the best christmas gift of all

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to take dinner to an elderly couple in my ward. Last week the wife was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, a cancer that has a 10-20% survival rate. What cheery news to receive during the holidays. As I was driving to drop off dinner I was thinking of comforting words I could share and preparing myself to cheer up a distraught couple.

I pulled up to the small house and could see the man in the front room sitting alone and reading. I knocked on the door, ready to be the holiday-cheer mister, and was greeted by a happy face and an even bigger smile.

I introduced myself and explained that I have only been in the ward for 4 months so it was okay he didn't know my name, to which he said with a huge smile "I have been in this ward for 65 years! I'm 92 you know." Our conversation then drifted to his wife's condition. He told me that she was going to have chemo-therapy everyday for the next five weeks, and that it wasn't bad at all. "She is doing great" he said. As I stood there I realized that those 5 weeks included Christmas and New Years. He said that he hasn't had any breakdowns because he and his wife decided that they were going to be calm about it and take it one day at a time. As I stood there listening I noticed their front room which consisted of a couple couches, a table, and a lamp. I couldn't help but begin to tear up as he continued to tell me that they have so much to be grateful for and that they were excited for christmas. In that moment the roles were reversed. I had come to serve them, and as I stood there, he was serving me.

As I was getting back into my car I looked back at the modest home and thought of this couple, together during the holidays and SO happy together. Despite the hard time that man is going through he was able to touch my heart and remind me of God's Love for all his children. What a special Christmas gift that was, one I will never forget.

best year of my life.

This has been the best year of my life for so many reasons. Each month has been amazing and filled with so many exciting events.

January I met Reese. On January 21 we went on our first date and we were dating by January 26, we always talk about those days and what we were thinking at the time, what a wonderful way to start the year.

In February we went down to Vegas for Reese's birthday and for Presidents Day weekend, and we met each others families! For Valentines day he gave me tickets to Blue Man Group and we went with Nicole and Brad. Oh, and he told me he loved me. Best moment of my life.

In March we went to DISNEYLAND! It was so crazy though because we drove home to Las Vegas on Thursday and got home really late. Then we woke up at the crack of dawn to drive to California and we spent the whole day at Disneyland. (Totally exhausting if you have never been there!) Then we drove all the way home. One of our funniest memories for sure!

April Fools Day was when we got engaged, for REAL! I won't ever forget it. Utah Lake is one of our special places so he planned it all out and proposed there, it was so pretty that day. I love my husband so much. Also in April my family went on our Christmas cruise so we had to be separated for 7 days without communication, what a challenge! It was a fun family vacay that most of us enjoyed :)

This May I turned 20 and I felt so old! We went up to Rigby (the motherland) to visit the Gneiting's! So fun being there together. Its funny but both my dad and Reese's dad grew up in Rigby and went to the same High School so we loved visiting. Also we did a few hikes in the nice Utah weather.

In June we went down to Las Vegas for Brad and Nicoles wedding! We loved all of it, so much fun. It was so great to see another wedding and to get excited for ours. We played a ton of Volleyball together, another great thing about Reese. We get pretty competitive with each other when it comes to volleyball and its one of our favorite hobbies.

July was full of crazy things! Let me tell you about one crazy experience, saving seats at the 4th of July Parade in Provo! That was one we won't ever forget! We went boating in Vegas with the family and I had a couple Bridal Showers! We too our Bridal pictures in St. George- another memory we won't forget! And we were ready to get married already!

August was the month we had been waiting for! We got MARRIED in the Las Vegas Temple and had so many friends and family there! We went on our honeymoon to Cancun where we swam in the perfectly blue ocean and ate at buffets every single day. It was the best week ever! We went to Lake Powell right after and then came up to Provo and moved into our new house. Talk about the best month imaginable.

September we started school. Woo hoo! Reese did the Finance Core and he was busy busy busy, I love having a really smart husband. Both of us worked and we got lots of family visits as the BYU FOOTBALL season started. Tyler came out to visit for his birthday and we had so much fun. Reese's family came up and we all went to watch Brad play some football, we watched General Conference together and enjoyed the company.

October we drove down to Vegas to visit the family, and to go to the lake one more time! We dressed up as an Old Couple for Halloween and experienced Trick or Treating being on the other side of the door, very entertaining. I really started to enjoy cooking this month and got into it a little more. Oh, and I ran my first Half Marathon!

