This weekend was General Conference for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

It was absolutely fantastic.

It was definitely an inspired conference and I am so so grateful that I got to watch.

But not only did I get to watch - I got to be with my Best Friend the entire weekend. WOAH! Loved it. :)

We started Saturday morning with breakfast at his apartment. We watched the first session there. We then drove to my Brown grandparents' house, at lunch, then watched the second session. After that, we drove up to Salt Lake to his Grandma Jackson's house where we got together with all his aunts and uncles and cousins on that side and had a lovely dinner and girl-chat while the boys all went to the Priesthood session. When all the boys came back and we finished talking, we went to his aunt's house in West Valley to spend the night.

The next morning we had a delicious breakfast of aebleskivers (delicious...somethings...) and watched the morning session of Conference with them. Then we drove to Draper to see my Pearson grandparents and my uncle from Denver. It was great to see him and his kids. It's been a couple of years. We had a delicious lunch with them and then we went to my aunt's house in Sandy to wish her a happy birthday. It was great. Unfortunately, I had an allergic reaction to her dogs (I hate it hate it hate it that I'm allergic), so we went back to the house in Draper to watch the afternoon session. We had ice cream, then left to go to Lehi.

We got together w/ my Brown grandparents and aunt, uncle, and cousins for dinner in Lehi. I didn't eat cuz I wasn't feeling well, but Best Friend says it was delicious. Haha. (So much good food - my favorite part of conference!) Then we talked to them for awhile before driving back to Provo.

*phew*

It was a fantastic weekend. Lots of family. Lots of good food. Lots of fun. Lots of together-ness. Yay!

Signing out.
Me.

MARCH:

 1. First day of volunteering at BYU Preschool. LOVE it! Dinner & dancing with my Best Friend. 

5. Read a book. Watched my sister dance at a competition. 

10. Six Months! ;)

11. Best Friend competed in DanceSport.

13. Dinner with Pearson grandparents & O'Bryants.

15. AWESOME devotional by producer of Narnia movies. 

17. St. Patrick's day! 

18. Met my Best Friend's parents for the first time. Wow. They are awesome! It was super great.

19. Drove to Vernal with my Best Friend. Watched Sister #1 perform in 'The Scarlet Pimpernell'.

20. Drove home from Vernal with my Best Friend. Had a great talk on the way.

23. Got super super sick due to emotional stressing. Best Friend saved my life and baked 2 dozen cupcakes. Wow. What a great guy.

24. My Best Friend proposed to me and I said yes! :) If you want to check out our story, it is titled 'My Fairy Tale'. Also. Drove to Vernal to see Sister #1 be 'Grumpy' in the 'Snow White' ballet.

25. Men's Chorus Concert. Went for ice cream with Best Friend, his parents, and two good friends.

26. Saw 'A Tale of Two Cities' in West Valley with mom and Sister #1. Hung out in Springville with our good friends - playing games and talking.

29. Announced to the world (aka Facebook and this blog) my engagement to my Best Friend. YAY! Also moved into hotel for the duration of the week - my grandparents are remodeling their kitchen so we've been ousted due to no power at the house. Quite an adventure.

31. A beautiful and sunshine-y day. :) Met L.J. at the temple. What a beautiful and incredible young woman and a great experience for Best Friend and me.

Today is April 1st. This happened yesterday March 31st. I would have written and posted last night, but it was too late and I didn't have my computer. So this is for yesterday:


My Best Friend and I went to the temple last night (the 31st). It was...an incredible experience.

We had been talking about some pretty big stuff before we went over and we were both laughing, but stressed deep down. You know how that goes? Life is great, you just need to relax for a bit. Well, that was part of what our temple trip was for. Also because the temple is awesome. And...for a third reason we didn't know.

We were sitting in the chapel and I was showing Best Friend how my ring glittered. Oh my goodness it was SO incredible. Just the absolute bestest and mostest beautifulest thing. :) The girl sitting next to me asked if she could see it. I was kind of embarrassed - I hadn't wanted anyone else to notice, but apparently she had. I showed it to her and she told me she loved how beautiful and how simple it was. It was great. She said she likes simple things, too, and that her older sister told her that her fiance would love her because of it. Best Friend shared that his mom liked it, too.

We talked (reverently, of course) the rest of the time we were sitting together. She told us her sister had just gotten her mission call and was so excited to go through the temple - just like me. We told her our story about getting engaged - she asked. She was so sweet. She asked us all the right questions and we just opened up. It was great. It was so natural to just tell her everything. She told us the reason she likes simple things is because of 2 Nephi when Nephi talks about how things were plain and simple and precious. She then compared Best Friend to Nephi. I laughed. ;)

I was simply amazed by this girl's spirit and knowledge and attitude. I was blown away. It was incredible.

