Tuesday 26 June 2012

The Last Hurrah

This past week was the last week I was able to spend in Utah before having to go back to France (emphasis on having to go back). It was a great week! Jordan and I spent some time with family and friends and we went on a walk where we found yet another stray piece of furniture!

(see below)





Jordan also went back to aunt Claire's to have his hair re-cut. His fringe (bangs) were driving him crazy, so off it all went!

On Wednesday night we went up American Fork Canyon with the canoe. We took sandwiches and delicious little desserts which we nibbled as we tried to steer the canoe. It was so beautiful up there and there was only a fisherman out on the lake. That was when Jordan proposed to me. Look how beautiful it is up there!




Yep! We're getting married!!!


On Thursday we had a family gathering to celebrate Hunter and Heidi's house warming. I made another pavlova. The Americans seem to love it! This is the recipe, though if you are American and reading this post, you'll need to bake it at around 305 degrees fahrenheit.


On Friday, Jordan wasn't feeling too great, so we decided to post pone our trip to Moab for the following day. Instead we had new tires put on Sue (the car) and then Jordan changed the oil while I photographed the fire that was burning not too far away. Throughout the day we'd experienced an orange sky - but by the evening it looked like this picture (luckily no homes were destroyed and everyone was safe).


I'm marrying a handy man!


On Saturday we loaded up the car and headed down to Moab (In Utah's South-East). It is hot, dry and deserty. It is also very beautiful and consists of several national parks. All was going well until we popped one of the tires that we'd bought the night before, taking a detour through a canyon in an old ghost town (it was so cool).



Then we got back on the road and had dinner in Moab (which was delicious) and headed out to Dead Horse Point where we camped for the night. It was HOT and not such a pleasant experience - but the views that we saw in the morning were well worth it.




We visited a house that had been carved out of the side of a rock (called 'Hole n' The Rock', which was interesting.. We then headed out to the Arches National Park, though we didn't leave the car as it was SOOOO HOT!

See the website for Hole In The Rock HERE






After that, we drove all the way back home...... (4 hours)

And then we were very sad, as I was leaving the next day.

On Monday we spent some time feeling awful and then drove the airport and said our goodbyes...

As I was boarding the plane, they announced that the plane was too heavy and that whoever would volunteer to stay behind they would give a $600 Delta voucher - so I did and then Jordan came and picked me up for one real last hurrah.

So I am flying back to Paris this afternoon for real - and the world seems so unfair right now... So let's hope October comes around really fast.

Friday 22 June 2012

Jordan

I'm not usually one for public manifestations, though I thought I'd write just one - since... Well it seems appropriate.

Jordan, from the first day we started writing, our emails would get longer and longer and longer. We never ran out of things to say to each other. Hearing from you was always the highlight of my day. You would share things such as

"I do name my guitars! Etta and Billie! My car is named Sue! It's silly, I know."


 And then I would try to explain Australian slang :


"A 'sook' (pronounced like 'book') is to be used if someone's scared of something ie. "ALICE! COME ON THE ROLLER-COASTER WITH ME!" 

"No...sorry. I don't think so. I'm afraid of heights and I get motion sickness."
"Come on! Don't be such a sook!' - now, Jordan, you speak some Australian."

You made me an awesome recording of 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' where you even wore a santa hat (and rayban sunglasses? Although it was the middle of winter (but I would have been nervous too). You'd pretty much won me over from there forward :-)

So then we skyped....


And skyped......


And skyped


For literally HUNDREDS of hours.

Sometimes you would sing me songs by Bight Eyes and I'd head-bang along to 'Graceland' by Paul Simons (just because I wanted to make your day a little brighter - and I don't know how to dance)!

We sent each other gifts...




See bear and scarf


Though I clearly got the better end of that deal


                                         
                                           See gloves, necklace AND chocolate

Then you came to France -


And everything was exactly how we thought it would be -

- Never an awkward moment, always something to say and plenty of goofing around.


                                                 These are our 'turtle faces'

So when you left - we were both heart broken.... Because having to say good bye to your best friend for an indefinite amount of time just sucks.

Which is why the next day I booked my tickets and prepared to pack my bags for a 6-week trip to Utah.

And it was awesome!


I was able to meet your wonderful family, too! And I LOVE them all.

Which is very lucky....




Because you asked me to be your wife - 

and I said 'YES!' (because when you know, you just know... You know?)


Which means that they will pretty soon be my family, too!

                                                          (These are siblings, a nephew and cousins)


~ And eternity seems very exciting and not so daunting when I know that I'll get to spend it with you ~



So we don't know when, we don't know where - but I can tell you that I feel very honoured to become your wife, because...


I surely do love you, Jordan. 

