My Update

I guess I should take a chance to give an update as well. I haven't posted on this blog in a while. As Mandy said, things are going pretty well in Logan. Utah State is a good school, I'm definitely finding some challenges but enjoying it all the same. The weather is getting cooler up here in Cache Valley, but I like Autumn weather...the leaves are bright yellow, red, and orange shades although now they're falling off and the dead of winter look is starting to settle in. But, I love all the seasons...Mandy sure isn't liking the cold and isn't looking forward to it getting colder.

Things are busy for Mandy and I as we are involved with work and school keeps me going. I am undecided what to do with my life and turning points and life-decisions are always hard. What's hard is that I really would love to become a Seminary teacher for the Church, but it is so competitive and there is no real guarantee of landing that job, so that is why they require you to pursue a college degree first to have something to fall back on. The back-up plan is my struggle. I don't know what else I would like to do. I used to consider medical school, but things changed and the Lord I feel has directed me in a different route. So what now? That's the current challenge I face. I guess I better do what I can to figure out my passions. I still work at Wells Fargo as a teller and I'm really wishing I could find something else! I think I've just gotten tired of it to be honest. Finance, sales, and business are definitely not my passions! But, for now the pay is good and we get good benefits. Such is life.

Halloween was fun! We were able to go down to Mandy's parents and stay with them over the weekend. We also went to a murder mystery dinner party that Mandy's friend Samantha invited us to. I had a good time! It was a 1920's Chicago setting, Mandy's character was a reporter named "Scoop" and she wore a fun red wig. She looked cute! I was "Billy the Kid Thrower" a baseball player. Mandy helped make my costume...she's such a good wife! (Well not just because of that, but all the little things she does!) Neither of us were the killer but it was all fun and silly.
And now we're in November and more holidays are on their way. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas...they're good times to be around family and memories are made. I'm excited for the time I can share with Mandy especially! It also means the semester wraps up and I'm ready for a new semester of classes. That's about it for now. Until next post!

Catching Up...

Well, Tyler has started a blog so I figured if he can be good at one then I can be too. Yes, it has been a while since we have posted...and much has happened since the last one (like getting married for one thing!) BUT we don't don't have internet so its just a little harder to keep up. But all is well in married life. Harder than we though but still loving it. Tyler has started school at USU and has a love hate relationship with it. I started working at a pre-school and am slowly learning to be patient with 3 and 4 year olds. As for church, Tyler serves in the Elders Quorum as a teacher and I am a chorister in Relief Society for all the 80 year olds (literally that is all that is in there).
My brother left for an LDS mission to Managua, Nicaragua and is struggling as any normal missionary with the language but loves being there. His last e-mail commented that he has a difficult time understanding some of the General Conference sessions in Spanish...also that in Spanish Elder Holland sounds like a Nacho Libre character! :) Gotta love him!
Speaking of General Conference, Tyler has had a hard time hearing all the protests against President Packer's talk and created a blog. If clicking there doesn't work its sustainthelordsannointed@blogspot.com.
Overall life is going well for us and we love being married...which is definitely a plus since its forever!

Our New Apartment!

Well only a couple of weeks longer before our BIG DAY! May 20th couldn't come sooner though! But, really things are really exciting right now. Everything seems to be falling into place...we have an apartment up in Logan where we're moving all our stuff into, of course Mandy won't move into the apartment til we're married (we aren't gonna be dirty) and I am getting all settled in with work at Wells Fargo and registered for school at Utah State. I am really enjoying working at this new branch and really like the atmosphere and my co-workers. School in the fall will be great and I'm official with an AGGIE student I.D. card and everything!!!

We got an excellent deal on a washer and dryer...both only cost us $200 and they work really well so we were happy about that purchase. We also bought our first couch at DI and it only cost us $40, with a little scrubbing it is looking a lot better and with a few other touches our apartment will look great...we are waiting to see what other gifts we get before we go crazy with decorating. Mandy sure seems to be enjoying putting everything in it's place. I like to see her get all giddy about it too!

