Our Story (part three)

 Valentines day was approaching, Dustin told me we had dinner plans and that this place had a dress code but he wouldn't tell me where because it was a surprise.

On valentines day he picked me up and surprised me with a pearl necklace and earrings to match from Shane co. it was a big deal to me because I've always wanted real pearls. Well we drove to SLC and I thought he might be taking me to the roof but instead he took me to Ruths Chris, which was amazing!!!! 

Dustin continued to impress me, but what was most important to me was that he is Christ like, he reminds me of my dad, he is patient and understanding, he is everything important to me. 

We started seeing each other practically everyday, and we would go on walks in the evening. Dustin and I were quickly growing closer together, and becoming best friends. 

I had a special experience one day as Dustin the girls and I were arriving at his parents house. As I got out of the car and was coming around to the other side I had this strong feeling of peace, that this was okay and as I looked up I saw Dustin looking at me and I could see the Timp Temple right behind him way out in the distance and then was hit with a strong deja vu feeling.

After some time we started talking about marriage and if we got married we would wait and get married on sept 5th.. We went ring shopping and I knew he would ask me when he got the ring but I didn't know when it would all go down. We also decided to get married either sooner or the following year because I didn't want to get married and move the girls in the middle of a school year. 

On march 20th I just returned from a field trip at work when his sisters arrived and handed me the biggest bouquet of roses and a puzzle to do. The puzzle was a picture of a place I needed to be at by that evening to get the piece that was missing. When the girls and I got their we found the bridge and Dustin. He first proposed to the girls and gave them special necklaces, then he asked me to marry him and of course you know the answer was yes!

The next few short months were spent getting approval from the first presidency to cancel my sealing to my Ex, getting the wedding together, finding a place to live, quitting my job, and growing closer and closer together!! 

The day before our wedding I let Dustin know that I had been praying about marrying him and still didn't have an answer from God about it but I do remember that feeling I had at his house that this is okay, and I decided that maybe I just needed to have faith. He also helped comfort me by telling me about his feeling about getting married. 

On the day we got married he arrived at the temple like an hour before we were supposed to be there and he had to wait for me hahaha. I enjoyed sitting with him in the Celestial room in the Temple and talking about things. Then in the sealing room where we got married I was nervous but felt really good, When the officiator said that we were married and husband and wife, an incredible feeling from God of peace and this was right came over me and I just started crying.  

Everyday I he amazes me and we grow together more and more. He is my best friend, he loves me for me and I love him for him and I wouldn't have life any other way or with any one else.

Our Story (part two)

 After our second date (January 1st) we texted a ton especially during Jazz games, but we didn't see each other for a while because I got sick. We decided to go on another date to the Ice Castles in Midway on January 13th. Right before he arrived I got a call from my ex saying his Girl friend was having a miscarriage and was trying to figure out arrangements for our girls, well we got in a big argument and so the last thirty min before Dustin arrived I was crying and telling my family what happened, when I say my family I mean my parents and 3 of my 4 sisters were there. I was able to compose myself and Dustin came to the door and he was holding a BIG bouquet of my favorite flowers (found out later he figured out what they were from meredeth). Seeing him standing there with that bouquet about had me crying again!!

He said hi to my family (first time meeting everyone) then we headed out to dinner. I let him know what was going on with my ex and how I was having a bad time before he showed up. After dinner we went to the ice castles and it was an amazing date!! we had so much fun together and had plenty of time to talk and get to know each other more.           

It was the date that changed everything! 

Unbeknownst to me after this date Dustin knew he wanted to pursue me, so he arranged many things ahead of time. For example he made dinner reservations for valentines day, bought a gift for that day and ordered a bouquet for my birthday.

After this date I decided to let him meet the girls, So we took them on a date and they loved the idea! We took them to the planetarium in SLC and then out to Red Robin, Eden was in food Heaven! On the way home I asked if I could meet his family, (thought it was no biggie seeing as I met them a long time ago.) That night he took me to their house and I met them all again and got to play some games with them. I fell in love with his family right away. He came over for Lydias birthday and we talked about where this was going, a week later on my birthday we decided to be a couple. Something that meant a lot to me is that he was fine not kissing until I was ready. Dustin agreed to going to Logan with me early in February so I could show him where I lived and my favorite places. 

