Hey guys.
Okay. My life has changed 1000x over since I last wrote. I’m not even sure where to start. Probably with the summer?
Okay. Soo. I went to Florida a second time, tickets were CHEAP. It was a fun fun trip full of self-care. Beach, skinny dipping, massages, pedicures, exercising, bike rides, etc. It was great. So grateful for my friendship with Carlie. She a day one homie. Well, not a day one... but a day one mission homie.
August... we were gone every weekend, and all but one were out of state for me. It was a whirlwind of fun, that’s for sure! The first weekend of August I was in Arizona for Sydney’s wedding! It was so so much fun! I had the travel home horror story from hell, (a five hour day turned into 14), but it was okay.
Second weekend we drove down to Utah for my girl Kaylee’s wedding. It was a great time! We did some hiking, hung out with the Young’s, and just enjoyed the love that is Utah.
Third weekend we went down to Southern Oregon to go to the Wildlife Safari. I haven’t been there since I was little little, and it was so fun going there with Oliver, Daisy, and baby Iyla. I drove, and Ollie and Daisy took turns sitting on my lap. Oliver loved the lions and the giraffes. Daisy loved the giraffes and the elephants. Mandy hated the buffalo 😂 And grandma’s driving. And our hotel was kinda sketchy, but honestly it was so so so fun. Grandma came as well as Share and her kids, and Aunt Shannon. It was a blast.
The next weekend we drove down to Utah again for Kora’s wedding. Her wedding was so so so beautiful! I loved every minute of it. She was sealed in the Mt. Timpanogos temple, and had her vow ceremony and reception at the ampitheatre next door. I’m got some great quality time with my old college roommates, and hung out with Tat and her adorable little girl Harper for a good chunk of the day.
That night, when I was driving back to the Young’s, I passed the temple. It was dark, and the white lights of the temple contrasted against the sky. As I glanced over that direction, looking at that beautiful structure, the spirit hit me with the impression, “Move to Utah”. A quiet peace filled me, and finally the patient waiting for the go-ahead from God was over. Conveniently, I matched with my boyfriend on mutual the very next day (more on that story later).
I planned on moving to Utah in January, be home for the Holidays and ShaeLee’s wedding... but God had a different plan in mind. (More on that later too).
Okay. So one of the Monday’s in August. ShaeLee got married (what?), and that was a fun small and simple wedding.
The first weekend in September, we went camping over Labor Day weekend up at Detroit Lake. It was super fun! Amanda and the babies came, and so did Kylee and Daisy. Aunt Shannon came over the weekend, and we had a blast. We ended up leaving a day earlier than we anticipated, which was so so good because it ended up being evacuated a day later due to the fires.
The next week or so was filled with Oregon being engulfed in flames. The night was red and orange with fire all day. The smoke was tangible... the air quality index was in the 500’s. I can’t quite remember if it jumped into the 600’s... but it was bad. It was painful to breathe outside. My nose would become stuffed, my eyes water... and it was sad thinking of all the people who lost their homes, the hikes that were destroyed, the habitats that were engulfed. Anyway.
So. I’m living my life. I’m enjoying being home, I have a great relationship with the people in my family, Brandon and I would still get together and play pickleball every now and again, I got as many baby snuggles as I could muster. We hiked, and adventured... and then I got an email to interview for a job that I had applied for... in Utah. I interviewed, and I accepted the offer. And instead of moving to Utah in January, I was packing, and completely a cross country trip 3 weeks later.
It was so hard saying bye to the fam. I sobbed when I said bye to Kylee and Daisy. Full-on ugly sobbed. I just love them so much and I absolutely cherish the time I get to spend with them.
We packed up Grandpa’s truck, and drove down to Utah on a Sunday. We got there that night, unloaded at my apartment in Lehi, and later I went on my first date with Trevor Jake Haynes. This boy. Wow. I was kinda nervous, but we went back to his house (met his parents on our first date... didn’t scare me apparently haha), and then we took the truck and went star-gazing.
When I say that I have never connected with someone so well, I mean it. I felt immediately comfortable, felt like I could talk to him about anything and everything, and felt like I’ve known him forever. I may or may not have pulled an all-nighter (yikes), but it was amazing.
That morning mom and I caught a flight to Virginia and spent the next two days visiting with friends and seeing some of my favorite places in Virginia. We hiked Sharptooth, and we went to Monticello. We visited Kenzie and my best friends and I loved every second of it. It was hard to leave that place that meant so much to me, but it was good closure.
Mom and I made a 30 hour trip in two days, stayed in a murder hotel, and had a great time. I heard her sing some songs a capella 100x, but it was great. We got back to Utah, got moved in, made 894032 trips to Walmart, and settled in. Mom drove home the following Sunday.
I started work on Monday, and it was great. I absolutely love my job. I love my housemates. And life in Utah is great.
So. Let me tell you about this boy.
He. Is. Amazing.
He is a family man.
He loves the outdoors.
He makes me laugh.
He treats me like a queen.
He loves God.
I’m in love with him
And I have every intention of marrying him.
Anyway. That adventure is TBD.
Love you guys. Thanks for reading.
