Due to some unforseen complications, I wasn’t able to post love day 4 yesterday.

That means – TWO DAYS OF LOVE FOR THE PRICE OF ONE.

Should be pretty good:)

Love Day 4:

Love is forgiving. People aren’t perfect, even those we love. And sometimes, the people that we love the very most are the people we take for granted the most often. The people that we love spend the most time with us, so we sometimes don’t recognize their needs, or understand that by being concerned about how others view us or how we can help others, we are neglecting those loved ones who need us most.

I read a blog post a while ago where the blogger said she wanted to put her husband first. I thought “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?” She went on to explain even more, saying that she always tried to put him before herself, but that didn’t always mean she was putting him before everyone else. When their friends would ask if they wanted to do this, or eat with them there, she would want to be easy going and helpful for them, and respond “We can do whatever!” She explained how she recognized that often she was putting other people before her husband, because she wanted to be helpful to others.

That kind of hit me, and one of my New Year’s Resolutions this year is to always put Randy first. I’m not always good at this, and so I’m very lucky that Randy is forgiving.

Love is recognizing the weaknesses in those around you, and not using those weaknesses against them. Not using those weaknesses to bring them down, or even pointing them out in any way other than in complete kindness.

Love is forgiving someone when they don’t say they’re sorry, and forgiving them without expecting them to. This can be so incredibly hard.

But that forgiveness is the true character of love.

Love Day 5:

Love is laughter. Nobody makes me laugh or smile as much as Randy Low, my family, and my friends. Randy especially just makes me giggle all the time. Love is learning not to take life so seriously, and recognizing that there are hard times as well as wonderful, fun times. It’s about embracing those times, making memories, and learning to laugh through all the hard times too.

I’m so thankful that I have family and friends, and most of all a wonderful husband, who help me learn not to take everything so seriously. It’s so good for me to relax, and just spend some time laughing with the people that I love.

Love is patient.

I was reminded of this today when I got to have a chat with a cute girl, who had a boy she was dating leave on a mission today.

It can be so hard to be far away from people we love.

It can be hard to trust in the Lord and in His timing. Sometimes it seems like it would be easier if things would work out the way we want them to, when we want them to. Which is usually right now.

I got a lot of flack for writing Randy when he was on his mission. People who didn’t even really know me or Randy were telling me that I was distracting, that he couldn’t possibly be a good missionary while I was writing him, and other things.

That taught me another aspect of love being patient – being patient with others who weren’t sure that I was making the right decisions.

Love is all about understanding that timing is everything, and that sometimes being patient is what will help it work out. Randy sure was patient when we were in junior high and high school, waiting for me to figure it out. Then it was my turn to be patient. And now, every day we try to be patient with each other while we navigate our tricky lives.

Happy love day three everyone:)

A year ago, my life changed drastically.

A year ago what I thought was a night out with one of my best girlfriends, turned into a forever night with the ultimate best friend, and the love of my life.

Today the love bug bite is all about remembering when we decided to spend our life together.

Check out the full engagement story

It was the easiest “yes” of my life, and the most important answer I had ever given.

Deciding to marry my high school sweetheart, my missionary, my best friend – it was easy.

The road up to making sure it was the right decision wasn’t always easy, but that night I knew I had never been more sure about anything.

Love is learning about someone else. Love is seeing the best and worst sides of someone. Love is thinking and weighing and choosing. Love is taking the risk when you have no idea what the future will hold. And love is confidence in that no matter what the future holds, you want to experience it together.

I remember waking up the next day and looking down at the ring on my finger. It seemed completely surreal.

I used to really believe in the idea of soulmates. And then as I got older I found out that the Church doesn’t really teach that. And that kind of bothered me.

Until I figured out something.

There’s a lot of good people in this world, and two people who are putting God first in their lives and who are working hard at it, can make a marriage work.

Obviously there are types of people who work best together, who enjoy the company of each other the most, who have the most fun together, who have chemistry.

