Memorial Day Weekend

For Memorial Day weekend Brandon and I made a quick trip to California to spend some time with my family and to go to one of my good friend's wedding.
  We had hoped to spend Friday at the beach but because the weather was so rainy and cold we decided that that probably wasn't the best idea. Instead Brandon and I caught up on some much needed rest and relaxation which was very nice.
  Saturday was my friend Heather and her new husband Robert's wedding. Brandon and I were able to go to their sealing which was so amazing because it was the first one we had been to since our own wedding.We were a little worried that Brandon wouldn't be able to go because he forgot his temple recommend at home but a quick call from the temple workers to Salt Lake and he was given the go-ahead which I was very grateful for.( He also forgot his church shoes and had to wear my dad's old ones which was quite amusing to see because my dad's feet are about two sizes smaller than Brandon's, his razor and his belt. I think next time I will just have to pack for him).
       The ceremony was wonderful, the weather was perfect and the happy couple were beaming the entire time. It was so wonderful to be able to be there.  That night we went to their reception where I was able to see some of my friends from high school who I hadn't seen since August (really guys we need to hang out more often than just when people get married ;) which was great. 

Dad, Mom, Me and Brandon in front of the Redlands Temple

                                                 

Heather and Robert Sears

What a cute couple!

The gang is back together! (Kinda dark sorry) Me, Heather, Allison and Glenda

Just a couple of goofballs in crazy matching ties.

   Sunday was another quite day spent with family and then we were back on the road early Monday morning back up to Utah and to school. It was a wonderful weekend, spent with my favorite people.

Families are Forever

Family is one of the greatest blessings our Father in Heaven has given us. They are there for us in our best moments and in our worst.
 Sometimes I wonder why things happen the way that they do. Like most people I tend to like to have my life go the way that I plan, which is not always the same as what our Father in Heaven has planned. I know that Heavenly Father can see the whole picture while I can only see but a glimpse and I do have a testimony that families can be together forever, however I still find myself asking 'why'?
           Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does is seem that no matter what we do, the world continues to get worse and worse? and WHY do sweet innocent little children have to suffer? Why are they taken from this life before they have really had a chance to experience it?  How can everything be fine one minute and the next a perfect little family is changed forever?
             This are the questions that keep popping into my head. The pain I am feeling cannot even hold a candle to that which others are experiencing all around the world and even in my own family. But even as these questions appear another, much more predominate questions enters my mind: How can people experience the pain of this life without the hope and expectation of what is to follow in the next? How can the world function without the belief of life after death? or eternal families? How can people experience all the pain of this life is they think that this life it is, our one chance and then everything ceases to exists after we die?
              I am so incredibly grateful to know that this life is not the end. That there is still so much more ahead of us. I'm grateful for Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness and that through Temple covenants families can be together forever, and for the blessings of the gospel and the knowledge that are families do not end after this life, that we can all be together again. This life is full of pain and adversity but somehow if we stay strong and keep the covenants that we have made we will be together again.

Our Lives During the Past Few Months....

Ok, I do realize that it has been forever and a day since I have posted ( in my defense I did warn you ), so I thought I would take a minute and catch up on what has been going on in our lives.

  For Thanksgiving we took a trip out to Colorado Springs to Brandon's sister Jamie's house, where the rest of his family joined us. It was a very nice trip and gave me a chance to get to know Brandon's family a little better, since we had only really spent time together a week or two before the wedding (though I will admit that it was weird not spending a major holiday with my parents and cousins). It was a nice break from all of the craziness that college life brings, and very relaxing.

Us and Our loot!

   Our First Christmas break was a little crazy to say the least.  My aunt Kina who had had cancer for several years passed away right before Christmas and my Grandpa Wright hadn't been doing very well either. My dear sweet parents drove up to Utah to spend a few days with my Grandparents and then we all went down to California for the funeral only to turn around and go back to Provo to spend Christmas with my mom's family (which they do every other year) and then (because my parents are saints and I needed to be get out of Provo) we all drove back to California a day or so after Christmas where we spent the remainder of our break. My mother was so amazing the entire time we were down, letting us be bums and do nothing except watch 'Heroes' and be lazy. We did make it out to San Diego for a day and went to the zoo which was soo much fun! Overall another great break, preparing me for the most insane semester of my life!

I got Brandon tickets to go see The Thunder play for his birthday

    Ok, now on to the real reason I haven't posted anything in so long. When winter semester hit I decided that I was going to take 20 units! (For those of you who don't know 18 units in the maximum amount of credits a student is usually allowed to take any given semester at BYU, anymore and you have to receive special permission. I had only ever taken up to 16 units in a semester before). Needless to say I was in over my head. It was the hardest, most frustrating, most mentally and physically draining semester of my entire life. Brandon was my rock the entire time though. Boy did I feel bad for that boy! I'm sure he listened to my angry rants, and witnessed more emotionally breakdowns than he had ever before and was probably wondering what he had gotten himself into. But through the entire time he was my rock and I couldn't have done it without him.  Which is not to say we didn't have some fun moments, but it general it was a very stressful time at the Reid house. Overall I was fairly satisfied with my ending GPA of 3.89.

Brandon and I at the Festival of Colors in March 2012

        One REALLY good thing did come out of that semester though. I applied (and got) for an internship position for next year!! This means that instead of student teaching in the fall I will have MY OWN classroom! That's right ladies and gentleman someone thought it was a good idea to put Me in charge!! Wahaha.... I am going to be teaching Second Grade at Canyon Elementary School in Spanish Fork ! 



So that is what has been going on with the Reid family these past few months. I am still in school (until the middle of June) and Brandon is taking a graduate level course and working full time. I will try to be better but I make not promises!