My Utah Family

I've been spending a lot of time with Garrett's family lately, especially over Thanksgiving. It is so wonderful to have his family in my life; they are so welcoming and treat me like I'm part of the family, which I love. I had the opportunity to take some photos of Garrett's little nephew, Talmage. He just turned 3 and is just the cutest thing. He gets so excited whenever Garrett and I come over and plays with us almost non-stop. These will be the last photos taken on my Nikon SLR D40, as I got a new camera for Black Friday! My new one is a Nikon SLR D5100, so I will be having a LOT of fun with that here pretty soon, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, meet Talmage, my soon-to-be nephew.

The "Surprise"

So there are many things I could be doing right now, including cleaning my room, taking a much-needed nap, feeding myself...

But I am just too excited to tell you...

I'M ENGAGED!!!!!!!

That's right, Garrett proposed Saturday morning in a hot air balloon!! After one year and 3 days of the best times together.

Here's the story:

About a week and a half before the proposal, Garrett told me he has a reeeeally big surprise for me. I of course thought, "this is it... he's going to finally pop the question!"... but he is smooth and told me days before he had some more looking to do with rings and it would still be a while.

He told me that week that the surprise would be that coming Saturday (the 27th), and to dress warm and be ready by 7am to have him pick me up. I was wondering what in the world it could possibly be, and at one time during the week guessed a few things, one of them being "it's not a hot air balloon ride...?" and he said no with no hesitation so I believed him! Haha.

He picked me up at 7am Saturday morning and we head up the cold canyon toward Pineview Reservoir. We climb in elevation up the mountain and arrived in this complete Winter Wonderland. The snow had fallen just 3 days before, leaving about 6 inches of snow on the ground over all the hills, trees, and mountains. The sun was just barely coming up over the mountain, turning the mountains pink, and there was a thick band of fog over the lake in the valley. It was so beautiful.

He tells me we're looking for a big barn and a tee-pee. I see it up ahead in the fog and spread out on the ground is a big, flat, deflated balloon! I looked at him and shouted with joy, and noticed there was a crew standing around it... about 8 of them. (Little did I know they weren't there to ride, they were there to watch us!) So when I got out of the car I didn't know that THEY ALL KNEW what was going to happen. I didn't realize me being there was such a big deal!! Haha. I wondered why they were all so nice and wanted me to do so much in helping get the balloon inflated. This was my awesome surprise. What a wonderful surprise it was!! My whole life I've wanted to ride in a hot air balloon, and always pictured it over a Winter Wonderland, and here we were!

We inflated the balloon with a giant fan, and Garrett and I walked underneath it pulling the edges out (I remembered doing this when I was about 7 years old at my elementary school ground... but I didn't get to ride in it), getting trapped by it's massiveness. The balloon was ready when it was full of air, and then they started the flames. It was nice to stand near the flames because it was around 25 degrees outside at this time!

We met the pilot of the Silver Star, Steve Watson, who turns out to be one of Garrett's clients that he washes windows for and cleans his gutters. He was a pilot in the Air Force for years and Garrett has sort of become friends with him over the last month. He was super nice, and had an "assistant" with him that was going to come up with us. She was very nice as well. I was running back to the car to put my gloves on, and everyone was like "Holly, let's go!"... I didn't realize Garrett and I were going up first; I thought everyone was there to ride. So I run back and swing over like getting on a horse, and there are 4 of us in this little basket, about 4.5ft x 4.5ft. I didn't mind the closeness though, it was so amazing what we were about to do, and the pilot and "assistant" were so nice.

I had never been in a hot air balloon and it has always been something on the top of my list of things I've always wanted to do. The fog was burning off from the sun rising, and it was getting a little warmer, but the cold didn't bother me anyway. As we lifted off the ground the flames were hot over my head and warming my hands. Garrett was smiling at me the whole time, but a proposal didn't cross my mind once. Just the absolute sheer beauty of our surroundings. We'd look down and see deer jumping fences (about 6 of them), and horses running around, kicking up snow as they ran. We lifted over the fog so it was like we were above the clouds. The pilot "dipped" us in the lake a couple times, touching the top of the water with the basket, and a flock of Canada geese took off flying off the lake. It was so surreal. But the surrealness wasn't about to end...

