2011...

How is it that another year has come and gone? The holidays, especially, just seem to melt time away.... but I think back to the beginning of 2011 and it's amazing to realize how much my life has changed in just one year.  At the beginning of 2011... I was dating another guy and working for another job, with no real anticipation of any major life changes in the coming 12 months.  But isn't that how my life normally plays out?  Just when I think I have it all figured out... the Lord throws a wrench into my plans - and in the end, His plans will always work out better for me.  I broke up with my boyfriend in February - and met my future husband that same month.  I left my job in June - allowing me to plan a wedding in less than 3 months.  I was unemployed for the last few months - and now I have a job that is actually giving me an opportunity to use my nursing education and personal talents, and paying me well for it!  I've learned to trust the spirit, and that simple phrase: "Everything happens for a reason."  In those moments of despair and frustration, the most important thing to remember is that we are not able to choose the bad things that happen to us - we can only choose how we react and respond.  I have learned (many times over) that there is no point to whining and complaining over things that happen in our lives - you can't change the past, so use your experiences to your advantage.  Learn from your mistakes, or those obstacles that you face, and grow stronger from them.  The Lord will only give us trials that He knows we can overcome - so trust in that (and Him) and keep moving forward.  A simple quote from a great book by Sheri Dew encapsulates this: "If life were easy, then it wouldn't be hard." As the American people are struggling to figure out why life isn't as EASY as they think it should be, I wish I could share that thought with them.  Our founding fathers created a country that enabled us OPPORTUNITIES to learn, work, and prosper according to our sacrifices.  They didn't give us rights of entitlement... just FREEDOM.  And that freedom was never meant to be FREE.  I get so frustrated with people who refuse to make sacrifices and WORK for what they want - I want to be proud of my accomplishments!  And I'll step off my soap box now.... :)

On a happier note, Geoff and I enjoyed our first Christmas together as husband and wife this past Sunday, and we couldn't have asked for anything more -- time spent with those we love.  My parents were in town, and we were able to Skype with Elder Newman (aka Greg) and it was great to see him and hear his voice!  We are so proud of him and his accomplishments, and as much as we miss him we know he is doing great work out in Florida -- and he is LOVING his time out there!  :)  We spent time opening our gifts, and I must admit - we are truly blessed.  But amidst the clothes, tools, electronics, and other needed odds and ends... my favorite gift by FAR was the gift Geoff gave me:

"For All Mankind" by Liz Lemon Swindle

And for those who don't know the background story: my second trip to Zambia, Africa with Mothers Without Borders in 2007 was an incredible experience, to say the least... (I can hardly believe it's been 4 years!)  We were accompanied by Liz Lemon Swindle (a renowned artist who does many pieces for the Church) and her small team, including her "Jesus model" Phillip Miner.  We were told that Liz had been asked to do a piece by MWB founder, Kathy Headlee, and that while we were down there she would be planning a photo shoot to provide inspiration for her painting.  Our trip was spent doing what most MWB teams do: working on the "farm", spending time with village children, and preparing the "new land" for the developing Children's Village.  But one day was set aside for the photo shoot... and it was a day we would never forget.  Here is a little snippet of my journal entry from that day:

"We were all watching from a distance, and the  moments that followed left me with tears streaming down my cheeks: At first, the children, and adults, were hesitant to move forward and approach him, but Kathy motioned them forward. Seeing "Jesus"/Phillip interact with the kids was so touching.  I couldn't control my emotions - I felt so full of love for those kids and just wanted so bad for them to know that Jesus knows and loves them.  We couldn't hear what was being said, but soon we heard sweet Carol Zulu singing - so real and so pure and so full of love.  In her tumultuous life, she has been through more things than any 13-year-old should have to endure.  Yet she has the ability to open her heart to love and express her emotions - it was beautiful ... Not soon after, the whole group of kids started singing "Mwamba, Mwamba" - and that's when I lost it.  Knowing what that song means and knowing ho much those children love their Heavenly Father and Jesus, and then hearing them sing that song of praise to Jesus - I've never felt the spirit so strong.  They were singing praises TO the Man they had been praying to for so many years.  It touched the very core of my spirit.  Eventually the children walked back with him, and we went to the back of the house to set up for the kids' presentation. Phillip joined us, so the kids were very excited.  At the end, the kids started singing "I Know Jesus is Coming Again" and Edah got up and started dancing with Phillip!  What a sight.  Then, we all got up and sang and danced with the kids.  For those precious moments, I forgot about everything else in the world and just lived for all that I was surrounded with.  I felt so free from worry and stress and the distractions that plague me back home.  All that mattered was being with those kids and opening my heart to them and sharing my love with them ... Later that night at our team meeting, Kathy was reviewing the events of that day, and she talked about why the kids reacted how they did - and how I feel everyone in this world would react initially - with hesitation and fear.  In those moments after seeing Him, the kids reflected on their lives and thought that they weren't ready to see Him.  Many of the young girls were so scared that He wouldn't love them because they weren't "clean."  Some of the kids also thought that seeing Him meant that they were going to die, and they weren't ready to die yet.  And it really caused me to stop and think - am I ready?  You don't know when it could be your last day.  We must prepare ourselves and live our lives according to how we would want to end our lives, if this were to be THAT day.  Would I feel fear and hesitation if I saw Jesus walking towards me?  or would I run to him with arms outstretched?  While I'd like to hope it would be the latter, I can only imagine having every bad decision - big or small - race through my mind and the emotions that would follow ... "

I'm not one to share my personal thoughts from my journal often (or ever, for that matter) so I hope you appreciate how special that experience was for me.  And here are a few pictures from that day:  (we weren't allowed to take many, as not to infringe on any potential copyright issues with the future paintings)

The kids' performance

Guest of Honor

Another skit by the kids

Edah dancing with "Jesus"

Kennedy

"Worth of a Soul" by Liz Lemon Swindle

I dream of the day I can return to my "family" in Africa -- some day I will go back, and I plan to bring my husband along with me :)  At least I've given him fair warning, and prepared him for what he has gotten himself into by marrying me!  hahaha.  But until then, I'll keep these photos to remind me of the piece of my heart I left behind......

