Alas, it set in...

The panic, or fear, or anxiety or whatever it is set in last night. I pretty much hate it. I didn't think it was going to happen. I have been SO incredibly calm through this, more calm than i thought i was going to be actually. I kinda broke down yesterday over everything. It lasted like 4 minutes while i was at work and then the water stopped and that was all....until i was heading to the chapel to meet with the Bishop for my recommend. I was all quiet, which for interview isn't normal for me, and kept thinking that right then and there he was going to tell me no now that the invites are out, we are two and a half weeks away and everything is set in motion.

I'm pretty sure that it isn't the getting married fact. I know i am supposed to marry David, no doubt about that. But i have had a few dreams lately and still can't shake the idea that even though i have both recommends and the marriage license and all the other requirements that i am going to get to the front desk and be denied. Like, "Sorry, it was a cruel joke, your recommend isn't actually valid, come back in a few months" or something. I mean i go through the temple next Saturday for heavens sake! This kinda stuff can't be happening! If i am going to bee feeling like this for the next 2 1/2 weeks til we get married it is going to be VERY long.

As for other business...the fine tuning of things is going well. David and i finished covering the bases of our trees all pretty last night so they don't look like plaster in a bucket. We've had our license for ages, we both should have our recommends by next week, friends and family from Canada start coming in next Friday, our beastly project of our music is finally polished and complete after two weeks, I get my hair colored today and test out sweet styles, AND i'm crossing my fingers my dress comes in this week since we are supposed to be taking pictures this weekend in Utah. Thats the wedding stuff, then tomorrow we are going to see Carolina Liar and the Ataris AND Breaking dawn comes out this weekend :)

Bridal Shower Pictures

I have been way busy lately and am too tired/lazy to post the actual pictures up here. So here are the links.

http://www. facebook. com/album. php?aid=33581&l=a2c49&id=508082012



http://www. facebook. com/album. php?aid=33586&l=2369c&id=508082012

24 Days, Bridal Showers, Dark Knights, Colbie Caillat, and the best fiance ever.

Well, we are now 24 days away from the wedding and 3 weekends. I'm surprised how calm i am. I know it hasn't sunk in for David yet. I asked him on Monday night and he said not really, maybe it will either 11 days in or after we are married...goofball :) lol.

So last wednesday i had my first bridal shower. I have two. One my aunt is throwing this saturday for family, and one that my maid of honor threw for me last wednesday for my girlfriends. It was a freaking blast! I love just hanging out with friends every now and then. After me shower this saturday i will put up pictures, but for right now it can wait.

Friday night David and i went and saw Dark Knight in the IMAX theater. All i have to say is it was PERFECT. The best batman movie yet. The Joker was amazing and i loved that it didn't drag on like Batman Begins. There were about 3 times where the movie could have ended and it didn't it was still just as good. I mean some movies when they can close it and seems to draaaggg oooonnnn, not this one. It was very well executed. ALL of it.

I have been telling David for a while now how stinking excited i was that Colbie Caillat was coming to town adn i was VERY tempted to get tickets. David two weeks ago got Colbie tickets for me, the show was last night, and it was freaking awesome! I took my girlfriend Erin Cory with me. Colbie is kinda our thing. Well i had been wondering for a while who was going to open for Colbie, since it wasn't advertised at all, only to find Jason Reeves was! I was sooo excited! I flew to Dallas last year and saw Colbie, except it was far away and Jason wasn't there. Sad day. Anyhow, we were SO close to the stage, Jason opened, Colbie touched mine and Erins hand...twice. Not to mention the serious eye contact that was going down. I about peed my pants when Jason came out in the middle of Colbie performance and they sang "Droplets" together. Practically amazing. THEN after the show, Jason came down and signed our tickets and took a picture with us! AMAZING. Anyhow...Amazing night mmmm.

David is going to Comic Con this weekend to get his nerd on as we like to call it. He and our friend Christian are pretty darn stoked about it too. They crack me up. Last night they went and bought sketch pads and planned out the entire trip of who they needed to talk to and see and get signatures from, and all sorts of stuff. He's so stinking cute i love it. lol

Anyway good story. Recap. 24 days, 3 weekends. one bridal shower left, Dark Knight was perfect, Colbie was amazing, and David is going to Comic Con this weekend. Oh! and hoefully my dress comes in on time next week as it is supposed to.

Well, i finished it and am starting Eclipse....

