{ time flies }

 Here's what we've been up to lately. . . 

1. We went up to Salt Lake for my good friend Myrinda (Johnson) Dunn's wedding reception at Red Butte Gardens. It was BEAUTIFUL! She looked gorgeous and so so SO happy. After chatting with some high school friends and drinking some delicious Italian sodas, we headed over to Temple Square for a walk by the temple. I can't wait to go back December 20th!!!

 

2. Kristin, Devin's beautiful and talented younger sister, took some pictures of us outside the Jordan River Temple in preparation for a wedding she is doing in November. The pictures turned out SO great! It was such a fun night. I have LOVED getting to know her better and being able to spend time with her. She has been so nice to me! I feel so blessed to be marrying into such an AMAZING family!

 

 

3. We got pumped for BYU Football by going to the Tueller family tailgate party a few weeks ago! It was fun to have Uncle Mark with us from California. GO COUGARS!

 

4. Thanks to my dad, we were able to go to the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference with my family. It was great! Conference weekend is always such an uplifting time of the year. I'm already looking forward to April! 

 

... We're looking forward to having Devin's parents and brother in town this weekend!

{life is so good!}

Reason #278930948 why I love Devin:

He is such a hard worker! I am constantly amazed at his ability to juggle early morning lifting/conditioning, tough business classes, endless reading quizzes and assignments, hours of in-class time, practice, softball games, group projects, and lots of reading. Even with all of this, he still makes time for me and I love him for it. He even made me dinner the other night after a particularly stressful day for me! I am one LUCKY girl!

Oh and not that I'm counting or anything but . . .

81 days

1958 hours

117534 minutes

Can't wait!

He put a ring on it!

Tuesday was probably the best day of my life. 

I'm still amazed that such an ordinary and uneventful day like Tuesday could quickly turn into something that has completely changed my life. 

Last week, Devin told me that Sundance was doing their moonlit ski lift rides this week and wondered if I wanted to go. Since this was where we had our first kiss, I was really excited to go back. At this point you may be wondering how I didn't see a proposal coming, given the sentimental nature of the date. Let me give you some background info that might help you understand...

Devin had asked me out for this coming Friday over a week in advance. That immediately made me suspicious since he usually only asks a few days beforehand. When I said that I didn't have any plans, he asked again, "You're sure you don't have any plans?". I tried not to let him know that I was onto him, but inside I was pretty confident that I had him figured out. He was so vague anytime I asked him about what we were going to do. I was pretty positive he was going to propose Friday.

Back to Tuesday night . . .

After having leftovers for dinner, we headed up to Sundance. On the way up, we reminisced about all the things we had talked about that night in June. It was just one week after our first date. I remember being amazed at how comfortable I felt talking with Devin. He made me laugh so hard! He talked about how it was to grow up outside of Utah where there were very few members of the church. I remember being so impressed by his commitment to the standards of the church even if that meant he had to stand alone. I remember how happy I was to have found a guy who was not only solid in the gospel, but also extremely good looking and athletic! It was so fun to relive those memories with him on the way up.

 (picture from our first trip to Sundance)

(Tuesday night)

It was FREEZING up at Sundance! I was really glad that I had brought two jackets just in case. Devin was probably glad too because his big jacket hid the ring box perfectly! The lift ride was beautiful. Just perfect! We got to the bottom and started walking toward the bridge where it all started. It is such a beautiful spot! I was really surprised though, when we kept walking past the bridge up the path. After a minute, he looked me in the eyes and started saying some of the most sincere compliments I have ever heard. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I don't think I have ever felt so many emotions all at once! I was so surprised and confused, but so so SO happy! Of course I said yes :)

When we were walking back to the car, he told me that my family was waiting for us at my grandparents' house. I could not have been happier! I was so glad that I was able to share such an exciting night with my family and soon to be sister-in-law Kristin. It was a night full of hugs, laughing, sparkling cider, pictures, and a surprise musical number by my brother Jordan. 

