I'm Engaged!!!!

Scott had planned for us to go on a small hike and then come back to his house and have dinner with his family (at least that’s what he told me). I showed up to his house after work, got changed, and we watched tv for a little bit… So, secretly I had kinda been hoping that he would ask me.. But then when we just sat there.. I thought.. Ok maybe not? Bu at 5:00 on the dot he says “ok you ready to go?” Meanwhile I am thinking.. Yah ok? So he opens the car door for me as usual, but then pulls this blindfold out of his back pocket and says “Oh and by the way, I am gonna need you to put this on.” I was thinking.. Ok maybe this is really it.. But knowing how Scott likes to tease, I didn’t want to get my hopes up too much.
Scott had made a Proposal Playlist for the drive to our secret destination and as soon as I heard that first song I was in tears! I knew that he was gonna pop the question! It was so sweet to hear all these songs that had played a role in our relationship. As he is singing to me, I am just crying and telling him that my make up was gonna get messed up! LoL.
So we get to our destination and he opens the door for me and takes the blindfold off and we are just in this random neighborhood… I’m thinking… ok.. Maybe he isn’t gonna ask me? We walked down the road and there was this hidden little narnia path.. So we start hiking up this hill and we get almost to the top and I start seeing little signs.. The first one said, Dear Shay, remember that one time at Zone Conference (which is where we met for the first time 18 months ago to the day!) So we keep walking and there are more signs. Each one has a little saying or a little memory on it! I am just laughing and crying at the same time! We get to the top of the hill and I see his 2 brothers hiding in this little cave(scott says.. More like patiently waiting!) .. And I was thinking.. Ok.. Is there just the two or are his other family members gonna pop out of the bushes like daisies?! But there were two stools and a beautiful picnic basket waiting for us. Scott tells me to take a seat and the he grabs his guitar. His little brother, Matt, had his guitar too. Scott starts singing me a song that he wrote for me!! (AAAAWWEE!) Meanwhile I am just shaking as I try to hold the lyrics still.. I’m just crying and his other brother, Lars, is taking pictures of the whole thing. So after the song, he puts his guitar away and he grabs the ring. He got down on one knee and said.. “Shaylyn, I have loved you for so long. I couldn’t imagine my life or forever with anyone else. Will you marry me?” and of course I said, “YES!!!!” then we kissed.. a lot!
It was the most beautiful special moment! I am so grateful to have him in my life! I am so happy!! My cheeks STILL hurt from smiling!!! We are getting married in the Salt Lake temple on 10/11/12 and having our reception on the 13^th. More details on that to come.. But thanks for all the love and support and well wishes!!! We couldn’t be happier!! :D
Pictures to come soon!!

Our First Date!

I finally got to see my Scotty J!!!

I wasn't supposed to see him until Sunday.. he was busy with his family and I was working. I even had planned to go out with a guy friend that I had met a couple of weeks ago.. But plans fell through and I was super bummed.. so naturally, I called my best friend to vent to him about my disappointment and about how much I missed him and just wanted to see him. He asked if he could call me back in a couple of minutes.. to which i reluctantly agreed. But he called back in about 5 minutes and said that he had arranged to borrow his parent's car to come and pick me up and that we were going to go on our first date. He said it was a suprise! I thought that my heart was going to jump right out of my lil chest!! I was so excited/ super nervous to see him after 3 long  months. I waited and waited for him to get to the store where we were meeting.. he called me and said that he got lost.. he had passed it and was turning around.. so i had to give him directions to the store again and eventually he got there.. He pulled into the parking lot and all i saw was the HUGE smile on his handsome face! He parked the car and gave me the biggest/tightest hug I think I have ever had!!! I MISSED THAT BOY!!!! He said he had a surprise for me and walked me to the passenger side of the car. He pulls out a huge beautiful bouquet of flowers! 

(insert "awe's" here!)

