The countdown!

So, I haven't posted in a while. I think we all know I'm terrible at this.
Right now I have a few things to count down to....
I have one more day of classes- tomorrow.
Then I have one week of finals! Dumb!
I have three more papers to write before it's all over.
Then, the things that's most exciting to count down to....

I'm getting married in three weeks and two days!

YIPPEE!

ENGAGEMENT PICTURES!

SO, we finally did it. We got our pictures taken. Now hopefully we can get our invites out!

Aunt Kim and Uncle Brent helped us out and took some great photos for us!

It was uber cold and kind of raining.
They also made me climb up onto the railroad tracks where I almost fell and died.

But after everything... I think we look pretty fantastic!

Especially because neither of us are wearing our own clothes.

You may recognize all of my jackets from Kim's closet!!!

I am not a goober.

Kim popped his collar!

This right here is how I got him!

We felt very much like we were little kids... and the tree was HUGE!

Look, I found a boy that's just as much a goober as me!

Nauvoo the Beautiful

This past weekend I got to go to Nauvoo. My MTC companion's aunt and uncle were getting sealed. She's from Arizona and I haven't seen her since the MTC so she flew to KC and stayed with me a little while. Then we drove to Nauvoo. We brought my friend Amanda with us too. We stayed with her family there. It was so fantastic. You can sure tell that her mom is a Bowen because she's pretty dang awesome! (one of the reasons I've always believed that my MTC comp, Jasmyne, was as amazing as she is was because she's half Bowen! What are the chances!?)

Basically, it was a great experience that helped me see how much prayer really works. This family had been praying for their brother and his wife for over 20 years and they finally got sealed. Also, it made me want to get married RIGHT NOW! I guess I can wait until May!

But for a small side note.... while I was writing this post I wasn't paying attention and went to eat a handful of nuts... It turns out that for some reason my dad has a cup full of dog food on his desk. WHO DOES THAT!? GOO! My life is strange.

I'm still here!

So, as Maren said, I've been stuck in the wedding prep void. That's not completely true... It's been more of the wedding prep/going to school/buying a car and figuring out how to pay for it void. It's a fun one.... BUT I now have a car! It's in my name and everything. They actually let me do it without a cosigner. Too bad that meant that I had to pay more down and now have to figure out how to get it all titled and stuff.... but yay! Life isn't fun without great big challenges, right?!

I also have a dress. It's perfect. I love it a ton!

I haven't failed out of college... yet. I do, however, HATE my lit class. It's ok though, I still love my communication classes. I guess that's why I'm a comm major. But this whole being a senior in college thing is way harder than it sounds! It's also fun and lame living in two different places. I LOVE staying with the Nielsens but I'm pretty sure my room back home never gets touched! My poor family probably won't even notice when I actually move out!

But life is generally happy... just with no money!

The date....

So, my wedding will officially be on May 22nd in Nauvoo. The reception will be on May 23rd. I'm pretty darn excited! If any of you are able to make it then YAY!!!! You should tell me! Then I'll make sure to schedule you in!!!!!!! But yes.... YAY!

I'M ENGAGED!

I'm officially engaged. The boy is beyond ridiculous! I'm pretty dang excited about it, though.



Ok. Here's the story. Julian planned this big prank on a friend of ours. I thought it was really stupid. I told him that and I didn't want to go. THEN he talked me into it, only after getting my dad in on the prank. We drove all the way up to Jake's place in Galiton (about an hour away). There also happens to be a lot of snow up there! EEK! COLD!

Then, as we were sneaking around the house to get to the back yard, Jake came running out of the house with a gun. He started yelling "Who are you? What are you doing on my property!?" and he shot the gun. I freaked! Julian and Kat (who was also with us) started running. Then Jake threatened to shoot them if they didn't stop. I yelled for Jake to stop because it was just us. Goodness... the jerks! I was so freaked out. HE SHOT A GUN AT US!

This is Kat and Jake... the one's who were in on the prank!

Then Jake came over and asked us what we were doing. I was still a bit startled and told him straight up that I didn't want anything to do with it and said it was dumb. Then he asked me what I said.... I was way confused until I turned and saw that Julian had gotten down on one knee in the snow and had a ring out. Yea....


So, this whole thing was a bit ridiculous... but luckily for Julian, I still said yes! YIPPEE!

Back to School

Back to school, back to school, to prove to dad that I'm not a fool!!!

Pretty much, it's weird to be back in classes after being gone for so long! All of my friends graduated! :( I'll work it out though. I can make NEW FRIENDS! YIPPEE! But my classes are all pretty good. I like my professors for the most part. I've got a really lame Lit class that I'm not excited about. My professor somehow compares the bad characters from our ancient epic poems to George Bush. Crazy Liberal professors!
The rest of my classes are all communication classes. YAY! I like those! It's what I do! My first project I did for my interpersonal communication class involved the whole class throwing chocolate at each other! I'm starting the year out right. At least she won't forget that any time soon.
I am also officially graduating in December. Somehow taking two years off in the middle, only taking 13 hours this semseter and all the other crazy stuff I do didn't stop me from graduating in 3 1/2 years (of actual being in the country time!). Basically, I rock!

I'm also alreading enjoying the whole back and forth thing. It's not all bad. I'm part of two families and two branches now! More people to love! The only nutso thing is that the Nielsens actually wake up at 6 to do the whole going to school/work thing. WHO DOES THAT!? But being woken up by Joe playing the piano and Linda making me breakfast isn't half bad! I was way productive. I guess I'll have to start waking up at 6 more often. Can you believe it? That's even EARLIER than you wake up as a missionary!

So, now I just have to try not to fail out. Coming back has actually lead to some sweet conversations about the gospel. I got a high five from one of my professors! Life is fun!