I can't wait for the future that awaits Devin and I! He is such a blessing in my life. I am constantly amazed by all he does to make me feel loved and appreciated. I couldn't ask for a better best friend and eternal companion. 


I can't wait for December 20th!

{morning glory}

cheerios  +  nectarines  +  milk

I can't get enough of this delicious combination!

{happenings}

Once again, I'm playing catch-up so I'll post some pictures of what's been happening lately...

#1. Me and Devin hiked the Y to watch the Stadium of Fire firework show. It was a hot night, so I was in a full sweat by time we reached the top, but the view was BEAUTIFUL! It was so fun to watch the fireworks going off all across Provo, especially since aerial fireworks are legal now. 

 

#2. I've been lucky enough to spend some time with Becca and Caitlyn, two of the funniest girls I know! We always do fun things together and almost always end up making a trip to Yogurtland :) I'm so happy that Abby is home now from Africa so that she can join us on our adventures!

 

#3. Devin and I took a fun road trip down to St. George and Las Vegas a few weeks ago. We went to one of his teammates weddings in St. George and then continued on to Las Vegas where some of his family lives. It was such a fun trip! Devin's brother Ryan and his wife Sarah were so nice to let us stay at their house and play with their cute girls. It was also fun to meet Devin's mom and brother Nathan. While we were there, we walked down the strip for my first time. There was some incredible architecture, but I can't really picture myself spending much time there :)

 

 

 #4. Devin planned an amazing date night a few weeks ago. We started off the night with dinner at Awful Waffle, a new place across the street from J Dawgs that is AMAZING! After dinner, we went to Provo Beach Resort to play mini croquet and some of the arcade games. I don't think I've laughed that hard in a LONG time! We went to Yogurtland afterward to celebrate my lucky victory :) haha

  

{buy it 4 less}

I'm feeling pretty happy about what I scored at Old Navy today...

 

The shirt on the left is something I saw online from J.Crew for $58.00. The shirt on the right (which is much more gold in person) is from Old Navy for $6.49. Don't you just love finding a good deal??

{Matthew & Janine} - est. August 6, 1983

I know I'm a few days late, but I have been thinking a lot about my parents lately and I just thought they deserved a post :) On August 6th, my parents celebrated their 28th anniversary! I could talk about them for hours, but to keep my thoughts somewhat coherent and organized I've decided to just talk about seven of the many things I love about my parents.These are in no particular order:

1. My parents love the Lord. Their lives are evidence of the unshakable testimonies they each have. I could tell they loved the Lord by watching the way they lived their lives. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I started to really appreciate the small and simple ways in which they established Christ as the center of our home. Scripture study, FHE, family prayer, and countless informal gospel conversations helped me form my testimony of the gospel. I am so grateful for their testimonies of Jesus Christ and their example of how to live a Christ-like life.

2. My parents love to laugh. I honestly don't think a day went by without me hearing my parents laugh. My dad is an expert at doing goofy things to give my mom the giggles. I admire their ability to find humor even in the midst of stressful or frustrating situations. I am so grateful that my parents created a very happy home for us to grow up in.

3. My parents are workers! My dad has blessed our family so much by his willingness to go to work everyday. I never heard him complain about it, even on days when he had to stay late or go to work early. He made it possible for me to take piano lessons, play sports, learn new instruments, go on band tours, buy new clothes, etc. etc. etc. He has always been so selfless with the money he earns. While my dad is at work, my mom is sailing through list after list after LIST of "to do's". She was always working on something around the house, whether it was whipping up a batch of cookies for someone in the ward or getting on her hands and knees to clean a toilet.  I am so grateful that my parents taught me the importance of work.

4. My parents are fun! Some of my fondest memories are times when my family would do fun activities together. I have yet to find a game that even comes close to being as fun as slipper tag! :) I enjoyed spending time with my parents because they truly are my best friends. I will always be grateful to my parents for making the effort to play games, dance to silly music, make a "spot" downstairs, toss a football, or give a back massage to us. 

