Our First Fall

(Our first camping trip alone our cute tent!)

(us at the Brazilian festival the first of September)

We ended summer and had to start school again.

Brent is going full time into his engineering degree! I am just trekking along going part time. 

We love our new schedule though better sleeping. I love my job at LittleBumkins day care I have a lot of fun there! I am not even sure were September went though. The holidays are quickly coming. 

(All my babies!)

I had to say goodbye to my best friend for she is headed to her mission! She will be wonderful though she is so ready! We have so many memories together, we have been friends since we were 5 years! Its crazy to see were we are today! 

I didn't have to say goodbye for long though because her mother invited me to the Relief Society broadcast at the conference center where she was able to sing in the choir as MTC sister missionaries. We were able to see her wave and say hi! It is so exciting to receive emails and letters from her. I am just so excited for her! 

We went to the Weber State homecoming dance and had a ton of fun! Dressing up and having dinner was a treat to do with my husband! 

And the first weekend in October as always is General Conference! Oh how that is always refreshing to lay aside the world and listen to the living Prophet and Apostles. To have personal revelation to receive the answers to my prayers and have a spiritual high! Brent and I were able to have tickets to the Sunday morning session where we were able to also hear the music and the spoken word! Hymns and church music is always so uplifting and hits me with the spirit just as hard! After conference on temple square I was able to run into my cousin from Vegas, Cherida! It is always a joy to see family! I am so grateful that families are eternal through my temple covenants! 

Catching Up!

      The things we have been up to lately! Absolutely loving life!

Went camping on a wim! We had a ton of fun with family and in our beloved nature!

We enjoyed our 4th of July with family! Ward breakfast, parade, watersides, fireworks and partying! 

Poor Brent was burnt! 

Drove all the way to the Logan temple when we had been married for a month to find out that it was closed... we were very disappointed but, the Brigham city temple had two spots left! 

Brent loves our piano! He serenades me! Specially on Sundays when we are both off! Our favorite day of the week! 

Brent also loves being able to swim a lot this summer! When we can find a moment we enjoy having a pool! Its usually empty and we get it to our self too! 

Double date to the drive in with this lovely couple! Doing things is our special-t ! 

Like I said we love doing things and we love Sundays! Went to the Ogden Pioneer devotional and to the Weber State fireworks which I love because of the symphony and cannons! Even though I wear ear plugs..

I Miss my Blog!

Holy cow so much has been happening and I am craving my blog!

I am now without internet at our new place and the crazy busy newlywed life we have its hard to find time to get to some internet.

Yup I said it: Newlywed life! I am now Kerstie Jo Cowley since May 30th, 2013 and I couldn't be any happier then I am with Brent! I absolutely love being married to him! 

That day was everything I had dreamed and hoped it to be! Our friends and family came to support us on our big step. Brent and I could care less about the world around us our tunnel focus was on each other and only on each other that day! We couldn't keep our eyes and smiles off each other! We were married in the Logan, Utah temple with a lunch in, ring ceremony and reception that evening. My colors were lavender and tan and everything came together so peaceful and natural and very naturish. 

Our honey moon was another adventure at stake. We took a road trip. The first night we were in Las Vegas from there we saw the hoover dam! The next two nights we stayed at a Ranch in Arizona out in the middle of now where! Down a dirt road, lots of dirt, wild cattle, and hot hot days. We stayed in a little cabin. From there we were able to take a helicopter ride! That was so neat it took us out to the Grand Canyon and we got a view that not very many people get! We got some good time spent in the Arizona desert and we made it fun. We were disappointed though that we weren't on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon so booked another night in Kanab, Utah and continued our adventures road trip through route 66 to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon! It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen! I want to go back and explore it so much!! We made some quit stops before driving around through the North Rim and up to Kanab. That drive was one of the most gorgeous drives! 

We will definitely be taking our chillin back to see that place! Pictures just don't do anything justice!

Newly Wed life has continued our adventure here at home. We have made mistakes and some good laughs. I bought a cabbage instead of lettuce my first time out grocery shopping.

We couldn't figure out how to work our oven or stove for a while. 

I left my glasses at the pool after it had been locked for the night. Brent the amazing husband he is got them back laying on his tummy and reaching with a broom! 

Lots and Lots of firsts for us and we are still settling everything in to our place. It looks like us though and feels like home to us and I am so happy about that! 

Our new ward is so welcoming and friendly I just love it! We even got snow cones after all the meetings. 

I baby sat kidos and our place was torn up in two seconds flat..

We have split and made messes. We have cleaned and unpacked. 

We are doing it though and we love it!
We have never been happier! Brent has patience for the both of us good thing and never stops amazing me! I am so glad I get to spend eternity with him! 

I Love to See the Temple

I went through the Bountiful Temple on Saturday the 25th of May! 

What an insight it was. It was a blessing and very beautiful. 

The temple is a place we can connect our family ties together.

Heavenly Father is close to us in His house. 

We are able to prayer and ponder in peace. 

