Birthday Post

My birthday was perfect. Not as planned but perfect.  I've always been told that your first birthday married is a special one and I didn't know how Luke could top my last birthday he spent with me, but in its own special way it was magical.  I woke up to Luke having already gone to Kneaders (my favorite little bakery in Utah) and bringing me back breakfast-in-bed. We both don't trust him to actually make me breakfast out of the kitchen, so this was a simple way for him to still bring me breakfast in bed.  I opened presents and go to talk to lots of family as they called in. Luke is in the middle of all his final engineering projects and so it's a SUPER busy time for him, but he worked extra hard (I'm talking like 3 hours of sleep some nights, poor guy) so that he could spend the day with my on my day.  That itself was probably the best part about my birthday. Also that day, it snowed, and when I mean snow, I mean snow a LOT.  We got around 6 inches of snow I'd say, and there was already about 5 on the ground.  At first I was not at all excited for the snow, but in the end it was MAGICAL. Luke and I put on our snow boots and went for a nice walk in the snow for about two hours.  We were tosty warm with our snow gear on, and hearing Provo suddenly silent was astonishing.  And along the way we stopped by my favorite little sandwhich shop in Downtown Provo. 

We planned on getting together with friends for ice cream, but cancelled because of the snow storm.  I really didn't want someone dying on the way to just watch all of us gorge ourselves on ice cream.  So it was sad that we cancelled, but it meant that I got to stay cozied up next to the tree longer.  Since we didn't want to drive anywhere, lucky for us our house is right across the street from a great sit-down restaurant in Provo called "Brick Oven".  So we walked the few feet in the storm and got all warm again in the restaurant and enjoyed a nice dinner together.  When we got back, we continued to sit by the Christmas tree and watch Christmas movies.  The best part of my birthday really is that I get to always have a Christmas tree on my birthday.  

All-in-all, it was a magical birthday.  My first white birthday actually.  I loved that it was a Saturday and we could just enjoy the day instead of having to be in work and classes.  So grateful for the friends and family that I heard from that day that also made my day so special.  Oh and in case you're wondering, yes Luke and I did dance and sing to Taylor Swift's song "22".  

'Tis the Season! Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating

This Thanksgiving we did something different.  My parents flew out to spend the holiday with us instead of us going out to them.  Luke has so many projects going on, including his big one with Boeing, so it was nice to be able to stay home, but still be surrounded by family. And it worked well that we have a spare room for them to stay in. I was excited to be in charge of all the food and I think that the food all came around nicely. This was my first Thanksgiving in years not being in California at my grandparents with all my extended family, but trying new things is good and it ended up being a perfect Thanksgiving.  

I was excited to present my first home made apple pie!

We were lucky to have Chelsea Sue with us too! 

Dinner in our college home 

Candid shot :) 

I went with my parents to Salt Lake City with the train

After my parents flew back home, Luke and I headed off to get our Christmas tree! We picked a great one and were so excited to get it.  However... I definitely bought too small of a stand for it and so it didn't fit, and we weren't about to take it back.  Luckily, I married an engineer who has access to some pretty powerful tools in the BYU lab.  So we drove our tree to the lab, hauled it in and went to work.  It's a lot harder than you'd think to make the diameter of a trunk smaller.  But we finally got it done! Took it back, decorated and lit it up and it is beautiful!

We spotted a great one!

"Faith is not knowing what your future holds, but knowing who holds your future"

"Faith is not knowing what your future holds, but knowing who holds your future." This Muslim proverb has been words that I've repeated over and over again in my mind the past few weeks. Why? Graduation. Jobs. Real life.

Luke and I both graduate in April. Crazy right?! I register for my last classes ever tonight at midnight! I can't believe it. Luke is graduating in mechanical engineering with a Spanish minor and I am graduating in Psychology with a nonprofit management minor. For engineers, this is the thick of the recruitment season. Luke and I have spent hours and hours filling out job applications for him online. Probably about 200. Boeing for example, thy say to apply to about 70 jobs and your lucky if you get a couple of interviews. It's nerve racking, but it's nice that the engineering field is a in demand field so we will see what our options are. 

