I can not even begin to tell you how crazy life has been for us the past couple of months. We went from feeling invincible and on top of the world, to having the best laid plans fall to pieces. There have been WONDERFUL things happen, and there have been many not-so-wonderful things happen, but I think overall we are dealing with it pretty well. It has been quite the emotional rollercoaster for me and I think being pregnant has made my emotions even worse, but Matt and the gospel are the two things that have really helped me through it all. I told Matt, that I think the Lord has blessed me with relatively good pregnancies, not throwing up kind of stuff, because there always seems to be so many stressful life events that happen when I'm pregnant. I don't think I could handle it all if I had to throw up too. It's funny the places that you can find blessings when you are looking for them!
Matt found a job! Horray! He actually starts at Comcast this Monday! I am so incredibly proud of him, that it actually makes me cry. Matt has been a rock and has just pushed forward through it all, doing what has to be done. He helps me be a better person and I am grateful for that. I am grateful that he is such a hard worker and that he is willing to take a 50% cut in pay to take care of our family. He is an amazing man and I am one lucky girl to have married him. Even though we are basically starting over, pretty much where we where we we got married except I'm not working, we feel lucky to even have a job. It comes with benefits- good insurance and free cable/internet! We have loved ones and there are so many people who are struggling to find jobs, and we feel blessed to have found one. Those of you who are still looking are in our prayers.
Our condo that we have been building is taking longer than planned. It is the first time that Holmes has built that type of building so they are jumping through hoops with all the fire codes and such. Because it won't be done until the end of the summer we will no longer be able to be approved for the loan. We had planned on still approving through Matt's Discover job, but the timing is off, and we'd have to approve through his new job, which is a huge pay cut, so we will not be able to get it. It has been a very emotional thing for me. We have put so much into this condo. We signed our first papers for it on January 3rd, so it literally has been our plan for the last 6 months. We have saved money, put money down on it, driven by it almost every other day, and dreamed about it. There were so many things I was looking forward to, that it was really hard for me to give it up. Holmes has been wonderful through it all, being patient as we make decisions and giving us all our money back. We are grateful to them for all of the support they have given us.
We have been house hunting now for the past week. It has been quite the process this time, trying to balance a tight budget but have enough room for 2 kids and all our stuff. We have been in and out of the rain for the past 4 days, and I can't even count how many apartments we physically looked at, not to mention the houses, condos, townhomes, and apartments we looked at online or called about. If you need to know anything about aparments in the Salt Lake Valley, I think we looked at them all... but I started getting them all mixed up, so I actually might not be too much help! Our umbrella actually broke because we have been opening and closing it so much going in and out of apartments. One bit of advice... don't search for places to live in the rain, unless you have to! But yesterday... WE FOUND A PLACE TO LIVE!!! It is off of 134oo south and Bangerter Highway. It's somewhat new, so clean and nice, and is a 2 bedroom place. There is a swimming pool and a little playground, and a storage closet. We are excited to have our own place again and are looking forward to moving next Satruday! Courtney and Tyler have been so generous and nice letting us live in their house, and we are so grateful to them. This whole process could have been a lot worse for us if it weren't for them!
Last week Matt drove up to Oregon with his grandparents and Jonne. It was a busy week for them with Molly's year-ending concerts and Alex's graduation! Matt really enjoyed being with his family and participating in events that we normally don't get to go to. We wish we lived closer so we could be there for all of the concerts and games, and we miss being there. We are so excited for Alex! He has so many big things coming up in his life. His mission papers are in, and we are anxious to hear where he will go! He will be a great missionary and we are proud of all he has accomplished! Congratulations on graduating Alex!
I stayed at home while Matt was in Oregon, because my brother Tim was opening his mission call! I can't believe both of our little brothers will be on missions within months, it is crazy! Tim is going to the Ghana, Cape Coast Mission in Africa! We are so excited for him and proud of his patience in waiting for this call! He reports to the Ghana MTC on October 2nd (my birthday) but will leave on October 1st to get there in time. Maybe our baby will come early so Tim can meet him... I am so grateful for missionaries and for what they sacrafice to go on a mission. There was such an amazing spirit when Tim opened his call, as there has been every time I've been with someone when they opened a call. I have so many memories of my uncles, cousins, and friends opening their mission calls. My testimony has been strengthened by all of these men and their faithful service to the Lord.
I love this picture... it is the flags where those in our family have served.
Matt: Valencia, Venezuela
My dad: Connecticut, MA
Michael: Manaus, Brazil
We are excited to add Cape Coast, Ghana to it!
Lastly, there has been one more change...I chopped off my hair. I decided to donate 10 inches to locks of love, so it's a lot shorter now, but I am liking it. It was a nice, non-stressful change. I don't really have a great picture, but you can see it in the picture of my family at Tim's call-opening. I know it's been a long post...there has been a lot going on. We are happy and looking forward to the future. There are so many exciting things happening, even if they are different things than we were looking forward to a couple months ago. We truly are blessed.
