The Hunt is On

We got back to Rexburg late August 18^th.  The next day we went a job lookin’.   We started just going to the library and looking at the employment school website.  It listed a lot of places that a lot of students typically work out including the library, early morning custodian, etc.  Then there was a help wanted board where people around the community wanted to hire students mainly just as part time or temporary work.  I applied to be a swimming instructor for a special needs man.  I called up the phone and I told the man a brief summary about myself and also explained that I was an accounting major.  He then told me he owned his own law office and would be interested in meeting me in person.  I ended getting the job position as a swim instructor.  He asked what I would charge per lesson and I said $12.  I felt like that was a pretty fair price.  I taught his son the next week.  I mainly focused on teaching him how to kick properly with his legs because that is what his dad told me to focus on.  I was a little nervous while I was teaching him because I never had taught any swimming lessons before and I didn’t get the chance to watch a youtube video “how to teach someone to swim” like I wanted to.  I mainly just winged that lesson but it went good at the end.  During the lesson though I was nervous that the Dad was thinking I was teaching him effectively but the dad seemed pleased and like he paid for a good service.  His dad just expected for his disabled son to learn how to get perfect form after one lesson where in my mind I was hoping it would click for him extremely fast haha.

We applied to countless jobs and after a few days I remember oh wait we should apply for schools.  So we did and the next day we started getting asked if we could set up times for interviews.   I interviewed for a school really close which seemed nice and they mainly honed in one position as a special needs aid for one boy for $8 and something.  Then I applied to another school that was a little farther but only like 5 minute drive in total still.  I really was interested in that position and the principal was a really nice guy.  Later that day I got a job offer from there which paid for $9 an hour and they would work with my school schedule which was very nice of them.  The next day I went to meetings and then the day after the first day of school started.   The day was great I work with mainly just 2 students both very high functioning.  One of them just needs someone beside him to help him with the work and the other student is a little more rambunctious.  In the mornings I also did playground duty which was pretty fun.  It was nice just getting up early and getting to work.

In the mornings I applied to jobs like the office of Breck (the father of the son who has the special needs that I am teaching).  I applied to mainly be a secretary.  One of the ways I had to apply was type of a voice message as a letter.  It was hard to type every word correctly because I didn’t hear word clearly.  Afterwards I translated it in Spanish. 

Overall it was very good week.  Carla and I also applied to an after school program for Kennedy Elementary school (the school I work).  We would be a teacher over about 10 or 15 students and teach an activity.  It pays $10/hr.  We haven’t heard back from them yet.  I hope they offer Carla the job.  She would be good for the job and she feels a little bad right now that I am working and she isn’t.  We will see what happens she be pretty busy once the school starts. 

 

This week has been a week of blessings.  I feel grateful that I the spirit brought to remembrance to apply at the school district.  This is really a great job!  Close, pays better than minimum wage and jobs at the school, and will work for schedule.  I just feel bad that so many other people don’t know about this job or hear about so late.  There are tons of girls that are now just applying to this job that are already graduated with degrees in early childhood development and now they are making the same as me, and I am still in the middle of school studying accounting haha.  This week has really shown me that it’s not always your qualifications but your ability to get yourself in the right type of interview.  If that is because you know the right people or that you find the websites at the right time I am not sure.  I just know I feel blessed J  

 

  

The most important day...EVER!

When I was growing up I was always pictured myself with a suit or a tux getting married in the temple with a beautiful woman.  Well now that day has come true!  I got married to the girl of my dreams in the Atlanta temple August 1st.  After my semester ended at the end of July I flew to Atlanta Georgia to meet my in-laws for the first time without my fiancée!  I wasn't to nervous I knew I was a good guy that tried my very best to keep my covenants and that I would treat their daughter right.  They picked me up from the airport and I spent the next day and half getting to know them and talking to them.  Then once my bride to be flew in we did some fun things such as went to Mayfield Dairy which is a place known for their ice cream.  We went on a tour and I milked a mechanical cow.  It was pretty fun.   Then we went to lazar show at a place called stone mountain.  There is just a mountain that they use as a projector.  It was pretty fun.  They put music and put cartoons to it.  Then for the next 3 day we took pictures like non stop.  It was cool though.  I really did enjoy it and we got some great pictures.  The 3rd day of taking pictures we did a "first look"  where the bride and the groom dress up in their wedding clothes and get pictures.  We went to a park and it was really fun.  Carla looked beautiful (like I knew she would).  Her dress was gorgeous and I know I couldn't have picked a better woman as my wife.  The next day she took out her endowment.  It was such a beautiful experience taking my bride through the veil.  She has a lovely new name (just like her :) )   Then that night I slept in a hotel with my little brother Michael and my parents.  It was interesting going to bed that night that I kept the law of chastity and didn't have any sexual relations until I got married.  I guess it was just interesting because my entire life I was told I should wait and now I realized I finally did. 