But arranged marriages have worked for hundreds of years, and many people say they’re extremely happy.

Two people can make a marriage work.

So it’s not about finding the only person who you can hack it with, because there are probably a few different people you could hack it with.

It’s about choosing.

I chose to make Randy my soulmate, and he chose to make me his. We chose each other – fully realizing we could keep on looking, keep on dating, etc.

We chose each other, and we chose us.

And we keep choosing that every day.

On the hard days, on the bad days, on the sick days, and on the wonderful and happy days.

We choose our love, our marriage, and each other.

Love is a choice.

That’s the sentiment today. And a year ago, I chose to say YES.

Happy anniversary of our engagement my love.

And happy love day 2 to the rest of you!

Also – check out advice to my engaged friends

Friends, I have been a savage.

I haven’t taken any pictures for such a long time.

I look at my photo album to know what to blog about – and YIKES. Nothing there.

So here’s a quick catch up – and then a bigger and better kick-off.

This weekend held dinner with friends, relaxing, cleaning our house, grocery shopping, heading to Kaysville to spend time with Randy’s family and then my family, seeing Bethany perform in the One Act Play festival at Davis (she was absolutely incredible. That girl can act my friends) games with the fam, then Sunday Randy was pretty sick, so I ran over to teach my class and then we lazed around. Some of our Sunday School kids came to say hello which was a party, and then we had friends over in the evening for a treat which was wonderful.

Randy and I have these crazy decisions and it’s hard. But I don’t want to dwell on these big life changing things that are ahead for us. I want to dwell on FEBRUARY which is one of my favorite months!

I have a cute pillow and a cute sign, and a cute candle holder allll decked out in hearts. I think it’s so perfect that we have a month where the major holiday is all about love.

Some people ha-rumph and wrinkle their nose at Valentine’s Day. But I happen to love it (and I still loved it when I was single folks!)

So I have officially been bitten by the Love Bug.

And I’m going to be posting about things that I love/definitions of love/stories of love/etc. for the next few weeks.

Get excited.

So today, let’s start with something that I talked to my Sunday School class about yesterday.

Our lesson was about learning about our Heavenly Father from the scriptures.

We talked about His characteristics and how to learn more about Him, and how to get to know Him on a personal level.

At the end, I asked the kids to think of a relationship that’s very important to them, or one that they wish would be better. I then talked to them about how if they would put their relationship with God FIRST, the other relationships would get better and stronger.

That’s why my marriage to Randy works. Because both of us put God first, and know that the other person is going to do the same.

That’s real love my friends. I know I come second in Randy’s life, because Heavenly Father will always come first. And that’s how it should be.

Loving our Heavenly Father, and recognizing His love for us. is the most important love we will have in this life. Because if we love Him, we will try to keep His commandments. And because He loves us perfectly, we can entirely rely and trust in Him.

Happy love month my friends:)

hello friends.

long time no post, am I right??

SO

this weekend was a lazy Friday

and a CRAZY Saturday.

Saturday my darling cousin got married! We spent the day at the Payson temple to watch them get sealed (which was absolutely amazing), then off to Highland Gardens in Cedar Hills for the luncheon and reception. It was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and our family had the best day.

My aunts, mom, grandma, and my sister did ALL the cookies and treats for the reception. Our family ran around making hot chocolate, filling up plates, clearing tables, and cleaning up after the whole event. I also did some videography for the big day!

It was SUCH a busy day that I didn’t even have time to snap a picture of Randy and I with the bride and groom! SO SAD.

But I have to give Randy the biggest shout out. He seriously was a champ, running around and doing absolutely everything to help. He was on top of everything and I’m so glad I have him by my side. I’m the luckiest.

Pictures/video from the wedding will come once I have time to get working on them!

Just trying to keep our head above water over here, with Randy’s school and work, my work and freelance work, our church callings, family time, and sometimes a little time for each other.

It’s a good life friends.

