The Count Down Continues

16 DAYS LEFT!!!! It's getting so close to seeing my amazing man again that I can almost smell him (in a good way). :) That probably seemed weird to read. I guess I should inform you that I love the way he smells and that was one of the first things that I noticed about him. Even when he's not wearing cologne I love the way he smells, pure man, ugh!

So an update on what has been happening while Jalen has been gone. School, work, homework, stir, and repeat. I haven't done much stuff due to the fact that I have a ton of homework all the time. But, this past weekend I officially found people who really understand what I'm going through right now. They are the girls of the USAFGF facebook group. All of these girls are either dealing with their boyfriends/husbands being deployed or just at basic training like Jalen. Actually there are five us that have guys graduating the same week, so we'll hopefully get to meet. :) Also, because I don't fly in until Wednesday night, missing all of the first days events, the amazing ladies going the same weekend have agreed to be my messenger. They have agreed to carry part of a 4 part letter to Jalen, give him a huge hug for me, and let him know that he's really not alone even if his family and I aren't there. Each girl has been sent a letter showing my appreciation and another sealed envelope with the part of the letter they're responsible for. Each part of the letter expresses my regret of not being there, how proud of Jalen I am, my love for him, and how excited I am to see him the next morning. Hopefully, these letters and hugs makes him feel better about not seeing me... I wish him luck, and I hope all the letters make it to him safely. :) The count down continues....

Washington D.C Day 2

On the second day of our trip to Washington D.C we went on our Pentagon Tour (with special priviledges because of Jake's Air Force buddy that worked in the Pentagon), we also went to Arlington Cemetary, which was inspirational and very cool. Here are some pictures of the Cemetary. Unfortunately, pictures of The Pentagon are prohibited, so you'll have to use your imagination.



Women's Memorial




Women's Memorial




Lee House (Me and Jake exhausted after the long walk up to the house)




Old Tomb of the Unknown Soldier




Old Tomb of the Unknown Soldier




Full View of the Old Tomb




Old Amptheatre




Side view of the Old Amptheatre




Audience View of the Old Theatre




Some of the head stones




New Theatre: Audience View




Me by a huge marble column




A walkway through the cemetary




Nurses' Memorial




Tomb of the Unknown Soldier




Blossoming tree surrounded by headstones




JFK Eternal Flame



The Count Down

I was always told that I shouldn't wish my life away, and I should live in the moment. But, because Jalen is Basic Training and starting on his fourth week and I'm still going about my monotonous and very lonely days I have started a count down (Actually I've been counting down since 52 days), and I am wishing that every week, everyday, every hour, and even every minute would go by so much faster.

The first week that Jalen was gone I could not focus on school or work. I went through my days as if in a trance. I never thought that saying goodbye to Jalen for a couple months was going to be as hard as it actually is. However, some days are better than others, and as the weeks go by I am able to push the ache of missing Jalen to the back of my mind and focus on what I'm doing. Plus, my friends and family have been a huge support in handling the separation. I usually have something to look forward to on the weekends. This weekend (which was also fall break) I've spent with Marika. We have watched movies, gone ice skating, gone shopping, and just spent a ton of time being teenage girls.

So to sum it all up. My ticket to Texas for Jalen's graduation has been bought. School is going well and I'm not failing any of my classes. I am impatiently awaiting Jalen's weekend phone call and the letters he writes me. And, there is only 33 days until I fly to Texas so we can be together, even if it's only for a few days. Wish me luck...

Our Washington DC Trip First day (just a few pictures)

August 6th has come and gone, and our much antisipated trip to DC has been lived and is now gone. School and a new job started. Jalen doesn't work, he's just waiting for the day that he lives for Basic Training (September 26th). Our DC trip turned out to be a the end of our High School years and the beginning of adulthood. In every end there is also a beginning. Naturally our trip was one of the best experiences of my life. I gained alot of major life skills (with the help of Jake-Jalen's brother), I learned to read a Metro map, to travel without my parents, and to not only do everyday things like the dishes, and laundry for myself but for Jalen as well.



Salt Lake City Airport

 Well...we got through airport security, and made it to the gate with an hour and a half to spare, so naturally we were waiting on the plane.


The airplane at 30,000 feet




Jake and Jalen at The Capital

 We made it! This was the first day that we were there. We walked from the top of The Mall to the bottom, about 6-8 miles in one day in Washington DC humidity. Great way to start off the trip. :)


Jalen and I at The Capital




Jalen holding The Washington Monument



The White House

As Jake would say, "No Obama today".

Outside Fun

Ahhh...Isn't the summer grand? The sun warming your skin, snow cones, and the free time away from school. Fortunately, I was able to take some time off of my two summer jobs and enjoy some summer time fun with my amazing fiance-Jalen.

Jalen has a passion for guns, so we drove up to West Mountain and took a few shots at some targets.  

