[Insert witty title here]

What a month it’s been so far and we’re only seven days in! And to think that it’s just getting started… I still have to look forward (not in a positive way of course, I mean looking towards the future) to not seeing enough of Russ due to work and my uncle’s surgery at the end of the month. Well the first week of October at work was berserk since it was the end of the quarter and that of course sent my department running around attempting to get contracts countersigned, routed to our Accounting department and added to the Sales Managers’ commissions. Thankfully, everyone has settled down a bit so the atmosphere isn’t so high strung.

Saturday was my mom’s birthday so after watching the morning session of conference we went to Euphoria to get our hair done, did a little shopping then went to dinner. We missed the afternoon session of conference though so we’ll have to watch it online now. Russ had a long awful day at work so after I had dinner with my mom, he and I went to see Eagle Eye though Russ kept dozing in and out of it since he was so tired. But it's an awesome movie and I suggest you go see it too if you're a fan of movies the Bourne series. After the movie we ate frozen yogurt (that stuff will bring peace to the earth) before he took me home. I was so grateful for the relaxing day I got to spend with my mom, we hardly get to see each other these days since our schedules are nuts and that’s terrible considering we live together…


Sunday my mom and I watched the morning session of conference on TV, then went to Russ’ parents’ house to watch the afternoon session and ate delicious dinner where we were joined by Grandma and Grandpa Peterson and Uncle Alton and his family. When it was time for my mom and I to leave, I of course didn’t want to so I dragged out the inevitable for as long as possible. But of course the time did come for us to head home, and it felt awkward to leave Russ without saying a formal goodbye (formal for the two of us being a hug and kiss of course) but it would’ve been even more awkward to do that in front of our families since we’re not too big on P.D.A. So the most we could get away with without feeling embarrassed was an intense eye lock and a mouthed “I love you” at the door, and even though we were trying to be unobtrusive about it later on Russ told me that his mom said she likes that we say “I love you” to each other. Apparently we weren’t stealthy enough because she had caught me mouthing my reply to Russ ha ha!


Yesterday I had the privilege of attending Family Home Evening with his family for the first time, we watched part of the morning session of Saturday conference, while Niels harassed Rosy by bringing the dogs’ food bowl out into the living room so they could eat from it. Everything was fine until Niels brought Monkey out and pretended that it was eating Rose’s food which of course irritated her and got her in an uproar. It was funny so I’m not going to pretend that it wasn’t, I just feel bad for laughing since this all happened during the time that we should’ve been reverent and paying attention. After FHE Russ and I went to the park near my house and chased little bunnies, tried to catch crickets, had a race before playing on the playground and competed in throwing litter into the trash can from a distance (the stupid wind interfered with my shots). Russ is so patient with me and never condescending when I’m feeling silly, but instead he always humors me and joins in most of the time and I love him even more for it. Because it’s the little things like that, that makes me feel appreciative of him the most. I’m so grateful to have Russ in my life, he is truly an answer to my prayers and a fulfillment of Heavenly Father’s promised blessing to me. I don’t believe in “soul mates” or that there is only one person specifically created for each of us, but if I’m wrong and this is actually true then Russ is definitely the one created for me and here’s why.

Three years ago (before I even knew Niels’ had an older brother named Russ) I wrote a list of qualities that made up my ever evasive Mr. Perfect, not really believing I’d actually find him someday. I thought I found him before but I was wrong when I fell for Justin. However, I corrected this slip-up and broke up with him after realizing my mistake before it was too late. Anyway, without further ado here is that list (please note that the qualities I no longer consider mandatory I've placed an "X" in front of but have included to show the list in its original format).

- Physically -
Tall
Striking eyes
x Dark haired
Gorgeous smile
X Smooth voice
x Slightly tanned
Somewhat athletic body
X Looks great in whatever he's wearing
X Preferably stylish, but not necessarily "metro-sexual"

- Personality -
Chivalrous
Affectionate
Respects me
Loves nature
Loves animals
Communicative
Active in church
Non-judgmental
Is socially graceful
Kind of dorky like me
x Knows how to dance
Has an easy smile/laugh
LOVES music in every way
Is secure with our relationship
Righteously holds the priesthood
Must have similar sense of humor
Is not afraid to put me back in line
Kind to everyone without being a pushover
Respects my need for "me time" and "we time"
Can keep up with me and my family in every way
May not necessarily agree with my beliefs, but respects them anyway
Will let me treat him "special" whenever I want, without complaining about how I'm erasing his masculinity
Knows when I think silliness is inappropriate, and when I need to be cheered (sounds complicated I know, but it's possible)



Anyone who knows Russ knows he fits this criterion VERY well, but how it took me so long to realize it I’ll never know.

I can’t imagine living my life with anyone else, to imagine such a thing feels blasphemous and unrealistic. I think a rainbow colored unicorn breaking into my closet to try on my clothes is more likely to happen than for us to be separated because we no longer love one another.