.

Eventually our turn to get our packet came, and we sat down with the lady, who explained the course to us, and outlined it so we could drive it.

I asked her all my questions, and she was very helpful.

The girl who won last year ran in 38 minutes, and was a junior in high school... she wasn't running this year.

Ok, I thought. That’s good ha.

There were about 80 people running the 10k this year.

And that’s when my nerves calmed down. Pressure removed. I felt calm all the sudden. Chances are, I wouldn't be able to win. But I could still do well, and have fun.

Race day came, teams gathered together and I jogged around in layers of clothing, it was cold outside. Not as cold as Provo. I haven't been running in the cold, not in that kind of cold.

I found out I had a team member assigned to me, I never saw her, but I did get her award after. She won me 100 dollars off wedding invitations!

Five minutes before the race, we line up and take a picture. I strip off all my warm ups and give them to Mark, he is freezing also ha.

The blow horn is blown. We are off

And just like in cross country the top girls go out, super-fast, I stay with them for about a mile.

Then fall behind, two girls wearing spandex shorts take the lead, they are wearing SUU track and field shirts.

Go figures. If only my running friend could have won it for me... oh well.

Push on. I am in 7th. No one is around me, and I’m running and feeling miserable,

But I kept trying to catch runner number six.

I didn't win a dress. I didn't know what I would win, or if I would. Remember I keep thinking, every step brings me closer to the end, every step is a little less than a mile. I feel like my legs are going slower, and my lungs are pumping air faster.

I see the finish line, finally. Pushing it, feels like I’m going so slow.

I cross and feel like I’m going to puke. 

And declare I’m out of shape, people laugh, and say I wish that was my out of shape!

I’m thinking that if I had more time I would have done better, and the cold weather didn't help. My lungs hurt, my right leg aches, and I am happy to be done.
the race is over, no more worrying about running when Its cold and i'd rather be at the gym.
We finally go get in line to see if we won anything.

7th place gets me an 800 dollar discount off of Gideon photography, and a free engagement session! (He does the photos in the Utah bride magazines, an amazing photographer!)

Plus the 100 dollars off wedding invites my team mate got me.

I am so happy!!! My time was decent too.

I feel accomplished, and am content to be there in the cold. Amazed at what my body continues to allow me to do, and thinking that I just don't have the time or energy these days to train like I did in high school.

Half Marathons are definitely my race. That and Ragnar, I’m a runner who runs for fun now, and to beat personal times. Every race it’s exhausting, and I’m beat, but it’s always worth the pain.

But so rewarding, and this time I saved some money on an amazing photographer.

They do the raffle. I win the softest blanket I’ve ever felt; I keep declaring to Mark that “this blanket is my favoritest blanket in the world! It’s so soft. The blanket alone is worth the run!” I also won some towels, and a foot massager.

This has been a good trip.

After that Mark and I drove the two hours to VIVA LAS VEGAS to see the Body world’s exhibit they have there. It was very interesting. I would recommend going to see this exhibit to anyone. As long as you can stomach it.

All and all it was a good trip, and I'm so happy I won something for my efforts.

We also decided on a reception center too. Yay us!

Only four months left... ha.


 


Sunday, October 21, 2012

Runawaybride 10K

My 10K is in six days!

If I win I get a free wedding dress, and other free assorted wedding stuff.


I haven't been so nervous to race since high school!!! or my first half marathon! YIKES!!!


this race is in Saint George Utah. Mark is going to be my Cheer leader. He is my biggest fan. I love that boy so much. I'm so happy with the decision I've made to marry him.

some of the plus's of marrying mark are,

He is my best friend

I feel safe with him

My best friend is now my cousin-in Law :)

I'm getting a wonderful second family, ( who doesn't need or want that?!)


yep, can't complain there.


My Best friend  Leah wrote about her home team.

I'd say my home team is seriously pretty amazing. at the end of the day, you have heavenly father, your family, and the friends you consider family. these are the people that matter to me.