As for me, I plan to work as well next year. My real passion while getting my education has been in nonprofit work and I've accumulated a lot of experience over the years in it. I'm applying for something I never thought I'd apply for-- Teach for America. Out of the blue the head recruiter  assigned to BYU personally emailed me and said that they were impressed by my BYU portfolio especially my experience in nonprofits and asked to speak with me one on one. The next day I was meeting with him and talking about the program. I walked out convinced I should apply. Good job Mr. Recruiter. It's a very prestigious program to get accepted to. They're mostly Ivy League students and it's only a 12% acceptance rate right now. But it's worth a shot. It'd be amazing to be a part of. I've had experience working with children in poverty for a couple years and there's something so special for me to be humbled and learn what it is you need to help them with, and in my case they almost help me more in the life lessons I learn. It would be an amazing experience that I would be honored to be chosen to help in. So I've applied and get word on Halloween if I make it to the first round of interviews! 

Even if I get in, it depends on Luke's job whether or not I will be able to teach in the program. We will need to move to a big city where Teach for America operates. We will go wherever  Luke needs to go, since let's be honest, he'll be making a lot more than me :)

But life is good! Do we know where we will be living in May? No. Do we know we will be where we will need to be? Yes. January just needs to come so we can start seeing those job offers. But like the quote said, we have faith that The Lord knows our future and will steer us in the right direction. 

To say that we are busy would be a gross understatement. Luke is doing his 20 hr/wk internship at BD Medical that he's now had for two years, on an engineering research team, applying for jobs, and the usual insanity of engineering school work (although the hw is a little lighter this semester thank goodness). As for me, I'm working 20 hr/wk, doing my on-campus internship still after two years as well, on 3 student boards (which is busy but I love it!) and taking a German literature class that's kicking my booty. When life is busy though, we still find time to spend together and enjoy every minute of it :)

Life is uncertain, but good :)

BYU homecoming vs. Georgia Tech!

Happy Fall!!!! My fun little pumpkin craft

The New Life

Luke and I have been married just over a month (I can't believe it) and are just loving the new life! It's so nice that we got married in the spring, meaning that we have a whole summer to enjoy together without the stress of school.  With Luke studying Mechanical Engineering, I was lucky to see him for more than an hour a day during the school week.  But this summer has been so nice. Luke has worked at the medical technology company BD Medical for almost two years as an engineering intern.  It's an awesome job, and he just loves it and excels in it.  Over the summer he works there for 40 hours a week, so he's gone most of the day.

I keep myself busy by having two jobs on campus that I absolutely love! I'm currently working as an executive assistant at The LDS International Society , a nonprofit organization that BYU has to help link LDS international professionals. I'm studying nonprofit organizational management, so this job is great for me to get awesome experience. I am also a psychology teaching assistant, which allows me to work with a professor that I think is awesome, and lets me help students (especially the baby freshman who I just want to take under my wing and help so much!)

Besides work I get lots of housework done, including lots and lots and lots of cooking!!! Anyone who knows me well enough, know I absolutely LOVE cooking! Now that I have my own kitchen, fridge, and pantry, it's like my own playground. And Luke doesn't mind, what man wouldn't want a nice big meal just waiting for them when they get home? [it's true.]

We really, really love our apartment.  We will be moving to a house around the corner in the Fall, but until then, this place is great!

Yes, Luke still has his Love Sac

My playground!

All newlyweds experience the shopping that takes place to get the new place all equipped.  I of course just loved shopping for the stuff.  I was in heaven.  Luke on the other hand... well this picture sums it up. [someone had to test out the beds.] 

Also not captured, I found him on the floor of Target trying to get a rest. I was too embarrassed to snap a picture. But he got through it :)

Besides the intense shopping and work filled days, we still enjoy the evenings that we get that we wouldn't otherwise have during the school year.  Utah is just stunning in the summer, so we have enjoyed taking walks [strenuous hikes] together.

A wonderful Saturday morning at Rock Canyon

Enjoying the view

Gorgeous view of Mt. Timpanogos

Thailand!

Luke and I could not have asked for a more perfect two weeks.  We both LOVE to travel, and having the opportunity to travel to Thailand (thanks to Luke's sister and brother-in-law) was just incredible.  I have always loved Thailand.  Having lived in Europe, I had so many friends who went there on family vacations.  Thailand is the Hawaii of Europe, and boy did I get my dose of Europeans while I was there. So many! We honestly only met one (one!) American couple. The first week was our actual honeymoon where we spent time alone on the BEAUTIFUL island of Phuket, Thailand.  The following week we then went to the city of Bangkok where Luke's sister and her family lives. We had such a wonderful time with them. So the first week we consider our honeymoon and the second week our family week.

