If the first year's the hardest, we're in good shape!

Hello world! I hope all is well. We've had a crazy week here. I can't believe Thanksgiving break was just two days ago! This morning my car was having trouble starting in the cold (not our new car thank goodness), so I had to call a sub for my class. I just realized that I don't often blog about my pre-school class. I need to devote a post or two about those cute kids. I have picture, but feel weird about posting them on a public blog. Long story short, I was sad that I couldn't go to work this morning, and I think when you're genuinely sad to miss work that means you're in the right line of work. :) I'm so very blessed to have that job.

This past weekend was so fun. As the title of this post may suggest, we had our first anniversary (and I bet the first year with a baby is the hardest. Just sayin.)! It was a fun, relaxed day. We promised each other ahead of time that we wouldn't do any homework, and we were true to our word. :) I let Alex sleep in, but I was too excited for the day. I woke up and made these (Whitney would be so proud! ), and yes I snitched. Nothing like sugar for breakfast.
 
Then we drove up to the Mt. Timp temple to kind of relive the day. As we were walking up there was a wedding taking picture. It seemed colder this year than last year. We went and did some sealings. I can not adequately describe the Spirit I feel when I'm in the temple, and especially when I'm in the temple with Alex. We were in a sealing room just next door to where we were sealed exactly a year from that moment. Vivid memories came back to me, including the tears. I remember the way that Alex looked at the me, the way my Mom and Dad smiled, Grandpa sealing us, all of those hugs afterwards from so many people that I love. And, of course, the Spirit I felt. What an amazing ordinance we have been given. What a gift from Heavenly Father! I understand more and more why the sealing ordinance is the New and Everlasting Covenant, it is the greatest gift that we can be given in this life. I am so incredibly blessed to be able to enter into it, and I will never take it for granted.
 
We went and watched the BYU game with the Madsens, which was fun and a little disappointing. But, our boys sure put up a fight! Then, we went out to dinner and for a walk around the Riverwoods. They remodeled and put fun little fires along the sidewalk and Christmas lights everywhere. If you're in UT, I suggest going there and taking an night time walk. It was a magical day!
 
I apologize that I seem to only update on our last weekend and then give a spiritual thought, but oh well. I guess that's just how I role. The other day, I was reading this:
 
Acts 1:10-11
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into aheaven?
 
I love this image, for some reason. Lately I feel as if I've been really focused on my relationship with myself and Heavenly Father. I've been trying to pray and read more, been trying to talk with Him more often. But I still haven't felt as spiritually "on" as I have in the past. I was trying to figure it out, and I read this verse. The Apostles have just witnessed this miracle, have seen Christ be brought up into heaven, and two messengers ask why they continue to look to heaven. It is time for them to do work on this Earth.
 
I think I often look right to Heavenly Father to fix my problems. While I know that He can, that He is in everything, but He has given us something wonderful. Agency. He is relying on us to chose to help others, to be aware of what is going on around us, not just sit idly by until Christ comes again. This is our chance to work, to serve, and to help others. We need to be more aware of what is happening around us. I think of how well I can mask a bad day, and I'm an open book to most of my friends. Who else do I know who is having a hard time? Probably nearly everyone. During this holiday season, I hope that I can keep my eyes on those needs around me, but my heart still in heaven with my Savior.
 
I'm about to hit a "change" part of my life. I'm nervous. Actually, really nervous. This means doing new things that I'm not used to. It seems like as I've gotten older new things stop being as excited and start being more scary. I need to feel close to the Savior if I'm going to make it through a happier person. I need to focus more on others around me, and the work that I have been sent here to do.
 
Hope you're all doing well!
 
Nat

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving. I always feel bad for it, though. It seems to always get plowed over by Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Christmas too, but now that I have a wedding anniverary around Thanksgiving, I feel like I need to stand up for it. I absolutely love this holiday: family, friends, food, and football. What else can you ask for? :)

Now, to play a little catch up. Last week was SO fun, but tiring. It seems as though my entire social life was crammed into one week this semester. But, I'm not complaining! :)

Last Wednesday I had a last minute chance to join Al and Kittye, two of my old roomates, to go see Sarah Bareilles. My sister Heather came too. :) I saw her in Provo my freshmen year, so it was fun to see her again! WOW - such a talented performer. She is so much better live than recorded. I strongly suggest checking out her live videos and youtube.

