The Engagement Story

On December 4th, 2009, Bryan and I were attending the Thacker Family Christmas Party. Now, at this party, the family sits and sings carols for a few minutes and one of the songs was "The 12 Days of Christmas." I thought I would be funny and sing "one white gold ring" instead of "5 golden rings" just to tease him, that time being when we were really getting serious about our marriage talk.
Tonight December 24, 2009, we were caroling with the Thacker side of Bryan's family. It's a tradition that they go caroling on Christmas eve to all their friends in the neighborhood. Well, one neighbor asked that we sing The 12 Days of Christmas. I kinda humfed and frumped because I don't know all the words and it's just a long song hahaha. So we get to the last verse and we're going down the line...
12...
11...
10... (see? even now I don't know what belongs to what number)
9...
8...
7...
6...
And instead of singing 5 golden rings, they all sang: One White Gold Ring!
I looked over and Bryan had a little white box in his hand.
The next few seconds were kind of a blur... I screamed, put my hands to my mouth, started crying, backed into Bryan's grandpa, my mom, and my sister Kylie who all commenced in pushing me back toward my soon-to-be fiance. Bryan got down on one knee and told me, "Kelsey, I knew since the first time I sat next to you that I was going to marry you. You have taken this sinking ship and you've pointed it home. I feel at home with you, and, If you'll have me..." He then took my hand (that I had to slip out of my glove because it all was happening so fast) and slipped a ring onto my finger. "Kelsey Grace Mariner, will you marry me?"
I couldn't say anything, I was crying with so much joy! I just nodded and he took me up into his arms and everyone started cheering! I turned around and I hugged my future in-laws and showed off my ring and then I hugged my family. As I hugged my mom and said, "Mommy, I'm getting married!" and more tears came down my face. There was so much love there and the spirit just rang out so strong. I'm getting sealed to my sweetheart for time and all eternity next year and I can't wait!

Not much on my mind... NOT!

Well, I can't remember if I already told my blog... But I'll say it again if I already have... I'm engaged! And it's so stinkin' exciting/stressful/wonderful/scary!! There are so many emotions running through me. But when I'm with Bryan, I'm reminded why I said yes. He's so wonderful, kind, funny. He's my friend and my love and my priesthood holder who wants to take care of me and our future eternal family. There are so many things to be grateful for and so many more things to be happy about. I just love my life!
On the stressful side, I called the temple today and tried to book my date (June 12th!) and they said that they don't book that far in advanced! Really?!! Ugh, frustrating. I'm getting my date and time that I want. It's my day and I'm willing to be bridezilla. No lies. So I'm just going to call until they'll let me book the sealing room.
Well, my parents have been here for Christmas and I've been so spoiled and loving every minute of it. But any day now, they have to go back to Arizona. Not exciting.

slight obsession

I have found that I am slightly obsessed with trying to sing pop music in a classical style. Or at least trying to make cool overtones out of my favorite pop songs because I kinda know how to now :) It's kinda weird, I know. But that comes with being a music major...
Well, I have 2 1/2 finals behind me, juries tomorrow, and my Old Testament final on Thursday. Then, I'm doing some MAD cleaning to make sure all my stuff is out of my apartment :( It's odd to think that I may never come back to this place. I've lived in the same apartment for 3 semesters now. This is home. But wherever the Lord takes me, I'll go.

So, it's December! Too long...

Well...

"‘Tis winter now; the fallen snow
Has left the heav’ns all coldly clear;
Through leafless boughs the sharp winds blow,
And all the earth lies dead and drear.

And yet God’s love is not withdrawn;
His life within the keen air breathes;
His beauty paints the crimson dawn,
And clothes the boughs with glittering wreaths.

And though abroad the sharp winds blow,
And skies are chill, and frosts are keen,
Home closer draws her circle now,
And warmer glows her light within.

O God! Who giv’st the winter’s cold
As well as summer’s joyous rays,
Us warmly in Thy love enfold,
And keep us through life’s wintry days."

