hello again

hello blog world!

it's been a very long time. I've been thinking about this blog lately - I think it's because it pops up on my "timehop" often. I thought I'd come back and say hello.

life with cameron is lovely. we have a happy house and have been blessed far beyond what we deserve.

I'll post pictures someday.

Sine I last posts we've both gained weight (me more than him), work full time, I've graduated college, he's transferred to the U to finish. We now have a dog & a cat and wonderful callings.

Life truly is so great. I'm excited to get back to blogging now that I have more time without school. here's a few pictures of our life as of late.

hanging out at pony express days together 6/2015

visiting the Calgary LDS temple 5/2015

graduation from the U of U - BS Poly Sci 5/2015

Anniversary cruise (Roatan) 4/2015

Anniversary Cruise 4/2015

Our dog Philly (named for the city cameron served his mission)

Remember? (this is a little scattered)

Remember how my missionary, now fiance, was gone for two years?
I can't even remember what that was like anymore.
It seems so natural for him to be home that I've almost forgotten he was ever even gone (almost).
I am so grateful that we were able to pick up right where we left off.
I am so blessed to be engaged to this amazing man who left me for two years.
I am so proud of all that he is and all he does to provide for our little family.
I am so happy. Words can not express the happiness surrounding our life together.
How is it possible for one person to be so happy and so lucky?
102 days until I am sealed my handsome man for all eternity. I can not wait.

I Owe You a Story

Blogging was so much easier when Cameron was gone. Maybe that's because I had nothing to do, so I had time to blog. The sad thing is, now my life really is blog-worthy and I have no time. What a cruel fate.

Here is a blog worthy story, and since Cameron is at work and it's saturday, I actually have time to blog. 

We got engaged last week. Just before my birthday. He was 3 days shy of being home two months. He absolutely surprised me. I went into work on Thursday morning, tired and grumpy, to find a big box on my desk. It had a bow and said "open me now." 

With it being so close to my birthday, I figured it was a birthday present from my friend Kristin and began to open it. Inside the box was another box, and another, and another. Finally I got to the bottom, there was a wrapped present. I unwrapped the present to find a little white picture book. 

The book was full of pictures of us from high school up until now...It was adorable. 

On the very last page was a picture of the temple and Cameron's proposal.

After I finished reading I figured out what was going on and turned back to the boxes to find a ring, then cameron came walking in and got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

I said yes. 

I was completely in shock and shaking...He completely surprised me. I was SO sure we were getting engaged on my birthday - or christmas. Not at 8 o'clock on a Thursday morning at work. He did it, he surprised me and I am so impressed. My co-workers ran in and hugged me, then my boss told me to leave. Cameron and I went back to his house to have breakfast. It was such a sweet morning and such a great surprise. That night he took me to dinner at Bucca di Pepo (that's spelled so wrong - but you get the point) and we celebrated our first night as an engaged couple. 

It's still weird to call him my fiance, but I like it. We set the temple date back before we went to Hawaii but after we were ring-official Cameron called and requested my temple information.

We are so so so very excited. 

May 1, 2013 at the Salt Lake Temple.

I could not be happier.

Sunday Happiness

My sweet boy is asleep next to me. He is the most gentle sleeper. I love Sunday nap time.

A Detail of Someone You Love

A few weeks ago I was assigned in my photography class to take a picture of a detail of someone I love.

That smile. Absolute perfection. 

The Time We Went to Maui

Over Thanksgiving my family was blessed with the opportunity to go to Maui with our extended family. And...this year I was lucky enough to have my sweet boy with me. 

I am so grateful to Kim & Keith and for all their love. It was the best week ever.

We spent the week running around the beach, eating way too much food, and spending much needed time with my amazing family. 

I am so grateful to have Cameron back and to have had the opportunity to vacation with him. 

He passed every test with flying colors (as if there was any doubt).

He even played soccer with the Kuballs - and held his own. Yes, I can now marry him. 

That was the final test.

Just before Thanksgiving dinner

Playing a game of pool with the most handsome man I know

Just a peak at what I got to enjoy all week ;)

The Perks

There are a lot of perks to having Cameron home.

Last night, for example, he held my hand in target.

We wandered over to the home section and started dreaming about our one day apartment. 

