Keeping a Record of My Life

Just last night I was reading through some of my journals. I absolutely love reading about my past experiences! Ever since I was 8 years old I've kept a journal, I can remember this because I got my first journal as a gift from my mother on the day I was baptised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Now, I have not always been diligent at writing in my journal but enough that I am grateful for the memories that have been recorded so that I can look back on experiences that I've had. In one of my journals I wrote a quote on the first page so I could see and remember it every time I opened my journal at the time, I love this quote so much it is from Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need" (November Ensign, 1998). This has been one of the principles I live by. I think it is very important to know where you've been in your life, having it written down somewhere and being able look back to see the progress you've made in your life is such a great tool. Some days it takes more effort than others, but when you don't take the time out to record experiences you've had it's easy to forget.

I remember attending a YSA fireside, I can tell you the exact day and the circumstances surrounding it that discouraged me enough that I nearly didn't go, and that is all because I kept a journal. It was Wednesday the 27th of July 2011, Virginia Pearce and Sheri Dew were the speakers. Have you ever had that experience where you were in the right place at the right time and heard the exact thing that you needed to hear to help you through a situation? This night was one of those nights for me! That doesn't happen very often for me but I think my Father in Heaven knew that I needed extra help at that time. It seemed as if everything these women were saying was specifically for me. So many things said that night made such an impact on my life, but one thing that stood out to me was when she said that we need to record ALL experiences we have with deity. Now, seeing as I am a dedicated journal writer this was an important principle for me to improve on. I am always so grateful to have these experiences and memories written down, that I am able to look back on them and remember the feelings I had that day, remember the strength I received to overcome a trial and how my faith grew stronger through it. 

As we go through life we have our struggles and we have our triumphs, both have great impact on our lives. It is crucial to our own personal progress that we keep a record of these things and could possibly help you when you happen to go through something similar in the years to come being able to look at how you dealt with it years before. 

So, if you can't tell, keeping a journal is extremely important to me and I hope maybe this blog post aka journal entry will inspire some of you to put journal writing as a priority in you life. One day you will be grateful that you did I promise! :-D

It's Getting Closer :-D

As of today our wedding went from it'll happen...to, it will happen! :-D I've booked our date for the temple which will be the 10th of October 2012 (10/10/2012 he'll never be able to forget that!) I also booked my plane ticket. I will forever be grateful to my wonderful, wonderful mother-in-law-to-be for suggesting that we get married in the temple so that my family could be there. It was so thoughtful and it really has made things a lot easier, aaaand I get to marry him sooner!!!! :-D I can't wait to be with Nic, I miss him so much! <3 It's going to be hard to leave my family but having my Nicholas there with me will make it easier. 


Tonight mum and I were looking at wedding dress shops we might be able to go to that are in our price range. We've looked at dresses online before but never actually researched the shops. We've taken down numbers and addresses so we will be calling them tomorrow to make appointments. Very nervous that there is just not enough time! I hope we can find something I love, that we can afford and that they can get to us in time. 



I'M GETTING MARRIED!!! :-D

Going to the Temple!

I had a meeting with my Bishop yesterday and I got my temple recommend :-D I have a day off work tomorrow so I'm so excited to go to the temple tomorrow! I wish I could go there in the morning and stay there the whole day! <3 Now that's underway it's time to start kicking into these wedding preparations, probably next week! :-D

Happy 22 Years!

Yes, I am officially an adult now. No longer 21. How weird and exciting at the same time! It has been such a great week. It all began Sunday morning when my family came into my bedroom to sing my Happy Birthday and went to have ice cream and cinnamon toast for breaky. I haven't done that in years! Then I went off to church and had the most uplifting day. The talks in sacrament meeting were all about the parables of Jesus. The first talk was the parable of the sower which speaks of some seeds falling by the way side. Some fell on stony ground, thorny ground and others fell on good ground. And the speaker said that we have a choice on which ground we plant the gospel, we choose whether we plant it on stony ground, thorny ground or good ground and we are responsible to tend and nourish the seed of the gospel that is planted in our hearts otherwise it will just wither away and die. (The parable of the sower is in Matthew Chapter 13)


The next speaker spoke on the parable of the lost sheep (Luke Chapter 15). She shared a beautiful poem by C.C. Miller titled 'Echo' and I just thought it was so eloquent I just had share it here...

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay.

