Hi, Karl.

HI CAN WE PLEASE JUST APPRECIATE THIS HUMAN? THANK YOU. 

There are no words at the moment to accurately describe the level of contentedness his voice brings me to. I could listen to him talk all. day. long. 

 You guys. 

This boy. 

This boy. 

This boy.

He is so different. 

He is so good.

and if you're not in the mood for the most twitter-pated post of your life, then i'd suggest you click away. This is a sappy post if there ever was one, but i'm not one fraction of a bit sorry. 

I've never been a huge fan of the "this is my boyfriend, isn't he great?! Look, see, he's incredible, everyone pay attention to me" posts. 

but this is unabashedly a, "HEY INTERNET, this is my boyfriend, isn't he great?! Look, see, he's incredible, everyone pay attention to me" post. 

and i'm NOT going to apologize for it. 

i am straight up bragging. 

and i'm not afraid to admit it. 

There is a boy. 

His name is Karl. 

I care for him. Far more than i had originally planned. 

I love that he sends me novel-length text messages, because i do the same exact thing. and i love that he calls me when he says he's going to call me and i love that this dear boy Skypes me for hours and hours at a time like it's not taking over his entire day.

I love that we get embarrassed about the same things. 

He loves his family and his job and his school and who loves all three of those and means it?

I can't get enough of this grin:

I love that he is positively beaming whenever he sees me for the first time in a few days, 

and vice versa. 

same. laugh hand. stop.

and he siiiiiiiiings and he plays the saxophone and he loves the hymns of the Gospel and we sound good together, which is rare. 

not only does he put up with me, he LIKES me. and he ENCOURAGES me to be who i am. even if that me is embarrassingly bold and over eager. He supports that. He supports me. 

I love that he shares stories from his mission and family and life and never apologizes for it because he knows that i'm listening and that i care. 

I appreciate that he listens to and cares about my stories, too. 

I can't help but smile even just looking at him, i just enjoy him so much. 

He tells me everything, and i get to feel like a huge part of his life even though i'm not physically there with him.

He laughs at hideous pictures of me with no reservation. actually we both do. 

so hard that we literally cry.

He is unapologetically himself around me. Always. It helps me toss my inhibitions. 

I value our conversations. especially when they turn serious and profound. He is thoughtful and sincere, just like i try to be, and just like i need in a partner. 

His laugh is the best thing I've ever had the pleasure of motivating. 

And as a fine cherry on top, he has the dreamiest pair of eyes i ever did see. 

large, and solid blue. framed with long dark lashes.

Hello, Karl Stuart. one day you might read this and be embarrassed that i put all of these pictures on the internet, but in my defense, i did tell you they'd be going on the blog. 

I'm proud of you, you know. 

Of your character and the way you make people feel - like they are loved and known and of worth.

Of your strength and zeal and knowledge. 

I'm proud to be with you, Karl. And honestly i'd be proud to call you mine for a very very very long time, if you'd have me.Which i know you would. will. you have always made sure your feelings for me were known, and known well. I tried to mirror that, so this relationship has been going just peachy so far. I know there will be hard spots, but right now i just don't care. 

You are a good man, and a kind, gentle soul. 

I'm happy that we are currently here.

by the way, feel free to Skype me for hours and hours whenever you'd like. It's pretty stinking flattering to have someone spend half their day awake on Skype. You are wonderful, Karl. 

affectionately yours, 

melissa michiale

Easter Weekend

I rushed home from Provo on Sunday night and immediately set to work making a giant cardboard rocket and control board for dramatic play for Preschool on Monday. 

the finished control board. 

i forgot to get a picture of the rocket, but it was awesome. and i make helmets out of ice cream buckets and the children looked adorable in them. too bad. 

that week was INSANE because it was my last week of preschool and i was trying to get everything done, and this is what our room looked like:

Around this time, Sophia started spending literally every hour she was awake with Travis. completely understandable, but we wanted her to come to the grocery store with us, so we stole her. we may or may not have looks terrifying:

snap chats i sent to Stephanie's fiance during the kidnapping:

Then finally, it was Friday. I got out of Preschool and had a text from Karl saying he was 2 hours away. I ran home, took a shower, and cleaned as much as i could before i heard a very welcome knock on the door. He came straight from work, so he was in a suit. cutie. 

