Letter to 2014

Dear 2014,
I need to start this out by saying thank you. Thank you for being the most amazing year of my life. I have never felt more blessed or loved by my Heavenly Father than I do now. At the end of 2013, I chose a song, stating how I was going to approach 2014.  That song was "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors. Not only have I heard this song almost every day this year, I have felt this way almost every day of this year. 

Let's talk about 10 amazing things that happened this year!

1. I LEARNED WHAT I CAN HANDLE, AND WHAT I CAN'T.

I spent 9 months of this year working at a job I never thought I had the smarts for.  I worked for a law firm.  I learned so much about how this country works in this job. The amazing attorney I worked for mostly works with immigration, so I got the chance to see people get to stay in the country either for work, or because they got married.  That is a crazy long process most of the time, and I feel blessed to have met the amazing people I did in that job.  Not only the clients, but the amazing women I worked for and with. Kim, Laura, and Aubrey all taught me so much.

I also learned, that I am too tenderhearted to have people's lives in my hands like that.  One tiny mistake can mean someone can't come into or stay in the country.  I was carrying the stress of that with me everywhere.  I wasn't good at separating the stress of work from my home life. Sadly, I ended up having to say goodbye to a good job and good people. 

2. KENDRA AND TERRY FINALLY GOT MARRIED!

I am so happy for my cousin and her new hubby!  Though they have been together for coming up on 10 years this spring, they are still crazy about each other!  Just recently they announced that they are expecting their first child, and I am so excited for them!  

3. I LEARNED JUST HOW AMAZING MY FAMILY IS!

My family truly is an amazing bunch of people!  I have amazing, loving, selfless parents.  I have 2 phenomenal and protective brothers. I have a sweet lovable sister in law, and 3 of the cutest nephews on the planet! I wouldn't trade a single one of them for anything on this earth! I miss my Brazilian family all of the time. Thank heavens for modern technology. I love that I can still have a relationship with them, and to be able to see my nephews grow and do amazing and funny things. They are always there for me, no matter what. I am so blessed to have them, and to be a part of their family.

4. I GAINED A NEW FAMILY!!!!

I also love being a part of my new family. They are a great group of people, and I love getting to know each one of my new siblings. We are a big group, but there is a lot of love there. They have all learned (except one) to accept hugs from me, because they are going to get one anyway. They have welcomed me in as family, and I couldn't be more grateful. They are wonderful. I am excited to continue to get to know them as the years go by!

5. DAVE AND ARIN GOT MARRIED!

Dave is Steve's youngest brother. He and his sweetie Arin got married this June.  They are so much fun to spend time with! They live right here in the same apartment complex, and we get to see them often. I love having family close by. It's always fun to run into them, and to see them at church. We also have more inside jokes. (wa wa wa wa wa anyone? lol!)

This is my favorite picture I got to take from their wedding. He was so happy to see her! 

6. RYAN AND AMY GOT MARRIED!!!

There were quite a few weddings in my life this year!  I am so excited to have a Lewis girl in the family!  They are a perfect fit for each other! They are blessed to have found one another.  I am grateful that they got married 3 weeks before us, because we got to sit there and enjoy their sealing together. We were blessed to be there, and to feel the Spirit like we did. Congrats to them!

7. RICARDO IS FINALLY SEALED TO TY AND KIMIE!!!

I am so grateful for forever families!  This July, my nephew Ricardo went to the temple with Tyler and Kimie, and was finally sealed to my brother. It has been a long process, and we are so grateful knowing that if something were to happen to him, (Heaven forbid!) then we would always have him! I wish with all of my heart that I could have been there. I love you Ricardo! I'm glad our family gets to keep you forever!

8. I WENT ON THE BEST (AND LAST) FIRST DATE EVER!

I hadn't been so nervous for a first date in a long time, as I was on my first date with Steven. I borrowed clothes from my mom, because I didn't have the right kind of clothes for what we were going to do that didn't have holes in it. I wanted to look perfect. I knew this guy was amazing before our date.  I just wanted to make sure it ended up that way!

9. HE PROPOSED, AND I SAID YES!!!

For the complete proposal story, please see here

10. WE WERE SEALED FOR TIME AND ALL ETERNITY ON SEPT 12, 2014!

I am still so grateful every day that I have my sweet Steven by my side.  I'm sure people are sick of me saying it. Too bad I guess, because I can't stop saying it! He amazes me every day, and I love him more every day!  Thank you for helping make my year so amazing Steven! You are one of the greatest blessings I will ever receive in this life. 

So, 2014,Thank you for being so amazing to me. I hope that this is a continuing trend, and that each year following is equally as wonderful!

All my love,
Shae