Some belated news...

Hello again, blogging world!  I have some belated news; but I expect that anyone who reads this blog already knows...

Will and I are engaged!

And we really couldn't be happier.

The story: Will and I headed up skiing with my brother Jake on December 15th for our second day of the season.  At that point in time, I knew we would be getting engaged soon, and I figured he had a ring, but my parents were out of town so I wasn't expecting anything until they returned.  On the way up, though, I got serious butterflies and thought, "Will could propose today!"  Then I thought, "Shoot, why did I think that, now it won't come true!"  I soon decided I was being silly, because Will was acting so normal and we were with Jake, so I forgot about the butterflies and enjoyed the awesome snow.

On our last run up before lunch, Jake accidentally dropped his glove off the lift.  He decided just to race down to get it and said he would meet us at the lodge.  Will and I decided to take a long run, and as he led me toward the remote border of Alta, where it's very secluded and the snow is always phenomenal, I started getting the butterflies again.  I realized that if he was going to propose today, now was the time.  I saw him stop a little ahead of me and start taking off his helmet.  I got so nervous and excited that I just stopped next to him and fell back in the powder.  I heard him pop off one ski, then he said "Gail," and I looked up and he was holding out a little box with the most beautiful sparkly thing I had ever seen.

I pulled myself upright, and he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.

It was really too wonderful for words, so I won't try to describe any more here, but I'm crying while writing this even though I've told the story so many times.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  Some say that dating someone for three years is too long, but I would not change a thing.  We are so happy and so ready for this next step.  I never thought I could possibly feel this sure about who I was going to marry, but I know, beyond any doubt, that I am making the right decision.  I am marrying the love of my life!  May 4th, here we come!

A great big box of memories

For the last eight years, a big bin under my bed has collected the class notes, entertaining quotes, and little doodles that documented every day of my high school and college life.  I've sorted through the mess at times, but I was always reluctant to throw away these relics from my favorite classes and was also certain that at one point I might need my Crime and Punishment notes or population density studies again.  I guess I'm something of a homework pack rat.

So tonight, I decided to clean it all out.  I sifted through the three ring binders and spiral notebooks, and it was like watching a movie of myself learn and work and put in so much time.  I found geometry notes from eight grade with handwriting that was both awfully bad and awfully close to the way my handwriting is now.  I read a note that Shelbie and I passed back and forth during class to advise each other on who to ask to an upcoming dance.  Mrs. Lake's comments on my English papers ranged from "incoherent" to "what a delicious brain you have."

Each piece of paper unfolded a new memory.  My AP test scores led me to reminisce about getting those test scores in the mail and getting broken up with on the same day, and the one redeeming thought through all of it was "well at least I scored higher than him."  Then I was back in Mrs. Olson's class, learning and caring about people on the other side of the world with such different cultures yet with hopes and passions so similar to my own.  And then I was on the front lawn of East High watching the boys play frisbee and crouching in the shade of the diminutive trees, totally content with where my life was and who my friends were and not worried about the future for a time.

A crumpled manilla envelope revealed a list of "Regency Etiquette" that Suzanne and I distributed before our Jane Austen Ball, and I laughed at myself and thought how lucky I was (and still am) to have had friends that put up with me and my crazy ideas.  It made me think of the day, a few days after my birthday, when a gift was delivered to my class and I opened the package to find a beautiful white North Face jacket inside that I had been coveting for months, and see then names of nearly thirty friends who had generously contributed to making my birthday special.  I thought of our ski days, random dance parties, late night hikes, the thrill of driving ourselves around for the first time, asking to dances, answering to dances, secret sardines, and every good thing in between.

So here I sit, back in the Marriott Library (I don't have homework, of course, but it was my only chance to spend time with Will) and feel overwhelmed with gratitude for the good people who surrounded me all the time I was growing up.  I am grateful for the many teachers who made me feel smart and capable, and the friends who encouraged me to be the best version of myself.  To all of them, thank you!

Dear America: I'm a fan

My oh my, time does go by fast!  I can't believe it has already been two months since I graduated and almost as long since I last blogged.  I just got back last night from the wonderful country of Switzerland, after having spent a lovely week in Spain.  I love traveling, and I loved spending so much time with my family; I feel so blessed to have five such remarkable people as my closest kin.  I would love to share some pictures and stories from the trip, but since I am such an Einstein I managed to leave my camera in Switzerland.  Whoops.  My sisters will bring it back with them in a week, but the travel log will have to wait until then!

In other news, happy belated Fourth of July!  It was the longest holiday of my life…literally.  With the time change from flying, my day was 32 hours long, and I managed to stay awake for 25 of those hours.  One of the lovely things about boyfriends, though, is they make coming home from a vacation just as exciting as leaving.  It was so good to see Will again.  I managed to stay awake long enough to go watch fireworks with him at the H rock.  We could see fireworks all over the valley, from Sugarhouse Park to Kearns, and got to listen to the three or four year old next to us shout repeatedly. "YAY!  YAY!  YAY FOR SALT LAKE CITY AND FIREWORKS!!!"  

