A Week in the Caribbean? Don't Mind if I Do.

For our honeymoon, we had the amazing opportunity to go on a seven-day Caribbean cruise. The ports we stopped in were Jamaica, The Grand Cayman and Cozumel. It was my first time in the Caribbean and I couldn't believe how beautiful and different the beaches and ocean were from my beloved California beaches. 

Unfortunately, 2/3 of the pictures we took were on my phone (My phone died completely the day we got back, so the pictures are lost forever!) but we did remember to snap a few on Eric's camera, enjoy!

The food was incredible! We each ordered at least 6-7 courses for each meal! I think this was our escargo. We also enjoyed sushi, frog legs, alligator, shark and much more!

The Pool and Poolside theatre

Rockin' out in Jamaica!

Man on Stilts. But he wasn't much taller than Eric, so I wasn't too impressed.

Cozumel!

We went parasailing in Cozumel! 

I thought that it'd be scary, but we loved it. It was so much fun!

We were so high up! And I couldn't believe how crystal blue the water was. Gorgeous!

We also went jet skiing on the ocean in Cozumel after parasailing. I'll admit it wasn't my favorite. Mainly because there was a $5000+ fine if you damaged the jet ski and Eric was a very crazy fun driver. We flipped over twice....nobody else out there was driving even close to how we were driving, so I was scared to death that we were going to break something.

Also not pictured... The grand cayman! We had so much fun swimming with stingrays (yes, a little scary at first, but pretty cool once you finally believed that they really weren't going to hurt you) We even go to hold them and let them swim up on our backs and feed them! We went snorkeling after that and saw some cool reef and pretty fishies!

Pretty much our honeymoon was the bomb. We loved it and had so much fun! We ate way more food than I ever thought possible, but that was our reward for doing the Insanity workout for the entire semester before!

We've been back for 3 weeks, and I'm thinking I'm ready to go back :)

Love, Noelle

Our Day

Well, hello everyone!
The newest Mrs. Hillam here.
We've been married for 3 weeks and 3 days. I can't believe it's already been almost a month!

The wedding day was absolutely perfect. Everything went amazingly well and I've never been happier!

I married this handsome devil on Saturday July 27, in the St. George, UT temple. 

We spent the evening before setting up a cultural hall for our luncheon. I was tired and said goodnight at around 11 pm. I'm pretty sure that's a record time to be in bed the night before a wedding. Our sealing wasn't scheduled until 12:40 pm the next day, so we had all the time in the world! However, we decided to schedule pictures at 9:00am to try and beat the heat. So after about 7 hours of peaceful sleeping I woke up and got ready to seal the deal. My two amazing friends Claire and Keri came over at 7 am to get me started on my hair (Also unheard of, I've heard of too many 4 am hair appointment horror stories). We took our time getting ready and spent about an hour and a half at the temple taking pictures.

My wonderful grandparents! My grandpa had the opportunity to seal us!

By the time pictures were done, it was about 11:00 and Eric and I were at the temple with no vehicle, no where to go and about an hour to kill before we were needed at the temple. So, we did what anybody stranded at the temple would do. We explored the visitors center! Keep in mind that we are fully dressed in our tux and gown, hair and make up, bouquet and everything... the whole nine yards.... Taking a tour of the St.George visitor's center. It was soooo wonderful! We knew that in a matter of minutes we'd be participating in one of the most sacred, special events of our entire lives, but we were calm. cool and collected! It was so nice not to be rushed, stressed or worried about anything! We learned about the history of the St.George temple and sat through a display about eternal families. It was so wonderful to slow down, forget all the hussle and bussle that comes with weddings and remember the important, eternal things with my sweetheart.
Best thing ever.

Then the time came for us to report for our sealing. Well, we didn't have our recommends with us so had to watch as many of our family members entered the temple without us while we waited for Eric's dad to come with our recommends.

