Welcome Home!

Yes, I did just welcome myself home. I have so much to blog about.
Our trip to Georgia for Christmas.
A list of my 1sts this holiday season.
Seeing the former love of my life for the first time since he actually was the love of my life. Oh you know I need to blog about that.

My goals for 2011.

But for now, I have to tell you about my welcome home.

Not even 12 hours after being home from our trip I:
*Was informed of a funeral that I very much needed to attend, but the reality of it kept me up most of Wednesday night before the funeral.
*Was yelled at by my grouchy, mean, old next door neighbor about our mailbox stand needing to be fixed...never mind I seriously hadn't been home 12 hours, was having car trouble, and was
dressed for a funeral. AWESOME.
*Had to deal with a truck that wouldn't start on my way to the funeral.

That was my welcome home.

On an upside. As tragic as this funeral was it was a beautiful service. Normally I hate it when people say that, but it's true. It was very tastefully done. I was inspired. I was left wanting to be such a better person. I thought I would kick off the new year with the one thing that hit me the most from the service.

This man who passed away was tragically young. He had a family he left behind, brothers, a sister, kids, and a wife. He lived a good life. He served faithfully in his callings. (I didn't know him all that well, his wife was a huge inspiration in my life, though). He died of cancer and apparently did so with dignity. He was a good good man. The closing hymn at the funeral was sung by the priesthood holders from his ward. They all got up and sang "Called to Serve." The closing song at a funeral. I've never seen that done before. I got home and told Zach, I've never looked at death like that...as being called to serve in a different capacity. WOW! It really hit home to me. It left me strangely comforted. I have a testimony that our Heavenly Father takes us when our mission in life is over and when He needs us to complete a different mission. I know that it is all in our Heavenly Father's hands and He knows best. Click here to hear the song.

Letters to Santa

Another one...

Seriously. I can't get enough of these letters. These need to be published or something so everyone can be cheered up.

Dear Santa,

I want a book about the human body for I could learn.

I want to have a new mouse because my mouse is broke.

My mom wants socks because she always buys things and I feel sad because she buys for us but not for herself. I wish my mom could get socks.

Love Friend,

XXXXXXXXXXX

This is from another little 4th grade boy. He is from a Spanish speaking home (you can tell in the way he phrases some of his sentences...I left it in there because it somehow makes my heart sad/happy all at once).

I love my kids. I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVE them.

I hope Santa treats them all well.

That is my wish from Santa. For real.

Letters to Santa

Today I had my students write letters to Santa.
Pardon the expression but this one is precious...I about died.
Dear Santa,
Am I on the good list? If I am then I know what I want, I want a new DS game. If you get it, I will thank you after. I will always believe in you. Christmas is the funnest holiday of the year because you are the best. I will also want to say "hi" to Rudolph. You bring kindness to Christmas. I'll set some cookies and milk up if you come. Next year I'll say hi to Comet. What kind of cookies do you like?

Your Friend,
XXXXXXX

Just know that the student who signed it was a fourth grade boy.
Seriously. It makes me want a kid like YESTERDAY!

Answer This...

I decided that I can do an Answer This post this month...it just needs to be a Christmas related topic...silly me.

What are your favorite things about Christmas? Mine are:
-Christmas Music (only religious ones, though. I am very picky about my Christmas music)
-Christmas Movies
-The excitement in the air. In my classroom. At home. At the store. EVERYWHERE
-Cuddling on the couch in my flannel PJ's with the fireplace going. It's practically perfect.
-Wrapping presents
-Christmas parties
-Hot chocolate
-Snow (but only during Christmas...snow in January...sucks to be quite honest).
-The colors and the lights
-Cider
-Last but not least...the focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
That's the very best part.

What are your favorite things about Christmas?

Joy to the World

" Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.

And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

With all our hearts we praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,

His power and glory ever more proclaim! "

O Holy Night

Christmas Thoughts

It's December. That means it's Christmas time. That means that I will not be posting random stories from our daily life. No more snow day posts, letters, or Answer This posts...for now. It is Christmas month. Every post (hopefully every day) will be a Christmas thought. It's a way for me to share the spirit of Christmas with my friends and family as frequently as I want :) Enjoy your holiday season.

Worth of a Soul by Liz Lemmon Swindle (for purchase off of LDSart.com)

"At this Christmas season, may we commemorate--the Man of Miracles, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although he healed the sick, raised the dead, caused the lame to walk, and the blind to see, there is no miracle comparable to the miracle of Christ himself.

-President Gordon B. Hinkley

Can't Wait...

I get to go here tonight with my mom. We do it every year. It's like a Christmas tradition. Just the two of us. I wore my tennis shoes to work today. This year I am more prepared than ever. I have been looking forward to this all week. When it is all over I will be sad. Until then...I just can't wait!

Answer This

What did you do with your snow day?

It's a snow day here in Idaho.

A real "no school" snow day.

After finding out (via Mike and Kate) that I had no school

After I had showered and was getting ready for work (by getting ready I mean I was up...not doing much else, but you get the idea)

*Massive MASSIVE break down of our emergency phone tree*

I texted one of the ladies from my 4th grade team

I love her like another mom

She informed me that we had no school

She then sent a text that said something like this:

"This is Mal's first official snow day, too. You have to take him out to play in it. My dogs love it!"

And so, even though I'm much more of a summer person--I did.

I took Mal out with me while I shoveled our driveway (while my cocoa motion worked me up a nice warm cup of Gingerbread hot cocoa)

Mal slid and jumped around

I laughed at him a lot.

After I finished shoveling-I played with him for just the tiniest amount of time.

I think he was satisfied, doesn't he look happy to you?

I love having Mal. He gave me a reason to get out and get in the snow if only for a second or two (literally). I wouldn't have done it otherwise. I dislike the cold.

But we've had a great day Mal and I.
Today we also:

Cuddled on the couch and watched Letters to God on Netflix. I cried.

We cuddled while I read.

We went back to sleep after we found out that Zach and my mom made it to work okay.

I worked out (my Pilates video:) Mal watched.

I did two loads of laundry. Mal watched.

Now Mal is curled up by my feet, I have the fireplace going, I'm getting ready to feed myself (I worked hard today: Pilates, snow shoveling, and snow playing), and watch a few episodes of Friends before getting to work and cleaning my house.
By the time Zach gets home I should have had the perfect snow day.

Just enough work, relaxation, and play.

What did you do with your snow day?

With Gratitude...

