Catch Up

Ok I know its been a while.. So much has been going on lately that I just havn't had the time to sit and blog for a while. Well plus I have just got introduced to face book so I have been spending some time on there trying to figure out how it works.. Its been fun finding tons of old friends from highschool on there and reconnecting with them..Some I thought I would never hear from again so it has been cool.... It has brought up some fun memorys going back to those days.. Of course I would never want to go back and relive them.. It's funny to see how dumb highschool really was and that there was so much life out there beyond the highschool doors if you know what I mean, but there definently was some great times had there..

So Steve got the job in Michigan so we have been taking the last week trying to find out all we can about the areas, trying to decide on where to start looking for houses.. Getting info on schools and communitys.. Trying to make plans for my mom to fly out and watch the kids while we go house hunting. Trying to make a list of all the things I have to get done here to get ready to move.. I like moving but then I really hate moving.. There is just so much to do in order for it to happen.. Things have been happening really quickly lately..

We have been tossing around the idea of just when we should move. Wait until kids get out of school or go in the next couple of months and let them finish up the last couple of months there and hopefully find a friend to have someone to play with through the summer.. There is pros and cons to both..
We moved out here in the middle of the school year and it was so hard on the kids but I think it was mainly the whole culture shock that was the hardest on us where we were coming from utah and had never been anywhere else.. So I am hoping that now that we have been out here and have gotten kind of used to the whole culture diffrences and stuff I am hoping that this move will be much easier on them..
I do think that it will be important for them to find some friends to get through the summer with.. And with Steve already working over there and flying out every sunday and coming home at the end of the week will really get old quickly.. The only thing we have to wait for is Jessie is still undergoing her testing with the child study team in school to determine her basis for special education and we definently want to wait until that has been completed before we go so we can take all her evaluations and reports with us so we can get her established in some programs out there... So we are thinking we will possibly be outta here by April... I will really miss NJ.. It is so beautiful here and we have made some great friends.. Finally after 14 months of living here I finally feel like I fit in here and have come quite fond of the area. Although I still hate it being so cold and having no snow here.. But I dont think that will be a problem in Michigan.. LOL

And on top of all that I have one of my best friends coming out from Utah in a couple weeks for a visit and we are planning a girls weekend out in NY.. So I have been trying to plan things to go and do over there and get tickets for a broadway play and some other attractions over there. So it has been busy busy here... I am actually planning to fly out to go house hunting the same day my friend plans to fly home from here so its going to be one thing after another until we move... We are going to be spending most the whole month of March over there and April we will move so its going to be a nightmare here for a while.. My poor mom is planning on being here from March and not going home until after we get moved so she will be gone for like at least a month and a half.. I hope we dont kill her off!! Trying to take care of 4 kids on your own is hard enough on me but for her exspecially when she is not used to it. It will probably put her over the edge... LOL My dad cant come out to help because he will be recovering from knee surgery so it will prove to be interesting around here.. she is quite the trooper!! What would I do without her... Love you Mom!!
But I am excited for the adventure.. At least I am getting to see some of the world this way... LOL

Anyways that's whats happening in my neck of the woods. Oh plus Steve was in another car accident.. Bless our lucky stars he was not hurt but did end up having the car totaled again.. This is the second accident since we have been here.. I wonder if that says anything about NJ driving since we never had 1 in utah.. Although in my opinion utah drivers are not great either.. LOL
At least it was not his fault.. Oh and I have my oldest turning 12 next week.. AAAGGH Since when did I get old enough to have a daughter going into young womans.....The gray hairs are really settling in now...It seems like just yesterday I was there and now I have one..Man how the years have flown by.. I was just thinking I will have been married 14 years this June.. Wow!! Crazy!! I really do feel we have been blessed. It's not exactly how I thought things would turn out but it definitely has been quite a ride.. I still hope that someday we will end up back in utah to be near family again but until then I am enjoying the adventure..

Quote for the Day

Another great quote I found..