Melissa, my Aunt was able to be my escort. To help me learn and 

understand the Endowment ordinance I was receiving. 

My wonderful Fiance, Brent was able to help guide me also. 

Other close family and friends were able to join with also.

I love my support system!

Learn more about Temples and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints at www.lds.org

Life is Hard Work

05/30/2013 is.. wait for it... only 9 days away! I can count that on my hands!
It is crazy how close it is! I hope everything is done?!

Saturday morning I reluctantly got up in the pouring rain early to go with Brent to meet the ward at Temple Square for some service! We made a huge mess. Used our muscles a ton! Had a lot of fun though!
Specially while admiring some brides hoping they weren't too mad at the ripped out flowers we just destructed. I must of worked hard I feel the burn in the muscles today! Love my ward and going to miss them!



I had to hurry off to clean up and rest real fast (if that is possible?) with Brent before we headed to work.

Sunday morning we drove out to Grantsville. For a really good friend from camp, Sara's farewell talk.
It was probably one of the best talks I have heard in sacrament meeting! About the beauty of repentance we are able to have in life!

I am so glad I was able to say goodbye to her. Gonna miss her and am going to have to send lots of "magic box notes" her way for the next 18 months, as she serves the people in New Mexico!
I was so blessed to meet her and have her and her bestie as good friends of mine! So glad we have been able to keep in touch this past year spending time together when we can even if we live far from each other! I love them and the example they are to me in my life!



So proud of the way everything in life has gone for the past year! The growth I have been able to make and see around me! Life changes so fast it is crazy! I love every minute of it all!

Decorating Life

The count down continues at 12 days!

Last night I was able to support a beautiful bride at her wedding! She is a co-worker of mine and we have been able to plan our weddings together! Topic all the time helping each other out! I am so glad to have friends going through this to help me out!

I am so grateful to be marrying my best friend! I love the conversations we are able to have with ease! I talk to Brent about EVERYTHING and that means so much to me! I don't know what I would do with out him now that I have him!

I have been working every evening and I wish I was working mornings to be able to have the evening to get things done and to be able to actually go to bed for once! My body sure is feeling it! Poor Brent I keep him up too late just because I don't have to be to work at 6am.
He has some things this next week so keep your fingers crossed! I can't say or I will jinx it though!

I made my cute cousin Ashley some tye-dye cupcakes and a cupcake dog for her birthday party tomorrow. I am so excited for her to see them! I know that she will love it!
Cake decorating has really become something I enjoy a lot and am actually really good at!
Practice Practice Practice for me and it all comes naturally!

Listening to the down pour of rain as I write this. Grateful for a dry bed! My room is becoming empty as I pack and move things to our new place. I can't believe I have so much stuff though! I swear me and my best friend Katrina were able to move it all in our two cars when our family moved to this house.. what happend?!

Problematic back seater..

Its always exciting when I am able to work on wedding stuff. My mom has been a huge help organizing and putting everything together for me!
We got our marriage licence yesterday! Just have to sign that bad boy in a mere two weeks!

Sadly, Brent is not the best with directions. When we drive some where I back seat drive the whole time telling him where to go and what to do and get frustrated with him when it doesn't play out as I think it should...
I am not the most patient person, always been something I need to work on.

Of course he got a little turned around on our way to get the licence and I had to let him know of his mistakes. I felt terrible while walking in because, he felt dumb that I was even laughing at him! What kind of future wife am I?!

I for sure need to work on this. Specially since we are road tripping for our honey moon. I've always been good with directions and I love maps. Traveling it what I do!

So instead of telling him I am buying him a gps already set up for him. I should be calm and teach him. He says it would help if I wasn't so distracting. I can't help that he loves me so much! We love talking with one another! Communicating is our special-T! Driving in a car is suppose to be a prime time to talk and discuss with one another!

Even with my back seat driving. He still loves me! We forgive and forget until the next time were trying to get some where at least..

I think I should listen to myself and remember that getting there is half the fun and the journey to your destination is where you learn and grow. It not always about the destination at all!

This road I am starting with him will not be straight all the time. It will not always have a sign for us to follow. and the Speed limit changes a lot! We might have a canyon to get through or bump to go around. Or even a huge construction zone! Hopefully we wont be going through too much rush hour traffic! We will be able to meet people on the journey, see new things, learn a ton!, and grow closer and closer together! We are a team on this road to exaltation and we can't get there with out the other! We have our destination in sight, but it is all about what we do and how we do it to get there!

Its May

Brent and I took some more engagement pictures! I love them so much it captures the peaceful love we have together! I love the nature of the orchard we took them at! So calming and natural with the fruit flowers in blooms!


It is only TWO weeks until the wedding! I can't believe it is approaching that soon!

Yesterday, on Mothers day, with Brent's family we were able to skype his Brother Elder Andrew Cowley who is serving an LDS mission in Guatemala! I met him for the first time. I missed being able to meet him before he left only by a few weeks. We are really gonna miss him on our big day.

