You Wouldn't Believe It

I can hardly believe what has happened in the last 10 days.  But I'll do my best to relate all the feelings and goings-on with our family.  Last Monday (August 3rd), David got a call from the school district he student taught with in Utah.  They had an opening at a middle school and he was highly recommended to the principal there.  To be honest, I started crying right then because we had only been in Mesquite about 3 weeks and it was a much better job fit for David, I really wished that call would've came a month earlier!  Well, David hadn't signed his contract in Mesquite, and we thought it couldn't hurt to go to Utah to talk to the principal, especially since we were headed that way anyways.  Once we got to the middle school, it was apparent almost immediately that this job was going to be so much better than the one in Mesquite, so after a lot of discussion, David accepted the job!  It's at Joel P. Jensen Middle School in West Jordan.  He'll be teaching band, choir, and orchestra.  We also spent a lot of time looking at apartments and quickly realized that housing in the Salt Lake area is much more expensive than anywhere else we've lived.  And it was brought to our attention that buying a house/condo/residence is actually cheaper than renting.  So we're also looking to buy!  In the mean-time, David's brother has offered to let us stay with them until we finish that whole process, which is very generous.  On Tuesday, August 11, we came back to Mesquite to try and pack up our essentials because we have to be back in Utah on Friday, the 14th, to meet with people and then David starts work on Monday, August 17th!  Oh yeah, and somewhere in there we had 2 birthday parties for Asher (which I will do another post with a lot of cute pictures!). 

So, to say the least, we are both at our wits end trying to get our life together.  I usually hit a "wall" when it comes to packing.  The faster we have to move, the earlier I hit it because all the stress really takes its toll.  Today, I hit it hard.  I couldn't move, I couldn't think, I really just shut down.  David was really great in helping me through it, but all this stress really won't go away until we're at least a little bit settled down.  I'm starting to worry about the toll it's taking on Asher.  I've noticed he's getting a lot more clingy to David and I.  It's almost like if we're not in the room he's worried he's been abandoned.  I hope every day that he won't remember all this.  I know children are very resilient, but I still feel bad.  But I do think the job in Utah will be much more permanent than our lives so far. 

Ever since I was in college I was in the habit of trying to figure out why I was put in whatever situation I was in.  I try to see God's purpose for me and what was accomplished by my being there.  I've been thinking about that a lot lately.  Why did we have to go to Kayenta?  Why couldn't this job offer come a month ago before we moved to Mesquite?  Was it for us, or for someone else's benefit?  Moving to Kayenta, it didn't take long for me to realize why we were there.  The first week at church I had multiple people come up to me saying that they were praying for someone who could play piano and lead music would come to the ward.  The Primary President was also the Sacrament meeting pianist and she led and played the piano in Primary for singing time.  And when we moved in she was about 6 months pregnant and was very worried about what would happen when she had her baby.  I came just in time to help relieve her stress about that and take over until she had her baby and until a missionary could come into the ward who could play piano.  It was very hard for our family, but in the end I was glad I could help serve.  Also, we were able to save a lot of money and get caught up on a lot of bills that had stacked up while David was doing his student teaching.

While in Mesquite, I think I have learned to try and make friends more easily.  We were only in the ward about 3 weeks, but I already made a couple of friends (which, if you knew me, you would realize what a miracle that is because of how reserved and introverted I am).  Also, last week while I was in nursery with Asher (he refuses to go alone-another thing that has me a little concerned), a mother dropped her daughter off because this daughter was another child who had apprehensions about nursery, and out of everyone in the room, I was the only one that could console her and keep her happy while her mom went to Relief Society.  The nursery leader thanked me and all I could think was "I know how it feels to have a kid that has a hard time with this".  Maybe there was something else I was supposed to learn here, but I know that when I get to go to Relief Society and just enjoy sitting there listening to the lesson, it is extremely rejuvenating, and I wanted to let someone else have that opportunity!

In both Mesquite and Kayenta, I have become accustomed to being a minority (in Kayenta it was 95% Native American, and in Mesquite at our apartment complex it is mostly Hispanic).  That's let me see a different perspective and, I think, helped me grow to be a more compassionate person.  I know throughout all our different moves, we have learned to be humble.  And we get to see the good in other people through their kindness towards us.  We wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the kindness of families, ward members, and blessings from our Heavenly Father.  It's helped me appreciate what I have and makes me want to pass that kindness on to other people.

I don't know what living in Utah will bring, but I've learned that I just have to trust that things will work out.  That as long as we're doing what's right, we'll be ok.  This past year has been so hard.  I've hit many lows and wanted to give up.  But I didn't, and I'm very proud of myself for that!  Hopefully, from here on out, our general direction will be up!  After all, we made it this far, right? 

