He is home... and we are hitched!

We are married :) I love my life!

So much has happened in our lives the past few months and there is so little time to explain how truly happy we are! I have become a horrible journal writer since Mark has been home... so this is my new goal to update our blog once a week with photos and stories from our newlywed life. I am so very grateful to be married to such an amazing man. Mark is such a wonderful husband, I love being able to spend time with him. Well here is our story:

I met Mark  the end of my sophomore year of high school. My older brother Jordon played sports against him and I always thought he was so cute. One day I noticed that Jordon had posted about track on Mark's Myspace page... so I decided to add him. We began messaging back and forth and had talked about going on a date or meeting up sometime. It is so funny how when you are that age you can talk about things like that but when they really come true you don't know what to do haha. I remember watching Mark a few weeks later at district track but I didn't dare talk to him. I think we secretly both knew that we wanted to talk but we both never go the courage. Mark shot me a text that night apologizing for not talking to me and told me that if I went the next day he would talk to me. I begged my parents and Jordon to let me miss school and go back to Shelley to talk to him the next day. Again... I never got the courage to talk to him. Jordon was not going to let that fly, so he went over and got him so we could all talk. I remember Mark and Jordon talked... I barley made a peep.

 Over the next couple months we would text on and off until one day he asked if it would be okay if he came to Rexburg to go on a date with me. I said yes, but my stomach was so nervous! I waited with my mom on July 18,2008 in the formal room of our house looking for their car outside the window. Mark called me to get directions and I had never talked to him on the phone so I was so nervous to answer. He had brought his two best friends Nathan Stokes and Nathan Nooner. I had nothing planned for us to do that night so we just went to Monkey Rock with Jordon and his friends. That night Mark and I stayed up talking for hours in my kitchen. Mark still denies this... but when Nooner came downstairs Mark let go of my hand... must have been embarrassed. The next day we went mini golfing and bowling, which was really fun. Mark ended up going home and I was not sure when I would see him again. Luckily I was able to see him the next week... and now we were official :)

(Us in high school)

To make a long story a little bit shorter, Mark and I dated through the rest of my high school years. Just short of 2 years when he left to serve his mission. One thing about Mark that I always admired was that I knew that no matter what he was going to serve a mission. Mark got his call to Chihuahua Mexico on March 11, 2010 and left on his mission June 30,2010. While Mark was one his mission I was blessed with the 

opportunity to play volleyball at Western Wyoming. We honestly lived two separate lives... but at the same time we stayed so connected. Mark never missed a week of writing me while he was serving. We both grew in ways that I never thought possible during our time apart. I was able to experience new things that made me a stronger and better person while he was able to serve the lord with great obedience. There were great times while he was gone and hard times as well. I missed my best friend so much but I knew that he was doing the right thing. Two years actually goes by a lot faster than you think. Mark came home from his mission on July 3,2012. I was able to go to the airport and be with his family to welcome him home. Mark has such a wonderful family and I am so blessed to be a part of his family. We were engaged within a week of him being home... after 4 years of knowing each other. The Saturday after Mark got home he was able to speak at his nephews baptism. 

While I was listening to Mark there was no doubt in my mind that I should marry him. I knew that I needed and wanted that strong spirited man to be my husband and the father of my kids. I was playing volleyball at Utah State and had to be there in a month so it left us with limited dates to get married. We decided July 27, 2012 would be our special day.... yes we know it was fast but we loved it! After a few really solid days of planning (thanks mom!) our wedding was on its way. We shared a beautiful wedding day with gorgeous weather, friends and family. Mark and I moved to Logan the next week into our cute tiny apartment. We love living in Logan and we love being together. I began volleyball practice and liked it but i found that I was not as focused as I wanted to be. Of course not... I had my best friend at home. I realized that my priorities changed... Volleyball was great for me while Mark was gone but now that I have the chance to be with him and to be a wife my priorities are different. I was blessed to get to know some wonderful girls on the Utah State volleyball team. After deciding not to continue with volleyball I have felt the blessings that have come into my life. I am able to attend the temple more regularly and have more time to be a wife and to spend with Mark. I was reading President Thomas S, Monsons talk entitled "The Race of Life." I really love this talk and think that there is so much to take in from it. You should read it: 

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-race-of-life?lang=eng&query=things+matter+most

I have learned that it is so important to slow down and be thankful for all you have. I am so blessed. I have  wonderful family, friends and husband. I am able to live in a great town, get an education and live in a cute apartment. I know that there is so much to look forward to. Were ready to welcome it with open arms.

Until then, we are the Hobbs and this is our story ♥

♥/ Jocey

Change of plans :)

Change of plans... surprise! So much has happened the past few months and there are so many things to look forward to! First off... Jordon came home! Wahoo! It has been really nice to have him home and to be able to talk with him. Things are different then I thought they would be... It is weird to think that we both have such different lives now and it is not the same as it was when we were in high school. I am thankful for the lessons I was able to learn while Jordon was gone and to be able to have him home safe and sound. I am excited to see where both of our futures take us; I hope our future entails all that we have hoped for one another. 

 I just graduated from Western officially... only 2 more graduations until I will be done with my Masters! I got this, I am so excited to know that my future is making way and that I have great things in store. It was great to be able to go back and be with my friends and to play with them. I loved my time at Western Wyoming, it has helped shaped me to be a better person and has taught me the importance of taking risks.

 It was humbling to see all the accomplishments that my team and I were able to accomplish at Wyoming. It is even more humbling to know the hard work that we put in to it paid off. Because of this I feel more motivated to work harder at Utah State. I am ready to head in the gym and give it my all, leave no regrets. Hopefully this time our hard work will pay off even more.