My brothers and sisters, to express gratitude is gracious and honorable; to enact gratitude is generous and noble; but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven." President Thomas S. Monson

I'm grateful for so many things. I am never able to cover all of them. Here are a few some simple...some not so simple..all make me incredibly blessed:

*The gospel and the way that it directs my life and brings me peace.

*My home. It's warm and safe. It feels like home and I feel so blessed to have it for myself.

*My family. They are kind, supportive, and unique. I feel so blessed to be part of my family. I apologize that I sometimes take you guys for granted.

*Mal. He is loyal and excited about life and loves us. He listens. He cuddles. He makes us laugh. Plus, he is FREAKIN' CUTE!
*My job. I love it. I feel passionately about what I do and what I want to change. I have a principal who is supportive of my decisions. I get to work with kids all day long and they are SO much better than adults. I love my team of teachers. I love my job. It pays bills.

*Zach. I love him. I love being married. It's been the best year. Zach has surprised me in so many ways. He is the ultimate man. He is pretty amazing, kind, smart, funny, and so so good to me. I love having a home and Mal with him. I love having him to tell stories to about my job when I come home at night. I love everything about being married to him.

*Friends. My friends are so good to me. I can count on them for support and advice. I can occassionally look for a break from the ordinary with a movie night, a Starbucks stop, a poker game, a game night, or a simple phone call.

*Hot chocolate

*Christmas Music

*Going to Church on Sunday

*Lie to Me, Damages, and Burn Notice (Netflix)

*Good Books to Read

*Laughter

*Fresh Air

*Cars that get us to and from work (some that barely do that).

*Warm Food

*Hugs

*Blankets

*The sounds of machines cleaning my clothes or dishes

*Getting fun mail

*Randy Travis

*Board Games
*A Hand to Hold

*Heat

*Sparkling Cider (just because)

*Sunday Naps

*Pictures

*Memories

*Smells

*Our monthly Idaho Pizza date

*Kisses

*My Callings

*My health

*A body that keeps me able

Happy Thanksgiving!

Letters--A Letter To Someone Who Has Caused A Lot of Pain During My Childhood

Are there people I could write to? Yes. I have been hurt--unquestionably. Do I want to? Not so much. So here's what I came up with:

You Know Who You Are,

Yes, you hurt me. All of you did. The effects of your choices came later in life...as I realized how little I was cherished. How unwilling you were to protect me. It still hurts at times. I love you, though. I am grateful for you. I am so blessed to have still had the rich upbringing that I did.

I turned out quite alright. I am proud of who I am. I would be proud of who I am no matter how many blemishes my childhood may or may not have had. Given the situation, I am extremely proud. I am humbled, though, too. As I realize there are so many who are not so lucky. So many who have far more reason that I do to lash out.

How did I get so lucky? I don't know. How come Heavenly Father chose to let me know who I was and how much He loved me so early on-I will never know. I am grateful for it every day. I share this knowledge with the world because I know there are others who may not know their worth and perhaps they could benefit from it. That's why I so often share...that and I am just overwhelmingly grateful.

I am blessed. I have learned to forgive and to love. I may not have perfected the act of forgiving (there are times I still get angry and yell about this and there are times I still cry). I try, though. I know that we are all children of a loving Father in Heaven. I know that we have an Elder Brother who loves us and makes it possible to recover from tragic events. I know that we are watched over constantly.

Some people question my forgiveness. Some may even judge it. I know it is the right thing to do. For it is not in me to remain so bitter or angry. I know that is not my purpose in life. I know I was made to love. I am so grateful for a Savior who makes it possible to heal, forgive, and love. I am also grateful for a Savior who makes it possible to repent and be forgiven. Trust me, I've had need of forgiveness many a time...and I know how it feels to feel unworthy. I would never wish that feeling on any of you. I would rather you knew you were loved.

The only thing I ask of you is to embrace this knowledge. I promise that when you do you will find peace and happiness in a unique form. I know this. I have experienced it for myself. It has guided me to where I am today.

"A child, a child, sleeping in the night. He will bring us goodness and light."

When You've Had A Week from...You Know Where

My week has been horrible.
Stressful.
BUSY.
Overwhelming.
Stressful.
Stressful.
Stressful.
I've been angry, mad, frustrated.
I've yelled, I've cried. I've stayed up way too late.

When you have a week like that...and then a day like today...you realize how blessed you are for the things that make you feel good, warm, happy, and whole.
Today I'm so thankful for:
*My home. The way it feels to walk into it. It's warm. It's inviting. It's ours.
*A husband to come home to. To kiss me at the door and hug me. To reassure me that "everything is going to be alright." To make dinner while I'm out on visits for church.
*Mal. Who greets me so eagerly and with such enthusiasm. And who, I'm fairly certain, loves our home like I do to. I can tell in the way that he curls up and rests in our house. He feels warm, cozy, and safe here, too!:)
*My students. Today they were so kind, thoughtful, and FUNNY. They are learning. They are soaking up what I teach them. They are fun. We are having a blast. I love them.
*My calling. Having that to keep me grounded and on track. I love being with the Young Women and I love being a Ward Missionary. This week, both of those things have left me with a heart full of gratitude.
*Food. Warm food on a cold night, makes me feel so very fortunate.
*Last but not least, this line from one of my current favorite songs:
"Baby if you're in the mood and you can settle for a one night rodeo,
You can be my tan-legged Juliet,
I'll be your redneck Romeo."

It cheers me up! Beyond words. Every time!

Letters--A Letter to Each of Your Parents

This blog may seem one-sided. I already know it. I love both of my parents. I love them equally. I just have a very different relationship with my mom than I do with my dad (who doesn't, right?) So here goes!


Dear Daddy,

I love you so much. I know you like to pretend that this surprises you, but you know it! I will tell you why I love you. I love you because you have shown me that men are faithful. You work hard. You stand up for yourself. I love you because you have changed so much over the past few years and I am SO proud of you. I love you because you are so good to Zach. I love you because you were interested in my relationship with him from the beginning. I love you because when I was little you used to pick up our breakfast at the gas station when it was your turn to take us to Grandma's. I love you because I am so much like you.

Although, I am a self-proclaimed MAMA'S GIRL. I want to be like mom so bad--I am still so proud of some of the traits I have from you. I am proud to come from you and from your family. I am proud to be your mother's granddaughter.