Mesquite

Well, we did it.  We made the move and are, for the most part, all settled in.  It was very stressful and hot and I'm glad it's all over.  Here are lots of pictures to commemorate our move!

Asher loves playing in moving trucks!  Unfortunately, it's not as fun trying to move stuff into the truck while he's playing in it.

Our last picture in Kayenta!  Our house was all cleaned out, Asher was already tired, and we had a whole day of moving in ahead of us.

Asher and I took our car and David and Millie took the moving truck.  We were all running on very little sleep so David and I were running on caffeine.  We tried calling the Elders Quorum ahead of time, but our phone service wasn't working in Kayenta, so my dad was very nice and called for us.  We got some help on a very hot day moving our heavy furniture up to our second floor apartment.  And after, they ordered a pizza to be delivered to us!  The people in our ward are very nice and we are so grateful for the help they've given us.

I don't pictures of our apartment yet.  I was going to try and get our pictures and decorations put up and our boxes put away first.  We'll see how soon that happens.  But here are a few pictures of what's around us.

This park is across the parking lot from our apartment, it's very nice to have it so close!  We go there every morning (before it gets too hot) so Asher and Millie can run around and be as noisy as they want.

This is the dog park that's a part of the park by us.  I take Millie here every night.  She loves being off the leash and being able to run around and play with other dogs!  She also makes friends with any other people that happen to be there.  She is the most friendly dog ever.  They have it separated into a big and small dog areas.  There's a man who is always in the small dog area when we get there and Millie will climb on top of the bench so she can stick her head over the fence to say hello to him!  This place and church is where I meet most of the people in this town.

While David and the guys from the ward were moving our stuff in, I was in charge of Asher and Millie.  They were both stuck in cars all day so when we got to the apartment they were both a little out of control.  Asher was crying and throwing tantrums because he was so tired and we had taken all his stuff and put them in a big truck and left his home (moving is so hard on him) and Millie wanted to run everywhere because there were so many new smells and things to investigate.  So I was going crazy trying to keep both of them out of the way of the movers.  Eventually I stuck both of them in the car so I could try to help coordinate things with moving things into the apartment.  I thought they would be fine because there wasn't anything they could break in the car, the car was on with the AC running in the shade, and they were contained.  After the moving was done, I went to get them out of the car.  And did my best not to get very, very mad.  

 

 

I forgot that I had left a permanent marker in the car that I had used to label boxes and Asher had found it and started drawing.  As angry as I was, I couldn't get too mad at Asher because it was the one point in the whole day where he was smiling because he thought it was so fun drawing!  We were planning on running this car into the ground anyways, so it's not like we're worried about it decreasing the value, but now I have to find a way to get it up so it doesn't make me depressed every time I look at it.  I think this move has been a catalyst for the "terrible twos".  

One exciting thing that happened is we got our dryer fixed!  We bought it used (for a very good price), but it broke a month after we got it.  And living in Kayenta, it would've cost a fortune to either pay for a repairman to come all the way out or to buy a new one.  So we air-dried our clothes for a good 6 months.  So I am very happy we don't have to always have clothes hanging from doors or chairs or our bed anymore!  But the day before the repairman came, Asher sprayed a bunch of water into the back of our TV and now the color is all distorted.  So when David gets his first paycheck we're going to try and get that fixed too.  The fact that Asher lived through the move without David or I sending him away, I think, says a lot about us as parents.  I think Asher was mad at us for making him move again.  

The weekend after we moved, Brian and Brittany came to visit!  When we were in Rexburg and Utah, I think I didn't appreciate having family close because I really miss it now.  So it makes me so happy when we have people come stay with us!  They stayed for 2 nights and came to church with us.  And Brittany was so nice to sit in nursery with Asher so David and I could both go to our meetings!  Asher's still adjusting to life in a normal ward where he's not the only child in nursery.  Any family that wants to come stay with us is more than welcome!  

I don't know what else to say at the moment, but there's a good start on our life now.  Here are lots of pictures of Asher!

Reason why my son is crying: I took him to the park.

Our AC went out one afternoon.  We roasted until they could come fix it!  And Asher got to spend all day being naked!  I wasn't complaining.  I like looking at his little chubby legs!

There's a volleyball sandpit in the park.  This is where Asher always goes.  And recently he has to take his big truck with him to play in the sand!

What a goof!

We didn't have a dishwasher in Kayenta, but we do here!  I love it!  And Asher thinks it's his new toy.

His new way of playing with his tricycle.

Grandma bought us the best toy!

