*Tawya Jamas*

The first weekend in August is one that landon and i will not soon forget. (at least i hope it is one that we won't ever forget) as usual we were super anxious and excited to see each other, knowing that each passing week really just meant that we were that much closer to me finally moving back to Twin. We met in pocatello, and headed to Shelley idaho. the weekend was full of family reunions and crazy trips to the zoo. On saturday we headed up to Ashton to meet up with my family at the beautiful cabin. saturday came and went and all was normal. when landon didn't propose on my birthday i thought that maybe he was waiting until i moved back up to twin. on sunday evening when a night hike was suggested i didn't think anything of it, and besides landon was acting completely normal and not nervous at all.

we started out on our "hike" and i was super nervous and scared that some bear was going to come and attack us. so i was obviously pre-occupied. after walking a ways landon suggested we stop and look at the stars. this is something we have always done together, and most of our deepest and most special conversations have occured under the stars. the stars were incredible that night, no polution, no lights just the stars and it felt heavenly.

Landon and i started talking- he had me read a story, our story and then proceeded to give me a really special gift from Peru. in the end, he said...well Em i guess there's just one more question. "Emily will you marry me!?" I of course screamed the answer YES! and then with only the light from Landon's head lamp i saw the most gorgeous ring. He picked it out all by himself which i think is so special :)

When i said yes, i felt the most peacefull blanket of confidence and assurity wash over me. and i knew that we were doing the right thing. The next couple months will be crazy, and this next new adventure even crazier. I look forward to every minute of it.

I love you landon.
Tawya Jamas

Em

Moroni 8:16

( In the beginning....blowing bubbles off Perrine Bridge)
Towards the end of April I was set up on a blind date, my friend Emily from my microbiology class had been telling me about this perfect guy who had just come home from his mission and that every time she saw him she just knew she had to set us up. Well life got crazy and I didn’t agree for quite a while- but finally I agreed to a blind date. Emily and I planned it all and that evening I was So nervous! But it was an awesome date, nothing was un natural, or forced we hit it off immediately. We met in Buhl at Steve and Emily's house, we ate a yummy dinner that tasted just as good if not better than Cafe Rio. I was in charge of dessert and i brought brownies (which actually were accidently chocolate cake). we played games and the Wii and just had a blast.
Side note: Landon lives across the street from Emily and Steve, and he says that the biggest delima that evening was if he should drive to the date, walk, or ride a scooter. each option ended in him looking kinda like a dork. however he must have chosen the right option, because i gave him my number- and the rest is history.
Landon and I started dating and it’s crazy how things just clicked. ( I know it sounds cheesey)
He went on his mission to Peru (lima north) and got home in December. He’s from Buhl (which is about 20 minutes outside of twin towards Boise) he comes from an awesome family whom I immediately fell in love with. Towards the beginning of dating his family said to him, “Landon, we think we like her more than you do.” It’s crazy how similar our families are.
Crazy as it is, before we were even dating he rode home with me to surprise my mom for mother's day. he drove while i studied and we had like 6 hours in the car to get to know eachother even more. i was amazed at how natural he was with my family when i had obviously just thrown him into one of the most awkward situations a poor guy could be faced with, but it was like no sense of awkwardness my siblings immediately liked him, and i don't blame them because i did too.
(Bike Ride the week school got out!)
As Lando and i had gone on a few "Dates" and had gotten to know eachother more i knew there was something special. We did alot of random stuff...like blow bubbles off of Perrine bridge, we went and helped at a soup kitchen, we studied together in the library, went to track meets, enjoyed walks and trips to Kiwi loco, we went on fun bike rides and hikes. We quickly discovered we had alot in common and we suddenly were spending every day together. towards the end of May i went to Boise with his family for State Track. we went to cheer on his younger brother Brian. It was so fun, not only was i propperly introduced to the big city of boise but i got to know landon and his family more.
(Trip to Boise)
one afternoon while killing time in the mall and getting away from the cold snow (yes in may) we wondered into Borders book store. while meandering through the childrens book section we picked out our favorite childrens books- landon to my complete shock picked out a book that MY mom had read to me forever and ever called "Love you forever". not only did he pick it out as his favorite childrens book but he quoted it to me right there in Borders. i just stood there, and i thought to myself; you go your whole life thinking you're the only one, and then all the sudden in the middle of life you're directed to that one person that makes you feel like you're not the only one. I knew then that this was something very special.
Well we had a small draw back to our perfect courtship which is…I moved home for the summer…and he of course stayed in Twin. I honestly thought that it probably wouldn’t work out, thinking distance relationships are too hard, they never work out. But somehow for whatever reason things have continued to progress. ….
Our summer has consisted of weeks packed with work and school and nightly phone calls that last up to 3hrs. long. we LIVE for the weekends when finally we just get to be together. we've had alot of fun adventures during the summer as well. the first weekend i was gone (memorial day) landon came to visit. he was here for Austin and Saje's wedding. i love seeing him interact with my family it's just another confirmation as we like to call it that this is all right. i've gone up there and he's come down here or we've met somewhere in the middle. each weekend ending entirely too quickly.
(June 1st 2010, Austin and Saje's Wedding)
Being who I am and preferring to consult my heavenly father in every decision I make I had been praying about landon for a while not necessarily if he was the guy I was going to marry but wondering if he was in general a good guy to date. When the topic of marriage came up it made perfect sense for both of us to turn to the Lord before making any drastic decisions. After much prayer and thinking I had come to the peaceful decision that the Lord approved, and I was ok with that. But as we started to discuss it more and become closer to the ultimate decision I felt as if something was fighting against me. At times it was even hard to breathe and I felt like it was a continuous battle going on inside of me. And I really started to question if I really could be possibly receiving an answer this BIG and life changing. I felt inadequate and small in the eyes of the Lord.
So, i made a trip to the temple. the Logan temple is closed for cleaning but the desire to know with out a shadow of a doubt that what i was doing was right was definately an answer i needed to recieve in the best place to recieve answers. so i arrived and had the entire grounds to myself, and back in the back of the temple there is a little bench that looks up at the temple and i just sat and unwound for a while. and then i started praying, i started reallytalking to my heavenly father, telling him what was going on, how confused i was and all the many emotions that were swimming around in my mind. i then specifically said Heavenly father i have felt confirmation before that this is right, but i need to KNOW i need to know hands down that you approve, that this is right. and then, i was over come with the most peacefull feeling it was more powerful than anything i've felt before and it washed over me, a complete as they say "burning". and i knew. i knew that landon was right.

