The 10 Best Days of My Life

 A few days ago, my friend Andi and I were talking about having babies.

Andi and I both love being pregnant, and LOVE giving birth.

Another friend was about to have a baby, and we were talking about how excited we were for her, and reminiscing about the birth of our children.  This conversation led into a conversation about some of the other "best days of our lives."

It was so much fun to re-live, through memories, some of my favorite days of my life.

It put me in such a great mood to remember how much I have to be thankful for, and how much I love my life.  Sometimes I get discouraged, and focus on the things that I wish were better, and easier.

I thought it would be fun to write a post on "The 10 Best Days of my Life."

The more I thought about it, the harder it became to narrow it down.

And the happier I was remembering the wonderful things that have happened in my life so far.

10 of my favorite days (or experiences) of my life:

1.  Romania

*A picture of me and some of my babies in one of the playrooms at the orphanage - Feb. 2001

 

While I was attending BYU, I participated in an international internship to Romania.  The three of us who were accepted into the program, went to Romania to work in an orphanage.  We had experiences that I had never dreamed possible, and I fell in love with the 14 babies that I was personally responsible for.  Some days were crazy, some were dangerous, many were heartbreaking, and every one was rewarding. 

2.  EUROPE

*Stephanie and I in Rome - May 2001

After our semester was over in Romania, my roommate Stephanie and I decided to go backpacking through Europe.  I was able to see places that I had only read about.  I spent hours in the Louvre soaking in the experience of standing in front of a masterpiece that I had studied in college.  We wandered some of the ruins of Rome and remembered that once upon a time, real people had lived and worked there.  There is something about uniting the past with the present that touches my soul. 

3.  BRAZIL

*Kristi and I standing on the border of Brazil and Uruguay - July 2003

 

 In 2002, I decided that I needed to serve a mission for my church.  I was called to serve in Porto Alegre, Brazil.  The days of my mission were by far some of the hardest days of my life.  Every day was challenging physically, emotionally, spiritually...  However, it turns out, that those are the days that made me grow the most.  And looking back, I am so grateful that I had days that pushed me past the limits of what I thought I was capable of.  As the days went on, every day became joyful.  Not because it got easier, but because I got stronger.  I loved it!

4.  BYU Graduation
*My mom and I on graduation day - April 2004 

 The day I graduated from BYU was so exciting for me!  My cousin Brittany did my hair and makeup.  My whole family came into town.  It wasn't graduation itself that was exciting, it was that I had accomplished one of my dreams...to graduate from BYU.  Not only did I graduate, but I had accomplished some of my other dreams along the way.  It was a little big bittersweet because it closed a chapter in my life that I had loved!


5.  The day that Nate proposed to me.
*Nate and I - November 2004

 When I got home from my mission, my friend Andi introduced me to Nate.  It seemed like everything just fell into place.  I feel like I've always know Nate.  Nate and I had talked about getting married, so I knew it was coming.  Yet, he still managed to surprise me.  Candles, rose petals, the ring...It was magical.  That night, the sunset turned the mountains pink.  I can still picture it.


6.  My Wedding Day
*March 19, 2005

My wedding day was everything that I hoped it would be.  I remember staying up all night the night before because I was so excited.  Brittany spent the night with me and we got up at 5:00 a.m. to start getting ready.  I spent an entire week stressing about the weather.  Please don't rain...please don't rain...please...Well, it rained.  But it turns out, it didn't ruin anything.  It was perfect.  I spent a lifetime dreaming about this day, months planning it, and it was over way too fast. 

7. Finding out that I was pregnant
*Nate and I at Disneyland on March 19, 2006

When Nate and I decided to start a family, I was nervous.  What if I couldn't have babies?  There was nothing I wanted more than to be a mom.  When the pregnancy test turned positive, I was elated.  I felt like I was walking on clouds for weeks.  I didn't even mind getting sick because it meant that I was having a baby!  For our one year anniversary, Nate and I went to Disneyland with my family.  I was 4 months pregnant with Saxon.

8.  The day that Saxon was born
*August 20, 2006

It was reminiscing about this day that started the whole conversation in the first place.  I stayed up all night anticipating my little one.  I laid in bed to feel him kick for the last night.  We got to the hospital early because we just couldn't wait.  Two of my best friends met me there.  I was only in labor for 8 hours.  Time seemed to fly because the moment that I had always dreamed of was finally here.  There is nothing like having your first baby.  The anticipation, the adrenaline, the excitement, etc.  Then, there is the crowning moment when they lay your new baby in your arms and your eyes meet his eyes.  Time stops, and for a moment, I felt like I could reach heaven.  He fills a place in your heart that you never knew existed.  He becomes your world.

9.  The day that Bridger was born
*July 31, 2008

Giving birth for the second time might be even more exciting than the first, because, I knew how wonderful it would be.  I had experienced it once already.  I knew what I had to look forward to.  I was only in labor for 3 hours, and before I knew it, I was the mom of 2 little boys.  I also love the following days in the hospital when I can lay there and soak up the time with my little one.  I couldn't take my eyes off of him.  I wanted to memorize every detail.  The shape of his little fingers and toes, his crazy hair, his smell, the sound of his cry, etc.  When Saxon came to visit, we let him hold baby Bridger.  He looked at him,  he smelled him, and then he licked him and said "This is a brother?"  LOL.

10.  The day that Dalton was born
*September 9, 2010

The entire time I was pregnant with Dalton, I felt connected to him.  I felt connected to his spirit.  When I held him for the first time, I felt like I had always known him.  My mom was there for Dalton's birth and that was special for me too.  We had a few scary experiences in the hospital with Dalton, but it made me all the more grateful to have him as a part of my life.  It is a little bit sad to me to think that the most amazing experiences in my life can only happen a limited number of times.  I want to treasure each and every moment with my kids because one day, they will grow up and move on.  I think I will always miss the time when they were all mine.  Through all of these experiences, I remember thinking "Wow...life doesn't get any better than this!"  When I became a mom, I knew with certainty, that this really was the best moment of my life.

Now, I have a challenge for you.

Write a list of the 10 best days of your life.

Just remembering them will brighten your day!

If you have a minute, comment and tell me about some of your favorite days.

I would love to hear about your life and what inspires you!

*Also, I'm guest posting today on Simply Enchanted come visit me over there as well :)