When Asher gets really upset, he'll run away, lay on his back, then do this.  It's really weird and I'm not sure why he does it, but it makes me laugh!  He did this in nursery when he didn't want to sit in his chair.  The nursery leader looked very confused.

Asher has started covering his eyes when he wants to hide, it's very cute!  He mostly does it when David is playing with him and chasing him around.  He is such a funny kid!

4th of July and Moving

Oh my goodness, these past few weeks have gone by so fast!  When you have a million things to do, I think time speeds up so you have to rush and rush to get it all done!  I've basically just been preparing for the move since we got back from Rexburg, but on the 4th of July I took a little bit of a break (ok...I still did some packing, but we did fun stuff too!)  David doesn't really like big crowds or fighting traffic, so he is not a fan of parades.  But I love parades and feel that it is a necessary Independence Day tradition!  I wasn't sure that Kayenta even celebrated the 4th, but was very glad to find out they did and even had a parade scheduled!  The main event was the 3 day long rodeo and pow-wow, but I'm not into rodeos and felt too white to go to the pow-wow.  So I dragged Asher out to the parade in the blazing heat!

Since the Native's don't celebrate getting their independence (I'm sure they see it more as a day they lost their independence), they turn the 4th into a day to honor veterans.  They are very big in that and the whole parade (all 30 minutes) was float after float honoring veterans.

I kept dumping water on Asher's head to try to keep him cool.  He actually sat in the chair and just watched for the whole thing!  His favorite part by far was any time a horse walked by!

Waiting for the parade.  It was very hot.

My parade buddy!

David also barbequed for us and we had an amazing steak!  And later that night, after the rodeo ended, they set off the fireworks.  I usually spend the 4th with my family and everyone gets together, so I was a little sad we couldn't be with any family.  Holidays are hard when you have to do it all on your own!  David and I both agreed that if we weren't moving right then we probably would've tried to go to Utah or Idaho.  But it all worked out!

On Sunday, Asher woke up with a fever and a cough.  I had a feeling something like that would happen right during the move.  He's still sick today and it's very pathetic.  He's super congested and has a fever.  I've tried all the home remedies I could, but it seems like we're just going to have to let it run its course. 

What makes you feel better when you're sick?  Goggles and a movie of course!

What else helps?  Eating bananas and laying next to your puppy!

Before the sickness.  I love that smile!

I thought he broke the habit of taking off all his clothes during nap time.  I was wrong.

So this is the week we move.  I told my mom this week is going to require a lot of caffeine.  We are going to try to get everything packed by tonight so that we can spend all tomorrow cleaning.  On Thursday we have to go pick up the moving truck from Flagstaff (2.5 hour drive one way).  We'll probably get home around 5 from that and then we'll have to move as much as we can in that night.  We'll try to get help from the ward, but it's still a lot of work!  On Friday morning, Asher and I are driving to Mesquite to get the keys to the apartment and all the utilities set up.  David has to stay in Kayenta because one of us has to be there when they check us out, and they are only able to do that on Saturday.  David and Millie will hang out in Kayenta till Saturday morning, then bring the moving truck to Mesquite after the inspection.  Then hopefully we will find our bishop over there and get some big strong guys to help David move our heavy furniture!  And then Sunday we crash.  It's going to be a crazy week, and having a sick little boy is not going to help.  So please say a prayer for us!  I guess I should go start packing again...

Packing

If there was an Olympics of moving, I think we would win gold!  We are VERY practiced up on moving, having moved 3 times in the last year (after this move, it will be 4 moves and 4 states in one year!)  I have to say, putting things in boxes gets easier because I know better what I can pack first and how to pack better, but the emotional toll doesn't get any easier.  About 2 weeks before the move, I always get knots in my stomach that don't go away until the move is done.  I just feel sick with worry about our stuff getting damaged or losing things or especially not having enough time to get all the packing, cleaning, etc done.  And we also have to worry about David getting his Nevada license in time and we will all be without insurance until he signs his new contract (the Kayenta district wasted no time in getting us kicked off that!). 

But I know it's all for the best!  We won't know for sure until David actually starts, but it seems like the city and the job will be a much better fit for our family.  Well, all except for the 115 degree heat they've been having!  So even though I'm worrying, I know it will be good.  And honestly, I swear Asher keeps getting more and more fun and cute every day!  His new favorite phrase is "oh boy!" and he says it with such enthusiasm that I can't help but smile!  I love those moments, the ones that keep me going.  Another one of those moments was when I saw Asher sitting in his chair "reading" his book.  I love to read so it makes me happy that I'll have at least one child that will share that passion!  I'll leave you with a video of my funny, quirky little bud.