5. My parents love me! I've been thinking a lot lately about how each of my parents had their own way of expressing their love for each of their children. My dad and I would give little hand squeezes to each other at random times and I always knew that two squeezes meant, "I love you". I loved that. My mom would place little notes on my pillow or on the bathroom mirror telling me that she loved me. Both of them were so good at making sure each child in my family felt loved and appreciated. Because I knew that their love for me was unconditional, I always felt comfortable confiding in them or asking for advice. I am so grateful that I grew up in a home filled with love.

6. My parents knew the importance of magnifying callings. I don't ever remember a time in my life where my parents didn't have meetings! haha When I was little, my dad was called as the bishop in our ward. I remember my mom making cookies and hot chocolate so that me and my siblings could make a "secret delivery" to my dad's bishopric meetings at the church. I remember fishing trips with my dad and brothers when my mom was away at girl's camp. These are just a few examples of my parents' selfless service. I loved being able to watch each of them support the other in their specific callings. They worked as a team and celebrated each others' strengths. 

7. My parents love each other. This would be obvious to anyone who spends just one day in my home. I love the fact that sparks are still flying even after 28 years! One of my favorite things to observe is my dad before Christmas or Mother's Day. He works so hard to find just the right gift! I love that he would buy my mom flowers and chocolates. I never had to wonder if my parents loved each other, which was SUCH a blessing.

I love you both so much, Mom and Dad! Thanks for everything you have done for me and the rest of the children!

{young love}

Mat Kearney just came out with a new album and I absolutely LOVE IT! I have been a huge fan of his for a while now, especially since the release of his last album, City of Black and White. Thanks to an iTunes gift card given to me by Logan, this album is all mine :)

{SPRING}

I have had no time to blog the last few months, so I'll try to get everyone up to speed by posting some pictures from some things that have happened in the last few weeks.

#1. Adventures with Logan. I got to have a sleepover with this handsome young man a little while ago and had so much fun! The night started with us laughing at pictures from the Fancy Feast cat food Facebook page. Logan, "Higgins" still gives me nightmares. Then, we decided to head up Little Cottonwood Canyon to explore. We didn't have any plans on where we wanted to go, so we ended up pulling off the side of the road and heading down to the river. I had so much fun exploring and laughing with Logan. He is one FUNNY kid! When it got dark, we headed over to Cold Stone to get our favorite cake batter ice cream. We definitely had some good times that night that I'll remember forever. Love you Log.

 #2. I have the funnest friends! We got to go to the Strawberry days Rodeo in Pleasant Grove, which was sooo fun! We got there early enough so that we could watch Mutton Bustin' (small children riding sheep) and the cash cows (they attached tons of dollar bills to the backs of two cows and let them loose in the arena, while all the kids from the stands chased after them. Watch the video, it's hilarious!). We also couldn't leave without getting strawberries and cream! Wow, it was amazing!

 

#3. My roommate Katie graduated from BYU and moved back to California. Katie has had such a great influence on me even though we only lived together for a few short months. She has been blessed with the ability to show sincere love and concern for everyone she talks to. She was there for me during some pretty tough times when I needed someone to talk to. She was always so interested in what was going on in my life and gave me some GREAT advice. I look up to her so much and am excited for her to be able to enter this new stage in her life.

 

#4. Just this last Friday, we were able to go to the Manti Pageant. The drive was BEAUTIFUL! The setting of the pageant was gorgeous with the Manti temple in the background. It was such a neat experience!  

{becoming domestic 101}

There's a time in every young woman's life where she begins to feel the need to improve upon the skills that will make her a more qualified homemaker. Well, maybe it's a sign that I'm maturing or maybe it's just that all my roommates are older and good at cooking, but either way recently I have felt the desire to become a more accomplished cook :) I started small, like quesedillas and pancakes small, but I'm slowly making progress. I love finding new foods that taste good and are healthy. When my sister Laura came out to Utah, she would feed Brynlee wheat tortillas as a snack. I thought it was weird, but the other day when I was grocery shopping I decided to get a package to try them. I am telling you, it has changed my life! I LOVE them.

