Just Got Rid of My Training Wheels

I am destined for greatness- or at least this is how I feel lately. I have been tied down, stripped of my powers, and been using training wheels for almost 2 whole years! No, not real training wheels. For my entire life I have been physical fit and active. I enjoy running! You heard me... I ENJOY RUNNING! It is exhilarating, stress-reducing, and energy boosting.
Unfortunately I have had 2 ACL surgeries in the past 12 months. You heard it! TWO. Well, I went to an operation follow-up appointment yesterday, and I am officially 3 months out of surgery, and one month away from being able to engage in full activity. BUT... I can run! I have been cleared to run, and I can't wait to muster up the courage to get out and do it. I have been feeling like a lazy, fat, couch potato and I can't wait to get back to my slim, healthy self again!
New Goal: lose the unneeded surgery weight!
I'm just so anxious to get active again. Everyone needs exercise in their life! Have you been slacking? Get out there and do it! You'll feel so much better :)

Trunkie!

Usually this term in the LDS church refers to a missionary's longing to come home. I have given it a new meaning...

Trunkie: The act of collecting junk over a span of time.
Can you believe how much junk you can accumulate over the years? I had no idea! I've been working through my room this past week trying to get everything organized, thrown out, or saved before I move to our new apartment. What a headache! I found 30 pair of shoes! No one needs that many shoes. NO ONE... yes, even you who is thinking "What's wrong with that?" I use to be that person.

A leisurely activity of cleaning my room with Rob became a night filled project with 3 helpers, a huge garbage bag, little space to work with, and categorized piles everywhere. I realized how ridiculous my reasoning has been to keep certain things. You don't need 4 pair of camping shoes- especially when you go camping once a year on average. You don't need to keep pens that don't even work, or pictures of classmates you don't remember the names of. As much as it pains me to toss out my college text books that could not be sold back, they take up too much space, and lets face it- if I didn't read the book while taking the class, why would I think to read it later?
I had to face my past and decide what was worth keeping.

So here is my challenge to you:
Don't be a trunkie! Throw out that old ______ that you've been keeping for years and haven't even noticed was there b/c you don't use it! You will feel so much better.

Bitter- Sweet Week!

I hesitate to start this post for fear that I might ramble, or start to panic. You know when you think things couldn't get any more hectic or crazy? They always do. This is the story of my life right now. Just 2 more days!!! What am I referring to? My wedding of course! The one, most single, important day of my life that I've dreamed of every since I was a little girl. I have the perfect dress, perfect fiance, nicest apartment with the greatest rent deal, the most beautiful temple (I only say that b/c it's now going to be our temple AND it's named after us!), the colors for the reception I've always dreamed of, and everything is as perfect as can be.

Does all of this make getting married easier? Yes, and no. What's better than marrying your best friend? Nothing. This trumps all the negatives. However, I never knew moving would be so difficult! How does one person accumulate so much junk over the years?! No, Rob has very little compared to me. It is my junk I'm talking about. What a time-consuming project!

You would think that everyone would have the respect to cancel all school and work while I'm gone, right? But no, work and school continue on, and I just have to work around it. What a pain!

Family comes into town, but this is a positive point! No matter how wonderful it is, the house becomes so crazy that occasionally you think you may lose a few hairs.

I'm going to be a part of someone else's family? And someone else's traditions? I have to share Christmas and Thanksgiving?

These thoughts have been running through my mind the past few days, and I'm about to go crazy. But no matter how chaotic and crazy this week has been and will continue to be, I wouldn't trade it for the world! To be sealed in the temple, in a beautiful white dress, across from the man of my dreams is more than I could ever have hoped for. It is worth it all! It's worth the shared holidays, new family, sharing everything with someone else, and adjusting to everything marriage brings. Bring on the challenge! I'm ready for it!

You're My Better Half

Oh boy! What have I gotten myself into? You ask what in the world I'm talking about? Well, I'll tell you. I have fallen completely, madly, deeply, head over heels in love with a boy. That boy asked me to marry him, and I said yes!

Since the beginning of our relationship I had no idea how I could like him any more than I already did. I continually learned just how much more until like turned to love, and love turned to wanting to spend eternity with him, and him only. I couldn't have found anyone more perfect for me. He is my better half!