That night there was a regional fireside for the YSA with speaker John Bytheway. I had been looking forward to this for weeks. I was so excited to see him in person. I have grown up listening to his talks and watching his 'Book of Mormon Heroes' DVD. It was even more awesome than I thought it would be! But what made even more special was that I got to share it with my 3 little (not so little anymore) brothers <3 One of the quotes he used (and I foolishly didn't record the name of the guy) was "Regardless of your original intention you will eventually become what you surround yourself with". This is so true! I see so many instances in my life and the lives of many around me where this has (and is) happening. "You are the average of the 5 people you hang around with" How interesting and true is that?! A scripture he shared I can really relate to it's found in Proverbs 13: 20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." And another scripture that I love is in Mosiah 5:13 "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from thoughts and intents of his heart?"




And you know what, it wasn't my birthday present that made my day special it was spending spiritual and uplifting time with ALL of my brothers at the John Bytheway fireside. What a special experience that I will always hold dear to my heart <3


Monday we mum, Aunty Robyn and I went to lunch at the Garden Restaurant just near the beautiful Salt Lake Temple. We look over and who do we see...Elder Nelson, one of the Apostles. Oh it was so exciting! Living in Utah does have its perks.


On Tuesday I was able to attend institute, when I arrived, there wasn't many cars. I parked next to this woman that I recognized from a Relief Society Women's Conference a few months ago...It was Wendy Nelson, Elder Nelson's wife! Talk about coincidence! I went inside and sat in her classroom, SO excited to be learning from her! I told her I saw her husband at lunch the day before. She is such and amazing teacher! I don't want to make this an extremely long post but I need to share with you some of the things that I wrote in my notebook that night. 


"The Holy Ghost does not keeps secrets well" Meaning the Spirit gives us the answers to all of our wonderings and leaves nothing out.


"We will make better decisions if we let things of eternity influence them."


"Let the Holy Ghost be your teacher EVERYDAY."


The gospel of Jesus Christ is referred to as DOCTRINE singular NOT doctrines plural. Meaning that all the teachings of Christ are considered at one with one another.


"Obedience brings blessings but EXACT obedience brings miracles." Now, I just thought that was such a profound statement, probably one of my favourite things she said.


The gospel is an anchor for your life.


Wednesday night my mum had a presentation at one a Relief Society ward up in Kaysville, so my Wednesday night was filled with spiritual things and so was my Thursday night. We attended a lecture on Pioneers with disabilities. What a special birthday week it has been. I truly believe it was a birthday gift from my Heavenly Father <3

Living the Utah Life

It's been a while since my last post so I thought it was time to write another even though I don't really have much to say. Can you believe it's almost June?! I can't! I was talking to someone the other day and she mentioned something about our birthdays (our birthdays are only ya few days apart) and it only just dawned on me that my birthday is coming up! I kinda wish my birthday would just not come this year cuz I don't have any friends to celebrate it with. But I guess I haven't really had a birthday at home with my family for 4 years it'll be nice whatever we decide to do. 


The other day across the street my parent's ward had a bbq with a live high school jazz band. It was a lovely afternoon sitting and listening to the music. It made me really miss Nic. I remember when we were both still living in Toowoomba he took me down to the jazz club in Brisbane one night, it was so wonderful. There is nothing in this world more romantic than jazz I reckon. 


While I was sitting over there mum came back up from the house with blankets. She said that she had just talked to my Grandma on the phone, and that was really odd cuz mum never talks to Grandma if she can help it haha Anyway, she went on to say that Grandma had bought me a piano and it's ready to be picked up. I had a bit of a delayed reaction, the excitement just bubbled over I started crying. I can't believe it! Dad is picking it up on Wednesday and then I'll have a piano! I'm so spoilt! But I love it. Thanks Grandma <3


My thesis is almost finished, I spent practically all day Saturday working on it. I'm determined to have it done before my birthday! It's so close now that I think I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't even begin to tell how good it will feel when it's all finished and I never have to worry about it again! 

Update On My Fish...

It died.

Goings On

So today I started really liking my job. We had a carnival celebration for Target's 50th anniversary and I won a fish and a dvd. I am feeling more apart and involved in the team, it makes it more bearable to wake up at 6am every morning. 


My lecturer at uni finally emailed me back saying that he is going on long service leave as of the 30th of June so my thesis needs to be finished by mid June. I've got to get my bum into gear! He asked me to send him my updated Chapter 4 asap but the updated version has more stuff deleted than added so that's a bit of a worry! Lol 


I also have a new calling at church. I am on the ward family history council. The "job description" if you will is indexing. I need to index 500 names a month. At first I thought that was crazy but since I've gotten into it I love it. It feels good to be doing my part. 

