First Snowfall

Eating delicious corn chowder, home made bread, oreo truffles and hot chocolate with good friends and their sweet children on a day like today definitely warms the soul on the first snow fall.

Seeing the red leaves and snow capped pines in the same setting capture the blending of two seasons. Lives do that too. Have you ever felt like you were simultaneously living in two seasons of life, not really sure if you should rake the leaves and prepare for winter or take a few more fall walks, feeling stuck somewhere between fall and winter? 

The Best Anniversary Weekend Ever!

Okay, so it's our only anniversary weekend ever, but it really was the best! For a long time, Ben and I had been planing to stay in the Little America in Salt Lake on the Friday night of our anniversary weekend.

However, two days before our anticipated trip, Ben caught a cold and so we decided we would have to postpone our trip, BUT the hotel needed more than 48 hours notice so we proceeded with our trip anyways. And we are both so glad we did!

Friday night--we checked into our hotel and went straight to the Little America Coffee Shop Restaurant. I seriously love this place! So elegant yet very decent prices :) We ate a delicious dinner and dessert (we splurged!)

After that we went to our hotel room, and I seriously fell in love with the cozy and charming feeling of our room :) Because Ben was sick, we decided we would take it easy and just watch movies all night--this actually ended up being so much fun, especially when Ben surprised me and pulled out cheddar popcorn, mint fudge oreos, and two Sobe drinks! He knows the way to my heart!

Saturday morning we watched a few Dick Van Dykes (our absolute favorite show) and then got ready to go to the zoo. I had never been to the Hogle Zoo before, and growing up going to the San Diego Zoo, I didn't expect much, but I ended up being very impressed. It was the perfect size for a zoo, not too much, not too little. We seriously had SO much fun looking at all the animals--Ben is so sweet to put up with me getting over-excited at some of the animals--and walking around in the misty on and off rain.

Elephants!

Contrary to popular belief, gorillas eat celery, not bananas, and they like to flex their food.

He was a character, the gorilla that is...

The gorilla and us 

I loved the sea lion.

I love rainy fall days like this.

My new favorite animal--the orange monkey (the golden lion tamarin); looks like a lion and does not sit still. 

The giraffe!

After the fun filled zoo, we went to This is the Place monument. I had never been before; the Spirit is so strong there. 

We finally got to the Red Iguana for a late lunch, early dinner--a very unique Mexican food restaurant we had wanted to try. Ending our day, we walked around City Creek for a few hours, enjoying one of Salt Lake's newest attractions.

Last but not least, yesterday was our actual anniversary and Ben surprised me with flowers, I made chicken cordon bleu, and we ate our wedding cake that has been in the freezer for a year.

Us after church. 

The pretty flowers Ben picked! 

It really was the perfect anniversary trip: sweet and simple. Most importantly, it was so fun for just the two of us to be off doing something fun, just for us. It really wouldn't have mattered what we had chosen to do because being together always makes for the "funnest" of times. 

October 14th

All pictures are taken by Camille Garrison (camillegarrison.com) :) 

A year ago today Ben and I promised our hearts to each other, were sealed in the Mount Timpanogos temple, and we were married for all of time and eternity! I can't believe it has gone that fast--seriously! It is amazing how much love can grow and grow, and there is no stopping point. It really was the happiest day of my life. Here are some of my reflections on that day in pictures (partly, so I can remember these in years to come):

It was the most beautiful, clear fall October day. 

Coming out as Katie Browning was quite a fun feeling :)

I loved seeing all the wonderful people we had there to support us. 

Ben and I were often in our own world in the midst of tons of people.

We had such loving, supporting friends and family there.

Some of my dearest friends. It meant the world that they could be there!

I had driven past this temple so many times on the way from BYU back to Alpine and hoped to marry in this temple.

The beautiful luncheon! Again, I was so overwhelmed with friends and family.

Both families have already grown a ton!

I have learned SO much from my grandmas. I felt so privileged to have these two amazing women there.

Ben making me laugh throughout the day. 

I really did love my dress--simple but lacy. 

Ben's aunt made my dream wedding cake--I seriously still look at it in awe. 

I love food; what more can I say?

I loved the lace table cloths. (Can you tell I love lace yet?)

My dream of having a reception at home was fulfilled.

I loved the fresh flowers around the banister.

Some moments were so sweet they made me cry.

Ben didn't smash cake into me (thank goodness).

Dancing with my dad was so special; there was a time when I didn't know if I would have that experience... 

