Have I Mentioned Today How Lucky I Am To Be In Love With You

The one year anniversary! I cannot believe Ben and I have been married for a year (and a month). I feel like we've been married for forever, but I also feel like we've been married for a day. The biggest anniversary present Ben gave me was finishing school the day before. This summer has been the best! When I get home from work I get to actually spend the rest of the night with Ben (usually, occasionally research still gets in the way, but it's still an improvement)! It's been a wonderful summer and I'm heartbroken to see it come to an end in two weeks. I hope to blog soon about the fun little things we've done during the summer, but this blog is about our anniversary! I've been trying to write up a cute blog about our one year of marriage, but it all comes out a little too clique. It's been a wonderful year, and I can't seem to do it justice in my writing. Instead, I've attached screenshots of a book I made about our relationship a few months ago when Shutterfly had a deal for a free book. It's the story from dating to marriage. I wrote the majority of the book, but you'll notice some parenthesis every once in a while with a Ben comment thrown in there. Enjoy! (you'll have to click on the pictures to be able to actually read what I wrote)

God Bless the Broken Road

I could start out by apologizing for not updating my blog for months and promising to be better, but we all know that isn't going to happen, especially with how life is going right now, so let's just skip that song and dance. I'm going to try and give yall the summary of what's been happening in my life. It's turned out to be quite the saga so I know not all of you will want to read it, but if you want to know what's been happening out here in Texas please read on.

Lots has changed in my life the last few months! It's funny to think about what life looked like when we arrived in Texas and how much has changed in less than a year. The last you may have heard I was working as a Therapy Tech at HealthSouth. After working there a few months I decided it wasn't what I wanted. I took the job with the hope it would be good for my future career as a PTA. For numerous reasons I decided I wasn't going to go to PTA school any more and once I decided that my job soon turned into what felt like a waste of time. The atmosphere wasn't always the best, the pay wasn't great, and it wasn't very stimulating at all. Over Christmas break I started thinking about how little I wanted to go back to work and I decided I should look for a new job. The only job that I really, really enjoyed was working at Keen Law with Pops. (Sorry Kip, I liked working with you, but I don't think another chiropractor would be the same.) So I started applying to immigration paralegal jobs. I really only had my year and a half experience and my winning smile to get me one of these jobs. None of my schooling would suggest I was qualified to be a paralegal and Texas is full of Hispanics who speak Spanish better than me so I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I was also feeling kind of foolish for accepting a job I so quickly hated so I was going to be more picky with the places I applied to. I only applied to immigration law firms and made sure the drive was a distance I would honestly be willing to drive every day.

I started applying in January and accepted a job offer on March 23rd. It doesn't seem that long when I write it out like that, but it felt like FOREVER. Every day that I had to get up and go to HealthSouth was torture. Not knowing if or when I would finally find a job I liked made my current one feel worse and worse. Poor Ben had to deal with a few breakdowns during that time, but he's always been very good at comforting me. He helped me feel like I was still worth something after every rejection. Okay there weren't that many rejections, but like I said at the time it FEELS like a lot. Now looking back I'm SO grateful for the rejections I did get. I had some reservations about the other three offices I interviewed at before being offered the position I now have, but I may have been tempted to accept an offer from them just because it had to be better than where I was.

