Day 30

November 30.
Thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don't know where I would be without the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I know that the church is true. I know God lives, that He loves us, and knows each of us so personally. I know that my life has been so blessed by being a member of this church. I hope and pray that I can be an example of Jesus Christ everyday and have His spirit with me to guide me in everything that I do.

Day 29

November 29.
Thankful for the living prophet Thomas S. Monson. I know that he is a prophet of God and that he receives modern day revelation for us all. I'm so thankful for his example of love and charity.

Day 28

November 28.
Thankful for The Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for this revelation in my life and the opportunity to read it everyday. It keeps me happy, it keeps me going, it keeps my life in perspective. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and it blesses my life each time I open it up to read it.

Day 27

November 27.
Thankful for our heater. Alright, it's freezing outside and of course I'm not ready. But at least our heater was prepared, and I'm thankful it keeps us nice and toasty!

Day 26

November 26.
Thankful for decorating. We put up and decorated our little Christmas tree. I love the holidays and the fun warmth it brings into our little home. And I loved spending time talking with my husband while decorating:) 

Day 25

November 25.
Thankful for shopping! In honor of Black Friday and amazing Black Friday deals. I'm no midnight shopper but working retail was definitely a crazy fun blast!

Day 24

November 24.
Thankful for time. The time that I have to spend with family and friends, the time to become who I want to be.

Day 23

November 23.
Thankful for exercise. I've been a real slacker lately but I am motivating myself to start anew and be better! It just feels so good to feel so good!

Day 22

November 22.
Thankful for music. I love it! Especially the start of Christmas music..... :)

Day 21

November 21.
Thankful for amazing friends. Seriously, I have some incredible people who have changed my life. Love them all<3

Days 18, 19 & 20

Wow, slackers. Catch up time...

November 18.
Thankful for technology. Email, blogs, facebook, phones, computers, laptops......... So incredible. And so helpful in school and life!


November 19.
Thankful for stress relievers. Love me some back rubs and bubble baths to just take a minute to cool down and not stress.


November 20.
Thankful for the all natural birth control of nursery. We subbed today and were so grateful to spend time with the cute kids in our ward (especially since they were all so good and fun to be around) but to also make us grateful for the other times of church that we so often take for granted.

Day 17

November 17.
Thankful for a cleaning husband! I came home from a long day and the dishes were done and the trash was out and the floor was all swept. What a sweetie.

Day 16

November 16.
Thankful for google. For real, thank you amazing google for making my life so much easier.

www.google.com

But seriously, who isn't grateful for google?

Day 15

November 15.
Thankful for my cousins. Seriously, where would I be without them? So many great times. So many talks to get through hard times. so.much.love.<3 

                               

Seriously though.. These girls have made my life a better place!

Days 13 & 14

November 13.
Thankful for our apartment. Even when it makes scary noises...


November 14.
Thankful for naps. Especially in our big warm bed on a day when you really just need a nap!

Day 12

November 12.
Thankful for our calling. It has been such an amazing experience to be able to serve at Primary Children's. I feel like we both have grown so much and have learned a ton. We have met the sweetest children who are overcoming some major trials. It is so humbling and sweet. Keep these amazing children in your prayers<3

Day 11

November 11.
Thankful for our troops, soldiers, all the armed forces. Especially thankful for my brother and thankful that he is now home safe<3 

Day 10

November 10.
Thankful for good health. After spending a day sick with the flu, it makes you really appreciate your good health days.

p.s. Happy 6 month anniversary to us<3 

Thank you Miyo from BUSATH photography for the beautiful photo

Days 8 & 9

November 8.
Thankful for our car. I may not like driving a stick shift and it may not be pretty... but it gets us where we need to be!


November 9.
Thankful for fun date nights! (And for winning billiards tonight with complete strangers. Go Team Nielsen's)

No pictures for these... but trust me, it was a great night tonight!

Day 7

November 7.
Thankful for my job and the amazing people I get to work with!

LOVE a good sale!
www.loft.com

(happy shopping<3)

Day 6

November 6.
Thankful for the Temple.

I'm grateful for the temple and all the blessings it brings to our lives. I am so thankful for our temple marriage and am so grateful that we can be together forever.

Mormon.org
lds.org

Day 5

November 5.
Thankful for food!

(Image from Pinterest : etsy.com)

Day 4

November 4.
Thankful for school and the opportunity to gain an education. GO UTES!

November Already?!

So, fail for us on keeping up with our blog....
But here is a fresh start for November!

I'm three days late for being thankful but I will catch up really quick.

November 1.
Thankful for this man right here<3 What a stud!
I couldn't be luckier with the best husband in the world!

November 2.

Thankful for the best two families in the world!

November 3.