I was quite impressed by how New Moon played out. It made me depressed at first and i couldn't help, but love Jacob's warmth and kindess of opposed to the eerie nature of the Vampire, yet i wanted Edward back so badly. I think what sold me was the irony. Her best friend a werewolf. Her lover a vampire. Destined mortal enemies, sure to cause internal conflict. it was beautiful. And the treaty at the end. KNOWING they were going to turn her into a vampire. Uh...SO good.

The marriage ultimatum was perfect and the voting...yum! The tension of being in volterra was so good and learning about the extra powers i thought that was neat, the different talents. The marriage proposal was sweet irony as well. Bella is so in love with Edward, yet not the kinda girl who would settle down, which as you are reading you can only be angry with her, because Edward is perfect. As i was reading about the guy who could feel relationships, i loved it how deep the love was, that it was starling. You could only root for them to be together. It was frustrating to me that Jacob is a werewolf, but i am going to assume that will come together as i start reading Eclispe.

I was surprised how partial to the vampire i was. Clearly the werewolf was much more warm and friendly, and even when i stopped to think about it i knew the vampires were creepy. Yet, the Cullens weren't. I think their icy blinding skin would freak me out and therefore i have a really hard time picturing any of them beautiful. There are so many things about them i don't like, but maybe the worldly image of the vampire is still in me and i can't shake it. I don't know if any of this makes sense. All i know is when i think vampire it creeps me out, but when i read i am more partial to the vampires then to the werewolves. Or maybe it goes back to what they represent. The werewolf as a friend and vampire as a lover. And I would automatically choose David over my friends. It's like Bella says: Love is irrational.

However, depressing New Moon was...it was perfect.

I'm gonna make this short and sweet...

Many of you are familiar with this book. New Moon, the Sequel to Twilight. I started it two days ago and am on the 7th chapter. I was late boarding the Twilight boat on this one, but alas i am here....and LOVING IT! Until i started reading New Moon. It kinda puts me in a bad mood or a mellow one rather with edward being gone and all. It makes me sad. I think it is because to me, Edward represents David in my life. i was so sad yesterday that i didn't feel myself, i didn't want to go to my bridal shower last night because i felt so depressed as if David was actually gone, because Edward was gone, or maybe i just felt for Bella. It wasn't until i was driving down the road heading to my Bridal shower and david was heading toward me in his truck that i felt better. I'm silly. Anyway it was all better and i was back to normal after i saw david. It was weird, ive never had a book do that to me. And i dont like that Bella is hanging with Jacob, as nice as he is, i dont like it. i feel like bc she is hanging out with jacob she is cheating on edward. I mean he has to come back right? i dont like the feeling so much that i get when i read because it is so depressing, but i have to read it because i want him to come back. So these are my thoughts. That is all.

The Beauty of Stealth Mode

I have had a date with Robi to go off roading in his jeep for sometime now. On Sunday....during sacrament :)...we set up a day this week. We figured it was really hot outside so we needed to go during the night, so we set it up for last night after FHE to work with mine and David's schedule.

Robi was our trusty adventure guide and Sierra our jeepmate, as we headed out past the 215 on Summerlin parkway. We were out for a good hour and a half and the best part of our adventure was in the beginning.

So right after you pass the 215 heading west and slightly go right, you hit construction. Of course there is a security guard there sitting at a gate to make sure there aren't punks that go back on the site and all sorts of other shenenigans. I'm thinking "DANG IT! What a party ruiner, now we have to reschedule." Wrong. Robi pulls The Jewel up next to the security guard...WAVES...and takes off lol! The Jewel hauls! The Security guard...lets call him Ed, whips around and starts chasing us! We start flying down the road thinking we could out run him until a loader on the jobsite pulls up out in front of us and slows us down! We see Ed coming up quick on us and what does Robi do? Straight squeezes past the loader and we take off again! However, Ed does the same thing to keep up with us! We get a considerable amount ahead of him where Robi puts The Jewel in Stealth Mode and takes of straight instead of curving left with the main road!...And Ed didn't even see us! He curved left and we got away and started our off roading experience!

SO, as we get out to take sweet pictures a helicopter comes flying over us...with its spotlight on...we were kinda panicking since the area we were in was owned by Howard Hughes and the aircraft was freaking circling around us for a good 2 minutes. Finally Robi got out of the jeep and waved...and the helicopter left! lol What the heck!? I think it is the hair. I swear it is full of magic and secrets!

To finish off our expedition we didn't die, though i was very grateful it was dark outside so i couldn't see what we were teetering on among other things. On the way back out we drove around the gate. Ed was waiting...in Stealth Mode. We waved again...drove past to Summerlin Parkway...and he watched....at least he recognizes defeat :).