The next day was the wedding.  I was excited but I felt pretty calm.  I ate a light breakfast and after seeing more some Aunts and Uncles at nearby hotel we left to the temple.  I got there a little bit earlier then the recommended hour early but Carla actually got there 45 minutes till.  The temple President sealed us for time and all eternity.  The President informed us right before we entered the sealing room the correct wording was "Yes." not "I do."  It was a lovely ceremony although I mainly remember how I felt then the exact wording he told us.  We did exchange rings in the sealing room.  Thankfully it wasn't too bad taking off her engagement ring and then putting her wedding band first and then engagement ring and she putting on my ring.  We then took some pictures with the family which was fun.  The little ones behaved pretty well. We then ate a delicious dinner with the wedding party at a place called "The diner".  It was great meal I had a chicken alfredo pasta.  I wanted seconds but I didn't want to be rude.  Then we went home and packed our bags for the 2 nights we would spend in Watkinsville it felt like forever for her to pack her bags.  I was teasing her the entire way of driving to Watkinsville that I couldn't wait the 2 hour drive and that we needed to just stop at a hotel.  Thankfully we didn't get lost.

When we got there we spoke the worker that showed us to our room and chose a time for breakfast.  We then looked at the bed a little hesitant at what we were "supposed to do".  She got changed into a purple outfit that her sister bought her (which she looked very cute in).  We took it slow but eventually we figured it out ;) .  It was beautiful experience and was thankful for my mother's advice of taking it slow and be considerate of how she is feeling.

The next day we had our reception.  It was a lot of fun.  The Mexican tacos were delicious based off of the design of Café Rio.  Carla did an excellent job picking out the food.  We enjoyed the first dance.  I was a little nervous and was difficult to avoid stepping on her long dress.   We did the cha-cha to the song "I love just the way you are".  Apparently I had a very focused look on my face haha (and I wasn't smiling).  Then we had a DJ and he gave us a little time to talk on the mike and tell thanks to everyone.  The decorations were lovely a lot of them were pictures that Andre (Carla's dad) took on the 3 day photo shoot.  They turned out great.  There was also a slideshow that was playing of us outside in the lounge.  I think everyone had a good time.  I got the chance to dance with grandma and Aunt Linda and Mom.  There was one time where the DJ told all the married couples to come dance in the middle.  Then he "eliminated" the most recently married couples to the most seasoned.  The last couple dancing was my parent-in-laws at 32 years of marriage. 

Overall my entire time in Georgia was a blast and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I am grateful that my siblings, parents, Grandma Lowe, my aunts and uncles from the Lowe side could all come.  It was a very special week.  I feel so blessed for the entire week and I am happy the celebration of me marrying my beautiful bride turned out so nicely.     

When it rains, It floods

This past week our small city of Rexburg got on national news for a natural disaster!  It didn't even have anything to do with breaking  freezing temperatures during the summer.  We had a flood!  It was a normal Tuesday afternoon when all of the sudden it started to rain, and then there was hail, and then it transformed into a ferocious storm.   I was in the library doing homework while this storm was raging and then about 20 minutes later the security guards of the library went around closing the library for some unknown reason unbeknownst to us.  It was rather odd to be honest.  So I went home and then on the campus there was tons of water going downhill.  It was crazy!  There were some part of the sidewalk that were very calm while other parts that were like current of a river.  I then went home to relax temporarily and then Carla calls me.  She tell me that there has been some flooding at the basement apartments of the Birch (the complex she lives in and my ward).  She asks me if I can come over and help out and bring some men from the ward.  So I change my clothes into shorts and flip flops and start my way over and getting some brethren from the ward.  I walk over lackadaisical thinking the carpets have just gotten a little damp when all of the sudden I see a large group of people surrounding the basement apartments!  The water was waist deep!  With hill declining into the lower apartments all of the water descended in one area, the girls' apartments!  I go voer to look for Carla and I see her deep into the water.  What a woman!  So many people watching while others were loosing all of their possessions she was in the midst serving!  How lucky am I to have gotten such a great disciple of Christ :)  I then got into the very cold water and started helping out.  Many of the girls lost a lot of their possessions save it be their electronic devices.  Some didn't even manage to save those!  Through it all I learned I realized I don't want a wife to call me when help is needed and then to see her on the sidelines.  I want a woman where we can be serving side by side helping our fellow brothers and sisters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLiGb4p8G_w

