Reunited & It Feels So Good!

Well, I guess it's about time that I catch everyone up on what's been going on! I have been so busy, but life has been amazing and I am unbelievably happy! Jordan officially came home on November 27, 2013 :) He arrived around 1 o'clock and seeing him was one of the best things ever! I was super nervous for the first little while, but once I saw his face, all those nerves went away.  People always ask if I got a hug at the airport and the answer to that is, YES! I was very lucky to be able to hug my best friend at the airport.  After the airport, we all went to lunch and just hung out until Jordan was officially released around 6.  Being there when Jordan was released was not as easy as I thought it was going to be.  I definitely thought I would be shouting for joy, but it was very hard seeing Jordan have to leave something behind that he loved so much.  Just so everyone is clear, Jordan was really not weird or awkward coming home, he had a hard time leaving his mission, but he was the same Jordan I knew :)

Jordan and I have been very busy ever since he has been home.  We both had the week off after he returned home and we spent lots of time doing fun things like, going to temple square and festival of trees.

On Saturday, December 14th Jordan and I were supposed to go ring shopping, he told me that he had made an appointment at a place that his mom talked to him about. Well on Saturday as I was getting ready, the doorbell rang.  I thought that was strange seeing Jordan usually just walked in.  Well, at the door was my Bestie Kalee.  At first I was like what the crap is she doing? Is she picking up her tutu? (I borrowed it for Halloween) Well Kalee said, "Shaylyn I have a note from that Jordan wanted me to give you".  RIght then I knew that it was happening... why else would he give me a note and not show up?! Jordan was proposing :) On that note was a cute little poem explaining that I was going on an adventure and that Kalee was my ride. This clue led me to Jordan's house. I went from one end of the valley to the other getting clues, before I ended up at a baseball field where Jordan and I had spent some time together before and after his mission.  I got out of the car and looked down on the baseball field and there was Jordan, standing on the pitcher's mound, waiting for me :) He gave the speech, and I said yes :) He proposed with a diamond on a diamond. It was perfect! We are so excited and officially can say April 10th is the big day :) Jordan was and will always be worth the wait! Onto the next big chapter in our lives :)

Time is Dwindling Down...

I found this title to be appropriate seeing that I used it right before Jordan left.  Way back then, two years ago, time was dwindling down for Jordan to leave...  but now time is dwindling down to him coming home! I cannot believe that he will be home in 5 short weeks :) I can count all of those weeks on my hand... not hands.. HAND! This whole experience is so unreal.  It's hard to express how i'm feeling! I am so unbelievably excited to have him home, but at the same time I'm freaking out! It's surreal. That's the best way to describe it.  The one great thing is I have  been very very busy lately! This summer has been so much fun and I've been so grateful to all of the new friends I've been able to meet! So... I guess here is a recap of what's been going on these past crazy couple of months!
I started my student teaching clear back in July and have loved every minute of it! That is the one main thing that has kept me very busy! What is awesome, is that i'm pretty much done with my student teaching.  Their is light at the end of the tunnel in ALL things!  I am in a second grade class and am in love with all of my students.  They are the cutest things ever and I just have loved being able to teach them! I am going to be so sad when I leave them!  My last day of teaching will be on Halloween and then I have a sub job for the next two weeks to keep me busy until Jordan comes home!
I have done a bunch of fun things this past summer and have enjoyed every minute of it!
Here is my Summer Recap:

• Turned 21
  
• Enjoyed Bees games
  
• Went Paddleboarding for the 1st time
  
  
  
  
                                              
  
• 1st RSL game (front row!)
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• Making New Friends
  
  
  
  
• Slow Pitch Softball
  
• Summer Nights at the Park
  
• Student Teaching (Pirate Classroom)
  

Seeing the Sexy Luke Bryan in Concert

 

 

• Four Wheeling&Shooting
  
  
  
  

• Night Hikes
  
  
  
  
  
• Zion Trip
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These are only a few highlights of my Summer, this doesn't even touch everything I have done this past Summer. I must say, it's been a good one!  I have done so many fun things and have so many fun memories.  Time is Dwindling down. Summer is over, Fall has begun.  Tis the season of Haunted Houses, Crisp Air, and Hoodies.  Jordan will be home in 5 short weeks, i'm almost done with student teaching, and I have amazing friends.  Keep on Truckin'! 

