a new blog?

I'm thinking of starting a new blog for both Jeff and I, but I am having a hard time coming up with a name for it.... Jeff loves brewcrew, but that name is already taken. I could use jandmbrewcrew@blogspot.com but I don't know if that is too long or what not. If anyone has any fun ideas, post them in the comments because I am so not the creative type and I think a new blog would be fun! 

Thoughts

* The Temple was an amazing amazing experience. Definitely was one that I had no idea what to expect, but with all the symbolism and all the things that I just didn't quite understand, the spirit there was beyond measure. To feel my Heavenly Father and to be in the Celestial room with my parents and Jeff's family was so comforting and peaceful. I felt happy and knew in my heart that the gospel is real and that, to me, meant more than anything. My heart was pounding with Joy and I couldn't have had a better experience for a first time. 

* Jeff and I are getting married Thursday. I should be nervous. People tell me I should be. But, I am not nervous. I am anxious, excited, happy, twitterpated. Everything but nervous. I can hardly wait until I am sealed to Jeffrey Sonntag Brewer for time and all eternity. He means everything in the world to me. I am not scared. I am so excited to go to the Salt Lake Temple with him and to become one with him. Marriage means a lot to me and I know that there are bumps and bruises that come along with it, but I would be willing to go through anything to be with Jeff. He is the most significant blessing I have ever been given. I love you, Jeff, with all of my heart, I love you. 

8 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!

It is hard to believe that in just 8 days Jeff and I will be sealed to each other for Time and ALL Eternity :) Yeah, that for sure brings a smile to my face. 

I thought it would be fun to share a little story about Jeff and I before we sealed the deal. This may seem weird and unusual to others, but to me, it just really clarified how you just know some things and Jeff and I both just "knew".... Here it goes...

Jeff's aunt and uncle are in my home ward in Sandy, Ut. Steve and Karen had been telling Jeff for a few months that he should take me out. I had no idea that they were talking with him about me at the time and really I didn't even remember Jeff much at all. Over the fourth of July last year I had met Jeff and talked with him a few times. For some reason I felt really connected with him, but we had barely talked and I thought I was crazy for thinking that way. Well, Steve and Karen took me out on the Hobie Cat (I LOVE sailing) and we didn't have much wind, strange for Bear Lake! Because we didn't have a lot of wind we were able to kind of just hangout on the Hobie and talk a little bit. We talked about how they met and I remember Steve telling me how he was just so in love with Karen from the beginning and it was one of those things that he just knew. He told me "You just know when it is the right person, that you love them unconditionally, and you want to be with them for eternity." At that point, I thought to myself "I think that Jeff is that person for me." All of the sudden I rejected that thought and in my mind I was like "Are you kidding me, Melissa! You are so weird for thinking that. Don't ever think that again! You are such a creepster!!" But, I couldn't get that blonde boy out of my mind! He ended up asking me to go on a scoot ride with him and I think at that point I was head over heals for him. I remember wondering what the future held in store for us, but not really caring either because he was so fun to be around and all I ever wanted at that moment. I know it sounds crazy and weird that I thought that from the beginning, but for some reason I did, and now I am marrying this handsome man who I love so much. Jeff always told me that he was scared to date me because he knew that if he did, he would marry me. I am so glad that he took the plunge because he has made me happier than I have ever been in my life. Jeff is the sweetest most selfless person I have ever known and I feel so blessed that we will be sealed to each other in a week from tomorrow. 8 DAYS! 

I thought it would be fun to ask people if they could offer any advice to a couple about to tie the knot, what it would be? I would love any and all advice that you have! Thanks so much!

Lake Powell Pictures

These pictures are backward from the last days to the first days, but you get the drift. We had a blast!

Our sweet camp set up! 4 Boats and 1 Houseboat. 

Jeff was always helping set things up and take things down.

Jeff and I not ready to leave yet...

Our last night in Lake Powell. The sunset was beautiful!

Watching the volleyball tournament from our stadium seating :)

The boys made this court out of a ravine, tumbleweeds, bushes everywhere... It was amazing what they did with just a few shovels and some rakes. Thanks guys! It was the highlight of the trip!

I caught my very own Blue Gill. Jake made this sweet pond, which I didnt get a picture of, and we caught 6 fish to put in it! 