Phuket

The view from our suite

Phuket is just breathtaking.  An island located on the very south end of Thailand, Phuket is the picturesque vacation island that is full of tourism, yet rich with culture and the amazing way of life that the Thai breathe. Luke and I stayed at a resort that rests right on the beach. And I mean right on the beach.Our room was literally ten steps away from the sand and the waves were only a few steps further than that.  The whole length of our room faced the crystal blue water with one-way floor to ceiling windows.  Both of us were so so pleased with the suite. The rest of the resort was beautiful! The tropical air allowed for everything to be in the open air, even the lobby.  We had truly found a little piece of heaven in Phuket.  Next to the resort was a little restaurant owned by a very sweet little Thai man with just enough English to get by.  Every night we ate there with our feet in the sand with the waves crashing in only about 15 feet away from us.  And the food? To die for.  Made fresh and the best sea food I've ever had.  And the Pad Thai? Makes me never want to get it at an American-Thai restaurant again. We will forever miss that restaurant.

Our patio

Ready for the beach!

As for adventures, we had two main ones.  Our first was on our second day in Phuket.  The tour included rain forest hiking, elephant riding, river canoeing and another incredible Thai meal (there is nothing that they make that is not incredible).  It was a blast! The rain forest hike reminded me a lot of the Northwest, but even lusher.  My grandpa always told me about the thick jungle when he served in Vietnam (just near Thailand), and now I was seeing it myself.  You seriously could not see 10 feet into the jungle.  The humidity was like nothing I've ever felt.  I will never complain about humidity again.  We always had to wipe the camera lens before taking a picture due to the humidity.  They brought us to a water fall which I thought was just an adorable little waterfall, considering I'm us to tall and gorgeous Multnohma Falls in Portland, but apparently it was a big deal and we were happy to see it. And there was an area to swim which is always nice.

The cute little Thai waterful

A little snack for our elephant

And then it was finally time to ride ELEPHANTS! Real live elephants.  Luke and I had a great guide.  He even let us sit on the neck of the elephant without a seat (which we learned is better for them because they have more strength in their neck then their back).  It was an amazing experience. Their skin is so thick and their hair feels like little tooth brushes! Everyone on the trip was from either Brazil, Slovakia, Germany or France.  I talked to the Germans, and we made friends with the Brazilians.  All of us were young couples, but they couldn't believe that Luke and I were married (there's the rest of the world for you). We took a wonderful canoes ride through the rivers of the jungle.  The roots of the trees went right into the water and it looked like something I'd never seen before as they braided into each other while going into the water.  That whole day was just so wonderful!!

On our way to the Phi Phi Islands!

The next day was even more full of adventure. We were picked up from our hotel at 8 am and brought to the marina.  By 9:30 we were on a speed boat that held nearly 50 people.  We were off to the Phi Phi Islands! it took about an hour through the Indian Ocean to get to the islands.  As we were approaching them, my jaw dropped.  A beautiful island was before me with cascading cliffs that were covered in greenery.  No one lives on these islands, they are almost impossible to land on.

Maya Bay was the most beautiful beach I will ever see.  Probably only 600 ft wide, the bay had cystal clear blue, blue water with white sand, followed by a lush jungle that went back about 800 ft.  The beach was the beach used to film "The Beaches" with Leonardo DiCaprio.  Yes, we have laid on a beach where Leo once laid. It was absolutely beautiful.  Picture just couldn't do the place justice, but we tried. The boat continued to take us around the islands.  We went to more crystal clear coves that had no beaches, and stopped at a couple of places to get out and swim.  The water was SO warm, something I'm not use to on the beaches of the west coast.

Maya Bay!

We saw monkeys at one point hanging out in the trees.  I have learned there to fear the monkeys.  They know what they can do to humans. But they are still cute to look at :) The whole boat tour was majestic.  Island after island was just breathtaking.  At one spit of land (seriously a tiny tiny island of sand) we docked and snorkeled.  Luke and I saw awesome fish.  So vibrant! One was probably every neon color it could be.  By 4 pm it was time to head home.

