11 Memorable Moments in 2011

2011 has been quite the year! But a good, quite the year.  It wasn't a year full of traveling around the world, or the year I fell in love, but it was a year full of fun and learning. Since the world is ending in 2012, I thought I would reminisce for a moment about some fun things I have done the past 12 months.

11. Went to The University of Utah.
Much to all of my families dismay, I became a student at the U. This decission enabled me to be put thousands of miles on my car, spend thousands of dollars on gas and spend thousands of moments hearing interesting people converse with one another. Probably my favorite part of the U was the "unique" classmates and their conversations that I overheard.

10. Moved away from Provo.
Although Orem is only the next town up, it's definitely been a step up from Provo for so many reasons, but most importantly the fact that I no longer live in student housing. Best thing EVER! I've met so many great friends in Orem and am apart of a fabulous ward. Although I once never thought it would exist, there is life after the Omni!

9. Lake Powell is heaven on earth.
It's becoming a yearly tradition now that my aunt and uncle have a houseboat, but it's the best tradition we've ever made. Magical things happen at Lake Powell. No make-up and hair-doing is the most magical part about it. Can't wait to go in 2012! Maybe in 2020 I'll clear the wake.

8. Relay for Life

This event consumed a lot of my life in 2011 up until it happened in August. I headed up the committee with another guy and we put on the Relay for Life in Utah County. As much fun as it was, it was also a real pain in my behind. I learned that getting people to do things for free is hard work. All in all, it was a great event and we raised over $10,000 towards The American Cancer Society. Although I decided to not be apart of the committee this coming year, it was still a blast  and I am grateful for all the friends I made.

7. Stood 2 feet away from NIGEL BARKER!
Yes, you read that right. Nigel Barker. If you don't know who that is, shame on you! Watch America's Next Top Model and you will know and you will love. In February, I went to Las Vegas for WPPI, a photography convention and trade show. It was insanely awesome. It's also where I almost got a picture with Nigel, but since his bodyguards took that moment away from me, all I have is a picture of Nigel.

6. Brad Paisley, you're much shorter when we're so close.
Yep. I was close enough to know that I am much much taller than Brad. My guess is that he is 5'7" or so. Stadium of Fire this July was the best ever. Our friends gave us tickets for the 2nd row and it was the most magical night of our lives. Brad, I'll get mud on your tires anytime.

5. Became great friends with Marisa & Merrilee. 
These two girls are so great. You know when you can stay home on a Friday night and play CLUE and have the best time, you've got some good quality girls who know how to have a good time. We're still searching for Monopoly so we can have our next Friday night in!

4. An entire year pain & nausea free.
I'm aware that my condition was never fatal or anything extremely serious, but it wasn't very much fun. 2008-2010 I was always sick and in pain. It caused me to have to put a hold on school and life until last November my Doctor's finally figured it all out! A couple hours under the knife and BAM! I feel great. This year I've been back to normal life and it's been pretty awesome to say the least.

3. Completed my first Triathlon!
In May, I did the Women of Steel Triathlon. I've wanted to do one since I was in tenth grade, so it was a long time goal accomplished! My cute mom was there the whole time and cheered me on the whole way. Seriously. Each time I passed, she cheered so loud the entire town could hear her. I'm certain of it. Proud moms are the best. So are Triathlons! Can't wait for Women of Steel 2012!

2. Went through the Temple.
I had been wanting to go for quite a while, but was never "old" enough until this year. Then I finally became brave enough on November 26. Several of my aunts and uncles, cousins and Grandparents (some from Canada) were able to come because everyone was in town for a funeral and Thanksgiving. It was a great day and a perfect ending to a bittersweet week.

1. Devin returned home.
I never knew what missing someone meant until Devin passed away. Missing him is now a physical feeling more than an emotional feeling. My heart physically aches at times, but as soon as I remember where he is and what he is doing and seeing, I am okay. Devin helped me and the rest of our family become closer to one another.

That is the biggest thing of 2011. Our close, loving family and all the memories we now share.

{The Sibs} St. George, Utah Photographer

For Christmas, I got some new camera equipment. I was maybe more of a Christmas, Birthday, Graduation and Favorite Daughter (hmm... sorry Amy) gift.

So... naturally, I dragged the sibs out. I've clearly got a lot to learn, but it's such a fantastic camera!

