I think the worst part of being married is when you are both sick. We have never before been sick at the same time while we were dating and into the first month of school, we are hit hard with the cold of all colds. We have already gone through one box of tissues and our noses are raw from blowing. We are taking DayQuil and NyQuil, vitamin C, drinking herbal tea, and trying to sleep. We are trying to get well while working part time, going to classes full time, and attempting to get our homework done.
We both have no desire to clean our apartment, so it is becoming a mess...and for this week the only thing that sounds good enough to eat is soup...though neither of us want to cook it on the stove. The question is, who is supposed to take care of who when we are both sick? It's moments like these, when we wonder why we decided to grow up and wish that our moms would come to the rescue.
The point is, that being sick with your significant other stinks. I can't imagine what it is like for parents to be sick with their kids...cross our fingers that doesn't happen...ever...
We would totally post a picture of ourselves, but our noses are a little red and our faces are a little pale...
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
New York City...
I left Derek for an entire week and went to the Big Apple. I went with a few other girls from BYU's Advertising Program. Every year, there is a conference in New York called AdWeek in which marketers and advertisers from companies all over the United States (and globally) come to network and find out the next most strategic ways to move forward in this business. While here NYC, we also had the opportunity to visit many Advertising Agencies ranging from McGarry Bowen, Y&R, GREY, and more. It was a great visit, though my feet are very tired. I also want to try to never leave Derek for a week again! It can be very lonely being in a city that never sleeps without your other half.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
We Will Not Forget...
Derek and I have been looking back at our memories of where we were on September 11. He was in Ephraim and remembers seeing the news before he left for school. When he got to school, all he did was watch this piece of history.
My experience is similar. I was walking down the stairs to enter Eastmont Middle School. I was wearing a white shirt and jeans and I think my first class was math. As I walked with other fellow students that morning into the school building, I thought it would be a normal day. But, little did I know, it wasn't. Teachers got word to turn on the news and we were all struck with an event that would again change our country's history. My day also consisted of watching the news all day. I didn't learn all of our regular subjects in school, but I did learn that there is a God.
I think being in 7th grade, I didn't really grasp what had happened. I didn't understand how or why someone could even think to terrorize a country. However, the older I get and with each experience I am able to see why people choose certain paths. With many historical tragedies in our country, I think it effects people when making the choice of good vs. evil. This is happening in America, as I feel so many people are choosing to do evil, and it's happening way to fast. Evil is becoming more prevalent in society.
I was able to attend the seminar of a World Religious Visitor. His name is Richard Land and is an Evangelical Professor at the University of Texas Seminary. I would like to summarize some of the things he said, because they stick out to me in this time of remembrance and contemplation.
Richard said, “Anybody who comes here and pledges allegiance...can be an American...We are different groups of ethnicities held together by our allegiance.” America was once that kind of place, but not so much anymore. As time goes on, we are not really being held by allegiance.
As humans, I think we were created to inherently do good. Things are placed in our lives to see if we will keep choosing to be good. As horrible events can continue one throughout history, people tend to blame God. This isn't right. When blaming God, people tend to develop a negative attitude and become a person they used to hate and despise. When, really people should be remembering the bigger picture of life..."This is but a small moment of thine afflictions."
Land also said, that "We [America] have been a faith based nation from the beginning." Our lives may be something that can be taken away in the blink of an eye, but our faith isn't. Our faith can live on forever. Our founding fathers believed in God, and we need to never forget that. They also believed in a country that believed in God.
But, it's interesting that as Richard Land pointed out, "When people are free to choose between liberty and order, they choose order." How sad it is that with each piece of tragical historical event, we keep choosing order. All we want is to control over everything. We are becoming a selfish country.
I saw one too many facebook posts and tweets, this September 11, that are more so about "fashion week", "my children messed up the bedroom again", "my class is so boring", "I woke up sick today", etc. We are forgetting. We are forgetting that our founding fathers were inspired to come up with 3 principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...but, with each tragedy, we blame God and get stuck in a depression. When in reality, it's not God to blame. It's in God who reached out in those times. It's in God who comforted us. It's in God who helped us learn the lesson, once again, it's okay to rely on others.
As Derek and I reflect on this time for our country, and wait for the news on if we will go into Syria, we hope that you all remember our country is faith based, throughout any event. Sometimes bad things happen so we can remember God. The phrase that everyone uses from 9/11 is "I will never forget." And we hope that this phrase is used often as it really means: "I will never forgot God."
