Monday, July 29, 2013

Big News!

We have big news! We are......moving! Ha, did you think I would say pregnant? Sorry to disappoint. We are moving to bountiful. It has been such a blessing to live with Chauncey's grandparents these past 2 & 1/2 years. We are so grateful for them and that we have had the opportunity to save money and pay off more of Chauncey's student loans. During this time I didn't have to take out loans for tuition, we have been able to pay for it every semester. I'm really sad to leave my calling and this ward though. Being in the primary presidency has been such a wonderful learning experience for me. I really do love those children, and I love working with the other wonderful ladies in my presidency. I really hope that I can work with the primary in our new ward.

Our new apartment is really awesome. Chauncey's friend from school and his family have lived there for the past couple of years, and now they are moving to California! So they invited us to look at their apartment. I loved it as soon as we looked at it, it is perfect for us. The rent is perfect for our budget, it has a large storage room with washer and dryer hookups, and it has a single car garage! I am so excited to have a place of our own. The landlords are really awesome and they pay for a lot of upgrades or repairs in the apartment. Ever since we decided on the apartment so many things started falling into place for us. Since we are friends with the previous tenants, the landlords said they wouldn't raise the rent and they didn't charge us for many of the usual expenses that new tenants would have. We don't even have to buy a washer and dryer because Chauncey's friend is leaving theirs! They found a place in Cali that has a washer and dryer so they don't need theirs anymore. We are truly blessed.

Anyway, we will be moving into the new apartment in the middle of august. Chauncey and I are both excited to start this new chapter in our lives :)

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Memories and Changes

Today and yesterday have been really hard. I found out some news that was really hard to accept, which left me feeling so overwhelmed. You know that feeling, where it's like everything is falling apart and the world is going to end and everything sucks? That's what I felt last night, and then again this morning. For a few hours I didn't know what to do with myself. I went to school, then I came home, curled up with my favorite blanket (yes I use a blanket, even in the summer time because I'm crazy) and watched like 6 episodes of the office. (I am not kidding you, I just finished seasons 1-8 on netflix the week before last and I'm already on season 3 again. Not sorry.) Anways, that's all I wanted to do, because that's what I do when I'm sad. I watch the office and wallow in my sorrows.

While watching Pam confess her true feelings on the "Beach games" episode I remembered something. The day Chauncey and I got married. Before the temple ceremony we were able to sit with each other for a few minutes alone. Right then, I knew with a certainty that I was making the right decision to be married to Chauncey. Up until that point I was still unsure (sounds terrible, but I was scared. Even though I prayed about it before we got engaged and it felt right, I was still nervous). I was only 19, and I know a lot of people thought I was crazy. However, during those few moments together, I had no worries. At that moment I knew with all my heart that even though our marriage wouldn't be perfect and it definitely wouldn't be easy, it would be worth it and I was making the right decision. That was the best feeling.

Anyway, back to what i was saying before. That memory sparked another memory, and then another, and another. All great and wonderful memories from my life up until this point. That is when I thought of my testimony. These past few months...haven't been my best. I have lost sight of what has always been important to me spiritually. Sure, Chauncey and I still read scriptures every night, and we try to have FHE every week, but I don't feel very happy spiritually. I know our marriage has benefited from these practices, but I feel that I haven't changed very much. So today, after being very sad and kind of pathetic, I decided to change. I need to be more spiritual, for me. I need to read the scriptures on my own, I need to say prayers more, I need to have more faith that everything will be okay. This next month is going to be rough, I know that. If I keep constantly worrying about how hard my life is instead of focusing on how wonderful my life is, then yeah, life is going to suck. I do have a good life. My life is wonderful. Really quick I just want to list a few things that I'm grateful for.

-Chauncey- Do I have to say more? I really don't know what I would do without him. He came into my life at the perfect time, just when I needed a friend. He is my best friend, and I definitely love him.
-My parents. We don't always say eye to eye, but I sure do love them, and I know they love me.
-My brothers. Especially my brother, Chase. We've grown so close since I moved out over 3 years ago. He's definitely one of my best friends and I would do anything for him, and I know he would do the same for me.
-My in-laws. What can I say? They are simply wonderful. I can't say enough how grateful I am to be apart of their awesome family and that I have always been treated as part of the family. I have never felt out of place being with them. They are so good to me, and I really do love all of them.
-My friends. I don't have a lot of close friends, but I am so blessed to have the few that I do. I love them so much.
-The gospel. Even through my low points, I have never stopped going to church. Because let's be honest, where/who would I be with out the gospel?

Those are just a few things I'm grateful for at this moment. There is so  much more I could list, but I don't want to bore you. To any of you still reading, congrats! I give you a thumbs up, because this post was ridiculously long. 

Friday, July 19, 2013

Jimmy Eat World

          Last night was one of the coolest nights ever! I went to my very first concert. What an experience! It was seriously awesome. I always liked Jimmy Eat World. They are definitely in my top 5 favorite bands.

My Top Five Bands:
1.The Format
2.Jimmy Eat World
3. Jack's Mannequin
4.Weezer
5.Imagine Dragons

(Jack's mannequin was #2 before last night, but Jimmy Eat World took their place after seeing them live)

           At first I was nervous, I had never been to a concert and I usually don't like loud situations or feeling crowded. I quickly got over this once the opening act (X-ambassadors, they were surprisingly really great) played their last two songs. Chauncey had found us a spot right up close to the stage. I could reach out and touch it if the security guard wasn't there. I then started to get even more excited once they started setting up the stage for Jimmy Eat World. When they came out everyone screamed and clapped. At first I was pretty quiet, but then they started playing songs like "work", "futures", "crush", "a praise chorus", "bleed american",  and "let it happen" (just to name a few). Once I heard "Futures" I started screaming along (I couldn't really hear myself singing, so I started screaming along with everyone else). Soon enough I was jumping up and down and dancing. If you know me, this behavior is SO unlike me. I am usually really shy and I don't like dancing or bringing attention to myself. But I didn't care, I loved knowing pretty much their whole setlist and being able to sing along. Being so close to the stage and feeling the music pound in my chest was the coolest feeling.  And you know what? Seeing them live in concert and screaming/singing along with pretty much all their songs they played made me like them even more! Of course they had to play "The Middle" and "Hear You Me". I wouldn't be surprised if they sang those at every concert. One of my favorite moments was when they did a cover of a Taylor Swift song. At first I was thinking I know this song...what is it? Chauncey was like "Isn't this Taylor Swift?" I said "no, it can't be!" Because they were seriously making this song sound SO GOOD. Guess what song it was? "We are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together." Crazy right? Sorry T-Swift, they did a WAY better job and they actually made that song enjoyable. I would totally buy it if they released it.
       Anyways, this post is getting a little long so i'll share the pictures now. I just want to say that my first concert was awesome, and I'm so glad that I chose to see Jimmy Eat World. I always knew I liked them, but seeing them live made me like them even more. :)



Waiting


See how close we were?!

X-Ambassadors, the lead singer played SO MANY instruments! He's the one playing the saxophone, oh and their pianist was blind. They were way cool. 

Finally!


Encore Set! It was really fun to chant "Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy!" With the crowd before they came out the second time.

 
Here's a compilation of a few videos I took. 
First is "Hear you me" then "We are Never ever getting back together" and finally "work." They were off my phone so it's not the best quality, and it sounded way better in person, but the video is still pretty cool.