The day before I started teaching in August Derek proposed and we set out wedding date for December 28 (at the time it was a great idea. Now we’re not so sure). I was so nervous to start school the next day so he took me to the temple to calm me down, bought me my favorite ice cream and we went for a walk. While we were walking he asked me to take off his cuff link and the ring slipped into my hand. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was such a special night and I can’t wait to be his wife!!
The next day I started my first year of teaching and my time has been filled with lesson plans, grading papers, and decorating bulletin boards ever since. Teaching is much more work than I ever thought. I have loved decorating my room and thinking of fun things to do for my kids. I have 23 second graders and they are full of life. Although it is a job that never ends I love it and I love how sweet my students are to me. They told me when I left that they will never call me Mrs. Steiner- I will be Miss Pasley forever. We have had a great four months in school!!
Between teaching and planning a wedding, life has been crazy. Derek has been in Idaho while I was in Utah so we traveled back and forth for four months trying to plan the perfect wedding. Luckily I have the best mom and mother-in-law in the whole world. They have been amazing to help us plan all the little details and get everything organized. We love the Judy’s!!
My favorite wedding planning memory was finding the dress. It is an exciting time for any brid
e buy my experience was extra special. My parents had come to Utah for their anniversary and we decided to look around for wedding dresses. My dad wasn’t too thrilled with the idea at first but he was so fun to shop with. He sat on the comfy couch and watched me try on many many dresses. He pointed out good and bad things about all the dresses and even gave tips to other brides trying on dresses. He helped me pick out the most beautiful dress and even paid for it!! When we were checking out the girls at the counter told me how lucky I was to have such a sweet and funny father. We left the dress store and he went and helped me pick out shoes, brides maids dresses, and was even willing to pick out the bra! I told me to wait outside that store ; ) It was such a special day and one that I will never forget.
We had an amazing Christmas and it was so good to spend time with both our families. We are so blessed to have such wonderful parents. I am so grateful for the Christmas season and the opportunity I get to celebrate the birth, life, and death of my Savior. I know I got caught up a lot in the presents and the parties along with many wedding details but I know that Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas and I am so grateful for his life and his sacrifice. Because of him and his Atonement I will have the opportunity to live forever with my family and now that means even more to me.
For months I have been planning the wedding and worrying about all of the many details. Here I am the day before my wedding finishing up all the little things but I know that the most important part required little planning. I will be entering the temple with my sweetheart and will kneel across the altar and promise to be his forever. I know that we will have trials and challenges but I am so grateful to be marrying such an amazing man. He loves me and treats me like a queen. He honors his priesthood and is a great example to me. He is my favorite shopping buddy, mechanic, cook, back scratcher, and my very best friend. I can’t wait to start our lives together.
This is a day that I have been dreaming about for many years. As a young girl with my sister I p
ut the pillow case on my head and pretended to be a bride. I planne
d the details as a teenager. I watched all of my friends and family members get married and couldn’t wait for my day. It didn’t come easy for me and now I can look back and thank my Father in Heaven for the journey. I often asked God why I couldn’t find the right guy for me sooner but I now see that he had something great in store for me. I can’t imagine life without Derek and thank God for his goodness and for his plan. Tomorrow I will marry the love of my life and I hope to see you all there to celebrate with us- and so you can see my handsome new husband. We love you and appreciate all your support!!