I am proud that I am tall and dark "like my dad." I am proud that my eyes squint when I smile. I am proud of being a lefty like you. I am proud that sometimes I boss other people around like you do. I laugh at myself when I tell mom what to do and she says something like, "Oh my gosh. When did your dad get here?" I actually laugh really hard at that kind of thing.

I love to make fun of you...for a plethora of things. I know you take this a little hard at times but making fun of you is hilarious. As I write this right now I am absolutely laughing to myself as I think about Shane and I telling each other about you listening to your girly music with your headphones on! HAAHAHAHA! You and your Hallmark channel, Enya, Little House on the Prairie, Oliver! Oh my goodness, Dad, you are hilarious!

I have lots of good memories with you. Some very recent. I love you and I am so proud to be your daughter. I am so grateful Heavenly Father sent me to you to show you the way.
Love,

Shar

Dear Mom,

I love you so much. I know that you know it and you don't pretend not to. You do think you don't deserve it--which is the furthest thing from the truth. I adore you! I want to be like you in so many ways.

There are so many things that I wish I had let myself learn from you--things that I love about you. I love that you laugh at things, even when bad things happen, you find humor in them. I love how selfless you are. I love how hard-working you are. I think I got SOME of this from you and dad, but not as much as I'd like. I think you are quite possibly the most amazing woman in the world.

Dramatic, yes, I have a flair for drama and we both know it! However, I do believe it. I had such a wonderful and rich childhood because of YOU. We have so many amazing memories. I have an even greater appreciation for all you did now. When I see the parents of my students sometimes failing miserably at the thing you did so flawlessly. I laugh when I remember and then I usually cry, of course--that I did get from you. I cry because I am so blessed and you are so good.

I know I tell you this all the time but thank you! Thank you for taking time to be a mom. Thank you for assuming that role with your whole heart. You never acted like being a mom was an inconvenience..a time in your life to endure. Sadly, I see SO SO many women that do. You weren't like that. How you had the strength to work full time, come home and listen to us and spend time with us, help us with homework, keep a VERY clean house, and make dinner--without a complaint I will never know. I do know that I don't know any other woman who does that. You truly did do it all.

You kept a very clean house. You cooked decent food (to this day I will always argue that you NEVER should have made me eat things I didn't want to eat :) And you excelled as a mother. You made up fun things for us to do. You would stay home for a week and we would wake up in the morning and pull out the couch bed and watch a movie while drinking hot chocolate. You taught us how to play a few board games and some car games. You took us to the mall and got us delicious cinnamon rolls. You took us on a vacation every year...usually without dad. Yet you never complained about road tripping with us in the car. And believe me (and I know you know) I would've heard you if you did. I heard everything.

I'm far more sensitive than you are, yet you handled me perfectly. You made me feel SO very loved. You did little cute things for Shane and I. You loved us perfectly. I have such a deep appreciation and gratitude for you. I owe so much of the woman I am to you. You have always been everything for us, our accountant, our advisor, our counselor, our doctor (sort of :), our cook, our Google, our secretary, our chauffeur, our best friend. Truly mom, there isn't enough to say about you.

Thank you for loving me like you did. I grew up a very happy healthy individual because I was so loved. I believe that is what I owe everything I am to...the love I had in my home growing up. Thank you for being my friend. I think I made good choices for a number of reasons, but one of them is that I always went to you. I never wanted to disappoint you. Thank you for teaching me strength by example. Thank you for teaching me to keep a clean house. Thank you for making me a little OCD about needing to open windows, turn on lights, and tidy up. :) I love that I take after you that way. There are so many times I utter the words, "This is how my mom did it, so this is how I do it!" You are a constant topic of conversation in our home.

I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for sending me to you! (Sound a little familiar:) I love you, Mom.

Love,

Shar

Note to Gram and Gramps

I think this picture has been on this blog A LOT. But it's the last picture I took with my grandparents...and it's a great memory.

Gram has been on my mind a lot lately.

It's almost been two years.

I had a moment the other day, where it seemed like I just lost her all over again.

My phone was stolen on our anniversary and I had ONE message my Grandma had left me before she passed saved onto my phone in a file.

I thought it was gone.

Then I remembered that Zach had saved it on his phone (his broken phone) too.

I asked him if he could find it.

He did.

I listed to it...only twice...and I cried and cried and cried.

I miss her still, so so much.

I will never stop missing her.

I was cleaning today. I happen to have a few notes that I would color and leave for my grandparents.

The rest are still at their house.

They are supposed to be treasured :)

They are mostly, "I love you so much!" type notes.

But I found this one today.

It sure made me cry.

Grandpa and Grandma:

I love you AND

1. Aunt Deanne called--they're going to their reunion today, but she'll call about church tomorrow :)

2. Your juice is in the fridge.

3. I'll be spending the night again :)

4. I LOVE YOU!!!!

Love,

Shar

And that's it.
That's the note.

I'm so sad on so many levels.

I am also so blessed.

I am blessed to have had them--the two of them together--for as long as I did.

I miss you, Gram.

My Job Rocks

"Mrs. Hatch is the coolest teacher ever!"

These are the words I just heard uttered by one of the 4 cutest BOYS ever sitting in the back of my classroom enjoying their lunch.

First of all I have to explain the situation. On a given students' birthday week (and yes, I do summer birthday's, too). That student gets a 25 cent popcorn treat on Friday from me...and they get to invite 3 friends to eat in the room and play games. That's how we do birthdays in room 123!
These boys enjoyed a very relaxed lunch. They all sat around the table together and chatted for seriously a good 20 minutes! How cute is that?

I turned to thank them for the comment and they said I'm the only teacher who's ever let them eat lunch in the room. Well, if that's what it takes? I have no problem.

Best part of my job. I CAN eat lunch with my students. Kids. The best people in the world.
Let's see. Who would I rather have lunch with?
Them.
Or other teachers?

Hmmmmm...

And in case you didn't catch it, since I realize that kids are cooler.
I want them in my room.

That makes me, ladies and gentleman, the coolest teacher in the world!
I do not lie!

A Soldier

A Soldier

There is discipline in a soldier

you can see it when he walks,
There is honor in a soldier
you hear it when he talks.
There is courage in a soldier
you can see it in his eyes,
There is loyalty in a soldier
that he will not compromise.
There is something in a soldier
that makes him stand apart,
There is strength in a soldier
that beats from his heart.
A soldier isn't a title any man
can be hired to do,
A soldier is the soul of that man
buried deep inside of you.
A soldier's job isn't finished after
an 8 hour day or a 40 hour week,
A soldier is always a soldier
even while he sleeps.
A soldier serves his country first
and his life is left behind,
A soldier has to sacrifice what
comes first in a civilian's mind.
If you are civilian -
I am saying this to you.....
next time you see a soldier
remember what they do.
A soldier is the reason our land
is 'Home of the free',
A soldier is the one that is brave
protecting you and me.
If you are a soldier -
I am saying this to you.....
Thank God for every soldier
Thank God for what you do.
Summer Sandercox

Thank you veterans!