These are just a few of our engagement pictures that the talented Randy Collier took for us. Aren't we a good lookin' couple? ;) Randy kept telling me, "Ok, lets try a softer smile, not so big," just for a different effect, but I couldn't do it! That's how it is every single day. I can't help but smile when I think that I have finally found the boy of my dreams.
I always have told my friends, "Every girl deserves to be swept off of her feet, not settle for something." Rob has completely swept me off my feet from the moment we met at EFY! Literally. From the minute I saw him I was nervous to even think about saying hi to him let alone carrying on a conversation with him! Come to find out he had a very similar experience, but here we are, getting hitched. We fully endorse EFY ha ha :)
I have found the best friend I have always dreamed of and I couldn't imagine asking for anyone better for me, because I can't even imagine that they would exist. I can't wait to start our life together, but I am no expert! I know there will be speed bumps and construction sites along the road, but I know that we will get through them and build a greater relationship. What's better than marrying your best friend? I can't think of anything, but if you figure it out, please... let me know! Just 6 weeks and 3 days! February 17th... here we come!

He Liked It and Put a Ring On It!

Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like :) I'M ENGAGED! Not only am I engaged, but I am engaged

to my best friend. What could be better? Being married to my best friend will be better, but I don't think anything beats that. I'll let you know if I find anything better.

It was a busy busy Friday as we ran around looking for rings. Rob's sisters were coming up that night and we were going to go do something with the family. We went to Rob's Dad's office where they have a movie theater room with a projector and screen to watch a movie. The movie we watched: UP! So good. We got some food to eat and got the movie rollin'. Rob was eating his taco and the wrapper was shaking so bad b/c his hands were shaking. Then everything in his taco fell out! Ha ha. He struggled to get it all back in, but wouldn't let me help. Poor guy. He was so nervous! But that's my favorite detail of the story. So funny.

During the part where they get married and he carries her home, Rob switched to movie screen to a slide on his computer that looked like this:

At the bottom of the picture he added the words, "Tiffany, I love you. Will you marry me?" Of course he got down on his knee and pulled out the HUGE, GORGEOUS, MOST BEAUTIFUL Walmart ring that you've ever seen! Ha ha. Surprise! My ring is being made and we are anxiously awaiting its arrival.

His family was the quietest I've ever seen. It was quite funny. They thought we were playing a joke on them, but the longer it went on and we didn't say, "JUST KIDDING!" They slowly started to believe it. Now they're excited knowing that it wasn't a joke and we aren't just kidding.

We're getting married February 17, 2011 at 11:00am in the Draper Temple. I can't wait to marry my best friend! I am the luckiest girl alive! It's only two and a half months away, but it feels like an eternity. But I am being patient b/c I know that we get to be together for eternity and that is worth everything to me :)

The Way

Everyone gets overwhelmed with the stress of life and the business that sometimes seems unbearable. I have experienced this quite a bit this semester. I'm taking a large load of classes, which includes Human Anatomy. For those who have taken this class- you know what I mean. I am struggling to enjoy my job. I have just found out that I tore my ACL again, that I just got fixed in December. Along with this I have to decide if and when I am going to have surgery. And on top of all of this, I am living 45 minutes from my sweet, supportive, and comforting best friend, Rob.

Each Friday I come down to SL with Rob and do homework while he is in class. As a part of my routine I get my computer out, check my email, and of course facebook. Today was not like all of the other Fridays. What I found was so much more. This week has been a challenging one for more than just myself, but for some that I love as well. On facebook a sweet friend posted a video/mormon message that she has found comfort in when she is struggling. I watched it and was overcome with peace and assurance. It's called "Good Things to Come" by Elder Holland, and you can find it at this address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nczw6xHJ0I.

Then to my great surprise I received an email from my anatomy professor. She expressed her understanding of the stress we are experiencing not only with this class, but with life. She shared another video that brought me comfort. It's called "Christ's True Mercy" also by Elder Holland. You can watch it at this site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5bUKNYgRi8.

One thing particularly that hit me from this video was the quote saying,

"He knows the way, because He IS the way."

We may feel overwhelmed with stress, with demands and expectations others have for us, the business of life, and many other things, but it is important to know that we can always find comfort in our Savior, Jesus Christ. He knows what to do and how to get there because it is through him that it is possible.

Strength

I have recently been reminded of/discovered a quote by President Hinckley that has given me strength through my trying times. I absolutely love this man and am so grateful for all he did as President of the church, and the example he was to me. He said:

"If Life Gets Too Hard to Stand, Kneel." - President Hinckley