Today, I decided to make a wrap using a wheat tortilla, sliced ham, provolone cheese, tomatoes, and a little ranch dressing. It was such a refreshing meal on a hot day! It would've been even better with some avocado and red pepper. Maybe next time! 

This is next on my list of recipes to try :)

 

Mediterranean Chopped Salad With Shrimp

Change

Wow! A lot has happened since the last blog post. After a stressful week of finals, late nights, and cleaning checks, Jordan and I flew to California to meet up with the rest of my family. We were running on about two and a half hours of sleep, but were excited to have a few days to relax and spend time with the family. The trip was GREAT! We spent some great time at the beach and did a lot of other fun things together. My favorite part about the trip was being able to spend time with my sister Laura and her family. She is such an amazing example to me! I love the way she honors her role as a mother and finds so much joy in it. Brynlee talks so much now and can have conversations with people. It is so cute! I was so glad I was able to see her.

This week has FLOWN by! I am now working eight hours a day and trying to adjust to a new apartment with five new roommates. It's been a very hectic transition, but I enjoy change so it hasn't been too bad. My roommates are so sweet and I know I'll learn so much from them. I'm excited that I decided to go out on my own because it is forcing me to go out of my way to meet people in the ward. Today was my first day going to church with my new ward and I loved every minute of it. The testimonies that were shared were so sincere and powerful. 

As a side note: I can already check a few things off my warm weather to do list. I played catch with my brothers the night before Jordan left to Missouri. I love them and I love to throw a football/baseball so I was in heaven! I played tennis with a friend yesterday, which also made me extremely happy. I just can't wait for all of the fun things I have to look forward to this summer!

I read this quote this week and LOVED it:

"I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves. The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others."

     - Pres. Hinckley

FINALS SURVIVAL 101

Things that have helped me through survive finals so far:

- Earnestly chocolate ice cream from the creamery. I joked with my mom last night that after each final I take I am going to treat my self to a triple scoop of creamery ice cream. It was just funny at the time, but now I think I might just make that joke a reality! 

- Study sessions in the sunshine. Provo has been BEAUTIFUL the past few days!

- A surprise letter from my brother Jae with a Jamba Juice gift card. Yep, that's just the kind of guy he is.

- Another surprise letter from my sister Laura with a "Good luck on finals Rie Rie" note that was colored by Brynlee. So cute!

- Phone calls and texts from family members. Can you sense a theme here?? I have the best family!

- Random laughing attacks prompted by pranks and people tripping on sprinkler heads. I've shed many tears this week just from laughing. 

- Supportive friends. I love running into friends in the library or on campus.

- Dreaming of California. I'll be there in less than a week!
- Running. I haven't been as often as I would have liked this semester, but it is the best stress reliever for me.
- Sunday. Today has given me a much needed break from school. The lessons were fantastic and the spirit was so strong in sacrament meeting. I love my ward!
- Roommates. I'm going to miss these guys so much!

 

BLESSED

Some days it's impossible not to feel God's love. It seems like sometimes He steps into our lives and blesses us just simply because He loves us. I've been so humbled this week as I have thought about all the miracles and blessings that He has given me lately. Some of the things would seem completely insignificant to an outside observer, but to me mean the world. Since I decided to sign a housing contract for spring and summer semesters in Provo, I've been feeling pressure to find a job down here since I'm not going to be taking classes. I haven't had much luck job hunting in the past, so I was really hoping this summer would be different. My prayers were definitely heard. Through some very helpful friends/relatives I was able to find a full-time job at a company about ten minutes from my apartment. I couldn't believe it! I didn't think my week could get any better, but then earlier today I got a 97% on my New Testament quiz, which is a BIG deal for me. I am a strong believer in miracles! I am so grateful for all the many people who have been answers to prayer this week. I love this quote by Pres. Uchtdorf:

"Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you...We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children."