Letters--Letter to My Future Child

This is by far the most difficult letter so far. I thought these letters would be fun, but they're actually quite a bit of work for me. I was torn between just trying to be funny or should I be "sappy?" I am sappy and I am funny (at least I think so and so does my mom) so maybe it will be neither or maybe it will be both. Oh and by the way...Crystal is doing such a better job with these than I am. She is further along and I started a little before she did...and her letters are REALLY good.

Dear ____________,

Whether you are a boy or a girl, your dad and I already have your name picked out. However, your name is a secret from most people until we all meet you. I think you will like it.

I have no idea when you will join our home. I do look forward to the day that I meet you. I am so excited for that time! I will be honest, though, I am also terrified. I have the potential to be a good mother. I know I do. I want to be the best--I want you to love me the way that I love my mom. I hope I can be as good a mom as my mom. (You'll understand when you meet her. She's unbelievable.)

Your dad and I talk about you a lot. We've been talking about you since before we ever even kissed!! That's crazy, I know, but it's true.

We bought a house when we got married (a month before actually). We have two extra bedrooms. One of the bedrooms is designated your room. We talk about that. What it will be like when you're in there. That room feels different. I told your dad that just the other day. I feel different when I walk into it. I know that sounds very strange or weird but it's true.

I wonder what you will look like. Who will you look like? I hope you have your dad's eyes and his hair, too! I want you to have long limbs like me (it's just better that way:). I wonder if you will be tall. I hope you (and all of your siblings) are left handed (it's just better that way, too :) No matter what, though, I know I will love you so very much.

There are other things I wonder as well. Will you be emotional like me, or logical like your dad? How will I handle you if you are logical--especially if you are a girl? Will you be naturally smart like your dad or will I have to spend extra time tutoring you in math and teaching you study skills? Who will you act like? What will you want to be when you grow up? There is so much I cannot wait to learn about you!

I want to hear you laugh. I want to play with you. I want to make you breakfast and pack your lunches. I want to do your hair and take pictures of you. I look forward to planning birthday parties and doing cute things for you like my mom did for me. I hope to make you feel so so loved.

Your dad and I want to have sleep-overs in the living room. We want to make forts. We want to take fun vacations with you. We have so much planned.

I want to teach you where you come from and who you are a child of God. I want you to know that to your very core...I am so fortunate that I was taught that as a child.

I want to love you and I want you to know it. I don't ever want you to feel for a second like I want you gone, grown up, or that I need a break from you. I want you to know how much you are loved at all times.

As much as I love you I will tell you what I would prefer. I would prefer that you do not ever get seriously injured (meaning: no trips to the hospital). No throwing up (baby throw up is fine...after about 2....please no more). I would prefer you to be angelic (like I was :) Please be healthy, strong, and happy. And above all else...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have brown hair.

I know that when I do meet you it will be the right time. There will be a purpose for us being brought together. We will learn from each other. I already know that I love you. When the time is right, we have a spot for you.

Love,

Your Mom

Marriage Is...

Marriage Is...*Taking Walks
*Holding Hands
*Laughing
*A kiss when he walks through the door every night
*Singing in the car
*Having my door opened for me all the time
so much so that I expect it from other people when he's not around...oops! :)
*Cuddling to sleep every night
*Praying together
*Playing games
*Cooking dinner together
*Texts every morning after he gets to work
*Going to bed together (every night after 1 year...)

In other words, marriage is...
*Love
*Bliss
*Happiness
*Friendship
*Fun
*Not as much work as people seem to think or say

Marriage is a blessing.
Every. Single. Day.

Favorite Memories

Marriage is a lot of things
Fun is definitely one of them
We have had a LOT of fun this year...here are some of our favorites from year 1:

*The day after our wedding when we went out to lunch with Zach's family and dinner with my family. We had everyone over for our amazing cake and there was a lot of laughter in our house...immediately. It was such a cool experience for us. Our home. Our family.

*Our month-long hiatus. Pure bliss.

*Our first Thanksgiving. It was just the two of us and all of the food was perfect.

*Our first Christmas. We woke up and exchanged a few presents. We said a prayer and I cried as Zach headed off to work. I remember crying again as he walked through the door no more than an hour later!

**The memory very early on when our smoke detector went off in the middle of the night.
Zach got up and was very groggy (but not grumpy...neither one of us are morning people but he is far less grumpy than I am when he wakes up...I love that about him). He gets on this stool and is trying to take apart our smoke detector--still half asleep--I think he got down three or four times thinking he had stopped it and then it would go off again. He uttered a few choice words (still not actually pissy though). I laughed really hard! It still makes me laugh just to think about it! :)

*The time we fell asleep on the bed after playing games at Ken and Misty's. We were going to watch Burn Notice but just lay down for a second. I woke up at 3 a.m. We were still on top of the covers and in our clothes. I shook Zach awake and the first words out of my mouth were, "Zach! We didn't watch Burn Notice!"

*The day I came back from Girls Camp this summer. It was a perfect evening!

*Going camping for the first time together...EVER! That was fun. Especially bringing Mal! :)

*Having a "snow day" from church. We blew up the air mattress, watched a movie, and drank hot cocoa! :)

*Our poker tournament and black jack playing (and winning...losing...and then winning AGAIN) in Reno!

*Our snow chain experience in Lake Tahoe on our honeymoon..hahahaha

* A more recent memory: I think it was a combination of the creepy/morbid presentation of Damages and the fact that we had my Grandpa's birthday party at my grandparents' house. I had a horrible dream that left me missing my grandma so badly, I couldn't breathe. I woke up crying. I woke Zach up. I could not stop crying (I was pretty much half-alseep)He was so good to me, I seriously can't even tell you. SOO good to me. I still tear up when I think about it.

I love writing down our favorite memories--these are just a few. I never want to forget this first year. I never want to forget this feeling. Being married is just incredible. I love everything about it.

Our Favorite Television Shows

We watch a lot of television...I will admit it,
but we watch it together.
We rarely ever watch anything without the other person.
Because we like each other.
We like cuddling on the couch.

