first things first though, month picture #21 and #22:
twenty one months = twenty one "kisses". Joe always used to joke around with me about these kiss candies ;)
twenty two months = twenty two flicker candles :) i used a whole bunch of these to ask Joe out to a dance one time. he gave them back to me and told me to keep them for a special occasion
Joe officially comes home Feb. 6th @ 10:30 am!! so so soon! i cannot even begin to describe how happy i am. i mean, do you know how long i've waited for this moment?;)
can we talk about how attractive he is?? holy SMOKES! mines the TALL handsome one ;)
-middle right-
over Christmas break, i got to skype with him and his family. he got TWO hours to talk to us! it was heaven. getting to hear his voice for the first time in 21 months was the most wonderful thing in the world. and it reminded me why i fell so hard in the first place. his smile. his laugh. his face. his everything. i am so in LOVE! later on Christmas day when i went to visit my grandma, Joe surprise skyped JUST me!! and my family for about 22 minutes, but then another 15 or so with me. IT WAS THE BEST THING EVERRRRR!!!! i had no idea he was going to do that. he emailed my mom and said he would call her number on skype and that she was to hand me the phone. i was so shocked! but it made me the happiest girl alive. he said to me, "although i asked you to meet and date other guys, i want you to know that it means the world to me that you've waited for me." <333 i was trying not to cry! it was the cutest. he said he loved me and was all nervous and had to hide his face a few times and everything. it was adorable. all of the other elders had their cameras out ready to take recordings of him saying "i love you" to me because apparently it was a big deal ;) they all tease him! he's like, "guyyyys! i haven't talked to a girl like this in almost two years! go away!" ha ha ha. i was dying!!
another update, what with my headache issues and chiropractor visits - it worked for the first little while. the pain in my head subsided a titch, but it came back. the chiropractor told us not to give up, that eventually, they could get things working properly again but... so far... nada.
Joe's sisters, (one of my best friends!) got married. so crazy! they didn't even wait for him. HA! her wedding was Jan. 2nd, so i'm a little behind on updates but it was lovely. SUPER COLD THOUGH! freezing. The reception they had was fun! super super packed too. they invited over 800 people and at least 500 came.
sooooooooo..... our wedding date. we've always said September right? well. i have been thinking. and i honestly don't know if we'll be able to hold out that long. not because of the physical stuff people, cmon, but for real. i just seriously want to marry him. to say he is MINE. because i'm done with this waiting!!!!! ha ha ha!!!! i stumbled upon a conference talk that mentioned Joseph and Emma Smith's sealing date - May 28th - and i thought, how cute would THAT be. but... we just have to talk face to fact to figure things out.
other than that - life is life. always. i wish i was better at writing these blog posts, but i probably never will be. so sorry! i wait too long and then have a million things to talk about, which i don't end up talking about. too much work! but everything is good. i love my friends. i love my church calling and people i am surrounded by. i love my family. i love my love. he's my best friend. life is kind of all about him at the moment. it's so close and i've been talking wedding plans and dresses and colors and reception centers and rings and bridesmaid and guests... etc... for the past month with my mother. it's fun! i can't wait to actually have a set date and start planning for REAL. ALMOST DONE!
until then.... only 16 more days. they cannot come fast enough. the next time i write, he'll be home :)
the wait was worth everything. even though i struggled at times, and hated to admit it, it was the struggle that built me up. the time apart has made me realize how i cannot stand being apart, and don't ever want to be. knowing that Joe is out there becoming the man that God needed him to be is something i literally take pride in. i am so proud of him. he worked so hard and will continue to for the rest of his life. his testimony shines through his face and eyes and every single person who meets him can see it. that is one of the greatest things about him... i am grateful that i had this time to figure out who i am, and what i want in life. it's not perfect. i am not perfect either. but that's okay. because i was still growing and becoming the person i needed to become. and i am still doing that! i don't think i'll ever stop. my church calling has been a huge blessing to me because of the people it surrounded me with. my new friends inspire me beyond belief. i admire and love them so dearly. working at Deseret Book has been a blessing because i have been able to serve others and help them with the things they've needed.
while Joe was away - i bought a house, started a business, got two jobs, went/go to school, served in a foreign country, made new friends, went on dates, got a new car, bonded with his family and much much more. i am grateful for the time i had to do these things! but i cannot wait for him to come home so we can spend time TOGETHER. that is all i want now :) my time is almost done, reader.
MY TWO YEARS IS ALMOST OVER AND HE IS HOME BOUND :D:D:D:D:D
