I Love to See the Temple

Tomorrow I am getting on a plane to fly home for the weekend! I am really excited. I'm going home for 2 bridal showers and most importantly to go through the Temple! I am so excited for the whole weekend.

Going through the Temple means that I receive my endowments. Receiving my endowments means that I make covenants with God and He in turn makes covenants with me in which I am entitled to blessings if I keep those covenants. I feel ready and excited to make those covenants. While I don't know all that goes on in the temple I do know that it is all ordained of God.

In preparation to receive my endowments I had to have an interview with my Bishop and my Stake President. My Stake President said something that I loved, his advice to me was to "chill and feel." He reminded me of a song I learned when I was a little girl called "I love to see the Temple" the words go like this-

 

I love to see the temple.

I'm going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.

I'll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

 

I love to see the temple.

I'll go inside someday.

I'll covenant with my Father;

I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place

Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I've learned this truth:

A family is forever.

 

 

 

 This song pretty much sums up the purposes of the temple! I've had it stuck in my head all week. With all this wedding hoopla Josh and I have tried to remind each other that the most important part of the wedding is the Temple Sealing. If everything else goes wrong it doesn't matter. We will be sealed for all time and eternity blessed by Heavenly Father. That is what is most important.

My Day of Thanks

This Thanksgiving I got to spend with my new family! Josh's family came down from Colorado and picked us up in Provo and we drove down to St. George to be with Josh's Grandparents and brother Rob.

We got to go to the pool and to encourage Bekah as she swam laps to stay in shape for Swim Team. When I say encourage I mean we messed around a lot while Bekah worked hard. Luckily we got Bekah to join in our fun as we made ridiculous relay games where we practically drowned our way across the pool. Life-threatening yet completely enjoyable!

We also played lots of games. I quickly learned that when it comes to games the Burtons mean business. We had some good competitions all in good fun of course. Rob and his smooth talking got me to share the glory of winning with him causing contention between us and Josh and Bekah. Which made Bekah retaliate by kicking me in my sleep. (ok, ok, it was unintentional...I think..)

On Thanksgiving we Josh and Rob entertained us by pulling up one of their Grandparent's dead trees in the backyard.

After a couple fun filled days in St. George we made our way back up to Payson to be with Josh's other grandparents for our 2nd Thanksgiving meal. I think after all the food I've eaten this week I will be full for weeks!

I really enjoyed being able to spend Thanksgiving getting to know my new family. I think I'm pretty lucky to have the Burtons as my in-laws. This Thanksgiving I have so much to be grateful for. My amazing family (new and old), all my loved ones that have done so much for Josh and I to make this special time in our lives the most memorable and perfect time ever, my opportunity for an education at the greatest university (ok I may be a a little biased..), my job, and my very favorite- only 20 more days until I am sealed together with my best friend! So many great things going on I can't even handle it!

Why Being Engaged Rocks!

Recently Josh and I have been complaining about being engaged. It's a little embarrassing and slightly pathetic. We keep saying that being engaged sucks. But what kind of attitude is that!? We just get overloaded with planning and such that it stresses us out. We are just ready to be married! But good things come to those who wait right? So in honor of my life's motto of "Just Be Happy" here are couple reasons why being engaged is the bees knees:

• Having excuses to get me nails done. So many pictures, people looking at my ring, etc! I can't have ugly nails! Right? 
• Looking Pretty. With all our pictures and meeting people and attention I've got to look good right? I get to get my make-up and hair done for pictures and such and what girl doesn't like getting pampered?
• Excuse to be lovey dovey. I like to think that Josh and I aren't one of those annoying couples who can't sit more than 2 inches away from each other ever, but who doesn't like to be close to the ones you love? I get to hold my man and me a little more affectionate, which I'm not sure he likes, but I love it. haha
• Parties and Celebrations! So many reasons to celebrate and so many people to celebrate with! I mean I have 4 bridal showers planned! How awesome is that! I love parties and people so being engaged is the prime state to be in for those things. 
• Overwhelming amount of Love. This one is my favorite reason. Not only do I have an immense amount of love for Josh but for our families and friends who have been working unbelievably hard to make our wedding day exactly what we want it to be! I feel so loved and cared for it is such an amazing blessing to have such awesome people willing to do anything and everything I ask of them! Their incredible amounts of patience as I change my mind constantly and go blindly into planning a wedding astounds me. Josh and I are so so blessed with such great support from our family and friends. This wedding or even marriage would not be possible without them. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Hi my name is Annie and I'm a Blog Slacker.