For the next few weeks, if anyone wants to come out and practice with me (aka, model), let me know!  Think of all the fun we could have. Lots. 

I'll be in St. George for another week or so, then back up to Orem. 

Let me know if you are up for some fun!

Photo of me (left) was taken my my little brother. He's very proud.

Go Rest High On That Mountain

It's been a month since Devin passed away. It's the strangest feeling. It's finally starting to feel real, and it's not a feeling I love, but one I need to accept. The smallest memories make me cry. And some make me laugh.  It feels like part of me is missing. But also that it is still there. Kind of like how he is now. Gone, but here.  I'll miss that boy forever and ever, but he'll always have a big piece of my heart. Just for him.

I'd Fall in Love With the Beast Too.

I'm so jealous of Belle right now.

Because Asking Someone Is Just Too Hard To Do.

99.999% of men suffer from one of the most annoying things EVER.

Although this man is beautiful and everything, clearly he's lost. What do you bet he could have stopped 20 miles back and asked for directions? Yeah, he could of.

 He's just too 'manly' for that.

So, this morning, there I was following my friend (who is a male) to pick him up from the dealership where he needed to drop his sweet new truck off for a little fix. He decided it would be best if I would just follow him there instead of meeting him there. Which is fine... except... somehow he got lost. And, I mean lost.  We drove around forever.  Forever as in I was gone for 2 hours forever.

The best part about this? I knew exactly where we were supposed to go and every wrong turn he made I wanted to call him and say NOOO it's THAT way! But, I felt as if I was not allowed to make such phone call and it would be a huge blow to his manhood.  So, instead we drove all the way up to Thanksgiving Point, through Lehi, and around American Fork... all for a dealership that is just two exits up the road.


Next time I am navigating and driving. 

What if...

Big events that are life changing cause me to think. A lot. I've kind of had a lot of those big events lately, resulting in a lot of thinking on my part. And it's been deep. And it's been good.

Sunset the night of Devin's viewing

During the last 4 months of Devin's life, he was under the care of 3 amazing hospice nurses. These 3 ladies are among 3 of the most incredible women I have ever met. One of them I met the night Devin passed away, but she still felt like family that night. During the months that they cared for Devin, I watched them become apart of something so special and so incredible. Caring for someone that is dying is an experience that words cannot describe. It's more than just caring for them. It's loving them.

So here I am, hopefully about to graduate and I am now deciding what I really would LOVE to do with my life. And, lucky for me it has nothing to do with my degree. Nothing at all. I've been too caught up in just getting done that I haven't taken the time to think about what I actually love doing. And who knows, maybe I needed to go through things and meet certain people to figure things out. Or maybe this is just a phase. Maybe I think that I can have a relationship like I did with Devin if I did it. I don't know...

Right now, I want to become a Home Hospice Nurse. 

Don't worry... I'll think long and hard on this one. But, my desire right now is pretty huge.

Through the Bittersweet Tears

November 19, 2011 will always be a special day for my family and I.  Full of sad, yet happy memories. It's strange how perfectly those two emotions went together today.

The last two years, I've thought a lot about why good people go through such hard things. I don't know that we will ever know why exactly, until we are on the other side. And that's okay. But the not knowing lead me to ponder into believing more and more of the possibility that we chose our trials before we came down. Or we knew what they would be and accepted. I don't know if it's true or not, but knowing our little Devin, I know that he came down to this earth with a mission. And that mission, he accomplished with honor. I know that his miracles were made known to us, to help us all now. Now that he is back home. We can remember what an impact such a sweet little boy had on so many people in such a short yet full life. And we can know that he accomplished what his Heavenly Father sent him here to do.

Today I spent the day with Devin and his family and was there when he took his last breath. It was an experience I will never forget and one that I am so grateful to have been a part of. The spirit that was with us tonight was one that I have never felt before. It brought great peace to all of us there.  As we cried together, we knew that Devin was no longer in pain. He can walk and run. He can see. He is happy and is probably conversing with Abinadi, whom he was hoping to get in contact with once he was in Heaven.

Tonight as we sat with Devin in his final hours, we were sad, yet very happy. It's hard to see such a beautiful boy go, but knowing where he is and what he can now do makes us happy and leaves us at peace. Happiness and sadness usually don't join each other, but tonight as they did it was perfect. It was a beautiful heartbreak.