In our first year of marriage...we've seriously had a blast finding common ground
via Netflix and we've become fans of quite a few different shows

1. Friends
It all started here. I own the series and so we started watching them together when we were first married...Zach loves Chandler. I still love Ross. I will occasionally quote Friends
and Zach will laugh. Which helps when I'm missing Sarah. :)
2. After Friends it was Zach's turn. He had seen the Pilot of Burn Notice
and had liked it. I bought him the first two seasons before we got married with the promise to watch them with him in our new home. I wasn't looking forward to it. (Truth be told that's why I started him on Friends first:) but I fell in love with this show! It is incredible. Amazing. It has everything...action, principles, love, family, friends, comedy, intensity...EVERYTHING! We are truly obsessed. (We were Michael and Fi for Halloween. )

And then one day I found myself playing on Netflix and found this show...
Lie to Me
Talk about killer. We love this show as well. These people are human lie detectors...great story lines, great base, great show!

Just recently we stumbled upon this (again...Netlflix + Sharlee =match made in heaven)
Damages
This show is crazy. Seriously. We found it just in time for Halloween. We spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night curled up on the couch watching this show. It is seriously ridiculous. It is almost too intense. I have to turn my head sometimes. It has given me bad dreams. It is SO much more than another lawyer show. We love it.

So there you have it. Our shows. It may seem lame but we love our nights in. We usually make every night a night "in" before going to bed. I sit on the couch with my legs draped over Zach's lap (Mal chews a bone on the floor next to Zach's feet) and we watch a show. Right now with Damages, I bury my head in his shoulder and he tells me when I can look again. I stomp around the kitchen yelling at the TV. Yelling about how crazy the show is and Mal cocks his head to the side. (We take walks between episodes or after sitting for one.) Last night on our walk I was telling Zach that I think it's neat how we've found so much common ground. We like similar things...that was not the case when we met. We have a small house so we had to find ways to share it and enjoy it together...this is just one of the ways we have.

Best Dates

For the most part we're (maybe I'm) homebodies...

We go out occassionally, but we really like staying in together...at least I hope we do :)

But we've had some pretty fun date nights I guess you could say

**Although, right now, life pretty much feels like a date night every night**

*Tim McGraw Concert (Dinner before)

*Los Betos for dinner and then Northern Lights Cinema Grill to see Robin Hood

*Inception

*Temple...although we have one not so great experience but it's funny to look back on it now. We were trying to go to dinner before the temple and everywhere we went had a horrendously long wait. We went to the temple first and the people tell say, "You're looking at at least a 1/2 hour wait."

*Toy Story 3

*Day Trip to Idaho City with My Mom

Regrettable Moments

As we continue on with a countdown.

Here's a list of some of our regrettable moments (or in other words "silly spats" )throughout the year:

*The Newlywed Game "Too Small" "Just Right" Incident

*The fact that we have had a number of knock-out, drag-down fights

OVER SETTLERS!!!!!!

Learning how to play the two-player version has led to some great newlywed memories and some regrettable...err...actually embarrassing newlywed memories

*The time I jokingly told Zach that he looked like a 'tool' before church and he actually shaved his facial hair--I felt so bad about it that I cried

*The time Zach convinced me we should have McDonalds for dinner (he does that sometimes since we had chicken nuggets on our wedding day before the sealing...he always uses that card to excuse the unhealthy consequences of eating McDonalds--I don't eat McDonalds. My wedding day was the first time in YEARS) and I argued that it wasn't healthy. So he randomly decided to still go and be "healthy" so he brought home a meal and a McFlurry to "split" and I don't share food!

Actually this list is making me rather embarrassed. I just look like a brat. I will tell you Zach had a real place in silly arguments number 1 and 2...he really did. :)

And They Lived Happily Ever After...

At least so far...

One week from today is our one year wedding anniversary!!

WOW!

I seriously can't believe it.

I cried last night when I was talking to Zach about it. It's gone so fast it almost makes me sad. I've loved it so much. Marriage has been VERY good to me. It has FAR exceeded my expectations.

In honor of the anniversary I am posting a week long countdown
because it's fun for me to do.

You will see 6 countdown posts until the big day

1. Favorite Meals

2. Regrettable Moments

3. Favorite Dates

4. Favorite Television Shows

5. Favorite Memories

6. Top Ten Things about Being Married


So to begin the countdown....

Here is a list of our favorite meals:
At home:
*Hot dogs and cheese burgers prepared on the George Foreman
*Mac N' Cheese w/ Cut Up Hot dogs
*Broccoli Chicken Alfredo
*General Tso's Chicken and Steamed Rice--eaten with chopsticks of course
Out:
*Idaho Pizza Co. Pizza-Large Half Hawaiian/Half Pepperoni and Black Olive
PLUS Cheese Twists
*Texas Roadhouse--me chicken critters/Zach rib eye steak
I give Zach one chicken critter and Zach gives me a large bite of his steak

Letters-Letter to my First Love or Crush

I'm skipping the kid one because it is really difficult...
this letter...well let's just say...this letter is a LOT different than I would have imagined at 20.

Dear ____________,
Those who know--you know who he is

I am so grateful for all the memories and experiences we had. We had fun. However, I am eternally grateful that I did not end up with you. I actually feel silly that I was SO heartbroken over you. Have you met my husband? Have you seen how he loves me? That's what I needed all along...I just never knew. Not to say you're not an okay guy...you are an okay guy...but you're not mine. I harbor no love-like feelings nor do I harbor any hateful-feelings. You're happy (I hope and assume) and so am I. Perhaps some day we will run into each other and have an awkward conversation? But it definitely will not be anything like Dan Fogelberg's "Same Old Lang Syne." Thank Goodness! Until then...take care (you always loved that phrase:).

Sincerely,
Sharlee

p.s. I do have to brag that my husband has an incredible head of hair and won't be losing it any time soon and you (I am pretty sure--another of your favorite phrases--)do not!

Answer This....

What is your most treasured memory?
If you know me, you know that there is NO WAY that I can answer that question with just ONE answer.
But it is MY blog. And when you have your own blog you can do whatever you want.
Like answer this question with three answers for each significant period of your life :)
So I'm turning the question into
What are your most treasured memories?

