The car pretty much died over the weekend. I'm not entirely sure what all was wrong with it but the hydrolics needed to be replaced, and I think the axle needed to be replaced. The symptoms we perceived were like the clutch was stuck in or something and it would randomly jerk backward even though you had it in first gear, or it would randomly jerk forward... and just lots of jerking in general. It also was making yucky sounds and it sometimes just didn't want to switch gears at all! Very problematic. So Michael took it into the shop on Saturday and that's where it's been ever since. We got a ride to church on Sunday with an old friend of Michael's who happens to be in our ward. And we've been biking to school every day. Michael has work at 4am until 7am and which isn't enough time for him to come back home and then leave again in order for us both to get to class on time at 7:45. And I decided it would be kind of weird for me to stay home when he left and then spend the morning all alone and bike my way to school all alone. So I opted to get up early and go with him to work at the morning...
So we've been leaving at about 3:40am. Once there he clocks into work, and I've just found a little bench to park myself on. It gives me time to get some homework and studying in and it places me in an environment with less distractions which has been nice. The only down sides have been that it's been colder this week... and biking at 3:40 in the morning doesn't help! So we've had to bundle up a ton in order to not freeze during our bike ride. And it also means taking more time to get anywhere. And it's limited our grocery shopping as you might imagine, ha.
This week has definitely allowed us to be more aware of the blessing that having a car really is. In a way it's been kind of nice biking to school because it makes you feel more active. And maybe we should still bike to school every now and then. But at the same time it really is just so nice to have a car. We got the car back today. And I found out yesterday that there's a girl at my work who lives just beyond our apartment complex a ways, and that she walks to and from work! Which is just crazy. So I told her when we get our car back that we'd give her a ride home from work every day. So now we can even use our car to bless the life of someone else! Anyway, that's life for now. I get to take a test in the testing center after I get home from work today. I meant to do it earlier but then I realized I had forgotten to bring my Icard, which meant I wouldn't be able to get in the testing center. So it's a good thing the testing center is open until 10pm tonight. But it's just a psychology test, so it shouldn't take me too long.
Have a good day everyone! Lots of love!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Being Married
I suppose I'll address the ever so popular question of what's it like to be married. My parents warned me beforehand that they didn't truly feel like they were married until they'd had a few kids. So even though part of me wants to say that I kind of feel married, there is a part of me that knows I probably will feel more married when there are kids in the equation. lol.
For now, Michael is my Husband. Sometimes that seems a little weird, because to me he's just My Michael. The only difference now is that, he is no longer just my Michael. He's also my husband. The two roles are intertwined, but it's an interesting mix. I'm not sure if that makes any sense, but that's the way I think about it in my head. So that's that. ha.
Michael and I joke that he makes a good wife. But really, it's just that he's a wonderful husband. He does the dishes some nights when we come home, and he gets the mail and takes out the trash. Some days he cooks breakfast, and he even cleans up around the house. It's not that I don't cook or do dishes or clean too, 'cause I do. But it's just super sweet when he does it too. And he does it more than expected, which is of course, always appreciated and makes me love him more and more when I catch him doing those things.
Learning how to interact with each other and to be totally open about things is a process, as you might assume. But it's also wonderful as we take each new step toward being closer to each other. He does his best to support me with love and prayers and I try to do the same with him. I don't think I realized before we got married that I would love him more once we were married than I did before we were married. But I do. It often seems like I love him more and more with every day. Life doesn't have to be perfect and without stress for that to occur either. Because trust me, we both have stuff going on with school and work and everything. But it works out in the end. And that's what matters. Hopefully that wasn't too mushy ;)
I do hope to strive to become a better wife to Michael with every passing day
For now, Michael is my Husband. Sometimes that seems a little weird, because to me he's just My Michael. The only difference now is that, he is no longer just my Michael. He's also my husband. The two roles are intertwined, but it's an interesting mix. I'm not sure if that makes any sense, but that's the way I think about it in my head. So that's that. ha.