The first office seemed cool enough, but the attorney I would have been the paralegal for did immigration and family law. I really have no interest in family law and wouldn't have enjoyed that part of the job very much. The second office was a bit...strange. Just walking in it didn't really feel like a professional place. I understand maybe your clients have humble lives, but you can still be professional. In that interview I was asked how I felt about foul language and inappropriate joke. They said that's the kind of environment here and we don't want you to be bothered by it. I, admittedly, didn't give a very good standing-up-for-my-standards answer. I just kind of awkwardly said that I was currently working in a place like that soo...yeah. Which is probably why when I had a chance to speak in Spanish I totally choked. Like choked. I've never been so tongue tied in my life. I couldn't get a single sentence out. They said they would contact me for a second interview, but never did. I reached out and they said they would call me soon. They still didn't call and I figured I didn't really want it anyways and let it end there. (Just another example of how unprofessional they were...they legit ghosted on me! A business!) The third interview came at about the same time as the fourth. I went to that interview and it seemed like a nice office. I liked the lady who interviewed me but it turned out she wasn't really supposed to be the one interviewing. So she had me come back for a "second interview" which was really just a redo of the first with the right person. He asked me all the same questions, but he was way ruder about everything. Oh and even though the job was going to be in Fort Worth I had to go to Dallas for the interviews. So I wasn't that happy about having a pointless interview and then having to go back for the real one. The guy was just very snobby and seemed like he felt like he was doing me the BIGGEST favor just by interviewing me. After talking about what I had done at Keen Law and getting through the whole interview he ended it by saying, "So your experience in immigration law isn't really anything right?" I was like umm....I def learned a few more things than your average Joe. And then he just started quizzing me on things which was super annoying. They were things that were so basic every question was like a slap in the face. Like REALLY. OH! And I didn't tell you the best part! I had gone there expecting a legal assistant/paralegal job...well when I get there they told me there receptionist was leaving and they weren't sure if she'd return. Soooo I was going to be the receptionist and if she came back I could move up and if she didn't it would be a while longer before I get to move up. Yeah so that was an AWFUL experience. I came home from that interview and just wanted to stop looking for jobs. I was sick of interviewing. I decided I'd go to this last interview I had scheduled for the next day, but after that I'd put things on hold for a bit. I went to my interview at Nayar and McIntyre and the difference was remarkable! I spoke with the two attorneys first and they were so nice. I felt totally comfortable with them and we were joking and having a good time. Then I met with two of the legal assistants so they could make sure I spoke fluent Spanish because the attorneys don't. They were also very nice and I walked out of there feeling great. Even if I didn't get the job it was just such a positive interview experience it made me feel a lot better. They told me they were interviewing a few more people and I'd probably hear from them next week. The next day I got an email from Maria (one of the attorneys) offering me the job!! I was SO excited. Ben and I jumped around a little bit and drove to Walmart for some celebratory ice cream. On the way over I was face-timing Mel for professional advice. See I skipped the part of the story about my BodyPump Certification....so let's take a quick detour to talk about that.

In November I went to a training to get certified in BodyPump. Then I had to tape myself teaching a class and send it in to them to be officially certified. I won't go into all the stuff I had to go through to make that taping happen, but just know it was a lot. Finally, in February I got the news that I was certified! Just a few weeks after that I was charged for the newest BodyPump release. (They release a new set of exercises every three months and you are basically forced to buy it) Once I saw that I realized I needed to find a job teaching BodyPump fast! The training was already some $300 and every release is $38. Yes, this was more of an investment in my happiness than a money making move, but I couldn't let the debt of my BodyPump training keep piling up. So I frantically searched for job openings. None of the mainstream places were responding to my inquires so I went on the BodyPump instructors facebook page and asked for peeps that teach in my area. I got one lady who said she hires instructors at one gym and knows people who do at other so I could reach out to her if I was interested. Well I jumped on that quick and got hired at a gym about 30 minutes from my house. Not the most convenient location, but I REALLY wanted to start teaching and at that time I was only working part time so I figured I could spare a few minutes to drive to the gym. So I committed to start teaching a BP class on Wednesday nights at 5:30.

Fast forward back to the car ride. I almost immediately started chatting with Mel about how to approach the job offer because I REALLY wanted it, but I would have to leave like an hour early on Wednesdays to get to the BP class. She convinced me it wasn't outlandish to make that request and drafted a letter for me. (She also tried to weasel in a request for a higher wage, but I told her I didn't want to push it.) Those next few hours were very nerve wracking. I was cautiously excited, I had no clue what I was going to do if they denied the request. Finally I heard back that they were fine with me taking a shorter lunch a few days a week to allow me to leave early on Wednesday. HALLELUJAH!!!

Looking back and as I write this blog I can see this was the job that was waiting for me. It works so perfectly. The gym I teach at is on the way home so it's now a convenient location instead of super far from my house. The drive is a little long, it's about an hour commute with the traffic, but I've started renting audio books from the library so I really don't mind it. By the end of my time at this office I'm going to be SUPER well read. I really like the ladies I work with. I especially love that this job is challenging and requires me to think and learn. It was a bit overwhelming at first, the attorneys give A LOT more responsibilities to the legal assistants than at Keen Law, but it's getting more manageable now. The second week of working here I was also learning a new BP routine...I thought my mind was going to explode because of how many things I was trying to make it memorize.

