The Day We Have Been Waiting For...

These past few weeks have been so crazy. We made two trips to Rigby, I started my new job, we celebrated our first anniversary, we got sealed, and we both got nasty colds. It's been hectic, but full of so much happiness. My pictures uploaded backwards... So the first stuff that happened is at the bottom and I'm too lazy to change it so I'm just going to go in reverse. Mix things up :]



We have been looking forward to this day for over a year! It's so crazy it's all over and done now. Everything went so perfectly. We had about 30 minutes before the sealing that we just got to sit together in the temple in a absolutely beautiful room and all I could think is "I love him so much! I can't believe this is happening!" We were able to have lots of family and friends there with us and the ones that couldn't be there supported us one hundred percent. Anthany's family put together a really nice luncheon for everyone afterwards. Then we both went to spend time with my family and play games. We also got to eat Pizza Pie Cafe. Yum. It was an amazing day. I can't say that enough. And now we can go to the temple whenever we want to! And we are really enjoying that. So here are some sealing pictures :]

I am so blessed with the family that I have! Including my amazing In-laws! Having my mom right beside me at the temple and everything leading up to it was so wonderful. She is the greatest. Also, it was so fun having my sister and brother-in-law there. I loved how excited everyone was for us.

 

Where do I even begin? This girl is the best. She supported me through this whole process, took awesome pictures for us at the temple, hung out with me allll weekend [even when I got a nasty migraine and was no fun at all]. I love my best friend and I'm lucky to have her! I will be so glad when she gets married and sealed and I will be able to be there for her!

 

Heading to the temple! Such a different feeling than our wedding day. No stress, no crazy butterflies in the stomach, no wondering if everything was ready, it was just pure happiness and excitement.

 

This picture was the night I got my endowment. The temple was everything and more that I thought it would be. I love the peace that is there and I know I will definitely be learning more and more every time I go. I never realized how much joy the temple would bring to us. When we got there I was overwhelmed with happiness, nerves, excitement, and just the unsurety of the unknown. But the temple workers are so sweet and helpful. So everything went mostly pretty smooth. I love the Idaho Falls Temple. Afterwards, my brain definitely felt a little fried and we were STARVING. So we went to Papa Kelsey's [Anthany's favorite place in Rigby]. I'm just so grateful for this entire experience.

Also, while we were in Rigby we got to play SO much foosball! We are both really good and we have alot of fun playing. It definitely gets very competitive though. So overall it was a really good trip. We both had a lot of fun spending time with family and friends.

Before all of that... haha we celebrated our first anniversary! Anthany had school most of the afternoon so we got to spend the evening together. It's so crazy it has already been a year! We have been holding on to the top part of our wedding cake all year now cause it's a tradition to eat wedding cake on your first anniversary! Anthany was pretty skeptical, but he humored me anyways. I took one bite and it was SO nasty. Cake is not meant frozen for a year and then eaten. Yuck.

My present to Anthany was some chocolates, sparkling cider, and chocolate dipped strawberries! Yummy! I even bought dollar store wine glasses :] haha We rented Celeste and Jesse Forever [which is a very misleading title because it is actually not so much a romance..] We also went out to eat at our favorite restaruant, Cracker Barrell! We will definitely miss eating there when we move away from Boise.

Anthany really suprised me with some flowers! Usually he is at school from 12 to 6, no breaks. But during the middle of that, he suddenly walks in holding flowers! They are beautiful! They are looking pretty dead right now, but I'm just not ready to throw them away!

So that was our last few weeks in a nutshell! My job at Dillard's is going pretty good! I'm in the Kid's Shoes department which is pretty laidback. I get along great with my coworkers and the management is great. So I'm happy that all fell into place! Also, other big news. Anthany got accepted into Byu-I! So we will be moving back to Rexburg in about three months. It's all pretty crazy but we are so excited. It will be so good to be around family and friends again. Plus we both just love that side of the state. Even though it's sad to be leaving all our new friends here, we know we are making the right decision. Now, I'm just sitting on the couch with a box of tissues catching up on my tv shows. I have a nasty cold that I am SO ready to be over. I think it's just that time of year for everyone?

I feel like there is so much more I could say and write about these past few weeks but to sum it all up, it was AMAZING and we could not be happier. It's been a huge year of changes for us and I can't wait to see what this next year brings!



