It's done!

I was so incredibly nervous going into surgery yesterday. A few times I almost backed out, but the Lord was mindful and sent me tender mercies to give me courage.

I was lucky--they only had to remove the right lobe of my thyroid! There is a chance the left lobe will need to come out next week, but we're praying I'm all done.

Things went really well with the surgery (I think. I can't remember talking to my doctor afterward, but Spence talked to him). We were able to go home after only a couple of hours. I'm not in too much pain, although my throat is pretty sore and this bandage on my neck is TIGHT! Tomorrow we'll meet with Dr. Money to check on things.

I am SO grateful for the Lord's hand in my life. There must be a reason why we discovered the nodule when we did. Hopefully having my thyroid removed will positively impact my health!!

My family has been amazing through all of this. My parents helped calm me down, talked through my worries, and stayed with Spencer during the procedure yesterday. Spencer's family came to visit yesterday and we've received flowers, dinner, gift baskets, and the like from family and ward members. We are so blessed!!

Spencer has been so wonderful in working through this with me, and now he takes care of me perfectly and sweetly. He is so good!!

I bought myself some new PJs and a couple of 5th graders made me that tape bracelet!

I am a Riley, I can do hard things!!

Into the Fire

This song has been my theme song for the past couple of months. Literally, I listen to it almost every morning. I LOVE it. Part of my love for the song has to do with my love for the story line of the show (Scarlet Pimpernel) but the other part of my love has to do with the message of courage.

With my thyroid surgery looming large on the horizon of tomorrow, I am absolutely terrified. I am listening to this song about once an hour. Like I said, I LOVE it.


David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand

There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail

Into valleys, into waters
Into jungles, into hell
Let us ride, let us ride home again with a story to tell
Into darkness, into danger
Into storms that rip the night
Don't give in, but give up
But give thanks for the glorious fight

You can tremble, you can fear it
But keep your fighting spirit alive boys
Let the shiver of it sting you
Fling into battle, spring to your feet boys
Never hold back your step for a moment
Never doubt that your courage will grow
Hold your head even higher and into the fire we go 

Are there mountains that surround us?
Are there walls that block the way?
Knock 'em down, strip 'em back boys
And forward and into the fray

Into terror, into valour
Charge ahead, no, never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn

Someone has to face the valley
Rush in, we have to rally and win boys
When the world is saying not to
With God, you know you've got to march on, boys
Never hold back your step for a moment
Never doubt that your courage will grow
Hold your head ever higher and into the fire we go 

Let the lightning strike
Let the flash of it shock you
Choke your fears away
Pull as tight as a wire
Let the fever strike
Let the force of it rock you
We will have our day, sailing into the fire

Someone has to face the valley
Rush in! We have to rally and win boys
When the world is saying not to
With God, you know you've got to march on, boys
Never hold back your step for a moment
Look alive! Oh, your courage will grow
Yes, it's higher and higher and into the fire we go
Into fire!
Onward, ho! 


Wish me luck...like my students keeps reminding me, tomorrow I will come out of surgery with less mass inside of me. At least they're understanding some part of our matter unit...

On the up and up...a truth-filled blog

I have been very sick. 

Since the beginning of the school year I have been sick--emotionally and physically. There were months when I was fighting tears the whole school day. I would come home and go to bed, no matter what time it was, no matter how hungry I was, no matter what kinds of plans I had made with my best friends (including my husband!).

It was a dark time. 

I cried a LOT. I hated getting dressed because I hated the way I looked and the way my body felt. On days that I didn't have to go to school, I wouldn't get dressed until late afternoon/evening. I missed church a couple of times because I didn't want anyone to see me (and I didn't want to put on a happy face). It was so hard.

Things finally hit rock bottom, and I started getting professional help. Since the only way to go (literally!) was up, I started going up. Today, things are so much better. I am happy. I feel great. I love my life. I love my job. I still have bad days, but I finally, after 6 months of feeling like the worst stranger on the planet, I feel like myself again.