So yeah, life is a lot busier nowadays, but it's great. I leave around 7:20 and get home around 6:45 each day. If Ben wasn't in school and even busier than me it might be a little bit of a downer that I'm gone so long, but how things are now it's been really good for me to have a job that requires more of me. It's definitely a higher stress job, but I enjoy being challenged. Of course the best part of my day is still coming home and giving Ben a hug and a kiss, but it's real nice to have a job I enjoy. Yep, life is great! Now if I could only get the Bishop to release me from my new calling as choir director....things would REALLY be looking up. ;)

Oh and I forgot to mention...that third job I interviewed at. I got a call from them the day after I accepted the N & M job. They wanted me to come in for a third interview, and they wanted me to come that second! I was SOOO happy to be able to tell them that unfortunately I had already accepted a job offer. :)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Because Ben didn't have class!!)

Alright...fifth times the charm. I have started this blog post so many times. Every time I start all the sudden I get tired and decide sleep is better than blogging. 

Happy New Year!! Oh boy...that was quite the break. It was such a fun, long break from our responsibilities. By the end Ben admitted that he was ready to go back to school just to feel a little more productive. I was definitely ready to be back in our home and in our bed. In Idaho we were sleeping on a fold out mattress...so basically just three metal bars...so our bed felt great!

Our Christmas lasted pretty much all December. It started on the 2nd when we invited some friends over for a gingerbread house making party. We decided to create the Eiffel Tower, but with the lack of candy provided it turned out to be a little lack luster. (Basically those put in charge of bringing candy purchased what they like to eat and not what would actually be fun to decorate with.)

We didn't even really finish decorating because we weren't really feeling it by the end...but we still had to take pictures to document it.

This is what taking pictures with Ben looks like...a little blurry...let's take another

Okay, that's decent we'll go with it.

Ben...give me the phone...

Give me the phone!

PHONE!

The day after was our 6 month anniversary and we decided to go all out Ben and Em style. In other words we stayed home all night, ate yummy food, and watched some Downton Abbey. We bought a rotisserie chicken, Ben made potatoes, I made a yummy salad and rolls, we had Martinelli's. It was just the BEST. Then we opened our Christmas presents to each other and from Mom and Dad since we wouldn't be taking them to Utah/Idaho with us. So fun! We got some great stuff! 

On December 15th Ben and I headed off on our two week adventure to Utah and Idaho.

We had a friend drive us to the train station and took that to the airport. Well really we took the train to a station near the airport, got on a bus that took us to a parking lot, and took a different bus from there to the airport. Yeah...Texas doesn't really have this whole public transport thing figured out. Where is the MAX when you need it?? 

(Pictured above: Emilye wearing as much clothing as possible to allow more room in her carry on.)

Ana was kind enough to pick us up from the airport. She was also kind enough to hold us hostage in an Old Navy parking lot for an hour and a half. The things you do to get cheap (hopefully not stolen) phones. :) 

Our time in Utah was a blast! We loved being able to see all the Utah Messerlys and were very grateful that Matt let us disrupt his peace for a few days. We weren't going to have a car for our time in Utah so making plans was a little tricky. Luckily, Ben's sister, Angie, was kind enough to lend us one of their cars so the last few days of our trip we had a little more freedom.

We took the Frontrunner up to SLC to see the lights...well really to see Shanna and her husband, but the suggested activity was go see the lights. It honestly almost didn't happen when I saw the cost of the tickets. Ridiculous!! Have I ranted in this blog post about crappy public transit yet?? Here I go again. GET IT TOGETHER UTAH! To cheer me up on the train ride up Ben challenged me to a round of Trivia Crack. (A game I was addicted to when we first met, but have since kicked the habit.) It cheered me up initially, but after he killed me 6 times in a row it was starting to have the opposite effect. Annnyyywayys...hanging out with Shanna was fun! We got some cute pics soooo #worthit. 

One night during the break we went over to Rich and Erica's and the gel nails came out. I promised Erica that I would keep them on until we left for Idaho. I believe it was a total of three days. It was hard, but I did it! I was literally peeling them off in the car on the drive up. I just can't help myself! They are fun to peel off!

