Some Arizona sunshine arrived last night in the form of some of our favorite people! Let the party begin!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Well, we did it. We loaded the truck (with lots of good help). We said many goodbyes (it was hard and very sad) and we drove and we drove (14 hours turned into 17 hours) until we made it to Idaho. Fisher's kind and generous parents came to Arizona to help us with all the craziness.
With more good help here, we unloaded most of our things into a storage unit and the necessities into a cozy apartment that we will live in until finding a house. The apartment also happens to be in my kind and generous parents' basement.
We are getting settled and in spite of the girls (and my) hesitations and fears about moving, the first few days have been lovely. To kick off our inaugural weekend, my sister suggested a cookout. So we loaded up food, people, and jackets and headed off to a beautiful place on the Snake River.
With more good help here, we unloaded most of our things into a storage unit and the necessities into a cozy apartment that we will live in until finding a house. The apartment also happens to be in my kind and generous parents' basement.
We are getting settled and in spite of the girls (and my) hesitations and fears about moving, the first few days have been lovely. To kick off our inaugural weekend, my sister suggested a cookout. So we loaded up food, people, and jackets and headed off to a beautiful place on the Snake River.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Things we will miss...
We have spent the last four days packing all day, every day. It's funny how packing can be so nostalgic. Even though they are just things, often there is a memory that comes with that thing. As our house looks more and more empty, we realize that our departure is eminent and though it is just a house - we have made many memories here - new babies, birthdays, playdates, parties, dinners, visits from family and friends, games, music, dancing, laughter, and tears.
When we told the girls we were moving we started a poster to write down all the things we would miss about Arizona.
Here are few more things we will miss...
But the thing we will miss most is PEOPLE. I wish I had pictures of all of them...
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| May 2010 |
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| May 2014 |
Here are few more things we will miss...
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| Lots of time to play and be silly with cousins! |
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| Hot Air Balloons everywhere! |
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| The completion of the Phoenix Temple |
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| Monstrous tomato plant that grows year round |
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| Picnics in December, January, February, March... |
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| Sunday evening walks on the greenbelt |
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| Backyard playtime with cousins and neighbors |
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| The Children's Museum, Science Center, and Zoo |
Swim lessons with Miss Bonnie (Berry was sad this day)
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| Wearing Swimsuits and barefeet year round |
But the thing we will miss most is PEOPLE. I wish I had pictures of all of them...
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| Early morning jogging friends - Candy, Rachel, & Micole |
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| Our dear friends the Rollins |
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| Berry's preschool buddies - Ledger, McCoy, Sawyer, Lyssie, Ella |
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| The Lovells |
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| The Sos |
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| Wonderful women that served I with in Relief Society - Arlene, Cindy, & Nicole |
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| Our neighbors "Grandpa and Grandma West" |
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| Jennifer and Katie |
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| Friends - Jennifer and Kristen |
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| Cecilia and Lou at the giant waterslide |
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| The Andersons and their Sunday night ice cream |
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| Jenna, Micole and me after ice cream |
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| The Holmes |
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| Friends from cooking group |
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| The Hintons |
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| Jamie, Candy, Rebecca, and Tiffany |
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| Curly's friend, Jordan |
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| Lou's teacher - Ms. Guevara |
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| Lindsie and Tiffany |
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| My friend and hairstylist - Dee |
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| Micole |
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| Tim, Mark |
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| Curly's teacher Miss Mo. |
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| Hailey, Jordyn |
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| Our friend Nora |
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| Kara, Kristen, Ruth, Sharla |
It's not goodbye, it's "See you later!"
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
I survived!
"Are you surviving?"
"How are you holding up?"
I get asked one of these two questions almost every day. Most days my answer is, "I am good."
And the truth is I really am. I can understand why people are asking. Fisher began his new job in Idaho two months ago. I have been here with the kids finishing up school, which ended today! I was the person responsible for keeping our house "perfect" while it was on the market. Until last Sunday, I had a church assignment that could be very demanding. I am the sole dishwasher, launderer, repairwoman, cook, sweeper, story reader, gardener, and driver...and I am very tired.
I should be a nervous wreck.
But I am not and this is why - Heavenly Father is taking care of me through tender mercies, small miracles, and other people as his angels. There is no way I can list all of the blessings that have and continue to sustain me but here are just a few.
- My mom, Shar, and friends helped me get my house painted, cleaned and ready to sell. I only had to keep it "perfect" for three days before it sold. (MIRACLE)
- My mom took Spud home with her for a few of the weeks, which was incredibly helpful.
- A friend/ward member and his son have mowed and trimmed my lawn (it's never looked better).