Thankful for beautiful Utah weather! I complain too much, but I really do love it.

Joseph Smith

Today is the 167th anniversary of the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was the man who restored the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I am so grateful for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ on earth today.  Mormon.org tells so much better the story of Joseph Smith's life than I could.

http://mormon.org/joseph-smith/

For our honeymoon, Kyron and I were lucky enough to travel back to where the early Saints lived, Nauvoo, Illinois.  I LOVED IT!!! The spirit was so strong as we visited the Temple that they built there and Carthage Jail, the place where the prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum were killed because of their religious beliefs.


The Saints were forced to leave Nauvoo and the beautiful temple they had built there. Then they crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley and started on the Salt Lake Temple. The one that Kyron and I were married in for time and eternity just 7 weeks ago.

I feel so blessed to live in these times and for the great sacrifices my ancestors made by following the prophet Joseph Smith and coming to Salt Lake. 

Outside of Carthage Jail.

The room where Joseph Smith and Hyrum were killed by the mob

The beautiful Nauvoo Temple

Joseph, Emma, and Hyrum Smith

I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God. I know that God lives. I know that He knows us and loves us enough to guide and lead Joseph Smith in restoring the gospel on the earth today. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. That He died and atoned for our sins, and that He rose again so that we will be able to live with Him again someday in happiness.

mormon.org

Marriage Adventures... TEXAS

So after the wedding we drove half way across the country for our honeymoon! We ended up in Nauvoo and spent a couple of days there and loved it!! But I forgot my camera battery charger this summer so no pictures :( BUT. The plan was to go to Kansas City for Kyron to sell for Pinnacle Security. While we were on our way we found out the office moved to Texas! After a few more days of traveling and figuring out where the office was going to be... We are now in Corpus Christi! It is so much fun even though we are still living our lives in a hotel haha

While Kyron is out everyday in the hot humid sun working, I get to play with the other wives that are here with us. It's a blast! So the other day we went to the Texas Botanical Gardens.. They were a little disappointing but we had a good time!

  The Butterflies and the Rose garden were the best part of the few minutes we were there!

Today we went to the Aquarium! Now this was fun. I don't have my camera so all the pictures are from my phone, but I'm doing the best I can..

This was the anteater with a tongue as long as its tail!! 

There were some sweet birds at the bird show. One almost attacked Jessica but.. the rest was fun! 

I don't remember what this one was called but... It's basically one huge cat from Africa!

This otter was so cute! It had fun playing around with the other otters there too!

 Sting rays. So creepy, so cool though!

 A Dory Fish!! My favorite!

 We also loved the dolphin shows. So fun!

Jellyfish!!!

Kyron and I wanted an adventure, so this summer definitely has been, still is, and will continue to be one! We are loving married life here in Texas!

May 10, 2011 : Wedding Day

We are late in posting about our wedding day because of all the adventures post-wedding. But we wanted to share our feeling of how absolutely incredible that day was!

Starting the night before was our wedding dinner. All of our parents said wonderful things about us and everyone was so loving and supportive. It did get a little obnoxious when all my siblings started chiming their glasses, but that's why we love them;)

May 10, 2011 at 11:00 in the Salt Lake Temple, Kyron and I were married and sealed.  It really was the best moment in my entire life! I am so grateful for the temple and for our family to now be sealed together forever! It was a beautiful day.

Pictures outside the temple were a blast! It was the perfect overcast weather and we were so grateful that it wasn't a downpour of rain like the day before.  What a blessing! We had lots of fun with our photographers, videographers, family and friends.  Everyone was so incredible to be there for us!

The reception at The Old Meeting House turned out perfectly! I am probably the most naive to any problems that may have occurred but for me it was perfect! Everything was gorgeous and everyone's hard work definitely paid off. We loved our reception.  We partied it up with dancing all night and couldn't have had more fun. I hope everyone who came enjoyed it just as much as we did! And I was so lucky that my brother OJ who was in Iraq for our wedding called! I almost started crying because I miss him so much but he was such a support in our marriage and we love him so much!

My beautiful friend, Taylor, caught my bouquet and then we were sent off with sparklers out the door. It was so beautiful and lit up the sky.  Ironically, "Firework" by Katy Perry was on the radio when we got in the car from the reception and we laughed all the way to the Anniversary Inn.

It was a perfect and beautiful day! <3

General Young Women's Meeting

I know that this blog has recently (and only) been about Kyron and my relationship, our courtship, and us falling in love. But the best part of our life together is living life together. We could not be happier or more excited to get married in 6 WEEKS from today! We are both so happy and wanted to continue living our life together and sharing what we learn.

