Where has all the time gone?

I don't really believe it has been 2 months since I updated. I don't know where the time is going. There is 84 days until our wedding and I am still really calm. People keep asking how the plans are coming and I think and say that every thing is great! It really is!

Brian applied to NAU and was accepted last week. He also applied for a job with NAU driving busses. He interviewed on Monday and was offered the job on Tuesday morning! I guess they saw how amazing he is just like I do. He will start in August so he can finish his finals and his current job in Gilbert with their school district. Then he will move here the beginning of June and we will get married the end of June and then the honeymoon the last week of June then we will have almost 2 months to settle into marriage before he has to start work. I am so proud of him and his determination and focus. He always get done what needs to get done.

We got our engagement pictures done a few weeks ago. They turned out great and I will be posting some on my facebook soon. We are in the process of trying to design the announcements now. Wording is proving to be a little difficult. If anyone has any suggestions or examples please let me know. My e-mail is ljw13@hotmail.com I would love any help I can get.

Love you all!!

Wedding Blues (actually purples)

I promise my posts will not all be about the wedding. Just until the wedding is over.

We have the Temple time arranged!! 9:45 in the morning on Friday June 25th. I think we will be taking pictures before hand so we can avoid most of the heat. The reception will be here in Flagstaff on the 26th. Don't know what time yet but I think it will be around 6 in the evening. I kind of have a love/hate relationship with the reception. I have enjoyed the planning but there is so much to do and I start to get really over whelmed with it all. (I am starting to understand eloping) I am so glad that I have my mom to help. I have pretty much given her the reins and am just putting in my 2 cents worth now and then. I know it will be beautiful and it will turn out wonderful.

Brian has been great as usual. He gives his opinion when I ask but for the most part he is letting me do and have what I want. I really couldn't ask for a better man! Now we need to find him a job here in Flagstaff. Anyone have suggestions?

I am still watching the 2 girls and I will be starting to watch a 3 month old little boy soon. I am starting to think I am crazy. I don't know how I will do it. I need to pray for patience.

I also want to thank Nikki for making my blog so cute! You are wonderful!

So this is LOVE!! (hum hum hum hum)

Well things are still going well here. I am still planning a wedding, although we are kinda at a stand still right now because we can't book the Temple until 6 months out, and I can't get my dress until Christmas when we are in Denver where my Grandma has it stored. I am wearing my mom's dress with some alterations done to it.

So far we have the day picked out (June 25th), the reception place mostly planned (in the cul-de-sac with a bunch of Christmas lights and decorations or for a back up, the stake center), the colors picked (if you know me at all you will know that this will be purple. Different shades of purple to be exact), and I have me a groom which I think is actually the most important part!

Brian is so great! He treats me so well, and I could not ask for a better companion to spend the rest of eternity with. I really look forward to the day that I can go into that temple and be sealed to this wonderful man!

Ok, enough mushy stuff! Brian and I are going to Utah on the 18th to see his best friends up there. I am just a little nervous about meeting them. They mean so much to him and I just hope I can live up to their expectations. We will then head to Denver to spend Christmas with my mom's side of the family. We will spend a few days there then drive back to Flag for a day or so then head to Gilbert to ring in the new year with his family. I am really looking forward to all the time I get to be with him and all the family we get to see.

Well I hope you all are enjoying your holidays and that the rest of this year is great for all of you!

LELA IS ENGAGED!!

Ok so I think that most of you probably know this but I am engaged! Here is how it happened!

He took me to Lowell Observatory to look at the stars. We looked at Jupiter and its moons which was really cool. When we were done we went out to the car and as he was opening my door (which he always does cause he is wonderful!) he noticed he had a flat tire. He asked me to get the compressor out of the back of the car so I went to get it. As I opened the back hatch, there were purple roses and a custom made banner saying, "Lela will you marry me?" I looked at him and he got down on his knee and asked me. I told him yes of course! Then he called to his friend and my cousin that they could come out. They had flattened his tire for him and were in on the whole thing.

The ring is beautiful, he is wonderful and I am so happy!!!

And now some pictures.





Oh the wedding is scheduled for June 25th and I will be needing addresses so please send them to my e-mail so I can be sure to invite all you wonderful people! ljw13@hotmail.com

Babies are great!

I am now watching 2 babies during the day. They are finally learning to play together and not fight all the time. It is so great to see Alora learn to share the toys and me. She has had me to herself for the last 2 years and the adjustment has been difficult for her, but she is doing a great job and I am so proud of her!

Ellie is just over a year old and is the daughter of some friends from the ward. She is so adorable and has the cutest personality. She takes all the mean stuff Alora does to her and doesn't even cry. (she does have 3 older brothers though) She is putting everything in her mouth and it has been hard for me to remember that she is only 1 and not older. I keep thinking that she should be doing and understanding the same things as Alora. It is a chalenge that I am really enjoying. Maybe someday I will be able to get some good pics of them together.

Family, Friends, and Upcoming Trips.

I had surgery about a month ago. I had a hernia in my stomach and ulcers in my esophagus. Not fun and very painful. The good thing is, now I don't have heartburn! I have had almost constant heartburn for the last few years and since the surgery I have had NONE!! It was SO worth the few days of pain to get rid of the constant pain. I recovered well and now everything is great again.






We had our annual 4th of July party this last weekend. It went really well and I think we all had a good time. Almost all the Grandys came (we missed you Rachel, Talmage and babies) and we did a garden project but for the most part we played games, had tons of food and had a blast. Aunt Lois had the ice cream maker going almost non stop and it was so wonderful. Thanks for doing that for us! I think this was the last time we (the Wilkins) will see Jacob before he leaves for his mission and we are great full for the time we got with him. Jacob we are going to miss you, but we are also so proud of you and the choices you have made with your life. We love you!!!





My mom is off to Alaska next week. We will miss her but we are so glad she has the opportunity to go. She is going with her friend of many years, Jenny. They will be gone for 2 weeks. I am sure there will be more to post about her trip later.


(Family on my moms side this past Christmas)

Mom gets home on Wed the 29th and we leave for Colorado on the 31st. One day home. Crazy huh!! My parents and 2 other couples (the Flagstaff 6 my dad calls the group) are riding motorcycles up to my Grandma's house in Dillon and my sister and I will be in the van. I am really looking forward to seeing my Grandma again. I only get to see her 2 times a year and I don't know how much longer I will have the opportunity to see her. She is in wonderful shape and could run circles around me. I hope that continues for many years but you never know so I really have learned to cherish all the time I get with her as well as all my family. I really have the best family and friends anyone could ask for. I love you all!!

Rain and Mexico!!

I love the rain!! It has been raining in Flagstaff for the last couple of days and I have been soaking it in! The earth smells sooooo good!





I left this morning at 3:45 for the airport. The plane left at 7:45 for San Diego where we (my friend and I) got picked up and shuttled to Tiajuana Mexico. My friend had surgery and just got back to the room about 5 min's ago. Things went well and she is sleeping off the drugs. While she was gone I got brave and went shopping at a little out door mall they have across the street. I didn't get abducted and I managed to find a Burger King and got my self some dinner. FYI the milk shakes taste a lot different. Much sweeter than at home. The television has some english channels and I am now watching Harry Potter. Tomorrow we will hang around here and recover a little from surgery and then Sunday morning we leave for home again.