I love people a lot, but I'd only do anything and everything for a few. sorry to the wrest of you.

there you go,

happy Sunday.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Marriage addvice I found on Pintrest. Read it.

15 Ways to Stay Married for 15 Years



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So the world is blowing up with all the details of Katie and Tom's failed marriage and all that that entails. When I was sinlge, I devoured details of celebrity divorces. The scandal! The intrigue! Now that I'm married, it kinda just makes me sad. I hate when that ever popular 50% stat is proven right. So whenever I start to get a little down about my own relationship or the state of marriages in general, I pull up what is probably my most favorite piece of writing on the internet. I know, that's a bold statement. But it's true. Author Lydia Netzer has been married for 15 years. She and her husband aren't experts on marriage, just their own, and you can tell they are super proud of their relationship and totally still in love.
As Lydia says, she and her husband Dan got married when they were 25 years old. I love her self decprication: "Looking back I’m surprised we didn’t, as 25 year olds, self-destruct just for the heck of it. Now that we are older, we are perhaps surprisingly also wiser." Trust me, they are definitely wiser.
Here are the things they have learned over the years, that helped them stay married and -- gasp! -- even happy for fifteen years. (Beyond that, she says you’re on your own. She can’t promise another 15.) Their list does not resemble the one you will find in Cosmo or Ladies’ Home Journal. She says they have never had a regular date night, nor do they prioritize “communication” or play sex games or see a therapist. He doesn’t bring her flowers every Thursday, she doesn’t cook his favorite food very often. But they do have some other ideas. Here they are in Lydia and Dan's own words!