Our First Fourth

Friday was a day we remembered America declaring its independence from the British.  This day has been commercialized pretty much every other holiday in order for stores to earn another buck.  Although these trends are not inherently bad it is vital to remember the true importance of this holiday.  I appreciate this holiday from the past few years after having served my mission.  So many of our founding fathers fought so that we could have the right to practice our religion as we dictated.  I am so grateful for that!  What a precious gift that we were given and how often do we forget about it.  I am so grateful that I could serve this great country and help proclaim the good news to everyone I came in contact with.

This past Tuesday as Carla and I went to devotional we sang as the closing hymn “America the Beautiful” as we were finishing Carla’s eyes filled with tears of gratitude.  This emotion really got to me and helped me reflect of how I take this country and so many of the blessings that come with it for granted.

Now for the activities: Carla and I went to the gym and I played basketball for the first time in probably a month.  It was so fun.  My last 20 minutes I played 2 on 2 and the last game I hit a game winning three. It was pretty fun.  Then we went to the Rexburg parade and we got some sun.  It was fun seeing all of the different organizations and then walking around the booths. 

After we went to the store and Carla bought some supplies for hamburgers and also some fruit.  At first I got a little irritated about how much it cost but I think we do a good job balancing each other out for budgeting. 

We also had the chance to check out an apartment in the Lexington complex.  It was a beautiful apartment and opens in August but part of me doesn’t want to pay for any rent until September.  The owner allows would give us a table and a couch so the deal is really desirable.  We need to talk about it over still.

Lastly we ate some burgers that we made and also some mozzarella sticks that we learned how to make this past week at a cooking class that we went to.  Then we watched some of National Treasure.  It was great fourth full of fun, activities, and relaxation, not to mention Carla and I were wearing matching t-shirts that Carla’s mom sent us with an American Flag on it.  We were looking pretty good ;)

She said yes!

Well last week is a week that I will remember for sure!  On Tuesday the 10th Ericka Lowe called me and told me that the ring(s) had come!  Wow it took long enough haha.  I felt like I had been waiting forever.   I picked out the ring May 19th so it took almost an entire month before it got to the Idaho Falls store for me to pick up.  That Thursday the 12th of June Kay's jewelry store called me and informed me that the ring had come in.  So now the dilemma was how to get a 30 minute car ride.  I thought surely it wouldn't be too big of a problem considering all of the people that had offered to help me when they heard I was going to be engaged soon.  Let me tell you it was a problem.  I asked Carla's best friend Noel if she could give me a ride and she said she would have to ask her fiancé Bryce (who I both see almost every Sunday at game night) if he could take me.  Then about 5 hours later at night she said text him.  I felt like that was a sign of "He'd rather not" because I felt like they were most likely together and that she could ask him because she was probably right next to him.  Then I called Jordan who I went on a double date with his girlfriend Amber Perez (who served in my mission) and then he called me right back and I just barely missed his call.  I still needed a ride and had no idea of how I was going to get there.  So I went back home and I was thinking if I should ask my roommate Johnny for a ride or a seek another source.  So I started walking down the hallway and I saw a girl I recognized as a girlfriend of one of the guys in my ward.  I went up to her and asked "Do you have a car?"  She replied that she did in a little confused.  I introduced myself and I told her my dilemma and she quickly agreed to help me on my journey for the ring.  She was from Idaho Falls and knew right where the mall.  We enjoyed talking on the way up and she said how she and Andre had become engaged recently and it got me excited for this next step in my life.  After getting gthe ring without any trouble then I came home and saw her and had to play it cool till Saturday (I got the ring on Thursday). 