--Samuel Longfellow

Those are the lyrics to one of the songs the Collegiate singers are singing this holiday season. It's been wonderful so far. Bryan came home with me for Thanksgiving. Oh, it was so good to see my family again! How I missed them! All my siblings, the kids, my parents! It was so fun! There was a family talent show and we took family pictures and we played games Friday afternoon... It was just all around wonderful! It seemed like the week went by too fast.
Bryan and I are now just waiting out the end of the semester. Both of us are working so hard to get decent grades on our finals, we barely see each other. But, it's all for a good cause. We'll get to spend all winter together.
It's starting to hit me... I may not be coming back to Idaho. Bryan keeps telling me that he doesn't have an answer about us getting married so I almost don't want to start making any changes to my life just in case he decides that I'm not supposed to be his wife. Just the thought of not being him just tears be apart, but I won't dwell on that. Anyway, we went ring shopping the other day and I found a ring that I loved! I dreamed about that ring. But I will be happy with whatever ring I get... If I get one *sighs* oh well.
Anyway, I have finals and juries to prepare for.

Untitled

This is my life.

I am a dancer, singer, actress, student, friend, sister, daughter, and most recently a lover. Even more than those, I am a lover of God and the things he gives me everyday. I'm a believer, a giver, a teacher, and a servant in His hands. I'm one who endures through pain, suffering, illness, loneliness, confusion, and doubt. Most of all, I endure though the times when there is 'no trial' - for that is the most gruesome trial of all. But I am also one who overcomes, when aided by faith.
I am a dreamer, a child at heart, a mother figure to some, a companion to others. To many, I am just another person.
But I can be of infinite worth, and I try to remember that with every step that I take. I can be more than this. That's what I'm striving for. That is what keeps me smiling everyday.

OH MY GOSH. I'M SO DEPRESSED.

So I had a blog. I did. Really. But little did I realize that it would be REMOVED FROM EXISTENCE BY DELETING MY OLD EMAIL!!! Grr... Anyway, here is the most recent stuff that I could take from it...

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Slap my hand, shame on me...

So, I'm super lame. I haven't gotten on here in over 2 weeks... Which is weird for me because I used to write almost everyday. I have turned into a working girl! Right now, I'm working at Scoreboard Sports in Bountiful, Utah. Basically, I make jerseys and sports stuff. It seems like an odd job to the uneducated person, but it's awesome! I truly can say that I love my job! And my coworkers! They're amazing, really. It makes being at work enjoyable when you can crack jokes and talk to those who are stuck in the back of the store with you. We call the pressing room (where I make the jerseys, sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc) my "dungeon." I pretty much spend 8 hours a day in there. It's really not as bad as it sounds. Again, when you're with the right people, work is awesome :)
I have been dating Bryan (see previous blog) since the day after that date. He's wonderful. I love spending time with him. We're going up to school together and we're so excited to date each other over the next while. I'm looking forward to Rexburg with him especially because right now, our work schedules keep us out so late! I work during the day, he works until 9:30 at night... Yeah. So, we spend the night time together, but that just means I'm up later than I usually am or want to be :( But, up at school, we won't have that issue because there is a possibility we could be working together! But that depends on where both of us end up when it comes to the job... Yeah, that sentence took me like 10 minutes to figure out how to make it sound right and it STILL doesn't sound right... UGH! oh well...

I keep thinking about fall semester... Amy isn't going to be there. I keep having the recurring nightmare that I won't be in Collegiate again. So many of the Collegiate Singers are off track or going on missions... I'm just... Yeah. Who knows what it's going to be like. It almost scares me.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

THE BEST FIRST DATE STORY EVER.

Bryan and I were having a wonderful time together at the dinner theatre in Murray, Utah. It was a spoof on 007 and had so many mormon jokes in it, I could barely keep down my Coke. We were getting to know each other and having so much fun.
Between the 007 spoof and their Hoedown skit, the leading man came out on stage. He began to make shout outs to those who were having birthdays that night and then the audience sang to all of them.
Then, he started to call out on other people. One young man was leaving for his mission, a young lady was there for her baccalaureate party, and then he asked for those who were there celebrating an anniversary. There was one couple. Then he asked for anyone on a first date.
Bryan and I looked at each other and then both raised our hands. The man looked at us and asked our names.
"I'm Kelsey." I said.
"I'm Bryan." Bryan said after we had looked at each other.
"You don't even know your date's name..." the man said. We laughed along with the rest of the audience. "So, how did you guys meet."
I chuckled and replied, "At the singles ward." The hall filled with laughter. I was laughing just as hard, if not harder.
"Well," the leading man said, "We're all going to sing a song. It's called, 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart.' Then, our anniversary couple will kiss... Followed by our first date couple."
My face went as red as a strawberry. I could not stop laughing because I was SO EMBARRASSED. It felt like that song was 12 seconds long and then the anniversary couple were kissing. I covered my face, not sure what was going to happen. Then Bryan put one hand over my mouth and dipped me in front of the whole audience.
That was probably the best first kiss ever. :)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Wow, I feel so behind...

