It's Been Rough... but We're Managing (Literally)

Dear friends and family,
No no, we haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. We're still alive, I promise.
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update. Reality sure hit me hard when I found out that being married is actually busier than being single (at least in our case anyway.) I'm here to tell you about the incredible blessings we've been receiving and to give you a general idea on what we're spending our time doing!

1)It's Been Rough... but We're Managing: literally! Braedon and I receive an apartment managing job here in Cedar City. We received the call the day after we got back from our honeymoon. Talk about timing!This job has been a blessing in SO many different ways. Our rent is covered through the work we do and that is one of the biggest things. In addition, we've gotten quite good at time management (when something needs fixing, ya just do it, there's no time to put it off) and I sure have learned to work harder than I ever have before. It's been such a pleasure to get to know our tenants at the apartment complex (Aspen Meadow). Many of them are returning from last year; this is the singles' ward Braedon and I were in before we got married, and many we are close friends with.
Why has it been rough? Things. Are. Busy. Taking care of tenants and the facilities are up near the top of our priority list. Paperwork is very extensive and takes a lot of keeping up work. Fixing broken things is difficult and takes a lot of time. The lawn.. it's not a lawn, it's a hill. We mow a hill.

Things to know about being apartment managers:
A) You're home alone because your husband is at work and it's during the week before school. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TAKING A SHOWER. You will inevitably be interrupted, or more specifically, panicked when there is a knock at the door and you don't know how to react.
B) Doors seem somewhat invisible to some people. LOCK THEM. If not, people tend to just walk right into our kitchen.
C) After waking up at 6:30 am, classes all day for both of us, work for Braedon, dance auditions this week for me, choir rehearsals, presidency meetings, getting people checked in.. by the time we finally get home.. KEEP LIGHTS OFF. (is this terrible of us?) Braedon did homework in the back office a few nights ago while I made cookies in the kitchen without a light on. Sometimes.. we let it appear like we're already asleep.
Well, that's enough of that. All of these things really do happen, but they're completely written out of humor.

2)We're both quite busy with our schedules as far as school is concerned. Braedon is taking Statistics, Microeconomics, Management, Intro to Business Careers, and Accounting while I am taking four different English courses and my last semester of Spanish. W.I getting toward the end of my schooling and will have my Associates, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of English with Creative Writing Emphasis in 2013.  We are also both enrolled in multiple institute classes including Building Eternal Marriage which we take together once a week. We're very excited for the growth, knowledge, and testimony that will come from learning how to be better eternal spouses. We are also in the presidency of the Songs of the Heart choir, the institute audition choir, but we have not done auditions or started rehearsals yet. Our conductor wife is very sick right now and they are at the Hunter Cancer Facility in Salt Lake City. Prayers for their comfort and health are greatly appreciated. We are, however, having choir rehearsals three times a week with a larger group. We will be joining with the Saint George institute choirs THIS SUNDAY to sing for Elder Holland at the CES Broadcasted Fireside to take place at the Burns Arena. We have been looking forward to this for months and are incredibly excited to perform the songs Faith of Our Fathers and More Holiness Give Me; Elder Holland requested these songs specifically. 

3)We absolutely love our young married ward! We've had the opportunity to already get close to quite a few couples and the ward is full of outstanding young adults. A few weeks ago we were called to be the Ward Choir Directors and even more recently Braedon was called to be the Second Counselor in the Elder's Quorum. I have been gaining such a spectacular testimony of callings in the church and how God places us exactly where we are needed. Braedon and I have also been diligent at doing our Home and Visiting Teachings assignments. This has been one of the keys to making many new friends.

4) Well, for now I guess the last thing to update you about is our relationship with our best friends, McKenna and Rigo Yturriaga. All four of us are starting this crazy journey called marriage together. Both couples began dating at the same time, we were both engaged a week apart, and married within two weeks of each other. Rigo and I are both converts to the church whereas Braedon and McKenna both grew up in active Latter-day Saint homes; this factor has been an incredible benefit to all of us. Now that we're married we constantly strive to keep each other accountable for our spiritual growth and fine-tuning our characteristics so that we may become the very best eternal individuals and couples possible. We have dinner and play cards every Sunday afternoon, we will all be singing in the Songs of the Heart Choir together, and we see each other on campus almost every day. They bring such light into Braedon and I's lives, and we know we are able to do the same for them. I'm not sure what any of us did to deserve such a significant blessing. All I can say is that we must have been friends long before we came to Earth.