Carol Zulu and Raymond

Holiday Cheer

Thankfully I do have reason to *cheer* -- I am finally working again!!  I was truly giving thanks this past weekend :)  So, I'm sure you're all curious what I signed myself up for... and in all honesty, it's quite similar to what I did while I was down in Provo (minus all the office drama and the stress/anxiety that job gave me).  My cousin Rebekah works for a company called Vital Signs Staffing, and she is the "Employment Specialist" there (amongst other things) - aka, I really owe her for getting me this job :)  The company oversees three different "groups" of employees:

1. Vital Signs Staffing
2. Home Option
3. Off-Hours Triage

The first part, Vital Signs Staffing, manages a large group of CNA/RNs looking for PRN shifts at hospitals or home health agencies.  So basically, when a hospital needs a shift filled, they contact Vital Signs and Rebekah will look for a CNA or RN to fill the spot.  It's quite an efficient system.  Unfortunately, I can't get into that pool because you need at least 1 year experience in a hospital to be a staffing nurse (surprise, surprise).  The second part, Home Option, is an expansion of the first but specifically focuses on home health and providing nurses or aides directly for clients that request our services.  I could train to be a home health nurse, but it really isn't a specialty I could see myself doing.  Too emotionally draining.  The last part, Off-Hours Triage, is where I fit in: my official title is "Triage Nurse," which is slightly misleading... I basically work in a call center, managing phone calls all shift.  I've worked three shifts now, and I think I'm slowly getting the hang of things!  It's actually a lot more complicated than it sounds, and I feel like I'm going to be doing a lot more NURSING than I ever would have down at the neurosurgery clinic.  Our company provides nurses who are available 24/7 for patients and their families to call with questions -- and these patients are all over the country.  Right now, we have ~45 clients (home health and hospice agencies) located in various states, from Hawaii to Georgia.  They have their normal business hours, and when they close, the phone calls to their offices are forwarded to our center.  Quite an interesting and progressive system, and I know that our company is growing rapidly -- supposedly we are going to get another 5-6 agencies (equaling another 500+ patients) signed on in the next week.  I'm pretty excited to be getting in on this before it really gets going!  Because we are "off-hours," my shifts are less-than-ideal, but I really can't complain.  I work every Saturday from 8am to 8pm, and 2-3 days during the week (either 5-10pm or 4-12am).  I realized today that I'm quite grateful that I don't have a M-F/8-5 job because it allows me to get all my house chores and errands done throughout the day while Geoff is at work.  The one unfortunate thing: the weekdays that I will work, I'll probably see Geoff for about 20 minutes after he gets home before I head out.  But it could be worse, right?  :)  And hey, absence makes the heart grow fonder.... hehe.  So this past weekend, I worked Friday-Saturday-Sunday, and by Sunday my trainers were quite confident that I would be able to handle the job solo on my next shift!  Scary, yet... definitely a confidence booster :)  I just REALLY need to get studying -- hospice care (the agencies/patients that I've been dealing with mostly) requires a specific set of skills/knowledge that I haven't really had exposure to.  Thankfully the nurses I work with are all (so far) extremely helpful and are happy to answer my questions as I try to get more familiar with this nursing field.  In theory, I'm supposed to be able to "triage" patient calls, which means I need to be able to figure out how to help the patient and/or their family as best as I can.... without actually visiting the patient and seeing what's going on.  These calls can range from simple questions to families upset over status changes during an incident that requires nursing interventions.  So it really will require me to know how to manage these patients -- and I know that with some studying, and time, I'll get there :)  I'm just grateful for this opportunity, and I know it really will offer experience that will better prepare me for my nursing career and jobs I will have in the future. 

Aside from the job, life is pretty calm here in Bountiful - we just enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with our families :)  We spent Thanksgiving day up in Rexburg, and enjoyed a DELICIOUS dinner prepared by the Dyers.  I really do love my new extended family, and I am so grateful that they have welcomed me with open arms.  Saturday afternoon/evening we were able to spend time with my parents preparing for Christmas, and it made me realize how grateful we are for the blessings both of our families are in our lives.  But wait -- CHRISTMAS?! Seriously?? Hard to believe it's already almost December... and that time of year again -- "the most wonderful time of the year" :D hehe.  I'm sure I'll have updates soon, but for now, I've got to finish cleaning and start getting dinner ready!  Much love y'all!

2 months, and counting....

So... I know that my husband probably won't appreciate some of this post, but I just have to brag about him for a minute :)  The other day, we were talking about our lives as single adults - long before either of us knew the other existed.  While Geoff doesn't usually like to share stories from his "glory" days, we got to talking about his time at BYU-Idaho...  I learned that while he was there, he was such the "ladies-man" that he had girls cooking dinner for him almost every night, and he was BOOKED for 2-3 weeks out!  I was curious to find out who/what exactly had convinced all these girls to cook dinner for him, so I pushed him for more information.  He then told me that all those dinners came to an abrupt halt when one of the Apostles spoke to the Young Adults in a General Conference talk and instructed the women not to enable the "free loaders" -- aka, no more free dinners for Mr. Phatty :)  I, of course, teased him about this... but he went on to explain that all those dinners were not "free" -- he had offered service to all these girls, and that was their way of thanking him.  What "services," you ask?  That was my next question.  Then he ran upstairs and rummaged around in an old box stored away in his "Man Cave" (aka office) and this is what he brought back:

 

 

 As he handed this little book to me, he explained that it is one of his most "prized possessions."  I flipped through the pages, and each one had a different "Thank You" written on it for various acts of service/kindness that Geoff had offered to these girls.  Knowing how girls are (because I am one, haha) I realized that my husband is truly the sincere, humble, charitable gentleman I know and love... Girls would not go out of their way to do something like this for just ANY guy -- Geoff had made quite the impression on those he knew then, which continues to this day :)  Amidst the 50+ thank you notes, I have selected a few favorites to share:

I'd say I'm pretty lucky to have found this guy :)  2 months in, and we are absolutely LOVING being married!  In all honesty, it just feels right... so completely natural, like this is how it was supposed to be all along.  It really does feel like we've known each other for years... when it's only been months.  Sorry to be cheesy, but I do feel like I fall more in love with him each day :) 