It had been about 15-20 minutes, and the pilot's assistant asked if I'd like for her to take pictures for us. I handed over the camera phone thinking nothing of it, like she'd just take pics of us looking over or something. But then Garrett looked at me, at about 450ft in the air, and got close to me and said "Are you ready for your surprise?" I looked at him, and at that moment I knew right away what he meant. I said "Yes..." then he said "The balloon ride wasn't the only surprise." and he started unbuttoning his jacket. In his vest he pulled out a little brown box. He looked at me and said "I love you" and got down on one knee right there in the basket (knee getting wet from the lake we had just come out of) and said "Will you marry me?" He was holding the ring out in front of him, but I couldn't help but just say "YES" and hug him forever and kiss him a million times.

I finally realized I should probably let go of him and look at the ring, and when I did I was in shock. It is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen in my life. And it's mine to keep! I don't know how in the world the balloon lifted off the ground with it... I teared up when we were hugging and kissing, but no balling occurred. I'm kind of glad for that because we had many pictures taken by this "assistant" (who actually was meant to come up to be our photographer!). The whole time this was going on, the pilot had turned away and the photographer was being very nice about letting us have our moment as well. It was so perfect. Not once did Garrett quiver, and he didn't even act weird beforehand! He was just all smiles. Later he claimed he was nervous but it certainly didn't show. We continued to hug and kiss the whole way back down where the crew below was cheering.

We helped deflate and put the balloon away, and had a little celebration: everyone with champagne but Garrett and I who drank sparkling apple cider ;). The pilot then gave the "Balloonists' Prayer"...

The Winds have welcomed you with softness.

The Sun has blessed you with its warm hands.

You have flown so high and so well,

that God has joined you in your laughter,

and set you gently back again

into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

It was so fun and so SURREAL, the entire morning. It felt like one big dream. We then went out to breakfast to a little local place called Pats Food Shack with the rest of the crew and were done by 11am! We had the rest of the day to celebrate with each other, and it was the best day of my life so far. I love Garrett so much and I never knew there could be someone out there that would treat me SO WELL and love me SO MUCH. I am the happiest girl in the world right now, as you can probably tell since it probably sounds like a giddy little girl wrote this!!

Job Newness

I got a new job!  Ok, I still work at The Living Planet Aquarium, but instead of doing in-house presentations on the animals all day and answering the same questions over and over, I go to elementary schools all around Utah and teach them about animals, wetlands, and the water cycle. It is so much fun so far. It's such a joy to walk in to the classes and see the excitement in the 4th graders' faces to see you. We bring in animals like frogs, toads, salamanders, and snakes, just to name a few. Soon I'll be going to 2nd grade classes as well and teaching them about the rainforest. In that case I'd bring animals like cockroaches, moon crabs, and tarantulas. The job is full-time, and pays more than the last job I had there. I get health benefits and paid time off. The people I work with are really fun too.

 Animal of the month: The Halloween Moon Crab!

Strength of Relief Society

I gave a talk in church the other day, and have been getting people asking me what I talked about, who weren't there. There is no better way to explain what I talked about without giving you the whole talk. It's about how the Relief Society of the church strengthens women. For those of you that are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Relief Society is the oldest and largest women's organization in the world. Relief Society was established in 1842 for women 18 years of age and older. Its purpose is to build faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and help those in need.


(Introduce)

As many of you know, I am a convert; I was investigating the church when I first moved out here, and was baptized February 13th, 2010. 