My sincerest apologies loyal bloggers. I have had a whirlwind of a month of September with school, work, engaged-ness, and wedding planning! I finally had a moment to breathe today in between my errands and homework so I thought I'd blog!

Let me start by saying that I am so incredibly blessed. It's overwhelming. I am so in love with my fiance, everyday I am surprised that I can fall more in love with him. With our crazy schedules we have had to work at planning time for each other but I think we are pros now. We don't really have many great hobbies so we are currently working on a list of new hobbies to find some favorites. We are taking suggestions, so please, help a poor, unskilled, semi-impatient, couple learn a new hobby. It's tough because I'm too competitive to do things I know he will beat me at and he is better at too many things! So if you are going to put in suggestions make sure we will be evenly matched. Or even better, suggest things I will be better at. :)

Everyday is a good day with Josh. Each night I go to bed with a smile on my face because I know that I'm one day closer to being sealed to my best friend for all time and eternity. What a wonderful thing!

In other news I have 2 jobs! What? God is so good. I have been praying for a job to come along that would work with my schedule and something that I'd enjoy and He delivered not one, but two jobs! I work twice a week as a 1st and 2nd grade basketball referee and it is so much fun. Kids are adorable, and I am really impressed with some of their basketball skills! My second job I just got and haven't started yet, but I'm excited for it! I work at the Information Desk at the RB (a building on campus with basketball courts, racquetball courts, etc). I will have plenty of time to work on my homework while working and it'll be great! Hopefully I can stay on for the winter and keep this job for most if not all of my BYU career! 

Wedding planning is coming along nicely. There have definitely been stressful days but I'm so grateful for such amazing support from both my family and Josh's family. My weeks have been packed with homework, work, and wedding appointments. This week should be the week that I get my wedding dress! I'm anxious to see the final product! 

Life is so good. I am so incredibly happy, blessed, and busy- all great things to be if you ask me. 

Overwhelmed.

Here it is, the greatly anticipated engagement story!

So Josh had told me while I was in Africa that he got a ticket to come to Virginia on August 22nd. I was beyond excited! We had talked all about marriage and we were basically just waiting for one very important piece of jewelry to seal the deal. He had told me he bought the ring but it wouldn't come for another 5-8 weeks so proposing to me in Virginia just couldn't be done! While I was disappointed I told myself to have patience, it was still going to happen just not as soon as I wanted it to.

After I got home from Africa I had planned to go to Eastern Market on Saturday the 17th with my two great friends Keary and Shaunessy. That morning I woke up earlier than usual and so I had extra time to get ready. I spent extra time making my hair perfect and perfecting my outfit choice. After I had finished getting ready I looked in the mirror and thought, "Man, this is a good outfit. Maybe I should save it for when Josh comes or for when he might propose." Then I sent Josh a snapchat telling him that I looked good and he should propose today. (Mind you I had absolutely no inkling that he was actually already at Eastern Market preparing to do just that.)

Keary picked me up and we headed off to DC. We parked, and started through the market. I was just taking my time looking at sunglasses and scarves while Keary and Shaunessy were going through quick. I just figured they didn't shop like me where you look and touch everything. Then Keary said she needed to find a bathroom and asked me to lead her to it. She made it seem urgent so I walked fast. But of course I had to stop and look at the beautiful sunflowers! After admiring them and Shaunessy coaxing me to buy some the florist informed me that they had just set out a new display of sunflowers! Keary said she could hold it while we went to go look at them.