So what did i learn?
1. Pee before getting in the jeep
2. Blow past Ed to maximize your jeeping experience.
3. If you get motion sickness jeeping is not your sport.
4. The Jewel is a rockstar.
5. Jeeping is literally an art.
6. The Jewel's backseat is magical.
7. Don't drink gatorade while jeeping. It gets in your eye.
8. DON'T WEAR SKINNY JEANS.

Bridal Stores are Ridiculous.

Why is it that every bridal store i have called seems to stress me out. Actually, i wouldn't consider it stressing me out. I would classify it as angering me profusely. Make sense? When i was finding my dress i called about 4 stores to find out if anyone had it in stock only to find, that it wasn't and if i wanted it, it had to be made and shipped out of China. This meant that i would have to wait until the week of July 30th for my dress...isn't that cutting it a bit close though? I called 3 months in advnace and it is still taking forever? You would think bridal stores deal with important days all the time, and know that brides don't like to wait long periods of time for essentials. I mean, are they expecting me to show up naked if it isn't in on time??? Honestly, I think it should be a requirement to keep that crap in the states. None the less it was from a Utah venue...isn't Utah the marriage capital of the world? To me that screams, hey we have dresses in stock so you can get married tomorrow. Apparently i was wrong.

So, then this weekend we found THE perfect dresses for my bridesmaids, and they are being rushed to be here on time. Well, the sales lady told me they would be here by Aug 8th. So i got paif for them over the phone. THEN went i called back for additional info., she was like oh no, they get in from CA, 2-3 days AFTER August 8th....Holy crap!? Are you kidding me?? LIES AND DECEIT! She told me they would be in by Aug 12th, which means i am going to have to RUSH to get them. My mom will have to drive to Cedar to get them, then after i get off work at 5, meet her in either St. George or Mequite, then on the 13th have them fitted to the girls...it will take a day ish to have them done and we pick them up on the 15th. What the crap!? Freaking Bridal Stores. I hate you all.

Happy Slurpee Day to all and to all a Good Slurpee Day!

I think that we should take a moment of silence for the Slurpee. It changes lives...puts smiles on faces, turns bads days to good, cools down us Las Vegans from the heat, and they are tasty among many other things. So silence time...now!............................................Ok stop.
Mmm slurpee. Today, next to my birthday, is my favorite holiday. Who wouldn't love these little cups of joy? I am convinced God sent us a little piece of heaven. So in honor of us avid Slurpee go-er's i have a little something to make you giggle and appreciate the Slurpee even more. And for those of you new Slurpee comers...Better late than never. Jesus forgives you and you aren't going to hell anymore. Choose the right and bring others unto this little cup of goodness. Happy Free Slurpee Day everyone! Get a free slurpee! and enjoy!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A SLURPEE ADDICT WHEN...

-You know what Slurpee flavours the local 7-11 currently has

• You know what the consistanies are like -- either before you arrive and/or pour from the taps

• You know the names of the Clerks that work at 7-11

• Your tongue is stained the color of your favourite Slurpee flavour

• You deliberately take your time while drawing your Slurpee from the machine and dottle before going to the till, in order to "defrost" before heading back into the cold.

• If you don't arrive at your usual 7-11 store as you usually do, they ask what happened to you the next time that you go there.

• Your reflex aims to ensure that your Slurpee remains perpendicular to the ground, without spilling, if you may slip and fall.

• You know where all local 7-11 locations are.

• Know how good or bad the consistencies are by just looking at the product, before even drawing it.

• You have a need to stop whenever you see a 7-11

• You have several Slurpee cups sitting around

• You do favors for others only because you've been promised a Slurpee reward.• When you develop withdrawl symptoms if you don't get your daily (if not hourly) "fix"

• When you have pictures of Slurpees placed into your photo album, tacked to your walls, or framed, not to mention various pictures of your favorite 7-Eleven store.

• The 7-11 clerks know YOUR name.

• You never turn down an opportunity to have a Slurpee, even if you are having a migraine and have a nasty cold.

• You find yourself lecturing others on Slurpee Etiquette, the importance of constancies, and the best 7-Eleven's around town.

• Whenever somebody starts to talk about cup sizes, your initial thought is, "yellow cup or clear cup?" Your embarrasement is soothed by another Slurpee.

• When the clerk says, "you again?" Except, they aren't all too surprised.

• When your sister wakes you up in the middle of the night and asks if you want to come to the 7-Eleven with her, you only hesitation is whether or not you should wear a jacket.