Jeff's Blue Gill. They are so little and pretty.

I also caught a carp, but they are gross. 

Trying to get a little wakeboarding in. The water was a little bit wakey so we didn't boat too much, but it was so fun when we did!

Jeff and I relaxing on Zann and Emily's boat. We have matching swimsuits :) how cute are we! haha!

Jeff and I played everyone in doubles and we never lost! It was so fun and we got to play for like 2 hours straight. haha! We are a great team together! 

Lake Powell was unbelieveable and I miss it already! I cant wait to go back (hopefully in the Fall) and play in the sun all day with my babe and friends.

Lake Powell!

Jeff and I just returned from a crazy fun trip to Lake Powell with Jeff's crew plus a few. We drove through the night to get to Lake Powell bright and early Thursday morning. It was fun to see all the cars getting together. We had about 50 people, on 1 houseboat and 4 boats. It was surprisingly not too crowded. The first day took us a little while to get out to our spot, but once we got there, boy oh boy do these guys know how to set up camp! We got everything situated, the house boat tied up, they made a volleyball court by clearing out all the bushes and weeds and rocks and filling in this ravine that was going through the camp, and just turned this mediocre spot into a beachfront property that was just incredibly fun. We did so many fun things from tubing on the Radar, swimming out to the rock island, making fun lunches and dinners, hiking through slot canyons, wakeboarding, airchair, fire pits, volleyball tournaments, everything you can think of to do in Lake Powell, we did it!

The water was a little rough because it was pretty windy, but we made our own fun! Jeff and I dominated the doubles volleyball tournament beating everyone who attempted to play us :) It was a lot of fun diving in the sand and getting teams together. We probably played for hours and hours because it was so much fun! Everyone got in on the games and we played a 4 on 4 tournament after the doubles with brackets and everything! It was so much fun! 

I am so glad that I was able to go to Lake Powell with Jeff and his friends. They all are a lot of fun and know how to make Lake Powell awesome for everyone. Now it is back to reality and getting things squared away for the wedding! That will be so fun too! This month is going to be hard to beat!!

ps...pictures to come later! 

June Day 1

Today is the first day of a great month! 

JUNE!!!

This month will be one that will always be special to me.

There are so many things that I love about June. In Utah, you really start to feel the warmth of the sun in June. I know that there are sneak peaks of the warmth in May, but June is when everyone starts getting excited about summer and the kids get out of school and people start migrating to the pools to cool off from the hot summer sun that begins to shine through. 

This year, June will be more than just sunshine and butterflies for me, it is our wedding month and a time of year that I will always find close to my heart. The month that I go through the Temple for the first time. The month that I take on a new name. The month that I move into a house with a boy! The month that we begin our new life together. 

This month, I hope that everyone can enjoy the sunshine and the warm, playful summer days to come!

I should be sleeping...

But I can't because there is only....

48 hours until the Brewer BBQ/Shower where we will be hanging out, playing games, and getting stoked about our marriage with our families!

6 days until my little broskie graduates from the place where eagles roam

1 week until we are in Lake Powell with friends, the sweet sun, and great water.

13 days til we party and celebrate with the Osterloh Fam

2 weeks until the day I enter the most sacred and holy place I know of and get to wear the g's and make sacred covenants and enlighten my mind beyond my capable understanding

15 days until a spectacular trip with my girls to the big bear lake as we celebrate my last days as a single lady!

16 days until I test my skills in the knowledge of English and pray for a passing score

18 days til we party with good friends and talk and laugh and celebrate great days to come

20 days until we are hanging out at the property having good food, fun company, and tons of butterflies in our tummies!

and...

on the 21st day I will no longer be an Osterloh, but MRS. BREWER! 

gosh, I can hardly wait to go to the temple with him!

26.2!!!

On Saturday, May 16, 2009, I ran the Ogden Marathon! Wow, what an experience it was. I was so nervous at the beginning of the race. The night before I had the most fun shower with my dear friends from high school. It was such a treat to hangout with some dear friends and have flashbacks to the days of spending our time in my beater Subaru and water balloon fights, and drives through the canyons with our windows down and the heat on our feet. My great friends Lauren and Carly threw the shower and we had so much fun together. I love these girls and they hold such a special place in my heart. I am so grateful for their friendship and the fun times that we have had together. After the shower I went to Jeff's softball game which ended up being one of the best come backs in softball history, at least that I have ever heard of. After being down 20 runs to 0 in the first inning, Jeff's team made a miraculous come back and ended up winning 26-25 in overtime. It was so much fun to watch and to see those boys change the momentum of the game so drastically. 

