I take that back....a year later might be too late :)

May 2013: Since moving back to Salt Lake, I’ve attended a family ward, the Garden Heights ward.  I met so many great people and had the opportunity to serve with the Young Women, which I love.    But I came to a point, when I just felt like I needed to have more opportunities to meet with people who are currently in my same boat and since my workplace is not necessarily the hotbed of available LDS bachelors, changing up my church venue was an easy way to remedy that.   I definitely put a lot of thought into it before making the switch.  The thing is being single at my age, I’ve already experienced a Single’s Ward, 3 or 4 times, intermixed with periods in family wards.  I love the experience of both but I had been getting little nudges here and there and the last couple of times I visited the ward before switching my records, I really felt so welcome and that this was the place for me. My new ward, the Parley’s 7^th (all 700+ members) was a bit overwhelming at first, but it’s so great to be surrounded by so many on the ball, amazing people.  We have the most amazing bishopric and advisory couples who are superhuman in their abilities to be present and make everyone feel loved.  I guess the biggest surprise of all is how much I get spiritually from the ward.  It’s a shame that sometimes Single’s Wards get a reputation for being all fluff.  Every Sunday I leave feeling that I felt and heard things that were specifically meant for me.   Ironic that on my first Sunday there I would meet someone who I would end up dating for a few months.  He was a great guy and had a lot of great qualities, but just not a match for me.

June 2013: Love June here in Utah!  It’s so beautiful and so fun to see everyone out just enjoying the beautiful weather that we’ve waited so long for. J  What’s not to love about June when it also signals the beginning of vacation!!  My niece Taylor graduated from High School and is headed to BYU in the fall and it was definitely bitter sweet!  I kept having flashbacks of seeing her as a little girl sitting on their front porch then seeing her walk across the stage and accept her diploma.  How did this happen that all my nieces and nephews are getting so big and becoming such amazing young women and men.  Makes me so proud and lucky to have such a special relationship with them! 

July 2013:  My mom, dad and I had all talked about our desire to travel to the British Isles, so we decided to take our 3^rd annual father/mom/daughter trip.  We took a 12 day cruise around the British Isles including some pretty amazing stops: throughout Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England.  It was such a great trip, filled with great memories.  Some of the highlights for me were: Guernsey (always wanted to go there after reading the book) and Victor Hugo’s house and our accompanying tour were amazing!, Cobh, Ireland:  Green, green everywhere green and love the Irish humor,  Orkney Island, Scotland: beautiful, quaint little town and history everywhere! And Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Ireland.

August 2013: For some odd reason, I seem to have a knack for winning things on the radio, believe me, not complaining J  My score this month was for 2 tickets to the Sara Bareilles/One Republic concert: love both of them so much!!  But, further score, a day after winning, another radio station emailed me to tell me I had won 2 more tickets including meet and greet passes!  The concert was up at Deer Valley and was hands down one of the most amazing concerts: perfect weather, perfect venue!  Amber and I went along with my friend and her date.

October 2013: My friends Misty, Alison, Elizabeth and I decided to hit up the Washington DC Midsingles Conference, which was so much fun!  We met so many great people and in between events tried to hit up some of the DC sites.  My cute friend Craig offered to let us stay at his house in Arlington and was the greatest host!

November 2013: The big 3-9!  It was such a great day!  Amber made me the sweetest DVD filled with family members saying one word to describe me.  Dangerous to watch….bawlfest!  I do not hide my emotions well!  It just made me realize how incredibly lucky I am to have my constant, encouraging, loving family around me!  Love them!  My cute friend Misty pulled the grand surprise, flying in the night before to surprise me for my b-day.  I was out on a date at the symphony and she was with a group of my other friends who were there, so at the end of the performance looked over across the lobby and saw here there, huge shock!  And great surprise!