It was so fun chilling at Matt's house. We talked musicals, health and fitness, sports, movies, clean up your messes I'm not mom... etc. We even got to watch him in action. He totally T'd up the coach. It was awesome. I will say I'm VERY glad our schedules didn't align until our last day for Ben and Matt to play each other in FIFA on the Xbox. If that would've happened any sooner I'm pretty sure I would've gone to temple square by myself. 

This is just a bonus picture...how cute do we look? It's like our first family photo. They could totally be our kids. 

Wednesday was dedicated to Missy and Kimball's wedding! It was a lot of fun, really I'm just excited about the cute dress I got out of it. The sealing was great, the luncheon was yummy, and the couple looked very happy. So, three for three in my book. We bounced before the reception (we didn't feel like killing five hours in Ogden, UT...like how do you even do that?) On the way home we stopped at this place called Wing Coop in Holladay. Ben had been there once before and has dreamt of it ever since. So we stopped there and as we were driving away Ben said, "I want to go back for more." Haha so much for trying to satisfy his craving. (We did recently attempt to make some wings at home which turned out pretty good so hopefully it'll tide him over until the next stop in Holladay, UT.) 

Some other highlights from Utah: making peanut butter cookies and seeing them disappear in 24 hours, wrapping presents with Ana, having Rich record Ana, Ben, and I as if we were carolers and sending it to mom and dad as an e-carol, making sugar cookies, watching Ana load up plates with said sugar cookies and delivering them to her neighbors, watching the Christmas Carol with Ben and almost tearing up from the nostalgia, delivering some cookies to Dane and getting to catch up with him and Hobbes. I could go on and on. It was such a fun week!! 

Thursday afternoon we packed up and headed up to Idaho. I really do love Ben's family, even though I may have teared up a little on Christmas Eve thinking of all of yall I was happy to spend time with them. We had a great time! It was definitely very different from our days in Utah. All the family was in one house because almost everyone came from out of town. Every minute there was some group activity going on! In Utah Ben and I just chilled most of the time...in Idaho whenever  you finished one activity you started looking for the next. One of my favorite activities was when we stood around the piano playing hand bells. We did this last year at his house and I LOVED it. I'm totally investing in some hand bells at some point. And they do not kid around with the bells. Every time I missed a note I'd get all flustered and prayed no one noticed. 

Another fun tradition the Jacks have is painting mice ornaments. It started with Meredith when she was really young I believe and it's just continued through the years. Meredith is a PRO. Like I should've taken pictures of some of the mice she's done. They are CRAZY detailed. It took me like 4 hours to do the very imperfect mouse that I ended up with. 

Our cute singing mice. Ben definitely out performed me here, but overall I think they both look nice. 

I didn't spend much time out in the snow, but I just had to show off the igloo Ben, Tim, and their dad made. 

Gingerbread house making round #2

I am SO proud of this house. Definitely the best house I've ever made. See what good candy can do?

Our cute house may have seemed a little cooler if Dan and Sterling didn't make a ROCKET SHIP. The Jacks are just too good to keep up with sometimes.

Other highlights from Idaho were playing a BILLION board games (seriously I don't think we ever stopped playing board games...we were probably playing them while making our gingerbread houses some how), playing racquetball against Ben's mom (I went with them under the impression we'd go work out in the gym while the boys played racquetball, but when she asked me to play I didn't want to say no. It was actually super fun! I mean she says she's not very good and she still beat me, but it was a fun way to get in a work out). all of us getting little drones for our "Santa" gift, Angie, Hannah, and I getting mad at our respective husbands for hitting us with the drones (those things hurt! with their little blades moving so fast. I considered telling Mama and Papa Jack that they really gifted us all marital problems), watching Finding Dory, and listening to the Christmas story on Christmas Eve.

Whew...I made it! I think that's everything! Of course I could tell you about the trip home, but by then Ben and I were both sick, we missed a train, had to wait an hour for the next, we got home way too late, and I may have shed a few tears at the thought of Ben going back to school. Sooooo, lets just end it on that positive note instead. It was definitely a different Christmas time, but a good one still. OH. I forgot one of the biggest highlights! Getting to Facetime Mom and Dad on Christmas! Even if they had no sound it was great to see their smiling faces :) I love you all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

This Is Halloween

So I was talking to my friend Coco the other day about my blog and she was making fun of how little I've actually posted on here in the past. It feels like I've written a lot more than I have! So...look at me go! Posting twice in a few weeks!

