Church in the Dominican Republic

Being here in the Dominican Republic reminds me of the time that I spent in Uganda. The people, while they have different characteristics, look an awful lot alike. Their habits of working are also a lot similar - they both have street vendors who hang out in the middle of streets and walk past all of the cars selling fruits, nuts, phone cards, cell phone chargers, throwing sponges on then car windows to wash them (whether you want them washed or not) and drinks. There are street vendors selling things along the road in the more rural parts of the country which is always fun to see. They don't have many refrigerators and don't refrigerate eggs which I may never get used to, and they have meat hanging out in the sun, with the live animals nearby so if you prefer watching them kill and skin uour meat as opposed to one hanging, they will kill it right in front of you. They ride motorcycles (in Africa known as a bota-bota) more than driving cars and few people obey traffic laws so the streets are chaotic. Children run around naked, they love staring at the white people and they don't pay much attention to time. They live sun up to sun down, not 9 am, 4 pm, 6 pm etc. It's definitely something to get used to but I love it. I've been here 4 days now and I haven't had a hot shower the whole time I've been here. Do you know how hard it is to shave in ice cold water? Not possible. :0) All of these things and many more remind me of Africa and have again brought up my feelings of gratitude for being an American. I said this when I came home from Africa but have thought it many times since being here, just being born in America, even with nothing, we have so many more luxuries than even the richest people here. That's all temporal though. These people, like those in Africa are some of the most genuine, most giving, and most loving people I have ever met. I am sure there are American's like that out there, but they are few and far between. I'm sitting in Sunday school right now and as we were waiting for sacrament meeting to start I can't even count the number of people that walked up and shook each of our hands and greeted us with hugs and kisses on our cheeks. "it's probably just because you were visiting." may be what you're thinking. That's what I thought too. But no, they walked up to each person in the cultural hall and greeted them. This is what happens when people come to church early I guess :0) they have the opportunity to greet every one in the building. There was one "white" (American) family in the ward. They happened to be the only family that I saw come in late and they were the only family that let their children play and color during the meeting. Interesting... All the Dominican kids were sitting quietly and still but they were watching the American kids to see what they were doing and what they were playing with. Haha. However you do church is great, I just like observing the differences. :) I have missed being in a foreign country, I'm happy to be here and will post more about my adventure here soon. To come: 27 Charcos (waterfalls) that we jumped off of and/or slid down, zip lining, swimming in the ocean, and food :)

The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The guys in their room before heading to church: Mike, Stalin, Randy

The girls room. As you can see, little to no room between the beds. Lily, Jennifer, and Jenifer 

Members of the ward which we attended while in the DR.

the Proposal

Mike proposed to me! Isn't that exciting! He did so good and the proposal was so "him" and so "me." It was absolutely perfect.

Alli had asked me to come up to Logan and go shopping with her so I drove up after work and met her at the mall. We went to Maurices and then we went to Bath & Body Works. In the middle of shopping at Bath & Body Works she said, "Shoot! What time is it!? I was supposed to pick up a portfolio from my Professor today." Then she rambled on about that for a while as she started walking out of the mall. So I followed her and I said, "Do you want me to come with you?" She said, "I don't care." But I went up there to spend time with her so I figured I would.

I had a feeling that Mike was going to propose to me, and as Alli drove to Utah State I thought, "This is where it's going to be. This is where he is going to propose to me!" The Family Life building is right next to Ray B. West (the English building where Mike & I met in January 2008) so she drove past both of them and then parked. There were Ultimate Frisbee players out on the quad playing and I saw Mike's old roommate Rudy. I yelled, "RUDYYYY!" and from a good distance away he yelled, "JENNI JARRETTTTT!" I said to Alli, "It's strange that he knew it was me from so far away (and since I live out of town and it's a weekday)." She said, "Ya..." (Turns out Mike had waited at his house while I was on my way to Logan - so that's how he knew I was in town ;0).) ANYWAY... As we started to walk past the English building I thought, "This is it, Mike is going to come out, or Alli is going to take me in there but it's going to happen here at the English building." We walked right past it. We walked into the  Family Life building, picked up her portfolio and left. I was wondering if she would walk me through the English building since they are connected. But nope. We were walking past the English building towards the parking lot and I thought, "This is so weird. I swear Mike would have done it here. He is so sentimental and this was a special place - where we met, I wonder where he is going to do it if he doesn't do it here..." I started thinking about other places on campus that he may do it.