Birthday candle wishes DO come true

Where to begin?
Today is my 20th birthday. Holy, when did that happen?
Last year we had a party here at my parents' house in Layton. Some friends from Cedar came up, some were here from North Ogden, we watched a movie, made licorice bracelets, and ate way too much junk food. I remember what I was wearing and the way my heart felt that afternoon as I blew out the 19 candles on that rich, creamy carrot cake. "Please, please let me find someone who respects and loves me. Please let me find the kind of love Heavenly Father would want for me." Silly? Maybe. But I did it. I wished a whole life decision on a little bit of birthday cake, and it was one of the most desperate wishes I've ever made in my life.

Last summer was an extreme challenge in many ways. I was having problems with cognitive dissonance and making decisions that I didn't want to be making. I felt lost and stuck and hopeless. I did my best to look forward to August and a new school year. There's just something about a move, a change in location, and some sort of "fresh start." I even chopped my hair off to a pixie short length in attempt to grasp something, anything better.

That fall semester I met my best friend. The term BFF from junior high days took on a whole new weight as we experienced things together that I never knew could be experienced. And before I could blink too many times, May had arrived again. But instead of planning a birthday party, I'm planning a wedding for my future eternal companion, Braedon Fletcher, and myself. It's been hilarious that he's had to frequently remind me that my birthday is coming up, it's continually slipping my mind. I still can't quite grasp how much my life has changed in just one year, but I thank God for it every single day.

So here's to the little things like wishing on eyelashes, shooting stars, and birthday candles. These moments contain magic, and they can change everything. Notice each little flower, the slight breeze, the soft smell of  the drizzling rain. Most of all, remember the footprints your walks with others leave, and remember the footprints others leave on your heart.
Thank you, Braedon LeGrande Leavitt Fletcher, for leaving so many footprints that you completely changed the shape of my heart. It's so much more full and filled with love than I could have ever hoped.
I am more than ecstatic about becoming your wife 10 short days after turning 20 years old. This magic was simply meant to be.
Trinity Vanessa ♥

The Ring's Hardly Anything

November 11, 2011 was one of those days that would change my life. It's so funny to look back and realize you had no idea at the time that something that seemed like nothing could change your everything.

As fellow Songs of the Heart choir members we decided to get together in a group and do something fun that night after everyone got off work. As plans fell through and desires changed there were only two people still willing to stick to the plan, Braedon Fletcher and I.
After we had both gotten off work we eventually decided through text to go roller blading/skating at the local rink. I specifically remember him giving me a hard time when I was thinking about just calling it for the night when plans looked like they may not work out. He really wanted to get together. He even called me to solidify plans, decided to drive, and told me he'd pick me up around 8:00 pm.You know how you hear stories of girls who didn't realize they were on a date until they were actually ON the date? It sounds ridiculous and impossible, right? Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. As Braedon opened my door for me, payed for skating, and was open and playful all night, I realized what I hadn't realized before. I'll never forget the butterflies I felt as he came up behind me (being much more skilled at skating) and put his hands on my hips to push me fast. He took my hand and my heart jumped a little. He liked me.
Now, you gotta know, I marked Braedon off my list of availibility at the beginning of last semester when I found out he had a girlfriend. And at that moment, during the date, I put together that they definitely were not dating anymore. Brae and I had an awesome, deep conversation at his apartment before he dropped me off for curfew. I walked into my place, eyes wide, and told my roomates what had happened. I definitely fell asleep smiling.
Braedon and I spent the next few weeks becoming the best of friends. I had been interested in someone up north and was kind of pursuing that. I think Braedon has learned tremendous amounts of patience as he "chased me" for a while. But as Braedon aslways saved a seat, fixed the lightbulb in the back of my car, and helped me through the trials of life, my feelings for him started to bloom.