What a Week! And it's only Tuesday!

It has been a really great week this week, well mostly anyway. It all started on Sunday when I finally got a piano teacher! :-D Dad asked someone in his ward at church if he would be able to teach me and later that afternoon we went to his house to and were able to have a chat. Unfortunately however, we do not as of yet have a piano so I have to go to other people's houses which is really hard for me to do but at the same time I'm so excited to have a piano teacher that I just have to suck it up and play! It feels so good to move my fingers like that <3 I know that I sound really weird saying that but I am a muso after all! Hehe


Our band has a performance on Thursday night so I'm way excited about that. It will be my debut on the Tenor saxophone, should be interesting. Hopefully I'll remember to buy a softer reed before then so I don't squeak! Haha And I think my family (some of them at least) are coming to watch which makes it even more exciting for me cuz I don't think they have ever seen me play in a band :-D 


The bad thing that happened this week was that I had two shifts cancelled which means less money than what little I do get :-( But, I do get to sleep in...I dunno, I can't help but be disappointed.


Saturday I am going up to Logan again to spend time with my Grandma. I love that I am able to that. I don't think she gets to see her grandchildren very often which is sad considering that they don't really live too far away. I'm looking forward to spending time with her again. 

When I Live It I Am Better

I had the most lovely Sabbath Day yesterday. I guess since I have started working I have begun to more appreciate how important and how grateful I am for Sunday. I am so grateful for the counsel we have been given not to work on Sundays it is such a great blessing. So many wonderful things happened, I had an interview and received a calling to be on the family history council I accepted  although I wasn't really sure about it but in Sacrament meeting the hymns that were sung and the talks that were given made me feel good about accepting the call. Then our Relief Society lesson was on temples and family history, talk about a confirmation! It was such an uplifting day and I think that this calling will be a great opportunity for to learn more about the temple and focus on it as I prepare to get married there. 


Our Relief Society President got released today and shared here testimony of the gospel to us and one thing she said really stuck with me because I can relate to it. She said that she knows the church is true because when she lives it she is better. I too attest to that, I know that when I live the principles of the gospel I am a better person.

Was it Destiny?

As I was driving to band last night I got to thinking about all the seemingly trivial moments in my life to get me there. My pondering started at 4 or 5 years ago my mum and I picked up my cousin to have a sleepover with my brothers and I was talking to her about how I wanted to learn another instrument and that the one I really wanted to learn was the saxophone. Keiren piped up with 'My dad has a saxophone'. I was so excited I think I called Uncle Russell as soon as I got home! I remember like it was yesterday going over there a few days later, I was SO excited to touch it. He showed me how to care for it and a few fingerings. I took it home to start playing (I already bought a book to learn from haha). When I started at uni I asked one of the lecturers if he could give me some lessons but he said that he didn't have time. It wasn't until the big band tour (that I was desperately trying to get out of) where I met the guy who was would teach me, who will soon be my husband. At the time I would have given anything to not go on that tour so I wouldn't miss something back home. But I can't help but wonder that if I was able to skip that tour would I have asked Nic to teach me?


Jump back to the present, thinking about how I was able to find this community band I'm in. I was out to lunch with my friend telling her that I can't find a job anywhere. She mentioned a good website to look at and when I got home I went on there and applied for some jobs. When I went in for an interview the person who was supposed to be interviewing me was sick. The guy who ended up interviewing me played the trumpet in this band and gave me the address of the rehearsal space. When I got home I saw that there was a missed call from him telling me that the other guy was sick and to reschedule. If I hadn't have missed that call I wouldn't have met the trumpeter of the band. Now, I don't know if I really believe in destiny and I'm probably reading too much into it but for the sake of a story I think it is pretty damn cool! I am one lucky girl! :-D 


I'm sorry if this was a stupid post but I just thought it was cool seeing how everything came together in hindsight. 