1. Go to bed mad.The old maxim that you shouldn’t go to bed mad is stupid. Sometimes you need to just go to freakin’ bed. “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath” is prefaced in the Bible by the phrase “Be angry and sin not.” So, who’s to say it doesn’t mean “Stay angry, bitches. Don’t let the sun go down on that awesome fierce wrath of yours.” Seriously. Whoever interpreted this to mean that you should stay up after midnight, tear-stained and petulant, trying to iron out some kind of overtired and breathy accord -- was stupid. Shut up, go to bed, let your husband get some sleep. In the morning, eat some pancakes. Everything will seem better, I swear.
2. Laugh if you can.In any fight, there is one person who is really mad, and one person who isn’t that mad. That person should deflect the fight. Make a joke, do something stupid or corny, make the other person laugh. If the fight is very serious for you and you feel like you really want to plant your flag and die on this hill, fine. Do it. But if you’re fighting for entertainment, or because you’re just reacting, then you be the one to deflect. Fights are bad. Deflecting a fight whenever possible is a good idea. When you’re the one who’s being pissy and raw, and the other person helps you get out of it and brings about peace, that feels fantastic. This was a hard lesson to learn, for me. Letting Dan deflect a fight is the best thing, now. He does it really well.
3. Don’t criticize. Ever.Here is a fact: Whatever critical thing that you are about to say to your wife is already being loudly articulated in her head. And if it’s true, she already feels like crap about it. Assuming you married someone intelligent enough to like you and sane enough to let you put a ring on it, trust that they are self-aware enough to know when they screwed up. It may feel good to you in that moment to say the critical thing, let it go ringing through the air in all its sonorous correctness, but it will feel awful to hear it. The only, only way it’s beneficial to give your wife criticism of any kind is if you’re absolutely positive she is completely unaware. And you better find the nicest, kindest way possible to tell her. And even then, good luck convincing her. Their recognition of the thing you are helpfully trying to point out will be INHIBITED, not facilitated, by your criticism. And then you’re the asshole. So be careful.
4. Be the mirror.Your husband is the mirror in which you see yourself. And the things you say to him give him an image of himself too, which he will believe. You want him to believe it, so make it good. Be a mirror that reflects something positive: you’re smart, you’re successful, you’re fantastic in the sack, you’re a great provider, you’re the best. Can you MAKE him any of these things just by telling him he is? I don’t know, but consider this: the alternative really sucks. The things my husband says to me are 1000 times more convincing than anyone else’s opinion on earth. Don’t think he won’t believe you because you’re married and you’re contractually obligated to say nice things. He’ll believe the shitty, insulting things you say, and the gloriously positive things.
5. Be proud and brag.Let your spouse hear you talking about them in glowing terms to other people. Be foolish. Be obvious. It will mean everything. You will stay married forever.
6. Do your own thing.Dan races bicycles. I write books. I don’t race bicycles or have any desire to race bicycles. He doesn’t write books, nor does he even read the books that I write. Seriously. And I don’t care. My opinion is that he’s the fastest, coolest most awesome bike racer ever. His opinion is that I’m the bestest, coolest writer ever. We don’t have to know all about cycling or writing in order to form these opinions -- in fact knowledge of literature or actually reading my book might damage Dan’s opinion of me as “best writer since the dawn of time.” We can still support each other without being all up in the other person’s stuff. Doing your own thing, having your own friends, being completely insanely passionate about something that the other person has no idea, really, about, is awesome. It allows your spouse to be your cheerleader, uncomplicated by knowledge or personal investment. And it means you’ll always have stuff to talk about, because you’re not overlapping all the time. You don’t have to read the same books either. You don’t have to have the same friends.
7. Have kids.Kids stop you from being as crazy as you want to be. Because when you have kids, you can’t be that crazy.
8. Get really good at sex.You’ve got all the time in the world to get really really good, not just at sex in general, but at having sex with your one particular husband. You should make it your life’s mission to become the perfect sex machine exactly for him. And he for you. There is no reason to hold back, or be embarrassed, or not ask questions, and get everything working properly. There’s absolutely no excuse for letting years drag on without becoming fully skilled, gifted sex partners for each other. It makes everything so much better. Does talking about this make you uncomfortable? How uncomfortable would it make you to know that your spouse is secretly, silently “just okay” with your sexual performance? Yeah. You want to last fifteen years, remember? That’s a long time to be mildly happy.
9. Move.Live in different houses. In different parts of the country. Travel. Make it so that you can look back and divide up your life into the years you spent in different cities, or different houses. If you’re feeling stuck geographically or physically, you can confuse yourself into thinking you’re stuck romantically. See your husband in different places, in different contexts, in different countries even. Try it. Take him to a mountaintop and give him another look. Pretty sexy. Take him to a new city and check out his profile. Along the same lines, don’t be afraid to change personally, or let your wife change as a person. Don’t worry about “growing apart.” Be brave and evolve. Become completely different. Don’t gather moss. Stagnation is unattractive.
10. Stop thinking temporarily.Marriage is not conditional. It is permanent. Your husband will be with you until you die. That is a given. It sounds obvious, but really making it a given is hard. You tend to think in “ifs” and “thens” even when you’ve publicly committed to forever. If he does this, I won’t tolerate it. If I do this, he’ll leave me. If I get fat. If I change jobs. If he says mean things. If he doesn’t pay more attention. It’s natural, especially in the beginning of your marriage, to keep those doubts in your head. But the sooner you can get go of the idea that marriage is temporary, and will end if certain awful conditions are met, the sooner you will let go of all kinds of conflict and stress. Yes, you may find yourself in a horrible situation where it’s absolutely necessary to get a divorce. But going into it with divorce in the back of your mind, even in the way way way back of your mind, is going to cause a lot of unnecessary angst. Accept that you’re going to stay with him. He’s going to stay with you. Inhabit that and figure out how to make THAT work, instead of living with the “what if”s and “in case of”s.
11. Do not put yourself in trouble’s way.Leave your ex boyfriends and girlfriends alone. I’m sure you’re very trustworthy. Aren’t we all? The thing is, there’s absolutely no reason to test it. Your husband and your marriage are more valuable than any friendship. Any friendship that troubles the marriage should be over immediately. Protect it with knives and teeth, not because it’s fragile but because it’s precious. Don’t ass around with a “hall pass” or a “harmless flirtation.” Adultery isn’t an event, it’s a process with an event at the end. Don’t put your feet on a path that could lead someplace bad.
12. Make a husband pact with your friends.The husband pact says this: I promise to listen to you complain about your husband even in the most dire terms, without it affecting my good opinion of him. I will agree with your harshest criticism, accept your gloomiest predictions. I will nod and furrow my brow and sigh when you describe him as a hideous ogre. Then when your fight is over and love shines again like a beautiful sunbeam in your life, I promise to forget everything you said and regard him as the most charming of princes once more. The husband pact is very useful because you want to be able to vent to your friend without having her actually start hating your husband. Because you don’t really mean all those things you say. And she, the swearer of the pact, knows this.
13. Bitch to his mother, not yours.This is one I did read somewhere in a magazine, and it’s totally true. His mother will forgive him. Yours never will. If you’re a man, bitch to your friends. They expect it.
14. Be loyal.All the crap you read in magazines about honesty, sense of humor, communication, sensitivity, date nights, couples weekends, blah blah blah can be trumped by one word: loyalty. You and your spouse are a team of two. It is you against the world. No one else is allowed on the team, and no one else will ever understand the team’s rules. This is okay. The team is not adversarial, the team does not tear its members down, the team does not sabotage the team’s success. Teammates work constantly to help and better their teammates. Loyalty means you put the other person in your marriage first all the time, and you let them put you first. Loyalty means subverting your whims or desires of the moment to better meet your spouse’s whims or desires, with the full understanding and expectation that they will be doing the same. This is the heart of everything, and it is a tricky balance. Sometimes it sways one way and some the other. Sometimes he gets to be crazy, sometimes it’s your turn. Sometimes she’s in the spotlight, sometimes you. Ups and downs, ultimately, don’t matter because the team endures.
15. Trust the person you married.For two people who are trying to help each other, it can almost be harder to let the other person help you than it is to be the one who’s helping. It can be harder to let the other person deflect the fight than to be the one deflecting. It can be harder to believe that your husband is fully committed to a lifetime of marriage than to commit yourself. Harder to change yourself than to let the other person change. Harder to be loved than to love. Weird, but true. I’m saying this to everyone who’s newly married, and to myself: trust that person. Love them completely and let them love you. If it all goes to seed, it’s going to hurt either way. Better to have gone into it full throttle. Full throttle marriage is a thrilling ride.
This list is simply the best marriage advice I’ve ever read. It closely resembles a lot of what my parents live, and they are the best example of a happy marriage I’ve ever known. Like I said, I read this list often…do you agree with me that this is such smart advice? Do you do these 15 things with your husband or significant other?
{Lydia Netzer’s original article, complete with adorable pictures!}
 