The Happiest Place on Earth :)

I finally finished this semester of school and ended it the best way possible. A trip to Disneyland! :)  I had not been to Disneyland since I was 6 years old, so.... it was a much needed reunion! I took this wonderful vacation with half of my family.  My dad and sister couldn't come, but everyone else was there for the fun!  We went to SeaWorld and Park Hopped between California Adventure and Disneyland.  I must say Cars Land was freaking awesome! I loved the Radiator Spring Racers in C.A and California Screamin'! I even liked Tower of Terror. I was so proud of my Niece.  4 years old and took that ride like a champ! No tears or anything :)  She did better than Shana who was almost in tears at the end of our drop!  I will say though that the freaking Ferris Wheel with the Moving Carts is the WORST thing ever!!! I think I screamed more on that then I did on Tower of Terror!  All in All I loved C.A, it was my first time ever being at that park :)  

Disneyland of course was amazing!  I love Indiana Jones so much! Just everything about Disneyland is fun :)  It definitely got more and more crowded but it was a lot of fun.  There is just so much about the trip that I don't even know what to say! It was just so exciting and fun :) World of Color is amazing, I just kept saying how magical it was after it was over!  I was a bit worried that road tripping to Cali with a 4 year old and 6 month old would be Helllllll but it was actually really good.  They were great car buddies :)  I already want to go back to Disneyland! I told Jordan that we have to go when he gets home because I am not waiting 14 years again to go!  

Jordan's Favorite Ride :)

 

 

All I can say is it was a very much needed vacation and I loved it so much :) So much happened before Disneyland that I need to share about! I finished my last semester as I said and taught in my wonderful class full of second graders!  They were such a great group of students and my cooperating teacher is amazing! I am so lucky because I get to work with her for all of my student teaching! learning from the best! I am all done with school pretty much! All I have left is my student teaching which will begin in July! Hooray! The dark tunnel actually has a light! My cute class made me a book, I'd say definitely my favorite class out of all my field experiences!

Also, at the end of April my bestie got Married! Melanie is now officially Mrs. Ferguson!  It is so crazy how time flies.... It feels like just yesterday we were sitting in my backyard eating food after crying our eyes out because the school year had ended and we were leaving our 2nd grade teacher behind! I threw her a shower at the beginning of March, which was really fun! I love my friends so much and am so grateful to have them in my life!  Here are a few pictures from her shower and from the wedding! 

 

 I am so happy for one of my best friends :) Yay for Eternal marriage :)

So that's pretty much what's been new in my life!  School (I got a 4.0!), a Wedding, and the Happiest Place on Earth :) Of  course it would really be the happiest place on earth if one other person could have been there! Pretty much 6 months left people! 6 months.... :D

 

The Oscars...

While writing this, I'm watching the Oscars.  I always find awards shows somewhat fun to watch, I don't know why!  They are just barely starting but as I'm watching them, I'm reminded of all the movies that have been released during the last year.  Which makes me think of all of the movies that I have yet to see and would like too.  Not only that, but there have been so many great movies released since Jordan has been on his mission.  Which means... A LOT of movie nights when he returns! Granted he always falls asleep, but I mean... Avengers, Batman, Hunger Games, Sherlock Holmes, all have been released while he has been gone and those are definite movies that need to be seen! Luckily... I own all of them! haha.  That's one of my problems, movie buying! That's my main reason for Black Friday shopping but I must say... every time I risk my life on Black Friday... I get great deals and the DVD's I want :) Not to mention my TV series.  I've finally acquired enough dvd's that I have box fulls.  I've been trying to find a good way to store them but nothing quite fits what I want.  I would just buy a case or put them in a dresser or whatever but seeing I don't own my own place.. how they are being stored will have to do for now! I figure once Jordan and I get married I'll have a nice way to store them anyway :) I really want to just make a leaning book case or a custom dvd box! This is where I wish I was like a carpenter and could build them myself! OH well! Maybe someday i'll get that leaning bookcase....

I can't believe that we're at the end of another month.  March is just around the corner which is somewhat insane! As you can imagine, time passing quickly makes me happy though, I mean... only 9 months til Jordan comes home, 9!!! That's a baby people! I love going through the months saying "this is my last ______ without Jordan!" It really puts things into perspective and I must say... there is a light at the end of this tunnel!  Although I want time to fly by... I'm really trying to make the most of the time I have on my own.  like I've previously said in one of my other posts... I've learned so much during this wait and have grown in so many different ways!   but... I only have like 1 year guys and then I'm stuck with a boy forever..... so I gotta make the most of this time ;) I always joke with Jordan's family that this is my time to stay sane... because before long Jordan will be back, putting his clammy hands all over my face ;)

Not only is time dwindling with my wait... but time is slowly coming to an end with school! and all I can say is HALLELUJAH! I am so done with school.  I didn't think it could happen again but... SENIORITIS has hit!!!  I just don't have any drive to go to class... and don't care! You think I should... since it's kind of my career... haha but I'm just ready to be in the classroom teaching.  All of my friends from my cohort can relate!  We're all getting sick of each other and just want to be in the actual classroom! Luckily.... I HAVE MY STUDENT TEACHING ASSIGNMENT!!!!!!!!!!!! EEK! Is that not scary or what?!  I am going to be teaching 2nd grade starting in September! Well... technically I'll be in the same classroom for 3 weeks this semester, but actual student teaching.. 2nd grade! Hope they're ready for this because.... I am... I think :) I tend to freak myself with the whole idea.  I always second guess if I picked the right career or if I'll be a good teacher or... just all those worries!  I guess we'll find out!

