Crater Lake

This past Friday, Nic and I headed to Crater Lake. We have been wanting to go all this Summer and finally decided to go. It was a beautiful day to go - very clear which made for spectacular pictures. The water is so blue there - I haven't been there probably since I was like 5...maybe. We went and walked around - he bought a "camping in Oregon" book and we decided to take on the tradition that my sibs do - every place that they vacation to, they buy a magnet. Nic and I bought our first magnet. Yay. We ate lunch at the lodge and that concluded our trip to Crater Lake. There really isn't much to do there except walk around. They do have a boat ride you can take out to the island and you can even swim. BRR!!! There is a drive you can take that takes you along the whole outter edge of Crater Lake - we obviously did not do this. It was a great trip though.

What a dang good lookin' guy :) Weirdy snack shacks...typical Love A "typical Alli" pose Snugglin' up Beautiful Love this picture

Phair (or almost a Phair) Book of Mormon Challenge

I hope you all are continuing to think about the answer to our movie quote (read the previous post)...Nic and I have made a goal to finish the Book of Mormon by the time we get married. It's going to take a lot of reading (approximately 16 - 17 chapters a week), but we are going to do it. President Hinckley challenged members of the church worldwide in August 2005 to read this book by the end of the year, and now Nic and I have taken this challenge upon ourselves. I will admit that sometimes I do fall asleep - you can't tell me that you haven't done that as well. It's not that I don't love this book, but it is hard to read sometimes. Here's the promise President Hinckley gave: "Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God." Nic and I plan on finishing the Book of Mormon the week before we get married. President Hinckley made this promise 3 years ago, so why can't we still be promised these same blessings as Nic and I prepare to be married? Wish us luck...

Love Quotes

So Alli and I have decided to quiz all of you that are faithful readers of our lovely little blog. About what? Your movie knowledge of course. After all it is what makes up half of the Stewart family vocabulary. :-) Love it! Here is how it will work. Alli and I will take turns adding Romantic/Love quotes from some of our favorite movies and it will be your job to post a comment as your answer. No cheating now, you can't go searching for it on the Internet either. So I expect to be seeing a lot of your comments starting with "What is..." I will take the first crack at this. Good luck! "There's an Italian painter named Carlotti, and he defined beauty...He said it was the summation of all the parts working together in such a way that nothing needed to be added, taken away or altered. That's you,...you are beautiful." What is................ Ok, it has been guessed correctly by Karen. Although I bet you guys all tried to cheat. Hehe, I forgive cause I would have as well. The answer was "Next - Nicolas Cage". Now it is Alli's turn.

It's officially official

Done and done. Nic and I's sealing time is set up - we are now in the books. The morning of December 27 at 8:45 is when Nic and I will be sealed for time and all eternity in the beautiful temple above: Medford Oregon Temple. I just thought I would let you all know that it's officially official...

stress

As far as the engaged couple goes...we are still alive and happy as always. We love being engaged but would love it even more if we were married. This past week we have learned some lessons about each other and about 'us' as a couple. Life unfortunately brings you stress and I know that I need Nic when I'm stressed. I will admit that I do sometimes use him as an outlet, but he is always there by my side being supportive. I hope I can speak for Nic when I say that he needs me as well when he's stressed. It was kind of a crazy, busy work week for him - there was nothing I could do to alleviate his stress but keep trying to be supportive. Can I just say that it will be so much better when we are married? When I'm stressed, I take comfort in knowing that I will be able to come home to a loving husband. I hope he takes comfort in knowing that he will be able to come home to a freshly cooked delicious meal, clean home, and his wonderful wife...ok so that might not always happen, but he can come home to a supportive wife trying to do those things. Despite stress coming our way, it only helped us grow closer together and deepen our relationship. Long distance is no walk in the park, but there is something to be said of taking that walk together.