Working Girl

So I've been working for a week now and I love it! I'm so excited to get out of the house :-D I'm still getting into a routine and getting use to early mornings. I use to be a morning person when I went to the gym so it shouldn't take too long to get back into it. But the past few days I've been really exhausted, this afternoon I went back to bed for 3hrs haha My position is called instocks, every morning we have a list of products and isles to scan into the system some to count, others to register as empty and also to set up rainchecks. I'm kind of like an elf hehe I love that my job is a job with lists, I love that I have a reason to get out of bed in the mornings. I'm so excited for my first pay-cheque, it won't be much but it'll be something and the first thing I'm going to buy will be the cake topper for my wedding cake :-D 

I'm working!!!

I started my new job yesterday I am so excited!! :-D It was just the orientation but that is important to learn everything you need to know about the company. I learnt yesterday that it is a really safe environment they have specialist teams working there to keep us safe. In my interview the guy asked me what job I was interested in and the position is called instocks, it sounded the most interesting. That was until I found out (obviously I didn't read the job description!) that it was an early morning job. haha Most of my shifts next week start at 7am which is totally fine, not too early, but one of my shifts starts at 4am! My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw that! Haha! Oh well. Once I calmed down a bit I realized it's good to have a morning job that way I'll be able to pick up an afternoon job and safe more money. Other than that shocking revelation I am SO happy to be working again it feels so great! I think the job is scanning the products into the system knowing how many there are, how many you need, I can't remember 100% but it sounded like something new so I think I will enjoy it despite the early mornings.

Be wise with your time

Our lesson in relief society today was on Ian S. Arden's General Conference talk from October of last year (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/a-time-to-prepare?lang=eng). I distinctly remember this talk, it cut me to my very core about how much time I waste on things that just don't matter. Today was a great refresher because I am ashamed to day that I have really slacked off in that department. I mean I haven't even finished my dissertation for goodness sake! I can't find time to work on it for 20mins but I can find time to write this blog or update my facebook status or send some emails or go shopping. The Lord has given up ample time to complete our tasks but sometimes we choose not to take advantage of it. The teacher read out this poem today and it just hit me how we take time for granted and waste the time we have. 


Value Every Moment
Auther Unknown


To realize the value of one year: Ask a student who has failed a final exam.


To realize the value of a month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.


To realize the value of one week: Ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.


To realize the value of one hour: Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. 


To realize the value of one minute: Ask the person who has missed the train.


To realize the value of one second: Ask a person who has survived an accident. 


To realize the value of on millisecond: Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.


Time waits for no one.


Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.


Have you ever thought of a millisecond being anything of value? I sure haven't. I truly hope that we can all realize the time we do have now and not wait till it's too late. Be careful to prioritize the things that matter most in your life. Were you too busy to talk to your Heavenly Father this morning? Then you took for granted the knowledge you have that you have a Father in Heaven wanting to hear from you. Did you walk right past your scriptures today because you just didn't have the time to read them but you found yourself 5mins later on facebook or pinning those most important pins to your boards? I know I do these things more often than not and I realized today that it's just a waste of time. Everyday you go by without speaking to you Father in Heaven in prayer is just a wasted day. Every time you walk past your scriptures because you didn't have time to read them are just wasted opportunities to draw closer with the Lord.


Please, when you wake up tomorrow think about the things that matter most and don't waste anymore time putting them off <3

I couldn't help myself....

I know people hate it when you go on and on and on about how amazing your other half is and complain about the kissing photos but tonight I just can't help myself! My Niccy is just so amazing in every way <3 I love how he sucks at surprises it's just so cute. I love how he loves me and puts up with my little temper tantrums about nothing and how he laughs at them and thinks it's cute. I love it when I'm feeling fat and ugly he tells me how much he loves me and that to him I am the most beautiful person in the world no matter what! I miss him everyday but I feel so lucky to know that he's there waiting for me, that he will love me tomorrow and next year and forever. I love his cuddly belly and his warm hands and his gentle kisses. I love that he puts his family first and cares about them unconditionally no matter what. I love hearing him pray and reading the scriptures. I can't wait till we have children cuz he is going to be such a great father and example as he keeps striving to be the best version of himself that he can be. To put it simply, I love everything about him <3

Turning right-side up

So things are finally beginning to work out for me. I've made a friend, her name is Millie and she is so much fun and normal. She's from Idaho Falls and drove up there last week I tagged along with her to visit my cousin and her little family up there. The drive took about 3hrs which isn't long at all, it's like driving from Toowoomba to Caloundra. It was so great to get away and have a break from everything. Being with her kids was like therapy for me cuz I miss my Jakey and Easdales <3 


I have joined a band and I play the tenor saxophone. I've been twice already and I love it! :-D I missed playing music so much! 


