work.

this is me. at work. right now. currently. 

because its rexburg during the 7-week break. 

and no one is here.

ever.

SO excited to have my friends backk.

The Idaho Cabin.

I dont think anyone will ever fully understand the love i have for our cabin in Idaho.

It sits on Henry's Lake (beautiful). (see picture).

The fam has been coming here every summer since i can remember.. except we havent been there in 4 years bc of various missions and things. so this time was especially special because i got to take my hubs to my special place of heaven!!

some of the things i love about my cabin:

• sitting outside on the swing and reading a book w/ a blanket on my lap. 
• the silence of being in the middle of the mountains
• the sound of the bats on the roof at night
• the creek
• the slimy goo on top of the creek
• the homemade bridge across the creek
• the suicidal mosquitos
• the stuffed dead animals on every wall inside
• the 90's circular rug in the front room that you can circle around a million times until you get dizzy an fall over
• standing on the back of the car on the mile dirt road in
• the smell outside in the early morning
• the cows we get to shoot w/ paintball guns
• the fear of being completely in the dark when the sun goes down
• the sweet serenity of no internet--so it forces us to play cards
• the chance to do nothing for a little while
• getting your feet stuck in the quicksand mud
• the smell of the 70's carpet that is still there
• the red door.
• celebrating my dads birthday
• the day we spend at yellowstone seeing a play at the Playmill theatre, watching "Old Thankful" erupt, and then getting ice cream at Dairy Queen.

well anywho. thats all. I am so grateful that my fam was able to come up this week so we could go to the cabin finally. I am gaining an appreciation for traditions, and how important they are to each member of the family!

this is also the last time im gonna see my little brother yakub. (jacob) he leaves to brazil next week! ah! where does the time go. im just gonna miss him. he brings a light to the family that no one compares!

this is the last pik well have together (besides the fam ones we took today) before he gets back. God speed brother, you preach to those brazilians!

Mr. and Mrs. Brennan Crist.

Yesterday i had the opportunity to attend a special sealing in the temple. Not only was it the first sealing i have atttended (since my own, 3.5 months ago!) but it was the sealing of two of my dear friends. 

Brennan and Julia were sealed August 4th in the Mesa, Arizona temple. 

It was cool to go to a sealing that wasnt mine and actually get to hear of all the special blessings and promises that are received. 

In the temple, among many of the wonderful things we get to do inside, i think my new and forever favorite is the sealing ordinance. It's an opportunity for worthy members of our church to be sealed together for time and all eternity in the House of the Lord among witnesses who love them. In a sealing, the couple covenants with God to keep their promises of marriage (and others) to each other, as well as the Lord. The ceremony is such a sacred, beautiful experience...but it makes you reflect upon your own marriages and the covenants that you made on that special day. Have I been keeping my covenants to my fullest ability to Devin AND my Father in heaven? Do i strive each day to become a "Devin-aholic"? Do i love him in EVERY capacity? 

Brennan and Julia's sealing brought a very special spirit into the lives of the people in the room as we were all able to feel of the true love that eminated from their spirits as they looked into each others' eyes across the alter. I am so grateful that i was able to share that experience with our friends, and that i, too, can receive those blessings of marriage that come with being sealed in the temple. There is so much joy in the temple, and my heart is full when i am able to take part in that joy!!

What a beautiful thing, love is!!

Here are some pictures from our friends' special day. Congratulations Brennan. We are so happy for you guys, and hope that you will make each other happy everyday in this life, and a thousand years after that. 

here they are!!

look at that love in his eyes. 

all the gang comin together.

typical julia..the reception was like Pinterest exploded into real life. 

brennan and his best man/best friend.

groom/groomsmen.

decorating the car :)

cake!

the boys gettin their groove on.

&&they lived happily ever after.. <3