One day specifically changed my mind about who I wanted to be with. Braedon had found out I'm into snowboarding and invited me to go to Brianhead with him and some friends the weekend before finals. I explained to him my financial situation and told him I wouldn't be able to go. Just a few days later, at the closing Songs of the Heart social, we sat next to each other and he told me he had found a way for me to go without paying. He got a sweet deal with a friend, David, who worked there and we'd be able to board free of entrance fees. I was ecstatic! I spend December 10th on a beautiful mountain, in fresh snow, with awesome people. I had been torn and trying my best through prayer and scripture study to figure out who Heavenly Father wanted me to be dating. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. But as Braedon and I sat on a lift and climbed the mountain I realized there was no one else I'd rather be with than my best friend. That was my answer.
If you ever want a GOOD laugh, ask him or I about the first night we ever kissed, a little over one month after our first date. Let's just say... he didn't know it was going to happen. As we said goodbye that December 13th night to newfallen snow I wondered hard where my life was going. TWO days later we said goodbye as we each moved home to work for the Winter Break.
For the following couple of weeks we talked as much as we could each day, living our lives where we were but still trying to get to know each other even better. Each day grew harder and harder to be apart, so I decided to fix  that. I had planned on going back to Cedar City on Friday, January 6th right before the semester started. I made arrangements to go back a week early and surprise Braedon for New Years! I decided a whole week before I went home and, let me tell you, it's never been so hard to keep a secret in my life! I told him that I had something important to tell him and that I'd finally give it up Saturday after he got home from work (he was working in Gunlock during the week and Cedar on the weekends). The nervous feeling you get when you're about to drop on a rollercoaster at Lagoon; those were in my stomach the whole ride down to Cedar City. I called his mom, Laura, to clue her in on my plan and we (her, Lettie, and I) decided we would go down to Gunlock for the New Years celebration.
I waited in the parking lot across from Aspen Meadows, anxiously singing along to music and writing in my journal. The second I saw his Bronco pull in my stomach lurched. I had been playing this next moment in my head over and over again for days now. He walked in and called me. "What are you up to?" he excitely asked. I drove into his parking lot and got out of my car, "Oh, just got home from running an errand for my dad," I told him. I told him one sec, and so he set the phone down. Dang it! I stood on his porch waiting for him to come back on. I felt my pulse, literally racing. The moon was beautiful, and everything was right. I heard his voice on the phone and said,"Just one sec, my dad is talking to me." I put my cell phone on mute and knocked.. This was it!!!
I genuinely wish we could have recorded his reaction. The door opened, shock and misunderstanding filled his face, he turned around and kind of.. dropped/threw his phone, leaned against the wall and slid to the ground in disbelief. Yep, I had surprised him. It was sooo him, I laughed a little and sat next to him on the ground. He eventually hugged me tight and we talked. I gave him some time to grasp that I was actually there next to him. He hugged and laughed and danced to the song "Once in a Lifetime" by Keith Urban. It was perfect, and I became his girlfriend that night, December 31, when I went home and met his family.

Our New Years celebration couldn't have been better. I spent it with so many amazing people including my roommate, Lettie, and Braedon. His family was kind and warm, and everyone we were with were joyous to welcome in a New Year by understanding the blessings the gospel had brought them in 2011. Good food, great friends, and happy faces filled the night. There was even a small firework show at 10:00 pm to welcome in the "New York New Year."
At 12:00 am, January 1, 2012, we laid next to each other on the trap and I kissed the man I'd spend my eternity with. We saw three shooting stars that night, and you better believe I wished hard on all of them.

