Engaged!!

It's been a while since I last posted, so I'll quickly update my life :) I survived finals and graduated from the BYUI nursing program! It's nice to be done, but I'll start working towards my BSN next semester. Now I'm home and it's been awesome relaxing and hanging out with Dan and my family. I wanted to post our engagement story and here it is...

Dan and I were in Disneyworld enjoying my first full day there since I had school and got there a little later in the week than him and his family. We had the most fun, perfect day in the Magic Kingdom and then had a delicious dinner at one of my fave restaurants, Whispering River Canyon. We wanted to watch Wishes, the special firework display, on the beach at The Polynesian and we could watch it there across the water. We rushed back from dinner, stopped by our room (little did I know it was so Dan could get the ring out of the safe there) and went down to the beach. During the finale, as the music was talking about wishes and dreams coming true, Dan said to me "I wish you would marry me. Will you make my wish come true?" We'd been talking about marriage for a long time, so I did not realize he was proposing until right after when he got down on one knee and said "Will you marry me?" and opened the box with my gorgeous ring. Of course I said yes!! I was so surprised because Dan and his mom had tricked me and told me my ring would not be ready for a few more months lol. I couldn't stop staring at my ring and absolutely LOVED it! I picked the setting and Dan chose the center stone but then we had it made and I had not seen what it actually looked like. It came out perfect! We hugged on the beach and one of the most classic moments was as we were leaving, when an older couple who was standing behind us and had seen the whole thing said "Now make it last for 52 years like us" Then I called my family to tell them my exciting news and we went back to the hotel where Dan's family was waiting to see my ring and hear all about how Dan proposed. We also updated our relationship status on Facebook, haha gotta make it Facebook official!! SUCH A MAGICAL NIGHT AND I CAN'T WAIT TO MARRY THE LOVE OF MY ETERNITY!!!!

Magical Disney World

To celebrate Dan's mission homecoming, his family all went to Disney World and his parents invited me! It was soo fun! It really is the most magical place on earth :) Between the two of us, we took about 700 pics, and here are some of my faves!

Cinderella's castle is so classic! And so are all the cute Disney characters made out of plants and flowers...

I adore vanilla soft serve... and the cute guy I'm sharing it with ;) Yum!

We loved the new Star Wars Star Tours ride! We had to get a pic on the landspeeder :)

Good times in Epcot! Test Track is one of our fave rides there

I reminded the sharks at the Finding Nemo exhibit of an important fact; Brita is a friend, not food!

Haha I got a pic of Dan with Dori!

Dan's mom suggested that we plan a date night dinner for just the two of us. I love France in Epcot and Dan agreed that it would be the perfect place. We went to the Chefs de France and it was DELICIOUS!! Definitely my favorite meal of the week!

Dan got an amazing French onion soup (I stole bites), a mini French baguette and we both got duck in orange sauce with polenta and green beans. Duck has always been one of my favorite meats, and I found out Dan really likes it too. For dessert, I got Creme Brulee and shared with Dan. Everything was fantastic!

Mickey's Christmas Party was awesome! We enjoyed parades, shows and a special Holiday version of Wishes fireworks display!

We also had yummy hot chocolate, cookies and enjoyed that the park was not as crowded as usual.

Dan LOVED collecting these Star Wars and Toy Story figures called Vinylmations. You can't see what figure you're getting until you buy it and open the box, but if you get a figure you don't want or already have, you can go throughout the parks to these black boxes and try to trade it for a different figure you want.

Dan lookin cool with the Army man from Toy Story :)

Prime Time Cafe is fun... but make sure you eat your veggies and don't put your elbows on the table, because the waitress will scold you!

We went to Animal Kingdom right before we left. I got this shirt with leopard print to wear there. My favorite things there were Expedition Everest, the rapids ride and watching It's Tough to be a Bug.

