New Beginnings

Well, I have given some serious contemplation concerning the prognosis of this wonderful old blog and the stupid dark mark that has overtaken it. During my contemplation, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to start over. It seems particularly fitting since it's a new year and all. So, I will not be using this blog any longer, but will be starting a new blog...a continuation of the old one (of course) there's way too much on this blog to just leave it all behind and lost on the world wide web. I'll be sure to have a link on the new one to this one. I still have mixed feelings about starting over, but I would like to have my agency returned in regards to how I manage my blog. So, here's to a new beginning.

http://www.wimp.com/fireworksshow/


The new blog is http://beautyofawall.blogspot.com/
I will explain. Promise. :)

A Dark Mark

Today I thought to myself,  "it would nice to change my blog background." So that's exactly what I did. I was quite pleased with the background I found (It's cute, right?) and felt content that this was going to be the next phase of awesomeness for ambsterdam89.blogspot.com.
I was wrong. Thanks to the website Cutest Blog on the Block, my blog is ruined. Forever! Apparently I no longer have the ability to change my background EVER again simply because I erased some HTML stuff and put some new HTML stuff in it's place. Also, I can't even access this blog without going through the other blog, thedentalhygieneminutes.blogspot.com because the link that would normally allow me to log in is no longer in existence either. Vanished. MIA. Gone.
On a happier note, I guess it was inspiration to start that other blog because I didn't even really need it, but now I can access my shtuff through it. Yay!
Gracious me. I might be overreacting. (nahhh)
I am at an impasse right now in deciding how to respond to this odd (and apparently unheard of) situation.Tyler and I searched the internet to figure out how to undo this cluster cuss of a mess, but alas, I guess no one else has ever had this happen to them.
I can still post on here. I just have no control of what font I want to choose. (sigh)
Should I call it quits on this blog and start afresh?
I feel like Hamlet. "To be or not to be. That is the question."
I don't know.
Oh. If anyone reads, this, please refrain from choosing the background I have. It will be the last choice you ever make in regards to blog templates.
It's like a disease. It slowly takes away your freedom to choose.
It will destroy how you design your blog forever!

There is a dark mark on this blog now. Forever.

Mi Amor

I thought it would be nice to put up a few pictures of Tyler and I. I wish I understood how to use this blogger thing better, but whatever.

Sometimes true love finds you while you are sitting on a stump.

I like the grass in this picture. I really like Tyler the most though. :]

Easy entertainment.

Nerd Day

This was the day that we officially decided we really liked each other and then we kissed each other to seal the deal of liking each other. 

Together Forevs

Tiempo

Fact of the day: The word tiempo means time or season in spanish (or at least, that's what my friend Google Translate tells me).
After I came home from school today I was pondering about time and how much we have of this slippery commodity, but how little of it we use wisely. For instance, I should probably be studying about the zillions of muscles that create facial expressions right now in lieu of an anatomy test tomorrow instead of contemplating about time in a blog entry.

I really want to write about time though....

Nelson Mandela said, "We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right." Nelson Mandela knew what was up. The program I'm in at school right now requires us to do tons of service hours each month. I was feeling a bit discouraged about this at first because time is SO precious as it is and I really felt like I was barely keeping my head above the water as it was. Not to mention I do in fact have a life outside of school. Gee. However, I have found that somehow I have been able to accomplish so much more recently since I have taken the focus off of "What can I do for me?" and I have shifted my focus to, "What can I do for (insert noun [limited to places or people] here)?" Some might say it's just that I've become better at managing my time. I would have to agree to a small degree (that rhymed!), but I also really believe that as we go out of our way to serve others, especially those who come into our lives, the Lord blesses in ways we don't always understand. Maybe I'm crazy, but I really think it seems like a plausible idea.

There is no better time to do service for someone that now. We live in a world that is so focused on me and I that if we don't watch ourselves we can become blind to the world, its joys and the people that occupy it.

I just found this video and I like it a lot (minus the narrators voice)

I want to use my jelly beans wisely. The idea of how quickly time can slip through your fingertips became very profound when my mother passed away two years ago. I had so much time to spend with her and I hardly feel like I spent enough of it with her.

One of the unfortunate things about time is that you can't reverse it. Sometimes I wish I could, but deep down I know that the outcome of things in the past would still be the same because "to every thing there is a season"and "a time to every purpose under heaven."

The fact that time does go on forever is an incredible idea too. It's kind of like numbers in math. They can go on infinitely and so does time. I'm thankful for that knowledge because I know that someday I'll be reunited with my family members and we will be together FOREVER!

I guess I should probably do my homework now, but I hope you found this snippet as a useful part of your day.

Nostalgia Lane

Happy Autumn! The leaves are starting to turn here. It's going to be a lovely fall! I hope to enjoy the weather and not get stuck in my textbooks too much.

