the start of our happily ever after

Once upon a time I got married.
It's been 10 days and "wedded bliss" is now a term that I understand quite well.
Kevin is so good to me.
I love him so much.
Being married to him has been the greatest blessing of my life.
Since we got married we stayed at two different hotels, spent a few nights at our apartment and loved the fact that when I fell asleep watching a movie, Kevin didn't have to wake me up and take me home, but just to bed. We celebrated a quiet Christmas together, and saw Les Miserables. We flew out to Georgia and have been spending the week with Kevin's family. I got an ear infection, sinusitis, bronchitis and just felt miserable. We went to Mississippi for a day and had a reception there and stayed at another hotel. We've fallen more and more in love with each other every day.

Happy marriage. :)

tell it from the mountain top baby

I realized that I never put up the proposal story on my blog. So I decided to do that. :)

Straight from the pages of my journal (which we all know is always completely correct. Right Mom?)

Sunday July 22, 2012

Dear Journal,

Yesterday was one of the greatest days of my life. We woke up super early and had breakfast, then left to hike Y mountain. We made a stop at "our rock" where Kevin and I had our first kiss and where he told me he loves me. I knew that he had put a deposit on the ring I loved, but he told me that it would be two weeks before he had it. We got to the top of our rock and I, being the dork that I am, started feeling in his pockets as a joke. But then I felt the ring box. Kevin looked at me and said, "Can I be really corny and tell you some of the reasons why I love you?" And then he listed off some really sweet things about me. Then he stood up and said "So now I have a question for you." He got down on one knee. "Amberly Hurst, will you marry me?" I cried and laughed and said "Yes!" and we put the ring on my finger and thoroughly enjoyed the first moments of being engaged. We called our families and laughed and kissed and shouted from the top of the mountain.

We will be married December 22, 2012 in the Mt. Timpanogos temple. I couldn't be more excited. I've never understood love like I do now and I've never seen God's hand in my life more than I have in the last 7 months, and especially in the last 3 since I've known Kevin. 

I wish that there were words I could use to describe how I feel about Kevin. He is perfect for me in the big ways and the small. He encompasses everything I have ever wanted in a future husband. He is sweet, loving, service oriented. He is so strong in the church and such a leader. He has a love of music that makes my heart sing. He loves me so much. He respects me and wants to take me to the temple. He is a worthy priesthood holder. The way that I love him is like the way I love the gospel. It permeates every aspect of my life. I can see our life together and I can see that it is going to be wonderful and amazing. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I thank Heavenly Father for him every day. I'm so grateful that I get to spend eternity with Kevin. What an amazing man. I love him so so much.

Love,

Amberly

it's so sparkly

Today I decided that I should say some things on my blog.

1) I LOVE being engaged. I love it. We've been wanting to share our happy plans with others for a long time but haven't because it hasn't been "official" yet. Now that it is, I feel like yelling from the mountain tops (and I have). I love staring at the beautiful ring on my finger. I love getting congratulated all the days about our engagement. I love how everyone in the world keeps saying "I so knew that was going to happen." But most of all, I love that I get to have a public commitment to Kevin and that I can show the world how much I love him. Dang I love that boy so much.

2) I am so excited to get married. I'm super excited to be married to Kevin, but honestly, I have been ready for marriage for a while now. When I look back on the last year of my life, it's like Heavenly Father has been shoving me towards this, placing it in front of my face with neon flashing arrows making it impossible to miss. Marriage has been looming for me and oh boy am I glad that I came upon it.

3) I am in love with Kevin Stevens. Oh, I already said that? Silly me.

4) I have nothing else to say.

This is Kevin being flipping amazing at "dunking" a frisbee. He's awesome.

December 22, 2012

lately

This boy:

 

:)

so call me, maybe.

Things I am enjoying this summer.

My job.
Paychecks.
Budgets.
Green Smoothies.
The Work and the Glory.
Curfews.
Hand Holding.
That boy.
Family time.
Pretend camping.
S'mores.
Break the fast.
My calling.
Planning our week.
Double dates.
7 Peaks.
Cafe Rio.
Eating the whole steak burrito before my boy finishes his.
Motab.
Those cheesy comments.
Movies.
Cuddles.
Kisses.
Harmonies.
Sundays.
Area Authority in my Sacrament meeting.
My YSA ward.
Harriett.
That cute boy.
Running. One mile at a time.
Frisbee.
New contract.
Pork chops and mashed potatoes.
Naps on his lap.
Skinny jeans.
Sandals.
Movie list.
Hikes.
Walking barefoot everywhere.
Basement room to myself.
No make up.
That cute smile.
Good mornings.
Doorsteps.
Weekends.
Gift cards.
Crock pot.
Journal writing,
That sweet boy.
:)

sure, you can call me a hypocrite

I've always tried really hard not to get too personal on this blog for a couple of reasons. 1) Because I get uncomfortable when I read people's deep dark secrets (but I still read on...), so I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable. And 2) I honestly have no idea who even reads this blog and I feel weird about random strangers reading about my relationships, trials, hardships and personal experiences (especially since I am a creeper blog stalker of many many people that I don't actually know).

So, without getting too personal...

There's a boy in my life who's been making me smile a lot lately. 

:)  

if someone like you found someone like me

I had this expectation when I transferred to BYU that life was going to be amazing and fabulous and easy and fun. And then I went through winter semester and thought "surely, if I was following the Lord by doing this, it wouldn't be THIS HARD!"

There's a story in the Book of Mormon about a family who is commanded by the Lord to leave Jerusalem where they will be led to a promised land. But, they spent about 8 years in the wilderness first.

Winter semester was my wilderness.

I think I just made it to my promised land.

making an official announcement

Dear Amberly:

Congratulations! You have been admitted to Brigham Young University to begin Winter 2012. Through your preparation and personal achievements you have distinguished yourself from a very strong group of applicants. We believe you will make a positive contribution to the BYU community. It is a great pleasure to welcome you to our campus to pursue your educational goals. 

I've officially been accepted to BYU. I'm going there kids. Two more months in Rexburg and I'll be done. I have everything lined up to get my Associates, I'm signed up for graduation, I'm ready to go baby! Aw yeah!


**Sidenote, the enormous church history post is turning out to be the bane of my existence. I might end up breaking it up into parts. Don't worry, I have a hundred pictures.

kyle, i am having a good time!

I always have a good time when Ashley visits my house in PG.
And we get to listen to conference.
We are silly.

:)

God loves me. It's the best ever.

ps, i dropped the simple joy in the title...it was too complicated.

However, that doesn't mean that I am not recognizing the simple joys in my life.
Examples; my job, babysitting my favorite kids, watching bones with my sis every night (although I dont' know how I've managed to escape nightmares. Watching a show about death and grossness right before bed and all), my job (which I'm sad to leave), listening to Harry's adventures at work, paid lunches on the clock, popsicles on break, heading up to Rexburg for my FINAL semester, the future.

I have such great things going for me right now. It's unreal.

I'm so excited to embark on my final sprint at BYU-I. It's been a great experience up there but I'm SO EXCITED to leave it. I'm excited to go meet new people, date new boys, do new things. It will be a lot of work, 18 credits, a (very) part time job, new apartment, new roommates. There's a lot of unexpected awaiting me. The only thing I know with certainty is that as soon as I get comfortable, something happens in my life to make me struggle, writhe, wiggle, fight, and eventually come to accept something new. And that my friends, is how we grow.