The next three months were more painful, exciting, challenging, and rewarding than I can ever explain to you through words. Every single day of my life I've grown closer to the woman I want to be through his example. At times things have been extremely hard for us. Being a convert to the church I grew up in a non-LDS home. I have fantastic parents whom I love dearly, but we simply have different backgrounds. I was very blessed to see early on that Braedon is what I want, and what I knew was and is correct for my life. The trials we've been through have increased our communication skills in ways I never knew possible. The adoration and love I've felt for this young man has even been overwhelming at times. I've never wanted to give every part of me to someone so badly, I've never felt so inclined to become 'one' with someone. Between first becoming such good friends before being exclusive and spending time away from one another we've been blessed to come to know each other in a way much deeper than just the physical aspects of dating.
Braedon Fletcher never knew how much he would change my life; sometimes we even joke about starting out as a rebound couple, both being recently out of relationships. He is a solid example of a hard-working, gospel grounded man of God. He shows more respect and love for me than I ever thought possible. He wants the very best for his future wife and family and is willing to sacrifice so much of himself to help them find joy. Some of the most beautiful moments to experience are the times I look at him and wonder, "Heavenly Father, how can I possibly have found someone like this?" and then Braedon says the exact same thing out loud to me.
Once upon a not too long ago the topic of marriage shyly came up, and Braedon asked me, "Cuando?" (which means 'when' in Spanish). And that was when our future became a little more real.
Over Spring Break I talked to my mother, father, and step-mother and told them the way things were developing. I can not express to you the grattitude I have toward their support, love, and hard work in helping Braedon and I make our wedding everything we want it to be. There's no way to explain to them accurately why I know this is right, they are just trusting me and helping in every way they can.

March 24th we went ring shopping in Salt Lake. Between the BEAUTIFUL ring we were able to find and my mother's diamond which sits in the middle, having a reception in my aunt Kristin's backyard, and the wedding dress I'm borrowing from a friend, Lexi, that I met this semester, Heavenly Father has blessed us in incredible ways financially.

On March 22nd Braedon took me up into the mountain for the short time we had between when he got off work and when I went to work. Due to the tight schedule he had taken me to my favorite restaurant the night before where we tried new Thai dishes and then to a park where we had a few wonderful conversations. Up in the mountain he took my hand and led me down a hill and into the heart of the desert forest. We hopped a barbed wire fence, perfectly representing our sense of adventure as a couple. He led me to a four-wheeler trail where he had placed 11 slips, tucked under rocks along the trail. He told me to read the first one, and that I'd have to walk the trail alone, but that he'd be waiting at the end to walk back with me. He ran down the trail and I stood alone, a perfect mix of shy and ready. The first slip of paper read,
"Trinity, you are about to walk down a path that will be both memorable and exciting. I've come up with a list of 'The Top 10 reasons why Braedon Fletcher so deeply desires to be married to you.' This definitely does not cover everything but I hope you will feel my love and spirit as you read them. Miss you already. Your love, Braedon"
At the bottom was the first line of our song, the one we danced to the night he asked me to be his girlfriend. My heart.. melted. As I walked along the trail and picked up each slip, the second being #10 and going down from there, I was touched by every single idea, comment, inside joke, and characteristic of me/us he had put down. There was one line of lyric on each slip. As I got further down I became more and more emotional, and as I read slip #1, I was overcome. It's far too personal and beautiful to share with the world, but you can know that the last line reads, "Trinity, my dear, I want you to be my forever."
I walked to where he was standing just a few feet away, tears streaming down my face. He took my hand and led me onto a small rock. The symbolism of him being below me was beautiful and showed so much about his love and respect for the woman I am. He pointed out the amazing view, why he loved it, and said a few incredibly tender things before getting down on his knee, my left hand in his, to ask to marry me. I covered my mouth with my other hand, sobbing, and nodded yes until he gave me his, "well, aren't you actually going to say it?" look. And so I did.

Braedon LeGrande Leavitt Fletcher has taken me on QUITE the
ride thus far. He became my best friend while I dated someone else, we spent weeks apart right after deciding we wanted to be together, and he took me home to meet his family the night we became official. He's taught me concepts and pieces of the gospel and joys in life that I've never had and inspires me to be better every single day. He's been here from yucky skin infections to staples in my head. Through intense school schedules, multiple jobs for both of us, and not enough sleep. We've had crazy ups and even crazier downs. The best part of it all: he'll be there through everything else too. The getting through our degrees and finding jobs. He'll be there through the birth of our children and the growing up years. He'll be there through sending our loved ones to where we are now and through growing old together. Braedon will be there for my eternity once we're sealed together in the Bountiful Temple, June 2, 2012. I once said to him, "I don't think there's another you out there that's as good for me as what I have right here, right now," and I know that to be true. I have not fallen in love, but I have chosen to be in love, for the rest of forever.