Michael and I joke that he makes a good wife. But really, it's just that he's a wonderful husband. He does the dishes some nights when we come home, and he gets the mail and takes out the trash. Some days he cooks breakfast, and he even cleans up around the house. It's not that I don't cook or do dishes or clean too, 'cause I do. But it's just super sweet when he does it too. And he does it more than expected, which is of course, always appreciated and makes me love him more and more when I catch him doing those things.
Learning how to interact with each other and to be totally open about things is a process, as you might assume. But it's also wonderful as we take each new step toward being closer to each other. He does his best to support me with love and prayers and I try to do the same with him. I don't think I realized before we got married that I would love him more once we were married than I did before we were married. But I do. It often seems like I love him more and more with every day. Life doesn't have to be perfect and without stress for that to occur either. Because trust me, we both have stuff going on with school and work and everything. But it works out in the end. And that's what matters. Hopefully that wasn't too mushy ;)
I do hope to strive to become a better wife to Michael with every passing day
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Last Week
Having Michael coming home on the 18th was a sigh of relief. I admit when we were waiting for him at the airport I was extremely anxious and there was a part of me that was desperate to run up the stairs so I would be the first to see him. I've never been so excited to see someone in my entire life. I was just so glad to be with him again and to see him, and be reminded of all the good parts of getting married... not just the baking and the planning and the budgeting parts!It's become more and more real that we're getting married with every passing day.
My parents and I went with Juli and Jonathan to the temple on Thursday. They went through a session in the baptistery while my mother and I went to the distribution center. I chose out fabrics and styles for clothing in the temple like my Temple Dress (which will need to be altered because it's currently dragging on the floor lol). My mother was grinning ear to ear the whole time. It was cute. Afterwards we went into the temple to see how they were coming along in the baptistery and one of the temple workers asked if I could get changed into the white jumpsuit and do some confirmations. And you just can't say no to a temple worker! lol. So I said sure thing, and went along with it. It was really great being able to spend some time in the temple just sitting there for a while, and being able to serve there one more time before I get married this upcoming week.
David arrived today, and it was nice to have a day just with one new addition to the group and spend time with him individually. Tomorrow is my last fairly simple day. After that it's Christmas. Family will really start arriving then, and I'm spending part of the day with Michael's family. I feel like I'm supposed to be spending as much time with my family as possible. But I'm also supposed to be spending some time with the future in-laws. It's a hard line to draw. Monday we need to get some last minute shopping in as well as dip all the hundreds of cake balls and oreo truffles we've made in the past couple weeks (boy am I so sick of making those!). And Tuesday we'll be decorating the church as well as picking various people up from the airport throughout the day before we drive up to San Antonio for the night. I still don't know how my hair is getting done. And I don't have an official "cake" to cut.
Most of the time I'm not stressed. But let's face it, that's really because I'm not thinking about what all needs to be done. I'm procrastinating and flaking on multiple accounts. Needless to say, I'm anxious to get married to Michael already and have atleast a few days to relax before a whole new round of stresses begin.
My parents and I went with Juli and Jonathan to the temple on Thursday. They went through a session in the baptistery while my mother and I went to the distribution center. I chose out fabrics and styles for clothing in the temple like my Temple Dress (which will need to be altered because it's currently dragging on the floor lol). My mother was grinning ear to ear the whole time. It was cute. Afterwards we went into the temple to see how they were coming along in the baptistery and one of the temple workers asked if I could get changed into the white jumpsuit and do some confirmations. And you just can't say no to a temple worker! lol. So I said sure thing, and went along with it. It was really great being able to spend some time in the temple just sitting there for a while, and being able to serve there one more time before I get married this upcoming week.
David arrived today, and it was nice to have a day just with one new addition to the group and spend time with him individually. Tomorrow is my last fairly simple day. After that it's Christmas. Family will really start arriving then, and I'm spending part of the day with Michael's family. I feel like I'm supposed to be spending as much time with my family as possible. But I'm also supposed to be spending some time with the future in-laws. It's a hard line to draw. Monday we need to get some last minute shopping in as well as dip all the hundreds of cake balls and oreo truffles we've made in the past couple weeks (boy am I so sick of making those!). And Tuesday we'll be decorating the church as well as picking various people up from the airport throughout the day before we drive up to San Antonio for the night. I still don't know how my hair is getting done. And I don't have an official "cake" to cut.
