Shannon's Best Year Yet

This has been the craziest, most exciting, and happiest year of my life! Today seemed like the perfect day to start a blog, because one year ago today this happened: 

That's right, it has been one year since I left on my mission! I can't even believe it. I spent six weeks learning Spanish in the Mexico City MTC, and then headed off to San Fernando, California to serve. Here are some highlights:

My mission was absolutely amazing, and I loved every minute of it. But around Christmas time my health started to really deteriorate. I ended up accepting a medical release in early March and exactly six months ago today, this happened:

It took a while to adjust to coming home. I started working at the temple and got a calling to serve as a Sunbeam teacher. Within a couple of months I was doing well enough to move out of my parents' house. I began making friends with my roommates, got a job, and started to finally adjust to being a normal person again.

Then, on June 1st, I met my person. My rock-climbing partner, my adventure buddy, my best friend and my eternal companion. Derrik and I met at a bonfire, and four days later we went on our first date. He took me hiking in the Upper Falls area in Provo Canyon, and I was completely smitten. The next week we went on a hike with some of his friends, and at the end of the night he kissed me for the first time. Sixteen days after we met, we decided to start dating. The next week we went on a road trip adventure with one of our best friends.



By the end of the road trip, I was in love. I knew I wanted to marry him. On July 1st, one month from the day we met, Derrik took me hiking and rappelling at night in the same spot we hiked on our first date. After we landed our rappel, he pulled out a shoe box. He had bought me new climbing shoes! In one shoe was a bouquet of my favorite flowers and a sweet note. Then, he pulled out a ring box out of the other one, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him.

In a moment of complete and utter eloquence, I did the only logical thing to do. I kissed him. Then I said, "Of course!". A minute later, aerial fireworks went off! It was the most adorable proposal.



We had a whirlwind engagement. We had seven weeks and three days from Derrik's proposal to our sealing. It was frantic, we drove my mother insane, almost eloped to Vegas once, but finally made it!



We were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Friday, August 22nd. It was beautiful. It was perfect. It was worth every single moment of stress.

We moved into an adorable little apartment, filled with Ikea furniture we built ourselves.



Okay, Ikea furniture that Derrik built.

We have done a lot of climbing.









We started school together.



We went salsa dancing, attended a BYU devotional with the first Presidency, started our big-kid ward, watched a LOT of the Big Bang Theory, ate some delicious chicken wings, and have had an absolute blast together.
And, we have now been married for nineteen days. Let me tell you, marriage is wonderful. If you haven't tried it, DO! And if yours isn't wonderful, FIX IT! I am so in love with this adorable man, and everything is better with him by my side.

This has been the most eventful, stressful, and joyful year of my life.
But, it definitely won't be for long! I am excited to see what adventures
 life takes us on together.

-Shannon Earnshaw Jenkins