I deeply enjoy wearing the engagement/wedding ring he has given me; it literally hasn't left my finger. It is beautiful, completely me, and holds so much symbolism. It feels good to be "taken" by someone so perfect for me, and I've loved replacing the term "boyfriend" with "fiance!" But the ring itself is a mere penny in the wealth that Braedon has brought to my life.

Nov 11, 2011 changed my life.
June 2, 2012 will change my eternity.
I love you, Braedon Fletcher, with everything I have. Thank you for all you have done and all you will do. Thank you for being my forever.

Trinity Vanessa ♥

Some Sunshine, Stops, and Staples

Do you think on a daily basis how grateful you are for split decisions, police officers, or ambulances? What about modern day medicine like numbing drugs or staples? I don't think I've truly understood my grattitude for those things until March 9th, 2012.


Top of the trail



I was able to have an absolutely amazing experience just three days ago. I was overwhelmed with excitement as I walked out of my last class into the sunshiney Friday of Spring Break, completely unknown to the what the day would bring me. Braedon had the afternoon off of work and surprised me with a pair of rollerblades so that we could go enjoy the free time together in our favorite park (the first date he took me on was four months ago yesterday, and we went rollerblading)! With shorts on, sandwiches down, and sunshine beaming it was time to hit the trail. I quickly became nervous as I realized I wasn't quite as skilled as stopping as I'd like to be, we had a blast practicing though. He was quite good at catching me the lots of times I couldn't stop... We eventually crossed a river and got to the top of trail. The beauty took my breath away.

Things took a turn for the interesting on the way back down; Last hill, last turn, last of the trail. I was going too fast, and lost control. The next few minutes remain blury. I definitely remember thinking, "okay, I'm going to crash, but a few scrapes are going to be too bad." I hit my head and everything went numb, and next thing I knew, Braedon was next to me. Immediately I realized I could still move everything fine, and peace swept over me. I remember trying hard to stay awake. I remember Braedon calling an ambulance and his voice staying constant to keep me aware.

Not long after I crashed a police officer who we had passed on the way up the trail came back down to us. He asked what had happened, took information, and gave us some important advice. Soon after that an ambulance arrived and EMTs were there. They looked me over and assured me I needed to go to the hospital. I was being stubborn and sure I was just fine until I sat up and realized Braedon had blood all over his hand. I apologized, shocked, and he was extremely kind and tender.

Eventually we made it to the hospital where Braedon continued to take charge and make sure I was being taken care of. I was cleaned up and needed four staples in my head. Apart from the head injury and two scrapes from the sidewalk, my body is completely fine. My spirit, however, is so much more than fine.

It's interesting how you can learn more about a person in an hour through ceratin circumstances than weeks can allow. Making arrangments to have a fun time, food for a picnic, going slow to help me learn, paying more attention to me than himself, being right there when I needed, calling 911 right away, keeping me awake, driving us to the hospital, asking the nurse to be careful when cleaning my head, paying attention to all of the doctor's directions, making dinner, calling Kenna to spend the night with  me, and checking my head every 15 minutes or so are only some of the countless things Braedon did to show his care and love for me on Friday. In an emergency situation he was ready to do the right things and be the right person.

I cannot explain my grattitude to my parents for their concern and friends for their love, for the Spirit that gives us guidance and direction in the scariest of times, for all of the people who took care of me this weekend and for Braedon's dedication and devotion to my well-being and hapiness.

We were able to spend some time for the next two days after the accident to recoop a bit and enjoy each other before splitting up for Spring Break. This last week had been amazing to begin with, but a scary little mishap has brought us close in a way I never knew possible. It's unfathomable that the gospel can bless us to an extent that turns accidents into blessings. And this weekend I think we learned that if we are being the people we're meant to be, we'll never have to just "smile and bear it." Attitude changes pain, pain changes love, and love changes life.

Trinity Vanessa  ♥

Disclaimer: on love. Because I'm in it.

What puts the daily skip in your step?A heart-wrenching song, a smile from that stranger, a beautiful poem, the bright blue sky?
More than anything for me, it's the little things he does. The little things that aren't so little at all.

Sometimes I get into my car in a rush to get to the next place and find a sandwich, the only way I'd be able to eat for hours. It was put there during the one free hour he had, with the key only he knows the location of.
Or sometimes it's the hidden calendar comments in my phone to tell me he cares or events made on days he's sets aside time for us.
Sometimes it's the time taken for a four page text messages when we're apart, something simple to remind me he's thinking of me.
Sometimes it's the hard things, like the conversations that are going to hurt and the growth that is going to come.