Most of the time I'm not stressed. But let's face it, that's really because I'm not thinking about what all needs to be done. I'm procrastinating and flaking on multiple accounts. Needless to say, I'm anxious to get married to Michael already and have atleast a few days to relax before a whole new round of stresses begin.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Two Weeks
Well, I have reached a point in my life where most of my conversations start with "Congratulations!" lol. I was telling my mother the other day that I'm going to be hearing that sentiment for a very long time. Let's be honest, people treat you like you just got married yesterday until you've been married for atleast a year, so I have atleast the next year to look forward to hearing "Congratulations!" lol. Not that I'm complaining, it was just a thought at the moment that spurred a conversation.
Everyone asks me how the wedding plans are going... I never really know what to say. Does anyone really want to know how many hundreds of cake balls we've made? Or how many hundreds more there are that still need to be made? lol. It's hard for me to work on something like this. Everyone who knows me well knows that I'm not much of an academic. I get things done the night before most of the time. I procrastinate. I flake. I forget. I let things slide. And it's against my own personal policy to stress. And I'm not the biggest fan of following schedules. I like making schedules, but then I like getting things done as it suits my fancy. So I don't have a big long list of things I'm going to do tomorrow necessarily, or this week, or what have you. There are things I have written down somewhere that I know need to get done. But that's about it.
I get anxious, and a little nervous. I'm definitely anxious for Michael to get home... and I'm definitely ready for all the planning to be over. I'm a doer. I like getting things done much more than I like thinking about them. I'd rather set up the whole thing in the gym, decorations and all several times than talk about them even once.
Planning a wedding certainly tells you a lot about yourself, your family, and it gives other people the chance to get to know a different side of you! I've got my first interview this Wednesday. I've got my Bridal Shower next Tuesday, and Christmas that Sunday and then my wedding the following Wednesday. Crazy, huh?
Funnily enough, part of me is aware that once school starts, there will be some part of me that wishes I was back at home still just planning a wedding. But I'm pretty sure the majority of me, will just be glad to be married, and to be with Michael.
No more waiting.
For a while that is.
Everyone asks me how the wedding plans are going... I never really know what to say. Does anyone really want to know how many hundreds of cake balls we've made? Or how many hundreds more there are that still need to be made? lol. It's hard for me to work on something like this. Everyone who knows me well knows that I'm not much of an academic. I get things done the night before most of the time. I procrastinate. I flake. I forget. I let things slide. And it's against my own personal policy to stress. And I'm not the biggest fan of following schedules. I like making schedules, but then I like getting things done as it suits my fancy. So I don't have a big long list of things I'm going to do tomorrow necessarily, or this week, or what have you. There are things I have written down somewhere that I know need to get done. But that's about it.
I get anxious, and a little nervous. I'm definitely anxious for Michael to get home... and I'm definitely ready for all the planning to be over. I'm a doer. I like getting things done much more than I like thinking about them. I'd rather set up the whole thing in the gym, decorations and all several times than talk about them even once.
Planning a wedding certainly tells you a lot about yourself, your family, and it gives other people the chance to get to know a different side of you! I've got my first interview this Wednesday. I've got my Bridal Shower next Tuesday, and Christmas that Sunday and then my wedding the following Wednesday. Crazy, huh?
Funnily enough, part of me is aware that once school starts, there will be some part of me that wishes I was back at home still just planning a wedding. But I'm pretty sure the majority of me, will just be glad to be married, and to be with Michael.
No more waiting.
For a while that is.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Privacy
I've never had a problem growing up getting privacy. As a child my siblings didn't really want a whole lot to do with me. I was the admittedly irritating little sister. When I got older it was merely a matter of mutual respect. Everyone allowed everyone else privacy, knowing that they wanted that same privacy in return. You knew that if their door was shut you didn't go in without knocking. And if their door was locked and they weren't there, you left it alone. Even having roommates in college, obviously it's not the same amount of privacy, but you know not to go through the other person's stuff, or in a lot of environments, you don't even cross over to their side of the room.
