Today, I will admit, I've been pretty sad. I miss my love bug. Westin gets home Wednesday, only 4 more days away.  I can't wait to see him! It's just been my hardest day and I think it's because I know the end is near.I wish it would just come already. Patience is something I wish I had more of.

I am so glad that I am a pretty independent person, because I couldn't have done this, if I wasn't. I am comfortable in my own skin. I like to hang out with just me sometimes, and I don't have a hard time keeping myself busy, even when I feel sad. I am not the type to mope around for more than a few hours. I learned at a young age that the best way to feel happy is to get up, get ready, and go out. Today I got my hair done, I cleaned the house, I went to the gym, did some grocery shopping and tried to keep my mind off my awesome, wonderful husband. I just miss his hugs and his kisses. I miss having my best friend who I share everything with. This month went by faster than I thought. I don't look forward to the next time we are apart, but I know now that I can do it. Next summer i'll have to conquer 4 month and lets cross our fingers I never have to go a whole year, but with my luck let's just say he will spend some time at war. 

The army has been on my mind a lot with Westin being in Ireland. I always told myself I would never marry someone in the military, but God has a different plan for us. We got our answers and I know that the Lord will comfort both of us. I am just so grateful I have the Savior I can turn to in dark times. Who I know will carry me through anything. I am so glad that if I ask, kneeling down on my knees for help, he will be there. Peace always comes as you try to stay close to the spirit. I know that I can do it even if the thought of him going away at this moment brings a choking in my throat and tears to my eyes. I will just have to take it one day at a time.

I am just so happy to be married to such a great guy. Someone who works so hard. He really is so special to me. I wanted to list just a few things I love about him. 

1.) He always opens doors for me and treats me with respect. 

2.) He plans the most awesome dates which have made the best memories.

3.) He sees the glass half full, he is the most positive easy going person. He is defiantly my other half. 

4.) He treats everyone around him as if he's known them for years. He sees everyone for who they are and never looks at someone from the outside. People always tell me "he is like a best friend to everyone" and he is. Everyone I introduce him to or anyone in his life now, just loves him. What's not to love. 

5.) He is such a hard worker. This year he never once got caught up in video games, computer games, watching TV, or anything else that would distract him from getting all the things done that he needed. All these things are good, don't get me wrong. I am just happy that I have a hard working, reach for the stars type of husband. He is so ambitious and a huge dreamer. Even if some dreams are hilarious and keep me entertained he dreams and I love this about him. 

6.) He always wants to do the right thing. Even if he makes a mistake, he makes sure he doesn't do it a second time. 

7.) He desires to be a father and I know he will be such a great dad and support to me.

8.) He has such a wonderful, strong testimony. His relationship with God and Christ is solid. He really knows who they are. 

10.) He is a great family man. Everyone who I love, just adores him. He makes people laugh, he truly cares about them and wants to get to know them. 

11.) He is always serving others and looking how he can help anyone in need. 

12.) He makes me feel so beautiful. I feel 100% secure with him at all the time. I feel like I am the most beautiful person in the world to him.

13.) I learn and grow more in love with him each and everyday. We have our struggles but somehow we work through them. I am grateful that we always end up working through everything. I know we both will never give up. 

14.) I love that I can 100% trust him. I know he would never cheat on me or lie to me in a million years. 

These are just a few things I love about him. He really is everything I ever wanted. This is a very cheesy post I know. We have our struggles as any couple does, but knowing the great guy he is, helps me more easily forgive, to want to work things out, and to always strive to be a better person for him. Marriage is work, but each and everyday I count my lucky stars I get to work with someone who constantly wants to work with me. I feel like the luckiest girl on earth and I truly mean this. Sorry everyone, I love my husband k. Him being away makes me even more sappy.

Missing Westin and a random tangent

Today I am excited that I only have 10 more days before Westin get's home but sad that I still have 10 more days!!! It's a love hate relationship for me. He loves it and I am jealous. It's hard to be working and being in the same routine when your hubby is enjoying a new country and having adventures without you. I am very happy for him but I will admit I have been angry and frustrated at times haha. We made this decision, but being here working while he is enjoying life is completely different.

He is doing a study abroad about the peace process in Ireland. He wants to get his bachelor’s in political science and get his masters in Peace and Justice. So it's more a study abroad toward his masters and counts as credits for his bachelors. So basically Ireland hasn't been just fun, he actually spends most of his days in class.

As many as you know, Westin wants to travel the world and within our first year of marriage, he has been to Mexico City (to visit his mission) and now to Ireland. I could have gone to Mexico City with him if it wasn't so dangerous. I was so sad I couldn't go. With Ireland, someone has to stay home and pay the bills, I am just kidding, we both do that. This was an investment for our future.

Westin sense I have married him, I have come to find out he is a big dreamer like me. He wants to move me to Costa Rica to attend the School of Peace for his masters. Yep, I would love this so much. I went to Costa Rica while Westin an I was dating and fell in love with that place. I can't wait to go there with him.

As most people learn as the days pass by and the months turn into years, life plans do change. Some end up being in the careers they pursued, but most end up in jobs having nothing to do with what they went into in college. Who knows where we will end up and what we will end up doing. We both want to travel and see the world, so even if Westin may not earn a huge salary or maybe he wills who knows with peace and justice, maybe his work will take us to amazing countries and we will be able to still fulfill our dreams.