Then I stopped to get gas for my car. He pumped, cleaned my windows, and put air in my tires.

We went back to his house and he made us dinner. Mac & cheese, could it get better?

Then we had Family Home Evening. Just the two of us. Yes...we are that couple. It was fantastic. 

We finished the night off cuddling. I did homework and he rubbed my back.

We are so happy. 

Post mission life is fantastic. 

An Update

I've been told I need to blog about "it" so everyone can know what's going on. I can't speak for cameron, but I'm 99% sure he feels the same way.

Here are my thoughts about my RM, Cameron.

I am absolutely obsessed with him.

His voice. his smile. his laugh. his arms. his attitude. his goals. his taste. his smell. and so much more.

His mission stories are absolutely amazing. 

In the past week he has taught me so much about the gospel and  I am so grateful to have him home. 

Sunday was his homecoming talk. I'd never been to a homecoming before. I'm glad my first was his. His did a fantastic job. I was thoroughly impressed (but not surprised). I was so grateful to have such wonderful people attend to support him, including some of my favorite people in the world. 

Thank you Val, Susan & Mark, Kristin & Gabe, and Diane & Paul, for coming to support him. 

It meant the world to me. 

We spent all of last week attached at the hip. This week is a bit different. It's the last week before the election AND I'm back at school. I don't like this whole "being apart thing." You'd think after two years, a day or so would be cake. Ya, not so much. 

Cameron and I had some very serious conversations last week. Not bad conversions in any way or shape...just serious. We have a plan and are really going to do this. Come this spring, we'll be making a trip to the SLC temple. 

Stay tuned for some exciting things to come.

Sometimes we will be having a conversation about "us" and Cameron will start crying. Not because he is sad, but because he is so happy. This is a new trait and I love it. He is so sweet and so caring. 

On the way home on friday I literally thought to myself, "It's friday and I still haven't written Cameron." Then I laughed and remembered I was just at his house. 

In case you were worried, he's not weird at all. He is perfectly himself, with a few bonuses. We've had couples prayers and pray before meals. We have temple date nights and he shows me cool things in the scriptures. But there is no weirdness at all. We had our (second) first kiss less than a half hour after he was released. He's totally himself with some amazing additions. 

I am completely proud to call him mine and so happy to have him home. He served a honorable full-time mission and came back an even more amazing man than he left (I didn't even think that was possible). He brings out the best in me and we always have a great time together. 

I am so grateful he asked me to wait and I am so very happy I did. He was so worth the wait. It was hard and a lot of times I wanted to move on and not be "waiting for a missionary" anymore. But after the last week, knowing what I know now I would do it 10 times over. Two years is nothing when it means I get to spend eternity with this man. He will be the best husband and father, and his mission has had a lot to do with that. I love when he says "on my mission." 

I have friends that are waiting for missionaries...my advice? Don't give up. No matter what. Those boys you loved enough to agree to wait for are even better men when the come home. Support them and love them and keep going. Two years flies, I promise.

The last thing I need to say is thank you. Thank you for all the support and love you have given me these past two years. Thank you for putting up with my whiney-ness and my endless missionary stories. I am so grateful for the people in my life and their support. So truly, thank you.

These past two years have been amazing...and I have no doubt the next step in my life and our relationship will be even better. 

In Case You Were Wondering... A Run Down of Last Week

Cameron came home one week ago today.

I woke up at 5:45 the morning he came home and was a mess from that moment on. 

I did my hair, watched tv, went to walmart, cleaned my car, did my makeup, did my hair, got my nails done, watched his flight on delta.com, put ribbons in the yard, and STILL had to wait an hour at the airport. 

I held tightly to my posters (s/o to Kristin) until he made his way down the escalator. 

There he was. Real as can be. 

He hugged his mom for close to five minutes. I stood there ready to puke. 

Then it was my turn. Just as he was about to put his arms around me his punk-little brother Chris tackled him. I died. It was absolutely hilarious. They hugged it out THEN it really was my turn. He held me sweetly. All I could manage to say was "you're so real." 

He smelled the same. He laughed the same. He smiled the same.

The rest of the airport scene is a bit of a blur. 

We got his luggage, took lots of pictures, and made our way to lunch. 

