Bride to be!

Yes...it's true...

I am ENGAGED!!

To this boy I am sort of in love with...

Go figure?

My GORGEOUS ring!

I love love love it!

The next day we celebrated by going to the Festival of Colors at the Hindu Temple.

It is always SO much fun!

What could be better than throwing chalk at total strangers?!

Date TBA...

But let it be known...

I am going to be the next Mrs. Foster!

Whaaaa?!

:)

Called to Serve.

So while in California at Alex's house, we decided to go through his mission stuff.

16 planners, hundreds of letters, lots of pictures, notes of encouragement, and 2 journals.

2 journals which look like ancient books of scripture, mind you.

He got them at Barnes & Noble when he went through the temple.

These journals are seriously a gold mine.

They have been SO fun to read.

The first time through we skipped to the parts where he talked about me.

My personal favorite is from Christmas Day 2008.

"...we hung out at the Maurer's all day...The Maurers are way tight. Kaycie is hott."

Another great one is from before he left (10/13/07)

"Today I got a haircut. I hate it. I hate having short hair but I know I have to do it. Serving the Lord is way more important than having my long hippie hair."

So cute, huh?

I love this one too from near entering the MTC (10/24/07):

"Today we went tracting with Elder Murphy. Elder Butars has a broken foot. It was so amazing. I've never had the spirit actually follow me like it did today. We didn't see any miracles, but it was definitely worth it. I know this is just a taste, but it has made me even more excited to serve. I'm gonna tear it up out there! I can't wait. I even started talking. People listened to me and I wasn't even scared, I just went for it. I don't wanna sound cocky or prideful, but I think I'm going to be able to do this great work that I have been called to do. I know it will be hard, but I think I can do it."

I loveeeee it!

I love that he let me bring his journals back to Utah and read them all the way through.

I am still where he is in the MTC.

He is so dang cute.

I love that he writes how he talks. It makes it so entertaining.

I am so proud of my boy.

He was such an awesome missionary.

I know he gets down on himself a lot because he feels like he could have done more, but he did awesome.

He did what he was called to do.

Hope you enjoyed those little treasures.

I'm sure I will find more...keep ya posted! :)

Kris.

So I have an apology to make to my big sister, Krista.

Life was SO busy on her birthday (March 4th) and I did not get a chance to publicly wish her a happy birthday!

Shame on me, I know!

I did call her though...do I get partial credit?

(Krista's shirt is awesome.)

Krista has always been the epitome of the oldest sister.

She takes on that role and even though sometimes it has been hard being the one everyone looks up to, she has done an amazing job at fulfilling that spot.

She has taught me many many things.

When I was a baby she taught me that she would always rock me to sleep when Mama had shows to perform at. (Even though Daddy thought his "cry it out" method was working. HA!)

When I was a little girl, she taught me to never trust her when she is trying to feed me something. (like the ginger root I bit in to or the spoonful of salt that I thought was sugar.)

Also as a little girl she taught me to never let her drive the Barbie car. (because it would always happen to drive off a "cliff.")

When I was in elementary school she taught me that it was cool to say hi to your sisters and give them a squeeze in the hallway. (We went to a private school with all grades.) And all my friends thought so too!

When I was in middle school she taught me the principle of selflessness as I saw her go into the mission field and give her whole heart to the gospel and the people of Washington.

When I was in high school she taught me that you are never "too cool" to have real fun.

In college she taught me that when life seems like it is throwing you a bad deck, you turn around and make it an opportunity to better your talents, add more talents, think positively, and trust in the Lord's plan.

If you don't know...Kris is amazing.

She knows how to inspire.

She knows how to teach.

She knows how to love.

She knows how to cook, sew, photograph, sing, create, throw an epic party, and if you ask me has some pretty sweet dance moves. (if you're lucky, she just might show you.)

Krista Quilhot Maurer is just one awesome person!

If you don't want to take my word for it, just go look yourself:

kristamaurer.com

Happy Belated Birthday, Kris.

I sure do love your guts.

Don't forget how amazing you are and everything life has in store for you.

2 to the 4, wha?!

It's my birthday!!

So far the day has been great, and it will only continue to grow in greatness!

Here's a little journey of what pictures I could scrounge up in a jiffy...

Enjoy this little slice of heaven.

Hope your day is as happy as mine! :)

On the way to the hospital for the C-section.

Right after she had just directed the choir for Stake Conference. Ha!

All cleaned off.

Daddy's first time holding me.

And now with my mama.

2nd Birthday!

7th maybe? 8?

The big 2-1! (80s party!)

22!

Baseball themed 23rd party!

Somebody.

Do you ever feel like you are missing out on life?

That you have not done enough in this world?

You have not gone after your dreams enough?

Or that what little you do, does not cut it?

Sadly, I feel like this a lot.

