Reminiscing

We seem to keep pretty busy all the time! Whether it's a girls' night at the Cheesecake Factory with Hali and Nikole while Justin is at Mitchell's swim meet,

to dinner with the Stimpson's, raquetball at the rec center where we just got an annual pass, dinner at Chuck-a-Rama for Carma's bday, U of U basketball games, U of U gymnastic meets, dinner and Desert Start theater plays with the group or one-on-one dinner dates with Justin at the Hale Center theater, adult ward party, or tubing with the family,











we stay busy! Sunday the 29th we even started the day out at 7:15 am so Justin and Hali could get their Patriarchal Blessings, and then followed that up with all five of us speaking in Church for Sacrament meeting on Becoming Disciples of Christ and me giving my first lesson in RS as my new calling. Busy day that turned out well as mom and dad stayed for all our meetings and came to dinner after. Yesterday was another busy Sunday but that was because of the Superbowl party after Church at John Henderson's house (why yes I did eat the Lil Smokies not knowing they were leftover from his Christmas party and had been sitting out that whole time). Busy, busy, but we do it all together as a family so it is quality time!

This month has got me reminiscing about the first time I met Justin. Jacob Stimpson first approached me about him in July of 2015. He said that he knew an awesome guy that was in the Elders Quorum presidency with him who's wife had passed away earlier that year. Jacob thought we would be great together and asked if I would go out with his friend. I said yes, but after a few weeks, he came back to me and said this friend hadn't really dated anyone else before marrying his wife and now was going a little crazy getting into the dating scene, so Jacob wanted to wait a little while before setting us up so I wouldn't get lost in the crowd. Wasn't particularly a good recommendation for me to go out with this guy, but when Jacob brought it up again at the beginning of 2016, I agreed. As I was going to be traveling three weeks straight for work and pleasure starting on Valentine's Day, we squeezed in the first date on Saturday, February 13. We went to a play at the Hale Center Theater in Salt Lake and then to dinner afterward at Wingers. Justin was really easy to talk to and had a good sense of humor, but I kept getting distracted because his looks reminded me of Sarah Autry's family. When we were leaving Winger's though, Justin asked me if he could give me a kiss. Jacob and Natalie were with us for a double date and both turned around upon hearing this and I kept looking between them and Justin with a deer in the headlights look until he finished up his question by holding out his hand and having a Hershey's kiss on his palm. Made me laugh pretty hard and really see him instead of Sarah's brother. He asked for my phone number after that as Jacob hadn't given it to him and had done all the date arrangements. We've gotten quite a bit of mileage out of that Hershey's kiss since then!!!

Getting engaged at Fay Park in San Francisco on November 5, 2016

Celebratory sundae from friends and the restaurant staff after getting engaged

Passage of Time

What has happened in my life since the last post? Well, I left the Church and went to work at the great and spacious building. Or in non-Mormon terms...I left Church employment in the Temple Department and started working at doTERRA. Stating it the other way though always gets a laugh here! Initially I worked at doTERRA as an executive assistant for the owners, but after about four months, I became the manager of their non-profit organization, the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation.

Mom and dad returned from their mission in Fresno. I started attending the single's ward in Alpine. Dated. Traveled to California and Guatemala for work. Moved into the Cook home to watch over it while they went to live in China. Grandma Backlund moved into a care facility. I moved into her apartment. Went on a first date for Valentine's Day 2016 with a man named Justin Hutchinson. Traveled to California, Guatemala, and Orlando for work. Became the Relief Society President of the third Relief Society in the Single's ward. Mom and dad started another mission, this time living at home while serving in the Utah Orem Mission, Spanish-speaking. Went on a second date in June with Justin. Met his three kids in September. Got married in December. Moved to Salt Lake. Now commuting to work at doTERRA in Pleasant Grove from Salt Lake, and okay with that because I'm pretty happy with where I'm at right now. And where is that you might ask?

Hali, Me, Justin, Mitchell, and Nikole down in front

As a part of this great family. Hopefully I'll be able to start updating more faithfully once again. Because there is an awesome story to be told. ❤😊