I saw this and felt that I needed to share, with others! so here you guys go!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Why I love you.

I love you because,

you make me laugh, even if I'm laughing at you.

you get my quirks, and have quirks of your own.

we are a team, and proceed accordingly

you are my best friend

and such a hard worker

if i'm ever feeling sad you have never made me feel worse, you listen intently and try your best to help. Your always saying, "how can I help you?" and giving the best advice.

I love how unselfish you are.

you were there for me in one of the hardest times in my life, you never gave up.

(i'm glad you decided I would be worth it)

You text me good morning, and good night, even though its been 10 months.

You tell me you love me so genuinely, because you are genuine

I love your athenticity. the way you are sure of yourself, and you don't let what other people think affect your decisions

I love that you are a hard worker, I know you will provide for us, and I will help too.

everyone that has known you has nothing but good things to say

I love that you have been there and done that, because you get "it" now. You can do hard things, you've done hard things, and you survived. Just like me.

I love the way you sing to songs in the car

and how beautiful you are inside, and handsome on the outside

I love that you listen to me, and laugh at my jokes

I love how you love my family, especially my sister, and are so excepting of both my brothers .

I love that you don't judge people, you are such a good example to me.

I love that we don't fight.

I love that you love me.

I'm so lucky.

I'm getting such a great man, with such a great family.

this list could go on.

but I will stop.

because its kinda mushy.

I'm so excited to be getting married to this amazing guy!

5 months to go hahaha.