Leaving Paradise

As paradisiacal as Cancun was... Leaving it was another matter entirely. Tuesday night, we bemoaned returning to reality and Wednesday morning we packed, checked out of our hotel, and grabbed a taxi to the airport to get there by 1030 for our 1230 flight. When we went to check in, the kiosk wouldn't let us do it. Come to find out, our flight wasn't until 1230 on THURSDAY, not Wednesday... We were a full 26 hours early for our flight, a truly ironic thing indeed because I really hate getting to the airport more than an hour before a flight is set to depart.

So, since we were broke from the $65 trip from the airport to the hotel when we arrived, and the $40 trip from the resort to the airport, we decided to stay at the airport and have an adventure... So that's what we did.

The Honeymoon-- Cancun, or, Paradise

Kirk's first out-of-country experience was eagerly awaited... After my cabin in the woods dream honeymoon happened in Park City for the first two days, we excitedly headed to the airport Saturday morning to fly to LAX and then onto CUN. On our Delta flight, we sat next to a cute lady who had spent her honeymoon in the beautiful Cancun 43 years earlier. She told us all the places we couldn't miss, then concluded by exclaiming, "But you know what? You're on your honeymoon-- just lay on the beach and enjoy each other!" and that's exactly what we did! We just laid on the beach, took naps in our hotel room, ordered virgin drinks from the bar, and enjoyed being together... It was paradise!

The Honeymoon-- Park City, or, A Cabin in the Woods

When I was a little girl, I decided I wanted to go to Paris on my honeymoon-- spending time in France with the romance, the culture, and the pastries has always been appealing to me, till I got a little older and realized that sight-seeing wasn't going to be a top priority on my honeymoon to-do list... So I decided my ideal honeymoon would be a cabin in the woods with just me and my man. Kirk and his parents, knowing this, booked us two nights in Park City, Utah before taking off to the more exotic Cancun.

We had an amazing time at the WestGate hotel. Friday, we eventually left the hotel and went shopping where we replaced Kirk's leather jacket with one we found on major sale at this cute little Nordic shop, we also bought an ornament-- a tradition we began on our first vacation together, while we were engaged, to California. After lunch at this cute Texas cafe and shopping, we went to the alpine slide where I'm pretty sure I beat Kirk down the mountain. On our way back to the hotel we stopped by walmart because my cute husband only packed two shirts, so we picked up a pack of white t-shirts to wear in Cancun and a swim shirt. Back at the hotel we went swimming and enjoyed a delightful dinner at the hotel restaurant.

It was an early (ish) to bed evening as we had to leave at 5 am for the airport the next morning, but we had a lovely time in Park City and we hope to be able to return to this great hotel and this fun city every year for our anniversary so long as we are in Utah.

What a great start to our life together!

My Fairytale

So, I got married to the man of my dreams on Thursday 16 August 2012. Pretty much, I'm the luckiest woman alive! Kirk Alan Johnson is the sweetest, most sincere person I know, and I adore him-- this blog, from here on out, will be chronicling our Happily Ever After as The Johnson's... Here we go (:

I'm sick.

Like, really sick. So achey that even my hair follicles hurt. I bucked up and went to our ward talent show tonight with my new roomie, Alexis, and on the way, we picked up my neighbor, Dan. After the activity, he invited us over to his house for ice cream and since I have made it a point to never turn down an invitation to be social this semester, Alexis and I graciously accepted. Whilst there, the guys noticed I wasn't feeling the greatest and asked what I needed. I asked for a priesthood blessing and that is what I got. Ryjan anointed my head with consecrated oil, set apart for the blessing and healing of the sick, and Tom gave me a beautiful blessing in which I was told that as I had faith in my body and took the necessary steps to make myself healthy that I would be blessed with the ability and strength to do all the things I need to. How grateful I am for the priesthood of our god-- the ability of man on earth to act in God's name. I am grateful for worthy men who hold this authority and for the blessings of healing, comfort, and council I have received at their hands.