In May I'm hopefully going to DISNEYLAND!!!! I'm so freaking excited! I haven't been to Disneyland since I was like... 9! So you can imagine how excited I am to go :) I don't quite know the details of the trip, that's why I say "hopefully" :) but I'm definitely ready to finish up the semester... see some sun... and SUMMER! 

Maybe we'll see some sun soon.... until the next time!

I'm not too great at being consistent!

Well... I've decided that I kind of suck at this blogging thing, seeing I haven't posted anything since September!  I do know that I have at least one follower out there who reads. I promised I would finally write something during the break! So here it is....
Life has been pretty great lately!  I just finished my second semester of the ELED program at UVU and am now an official Senior! Woot woot!  I'll be graduating in the Fall and am so excited to get to that point.  There is finally a light at the tunnel in all things.  In school and in Waiting for a missionary.  That's right... I can see the light!  Jordan finally hit his year mark and it's downhill now!  More on that later!
Ever since September, I have been working at Scheels, which I love!  At times working and going to school has been quite stressful, but like everything else, it worked out.  Assignments were completed, work was attended, etc, etc.  Isn't it amazing?  There are so many times where you just feel so overloaded with stress and life, but in the end it always works out.  That's one of the things I love about life!  I ended up having a 4.0 this semester which made me feel very happy! So now overall I have a 3.98 G.P.A! Yup... I am that smart! Just in case you didn't know ;)  Life has been so relaxing ever since this much needed Christmas break.  I am really dreading going back to school, but I just have to remember that I only have 2 semesters left! I can do it!!
Christmas this year was amazing as usual.  The best part of Christmas is that it was my last one without Jordan! EEK!  How exciting is that?! That's the best thing about being over the year mark.... now i'm on all of my lasts! Last Christmas, last New Years Eve... Etc!  Starting New Years Eve, I can officially say Jordan will be home this year! Hooray! I try not to get too personal on my blog because... this is my life and I dont' want it to be exactly an open book to anyone and everyone, but  You know... I never thought I could go 2 years without seeing someone I love so much.  This past year has definitely not been easy, but I've realized that I have personally grown in a way that I don't think I could have if Jordan wouldn't have left.  I have learned things about myself and just feel that much stronger as an individual.   Not only that, but I have seen a lot of growth in Jordan.  He is such an amazing missionary and I am so proud of him for what he's doing.  Every letter/email I read, I just love him more and more.  Not only have Jordan and I grown as individuals, but we've grown as a couple.  It's amazing how much we've grown for being so far away from each other.  I'm definitely grateful for this time in our lives because we're changing together and apart, both in good ways. To end that sappy but truthful note, I TALKED TO HIM YESTERDAY :) MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It was so great being able to talk to him again! SKype is one of the best inventions for anyone who has a missionary out! It just makes it that much better to be able to see their face and have a real conversation!  He is doing so well and dAAAANG he looks good :) He honestly just makes me so happy! I love it!  He's been in North Pole, AK.  hahaha yup you heard me right! He was in the North Pole for Christmas :)  Not a lot of missionaries can say that :)  So Christmas was fantastic as always and that much better being able to talk to JOrdan.  Now only 5 more months til we can Skype again and that will be our last mission skype ever! Say what?!!
On Christmas Eve, my family had a gingerbread decorating contest and.... of course I made Jordan. hahaha I'm not that creative and didn't know what else to do with it, so I took what was on my mind and created a Gingerbread Missionary Jordan :) hahaha NERD/CRAZY! I know!  So this was the end result.

The funny thing is, I made the gingerbread man and then just last night found this picture... I have to say I Nailed it!  ;) Looks just like him.... :D  hahaha
Well that's pretty much what's been going on in my life!  Had an amazing Christmas and 2012 year.  I become more and more grateful for the people I have in my life.  I truly am blessed.  I couldn't ask for two better families to be apart of and I love each of them very much!
I hope that I will be a bit more consistent in my blogging :) Thanks to everyone who cares about my life and actually reads this.... :) Sorry I talk a lot about a certain someone but... he's an important part of my life :)  So thanks for dealing with it and reading! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!
Oh, P.S Went and saw Les Mis tonight... it turned out being a lot better than I had thought! Shelby and I didn't cry, I probably could have. Instead.... I just laughed at the girl in the theater that I could hear sobbing.  Nope she was not even close to me... and I could hear her sad sad sobs and...... I laughed. Rude? Nah :)