Childhood
*Memories with my grandma. Eating cream of mushroom soup at the table after kindergarten. Talking to her about my day in the talking chair. Getting ice cream and Oreos at Shady Acres and making our own shakes. Those memories make my heart warm, really they do. They made me. They made my life rich.
*Memories with my mom. Chinese food and naps on Friday afternoons. Singing in the shower. Vacations. That feeling of being loved and adored so much. My mom has a gift for that, really.
*Memories with Shane. Witch. Christmas Eves. "I'm over here...oops!" Marrying him to Melissa from across the street. Playing office, store, and so sadly-McDonald's. Trying to escape nap time together.

High School
*Misty. I Am Sam. That Jessica Beal movie we quoted and now I cannot remember the name. Sammishness.
*Mr. Fout
*Graduation Night and the Graduation Party that followed.

Summer After High School
*Streaking and naked Chinese fire drills.
*My first summer at the Y...I met Sarah and Jonnie that summer. (Technically I already knew Jonnie but we became friends that summer).
I'm only doing two because I need ONE more for my college years

College
*Our very first apartment EVER. Singing "Angie." Angie telling us we needed a plant. Dan. The confessional in the bath tub. The excessive eating. The video taping. Sting. Skipping class. Watching a TON of MTV with Misty. We had a TV schedule we lived by. Nearly failing biology. Walking across campus at BSU.
*My first love and first broken heart. Healing it through Monday stops at Smokey Mountain where Jonnie would serve me chocolate milk and listen to me cry and cry about my broken heart. It's a horrible memory but it also made me. I also deepened a really incredible friendship.
*Classes...Learning and laughing. Rushmi's class with Misty. Going to Misty's Tuesday night class with her. American Literature. Child Psychology.Psycho Linguistics. Math Methods. Math 25 :) :) :) Ed Tech with Jonnie. I loved my classes at Boise State. L.O.V.E.D them. I learned. I got fired up. I loved learning.
*Summers...floating the river with Misty. Playing at the Y with my kids, Sarah, Jonnie, and Cody. Losing weight. Tanning. Loving every single minute.

After Graduation
*Getting my first official teaching job. The day I accepted it and the day I saw my name on the door.
*Shane leaving for his mission
*Losing my grandma (I suppose I don't treasure that memory, but it's another one of those memories. I still ache over that day..over that whole experience.) It will stick with me forever.

Zach
*The moment I firs met him. I will treasure that moment. I wanted him. I remember seeing him for the first time. That's such an incredibly special memory.
*Getting chicken nuggets before heading into the temple on our wedding day. That's a memory I'll keep forever.
*Our first year-Mac and Cheese, falling in love with the George Foreman, Burn Notice, Mal, Idaho Pizza Company, cuddling to sleep every single night, laughing, going on walks. I hope to never forget the feeling of this first year. The feeling of wanting to get home now! The feeling of being out at the store or somewhere other than home and realizing that we get to go home together. That's an incredible feeling. Every time I find myself so lucky. Our home became our home instantly, but I am still not completely "used to" the fact that he gets to come home with me. I feel like we're just married every time and that makes me happy :)

Your turn:

What are your most treasured memories?
Answer any way you'd like :)
Just answer..please!

True Love

Let me tell you about true love.

I have learned lots of things about it..through my husband of course.

He's the expert at displaying real unconditional love.

It's pretty amazing.
And since this blog is another form of a journal for me.

I want to keep this memory.

This display (among thousands) of unconditional love.

Tonight I was trying to make scalloped potatoes from scratch.

I was cutting my potatoes a little too quickly and I cut my finger.

This cut would not be considered a large cut by any means, but a cut is a cut in my book.

I panicked. I nearly passed out. Zach wasn't home at this point so nobody but Mal was there to witness my bravery.

Later this evening I got something IN my cut.

It burned.

It hurt.

It made me faint...yet again.

I actually called for Zach to come and do something about it.

Yes, I was being THAT much of a baby. (I have reasons why I get faint and nauseous but if I share them with you it will make me faint and nauseous all over again).

So, I call and Zach comes.

He washes my cut with soap and water.

He puts Neosporin on the band aid.

He bandages my hand.

Seriously.

This guy is unreal.

He didn't brush me off.

He didn't get annoyed with me and my dramatic antics.

He took care of me.

I love being married so much it's ridiculous.

Being married rocks...but there is no comparison to being married to Zach.

He is one in a million!

Things That Make Me Smile

Pardon the strange border...this came from Shane's phone When I have days like yesterday.

I open my phone to text my best friend.

And then I browse my texts to delete them (because remember more than 100 drive me crazy)

I was at 160 yesterday.

I've been busy. I haven't had the time to delete texts.

Anyway.
I come across these texts from my brother:

"Hey Myles is writing a paper about using rhetorical strategies in writing. Do you have any idea what that is?"

"Ok. Thank you. He told me to ask you cuz you know this stuff."

"U R trying to piss me off! And it's not working because I love u."

"Ya that's funny but you would think that if you liked him so much you would be able to spell his last name right. It's FAVRE but it's pronounced Farve."

This was the text that goes with the one above it. Sometimes I like to pretend I know sports and text my brother--the man who knows sports better than anyone else...H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S.

"The Beets."

In response to my text where I asked him what the name of the band that Doug loved (from the TV show) was. Zach and I were randomly having a conversation about Doug. :)

"Shane's stupider than I am but dad thinks he can walk on water?!?"

I got that text IMMEDIATELY after I made that statement. I was at my parents' house and Shane was supposed to be sleeping. I heard my phone go off and I told everyone that it would be Shane. I was laughing before I even read the text.

"happy birthday u FAT LITTLE PIG!"

Capitalization left as-is

"Whoops, 4:30 but since I said that you really should come at 4:39. LOL I think it would be funny."

When he accidentally texted me the wrong time for dinner :)

"hahahahahahaha. Hey remember when we were in Jackpot and I was up in the window and I pointed the remote at you and u were by the car n u ducked down?!!! Hahahahahaha."

"OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so damn funny!!! hahahahaha u were so scared hahahahaha the way you looked and then ducked hahahahaha oh man, I can't stop laughing."

"Wagon Toe!"

'"First thing dad says when mom was getting her leftovers was "oh my word, she's gonna need 2 find a ride home!"

These texts make me smile. A LOT. Sometimes they make me laugh, really hard.

Mostly they make me so grateful for my brother. I freaking LOVE him! He is the best.
I am so grateful for our friendship.

A lot of these won't make sense to anyone.

Maybe some people who know my family.

They are beautiful though.

We are brother and sister.

And we're still friends.