We were walking out of the temple right behind her and I felt very strongly that we needed to ask her what her name is. So we did. Her name is Larisa Jones. Same name as Sister #1 (minus a couple spelling changes). We asked if she attends BYU... She is a sophomore in high school. ...WHAT?!?!... I was stunned. This young woman with such a strong spirit and personable attitude and.... wow... It was incredible. We talked for a bit, took a picture with her, and said our farewells promising to see each other again. Hopefully soon.

While we were walking away I started to sob. I had the overwhelming feeling that SHE was the reason we went to the temple last night. It was so strong and I just... I was so impressed with her. I was so grateful she was brave enough to talk to us. In fact, she said that her favorite thing about the temple is that everyone is the same once you're inside. You're not divided by what you wear or your status or your age. You're all the same in the Lord's house. I was touched. Deeply.

I have such a strong feeling that I know this incredible young daughter of God and I am so grateful for that. I can't wait to see her again and get to know her better because I'm sure we'll have that chance.

It was overwhelming to have such a strong manifestation of the Spirit. Especially because I wasn't expecting it at all. It just happened. It was the most incredible experience and I am so so so grateful for it.

You never know who is watching you or who may need you. Don't be afraid to speak up.

Thank you, Larisa, for being at the temple last night. We will never be the same.

Signing out.
Me.

August 2010. I had been single for a year. I was not interested in dating anyone. I wanted to go to BYU and just focus on school, nothing else. My roommate Aimee was getting married and having a luncheon. I have to admit, I did not want to go. I thought it would be perfectly fine for me to just show up at the reception, but I finally felt that I should go and be supportive.

I was sitting with our other roommates, Winona and Kendra, as well as Aimee's two youngest sisters. He walked over, introduced himself as Aimee's cousin, and sat down. He was wearing an awesome green tie. A great conversation ensued, headed primarily by Winona. Apparently, she and the cousin had met at a New Year's party the previous year at Aimee's house. They caught up and then she introduced both Kendra and myself. As we started talking, he mentioned he was going to school at BYU in the fall. I wasn't going to say anything, but Winona immediately jumped in and said that I would be at BYU, also. Not thinking anything of it, I started telling him some of my history - I loved musical theatre, but would be majoring in Early Childhood Education. He told me that he also loved music and dance, and had done some theatre in high school and always wanted to do more. I just smiled and continued eating my pasta.

After the luncheon, we went our separate ways only to gather again that evening for the reception. Cousin was in attendance. Aimee looked beautiful. There was a slideshow going of pictures of her and her husband, and a couple of her included us roommates. It suddenly got very emotional and very real. Me being me, I started to cry. Aimee's cousin had been conversing with us, noticed my tears, and offered me his handkerchief. I accepted, though I didn't use it because I knew I would get mascara on it and that would not be flattering. We took some pictures, gave our final hugs and were on our way out the door when I was stopped. He said he would be interested in hanging out sometime, especially since I was new to Provo - he could be a friend and take me around. I agreed, gave him my number, and followed my roommates out the door.

(I have been laughed at a lot for that. Apparently I was completely oblivious to what was going on.)

The next week came. The cousin called me for a date, and I returned home with a good friend. I was so pleased with how the date had gone and hoped for a second. Luckily, I knew I wasn't going to have to wait long since we were already planning a second date the next weekend.

So, the cousin became a friend. The friend became a good friend. And that good friend became my Best Friend.

But that was just the beginning...

My Best Friend and I had many adventures. We would go out on weekly dates, and in between said dates we had school, work, and marvelous days and nights spent hanging out and getting to know each other. Sometimes it was hard, but it was always great. We realized that we are so similar on so many aspects. We grew up in similar families with similar backgrounds. We like the same activities and can quote the same movies.



We talked. We sang. We played games. We watched movies. We went to the park. We built forts. We traveled. We walked. We explored. We danced. And we came to Love.



"I have nothing. Absolutely nothing. All I know is I love you. ...Nashelle... Will you marry me?"


... Silly readers. Do you really need to ask? Of course I said "Yes!"

I kissed him and he pulled the ring out of his pocket. He stood up and put it on my finger.

It was beautiful. It was simple. It was perfect.

The perfect start to our forever. The perfect start to our fairy tale.