As for other news/updates:  I'm still on the job hunt.  I interviewed at an amazing fertility clinic last week, and would absolutely LOVE to work there, but I'm waiting to hear back... in the meantime, I've applied to a few other positions -- including the Labor & Delivery unit at the University of Utah!  While I know I'm a long-shot for the position (new grads are rarely hired on L&D floors) I still have to have faith...  Faith that the Lord will open a door for me to work as a nurse in the environment best suited for me and for Him.  He does know me better than I know myself, after all... He hasn't led me in the wrong direction yet, so why doubt Him now?  One thing I will say -- since the wedding craziness ended, my unemployment has forced me to appreciate the "job" of being a housewife.  I have always spoken out about wanting to be a working mom, frankly because I did not want to be told to sit at home while someone did all the work to pay for my life!  I didn't find it fair to just expect that someone would "take care of me" -- so I pushed myself in school to gain an education, so that I knew I would be contributing to support my future family.  While I am incredibly grateful for the many experiences I have had as a student, and the many opportunities I will have to work and serve as a nurse, sitting at home with endless chores and responsibilities around the house has finally turned on the lightbulb in my head:  being a housewife is HARD WORK!  Safe to say there are many wives out there that take advantage of their husbands and don't hold up their end of the bargain... but I really feel like I need to take back previous comments I have made during my naieve younger years.  I never listened to those who tried to share with me why they chose motherhood and staying at home to care for their children -- I was convinced that it was all an excuse, that they were complacent with their position and being "barefoot and pregnant" at home.  And that added fuel to my motivation to achieve more for myself... to show women that you don't have to accept the "easy way out" and actually make a difference in the world!  But now... I have definitely re-thought my position.  While I know that I have been blessed with certain talents and skills to use in the service of those I encounter as a nurse, being a mother is quite possibly the most intimidating -- yet most important -- job I will ever have.  And it will NOT be easy.  Geoff and I are definitely going to wait a while before we plan to have any kids, but this topic has frequented our conversations lately... and therefore it has been on my mind.  I know that I will not waste the many talents that the Lord has blessed me with, but I have finally come to acknowledge the single greatest service I alone can offer: the selfless work of motherhood.  Pretty powerful stuff, huh?  No kidding.  But I know Geoff and I have things to take care of before we start down that path... so for now, I'll just be mentally preparing myself for that epic lifetime commitment we both will make at some point in our marriage :) 

And with that, I'll leave you with a photo of a cute magnet I saw while visiting the Meek family home in Edmonton:

Turning a house into a HOME

It's a beautiful Sunday morning here in our quiet little townhouse, and I'm feeling quite grateful for the comforts of life that Geoff and I are able to enjoy.  Hard to believe it's been over a month now that we've been married... but at the same time, it really feels like I've known him a lifetime already!  Nonetheless, we are making an effort to appreciate the day-to-day moments, knowing that life is only going to speed past us if we don't stop and take it all in...

This weekend marks the first time we've really been apart since our wedding day -- Geoff, as many of you know, is busy this time of year attending various snowmobile shows across the western states.  Last weekend we both traveled to Denver for the first show of the season, but this weekend I decided to stay home while Geoff flew up to Seattle to work another show.  It's been an interesting experience for me... I'm really trying to make this house feel like a home -- OUR home -- but being alone in this house made me realize I still have some work to do.  Not so much organizing/decorating, but more just LIVING within these walls to call it my own.  I had some girlfriends come up to the house this week, and I really started to realize that it's people and experiences that create a feeling of "home."  With that in mind, I'm really starting to tear out pages of the "housewife manual" to try to be a better hostess and create more opportunities for building memories.  In writing our story, this will forever be the first home that we lived in as a family -- and I want to have special times to remember.  I'm a sentimentalist, what can I say?  :)  But I do have some photos of our new place, and I want to share a few with you....

And there you have it!  Not so bad for a couple of newlyweds :)  As for the job hunt... I've applied to various positions at the University of Utah Hospital, but have not heard back from them yet. I know that my lack of hospital experience puts me further down on the list of potential candidates, and it frustrates me -- how am I supposed to get experience if I'm not given that critical first job?  I know that the economy and the Obama Care have both played pivotal roles in this, eliminating necessary funding to train "new grad" nurses, but it doesn't change the fact that I am a registered nurse and I sincerely WANT to learn and work!!  Doesn't that count for something?!  I didn't just go to a 2-year program either... the Johns Hopkins Nursing Program was recently named the #1 nursing program in the country.  Shouldn't that make me more of an appealing applicant?  Well, even though the U's hospital has been the dream hospital I've wanted to work for, I'm not going to rule out other options -- like working in another clinic.  As I've mentioned before, my "calling" as a nurse is to work in Women's Health.  I wanted to go the route of Midwifery, but taking a break from school and working for a bit was more important -- to gain a better perspective, as well as experience, before enrolling in a Master's program.  And look what it brought me -- a husband!  haha.  The one disappointing thing that I've learned is that Labor & Delivery units rarely hire new grad nurses, and Mother/Baby (Postpartum) units rarely have positions open up.  It's not a promising first step, but I know that's the direction I want to go.  I've tossed around ideas of working in other units to get that "experience" in order to apply for the units I really want to work for, but nursing is emotionally/physically/mentally draining, and unless you are truly passionate about the work you are doing, it can be overwhelming.  Don't get me wrong, I would give 150% at whatever job I worked, but the difference between a JOB and a CAREER is the passion you have for the work you're doing.  So in my search to find open job applications, I stumbled across a post for a reproductive/fertility clinic... sent in my application... and now I have an interview!  Not to get my hopes up, but as I read through their website, I realized that this would be an incredible opportunity for me -- not only as a job/career, but I got excited about what I could LEARN and the services I would be able to offer to that patient population.  That excitement really got me fired up for this interview, so I'm hoping/praying that things go well next week!  We shall see... :)

And I think that about wraps it up for this entry!  I'll be back soon enough... much love!

Summer days are now a memory...

It's a cold, rainy morning here in Bountiful, Utah (my new hometown -- a small suburb just north of Salt Lake City) and I'm waiting at the car dealership for my husband's truck to get repaired.  I'm such a wonderful wife, right?  He's just lucky I don't have a job to occupy my time... haha.  Guess I'll be his personal assistant until I can secure an income of my own!  Hopefully that won't take too long... I'm giving it a few more weeks, before I really start to stress.  I can only handle so much free time!  Thankfully, though, I do have quite a few things on my never-ending "To Do List" that will keep me busy.  I am quite excited, actually -- our "Thank You" notes finally arrived in the mail, so I am finally getting those written and mailed to all our family and friends who supported us with love and gifts for our wedding.  Hard to believe it's been a MONTH now...!!  But I know time will not be slowing down any time soon....