Lunch was awkward. There was too many people. I was too nervous to eat and too nervous to talk. I sat there feeling sick. Going back to his house was the same. He wasn't released so we still couldn't be alone. I sat and listened to him tell stories trying not to jump him for a smooch. 

He met with the stake president at 6. I sat with his family in the SP's living room and waited patiently. 15 or 20 minutes later the deed was done. Cameron was honorably released. We all shook hands then walked outside. Cameron and I decided to go for a drive. He opened my door and took off his missionary tag. 

He grabbed my hand and held tightly as I drove us around WJ.

We talked and talked. We somehow ended up at the JR temple then drove to his house.

We spent another half hour or so sitting in my car, in the dark, in front of his house talking.

"Should we go in?" I asked.

"Ya...I guess." 

"Do you want to kiss?"

"Very much."

Then he sweetly grabbed my face and gave me a kiss. A second First Kiss. 

A perfectly awkward first kiss. And then another. and another. 

Then we went inside and spent the rest of the night in each other's arms talking and kissing. 

The next day we took a trip to Tibble Fork lake in AF canyon. It had snowed the night before and was gorgeous. Cameron had a hard time breathing with the altitude, my poor PA boy. But other than that, it was perfect. We talked and talked and talked. I even managed to sneak in a couple pictures. Then we drove the alpine loop down the canyon and headed home. 

We had spaghetti for lunch then got dressed and went to the temple. 

We held hands and pretended we were a married couple. 

It probably was believable until we went down to the font :)

Sim in the temple in white was perfect. He confirmed me then baptized me. He spoke with the temple workers about his mission and beamed when I finally came out of the ladies dressing room. 

We held hands out of the temple and he opened my door. I convinced him to go to menchies and he fell in love. He loved his yogurt.

We'll be going to mechies again here soon. 

We drove back to cameron's home and mitch and jordan came over. They brought good laughs. I loved seeing Cam smile and joke like old times. 

They left, and we spent the rest of the night together.

That Thursday Cameron and Chris had a doctor's apt. and I drove and just hung out. 

Cameron and I also went to (early) vote. I love that man. He knows his stuff. I love it. 

Friday I returned to work and had cameron with drawls all day. As soon as I clocked out I raced to his house, heart pounding, excited to see him. He got a phone and we went to dinner at the cheesecake factory (my favorite). Our 'first' date. We head hands and shared noodles and oreo cheesecake. 

We make a good pair. We laughed and talked. I took pictures of him and he teased me. 

Saturday we had dinner with my parents. My mom made a fantastic dinner. Cameron was nervous, but after a few minutes he calmed down. He told mission stories (his stalker is my personal favorite) and my parents teased each other. We talked about our coming-soon maui trip (17 days!) It was so fun to spend time with my parents and my boyfriend. We have so much fun together. 

The rest of the night cameron wrote his homecoming talk and I watched.

It was blissfully perfect. 

The Dilemma

My "check tire pressure" light came on in my car this week. 

The dilemma? Do I go add air to them, or wait two weeks for my manly boyfriend to do it?

I choose the latter.

Countdown of Things to Come

I can not tell you how happy I am that it is fall...Here is a little countdown of good things coming to me this season.

26 days: SOJO half marathon. I can't wait until I can sleep in on Saturday's and not have to run ten miles. How will I ever train for a full marathon?
29 days: missionary comes home
30 days: first date with cameron. We are taking a road trip up American Fork Canyon and having a picnic at the top. It will be late October and absolutely goregous (and probably freezing). We are going to talk and cuddle all day.
37 days: Halloween. Cameron, Dad, and I will be passing out candy to trick-or-treaters and eating pizza. Sounds like a perfect night.
43 days: election day. All the craziness of my internship will finally be over. And we will have a new president (or so I hope). I can't wait to spend the night watching the election returns all dressed up and fancy. I love the political life.
47 days: road trip to Cameron's grandma & grandpa's property (maybe. I think it'll be this weekend)
54 days: Mayday Parade concert.
55 days: MAUI. MAUI. MAUI. with cameron, my family, and my amazing extended family. It's going to be the best vacation ever.
59 days: Thanksgiving. With cameron. and all my lovely family.