We went to the Rexburg temple and then to eat at my favorite restaturant in Idaho - The Great Bambino's. a calzone place. bomb. 

then we headed back to my complex for the rest of the night and just talked about everything. 

You guys, this boy is so good. 

I've never felt so close to anyone in my life. 

halfway through the evening he asked me, 

"How much should i like you?"

I said, "well, it's been a week. So probably a week's worth."

to which he replied, "hmm. nope. i like you way more than that."

swooning happened. 

the Saturday morning before Easter, my family has Easter Bunny day, that way we can spend the whole of Easter celebrating Jesus Christ.

I'd planned on making Easter baskets for me and Jonathan anyway, so i made one for Karl, too. They were cute. I didn't get a picture of them. i need to get back in the habit of documenting things. 

I remembered that i had a new phone with a better camera than the old one so  said, "Hey, let's take a picture!" Jonathan stuck his tongue out, so Karl stuck his out. But at the last second, Jonathan retracted his. Karl didn't. I saw none of this as it happened. hahaha. 

Ten points to Karl for seeing me with no make up on, two days in a row, and still telling me i looked beautiful. He rocks. 

After easter baskets, and eggs for breakfast, we headed over to my lounge to watch the Saturday morning session of the General Conference of our church. 

IT WAS INCREDIBLE. 

i'll talk more about it, and my thoughts/impressions/feelings in my next post. 

But can i just say, Karl says "Amen!" emphatically, and he stood up to sing the intermediate hymn even though we were at home, and he took notes, and he held my hand whenever he wasn't taking notes and was adorable in general. If you can't tell, i am still totally in the twitterpated stage. I never tire of bragging about him, so get used to this. sorry not sorry. 

in between sessions, we hung around the house for a bit, Karl twisted balloon creations for me and some of my roommates. 

he a seahorse for me, a giraffe for ashley, a motorcycle for Jade, and a Beyonce for Sophia. 

Then we had a waffle lunch with our ward in the neighboring complex's lounge. Karl came early with me to set up and my Relief Society President and i had a conversation in Spanish about how he was my boyfriend but i hadn't said that out loud yet, but that i was super into him and impressed that he came to Rexburg and so was she and it was great. in spanish. 

That afternoon session, was wonderful, too. 

we hung out with my roommates some more after that, and then i helped him set up the TV in my lounge for the Priesthood session. He's so good. 

while he watched that, i went home and got cleaned up, complete with a crazy meltdown while i was getting out of the shower, "I  LIKE HIM A LOT, THIS IS FREAKING ME OUT, WHAT DO I DO THIS IS DIFFERENT, I'VE NEVER FELT THIS, WHATS GOING ON, IT'S BEEN A WEEK, MELISSA, CALM DOWN."

But then once i saw him again, i was completely calm, and i just knew everything was going to be fine. he makes me feel at peace and confident. he always has.

we went out to dinner, and did Dr.Aron's 36 questions. (I totes believe in them, btw. i did this with Sophia last semester, it's what made us best friends. so i did this with Karl, and it was awesome. i learned a lot about him, and vice versa. He's amazing.) We ate pizza and i kept wondering how this was so easy and natural. unreal. 

Then we went to Walmart (hashtag there's nothing better to do in Rexburg, Idaho.) and each picked 10 things. 5 that described us, and 5 that described the other person. and then we showed them to each other and laughed and laughed and laughed. 

the last item was supposed to be like, a culmination. the piece de resistance, if you will. 

I said: I got these, because you're an OVERALL great human

He said: oh...well i got this necklace, because you're pretty gangster

aka he's perfect. 

On sunday morning, as per tradition, i woke up to watch the sunrise over the hill in front of the temple. I asked my roommates if any of them wanted to join me. Jade did. I told Karl he could sleep in, but that if he did want to go, to come over at 6:30.

6:29 am? knock knock knock

This boy. 

he's wonderful. 

So we drove tot he hill and watched the sunrise as we read from the New Testament about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and listened to some songs about Easter from "Lamb of God" by Rob Gardner, that i love. 

another 10 points to Karl for seeing me at 6:30 am and then staying with me for the rest of the day. 

we went back home, and Karl went back to my FHE brothers' where he was staying, and we slept until Conference was starting. we watched in my lounge again, and Karl got teary eyed when they showed a group of people doing American Sign Language during a hymn. he joined them. I smiled. 

then we went home and made DELICIOUS resurrection rolls. the bomb.com. 