I go through the list of things I do not do enough...

I need to pray and read my scriptures more.

I need to serve more.

I need to be more crafty.

I need to be funnier in social situations.

I need be more noticeable with my talents.

I need to lose more weight.

I need to...I need to...I need to...

Or I go through how I do not go after the things I once dreamed of...

Why did I not go to California and try out to be a music video dancer?

Why did not I not audition for shows?

Why did I quit ballet my senior year?

Why did I stop practicing piano on a regular basis?

Why am I not famous?

Why did I not study abroad?

Why did I not go on a humanitarian service project?

I feel like even though I am young, the majority of my care free years are behind me.

The reality of graduating college has hit me in the face.

How did I get here?

Did I do enough in my classes?

Did I contribute to campus life enough?

Was I nice to people?

What more could I have done?

I feel like it replays in my head over and over a few times a week.

It's draining really.

But then...

I get a note from a girl at the treatment center that says:

"When I need you the most, you are always there."

That was it.

That was all the note said.

And when I got that note, it did not matter that I was not Beyonce's back up dancer or that I could not play every piece by Chopin.

What mattered in that moment was that I meant something to someone.

I meant something to one of my precious girls.

I love them so so much.

I just need to remember that feeling more in my life.

I need to remember that my life is great and that I have had many wonderful experiences.

I am very blessed and in the times where I have been most happy is while doing good.

As Robert Byrne said:

"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."

Dorothy Louise...My Grandma

My Grandma Q passed away on Wed, March 2.

It was a tad sudden and unexpected...definitely not something I would have imagined happening this year.

Mostly because my Grandma is a fighter.

She has been through so much, but holds on to her convictions, almost to a fault, and rises back up again.

We were never super close, but she was still and is still my Grandma.

Grandma Q joined the church when I was 15 years old and went through the temple to get sealed to my Papa when I was 16.

Since her baptism I have seen some amazing changes within her.

She became very understanding, very open minded, and very caring.

She would always want to know all about my life whenever I called and would always ask how dating was and if I was "playing the field" or "narrowing in."

The conversation would always end with her telling me she prayed for my happiness every night.

She was just the way a supportive Grandma should be in these last few years.

(3 generations at Kar's wedding, Jul 09)

Some things that will always remind me of Grandma Q:

cough drop smell (that woman ALWAYS had cough drops in her purse so she by default smelled like it.)

romance movies.

makeup counters at department stores.

Dillards.

strong perfume.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Marley & Me.

I love you Grandma!

Sorry I could not be there in your final days.

I know Papa was there waiting for you on the other side.

I'll see you again.

Bieber Fever!

I don't know what it is, but I am slightly obsessed with Justin Bieber.

Not in the way that all of teenagers are (cause that would be gross since he was born in 1994) but more in the way that I think he is so adorable, so funny, way talented, and his music is clean and fun!

My love for the Biebs started back in August 2009 when McKell had me listen to this song called "One Time" when he barely started getting his name out there.

I was obsessed with it!

Then my fetish for him began to grow and has only intensified with every single he released.

I love that little purple hoodie wearin kid!

His movie "Never Say Never" came out 2 weeks ago.

Have I been to see it 2 times already?

(Yes...yes I have.)

And if any one wants to go PLEASE let me be your movie partner.

For those of you that know me, I HATE paying full price for movies and usually wait until it goes to the dollar theater.

Hence my love for the Bieber transcending full price.

"Never Say Never" is AMAZING.

It takes you through his life, how he was discovered by Scooter Braun, how Usher sponsored him, and snippets of his tour.

You also get to see how INCREDIBLY talented the kid is!

'Fo real. So talented.

Alex was a good sport and has gone both times I have gone!

After the first time he pulled me aside, once the roommates were out of ear shot (except Megan who still heard) and said, "I actually really liked the movie."

Alex loves the Biebs! :)

Justin Bieber is too great not to love.

(And maybe I want to get a Twitter account solely so I can follow J. Biebs.)

This is the video that really got him a flight to ATL.

Sneak peak of the movie, as well as showing he can do more than just sing.

And lastly, this song never gets old. (Plus Usher is...well, Usher. Greatness.)

**In other news**

There have been rumors of Nsync putting on a comeback tour!!

Be still my heart.

I would pay close to anything to go to that concert!

Please release tour dates SOON!

Pop

So recently I have been doing a lot of thinking.

I'm an adult. A real live ADULT.

When did that happen?

I am almost 24 years old and by no means is that "old," but it definitely is an age where people regard you as responsible and mature.

I try to live up to that standard, but sometimes it is so stressful.

Gone are the days of Freshman year where I had zero work, easy classes, lots of play time, and all the care free of the world.

I love my life, don't get me wrong, but it is out of whack.

