{Milestones}

Kyle and his parents are in town. It's like all wedding-planning trauma has come to a complete halt while we try to show them how amazing Arizona is (not difficult, with the beautiful weather we've been having since it's not wretched August anymore). I don't know why I'm trying not to act stressed while they're here--they read my blog and hear about Poor Kyle's phone calls, so they know it's Bride-o-Mania (emphasis on the manic portion of the word mania) 80% of the time.

But despite that, they are here, and when one acts like one is not stressed, it really is easier to stay calm about things. Which is why Kyle should stay for the next 24 days, in my opinion.

The reason the clan Fairbanks has journeyed o'er hill, crag, and border patrol is to be with me Tuesday as I go through the temple. I know there are people who read my blog who don't know much about the LDS church, so I will give a brief overview: This is big.

And for a more in-depth overview: When I go through the temple for the first time, I will be making promises (covenants) with my Heavenly Father (the same God of the Christian/Catholic/Lutheran/Baptist, etc. religions) that will make me a better person and help me get to the highest part of Heaven, where He is. After I go through to make my own covenants, I will be able to go back as much as I want, in order to act for people who have passed away so that they can make the same promises. (No, this doesn't take away their freedom to choose--we believe that when people pass away, their spirits are still very much alive. But if adults pass away before they get a chance to hear about the church and decide if they want to be baptized, we don't think that should condemn them to Hell...That's why I can go to the temple in behalf of people who are dead--so they have the option to choose, even though they aren't here on Earth to go through the physical process.) Anyway, there is a lot more to it than that, but this is a blog, and to keep it brief, I will redirect you to this website, should you choose to learn more. (As a side note, there are lots of really lousy websites about the Mormon church. Most of them are full of beans. The only one I trust to give the whole truth, and the most details {for the internet} is this website, run and approved by the people in charge of that sort of thing.)

So Kyle is here. And his parents.

And something to note is that my birthday is Tuesday, the same day I go through the temple. I'm turning 21. Since I don't drink, I am going to ask for the second-most thrilling birthday present imaginable, after getting drunk: Comments. Lame? For sure. True? Undoubtedly...

A brief glance into the archives of my blog show that the highest volume of comments I ever had was the day I opened up our engagement photos for deliberation. (I didn't need to check the archives, though. I already knew 15 was my max. It was also the best day of my life, to that point.) I can't think of much I would like more than to sign onto my blog on Tuesday and see a comment link with more than 15 comments. If you've been reading my blog for a while and simply never introduced yourself, come out of the woodwork! I just want to know who you are. If you comment every day, like Adell, stick to the status quo! I like comments. Keep in mind, this is a really great way to acknowledge my birth and to do it for less than something you could buy at The Dollar Tree--just leave a comment.

To keep with the thrill of it all, I am not going to check the progress of my birthday petition. I'll just bite my nails from now until the afternoon of the 25th, and then sign on. (I won't even cheat and check my emails, since I get notified every time someone comments.) Hopefully it's a good turnout.

Now I'm signing off--feeling very much like a beggar--to get some sleep before Kyle and I wake up tomorrow to get our marriage license. The next time I blog, I will be 21. (I'm not that excited about being 21, by the way. The bridge between, say, seven and eight, was much more exciting than 20-21. I've pretty much felt 21 since last year.)