• When you ask for a wad of Slurpee coupons for your Birthday and/or Christmas present

•If you had a catch phrase if would be: "Mmmm....Slurpee" "Wanna go for a Slurpee???" "I'm thirsty" (often followed by the preceeding quote) ... or would somehow include 'Slurpee' or '7-Eleven'

• When people refer to you as the "Slurpee girl" (or guy, if that applies)

• When you start your day with a Slurpee, or end it with a Slurpee

• When it's not odd for you to always be seen with a Slurpee at your side.

• You sit on the heat register because its -30C outside and not warm enough inside to keep you from shivering as you drink your Slurpee.

• When the bitterly cold winter is no reason not to have a Slurpee. In fact, it's a good thing: that way, your Slurpee won't melt on the way home.

• When the "bestest" present of all would be a life supply of Slurpees.

• When the best part of playing volleyball is getting the after-game Slurpee. A big one to celebrate your win, or a big one to cheer yourself up.

• When, in the dead of winter, you get yourself a Slurpee and a hot chocolate to balance it all out.

• When the only thing that gets you through the school/work day is knowing that you'll be able to get a Slurpee at its end.

• When, after every burp, you truthfully comment (aloud or to yourself), "Mmmm. Tastes like Slurpee..."

• When you try to grow a Slurpee tree by "planting" a Slurpee cup into the ground. [Sadly, this did not work...]

• When all your doodles contain the images of or the words, "Slurpee" and "7-Eleven."

• When you think (and believe) that Slurpee cures everything. [someone told me this only applies to myself, and that Slurpee only makes me feel better--not them. Who knew?]

• When you wait for the do-not-draw-product-when-flashing light on the machine to stop blinking just so you can have some of your favourite flavour

• When you somehow manage to always have a Slurpee in your hand.

• When you feel personally insulted when people call slushes from other stores "Slurpees." You also then make it your duty to lecture them on the differences between Slurpees and the other stuff, and how wrong it is to call any non-Slurpee a Slurpee.

• For Halloween you want to be a Slurpee

• You pretend to look at other merchandise while sipping on your delicious Slurpee and head back for more after the cup is half empty, before lining up to pay for it.

• When you figure out you can get 64oz (1.9L) of the necter of the gods (Slurpee!) by using a DoubleGulp cup.

• You get offended when you see someone drinking an Icee or a Froster

• You buy a Slurpee to comfort you in times of frustration

• Nothing discourages you from getting a Slurpee

• You fake a sore throat just so friends and family pitty you and buy you Slurpees to "soothe" your pain.

• You drive around town to 3-4 7-Elevens until you find the perfect consistency or flavor--this happens a lot in the summer on a hot day when you really need a Slurpee and you go in and its all watery........so you go to another store........and another......and another.......until your mission is complete!

• Free imitators won't do, so you go out of your way to get to the nearest 7-Eleven to get the real thing: a Slurpee!!! And it's definitely worth the drive!

• When you pull up to the 7-11 parking lot you quickly scan all the customers in the parking lot and get anxious when you see a lot of Slurpees in their hands because you know the consistency is all screwed up now.

• In your mind you consider it a heroic sacrifice to let your friends have the good Slurpee first when the consistency is in jeopardy. TRUTH!

• You get brain freeze but continue to relentlessly sip until there is nothing left.

• When the clear Slurpee cups end up replacing you're cubboard cups at home.

• You get a PHd in Slurpee-flavor mixing

• You convince two of your friends to drive you to 7-11 to get Slurpees and when you finish your Slurpee 20 minutes before they finish theirs, they end up giving you theirs because they are too lame to finish them and you can't let good Slurpee go to waste.

• Before you go out for the night, you make sure that you have the exact amount of money for a large Slurpee because you know a Slurpee-run is inevitable.

• You tutor new-comers on how to maximize their Slurpee experience with tips on applying the dome lid, opening the plastic-encapsulated straws.

• You know just how to tamp the cup on the counter to settle the product to make room for more.

• You rant at any strange 7-11 which has the audacity to NOT serve Coke (or Pepsi...it'll do in a pinch) Slurpee.

• When there machine's down, and you've been in day after day to check, they buy you a free Slurpee to apologize when they finally get back on track.

• Your dream job is to "shop" 7-11's to determine whether they are up to spec and report back to headquarters your findings

• You re-draw the "food pyramid" with Coca-Cola Slurpee replacing the "carb" section at the bottom.

• You visit eBay, Google, and every other search engine known to man in the hopes of finding an actual Slurpee machine for sale.