Happy Tuesday everyone, happy wedding Marie and Jake!

weekending consisted of spending some much needed time with Randy’s brother and his wife, laughing our heads off with Rebecca and Jett, and having deep talks with Lauren and Rach.

it also consisted of a lazy Saturday, lots of cleaning, shopping, and feeding the awesome missionaries in our ward.

today has been filled with church and being lazy as can be.

more coming this week, i assure you! i’m thinking I might finally get around to an apartment tour, but we shall see I guess!

Happy Sunday all!

I have faced several situations in my life where I have prayed, asked, and sometimes just told Heavenly Father about a situation, and then gotten an answer that I didn’t expect, or like. This has tested my faith beyond measure. But I have learned so much in the process of not getting answer that I want. So here are the things that I do when I don’t get the answer that I want.

1. Spend a lot of time talking to Heavenly Father. And I don’t just mean morning and nightly prayers. I mean honest to goodness, all day communication. I pray on my knees, and then I pray in my heart while I drive to work, while I run to the store, during every minute. I ask for my heart to be open and for any little thing that can help me, to help me. I have been inspired and comforted while vacuuming, cooking dinner, and working out. It’s amazing the times that Heavenly Father can speak to us. I find it’s so important for me to make very specific, on my knee time, and also make ALL the time a time when I can be inspired.

2. Read, read, read. Flip open your scriptures anywhere. I made a goal to try and read a verse or two instead of checking out instagram when I ride in the elevator, or when I’m standing in line. Eating up the words of the Lord and his prophets have often been the way for me to find the comfort and reassurance that I need.

3. Look at what prophets have said. We once had a lesson in seminary about Hiram Page in the Doctrine and Covenants. It was the chapter where the Lord talks about the “seerstone”. Hiram Page thought he was getting revelations through this stone, and that he was being called to take the church in a different direction. In my lesson, we discussed how the Lord handled this situation. He specifically says that Hiram should not be chastised publicly. He is told that he was mislead by the Devil, and that he really thought he was doing the right thing. The Lord then speaks about Joseph Smith as the prophet, and mouth of the Lord. We then discussed how if you are getting revelation, answers, or insights that are different from what the Prophet is saying – you should reexamine. The Prophet will not be allowed to lead us astray. I have such a firm testimony of that. So when I am getting an answer that I don’t like or want, or even any answer for that matter, I compare it to what Prophet’s have to say.

4. Lose my pride. This is SO hard for me to do. I’m stubborn. I’m convinced I’m always right. I hate looking silly, backtracking, or apologizing. I have learned that if I’m going to do the things that Heavenly Father REALLY wants me to do, I have to lose that attitude. I have to check my pride at the door when I come down to kneel in prayer. If I have that pride with me, I won’t listen no matter what the answer is. I won’t care what the answer is. It is only the times when I have made a conscious effort to say “whatever it is that YOU want me to do, I’ll do it,” that I get comfort.

5. Determine to figure out why. When I realized that I wasn’t supposed to serve a mission, I was angry. It was when I decided to figure out why I was on the path that I was on, that I started seeing more clearly. If we have an attitude of trying to understand what the reason or purpose is, instead of being upset with that answer, we are able to see. I woke up each morning determined to find the reason behind my call not to serve. And I found them. I have such a clear understanding of the reasons and the plan that Heavenly Father made for me. It came from changing the whiny “why not??”, to a sincere desire to know why, and what I was to do instead.

Not getting the answer you’re looking for can be hard, hurtful, and confusing. But I know that when you combine your personal revelation with the word of the Lord, his mouthpiece, and His quiet words to you, you’ll understand and be able to accept. Even if you don’t get that full understanding, he’ll give you the capacity to accept and be patient. It’s truly amazing what He can do with our stubborn hearts and minds, if we just let him.

We said goodbye to my niece and sister-in-law on Sunday. So sad. We won’t be seeing them again until this summer, so it really was quite tragic. By that time, my niece will be a whole person who has stranger danger and stuff. No bueno. But it’s good they’ll be reunited with my brother and be home, back in the swing of things!