-Lindsay

Marriage Advice?

I love the things people tell me about marriage.. Everyone's marriage is SO different so it's really hard to know which advice is good and what doesn't work for us.  For example, a piece of advice we have been told several times is "Never go to bed mad." That of course seems like a good idea, however, Anthany and I learned very early in our marriage that that advice does NOT work for us. When it's late and we are both tired, our arguments make no sense but we are both too grumpy to just let it go. We have found it's best for us if we both just shut up, roll over and sleep it off. Then, in the morning we can't even remember what we were arguing about and we aren't mad anymore. On the other hand, one piece of advice that works 100% for us is to "choose your battles wisely." We are so much happier when we both really try not to nitpick every problem and to just move forward. It also makes it so much easier to talk things out when there actually is a problem.
However, the absolute most common thing we are told is "You guys look too young to be married!" We get told that at least once a week and it drives me crazy! But the one thing so many people have told us that has been absolutely true [so far haha] is that "the first year of marriage is the hardest." To me, it always seemed like the first year of marriage would be a breeze. You are still in the honeymoon phase, everything is just new and fun, you are still so crazy about each other, ya know.. and while all of that is true, marriage is a huge adjustment that comes with a whole bunch of compromise. And now that we are coming up on our big one year anniversary, I can't believe the progress we have made. How much better we work together, how well we know the other person's needs, how much calmer we can solve problems, how easily we can forgive, it's so awesome. It's always going to be a work in progress, but I love how far we have come and I can't wait for the years ahead.
 I feel like I have said this one hundred times but I am so excited to be sealed to Anthany for all eternity so soon. I could not be more grateful for the gospel that makes us better in every aspect of our lives, especially our marriage. I'm just feeling blessed today. I love that even when things are hard and it feels like everything is stacking up against us, we can keep our positive outlook and Anthany helps me to just enjoy the journey and have fun together. I'm so excited that tomorrow is officially February and it is going to be such a fantastic month!
-Lindsay

New Jobs and Home Decor!

Let's see... what have we been up to?? Anthany has been out of school for like a month now so we have been spending TONS of time together which has been super fun. I won't know what to do with myself when he goes back to school tomorrow! Probably watch a ton of TV shows and craft. But I'm really excited for him cause he planned his schedule really smart so he will only have two days of classes, and two days of work a week so he will have plenty of time for homework, working out, gaming, and most importantly me :] He left his job at Enterprise so no more work at 7:00 in the morning, only having 3 green Enterprise polo shirts that constantly needed washed, or 30 hours of work on top of full time school. He just started his job on campus at the Rec Center working at the equipment desk which will be perfect! I'm excited for him.

I will start my new job February 12 which is kind of a ways off but the timing works out great. I will be working at Dillard's in the mall! I'm sure that's kind of confusing and weird since I'm a hairstylist but I'm so stinking excited about it! The company is awesome, the pay is great, and I'm excited to do something different! I really do love doing hair but I've found the salon environment is not for me. My dream is to have a salon in my house someday where I'm the boss doing my own thing and I don't have to deal with the drama. But that dream is gonna have to wait till I have my own house haha so until then I'm so excited for this new adventure and I know without a doubt that I'm doing the best thing for us right now. So that's that :]

The only other news is Anthany and I get sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple February 16th!!!! We are absolutely thrilled and really can't wait. Then he will officially be stuck with me for all of eternity :] Also.. Anthany applied to BYU-I so we are waiting to hear if he gets in. We are kind of just applying and seeing what happens and going from there... So it's possible we might be moving to Rexburg in a little while. Crazy how things change! But that's all the new exciting stuff! Here are a few pictures :]

Anthany REALLY wanted a new desk and chair for this semester. After he promised that it would significantly increase his school performance, I agreed. So we decided to check out DI just to see if there was anything and Anthany fell in love with this classy chair. Ten dollars later.. Anthany has an "office/mancave."