well as i discussed it with landon i said that i thought he should go to the temple that week as well. ( don't get me wrong he had been going plenty of times as well) but he agreed and planned to attend the next day. well wednesday came i was just so antsy wondering if i really had recived my answer and doubting and questioning my self all over again. well he went to the 7:30 session and we talked before he went in. about 8:00 i was just still all super fidgety and then all the sudden the most warm peacefull feelilng washed over me and i had the impression "Emily, calm down. landon is in the temple, and everything is alright. you need to start trusting me" so i sat back and let the spirit teach me. after landon got out of the temple he directed me towards D and C 9:8 and as i read it i knew that the confirmations and feelings i had been reciving were from the spirit and and there was no way they could have come from anywhere else. he then proceeded to tell me his experience in the temple, and excitedly we discussed what this means.
This was a couple of weeks ago and I can’t believe the extreme amounts of emotional roller coasters I have been on since we made our decision. Last Sunday I was up visiting him in Twin and my family came to join Landon’s family for Sunday dinner. I was SOOOOOOOOO nervous as my two worlds combined. But it went wonderfully and I think that both families feel a lot better about things given that they know where we’re coming from (lol).
(July 24th- My birthday present)
Landon came to visit this past weekend as well, once again ending too soonly we were left feeling slightly melencholy as he pulled away. but it's the small moments of togetherness that we must hang on to. We went on a hike up to Willow Flat where he gave me some of my birthday present, the book "Love you Forever" then he read it to me and i let it take me back to when we first started dating. as i sat there completely in my element surrounded by some of God's greatest creations and with Landon i could not have been happier. I feel soooo lucky and blessed. He also gave me a spanish bible to match my tripple combination and a Boise state t-shirt. it was perfect.

as i sit here writing this looking over the valley i can see the logan temple, and i can't help but smile and think, I really am going there...and some day very soon.

I thank my Heavenly Father for all of my incredible blessings.

Love,
Em

You Make me S*M*I*L*E

"Smile" Uncle Kracker

You´re better then the best
I´m lucky just to linger in your life
Cooler then the flip side of my pillow that´s right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me
Lets me know that it´s ok yeah it´s ok
And the moments when my good times start to fade

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile

Even when you´re gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking through the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of
bed sing like bird
Dizzy in my head spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile

Don´t know how I lived without you
Cuz everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
sing like bird
Dizzy in my head
spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile

The LOOOOOOOOOOONG awaited June 12th!

Since about.....september of LAST year my dear sweet Camille and one of my bestest friends has been long awaiting this day. First we had to get Jake home, and THEN we had to get him on one knee...but after all this took place the day we all counted down to, revolved around, and planned for was JUNE 12th! well the long awaited and wonderful day finally came! and what a wonderful day it was! Camille and Jake were stunning, and even though the weather didn't cooperate as well as we'd hoped i don't think either of them really cared. The most important part was that they met at the temple, inside that special sealing room, and said YES! and boy did they ever!

the night before the wedding i asked Camille how she felt about not knowing if the weather would work out and she was like "Em, all that really matters is that i am with Jake, and that we say YES!" well that's exactly what they did, and it was wonderful.