November November November. We went to the Military Ball and got all dressed up which was fun. We feel like we kind of went to Prom now! Crazy adventure with our friends the Teerlinks, we snowshoed up a mountain in a blizzard in the middle of the night to an amazing cabin, that was a fun one! Also we had our first Thanksgiving together and it was delicious!

And that brings me to December! Already we were lucky enough to go see Trent's Court of Honor and Ashley's baptism in Vegas, great to be there. We made it to the annual Reed family Christmas Party and we both sat on Santa's lap haha! We put up our first Christmas Tree together too. We're so excited to give each other presents on Christmas and to be with our families. I feel so lucky to have Reese as my husband and its hard to believe we only have 1 year that we've been together! I'm looking forward to so many more.

holiday season

This is such a fun time of the year, and I am especially enjoying being with Reese for our first fall together. I CANT WAIT to put up christmas decorations. I am not kidding when I say that my decorations are sitting in a box in the front room and I see them every time I leave or come home. (Nevermind they won't fit anywhere else, i like seeing them hah)

Last week we went to the BYU Military Veterans Day Ball? Why? I work there- Do not be alarmed neither of us have enlisted. Here is a picture from that. And its time for a christmas background. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :)

under the legs DUNK

our wedding!

We have been waiting for our wedding pictures for two months and they FINALLY came! I now feel like I can blog about my wedding without hesitation. After making hundreds of decisions and spending hours and hours on one event, I want to document every detail of it HERE!

We got sealed in the Las Vegas Temple at 11 a.m. on August 6th, 2011! I won't ever forget it, such a sweet experience that was amplified by our many friends and family.

My brothers looked so handsome! There are now 5 important men in my life- they will always be my very best pals. Love them each so so much.

My parents are so good looking, every time I looked at them all day I almost cried. Seriously I couldn't even look at them sometimes. When my parents cry, I cry. Hence, I couldn't look at either of them for 80% of the day.

We took pictures around the temple and it was SO STINKIN HOT!! My dress was sticking to me and both Reese and I had sweat dripping down our faces hahahah! Embarrassing. I am so glad we endured it though because I LOVE these pictures!

This was the last picture we took, I don't think we were being serious.

Las Vegas Temple August 6, 2011

I loved all the flowers at our wedding, included in every corsage, boutonniere, and bouquet were Billy Balls. They were the perfect yellow. Also included in this boutonniere was a leaf called a "Lambs Ear" because it is so soft. I think they turned out so beautiful! Another thing I loved were all the ties, there is something about a plain color tie that I can't resist. So my favorite color in a solid tie= perfection.

Reese's boutonniere had a cool wire accessory that set him apart, also loved his perfectly placed pocket square! And I can't resist pinstripe suits, so, married him duh.

All my beautiful ladies! I just loved the dresses, my neighbor MADE them and I think they turned out so nice. Each of them looked so beautiful, I was so lucky to have all my closest friends there!

A view of the Billy Ball Bouquets, LOVE!

Great picture of my new family!

one of my favorites :)

We had our reception at Dragon Ridge- loved it.

Our cake is made of Packed Sugar Crystals, it was beautiful and more importantly delicious.

We had a Candy Bar made up of brown and white candies on a blue tablecloth with blue ribbons. So cute! My mom is a mastermind.

RECEPTION!

He is so hilarious-- thought he was going to cry the whole time but he didn't so that is A WIN FOR ROGER!! No--- I love my dad so much. I almost cried.

So sweet!

This is one of those pictures that reminds me how much I love him.

The best day of our lives!

pinterest?

thanks to pinterest I was able to fill one of my empty white walls today!

my aunt gave me this cute rack and i really liked it, but i couldn't find anywhere to put it! Random inspiration, its because its almost conference i'm convinced.

tyler

Over the course of the past 3 years each of my teenage brothers have asked for a plane ticket to come see me on their birthday-- what kind of boys do that?! My brothers are the best! This weekend Tyler came up to see me and we had so much fun together, he just got his braces off and is lookin GOOD!! We went bowling at MIRACLE BOWL!! (unusual- but I have to include that even Reese was bowling... I beat him....Did I mention I beat Reese at bowling?)

