As wedding plans start and the day gets closer, nerves mount. I think about all the support that we have as we embark on this new life. I really feel like I am a million miles away and I know we couldn't do it without the support of all of our family and friends. There have been times where both of us thought that we would never make it to where we are now, but we did. Two and a half years of trying and failing, waiting and wishing all leading to this moment. With guidence everything has worked out in ways we both never could have imagined.
We don't know where we are heading, but we know that we are doing so together. I was told the day before yesterday by a man on our tour bus that the odds are against me but it's possible. He and his wife were in England celebrating their thirty fifth wedding anniversary. They got married when they were twenty. I know that sometimes marriage seems as if it is expendable because getting divorced is so easy which is why I love the idea of being sealed in the temple.
Josh and I have been through many trials together but the ups and downs have made us grow together as one, and as long as we are growing together through God. I was going some reading and found how the marriage triangle is something that strengthens a relationship as long as you keep God the top priority. It sounds simple really, but sometimes things get lost in the hustle of everyday life. To josh and I it has been a realization that sometimes the things that you want aren't necessarily the things that you need to be happy. Value the small things that are important in life and never take for granted those who love and support you.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Absense Makes the Heart Grow Fonder.
I'm not sure who said this but it was someone who is probably dead by now and extremely smart. Being in Europe has been an amazing experience for me. To have the opportunity to see London, Bath, Stonehenge, Edinburgh and everywhere between has been more than I can ever have asked for. It came at a difficult time for both Josh and I. To get engaged two days prior to me leaving for this trip and him leaving to go to Canada was hard, but we have made it through 15 days and there are only 8 more to go.
I admit I have cried and laughed, but through emails and instant messaging the downhill slope seems like nothing. Thank goodness for the bridge that technology has made in our lives. We started out two and half years ago writing letters who knew that would lead to emails about our wedding. Josh said something the other day that made me realize just how powerful God is in our lives.
When he and I first met it was under complicated circumstances, but he couldn't have said it better. ''If we were to had made one different choice in life then we wouldn't have ended up together.'' I strongly believe in this statement. My opportunities to go to school and his choice to go on a mission was one that we both contemplated about and because we took a chance and listened to our promptings we ended up together.
Right now the distance is something that we have grown familiar with. 23 days is nothing when I look back on it. Since he can't work while he is in school summer is the only time he can make up time that he loses during the school year making me realize that marriage is about sacrifices. We know it will be hard and the odds are against us, but we have proved people wrong over and over. Why stop now?
Each day spent apart has made me value the time that we have spent together in the past as well as feel the excitement about being together again. I have gotten to share with him the great times that I have had here seeing all of the historical sights and taking in this once in a lifetime experience. Each time I eat something delicious I think how much he would love this considering he is constantly eating.
I leave for Paris on the 24th of May to fullfill my all time dream of seeing the Eiffle Tower only to head back home on the 29th to marry the man of my dreams. The spirit works in amazing ways.
I admit I have cried and laughed, but through emails and instant messaging the downhill slope seems like nothing. Thank goodness for the bridge that technology has made in our lives. We started out two and half years ago writing letters who knew that would lead to emails about our wedding. Josh said something the other day that made me realize just how powerful God is in our lives.
When he and I first met it was under complicated circumstances, but he couldn't have said it better. ''If we were to had made one different choice in life then we wouldn't have ended up together.'' I strongly believe in this statement. My opportunities to go to school and his choice to go on a mission was one that we both contemplated about and because we took a chance and listened to our promptings we ended up together.
Right now the distance is something that we have grown familiar with. 23 days is nothing when I look back on it. Since he can't work while he is in school summer is the only time he can make up time that he loses during the school year making me realize that marriage is about sacrifices. We know it will be hard and the odds are against us, but we have proved people wrong over and over. Why stop now?
Each day spent apart has made me value the time that we have spent together in the past as well as feel the excitement about being together again. I have gotten to share with him the great times that I have had here seeing all of the historical sights and taking in this once in a lifetime experience. Each time I eat something delicious I think how much he would love this considering he is constantly eating.
I leave for Paris on the 24th of May to fullfill my all time dream of seeing the Eiffle Tower only to head back home on the 29th to marry the man of my dreams. The spirit works in amazing ways.
Me and Maddy in front of Buckingham Palace!
From London with Love...
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Proposal
I know that this is the story that everyone wants to know. I get asked day after day and to be quite honest after the millionth time telling it you start to feel silly.
Josh knows that I absolutely hate surprises that I know about. Christmas and my birthday come very difficult each year because I am a girl of little patience and the anticipation kills me. We had talked a lot about rings and weddings and marriage, I guess after two and a half years of writing letters, phone calls, and visits things like that just come up. When January arrived and I finally had Josh close enough to see him as I pleased so naturally the talk got more serious. I knew that we were going to get married and that he was the one that I wanted to spend eternity with, I just wasn't sure when all of this was going to happen. Josh had his wheels turning already.
On one of our last nights in Cedar City before we had to separate for the summer after a long day or packing and moving we decided that the lack of food in the house just wasn't going to sustain us until the next morning so we headed out to dinner. After dinner Josh asked if I would drive him to his house, so I complied. He hadn't mentioned that he needed to go there so I assumed that he had forgotten something. Next to his house is a vacant street, completely dark and very quiet. He asked me to park along the street and put a slow song on. We had danced before in the street so I didn't really think much of it. I'm not sure what he said, but as we continued to dance he began talking about the future.
His heart started pounding, so I asked if everything was alright, he dropped to his knee and asked if I would spend the rest of my life with him.
I said yes...
May 3, 2011 became th beginning of the rest of our lives together. I'm not sure what the future holds but together we can learn. There will be ups and downs and inbetweens. This is Writing on paper with no lines.
Josh knows that I absolutely hate surprises that I know about. Christmas and my birthday come very difficult each year because I am a girl of little patience and the anticipation kills me. We had talked a lot about rings and weddings and marriage, I guess after two and a half years of writing letters, phone calls, and visits things like that just come up. When January arrived and I finally had Josh close enough to see him as I pleased so naturally the talk got more serious. I knew that we were going to get married and that he was the one that I wanted to spend eternity with, I just wasn't sure when all of this was going to happen. Josh had his wheels turning already.
On one of our last nights in Cedar City before we had to separate for the summer after a long day or packing and moving we decided that the lack of food in the house just wasn't going to sustain us until the next morning so we headed out to dinner. After dinner Josh asked if I would drive him to his house, so I complied. He hadn't mentioned that he needed to go there so I assumed that he had forgotten something. Next to his house is a vacant street, completely dark and very quiet. He asked me to park along the street and put a slow song on. We had danced before in the street so I didn't really think much of it. I'm not sure what he said, but as we continued to dance he began talking about the future.
His heart started pounding, so I asked if everything was alright, he dropped to his knee and asked if I would spend the rest of my life with him.
I said yes...
I must have loved you before..
There are so many things in life that you wish to share with people but the distance keeps you from doing so. today our means of communication are so vast, but for those who don't have a Facebook or find writing letters too outdated this is a place to meet in the middle. Our families dot the map and I know that we can't talk to everyone at every moment of everyday.
Our journey is here for all to read, each day a new experience, good bad and ugly. As a new couple we know that we will experience it all, need advice, and comfort. Truth is something that I find important so this is where we will share those truthful experiences with those who matter.
Our journey is here for all to read, each day a new experience, good bad and ugly. As a new couple we know that we will experience it all, need advice, and comfort. Truth is something that I find important so this is where we will share those truthful experiences with those who matter.
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