The other night I was up till like 2 in the morning applying to jobs and the next morning I had two phone calls to ask me for interviews at Target and Kohl's. I had the Target job interview today and I was offered the job on the spot!!!  :-D I don't know if going to the job interview at Kohl's tomorrow would be a good idea as I already accept this position. I am just so happy that I have a job! I can't wait to start!

Sick again

I haven't posted for a few days cuz I've been sick so therefore nothing to post about really. It's been awful this past week with a sore throat and stuffed full of mucus from my head all the way down to my toes! Talk about disgusting! I'm almost better so yeah! I said to mum this morning that I want to get into a routine starting Monday cuz I should hopefully be back to 100% by then. So next week I will go to the library everyday to do work on my dissertation and go to the gym every afternoon. Accomplishing both of these things should help me feel better about myself. 

On Sunday I made a friend at church, her name is Jessica. She sat next to me in Temple Preparation Sunday School class, it was both of our first time there. We got to talking and her fiance lives in California so I immediately thought it would be good for us to be friends cuz we can kinda relate to each other. Until she said that she gets to see him about every 2 weeks. Man! Even when I was living in Australia I ony saw Nic about every 6 weeks. Only 10 months until I can see him everyday for the rest of forever <3

Also on Sunday I drove down south to a place called Midway where some friends from Toowoomba live. It was good to see them and feel like I was home again for a little while. 

Technology

Today I am grateful for technology! :-D I'm grateful for emails, facebook and skype. I love being able to keep in contact with my friends and minutes (sometimes seconds) later receive a response! It's amazing to say the least! I love being able to hear what going on in their lives like new boyfriends and babies learning to walk and talk, new husbands and hearing that they are happy and healthy. I just love them! Even though I'm so far away I can still feel involved.


How amazing is skype?! Like seriously! It makes distance seem like a fickle thing cuz you can see their face and their smile and their eyes <3 the only thing you're missing are the cuddles and kisses. (I don't know how I'm going to survive 6months without those 2 things!! lol skype does make it a lot easier, although sometimes it does make it harder) 

Missing home

The past couple for days we've had friends from Aus staying with us on transit to Ireland. It was so nice having them here cuz it made it feel like home <3 When they left this morning is probably what sparked my 'loneliness' (not quite the word I'm looking for but it seems to fit). I just feel like crying because I just  have nothing to do everyday (except my dissertation, but I haven't really been in the right head space to write). I'm feeling down because I'm not being active, I need to get into a routine and go to the gym. I know once I start going to the gym I will feel better. And when I lose all this weight I'll feel even better! I'm just not motivated, I know that sounds absolutely crazy but when I don't have a schedule and I can't drive myself there and plus it's freezing it just gives me excuses not to go lol I miss my friends back home. Today I really wished I was back home in Toowoomba <3

Sick

I've been sick the past couple of days so I haven't been able to do anything. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed about everything I still need to do. Finding a real job is very hard! I need to write a new resume and get another reference from a lecturer that is unpredictable in answering emails. I'm really scared that I'm not going to be able to get a good job. There are so many hoops to jump through and being sick has just put a damper on my preparations and I just feel like it's hopeless. But I guess I have no choice, I need to buck up and just do it. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better and finally organise myself into some sort of routine and make a list of what I need to get done and when it needs to be done. 


Miss my house, my routine, my car, my friends and summer. Buuuuuuut I love being with my family <3 I guess a girl can't have everything she wants. Change is just hard that's all.

So Much To Do

I've been here in America for over a week now and I realised today that there is still so much for me to do. I'm still trying to sort out a job, we went to the offices today and they said that we had to come back tomorrow so that was a little set back, hopefully everything can be sorted out tomorrow. The sooner I get this job the sooner I can start saving money for my wedding!


Also today I remembered that I need to get my butt moving on finishing this dissertation, I need to get writing!!! What a nightmare! Buuuuuuuut it will be worth it in the end. 