Probably one of the most romantic parts of the whole day was dancing with Ben. 

Seeing Kim and Mary "fight" over the bouquet was definitely a hilarious highlight.

The most important part of the wedding day is the "happily ever after;" that is what really matters, and even though days aren't always perfect, we sure are happy :)

Kim's Bridal Shower

Kim's best friend, Krista, and I threw Kim a last minute friend shower on Tuesday night (we didn't realize this would be Kim's last time in Utah before getting married so we had to scramble...) Krista made it look beautiful! I am so glad Kim got to have some fun with her friends before she goes off and lives at BYU-I/California forever!

Lovely

Krista and Kim 

I got to make all the food: soup, cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin bars--all the fall necessities.

Kim with all her friends

It was so fun to be a part of :) 

Every Six Months

April and October are not only (in my opinion) the most beautiful months of the year--I love the transitional seasons--but they are two of my most favorite months because it means it's time for General Conference when we get to listen to the words of modern day prophets and apostles, reminding us all that God speaks today and that He has a LIVING church.

Leaves I collected at the cabin this weekend. 

I love it because I always hear exactly what I needed to hear. Although this has been the best year in so many ways (all because I am married to Ben :), it has probably been the hardest for me as I am trying to find my new place as a newlywed in a fairly established area. Sometimes it feels like I will never "catch up" with everyone else, and yes, I know--it's not a race, but it's sometimes hard to not feel left behind.

Until January, I went to school for twenty four years of my life--straight, and I'll be honest, I miss the school environment dreadfully. Everyone keeps asking me why I am not teaching, and there are many times I ask myself the same question, but I have strongly felt that I need to be doing the job I have now (and thank goodness because with all the family stuff that has come up this year, I would never be able to take the time off if I was teaching school). Most days I am alone in my house working from my computer, doing house chores, and random projects from 7 AM until 5:30 PM with the occasional phone call and work IMs. A hermit, practically. I basically live for the moment Ben walks in the door and then all happiness returns :)  My life feels like it has come to an abrupt stop. I used to be so involved in various clubs and organizations. I used to constantly socialize. I used to soak up my classes and readings and enjoy every bit of it. I used to thrive off of going to devotionals, CES firesides, and institute classes. That whole world changed so suddenly, and I am now trying to find where I fit in and how I can make a difference at this new stage.

General Conference helped give me so much perspective. I especially needed to hear President Uchtdorf and President Eyring's talks.

I needed to hear this:

"Isn’t it true that we often get so busy? And, sad to say, we often even wear our busyness as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, were an accomplishment or sign of a superior life. Is it? I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.

I can’t see it.

Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time."

-President Uchtdorf

And this: 

"In the depths of his anguish in Liberty Jail, the Prophet Joseph Smith cried out: “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?” (D&C 121:1). Many of us, in moments of personal anguish, feel that God is far from us. The pavilion that seems to intercept divine aid does not cover God; it occasionally covers us. God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are, covered by a pavilion of motivations that draw us away from God and make Him seem distant and inaccessible. Our own desires, rather than a feeling of “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10), create the feeling of a pavilion blocking God. God is not unable to see us or communicate with us, but we may be unwilling to listen or submit to His will and His time.

Our feelings of separation from God will diminish as we become more childlike before Him. That is not easy in a world where the opinions of other human beings can have such an effect on our motives. But it will help us recognize this truth: God is close to us and aware of us and never hides from His faithful children."

-President Eyring

This gave me some perspective (along with some help from my husband) to see that this is a BEAUTIFUL time of life where I have opportunities to participate with family and help serve that I may not have time to later on. I have been creating some of my own "pavilions" that I need to let go. Through conference I felt the reassuring love that Heavenly Father had not forgotten me nor any one of his other children. Because in those moments, He is trying us and letting us experience more humility. Life really is SO good, and I have an amazing husband by my side who makes everything better.

We went to the cabin with my family for conference (this has to be one of my favorite traditions). I love going on walks and enjoying the crisp fall air in between sessions, getting away from all worldly distractions. The weekend was highlighted with talks with my mom, sniffles because of sickness, and me baking and making meals. To top such an uplifting weekend off, Ben and I saw a mama moose with  a baby moose SO close to us and the cabin; we watched it for about a half hour.

Chillin on the turf

It kept looking at us all friendly-like

Mama and baby

It was a very friendly moose :) 

It really was!

And then it finally stood up for us, yay!

It was a wonderful conference, as it always was, and I feel renewed with more purpose. And I got to see a moose.