- Many friends have given the kids rides.
- Friends at church have helped with mysometimes irreverent children without being asked.
- Neighborhood girls have watched my children many times as a service to me.
- My brother Tim invited me over for the Mother's Day dinner he was making.
- A friend surprised me with a pedicure for Mother's Day.
- I can be very forgetful, but big and little things have been brought to my remembrance.
- A friend brought my family dinner.
- Neighbors and friends have invited us over to play and swim.
- There have been days when I know there is more to do than can possibly be done in the day and everything falls into place.
- Our air conditioner stopped working and two friends from the ward spent three hours fixing it.
- Tim and Shar let us crash at their house so we could sleep in a cool house when the a/c wasn't working. Then Shar got up with me in the night to clean up after two of my children threw-up.
- I have never once felt scared in my house at night! That is huge for me as I can be a big scaredy cat.
- Friends and family have called and texted to see how I am doing and provide a listening ear.
- We have had some major issues come up with the sale of our house, it has all worked out.
- So many people have helped me in so many ways, there is no way I can ever express all my gratitude to them.
- I have prayed each day for more patience, increased energy and IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.
- I have prayed for many things - some things would seem silly to others, some serious - IT ALL HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.
Some might say all this is coincidence, but I know it's not. I see the hand of my Heavenly Father in all this.
I have learned a lot the past weeks. While, I know my situation is not the same, I have developed empathy for mother's who are raising their children on their own - it is really hard! I have become better at letting the unimportant things slide a bit so I can spend more time playing with my children. I have had to swallow my pride and let people help when it's offered. I have had to swallow it even more and ask for help. I appreciate Fisher more than I ever have and miss him more than I ever have. I have had some really hard days, but have learned better how to bouey myself up on those days.
Fisher comes home tomorrow to help us move. We are ecstatic to see him!
We survived!
"How are you holding up?"
I get asked one of these two questions almost every day. Most days my answer is, "I am good."
And the truth is I really am. I can understand why people are asking. Fisher began his new job in Idaho two months ago. I have been here with the kids finishing up school, which ended today! I was the person responsible for keeping our house "perfect" while it was on the market. Until last Sunday, I had a church assignment that could be very demanding. I am the sole dishwasher, launderer, repairwoman, cook, sweeper, story reader, gardener, and driver...and I am very tired.
I should be a nervous wreck.
But I am not and this is why - Heavenly Father is taking care of me through tender mercies, small miracles, and other people as his angels. There is no way I can list all of the blessings that have and continue to sustain me but here are just a few.
- My mom, Shar, and friends helped me get my house painted, cleaned and ready to sell. I only had to keep it "perfect" for three days before it sold. (MIRACLE)
- My mom took Spud home with her for a few of the weeks, which was incredibly helpful.
- A friend/ward member and his son have mowed and trimmed my lawn (it's never looked better).
- Many friends have given the kids rides.
- Friends at church have helped with my
- Neighborhood girls have watched my children many times as a service to me.
- My brother Tim invited me over for the Mother's Day dinner he was making.
- A friend surprised me with a pedicure for Mother's Day.
- I can be very forgetful, but big and little things have been brought to my remembrance.
- A friend brought my family dinner.
- Neighbors and friends have invited us over to play and swim.
- There have been days when I know there is more to do than can possibly be done in the day and everything falls into place.
- Our air conditioner stopped working and two friends from the ward spent three hours fixing it.
- Tim and Shar let us crash at their house so we could sleep in a cool house when the a/c wasn't working. Then Shar got up with me in the night to clean up after two of my children threw-up.
- I have never once felt scared in my house at night! That is huge for me as I can be a big scaredy cat.
- Friends and family have called and texted to see how I am doing and provide a listening ear.
- We have had some major issues come up with the sale of our house, it has all worked out.
- So many people have helped me in so many ways, there is no way I can ever express all my gratitude to them.
- I have prayed each day for more patience, increased energy and IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.
- I have prayed for many things - some things would seem silly to others, some serious - IT ALL HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.
Some might say all this is coincidence, but I know it's not. I see the hand of my Heavenly Father in all this.
I have learned a lot the past weeks. While, I know my situation is not the same, I have developed empathy for mother's who are raising their children on their own - it is really hard! I have become better at letting the unimportant things slide a bit so I can spend more time playing with my children. I have had to swallow my pride and let people help when it's offered. I have had to swallow it even more and ask for help. I appreciate Fisher more than I ever have and miss him more than I ever have. I have had some really hard days, but have learned better how to bouey myself up on those days.
Fisher comes home tomorrow to help us move. We are ecstatic to see him!
We survived!
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