• Your fondest memories of childhood include being allowed in the *gasp* backroom of your local 7-11 to search for that one rare comic-book hero Slurpee cup you needed to finish your collection and the joy of finding it and handing it to the clerk to have it filled up (these were the days before self-service Slurpees)

• You consider it sacrilege when someone overfills their Slurpee cup and it spills over the side of the cup and onto the floor.

• You consider getting a 7-11 franchise just so you can make your own Slurpees (tm and all!) in full accordance with the law.

• You patiently wait for the clerk to do whatever magic is necessary to get a non-functional spout to work because, dang it, you want THAT flavor and no other.

• When there is a 7-11 5 minutes away, but you opt for the one 30 minutes away because they have more flavors

• You know you are addicted if you are too lazy to get up, and send your *other* out at 2 AM to get a slurpee!

• When the back seat of your car is full of slurpee cups just in case you stop for a slurpee and someone else is with you. Then they can use one of your cups because refills are cheaper

The Exchanging of Names

First and foremost, Happy National Free Slurpee Day! I LOVE slurpees! mmmm.

Ok, now for this interesting experience. So you know how when you are thinking about someone or a recent conversation or whatever and then go to call someone and accidentally call the person you were thinkin about instead.

Ya well this happened to me last night, but with a text. It was awful. Not only did i fill in this persons name in the text, but i sent it to her instead of the real recipient. It wasn't a bad thing....assuming the recipient received it. The was someone who had been driving me CRAZY, like everytime i saw them or heard their voice i was like wow...notta fan. i was letting the friend that i had vented to know that things had been getting better. I didn't want them to think i was a complete hater and let her go on thinking i didn't like said person, when i was feeling better toward them. Ya well this text got sent to the wrong person, with the wrong things inserted and i got a call from the person i sent it to and was sooo embarrassed. Totally a text gone wrong. I tried to explain the accident and i think it didn't go so well. Regardless. Words to the Wise. Check who you are sending your text to. It saves you from day later embarrassment.

My Little Helper

So, after David and I were engaged the wedding planning started. I had a dress two days later and it all has been pretty well downhill from there thanks to the excellent contacts i have and my ward family. However, that doesn't mean there hasn't been a few bumps in the road. David and i rarely get in heated confrontations. We both share our opinion, and compromise from there. He has really opened up a new side of me, having to consider someone else in my life. Well, as the wedding plans were flowing, apart from parental drama coming in from all angles, the tension started flooding in between he and i...over wedding plans.

Most brides would say that their fiance had no hand in the planning or minimal...so that is kinda what i was expecting. Getting help when i asked for it. I mean i didn't want him to just be like "Okay tell me when and where" and i didn't want to not include him at all, so that when i really needed an opinion he would think it didn't count, so i just assumed he would be on the sideline and if he had something to say he would let me know since he has never been shy to do so.

Oh boy, was i wrong. He wanted a hand in it ALL. It made sooo much more work for me and he became annoying...at first. It started off because he just didn't see where the reception was going. Of course i took that as a blow to the face as he didn't trust what i was doing with everything. So, i was like fine if you dont like the way i am doing things then you do it and handed him the binder and got out of the car and went in the house. I can't stay mad at David though. Not even possible, so i went for a run to blow off steam and went in the house to call him and ask what he wanted to do and what he wanted to get out of all of this. Of course, he got all cute on me and romantic and my little heart just melted. "I just want the wedding plans to be something we can do together, so that the wedding is ours and memories for US. Not you and your girlfriends." How could i refuse a proposal like that? He said he just couldn't see the 'vision', so he was just hoping it would come.

The next day i got to work and printed off pictures on the web of what daisies looked like, typed up a list of all the decorations i had in mind or had been getting together, a list of time and days i was meeting with people so that he knew in advance that way if he really wanted to be involved there were no excuses, and a floor plan for the reception area, among a ton of other things. I sure was upset at first that it was making more work for me, but now i am sooo glad he wants to be involved. I love going to meetings with him and hearing his input on things, and this is all why i love him.

Well, the reason i wanted to post all this was because last night i had picked up the arch from my Dad's house that he had made for us, and took it home to decorate. I had Jan and David directing where the vines looked best while i was on a stool tying them onto the arch. Then it came time to weave the vines in and out of the arch and intertwine the flowers in with it all. David was ALL over that. It was so stinking cute lol i couldn't help, but smile. After all he is the artsy one between the two of us, it would look better if he did it anyway. lol He is the idea and sketch, and i make it happen.

