January 24, 2017

EEEEEEEPPPPPPPP ENGAGED!!!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL- THIS IS REAL LIFE!!!! Part of me feels like I should write this whole post in all caps because I am beyond thrilled! I'm engaged to the most wonderful man, the boy of my dreams, the love of my life! May 6th is going to be the most magical day but we have so many magical days before that day and a life time of magical days after.

January 20th was a REALLY magical day. I have to hand it to Thomas he was really chill all day. Most of what we did was my idea so I wasn't expecting him to propose. Had I been wishing and hoping for weeks that he would?- yes, but I didn't think it was happening that day.
I called him after class and told him I need some time to finish some things before we headed out for what I thought was a low key night at Jayne's apartment in Salt Lake (Jayne is Thomas's sister who lives right down town. He was wasn't suspicious at all suggesting we go to Zupas. Then I had suggested running to the mall on our way out. Turns out Thomas faked a headache and went back to his house for Tylenol just to waste time. Really I was lied to sooooo many times that day haha and from a boy who is always honest with me I was so trusting. He said lying that day didn't count.
Again it was me that suggested we visit the state capitol while in Salt Lake. We wondered around and I was so happy just being with him. We sat and talked for a long time. He did pretty good a killing time and avoiding my suggestion to just go hang out with his brother at Jayne's apartment. After what felt like hours (oh wait it was hours...) at the capitol we headed over.
The moment I thought "well maybe he is gonna propose" was when he told me to leave all my stuff in the car and that we would come get it later. I had told my self not to expect to get engaged because if it didn't happen I would be sad instead of enjoying a fun weekend in Salt Lake. He told me he wanted to show me the view from the roof. You would think that was a dead give away but I just had convinced myself that it wasn't happening. He had me close my eyes and actually ran me into a pole LOL. He tells me that he was distracted by the set up.
When I was allowed to open my eyes the person I love most in this world was down on one knee. It is the moment that as a girl you dream about. I had wondered what it was going to feel like when that moment came and it was more than I could ever have imagined. I made some ugly crying sounds and I think I said a yes in there somewhere. The view from that roof top really is great and I was able to appreciate it for what it was the next morning covered in snow. But that night I didn't even look out at the city. I had two other things to look at. 1. the 'perfect in every way' ring that now lives on my left hand and 2. the face that I'll get to wake up to every morning in a short 102 days.
yes, I'm counting.

I love Thomas! I can't wait to be Mrs. Rich! He brings an unexplainable peace and reassurance to my soul. He makes me feel beautiful, capable and safe, I've never been so happy!


Photo credit to my sneak sneak roommates! It was fun to have them and Daniel there. They are a blessing in my life.
Thomas's family members were waiting down in Jayne's apartment and just like any normal Rich family get together we ate pizza and watched a Jazz game. It was fantastic!
I called home to St. George in a pretty emotional state. They of course all knew it was coming. I stayed in that kind of surreal state of mind through the pizza and celebratory cake. I've also never felt more popular as social media comments and text messages drained my phone battery in about an hour. It was fun.
I actually don't think I have come down from the OH MY GOSH WE ARE ENGAGED high yet. I'm struggling a little paying attention in class distracted by seeing how my ring sparkles in the different classroom lights. hehehe


Anyway.. There is the engagement story for ya. It's pretty joyful!!!! So in love! So happy!

January 17, 2017

Baby Brother

Hi blog.. I'm back again, which means I have something to say that I can't really put anywhere else.

I have a younger brother- he gets under my skin in mere seconds but boy I'm one proud big sister. It's funny because no one can put me in a bad mood faster than that 18 year old kid but he will never ever know just how much I respect his opinion. One of my greatest and kinda secret desires is for Michael to think I'm 'cool'. This last weekend I was able to attend one of his High School basketball games.
Watching Michael play is more exciting to me than any college or professional level game. I'm so emotionally invested in the handsome young men on the court. These boys now tower over me but it hasn't always been the case. I've watch the same group of once little kids run up and down a court since they could dribble a ball. I've always liked going to games and missing an entire season made me feel more homesick than most things while I was on a mission.
To help put things in perspective there are a few background details you should know.
It was Mom who told me about how the bottom of every pair of his basketball shoes have a sharpie written "MTB" on the bottom. She asked him one day why that was.
His response...
"Make Them Believe."
He reminded her of the time in the 7th grade he was placed on the "B team". It was that year I remember him spending hours a day at the church by himself shooting. Michael isn't the tallest or the fastest. He is athletic but doesn't have NBA future skills. What he does have is determination and the best attitude I have ever seen. He told my mom that his goal starting then was to 'make them believe' that he could do it. He could be the kind of player he needed to be to succeed. His hard work has been consistent since.
High School sports are hard. Athletics can teach us such great lessons of dedication and hard work but never did I put the kind of time or energy into running. Maybe it is because Michael loves it more but I think a lot of it has to do with the person he is.
He is the youngest and always expected to be the fun one or the funny one or responsible or is compared to his older siblings or expected to be a certain way as the Stake President's son. He is going to High School in an environment I believe is far worse than even just a few years ago when I was there. I consistently hear about him leaving parties or being the one to hold his peers to higher standards. He isn't a glory seeker- not socially or athletically. He is just good.
I watched him this last weekend walk to the middle of the court as a captain. Both teams were still warming up and almost no one watched him and his best friend shake hands with the refs but my heart skipped a beat and I thought
"Michael.. I believe"
He may still be working his tail off every day to make his coaches believe with every minute he gets on the court but he could not play another minute all season and the effects of what he has done thus far would be immeasurable.
He inspires me not only to dream but to do something about those dreams.
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