My experience is similar. I was walking down the stairs to enter Eastmont Middle School. I was wearing a white shirt and jeans and I think my first class was math. As I walked with other fellow students that morning into the school building, I thought it would be a normal day. But, little did I know, it wasn't. Teachers got word to turn on the news and we were all struck with an event that would again change our country's history. My day also consisted of watching the news all day. I didn't learn all of our regular subjects in school, but I did learn that there is a God.
I think being in 7th grade, I didn't really grasp what had happened. I didn't understand how or why someone could even think to terrorize a country. However, the older I get and with each experience I am able to see why people choose certain paths. With many historical tragedies in our country, I think it effects people when making the choice of good vs. evil. This is happening in America, as I feel so many people are choosing to do evil, and it's happening way to fast. Evil is becoming more prevalent in society.
I was able to attend the seminar of a World Religious Visitor. His name is Richard Land and is an Evangelical Professor at the University of Texas Seminary. I would like to summarize some of the things he said, because they stick out to me in this time of remembrance and contemplation.
Richard said, “Anybody who comes here and pledges allegiance...can be an American...We are different groups of ethnicities held together by our allegiance.” America was once that kind of place, but not so much anymore. As time goes on, we are not really being held by allegiance.
As humans, I think we were created to inherently do good. Things are placed in our lives to see if we will keep choosing to be good. As horrible events can continue one throughout history, people tend to blame God. This isn't right. When blaming God, people tend to develop a negative attitude and become a person they used to hate and despise. When, really people should be remembering the bigger picture of life..."This is but a small moment of thine afflictions."
Land also said, that "We [America] have been a faith based nation from the beginning." Our lives may be something that can be taken away in the blink of an eye, but our faith isn't. Our faith can live on forever. Our founding fathers believed in God, and we need to never forget that. They also believed in a country that believed in God.
But, it's interesting that as Richard Land pointed out, "When people are free to choose between liberty and order, they choose order." How sad it is that with each piece of tragical historical event, we keep choosing order. All we want is to control over everything. We are becoming a selfish country.
I saw one too many facebook posts and tweets, this September 11, that are more so about "fashion week", "my children messed up the bedroom again", "my class is so boring", "I woke up sick today", etc. We are forgetting. We are forgetting that our founding fathers were inspired to come up with 3 principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...but, with each tragedy, we blame God and get stuck in a depression. When in reality, it's not God to blame. It's in God who reached out in those times. It's in God who comforted us. It's in God who helped us learn the lesson, once again, it's okay to rely on others.
As Derek and I reflect on this time for our country, and wait for the news on if we will go into Syria, we hope that you all remember our country is faith based, throughout any event. Sometimes bad things happen so we can remember God. The phrase that everyone uses from 9/11 is "I will never forget." And we hope that this phrase is used often as it really means: "I will never forgot God."
9/11 #wewillnotforget
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Portland...
Derek and I met in Portland and I can't help but look back at all the fun memories we had while serving a mission there for our church. We met some amazing people and grew to love everything about the city. We hope to move back there one day sooner than later. I had the opportunity to visit Portland again right before we got married. Though, I hated being away from the husband, I had the most fantastic time seeing everyone I knew!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The Newlywed Life...
The life of newlyweds can be stressful. From changing bank accounts to looking into health insurance. I realize more than ever that life is expensive. I can't believe how much it will cost to live adding children into the picture. The cost of food will go up, insurance will go up, the cost of spending gas every month will go up as well. It's more expensive being married already and to think that it just keeps getting even more expensive is a profound thought.
I have to keep convincing myself that going into debt is good when it is for things such as school. I think that most newlyweds, students, young adults, etc. have a hard time grasping this thought. One thing that I have relearned once again, is that if we keep doing what we know is right, everything will work out. I keep seeing that over and over again.
Another thing I've learned is that while being newly married is very stressful, it's important to still have fun! Which, we are trying to do by trying on funny hats and glasses at a toy store, going to baseball games, Park City Alpine Coaster, wedding receptions with friends, and the past Stadium of Fire this last July.
I have to keep convincing myself that going into debt is good when it is for things such as school. I think that most newlyweds, students, young adults, etc. have a hard time grasping this thought. One thing that I have relearned once again, is that if we keep doing what we know is right, everything will work out. I keep seeing that over and over again.
Another thing I've learned is that while being newly married is very stressful, it's important to still have fun! Which, we are trying to do by trying on funny hats and glasses at a toy store, going to baseball games, Park City Alpine Coaster, wedding receptions with friends, and the past Stadium of Fire this last July.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Liberating Name Change...
I have often thought to myself before I tied the knot, what will I do with my last name when I get married? Will I change it and take my husbands last name? Will I drop my middle name and move my last name to my "maiden name"? Will I not take my husbands last name?