On Saturday we hiked up to a waterfall which was really far and high and green and watery. Then we had a yummy in my tummy lunch and also went to the Cocoa Bean, double yummy. The football game was so bad yet so fun, and I even stayed past half time. Weird. We spent Sunday going to church and baking in our new apartment, Tyler will kill me if he finds out there is a picture of him in an apron on the internet, but since he is a self professed non-blog reader I feel safe assuming he will never see it, or read this. Before we went to the airport we walked around Temple Square- which Tyler hasn't experienced in awhile! That was a treat! Anyways, love my bro, love my husband, love love love love love it.

and lastly I had to add this super cool picture Tyler took... i just don't know how this happened.

from the mouth of reese

"I feel like a baby today"

"........I.........."

"I felt like making cinnamon rolls. So..... I already made the dough and its rising in the oven."

"Babies like it warm"

"I'll tell them I'm majoring in finance and they'll be like..... well thats STUPID!"

we got married!

So, we are now officially, legally, rightfully, and carefully MARRIED!!! After being engaged for 4 months, we are glad the wait is over. I feel like I need to blog about my recent events! But since there have been so many I am going to summarize each one for the time being.

THE WEDDING!
-I woke up in the room I slept in since I was 11, except it was weird because I was getting married that day.
-I changed my hairstyle that morning, on impulse.
-The sealing was incredible. I have never felt so much joy and so much love, the gospel is truly the greatest gift!
-Having so many people there that meant so much to me really made it a super special experience. I love my family, and my new family too! C:
-It was 111 degrees outside that day, we were sooooo hot!
-The reception was absolutely gorgeous, I appreciate my parents so much for putting it together and throwing such a gorgeous party for Reese and I!
-I love my husband, he looked so stunningly handsome I just couldn't believe he was mine.
-My brothers are my best buds, seeing them do the 3 Amigo's "My Little Buttercup" dance was sooooooo freaking funny. (see video-definitely worth it)

HONEYMOON to CANCUN!
-okay so we didn't take like any pictures, i'm sorry! Why? 1) it was so humid my camera literally didn't work. crazy. 2) we were constantly in the water, a substance electronics don't mix with. So we used Reese's iPhone, we could be in an ad.
-THE BEACHES WERE BEAUTIFUL! We went swimming every single day! White sand, blue clear water, and the perfect temperature. And no sharks.
-We went Jet skiing in the ocean and snorkled into a cenote (an underwater cave)
-We ate the fanciest foods everynight- seriously gourmet. I have a lot to live up to!
-I was able to be with Reese 24 hours a day for 5 days without any distractions. The closest thing to heaven that I can get!
-my hair was so curly, I didn't even try to tame it.

PROVO!!
-We are slowly getting everything situated in our new house here in Provo, hanging up stuff, putting stuff away, etc.
-We live across the street from the new Elementary School and it is such a pretty street! I love it! So many trees and cute houses (and cute school kids! awww!)
-I love cooking! I make dinner every night and have had so much fun experimenting with new recipes. Reese is enjoying that too C:

Spinach Man Salad

Oh and here is a salad that I changed a little bit to be more manly for my super manly fiance'.


Ingredients:
1 bag of Spinach Leaves
2 c. Buitoni Tortellini
1/2 c. Parmesan Cheese
1 12.5oz. can of Chicken Breast
Oil Based Caesar Salad Dressing (I used Newmans)

Boil the Tortellini and Mix in a bowl with Spinach. Grill the chicken, break it up and make sure its warm, add in to bowl. Pour Parmesan Cheese throughout and add as much Salad Dressing as you want.

my very first homemade bread experience...

I MADE BREAD!! It took forever and I was really confused the whole time and Reese was doubting my baking abilities but it actually turned out to be really good! Make it!!!

Ingredients:
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar, divided
2 cups warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees), divided
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:
In a bowl, dissolve yeast, and 1 tblspn sugar in 1 c. warm water.

Add the oil, egg, salt, 2 cups flour, and remaining sugar and water.

Mix that really well and then stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Turn onto a floured surface; knead for about 6-8 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise forabout 40 minutes.

Turn dough onto a floured surface; divide and arrange dough onto baking sheets.

Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.



And then its done!! Here is a parmesan garlic spread that I used to put on the breadsticks:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder


Just mix them all in a bowl and serve with the bread.


SUCCESS!!

i am now inspired