Overall my life is wonderful. I am ready to face to future with faith and to trust in the Lord. I look forward to  the next few months and all that's in store. I know that things are going to work out great and that I will never be happier. I move to Logan July 1st ... life is moving so quickly. I just hope I can keep up with it. 

Here is my motivation for the next few months:

‎"You can be excellent in every way. You can be first class. There is no need for you to be a scrub. Respect yourself. Do not feel sorry for yourself. Do not dwell on unkind things others may say about you. Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life and look for its opportunities. "

~ Gordon B. Hinckley

Some Day...

Okay so I just need to get a little venting off my shoulders... nothing serious just some things I have been thinking! You know when you have that one like super boring day where you just think and think and think... well yeah I seem to be having those a lot lately. So these are some of the things that I have been thinking about.

Lately I have been missing these girls. I think that a lot of the time I took for granted my time at Western. I love the feeling of being on a team and feeling that team bond. I have been talking to some of the girls and they all seem to be doing good, every where throughout the country now. I have to admit that I am glad that I am not up for conditioning in the morning; now I just got to find motivation to keep working out and stay fit. I got it in me :) Some of my best friends are on this team and I miss them like crazy. It is weird to be moved back to my home town and have my friends be married or away at school so there is like nothing to do. I get major family bonding time though which is nice. Also I am able to play ball with Susan Lindley on Monday nights which I love so much. It is great and it brings back some of that competition into my life... which I need. It is fun. My little sister Bayli is going to play ball. I convinced her of the beauty of the sport. I will post pictures soon.She looks so cute with her spandex and knee pads... gosh i love her.

I have been thinking about how everything is going to work out. you know when you just have that feeling like I have a plan A... but my plan B needs to be worked on. Yeah that's how I am feeling. I feel like I am in this awkward stage of my life, at least for the next few months. It is like when you are in limbo state because you just honestly don't know what is going to happen next. I have given up so much of for sure things for the "possibility" of something else. I do not regret giving those things up because that possibility is what I truly do want, it just makes me nervous thinking that I now I could not end up with any of it. I have reached the point where I just have to learn to trust God and to know that he knows what is in store for me. I am very grateful for the opportunity that I have to take this risk; but sometimes I wish things could speed up a little for me. Uncertainty is not a walk in the park.
Do you ever have those people who just nag and nag you about a certain thing or just don't know when to be quiet? I do! I have been trying to tell coaches that I am not interested in playing anymore. I have come to the conclusion that my "possibility" is better than what they can give me right now. I feel like I have this hole that is waiting to be filled. I know that it may be filled in a different way than i hope for but it is still the possibility that keeps me going. I have been accepted to Utah State University for 2 full ride years... up to my bachelors no student loans whoop! Hard work does pay off. I have been trying to tell coaches that or people that and this seems to be the favorite response... " If you have to go into debt, go into debt and take loans." I don't know if that sounds insane to you, but it does to me. I understand that some girls love volleyball enough to pay to play and I honestly do feel like I love it more than that but right now that just does not fit into my "plan". I think that if there is a way for me not to have to take out loans and to stay debt free that's the better option. Maybe i'm psycho? I don't know, what are your opinions? I feel like I have made my decision... so let me move on PLEASE.
I have been thinking about where life has taken me. I never imagined that I would be where I am today. I honestly can not believe that I only have 144 days left until my best friend gets home. I think that the past 20 months I have grown up and learned to be a better person through all the ups and downs. There have been many things that I have been blessed with the past few years. I have been able to get two years of college paid for, play on an amazing team and did fantastic as a team, made 20 new best friends who i love dearly, and been able to have the worlds best roommate. Although I have never told Candace this, she impacted me so much for the good. She is one of the sweetest girls I know, looking back I wasted a lot of time with other people instead of taking advantage of my time with her! She is a stud! I never would have thought that I would be at home for the last 6 months of Mark's mission... never. And even though I miss the "college life" I know that this is where I need to be right now. Quality time with the family is irreplaceable. I am beyond excited for Jordon to be home in almost two months; seriously once he gets home it it all down hill from there. A-M-E-N.

Life is good. Just remember to find joy in the journey and face the future with faith! Where there is no struggle there is no strength ♥

Life as you know it.

“Everything around me makes me miss you.”

― Nicholas Sparks, Dear John

I LOVE ELDER MARK HOBBS... 151 DAYS ♥

Can you believe that!? Mark is going to be home so soon before I know it! Time please FLY!!

So since I have been at home and not playing ball things have been different. I was lucky enough to get a job in this crazy college town with a 27% unemployment rate. I am working PRN at the assisted living still and then I am working at Bernett Research. I freaking love working there! I am a competitive person and the job's wages depends on how much better you do than the person next to you... got to love it! I am trying to get another job as well, got to make some money for next semester...

Because I bought this!!

Who am I?

Who am I?

There is so much going on lately in my life. I am trying to figure out who I am and where I want to be. I have been passing up so many great volleyball offers in hope that it is what is best for me. Recently I found out that if I take my volleyball offer at University of Utah all I would have to pay for is my housing and food. I was at first thinking that this was a great offer but then I realized it isn't. I want to play for someone who feels like they need me enough to pay for me to be there. I am having the hardest time deciding what to do with my life. I have applied for 5 different jobs and yet heard nothing back. It is so hard being so busy like where I don't have a free min and now I have so many free hours in the day to do nothing with. Hopefully something will come up soon.

"Come what may and love it."- Joseph Worthlin