Yesterday, our family had a special opportunity to take my "little" brother down to the Provo MTC, and watch as he walked off to spend the next 2 years of his adult life as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  What a bittersweet moment for us all, and I know I echo the thoughts of everyone that knows Greg to express how proud we are of his decision, and how excited we are to see what he will accomplish in the next two years.  While we will miss him, I know that he has a strong, sincere desire to do this work, and I couldn't be more happy for him.  So... Elder Newman it is!!  And for those who aren't aware, he set up a blog that I will manage over the next 2 years to share his thoughts/experiences while he is serving the Lord in Tampa, Florida.  the website address is:

eldernewman56.blogspot.com

So check back for updates!  And in order to contact him, here is his contact information:

MTC address (where he will be for the first 2 months of his mission):
 
Elder Greg Newman
MTC Box 149-1206
2005 N  900 E
Provo, UT 84604

Florida (wait for updates as to when he will be flying out there):
Elder Greg Newman
Florida Tampa Mission
13153 N Dale Mabry Ste 109
Tampa, FL  33618

So there you have it!! If you have any questions, please contact me... I'll probably be the most reliable source for updates over the next two years :)

As for updates in my own life... well...its October 6, and it's FREEZING outside.  What happened to summer?!  It took forever to get here... and now it's gone.  Just like that.  No warning... no way to just ease my way into the cold weather.  just BAM. Today marks the first major snowfall of the year in our neck of the woods, at least above 8000 feet.  As much as I love seasons, there should be FOUR!  Right now I feel like it's winter 75% of the year here.... gahhh.  At least one person in our house is overjoyed... hahaha.  But he complained enough during the summer, so it's my turn now :)  Okay, okay... I really don't hate winter, it really can be a lot of fun (especially with a husband who has a lot of fun toys to play with out there!) but I like getting sick of summer so I am eager for cooler weather!  One more month would have done it... but c'est la vie.  So now I guess I'll just accept it... and hopefully, in time, I will learn to welcome it with open arms :)  If nothing else, I'll humor my husband's obsession with snow!  Which brings me to my next update:  the fall season is going to be quite busy for Geoff and I... this weekend will be our first "snow show" of the season (and my first snow show EVER), with another 4 in the weekends ahead.  I'm sure this will be a bit of a culture shock for me, so I'm excited to update you with my experiences after the next few weeks!  First, however, we kick off the season with Geoff's latest snowmobile movie premier tonight at a dinner/movie event center downtown.  I'm excited, to see Geoff in his element, surrounded by his friends and those who share his passion for the snow.  I know it will be a busy event for us, but fun nonetheless!  Then we pack up and head for Denver early tomorrow morning, for the 3-day convention center show where we will sell Boondockers gear and movies (the company that Geoff produces movies for).  And because he has worked incredibly hard on this project, I'll finish this post with a plug for his movie....

www.boondockersmovie.com

Mr. & Mrs. Dyer

To many of you, it’s just another Tuesday.  And in all honesty, it feels that way to me as well… but then I remind myself of the fact that I am now a MARRIED woman…. 18 days down, eternity to go!  I’ve had a few people ask me if it feels any different to be married, and in all honesty, it feels so natural to be at this point in my life, and even more so that Geoff and I are here together.  My expectations for marriage were quite straightforward: I wanted a relationship with my husband that allowed for mutual respect and trust, open and honest communication, and for there to be an understanding that we would have to WORK at this marriage in order for it to be successful.  While our relationship has met all of these expectations, I have also come to appreciate the simple fact that we enjoy each other’s company – we are, in the most cliché of terms, “best friends” – and I am incredibly grateful and truly blessed to be married to such a wonderful husband.  Yes, we are still getting used to referring to each other as “husband” and “wife” (and especially for me as “Mrs. Dyer”) but as I’ve started the tedious process of changing my name so I have become more and more used to seeing my name as Laura Dyer. One thing I will say – you really have no idea how much your identity has to “change” when you decide to change your name…. yes the driver’s license, social security card, and passport… but it goes further than that – health records, business loyalty cards, online accounts… I never realized how many places my name has been recorded and stored… and now I have to change them all, one by one.  At least I’ll have this new project to keep me busy :)

I wish I had more time before the wedding to sit down and write a bit about the nervousness/excitement/anxiety I was experiencing, but unfortunately, those last few weeks were a bit overwhelming.  I was confident with the planning and preparation I had done, but of course, there are SO many things that cannot be addressed until the last minute.  Thankfully I had the help of friends and family, and we were able to get it all pulled together just in time. 

As I reached the last 24 hours of my single life, I allowed myself to acknowledge my fears as I approached my wedding day – it wasn’t a fear of losing my identity or of giving up my independence, and it definitely wasn’t a fear that my cake/flowers/decorations wouldn’t turn out how I had pictured (because I knew that no matter how they turned out, the end result would be the same)… rather, it was simply a fear that our guests wouldn’t appreciate the importance of that day and what it meant to Geoff and I.  My biggest issue with living in Utah is the way that many people have become “desensitized” to the true meaning and importance of weddings.  But I don’t want to get started on that soapbox issue… rather, I want to focus on how special that day was, and share with you some of my personal thoughts and feelings :)

