My Mom. My Wedding. My Memory

Sometimes I want time to stop. Or memories to last forever.
Sometimes I want to "Plan my Wedding" with my mom just a little bit longer.
Laying across my bed with my laptop open while my mom sits beside looking at wedding photographers and Pinterest boards.

We laugh at some decorations, comment on creativity, and plan for my one day wedding.
Where will we have it?
What will my colors be?
Wedding line?
Cake?
Dress?
Photographer?
You know, all the wonderfully, fun, fluffy stuff that I used to draw pictures of as a little girl.

Then the oven timer goes off, and she has to leave to finish making dinner.
Part of me wants to beg her not to leave an just let the food burn on the stove, but I don't.
She leaves. She has to. Time doesn't stop.
Just like all car rides come to an end, and how all Sundays melt into Mondays.

But today I cherished this fifteen minutes we had together.

These simple things are the things I will miss most when I am gone.




As far as today's wedding planning went. . . would you like to see the goods?

via

via 

via

And then go here to see what my wedding video is going to be like. 

Mom and I LOVE it! Original. Me. and my husband-to-be I am sure.

Sometimes I paint the sky- and then I fly in it.

Caution: photo's may not be the best quality due to the fact that they were taken with a cellular devise.

Every time I am home from school whether it is just a weekend stay or a three week break 

I make a to-do list. Painting has been on that list for a good while now and I can finally mark it off. 

Today we painted. We being Mom, Shay and I.

Below is the process of me being creative:

 Okay so this top picture is not me being creative, it is just a blank canvas. . .

No creativity to it-

Drum roll please.

(Pause for emphasis)

Tada!

Okay, so out of all the above cellular pictures, this by far is the worst one.

Sorry.

But you get the point right?

I still can't get over the fact that it is the year 2012. My stomach drops some and I get butterflies when I think about the history that will be made during this magical year.

"I live a flowery life,"

                                                Grandma RueLeen

Have I ever mentioned that my grandmother is amazing. We are having a sleepover tomorrow night! I am going to live a flowery life just like her. 

shout out to my two favorite!

Well today was my first official day of summer, and I had planned on spending it unpacking from my move home. . . however that did not happen.  Instead I got up later than usual, missed my morning run because it was raining, and to be honest I didn't mind the few more hours of sleep.  After finally getting ready for the day Mama and I ran to the store.  See, I had a missionary photo session scheduled for today, like I said earlier it was raining and so we needed to make some inside backdrops- there you have it ladies and gentlemen, Capturing Dawn Photography is going studio.  Mama and I made make-shift backdrops out of bedsheets and paint.  I must said we pretty much rocked it!  One backdrop in less than an hour (not counting drying time) and I love it!

 After bringing the back drop in and setting up I made Mama pose for me.  She didn't really want to, but she was a good sport about it.  As soon as Shay walked in though, Mom was done and Shay was up.  She is used to it by now and has become quite the poser.  They both wanted me to get rid of these pictures, but to be quite honest I like them.  I like how true the picture is of my Mama and how Shaylie can pull off any look, even when she just got out of practice.  To cut to the chase, these two women are my favorite in the world, and it isn't just because they let me take pictures of them, there is more to it than that.  Thanks again, love you both!

Oh! and if you would like to check out pictures from the missionary shoot they are posted here, at my photography blog.

11:33 PM (dedicated to my IWA squad)

It is my bed time, past it actually.  About a month ago, give or take a few days, I gave myself a bed time.  For a few reasons:

1. In institute I learned that when you have more rest you are more open to receive personal revelation because you are tuned into the Spirit.
2. I have started to get up early to go to the gym to work out- I have needed to get back to a schedule.
3. Early to bed, early to rise is just healthy- look it up.

Tonight however I am awake and as the minutes pass by (it is now 11:36 PM)  I am feeling guilty for staying up so late.  I just need to write though- writing is my escape.

I had the best time tonight.  It was the last activity for my IWA (Institute Women's Association) group and we went out with a bang.  I absolutely love Mama B and all the girls that surround me while I am there.  I feel so loved and so welcome!  The Lord loves me, knows me and has put these strong girls in my life to remind me of these simple truths.  I wish I could capture those feelings in a jar and whenever I needed a little pick-me-up I could just take some out of the jar and relive it all over again.  I do know that no matter what, those girls will always be there for me.

Top 10 Favorite things of tonights activity (no particular order):

1. Mama B's AMAZING FOOD!  We had soup in bread bowls- I can't describe the marvelousness!
2. Getting to REALLY know more of my IWA sisters!  They are just so perfectly lovely!
3. Mama B's house is so charming and Spiritual.
4. Testimony and story time! (LOVED THIS PART!)
5. Baring my testimony- it was such an overwhelming feeling
6. THE SPIRIT!
7. The love and unity I felt for everyone in the room.
8. Discovery of fellow blog-buddies! 
9. Laughing!  When the Rebekah Chapter gets together we GET TOGETHER!  'nuff said!
10. Drive to Lewiston!  (We didn't get lost! AND we didn't even have to turn around once!) 

