Six Months.

Today was our six month anniversary. I never thought that a six month mile-marker would mean so much to me, but I DO care! I just can't believe its already been that long, and it might be the most common thing to hear but, "This year had gone by so fast." I can't help but think it almost every day. When I think of where I was a year ago, I want to cringe and then laugh. I haven't really told many people the full story and I really want a record of it written down somewhere so I can remember the dorky details of when I met my husband. 

We met at church in the YSA ward. Jonathan first showed up one June day. I was dating another guy at the time, wrapped up in a little summer romance. I remember sitting in church next to this guy and probably with other friends, but I can barely remember. Some guy in the front row was drawing all my focus. I couldn't even see his face, but I was so fascinated by him. He sat up so straight, it was amazingly attractive. And those shoulders....dang! I just wanted to know him so badly, but he got a calling in his home ward and off he went before I could even learn his name. 

Early 2013 I was dating the next guy, and the man I called "Shoulders" came back! That was a little annoying. Every time he showed his face I wasn't allowed to flirt with him. It wasn't until that summer I put myself out there. I tried and failed to get him to talk to me, but he didn't take the bait until he started coming to our friend's game nights. (I made sure to stand next to him during Murder in the Dark...he held my hand. giggle!) And so the shy awkward flirting progressed.

Two of our lovely friends invited us to sleep out on the parade route the night before Pioneer Day. He spend the night shamelessly working for my attention and trying to make me blush, and when that didn't work, he flat out asked to kiss me. I said no. :) Sucker. Two days later we had our first official date. He brought me lilies and roses, then took me to a concert downtown. "Flaming Lips," the kind of band that wears patterned spandex and spits fire at their crowd. It was awesome. 

I'm a sucker for cheesy pick-up lines, and Jon sure used a good one when he said goodbye at the doorstep. "You're about to have your last first kiss." And no hesitation, he kissed me. All I can remember was thinking, "I'm good with that."  :D SOOOO CHEESY, RIGHT?? I loved it. All that followed was dates and talking late into the night. I dragged him down to St.George with me to my niece's blessing to see how some other family liked him. (I think my brothers didn't a few of the guys I dated in the past, so I had to be sure, and of course it went wonderfully.) Time went by and we found ourselves at a ring store. We found "the one." That night he asked my father's permission while me and mom sat on the back porch. I peaked in through the window only twice to see them deep in conversation and then a manly hug. I cried. September 6th came along and we were downtown.  We went to all our favorite places, and he took me up into an empty ballroom in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, where we danced. Temple square was pretty much empty and it was perfect. He took me down to The South fountain and proposed. He'll tell you that I ran away from him, I DID NOT! I was shocked and took a few steps back! It took me a few minutes to stop laughing and crying to say yes, but I did and it was wonderful. 

We were married on February 21st in the Salt Lake Temple. I'll never forget sitting next to him in the Celestial Room waiting to be sealed. It was more than I ever hoped for. 

Right now are plans are pretty much set for the next few years. In January we're moving up to Logan to go to school and Jon will be joining the Air Force and going through medical school. It will be an adventure, whatever happens. I'm just so happy to have him by my side. 

End of the mushy post. :)

I'm taking my stand.

I have something to say, and yes, I'm reviving my unused and forgotten blog to say it. This subject is volcanic, but so am I. Anyone who knows me knows that the things I believe are close to my heart and I am very passionate about them. Being lukewarm is something I don't really do. So forgive (if you deem necessary) this heated post about a subject that I would think every woman has strong opinions about. 

To begin...
"Big girls are the only real women." 
"Skinny means unhealthy."
"Thin girls look like little boys."

I can't describe the amount of anger that rushes to me when I read these words. The real kicker is when these memes and pictures or "quotes" are shared across the internet by people who call themselves my friends.

Let me give you some background. 

I'm a thin girl, always have been. I'm also 5'10". I inherited this body-type almost completely from my grandmother, who also was thin all her life.  I have a slightly high metabolism.
People would say I'm bragging when sharing this. I'm not. People mostly say, "Lucky," but in a very pandering way. I was teased growing up. Kids made up lies about me being anorexic or bulimic when I was so young, I didn't even know what those words meant. Needless to say, I lost friends over this. I had no intention of wasting my time with girls who hurt others. It took years for me to forgive these girls, but I truly did for one simple fact; we were GIRLS. We hadn't yet learned how to express ourselves or how our words can affect our peers.

That's why this new fad of thin-bashing gets to me so bad. WE SHOULD BE OVER THIS. I thought people had learned enough during puberty, during those crazy teenage and early adult years that pointing fingers and making fun of others only makes you look worse. I mean, how dare you make fun of anyone for how they look? I cannot claim to have been perfect in this area of course. While growing and learning we all fall prey to trying to make ourselves feel better by making someone else feel worse. But I do also have to say that I have done my utmost to never do that again. I will never forget how sad it made me as a ten year old girl to realize why I was being made fun of. I relive that pain every time I see or read one of those statement on the internet, especially when posted by my friends.

I understand. These things were probably posted out of a show of trying to show a front of confidence or strength. Trying to show that we've left the old ways of thinking of ONLY skinny is beautiful and womanly. I wish it were true. If we had truly gained confidence in ourselves as women, "skinny" and "thin" would not be used in a negative sense. The saying "Only real women have curves" would be as outdated as corsets. Real women do not tear others down. Real women build each other up. Real women have confidence enough to work on their characters and keep their dignity, not throw it away the first chance they get just to look better than someone else. 

Same thing goes for men. Men have as much heart and soul as we. They should not be looked on as too skinny, not fit enough, not tall enough, therefore, unmanly. The only thing in my book that judges the "manly" scale is how he treats his peers. (I wish I could write as impassioned as I do about the Women thing, but I don't have much experience in being a man so...sorry.) 

I love you my friends. I know I'm not perfect, but let me tell you something. 
I'm healthy. I'm strong. My heart is in wonderful condition. I am blessed beyond measure in these aspects and I thank God regularly for it. Yes, I weigh 113 lbs. But the next person who stoops low enough to exclaim, "You're too skinny," "I could break you in half," or "You should eat something." --Shame on you, and I will forever be that advocate that every BODY has beauty. The frame and shape is merely that, a shell. What is held inside is as deep and ponderous as the universe, and just as beautiful. Please stop hurting others for not being the same as you. Find the validation in yourself, for yourself, to be yourself. No one else needs your approval to look the way they do, and you don't need theirs. 

**End note- To avoid confusion, I do believe in healthy self improvement. Whatever makes you healthy and happy - do. I'll back you up. :)