Next, I took a leap of faith and took Jalen to my family reunion on Boulder Mountain. I was pretty sure that he would be completely accepted and wouldn't be scared away from me...and I was right. We had so much fun hiking, four wheeling, and roasting marshmallows. Could this summer get any better?

The drive was beautiful, and one that I will always remember.

Graduation and the final decision on THE dress

Jalen and I are now high school graduates. Now, we have to at least pretend to act like adults. Crazy, huh? We have a ton of upcoming things in store for our futures. All of them extremely exciting. On this very day, in fact, Jalen signed his Air Force contract. He is now officially an Airmen. The next decision he has to make is if he wants to go in for 4 years or go in for 6 years. If he went in for 6 years from the very beginning he would get about $2,000-$3,000 more in pay, because he would go in as a higher rank, which would be nice considering that we are getting married and will need more money. However, I hope that's not the only reason he decides to go in for 6 years. I really don't want him to sign away 6 years, if there's a chance he won't be happy.



Now to the next big thing...I have decided on THE dress, which is being ordered as soon as my mom gets a check she is expecting from the city. My amazing dress will be ordered so that we have ample time to get it altered if need be. Here is a picture of THE dress...

AMAZING, RIGHT!!!!





The Hurdle has been cleared

Well...the previous hurdle has been cleared. Instead of taking the Pharmacy class, Jalen and I have decided to take a trip to... (drum roll please)... WASHINGTON D.C!!!

IT'S GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL IN AUGUST

This will be the first time I will fly on an airplane since I went to Florida with my family when I was 6 or so.

I'm so EXCITED!!!

We'll be staying with Jalen's older brother, Jake, whom is so kind as to let us stay in the house that he's house sitting for a friend. (The friend is very very kind to let us use his house). Also, Jake is very kind to take a week off of work to show us around Washington D.C. We will be seeing musuems like The Smithsonian, The Holocaust Museum, and Arlington Cemetary.

To top it all off, I will be able to have lunch with my Dance Company coach from last year. Mrs. Holly Petty!!





The date and next hurdle

The date has been set.

MAY 17, 2012 is the day...A Thursday, you say? YES! A THURSDAY!

The reason we picked this date is because we would be together for 3 years on that very day. Easy to remember for both of us if we just keep all of our anniversary on the same day.

Now...the newest hurdle to jump over (or climb under) is deciding which Pharmacy Technician class to take. Summer (which I would break my promise of babysitting for my sister and juggle the class and two jobs) or Fall (which I would have to juggle UVU, work (just one job), and the Pharmacy class). Hard decision...very hard. Plus how am I going to pay for it all?

Jalen also wants to take a summer trip to Washington D.C or Seattle Washinton as a graduation gift to ourselves, how am going to pay for that? I can't just accept a trip as a gift...no way.

Is life this hard for every 18 year old, or just me?

Wedding Plans

Who would ever think that graduating from High School and planning a wedding would go together? If you would have told me three years ago that I would be engaged right now, I would never have believed you. I would have said, "You're insane! Guys are not worth my time." Sadly, I don't like to tell people I'm engaged because they will just assume I'm pregnant. I'll clear it up now, I am not pregnant. Jalen and I love each other and we're sure that we want to spend forever with each other.

However, There are several things that are making setting a date extremely complicated. First, Jalen is enlisting in the Air Force and we have no idea when he will be leaving for basic training, or if they will even let him enlist if he's married (costs the government more money).  Second, we are young and would be living with his mom and step dad for about a year. Third, My parents want us to wait until we're both more stable. Especially me, because what if something happens to Jalen and I only have a High School diploma? What will happen to me? Where will I go?

On a lighter note...

Here are some things I like for my wedding, whenever it might be.

Peach/Apricot Calla Lily Bouquet

Strawberry Shortcake and Brownies for dessert

and because Jalen doesn't read the blog...

This one or...

This one

I CAN'T DECIDE!!!

First Post Ever!

Hello Everyone,
I would like to start off by explaining why I started a blog. The reason or reasons are because I'm soon to be apart of two huge families instead of just one. Families that are spread out all over the country. This is my way for my fiance's and my family to stay updated with what is going on with us.

Now let me introduce myself and my fiance. I'm Katelyn and my finace is Jalen. We are both seniors at two different High Schools in Utah. You may be wondering, how did we meet if we go to different schools? Well...just before our sophmore year the district finished a new High School which prompted the the two closest schools to split in half, but before that happened I went to middle school through junior high with several people who ended up at the new school. Because of this I kept in touch with several of those people who I became very close with over the years. One in particular played a huge part in me meeting Jalen, her name is Denirae. She had convinced me to go to a Multi-High school stomp (stag dance) with her on May 2. The week before she had met Jalen's friends at another stomp so when they showed with Jalen in tow they came over and introduced themselves to me. To make a long story short, that fateful day in May was the day that I met the person I would care for more than anything (he just didn't know it yet).

We started dating on May 17 and we were engaged a year and ten months later on my favorite holiday, St. Patrick's Day.

So now your all caught up with the basics of our life.