I cannot TELL you what a saint my husband is. He was never, ever, once cross with me. Even on the worst days when every single bad thing that could possible be said was flying out of my mouth, Spencer was there to tell me he loved me. He was saying that I was beautiful, and everything was going to be okay. He never gave up.

My parents have also been amazing. They've brought us dinner, come to talk, picked up medications, prayed, and so many other things. I am grateful to my parents for always telling Spencer how amazing he is, on those nights when I was far gone.

My Riley family has been wonderful as well. I'm new to this family, and I've been quiet, removed, and not myself. But it didn't matter to them; no matter what I was going through, they were there to love and support me. I feel like they have completely accepted me into their family.

I wish I could describe what it feels like to have my Dad Murray, Dad Riley, and Spencer give me a blessing. Being surrounded by the three most important and influential men in my life is incredible. It's so comforting to have worthy priesthood holders and I'm grateful for their diligence and examples.

I am so incredibly grateful  for the gospel. Without my knowledge of the atonement or the plan of salvation, I would be lost. My Heavenly Father has sent tender mercies every day of my life. I have seen miracles occur. I am so thankful to my Savior and Father in Heaven for what I have been blessed with.

The past few months have been rough. The next month will be physically draining. But I have learned SO much in the last little bit. I have a new perspective and I'm grateful for that. Things will still be hard, but I have  so keenly felt the miracle of the atonement that I feel stronger already.

I am so blessed. 

3 Months!

(This picture was taken a couple of months before we started dating--at the very beginning of our friendship!)

When we kissed, I felt a sweet sensation....

 ...this time it wasn't just my imagination!

Being married to S.W. Riley has been nothing short of a miracle in my life. He is SO GOOD to me. I know I'm young, but I definitely felt like it took me a "long time" to get married--

but it was WORTH EVERY MINUTE. It was worth every tear and worry, because Spencer is exactly the man who I was searching for.

He's all I've wanted all my life and even more...the boy whose life and dreams and love I want to share.

We are in Xanadu

Seriously we are in Xanadu! Married life is amazing. I have an amazing husband who does so much for me. As we speak he is retrieving the oil to rub on my sore neck. Man, am I lucky or what??

Natalie & Spencer (Temple Only) from A Guy & A Girl Productions on Vimeo.

During our engagement, we sat down with our parents to plan what we wanted our wedding to be like and how we were going to do that. We thought it would be a fun idea to have video footage of our debut as husband and wife! I wasn't very interested in a long movie of the reception, etc, but we thought a little video would be fun. So, I sent an email to my friend Cameron of A Guy and A Girl Productions and this is what he came up with. It is AMAZING! We love it. It is exactly what I was looking for :) I have already watched it a million times (roughly) and Spencer and I love to watch it together.

Love is grand

Remember how a few months back I posted a blog about how I couldn't believe I had been engaged to the most wonderful man in the world for four days?

We did it!!!

Me and the boys!

Well guess what? I have now been married to the most wonderful man in the world for over a month. It has been an amazing month! I didn't know I could feel so blessed and lucky. My husband is amazing and I love being married to him. We have already had some fun adventures including broken glasses, leaky sinks, and trips to the hospital, and we look forward to the adventures of the rest of our lives!!

All the girls! Murrays on the left, Rileys on the right! I love my new family!! They are so amazing, supportive, and fun!

All the boys! Murrays on the left, Rileys on the right. I love that I have more brothers! And an awesome (and buff) father in law!

Tidbit

My grandma played the piano at our reception. My grandpa joined her for a few duets. It was really, really cool. 

Our famous happy ending!

Our debut as husband and wife!

With our sisters Abby and Nicole. 

On June 21st, Spencer and I were sealed in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. The ceremony was amazing and we are so blessed to have the sealing power in our lives and our marriage. I couldn't be happier! I love him so much and married life is awesome. Spencer and I are seriously perfect for each other, and there hasn't really been any sort of adjustment to living together (except for the few times when we've accidentally hit each other in the face in the middle of the night. We aren't quite used to sharing a bed yet). Here is a sneak peak of wedding day bliss (for even more of a sneak peak, visit Karly's blog).