Thankful for Christmas

I love Christmas music. It makes me so happy! I know that many feel that listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving robs this wonderful holiday of it's true recognition, but I'd like to argue that point.

There is something about hearing festive music about joy in the world, peace on earth, and holy nights that makes me grateful for what I have and especially for my Savior. I think there is no better way to get in the Thanksgiving spirit than through listening to this inspiring music. So, to emphasize my point, I'd like to create a list of what I'm grateful for. This list is not all inclusive, just simply highlights a few key things.

1. My Savior Jesus Christ
2. A loving Father in Heaven
3. My wonderful husband
4. A roof over my head
5. My education
6. A job that I enjoy and provides the necessities for our little family
7. My family, both my side and Rob's side.
8. A mother that knows exactly what I need to hear when I call her exhausted, frustrated, sick, or just want to hear my mom's voice.
9. My friends
10. A tiny apartment that only requires an hour to clean :)
11. My calling, that allows me to serve and forget myself once in a while
12. A wonderful, supportive ward we've grown to love
13. Tender mercies from Heavenly Father that too often go unnoticed
14. Inspiring music
15. A beautiful world full of flowers, falling leaves, sunsets and sunrises, and fresh air.

I'm thankful for this wonderful season!

Married Life Update

So now that almost three months have gone by, we decided maybe it's time to come out of hiding and reconnect with the world. We're doing really well and loving married life. Now more than ever we really understand what is meant by "Men are that they might have joy." Marriage has been a wonderful blessing.

Rob is working hard with school, he's taking some tough classes but is loving what he's learning. He cut some of his hours at work so he can dedicate more time to his studies. I've heard more about the body makeup and functions in the past three weeks to last me a lifetime! We're looking forward to being able to apply for nursing school after this semester. Our hope is that he'll get in to school next fall, and four semesters later will have his bachelor's degree as an RN. One year of work as a RN, followed by CRNA school (2 years) and we'll be done! We're excited for our future.

I'm still working at Love Communications as an account coordinator, working at the only ad agency in Salt Lake that hasn't had layoffs or pay decreases, so I definitely consider myself lucky. The recession has been tough for this industry, but I'm hanging in there.

I was called to be second counselor in the YW presidency, which has been fun. We live in Rose Park, which is considered the "ghetto" of Salt Lake City, so these girls definitely deal with things that I only heard about in movies. I hope I can be the kind of leader they need. They are fun, sweet girls.

We're counting down the days until Christmas (long ways off, we know!) as we are going to Minnesota for the Holidays to be with my family. We can't wait to see them and have a fun little vacation. Until then, we'll continue our routine of working hard during the week and enjoying the time together on the weekends. We're in love!

Forever and Ever Babe

Sorry it's taken me so long to update this. We have been married just over a month now, and LOVING it! It's so wonderful to be sealed together, to have each other to lean on, learn from, and love. The wedding was amazing, filled with many wonderful memories. Here are some of the best moments (at least we think so now, maybe not then on a few).

5. Losing the handkerchief Granny made for me when I was born. She made it as part of my baby blessing outfit, it was initally worn on my head. It was made so you could take out a couple stitches and it became a handkerchief to use on my wedding day. My mom had been saving it all these years, and gave it to me at our rehersal dinner. It was mistaken for a napkin while cleaning up thrown in the garbage. Thanks to Rob's cousin for diving in the garbage bag and finding it!

4. Rob thinking that he would get to spend the morning with me on our wedding day. He didn't really get it that I needed the whole morning to get my hair done and makeup. He was quite frustrated when I wasn't ready until about 20 minutes before we needed to leave for the temple. He watched Bride Wars that morning. Then of course we forgot our recommends in my car as we were rushing off to the temple. Then we forgot something in his car once we parked and had walked half way from the parking lot to the temple. It was nice to step inside and just breathe.

3. Tow trucks at our reception! So fun. A lot of people were parked in the AT&T parking lot, which isn't Studio 600 parking until 8 pm. So AT&T called the tow trucks and put a bit of a damper on things. At one point I was standing in the receiving line watching our brothers run back and forth across the room with keys, and just thinking, really?? Anyway, nothing a couple hundred bucks couldn't fix. AT&T lost my business forever.

2. Dancing the night away! I loved dancing together to "Lucky" by Jason Miraz and Colbie Callait as our first dance. It was the perfect song for us. Then dancing with my Dad, who is the best Dad in the whole world. I couldn't have been raised by a better man. It was great to celebrate with so many family members and friends. I wore these awesome red heels, and only tripped in them once when Royce (Rob's brother) grabbed me and starting swinging me and dancing... he's not as smooth as Rob. :) Rob and I met dancing at Studio 600, and it was pretty great dancing with him as my husband at the same place we met.