Wow. Have I ever mentioned how AWESOME my Best Friend is?!

Cuz... he is.

Wednesday night I was sick beyond all sickiness. I collapsed. Literally. It sucked.

The worst part was knowing I was supposed to make 2 dozen cupcakes for preschool the next day and prep for my Interactive Literature activity.

Needless to say, I was very stressed.

Best Friend, being nothing less than an angel, came in to save the day.

He baked 2 dozen cupcakes for me. He prepped my lesson materials. He gave me drugs, helped me walk to the bathroom when I was sick, and held my hand while I was in pain.

Wow.

He seriously saved me. He saved me emotionally, physically, and mentally. He made sure everything I needed or wanted was taken care of. And he didn't once complain or mention how busy he is with other things and how much this would put him out. Not once. --Even after the already super stressful and emotional day we'd had. I mean, we had a rough day. Really rough. And he still was so amazing.

My Best Friend IS my Daily Miracle. And I am so grateful to him.

I love you, Daniel Jackson. I love you.

Yup. That's right. "Publicly".

Signing out.
Me.

P.S. This was supposed to be posted on 3/24. I know it's 3/25... but that's ok. I'll catch you up later. ;)

So... I realized why I've been so gosh-darn emotional this week (and last week... and the week before... haha... oops)

Actually, there are multiple reasons:

1. Hormonal imbalance. I'm not saying anything more and we are quickly moving on.

2. There are only three weeks left in the semester and although I feel as though I'm doing well in all of my classes (I even found out I got an A in my preschool class that was first block), it's still stressful and nerve-wracking. Finals could kill anyone.

3. Best Friend is stressed. And heck. I don't blame him. This is a big semester for him.

4. There is a lot of stress on the pair of us.

5. I feel as though I am not in control of anything. Not one single thing. My schooling is mapped out for me until I die. Actually, until I fill out an application for an internship. But even then, someone else will decide if I get it or not and then based on that decision, I already have two options completely lined out further. Also. I've been applying for jobs left and right and though I finally got one interview, I'm not sure how it will go. I don't feel in control of my emotions or my finances or my schooling. I know I am, and if I'm not then God is, but I feel very helpless right now. Kind of like the water in the picture - inexorably being drawn down by gravity. It may not be a bad thing - the pools are gorgeous - but I have no control over it. It's a little bit scary, to be honest.

6. Apparently I need to vent occasionally. I don't like doing that because I cry a lot and feel bad about subjecting the other person to that kind of torture. Unfortunately, it needs to happen. And soon.

7. I am worried about a couple of my friends. I won't say anything super specific, but I know that a couple of my friends that I consider myself to be very close to are hurting and struggling right now. And I can't do anything about it. That sucks. I'm constantly worried about them and want to help them, but there is no help to come from me. I wish there was. Unfortunately, all I can do is smile and be supportive and let them know I'm there for them no matter what or when or where or anything.

8. I am SO RIDICULOUSLY happy in my life. That means I am going to be attacked. I am doing what I'm supposed to and trying to listen to the Spirit and so I am being attacked. I hate it. It doesn't seem fair sometimes. But perseverance wins out in the end, right? I'm sure it does. It has before. Isaiah 41:10.

9. I am extremely blessed. This I am very aware of. It is so cool. I am reminded daily. And that would make anyone emotional. :)

*sigh*

It's time for me to be normal again. Well... 'normal' as I am. Haha.

Signing out.
Me.

Have you ever experienced the feeling when you want to say something really really bad, but know you shouldn't?

Strangely enough, this has been happening frequently lately.

I've had to have my mind-filter turned on constantly and I'm not sure why. But it's making me uncomfortable.

Basically, I want to write something negative on this post. Just because I'm kind of grouchy and want to vent.
However, I know I shouldn't because I don't want to spread negative feelings.
But maybe I should so they aren't pent up inside.
Plus I'm sure I could get some good advice for an attitude adjustment.
But I don't want advice on an attitude adjustment.
I don't have a problem.
I just want to express myself in a way that is probably not entirely socially appropriate.
Like yelling and screaming and running across campus and crying and laughing and being all over hysterical.

There used to be a name for this.

My roommates and I called it an Emotion Break-down.

These were typically held on Tuesdays. They were lots of fun. Anything went. It was great.

But today is Wednesday.

I wonder if they would mind if I changed the rules for just one day.

I've already put my homework off by blogging. Surely it would be ok to put it off a little more by relieving some emotional stress.

Right?

Hmmm.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Signing out.
Me.