Where I'm living now, it's like I'm not allowed to have privacy. Which is weird, because I'm paying extra for a private room. But my roommate who owns the place thinks she can tell me to clean my room, or that she can move my things around, or enter my room when I'm not home. I started locking my door this week to hint that I'd prefer no one go in my room, and yet I come home to discover that she decided to unlock my door so she could get in my room. Why anyone would think that was okay, eludes me entirely. I wish there was some reasoning with her so that the next person to move in wouldn't have to deal with it... but no matter what you say, her comeback is "Well, it's my house so I can do or expect whatever I want."
Tomorrow I will have only a week left in this house. I'll spend the next month or so at home with my parents, before I get married. Then I will have a brand new roommate, that I like SO much more. And he respects me! And loves me! What a bonus is that!?
Where I'm living now, it's like I'm not allowed to have privacy. Which is weird, because I'm paying extra for a private room. But my roommate who owns the place thinks she can tell me to clean my room, or that she can move my things around, or enter my room when I'm not home. I started locking my door this week to hint that I'd prefer no one go in my room, and yet I come home to discover that she decided to unlock my door so she could get in my room. Why anyone would think that was okay, eludes me entirely. I wish there was some reasoning with her so that the next person to move in wouldn't have to deal with it... but no matter what you say, her comeback is "Well, it's my house so I can do or expect whatever I want."
Tomorrow I will have only a week left in this house. I'll spend the next month or so at home with my parents, before I get married. Then I will have a brand new roommate, that I like SO much more. And he respects me! And loves me! What a bonus is that!?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Upcoming Events
So I've been reminded that I haven't written in my blog in a while, so here I am once again to update everyone on the latest happenings. This morning I registered for next semester's classes. The benefit of having loads of credits is that I get to register like a week before the majority of the population. Most of the classes I registered for are really designed for sophomores, so only one or two other spots had actually been filled in any of them since sophomores can't register for a few more days. My latest class ends at 1:45, so I'll be able to keep working at the call center I've been working at this semester. And on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I only have one class (although it has both a lecture and lab period) but it means that I can definitely use those days to do homework for my MWF classes. Other than my Biology class, all of my classes are in the Ricks building. So this semester, the Ricks will be my home. Up the hill I go!
These are the classes I'm signed up for:
Human Biology
Social Science Statistics
General Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Social Work
I think you probably get the idea of what I'm considering majoring in... I can't officially declare Social Work as my major until after I complete these classes and apply to the program. So after this semester I'll be crossing my fingers that I get into the program. In addition to doing well in the above classes, I have to write like a three page autobiography, and have three recommendations. We'll see how all of that goes!
Also today, I ordered the invitations! Now I need to get busy on printing the inserts... I bought the paper for them a while back, so I can atleast say that I have that taken care of for now. And I think I've gotten to the point where I don't really care about my wedding dress anymore... ha. I believe I will order it online this week. I need to get on it soon though.
Also happening today, I have an appointment with my doctor for a premarital exam to discuss birth control and other such things. What a party, I know. Although I'm also also getting some bloodwork done in the same appointment just to kill of two birds with one stone. I've got a bloodwork sheet to see how my thyroid is doing, and then I also have to get a TB test. Since I went to China (oh so long ago), the university is requiring that I get a TB test done before I begin classes or it'll lock me out of the system. Dumb! They should have asked how recently we had left the country, not "had we ever" ... yes? I think so!
Anyway, that is the summary of Emily's life.
2 weeks until I leave Rexburg
3 weeks after I get home, Michael arrives
1.5 weeks after that, we get married.
(49 days in all!)
These are the classes I'm signed up for:
Human Biology
Social Science Statistics
General Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Social Work
I think you probably get the idea of what I'm considering majoring in... I can't officially declare Social Work as my major until after I complete these classes and apply to the program. So after this semester I'll be crossing my fingers that I get into the program. In addition to doing well in the above classes, I have to write like a three page autobiography, and have three recommendations. We'll see how all of that goes!
Also today, I ordered the invitations! Now I need to get busy on printing the inserts... I bought the paper for them a while back, so I can atleast say that I have that taken care of for now. And I think I've gotten to the point where I don't really care about my wedding dress anymore... ha. I believe I will order it online this week. I need to get on it soon though.