We passed the doors to the English department and I kept walking, focused on where Mike will be proposing to me... Suddenly from behind I hear, "Jen!... What the heck!?..." It was Mike :). I turn around and he was coming out of the doors of the English building. I look down and see a large vase of flowers, it had been on the steps both times that we walked past. I was oblivious to it and missed them both times!

The next day - how in the world did I miss seeing this on the stairs two times!?

I looked at the flowers and then I looked at Mike and I said, "Mike! Are you proposing to me!?" He just laughed. I walked back to the stairs and next to the vase of flowers was a Shutterfly book with our photo on the cover. I said something, I don't remember what, but I picked up the book and started reading it.

It was the best thing EVER! It was everything you would want someone to say to you when they are proposing. It was filled with reasons why he loves me, favorite memories he has of us together, and things he is looking forward to in the future. It was perfect! Parts of it were very, very sweet, but other parts of it were very, very funny. <3 It was 30 pages long, here are 10 of them that I thought were appropriate to share, the others were longer and more personal or had inside jokes that only us or our families/close friends would get.

"You are the greatest. You do things to break the rules. Even when we have been told not to. Sometimes I get so embarrassed... Butts I do it, cause it is important to you."

"Your crazy driving sometimes scares me and makes me want to be a better driver, even though I know I can't make up for someone elses bad habits. You still kicked my trash that one day in Go Karting." 

"I would like to say something like the thought of being with you forever burns the inside walls of my heart, like a calf being branded. I learned symbolism in Poetry Writing classes we were required to take. You really make me want to be Poetic because most Poets are psychotic. But they also know how to indescribably describe love in the most bizarre and perfect ways."

"When I think of a international traveler, I think of someone who likes to travel to see the world. Not you, who would rather spend days and nights on a mat on the floor feeding orphans with her hands. Someone who enjoys the experience of traveling but also likes helping."

"A man wished he had as much drive as you do. You do as much as you can and still want to do more."

"Man, I loved this day. it has always been one of my favorites. It was early fall/late summer and the fields were white and yellow. It was so beautiful, You, not the landscape."

"I like looking at pictures when we were younger and just beginning. We have grown and changed so much."

"This trip to New York was the best time of my life. Not only did I get you to tell me you loved me; it really solidified our relationship, and I knew I wanted to marry you. Still do in fact."

"This is a pretty big representation of what we looked like back then and what we look like most recently. I really can't wait to see how we look in 25, 50, and 75 years of being together."

"I think my favorite time of these photos was when we went down to Vegas because we went to the temple which will tie us together for time and all eternity."

The last page was a picture of Mike and beneath it, "Are you ready for this awesomeness?" At this point Mike got down on his knee, so I shut the book. He opens a ring box that he had been holding and he says, "well, the ring box that I have is empty, but Jen, will you marry me?"

My first response? "Well, where's the ring?" He said, "Well you didn't finish the book..." I open the book again and on the real last page Mike had created a paper box and tied it up with a ribbon. I pulled the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a rose he had made and in the center, the ring was tied in with a ribbon. (I loved it!)

I love thinking about Mike putting the time into and effort into making the box and the rose. I just imagine his large and handsome man hands gluing down ribbon, delicately folding the paper, tying the ribbons and putting it all together. I love how thoughtful he is, not only in this, but in everything he does and says!

He put the ring on my finger and seemed to think it was over. I reminded him that I never answered him and he started to get down on his knee again. I said, "Just ask me!" So he said, "Jen, will you marry me?" And I said.... "Yes!" (of course!)

Alli had pulled out a video camera and was video taping so she cheered. The ultimate frisbee players had stopped playing and gathered around to watch, so they cheered, then my mom and two of Mike's good friends walked out of the English building, and they cheered. So I got to show of the bling right away :0).

I designed this ring, but told Mike I wanted this ring or one other ring. He chose this one! The photo in the lower right is what it will look like with the wedding band and anniversary bands :)

It was really perfect. It was so us! The language and story of the book is perfectly Mike and I love photo books so it was perfectly me too! I love that he chose the place we met to do it and I love that he got my family involved.

I called my dad and Alisha on my drive home; Austin, Jordan and Vanessa were at my parents house so I showed them the ring and told them the story. After I called my Grandpa's & Grandma's to share the great news with them! I can't wait to get married to Mike. I don't think that the day can come fast enough when Mike and I get to start our lives together not just in the same city, but in the same house! :) 

ENGAGED!!

I just love Mr. Michael Teagle and am so excited to spend forever with him.

Looking at Logan from USU. Perfect place to get engaged. 

Sidewalks along the quad near the Family Life and English buildings.

