REMEMBER THIS...

4 THINGS

^^ 1. Work selfie  2. Helping dad re-roof the backyard shed. I just had to pose :)  3. Mom gave me a basil plant for making margarita pizza. I love taking care of it! Is that weird?  4. Spencer guessed the right amount and won the jar of jolly ranchers at the neighborhood BBQ.  Needless to say, jolly ranchers for days!! ^^

MY FRIENDS MAKE ME DO . . . .

THIS! They literally make me roll on the floor laughing! Love them!

SO, I just came back from lunch with my best childhood friend, Meagan Beesley (Desmond).  Meagan moved into a different neighborhood while we were still in Junior High.  Her new house was in Riverton but wasn't even in my stake anymore, so the only time we really saw each other was at school.  I remember the way she announced to me that she was moving- she wanted to go on a bike ride and we rode over to where their new house was being built.  I think I knew she would be moving, but seeing the big hole where her house was going to be made it even more real.  She really was moving and it was weird to think that we wouldn't see each other that much.  Over the years, and especially during High School we both kind of did our own things with different groups and friends.  We were still good friends but it never really was the same.  I got to see her get married a couple years ago and was so grateful for that.  Since then, it seems that we have been able to keep more in contact and I have really enjoyed it.  We may have gone separate ways for a while but, I guess we never really did emotionally because she is still one of my best friends. I'm so glad we were able to go to lunch today! 

Meagan and I on her wedding day in July 2012

Anyways, to the point...  On the way home I just got thinking about the friendships I have made over the years, like roommates, High School friends, and childhood friends....  every single one of them has blessed my life (not to mention made it a heck of  a lot more fun!!) I think there are a few people in this lifetime that we get to meet and be true friends with. This sounds real cheesy but it's a tender mercy to me.  I'm lucky to say that I have been able to form close friendships that have lasted over the years.  

Heidi and I in High School

Looking like sisters @ SCHEELS!

Heidi is serving a mission in Australia right now and even though she is so far away, our friendship still blesses me. I'm 100% sure I have known this girl for a looooong time.....even before we met in High School (our lockers somehow ending up right next to each other). She has been my soul sister ever since! (we even look like sisters, don't we? ) Thank goodness for a wonderful friend who continues to enrich and bless my life. 

I think that the friends we choose have the potential to either make our break us.  Mine have influenced my life in ways I never thought could happen!  How lucky am I to have friends that I feel I can truly connect with and be myself. Sometimes we only think of family that has our back.  But I just gotta say,

friends do too! 

At least mine do :) When you do make an effort to get together, it strengthens you, supports you, and uplifts you.  And you feel so thankful that you have friends to walk and talk and laugh with you here on earth :) :)

Saturday Date

 Can you guess what we did for a Saturday afternoon date?? Spence and I have made a new goal (well, sorta just re-committed ourselves) to have a date every weekend.  People always say, never stop dating your spouse! Go on dates every week! Keep the fun alive! Are they right? Absolutely!!! It's amazing how just a couple of hours set aside to family time each week can be such a strength and FUN!  So, this week it was mini golf.  We did both of the courses (I'm not sure if that's allowed) but we were definitely going to get our money's worth.  Also, I'm in love with how blue the sky was that day. No filter :)  Happy Summer days ahead!!!

^^ who's that creeper in the back? ^^

^^ very windy day. but still!! ^^

^^ Hole in one! Okay, my ball isn't in there, but it was. We both got holes in one and decided that it totally makes your day just to get at least one. ^^

Dusting Off The Brushes

Okay, first things first....I have not even touched my art supplies (except the computer) since graduation. Shame!!!  Second. I would love love love to go into the card/invitation designing business.  That being said, it's no wonder why I'm so looking forward to my new little project!

A few years ago I used my painting and photography ( that's still questionable) skills to make some all-purpose cards for my grandma to use.  She is so good at sending them to all her kids and grandkids for birthdays, so I wanted to make a set so she wouldn't have to buy any.  Buuut that was a while ago. Recently, my mom did the same thing for grandma only she bought the cheap-o cards. Lots of kids and grandkids later, grandma needs some more! So I'm really excited to design and deliver these hand-made cards to my grammy.

I started out doing pretty rough sketches in my journal. Refined sketches are next, and last will be incorporating color!  I'm just so excited.

Some inspiration for design and color:

Alumni Status

 We did it!!! We both graduated on April 11, 2014.  It was so fun to be able to graduate together!  We loved having our families in Rexburg for a couple days to celebrate with us.  We appreciate them coming to support us, and are grateful for their love and sacrifice to come.  I just can't believe we're done!  BYU-I has been a huge influence on the person I am today.  I'm grateful for the teachers and other students who helped me succeed.  I was able to graduate with a major that I LOVE and can't wait to get further in my career as an artist/graphic designer.  I also met Spencer there, and who would have known I would be able to graduate college with my husband?!  I'm so grateful for him and our marriage. We had fun starting out our marriage by finishing our degrees together.  

Literally, the week before graduation, I decided to design our announcements (stressful!!)  I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out!  I also designed postage stamps with my own artwork and used those to send out the announcements! I love creating and designing!! 

What's up next for us?  Well, here it is in a nutshell......

 Earlier last year, Spencer applied for the HR Graduate program at Utah State University.  After talking with them at a BYU-I career fair, he became very interested in the program.  He worked really hard applying for that, and we felt like it was a great option for our future.  We could see ourselves doing it.    Just a few days before graduation, they called Spencer and told him he was not accepted.  We were pretty bummed about that, and confused at the same time.  But we got over it, knowing that it must not be right for us. 

After graduation we moved back to Riverton hoping and praying for more guidance and opportunities.  I started working at UDOT again so that we could just start having some income during the transition of figuring out where to go next.  Spencer applied for lots and lots of jobs!  Some were starting to get back to him, so that was promising.  During all of this, we were trying to be faithful.  We had attended the Rexburg temple one more time before we left, and then went again as soon as we got to Riverton.  We felt we were doing our best to move on, trying to be hopeful but a little scared at the same time.    

Little did we know, we were in for a surprise....

Spencer called me this last Monday while I was at work... 

"Guess what?!" 

I had no idea what it could even be.....but he then told me that the director of the graduate program for Human Resources at Utah State called him.  He told him they had made a mistake in the admissions process, and wondered if Spencer would still be interested in starting the program this fall! 

WHAT?!

Holy moly! 

We had already moved on from this after they said he was not accepted! How could they have made a mistake? Now he's accepted?!  Regardless of all the emotions, we felt so grateful. And so excited!! And in that small moment, I felt a reassurance that Heavenly Father was aware of our needs and desires.  As we prepared to make other plans for the future, He re-opened a door of opportunity, letting us choose to go or not.  Obviously we took it!  I'm not sure why we were declined at first, but I do know that because of that, it forced us to really rely on the Lord and on each other.  And it strengthened my faith and testimony.  So now, we will be moving to Logan this fall for 2 more years!  We're so excited!! It will be hard work, but we know it will be worth it in the end.  Logan, HERE WE COME!