Just an update...

Ok.  So I am proud of myself.  I have successfully taken myself off of any 'social networking' sites(i.e. MySpace and Facebook).  I realize they are pointless.  I would so much rather have real conversations with real people, but that is just me.  I guess I am strange that way.  =)  Besides, I have been hearing all these horror stories lately about girls being stalked and murdered through Facebook.  Crazy! That is not something that I want to egg on, so it was just better to get rid of it.  I also think that if someone is a good enough friend to me, they should be able to get a hold of me without 'messaging' or 'commenting' me. And the same with MySpace.  I kind of outgrew them maybe.  I just think that I have better things to occupy my time with.
  So, what is new with me?  Well, I have been spending a great deal of my time with this amazing boy!  He makes my world of craziness and pointless stress make sense.  I have never been so happy.  The only thing deterring my happiness is the fact that my oh so dear bestie, seemed to have decided that I was pushing her away.  And that that means that I don't have time for her.  This greatly saddens me, and I can't seem to get through to her that that is simply not the case.  =*(
  Anyway, I have also recently moved into an apartment by myself.  It's a little weird, because I went from living in a two bedroom apartment with my two really good friends, to living all alone with my two really goo d friends no longer talking to me.   That sounded quite pathetic, but I simply meant not talking to me as much, because I don't see them everyday. 
  Well, that about sums it up.....now let me give you the details!!  So, this last month was so busy for me.  It seemed like I never had time to just sit and relax.  But I loved every minute of it and I wouldn't change it for the world!
  My birthday is the beginning of September.  It was a fantastic day!!  I had two lunches that separate individuals bought me.  My boss bought me Chinese, but I knew Richard wanted to take me out, so I didn't eat much and just saved it for later.  =)  Then I got Mexican!  And I also had two cakes.  haha One at work, and one at the surprise party Nikki threw for me.  She bought me a variety of toys and gadgets that she knows only I would love(including Steven, my new black Ken Barbie). And she put it all in a Tinkerbell bag, which made the night so much better!  Then we headed over to campus, for some good clean fun.  =)  First, though, we made a stop at the Shell station for refreshments.  My party was complete with my bestie, boyfriend, and some of the most amazing friends a girl could ask for-Keith, Cassidy, Kade, and Mat. 

 Oh and remember my Fourth of July post?  About the demolition of the couch with Richard's framily?  Well, guess what Kade and Mat did!?  They made me the most magnificent thing I had ever seen!  A battle ax with my initials on it! The pictures of that will come later.  My favorite is the one where I am about to cut Steven's head off.  haha...
  Of course, I did all of this with my Birthday Princess crown on. It was an amazing birthday!
  That incredible day lasted through the weekend.  My entire family came in from all walks of the world!  haha.  My brother flew home for leave before shipping off to Afghanistan, my dad came back from Alaska for a few days, and my Miami family flew in for the weekend, as well.  It was the most amazing weekend of my life.  So, since it was Labor Day weekend, I took that Friday off to spend with the family.  I spent the morning and afternoon with my favorite boy, then drove to spend the rest of the day with the family. 

  That Saturday, we had our family Thanksgiving.  It was also the day that Richard was going to meet my family.  He was so nervous.  I kept teasing him, and it only made it funnier when my Mom would keep adding to the list of people flying in.  haha  But he thoroughly enjoyed himself and my family seemed to really like him.  They kept telling me to not let this one go, because he is such a good guy.  Well, I agree.  I think I will keep him for a while.  =)  Besides that, my Grandma's best friend kept flirting with him.  And all the grandmas kept telling him how pretty he is.  haha  He was a little bashful, be he warmed up to them all.  He will just have to get used to all the attention, it never ends.
  The weekend was not yet over.  We then drove to Star Valley on Sunday for my uncle's wedding.  It was at my new aunt's family cabin.  The scenery was gorgeous.  But the greatest thing, was that they had a zip-line set up.  Richard spend a good 1-2 hours at the zip-line, helping all those who wanted a turn.  Then, he and I went together.  haha  That was good fun...until we came down.  We were a little too heavy, so when we slowed down, we kind of just crashed into the ground.  I think his foot may still be bruised.  But it was all in good fun.  We really had a good time there.  The next day, the last day of my wonderful weekend, Richard and I took Issy to the fair and the rodeo in Blackfoot.  It was hot, and mildly boring, but we still had fun.  =)  Then, that Friday, Nikki and I took Bubba to the Rodney Atkins concert.  It rocked!  I almost killed the girl standing next to me.  But, all-in-all, it was a good time.  That was basically the entirety of my awesome September, all wrapped up into one week.  Well, I actually am in love with this incredible boy, who makes all my days equally incredible.
So, on to him.  Richard is this wonderful boy who has stolen my heart.  He makes me so very happy.  We are getting married.  No ring yet, just putting it out there.  It won't be a secret for long, so I thought I would just spill now.  hehe  Anyway, that is partly the reason I just moved.  My apartment will soon be our apartment as of March.   Nothing in the world could make me happier.  Well, that is all for now.  I feel like I have sufficiently filled all the holes in my life....=D
 