I stinking LOVE it lol....and him :)

The Book....Round 2

So here is the last little bit of love story, to have everyone caught up, then i can blog about more recent things and things that are probably more interesting....SO we are going to speed things up til the engagement. So we started dating in October, he kissed me in November, and then came with me to Utah for Thanksgiving. On the way home on Sunday i broke up with him for reasons i'm not going to get into, then Monday prayed about it and knew for a fact we were getting married, but didn't say anything to him. Five days after having the urge to tell him i love him, i did, 3 long weeks of torture and riding into January, he reciprocated with the L word and that same night we decided we were going to work toward getting married. A month after that we let our parents know, and three months after that, into May, he proposed. So that brings us to the proposal....

I finally got off the plane from being in DC and NYC for 4 days…first off and was super excited to see David, so I text him and he told me to go to the baggage carousel and look for my name.

I got down there, looked around for a bit, preparing for something embarrassing, when I finally saw my name. It was a limo driver lol. He took my cell phone and handed me an envelope that said BRITNI AFTON SHIRLEY. Inside was a message from my love. “HEY BABY I have not seen you in a few days so I thought I would do a little something special for you. There are a few instructions you will have to follow in order to have the best time possible. First- you need to give your phone to the driver. I know it’s like asking you to cut off your arm, but trust me, you will have more fun. Second- use this camera to document your adventure. Britni, we have a great story and I know you love to share it with others. There are so many chapters in this, our real life, and so much more yet to be written. So when you reach your destination go in and enjoy the memories. Oh…one more thing…I love you. -David James Richards.” The limo driver took me to destination one, Fast Lap. I went inside and John was there! John Laycock! We took a picture together and he handed me In ‘n’ out and envelope that said “Friendship and Communication” on the front. I got back in the limo and opened it. “Do you REMEMBER our second date? This place doesn‘t look like much from the outside, but inside it is nothing less than go-cart heaven! Here is where I learned just how fun you really are. You put on that full racing suit and the crazy neck/face sock thing…lol…we were silly and I loved every minute of it. I also learned I can totally own you on a racetrack. After chasing each other around on the track I think we went to In ’n’ Out, grabbed a burger and I took you home. We ended up sitting in my truck for a couple hours talking and talking. We have always been able to talk to each other even near the start of our relationship. I think that is something that has helped us and will be a great strength in years to come. What a wonderful night that was! I had crazy fun!”. Destination 3, Fly Away. I got my envelope from the front desk labeled “Adventure and Love”. “This is where we took our relationship to new HEIGHTS. This has always been a fun place for me to come on my own and forget about everything and just fly! It was so much fun to be able to share this place with you. You looked a little nervous, but you went for it anyway. You showed me your adventurous side by doing something you had never done before even thought it was a little bit ‘dangerous‘. Although we were flying…I had fallen for you (remember my silly card?) I was slow to admit it, but I loved you then and had loved you for some time…and I love you to this day (only more)”. Then I was taken to Zach Smith’s parents house, where David’s truck was parked and the envelope on it. I knew David had to be around there somewhere so I looked around, but didn’t see him. Envelope was titled “…and all the little things…” and it said-“As random as this seems, this represents the little things. Do you remember saying goodbye as night after spending some time with each other? We would stand out by my truck, or by your car and chat. Our hands would play (the way only our hands do) I would put my arms around you…and toss you into the sprinklers! Lol! There are so many fun little moments that mean so much to me:- grape cream slushes, having a crazy girl jump on my back at a football game, hanging by my truck, Christmas, surprise lunch visits, Valentine’s Day, kissing on the Wood Family’s couch (lol), California with my sisters, Disneyland, New harmony trips…I love all of these memories. The best part is that they are with you. They are OUR memories…ok…next stop!” I kept going. I was sure I was going to see him at the next stop. The temple. After all, this was supposed to be a mini date. So, I figured he would be there and we’d study or something. I was wrong though. Bailey, my sister, met me there, and I was very happy to see here. It was really weird pulling up to the temple in a limo. Way weird. Anyway, Bai was there and gave me the envelope “will make eternity” It said, - “Of all your stops tonight this may be the most significant. I know that the temple has been an important place for you. It has been a place to reflect and a refuge from the world. The time I have spent with you at the temple and the conversations we have had in and around this Holy House are precious to me. I have LOVED studying and serving with you here. I am excited to enter these doors with you and be sealed for eternity in the near future (or as we like to call it-Infinity Plus One). I hope to return many times with you to do work for those who have gone before us. I love being here at the temple with you.” Next stop Jan’s house, which is where I live now... I didn’t know why. I was SO confused. I figured I was going there to change and get pretty or something, then he was taking me to dinner, but wrong again. Jan and Lloyd were there with the next envelope and camera… “Home”. I was only supposed to change into a tee shirt. “SO I figured you would want to drop off your stuff and clean up after a long flight. But, BE QUICK! Because you must be out the door by 5:40pm…if it is 5:40om right now, drop off your stuff and get back in the limo. Lol. If you have some time I suggest something casual…jeans and a t-shirt! Maybe a super awesome tee that your boyfriend got for you. He has good taste…ok…go!” I left the house with one final envelope. They gave me two at Jan’s, the last one said “for us“. and inside it said- “YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY to a very special place for us. When you arrive I hope you know where to go. I want you to give this envelope to the driver when you get out and say thanks to him for me. Be sure to get your phone! Call or text me when you are outside. I am excited to see you. Are you excited to see me? I will be waiting patiently for you my love.” I was then taken to the House of Blues…our first date. I got my cell phone back, walked in, text him like it said to, and he told me to go into the Dining room, I didn’t know where it was though, so I called and he told me. I knew it the second I walked in. Our friends were standing there. All the envelopes put together had a message. “Britni Afton Shirley, Friendship and Communication, Adventure and Love, …and all the little things…will make eternity home for us".

