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!!

Spring Break...Day 4

I am so glad that we were able to stay at Grandpa and Grandma Neibaur. They are such great examples to me. They are always serving their family, friends, and the Lord. And they enjoy life and have fun while they are serving. I loved visiting them and I am forever grateful for all that they do...



So we left early Thursday morning in hopes of getting to Las Vegas in the early afternoon.... LOL!! Oh my goodness...I don't think that we could have gotten any more lost!! We tried to go a different route due to construction on the Hoover Dam...but due to construction, roads on maps that didn't exist yet, and our own navigational errors....let's just say we were WAY behind time!! And we ended up going to the Hoover dam anyways!?!! But we still had fun and enjoyed the drive....mostly ;0)

The joshua trees...


Lake Mead...


Finally we made it to Las Vegas. Joe was so excited with the lights, he had never been south of Utah. It was like watching a kid in a candy shop. Too much fun!! We stopped at the Las Vegas Temple. Again, the grounds were so pretty...











We then traveled towards the strip. It was chaotic and busy, but I guess that's Vegas for ya. The Luxor...


Treasure Island...


Then we walked through Ceasar's Palace...






Joe's every dream...under one roof. If only it wasn't so expensive...




We watched the Bellagio water show...





And hurried back on our way home. We made it home Friday morning at 5....!! So sad, I wish that we had an extra day to enjoy Vegas and St. George, but I had to run home for school labs in Ogden. But that's ok...all the more reason for more trips!! Thanks, Joe, for coming with me, and for such a great time!!

Spring Break...Day 3

Grandma and Grandpa took us on a beautiful drive along Suspicion Mountains. I couldn't believe all of the cacti everywhere!! I know that there are prettier places in the world...but this has definite unique beauty to it...

Joe, Grandma, Grandpa, and I in front of the Canyon Lake...




Tonto National Forrest...




Joe and I at a Ghost Town just outsid of Mesa...where I tried some cactus fruit fudge....YUMMY!! A definite must if you ever go there...


Joe and I were able to visit Brandon and Marni Davis and their cute little family. I hadn't seen them for at least 3 years...they had a new baby girl just a few weeks ago. Such a cute and adorable family.

We then went to the Mesa Temple to walk around the gardens. The temple was closed due to the Easter Pageant, but the grounds made up for the disappointment!! It was PERFECT!!





I asked Joe what he was doing...and he said he was pondering the mysteries of God...my posing little friend ;0)


Grandpa said that this is an olive tree that came from the Garden of Gethsemane...


That night we attended the Easter Pageant: Jesus the Christ. Everything about it was so well done. They built a stage that had a scenery depicting Jerusalem. It started out with the story of Adam and Eve, and the necessity of having a Savior redeem us from the fall and our sins. Then it went throughout the life of Christ, showing the many miracles and teachings from the New Testament. It was choreographed with the program recorded for the voices and singing. I can't believe how many volunteers they had and how many hours were given. This was the reason why I decided to come down at this time. It was fantastic!!

Spring Break...Day 2

We headed out early in the morning. We drove for around 10 hours!! Talk about a long drive...however, it was an amazing drive.

We were able to drive through Monticello and saw the temple...


I loved the landscape along the borderline of Utah and Arizona...


Believe it or not...there were signs warning about horse crossing. So I joked around about there being "wild horses"...and lo and behold, there were horses that weren't fenced in and looked very shaggy...I think we just saw our first wild horses ;0)...


We got to Mesa in the afternoon and had to enjoy the palm trees and cacti. I am sure that the locals got a good laugh with us crazy tourists and taking pictures along the roadside. But that's what makes a trip fun, right?...






We were able to meet up with an old roommate/classmate of mine with her husband, Tanya and Justin. I don't know why I didn't get a picture!?!! Oh well, it was so much fun to see her again and get caught up with her life. She was so cute and pregnant, ready to deliver any day. I loved seeing her!!

We stayed at Grandpa and Grandma Neibaur's house. It was SO fun to see them!! They are doing so well, and seem to enjoy working in the temple. There house is so nice, and I am grateful that they let us stay a couple of nights with them. Thank you and I love ya tons and tons!!

Spring Break...Day 1

I know that there is no reason to complain....but I was in desperate need of a break from school and work!! I was so grateful when Joe was able to come with me on a road trip. We left on Monday to go to Moab. I have ALWAYS wanted to go to the National Arches since I was in elementary and saw the Delicate Arch. You can imagine my excitement!!

We hiked the garden trail...


Landscape Arch is the longest Arch in Arches National Park, measuring 306 feet from base to base. Doesn't it look amazing!?!


The beautiful snow capped mountains...


Some of the red rock along the trail...


The trail started out so nice...there were distinct nice trails...and then we decided to venture further...what a mistake!! Actually, it was really pretty, just crazy climbing up the sand covered rock piles...


Just outside of Devil's Arch...




By the time we finished this hike, our day was almost over...and I was exhausted!! Next time, I will plan better and have a couple of days to enjoy the hikes and arches. We went out to Manuel's, which my home teacher recommended...so good!!

Moments with the Bares ...

Earlier in February I had a Harry Potter night with Jared and made Valentine cookies. I had so much fun with him!! It's amazing how smart he is and remembers all of the details in the books that he has read. I am so proud of him. I wish that I would have gotten pictures pictures with him, but it didn't occur to me. Oh well...

Then a few weeks later, I invited the girls over for a tea party. We had some apple juice, heart shaped sandwiches, carrots, grapes, and then cupcakes. Then we watched The Lady and the Tramp...

Jenna...


Aimee and Alyssa...


Jenna and me...


Aimee, Alyssa, and me...


Then we went to Jared's basketball game. It has been fun to watch him throughout the years and see how much he has learned. He is quite the player...



Jared's dad, Jeff, was his coach. What a lucky kid to have his father so involved in his life. The Bares are such great examples!!