But the best part of the trip was... WE GOT ENGAGED!!! I was SOO surprised and it was sooo magical!! More posts on that to come ;)

I had SUCH an amazing time!! I owe a big thank you to his parents for taking me! It could not have been more perfect!! XOXO

My fairytale...

Once upon a time, there was a girl...

Who was madly in love with a boy...

He was perfect and everything she had ever dreamed of and she wanted to marry him, but she knew he needed to serve his mission first. And he did...

And she waited for him! And sent him letters every week and holiday care packages...

And it made her soooo sad not to be with him, and it was the hardest thing she ever had to do, but she knew he was doing what he was commanded to do, and she prayed he would always feel her love and time would pass quickly. And finally, two years passed...

AND SHE WAS REUNITED WITH THE LOVE OF HER ETERNITY!!!!!!!!

And he was even more perfect and amazing than when he left!!! And she can't wait to marry her other half and live happily ever after!!!!

I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART DAN!!!!!!!!! YOU WERE WORTH EVERY SECOND!!!!!! XOXOXOXO

Almost Home!!

Dan gets home TOMORROW!!! How amazing is that?! It still seems just too good to be true for me. It's been over 25 months since the last time I've seen him, which is such a long time. I always knew I'd wait for him, because I knew he needed to serve a mission and I knew I needed to marry him, and waiting was the only way to accomplish those two goals. I'm really glad that I was able to be so involved in his mission by getting copies of his journal every week and his memory cards and hearing all about his investigators and what he was up to. I've loved hearing about his experiences and I'm soo proud of all his hard work and all that he was able to accomplish! But I'm glad missions aren't longer then two years because I'm sooo ready for him to be home! I need to be with my other half! I can't wait to see him this weekend! It will be soo fun and classic and perfect, just like him :)

Rexburrrg...

Today was the 1st snow of the semester! And it snowed ALLL day! I was at the hospital for clinical and we lost power for about an hour, which was quite the experience since the computer system that we chart patient cares also went down. The nurses had to use paper charting which makes things more challenging. It's also freezing today, as I can see my breath in the air. I kind of forgot how cold it gets here, and it just seems way too early for snow!!

Halloween!!

This weekend I set up my Halloween decorations which was soo fun! I love my "All Hallow's Eve" garland!



My cute book and Halloween cards and my yummy candle! I need to put some candy corn in a dish here too :)

My little window garland!

When my mom was going through my Grandmother's house, she found this adorable Halloween postcard from 1905. I claimed it and am soo happy to have this vintage decoration for my room :)


I'm soo excited for Halloween and that Dan will be home before then!!

Hiking "R" Mountain

This afternoon my roommates and I decided to hike "R" mountain! None of us had done it before, but it was a lot of fun and a good work out!

And the view from the top...

I can't wait to hike this with Dan sometime!! XOXO

Apple Picking :)

On Saturday, Kersti and Kayla and I went apple picking on the campus orchard. I didn't pick anything because I couldn't figure out which apples were ripe, but it was still a fun, classic fall thing to do :)

My room!!

I just wanted to post a few pics of my cute room :) It's pretty much the same as last semester since I had a storage contract here and could just leave everything as it was rather than having to bring it to a storage unit and then set it up again. It's my perfect little home away from home!



P.S. I'm sooo excited to set up my Halloween decorations next month! Soo fun :)

Two Years...

It's been exactly two years since I've seen Dan. That day was definitely one of the worst, saddest days of my life and I just couldn't wait for the years to go by and Dan to be home! I'm flying out to school today but instead of my heart breaking, I'm sooo happy that he will be home in just a few weeks and that next time I'm on a plane, I'll be flying to see the love of my eternity!! And tomorrow I'm going wedding dress shopping, exciting times ahead!! XOXOXO

Mystic Seaport!!

Today went to Mystic Seaport! My siblings and I had never been there before, but we thought it would be a fun daycation before everyone went back to school. It was beautiful and soo classic New England! Here are some of the many pics I took...