I was growing my bangs out.. but I decided to cut them haha. I guess that's what happens when I don't cut anybody's hair for a few weeks,  I have to cut my own haha. Anthany hates my straight across bangs cause he says they make me look like a twelve year old and he feels like a pedophile.. but hey what can you do? :]

I have been crafting up a storm lately with my friend, Jackie! I usually HATE crafting cause I'm not super good at it, and everyone's crafts always turn out better than me so then I feel inadequate and depressed. But the wreath was so easy it was hard to go wrong haha. We have been spending so much time with the Woods lately. Anthany gets along great with Nick and I get along even greater with Jackie so it's like a friendship made in heaven! I wish I had pictures of us with them so I could prove we actually do have friends... so I guess you are just gonna have to take my word for it and use your imagination to picture us hanging out with super fun, cool people and having a great time.

Or maybe this picture is proof? Unless you really just wanna doubt we have friends and just say I made both of these.. anyways haha Cute cookie sheet magnet boards! This project took a loooong time but I'm happy with how it turned out! And this project just set me on fire. Now all I want to do is craft. I think about crafting, pinterest crafting, dream about crafting, purchase supplies for crafting. I loooove it. My magnet board is on the right [if you can't tell by the last name on it].

I got Anthany that beanie for Christmas and now he rarely takes it off haha Over this break from school Anthany has reignited his love for gaming. He has been pretty obsessed. It's going to be tough for him adjusting back to life with less gaming when he starts school back up tomorrow.

My poor little apartment is finally coming together with some decorating! Pretty much all I asked for for Christmas was cute stuff to decorate my apartment and my family definitely delivered! My walls finally aren't so dull and white and empty anymore which I love! Right when I get this place exactly how I want it.. it's getting close to time to move out!

Anthany wanted to contribute his own personal style to our decorating. So this little section of our wall is his pride and joy. We can now officially represent Anthany's love for movies through decoration.

I finally got out the hot chocolate maker we got for Christmas last year [not sure why we have never used it?] and the hot chocolate is ten times better than when you make it yourself! I got to use it one time and then my sister tells me it got recalled and could give me lead poisoning or something... WHAT?? So I guess now I have to investigate that but it was sure fun while it lasted! And that mug my sweet baby sister gave me for Christmas and I LOVE it. I sent her this picture to show her my appreciation.

 So I guess that's all! Sorry for the HUGE post but once I get going I just can't stop! haha I hope everyone's 2013 is going great!
-Lindsay

New Beginnings

It's super late and I should definitely be asleep but my brain is going a million miles an hour, like it has been constantly for the last few weeks. So.. I started this blog with the intentions of posting hilarious and adorable stories and pictures of Anthany and I's marriage. And while all of that is really fun, I have found that I enjoy more looking back at my blog and seeing what we have been through and recalling the feelings I felt during those times. This blog is my journal, scrapbook, and family newsletter all in one. So I want to write about something I usually don't.
2013 has definitely had a rocky start for me. The new year started with me suddenly no longer working at Fantastic Sams and that really knocked me down. It came with alot of mixed feelings.. anger, confusion, relief, sadness, optimism, anxiety, frustration.. basically leaving me completely drained. Job hunting is so stressful and definitely has left me feeling discouraged. Probably my biggest struggle was that Anthany and I are so close to our temple date, why would everything fall apart now? I'm willing to admit this past year has been challenging. It is definitely not easy to be the couple that isn't married in the temple. With that title comes unfair judgements, embarrassment, discouragement, feeling like you don't belong or that you aren't good enough, and you can't help but feel like an outsider. However, the journey has also been incredible. Anthany and I have become so much closer and been able to establish a solid relationship built upon the love we both share for the gospel. I almost can't believe how far we have come and the improvements we continue to strive for. We absolutely can't wait to be sealed.
So back to my question.. Why is this happening now? When we are doing what we are supposed to? Shouldn't this next month be filled with nothing but blessings and joy? With everything we have been through preparing for this, couldn't the last little stretch just be easy? Of course, with my running background, I finally realized the last stretch is the hardest part of the race. The final stretch is what makes you or breaks you. The final stretch is where you have to push yourself with every little bit you have left so you can succeed. Nobody reaches their full potential by coasting to the finish line. Through all that I've come to realize, that this is happening because it's our final test to prove that we are ready for this huge step in our lives. I don't think it's for us to prove to our families or the bishop or even to Heavenly Father that we are ready, but to prove it to ourselves. So we can know without a doubt, that even though this crappy and unfair situation has come our way, we just have to trust in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We have to trust that he won't abandon us, that he knows the heartache we feel, and that if we do our part he will take care of us. And with that knowledge, all my negative emotions are gone and I can find peace. I think D&C 6:36 says it best "Look unto me in every thought: doubt not, fear not."
I am so thankful for how blessed Anthany and I truly are. I'm thankful for everyone that has supported us and helped us to get where we are today. I love the gospel so much and the good it continually does in my life. I truly hope all my friends and family can find that same joy in their own beliefs because it's amazing and life-changing. I'm sorry this post was so emotional and religious. The last thing I want to do is be preachy or make anyone uncomfortable. But I just felt like I needed to share my feelings and my struggle because maybe one of my friends is going through something similar and needs to hear it. Life is so good.
-Lindsay