Needless to say, with all the excitement of the night and the butterflies roaming in my stomach and pretty much through my entire body, I had the hardest time falling asleep! I got into bed at around 11 and just kept thinking to myself "I am running a marathon tomorrow, why am I not asleep yet!" I had so many mixed emotions, wondering if I would even be able to run that far and for so long. I ended up falling asleep for probably around 3 or more hours and woke up at 3:30 to get ready for the race. We had to be at the start line at 4:45! I woke up and it didn't even feel like it was that early in the morning, I was so pumped! When we got to the shuttles to take us up to the race, I was just in awe of how many people were standing around, ready to do the same thing I had set out to do. I am not really sure what it is about running a marathon that is so great, I mean, it absolutely is painful and there really isn't much entertainment throughout a 4+ hour run. But, something about it just makes you feel like you are accomplishing something that is inhuman. It is a struggle and that is why it feels so good to do it. 

The race was just exhilarating! At the start line they played music super loud, had fires blazing all around (because it was 28 degrees outside!! Talk about cold!!) and there was just thousands of people standing around waiting for the announcement that the race was going to begin. when the race started, the first 6 miles flew by. Jeff came to mile 6 to cheer me on and snapped a picture of me being a dork and running to him to give him a big high five! It was such a great surprise to see him standing there. He has been so supportive of me and kept me going when I didnt think I would be able to do this. I remember when I started planning the wedding I called Jeff one day because I had missed a long run that I was supposed to do due to wedding stuff and I just kind of broke down and told him that I didnt think I should run it because I needed to focus on school and our wedding and making sure that everything went smoothly. I remember him telling me that just because I missed one or two runs didnt mean that I wouldnt be able to do the marathon and that I needed to just basically keep working towards this goal of mine. I am so glad that he was there to support me or I probably would have given up and not have been able to put a check next to this goal of mine that I have had for so long. He is amazing and the best soon-to-be-hubby to me. 

So, yes. the race was the hardest thing I have ever done and I can barely walk and move and probably wont be able to do any running for at least a week, but those 26.2 were monumental for me. I actually started getting pretty emotional at times during the race, seeing people cheering all the runners on and seeing families there supporting their runners. It was just an experience of a lifetime. I am so glad that my family was there to meet me at the finish line. They have always supported me through everything that I have put my mind to. They are the best and I love them so much. Thank you for the many cheers that you guys have shouted out for me! 

Oh and I finished with a time of 4 hours and 17 minutes! I'm just glad I finished!

Here is the picture of me being a dork when I saw Jeff. Haha, I dont know what the peace signs are all about, but I was just so happy to see him there!

This is me about to cross the finish line.. YES, Finally there!! 

Me, Missy, and Jena! Yeah girls! 

2009 Ogden Marathon

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Mom, I love you so much. You are my best friend and I am so thankful for the many things you do for me. You are always so selfless in everything you do and in all your actions. I couldn't ask for a better role model. I love hanging out with you and spending time with you, especially playing rummikub and other games. I know Jeff loves playing games with you too. Thank you for always being the best mother and friend. I look up to you so much! I love you, gallons!

Beautiful

Religious

Entertainer

Natural

Determined

Amazing....in every way!

Also, Happy Mother's Day to my Grandmothers. They are both the most amazing mothers and have raised wonderful children. I am so lucky to have them in my life and to be able to learn from them. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers and Grandmothers on this special day!

Terribly Happy

A dear friend of mine posted 10 things (plus a few) :) that make her Terribly Happy and suggested that others should do the same because it is simply refreshing. Here are ten things that make me TERRIBLY HAPPY....

1. Family time

2. Sunshine and sail boats

3. My Fiance

4. Gerbera Daisies

5. Running (as long as it isn't longer than 10 miles)  haha

7. Slushes from Sonic

8. Volleyball

9. Little ones

10. Dear friends