And then we were sealed! It was the most wonderful, beautiful, perfect thing that I have ever experienced. It was so special to have my grandpa be our sealer and to be surrounded by so many loved ones. I just couldn't stop smiling! 

Our first picture as "Man and Wife!"

It really was a perfect day! We have such wonderful, loving, supportive and downright hardworking friends and family and we are so grateful for their help and support!

Love, Noelle

"Ms." to "Mrs."

Only one day, 14 hours and 34 minutes until I can finally introduce myself as Mrs. Noelle Hillam, WIFE of Eric Hillam. Wife!!! That still blows my mind.

But things are starting to feel like real life, just a little bit.

We took our bridals yesterday afternoon. The lovely Anna of Anna Christine Photography was SO kind and patient and absolutely wonderful with us! We couldn't have asked for a better photographer. Shortly after that, (and after a trip to Walmart, Deseret Book, Idaho Bank of Commerce and Subway) we attended our Idaho Falls open house. It was awesome! I've always dreaded the hoopla that comes with weddings, but it was beautiful and wonderful!

Here's a few of the photo's we've gotten back. We're in love! (With the pictures...and with each other :)

Saturday can't come soon enough!!

Sneak Peek

My awesome friend/coworker, Kristin Smith, took our engagement pictures for us. She had found the most perfect little spot to take them and got some really cute shots. I'm just relieved that they're taken care of and we can move on toooo... sending out announcements!

 

Random side note, he's 6'5 and I'm 5'6. We're a palindrome. Baha. I know right?

Love, Noelle

My Turn!

Here's the thing. After four years of living and loving the college/single life, I'm an engaged woman! As in... I'm tying the knot, settling down (whatever that means) and gettin' hitched!

Eric and I the night we got engaged. (May 13th, 2013)

Bachelorette Party for Shae!

I know right? Believe me, it's harder for me to believe than it is for any of you I'm sure. I've had at least over 80% of my roommates get married on me. I've been to countless bridal showers and receptions. I've stayed up to all hours of the night on dozens of occasions listening to my roommates fawn (or complain) over their fiances/in-laws/colors/drama etc.

I've had more engaged roommates than not! Because of that, I've seen the good the bad and the ugly. With each of these experiences, I've promised myself over and over again that I would not be the typical "engaged roommate". The one who is stressed, tired, grumpy, snappy and just a time bomb waiting to go off on the closest breathing thing.

Shae and I on date night!

I remember one roommate in particular, Ms. Shae Cox (Hildreth). She was my room roommate when she was engaged and let me tell you, she was a saint. Times were hard for her and there was a ton going on in her life, but she never took it home with her or let it affect her relationship with her roommates. She was never short with us or rude in the slightest. In fact it was  quite the contrary, she was so kind and generous! I'd never seen anything like it and I'm so grateful for the example she set for me.



So folks, I've got a month and a half left of this engaged thing and you know what? So far I am LOVING it. It's so fun, so exciting and I am SO in love. More on the man in my life later. Until then...

Keep your eyes peeled for an announcement from us!


Love, Noelle

Obsessing Over Favorites

Favorites are tough for me. Yet, despite my efforts to avoid them, they come each and every first day of classes, first date, any introduction etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an incredibly passionate person, very capable of liking something a great deal. But that's just the problem... I'm an incredibly passionate person, very capable of liking a great deal of somethings. How could I ever possible pick one "All-time FAVORITE"?

I can't.... but that never seems to be a suitable answer, and I am forced to pick one movie/song/book/season/color/animal over all the rest.

It's a cruel, cruel world.

To counter this, I will admit to something. I don't have favorites, I have bouts of Obsessions: Times when I find something, fall in love with something and obsess over said something for an unknown period of time.

My current obsession you ask?

Guess!

Ok, you'll never guess. It's a super weird one.

For the time being, if someone were to ask me, "Who is your favorite apostle?"
I would, without a doubt, hands down, unhesitantly answer: Elder Richard G Scott!

I absolutely adore him!

Here's why.