On Saturday evening I had the opportunity to go to the General Young Women's Meeting at the conference center with my dad and sisters, Candace and Dianne. My mom has been working diligently on the Young Women's Board to get this conference put together.  She went to meeting after meeting to prepare, she went to rehearsal after rehearsal for the choir girls to support their dedication in singing in the choir, she stayed up hour after hour at our house to do everything for the meeting and our family.  She is a remarkable woman.  I could not ask for a better mother! And since she is so incredible, she got the four of us tickets to go see the product of her, and the other outstanding women on the board's, work.  I am so grateful!


First of all, I have to back up and give my gratitude for my sweet fiancee, Kyron, for volunteering to babysit Candace's kids so that she could attend the meeting with us.  Her husband had his calling to fulfill and Kyron gave up his night of homework and friends to babysit.  What a sweetheart! We were all grateful.  And he was especially grateful for TeElle helping out! (He gives her full credit, which I don't doubt!)


It was a very special experience for me.  Before the actual meeting, we were able to attend a devotional that they had with the choir girls. It was a great precursor to the meeting.  We then walked through the conference center and took our seats. The meeting was absolutely amazing.  I am at a loss of words for the feelings I felt there.  The spirit was so strong.  The girls in the choir did so well and all their hard work paid off! When they sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and "How Firm a Foundation," I was blown away.  I truly felt the meanings of both of those hymns in that moment.  All the talks by the Young Women Presidency were so inspirational.  Sister Elaine S. Dalton shared a particularly incredible story of the young women in Alpine actually walking from the Draper Temple to the Salt Lake Temple.  President Henry B. Eyring talked a lot about temples and being prepared to get married in the temple.  With my temple marriage coming up so soon (6 weeks!) I was so touched by his message.  I truly felt the power of the Lord witnessing to me that Kyron and I are doing the right thing by getting married in His Holy Temple.

Young Women Video


I am so grateful for the opportunity my wonderful mother gave me to attend this meeting. I could not be more blessed by the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  I know that He lives and loves me.  His atonement makes the chance to go to the temple possible. I am so grateful!


LDS.ORG WEB SITE

Wedding Planning

After the big proposal day we started getting ready for the Real Big Day! (May 10, 2011) I've basically been planning my wedding since I was 3 years old so I thought I'd be able to bust out all the plans really fast. But I was wrong. Even though I definitely have an idea for everything, there is a lot more planning than I previously anticipated. Kyron and I are loving every minute of it though! We are getting married in the Salt Lake Temple. I have been dreaming of this day for a long time, and I am so glad that it is going to happen there! I couldn't be more grateful for the blessings that already have come and will continue to shower upon us as we prepare to and do get married in the Temple.  Even though all the celebrations will be a blast, that is the part that we are looking most forward to.  We love the temple!! The night before, we are going to have a dinner at the Lion House. Then, after the temple ceremony, we are going to have a reception at The Old Meeting House. We went all over town looking for the perfect place to have a fun, dance-filled reception and finally landed on The Old Meeting House. I am so excited! It is beautiful.  There is a great dance floor and lots of room to have some fun! We keep planning flowers and music and pictures and invitations and so much more! It is tons of fun to do.  Everywhere we go and everything we do, my mom gets a little emotional as she realizes that her baby girl is really getting married. It has been such a special time. Two more months feels like a long time for both Kyron and I but we are getting through it! We are busy busy with school and work, and Kyron is training and getting ready for selling alarm systems with Pinnacle this summer. We are embarking on a whole new adventure and couldn't be happier about it!
  

RIng Shopping and the Proposal

Written by Kyron-- (commentated by Marie in parentheses)

Before getting ahead of ourselves, we should back up to before all of the holiday festivities. It was Thanksgiving, and we already knew that we were going to be married. We spent the day having dinner with my family and in the evening applied for married student housing at the U. The next day was Black Friday, and we decided to look at some of the jewelers to get an idea for an engagement ring. We looked at most of the usual stores and Marie saw a few rings she liked, but none that she loved. Early in December, we were walking through the Gateway and decided on a whim to go into Morgan Jewelers and see what they had. Inside we met an awesome salesman and Marie found a ring that she loved. (Really really loved!) A few weeks later, I went back and bought the ring. (I had no idea. I had actually gone into the store about an hour before to show Megan the ring with no idea that Kyron was even at the mall too!) It was gone for a week being sized and cleaned, but I got it back just in time for Christmas. For weeks, Marie had said that the only thing she wanted for Christmas was an engagement ring, but I always assured her that it couldn't happen. (He kept telling me that it definitely would not happen until at least February. I kept hoping for sooner but finally believed that it wouldn't happen for a couple more months.) With this in mind, proposing on Christmas seemed like the best way to give her what she wanted. (So sweet) So, I borrowed a Santa suit and made a plan to propose on Christmas day. (I was with him when he picked up the Santa suit and had no idea why but wasn't even curious. Kind of funny) Christmas eve came and we had a nice dinner with all of Marie's family and had a great time opening some wonderful gifts. (I wondered if he was going to surprise me for Christmas Eve, but once it didn't happen that night I completely let it go.) On Christmas morning we had a nice breakfast with Marie's family and opened a few more gifts, then we headed off to Kaysville. (Kyron seemed a little antsy, but I just thought it was because he wanted to get to his house to open gifts.) When we got to my family's house, we began our family gift exchange. Each person had someone else's name, except Marie. I came into the room dressed as Santa Clause and handed out gifts to each person in the family. When the gifts were all gone, and Marie didn't have one, I looked around to find something suitable for her. (Okay, this was really awkward. I kept giving Kyron the look that was saying "Stop.. Everyone knows that I don't have a gift, this isn't that funny....." Oh how I ate those thoughts!) Eventually I found a ring box underneath my Santa hat, and removing my beard and wig, I knelt down and asked her to marry me. She let out a yelp, and eventually managed to say yes. The rest of the day was great and spent telling everyone the good news.