Also happening today, I have an appointment with my doctor for a premarital exam to discuss birth control and other such things. What a party, I know. Although I'm also also getting some bloodwork done in the same appointment just to kill of two birds with one stone. I've got a bloodwork sheet to see how my thyroid is doing, and then I also have to get a TB test. Since I went to China (oh so long ago), the university is requiring that I get a TB test done before I begin classes or it'll lock me out of the system. Dumb! They should have asked how recently we had left the country, not "had we ever" ... yes? I think so!
Anyway, that is the summary of Emily's life.
2 weeks until I leave Rexburg
3 weeks after I get home, Michael arrives
1.5 weeks after that, we get married.
(49 days in all!)
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Preparation
Michael and I bought a mattress this week! Box spring and frame included. There was a good sale going on and we decided that it would be best not to miss it and that we ought to buy it now rather than later. So for right now, it's taking up all the wall space on one side of my room lol.
Tell you what, we are certainly beginning to realize how expensive life can be! With school and rent and insurance! Not to mention everything else! lol. But if we both have a part time job we think it will work out fine. We might need a nudge of help just to start off with the immediate lump sums that are soon approaching, but we'll be self sufficient.
We're on the waiting list for atleast one married housing complex now, and we have plans to do some shopping/registering this Friday. I'm hoping to get engagement pictures done ASAP so I can have them... for one... order invitations for two... and post pictures on Facebook for three.
The other main thing I need to make some progress on is Wedding Dress shopping... but I feel pretty lost and alone on that subject! Same with what to do with my hair or how to make my reception beautiful and unique lol. Yay for life. Two more months until home and it truly consumes my life! haha
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Meant to Be
I haven't known where I was supposed to be. I ended up deciding on Rexburg because it was practical, and because it had some pros riding along with it... like it being the place where Michael will be this semester. Really though, I haven't felt very comfortable in my own skin. I haven't felt for certain that this was really where I was supposed to be. Going to Kenya still weighs heavily on my mind and I feel such a strong pull to go.
But for now at least... I can tell you that Rexburg is where I need to be. I can't really explain it to you. It's been a collective of small things. Things like the fact that my ward here is the Rexburg YSA 2nd ward.... and my home ward in Texas used to be the Austin 2nd ward before its name changed. I know it seems silly, but it seems like a small little message to me that for now this can be home.
I don't know how long I'm supposed to be here... I don't know how long this is supposed to be home. Part of me still feels like I'll find a job, save up some money, and still find a way to get to Kenya this semester. I feel like my whole life revolves around finding a way to get myself to Kenya. I wish I could explain it.
I just have this image in my mind of that orphanage I was accepted to volunteer at... and the children there. I love them already and I haven't even met them yet.
But for now at least... I can tell you that Rexburg is where I need to be. I can't really explain it to you. It's been a collective of small things. Things like the fact that my ward here is the Rexburg YSA 2nd ward.... and my home ward in Texas used to be the Austin 2nd ward before its name changed. I know it seems silly, but it seems like a small little message to me that for now this can be home.
I don't know how long I'm supposed to be here... I don't know how long this is supposed to be home. Part of me still feels like I'll find a job, save up some money, and still find a way to get to Kenya this semester. I feel like my whole life revolves around finding a way to get myself to Kenya. I wish I could explain it.
I just have this image in my mind of that orphanage I was accepted to volunteer at... and the children there. I love them already and I haven't even met them yet.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Roommates
My roommate Courtney gave me an idea today. She did this unknowingly, but that's besides the point. On the fridge, she has made a list of all the roommates she's had in the last year. It's a pretty impressive list for only one year, I must admit. But I decided that making a list wasn't a bad idea. Especially taking my memory into account. It'd be a sad day if I forgot any... even the ones I'd prefer to forget! ;)
List of Roommates (Italicized ones I had for multiple semesters)
List of Roommates (Italicized ones I had for multiple semesters)
Amy - my Texan buddy
Dana - Quirky Virginian
Lyndsey - Nightmare!
Ariel - The peacemaker
Rebecca - Left a week later
Marianne - Always sleepy, or always gone
Jacqueline - Paranoid but friendly
Brittney - Funny and engaged!
