Last Day of Class

Wednesday, April 23

Yesterday, I went to my final day of school. I have been in school for 7 years. Ok, I have been in school for 20 years. I have been in college for 7. It is a bitter sweet time for me. At this point, I just need a break. Not that I am really getting one with the Bar hanging over my head, but a break from school. However, I love learning and I have genuinely enjoyed every single one of those years. Law school, with the exception of 3 weeks a semester, was a great experience. I have made friends that I will miss so much and have learned a lifetime's worth of information. The thought of venturing out into the big world is scary. I will be a lawyer!!! People's lives and/or money will be in my hands. That is a huge responsibility. But not only will their lives be in my hands, mine will as well. I have to admit that life is pretty posh and simple when Daddy pays the bills. I probably don't tell my parents often enough how grateful I am for all their support (not just financial) during college and grad school and law school. There is no way I could have done it without them!!

Tomorrow, I will graduate from law school. How crazy is that? Dr. Chel, J.D :) I picked up the robes yesterday and they have these cool black stripes on them with a blue and white and purple doctorate hood. So Crazy!!

Today is also my last day of official work. I have been a law clerk for the United States Attorney since last June. It has been a wonderful experience and I have learned so much about the law and about the practice of law. I had the opportunity to work with some of the best attorneys in town.

For a woman that doesn't do change well, there sure is a lot of it in the next couple of weeks. Although I am sad in some ways to leave some things behind, I am thrilled that I get to marry the love of my life.

Graduation Party

I had hoped to have some wonderful pictures from this event, and I would have had I made it. We had been planning to go and I was so excited about it. However, morning of, I got sick. It was the stomach kind of sick that is hard to fight through. Still wanted to go. I layed around all afternoon hoping to feel better by 5. I was feeling a bit better, so we packed into the car and headed for Utah County. We made it to the Panda Express on University Parkway before poor Spencer was strongly instructed to pull over. I lost my cookies right there in the parking lot. I felt so bad for the people that pulled in right after we did.

We decided the party wasn't the best idea and headed back home. My dear sweetheart just held me until I headed to bed. It is moments like these that I have no doubts that I have picked the right man. Even watching me throw up, he thinks I am beautiful. Every time I get sick, I make him promise that he will hold my aching body when I am growing his child. It started out as a joke, but I know he will do it. Not only because he is grateful that I have to carry the children, but also because we are in this together. And by this, I mean life. It is funny to me that I have always struggled with the big decisions of life, but not this time. I knew early in our dating relationship that I wanted to spend eternity with this man. I wanted everything life had to offer with him.

Engagements

On April 1st, Dad, Spencer, and I all ventured down to Thanksgiving Point for the engagement photos. We paid our grounds fee (horrendously expensive, but I think we worth it) and rented a golf cart. Our photographer Mike drove the cart. We covered so much of the gardens in just and hour and a half. There were very few flowers up yet, but it is still a gorgeous place.

Bridal Shower #3

Kimber decided that she wanted to throw a shower as well for the family, so we did it the day before Easter. It was a very impressive spread, all done in shades of pink. Kimber is an amazing woman and I am so grateful to have her in my life.

Bridal Shower #2

March 15th was my law school shower. My dear friends JoAnna and Kiersty were gracious enough to offer to do this shower. I had them enlist Em and Kimber as well. It was a breakfast shower and so many of my adorable law school friends came to the shower. It was a bitter sweet moment seeing all of my wonderful friends, but knowing that our time together was almost over.

Law School Prom

Silly me, I go to one of these proms in three years and forget to take pictures. It was a very nice event though. Spencer was able to come with me and meet many of my law school friends. We sat with Jo and Cory, and Sarah and her new husband Jay. It was a wonderful evening where they recognized so many of my very accomplished law school colleagues. I must admit the highlight of the evening was a performance by Jericho Road. One of the members is a 2L. Spencer thought it was cheesy, but I was having a great time :)

Bridal Shower #1

The day after the proposal was my first bridal shower. This was the Ward shower. My dear friend Liz, who is the wife of my former Bishop, graciously offered to give me the shower. My ""other mother" Kathy assisted in the process as did so many other sisters from the Ward. The shower was amazing!! We had so much food and the number of gifts was very overwhelming. Kimber and/or Mom took these pictures of the gifts and shower. Crazy!!!

I had a great time and was so grateful to all the

sisters that came…

He Proposed...

Yes, I meant to do this two months ago when he did it, but life manages to get away from me quickly. It was Friday, March 7th. I knew that Spencer intended to propose that night. Ok, formally propose. It has been our long running joke because he told me he wanted to marry me last August, but we had to wait for the never ending diamond drama. Spencer picked me up and brought me the most beautiful set of roses. I handed the roses off to my mother and we headed for the car. As is usually the case, I drove. However, I had no idea where we were driving. Turn by turn, Spencer instructed me on where to go. We eventually arrived at the Joseph Smith Building. We took the elevators to the tenth floor. Spencer had made reservations at the Roof. It is a beautiful buffet that overlooks the Salt Lake Temple to the West and the State Capitol to the North. We had a very nice dinner with my favorite Lion House rolls. We held hands and stared into one anothers eyes (one of our favorite things to do). At this point, I was praying that he wouldn't propose in the restaurant. I hate crowds and I didn't want this to be a group moment. It was at that point that the couple sitting below us did the whole proposal thing. I started to tear up. It was so cute!!! We then asked another couple in the restaurant if they would take our picture….

Spencer paid the bill and we headed for the elevator. Instead of going to the bottom floor, we got off at the lobby level. We walked across the plaza and onto Temple Square. There is a fountain in between the Temple and the South Visitors Center. We walked over and sat down. I was ecstatic at this point!!! I had always envisioned being proposed to in almost that exact spot. I had told my mother for years that this would be the absolute perfect place to be proposed to.

We talked for a minute until all the other people in that area had left. Then he started to tell me about the symbolism of the evening (sorry readers, that's all the details you get.). He got down on one knee and asked if I would be his wife. I, of course, said yes. Then he took my hand and placed the most beautiful ring I had ever seen, on my finger. I designed it, but it turned out even better than I could have hoped for.

A sweet lady on Temple Square offered to take our picture.

Then we called up Adam and Em to go over for a visit. I had to show her the ring!!!

I am a bit disappointed that I can't get a great picture of the ring. Every camera makes the diamond look dark whereas it is anything but. The ring is made of rose gold and has an asscher cut stone. When you look into the diamond, it has many facets that appear to continue in forever. It is so clear. I absolutely love it. Good job honey!!