1. Being sealed to the love of my life for all time and eternity. That was a moment I'll never forget. Rob is the man I never thought I'd find, who loves me like I've always wanted to be loved, and who I love more than I ever thought possible. Life, although stressful and crazy at times, is a joy with him. No till death do us part for us... we're in this thing forever and ever. Thank goodness, because it wouldn't be Heaven without him by my side.

Can I just say...

I am ready for this stress to be over. Let's just get on with it. Rob, let's go get married.

3 Weeks!!

We are getting so close to the wedding only three more weeks! It has definitely been crazy the past two months trying to put this wedding together. Who knew announcements could be so difficult. Wow. :) We are so excited and can't wait to start our life together. The wedding will be fun, but we are so excited for what comes after.

We got our engagement pictures taken a few weeks back. Neither of us were very comfortable getting our pictures taken. But once we got going we started having

fun and getting in the swing of things. We had a hard time deciding with picture to use for our announcement, but we'll definitely end up framing a lot of them! If anyone needs a good photographer, I highly recomment Stephanie Hutto (www.stephography.com).

I also did my bridals yesterday, a friend from work did them for me. It was fun wearing my dress, but I'm going to die of heat on the wedding day. It was fun though!

I'm moving in to our new apartment on Tuesday, it will be fun getting our apartment ready before the wedding. I am excited and so happy! (And exhausted and overwhelmed and stressed, but that's the nature of it all!!)

Then we danced

A couple weekends ago, Rob and I had one of those exhausting Fridays. We had planned on going to the Red Carpet Date Night up at the University of Utah, and we almost didn't go because of how exhausted we both were. But I was set on going on a date and getting all dressed up. So at 9:30 at night, after working on Rob's car, we got all dressed up, put our dancing shoes on, and went to the dance.

It was SO much fun. We were both glad we went. We met dancing at Studio 600, and it was a fun reminder of that night that we had met. I felt so pretty, and he looked so handsome. I can't wait for our wedding when we get to dance again!

Engaged, FINALLY!!! WoooHOOO!!!!

I'm Engaged! This has been a long time coming, and I'm so happy to be able to finally say that Rob proposed and we are officially getting marred June 26th in the Salt Lake Temple!! I'm so happy.

A lot of people have been asking how he proposed, so I'll tell the story. We went to dinner at Chili's, which is where we went on our first date. We both loved that date, it was the most memorable first date either of us have ever had. After dinner, we drove to this place where we had once taken a walk when we first started dating. It's so beautiful, especially at night. It's down in Draper area, and it is a path along a beautiful river with a bridge and there are lights and it is just gorgeous. I had just told him earlier that week that when we had taken that walk months ago, it was when I realized how much I really cared for him and I realized what a great relationship we could form.

Anyway, we were walking along, and it was crazy because it was SO cold! We walked across the bridge and down the path a little further, but then he was like, ok it's cold, let's walk back. As we walked to where the bridge was again, these two girls came up the walkway and stood on the bridge for like 5 minutes taking pictures. He stopped me and suggested we sit for a while (he was waiting for them to leave). We sat down, and I was like, this is weird, it's freezing and we can't even see the river or any of the scenery. He was barely talking to me, he just kept looking at the girls. Finally they finished with their picture taking and walked past us. He helped me up then we walked to the bridge and he stopped me, got on one knee, pulled out the ring box, opened it, and said, Nicole Anne Lash, will you marry me? And with little tears in my eyes and joyful laugh I said yes. He put the ring on my finger, kissed me and gave me a hug, and then was like, wait, I didn't hear you, did you say yes? It was cute, I was giggling and laughing out of pure excitement he didn't even hear my answer. I assured him that the answer was yes!

When we got to his car again, he pulled a dozen red roses out for me. We then went to his parents house, showed off the ring and shared the good news with all our friends.

JUNE 26th!!!! This is going to be such a wonderful day, and I hope to share it with as many of you as I can. I love him, and I can't wait to be Mrs. Nicole Garside!!!!

Update

Ok so I haven't updated this in a long time, and I've been getting a lot of questions, so I decided to finally pick up the slack and fill in all my faithful followers (all four of you). I am back together with Rob! Things are so great, I'm way happy. We've been able to work through a few things and we've built a great relationship. In 2 weeks we're taking a trip to Altanta so he can meet my family. Big step!!

I also moved to a new place, I'm living in a house with four other girls in Murray. Rob and his brother were kind enough to help me move over the weekend, which I'm way grateful for. I seriously hate packing and moving. It's not that I have that much stuff, it's just annoying. But I'll admit that it was fun to have Rob help me.

I'm holding on to my job for now, we'll see what happens with the economy. I have my resume polished up and a few back ups in case things don't go well. Which is the way it's looking...

Life is good.