Went to a YSA family home evening tonight...it sucked! Haha! We decorated sugar cookies for Valentines Day and watched this video they made based on Ammon and King Lamoni, it was pretty funny but it was nothing compared to what we got at home. Hopefully Institute will be better. I can't wait to go to institute I really need that boost in my scripture reading. I was looking at the different courses I can choose from and I was so excited to see that there is a course specifically for helping you improve your personal scripture study. Bring on tomorrow :-D

Guitar, Gym and a Flash Mob

A few weeks ago my mum asked me to sign up for a flash mob. I jumped at the chance! It was for someone's birthday, there was about 100 people there in the freezing cold to dance for this lady. My aunty, mum and I just had so much fun! I have always wanted to be in a flash mob but whenever they were on in Brisbane I was always in Toowoomba so I was never able to attend. There's something I can cross of my bucket list :-D Afterwards we went out to lunch to a place called Crown Burger....Yummmm! Is it bad of me to say that I love American fast food? Don't worry though, I'm not gunna get fat! I've been to the gym 3 times this week. 


Last night I went for a workout with my 2 youngest brothers it was so much fun!     I think going to the gym with them will make me want to go even more. Aaron tried to make me weigh myself HAHA! I was like NO WAY! But in the car on the way home they talked me into it so next time we go I just might hop on those scales...might being the key word there lol Woke up this morning and I could feel a few of my muscles sore this morning which is always a sign of a good workout! I'm even starting to feel my ab muscles working Yeah! 


When we got home from the gym I felt like jamming with AJ so we went downstairs to his room and played Coldplay for like an hour. I haven't played guitar in like 6months so I can't believe my fingers lasted that long. I'll see how they feel tonight and maybe we'll do some more jamming :-D I do love being around my little-big brothers <3

Getting back to normal

I finally got some sleep last night, 5 whole hours of amazingness! Haven't gone out to find a job yet because apparently I need my social security card physically with me...it's in Rockhampton, oh dear! Now I have to direct a male to find it for me, this should be interesting! Haha Nah, poor Nic I just tease him, don't give him enough credit sometimes. 

Been to the gym the past couple of nights, it feels so good to be moving again after 8months of laziness! I'm not sure how I feel about the water zumba and water aerobics but at least I have company. Hopefully I will be 'skinny' again soon! Note to self: next time you write a thesis make sure that you have enough money for gym membership for the entire duration of the writing. 

Also went to Desseret Book <3 I love that shop! Mum bought me a book called 'Our Temple Wedding Planner' :-D I can't wait to get married! If I could marry my sweetheart tomorrow I would! I'm probably gunna read it everyday haha I still can't believe I'm getting married, is that weird?

Jet Lag...

So I forgot how annoying jet lag is. 5:30am and I haven't had any sleep at all. One good thing came of my not sleeping though, I went through my cupboard and found some boxes of my things and emptied them. My room is a horrible mess though haha Got to skype with Nic twice today for his birthday :-D I miss him <3 Probably going to start look for a job today and hopefully get some sleep...Oh and sort out my room after I practically demolished it! haha Here are some pictures of my 3am 'clean up'...

I'm Here!

So I finally made it to America, I can't believe it! I'm a bit jet lagged (actually more than a bit! I've been awake since 4am) but it shouldn't last long. My last night in Australia was great! Drove down to Robina with my Aunty Vicki and on the way home we stopped at the Yatala Pie Shop for my 'goodbye dinner' (best goodbye dinner ever! I'm gunna miss pies) only to find that is was a DRIVE-THRU pie shop! I mean, how Aussie is that!!!! :-D It was AWESOME! What a great experience to have on my last day in Australia.

My flight went by pretty quickly actually, so many tender mercies happened along the way. My flight from Brisbane to Nadi was scheduled at 11:30am estimated to arrive at 5pm there I would have to wait 5hrs for my 10pm flight to LA. As we get into the airport I start to freakout because I couldn't see my flight there was only one flight to Nadi which was at 3:30pm. My aunty told me to look at my ticket to check the flight number cuz that could be my flight but delayed. She was right! My flight had been delayed 4hrs which of course was straight away annoying but then as it started to process I thought it was great! (For me anyway not so much for Aunty Angela and Uncle Brad :-p) Instead of spending 5hrs at the Fiji airport all by myself I was able to spend it in the Brisbane airport (which is so much nicer) with my family <3 We even got some food vouchers! :-D When it was time to leave I had a little cry but I was so ready to leave and get the trip over with! Haha 

Nothing exciting happened at Fiji but when I got to my seat on the plane I sat next to this guy from England (what a shame I didn't get his name) who was going home from 6months abroad. I was SOOOO jealous!! I don't think I would do 6months, maybe 3?  But alas it is only a dream lol It would be so amazing to have the opportunity and means to be able to do that though! He started off in South East Asia then to NZ, Australia and finished off in Fiji.