I love both Camille and Jake so much, and it's exciting to watch this new part of their lives together unfold. Jake and Camille are not only highschool sweet hearts and eachother's best friends friends but they are Elementary school sweethearts. it's every mormon girls fantasy. and camille is living it! It's fun to look back as i think of all the nights i fell asleep listening to Camille and Jake talk in the room next door, planning and preparing for this day that at the time seemed so far in the future.

i smile to think of the times that Camille was nervous it would never happen and afraid of all the dreams that might not turn out- and i shake my head and think how could we EVER doubt that this day would never come.

it was wonderful, Camille thanks for letting me be a part of it! i LOVE you forever!

Em

My Big Happy Family

Since everyone was up for the big wedding including Sammy and her cute family, Great Grandma, and uncle Val we decided it was time for a long overdue family picture. The one above of course isn't professional but i think it shows about what we went through in order to get at least one success. However memories like this are priceless. First we didn't really have a photographer-so i talked my friend Jessica into coming and snapping some shots for us. Second- it was raining, not pouring but enough that laykr was getting too wet, everyone was grumpy and our hair...went...flat! But in the end there were a few that actually turned out pretty good!
We found this awesome Jeep and took pictures by it!
Laykr Jaxton Peska! it was sooooooooooooooooooo fun to finally get to meet him. Isn't he adorable?!

Summer Lovin'

It has definatley proved to be a June of Weddings. There is no reason to not sing the song "June Bride" from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. We started off our weeks of weddings with our very own Austin and Saje. They got married on June 1st. It was a beautifu day! It was such a wonderful experience to see them walk out of the temple and to share with them their special day.

Saje and Austin had their wedding lunch at Grandma and Grandpa Barringer's. We served all italian, and it was fun to put a little bit of Austin into the wedding. Getting married on a tuesday was fun- and then we had the reception that saturday. Although stressful at times it was wonderful to share in their excting day. Not to mention we are very very excited for them, and wish them the happiest and joyous marriage.
There is something so.....literally eternal as you watch a couple come out of the temple. The hope and promises of knowing that they will be together even after this life fulfill all the wildest dreams of evey worthy latter day saint. The week before ausitn and saje's wedding we had the opportunity to attend another wedding- it was fun as well but very empty as i thought about how their simple civil ceremony would only carry them through this life, and not onto the next. I know that as i have lived and prepared for this time in my life there is NO way i could or would throw away the opportunity to be with my best friend for eternity.

i once read a quote about how young LDS youth often fear marriage because of the % of marriages that end in Divorce. The answer to this pleading dread was that if you are sealed in the temple, and return often-worthily keeping your end of the covenant you will not fail, your marriage will not fail, and it will work out. how wonderful is that-. As a Daughter of God preparing for that step some day i look forward to it with a brightness of hope, knowing that as i prepare myself now, and as i keep my end of my covenants and as my husband does the same we will succeed!

Austin and Saje are great examples to all of us. as they took that step to not be married civilly but to be sealed for all eternity as best friends. i look forward to my day, and only hope that i am doing all i can now to be the best i can be in the future.

Choa

Em

*2 years*

The idea of two years to the general population triggers many emotions and feelings. sitting as graduating seniors the next two years of our lives seemed clowdy, fuzzy, and unknown. All we had were the experiences we'd shared together and the memories made. We had the knowledge our teachers and parents had tried to instill in us and then as we turned our tassles that was it. we were no longer highschool students of West Side High, we were the graduating class of 2008 and it was done. Many of the peers i graduated with exactly two years ago i haven't seen since, we've all traveled our separate ways accomplishing different things and becoming our true selves. Some have gone and served full time missions, some have complete training and service to our country, others have found their eternal best friends. But through it all, no matter how far apart we grow, no matter how hard we work, no matter who we become there will always be something we have in common- West Side High.
Coming back after being away is always a bitter sweet feeling, i can't get in my car and drive anywhere with out being bombarded by memories. That's what happens when you return to the place you grew up. It doesn't matter who'se married or who'se not, it doens't matter who is gone, or who has returned the memories still bring smiles and remind you that you couldn't be the person that you are today if it werne't for the person you became in Highschool.
I had the opportunity to sit through the graduating class of 2010's ceremonies last night. While seated in the comfy seats of the new auditorium and hearing all the nice things being said about my friends i relfected my graduation, the words of encouragment and gratitude that were expressed to us as 18 yr. olds. Yeah, we had plans and yes we dreamed big but i dont think any of us knew exactly where we would be in the future, we knew where we wanted to be but we hadn't yet figured out how we would get there.
as i reflect on the person that i've become in the past two years, and all the places i've been, and the things i have accomplished both big and small i can truly say two years flies by. I am eternally grateful for my experiences at WSHS but more so than that i am grateful for the person that my teachers, peers, and parents encourged me to become.
The world is still open, it's still new and untrodden territory, but i've come this far what's a few more unbeaten paths?
Good luck class of 2010, i have no doubt in my mind that you will accomplish all your wildest dreams with hard work and determination. and to my class, the class of 2008 i have not forgotten you, good luck in continuing all your dreams.

*Emmy Ann*