Once Upon A Time....

Journal Excerpts

August 2, 1998

"... David Kipp and I met through Carl Pantle. Last weekend 7 of us went up to Bear Lake for the Pioneer Day holiday...Wow! It was an awesome kiss... I mean he's totally gorgeous...."

August 6, 1998

"... David...he is so cool, I really like him even if he is a freshman and I'm a sophomore, and even if I am 6 months older than him...."

August 12, 1998

"... And then he said there was something he had been wanting to tell me. He said he was crazy about me."

August 17, 1998

"... I'm dating David and I know it's a fling, we probably won't last... But he's proven me wrong so far... In a lot of ways I hope he does prove me wrong... I've never enjoyed kissing someone so much... I have so much fun with him. I love being around him. We have the same sense of humor. Plus with David I don't have to worry about the big word-MARRIAGE! He still has to go on his mission!"

January 15, 2002

"I've gone out with David Kipp now twice. We have emailed and called a few times since he's been home from his mission. It was so nice to see him. We just picked up from where we left off. It felt so comfortable to be around him. He's so cute. We've both grown up a lot since we last dated.... I felt like we clicked. Plus I love that we just talk and talk and see so may things eye to eye. I feel like we have so many of the same likes and goals. I feel like I'm falling for him all over again, but at the same time in such a new way."

February 19, 2002

"Things are going so good with David. We are dating pretty seriously... We went for this drive through a ski resort and stopped at this look out point. We reclined our seats back and talked about everything. And then it just hit me as I was looking into his eyes. I knew that I had fallen in love with him. I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach that I have waited my whole life for. I knew that I loved him so much that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I realized that he's the man I want to fall asleep and wake up with for all eternity. I just knew that he's the man I want to marry."

And they lived happily ever after...

The 10 Minute Rule

When times get tough, which they inevitably do for all of us at some point, I have a little rule I like to apply. When going through hardships you get 10 minutes a day to: worry, cry, obsess, fear, rehash problems, be angry, state the obvious, drink an extra large Diet Coke....WHATEVER you need to do to expel some anxiety and/or sadness. You can do this at any point during your day, when you have time alone for yourself. Set a timer if you must. But 10 minutes is ALL you get. After your time is up that's it. You MUST pick yourself up and pull it together and get things done. Your problems can't define you unless you let them. Trials are just a part of your journey in this life. So hold on and enjoy....we don't get a "do over" for today.