Oh haha, I forgot to mention that on Wednesday I chopped off 12" and donated them to Locks of Love, SURPRISE!

This Valentines day, our very first together, TJ had a very special surprise for me.  While on my mission I fell in love with songs by Peter Breinholt, well two of them as I was an LDS missionary I had a limited collection of music.  I had no idea who he was or even his name back then.  Since I served at Temple Square I was also called to serve in a second mission for 4 1/2 months, I was called to some very small towns outside of Las Vegas.  During this time I stopped by an LDS bookstore, that had a really great deal on used CD's, I actually looked at Peter's and read some of the lyrics, it was an autographed copy and I was tempted to buy it, I concluded that there might be some romantic lyrics on it and that is not what you need to think about on a mission.  So I put it down.  Later in Colorado Springs a dear friend of mine was listening to him in her car, I was so excited because I could mainly only listen to Jack Johnson and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir when I returned from my  mission.  Everything else seemed really crass.  She ended up buying me the CD, from then on I have found him more and more inspiring.  Which leads me back to the present.  Peter Breinholt was holding a fireside and I was going and nothing was going to stop me!  The Sunday before the fireside, TJ and I were called to a new responsibility with the young single adults at church, which would require us to be with Steven Covey instead, also a great opportunity I might add!  So we went to see Steven Covey, I was sad that the time that I would get to see an inspiration for me had passed but knew it would come again.  So Valentines Eve, TJ took me to see Peter Breinholt, it was a wonderful experience!  He is this skinny, kind of nerdy looking guy by most peoples standards, but he sure knows how to put on a great show!  TJ and both left inspired to create music and words of our own.  There were also some other artists with extremely moving music.  At the end of the show, we were able to talk to him, as TJ's family is friends with him as well as one of my other favorite singers.  So funny how small the world gets.  During the concert I also reflected on all the past failed relationships that led me to TJ.  I liked myself through all of them but am grateful for the road that has helped me grow into a much stronger person than I ever thought I could be and that has led me to the man of my dreams in a most blessed and wonderful life.  Things usually turn out better than you think they will, trust me!  Sometimes I have fears about my future but as President Stewart (my 3rd mission president) taught, "99% of our fears will never be realized so, KILL THE PIG (your fears) with faith".

Welcome TJ

On the 20th of December I became Elizabeth Connolly.  It was the most perfect and joyous day of my life.  I loved first of all marrying the man of my dreams for eternity.  I loved having our families together and being able to let them meet as well as just enjoying having the people we love most and know us best with us on that day.

It's true I'm engaged check out our new blog spot at tjlizconnolly.blogspot.com

So this pretty much wraps up the fun-filled and sun-filled summer.  I am back in school and now only working part time, so nice I don't know how I ever did it before.  I'm still training for my marathon so I run a lot.  I also would like to note that I won a 5k at the Greek festival last weekend, it's in the blood what can I say.  All my classes seem to relate to epidemiology- the study of disease outbreak and progression etc....   I love it!  I'm excited for the fall, I love each season in season! 

Sometimes you "randomly" run into your old companion as you are talking to her on the phone in an airport, neither of you even knowing that the other one was traveling, I find it good to know God is so mindful of us.
me surrounded by greek dancing men and even better TJ!

Stanley Canyon, TJ found the view of Pikes Peak that I lost after I made him hike an extra 10 minutes, when we had to be at a party in less than an hour.

The Balloon Glow!
Really cute face that my boyfriend makes from time to time.

Another one's gone, these are some of the amazing women I proclaimed the gospel with at Temple Square

Beach by San Juan Capistrano, TJ built me a castle in the sand. . . . sigh.
I've had a friend get married just about every weekend this summer, this is Janelle Vigeant Crouch.  Sarah, Janelle, and I spent many a day swimming in Pueblo, camping, eating whole rotisserie chickens, test driving cars, seeing how much free food we could obtain, and  dancing.  Those were some good times!!! 
TJ though it would be fun to dress up as cowpeople and ride horses, good call.
High on a mountaintop around Murietta, CA.
Newport Beach Temple
no caption necessary

Our horses had an interesting relationship, Mandy my horse had to be behind TJ's horse Larry or she would get angry at Larry because he would get to close to her bottom, they were tough old horses that didn't like to take orders from people and kept running back to their pasture so they could eat hay.


Sunset near Park City

Some small UT town in the middle of nowhere having a parade
Julie (Vance) Grant's wedding

First view of the water yes that is indeed in the middle of nowhere Arizona
I woke up the next morning with a burning eye infection and had to hike an hour to have a sweaty doctor poke my eye and give me eyedrops
but the fun went on one eye or two, Moony falls
me and my pack compliments of TJ
Angel Kirkham and I at the Hoover dam
the 10 mile hike into Havasuppai

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS at the res
this elder has been on 9 missions
sunday school at the Garden Park building is like being in a tree house
the most comfortable bed I ever slept in
impressively our room had a place to charge my ipod so I could listen to motab and the samples and stare at the stars
a homeless man gave this to me isn't it beautiful

So I went for a drive at 1 am in Utah, it was not the same as a drive in Colorado Springs at 1am, all I wanted was to be in the mountains and see the stars, I had no such luck, so I decided to write the top things I like/dislike about both places

Salt Lake Likes

1. The big blue recycle bin that everyone is issued, I know in most places green means recycle but here green means trash and I am just grateful that everyone has equal opp. to recycle here. I find myself when visiting CO storing recyclable items into piles and having my mom ask me why I don't throw trash into the trash can

2. Rich church history, Brigham Young did say "This is the Place" and I support that

3. You can decide which temple you want to attend and they are all within 25 mins

4. The mountains are all around

5. Unique local businesses and restaurants

6. When you finally do get in the mountains they are amazing!!!

Salt Lake dislikes or things I miss from Colorado Springs

1. All the grocery stores close at 1am, what happens if I want to make a strawberry banana granola smoothie at 1 am and all I have is blueberry yoghourt, oats, and frozen mixed berries? It was good

2. You can say good-bye to the stars!

3. Living at an elevation higher than the highest mountain and having even taller ones to the west

4. I miss all my spots, Goldcamp tunnels, Garden of the Gods, the Air Force Academy, Thunderbird Estates, The Broadmoor, Sonic on Jamboree, The Incline, Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Mountain, the mountains and parks off of NNNNOOOORRRTTTTHHHH Woodmen, the creepy statues, Black Forest, Roller Coaster Rd, Manitous Springs, Waldo Canyon, Woodland Park, Palmer Lake, The Punch Bowls, Grand Lake, I don't know where to stop

OK so there are more likes than dislikes and Salt Lake indeed feels like home, my goal these next 3 weeks is to find spots in Salt Lake, all though I will admit I like Donner Park, the acoustic amphitheater at the library, sledding down skii slopes, the hotel down town with the outdoor elevator, the airplanes at the landfill, Millcreek, Wasatch Blvd, the Avenues, City Creek, Temple Square, Ensign Peak, Bountiful. . . . .