For now, I am living day by day waiting for him to come home. I am staying busy by starting a blog, scrap booking, sowing, hiking, playing tennis, working, movies, and lots of family time especially with Westin's siblings and reading. Good thing I am quit an independent person, who doesn't rely on someone else for happiness. With Westin joining the army and possibly being gone to basic for 4 months next summer and could go away for a year to war, I guess I have to be Mrs. Independent right? Strength has come through a lot of life experiences and I will take these times one day at a time. I am just so lucky to have such awesome friends and family. I will rely a lot on God for peace while he has to survive BASIC TRAINING as any may know it's pure H E L L. Yep sorry to swear, but how else better to put it.

I am so proud of my awesome friend Lana, who has gone a whole 5 months writing (for the first 2 months while he was at basic training) to her awesome boyfriend Justin and didn't even get to see him tell his half way mark. Also, I am so proud of Justin for surviving basic training! She still has to go until October before he gets home. She has one more small visit in August which is nice, but WOW STRONG GIRL HUH! You Rock Lana and I am really proud of you. Someone who has struggled a lot since I've known you, I am happy to say you are kicking butt at this! You give me inspiration and hope to keep trucking along with more strength when I will one day be in you position. I never wish this on anyone and I am sad to say I don't look forward to this at all.

I also want to give a shout out to my beautiful sister -in-law Sophia and Brent. Sophia has survived a whole 28 days with a small child alone while Brent was away at military camp last summer. She will also have to conquer an additional 28 days this summer while Brent has another camp, pregnant and with Eden in her wild twos. Brent is serving in US military and doing good for our country.  

Last but not least, my brother Chris who is in Iraq right now and is almost home. He has been there almost a full year and will return sometime in July. Yep I can't even imagine how hard it has been for him and I am really proud of my brother. He has not once complained or has been negative. He is a champion in more ways than none. He works 12-14 hr. days for a 2 star general and is constantly busy. Go Chris.

Wow I could go on and on, I hit my own tangent. I also got a little cheesy so sorry everyone.

Strength comes from others who have gone through similar things you have or who have gone through worse.

Just a small Introdution

We met through an awesome missionary buddy of Westin's who can take full credit for bringing us together. Erik was also a way good friend of mine as well who felt he should introduce us, and I think he felt that for a reason. He brought Westin over for our classic Sunday Night Movie Nights my roommates and I threw every week. What better way to end the weekend than chillin and relaxing with friends cuddling watching a movie.

From the moment I saw Westin, I knew I liked him. He was not only the most gorgeous guy in the room, but the most genuine. He stood out the moment he walked in the room. His countenance was breath taking. I knew from the moment I saw him, I wanted to get to know him. He asked for my number and called me the next day, which may be unusual to some people, but I guess he doesn't mess around.

We were inseparable after this. He showed me his interest right away which was nice from your typical head games men like to play. It was nice to have someone interested in me so bluntly. He also broke every one of my rules. He got my number that night and called me the very next day (thought it was just a hook up). He took me out the very next night star gazing, (which is something I would consider sleazy for the first hang out). We kissed after 2 weeks (not my one month rule); we went on our first date that Saturday (I didn't get him to take me out before we started hanging out). We said I love you after a month and a half, I was engaged in 3 months, and married exactly on our 6th month mark. WOW all of my rules broken! Was it worth it? Every sing second I spent with him.

It's actually really funny. We met on Sunday and that Wednesday I was doing a promotion up at the Jazz game for Chevy. I got tickets to the game and invited him to come up and watch the game with me. After the game we decided to take a walk around Salt Lake and just talk. He held my hand, which is extremely weird to me. I would rather a guy kiss me than hold my hand if we are not dating. I kept trying to shake my hand away and he just squeezed tighter. I bluntly spoke my mind "why are you holding my hand" and classic Westin just says, "be chill and just go with the flow, stop thinking too hard about it." That line just made me laugh and from this I knew I had to set some ground rules. This guy was a fast mover obviously.

I wanted him to know that I just am dating around for fun and don't know if I want anything serious. That I wasn't a Utah girl who just dates and get's married really fast. (I know this isn't how everyone is so please don't take offense, this is Utah county tradition). I told him don't tell me you love me for at least 4 months, don't even think about marriage talk until almost a year, and don't even think about getting married to me until well over our year mark. I said this all joking and in a light hearted tone, but I was serious.I will tell you though that I cannot be any happier today, being sealed to the most incredible man in the world forever. Marrying Westin was the best decision I ever made. He makes me laugh every day. He says the most outrageous things 99 percent of the time, but this is what keeps life exciting. Every day is a bright new day, full of adventures. I have never felt so happy and secure with someone. Is life perfect and sweet every moment, no but that is what makes a perfect relationship. Every argument brings us closer together and we learn and grow each day.

                                                                                                     

YEA WE MADE IT THROUG THE FIRST YEAR!!! We have been married over a year now May 22, 2010. When people say it’s the hardest, I believe them. It was hard but also memorable. I look towards a bright future full of love, respect, trials, and laughter. We love life!

What's happing right now. Well Westin is in Ireland doing a study abroad. We both are moving to Hawaii September 5th to start school at BYU Hawaii. I am currently working with one of my best friends Lana at The Evolution Group. Westin just finished his associates so we will go get our bachelor degrees together. We are just having fun with friends and family and enjoying a lot of time together when we can.

 Future plans, well I guess you'll have to see sense I now am going to blog.