The next big worry on our minds is that while I am working part-time and going to be going to school in the Fall, it means that Mandy will need to find a job so that she can help us survive financially. It is hard because Mandy hasn't really had success in finding a teaching job up here in Logan and she gets worried about it a lot. HOWEVER, what I do know is that we are meant to be together, we are meant to be up here in Logan...we both felt prompted in that regard and feel that we've followed the guidance of the Holy Ghost in these matters...so if that is what is true, then I know that just as things have worked out for me, so will they for her. I know that Father in Heaven will not leave us abandoned and that He knows of our needs...He will provide a way. I have faith that just as we are married, Mandy will find a job that she can enjoy and we will succeed, Heavenly Father wouldn't have us fail in our marriage and if other couples survive and make it through all the changes and transitions, struggles and uncertainties...so shall we! I have faith that we will be successful and happy. I thank my Father in Heaven for His love and tender mercies which He so abundantly pours out upon us. May He continue to do so...I know He will. That is an update on our life in these days prior to that special day where we will enter the House of the Lord and there partake of the covenants, blessings, and joy that He has made available for us.

Monday Night Live

So I've been staying at my aunt's house while I've been here unpacking...and my cousins have been entertaining us!! They are SO funny! First we learn that there is no such place as Kolob, then there have been MANY (and I mean many) "bottom burps," and then my little cousin told God that he is going to Australia on his mission...and he knows he's going there because God doesn't break his promises! :) But the funniest thing by far is the girls performing a SNL skit of the Lawrence Whelk show for family night!! It is HILARIOUS! I wish I could have video taped them, but I'll just give you the link to see the real thing! Its funny too!

Blessings

We moved up to Logan this weekend! It is so fun moving into your own apartment. And it is amazing to see how things are working out up here. The first day I was here (to unpack) we found a good couch for $40 and then yesterday found a fairly new washer and dryer for $200!!
Tyler loves his new branch and our house is SO cute! AND he's even offered to clean it for me while I'm gone! WHOA! He's definitely a keeper.
It is amazing to see the Lord's hand in our lives. We both feel this is definitely the place we need to be...and we are so excited to be here!

We Have an Apartment!!

I went up to Logan yesterday to find an apartment. I learned it is a LONG, DUELING process! Who knew Logan had so many different...sides to it? My wonderful mother drove me around for hours looking at apartments. Some were decent, and some were sketchy; we didn't even get out of the car. But...alas! We have a cute little place not far from campus. 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom and lots of storage (which I need) :) Only 18 days til we move in! (well, til Tyler moves in...let's not be dirty!)

MANler Strikes Again!

Bwahahaha!
So after his last prank I started thinking of what I could do to get him back. In August/September me and Amy had written all over one of our other friend's car and had plans to get some of the other boys' cars; one of them being Tyler's. Then me and Tyler started dating and those plans were just kind of pushed aside and forgotten about. As I was thinking of what to do, those previous plans came to mind and I thought how I could tweak them and make them better. And it worked.

I had saw online that someone had asked a boy to a dance by buying Depends and writing on their car, "I'm depending on you to go to (dance) with me," and then they taped Depends to their car. This was the plan. So I went to Wal-mart to buy the Depends and discovered they were like $12 a pack. Umm...heavens no. So then the uh...ahem...feminine items were right next them and and idea presented itself: use pads instead (although I guess the politically correct word would be feminine napkins or something like that).

So I decided to ask him to MORP (because March is usually that time) but then had to think up an acronym that could work for that. I wanted it to be a sort of date theme because we are trying to have a date night once a week (sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't). I came up with a couple: Manler Outings to Rejuvenate Passion (too dirty), Manler Outings that are Really Perfect (kind of lame), then I thought of the Adventure book I made him for Valentine's day and came up with Manler Outings to Record for Posterity (it was the best I could come up with).
I also came up with the idea of toilet papering his room. So...to combine the two here's what I did. I took the uh...napkins...and wrote the little nicknames he always calls me on the padded part. :) Then I wrote on his back windshield, "I will 'Always' be happy if you go to M.O.R.P. with me."

Then I stuck pads to the side of this car (on the windows...no worries).

Then I went to his house and proceeded to toiletpaper his side of the room. I also unwrapped Almond Joys to represent "dump cakes" (don't ask...its...complicated) and placed them in the toilet paper. Then I left a note that pretty much asked him to M.O.R.P. (a date) on Friday.

Then...I waited...for 2 hours for him to get off work.