Ann - My London and Jerusalem lover
Kelsey - Sassy and lovely!
Colby - My honorary roommate!
Lauren - Late night security gone sk8r ;)
Cambria - Always gone with a boy
Rachel - Boy crazy... GONE crazy
Hayley - Waiting for a missionary
Karissa - Nice BUTT Lady!
Krystal - No germophobe here; always calmed me down
Krysta - A young swing dancer
Jennie - Let's clean them dishes!
Rebecca - Wild and out of control! (In a good way!)
Brynn - Looking for a boy
Courtney - my Charmed companion
Megan - The hip English teacher
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Rexburg
I'm back in Rexburg. Have been for a few days now. Went on a boating/camping trip with my new ward this weekend and it was really fun. I think it will prove to be a good ward. Certainly different than any other singles ward I've been to in Idaho, but it'll be good. I already have a nickname: "Del Taco" or "Taco Time" depending on who you ask. There's a girl in the ward named Kaitlyn, and everyone thinks we look like twins. Most people in the ward spent most of the weekend trying to tell the two of us apart. And her nickname is Taco Bell, so of course my nickname had to be related.
I'm different now than I used to be. I don't know if anyone really sees it. But something just clicked in me. I can't stop thinking about Kenya. Every time I see one of those ads about starving African children, I can't help but wish I was there. The feeling reminds me of colorguard... but stronger. Once you join colorguard, it's always in your blood. Always. You see an object and you size it up... and you wonder where it's center of balance is. Where would be the best place for you to place your hand to begin spinning it. Doesn't matter if it's a flag, a rifle, a sabre, or a broom stick. It's there. You want to spin things. It's in your heart. Always. Even if you let it go, as something you do all the time... it's still there in the heart. It changes you. And wanting to go to Kenya changed me. I can't explain it really. But I really do want to go.
I'm sitting here in Rexburg, and I'm so glad to be back. Rexburg has come to feel like home to me. I am home when I come to Rexburg. I realize that especially now that I've spent a summer in Provo. Somewhere that was neither Texas, or Idaho. It wasn't home. I enjoyed my time in Provo, don't get me wrong... but it will never feel like home the way Austin and Rexburg do to me.
And yet, even while I'm here--home--in Rexburg... something still isn't sitting right. I'll feel better once Michael gets here I know. But part of me still wants to know if I'm really meant to be here in Rexburg right now. I can tell my whole heart's not in it right now. And maybe that will change once Michael gets here, and I get a job, and begin to get into the habits of every day living again... but maybe it won't until I'm able to do whatever it is I'm supposed to do. I really only have two things on my mind. And one of them, is Kenya.
I'm different now than I used to be. I don't know if anyone really sees it. But something just clicked in me. I can't stop thinking about Kenya. Every time I see one of those ads about starving African children, I can't help but wish I was there. The feeling reminds me of colorguard... but stronger. Once you join colorguard, it's always in your blood. Always. You see an object and you size it up... and you wonder where it's center of balance is. Where would be the best place for you to place your hand to begin spinning it. Doesn't matter if it's a flag, a rifle, a sabre, or a broom stick. It's there. You want to spin things. It's in your heart. Always. Even if you let it go, as something you do all the time... it's still there in the heart. It changes you. And wanting to go to Kenya changed me. I can't explain it really. But I really do want to go.
I'm sitting here in Rexburg, and I'm so glad to be back. Rexburg has come to feel like home to me. I am home when I come to Rexburg. I realize that especially now that I've spent a summer in Provo. Somewhere that was neither Texas, or Idaho. It wasn't home. I enjoyed my time in Provo, don't get me wrong... but it will never feel like home the way Austin and Rexburg do to me.
And yet, even while I'm here--home--in Rexburg... something still isn't sitting right. I'll feel better once Michael gets here I know. But part of me still wants to know if I'm really meant to be here in Rexburg right now. I can tell my whole heart's not in it right now. And maybe that will change once Michael gets here, and I get a job, and begin to get into the habits of every day living again... but maybe it won't until I'm able to do whatever it is I'm supposed to do. I really only have two things on my mind. And one of them, is Kenya.
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