We go into the North Hall and there is a table set up with sunflowers all around it in the middle of the room. I thought, "This is random, but very pretty!" We got to the table and Shaunessy is telling me I have to buy some then I hear, "They are pretty, huh?" I turn around and there he is. I was so shocked I jumped back and I think I scared him! I seriously thought he wasn't real. I had to grab his arm to make sure he was really standing right in front of me. He then handed me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

After a long time of just laughing out of pure joy that Josh was here and knowing what was coming Josh said, "I have something better than flowers for you." The walked around the table and got a pineapple. Why a pineapple? Because for Valentine's Day he got me a pineapple instead of flowers because he thought it was better than flower. Probably true. I was laughing like nonstop. This was so us. After another long amount of time he said, "I'm gonna pop the question now, ok?" I think he was trying to wait for me to calm down before he said anything but that wasn't going to happen. I responded, "Ok, do it!" He then got down on one knee and told me to pop the top off the pineapple. Inside was the gorgeous ring! Then he said, "Annie Turner, will you marry me?" I immediately said yes!

Everyone clapped and my parents came into congratulate us! My 2 requirements for Josh were 1. I wanted to completely surprised. 2. Have pictures of it. Nailed both of those things! He had my best friend from high school Griffin Harrington there videoing and photographing the whole thing! Griffin did such a great job I couldn't be happier with the pictures! 

The rest of the day we went around DC to take pictures and called all the important people. Such an amazing day. Little did I know that so many people had been in on the surprise and helped plan it. Huge thanks to all those who helped make August 17th a perfect day for Josh and I. 

I am incredibly happy and couldn't be more positive about this decision Josh and I have made to be sealed together forever. He is my best friend, playmate, love, and soon to be eternal companion. What an amazing blessing it is that we aren't bound by time. No 'till death do we part' business. We are talking forever. I am one lucky girl.  December 21st can't come soon enough! 

Catching up.

Holy smokes do I have a lot of blog updating to do! I slacked hardcore on my Africa blog so I have lots of posts to add to that. I guess that's a good thing that I didn't have a lot of time to blog while in Uganda because that means I was super busy right? Oh and the internet wasn't the greatest...

I also have some other very exciting news to share. I'M ENGAGED!!!! It still doesn't feel real. I feel like the luckiest girl alive and I am shocked this is my real life. I mean who goes to Africa for a month then 2 days later gets engaged to the greatest man alive?! Me I guess! Ridiculous. The wedding planning has already begun and the Salt Lake Temple has been booked! December 21st at 11:40am I get to be sealed forever to my best friend. Is there a better blessing than that?

Not to worry, the whole engagement story is coming up in the next blog post. It deserves it's own post. :)

Blessed

It's been a while since I've blogged so I decided it was time. Don't worry I will blog soon all about my Africa trip coming up but before all that I want to just express my gratitude for how incredibly blessed I am. so here are just a few things on my list that I count as major blessings in my life-

My family. Each and everyday I find more reasons to love and appreciate my amazing family. My Mom is the queen of getting things done, my Dad is the king of fun and hard-work, and my sister is the princess of the family. Meaning she is absolutely stunning and kind-hearted, like Cinderella if you will. :) And I guess that makes me the jester? Sure, we'll go with that.

My missionaries. I have lots of amazing friends on missions, or leaving soon for missions, and I couldn't be prouder of them. I live for Mondays when I get emails from them. From their letters you just feel their passion for the gospel and service and it makes me so excited! Obviously I miss them but I couldn't be happier with their decision to serve the Lord in such an amazing way.

My friends. I love coming home for the summer because I get to reunite with some of my best friends. They have been so supportive of me in everything and I love them to pieces. I consider myself very lucky to be able to have these amazing people in my life.

My boy. Yup. I said it, my boy. Josh is such a major blessing in my life. Although we are having to do a long distance thing right now I couldn't be more happy he is a big part of life. Can't wait to be  reunited with my best friend again in August. 

Africa. I leave for Uganda in 3 days and could not be more anxious or excited to get there! I'll admit I'm a little nervous, mostly about the 23 hour travel time, but much more excited than I am nervous. I can't wait to meet everyone and hear their stories. I am hoping and praying I don't take too much time adjusting to the new culture that I waste my time there. I'm planning on getting there and getting right to work. There are two fundraisers going on right now that we are all hoping work out. We are trying to help build a new school, among other things, and we are raising money to keep the new Health Clinic HELP built last year running. There is so much good to be done and I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of it. Keep updated on my Africa blog for my adventures and more ways you can help!  http://anniedoesafrica.blogspot.com/

God is interested and involved in every single detail of our lives and I couldn't be more grateful for that.