I walked in, walked over to David and kissed him, he was holding a box in his hand. He told me he needed me and that there was a reason our friends were there, and that he loved me. Then got down on one knee and said “Will you marry me?” I was all smiles and kissed him and whispered “yes” into his ear. I was shaking so hard. Lol Theneveryone in the restaurant broke out into applause and all our friends came over and looked at the ring because apparently David wouldn’t let anyone see it before me. lol Eric Trigg, Erin Cory, Erynn and Devyn Manu, Jasmine Reuel, Charlie Cory, Josh Mojica, Matt Hurley, Trish Williams, Whitney Shofner, John Laycock, Chris Baugh, Robi Sundell, John Harden, and Christian and Rachel Wood were all there to witness the event.

Apparently on Sunday at church David went into the Priesthood and Relief Society and made an announcement saying he was proposing and he needed their help to show up if they could. So, there they were. I love that these people took time out of THEIR day to support us, that means a lot to me. I visited and found out practically EVERYONE knew. That kinda took the fun out of it for me. I have been planning for months on who and how I was going to tell everyone, and David had already done that. All my family and friends knew. Oh well though. I can't have have everything my way :).

David and I then went to his house and he told me how he talked to Dad. I love that. Apparently Dad was all smiles the entire time, then Sondae told me when I called her later that Dad was excited and proud of me as was she and couldn’t think I could find a better man, so i was happy about that.

At David’s I changed my status on Facebook to “engaged” lol love it. Then David took me back home and we told Aunt Jan and Uncle Lloyd the details. I called mom on the way home at like 12am her time. She didn’t know. I was glad I got to tell someone. I love David so much and can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together. Go on adventures!!

So this is the Engagement Story! We get sealed on August 16th and i'm sooo excited!

The Book of Love...Literally. A Book

I frequently get people who ask me how David and I met and want the full on love story. So, I think it will be much easier on myself if i just post it here, and then can direct those curious to my blog. It will save so much time and effort. And i fully apologize in advance, if somethings are hard to understand. I get flustered trying to explain the story because there is so much involved, i can't decipher what all i want to share.

David and I have known each other for about 3 years now. He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (see Mormon.org for details) in my ward for about one transfer. We had talked and such since he and his companion were over at our house for P-Days. So, skip to April 2007, David had been off his mission for almost two years and had been living in Vegas for a year and a half and i had been dinking around after been graduated from high school for two years. It was a Sunday night at I was at a CES Fireside, being a busy body, when this guy with long red hair and jeans walked up to me. It took me a second to recognize him, and realize i knew him..."Elder Richards...err David?" (Don't ask me how i remembered his first name)...."Britni Shirley?" So, we swapped the "How are yous?" and "What have you been up to?" business and i got his number and he left. I don't know what made me do it, but on the way home i sent him a text that was something along the lines of "Hey, if you need anything let me know." Who knows, maybe i felt bad for him lol.

We had randomly been texting back and forth for the next month or two, and then June arrived. It was a Friday and I was driving to go to my friend Robert Chatwin's wedding reception in North Las Vegas. And when i got there to my surprise, so was David. I don't know why i was surprised. I knew they knew eachother. Throughout the night, Rob kept telling me i needed to date David, and i was like nooo i can't, and embarrassed that he was suggesting i date someone like i was a little girl or something. I kept my eyes on David the entire time, he is gorgeous after all :)...and he was being silly, i enjoyed laughing at him. Slow song came around, he asked me to dance...my heart was fluttering. I was dancing with a hot guy...