The wait in LAX seemed like forever! The gate I was at you needed to catch a shuttle to so there was absolutely nothing to do. And the flight from LA to Salt Lake was just dragging, not to mention it was the smallest plane I have ever been in and not very comfortable. The hostess was really kind though, she saw me dozing and gave my a mint and winked at me. I dunno, there's just something about a wink that is just so friendly don't you think? When we were 20mins out of Salt Lake she saw me looking out the window and tole me that we were almost there. She definitely made that trip more bearable.  


When I got off the plane it was FREEZING!!! Some of us had to stand at the door of the plane to wait for our carry-on bags that wouldn't fit on the plane, and Holy Crap! I just wanted to cry haha!! Once I get my bag I walk down to baggage claim and get my bag then wait inside a little bit for my family, they took too long so I went outside but it was too cold so I came back inside lol Then after a while I decided to go back outside again and waited for what felt like ages! I cried a little and wished I was back home and was thinking 'You'd think they'd care a little bit more considering they haven't seen me in a year.' lol The cold was too much to handle anymore so I walk back inside, then a thought came into my head, 'maybe you just missed them and they are waiting for you on the other side of the baggage claim' so I walk over there and see mum and Aaron eagerly looking through the arriving passengers. I slowly walk up next to AJ and seedaly whisper "So who ya waiting for?" He turns around, looks at me and smiles, "Oh, just waiting for my sister." Then mum turns around a bit confused, she had a delayed reaction but she eventually squealed and ran over to hug me and started crying. 


The house was all decorated in pink for my arrival home :-D It was so great to see my brothers <3 I have missed them so much! I miss Australia but I am happy to be here with my family and spend my last year being single (sorta) abroad.

The End of an Era

For the past week I have been on an emotional prese pise I've been saying good-by to all my dear friends. And today is my last day in Toowoomba, the place I've called home for the past 4 years. 

Here I grew into an adult. 

It was here that I met some of my dearest friends. 

It was here that I met the man of my dreams. 

It was here where I learnt so many things about my self that I never knew.

It was here where I my testimony of the gospel grew strong enough that I finally knew for myself that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lord's true church on the earth today. 

It was here that I learnt and understood more fully why it is so important to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with me always. 

It was here that I learnt the importance of family and how they are the MOST important thing in your like. 

It was here that I overcame the biggest challenges I've had to face. 

So many amazing and important things in my life have happened here, I can never doubt that the Lord had a plan for me, he brought me to Toowoomba for my life to be blessed by the people I met here.Toowoomba will always have a special place in my heart and I think a part of me will always be here <3 

But now it's time for me to start a new adventure! It will be a great experience living in America to see what my life could have been like. 2 more sleeps until I see my baby boys <3

Wedding preparations begin!

I have had so much fun the past couple of days starting my wedding planning. Yesterday I went wedding dress shopping with one of my bridesmaids and got to try on a couple of dresses too! It was so surreal to see myself in a wedding dress!! :-D And today I went hopping around reception venue hunting with another one of my bridesmaids. Both were very tiring days bu t so much fun! I think it's finally starting to sink in that I'm getting married :-D 

Also, I had to say goodbye to my friend's gorgeous little family for at least a year as I make this trip overseas. It was so sad thinking about how grown up her children will be next time I see them <3

The day he asked me to marry him

Nic asked me to marry him on the 17th of January 2012, my best friend's 11th wedding anniversary. It was such a beautiful day (which was lucky because it had been raining and overcast for a few days) he took me for a drive down to the beach where we started picking up shells and Nic suggested we buy a photo frame and decorate it with the shells we find (little did I know he was just biding time for the sun to set lower). By this time I was suspecting he was going to ask me so when he came over to show me some shells and asked me to look underneath them my heart started pounding "Oh, that is so romantic!" only to turn them over and nothing was there HAHA!

After we put are cool shells in the car we walked back to the ocean and I got distracted by the tiniest crab I had ever seen. We then went for a walk along the jetty and Nic asked me how much I loved him, kissed me and pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him. A few minutes later after kisses and photos he asked "Did I ask you to marry me or did I ask you to be my wife?" Haha I told him the he asked me to marry him and then he sighed and said "Oh, I wanted to ask you to be my wife." It's adorable moments like this that make me fall more in love him everyday <3 I am so lucky to have him in my life and this time around he's gunna be stuck with me forever! I can't wait!