My wedding was never meant to be “the biggest, most important day of my life” – that level of hype would only lead to disappointment.  Looking back, it was definitely the most beautiful day I could have ever imagined for my wedding, but as with all weddings – it ended before I really had a chance to breathe.  I remember the anticipation of that morning, putting the final details around the lodge before the florist and caterer arrived… folding programs for the ceremony… laughing and enjoying time with my best girl friends Brenn and Meghan… and then the time came for me to sit in the chair for my hair and makeup.  That was when my nerves really started to rev up… I was doing okay running around, distracting myself from what was to come… but the moment I sat still, I really had time to process what I was getting ready for.  And that couple hours before the ceremony began were probably the longest couple hours of my life.  Then it was time.  Time to take that walk down the aisle… the longest, most anxiety-provoking walk of my life.  :)  I remember waiting at the top of the stairs… then meeting my dad to wait for our cue to walk towards my future – and my future husband.  My favorite memories of that day were the moments when I was standing still (probably because those are the only moments that weren’t a blur in my mind).  Standing on the top of that grassy hill with Geoff – I never felt such peace, such comfort, such assurance that I was making the right decision.  I was completely content, and couldn’t help but think how blessed I was to be marrying a man like Geoff.  And just as quickly as it began, I was kissing my husband and walking back down the aisle as Mrs. Dyer.  Such a joyous moment – it couldn’t have been any more perfect.  Then photos… endless photos… thankfully we had done some of our individual shots (those of just Geoff and I) earlier in the week, so we weren’t rushed to get all the photos done that day.  Probably one of the best decisions I made, to be honest.  Some people are more traditional, but my thoughts from the beginning were more focused on being married and that the wedding was just an event to enjoy with family and friends, so little details/traditions really didn’t matter to me.  But there were a few traditions that I wanted to experience with Geoff and those who came to share the day with us.  After our photos, we came in for our first dance to the song “Give in to Me” from the movie Country Strong.  Geoff and I watched that movie on one of our first dates, and that song quickly became one of our personal favorites.  That was another of my favorite memories – dancing with my husband, surrounded by family and friends… I couldn’t ask for anything more than that.  Then it was time for toasts and cake – I’d say the cake was one of my favorite “pieces” of the night, only because of the topper that Geoff had chosen :) So perfect for us – we had to bring in a bit of humor!  And I definitely had the last laugh… I never told Geoff that it was my dream to stuff my wedding cake in my husband’s face…. Hahahaha he never saw it coming!  It was too easy… I just had to!  Good thing the cake was delicious ;)  While the cake was being cut and served, we finally had time to spend with our guests… but of course, time was not on our side.  Before I knew it, we were heading upstairs to prepare for our grand exit.   One of my only requests from Geoff was that we ride off on a motorcycle J  He made arrangements to borrow his friend’s bike for our short drive to Snowbird’s Cliff Lodge (just a mile down the road), and we coordinated our outfits to match: black leather jackets and jeans.  I was smiling ear to ear as we made our way through the sparklers and sat down on our getaway ride.  The perfect ending to a perfect evening.  And it wasn’t over yet – the next morning, we were up early to prepare for our “Open House” at Sugar House Park.  I may have been a little resentful of our decision to have a mid-day reception as I was pulling myself out of bed that morning, but after we had finished decorating and started welcoming our guests, I was grateful to have a more relaxed atmosphere to spend time mingling with those friends and family that came out.  And I heard from many people that they really liked our idea – no need to have a formal event, especially if it really doesn’t match our personalities.  So we were quite pleased with how it all turned out :)  And I know our guests enjoyed it as well, especially Kneader’s French toast and the photo booth!  But again, before I knew it, we were packing up and heading home… and just like that, our wedding was simply a happy memory.  Kinda crazy, thinking about how much time I had spent planning for it… but thankfully the planning paid off!  I just can’t wait to see our photos, so I can see the details from Friday night that I didn’t have time to see for myself.  I’ve heard from many of our guests that it was a beautiful event, so for now I’m taking their word for it :)  But, here are a few of our photos for you to enjoy....

 

And with that, I’ll leave you all – it’s quite a long entry, and while I could write more, I’ll leave some for another day.  Without a job (or a wedding to plan) my days are a little more open and flexible, so I’m sure I’ll be back on here to update you all soon enough.  Especially with some exciting changes in our family in the next week… Greg reports to the MTC next week!  :)  So, until next time…  Much love!

Insomnia... *sigh*

As the major stressors of wedding planning have been checked off my list (dress, venue, food, etc.), I was hoping that I would be able to breathe easier..... but these larger obstacles were merely hiding the endless line of smaller hurdles that I am now facing.  While I am definitely accomplishing this never-ending list of "To-Do's", my anxious mind still races as I lay in bed at night, reviewing the days productivity and preparing for tomorrow.  And although I try to reason with it, promising a much brighter morning if I can just get some sleep, my mind's persistence inevitably keeps me awake until it slows enough to allow my eyes to close.  SO.... rather than get frustrated, I decided that I would get up and write a bit -- it's been an eventful past couple weeks, so I thought it would be a good time to share a few updates with y'all!  :)

Since it is technically Wednesday, I can say that we are 23 days away from the wedding.  23 days until I am MARRIED.... until I am MRS. DYER....!  The earlier days of the engagement were quite blissful, and while I'm still overjoyed and excited beyond comprehension, the reality of this situation is really sinking in.  I know that I am ready to be married, I know that I WANT to be married.... but it is still difficult for me to picture myself as a wife, starting my own family... this is one of the biggest transitions I have ever had to make in my life!  But don't think that this is me having second thoughts -- I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this is the right decision for me.  I know that while there may be a few bumps down the road, Geoff and I have made a commitment to each other and we will make it work -- no matter the sacrifices we will inevitably have to make.  I think, more than anything else, that the TRUST we have in each other and the concern we have for each other's well-being will help to make this relationship last - through this life and into the next.  We just can't wait to start on this journey together :)  But before that journey begins, we will have to jump through this hoop of a wedding.... Thankfully it is all coming together, and I feel like I am finally ENJOYING this process (somewhat)! haha.  I was treated to a lovely bridal shower last weekend, hosted by my future mother-in-law Shirl and sister-in-law Ange, and it was so fun to have a chance to get to know more of Geoff's family.  I am so blessed to have family and friends who are so willing to share the load and help (although sometimes I wonder how "willing" they truly are....) because it is only with their support that we are actually going to pull this off!  As the pieces slowly come together, the bigger picture is emerging and I do believe our wedding will be more than I could have ever imagined.  Words can't express my gratitude.... I am truly blessed!!