I'm in a Teachings of the Living Prophets class. It's amazing. Brother Peck is amazing. Take this class.

At the beginning of the semester we were told to pick an apostle that we wanted to give a presentation on. At first I thought, "Meh, I don't care which one I get, they're all amazing!"

But as I read down the list and my eyes hit the name "Elder Scott", I knew he was the one for me!

I cannot get enough of when Elder Scott talks about his dear Jeanene. He talks about her with the most tender, sincere, loving words. There is not a doubt in my mind that they are completely, totally, irrevocably and eternally smitten with each other. I'm so glad that he mentions Jeanene so often because I love the example he gives of how we should treat those we love. His stories are so stinking cute... and we all know what a sucker I am for stuff like that.

But that's not what I've focused on with this presentation that I gave about Elder Scott, I wanted to know more about her, Jeanene. I wanted to know what kind of a woman she was and what kinds of things she did. Clearly she was loved for a reason, and I wanted to know what it was.

After some research, I've decided that Jeanene Scott is a saint! She was so in tune with the spirit and knew exactly what her family needed to make them happy and strong. She set strict guidelines and rules for herself so that she stayed worthy of that spirit and never got caught up in complaining, slacking or not fulfilling her duties as a wife and mother. She knew what mattered most and her priorities were in line. The more I read about her, the more I just loved her and wanted to be just like her.

She's amazing and it's easy to see why Elder Scott is crazy about her. To learn more about those  two love birds, go here, here or here.

This is one of my "favorite" videos. "Not a spoonful, a whole ladle!"

Ahhhh I love this!!!



Love, Noelle

Peru-nions

Have I mentioned lately how much I adore this girl?

Oh annnd don't even get me started on this gorgeous girl.

Blog, meet two of the ladies who have changed my life. Brittany Nicole Meyer and Abigail Anna Tucker.

I finally got to see them again after one whole month without them. We talked, laughed, reminisced, and got close to tears in Relief Society as Brit bore her testimony of the power of prayer and how we relied on it just about every second of every day in Peru. Or as I hugged Abi goodbye  with no promise of seeing her anytime soon.

But we did enjoy ourselves, we did. I made plans to rollerblade to the park with Abi, so as I was walking over to Clark apartments to meet her there to pick up our blades , I passed by a group of students who had just gotten back from backpacking… and then I spotted it. The green beanie and greyish jacket that had wandered the streets of Peru many of times. There was Brittany, right in the Stadium parking lot. She didn't see me so I snuck up on her and oh was she surprised to see me! Gosh I loved it. She had some studying to do and some showering to attend to, so I carried on with my venture to Clark to reunite with Abigail. And there she was, waiting for me with open arms. So I got to see them both  that day and catch up just a bit.

After one month back in the states

Sunday, things got good. We made plans to all attend Brittany's ward together. (Which just so happened to be my old ward, imagine my delight!  I had no idea and loooved being able to see so many people that I knew and loved!) After attending our meetings together for 3 straight months in Peru, it was magical to attend our meetings together for the first time in English! So great.

Side note that I don't want to forget but I'm not sure if it's appropriate to put on a blog: The sacrament was passed to me and I reached for a cup, but switched to a different one because I noticed floaties in the first cup. I then passed the tray to Brittany who unknowingly went straight for the floatie cup. By the time she had it in her hand and out of the tray… she noticed the floaties, but there was no turning back. So she looked at it good and hard… and then  drank it, floaties and all.  I turned to her and whispered "Boy Scout" (Only 3 of you reading this will get that.) But we just about died. So funny. But don't worry, we laughed about it afterwards, we tried very hard to be reverent at the time of the hilarity  :)

We then enjoyed a lovely Sunday School lesson together and then made our way to Relief Society where I was reunited with some love button friends that I just adore.  Next came our true blue Peru-nion. We went up to a grassy spot at the temple (surrounded by 100's of swarming bee's… esta bien!" and ate ourselves a little picnic with a few of our Peruvian favorites. We had wraps, cancha (peruvian… kind of popcorn stuff), apple slices and Peruvian "Mint Casino" cookies. Twas a feast fit for Las Tres Gringas.