"None of us will escape tragedy and suffering. Each of us will probably react differently. However, if we can recall the Lord’s promise, “for I the Lord am with you,” we will be able to face our problems with dignity and courage. We will find the strength to be of good cheer instead of becoming resentful, critical, or defeated. We will be able to meet life’s unpleasant happenings with clear vision, strength, and power."
--Marvin J. Ashton, "Be of Good Cheer", Ensign, May 1986, 66

Hey everybody check out my good friend Jodi's blog for a chance to enter her blogiversary give away.. It's to delish to pass up.. Hurry up you only have until the 14th to enter... Everybody think purple!!!!!

Michigan here we come!!

Wooo hooo Michigan here we come...
Steve got offered the job today for michigan.. So looks like we are headed to Michigan.. If any of you know about Michigan and can give any helpful advice I would love to hear it.. I'm so nervous.. There's so much to do.... I'll keep you posted....

Birthday and Prayers

I am a little nervous today.. Steve is interviewing as I type for a postion in Michigan..We have interviewed for a couple diffrent areas now and they have not worked out.. We have been praying hard that the right opportunity will open up for us and we will go where we are supposed to be.. Right now it is looking like it will either be in Michigan or there is a possibility that Steve can come back to Utah and be a rep again.. It's not the ideal job for him because that means starting over again as a rep and he would really like to stay in the management area as a career stands point, but it would allow us to move back home near family and that has been weighing heavily on our minds lately with Steve's dad being so sick and back into the hospital again.. His dads liver disease has returned full force and he needs another transplant. But with this being his 2nd transplant and with so many factors weighing into it he pretty much has to be on deaths doorstep to get another one. It is killing Steve not to be there for him and to help his family out where he can so he is really considering taking this rep position..

I think if he doesnt get the Michigan position he will try for the utah one.. It basically comes down to putting our faith in the lord and watch what happens.. We could use any extra prayers out there if you would be willing...

Now onto more fun things... Jessie's Birthday.... I just cant believe its been 7 years already.. The years are going by way to fast...I love her birthdate 2/2/02 Pretty easy one to remember eh? Not only is it on groundhogs day but it is also my grandfathers birthday as well..

she came out looking like an eskimo or mexican baby.. Her skin was so dark and her hair was jet black and she had a ton of it.. We were putting it into little pig tails by the time she was 3 months old. She is so full of life. she is our little tom boy... She is not afraid of anything or anybody, which is very alarming at times.. She would literally go with anybody which scares me to death.. Of all our kids even our son she is the one that has broken her arm twice, swallowed a penny and almost had to have it surgically removed. You name it she's done it.. Yet she does have a very gentle, soft, emotional side to her too we just dont see it too often LOL..... She loves animals.. Horses are the love of her life and has been since she could talk.. We have her in horse lessons right now and she is at the top of her world... She truly loves people.. Its so nice to see how innocent and sweet and loving children are. I cant imagine my life without her..

Happy Birthday Baby!!

One Step After Another

I found a great quote today that I wanted to share. I think its really important we remember this.. We can only take things as they come 1 day at a time, one foot in front of the other.. and we just do the best we can do and put the rest in our fathers hands...

"Our Heavenly Father loves each one of us and understands that this process of climbing higher takes preparation, time, and commitment. He understands that we will make mistakes at times, that we will stumble, that we will become discouraged and perhaps even wish to give up and say to ourselves it is not worth the struggle. We know it is worth the effort, for the prize, which is eternal life, is “the greatest of all the gifts of God.” And to qualify, we must take one step after another and keep going to gain the spiritual heights we aspire to reach."
By Elder Joseph B Wirthlin

Its been a rough week.. We had a nasty stomach virus go through our house and everyone came down with it except Allie and Steve..All they had was a little upset stomach so they were lucky..

Poor Jessie we had planned to have a birthday party for her with her friends on Sat. but ended up having to reschedule it for this Sat. instead because she had gotten the flu on friday.. I think we are all over it now so hopefully this week will be alot better. Yesterday (groundhogs day) was jessie's official birthday.. I will post more with pictures later..