I crept on Travis and Sophia because they're adorable. 

and then we watched the Sunday Afternoon session on campus in the Taylor Chapel so that it stll felt like a Sunday. Jade was doing an assignment for class and had to be in a wheel chair that day. Karl pushed her all the way up the hilly campus. this BOY. 

After the session, he helped me make dinner, we talked for literally hours longer than planned, and then he left for Provo and my heart was so full.

He's incredible, and i am so lucky, and we work so well together it seems too good to be true. 

plus, is he cute, or what??

More on Conference next time!

Utaaaaahhhhh

HI IT'S BEEN A WHILE. 

A LONG, LONG, WHILE. 

Almost a month ago, (it feeeeeels like aaaaaaaaages) i went to Provo for an interview, and stayed with Raycelan. I stay with her way more than is polite to impose on a friend. hahaha. 

you guys, i just sincerely love Provo. I always have. I hope i always will.

these mountains fill my heart right to the brim. 

After my super intimidating interview, i spent the evening with Derek and Raycelan! They were trying on outfits for their engagement pictures and Derek, as usual, was being a goof. they are adorable. I'm obsessed with them. 

Derek is wearing 3 pairs of pants in these pictures, by the way. 

Friday morning, i went to spend the afternoon with my sister Allison and her family in South Jordan where they recently relocated. 

i haven't seen them since OCTOBER, so it was lovely to finally see them. 

Friday night i went on a date with this cute boy named Karl! He'll get his own post soon enough. don't worry. 

Over the summer, we were friends and went on a few dates. We had planned to go to the Monte Bean Museum to see the Boyd K Packer exhibit, but the day we had planned to go, the museum was closing early. so we missed it. 

So in stead, we went almost exactly 8 months later. haha. on March 27, actually. 

It was so much fun! He's goofy and fun and handsome and i was, needless to say, totally smitten. all over again. 

The Noah's Ark that Boyd K. Packer hand carved for his grandchildren!

I have genuinely waited years to see this in person. 

thanks for taking me, Karl! I had a blast!

i took a picture of this wolverine thing for Jenae, since you know, she too is 'the evil one' ;)

Then that night, Karl and i maybe stayed up until literally 5 am talking in the Cinnamon Tree parking lot, and it genuinely felt like half an hour.

He is so cool. 

I spent Saturday with Derek and Raycelan. painting and talking and laughing. That afternoon, Dylan joined us for some frisbee down the street.

love these humans. 

also, Dylan fixes his own car. no big deal. Hey, Dyl. 

then i watched the general women's session of LDS General Conference with my provo friend Shanna. 

after which, I spent the evening with Karl.

He was a professional Balloon twister a few years ago. It's how he funded his mission for our church. 

like i said, HE'S SO COOL.

waking up to these mountains on Sunday morning was a sight, let me tell you. I cannot wait to be back in Provo again this summer, you guys. it's unreal. 

I went to church in one of my favorite wards ever - Provo YSA 146th. sniff sniff tear tear. I sat with Raycelan and Karl. Raycelan spoke to the congregation at one point, and bore witness of the Priesthood. i cried. She is so wonderful. I can't wait to be her sister (in less than a month!!).

Also, Karl held my hand all during church and it was pretty stinking adorable. When he first reached over to take my hand, i literally heard gasps from behind us. haha. 

and after church Dylan and his roommate, my other friend, Mitchell teased me as if they were my own brothers. Dylan pretty much is. 

Karl is kind of a big deal in that apartment complex, so i'm not gonna lie, i felt really cool walking around with his hand in mine. 

cutie, cutie, cutie. 

this boy.

i just really appreciate all these people. I love Provo. I'm so excited for Derek and Raycelan to have their big beginning, and i'm just stinking happy, you guys. 

After we'd eaten dinner and taken these pictures, 

Karl helped me carry my things to my car, he surprised me by insisting that he'd visit me in Rexburg the upcoming weekend, and kissed me goodbye right there in the parking lot for the whole ward/complex to see. 

needless to say, i was smiling like an idiot the entire drive home. 

and with that cliffhanger, i bid you adieu. 

until next time...