Love this boy!

Just wanted to say happy birthday to the love of my life! It also happens to be Valentines day! :) So I figured with the combination of the two, it calls for one of these I love you posts! I know they are somewhat cheesy but I am just super grateful to have Scott in my life! He is the best husband anyone could ever ask for and I feel lucky everyday that I was so blessed to meet, marry, and spend eternity with him!!! Love you Scott!

Needlephobia

Every time Scott and I hear about a blood drive I always suggest that we should donate. Scott always comes up with a reason he can't. After the first few times I suggested this I clued in that he was slightly afraid of needles. After I figured this out, I stopped really asking him about it because I figured he wouldn't donate. Well... a couple of weeks ago in church they announced that we would be having a stake blood drive. I didn't even think about signing up because I knew Scott wasn't down for it. After church though, he told me that he had signed us up. I was super surprised but he told me that he had read an article about the blood shortages and realized it was a great way to serve so he decided he would face his fear. So this past Friday, we went to the church to donate blood. I showed up a little late so Scott was just about finished filling out the paperwork. He got in the chair to donate blood and I was still waiting to fill out the papers so I was standing right next to him. He looked a little nervous and I'm sure the guy throwing up behind him didn't help to calm his nerves. The guy prepped his arm though and stuck the needle in, Scott just didn't look and he did great! Shortly after they put the needle in, I went into a little cubby to fill out my paperwork. I had been in there for about 5 minutes and I heard a couple of the ladies saying, "Scott.... Scott... Scott...." I immediately jumped up realizing that this didn't sound good. I came out to see that Scott was completely passed out.. face white.. eyes rolled back into his head. Turns out he had made it completely through giving blood with the needle out and everything and he just couldn't resist looking at the bag of blood and it made him queasy I think. I was a bit nervous but none of the workers seemed phased by it which made me not quite as freaked out. After being out for a second, he started kind of convulsing. I thought he was having a seizure but one of the guys told me it was basically just his muscles reacting to him losing so much blood. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he came out of it. He didn't feel so great, but after some water, ice packs, and pretzels we eventually were able to leave. Needless to say.. he didn't have to greatest first experience but I was super proud of him for facing his fear. We are just hoping he was able to save someones life because of that blood!!

(I'm sad to say that I did not capture any pictures of this event... after the fact we realized we should have snapped a few shots.)

Good Luck Masters!!

Some of our good friends left for China yesterday! We met the Masters about a year-ish ago and have been great friends since they moved into our ward! They will be in China for about 6 months teaching business english! We wish you the best of luck Danny and Amber!! We will miss you!!

Friend Christmas!!

This year we got together with a bunch of our good friends and had "friend Christmas!" We had so much fun! Activities included: pin the nose on Rudolph (thanks to BJ's artistic abilities), white elephant gift exchange, a game in which we had to unwrap gifts that had been strategically wrapped so that they were really hard to get in to (the rubber bands were a good touch, Drew), foosball, ping-pong, pool, nertz, a sleepover, and of course, lots of good food! Thanks for the greatest friend Christmas!! Kerv with the booty pop on! Looks good Kerv!!

Finals...

BLAHHHH!!!

Can't wait for finals to be over and then we get to hang out with our families and not think about school for at least 2 weeks! On the bright side, after finals are over this week I will only have one more finals weeks ever!! Woohooooo!

I am thankful for...

There are so many things in my life to be thankful for and I figure since Thanksgiving is a couple days away, it's a good time to name just a few of the many, many things I am so thankful for! (In no particular order)

My absolutely AMAZING husband!! I can not imagine my life without him. He is the greatest husband anyone could ask for and has been there with me through everything, lots and lots of great and fun things and some hard times too, the past couple of years.

Our wonderful families! They are such a support to us in so many ways. Couldn't have asked for better parents as role models of what we want to be like or better siblings to be our best friends!

Our Savior, Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice for all of his children.

BYU and our education.

The best of friends anyone could ever ask for! We have no idea what we would do without our friends, some who have basically been our families out at school. (Disclaimer- these are not the only friends we are grateful for! There are so many more friends who have been a blessing to us and who are our best friends!)

The temple and the opportunity to be sealed to Scott so we can live with our family for eternity.

Living in the United States and the many freedoms afforded to us.

El Sauzal, the kids, and the friends we have met through volunteering at the orphanage. Volunteering at El Sauzal has been one of the greatest opportunities we have ever had to serve. We love those kids.

Do I have to grow up?

Yesterday I was thinking about the fact that Scott and I will be graduating pretty soon and I realized that I don't think I'm ready to grow up! College has been such a huge part of our life and we have met some of the best friends we could ever ask for. Most of our best friends will be graduating with us in April and we will all be going our separate ways. Am I ready for this? Definitely not! (I try not to think about it and hold on to the small hope that we will somehow all end up in the same place!) I sometimes don't do too well with change. Don't get me wrong.. I am elated to be done with school soon! Just not too excited about having to get a real job, being a real adult, making all new friends, etc. I guess I have just gotten comfortable with where we are, especially since I have been in college for 5 years! Anyways, I think I am kind of rambling but I guess even though I don't necessarily want to, we have to grow up eventually. We are just so grateful for all the amazing friends we have made through our time at college that will be some of our best friends for the rest of our lives. Here are a few memories from our college years!