I'm in Utah now. Yes, my semester at Brigham Young University-Idaho is over. And it makes me terribly sad. Seriously. I miss it so much. Yet, there have already been signs of a good 7 weeks ahead of me before going back. But I still miss this last semester. It was truly amazing; the people I met, the productions I was in, Collegiate, being with my best friends... I want it all back. And I will, eventually. I just need to wait on the Lord's time. That's one things I've learned these last few days.
Anyway, back to what I was going to say before I went on my emo tangent: I'm in Utah now. Being with my sisters has been wonderful, as always. When I got here, I found out my oldest sister, her husband, and kids all came up just for the "holiday weekend" (Pioneer day-- probably the most POINTLESS holiday that is ONLY celebrated in Utah). So, there was another perk. My dad got a new job and a new car. What a blessing! This is just another proof to me that God really does know us and answers prayers and cares about His children. Because of my dad's new job, he gets to go to long trainings in Dallas... Which means my mom is coming to visit! :D I'm so super excited! I miss my mom! But I miss my dad too... Oh well! He's doing wonderful things and I'm so grateful for that!
I'm starting a little dance class in my sister's house, just to earn some money for school. I really hope it works out. So far, I have 3 students. If I can get 3 more by the end of this week, it will be SO worth it! I'm taking up to 15, but my goal is 6. I just pray this will work out.
I decided to go to the Singles Ward again out here. I look back on last summer and my experiences and I really did love the ward here. So, I went this last Sunday, ran into some old friends and made some new ones. Including... :) Yes, a guy. My sister made the comment today that I meet a guy "every 5 minutes." Yes, I meet a lot of guys, but do they work out all the time or am I interested in them right away-- NO. So, meeting a guy is not a terrible thing... But this one is REALLY CUTE! And, he goes to BYU-I. Therefore, I see this as an opportunity to make a new friend, because he's going to be at school in the fall. :) Ha! I'm brilliant!
On a more spiritual note...
I went to the Salt Lake Temple today and did baptisms. The moment I walked into the door, the spirit drove me to tears. It was so strong. The workers there were so sweet. I could feel so much while I was there, I was crying most of the time I was there. I didn't go to recieve revelation or to get answers; I went to find peace again. I found it, and I am so grateful. I'm going again before I go back to Idaho-it's a priority.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Summer 2009 re-cap

I just felt like I needed to count my blessings and see how truly amazing this semester was...

• I lived with my two best friends for half the semester
• I came back to the 83rd ward. I missed this ward so much.
• I was given the opportunity to teach Relief Society once and then was given the calling as a Gospel Doctrine teacher. (Only the BEST calling the world)
• I have almost all of my general classes done! Only about 7 classes to go!
• I'm finally starting on my major
• I finalized my major/minor. Bachelor of Arts in Music major, minor in Dance.
• I made the Collegiate Singers! ... Wow... They have truly become my family. I'm going to miss this group so much! There are 4 people graduating and 4 going on missions...
• I was able to give service every Sunday evening. The Collegiate Singers sang at The Homestead Rest Home. It was always so satisfying and such a blessing to share my testimony.
• I was able to help out Kylie. Even though she was so far away, I was able to help her out here. She came to visit and now we can be together in college.
• I sang in the CES fireside that Elder David A. Bednar spoke at.
• I sang in the devotional the President Henry B. Eyring spoke at.
• I sang in two other devotionals.
• I sang for the construction workers and was able to share my testimony with so many through songs that aren't even members of the church.
• I was given the opportunity to participate in the opera Dido and Aeneas. I was part of the courtier's chorus and it was amazing!
• I met some amazing men. They have helped me see what I want in a spouse and have become life-long friends. (The Collegiate men, my home teachers, my FHE brothers)
• I made friends with some of the most extraordinary women ever. They have truly become wonderful examples to me! (The Collegiate women, my FHE sisters)
• I have learned more about myself, my testimony, and who I can become as a daughter of God.

This semester has just been wonderful. I don't want it to end. But I only have a few more days...