Prayers

There are 17 short days until I marry the man of my dreams. Literally. 

I remember one particularly hard day while I was going to Dixie in St. George I drove to the temple and sat in my car. I started praying and everything just started to pour out of me. I said out loud my deepest desires. I talked about wanting to be a wife and a mother. Not just a wife and a mother though, a righteous and awesome wife and mother. I talked about the talents that I wanted to develop, the kind of love that I wanted to experience in my marriage relationship, and my deep desire to just do what is right. I remember pausing for a while to catch my breath. My thoughts turned to Mckay. At this time he had been out on his mission for less than a year. Feeling a little sheepish, I told Heavenly Father that if it was at all possible, I wanted all of these things with Mckay. I wanted Mckay to be the one that I devoted all my time and energy to and to live out the gospel plan with. I knew at that time it was extremely silly of me. Especially since I knew better than most that waiting and loving a missionary is not the healthiest or the best idea, but it was truly what I wanted so I told Heavenly Father. 

I don't write this to be mushy, but to simply be a witness that God hears and answers prayers and he always leads you to where you need to be. Even when you make mistakes and when you don't have any clue what you are doing. 

I watched my sisters who are 15, 13, and 6 years older than me go through this time of life and navigate their way pretty well. Their lives have been guides to me as I have tried to find my own way. Even with their help I have felt lost much of the time and made many mistakes. Even up to this point in my life I feel there is no explanation of how I got here, but that God led me here. 

With all these changes happening in my life so soon I cling to this truth. God hears and answers prayers and always leads you to where you need to be. 

Please Come Sooner

50 Days

You know, I thought that I was excited for Mckay to come home from his mission. I thought that that countdown would last forever and that he would never really come home. 

Okay, let's get real. Waiting to marry Mckay for eternity is 10x's everything I felt while he was on his mission. December 21st cannot come soon enough. I can't believe that in 50 days the hope that I have had for so long to marry Mckay is actually going to be fulfilled. 

He is so good. I can't help throughout the day expressing gratitude to my Heavenly Father for sending this diligent, compassionate, and loving man into my life 4 years ago. He won my heart with his clever determination when I was 18. Little did I know then that he would become my husband and I would actually get to adventure with him my whole life and into eternity. 

I am so excited!!!

We Have a God

I feel so overwhelmed with gratitude.

We have a God. He is our Father. He is perfect in every way. His love for us is truly immeasurable to our finite human minds. He sees us and is mindful of our desires, trials, weaknesses and pains. 

He provided a Savior for us. 

Because of this Savior I can do hard things. 

Elder Richard G. Scott said, "True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ." 

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

I pray for strength for all of us in our own, personal, individual struggles. 

Endure. It is worth it. 

Golden Days

Life is so crazy right now! There are so many things that I need to do and even more things that I want to do. The weeks are going by so fast and the weekends are going by even faster! I look forward to the weekends when I can finally see Mckay and spend time with him. Being in school has been so amazing and so difficult. My classes this semester are...perfect. I don't know how else to explain them. My major is the best. I am so thankful for my professors and my classmates. They are all amazing examples to me and I learn so much from them. Trying to go to school and be engaged is quite possibly the hardest and most exhausting thing I have ever done, but it has such sweet moments. Mckay is a gem for dealing with all my stress and craziness. 

This weekend was so much fun. I have decided that every time Mckay comes down here I am going to have dinner waiting for him. This gives me a chance to practice cooking and a chance to prove to Mckay that he won't starve once we get married. Two weekends ago I made Bajio chicken and we had salads. This weekend I made fried chicken and mashed potatoes. I am awful at taking pictures or I would post pictures of the meals. I love having him walk in the door and feeding his empty stomach. Thankfully he has liked both meals. 

We made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, went on a Halloween boat ride at Clas Ropes Course, went to the temple, went rock climbing with a bunch of friends, went to dinner, had dessert with my some of my girlfriends, and carved pumpkins. Mckay is pretty much a part of my ward. We are pretty sure he has attended my ward more than his own ward in Logan. I am trying to be patient as I wait for him to transfer down to BYU so we can actually live in the same place. 