He paid for some hotel rooms and we went up. We went swimming, and to my old job, and on a walk through the cemetery (my fav place to walk) and we went sledding down old main. It was on this trip that I decided to finally kiss him and I caught him off gaurd when I did :)

Our story (part one)

 Dustin and I sorta met when I was six years old, thats when my family moved to Provo and in our ward was the Barnes family. Meagan Barnes was in my sunday school class, I knew she had an older brother named Dustin but that's all I knew about him. Well the Barnes family moved to Saratoga Springs by the time I was 12

My sister Meredeth would hang out with a couple of people in our ward, one of them being a boy named Colin Bliss, Colin is Dustins Best friend, So even though Dustin moved we still would hear a little here and there about the Barnes family. 

In the year 2010 my sister Meredeth got married to Colin Bliss. He wanted Dustin to be his Best man at the wedding but he was still on his mission, however Dustin had a knee injury that sent him home early and he made it just in time to be his best man. Apparently Dustin thought to ask me out on a date at the wedding but then chickened out. 

While I married someone else and had two daughters and went through a difficult decision of getting divorced, Dustin was working at Deseret Book, he got promoted and moved out to Sacramento where he went through a severe depression, then he got moved back to the Riverton UT location at about the same time or just after I moved in with my parents.

2018 I was a divorced single mom thinking all men suck and I was going through therapy for emotional abuse and PTSD. I started going on 5k's with my Brother in law Colin and starting to date again while practicing looking for Red flags in others. Dustin had also tried dating many times in his single life with no luck. 

One day in the middle of the night my mom had a thought that I should go on a date with that Dustin Barnes. She asked me if I would be interested and I said sure, so she asked Colin to set it up. Meredeth and Colin invited him to one of their kids bday parties and I was going too, however He ended up not coming because he ended up having to work. I guess this happened more than once. 

Finally in December of 2018 Colin had arranged a double date for December 31st. Dustin picked me up at my parents house and we drove to the Provo Beach Resort where we and Meredeth and Colin played croquet first. Well it was an awkward date, we both new Meredeth and Colin but not each other so it was easier to talk to them then it was each other. After Croquet we went bowling, during bowling Cosmo the BYU cougar interrupted Dustin and bowled for him (very poorly too) it was silly and fun. Colin invited us both to his birthday dinner the next day (we both said was obvious he was trying to get us together again.) Then we played some arcade games and finished by splitting up and going to dinner alone. 

Dustin was taking me to Olive Garden and when he didn't turn at the right place I asked him if he was kidnapping me and then explained he wasn't driving toward any Olive Garden I knew of anymore. He just forgot where it was. Dinner was awkward and kind of quiet, but of course delicious! That evening Dustin asked me if I wanted to turn Colins birthday dinner into a real date and go do something after.

So after Colins birthday dinner Dustin took me to the Museum of ancient life at Thanksgiving point. It was nice to just be us and not have my family following us. We were able to chat and get to know each other more and we both really enjoyed this date. 

2 Months

 Grady is two months old!

He weighs 11.68 lbs and is 24.5 inches tall.

He still loves to lick everything! Grady started smiling and cooing this month and it is our favorite thing.  

He hates the hiccups and has gotten them everyday since birth (he had them a lot in utero too).

His doctor had me pump for 24 hours to see if i was making enough milk because his weight went from 89%+ to 40% and she was a little concerned. Well I make plenty of milk and he just needs to be encouraged to stay latched longer. Last night he had a 5 hour sleep stretch!!!! it was amazing! but I know it was because he only napped for 20 mins at a time during the day. 

Therapy

 Lydia broke her arm on mothers day this year, I still have flash backs from it and it makes me cringe and just feel awful!!! 

She has come very far since the surgery, however I noticed that her right hand is still not functioning at 100 percent so I mentioned it to the doctor, we were referred to an occupational therapist. Lydia has since had two appointments with the therapist. He says she is very unique because of where her numbness is located and how she can and cant move her fingers.

She is enjoying therapy so far and is working hard at improving motion in her arm. 

Here are some photos of her Journey..... 

That bump

This was my hardest pregnancy so far but I am great full to have had a healthy pregnancy. Also my sister is amazing for always taking our photos!

 

Halloween

Halloween was fun this year. 

we stopped by y parents house and got some big candy bars and then we went to Dustins parents house for trick or treating and some dinner and games. The girls had SO much fun!