2013: The Best Year Ever

One thing I always love to do at the start of a new year (granted, this one is a little late, but please trust me when I say that I have been a busy woman!), is go back through every month of the previous year and remember all the good things that happened. It really helps me to remember how blessed I've been, and 2013 was no exception to that. I can honestly say that 2013 was THE BEST year of my life thus far. It was filled with so much joy, so much fun, and so much love. If Devon were with me right now, I'd be able to include more things from his perspective, but since he's not, I apologize in advance that this recap is all a little one-sided.

Anyway, it's not hard to see how blessed 2013 was for the both of us and we are so thankful to God for pouring down his blessings upon us regardless of whether or not we deserve them.

********************* 2013: A RECAP ********************

January

2013 started off rough for me because I had to have sinus surgery (for the 2nd time). But some really good things came from it: 

• Devon was there to take care of me and graciously watched chick flicks with me for the next four days of recovery
• My parents drove up, but it was terrible weather, so they only had time to see me right before I went under the knife
• After the surgery, I could breathe and smell again like a normal functioning human being
• I started getting allergy shots once a week to help my body adjust to Utah's dry, allergen-ridden climate 
  

February

In February, Devon took me on a trip to Las Vegas for Valentines Day. We spent Valentines Day eating expensive and delicious Italian food, watching Cirque Du Soliel (the Beatles Love show), and enjoying a reprieve from Utah's horrible winters. The next day we drove down to sunny Southern California to spend the rest of President's Day weekend there. 

March

March was an exciting month for a couple of reasons. First, because it's when Devon brought up the possibility of getting married. I had been perfectly content NOT thinking about marriage, but God had been preparing my heart and it didn't take me long to realize, not only did I want to marry Devon, but I felt completely at peace about that decision. (If you ever want to hear the whole story, I'd be happy to share ...) We went ring shopping that next weekend and I found my dream ring that day. Second, because my roommate Jayni and I were dying to get away from winter, so naturally we decided to spontaneously book a vacation to Oahu, Hawaii and our good friend Danielle came with us!

April

I think you can safely call April 2013 one of the happiest months of my life. I spent the first week of it in Hawaii soaking up the sunshine, eating delicious food, and wondering when and how Devon was going to propose. Little did I know that he was so excited to propose he couldn't contain himself, so the day after I got home from Hawaii (April 6th) he shocked me with a super-sweet proposal. Then, later that month, my Mom, Step-dad, Dad, and baby sister came out to visit for my little brother's graduation from BYU and to celebrate my sister's 18th birthday. In one month, my family celebrated an engagement, a college graduation, and an 18th birthday. A joyous time. That same weekend my best friends were in town and I got to go wedding dress shopping with my Mom, my sister, and my besties. Something I actually never thought would have worked out!

May

In May the weather started getting warmer and wedding plans were well underway. And then I got a surprise at work when we had a company-wide, all hands meeting and our CMO presented me with an award as the Q2 Marketing VIP. How's that for recognition, right? I almost didn't make it to the meeting in time because I had a doctor's appointment that morning due to a crazy illness, but I'm very glad that I did. Believe it or not, I had been busting my butt for years hoping to someday deserve that award, and finally I had achieved my goal. Later that month, Devon and I took a trip with my friend Jayni up to her parent's ranch in Idaho where we enjoyed some time away, built camp fires, went to a rodeo, and went horseback riding.

June

June was a hectic month full of wedding planning and searching for somewhere to live once we got married. In the midst of that, our Marketing team at work was invited to an AMA Awards Ceremony where we received an Award for the Best Marketing Team in Utah. A huge honor, for sure. And something I've been very proud to be a part of.

July

The first week of July meant Bridal Shower! And my Mom and some of my very best friends were able to travel to Utah to be there. I felt so spoiled and my friend Jayni, who hostessed the party, really went above and beyond to make it beautiful and special. That same weekend, my Mom got to come with me for one of my final dress fittings (I had my dress custom-made, so it had been in pieces before this point) and all of the sudden the wedding started to feel real. Also in July was moving day, when we moved all of my stuff into our new apartment where I lived alone until we got married. And also, I bought a new car. Yay!

August

Oh, August! What a month! In the beginning of the Month Devon and I drove down to California to get our marriage license, welcome my baby brother home from his LDS Mission in Tucson, Arizona, and attend Devon's family reunion where I got to meet a bunch of his extended family and spend some more time with his Mom. The week after that his Mom was in Utah for BYU Education Week so we got to spend a lot more time with Devon's family. A week and a half later we were back in California with family, having our Bachelorette and Bachelor parties, and then spending the most important day of our lives, August 31st, in the San Diego LDS Temple with our closest friends and family. It was hot outside, but it was, by far, the most beautiful day of our lives.

September

The first week of September was our Southern California Honeymoon. We spent one of the days at Disneyland, one of the days in Laguna Beach for dinner and dessert with my Aunt, uncle, and cousins, and the rest of the time we spent shopping, lounging at the pool, and eating delicious food. Then we got to come home to our new place together.

October

We kicked off October with our birthdays. Devon is October 3rd (he turned 30!), and I am October 6th (I turned 26). We had a little combined party with friends and my sister got to come down from BYU-Idaho to spend the weekend with us celebrating birthdays and watching LDS General Conference. Later that month we decided to get away for a bit and took a trip down to Las Vegas where we saw the Blue Man Group, attended the Las Vegas LDS Temple, and enjoyed warm weather.

November

November was a relatively quiet month until the week of Thanksgiving. We drove back down to California for the week, met my Dad's new fiancée, Marilena, enjoyed more sunshine, ate incredibly good food, and enjoyed time with family.

December

December was busy with work and Christmas preparations. We had two fun company Christmas parties (one with Devon's work and one with mine) and at one of them we won an all-expenses paid trip to New York City! We were beyond excited. Then we spent Christmas down in California—spent a day with my Dad in his new house, spent some time with some of Devon's family, played a ton of Cornhole, and spent time with all of my siblings and their families. We also extended our stay a few days and spent a fun New Year's Eve with part of my family and left the next day to start a new 2014.

In a nutshell, 2013 was the best year for ME, because it's the year I got, as we like to call it, "Dupe'd". Meaning, officially became a Duplain. BEST YEAR EVER.

xoxo