 

Oh the oddities of life…

I realize I haven't been writing for a while. My life has been crazy busy lately. Filled with things both amazingly incredible and annoying frustrating. For starters, my boyfriend, who has been away from me all summer, came home. And not only did he come home, but he came home two days early with flowers and took me to dinner. I have just had days filled with joy and butterflies ever since! He is incredible and I absolutely love him! I don't think I have ever been happier! I am stress free, which, if you know me at all, is basically impossible. I don't have a care in the world. I know that my dear Lord is watching over me with this one. He knows that I am trying to be my best self and I know that He approves. It is still so odd to me that I am just at peace with the world. And as much as I want to stress and fret, I just can't. As long as I have Richard, nothing else seems to matter. We are so alike, yet so completely different. He describes it as complimentary colors, and I couldn't agree more. Just when I wasn't looking, he came into my life and turned it upside down. It all makes so much sense, but no sense at all at the same time. And, an even better thing is that my Mom likes him. That is so incredibly important to me. She didn't approve of the last one and she ended up being right on the money. The timing was so coincidental. It is funny how one big right choice can make all these little blessings fall into place. :-)

Toodley Do!

Lately, I have been so engulfed in thought and such. It's all quite complex, yet so simple. I think that I am getting stir crazy! I have never been the one in my family that wanted to stay close to home. I was always the one making all these crazy plans!! I wanted to go to school and be something, I wanted to travel and live in a big city. It's funny when you realize that the Lord's plan for you has nothing at all to do with your plan for yourself.
I am so in awe of all the amazing things that have happened and all the incredible people I have had the privilege of meeting. And all because I decided to listen, and do what I needed to. I love my life! I truly, truly do. I have been looking back on all that has coming from me staying put and just living life the best that I can.

Redfish Lake

About 3 weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to Redfish Lake with my family for a couple of days. I also dragged Nikki along. As luck would have it, it rained the first two days we were there and then on the day we had to leave, it was beautiful!! So, we rented a paddle boat and took a jaunt around the docks.
Then, because we may be a little crazy, we jumped off the docks! It took me a little while to summon up the nerve to plunge into freezing cold, 5o degree water. But I did it. And when I did, it took me breath away. So, I did it 6 or 7 more times, each time a little warmer than the last.
We also had the chance to tour the gold Dredge outside of Custer. It was so cool. We learned all kinds of cool things. On the same day, we visited the abandoned mining town of Custer, and took all sorts of fun pictures!!!

4th of July Festivities

Ok, so to clarify....my friends and I try to find good, clean fun. None of us drink, nor are any of us big partiers. So, for the 4th of July, my friends and I had a barbeque. Or that was the plan....but then it started raining. And oh man, did it rain!! So, the men went out with an umbrella and fired up the grill. It was quite a sight! haha We had way too much fun; all of us women staying dry and warm, that is. =)
And so it went with the barbeque. They cooked the burgers and we all sat inside and ate them. As soon, as we were all pretty much finished, it stopped raining. That's when the real fun began!
You see, I am dating this boy...his name is Richard. And he's in Chicago for the summer. This was the night I got to meet 'the framily.' So I was all sorts of nervous and trying to impress. haha. These people are far more incredible than I would have ever imagined! First, there were Chris and Hillary. They are like the mom and dad of the group. And then, John and Jess. Anyway, after dinner, they all busted out the weapons. And by that, I literally mean weapons. It was the greatest thing I had ever seen. I was almost afraid of not making a good impression, because I soo did not want to get on anyone's bad side, especially John. Mainly because most of the weapons were his and he was ripped.














We all then set out to destroy some cantaloupes and a random alley couch. I didn't do much with the cantaloupes. But I was forced to show my true colors when they brought the couch out. The first few swings were with a crow bar and they weren't all that I could do, mainly because I was afraid I would hit myself with the crowbar, being the clumsy one that I am. =)



This couch was made of oak, therefore, it took a good hour and a half to demolish. But, it was a blast! I finally got up the guts to use the axe. And I took some dang good swings at it, if I do say so myself!! Although, being so clumsy I have established lighting fast reflexes. Which ended up being good, because I almost chopped my calf in two with the axe! But I just laughed it off.
And this concluded my first meeting with the 'framily.' I was too chicken to ask if it went well....I sure hope it did!.

Then, Nikki and I went, with our friend Mat, to watch the fireworks. They were beautiful!!!!

Just a little bit about me...

Hey, so I'm Jaki. I work for an optometrist and I love it! I have the greatest bestie in the world and I call her Nikki. =) She is the half that makes me whole! I honestly owe so much to her! I don't think she will ever know. My hero is my mama. She is truly an amazing person. I don't know where my life would be, if she hadn't appeared in it! I feel so blessed everyday of my life. Even when nothing seems to go right, there is always something that you can find to make you smile.
I have the craziest friends, but we live a life full of fun and spontaneity and void of drama! I couldn't be happier!