Fast forward to a few weeks later, i get a call from him asking me if i wanted to go see Tiger Army with him. I had no idea what that was, so he told me it was a concert, i told him yes i would love to go, however he need to check to make sure there was no age restriction because i wasn't 21 yet :). I found out later on that apparently he was sweating bullets calling me and practiced everything in his head for like fifteen minutes and when i told him to check for restictions he was nervous even more...awwww cute lol! Everything turned out fine though until the day of the show. I didn't know if it was a date or not and that made me nervous. I didn't know what to expect. I had been on quite a few dates over the past month and they were all sorts of formal: Guy gets me from my house, opens the doors, buys the popcorn, kinda thing...This however was not like that. He bought the tickets and i was meeting him at the House of Blues. I was nervous the entire way there not knowing. I hate that sort of stuff. It makes things awkward. Again, everything turned out fine though. I got to the show, and i LOVED the closeness between he and i. The floor was packed and he had his arms around me to keep nasty sweaty huge guys off me. I loved that feeling that he was protecting me.

Over the upcoming months we dated casually with surprise "Harry Potter Trips" at 3am, Grape Cream Slush runs, In and Out meetings, amazing dates to Fast Lap, movie dates at his place and more. I slowly got to know him and what he was about and loved it all. I didn't know i was in love with him yet though. I was a huge busy body and he used to tease asking me to pencil him into my infamous planner. However, i never felt i needed to make time for him. Anytime he called all my plans seemed to magically disappear for him. It was such a fun summer and i enjoyed his presence. Take note that i didn't ever like just one guy at a time lol i liked to keep my options open, so i had all sorts of "projects" going on. I had liked David, and mysteriously cleared my schedule for him over other guys, but also had crushes on a few others as well.

Once the end of summer rolled around though we didn't see much of eachother. We would still text, but not physically see eachother. I was busy with school and had started playing with new found friends whom i absolutely adored and he must have been busy as well since he hadn't called. September came and went and we started into October. October 13th, the day of the UNLV vs. BYU football game. I had never been to a college football game so i went with my friend Logan and enjoyed myself hanging out and visiting with friends and watching the game. After the game following everone out i saw the back of David's head and recognized him at once, and jumped on his back! I was SO excited to see him! He realized it was me and i hoped down and we began visiting. I found out he didn't have a ride home, so i Logan said it would be no problem if we dropped him off out in Timbuktu. This is the day that we consider our friendship turning into a relationship. Nothing dramatic happened, and yet it did. We had never had any sort of physical contact with eachother apart from our first date at the Tiger Army show. As we walked to the car, we were all sorts of flirty. I would walk in front of him, then hit the breaks and he would wrap his arms around me briefly, then release and we repeated the whole way to the car while catching up. Once we reached the car, i got in the front and he in the back and i dont know how it happened, but our hands were playing. We weren't talking, Logan was preoccupied on the phone, and our hands were slowly playing with eachother. Some times briefly holding hands then releasing to play some more. My heart was more fluttery than usual and i didn't know why. It's not like i had never held hands before. When we got to his house I left Logan and went in with David. We cuddled and watched TV til he took me home. It is all practically history from there. We saw eachother everyday from there on out. Three or four weeks after that we had our first kiss. I kissed THE most grizzly man in the world because he was in a beard growing contest and hadn't shaved in two months and it was amazing lol. Alright, more story to come...

The Start of Something New

Well, here it is finally, I decided off a whim that I needed another internet addiction in my life aside from Facebook. Though, I think this may be more beneficial. I have been slackin on the journal front, and so now I can print these out and stick um in. David isn't too thrilled about the blogspot idea, but he doesn't like myspace or facebook either, so whatever. He is never online anyway unless he is shopping or playing on Youtube lol.

I decided I needed a blog after i saw my friend Laura Cutler's page. She just got married, and has it all updated, and seeing as i'm not too far behind her i thought it was a great idea and SO cute. I kinda feel like i am at a point in my life that is incredibly adventure filled and this way everyone can keep up and eventually one day (in the not so near future) when babies come along, i can be like the cute moms that talk about their families. I love reading those stinking things. I mean "its like a right of passage for married people... not officially married until you start doing married people stuff like get a blog and wear velcro shoes" right?