He then hugged me again and we headed on our date! I was so curious to find out what we were going to be doing. He said that we were going to go to his house and have dinner with his parents and his younger brother! I was SUPER excited! I had been waiting to meet his family for a really really long time!! He said that his dad made steak! YUM!! Even better! lol

As we drove in the car, he reached over and grabbed my hand!! I had wanted to hold his hand for over 6 months!!! Yet again my heart did a backflip in my chest! We just talked like we had been together forever! I am so amazed at how comfortable I felt with him! I told him I was super nervous to meet his family and he assured me that they would love me and that I would love them. And guess what?! I do love them! Oh so much!! 

We got to the house and he opened my door! ("aaawe!") We walked up to the door and I had to pause for a minute.. My heart was beating a thousand miles a minute. We walked in the door and his younger brother, Matt, was standing right inside. He introduced himself and me, being me, asked if I could have a hug. Then his mom heard that we were home and she comes right up to me and gives me the biggest, warmest hug!! His dad came in and said, "don't forget about me," and he hugged me too!! We were already off to a good start! 

While they were finishing up with preparing dinner, Scott and I sat on the couch, (next to each other!! *gasp!*) and looked at pictures from the last 3 months of his mission that I had missed. We went outside and ate on their beautiful back deck and talked. Favorite moment was when Jan, Scott's mom, said something about his sister-in-law wanting to still be the favorite daughter-in-law. Scott leaned over to me and whispered, "welcome to the family,babe!" Another triple backflip from the heart!!

We had wonderful conversation. We ate wonderful food and we took some wonderful long awaited pictures. Scott and I ended the night with scripture study and a snuggle. I am so grateful to have someone that I feel so comfortable with. Someone who will study the scriptures with me and will talk about the gospel with me. We ended the night with a prayer together and I knew that I had made a good choice! I knew that God had truly led us to each other and that I for a million reasons, I was so grateful that I decided to serve a mission!

Scott, I know you probably won't see this, but thanks again for the best last first date I will ever go on!! Thanks for being the guy that I have dreamed of since I was a little girl. Thanks for being a man of integrity and a man who is humble enough to recognize God's hand. You are the best babe!! Can't wait to see where this crazy journey will take us!!

Here are some pictures!! Hope you enjoy!!

*yah, i've wanted to do that for a very very long time!!*

I am SO happy!!!

When you've got a good thing!!

He's home!

Well this week has been an emotional roller coaster. I have had such a hard time trying to figure out my emotions.. but one thing i do know is that I care about a man named Scotty J. And he is even better than i could've ever imagined he would be! Not only is he the best listener, he is the best advice giver, most patient, humble, willing to fight for what he wants kind of guy and I am the luckiest girl in the world to call him my best friend and to hold even the tiniest piece of his heart. I know I haven't always done the best to guard it like I should but one thing I know is that I am not just gonna let it go for something that is most likely just a whim or a spur of the moment thing. Other guys might come and i might wonder if the grass is really greener on the other side, but i will come to find that it isn't.  And it wasn't until a few days ago that it really hit me how much I truly care about him. He is the kind of guy i have dreamed about since i was a little girl. He is amazing and I just can't wait to see where all of this will go!! that doesn't mean that I am ready to jump in the "i do" wagon just yet, but I am so ready to let the journey begin!! I can't wait to see him!

Memorable Memorial Day

I just got back from the best weekend in Saratoga Springs and I have to say that it was so hard to leave!! I love that place. I want to move back soon!

This weekend included.. but was not limited to:

Lion king

gummy bear fight with kenz

Swedish  twister

SMURFING

Hiking Bridal Veil Falls

Sunshine

Dippin my toes in the freezing water

sandals tan line

Laughing til my abs hurt

BBQin

tossing a football

handstands

HAMBURGERS!!!

swimming

the first backflip in 2 years!

and

making amazing new friends

here are some pics courtesy of facebook.

All you need is LOVE!

Mormon Media Monday!

