My Decision to Run for Student Government

 The story behind my decision to run for Vice President of Activities for Southern Utah University Student Association:

I was approached about running for Vice President of Activities the evening before candidacy declaration forms were due. This was not an easy decision for me, and the fast approaching deadline did not help. I had NO experience with student government on the university level. Zip, zilch, nada. The logical part of my mind was screaming DON'T DO IT, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW AND NO ONE WILL VOTE FOR YOU!!! Yet for some reason unknown to me every other part of my mind and body was screaming DO IT, you'll never know what would happen if you don't! So I did as much research as I could, talking to current and past members of the activity branch and received some encouragement and some... "Heidi, it's A LOT of work, it might be better to start out in a smaller position before running for an executive council member" Which only solidified my own doubts about my abilities. So amidst the turmoil I sought out knowledge from the best source. I prayed. After my prayer I listed the pros and cons. It looked something like this:

Pros:
- You might meet your future husband*
- Great opportunity to help serve SUU students
- Good leadership opportunity
- You will learn lifelong lessons
- It will be challenging- but fun for you
- What a great opportunity all around!!!
-You will always wonder what would've happened if you don't run

Cons:
- No previous experience in SUUSA
- Might not get any votes
- People might be mean
- You may feel stupid
- You'll lose money

*I'm not joking when I say the FIRST thing that popped into my head was " You could meet your future husband." That pro actually didn't make it onto the paper because I thought: "how silly, I probably just made that up." I did end up crossing all the cons off the list labeling them irrelevant when I applied one of my favorite scriptures: "I can do all thinks through Christ" Philippians 4:13

I ran for Vice President of Activities. Up to that point in my life it was the hardest thing I had done. Even at a university level it is absolutely mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting to put yourself out there in a political race. Through some gigantic miracle, with the 6 other parties running that year, I won. I felt like my mom must have felt when I made the freshman basketball team. Completely and utterly surprised, feeling that the victory was really beyond my capability.

With the 6 other parties running the only people out of our party to win were Ryan Horlacher (President) and me (Vice President of Activities) 

Jeffrey was appointed as the controller for SUUSA. Although it had been months since that blind date he was still on the top of my crush list. I won't lie. When he accepted that position I thought.... maybe my dreams will come true.

I know I was given the courage to run and the miracle of being elected because that was where I was supposed to be that year. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve on the SUUSA activities branch! Not only did it bring me closer to my husband but it was the opportunity of a lifetime. I learned so much and gained many life long friends that year. Here are some pictures because now I'm feeling really sentimental.

SUUSA Retreat August 2012

The SCREAM team. Members of the Activities Branch 2012-13

Welcome Week Casino Night

Wayne Hoffman. The guy will blow your mind. He also appeared on America's got talent recently!! 

Casino Night round 2. We did it way better the second time.

End of Year Banquet March 2013

I'm so grateful for these human beings! I'm so glad I didn't let my insecurities keep me from the experience of a lifetime.

When Our Paths First Crossed.

We are the Hertigs. Jeffrey, Heidi and Jacob Jeffrey (but you can call him JJ, cause we do.)

I, Heidi, am the author of this blog. I am hoping it will be a good way to keep friends and family in the loop. I will be sharing the big and small events that make up our day to day lives. But first I want to do a little bit of catching up. Lets start with how it all began:

Jeff is from Bountiful UT and I am from St George UT. We both chose to attend Southern Utah University. One magical evening in October of 2011 our paths finally collided.

 I was sitting with my friends in a second floor dorm room with the windows open to let the cool October air in. I was having my hair done by a friend. She was laughing as she was doing it... so I knew it didn't look good (pic below for proof). Any way, It was a good thing we left those windows open because lo and behold we heard someone shouting up from outside. We gathered around the windows to see a few guys looking up at us. One had a blindfold on....???

His very attractive friend (hint:Jeff) explained, "Hey, we have a group date planned but this nice young man doesn't have a date. We are returned missionaries so we decided to go tracting for one.  Do any of you young ladies want to go on a blind date?"

My thoughts:  LOL tracting for a date!! And... DING DING DING blind date... that's why he is wearing the blind fold.... hm hm...clever. Nah I don't want to go, but this is awkward! haha.

Us gals said, "uh one second" we retreated from the windows and formed a huddle. 

"alright who's gonna go?" 

"Heidi, you should go!! I just did your hair!!!" 

me: "ya and you were JOKING and made it look crazy. No I'm not going."

"Heidi have you been on a date since your break up?" 

 "go, Heidi, go!"

me:"well....his friend is kinda cute...." 

So over to the window I went. "uh... I'll come!" there was lots of giggling behind me. It was then I realized my friends knew I was the only one who would be crazy enough to go on a date with a random guy in a blindfold. 

Yes, we met on a blind date. No, we weren't each others dates. Without being too creepy but being totally honest I was wishing he was my date the entire time. 

SO that is when the hugest crush in my life started and it hasn't ended since! 

Told you.... pretty crazy. I think that is a comb sticking out the back. Don't worry, I took it out and put it in a ponytail before I left.

This is a picture of Jeff and I March 2013. The day he proposed he took me on a little walk down memory lane. This is just outside the residence hall where he yelled up at me like Romeo convincing  me to come down for a blind date with his attractiveness!