It was simply marvelous in every way.  I am going to miss my girls and Mama B.

Current time 11:40 PM.

I have been on a roller coaster of sorts the last few days.  Not necessarily a bad roller coaster, but it has had its fair share of ups and downs.  One moment I am happy, the next sad- then I am hyper and bouncing off the walls, not too long after I find myself deep and concentrated on thoughts.  I will admit I called my mom on the phone Monday evening and just cried to her (if you know me I am not much of a crier) I felt better afterwards though.  

Maybe it is because it is the end of the year.  With everything coming to a head like an ugly zit just waiting to explode with forces of puss- aka: emotion and stress.  Actually that probably has a lot to do with it.  There are other factors too of course- there has to be.

Time: 11:46 PM.

I just got off of a Facebook chat with my mom.  She asked why I was still awake.  It made me laugh a little bit because when I was living at home there is no way I would be even closed to going to bed at this time.  We talked about my night and how great IWA was.  (If you haven't picked it up already I talk to my mom nearly every day,  usually more than once- I like talking to my mama.)  We also talked about some other things  that were weighing on my mind.  My mom always has the best advice, this is what she told me:

"One thing that I know that helps is to pray about all probolems not that things 

change but the way you look at things does."

I have been taught this principle since I was little, but little reminders help.  They help so much.  

Prayer is a powerful thing.  My Heavenly Father loves me, He thinks I am beautiful.  Oh HE LOVES ME and that is all I need.  Sometimes I forget and get caught up in the craziness of the world when all that really matters is the Love that I feel from my Savior.  Simple truths are so pure and beautiful.

Ending time: 11:54 PM.

This picture really has nothing to do with anything despite give you something pretty to look at while you read my post.  I took it last summer coming home from a movie with my friend Kaden.  It makes me excited for summer sun sets!

(perma smile!)

Once upon a time I met a guy.

His name is Eric.

He lives in J3

He has crazy curly hair.

And he always makes me happy.

He was my FHE Papa.

We are friends-

sometimes we are "secret-lovers"

 Eric isn't ticklish,

but other than that

we are a lot a like.

It is true.

On April first we got ENGAGED!

and then un-engaged!  

IT WAS APRIL FOOLS- silly!

I made Eric play with me.

Actually- I didn't even ask if he wanted to play- oops!
He was also fooled.

I hacked onto his FB account. . .
well not really- he left it signed in on his computer- his fault!

I posted our Relationship Status on Facebook as "ENGAGED"

and within 2 MINUTES I got a phone call

from my mother-

I guess the EXTENDED family had already found the news.

They were expecting an explanation.

I laughed all the while Mom cussed me

She made me call my Grandma RueLeen before word got to her.
That would have been bad mojo!
I called her!  I love calling her
O and to make matters so much better,

Grandma LOVES April Fools!
She was the Foolin' Queen back-in-the-day!

And as expected she giggled all the while I told her of my foolin' ideas.

I will share some of her tricks from her day eventually! 

She was a master!

Word gets around fast in my small town

especially due to Facebook.

I found this ring picture on Google,

posted it as my Facebook picture and got so many complements.

Dear lady of the ring: Everyone thinks it is "Gorgeous!" 

O and that your man is a "keeper" according to the diamond size! (thumps up!)  

P.S. Thanks for letting me use a picture of your hand and ring-

It greatly added to the whole effect of things!

To all of those who left me kind words of Congratulations 

Thank You

I got a great kick out of each FB comment, text message and phone call!

To all that were so gullible to believe me

You made my entire day!

Merry Fooling Day of April! (:

Dear Break of Spring. Don't leave me.

People keep asking me if I have done anything fun for Spring Break. . . 

AND I tell them

"I am doing exactly what I wanted to be doing."

I came home for Spring Break.

All I wanted to do was to spend time with my family.

I knew that home would be hectic and that everyone's lives would still be going 100 mph, but that is home to me and I love it.

I have had quite the time thus far during my break to celebrate Spring.

• The weather is amazing! (I went running in shorts and a t-shirt today, not to mention I sweated)
• Lunch with two of my favorite people, Mama and Grandma (picture above)
• Watched my nieces dance
• Took pictures 
• Ran everyday thus far
• Went on a date with Hossy (last one before his mission!)
• Started reading Hunger Games
• Got my hair done
• Watched Shay play softball
• Ate delicious food
• Met up with old friends
• Got a canker from eating Cadberry Eggs (so worth it!)
• Slept in my AMAZING bed
• Got paid
• Pondered by a fire
• Slept in (sorta)
• Blogged multiple times
• Finished some overdue homework
• Had a splendid time as of Thursday night!

What else could there be to come?