Warm Weather To Do List:

I just checked the 10-day forecast and probably should have tried harder to hide my excitement. I got some strange "what's-wrong-with-you" looks from across the table. Next week when they're sitting outside on the grass sipping ice-cold lemonade in the hot sun, they'll understand why I was so excited. It's going to be W-A-R-M next week. I have been waiting for the weather to warm up so I can do some of my favorite things. I am definitely a summer girl. For the past few weeks, I've been making a mental list of everything I want to do when the weather warms up. Here's the list in no particular order:

1. Play catch with a football
2. Go hiking
3. Rock climbing with Jordan
4. Study at the park
5. Play catch with a baseball
6. Go hiking again
7. Fly a kite
8. Have a BBQ
9. Canoe in the Provo River
10. Go hiking again
11. Go swimming
12. Have a picnic
13. Go camping
14. Sleep on the trampoline at home
15. Play volleyball in the backyard
16. Stargaze
17. Drive through the canyon with the windows down
18. Eat popsicles
19. Explore
20. Get a farmer's tan
21. Play tennis
22. Sunglasses
23. Have a water fight
24. Drink from the hose
25. Barefeet


Mmmm, sounds fun huh?

Love, our only motive.

       Russell T. Osguthorpe spoke at the BYU devotional a few weeks ago and shared a message that really motivated me to change. He started by reading Moroni 7:46 which says, "If ye have not charity, ye are nothing." We might get straight A's, we might get into the best graduate school, but we must remember that if we have not charity, we are nothing. I really think this is applicable to us in whatever stage of life we may be in. As a student, I understand how easy it is to become completely wrapped up in grades and test scores. Our days are filled with classes, study sessions, tests, homework, etc. that can easily stop us from looking outward. We must realize what is truly important. He then went on to talk about the importance of pure motives. He asked, "What if our only motive were love? What if everything we did, we did out of love?" I have thought about these questions a lot the last few weeks. As I have attempted to make small changes in my personal motives, I have noticed dramatic changes in my life. I really believe that by having love as our motive for everything we do, we will be able to unlock some of the most powerful blessings God has to give to us. We will be blessed with a greater strength and capacity to perform the Lord's work. We will be blessed with more patience and compassion. We will be able to see people around us for who they really are; children of God. What better blessings could we ask for?? 
       I also loved when he said, "In the end, why we do things is probably more important than what we do." Sometimes I tend to stress myself out trying to come up with some big act of service I could do for a person that is struggling. I need to remember that as long as I do what I do out of love, it really doesn't matter what I end up doing for them.
     "We need to have a special kind of love to rejoice more in the success of others than in our own success." This kind of love takes time to develop. The natural man within all of us would have us desire to put our own success above the success of others. It's hard sometimes to be sincerely happy for other's success, but again, it will bring amazing blessings. Osguthorpe gave us a way to measure our progress in this area. He said, "When others' needs start to matter more than our own and when others' successes are more exciting to us than our own, we are beginning to experience the kind of love our Father in Heaven and Savior have for us. It is a love without dimension. It has no boundaries and no limitations. It is pure, it is infinite, and it is eternal." After hearing this, I thought about how that would feel to possess that kind of love. Wouldn't life just be so much happier?
     The last thing he talked about was the responsibility each of us has to make time to show love to others. "Each of us has a clear mission as well, but like the Savior we need to remain open to the needs of others we pass along the way. Our calendars can never be so packed that we don't have room to show love to those around us." Life is often speeding by and if we're not careful we will neglect to make time to serve.
      I know this post is getting really long, but I have to share to just one more quote..."The only way for us to increase our capacity to love in this way is to feel the love our Father in Heaven and His Son have for us. The more we feel their love for us, the more we increase our capacity to show that love to others." I love this. I hope that we can all try a little harder to make love our only motive.

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