From My Mom

My mom wrote Zach a birthday list, too.
I thought I would share because she honestly did a better job than I did.
I think.
OK THIS IS ALSO FOR ZACH AS I DON'T HAVE MY OWN BLOG,
BUT I WOULD LIKE HIM TO READ AS WELL:

1. He loves Shar's Family and treats us like his own.

2. He, as Shar, stated is very good to my dad. He is like he has been his grandson his whole life.

3. He IS very intelligent. Quite impressive the things he knows about computers, history, science, religion and Sharlee :)

4. He will do anything for you. anytime if you need him. anytime means 11.30 to fix my dad's tv.
an evening after work to mow my lawn. work forever to fix Shane's laptop

5. He laughs at Shane even when Sharlee thinks he is gross.

6. He gets excited about stupid things you do for him.. makes you want to do more things for him.

7. He is very good at the things he does. He built an excellent fence for their back yard.

8. He brings Sharlee hot chocolate when he visits her at school.

9. He plays like a child with Cara's Kids. Goes to Roaring Springs with them Kids love him

10. He is not easily upset by messes in life. ie. Car problems house problems, problems with work issues.

11. He is fun loving and likes to do new things.

12. He will watch movies with you that he probably doesn't like.

13. He will stop by and watch Bachelor with Shar and I and he joins me in criticism at the expense of Shar's wrath upon both of us.

14. He loves his parents and his siblings.

15. He honors his church callings.

16. He will apologize and admit if he thinks he is wrong

17.He is Funny

18. He teases Todd.

19. He is a GOOD guy.

20. He loves to play Board Games and he is competitive as hell.
21. He loves to read National Geographic and Smithsonian. I only know 2 people like that.

22. He LOVES my Daughter

23. He is GOOD .. Good hearted Good tempered, Good spirited

24. He is working on improving his life every day. I am proud of him
and he is my son in law. If I were his parents I would want to hug myself for raising him :)

25. He will eat any food I make without EVER saying anything about it. This is a gift as every meal for 30 years I have had a comment on something about it every meal!

26. He likes to wear crummy shirts that Shar can't stand. I feel this is common ground for us.

27. He is kind to me and my family
and very kind to Sharlee. He prays with her, he is raising a puppy with her, building a life with her.

28. Our whole extended family like him, Grandparents Uncles, Aunts like Shar stated "Everyone Likes Zach". there are many reasons for that . it is a good gift to be a person like that.

29. I love him and wish him a happy birthday and the BEST YEAR ever.

P.S. We had a FABULOUS weekend!

P.P.S. Isn't Mal the cutest!?!?
Seriously. We love him so freaking much. He is ADORABLE!

Happy Birthday Zach!

This guy is 29 today:

So...in complete Sharlee fashion, here are 29 things to love about Zach:

1.He can do the voices of a plethora of Disney characters and isn't the least bit shy about it

2.He will give me a back/shoulder rub ANYTIME I ask. Seriously. And he is GOOD. He's the only way I can get rid of headaches.

3.He is insanely intelligent

4.He is humble

5. He loves teaching primary

6.He volunteers in my classroom on his day off

7. He makes the BEST grilled cheese you've ever had--I promise

8.He is so good to our grandparents (his and mine)

9. He's laid back

10. He's more patient than any one person should be with me

11. He understands sports...he can hold a conversation about them like any respectable man...but I don't "lose" him to football season or anything of the like

12. I can wake him up at anytime of the night/morning and ask him to cuddle me and he will...in a cute way, too (might I add)

13. He never leaves my side of the bed...he always sleeps close by me

14. He laughs easily

15. He's a blast to watch a funny movie with

16. He cares (or at least pretends to) about Army Wives

17. He has the correct opinions on public education (as they are in alignment with mine)

18. He has a sense of direction that is out of this world--he's like a walking compass

19. He is good with our money...better than I am at least

20. He's INCREDIBLY handsome
21. It takes him at least an hour to do anything...he is a perfectionist (sometimes this is not so easy to love....like literally he takes forever to make TOAST for crying out loud)

22. He gets excited about very little things

(I think he will like my little birthday gifts: The Yoohoo and Dark Choc. Reeses Cups I packed in his lunch and the warm banana bread I send him off to work with. More than the big gifts: a plethora of random items).

23. He has a deep voice and it is rather sexy when he sings...(my personal favorites are when he sings Josh Turner "Long Black Train" or Disturbed "Down with the Sickness")

24. He loves to read

25. He loves history

26. He retains information--sucks it up like a sponge

27. He doesn't worry about things

28.He helps with the housework...without needing to be asked

29. As so many people have put it to me, "Everyone loves Zach!"

There really isn't anyone I know who doesn't love him. He is so easy to get along with and he has a grand assortment of likeable qualities.

So

Zach,

Happy Birthday!

I love you!
I am proud to call myself your wife.

I hope year 29 beats quite a few of the others! :)

Love,

Me

Answer This

What do you do on Sundays?

I love Sundays. They are my very favorite day of the week.

Our Sundays look a little like this:

We wake up.
Always a little late.

We get ready for church.

Church at 9 a.m.

Do you know that I love going to church?

After church we come home and have something small to eat.

Although sometimes I have meetings after church

We talk about church.

Zach talks about his primary class.

I talk about Young Women.

I share any new information I get at church with him.

He pretends to care. Which I love him for VERY much.

We take a Sunday nap with Mal on the floor next to our bed.

It is PURE bliss.

We go to my parents house.

It's Zach, Me, Dad, Mom, Shane, Grandpa, and sometimes Kylie

My mom feeds us.

Zach makes fun of my dad.

My brother and I make fun of both of our parents.

I laugh a lot.

We have a family spiritual message.

We pray together.

Sometimes we play games.

Zach and I come home and go for a walk.

We watch a movie or play Settlers.

Could you ask for a day better than that?

It is truly a day of rest.

It is a day that is different than any other day of the week.

I love Sundays.

We get started early.

We are truly spiritually fed and uplifted.

We spend time with family.

We spend time with each other.

Sundays are the best.

What do you do on Sundays?