At 6:08 p.m. I get a call: "What have you done?...You Dirty!" (exact quote) He proceeded to tell me how dirty I am (he was laughing the whole time too - to my relief). Then his co-worker walks by and asks if his "girl" did this to him. Then he saw the pads and asked if those were what he thought they were. Tyler said yes, and the co-worker told him he thought he should just leave them on (yes, yes, I agree) to which Tyler EMPHATICALLY said no! (I have no idea why!? ;) ) All this time I am laughing on the phone...crying actually because I'm laughing so hard. Then he drives home (still telling me I'm dirty every...oh...5 seconds). And then he sees his room. Hehehehe! Now...instead of being "dirty," I am now "in BIG trouble." (To be honest I'm a little nervous) He then read the note I left him that asked him out on a date and also explained that he needed to give me back the square that either said "yes" or "no." To which he told me I would get it back "Boy, would [I] get it back!" (again, a little scared) Oh! And remember the shredded paper he left all over my room? Ya...I replaced his pillow with that paper. :) I thought he might be missing it. ;)

The best part of the story however, is when we were walking to FHE. We passed his car and there was sticky residue on his windows. He commented that "it stuck really well." Then asked me what I used to stick it on there. I told him I didn't use anything. He looked VERY confused for a bit. Then I explained that pads come sticky. :) Oh young padawan...you have much to learn. ;)

He's protecting his own!

When it comes down to defending what is one's own, you betcha I'm gonna be protective. That young man did flirt with my Mandy once before, everyone in the Ward knew we were together already and there he was, right in front of my face...hitting on her, well that's not gonna fly! Well, now we're engaged and I was talking with a few people and as I turn around, what I saw was Shea touching her head. Wouldn't any guy who has already claimed a girl feel upset?! Guarantee they would! All I have to say is "BACK OFF! She's mine!" It's not Mandy I don't trust, it's those creepy sneaky guys out there trying to steal this most amazingly gorgeous, bright, talented, kind, honest, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, precious woman of my heart. May 20th can't come quickly enough so that we make this deal truly official. ;)

He's Fiesty!

In stake conference today we learned that when we are married we will learn new things about our spouse even several several years down the road. And although we are not married quite yet I still learned something new: he's fiesty. So here's the story...
We were at ward prayer and I was talking to some friends and Tyler was talking to some other friends. Well apparently one of my hairs was out of place and this boy in our ward (who has apparently flirted with me before...and NOT made Tyler happy) went up to fix it. Tyler turned around at that exact moment and saw...and got pretty jealous. One of my other friends started fixing it as Tyler slightly grabbed my waist from behind. Then he annouced that we were "leaving." As we left he kept talking about how this boy needed to keep his hands off and notice the ring on my finger and that I was taken etc. etc. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! He's pretty cute when he's jealous and fiesty! I like it! :)

My Retaliation!

So, Mandy had left me 116 wonderfully colorful balloons all over my room! She says that I was SO happy when I came home, while at first I was humored, it wasn't too long after that I began devising my own retaliation plans. I let things go for a while and came up with an idea for Valentine's Day which wasn't too far away. I wrote all over her car windows in red paint how much I love her.Inspired by my roommate Zach who had collected several bags stock full of shredded paper...along with some HEARTS and a ROSE, along with some balloons of my own, I returned the favor and trashed her room. :) It was great fun getting her back. From what I know, she still finds little pieces of shredded paper every now and again. The joys of our engagement...I wonder what things we'll devise when we're living together.

Let the Pranks Begin!

There was a "feud" between my roommates and Tyler's, so instead of joining, I felt inspired to start one of my own. So one night Tyler went out with the missionaries and I decided to mess up his room a bit. I counted the days until our wedding (116 to be exact) and blew up (by myself...that should be noted) that many balloons and put a reason I loved him in each balloon. Then I just dumped them all over his floor. He was SO happy when he came home to clean up all those balloons! ;) It also took him like a week to pop all of them. Slow poke.

Our First Post

After much tribulation we finally have a successful, working blog. It may be plain but at least there are no pictures of random men and robots...which at one point, there were some as our main entry...a lovely slideshow of Santa and friend and Bob the Robot. After that failed we tried adding sunsets...for some reason. Don't judge us! We do enough of that ourselves. The end.