I started writing down the options to see what I liked better:
Michelle Marie Monson
Michelle Marie Nielsen
Michelle Monson Nielsen
Michelle Marie Monson-Nielsen
I liked them all. I couldn't change my name based upon what it sounded like. This was a huge dilemma. My middle name of Marie is a namesake from my mother. My last name of Monson is something that I gain power from-I've been through a lot as Michelle Monson. How could I give those two important names up? Though, I wanted to take my husbands name, I still wanted MY NAME so I could be me. I wanted MY NAME so I could still be an individual. I wanted MY NAME so I could still have that little part of me, without giving my whole self to my husband.
I don't feel that I'm a feminist, I don't have anything against feminism, but I do feel that there is something liberating in a name. As a female, I didn't want give up my whole name for my husband's sake. I didn't want myself to feel like that I was giving up my identity. (Note: my husband doesn't make feel that way, I just didn't want to ever feel that way). I didn't want my last name of Monson to go because with that last name, I graduated high school, I overcame an abusive ex-husband, I overcame a divorce, I served a mission for the LDS church, I learned how to do the monkey bars, I went through 2 spinal fusions, and much more. A last name is a powerful thing. We look at past USA Presidents, and though his name is Abraham Lincoln, he gets referred to as Lincoln.
I came to the conclusion that I will always have my mother's name; to my parents, I will always be known as Michelle Marie. I can always keep the family name of Marie when I have a little girl of my own. Though, most people through my life have referred to me as Michelle Monson, not Michelle Marie. Therefore, I made a much contemplated decision and have dropped my middle name to become Michelle Monson Nielsen.
I started writing down the options to see what I liked better:
Michelle Marie Monson
Michelle Marie Nielsen
Michelle Monson Nielsen
Michelle Marie Monson-Nielsen
I liked them all. I couldn't change my name based upon what it sounded like. This was a huge dilemma. My middle name of Marie is a namesake from my mother. My last name of Monson is something that I gain power from-I've been through a lot as Michelle Monson. How could I give those two important names up? Though, I wanted to take my husbands name, I still wanted MY NAME so I could be me. I wanted MY NAME so I could still be an individual. I wanted MY NAME so I could still have that little part of me, without giving my whole self to my husband.
I don't feel that I'm a feminist, I don't have anything against feminism, but I do feel that there is something liberating in a name. As a female, I didn't want give up my whole name for my husband's sake. I didn't want myself to feel like that I was giving up my identity. (Note: my husband doesn't make feel that way, I just didn't want to ever feel that way). I didn't want my last name of Monson to go because with that last name, I graduated high school, I overcame an abusive ex-husband, I overcame a divorce, I served a mission for the LDS church, I learned how to do the monkey bars, I went through 2 spinal fusions, and much more. A last name is a powerful thing. We look at past USA Presidents, and though his name is Abraham Lincoln, he gets referred to as Lincoln.
I came to the conclusion that I will always have my mother's name; to my parents, I will always be known as Michelle Marie. I can always keep the family name of Marie when I have a little girl of my own. Though, most people through my life have referred to me as Michelle Monson, not Michelle Marie. Therefore, I made a much contemplated decision and have dropped my middle name to become Michelle Monson Nielsen.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Backyard Wedding in July...
It's been one month since I have married my best friend. I miss my wedding. I enjoy life every day, though the day of our wedding was priceless and I wish I could go back every day to relive the moment of dancing in my dress, seeing those who I love so much, feeling anticipated for the honeymoon, and being more so connected with my now husband.
My wedding went off without a hitch. There were probably some things that went wrong, I was just in my own little world and didn't care. The decorations were beautiful! My color choice was mint green and a peach color. I had accents of cream in there as well. I had hydrangeas as the center pieces placed in glass jars tied with raffia. We had chinese lanterns in my wedding colors hanging from the trees, it was beautiful! A big thanks to my Aunt Bobbi who so kindly decorated the reception.
We had our reception the night before and woke up early the next to head to the Manti Temple. For those of you reading unsure about my religion, click HERE. It makes me so happy that I was able to get married for not only time, but for eternity. There was a special spirit at my wedding!
My wedding went off without a hitch. There were probably some things that went wrong, I was just in my own little world and didn't care. The decorations were beautiful! My color choice was mint green and a peach color. I had accents of cream in there as well. I had hydrangeas as the center pieces placed in glass jars tied with raffia. We had chinese lanterns in my wedding colors hanging from the trees, it was beautiful! A big thanks to my Aunt Bobbi who so kindly decorated the reception.
We had our reception the night before and woke up early the next to head to the Manti Temple. For those of you reading unsure about my religion, click HERE. It makes me so happy that I was able to get married for not only time, but for eternity. There was a special spirit at my wedding!