As for other life updates (of which there are many)......
1. Geoff and I have found the perfect townhouse in Bountiful that we will move into once we are married, and we signed the lease on it yesterday!  One major question mark has now been turned into an exclamation point -- and we plan to start the arduous task of MOVING later this week.... as I have moved across the country a couple times, I will say that moving just 15 minutes down the road is really not that big of a hassle.... it's more the sorting/organization/packing/unpacking/sorting..... you get the idea.  But with a few weeks head-start, I think that it will give me enough time to wrap my head around the amount of STUFF I need to go through, and I won't be as overwhelmed.  Little by little... room by room... our house will eventually be our HOME.  And I can't wait :)
2. Greg got his mission call (!!) -- TAMPA, FLORIDA spanish-speaking!!!!!!!  Words can't adequately or appropriately convey how proud and excited I am for him.  This will be life-changing for him and for those he will serve.   I'm not going to lie, I will miss him terribly... but I think I can share him for a couple years :)  October 5... not too much longer!  So the wedding will be one last HURRAH with our little Newman family before he leaves us... and before I am off and married and living in Bountiful starting my own family.  When did we grow up?!?  But I cannot wait to see where life takes us and what the Lord has in store for us.... :)

Well my eyelids are starting to get a bit heavier... I should take this as a cue to move back to my bed, and hopefully I'll be able to fall asleep... another day ahead of me with lots to do!  Hopefully I'll be back on here with more thoughts and updates in the next week or so... fingers crossed :)

What is this craziness they call "WEDDING PLANNING"?!

haha. so... unfortunately i don't have time to write an entry this morning, but i wanted to share the website for our upcoming wedding so that you all can see what i've been up to these past few weeks....

LauraAndGeoffrey.ourwedding.com

only 42 more days.... EEK! gotta get going. places to go, people to see, things to do......

xoxo

Engagement Photo Adventure

Just a side note, before I start things off:  If you're hoping to find engagement photos in this post, we haven't seen them yet!  Hopefully by Wednesday... I'll keep ya'll updated... but the story of our shoot was too blog-worthy so I just had to share....

After having our session cancelled and re-scheduled THREE TIMES due to inclement weather (love Utah afternoon summer thunderstorms, but not when I'm 8 weeks from my wedding!), we were finally able to meet up with our photographer on Thursday.  She is a good friend of Geoff's, and she was therefore kind (and patient) enough to figure this out with us (check her page out here: samantha-jane-images.blogspot.com ).  We decided on Big Cottonwood Canyon -- home to Brighton/Solitude Ski Resorts -- and it was absolutely gorgeous up there.  With our late winter, snow has just melted in the mountains only a few weeks ago, and the trees and meadows could not be more green and lush.  We found a few places to stop, and we were excited with the different shots we were finding (I'll leave the details out, so you can enjoy the photos when they are finished...) -- unfortunately, however, with the ice/snow melting higher up the canyon, small creeks had turned into rivers, creating marshlands due to the flooding.  This unfortunate side effect caused for an even more unfortunate consequence -- MOSQUITOES.  Geoff and Samantha (and her "assistant" Justin) were more-or-less being eaten alive while we tried to capture these photos at various locations... and I would venture to say there will be more than one photo with Geoff slapping/swatting at mosquitoes as they circled around our heads and lined up on our arms.  It was a buffet for those bugs... except I was apparently not on their "tasty" list -- I got out of there without one bite!  Geoff on the other hand... well... I think he had three on the back of his neck alone.  Poor guy.  It's not my fault that my blood isn't sweet enough! 

We made our way up the canyon to Brighton, and then decided to continue on up Guardsman's Pass -- a "State Highway" that leads to Park City.  It truly is a state highway, but I think they've forgotten about it.... it's a dirt/gravel mountain road that connects Big Cottonwood to Deer Valley.  It was a bit of an adventure, but we were enjoying the scenery -- we found some amazing "secret" spots for our photos.  After our lovely photographer was satisfied with the shots she had (1000+, which will hopefully render a few usable photos) we packed up to head home.  From where we ended up, we could have continued on to Park City (about 10-15 minutes away) but Sammy's car was in the Big Cottonwood lot, so we turned around to make the 30 minute drive back to the mouth of the canyon.  As we neared the bottom, we saw flashing lights from multiple police vehicles blocking our exit from the canyon.  Geoff hopped out and spoke with an officer only to find out that there had been a head-on collision and that the road would be closed for at least another 2 hours.  As it was already 8:45, we decided to turn around and make our way back to Guardsman's Pass (the 20-mile canyon drive we had just made) and leave through Park City.  The four of us laughed about the situation, but we had no idea what was still in store for us....

As much grief as Geoff gets for driving my petite little Prius, he is quite the gentleman and insists. (I secretly think that he actually enjoys it!)  But... Geoff is used to driving his 4x4 truck or his diesel Jetta, and the Prius is not quite as durable.  We were all hungry and tired (after 2 hours of shooting) and so Geoff was driving a little faster than I would have recommended down this rocky dirt highway.  We passed a few cars that were driving about 5 mph (no joke) and as we started up a small incline, we all hear the fateful sound:  "flop-flop-flop".  The boys laugh at me as I ask, "Could that be my tire?"  because the rocks we had been hitting had only "rolled up into the wheel well or hit the skid plate."  Well... soon enough, the boys were eating their words -- they hated to admit it, but I was right.  My back left tire was completely flat.  We pushed my cripple Prius up to a turn-out, and just in time to take a few final "silhouette" shots... or, as Sammy and I believed, to pose as those few cars we had sped past were able to pass us without seeing us change our tire.  I will say, though, that the photos were an added bonus -- Sammy showed us a few and I loved how they turned out!  But then it was back to business.... I was not familiar with the spare tire set or where the tools were in the trunk of my car, and of course I don't have an owner's manual.  The boys combed through the back, but to no avail.... the lug wrench was MIA.  We were lucky enough to be in a spot with cell reception, so Geoff called a friend to help us out.  While the boys stood outside and watched as another 20 cars pass (not one stopped to help) I searched the internet for a PDF copy of the Prius Manual.  Just as one Good Samaritan decided to stop and offer some assistance, I found a page pointing to the "hidden" location of the lug wrench.  The two boys went after it, and had the tiny spare tire thrown on in no time.  Those NASCAR pit guys would have been impressed... only 45 minutes to change that tire.  HA.  Our poor chariot was not happy with the road conditions as we limped our way into Park City... spare tires are barely meant for highway roads, and we were rolling it over gravel.  BUT... we made it!  Hahaha.  We were all laughing about how our evening had turned out so "disastrous"... and it was only then that we saw the freeway -- road construction after-hours had closed 2 lanes of the 3-lane highway back into Salt Lake, and the traffic was less-than ideal...  but what was another little bump in our already-rocky road home?  We pressed on, and finally wound up back at the mouth of Big Cottonwood to drop Sammy and Justin off (and just as they had opened up the road for a steady stream of cars to escape the canyon).  Arrival time = 11:00 pm.  Total travel time = 2 hours.  Needless to say, we were happy to be back :)  I was exhausted and hungry, and just ready to crash into my bed... so you can imagine my frustration when, as I was cleaning off the miscellaneous clothes and papers from my bed, my laptop slid off and fell 3-feet from my bed directly onto my foot.  !@#$%&!@#$%&!  I mean... really?!?!  My bruised metatarsal was the icing on the cake.... but without the benefit of being able to EAT the cake.  The phrase "when it rains it pours...." would probably be the best way to describe my sentiments for the day's events.... but hey, it did make for a humorous story :)  And with that, I will leave you... it's Saturday morning and Geoff and I are in Rexburg for his brother Austin's mission farewell... and we have about 650 envelopes to address today.  Wish us luck!!!

