I am excited to announce.....

...that I will be getting married to my best friend, Joseph Henry Johnson!! I have promised to include "details" here in this blog.....I might have to edit it later, but this will have to do for now.

Joe is working full time and studying Computer Science at BYU. He is from Enumclaw, Washington. It is a town just outside of Seattle. He will be 28 in June. He is the youngest of three, with two older brothers. His dad now lives in La Grande, Oregon, and his mom lives in Nampa, Idaho. I have yet to meet them but I'm so excited to be with his family Memorial weekend!!

Joe is Rachel's cousin....for those of you who are trying to figure out the family tree, NO there is no blood relation at all!! ;0) I often get a confused look when I tell people that!! Anyways, just over 2 years ago, Joe and Rachel's grandfather died. They were both at the funeral. Rachel and her mom invited Joe to come and stay with their family for a week in the summer. Joe loves being with family, especially little kids, and jumped at the chance!! He was going to school and would be able to be there for his break.

Joe had heard about the LDS church and knew some good people who were LDS, but like many had heard a few confusing stories. So when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio he started talking with his Aunt Joan (Rachel's mom)about the Gospel. Then she asked Kevin to help with some questions....and those of you who know my brother, he knows his stuff!! And can teach the doctrine by the Spirit. Joe asked questions and ended up meeting with the missionaries, going to Kirkland, and through many special experiences decided to be baptized August 2, 2008. What an amazing testimony!! I love to hear him share his insights and learning moments from his scripture study and temple attendance. I am truly blessed to have found such a righteous man!!

Joe with Kevin and Rachel's family and his Aunt Joan....




So.....no doubt you are wondering how we met? Well, thanks to a brother that is very persistent ;0) He asked me if I would email Joe and keep in contact with him. Joe was going back to Washington for school and he didn't have any family nearby, didn't know any members, and would be new to so many things. I thought it would be a great experience to get to know Joe (I had heard so many wonderful things from the family) and feel the missionary spirit again!! I had missed the excitement of sharing the Gospel, and what a wonderful opportunity!! Needless to say, we emailed each other and became great friends. I had planned a trip to Seattle to see an old roommate of mine, Ashley, in June of last year. Joe's mom still lived in Enumclaw and so we where able to meet and be together for a couple of days. I have some earlier posts of my trip, but here are some pictures from it. (The only picture we have together is blurry =0( Oh well...). We had so much fun together, and never had a boring moment!! We went to the aquarium....


We went to a Mariner's game....


And we did baptisms for the dead in Seattle....


Joe received his endowments in the Columbus, OH temple in September 2009. This is a picture of Joe with Rachel and Kevin Hebdon....


Joe just outside of the Columbus, OH temple....


He was accepted into BYU for Winter 2010 and I was excited to have my friend here with me!! So....we have been dating ever since January, and the last few months we've been pretty inseparable. I absolutely love to be with him and have so much fun. Not only do I truly love him, but I get to be with my best friend. And one of the greatest thing about Joe, is that my family absolutely LOVES HIM TO DEATH!! Kevin and Rachel's family were already adopting him as one of their own before we met. We have been with Stephanie and Jeff's family a few times, and they love them. In fact, I tease him that he has already stolen Kevin's family from me....that he's in BIG TROUBLE if he steals Stephanie's family away from me too!! We were able to go on a trip to Moab, see Grandpa and Grandma Neibaur in Mesa, and then went for a quick peek in Las Vegas in March.

Moab, UT....


Mesa, AZ....


Las Vegas Temple....


Along the Vegas strip....


And you would think of being together the whole time for 4 days, and half of that time being in a car, we would be sick of each other. But, if anything, it made us closer.

Joe came up to Idaho with me for Easter to be with my family, and he met my dad. (He was in Ohio visiting Kevin's family when my mom went down for Caleb's blessing....and she could do nothing but share how much she thought of Joe). And....as history would repeat itself, my dad likes him too!! I LOVE the fact that they all get along so well =0)

Joe asked me to marry him at the Bountiful Temple grounds this last Sunday, May 2nd. Due to my class/clinical schedule and then his school schedule for the fall.....we decided to get married the last weekend of June at the Salt Lake Temple. (We both love that temple and have done a few sessions there together. It is a special place for us.)....and it just so happens that a year from June 26th is when we went to the Seattle Temple together to do baptisms for the dead. How special is that?!!

Thank you all for your shared excitement with us!! We are truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. I love you all!!