Unfortunately, after just one month our chaco lines are fading fast! But maybe that's a good thing :)

Quotes to remember:
"Did you see that guy milking his baby?"

" I know… I just want to find a guy who's not attracted to girls like me.." Oh goodness.

Words cannot express how grateful I am to have these two amazing women in my life.

 When Abigail and I reunited, Hank said, "Aren't you guys sick of each other?  You just spent 3 whole months completely together" Our answer was a resounding NO!  Thank goodness because I plan on having these two as best friends for many, many years to come.

Broken Love Stories

As much as I adore a good love story, my heart simply breaks over a tragic one.

 Last night I started reading "The History of Joseph Smith By His Mother". It's exactly what it says it is. It's a history written by Lucy Mack Smith about her family growing up and then more specifically about Joseph Smith Jr's life. Ohh I'm loving reading about the tender heart of a mother for her children. I'm not very far along in it, but I'm rather enjoying it so far.

In the second chapter, she told the story about her brother, Jason Mack. I'll paraphrase for ya.

Jason was a "studious and manly" boy. He became a minister at the age of 20 and fell in love with a beautiful and wealthy young woman named Esther Bruce.  Everyone who knew Esther loved her. She was smart, beautiful, well-mannered and kind. Pretty soon Jason had convinced her that she couldn't live without him. So they were engaged to be married! Yay!!

When it was about time to be married, Jason's father (Joseph Smith Jr's grandfather) received a letter from Liverpool saying that there was a heavy debt due to him that was ready to be collected. Apparently Jason had to come along with his father to collect it so the wedding had to be postponed (I don't get that... must've been an 18th century thing.) So with a heavy heart, he left his beautiful betrothed with an agreement that he would write to her once every three months and as soon as he returned they would be married.

The plot thickens. There was a rotten scoundrel (excuse the harsh words, but I am furious with this man!) who worked at the post office who happened to have a bit of a crush on this Esther Bruce...an engaged woman!!! So in his desire to thwart Jason's efforts, he used what ever he could to dissuade Esther from waiting for and marrying Jason. In the meantime, he detained Jason's letters to Esther to help his filthy cause.

Well, Jason and his father got stuck in Liverpool and weren't able to return at their scheduled time. When Jason had been gone for two years, that awful man told Esther that Jason was dead. Esther did not believe him the first time, but after awhile her worst fears were falsely confirmed. But she still refused to marry the post office man.

However as time went on, and as the post man persisted, she agreed to marry him. Four months after the marriage, Jason returned to America. He immediately went to Esther's father's home  and waited for his betrothed to come home. He had no idea that he was actually waiting for a married woman.  When Esther returned to  "the same room where he had wooed her and obtained her consent to be his", she saw Jason sitting in the room. When she recognized who it was, she "clasped her hands in agony and, with a piercing shriek, fell lifeless to the floor."  
Oh my goodness, that part breaks my heart. Can you even imagine??

Jason then learned that the postman had kept all of his letters from Esther and had lied to her of his "death". Not seeing anything that could be done, he went to sea and lived single until he was 50.

When Esther was revived from her collapse,  and understood the situation better, she fell sick and never got better. She lived, or rather lingered, for two years until she died, "the victim of disappointment".

Is that not the saddest thing you've ever heard?? A real life love story, broken by a greedy, deceitful post man and a town by the awful name of Liverpool. Seriously, what a gross name!

I'm sorry if this post put a damper on your day, if so you can find much happier love story posts here, here and here :)

Or simply watch George Paddley and Sarah Anne Frank's love story on 17 Miracles. Oh my gosh, he loves her so much!

Her:"Not sufficient materials but must be completed regardless? Doesn't that make you crazy?"
Him: "No, that does not make me crazy. It is you who makes me crazy."