I love having two families now! Brent's twin sisters Jennifer and Sarah are so fun to be around and full of life! It can still have it's challenges though.  Where we go for celebrations, special dinners and holidays is a task we have to now be tackling. I try to earn the best brownie points I can though.

Marriage brings so much with it. Way more than just our licence lawfulness. We will be married not only by law on Earth, but law in the heavens for all eternity.
-packing/moving
-bills
-temple sealing
-temple endowments
-church talks
-new ward
-rent
-gifts
-reception details
-thank yous
-honeymoon
-kids?
-fiances
-traditions

and so much more!

LIFE WILL NEVER STOP AMAZING ME <3

Wedding Plans!

I can't believe the details that go into planning a wedding.. I've never done this before or even had some one super close to me marry with me involved. I guess with being the oldest I get to experience everything first right? It has kind of already been overwhelming trying to figure everything out, even though I still have 4 months until the best day of my life!

 

Fiance CHECK
Temple CHECK
Receptions Center CHECK
everything else EMPTY BOX
I have been wedding dress shopping around and I have found things that are pretty and cute and I like it but, its not The One... ya know? I hope I find something affordable that is just what is meant for me to wear on my wedding day. I don't want to be discouraged... so far all I get is very hot temperature and static hair. I come close to feeling like a daughter of a king in a white modest dress. 
Holy cow lets talk about the costs.... $Expensive$ is an understatement. I thought tampons were expensive... People in the wedding business make some good money. Why does it have to be so expensive to throw a gathering to unite me and my Husband to be forever?!
It doesn't just happen like you think it does in your dreams as a little girl. 
I am trying to focus on being relaxed about it to enjoy this time as a fiancee  I only get to plan my wedding once. However, I also get to only have that day once too. I would love for my in vision to come to life. Trying to explain your in vision though to others trying to help you out is a different story...
I want it outdoors and an outdoor theme however I don't want it to seem like you are camping (no matter how much I love that) I still want it to feel like my wedding day to have everything just calm and peaceful and natural the feeling I get being outdoors or another one of my favorite places, next to my fiance. So natural is a great word for theme, but not complete whole organic type.
I guess maybe like a meadow lots of wildflowers, flowing, peaceful, outdoors, fresh air. It brings a smile to your face doesn't? That's what I want so how do I make that happen is the question? Because I also want it to represent me and my fiance and who we are together. I love purple so that needs to be my color so I go straight to lavender because that is natural but, which shade of lavender do I choice? Them all? will it work and blend right with the natural flowing scene? 
All I know is I can not wait to be with Brent forever! With The Lord as our 3rd wheel we will have a perfect day to unite together as Mr. and Mrs. I have the most important part CHECKED off the Temple and Fiance and that is what truly matters to me. May 30th will be a day I will never forget for eternity! 

Then I met a boy...

            About a week after I had returned from camp, I went to church that following Sunday with a friend I hadn’t been able to see over the summer. It was fun getting caught up with everyone who I had missed. Lots of laughs and talk were in the air about the summer I had had away. That’s when Brent Cowley came up to me to ask me if I would be willing to go with him on a date. That brought a smile to my face, for I had been eyeing him with interest before I had gone away to camp. I couldn't even believe my ears, especially when we planned to go night hiking. Did this boy know the love of hiking I had? I was impressed.
            The Saturday of the date came. We headed to a hike that I was familiar with. I was really nervous about making a fool of myself. I wanted to show him the skills I had learned over the summer but, I didn’t want to sound dumb. I talked his head off all night. I was for sure that I blew it. I went home that night content that I wouldn't be getting another date no matter if I wanted one or not. I guess friends who go to the same church would be all that we would have. I was wrong again.
            The following weekend he asked me to spend more time with him. He started meeting up with me on campus and hanging out. Soon we were seeing each other every day. Somehow I had made a good impression on him, for he was interested! Before I knew it our status had turned into a relationship. The happiness I had learned away at camp doubled.  I’ve never known such happiness.            On Christmas 2012 this boy purposed to me at the spot we had first started up a conversation that would make us never forget each other. We huddled next to a fire built between inches of snow.  We tried not to freeze as we were roasting goodies of Star burst  I thought he was going crazy trying to find a non-existent, yellow-flavored one when he got my attention. I turned to him with a ring and on one knee asking the question every girl longs for from the love of her life.
            The chapter in my life took a huge page turn. My future was to be with Brent for eternity. I wasn’t sad that the chapters I had thought were coming would be no more, because the new chapter to come makes me even happier. I now am planning and preparing for a marriage ahead of me. We are attending school at Weber State for now while we work our hearts away. Luckily we have been able to find jobs to keep us afloat for now. It’s an overwhelmingly joyful time in my life.            We plan to wed at the end of May after we have finished this semester out. We will start our new future together over the summer. It excites me so much. I have lots to prepare for. I hope I will be ready in time to enjoy a uniting day together and to be ready to be a great wife to him.