Saturday was the perfect day to be outside. I am so thankful we were able to go rock climbing. It was so much fun. I got to meet Mckay's childhood friend Cody too. As we were finishing up climbing the sun started to set and it was the most amazing color. That golden orange/yellow is my favorite color. This is also my most favorite part of the day. The sun turns everything into gold. 

Every weekend Mckay and I become more excited to be married. I have felt fortunate that we both receive several confirmations that this is the right thing to do throughout the week and weekend. We feel the support of our Heavenly Father and our families. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life and eternity adventuring with Mckay.

54 Days!

Lindsey Loving

My very own Lindsey shirt!

Playing Headbandz with my niece and nephew. 

Beautiful Erin. Oh how we love her!

I am so blessed.

Papa Lindsey. The big tease. I swear he'll kill me with embarrassment!

Last Friday afternoon Mckay and I decided last minute to surprise Mckay's family and go down to St. George. We had such a great time cheering on his sisters Haley and Alise, and my brother-in-law Mark running the St. George Marathon. General Conference was fantastic and being with family was the best. We played games and talked. Mckay and I even got the chance to reminisce and go back to a fountain where his cleverness stole my heart. We started going through Mckay's baby pictures for our wedding video and we were both laughing uncontrollably at the crazy kid Mckay was. We also got to see Erin before she left for New York which was such a treat. Mckay's nieces and nephews were too cute! The twins Axel and Gage are just so precious. It was so fun to hold babies all weekend.

Since I have met the Lindsey's I have admired each of them and have loved spending time with them. There were several times this weekend when I felt overwhelmed by the blessings of family and the gospel. The Lindsey's are a fantastic family who lives the gospel and shares joy with all of those around them. I love them so much and I cannot wait to be a part of their family!

On the way back to Provo Mckay and I made a countdown on his phone for our wedding. 74 days left!!! I am so excited and cannot wait to officially be a Lindsey and marry the boy who's had my heart since our Senior year of high school.

Is This Real?

I'm Engaged!

On Saturday, September 28, 2013 my best friend asked me to marry him for eternity!

The Story:

I went up to Logan last weekend to spend time with Mckay. On Saturday we packed a picnic and headed to Green Canyon. It was a beautiful day so we wanted to enjoy the fleeting good weather. We picked a cute little hike to do and started on our way. We were taking pictures of the changing leaves and amazing fall colors. We even captured some of us too. We came to the end of our hike and turned around. The sun was shining on us and I had such a peaceful feeling. We stopped and gave each other a hug. Mckay asked me if I could have one wish what it would be. I told him that it would be to marry him today! He laughed, dropped to his knee, and asked me to marry him!

It was perfect.

There were so many beautiful tender mercies through the details of the day.

So on December 21, 2013 I will be sealed to Mckay and become forever more 

Joan Marie Lindsey!

Small Adventures

Last weekend Mckay and I had a fun little adventure in Logan.

After last minute deciding that I would go up to visit him we spent the weekend talking and getting to know one another some more.

I really love this kid.

His heart is full of faith, charity, compassion, fun, work, dedication, and virtue.

I am one Extremely lucky girl to have the attention of such an amazing boy.

I love the feeling of pure joy.

It is truly a gift from God.

Logan Canyon - Second Dam Picnic Area

Happy, Happy, Happy

Mckay came to Provo last weekend! Friday night my brother, his friend, Mckay, and I went camping at Rock Canyon and in the morning we climbed in Rock Canyon. It was a beautiful morning to go climbing. Monday we hiked Bridal Veil Falls and started talking to this guy. He offered to help us repel off the higher falls so of course Mckay did it. The weekend was filled with great adventures that it was so hard when I had to drop him off back in Logan.

Mckay and I were actually able to spend TIME together and I was so happy. He is an incredible person. I am so happy that he is home. It is stinky that we are attending different universities, but I know that God has his hand in my life. Lately I have felt so much gratitude for the Lord's attentiveness to the many details of my life. He is just right there watching over me.

School has started and I couldn't be more excited about being back! I love BYU and I love my major. My heart is exploding with joy and gratitude. 

I will leave you with a quote that one of my professors gave us. 

"If we live in such a way that the considerations of eternity press upon us, we will make better decisions." - Pres. Kimball

I'm Back!