 Oh! Later I asked Mike how come he didn't realize I never gave him an answer. He said, "I was so nervous!"

Even later we were sitting at my parents table talking and he says, "Well now that the biggest part of the wedding is over..." I was like, "Wait, wait, wait... that was the biggest part of the wedding?" LoL. If that's true the rest of this will just be a breeze ;0).

Salt Lake City Bike Tour 2012

This year Austin and Alli decided to ride the Salt Lake City Bike Tour with me. It's a nice course, just 25 miles, and ran from the University of Utah down to the Energy Solutions Area. I love organized bike rides because it's the one time that you can ride on the streets and not worry about stop lights, stop signs, and traffic. I have done this ride a few times before and I forget how much I enjoy it simply because Salt Lake is a beautiful place. The quaint neighborhoods we ride through, the historical buildings we pass, and the folks that wake up early to sit in front of their houses and cheer us on. It's a blast and I absolutely love this event.

 Waiting at the starting line (Legacy Bridge). There were lots of cyclists there to ride with us!

These two are amazing cyclists and so great for doing the ride with me. They know that I get grumpy at 5:00 AM, yet they still agreed to it. How blessed am I to have such great siblings :)

Namuun

I was so excited when I got a Facebook message one night from a little girl that I used to teach on my mission. I spent 9 months teaching Namuun and her younger brother when I served in Arlington, VA. Her message said that she was on her way to BYU-IDAHO and was flying in to Salt Lake City. I was so excited. I can't believe that this 'little' girl (who I taught at 12 years old) is now going to college (I have been home that long!?). I was so excited that she wanted to come spend time with me and so excited that she was on her way to BYU!!!

So I headed to the airport around 10 for her 11 o'clock arrival.

So - funny story. I had a picture of me and Joey Fatone (from *N SYNC) with me on my mission (who wouldn't). And maybe I happened to carry around a wallet size in my wallet and tell people I dated him. I had forgotten, but on the way to my house Namuun asked me about the Backstreet Boy that I used to date. I was confused at first, but finally it all clicked. I asked her about the photo and the story and yep - that was in. Funny thing - she actually believed me and thought that I really did date him. She said that she always told her friends about the sister missionary who dated a member of the band. 

ooops. Guess I have got to be careful with my jokes and make sure people know that I am being sarcastic :0/

So our first stop after picking her up from the airport? The conference center!

This view of the temple was taken from the roof of the conference center.

I hadn't had a tour of the Conference Center since it opened. I have been there - I just haven't had a tour. It was pretty fun. I learned a lot of new things about the building and really enjoyed looking at all of the architecture and artwork.

Check out these pyramid sun lights. On the roof they look like the photo above. From within the conference center they look like the photo pictured below. Pretty amazing huh?

One of my favorite rooms was the hall of the prophets. There are head statues of all the prophets since Joseph Smith. I loved walking through and seeing all of them.

Afterwards we went to Temple Square. 

We went to each of the Visitor's Centers and then we went to the Utah State Capitol Building.

After that we went to Cafe Trang and ordered some very yummy food:

It was an interesting experience.

Near the end of our meal some guy came in and asked, "Does anyone own a Mustang?" 

I didn't say anything because I don't own a Mustang.

The restaurant was pretty empty because it was after lunch so he looked at us and said, "Do you own a Mustang parked out there?" and nodded his head towards the window where my car was parked. 

I noticed that all the cars we had parked by were gone and mine was the only one left out there.

I said, "That's my car, but it's not a Mustang."

He said, "Well can I move your car so that I can pull up and park there?"

He had a truck and a trailer...

I was like, "Uh..." (Thinking 'have him move my car!?')

He said it again, "I can move your car if you want to give me your keys."

I said, "No, it's okay, I will move it."

He said, "Well do you trust me? Give me your keys and I will move it for you."

"No, it's okay, I've got it."

He continued a few times on our way out the store.

I thought it was pretty interesting. How often does someone just come into a restaurant and ask you for your keys so that they can move your car? Maybe I should have been more trusting and let him. Then again, maybe I was fine just doing it myself :)

Then Namuun opened her fortune cookie. NOTHING.

I opened my fortune cookie and it said this: "Things don't just happen; they happen just."

I'm not quite sure what that means. Anybody else got an idea?

It was fun having Namuun visit. We went to Wise Guys, watched a movie and the next morning visited the Hill Aerospace Museum. It was so fun to catch up and talk about everything that has happened during the past six years! I hope we get to see each other again soon. In the meantime - good luck at school Namuun! Thanks for the visit!