It was a nice time, but in my exhaustion as we left I told Will, "I love you, but I love America more."

It's beginning to feel a lot like summer...

...and I really am enjoying it, though I would be happiest if I lived in a place that never got warmer than eighty degrees.

I had a wonderfully busy week.  I am loving my new job!  I am doing even more writing and editing that I had even planned on, and the daily walks are more beautiful than I imagined, and the brand new iMac they gave me is amazing, and I love the ladies I work with-- they are so kind and encouraging.  I know the novelty will wear off eventually, but for now I feel so lucky and blessed to have been given this opportunity!

I also got to spend a lot of time with some of my dearest friends, because I got to see this girl get married:

This wedding was beautiful, and Meg is one of the most incredible girls I know.  I love her!

And had to say goodbye to this one before she left for DC all summer :( :

(I hacked in to Will's facebook account to steal this off Jocelyn's instagram.)

I got to know Meg when we were traveling through Europe together, and Michelle is a kindred spirit and best friend.  I am happy for them both as they start their different adventures!  Hooray for friends!

Boom! Graduated.

... and my handsome brother Jake, too.

Farewell to the U

I can't believe I graduate tomorrow!  While I enjoy not having to do any homework in the foreseeable future (I am currently in denial about going to grad school), I am also going to miss college so much.  These really have been the best four years of my life.  Here is a list of my top 10 favorite things about going to the U:

1. Study Abroad in Ovideo, Spain

Best weeks of my life.  The chocolate con churros, evenings spent in the park, weekend excursions, getting to know the sweetest girls, falling in love with the city and culture, and then traveling through Barcelona, Paris, Ulm, Fussen (where I took the picture of Neuschwanstein Castle that is my blog banner) Salzburg, Madrid, Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, Ayr, Belfast, and Dublin were the best of times.  Oh, how I miss it.  Every. Day.

2. Beta

I believe I have received divine direction a few times in my life, and one of these instances was in my decision to join Beta.  I made all of my best friends from college through this organization, and grew to love so many wonderful girls.  My favorite memories include: winning Battle of the Chapters, Catch a Cougar, barn dance, Jazz games, St. George trips, winter formal, red neck rampage, skiing, sledding, casual dinners, and the many hours we spent laughing and chatting together.  Being president was both the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done, but I am so grateful I had the opportunity.

3. The MUSS

I loved screaming my head off at the football games, whether during the wonderful 2008 season from the 52 row or up close during the 2010 BYU game when I-thought-I-would-faint-from-nervousness-and-then-Brandon-Burton-blocked-the-kick-and-next-thing-I-knew-I-was-on-the-field-and-it-was-amazing.

(Luckily, I still get one more year in the MUSS!  Will signed me up as his guest, even though that means he will have to sit in the upper bowl instead of on the second row.  This is true love, folks!)

4. My Classes

It may be nerdy, but I loved school.  I am so glad I chose a major I loved, where the homework (reading) was my hobby already.  I loved having so many classes with Michelle and the convenient fact that we were so often assigned the same groups for class projects.  Matheson, Dworkin, Straley, Watts, and countless other professors changed my life.  

5. Student Alumni Board

Great fun, great friends, and we kicked trash in the food drive against BYU.  Enough said.

6. Internship with the International Rescue Committee

Some of the refugees I worked with became my very dear friends, and I loved seeing the progress in computer class as my students progressed from not even knowing how to use the mouse to being able to write full sentences with ease.  Besides, it is so humbling working with these brave people who have been through so much in their lives; they were inspiring.

7. Union Programming Council

While the disestablishment of Lambda Delta Sigma nearly broke my heart, I was glad I got to replace it with UPC.  I was on the Community Service Board and made many friends and planned some fun events, like Family Fright Fest, with was super fun!  Oh, and got to work at Crimson Nights from 6 pm until 3 am... that was fun too... sort of.

8. Walking Around Campus

Really, I loved walking around campus every day, and sometimes I worry I took it too much for granted.  But I loved that every hour or so I was forced outside into the fresh air, and that I got to bump in to old friends, enjoy the changing seasons, or make little observations like the way the block U reflects in the library windows or how you can see the whole valley from the Huntsman Center steps.  I enjoyed the days of new snow when the tree boughs drooped so low from the weight of the new snow that we would have to duck underneath or rushing from class to class during a lightning storm.  

9. Living at Home

I respect anyone who goes away to college, but I am so grateful that I have been able to live at home the past four years.  My siblings and parents are my best friends.  I happily held on to a few more years of my blissful childhood: ice cream in the front yard on Sundays, family dinner every night, evenings at the park and lots of skiing.  Living at home has allowed me to work more hours, participate in TUNA, and have time together as a family that will be over so soon.

10. Spending the Last Two and a Half Years Getting to Know a Wonderful Guy... 

What Can be Better Than That?

And, oh, what fun we have had!!!

********

"We may not live forever on this jolly good old sphere

But while we do, we'll live a life of merriment and cheer

And when our college days are o're and night is drawing night

With parting breath, we'll sing that song: A UTAH MAN AM I!"

GO UTES!

A Day in the Life