It's funny to think that one year ago today I was walking around Raleigh knocking on random people's doors telling them about my belief in Jesus Christ and His love for each of us. Some of those random people may have felt something warm their heart and decided to let us come into their homes to share more. I'm really glad I had the experience of going on a mission. As I mopped the floor this morning, I thought about the many lessons and principles I learned as a missionary. I think one of the primary lessons that I learned was that we can control our outlook on life despite what our circumstances may be.

As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf beautifully presented:

We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. “This is the day which the Lord hath made … ,” the Psalmist wrote. “Rejoice and be glad in it.”

Brothers and sisters, no matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it.

Perhaps we should be looking less with our eyes and more with our hearts. I love the quote: “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”

I suggest reading the entire talk, "Of Regrets and Resolutions". 

I determine my happiness. :)

I'm really excited for October! I found this yummy recipe in my inbox the other day and I'm really excited to make it. Cooking is turning out to be more enjoyable than I ever thought imaginable.

Tyler and I are anticipating the release of the newest album from ARCADE FIRE at the end of October as well. The single from their new album has the best music video ever! if you go to justareflektor.com it should pull up. If you're an apple geek make sure you use google chrome instead of Safari. :)

School is...school. I enjoy it, but also struggle a lot. Last week was a tough one for me, but I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of things and I think once I start to see how everything fits together I'll find it very enjoyable. 

Carpe Diem!

Marriage and Schooling

 My love and I have been married for over a month now. I love it! I highly recommend the institution of marriage. It is very rewarding and fulfilling and strengthening. We live in half of a yellow house, there is a terrifying dog that lives next door to us and we live across the street from the church! It's so convenient. It must be recompense for all the time I spent driving to church in North Carolina...and for being at church for 6-9 hours each sunday. :)

School officially started today. I am studying dental hygiene. So far I feel like it is do-able. One of my classes requires us to keep a blog so, I have started an adjunct blog that I predict will be pretty dry and boring (truth be told) about my clinical experiences. It's called, dentalhygieneminutes@blogspot.com.

I thought this was rather hilarious. I don't really believe it is true, but still. It's pretty funny.

So, thus it begins. Another semester of school, but this time I'm married to my best friend! :)

Never say Never

I have learned a great lesson this year:  Never say never.

It was recently brought to my attention that the above phrase is the name of a Justin Bieber song. We will ignore that fact. :]

Over the past few months there have been some epically huge changes in my life.

One refinement is that I became engaged to my love and main squeeze, Tyler Lewis after being home for only 3 months. The second is that we only dated for two months before coming to the conclusion that we were obviously the most perfect companion for each other and that we would never find a better half.

I know it's crazy. Believe me. I know!

Well, I can tell you right now that this is the last place I expected to be after coming home from the mission. Truth be told, I had something like double negative desire for dating when I came home. I was still feeling very lost and confused about life as I tried to make sense of the events that had taken place over the past year and half. During my release interview, an invitation was extended by my very wise stake president to resist the temptation to be in a "comfort zone" of no dating and to start getting out and dating as soon as possible. I reluctantly agreed. Little did I know that this would be very important agreement for the weeks to follow.

Tyler Lewis and I have been friends since before we can remember. How we were ever introduced is still a mystery, but we presume it was through our mutual friend Jacquelyn when were about 13 or 14 years old. We remained good friends throughout high school, ate our lunches together at the same table in the northwest corner of Davis High's cafeteria, and attended a few of the same parties hosted by friends. When we were seniors in high school Tyler asked me on my first date ever; Homecoming! I was excited and nervous and all sorts of awkward. We danced and had marvelous evening. Not much changed after that because we were in high school and all, but we remained friends throughout the duration of our high school experience.

Tyler left for his mission shortly after we graduated from high school. Our mutual friend, Jacquelyn kept me posted on how he was doing along with several other friends who were serving during the same time. I recently found a half written christmas card addressed to Tyler during the time he was serving as a missionary. Apparently I had intentions of writing him, but failed to complete and deliver that letter. It has since been delivered...three years late :)

My first contact with Tyler after he came home was at the Davis High seminary building. We swapped numbers and within a couple of days he called and asked me on our second "first date." We went golfing and learned that we are equally awful golfers. Then we ate the Pizza Factory. By this point I had decided that I was very fond of Tyler Lewis. Unfortunately, we were both in very different phases of our lives and our second first date remained just that. A second "first date."

Time passed, I decided that I needed to serve a mission, and I set out for that roller-coaster of an adventure. Tyler attended my farewell talk. I am grateful for his loyalty. A lot of people have speculated that Tyler and I must have written back and forth while I was serving. We actually didn't write each other. The only letters I received from the male sex were my father, brother, and my friend's ex-boyfriend (which was kind of awkward...) So, our communication at the farewell talk was the last time I heard from him during that year and a half.