If I Could I Would

Some people (My brother for starters) call me hardcore.
I'm too much to take.
Too Mormon.
Which does offend me. Until I realized I'm NOT hardcore into Mormon culture. I am hardcore in doing what is right.
People can call it what they want. I know that I am divinely inspired...combine that with my extremely passionate personality and you get, I guess, someone who is "hardcore."
Here's the deal: I don't do the "I would if I could mentality." It truly makes me sick.
This whole, "I would drink if my church didn't teach me the Word of Wisdom."
"If my church would let me." "If my wife would let me" 'If my mom would let me"
GROW UP!
Nobody is making you do anything.
I for one, have a firm understanding of most of the commandments we've been given.
I believe them with all of my heart.
I have no desire to live outside the commandments. I just don't.
I know better.
My life is blessed because I do.
What do these people think? That their lives are just randomly blessed?
I think not. We are blessed when we do what we are supposed to do.
WHEN WE DO WHAT IS RIGHT!
I love my life. There is truly NOTHING that I feel that I am "kept" from doing.
I believe in the standards that I live.
I know they are the right way.
I have no desire to live any other way.
So people can think what they want of me.
I am comfortable that I am standing in the right place...and I am promised that if I do.
I won't be moved.

p.s. This is not a blog for my brother. He loves me A LOT and I know that. I just used him as an example so as to make my point to others who don't love me even a little.

p.p.s. Allison, did this post make you smile, too!? :)

Gift Giving Arrogance

I just read a blog post that was rather arrogant. I won't liknk to it. No need.

Basically she praised her own original gift ideas.
Who does that?

She also said that you should never give a practical gift.

Let me tell you something...if you want to be a person who truly gives praiseworthy gifts,

you will give a practical gift in a thoughtful way.

Or you will give the exact PERFECT amount of practical gifts vs. thoughtful gifts.

Not many people can do this.

I for one only know one person.

It is not me.

It is my mom.

So let's take this chick off her high horse and talk about gifts that my mom gives.

*Crocheted afghans (usually white) to bless your baby in. Practical/Thoughtful, yes?

*A gift card to Sonic to celebrate the start of summer. Summer equals hot..which means ice cold drinks. Plus, PLUS, her daughter LOVES Sonic drinks (Practical/Thoughtful).

*A subscription to Sports Illustrated for her son (he may pay for that himself which makes it a practical gift but the beauty is he doesn't have to=thoughtful)

*A new razor, body wash, and lotion for me at the end of summer. Something about my tan legs and such...LOVE MY MOM (razors and body washes are VERY practical yet somehow this gift was so cute of her)
*New Boots for my birthday (I love boots. I have to have a pair. I was going to spend my birthday money on them. Practical. However, I now can buy what I want with my birthday money and not what I need=wasn't that THOUGHTFUL of my mom?)

*Clean bed sheets and clean pjs to sleep in when you get your heart broken. Thoughtful.

*A Cocoa-Motion for Christmas. Definitely both practical and thoughtful. I don't have to spend the time in the morning making hot cocoa...I have a machine that does it--and better than I can--for me.It was espcecially nice because I hadn't heard of one before and I found it to be the most amazing gift ever.

*My mom will clean your house before you bring your baby home from the hospital.

*She will buy you shoes when your dog chewed yours up.

*She will buy you shoes just because.

My mom gives THE BEST gifts. THE BEST. There is no competition.

What's more?

My mom does not know this about herself. She most certaily wouldn't brag on the gifts she's given...and absolutely wouldn't create a blog post entitled to it. Doesn't that take away from the thoughtful element of the gift? When you brag about it later?

It does in my mind.

2 Years Ago...

2 Years Ago Today:

I was at home. Where I was living..with my mom and dad.

My brother was on a mission.

I was teaching fifth grade...my first year.

I was loving the single life. I had a group of single girls/guys that I hung out with on a regular basis...game nights once a week at minimum.

I was home grading papers in pajamas no makeup and hair undone.

It was the Sunday of Conference Weekend.

Jen called and invited me to an impromptu game night.

I "got ready" but not by much, I knew these guys...right?

Wrong. Enter Zach.

He came with the new convert I just met last week, Jake.

We "meet" or so I think.

I assess Zach's attractiveness.

I confirm that he is indeed VERY VERY good looking.

Text best friend to tell her that there is a hot new guy that needs to ask me out.

I also am torn, he does not look "Mormon"

Then I hear this beautiful sentence, "On my mission..."

Begin flirting.

He hates BYU and doesn't care that I play poker...YESSSSS!

Continue flirting.

Zach gets a phone call from someone asking who was at the game night

Zach begins naming EVERYONE in the room except for me

He stops at me...doesn't know my name.

I hear him say my name really long and drawn out.

I am devastated. DEVASTATED! I was so sure we were flirting...

***If we rewind we learn that new convert boy from church last Sunday (Jake) had his eyes on me. Zach didn't catch my name or else he wouldn't have flirted with me as much as he did. Also the reason that he drew my name out in such a strange way.

***In addition: I was a Ward Missionary at that time and I was on an all-time spiritual high. I was also going to marry one of the missionaries I was working with, Elder Holloman. Don't judge--he was older AND amazing. Come to find out. Elder Holloman taught Jake at Zach's house. Jake called Elder Holloman when he saw me at church that first Sunday and told him he had his eyes on me. Elder Holloman apparently replied, "We LOVE Sharlee!" (Do you like how I emphasized love for myself :)) Anyway. So Elder Holloman had called me to see if Jake could watch conference with me and my friends?!? Elder Holloman, the man I was supposed to marry, was trying to hook me up with the new convert. The new convert led me to meeting Zach. Crazy. I know.

2 Years Ago Today...My Life Changed Forever

1 Year Ago Today:

I am living back at home with my parents after living on my very own for a good ten months :)

My brother is still serving a mission.

I am loving couple hood.

I am not loving planning a wedding.

I am teaching 4th grade.

I have a ring on my finger.

I know now what it's like to kiss a man.

I know that love is as wonderful as I always hoped.

I will be married in one month and one day.

We have keys to our house.

We will spend this weekend cleaning our house and moving my stuff in.

I can't sleep at night. I can't wait to marry Zach. I am so worried something will happen to him.

I just need to be sealed to him.

Today:

I live in our home.

My brother is home.

I am teaching 4th grade.

I am sealed to my husband.

I am loving married life.

I find that marriage is so much better than I had ever imagined.

I know that you can truly love someone more and more every single day.

I know that it does not suck to wake up with someone in the morning. Which is something I feared for quite some time.

I am waiting for my husband to come through the door.

We have a dog.

We have a home.

We have traditions.

We have memories.

Life is beautiful.

I just need to say that life can change in an instant. For good or for bad. I am so grateful Zach changed mine. The more I look back on our meeting and our beginning...it is truly magical. How I love love. How I love how beautiful life is. How I love my Heavenly Father for blessing me so abundantly.