Sorry about my awkward body position, but we were in a crammed concert. :)

Then, Thursday night we went to the midnight showing of HP. Duh. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good movie, the best so far, but Alex wasn't that big of a fan. Oh well. Read the books, they are loads better.

Alex was Dean Thomas (hence the sweatband) and I was Ginny. We were from book 6. :)

The whole crew!

Then, Saturday we went to BYU's Romeo and Juliet. That was fun. Alex actually stayed awake for the whole thing! I love my cultured husband. :)

Then, we picked up some funky bug. All day Sunday we were both sick. Which isn't as fun as it sounds, no one else if there to make soup for you. We've still been feeling a little funky this week, but we can't really miss work or school. We got feeling better just in time for the BLIZZARD OF 2010!

Oh wait. Let down. but, I'm not complaining! I got to leave work at 3 on Tuesday and didn't have to go in at all today (Wednesday) so I'm a happy camper. :)

We're excited for Thanksgiving tomorrow and being able to see so much family. Erica and Andrew are in town, it's been fun seeing them!

Last November, 2009 :)

After Thanksgiving is our first anniversary (what?!) and then back into the swing of things. Next week is show week for my last show in Divine Comedy. Mixed emotions, and I'm sure I'll write a touchy emotional blog post about it is to come. My mom and brother are coming into town and staying with us, so we're whippin' the house into shape. Just need to fix up the guest room a little. I'll worry about that after I get some turkey. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm grateful for each of you for reading this blog, and for being a part of our lives. I will always be grateful for an anniversary around Thanksgiving, because it will always remind me to be grateful for my best friend Alex.
But, who couldn't be gratedul for someone like him?

Watch this video. I can't get the embed to work :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi0tqhedHIU&feature=&p=4E784EC0770935C0&index=0&playnext=1

Happy Thanksgiving! Travel safe! :)

Love,

Nat

You know that's right

PyThings that make me happy today:


1. THIS. :)

2. THIS starts up again tonight.

3. It will soon look like this everywhere.

4. I'm married to this. For almost a year now. :)

I am a very blessed girl. You know that's right.

Whaaaaat? (fist bump).

Halloween and November!

So, a lot has happened since my last post. Halloween was busy but fun. We're on the activities committee for our ward, so we helped with the Halloween activitiy, which was very fun. We were in charge of bobbing for apples, and I taught the ward Thriller. :)

Super easy costume. We didn't have much time to come up with anything.



We stole a baby for this picture.



Halloween was fun. Not a ton of candy, but that's okay. :) This past week has been a Divine Comedy show week for me, so I didn't see my husband all week. We did a Sound of Music parody, and it was a blast! There were lots of characters in the show. I got to be Liesel and sing a "16 going on 17" parody which was fun. I'm uploading videos right now, but it takes forever!

If you missed it, then that is sad. It was an awesome show. We'll do Sound of Music and Reception (Inception) again during the first week of December in the Best Of show. You should come -- it'll be my last show in Divine Comedy. Which is pretty weird. It really hit me last night that I only have one show left. I'm happy and excited to move on with my life, but this has been such a HUGE part of it. It's been my entire college experience. It's enabled me to travel, to learn, to make life-long friends. I'll be sad to see it end, but happy to spend more time with my husband :)

And finally, and most excitingly, we've started a new small business. Alex and I have been very excited to start it, and the ball is finally, kind of, rolling on it. More details on that later.

Midterms are starting to settle down for us, but that just means finals are approaching. I have two huge papers to write this week, so wish me luck! Alex is doing GREAT in his classes, he's really been working so hard. Just a couple more weeks until Thanksgiving break!

When I think about this time last year, it just makes me feel stressed. This time last year I was sick with Mono, about to travel to MN and then back to UT to get married. It was a wonderful time but at the same time a really hard time for me. There was so much I wanted to do for the wedding that I just couldn't do because of how sick I was. Yuck. I'm so grateful that I married Alex, and we've been married for almost a year now! Where does the time go? Anyways, I really can't wait for Thanksgiving break :)

Hope you are all doing well!

Love you guys!

Natalex