The other neat aspect of this experience is that Alexis, who was baptized last year, and Dan, who was baptized three years ago, who has not yet been ordained an elder in the melchizadek priesthood, were both there. They felt the spirit, and it opened up an opportunity for me to explain to Alexis the way blessings work. Previously she had only received blessings of comfort, so for her to learn that she could call on the power of the priesthood for blessings of healing when she was sick was really fantastic.

This whole experience reminded me of this talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Watch it. It's superb.

So there you have it-- I'm thankful for the Priesthood, good neighbors, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, new roommates, and teaching opportunities. Life is good-- even when you're sick.

The Little Things...

It's here-- that mid-semester slump where you've been going to class for two months and theres a month left and all the projects are starting to be due, you're neck-deep in round two of midterms, and you're just ready for the summer nights, summer vacations, and summer loving to be here, but they're just not... So I'm focusing on the little things in my life that make me smile:

The First Bloom of the Season

This little beautiful crocus popped up in my front flower bed and beat all the other bulbs that were planted last spring. Seeing it still makes me smile, and I'm grateful for the beauty of the earth that our Heavenly Father blesses us with (:

This Girl

Miss Jennifer Seiter makes me smile endlessly. Certainly she's one of the many reasons I'm glad I served my mission in The Great Ohio Columbus Mission-- we always have such a great time whenever we're together, and I'm so grateful for her friendship! We talk about everything, and one of the things we always end up talking about is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's so great to have such an uplifting best friend who I know will love me no matter what.

My House

This cute little house in Provo, Utah has been my home since August, and being able to decorate it, host parties in it, and learn how to be a domestic goddess in it has provided me with endless smiles. I'm so grateful for my parents who so wonderfully let me live here and who enjoy visiting!

Breakfasts and Facials with a Best Friend

Robert Baker is one of the best friends a girl could ask for... We like to get together every so often and get breakfasts at Kneaders on Saturday mornings, and make midnight Walmart runs to have facials. Speaking of faces, he can always put a smile on mine. I'm going to miss him for two years when he goes on a mission, but I'm grateful for his desire to serve the Lord, and I know he's going to be an amazing full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Crafting

I just love to create things. It makes me smile. That's all.

Newlyweds

I have had the privilege of being able to see two of my dear friends sealed for time and all eternity in the House of the Lord. Scott and Natalie Savage were married on the 24th of February at 11:00 in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple, and Aubin and Jeff Palmer were married on the 11th of February at 11:00 in the Albuquerque, New Mexico temple. These two wonderful couples are as happy as can be, and thinking about their bright futures makes me smile, and I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that families can be together forever

Corny Jokes

There is nothing greater than jokes that make you groan and smile and roll your eyes...

Friends from The Ohio

Where would I be without these friendships and the things I have learned from these wonderful men and women? I treasure the times when we are able to get together-- seeing them makes me smile-- and I am so grateful the Lord put us all together in The Ohio to have the opportunity to become lifelong friends.

Life is BEAUTIFUL...

You are Perfect-- A Good Reminder

Never forget...

‎"I would charge you to say again and again to yourselves, 'I am a [child] of God' and by so doing, begin today to live closer to those ideals which will make your life happier and more fruitful because of an awakened realization of who you are." - Harold B. Lee

A thankful Heart

I'm at this wonderful point in my life called young adulthood. I've fallen in love a time or two, traveled, studied abroad, served a mission, had my heart broken, discovered several things I'm good at-- and even more that I need to work on, been lucky enough to make a few really wonderful lifelong friends, and blessed with amazing testimony-building experiences which have made completely clear in my mind and my heart that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is 100% true. By every definition of the word I am blessed... Not to mention my fantastic forever family. Seriously, they're amazing.

In an effort to jump back into the blogging world and to continue documenting my young wonderful life, I will be posting at minimum one post a week expressing grattitude for the tender mercies the Lord bestows on me... After all, Izaak Walton said,

"God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart."

This week, I am thankful for:

Daily scripture study and the weekly opportunity to partake of the sacrament

The temple that is five minutes up the road from me

Sewing and creating beautiful things

Amazing friends like Jenn S., Bethany H., Rob B., and Aubin P. whom I get to see often

Good music on Pandora

My life experiences which give me wisdom, memories, and perspective.

What are you grateful for? Take thirty seconds and make a list... Try it, you'll like it!