"There are times I lose my way and start to wander off alone. But even when I make mistakes I'm never on my own. and when I need to find a way back home... He hears every word that I say. He knows how I feel. And I can pray for answers, i can turn to him for peace or just to be heard and Somehow He hears every word. Not one of us can fall far enough to be out of reach of His love. He hears every word!"

Down 10

I have been working my butt off since I got home to lose the weight I gained on my mission. I am so happy to say that I have lost 10 lbs!! It's taken so much hard work and watching everything that I eat but I feel a lot better. And that's what really counts right?

I'd like to thank the following pins I found on pinterest for the motivation to keep going!

and I also want to give a shout out to this wonderful website for helping me keep track of what I am eating and of how many calories I am burning!

Thanks

Web MD

anyone else on the same quest to get fit? 

They say strong is the new skinny! 

Wanna do this with me?  

Leave your comments!!

Peace and love and lots of luck!

Always, 

Shaylyn

Scotty J

I can't believe that we are finally down to 9 days

 until

 this guy

gets home from his mission!!!

 List of things I am excited for: 

 *hugs

 *holding hands 

*kissing! 

*going to concerts 

*singing together 

*listening to him play his guitar

*late night talks

*meeting his family

*him meeting mine

* just being together

I miss my best friend!! 

Can't wait to see you Scotty J!

Mormon Monday

Yesterday I had the opportunity of hearing President Uchtdorf (a modern apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ) speak! He said a lot of things that I know I needed to hear. One of those things was using media for good. He talked about all of the websites that the church has out there. I decided that I need to be better at putting what I believe out there and letting others know that there is hope. There is peace waiting to be found within this gospel. So I decided that instead of just sitting on the wonderful things he said.. i would get up and act on it! So I decided that every Monday I am dedicating to my Mormon faith.

MORMON MONDAY!!!

 Although the actual name of our Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are referred to as "Mormons" because of the Book of Mormon. It is a volume of scripture comparable to the bible. It was written by holy prophets here in the America's and it testifies of Christ. I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God just as I know that the Holy Bible is the word of God. They work hand in hand to bring us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and to our Loving Heavenly Father.

I hope that you find peace and joy and inspiration to keep going through these posts and that you will share them with your friends and family who need the same.

Today's message is brought to you by a very good friend of mine who taught me that I am a daughter of God. That it's ok to be uniquely me. It's ok to not fit the "mold" of what the world thinks I need to look like or act like or be. I am me! And I like it!!! Thanks M&M!!

Start of Something Good

.:Well... I'm back.. what now?:.

Well folks, I've been home from my mission for 2 1/2 Weeks now and I am still trying to get back into the swing of being a normal person again.. Currently my life consists of sleeping in, eating too much, watching way too much t.v., spending way too much time online, and thinking about my missionary.

Yep that's right! I have a missionary! His name is Scott Johnson and he is THE sweetest man on earth! I love that boy! It's just proof that you never know when or where you are gonna meet someone! He gets home in May and it could not come sooner!



I met him over a year ago at a Zone Conference, but we never really talked much.. maybe a couple of times.. I didn't see him for a long time and then he got transferred into my last area. We became best friends and the relationship has just continued to blossom from there. I am so glad that Heavenly Father sent me such a wonderful friend and that he put Scott in my life!

Things I love about Scott:

* He is so happy.
* He makes me laugh
* He has a great smile
* I love his eyes.
* Sings and plays the guitar
* I can tell him anything without feeling judged
* He has my back no matter what
* He has such a strong testimony of the Atonement and of the Gospel
* He has the kindest heart and would never do anything to hurt me
* He can get along with pretty much anyone
* We are practically the same person.. it's kinda scary how alike we are.. but different.. but alike. haha

Anywho.. now the cat's out of the bag! I am so excited to continue to build out relationship and to be able to spend time with him again!

other than that.. it's back at the job hunt... UGH!


Anybody know anyone in the Salt Lake City or surrounding areas that's hiring let me know!