October 2011

And sometimes it's realizing you got to become best friends long before you ever became boyfriend and girlfriend. 

Sometimes it's sitting in my car in the snow while he cleans the windows off, no matter how hard it may be snowing.

Sometimes it's a bag of spoons found in my bag so I'll never have food and nothing to eat it with.

Sometimes it's how he'll never let me get my own door, or carries me when I want to wear my socks into the store.

Sometimes it's getting to choir rehearsal and finding my folder already sitting on my seat.

Sometimes it's the moments where he says thee most adorable things and has no idea. The moments when he accidentally makes my heart leap.

There is a simple forumula here: service = love. We show our adoration and love for others by being there for them always and serving them whenever possible; this is especially true when showing our care for our significant other.

These acts of service are the sometimes in my life...                                                                                                                                    

But it's all the time that he moves my heart, every moment that I feel lucky to be with him, and constantly that I want to be my best me because of who he is.
It's every second of trials, laughter, tears, smiles, worries, lessons, and life that the last three months with him has brought to me.

I never knew how truly happy I could with someone until I met you.Thank you my dear, for your lessons on life, love, and happiness.

You are changing my everything, one day at a time.  
Trinity Vanessa

Skin Stories: Striving to "Become"

One principle stands steadfast and true: we will receive trials.
They will come, and they will go, kill us quick or help us grow,
But when we choose to change our view, there comes a power to me and you,
If we look up and realize, each little blessing in disguise,
Wasted time would not occur, and each move we made would be more sure,
Although attitude may not be “everything,” many more happy moments it could bring,
So the next time you feel it’s hard to stand, and are worried about where you may land,
Trust the Lord and the things He'll give, for this day, my friend, He let you live.         

 The first day of January this year I noticed a few odd spots on my leg. They went away after two weeks or so, and I didn't think much of it. Later I developed the same spots again on my leg, then on my forehead, moving down my nose, cheeks, next to my lips, and starting down my neck. By the time I was able to be diagnosed and start medication I had the condition for a month and a half. I started medication that was supposed to take weeks to heal me, and three days later had made unbelievable strides.
Heavenly Father taught me one of the most amazing lessons I will ever learn. Trials are amazing, even the unique ones. Apart from striving to continue feeling beautiful I was dealing with constant discomfort, sadly when smiling, and even pain, specifically where I had gotten stitches in my leg from a piece of skin the doctors took for biopsy and the larger spots that continuted to grow on my face. The worst fear, which I did my best to contain, was being completely unsure of what was exactly going on. I had no idea how serious my condition was, and the medication I was placed on was a chance, potential for serious damage if my body reacted allergically. An unbelievable test of faith occured.  

Each day was a battle to continue to be a light and shine with a positive attitude. I experienced unconditional love and concern from friends, fiesty progression from my mother, adoration and constant uplift from my wonderful boyfriend, Braedon, a blessing from two young men, worthy priesthood holders, and in the end, an appreciation for modern medicine and most importantly, my beautiful, healthy skin.

One day during an institute we were discussing a talk by President Thomas S. Monson called "I Know that My Reedemer Lives!" I gained beautiful insight on my Heavenly Father and his love for us through the trials placed in our path. Brother Peterson told the class that He loves us enough to give us trials, and then he looked directly at me and said, "He loves you enough to give you this trial." The moment I got home I took this picture, smiling as much as possible without pain from stretching my skin, and swore I'd use this trial to lift others someday.

My friend, you are going through something uniquely difficult in your life. You know your pain, but so does your Redeemer. He has felt everything you are feeling. I promise you that if you work with all your might to not only endure, but grow through this pain, you will be blessed more than your mind, body, and soul can fathom. You have every power to "become" through your Savior and Heavenly Father's love for you, and through crawling into bed every night knowing you had the best day you could have, because you chose to.

I testify of these truths, and am grateful for these trials, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Truly, with all my love and wishes for your well being,
♥- Trinity Vanessa





One week later, completely healed, with a new appreciation for life.