Ben and I decided to get in the Fall/Halloween spirit. and by that I mean we were invited to activities that required us to get in the spirit.

First, we went to a pumpkin patch/corn maze with our friends Sara and Corey. Pumpkin patches seem to be a lot harder to come by in the Texas area because it was like 35 minutes away and everyone and their dog was there! Although it was kind of a long drive and we didn't even get a pumpkin we had a good time! Really we just went for the photo op...

Oh yeah...they also had a few random animals you could look at. The llama was a favorite. 

On Friday night we got a text from our friends Ryan and Elizabeth inviting us over to carve the pumpkins they bought. Always happy to free load, we headed over. After a few google searches we found a picture of a jack-o-lantern we wanted to recreate. It wasn't until we finished that we realized we had created a portrait of Ben.

Isn't it the best pumpkin you've ever seen?!

On Saturday night we had our Ward Halloween activity. We were in charge of the "carnival games" for the kiddos. We were a little skeptical going in how this would work out. The games were just kind of there to help distract the kids while their parents ate and chatted. I was a little worried about our ability to wrangle 30 random kids, but we survived. We had three games between the two of us and I was sweating by the end. We didn't put too much effort into our costumes...Ben has Colorado Rapids shorts and a jersey so he went as a player and I went as his #1 fan. I mentioned our idea to Sara and they came as LA Galaxy fans because they had a game on Sunday. (The Galaxy beat us 1-0, but we have another chance to beat them this weekend.) 

So there you have it...just a quick update! It's 7:15 on Halloween night and we haven't had anyone knock on the door so I'm assuming we won't be getting any trick or treaters. Darn...guess we will have to eat this candy by ourselves....

When You Play A Country Song Backwords

So when Ben and I moved away Erica told me that I needed to be better at blogging because "how else will I know what's going on in your life." It's a fair point. The only problem is I feel like I don't have much going on so it's kind of hard to keep people updated on nothing. I also don't have  many pictures from the last few months so I know this post may be a little dull, but I figured I'd update yall anyways.

It's hard to believe we've been living here for a little more than 3 months now. I keep telling myself we just got here and that's why we still haven't hung any of our pictures on the wall. At least our clothes are officially out of suitcases and boxes now...I count that as a victory. Life in Texas is HOT, but I actually don't mind it when it means I get to lay by the pool in mid-October. It's like an eternal summer down here. Driving around Fort Worth definitely takes getting used to, but now that I feel I've got the hang of it I kind of like this city. Our apartment is in a really nice, safe neighborhood so I can go on walks/runs during the day. It's a fun little place!

Ben's been killing it in Med school these last few months. He might not agree with that sentence, but he has passed all his classes so he is rocking it! I've discovered that being a "med school wife" has more challenges than I anticipated, but we are taking it a step at a time and making it work. Ben is very aware that if he let it med school could consume all his time and his whole life. So I'm impressed that he is working hard to maintain a good balance.

I'm not working with ITK anymore...my assignment ended on Sept 30th and since then I've been searching for a job and/or a purpose. I'll take whichever one comes first. I am working towards applying to a PTA program that will start next Fall, but I would feel a LOT better about that choice if we had an income for a few more months. I'm also going to an orientation next week to try to be a volunteer at the Refugee Services of Texas so hopefully I'll be able to start doing some volunteering there soon. Here's to feeling like a contributing member of society!

Our lives are pretty ordinary right now...so I don't have too many fun stories. We did have a fun trip back to Utah in August! It was so fun to see yall again! I definitely miss living close to family! The main reason we were in Utah was for Ben's brother's wedding...but the best reason we were in Utah was so Dad, Mom, Matt, and I could go on the best trip ever! 

The picture that has me considering chopping off some of my hair. 

Look at how handsome Ben is!

After a careful analysis we have determined that we are def the cutest couple 

The wedding was fun, but it was a LONG day. The whole day was a huge confirmation that not having a wedding reception was the BEST decision Ben and I ever made. Like the BEST. I was like sort of tired of being with people by the end of the day, but if I had been the bride I would've been REALLY over it. But Stephen and Hannah seemed very happy and thoroughly enjoyed all the little traditions that happen at a wedding reception and that's what really matters. Also, the reception gave me a chance to convince Ben to dance with me so that was totally awesome. 