"we do." and we will...!

SO...  Many friends and family have been asking (amongst other standard questions): WHY is this wedding so soon?!  Well, from an outsider's perspective, I can definitely see how the brevity of our relationship might be some cause for concern... it today's society, it's much more acceptable to date for at LEAST a year, if not more... and then to have a long engagement.  I'm sure many of you can cite a variety of reasons why there doesn't seem to be a "rush to the altar" in mainstream society, and in contrast, I'm sure many people have their opinions regarding the "Utah/Mormon dating -- engagement -- marriage" time frame (which, on average, is less than a year).  Leaving opinions/speculations out of this, I will say one thing:  when you know, you know.  I was always one to jokingly criticize couples who were engaged within a few months of dating, stating that I would have to date a potential husband for AT LEAST a year before discussing marriage.  And, well, here is proof that karma really does come back around.... hahaha :)  But in all honesty and seriousness, I could never have imagined the amount of joy and happiness and peace I feel with Geoff, and I really can't explain how or why.... it just is.  As I was explaining to one of my closest friends (or, as I have felt at times, defending) my reasons for getting engaged, and on top of it, getting MARRIED after such a short amount of time, she offered me this small piece of reassurance: When you say yes to a proposal and put on that ring, it doesn't matter if you're engaged for 2 months or 2 years -- you are, in essence, saying to him that you know.... you know that you are meant for each other, and that you are accepting him for all that he is (and isn't)... and that you are making a promise that you WILL be married.  And I couldn't agree more ;)  As for the actual date of the wedding -- well, we had initially decided on November 11 (11-11-11), but then some family news changed our plans....  my one-and-only brother (and the BEST brother of all time, I might add) decided that it was time for him to submit his papers to serve a MISSION!!  Words cannot adequately describe how happy/excited/proud I am of him and this decision he has made.... I know that he has felt strong impressions from the spirit that this is his path, and I am so glad that he has accepted this calling in his life, and I cannot wait to see where it takes him (literally as well as figuratively).  He is going to be an amazing missionary, and I know that the  people in the community where he will serve will be truly blessed to have him.  I will undoubtedly miss him.... my only sibling, leaving for 2 long years.  But I know he will bring joy and happiness to a great deal of people, so I think it's only fair to share him with them :)  SO... with that news, and his decision to leave at the end of September, we decided to move the date up (WAY up) so that he could be a part of this special time in my life.  And since that decision, I must say, we have been truly fortunate (the Lord must be watching over us....).  I was slightly concerned with the availability of venues/vendors, as there are an incredibly high number of weddings in Utah (especially in the months of June-September), but with our network of friends (and a few answered prayers), we seem to be moving forward relatively quickly in this planning process.  I haven't had much chance to stop and sit back and really process the entirety of the situation and planning a wedding in 2.5 months, so I'm sure I'll be able to better comment after the madness has died down :)

Another question that we have had to address is a bit more personal, but I feel that it is important to share it here.  As Geoff and I are both LDS, the assumption/expectation from many friends and family is that we are going to be married in the temple.  While we both want to have this experience and make that commitment to each other and to the Lord, we do not feel that we are ready.  The temple itself is a very sacred and holy place, and it is reserved for those who are worthy and prepared to pass through those doors -- unfortunately, there are many couples out there who would rather spare the sense of disappointment and grief they could potentially suffer from family/friends, and they choose to have a temple marriage... regardless of whether they are ready, worthy, or even want that for themselves.  Geoff and I have talked about this at length, and while we want a temple marriage, we are not ready.  And rather than rush through the preparation process, we want to take the time to appropriately and adequately study and learn so that we may feel that earnest desire to complete our eternal marriage.  Maybe it's because I'm a lifetime student, but I need to take more time... this may be something I have thought about for years, but I want to know and understand more before entering into this covenant.  I respect and honor the temple for what it stands for, and for the internal purity and sacredness it protects, and I will not let potential (and now actual) trial and heartache lead me to dishonor that which it represents.  SO.... with all that said, Geoff and I have decided to have a small traditional ring ceremony with a small reception for close family and friends on Friday, September 9, and on Saturday we will host an "Open House" at a local park for extended family and friends to come join us as we celebrate the beginning of our marriage and the life we are committing to share with each other.  As I have mentioned earlier, we both have the sincere desire to be married/sealed in the temple "for time and all eternity" -- and we have made a promise, to each other and to the Lord, that we will attend the Los Angeles Temple to be sealed a year after our wedding.  We both look forward to that date, and know that it will bring infinite (and eternal) blessings to our lives, the lives of our families, and to the lives of our future children.  What a glorious day that will be, on the grassy lawn overlooking Santa Monica Boulevard........ :)

While I don't know who exactly may be reading this blog (now that my fiance has shared this link with his 2000+ friends on Facebook), but the testimony I have of the spirit and this gospel is strong and I wanted to share a little part of it with you.  I am so grateful for the unconditional love and support of family and friends during this overwhelmingly emotional time in my life, and pray that I can stay level-headed enough to get all these wedding details taken care of!!  Thank goodness I only have to do this once...... :)  Love you all, thanks for taking the time to read!  I'll be back soon with more wedding updates......  exactly 8 weeks left until I'm officially "Mrs. Dyer".....!!