Our Year in Review!

2012 has been such a fantastic year with so many big changes. I'm sad to see it go but also excited for all of the things coming up in the new year. So I'm gonna dedicate this blog post to Anthany and I's first year of marriage!
January

• My family made the move to St. George, Utah. 
• We finished up wedding plans
• We brought in the New Year with our friends and siblings spending hours making hilarious JibJab videos.

February

• I finally graduated from hair school and passed my state tests!
• We got married February 11th. Woop!
• We had an awesome honeymoon at our cabin.
• We moved into our first place, living at my grandparent's house.

 March

• We watched all the Rigby boy's basketball games online, including their big state win!
• I made my first trip to St.George to visit my family
• We got our first pets, three cats. Unfortunately, only one ended up sticking around.

April

• We got to celebrate Easter twice! First, we dyed Easter Eggs with the McCabes
• We then went to St.George and saw the Taylor side
• We spent hours in the little pool playing games and soaking up the sun
• I got hired for my first job at Salon Evolution

May

• We found out my grandparents were coming home from their mission so we had to move out
• We decided to move to Boise at the end of the month
• I made a trip to Colorado to visit my mom's side of the family.
• My cousin, sister, and I dressed up in pink tutus and ran a 10K race together. It was a blast
• We both quit our jobs

 June

• We got all settled into our new apartment in Boise
• We celebrated my 20th birthday!
• I started my new job at Boise Hair Company, Anthany started his job at Enterprise Car Rental
• We spent the entire month sleeping on a mattress on our living room floor, cause it was too hot in our bedroom

July

• We spent our 4th of July watching the parade, wandering around the park, and watching fireworks
• We got to see our first demolition derby
• We spent lots of hours swimming in the pool at our apartment
• We made our first trip back to Rigby 

August

• Anthany started school at Boise State!!
• My big sister got married to Doug Reed
• We got to go to some Boise State football games

September

• We celebrated Anthany's 21st birthday and I got to give him his Xbox!
• I quit my job at Boise Hair Company and started my new job at Fantastic Sams
• Anthany worked hard with 30 hours of work and 14 credits of school a week

October

• We celebrated Halloween, also our year mark since we got engaged!
• We got to go home and spend a few amazing days with friends at our cabin
• We started our temple prep classes!

November

• We started to spend alot of time with new friends, the Woods, O'Connors, and Jones!
• Anthany took me on my first Black Friday trip and we got our Kinect
• We made another trip to St.George to spend Thanksgiving with my mom and siblings
• We went to our last Boise State football game

December

• We set our temple sealing day for February 16th and we are ecstatic!
• Anthany got hired for a new job on campus at the Rec center that he will start next month
• We made a trip home to Rigby for Christmas
• We celebrated Christmas with the McCabes and got to meet their sweet foreign exchange student
• Anthany is on break from school for a few weeks so we are enjoying being able to spend lots of time together.

So that was our year! It's been a year of changes, trips, laughter, new jobs, new friends and newlywed bliss! We feel so blessed for everything we have and for all the exciting opportunities next year will bring for us! I'm excited to make some new year resolutions and to strive to make next year even better than this one! I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

-Lindsay

Chaotic Update

I have really been slacking on blogging again.. But we have been so busy! Work has been keeping me so busy which I love.. but when I'm not working I'm squeezing in ever second with Anthany that I can. So now I'm dedicating my day off work to catch up the blog really quick while he is working :] It's been such a fun couple of weeks.. sorry for adding so many pictures.. but they are all so fun. You should also know, it took me over an hour to figure out how to get the pictures from my phone to here.. so that sucked. 

