1. I completed my first practicum... I worked in Mrs. Lunceford's first grade class at Westmore Elementary for a month and oh my I do love those precious children. I miss them so much, it is amazing how much children fill your heart!
2. My dog died. I never thought I would cry so much but what a hard experience. It was also hard going home for Thanksgiving and him not greeting me at the door he was a precious dog! I miss you Beau Nibley.
3. I got my hair cut, my bangs... well I have bangs now... I never want to have them again... I'm so grateful that hair grows back!
4. I went home for Thanksgiving and it was WONDERFUL! I got to spend 12 fast hours in a car with Joseph Thaden :). I got to sleep in my cozy queen size bed. Kacey, Mia, Darian, and Kyu spent the break playing, thank you Lincoln! I got to see my little sister play soccer in her first Varsity game and my brothers play in the Alumni game. I got to exercise and go on a bike ride with my mom, she is truly amazing. I got to go up to Yosemite for the first time, and I didn't even get carsick, with part of my family and take some pictures ;). I even got to play flag football and soccer with my family on Thanksgiving, talk about FUN! BUT best of all, I got to spend a week with the people I love the very most and we created some wonderful memories!
5. I GOT ENGAGED! So some of you I am sure would like to know how it happened... For the past 3 years Joseph and I have always made a wish at 11:11 (whenever we have noticed the time)... and I think it's safe to say that we have made the same wish for the past three years. In October, we went ring shopping , I'm glad I went with him because the rings that I thought I liked, I didn't, and of course I fell in love with a ring that I never imagined; so I knew the engagement was coming just not exactly when. I was secretly hoping it would be on November 11 (11-11-11) the ultimate day of wishes! Naturally I was excited for this day. The week leading up to it, I kept telling Joseph that it had to be an amazing day! It was going to be a busy day because I had the practicum, then it was Veteran's Day so Joseph had a ton of Air Force events he had to be at, a flag detail on campus at 5:30, a Veteran's Fireside in American Fork at 7 and then a Military Ball at 8 until midnight but I just hoped it would happen. Prior to this week I asked if we could go out to eat at La Jolla's Grove because it is one of my favorite restaurants in Provo so we agreed on lunch, and figured we could at least fit this in on our already busy day, after I got down at the practicum at 1:30. However, the night before Joseph seemed really busy and acted as if the next day wasn't going to be as good as I hoped for so my hopes of being engaged dramatically decreased. His one request though was for me to wear comfortable shoes because we would be walking to get dessert... a little fishy but I went with it. We had our delicious meal at La Jolla Groves and then got our favorite dessert at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory- Apple Pie Apple. We got in the car and Joseph started driving, I told him not to tell me where we were going but I guessed anyways. My initial thought was correct but I asked him if we were going swinging and if we were, if we could go to a certain park he replied that at the next convenient spot he would turn around, well spots came and went and we both started laughing, we weren't going there. We finally ended up at the Canyon where we had been just a few weeks earlier, so we got out of the car and started walking around. I thought he was going to take me up to the water tower where we had written down some goals together but instead he led me all through the canyon. He kept asking me if I wanted to change shoes, I said no that my flats were fine but wondered if the ring for some reason was in his shoes... half way to our destination he decided that because it was 11-11-11 we should talk about some wishes and goals that we have. He started and we went back and forth, avoiding the discussion of our true wish. As we were getting closer it started to hit me that this could be it and that my life could be changing forever in just a few short moments, I got a little nervous... We finally got to our destination across the riverbed to this beautiful little area with rocks to sit on. Joseph was specific in which rock I was to sit on, my heart started pounding this could be it, he opened the apple and for a second I thought he had slipped the ring in there, I took only one bite, I was so nervous. Quickly Joseph added that he had one more thing for me. He led me over to a tree, in which these initials were carved: "JT + AT". Looking at the tree I quickly remarked that my initials were not AT but AP, when I looked over at him he was down on one knee proposing. I said yes, we kissed, and then I asked him to do it all over again because it happened so fast!!! How ironic that I had been waiting for this moment for so long but when it actually happened it went by too fast. I didn't have him redo it of course but after a few moments of letting it sink in, I felt like the happiest girl on earth! I sit here now in front of this screen looking at Joseph next to me in awe that I get to spend eternity with the greatest guy I know. Nothing is better than being able to spend the rest of my life with him, my future is exciting and happy because every day I get to be with him, I could never ask for anything more! I feel so blessed and I am so blessed! My life is beautiful!
