Colors

Today Neal, JJ, KC, Lillee & I went for a long drive in the mountains.  We started by heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon then we headed over to Park City from there.  After eating some lunch in Park City we went over to Heber City and then down through Provo canyon.  It was a long drive but oh so pretty.  I didn't get car sick, much, because I was driving.
Autumn is my favorite time of the year.  I love the changing of the leaves. I love the crisp cool air.  Living in the desert for 13 year robbed me of my favorite time of year so I had to make sure I got the chance to go up into the mountains to see the beautiful colors.  Have a mention lately how happy I am to be back in Utah.  I missed so much while I was gone and am ecstatic to be home.

Happy Day :-)

So on Tuesday I went to the temple.  I can't remember the last time I went to the temple.  I know that is horrible.  I'm going to do my best to make sure that doesn't happen again.  The Oquirrh temple is beautiful, as all the temples are.  The temple is about a ten minute, or less, drive from my house.  How awesome is that?

I wanted to share something pretty cool that happened to me in the temple.  I walked up to the desk to show my recommend, which was scanned.  As I was walking past the desk to enter the temple  I noticed the mans name.  I don't even know what made me look at his name badge, but his name made me stop in my tracks.  His name is Helmut Bork.  I know this name well because he was the patriarch that gave me my blessing.  How awesome was that?  I asked him if he was a patriarch and he confirmed that he was.  I let him know that he was the one who gave me my blessing.  Do you believe in coincidences?  I don't really believe in them I think everything happens for a reason.  Not sure what the reason is but it was still cool.

The veiw from the temple.  BEAUTIFUL!

Heaven on Earth

The other night as I was trying so hard to fall asleep I found myself decorating my house in my head, again.  This is what had kept me up the night before.  (Sometimes I think I should have gone into design instead of education).  To try to avoid another sleepless night I told myself to think of a white room.  Nothing but a blank white room.  As I was picturing just white, the celestial room of the Las Vegas temple popped into my head.

This is MY temple.  The Las Vegas, NV temple.

For nearly 13 years the Las Vegas temple has been my temple.  This temple holds many special memories.  Neal proposed to me here oh so many years ago.  Neal and I did our work here together a week before being sealed in the Salt Lake temple.  This is the place I have come to seek solace from the world.  I have spent hours just sitting in the celestial room pondering things, praying, pouring my heart and tears out to the Lord and feeling His love for me in return.  I am going to truly miss the Las Vegas temple and the thought that I may never enter through its doors again makes me a bit sad.

The Oquirrh Temple

This is  my new temple.  I'm positive that the same spirit I have felt time and time again in the Vegas temple will be present here.  I look forward to walking through these doors and feel the love of my Father there.

job please

Okay so now that it is July I'm really really starting to get worried about not having a job. I'm trying not to worry but can't seem to stop myself. Neal stressing about it doesn't help my stress level either. I'm trying very hard to be hopeful & faithful that the right thing will come along.
Neal & I have decided that I should stay in Utah longer so that I can be here in case more job interviews come along. It didn't take a lot of convincing for me to stay. Vegas in July is not my favorite!
Please keep is in your thoughts & prayers as we continue to look for employment. I know that the Lord will provide but I also know all about the refiners fire. I'm hoping we won't have to spend too much time there.

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Got Dirt?

Last Saturday (4/23) we went riding at Nellis Dunes.  We hadn't been riding since our trip to Yuma in February.  It was great to get out.  The weather was great.  The sun was sneaky, although it wasn't super hot we still got sunburned.  I'm trying to turn my burn into a tan, haha.  Enjoy this pics

 The view of Vegas from my chair while waiting for Neal to unload the quads

 Neal working on getting the bikes unloaded

 Nellis Dunes

 Kick'n up sand!

Did he catch some air or are my eyes playing tricks on me?

Adjusting

So we have lived in our apartment for a week now.  It still feels...surreal.  I've been so busy going through the motions of day to day that it really hasn't sunk in. I thought to myself the other day as I was heading out to walk the dogs,again, "so this is really my life?"  But then I was to busy taking care of the dogs to really think about it. 