Announcing: the *future* Mrs. Laura Ellice Dyer!

It's Sunday morning, and I'm sitting here staring at this new addition to my left hand:

Yes, the rumors are true -- I'M ENGAGED!   It came a lot sooner than I had ever anticipated, but then again, does anything in my life ever go according to "plan"?  hahaha.  So in some sense, it's no surprise that I would find my fiance when I wasn't looking for him...  and on top of it all, that we both just knew - without a doubt - that we would be perfect for each other.  It's refreshing, actually... neither of us believe in a "soul mate" -- we just have complete respect, trust, and love for each other and we have made it obvious that our priorities are in this relationship and making it work.  We both put each other's well-being above our own, and this has contribute to a successful relationship thus far, and I have full confidence that it will continue.  Many people may worry that we are in the "honeymoon phase" of our relationship (because we've only been dating about 3 months) but we are both mature (in regards to our relationship history) -- he is 32 and I am now 27, as of last week -- and we have had our fair share of dating experiences to compare to, and we just recognize that this is just "different."  There is something about him and about us that I can't quite put my finger on..... and most importantly, I can't deny the confirmation from the spirit that this is right.  That we are (more-or-less) "perfect" for each other.  Even if we both jokingly criticized the typical "Utah engagement" -- date for a month, engaged, married 3 months later -- we can't argue with what we both know is the right choice for us.  Can we say KARMA?! hahahaha.  But in the end, we have no reservations about moving forward in this, and we could not be happier!  So, without further adieu, here is the full narrative of the proposal (because I'm sure many of you are more interested in this than me gushing over my future husband):

Last weekend, Geoff and I traveled down to Moab with a group of friends to join in the "Massive Moab Trip" festivities.  This is an annual trip for many single adults in the Salt Lake/Provo area, to play and have fun -- and of course, meet new people.  Roughly 450 people attended this year's event, and it truly lived up to it's name.  I had never been to Moab before, although I've wanted to go for years now, so I was excited to finally experience the wonders of this small southeastern Utah town.  Geoff is huge into outdoor activities (if the professional snowmobiling didn't already give that away) so he loves to coordinate things like this (just one of the many reasons why I love him).  He rented a camper for the weekend so that our group of 9 would have a place to sleep, and we were definitely the envy of the campground and the mini "tent village" that had developed.  We arrived on Thursday night, exhausted yet ready for the itinerary of activities that we had planned for us.  Friday was devoted mostly to a Jeeping excursion across Slick Rock, and that was an entirely new adventure for me -- but one that I will gladly do again!  Here are a few photos from that outing:

Don't worry, he's a professional -- he set this up for a photo op!

(Note: however big your Hummer/ego may be, IT IS NOT MEANT FOR THIS.)

<3

Friday night, a few of us went out on our RZR that we rented (it's a combination of ATV + Jeep) to capture this sunset:

Saturday was full of more Jeeping adventures, but our little group went off on our own to explore a different area of Moab... this is what we found:

Gemini Bridges

Geoff likes to stand on ledges... yes, that's him out there in the distance...

(yes, that's me waaaay down there under that ginormous rock)

Gemini Bridges (Geoff and I looking up from below)

After spending the day roaming the wilderness, we made our way back to civilization to meet up with the rest of the MMT group for a picnic in the park.  I was told that we would be hiking to 'Delicate Arch'  for sunset -- for those who don't know, this is probably the most recognizable arch in the state of Utah (it's on a majority of the state's license plates).  Geoff made it sound like somewhat of an "urgent" matter, that we needed to get going so that we could make it for sunset.  Little did I know, the "urgency" in his voice was more directly related to his anxiety surrounding a certain question he was going to ask during that sunset... but let's not get ahead of ourselves :)  We gathered the troops and made our way back to camp, changing and preparing for the final activity of our event-filled weekend.  Our group of 9 arrived at the trailhead around 7:45, and we started the 1.5-mile hike to the arch... everything was business as usual from my perspective, the whispering and giggling and quiet chatter from the girls ahead of Geoff and I was nothing out of the ordinary.  We were just around the corner from the arch, and Geoff told us all that we were going up to his little "window" to get a group shot away from the masses of tourists that accumulate around the arch itself.  So here we are, sitting while Geoff sets up his camera (he's kinda serious about photography, so he has a tripod for his massive Canon camera.. er, well, I guess this was more of a rental because he sold his camera a couple weeks ago to pay for hardware he has now "leased" to me....)

...and I'm wondering why we aren't closer to the actual arch.  I mean, we made the hike all the way up, we might as well finish it right?  But there we were, sitting and waiting to take this group photo:

And then it was our turn... the group jumped out of the frame so that Geoff and I could take our "photo" -- I found it slightly odd that they were standing in a line next to the camera while Geoff adjusted the settings, but I didn't really think much about it.  Geoff came back to stand next to me so we could pose for our "photo" . . . he kissed my forehead, and I turned to look at him, only to see him dropping to one knee.  WHOA.  I knew it was going to happen, at some point in the (near) future, but it was actually happening!  I think he said something along the lines of "Will you marry me?" but I'm not going to lie, I wasn't focused on the words coming out of his mouth, I was staring at the little box in his hands while trying to remember that I needed to actually give him an answer :)  Thankfully we had a little audience taking photos, and Geoff was also (secretly) videotaping the moment so we could re-live it (and laugh at the random lady who decided to walk into the frame and take a photo of the arch without realizing what was happening a few feet from her)... pictures are worth a thousand words, so I'll let them speak for themselves:

Later I found out that Geoff was less-than-pleased with how things panned out... the sunset wasn't perfect for photos, the lighting was less-than ideal, the ring didn't fit on my finger (due to the swelling after our hike up to the spot)... but from my perspective, I wouldn't have had it any other way.  There is a beauty in imperfection, and it's special -- and it makes for better stories :) So, there you have it folks.  We are now engaged and couldn't be happier!  And with all that said, I'll leave you for now... busy times ahead, especially as we are now looking at a possible September wedding... stay tuned for further details........... <3