...be happy now...

Happy Holidays everyone! I thought with this post I'd explain the title of our blog and then journal about how we spent Thanksgiving. 

We had a great Thanksgiving break and we are grateful for all that we have: amazing families & friends, the opportunity to be studying at BYU, our health, the gospel, and each other :) Although we're at that stage of life where our worldly possessions are minimal, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Photo cred: Abby Lazarev Photography (my awesome friend!) 

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." -President Monson

Who knows where we'll be in 10 or 15 years... We'll have kids, perhaps a dog, more furniture and possessions, a TV that isn't 15 years old, and likely own a house. And I'd bet that I'll look back on this time when it's just Sky & I--college students, living in a teeny apartment, not many bills or financial concerns--and I'll miss it! However, I hope I'll have the same outlook then as I do now... Enjoy the Journey. There is always happiness to be found in whatever stage of life you are in.

Hahaha... this is me saying, "OK, OK, this pose isn't working!"

"The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy." -President Uchtdorf

I love this quote. I love having goals. I love improving myself and growing. I love working towards something. I LOVE the feeling of accomplishment. However, I refuse to have those goals=my happiness. I try to follow President Monson and President Uchtdorf's advice... BE HAPPY NOW.

In the end, I am excited for our future, but I can't help but be grateful for what we have NOW. 

Ok, I'm off my soapbox. That has just been on my mind and I thought I'd share :) 

Now for the update of our Thanksgiving break. I'll start with my good friend Brecken's farewell. She is headed Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I couldn't be happier for her. In my high school group of friends, Breck was always "the rock". She always helped us remember what was most important in our lives and always knew how to comfort us when the high school scene got hard. Love her so much and will be forever grateful for her impact on my life! 

Some of my bestest friends- Tay, Jess, Bags, Breck, Jas, Shelb. (missin' Steph!)

The day of her farewell, there was a few feet of snow on the ground from the night before--it had DUMPED. So when Sky tried to turn on ESPN at my parent's house, the TV wasn't working because the satellite dish was covered with snow. Sky was determined to watch ESPN, so apparently he put on some snow boots, grabbed a long stick, and trekked outside. I was in the kitchen and saw something out of the corner of my eye, and my first thought was, "deer!" Nope, it was my husband. Haha. The things men do for ESPN... (rolling my eyes)...

Before he knew I was watching him...

I've been spotted! haha.

With the sibs that night...

The following weekend we headed to San Jose for the BYU football game and a fun weekend with family. Sky flew out Friday morning with the team, and I flew out Friday afternoon--thanks to my father-in-law for the ticket!! Many of Sky's extended family is from the area, so it was kind of like a family reunion as well.

From the airport, I went straight to the BYU football devotional at a local chapel in the San Jose area. They hold one of these the night before every game, and the head coach and a couple players usually speak. Since Sky's whole family would be there, Sky signed up to speak, and he did awesome. He told a little bit of his football story, and talked a lot about his dad's conversion story to the church. I was very proud :)

When Coach Mendenhall got up, he invited Ziggy Ansah (#47 D-Line) to come up and tell his conversion story. If you haven't heard Ziggy's story... look it up! Such an amazing story of a kid from Ghana who had never played football a day in his life and is now NFL bound. I always tell Sky that he is my favorite BYU player but that Ziggy is a close second ;) haha.

Since Sky spoke, SO many people came up to him after asking for pictures and autographs. My sister-in-law Brooke kept laughing and looking at me when a group of girls would come up to him for pictures. I'm just glad he wears a ring on his left hand so that they all knew he's mine forever :) haha.

The Ridleys at the devotional.

The next day was game day, but the game wasn't until that night. We spent the day at Grandpa Ridley's eating yummy food, watching football, and just hanging out and taking cute pics :)

 We left for the game a couple hours early and bundled up to watch warm ups.

After the game!

Sky & his mama!

We then spent Sunday at Aunt Robyn's and had a great time with Grammy and the rest of the fam...

Our neices: Lyla, Brooklyn, and Maylee

All in all it was a great weekend!!! :)

We then headed back to Provo for a day, and then I was off to Hawaii with my family. We were SOOOO sad Skyler couldn't go. I debated for a while whether or not to go without him, but he told me I deserved to go because of all my hard work this semester, and since he would be gone for football most of the week anyways. He's a champ.

Shipwreck Beach :)

Sky headed to New Mexico (woo!) for the weekend and assisted BYU in the 50-14 win over New Mexico State. He had 5 catches for 46 yards in the game. So proud of my man!

This is the game from a couple weeks ago!

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, we are beyond excited for the semester to be over and Christmas break to begin! First we'll head to the BYU football bowl game in San Diego for a few days. In the middle of the bowl festivities (Dec. 18), Skyler's brother Cody returns from his mission in Columbia and we can't wait to be at the airport to greet him! Then on to the bowl game at Qualcomm stadium on the 20th... Go Cougs! We then spend a week at Skyler's home, where we'll have Christmas with his family. A couple days later we're off to Grand Targhee in Wyoming for some sweet powder and a snowboarding trip with my family. Then we get to head to Idaho with Sky's parents to drop of Cody and Shayna at BYU-I and help them get settled. Finally, a new semester of school begins, but instead, I will begin my internship with Grant Thornton! Christmas break in FOUR states. Craziness.

Can't... WAIT!