Apartment living isn't the greatest but I KNOW it could be a lot worse.  Although it does feel a bit like living in purgatory.  We know that this living situation is just temporary, but I can't seem to glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel.  I'm sure that has something to do with the move being pushed back a month and a half.  Rationally I know it is only 60 more days but it feels like a lifetime.  I have been waiting for sooooo long and I just want the wait to be over.

Enough whining.  I've been thinking about the pluses and minuses of apartment.  There are some things that I like better, the same, and things that just plain suck.  Here are a few of the things I have noticed:

Having NO yard for the dogs just plain sucks!  I have a love-hate relationship with the stairs.   I love that they are forcing me to get some activity.  I hate them for the same reason when I'm tired.  I hate them when I'm unloading my spoils from shopping.  Especially after a Sam's trip.  I took me 4 trips up the stairs for my last trip to Sam's.  Then the dogs needed to be walked.

I love the faucet in the bathtub.  I know this seems silly, but I have good reason to love it.  In the house I had to fight to turn the water on and off.  It was a stinking struggle everyday.  But in the apartment I could us my pinkie finger to turn the water on and off.  It is awesome!

I like my new kitchen.  It has a ton of cupboards and counters.  Not to mention it is more ascetically pleasing then the house.  I never loved my kitchen, I just tolerated it.  I wouldn't say I love the kitchen here but it is much better.

I miss my fridge.  My fridge has water and ice in the door.  Including crushed ice.  This fridge has an ice maker, so happy about that!  But it doesn't have crushed ice.  Good new though, my blender is awesome.  I mostly use the crushed ice for smoothies, and this week I learned that my awesome blender does just fine with regular cubes.

We are adjusting to having someone live above us.  The first few days were hard, but it is getting better.  They don't walk very quietly.  Which makes me wonder how loud we sound to the lady below us.  I try to be quiet, especially at 5:30am when I'm getting ready for work. 

Happy news: 4 more days until spring break & 59 days until the last day of school.  The count down is on!

Moved

I took last Friday off of work so that I could do all the last minute packing and running around.  It was a long day but I had everything done by the time Neal got home from work.  Saturday started early, 5am.  Turns out we didn't need to get up quite that early but  it all worked out in the end.  We picked up the Uhaul around 7:30.  Neal and I had all but the fridge and few last minute things loaded by 10.  We rock!

We had asked our amazing volunteers to be at our house at 12pm to help load the fridge and then help unload at the apartment, so we had some time to spare.  We used the time wisely by bringing all the fridge items over to the apartment and unloading some of the stuff that was in the car.  We also dropped of Neal's car, as we had one to many vehicles for us to drive.  During the time at the apartment I made at least six trips up  and down the stairs.  This is when I began to pray extra hard that lots of guys would show up to help us.  I knew that without help I was not going to make it to the end of the day.  I would die of heat or exhaustion or being in terrible shape, you choose. 

Fortunately my prayers were answered and we had A LOT of help.  They were able to load the fridge and other odds and ends, drive over to the new digs, unload the storage stuff into the garage and bring all the rest up to our second floor apartment within an hour!  The totally and completely ROCK!  I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am to those men who took time away from their families to help us out.  In the time that they did all of that we wouldn't have even made a dent in the storage stuff.  They have all made my hero list.  A special thanks to: Merrill Delimont, Ryan Fitzgibbons, Dustin Fraiser, Zack Hassel, Kevin & Issac Ferri and George Peters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Moving sucks, but with these guys on your side it makes it so much better.  I know who to call on in July when we make the BIG move.  Love you all you are the BEST.

 Merrill

 Ryan

 Dustin & Zack

 Bishop Ferri, Zack & Dustin

 Neal

The kids waiting on the patio.  Some more patient then others.

Because of all the great help not only did I not die, but I had everything unpacked and in place yesterday (Sunday).  This shocks and amazes me.  But I also have to remember that 3/4 of my stuff is in storage. Enjoy the before and afters.

 Bedroom

 Bathroom

 Kitchen

 Dining room

 Living room

The patio.  Check out the doggie "litter box".  It is a work in progress.