How we ever ended up being reunited after the mission is a bit of a miracle itself. I didn't want to invite anyone to my homecoming because I was feeling unsure of how to handle the circumstances of home life and how stable I would be while giving that talk. I decided to keep the group small and only invite people who contacted me first and asked about it.

When I finally (and reluctantly) decided to start using my phone after being home for a few days, I noticed a number that had called a few times. I ignored it at first, but when it kept popping up in my missed calls I decided to call the mystery person back to see what he or she wanted. To my surprise it was Tyler Lewis! He told me that he had received a text message from a number that he didn't know informing him that I was home. He asked about attending the homecoming address and was able to come. I am grateful things worked out the way they did. That led to a series of very fortunate events. I was without work and I don't exactly remember how everything came together, but somehow Tyler lined me up with a job at J&J Garden and Nursery. The day I came for my interview, I talked with Tyler at the front door of the J&J building. I liked Tyler, but still felt apprehensive about all of this dating business. As we were saying goodbye, Tyler asked if we could go to dinner sometime. I was bursting inside and agreed (of course). I was sooooooo nervous and excited all at the same time! We went on our third "first date" two days later. We had plans to eat at a southern BBQ place that night, but a massive snow storm ruined that plan. Our next plan was to go bowling, but the massive snow storm also ruined that plan. So, we decided to go shovel snow off of people's driveways. We talked as we shoveled driveways and something amazing happened, we clicked. Really well. It was kind of bizarre. A good bizarre though. Tyler asked me on another date for the following day and I readily agreed. By the end of the weekend, we discovered our feelings of liking were mutual and that our relationship was more than "just friends."


On March 22 Tyler proposed to me; and it came as quite the surprise! March 22 started out like any other day. After getting home from work I noticed that no one was home. I thought it was odd, but continued to get ready for the date Tyler had planned that evening. When we were getting ready to leave, I was kind of concerned that no one in my family was home or had made any attempt to contact me concerning their whereabouts. I was especially concerned about my 8 year old sister and where she was. I tried calling dad and after a few attempts, Ashlyn called back on his phone and told me that she was with dad at the emergency room. I talked to dad (who knew what Tyler was planning) and he told me not to worry and that I should go on the date. So, we did. Tyler never actually told me where we were going for dinner or what we were doing, but I just attributed it to the fact that it had been kind of hectic at home. After we had been driving on the freeway for a few minutes Tyler told me that we were going to dinner in Salt Lake at Kneaders. When we got to SLC, we parked by the conference center and walked through Temple Square. As we were passing the Joseph Smith Memorial building Tyler asked if I'd like to stop by and play the piano a little bit before dinner. I readily agreed because I hadn't been there for a few weeks. As we walked up the staircase, the lady who takes your ticket for the Joseph Smith movie was very friendly towards us as she vigorously waved her hand at us. I thought that was kind of odd, but then thought, "she must be a very nice worker lady here." (I later found out she had talked with Tyler earlier that day.) When we got to the room with the piano, Tyler went over to the piano and told me he couldn't remember how to lift up the lid on the piano. I thought that seemed a little silly, but then thought, "Well, I struggle with guitars." I went to lift up the lid and noticed that there was a bouquet of flowers inside. Then I blurted out, "Someone left their flowers inside the piano!" Then I noticed there was a picture of Tyler and I and I said, "with a picture of us!" (I still hadn't caught on to what was happening...I'm kind of slow sometimes) Tyler then asked me to sit down on the piano bench and that's when I realized he was proposing and before he had finished asking me to marry him I was nodding my head to say "Yes!"

 The rest of evening was quite the adventure.

We decided to cut our date short to make sure dad was okay. When we came back home, no one else was home still. I called my brother who told me dad had been life-flighted to the U of U medical center in SLC. I found out that a few days earlier dad had hit his head pretty hard and it resulted in bleeding on the brain. Tyler and I drove back to SLC and fortunately, dad was stable and no surgery was needed. Dad told me he knew Tyler was going to propose and didn't want to postpone him proposing. I'm thankful that dad was okay in the end. I was upset that they hadn't called me about the life-flight, but they said, "we knew what was happening and didn't want to ruin your evening!" (sigh)

So, that is the story of how things came to be.

Never say never. Your plan isn't always what God's plan for you is.

We are getting married on July 10th and I am ready to be done with wedding plans FOREVER.

Life is full of wonderful surprises. I have been greatly blessed in so many ways this year. I'm thankful for the hand of the Lord in everything. It's amazing. I am sure that he is very mindful of us and what we need to experience and learn at various points of our lives.

Our love story won't have a happy ending...because real love stories never have an end! :)

That's all. Hope you made it through this beast of a post without any casualties.

Lots of love!!!