Snorkeling!

Notice the monsoon making its way to us.  

As we did, a monsoon storm hit.  May I remind you, it took us an hour to get there, so it was a very long hour back.  15 ft waves that we sped through with rain pounding so hard that is almost hurt.  We had a canopy over our heads, but the rain came in sideways since the boat was going so fast.  At one point Luke and I just burst out laughing.  We couldn't believe this was happening to us.  As miserable as it was, it was hilarious.  Yet another adventure to say that we survived a monsoon storm out on the waters of the Indian Ocean.  When we finally got home, needless to say, we were exhausted!

The rest of our time in Phuket included lounging on the beach, swimming in the pool, and getting wonderful Thai massages.  They have magic hands. After a five day stay on the island, it was time to fly to Bangkok to spend a week with Luke's sister and her family.

Bangkok

Our second week was spent in the city of Bangkok.  Let me just saw, Bangkok is HUGE. 14 million people.  That's bigger than any city in the US.  We flew in from Phuket late at night.  Luke's brother-in-law, Johnny, picked us up from the airport and during the hour it took to get home we saw lots of the city.  Oh, and they live in the city, and the airport is in the city.  That is how bad traffic is there.  Not to mention the whole entire streets that were closed for parties.  Quite the night life there.  

The next day we went to their ward.  It's neat that the LDS church is all around the world. Because they attend the international ward, it was neat worshiping with people from Pakistan, The Philippines, Cambodia, Korea, Japan, Brazil, and lots of other countries.  Just a very sweet group of people.

The next day, Luke and I went with  Nicole and the kids to go to "The Crocodile Farm".  I learned the fun fact that Bangkok is home to the largest Crocodile collection.  And boy were there a lot of them. It was also a full zoo with lions, tigers, bears, exotic birds, lots of monkeys.  We got to hold a baby tiger!!! My childhood dream come true. 

 We watched an elephant show, I can now say that I have watched an elephant tightrope.  Not too many can say that. We also watched a crocodile show where the performer put his head in the crocodile's mouth (I seriously had to turn away each time). We did witness a monkey escape as two tigers held only by a chain link fence 5 feet away from us got a little too excited to go get that monkey for comfort our comfort.  It was a scary moment. And what kind of crocodile experience would be complete without feeding one? Yes we fed one, with a very long stick and string with a skinned chicken on the end.  The first one that went for it made us all jump.

In Bangkok there is a great lake to go fishing.  You rent a little house boat for the night and fish on.  I am not much of a fisher, but this was fun! I caught the biggest one! (with lots of Luke's help reeling it in) Luke caught two.  Poor Nicole's fish had an unfortunate hook (it has something to do with an eyeball...)

Massages were so great in Thailand! Cheap, and they really, really know what they are doing.  Johnny took Luke and I to a "Fish Massage".  You dunk your feet in a tank and the fish come eat the dead skin (ei. calluses) off your feet.  Sound simple right? Wrong.  I screamed, and Luke definitely did.  It is the most ticklish and some weird feeling that I cannot explain.  After 10 minutes we finally calmed down and were able to let the fishies really get to work.  By the time they were done, my feet were heavenly smooth.  I wondered, who ever came up with that?  It was then followed by a heavenly foot massage.

Luke and I went to the beautiful Buddhist temple in Bangkok and the Grand Palace.  On they way, we took a romantic river boat tour through the canals of Bangkok.  It was so neat to go down and see parts of Bangkok that I don't think you'd see otherwise.

On the river boat!

 Both the temple and palace were absolutely beautiful. The architecture was like nothing I'd ever seen before.  After having lived in Europe, I am use to see all Roman and Gothic styled cathedrals.  But this was definitely different, and I liked it!We went to see the reclining Buddha at the palace.  No one told us how big it actually was! It was huge!!

The temple

Fresh pineapple!

See, it's HUGE!

The Grand Palace

We also took a ride on the famous Tuk-Tuk taxis.  They're open air taxis that are much smaller, and can get you around faster (remember, traffic is horrible). It was pretty fun!

Riding in a Tuk-Tuk!

I could write forever and ever. There was so much that we packed into our two weeks! But one of our favorite things was spending so much time with Nicole's family.  We just loved playing with our little nieces and baby nephew!

Uncle Luke, AJ (3) and Maggie (4)