I work TOO much. Since I graduated, all of my work places are demanding more of my time, which would be fine if it were only one of those work places...but it is all 3.

I have been putting in far too many hours at work and not many hours into sleep, hobbies, and time with others.

When I was at the gym the other day I had an analogy pop into my head.

I like to chew gum when I am working out because I feel like it makes me go harder.

As I was amidst chewing, I blew a bubble.

Such as this:

Depending on the type of bubble gum, the bubble size varies.

However, no matter how skilled you are in creating such bubble-ness, it always does this:

POPS.

And that is where I am at.

About to pop.

I have stretched myself in too many directions and I am at the breaking point.

I consider myself good at time management and skilled in my jobs.

But no matter how good I am, I can only go so long before I will look like that cute blonde up above.

So with all of that said...I did it.

I actually took a step in simplifying my life.

I told my manager, Brooke, at Charlotte Russe that I could no longer work there.

She was obviously sad, but said she knew it was coming since I was working so much and that was my lowest paying job.

It was seriously so hard to do.

I am so loyal to things and I felt like I was letting her down.

However, I have to do what is best for me.

We worked out a deal though where I will only work floor sets.

So I will only have to work there when the store is closed, like 10 hours a month.

So no having to deal with customers and I get to keep my discount.

If that isn't great, then I don't know what is.

My last real shift was yesterday.

It felt so liberating to walk out of there and know next week I will have those hours on my hands to do what I want to do.

I will admit, I am going to miss helping people pick out clothing and gain confidence in themselves, but I know I am going to be so much happier.

So long Charlotte Russe customers...it's been real.

And here's to being able to practice piano, choreograph dances, watch movies, scrapbook, read, and spend time with those I love!

Fire in Chip Form

So Alex is slightly obsessed with hot chips:

Hot Cheetos was his drug of choice for a long time. (Still is.)

He might have turned me on to them...cause I crave them on occasion.

The other day he discovered Hot Doritos and for the first time could not eat an entire bag.

Then yesterday I got this text:

"Babe....you've gotta try Hot Funyuns!!!"

Only my boyfriend...

Valentine's Day with Mr. Foster!

Valentine's Day is such a great day.

I know a lot of people get all upset they don't have a Valentine, but who cares?!

February 14th is a day of love.

And I love love!

It is nice to reflect on all of the people I love as well as those who love me in return.

One of those people being Alex Foster.

He loves me. Yep...it's true.

This was actually our 2nd Valentine's Day together.

Last year he told me he loved me the day after, the 15th.

Well...more like I pressured him into saying it.

I knew he wanted to, but was too scared to do it.

So I ever so graciously helped him out and finally got it out of him.

He's grateful...:)

This year our day was split in to 2 days because of work.

On Sunday night Alex made us dinner because we would not have time for a nice dinner on Monday.

It was his very first time ever cooking a whole meal by himself.

He was so nervous. It was so cute!

I gave him his present that night.

I got him a sterling silver guitar pic that said, "Every Day, You Save My Life."

Inspired by this song...it's how I feel about him.

(you can now think "awww" in your head.)

I told him not to get me any presents. I want all of his effort and money going to a special fund...if you catch my drift. :)

After dinner we watched "Glee."

We've been going through the first season....Alex loves it.

It makes me love him that much more.

Then on Monday I had to work and he went to school.

I got off work at 6 and I went home, he picked me up, and we went to grab a quick bite to eat because that is all we had time for.

We went to such a fancy place...Carl's Jr, ladies and gents.

That's right...

Don't worry that my boyfriend got a 7 piece chicken tender, fries, and a jalapeno burger.

SO MUCH FOOD!

I was content with my chicken sandwich and Oreo shake.

We were slightly surprised at how many people were actually at Carl's Jr.

I thought it would be a ghost town.

We headed out of there and went to downtown Provo.

Mindy Gledhill so graciously held a Valentine's concert at Velour.

It was such a perfect way to spend Valentine's evening.

The atmosphere was awesome, the music was mesmerizing, Mindy was darling, and the concert as a whole was magical.

I love the way her music makes me feel.

Alex loved her too.

I mean, who wouldn't? But still...he usually only likes music that was made 40 years ago.

Afterwards we went to say a quick hi and we were on our way.

I grabbed some of her sheet music she had on sale, so I cannot wait to play it!

Other highlights of the day:

Kari making me a pancake with chocolate chips in the shape of a heart while we were working at Magleby's.

Nicole leaving me some Mike & Ike's and a balloon.

Wearing pink and red.

Listening to Justin Timberlake's, "My Love" 3 times in the car.

Ash wanting to take a picture with me.

Getting texts from people.

Krista's card coming in the mail with awesome pics of my fella and me.

Alex telling me he loved me almost every text.

Twas a great day.

I love my family, I love my friends, I love my boyfriend. (I am quite twitterpated with him.)