Lost Sheep

Luke 15:2-7

"...I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine persons which need no repentance."

I am so grateful for Christ's ministry on the Earth, and for all of his teachings. 

He teaches that no matter how the gravity of the sin, we can be forgiven if we choose to repent. 

For those that are struggling with their testimonies, don't you want Christ's teachings to be true? 

We can be forgiven, and we can learn to forgive because of Him! 

I know these things to be true.  

Wedding Formals!

Thank you to the talented Ashley McFarlane!

Enjoy!

First Look

I'm sure you're familiar with the trend of "first look photos", where a photographer captures the groom's face when he first lays eyes on his bride in her dress with her hair and makeup all done. Here are a couple of examples I've pulled from Pinterest:

As you can tell, it's supposed to be a very emotional moment. Crying, gasping, hands over the mouth, etc.

We decided not to do "first look photos" simply because I knew I would feel extremely awkward and pressured!

Because there are no photographs of my moment, I will describe to you what it was like...

It was hilarious! I am almost peeing my pants right now thinking about it. 

Here's how it went down....

Date: Monday, December 28th.

Time: Around 2:15 PM

Location: Fifth East Hall Bed & Breakfast, hallway by the maintenance closet.

Alone in the dressing room, I looked at myself in the mirror; wearing my dress and veil. And I got completely freaked out. 

*What the heck am I doing?* 

*I'm getting married?!* 

*Whoa... whoa... Is this actually going to happen?*

*Giuseppe's out there waiting...*

*Okay, whatever Katrina, let's just go.*

So I opened the french doors, and standing right in front of me was my fiancé.

The look on his face was PRICELESS!

I have never seen so much fear packed into one facial expression. 

He looked terrified. 

Absolutely horror-stricken.

He'll deny it, but I'm pretty sure he was thinking something along the lines of,

*What the heck am I doing?*

*I'm getting married?!*

*Whoa... Whoa.... This is actually happening.*

*Katrina's just standing there*

*Okay, whatever Giuseppe, let's do this!*

Then he smiled, and we both relaxed, and all was well. :) 

Honeymoon

After the wedding, Dick and Hannah surprised us with a stay at the Grand America!! They gave us the honeymoon package, which included complimentary robes, slippers, chocolates, and a $100 credit. We used the credit to get room service day and night, and to buy delicious macarons from La Bonne Vie.

That morning we were standing by the window looking out our view of Salt Lake from the 23rd floor. Giuseppe noticed that the building in front (and below) us was the Infinity Center, where we had our first date! We were laughing imagining us telling our February 2014 selves that in less than a year we would be celebrating our wedding night in the building next to us. 

We LOVE the Grand America!

(We dressed up nice because we planned on going to church. Siri AND google maps took us to seven different faulty locations. Annoyinggggg!)

Next stop: Pagosa Springs, Colorado. AKA a little piece of heaven!

Giuseppe's dad let us stay at his time share. We got a little condo to ourself for a week with a furnished kitchen and jacuzzi!

We frequented a little video rental store, went to mom and pop restaurants, made friends with the locals, and experienced the outdoors! 

A breakdown of our week:

• We rented a sled from the activities center and took it to the golf course because apparently it's a GOLDEN spot for sledding. I don't know what the workers were talking about, because the hills were steep enough to get us out of breath while walking up, but not steep enough for us to actually slide down. After giving up, we tried to leave but the snow wouldn't let us!

https://www.facebook.com/giuseppe.hess/videos/10207094033981881/?pnref=story

Thanks to this babe's hard work, we were able to finally leave!

(There was only one shovel.)

Location #2 was more successful: It wasn't very steep, but it was beautiful and the snow wasn't as high!

• Visiting the SPRINGS was heavenly! 18 little natural pools, some with waterfalls. It was snowing outside and we ordered frosty drinks and soaked. So much fun! No pics were taken, sorry.
• We found a tubing hill that was SO FUN! We chatted with the owner for a while and found out that he was inspired to start this business after he drove past the sledding hill in Parley's canyon driving to and from Park City every day when he lived in Salt Lake. 