Also Friday night was delightful. Randy and I got a gift card from his parents for Christmas, so it was off to Red Lobster for a delicious dinner, followed by a night of fun skating at the Gallivan Center. Randy is an AMAZING skater (thanks to his talented mom) and it was so fun to watch him, and then skate with him, and then watch him show off even more!

Saturday we got to welcome home Miss Kira from her mission, which was wonderful, and then we got to see our friends Tim and Candace! It’s so fun to catch up with high school friends, but it’s weird when we realize we aren’t little kids anymore!

What a wonderful weekend with wonderful family, and friends. Hope your weekend was awesome, and happy Monday everyone!

We sat in the back of my Nissan Altima in silence. We had just exchanged gifts, little things so that we could hold on to each other. We recorded a video and cried all the way through it, like a couple of babies. (I had no idea I would watch those last few videos hundreds of times in the next few years)

Some of you will read this story and think I was a crazy, dramatic, unaware, little kid. And in so many ways, I was. But in so many other ways, I wasn’t. I knew what I could potentially lose. I knew what time and distance and space could do to a little, teenage love like ours.

So we sat in the back of the car reminiscing and making plans and dreaming. When it was time for me to drive Randy back to his house, we looked over the ledge at our little spot in Kaysville and tried to smile.

We drove back in mostly silence, letting the sequence of our many songs fill the car.

I went inside Randy’s house for a few minutes to say hello to his family. He wrote his email and mailing address on a piece of paper (that I would have memorized in a few weeks).

I walked out to my car for our real, final goodbye. I climbed in the front seat and had the strangest mix of pride, and extreme heartbreak.

Just down the street from Randy’s house there was a stop sign. I stopped at it, and was crying too hard to continue driving. I just waited for a minute, and looked up just in time to see Randy sprinting down the street towards my car. I rolled down the window for one more “I love you” and kiss, and that was it. I drove home to Provo and cried the whole way. I would pass places, our places, and break down all over again.

The next day I got a farewell text, and that was it.

Randy entered the MTC on January 9th, 2013. And it changed both of our lives forever.

I’m so thankful for Randy’s mission, for our letters, and for everything that has happened because of it.

Macaroons and my love. That made for a pretty wonderful Wednesday after a fairly difficult day at work. (also, i can’t rave about Eva’s enough. both the tapas restaurant and the boulangerie are to DIE for)

I’ve heard a lot of people say they don’t like New Year’s Resolutions. It can be difficult to make a million promises and then break them in the same month. I kind of like the whole “new year, new me” idea. Sure, by the end of the year I have slipped back into some not so great habits, but I feel that in at least a couple ways, I greatly improve. I get to make goals, and while some goals have stayed on my list for years (work out X amount of times per week, read X amount of books per month, etc.) others I get to see myself accomplish. These goals become habits, which become lifelong commitments. And it’s really wonderful.

A part of my “new year, new me” ideals this year includes being happier. One of the ways that I’m trying to do that is be more positive, and recognize the wonderful things. I have a book from Blogging for Books that I’ll be reviewing soon that is really helping me with this. I SUPER love it and can’t wait to review it:)

So the point of this long ramble, is to talk about a few things that I’m adoring in 2016.

-Macaroons from my love
-Dreamy, foggy mornings
-Warm blankets
-Pulling our mattress into the living room for a camp out
-Willing the dying aloe plant in my office to live (I’m actually watering it too, so that may help)
-New clothes
-Getting home and seeing packages on the doorstep
-Long discussions at work about pop culture, the beliefs of society, stereotypes, and the best restaurants.
-Delicious candles
-Tea-tree shampoo that makes my head tingle
-Playing games in the grocery store
-Planning lessons for my amazing Sunday School class
-And a million, billion more things

Happy Thursday to all my lovely friends!