I'll stop here. There's more good to come in december and hopefully an official proposal somewhere in here. This girl is excited about the future and happy it's finally here.

8 Weeks

The reason I am waiting 8 more weeks is selfish and vain.

 We are going to maui over thanksgiving. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to spend a vacation with my amazing family, extended family, and my lovely missionary. So why am I waiting 8 more weeks?

To see that man on the beach in a swimming suit. He is a hunk and I can't wait.

These Things Take Work

things have been rough. 

I won't go into detail...but I am so grateful I have my wonderful missionary to remind me even families sometimes get sick. 

13 Weeks

Our first date.

Cameron & I were rather unconventional from the beginning. I liked his best friend Mitch. I had a class with Mitch and would talk to him all class. I got to know him really well. He told me about his life and about the lives of his friends, including his best friend, Cameron. 

I knew of Cameron, after all he was friends and with my best friend and was even in her ward. 

One day, I asked Mitch about Cameron, and he asked me if Cam was cute.

That same night cameron texted me.

We texted and texted and texted (is that even the proper way to say that? who knows.)

But of course, since we only knew one another through text messages and stories courtesy of Mitchell, we never talked at school. We'd look at one another in the hall and look away.

Awkward, is the only way to describe it. 

Then he asked me on a date. A double date with Mitch. 

He picked me up and met my parents.
He opened my door and smelled divine.

We rode in his red jeep and talked like we were the best of friends. 

We went mini golfing and had ice cream.

I was nervous and he was so handsome.

I think it's fair to say that I had the hots for Cameron after he started texting me...but I really fell for him that night. Cameron was a perfect gentle man and made me feel so very special. 

He walked me to my door and it snowed. 

He gave me the best hug and left me thinking about him for the rest of the night until he finally
texted me again.

Perhaps it's not the most romantic of stories, but I love it. I love that we were set up and had so much in common from day one. He easily became my best friend and will forever be. Now here we are, just weeks until we can be together again and make new memories and I
could not be happier. 

14 Weeks

14 weeks...and, as of today, I officially have 100 days left.

100 people. Didn't I just post about how I only had 200 left? Ya, I did...but that was in April.

Time is seriously flying & I am so grateful.
In about a month I will be back at school and have just weeks until my Cameron is back. 

Needless to say, he is all I can think about at this point.

Here is this week's reason I am waiting 14 more weeks for this boy:

Cameron smells amazing. Since the night he picked me up for our first date in his jeep I have been obsessed with his smell. 

 His cologne and his natural scent mixed together are to die for. I promise.

I used to make him spray his cologne before we left anywhere.

The best? His car would fill up with his smell anytime we road together. It was heaven.

After I found out what his cologne was called I used to drag ashlee to Dillards just to get samples of his scent. Yes, creepy.

Before he left he went out and bought me my very only bottle of the stuff and I've been spraying it on my sweaters and scarves everyday since. I can't wait to bury my head in his chest again and be surrounded by his smell. 

It's truly funny how something so silly as a scent can bring back so many memories. But it's true. Cameron's scent brings back so many great memories and so many promises of things to come.
I love that boy.

15 Weeks

104 weeks is two years. two years is a full time mission. 

my elder has just 15 weeks left.  

to perhaps make these last weeks pass that much faster I am doing a countdown (surprise).

i have a million of these "countdowns," i.e. 107 days, 3 more links on the chain, 15 letters, ect.

whatever will make the time pass more quickly.

for this countdown, each sunday i will post a reason i am waiting 15 more weeks. 

a reason i fell in love, a reason i am in love, a reason for marriage, a memory, whatever. 

just a reason that my elder is worth this wait.

Reason number ONE i am waiting 15 more weeks for this boy:

he's a crier. 

the weekend before school started (senior year to be exact) we spent every moment together.

we both unspokenly knew that the onset of school meant the onset of big changes that would affect us for the next two years. basically, we knew that me starting school again meant that he would be
 leaving soon.

but that last night before school he spent the day at my house with my family. when it was time for him to leave i walked him out to his jeep. he embraced me and we both just cried. 

we cried because things were beginning to change.

the changes came quickly after that. one night, as we were packing up his room i looked at him and started crying. then i told him of my worst fear:

"what if i forget? what if i forget what it feels like to be with you? what if i forget why i'm doing this?"

he cried too. obviously we shared that fear. we spent the rest of the night crying in his room, together.

he's cried with me many a times. and although i don't enjoy his sadness, i enjoy the
comfort of sharing tears. he has never been afraid to cry with me or hold me as i cried. 

that is, perhaps, one of the things i miss most about him. i have been crying since the day he left, and have missed his comforting arms and whispers. although the main reason for my tears will be obsolete when he returns, it will be so sweet to know i can be comforted by him in my sadness. 