Saturday rolled around and we did baptisms for the dead.  We typically do them on Thursday but I wanted to do it outside of the temple.  It was our first temple date is when we kissed that night and when we became "official".  We had been going together every week this semester so we had a lot of good memories there serving.  After getting dressed back into the temple after doing the baptisms we sat out on the bench on the West side of the temple and just talked.  It was there where I first told her  a little under 3 months prior when told her I wanted to kiss her.  She gave me a cute expression that almost told me "oh you do".  After talking for a while we noticed a bride and a groom getting their pictures taken together.  As they came closer they Carla recognized the bride.  The photographer and the couple started going the opposite direction but I prayed silently that they would come back and past us.  I  wanted the photographer to get a picture of me proposing at the instant I was going to do it.  It seemed unlikely that they would be coming back but God answered my prayer and for some reason one of the 3 mentioned suggested they take a picture at a certain location pretty close to us.  As they were passing us I plucked all the courage I could muster and said to the photographer "Excuse me, could you take a picture of me and my girlfriend?"  "Yeah, sure."  She moved in a specific location on some steps that only a picture of our faces.  That wouldn't do I thought I want her to see me kneeling.  I asked her politely "Could you just take one more picture of us with a full body shot?".  "Are you going to pay me?" she inquired.  "I just might", I said.  I then got one knee and pulled open up the Kay's box with the ring it in and said something along the lines with a trembling voice to Carla "Carla, I love you.  You know I love you.  Will you marry me?  I want to be with you forever.  So will you marry me?"  She had her hand over mouth in excitement.   "Yes Eric, I will marry you.  I love you too."  During this entire time she the photographer was taking pictures of us.  It was a great moment.  I wasn't too nervous about asking her because we had already been talking about for a month.  So that's how I asked her.  After that we took some pictures with her smart phone that of course positioned her hand so the viewer could of course see the ring.  Later that day we posted it on Facebook.  It was a great day.  Thanks Heavenly Father for sending this beautiful and righteous girl in my life!  I know that if we live God's commandments to the best of our abilities God will send us blessing even more than we deserve and that's what I truly believe! :)  After that moment she said yes I felt like the luckiest man on earth.  No material wealth could ever bring more joy than know that you will spend eternity with the woman you love. :) 

"Camping"

This week I went to the Bishop's cabin and it was really fun.  The girls were invited to stay the night on Friday and eat breakfast while the guys had to leave that night.  We got there after an hour of driving and just enjoyed each other's company.  We went to a nearby creek and then roasted s'mores then after eating for a while we had some pizza for dinner with cobbler and ice cream.  It was so good.  Throughout the entire time I met new people while also spending time with Carla.  It was a great time.  Then all the wives of the Bishopric spoke about dating.  It was pretty good.  Sister Evans (the young wife) shared how her husband proposed by inserting cut outs of construction paper and then he cut out the center of the text book and put in the engagement ring it was a pretty cute idea.  Then we were going home there wasn't enough seats in the car.  There were 7 in total so one guy volunteered to ride in the trunk while there were 4 people (including me and Carla) squished in the back.  Half way home Carla just started sitting on my lap to save room for everyone else.  I was happy to take one for the team ;)  

The Ring bought, the engagement public (whether I like it or not haha)

This week I bought the engagement ring and wedding band.  I told my Aunt Ericka that my budget was $700 and with her 50% discount she showed me some very pricey rings.  After looking at a lot of rings there was $800 ring (without the discount) that really stuck out to me.  I wanted to buy it.  When I told my aunt she agreed that the ring was pretty but informed me that if I bought that ring I might just want to pay the full price of it so I could buy the warranty to go with it ( a safety feature that wouldn't have been included if she bought the ring with her discount).  I thought about it and decided that was the one I should buy.  She was able to get me a good deal and she found me a matching wedding band to go with it for her.   She also offered to buy wedding rind as long as it would was about 50 or 60 dollars.  This whole ring shopping has been a little stressful but pretty fun at the same time. 

On Friday morning Carla texted me saying how her mom and dad need help wedding plan from members in her ward.  She told me that her parents wanted to tell people and make it more official in Georgia.  I was a little hesitant because I wanted to wait to get the ring and propose to her "right" before we let everyone know.  In the end I figured it didn't really matter in the long run and it was necessary for her parents to get the help they need.  Ericka informed me later that the ring won't come until around June 7th because it needs to be fitted for her and it will take time to ship.  Everything is working great and I am excited for this next part of my life!  August 1st here I come!