When I first started going to church I only attended sacrament meetings. I felt the spirit, but I didn’t know what more I was missing. Yes, there is Sunday School, which is awesome, but then there was this whole other thing that I had never heard of: Relief Society. I was taking “baby steps” when  investigating the church (I mean, for an investigator to attend all 3 meetings right off the bat is a little overwhelming, to be honest). But after about a month I decided it was time, and attended all 3 meetings. I then wondered why I waited so long! Relief Society was the last meeting, and although I was usually a little apprehensive in something so new and different with a bunch of people I had barely met, I have never felt so welcomed. So many stories were shared during each lesson that really would pertain to all of our lives. I felt the spirit hard-core when I went, and had a connection there and became very close to everyone in a short time. [If you want to know my conversion story, please ask me sometime; I never get tired of telling it. But I know that half the congregation here has heard it at least once, so I’ll spare them ;).]

When I was asked to be a counselor in the RS Presidency, I was.... terrified. I was still so new in the church that I wondered how in the world I could do it. To be someone that is a spiritual leader over these beautiful women. But I soon realized that I’m not the only one that spiritually leads the women. Every woman in there are leaders and teachers. We all teach each other and work off our own stories and experiences and knowledge, and every week there is a fantastic lesson given. This calling has definitely been something that has been truly amazing and yet not easy. I have a really hard time with names... so it’s been quite a challenge for me learning everyone’s names and a little bit about each girl. But I love that we as a Presidency make the effort to reach out and go meet with each individual girl at their home to really get to know each one. And now that I’m back I see there are a LOT of girls I have yet to meet, so this should be fun. I must say, these ladies behind me are some of the most loving girls you will ever meet, and it has been the biggest pleasure of my LIFE serving with them, and all of the other girls in this room. 

This summer, as I said earlier, I was working out in California, and where I worked, the closest church was 45 minutes away in Mammoth Lakes, and I rarely had a Sunday off. So through the summer I only went to church two times. I went about two months with no meetings, and I was definitely feeling it. Coming to church is like drinking water. You NEED it in your life to help your spiritual body stay healthy, or cleansed, or, in church’s case, more humble and righteous. I felt myself becoming less and less humble, and it really bothered me. I realized how much I missed the Relief Society more than anything. Because going to Relief Society is such a humbling experience, I felt like I was losing that more and more as the summer progressed. When I finally attended church in August, I went to the RS, and we had a whole 5 ladies in attendance (tells you how small this town is!). And although I had never met these women, and although I was wearing JEANS to church because I didn’t have any dresses with me, none of them judged me and they were all so friendly. And I came to find out that only ONE of them was actually someone that went to that ward regularly; everyone else was like me and were only there for either vacation or a summer job. I felt acceptance, the caring warmth, love, and comfort that I missed so much. It’s like a motherliness that you feel when you go to Relief Society, and more than anything, a STRENGTH. I realized that meeting with those 4 ladies I had never met that I was lacking that strength more and more all summer, and it was a real spiritual pick-me-up that day. It’s not just that we all become friends when we attend RS meetings, enrichment, and do our visiting teaching, but we become companions, and grow stronger together, spiritually. We also have the ability of strengthening others by doing our visiting teaching.

Thomas S. Monson once said: “Remember the past; learn from it. Contemplate the future; prepare for it. Live in the present; serve in it. Therein is the mighty strength of the Relief Society of this Church”.

We are always sharing stories about our past in RS and how we’ve learned from those experiences, and we prepare for our future by discussing how we can be good wives, mothers, and sisters of Zion. We also become prepared for the blessings of eternal life. And something that I have come to love, that I didn’t do much at all until I joined the church, is service. The RS does so many things to serve it’s awesome! I mean that is how it got it’s name: to go to the Relief of others... I feel so strengthened when I serve, and it’s really the best feeling.

We are spiritually strengthened every time we go to RS meeting because we are constantly gaining knowledge. Even after 50 years of going to RS, I know I am still going to learn something new, either about the gospel or about myself, every time. We have the opportunity to learn and to grow every Sunday. The RS provides nourishment to our minds and guidance for our lives. As as we become strengthened, we thereby strengthen our families as well.