First thing, we went to the Boise Temple open house! Anthany's Grandma Arlene, Mom, and Nick came to go to it with us. It was so beautiful. I was also amazed at how they got the thousands of us through so quickly and smoothly. If you get the chance, you should go. I'm going again today with a friend from work :] haha

We got to go home to Rigby last weekend! I got three days off work, so we decided to keep one of the few traditions we have and head to the cabin to celebrate Halloween! We couldn't go exactly on Halloween since it was in the middle of the week.. so we celebrated a few days early :] I think we are doing better with car rides.. we both usually get really stressed and grumpy but we held it together this time haha

I carved pumpkins with Anthany's family.. Anthany was being a stinker and wanted to go play with friends so he didn't participate.. But they turned out pretty great! I was so proud of my witch :]

Notice my talented sister-in-law Kayla's pumpkin in the middle? Yeah.. she made us look like amateurs. 

Anthany loves playing with their cute puppy. But we have both agreed we will never have indoor pets. Too many messes!

Anthany carved his pumpkin the next morning. I thought his Angry Bird pumpkin was pretty fantastic! 

Then it was time to go to the cabin! We got there late friday night. I was so glad Brittanee got to come with us! I was definitely in need of time with my best friend! 

 We wanted to go play in the snow, but we didn't bring snow clothes. So we went through the closet and threw some clothes together. My Russian hat kills me. I can't help but laugh everytime I see these pictures. I swear I did not purchase this thing :] hahaha

I wish I had a better picture! All the "good" hats got taken so Anthany was wearing a fishing hat. The ones with the rims that flip up? It was so funny!

We buried Bo and Zack in the snow. After this picture, Anthany started using a wheelbarrow to pack snow onto them. Sometimes I can't even believe how grown up and mature we all are :] haha But I think snow brings out the kid in everyone.

We got some Big Juds in Ashton. Anthany is going through this weird ice cream phase.. he craves it ALL the time. So we eat alot of ice cream around here.

So sad to go back to the real world and leave the cabin!

Brittanee loves photography. So I was thrilled when she said she would take some pictures of us. Going to the cabin was special because we got engaged there a year ago! So the photo shoot is kind of sentimental :] Anyway, she did a fantastic job. All the pictures are on Facebook so I won't put them all here too!

So that was our Rigby trip! We had a blast. I was so sad to leave. But I love Boise too.

Anthany's favorite video game, Assassin's Creed, just released a new game. I didn't want him to have to go by himself, so I went to the midnight release with him. I definitely did not fit in with the gaming crowd there but it was so fun with Anthany. I just love him! I'm so lucky.

I ordered a new scentsy pot!! Isn't it cute?? I love it. Plus my house smells amazing! It's so fun that my manager is a scentsy consultant. But it will be hard to not buy every single thing in the magazine!

Dressing up for Halloween was mandatory at work. Anybody that knows me well knows that I hate Halloween and I hate dressing up. So I took the easy route and threw on some of Anthany's clothes and my gangster necklace I got in a vending machine in 9th grade, and I called that good! However, I think alot of people were wondering is this girl dressed up or does she always dress like a wannabe skater?

Sorry this picture is SUCH crappy quality. But we celebrate Halloween by going out to eat at Carino's. Since we both hate scary movies, we just found a movie that had a bit of a scary tone and called that good. Our Halloween was low-key but fun. So I loved it.

I don't know what my deal is lately. I'm so emotional. And I can promise it's NOT because I'm pregnant haha I think I'm just exhausted. So I'm so grateful Anthany has been patient with me. I think he could tell from my texts that day that I was feeling down. So when I got home, he was hanging up my curtains for me! We bought them a long time ago, but just haven't had time to get them up. It meant alot he made time in his busy schedule for something so small :]

And to top that off, he made me cookies and got me some milk to eat while he did it. I won't brag anymore.. cause I think the pictures say it all :]

I love my pretty curtains! They look great and the living room just looks so much more homey.

So there is a huge update! I hope it wasn't too boring. I probably could have added in more stories cause I have so many funny ones.. but this will work :] That's what we have been up to! I haven't been to a BSU game since the last time I posted an update, but the schedule worked out that I get to go to the game tomorrow!! So I'm really excited for that. I'm gonna go enjoy the rest of my day off! I hope everyone is doing well!
-Lindsay