Um.......

First off, I just want you all to know that I love this boy more than anything, so saying this is with the truest love I can offer...

But seriously, when did my hubs get so smart? 

He just throws out scriptures and facts like it's no one's business.

I have always been attracted to smarty men - as if I didn't like him before.

So uh, it can be october anytime now. I wouldn't mind. 

I love that boy.

After All This Time? Always.

After all this time?

"Kayla, I know you are the girl for me. There is no other person I have ever felt this way about, none else that I want to be with forever and take to the temple than you. I want to be your husband and I want you to be my wife. To wake up everyday next to you. Waiting two years has been hard, but it has prepared me too. It has made me into a better man, so I can be the best husband and father I can for you. I love you sweetheart. I am absolutely crazy about you and our life together. Soon all we have waited and worked for will be here and I will never leave your side again.

Eternally yours, your cam, your missionary, Elder Cameron Trujillo."

Always.  

The Best Call Yet

Yesterday (mother's day) I had the amazing opportunity to talk to my cameron for almost two hours. I could hardly sleep Saturday night because I was so excited. Church was great, but dragged because all I wanted was for it to be 5 pm. I went home and had dinner with my family then had to wait one more hour until I could go to Cameron's house. I basically paced back and forth and peed more times than anyone should. I was a nervous wreck and completely excited all at the same time.

Before his call, I was able to catch up with his family and had a great time with them...THEN the phone rang. LeAnn answered and I listened intently to hear his voice. After she talked to him it was Christopher's turn. They talked about working out and other "man" things. Then cameron's step dad, Rob talked to him. I continued to wait patiently and gratefully. Just as it was my turn, Christopher decided he had one more thing to tell Cameron. I was dying!! Then...it was my turn.

I got on and said hello and he did too. Then I just laughed and laughed because his entire family was staring at me. Our conversation was perfect. We laughed and talked and talked. Then his family left me at the house to go to a family party and we really talked. We made plans, not just "some day we'll..." plans, but real plans. What we are going to do for thanksgiving and then Christmas. What we are going to do the day he comes home and that night. Honestly...what do you do after you haven't seen someone for two years? Kiss, obviously ;) but what else? We basically just decided to see what the night brings and just spend every second in each other's arms, but if anyone has a fantastic idea I'd love to hear. We also talked about getting a family phone plan and a cat.

I told him, after a year in college, I finally understand why he gave me a promise ring before he left. Partially to symbolize our promise to one another, but more so to "mark his territory" so to speak. He laughed and confirmed my enlightenment. He told me that the CTR ring I gave him the day he left (to mark my territory) is faded and worn out. We both agreed it was time for new rings ;)

I made fun of his poor grammar in his letters and he told me he wouldn't change a thing about me. And that sums up our relationship perfectly. He was so fun to talk to and made me laugh all night. I never wanted that phone call to end. Sadly, at about 7:30 we had to hang up. He told me he loved me and is going to take me to the temple. I told him I loved him to and am waiting for that day ever so patiently. We cried when we had to say our final goodbyes, but were comforted with the knowledge that the next time we talk, it'll be in person.

I am so in love with that man and know that I made the right decision in deciding to wait for him. He is my absolute best friend and my idol. He challenges me to be better and loves me through my faults. And I love him more than I could ever express on a silly blog post. It was the best phone call we've ever had and I am so grateful for the sacrifice his family makes to allow us to talk. We are so close to the end and so close to the beginning of our life together. This has been an amazing opportunity for the both of us and has challenged our love in the best way. I am so completely blessed.

And bloggers...I have a release date. OCTOBER 23, 2012. Let the final countdown begin.

Perfection

Our phone call was perfect. I'll elaborate tomorrow. I am so in love.