Tuesday 19 June 2012

The Sun Shines in Utah

This last week was warm and it felt like summer. At the start of last week, Deb, Kenzie and Shad (with the girl Kenzie looks after), Ryan, Shelby, Max and myself went to the zoo in Salt Lake! It was sunny and we saw lots of different animals, but it wasn't long before we found ourselves at the zoo's most exciting attraction (according to 5-year-old Marlo), the carousel. Max and Marlo weren't the only ones enjoying the ride!



Wednesday was Deb's birthday, so I got to work and made a chocolate raspberry cake and a pavlova for the dinner party we threw for her. It was nice that everyone was together and the pavlova was very popular!


On Thursday Heidi picked me up and took me to the movies! We saw Snow White and the Huntsman (which was a little dark, but entertaining). It was so nice to get out of the house and I felt very lucky to spend the afternoon with Heidi.

We had a trip to aunt Claire's to get haircuts and a few trips out for dinner. We also had an exciting excursion to the drive-through bank!



On Friday evening I had the chance to catch up with an old friend, Sam. I knew Sam from church in Australia (she's an American, but lived there for a couple of years). We had a lot to talk about!

Saturday morning Jordan and I went shopping! Then in the afternoon there were naps before we were able to meet up with the Crandalls!


Although only half of the Crandall family were able to be here, it was so great that we could catch up while they were here visiting from New York. Brian took us all out for dinner at a historical joint in down town Lehi called 'Porter's Place'. You may read about it

 -->       HERE

After dinner, Jana took a series of portraits of me and of Jordan and I together up at American Fork Canyon (which is stunning). She recently graduated from BYU with a degree in photography and is currently expanding her portfolio. I'll post some of the pictures once Jana's finished working with them. To see Jana's photography blog, you can find it  --> HERE

I took a few pictures of Jana, too!



Early Sunday morning, Jordan and I piled into his car and went up to Salt Lake City. We saw the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform for a special Father's Day broadcast. It was wonderful! To be in the Conference Centre was really amazing and the voices of the choir members are beautiful.


Afterwards, we walked around Temple Square and I was able to run into my friend Anja! She's currently serving her mission there for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and it was fantastic to be able to talk to her for a little while to see how she is going!





We had a lovely evening with Jordan's father, Tim and step-mother Nancy in order to celebrate Father's Day (American Father's Day). All the siblings were there and it was nice to see everyone (and Nancy is a great cook)!

So begins my final week in Utah for this trip and some exciting things are planned. I'll write again soon.

- Alice

Tuesday 12 June 2012

Graceland

Last week was another week at home, crocheting. I finished a scarf and am now on scarf number two. On Wednesday evening we drove out to the airport to pick up Deb (Jordan's mum) and his nephew, Max. His sister and brother-in law are moving back to Utah from Florida and were driving back - so Deb flew back with one-year-old Max. It was really fun to have Max visit for a couple of days! He'd dance to his sing-a-long Sesame Street dvd (featuring acts such as Destiny's Child and the Goo Goo Dolls) and we played in the back yard, too. He's a cutie.




Friday evening we took a little trip 'down under' (kind of). We went and ate at the Outback Steak House (for those non-Americans reading this post, this is an 'Australian' restaurant). It was interesting to see all of the Australian things on the walls... Boomerangs, road signs etc, but the food was a disappointment and it was terribly over priced. Here are some pictures for giggles all the same.


                                           WHAT???


On Saturday I somehow ended up in a movie theatre to see 'Prometheus', which is the prequel to the 1979 film 'Alien'. For those who aren't aware, I am not one for science fiction, nor horror, nor thrillers...
But Jordan is! And so I guess you win some, you lose some. We went with most of Jordan's siblings and their spouses, as well as a couple of other friends. It was an amazing movie visually, I'll give it that. I walked away feeling a little traumatised, though (but I am a little delicate with that kind of thing). The story was so frustrating! I'm still thinking about the flaws in the story. Go see it and find out for yourselves (if you're game).

This post is not titled 'Graceland' because we drove to Memphis or anything like that. Jordan and I have been going through a bit of a Paul Simon phase for a while now and this song just seems to be the most fantastic road-tripping song. On Sunday after church we went on a mini road trip. Dear Jordan drove us nearly 3 hours so that I could see the Bonneville Salt Flats (and this was essentially clear to Nevada). Honestly, I saw some of the most amazing views I've ever seen. It was incredible.

Warning: You are about to be bombarded with photographs
















And once we reached Nevada, we drove all the way back home...




And then the week ended....


Isn't Utah stunning? I love it.

Have a great week, friends.



- Alice

PS. For your listening pleasure and for the purpose of this blog post title