Lots O' Stuff

It's been way too long since I've posted.  We are alive and kicking.  Chris survived his first year here at CNCC.  We decided to move away for the summer and just travel and have fun.  We are planning on moving back here in the fall, but at the beginning of June we'll hit the road for some fun.  Some of the things we have planned are:

• Hike Timp caves
• Go to 7 peaks
• See Meagan and Michael get married in Montana
• Yellowstone, Jackson, and the Tetons
• Hike Angels Landing
• Camp, camp, camp
• Family reunions
• Triathlons
• Bryce Canyon
• Grand Canyon
• and anything else we want to do

On another note, Braxton got his Arrow of Light award last week.  He also earned all 20 of the activity badges in Webelos.  It is the 1st time his scout leader has ever seen this happen.  I am so proud of him.

Calvin just finished up the wrestling season, and tore it up!  He competed in 3 tournaments and got 3rd, 1st, and 2nd places.  That kid is a gifted athlete...straight from his dad, not me.

There is so much for I'd like to write about, but I don't even know where to start.  I love you all, and miss you so much!

Dang Cold!

Ok, so do you think it's cold where you live? Well think again! We didn't know what we were getting into when we moved here. Yesterday as I was driving Anden to school it was -22 degrees. Yes, that is NEGATIVE TWENTY DEGREES FAHRENHEIT!!! Chris ran that morning and almost froze parts of his body off. The snow on the road won't melt, so we have been driving around on white snow covered roads for the last 6 days. I just can't believe people live in places this cold. I seriously feel like we live at the North Pole. Thank goodness we have a garage.

Ok, I'm done complaining now. I actually kind of like it this cold, because then I can brag about it.

Gettin' Better

Okay, so things are definitely getting better. I have been working at the rec. center in the mornings while Chris gets the kiddos off to school, and that has really helped boost my spirits, believe it or not. We are settling in here, and really starting to like it. We've found a great fishing hole for the kids, and have already had some friends up to see us.

Chris is headed to St. George this weekend the run the marathon. Go Chris!

Braxton and Calvin are starting to like school more, and Anden has always loved it. Chris really like his job, so that is good. He found out the classes he is teaching next semester, and it's going to really test him. The good thing about teaching is that he learns so much. He has to know the material inside and out. He really has a love for learning, so it has been fun watching him get excited about learning all over again.

Our house is under contract, meaning we accepted an offer on it. We'll see if it actually goes through. The closing date is at the end of this month. I'll keep ya posted!

If anyone wants to come visit northwestern Colorado, PLEASE COME VISIT! WE MISS YOU!!! WE PROMISE TO COOK YOU LOTS OF GOOD FOOD, TOO!

Rangely Greetings

Hi everyone. I figured I would give a quick update. And it will be quick cuz I am at a library computer and they close in 5 minutes! We are doing ok. We don't love it here yet, but the people are generally nice. The kids have had their nights of tears and so have Chris and I. We really really really miss Blanding and all our awesome friends. It really is so different here. People are different, the store is different, the church is different. I really WANT to like it, but it really is taking some time. I have grown so much from going through this experience though. I can truly see why Heavenly Father wants us to step outside our comfort zone. It is so we can learn and grow and become more like Him. It's not that we have to move to achieve this growth, but I can see His purpose in my life. I'm going to try to update more frequently now that we are on a school schedule. And, we may have good news on the sale of our house. I'll keep you posted!

Moving

I have so much to catch up on, and I really wanted to not leave anything out since I wanted to make my blog into one of those cool books especially since I don't scrapbook. But, since we are trying to move, and since after the move we will be simplifying and eliminating all unneeded expenses, I am afraid this may be my last post for awhile, although I will update when I can. This may be short-term depending on if and when we sell our home.

Chris' last day of work was yesterday. It was sad for him and me. Joe has been the best employer Chris has ever had, and I don't know if he'll ever get one that good again. Joe gave Chris the room he needed to grow into the accountant he is today. He trusted Chris and was extremely flexible, allowing Chris to leave work whenever he needed to.

Here is an update on what we are doing:

Chris is unemployed!!! Yes, I am excited about it. It's only for a week, though. Today we are going on a much needed family trip. We'll come back to Blanding on Tuesday, and pack up Wednesday and Thursday. Then on Friday we will drive to Rangely and get settled in our rental home.

We have seen the Lord's hand work in so many ways in the past few weeks. I was praying that we could stay together as a family. Yes, I want our house to sell too, but staying together is far more important to me. Well, I got a call from someone at Colorado Northwestern saying that she knew of a rental house that was available. I told her that we were on the bottom of the waiting list, and she said that if you knew someone, they would bump you to the top of the list (talk about small town politics, but we're used to it). Well, she was that person we needed to know.

The very next day Chris and I drove up there to look at it, and low and behold they had 2 rental houses we could pick from, both the same price. We chose the nicest of the two, of course. The house is fabulous. I am really scared of making the rent payment (which is double our house payment) and our mortgage at the same time, but we did find someone to stay in our house until it sells to offset the cost a little. He's single guy who just got off a mission. His parents live in Monticello (20 min. away), so it won't be that big of a deal if we do sell it, he'll just move back home. He'll take care of the yard, and let the real estate agents show it whenever they need to.