The Sunday after the wedding Ben flew back to Texas and I booked it down to Springville to see the fam! Monday afternoon Mom, Pop, Matt, and I got in a car and drove down to St George. I have to say it was a very fun group! Matt poked fun at Dad with me, Mom went on morning walks with me, and Dad admired my new found appreciation for conserving energy. Yes, I am now my father. My blood pressure goes up as the temperature on our thermostat goes down. (Ben used to be convinced that 78 was livable, but we've gone down to 77 the last few nights...) It doesn't help that I get weekly emails from our energy people telling me how much money we spent on energy the last week, how it compares to what we did the week before, and how much we will be paying per month at that rate, but I digress...We went down to St George to see Tarzan and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Tarzan was so much fun, but Hunchback was beautiful! I still get goosebumps just thinking about some of the numbers from Hunchback...so GOOD! I love theater. 

Matt treated us to a backstage tour and dinner before the show. It was so fun! And those scones man...cinnamon butter is the best thing EVER. 

The best thing about this picture is that Mom was trying to fight me for the monkey position! She thought is was very obvious that I should be Jane. It's got to be that 'I'm the grandma I have to lose at Toyland' mentality. 

It was a great trip, but a little too short! We'll be back in Utah from December 15th-22nd and I'm very excited to see the Utah Messerlys again! 

Oh they say when you're married in June...

We interrupt this program to bring you WEDDING PICTURES!!!!!! They are amazing and I love them! Yes my hair is a bit of a mess in some of them because of the wind, but I'm so happy to finally have something to remember how AWESOME that day was...so without further ado...

Everyone waiting outside the temple:

Erica and Mel trying to mend the great dress debacle of 2016.

The boys totally oblivious to the nearby disaster...

If there's a photographer around...

He will be shamelessly used. ;)

 The Grand Exit:

"Someone grab his bag!"

Awkwardly waiting for anyone to come up and talk to us...

Finally Midge makes the move!

The whole gang!

Los Amigos

The Messerly Group...apparently Rich thinks he's above us all...

Messerly Might!

Other than the fact the Loren didn't quite get out from behind Mel I LOVE this picture!

So sweet! :)

Ben and I had a good laugh about the fact that our fathers are the same in pictures...just stare at the camera and look slightly confused...love ya Dad!

And he says he's not photogenic...

Unfortunately, in all Ben's sibling pictures the wind was doing something bizarre to his hair...

The Bridesmaids!

The Men...who weren't really officially groomsmen, but just happened to be the three of Ben's friends who made it.

 After pictures of Ben and his dudes everyone was dismissed and we took a bunch of pictures of us! Be warned there may be some kissing pictures...the sun was so bright those were the best pictures we could get. Everything else was just us fighting to not squint!

Totally artsy...I love it!

LOVE the colors in this one!

Can you tell that veil has fallen out and had to be put back in about a THOUSAND times?

Just stand there, look at the camera, and smile. The hardest type of picture for us to pull off...but I think this one is nice!

I kind of like it...even though you can tell it's not a natural pose for us.

He's just too cute!

So there you have it!! Wedding pictures!! It was just the best day! I really want to let yall see these pictures so I'm just gonna do a quick highlight reel to wrap up this post.

Favorite moments:
Getting ready in the morning with my sisters. Four girls, one giant mirror.
Driving to the temple with Ben. It felt so natural and so bizarre at the same time.
Walking into the sealing room and seeing so many familiar smiling faces. Everyone I looked at was someone I loved and was so happy to see there!
Watching Ben get emotional as I covenanted to be his wife for eternity.
Hearing what sounded like a little emotion in Grandpa's voice as he gave me a hug and told me he loved me.
Seeing Missy walk up to me with tears streaming down her face as she hugged me and hurried out of the room.
Having our host couple tell us that was the most powerful sealing they've ever been to.
Having Mom with me to help me with my dress...the ribbon looked perfect Mom. :) Well done.
Hearing that Midge was going to be wearing some ugly shawl over her pretty dress because it busted before Mel and Erica fixed it.
Getting into an air conditioned car after taking pictures in the HOT sun.