Well, I think it's time.

I've had a lot of concern lately over meeting my birthmother. I guess the last few posts have voiced my anxiety. With all the stress from school, part of me forgot what turning 21 means for me this coming month. I read a post about another girl meeting her birthmom. She had a good experience; even though I'm scared, I know that thousands of other people like me have had the courage to meet their birth parents and thank them for the courage to give their children a better life. So I took the first step today. I went online and got a phone number that I'm going to call later. From my understanding, in order to open my files and access my birthmother's information, both of us have to do paperwork. I think I'm going to start that paperwork soon. Part of me wonders if my birthmother already knows my name. Is she looking for me, too? Is she planning on doing her side of the paperwork? There are too many what if's to think about. So I'm going for it. In my mind it is a risk. For many people, maybe it isn't. The way I see it is that I'm finding out a bit more about my identity. My life is wonderful as it is now, part of me worries this could mess up my perfectly constructed reality; however, after a lot of consideration, I've decided I'm going to give it a try. It can't hurt. Right?
Love,
Evi

Introducing My Beautiful Niece!

(Photographed by Danny Nicolas. Check out his photography here.)

So I've been dying to write this blog post. I actually wrote it the day she was born. But homework ate my life. On November 1, Charlotte was born into this world. So this is what I've gathered from an aunt's perspective:
-Her hands are tiny and wrinkly.
-Her eyes are beautiful. The few times I've seen them open they have been bright and curious.
-She can rock the color pink better than anyone.
-Adam and I love her and haven't even met her, yet. [It makes me excited to have kids someday. I'm excited to feel that for our FUTURE (as in five years) kids.]

So here is what I wrote in my notebook the day she was born:
Well, today I became an aunt!! I have had to keep my mouth shut, because I wanted to let my brother and sister-in-law have the opportunity to announce it loud and proud, before I go and plaster it all over the blogosphere. I am so excited for Chris and Chelsea! In addition, I'm excited for the whole family. Ever since Adam and I started dating, I remember Chris and Chelsea wanting a baby. Also, Ever since Adam and I started praying together, he have prayed every night that a sweet baby would be brought to their family. Prayers were answered. Charlotte is the answer. When we heard the news that a baby was to be born, we were beyond excited. Today she was born and titles are changing. Chris and Chelsea are now Mom and Dad; my in-laws, Grandma and Grandpa; and the rest of us... proud aunts and uncles. How cool is that?! Now, I just have to meet this little girl. I am so excited to hold and love her. Sweet Charlotte, welcome to the world. I am so excited to watch you grow!

Love, Evi

Update: I'm NOT dead. :)

So this lil' blog has been struggling. Why?
I'm in the second semester of my junior year.
Forgive me?
I do have straight A's (real ones, no A- on this semester).
I'm working really hard, and in all honesty I've been struggling with my health.
Being the neurotic slightly stressed out perfectionist that I can be, I have officially beaten myself into oblivion.
I'm trying hard to calm myself and not let my stress take over. But doesn't it always?
Life is hard, but here I am loving it every minutes... Almost too much.
I'm quickly learning that I can't be the perfect wife, daughter, sister, friend.
In a lot of ways, I've always known that. Yet, here I am admitting that I'm not perfect and need to learn to let go and maybe cut back on the Diet Coke.
Wish me luck.
I'm trying to get healthy because right now I am diminishing into the body comparable to a fifty-year-old.
One more month till this semester is over.
Oh and remember, this is my blog and I can admit, talk, whine, or pine about whatever I want!
Love, Evi

Kiss Me I'm So Not Irish

[Image: 1000recordings.com]

So basically every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Monday morning I am graced with Irish drinking songs.
There is a certain individual who genuinely enjoys singing them loudly, almost as if he is performing then.
I can hear him literally making his waking up from the bottom to the top floor of the Hinckley.
At first it was annoying, sometimes it still is; however, I'm learning to appreciate it and learn to laugh at his interesting songs.
It seems like he adds a new song to his lil Irish repetoire weekly.
The first song he sang sounded like he was saying, "a lively live ho, and toe and a pushel. A lively live ho."
He is totally American. He didn't have an Irish accent at the beginning of the semester. Now, the man has an Irish accent. What a character!
So here's to you Mr. Non-Drunken-Mormon-American-Irish-Man, thanks for laugh and the morning entertainment. Keep working on that accent!
Love,
Evi

One Year Ago Today

Adam Figgat got down on one knee and proposed to me.
He asked me the question that I had so badly wanted to hear.
Thinking back it was the most perfect proposal.
13 months after we began dating he took me out on a super nice date.
We went to Olive Garden then to the Cocoa Bean Cafe, the place where we had our first date.
As we entered, I already knew that I wanted the pumpkin cupcake. No questions asked.
Adam continually kept requesting that I look in the display case and "see if there are any others that I'd like." Being the stubborn woman that I am, I said, "No. I want pumpkin." I guess some things never change. After physically pushing me towards the display case, I peered into the shiny glass case. What I saw in that case changed my life forever.
This is what I saw:

My stomach lept into my throat, quickly my heart followed. After several oh-my-gosh-like phrases, I turned around to my then sweet boyfriend who was down one knee with a shiny object in his hands. He looked into my eyes, shaking--I could hardly say it due to the nerves, but I said the phrase that would take him from boyfriend to fiancee, "Yes! Now get up." The poor kid was shaking like crazy. :)
I do not regret saying yes. I haven't for 365 days. One year later, I am even more sure that saying yes to an eternity with Adam was the best decision I have ever made. Since October 23, 2010, I have been blessed with a husband.
He asked me on our first date-- I was smitten. He asked to hold my hand while looking at fireworks, the temple, and moonlight-- he had my affection. He asked to kiss me-- I was floored. He asked me to be his wife-- he had my whole heart. And on March 18, 2011 a man asked if I'd have Adam forever-- he has my eternity.
Looking back of these last two years makes me realize how much life has changed for the better. So to my partner in crime and very best friend, I love you forever.
Thanks for making saying the big yes so easy.
Here are some more pictures from the big yes.

Awkward and Awesome Thursday

Have you ever noticed that Apple Jacks have way more orange jacks than green? What gives?!

Oh and Hi! I'm alive... Sort of...
Life has been insane, as in SUPER INSANE.
We are doing okay. Adam's IBC business starts up soon (the business program at our school requires them to form a company, create, get approved, and then run a business for a semester). As for me, work is ehhh usual. School is crazy. I've never read so many books in my life! My health is good, which is a nice change. Adam's health last week was less than stellar. He got a crazy infection and an even crazier fever, which scared me. Luckily, he is doing much better.

ANYWAYS, now that you've read the boring stuff... Here are some awkwards and awesomes to feast your eyes upon.

Awesome
-Carving pumpkins! Our pumpkins this year are RAD.
-Watching the leaves change. There is a bright red bush near our complex that was totally green a month ago. SO cool.
-Figuring out that my boss' are okay with me not working a full fifteen hours next semester, so I don't have to find another one. :)
-That shirt in my pictures. I love me a little spark and shine.
-Naps aka the only thing getting me through this semester.
-The fact that in all of my classes right now I have 93% or higher! Mid-semester and I'm feeling good. :) Now let's just see if midterms kill my grades these next couple weeks.
-Hanging out with Emily and Conrad (aka Connie). They have been our friends since we started school here and they are super funny.
-The game Alchemy. If you have a smart phone: Download it. NOW. I totally made the Twilight Saga by mixing vampire and werewolf. Pretty funny.

Awkward
-Falling asleep in class.
-Leaving voice messages. I really need to work on that skill.
-Laughing uncontrollably during our work meeting. Eyes watering isn't my best look.
-Complaining about the 4 hour GRE Prep class and then having a random kid come up beside me and say, "Drop out. Go into the military and get sick retirement. You'll get paid for the rest of your life!" I began to life and found that he was totally serious. I'm sorry, but I'm not military material.
-Having people come over to your messy house unexpected. Embarrassing.
-Tripping up the stairs in the Smith building. Again? Really?

Anyways, that's all I have. Life right now is awesome, but not that awesome or even awkward. I'm kind of just skating right now and looking forward to graduating in two semester after this.
It straight up blows my mind that we are both seniors soon.
Hallelujah.
Love,
Evi

The Orange Lunch and the Adventures of Vitamin C

So basically I ate an orange lunch today.
It was awesome.
At first I thought, "Hey! I would have loved this lunch as a kid."
Then the more I contemplated it, this is probably a good example of a poor college student lunch.
I ran out of lactose pills (pills that make it so I can consume dairy without getting sick).
This meant that my sweet mac n' cheese needed a substitute for the milk. As a believer in soy, I used soy milk instead of regular. Honestly, I think the soy tastes better in it. Hooray for a cooking win!
So the picture of the door/me pointing at the door...
The husband is SUPER sick, which means that he has been confined to our bedroom for two reasons:
1. The man needs to detach from the world, xbox, and computer so he can get better.
2. Anytime he gets sick, I'm in trouble. You see this is how it works: Adam gets sick. I catch the sickness. The sickness morphs into something WAY worse than he had. I become a huge nasty sick, germ-ridden, shadow of a woman. Not cool. So I confined him. I have had 2 vitamin C pills equalling to 3000% of my daily value, in addition to one Flinstone Plus Iron vitamin and two HUGE glasses of orange juice.
I REFUSE TO GET SICK.

and there you have it.
My Wednesday in a nutshell.
Love,
Evi

P.S. Dad if you're reading this... Don't worry. I didn't eat the whole bowl of mac n cheese.