Her: "My betrothed spent that day as the Savior would have, helping those in need. I wondered how he could bear it, walking the day through that bitter water. Later, I would wonder how I could be so weak as to allow him to do so.... George was not the only one to give so much of himself that day, but he was the only one that I loved so much."

Her: "George have you begun a journal?"
Him: "Perhaps. Or perhaps it is thoughts of you."

Him:
"Hast thou a heart, my dearest maid,
to freely give away?
Nay, do not blush nor be afraid
the simple truth to say.

For love's a power none can withstand,
which even death cannot part.
But I'd not wish to have thy hand
unless I have thy heart.

For all that's mine, I give to you,
not holding back a part.What else might I do,
my darling Sarah,to gather in your heart?

Others say that they have seen angels watching from the bluff
But I have seen thine lovely face, and for my dear Sarah, that is enough"

Them: "It will all be worth it"

Their love story also broke my heart, but I'm sooo glad the movie included the last part about President Faust.
"When James E.Faust heard the story of Sarah Anne Franks and George Paddley, he wept.
He called theirs the greatest love story of the Mormon frontier.
In 1997, he asked that they be sealed for time and all eternity."

'It will all be worth it."

If you haven't seen it yet. Go now.

Love, Noelle

Awkward and Awesome: Asking the Dad

I was walking through the i-center on Tuesday about an hour after devo when I saw/heard the following. 

Picture this: 

There was a gruff looking older man sitting next to a timid looking young man. I caught onto the conversation at this point:

Awkward
Young Man: "No, I'm not trying to steal your daughter away from your family." (frantic expression, short, anxious breaths) "What I really want is to become a part of your family."

At this point, I was captivated. I had to find out what the older gentleman was going to say!

Super Awkward
The old man took a deep breath and then paused for what felt like an eternity... no expression on his face.

Awesome
He then leaned over, patted the boys leg and said, "We want you to be apart of our family too."

I had no idea who this boy was, but it took every ounce of my will-power to refrain from cheering and jumping for joy. I was just so happy that he said yes!

After recounting this story to my roommates and various others who joined in my excitement for the young man, we had some meaningful conversation about the idea of asking permission from the dad.

Perhaps if my father had been consulted beforehand, this proposal would have never taken place :)

Some said it was old fashioned and that the dad didn't really have a say in who their daughter married, others found it romantic and adorable. Some said that they felt bad for whoever they married cause their dad would be tough to please. What are your thoughts?

Old fashioned? Adorable?
Awkward? Awesome?

Stories are more than welcome :)

Love, Noelle

Guilty as Charged

The other night I was driving home from Idaho Falls with some girls that I didn't know very well. So we all talked about our love lives...naturally :)
It was actually quite sad, all the girls in the car were experiencing what we termed as "forbidden love".

 One girl had her papers in and was excited to serve.. until her best friend of two years announced his love for her. Now she's faced with a huge decision that is giving her quite some grief.

Another girl adored a boy who had broken her heart but was convinced that there was no one better for her out there, but the boy doesn't want anything to do with her.

The other girl loved a boy who had previously asked her to be his girlfriend, but she was scared and said no. Then, when she realized how silly she was being and how much she really like him, she went to him and apologized...but the boy had moved on and didn't want a relationship.

All forbidden loves.

Personally, I was eating all this up. I love hearing love stories (although, I desperately wished that the stories that were told had happier endings) During the car ride, one of the girls looked me in the eye and said, "Noelle, you are a hopeless romantic". Now I had no idea what what being a hopeless romantic entails, but you know what? I probably am one.

After consulting a friend or two, I've been told that a hopeless romantic is: Someone who is in love with love. I think I'm ok with that definition. I love, love, LOVE hearing people's love stories or watching cute love story movies or even just seeing people walking down the street all cute and in love...smitten if you will :)

So if a hopeless romantic is someone who loves things like these...

 

 Then I am guilty as charged :)

Love, Noelle