Here's the proposal video!

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear"

Even though we had talked about marriage, and knew that it was right, we weren't ready for everyone else to know. We talked about the possibility of getting married in May, so that we could spend the summer together. We even told our families that we wanted to get married sometime around May 10th. But we swore them to secrecy. Our families were thrilled! We spent the holiday season going back and forth between our family parties. Who would complain about two Thanksgivings though? The holidays brought many fun parties and activities. One in particular was a ginger bread house party at Chase and Becca's. Out of five couples, we received the award for the best ginger bread house! Another party we went to was an ugly sweater party. Marie got out the big guns with a sweater donated by Griffin and Katie. She won the contest that evening too. That night was filled with Christmas carols, so naturally we used Marie's "12 days of Christmas" sweater as a prop to remember the verses. Other fun during the holidays included trips to Kaysville, Jazz games, multiple family parties for both sides, Temple lights (where Marie got slammed by an avalanche off of the Tabernacle), making and delivering cookies and other fun adventures.

Getting to Know All About You...

Our first few dates went so well that we both just wanted to spend every minute with each other. Being together was never awkward or weird, we always had things to talk about and loved just being together. In fact, we continued to talk all day through texting and whenever we weren't at school or work we were together. In order to keep our school work up while spending so much time together, we had a lot of study dates. We both had pretty impressive grades by the end of the semester, so I guess all of our study dates were effective! But, we didn't spend all of our time studying. We carved pumpkins, went to a lot of dance parties, had photo shoots of Kyron and his car, went to football games almost every weekend (Kyron is now a True Ute), played games, watched movies, went on drives, ward activities, and the list goes on and on. We definitely had a lot of fun! Most importantly though, we spent our time talking and really getting to know each other. We talked about everything. And it wasn't very long before we fell in love and started talking about marriage. Even though I am only 19 and we hadn't been dating for very long, we both knew we were in love and felt that being together for eternity was the right direction.

The Meeting

We met on September 26, 2010. At a singles ward. Actually, we should have met the night before. But I met his roommate Cade Spackman instead. Luckily, Cade introduced Kyron and me the next day at church. At the Linger Longer. But, truth be told, we hit things off right away. I even let him hold my new phone! Although, it was after refusing him the ownership of my pink high heels. Later that week, he maneuvered a way to lay hold of my phone number. "I see something I want and I go for it," says Kyron. Well, he got me. He texted me everyday to say hi. Our mutual friends brought us together at the Pie the next weekend. He finally called me the next day to ask me out on a date. Thanks to Megen dating his friend Trent, I got a little bit of background information so I could say yes. I had to fit him into my schedule.. plan this date around the other dates I already had, but somehow managed to make it work. Really, I was the most excited for my date with him. Little did I expect that during the week he would surprise me and invite to a pre-date ice cream date! It turned into a fun night getting to know each other and finding more and more things we had in common. A couple nights later I went over to his bachelor pad and played a rousing game of Around the World. I had never had to be afraid to lose that game.. the fear of getting nailed with a ping pong ball in the back was frightening with Kalen and Austin aiming for the most sensitive parts. The next night was our first official date. Kyron picked me up with Andrew Lloyd. In Andrew's car. To drive Andrew to the airport. In the middle of a Utah football game. What an impression. Then we made a little road trip. All the way to Ogden. Even though I was treading in unchartered territory, we had a great time bowling at Fat Cats with Chase & Becca and Jake & Lindsey. Kyron even got lucky that night! We watched a scary movie, which I hate, and he got to cuddle with me. It was definitely the date of a lifetime! And so we began...