I love reunions. Seeing people that you haven't seen in a long time is the best feeling. Today I went into work and was able to see my friends and the people that I love. Hugs, which are pretty much the best things in the world, were exchanged and I just felt so happy. 

I imagine the reunion with our Savior and Father in Heaven will feel similar, but intensified by ten billion. No biggie.

Here's the rest of my Summer:

Brook's Lake

Hike to Jade Lake

Tee Pee night

Ride with Beautiful Kaila

Watching the Rodeo with Josie on Dennis

Last Ride With Josie After Jumping in the River

Kaila and I with our Count Down Calendar

One last shot of the Pinnacles on my way Home

I will miss this beautiful place. What a crazy, unexpected, hard, and incredible adventure. I am so thankful for the lessons I have learned, the confidence I have gained, and the love I have developed through this experience. 

Now I am ready to start my last year of school. I can't wait for all the new people and new adventures that lie ahead of me!

Snap Shot

Today I spent the afternoon sitting on the bank of the Wind River being uplifted by a new friend. When we started our hike back to the ranch I had the opportunity to stop and appreciate the majestic beauty of this country. It was a moment that I was so thankful for my eyes and health. 

The Lord has experiences for us that we just sometimes don't understand. He places us in specific places for specific reasons. It is all a part of his work. He pushes us, allows for mistakes, and loves us through it all. Sometimes I wonder when these specific experiences will come in handy. 

God lives and He loves us so much. I am so thankful for that anchor. 

Tomorrow, I Love Ya!

I am literally giggling with excitement!!!!

Tomorrow is the day!!!

Mckay comes home tomorrow! 

Novel Love

If only pictures could capture the breath taking views I have been seeing for the past week. Nothing beats seeing beauty with the human eye though (This is the view from my cabin window).

Today marks the end of my first week here at Triangle C Ranch in Wyoming. Boy, was I in a bit of a shock arriving here. 

This is my new home for the next couple of months. A 100 year old cabin made by Scandinavian tie hack men. 

These are my super cool cat ranch friends/fellow employees minus a couple of them. 

 Here is the Kids Cabin (Beaver Cabin) that I will be spending every waking second in. 

 

Here are the AMAZING Grand Teton Mountains that have most definitely captured my heart.

 And some more of the gorgeous mountains around here. 

I have fallen in love with the Wind River too! Just everything about this place. Watching the birds soar, the sun turn the clouds purple behind majestic rocky mountain cliffs, the wind blow through the sagebrush and tall grass, and the simple, work-filled lifestyle. 

Oh and this is happy, happy, happy me ready for some new adventures this summer! 

God has a funny way of putting us right where we need to be. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer break! 

Go, Live Your Dream

We are now down to counting weeks. Mckay has about 9 or 10 weeks left. I am not entirely sure because he hasn't said what his release date is yet. 

How has two years gone by so fast? I feel like it was yesterday that I got my first letter from him. Shoot, I feel like it was yesterday that we were just little guys pretending not to date in high school!

When Mckay left I was pretty much a huge wreck. The past two years have been...crazy, amazing, hard, etc. Honestly, to my surprise, my love for Mckay has stayed constant. Through my dating experiences my respect and admiration for Mckay has only grown. I really didn't expect that, but here I am two years later excitedly waiting for his return. 

A couple of posts ago I said that Mckay emailed me. In his email he asked me what my plans were and what I thought about us trying to date when he got home. You can imagine first of all my surprise and then my happiness! It took me a longer period of time than I would actually confess to calm down from reading that email. Since then my anxiety has climbed and there is always a constant temptation to give in to my fears, but with the help of my patient and understanding brother and my loving and encouraging mother I have been able to stay calm. It most definitely helps that my job right now is so fantastic and also that my job in Wyoming starts in one month! 

For the whole month of March there was a quote on a calendar in the payroll office in the Brewster Building. Every time I dropped off our shops time cards I would read it and just felt the truth of it. It said, "Courage is putting your dreams above your fears." It truly takes courage to follow and pursue our dreams. What I am learning is that with every dream that I have there will always be fear to accompany it. Faith in Jesus Christ and courage in his grace and power then become the solid foundation that my dreams can build on. 

So go...live your dream. :)