I am so so grateful to have this organization, let alone this church, in my life. I love the strength it gives us each week and I love each and every girl in the ward (even those I have yet to meet). I’m thankful to serve beside these wonderful ladies behind me, and to be an instrument in the hands of God as a member of the Relief Society. I have a testimony that as we attend Relief Society and fulfill our visiting teaching each month, we will become spiritually strengthened. And I say these things humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Bay Area Road Trip

After our 3 months in the Sierra, Garrett and I decided to take an 8-day road trip to the Bay Area and visit family we both haven't seen in ages. We left Red's, our truck loaded down with all of our luggage and a 400lb log that Garrett is planning on carving into a table, and a heavy table saw he inherited from a coworker at the pack station. So a heavy load! We left Bella with our friend Bryce, who has a farm she can play in for a week with 2 dogs, 3 cats, 5 goats, 6 chickens, 2 horses and 2 mules, and 2 mini-mules.
Our first destination: Fresno to visit Garrett's lovely sister Jocelyn. She has two little boys, one of which was only a couple weeks old when we saw him. Along the way we passed through Yosemite... so quickly I only got a couple pictures...

Next stop: Seaside, CA, where we stayed with Garrett's friend BJ. Seaside is an interesting little town... very out of place considering its location... While we stayed in Seaside, my mom's side of the family decided to have a reunion in Capitola! Well, half of them anyway (which is still a good amount). I hadn't seen most   of them in years, some 9 years, and my cousin Joe I hadn't seen since I was 3! It was so awesome seeing all of them, and having them meet Garrett, even though it was hard to spark up enough conversation to really get to know him since there were so many people.

Cousin Leah and me... Yep, we're practically twinners.

Most everyone

My uncle mike and some of the bubbies (Daisy and Max)

Joe's family and me

Cousins Jen and Rachel and me

Cousin Ofelia and me

I'm so upset because I totally didn't get pictures of Jessica's family and most importantly, who I didn't see until the next day, my grandparents :(. They are the light of my life, and I was so so happy for them to have finally met Garrett. They loved him (of course) and totally approve, as does everyone else in my family. Of course my grandpa (we call him Bumper) gave us advice in how to stay in love for 69 years (that's how long he and my gma have been together), and told us the story in how he and my gma met so many years ago. 

The following day we went to Monterey Bay Aquarium. I had never been, and ever since I started working in the Aquarium in Utah, I wanted to visit Monterey Bay because I heard so much about it. It was incredible!

Large kelp exibit

Tub anemones

27 years and I have never flown a kite. Well Garrett broke me of that, and went out and bought me a kite (Winnie the Pooh kite :)), and we went and flew it! It was so fun, and such a perfect day for it. Oh I just love him. 

 

We ended our time at the Bay and made our way up to Bryce's house in Susanville, CA. As I said earlier, he was taking care of Bella for me, and we stayed at his house 2 nights and played with the animals. We went riding on a dirt road that used to have train tracks over it, so we rode through train tunnels and along a river... it was beautiful. I didn't get any pictures, but we ran the horses a good amount of the way. That really is the best feeling in the world to be on a horse running at excellent speeds ;). He also had 2 mini-mules that we wanted to hitch up to his little wagon, and I got to drive them. It was pretty fun being pulled by those little guys.

This summer is probably my favorite so far. It was a true test for G and I to see if we could spend literally 24/7 together. We had a couple little tiffs, but we worked through them well and it just made us stronger. I never thought I could love someone this much.

End of Summer

Ok now that summer is over, I have no excuse to not be writing in my blog...

Garrett and I had a fantastic time this summer working in the Sierra. So many fun memories were made and we had some great times with great people. I always miss it when I leave for the first couple of days; it's like my second home. This year we had 53 animals, with 27 horses and 26 mules. Bobby Tanner is the new owner, and things are changing quite a bit, a lot of things are still the same. Here are some more pictures of our summer at Red's Meadow, including a 3-day backpacking trip that G and I took together.

Mariah and me, ready for the day

Atop Mammoth Crest

Our camp at Ediza Lake

Backpacking

There will probably never be a summer in my lifetime that I do not go to the Sierra and at least visit. I just love this place.