I really see the Lord's hand in my life right now. I don't understand why our house hasn't sold. It may not be for any reason at all, but I do know that I have learned alot from this whole experience. I have learned that even though I thought I was pretty humble, I wasn't. I thought being humble meant acknowledging God in all things, that without Him, I am nothing. I knew that without question, but my actions weren't showing Him that. My daily praying had diminished, I was a terrible mother most of the time, and forget personal scripture study.

This trial in our lives has helped me be a better mother (although I do need tons more help). I have learned so much from the scriptures, too. When this first started I was in tears most days, sometimes thinking that this was more than I could bear, and that my family would be better off going through this without me (I know, crazy, huh?!) My window of eternal perspective was small, maybe 5 minutes a day. I was constantly anxious. I wanted this burden to be lifted immediately.

Over the past several weeks my eternal window has increased a hundred fold. I know that it will all work out. If the worst thing that happens is us losing our home...I really don't care! I've got 4 boys and a man that loves me. I have found HUGE comfort in reading the scriptures, especially the New Testament when it talks about our Savior's ministry, and in the Book of Mormon when He visits the Nephites after He is resurrected. Jesus told his apostles that God knows our needs, and we shouldn't worry about tomorrow. I need to make good choices today so that tomorrow will be okay, but my Father in Heaven is ultimately in charge.

Paying the bills will be hard until our house sells. BUT....I have my family, and I will find joy in my life.

Our time in Blanding has truly been the best years of my life. I think of the person I was when I came here, and I have definitely changed for the better! The people here are amazing. Even if I don't know you really well, you have touched my life more than you will ever know! I am terrible with goodbyes. My tendency is to NOT say goodbye and just leave without saying anything at all, yup, I avoid pain like the plague. I want to tell all you Blanding folks that this isn't goodbye! Our paths may never cross again in this life, but I know in the life after this we will see each other. I'll look you up and see how life was for you!

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog, even if I don't know you. I'll still check email at the library, and occasionally post an update

I didn't sign up for this.

My heart is breaking. When we decided to move to Rangely, we knew it was the right decision. We prayed about it and felt like it was the right decision for our family. Well, if it's the right decision, things are supposed to fall into place, right? WRONG! It's not that things haven't worked out. The problem is that I am a worrier. I worry over everything and it drives me crazy. I almost can't stand being in my own skin when I feel like I do now.

Our house has been on the market for about a month. Not a terribly long time, but we have a time crunch here! Eight people have come to look at it, and we have gotten one offer, which we turned down because we just couldn't even work with it. I will admit, our house needs a little work on the inside. The outside looks good, but it could use some new flooring, and when people buy a house, they want it to look good!

I am so bummed because I talked to a local contractor the other day, and he said instead of taking a really low offer we ought to re-do the kitchen and flooring, then up the price significantly. While this sounds like a good idea because we will probably make some extra money on the house, it really makes me sad. If we did that it would mean Chris and I would be separated. He would go work in Rangely, and I would stay here with the kids to sell the house. When I even so much as think of the words, my eyes well up with tears. I never wanted to be a single parent. I know how hard it is. I was raised my a single mother. I see moms struggle everyday in raising their kids by themselves. I honestly don't know if I can do it. Then the thought of Chris traveling that long drive by himself scares me too. There is a mountain overpass, and it really freaks me out. I didn't sign up for this!

We have prayed and fasted and gone to the temple. I know Heavenly Father is mindful of us. I know He can see the eternal perspective. I know I will look back at this and it will be a small wrinkle in my life. I know there are others out there who would be grateful if their worst worry was selling a house. But at the same time my stomach is in knots all day long. I am constantly in a state of worry and anxiety, and just to warn you, don't ask me about it if you see me because I break down at the drop of a hat.

Braxton's Trip

Braxton really had a blast on his trip out East. I was afraid that he was going to get homesick, but he really didn't. His teacher said he could call as much as he wanted from her cell phone, and at first he did. The very first thing he told me after he landed in Boston is that the pigeons were HUGE! He took about 100 pictures of birds throughout the trip. In fact, we have more pictures of birds than of anything else. Even though the pictures he took may have been different than the ones I would have took, it was fun to see the trip through his eyes, and to see the things that he thought were cool and picture worthy. I really needed those pictures too, because as the trip went on he called me less and less, and in true 10 year old fashion, he hasn't told me hardly anything about the trip. It's been like pulling teeth to get information. Luckily, his teacher forwarded me all the pictures she took, and I had a long conversation with her after the trip. What a truly exciting thing for him to do. I am so thankful we were able to let him have this opportunity!

Picture of one of the HUGE pigeons.

Here is a pic of Braxton by a Paul Revere statue. Paul Revere must have really impressed Braxton because he is one of the only things Braxton has talked about.

I was so proud of Braxton. This is a pic of him on top of the Empire State Building. His teacher said that he was so scared that he was in tears on the way up. He slowly went out on the deck, and was able to conquer one of his worst fears. He is DEATHLY afraid of heights!

This is Braxton and his two friends in front of the White House. I'm sure it was taken by another 10 year old. Sorry lady who we don't even know with the cute white hat, fanny pack hiked up around your waist, and weird look on your face, but you will forever be engraved in our picture albums.