• Ice skating! This wasn't a very good bonding experience because I don't trust Giuseppe's stability on ice and I wouldn't let him near me. I'm kind of a baby when it comes to ice skating. But it really was fun! Giuseppe was able to do some cool tricks and not hurt himself, so I would consider the event a success. We asked two girls to take a picture of us on our phone, and right as she was about to take the picture, the phone died from the cold! She then gave us her phone so that we could take a picture of the two of them, but right as we were about to take it, her phone died! So no pics once again.
• On our last full day, we drove up to Wolf Creek, a ski resort. We had pretty much used up all of our funds at that point, so we just watched. 
• 
• We loved eating out! We went to a delicious sushi restaurant and ordered some of our favorites: maki, tempura, mochi, and edamame. We had a delicious breakfast at a hipster place called "Two Chicks And A Hippie". We went to one of the many breweries and ordered their "famous" homemade root beer. It wasn't good at all, and brave Giuseppe asked to switch it out.  

Three cheers for Pagosa Springs! We'll be visiting again one day.

Almost Mrs. Hess

In four days, Giuseppe and I will be sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake temple!

Yesterday we signed for our new apartment. We found a PERFECT place, and we are so excited to be  able to live together We are so sick of him having to drop me off at my apartment every night on the other side of town. 

Good riddance to being engaged!

But above all, we are so excited to kneel at the alter together.

Today Giuseppe and I were able to go to the sealing of our friends Catalina and Emrys in the Oquirrh Mountain temple. It was amazing! We are so excited for our turn.

Cold, But Thrifty

Last week we were driving Cora back from my parent's house when she started sputtering pretty badly, as well as flashing her check engine light. 

We took her in to the only mechanic that was open. The mechanic was named Daniel, and he spoke little English. I'll spare you the story of what was wrong with the car, because I think it's boring to write about and boring to read about!

The cost was high, but definitely doable. Daniel said it would only take an hour. He told us that if we wanted to pay in cash, he wouldn't charge us tax.... We immediately agreed. Anything to save money, right?

I searched on my phone and found that the nearest credit union ATM was a little over a mile away. Without a car, we were left to walk there. Unfortunately it was FREEZING and we were inadequately dressed. It was deathly. When we were about halfway there, the shoveled sidewalk ended, so we had to switch off between running through 2 feet of snow and walking on the side of the slushy road, trying not to get wet by the passing cars.

Although Giuseppe was not accustomed to such frigid temperatures (this is his first real winter in Utah), he was a total gentleman and switched coats with me after I complained that because I didn't have a hood, the cold was giving me a terrible earache. 

As we skipped/walked/ran/stumbled back to the shop, we made up weird songs and cuddled at crosswalk waits. We made it back to the shop just after it was finished. 

I love my cute future husband and I'm so grateful that he makes not-so-fun things adventurous and memorable!

I am going to start a blog.

In the midst of wedding planning, apartment searching, school applying, work, church, and being in love, I've decided to start a blog!

In one month I will be married to the love of my life, Giuseppe!

July 2015- PC: Kylie Crosby

I am so excited for our life together, and I figure I'd better start recording it.

The goal is to post pictures, stories, and updates on our life. 

I also want to share scriptures, talks, articles, music, videos, and other media that I've found inspirational.

So for today, here's an article from the Liahona that Giuseppe had to read for his religion class in October. I read it with him (okay, more like for him...) and I loved it so much that I texted him, "I want to print this out, frame it, and hang it on the wall next to our family pictures!"

Cause it really is that good!

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2015/04/it-isnt-a-sin-to-be-weak?lang=eng

Isn't it motivating? And comforting? 

I am so grateful for this probationary state on Earth where I can prepare to enter Christ's presence!