Utah County

Sometimes I think that God will place and replace obstacles in your life until you are strong enough to overcome them.

When my family first moved to Utah, we rented a place in Alpine.  It was probably the hardest time (in my opinion) in my family's life.  My brother and I called it "Hell-pine".  I think a lot of it stems from the bitterness and immaturity I had about moving from, all my friends, my high school, my life, and my, my, my Arizona (I was a very self centered teenager).  Then coming to this richy "my daddy makes more money then yours does"(I'm not kidding, I heard arguments over this all the time at school), small town where everyone grew up together and wasn't very fond of letting outsiders in, which is what we were, outsiders.  In any case Alpine was a hard time for me and when we moved after 7 months of trying to make it work, I swore that I would never NEVER come back.  I wanted nothing to do with anything south of point of the mountain.  In the next 8 years I could count on two hands the amount of times that I ever stepped into Utah County again.

Then we moved back from Michigan and I had to find a new job, and the one I wanted was in Highland, which is right next to Alpine.  As lame as it sounds I almost thought about not taking the job for the sole fact that it was "Hell-pine" territory.  Now after almost 10 years, Jason and I have moved back, to guess where... Alpine.  I never thought I'd see the day.  Jason thought it was really weird that I couldn't remember where my old house was or how to get to certain places.  I seriously blocked that time of my life from my memory for a long time.  Now we even attend church at the same old ward building, and the other sunday on our way to church we drove past where I used to live, by accident.  It did kind of make me queasy inside having flashbacks to those countless nights crying in my room and all those days wandering the halls during lunch because I didn't have friends to eat with.

Again, I think God knows what he is doing, and as lame as it sounds I need to face my 15 year old in secure self and realize that home is where you make it.  Who knows how long we will really be here for, but being bitter didn't get me anywhere last time, so here's to our new home, and new adventure, and new friends that I am looking forward to meeting!

2010: the year of the SWITCH

Start off the year in Michigan... 

Switch, we are now in Utah

 Jason started the year as the VP of Marketing in Michigan... Switch, he is now a full time student

I started my year off at my favorite job ever, Goldfish... 

Switch to my "dream job" as the Event Coordinator for  Blue Lemon

Start off the year with great friends... 

Switch, new great friends in South Jordan

Start off the year planning trips to the beach and rain forest... 

Switch, we now look forward to getaways in the snow

We got hooked on LOST... Switch, we can't stand how much time we wasted watching LOST

We started off the year eating a lot of junk food... 

Switch, who am I kidding we still eat A LOT of junk food.

We went from our own Michigan apartment... Switch, living with the Parents... Switch to my favorite apartment ever

Started off the year with 2 new Mazda's... 

Switch, we now own "used" vehicles again.

We went from teaching obedient adorable 5 year olds in Primary... Switch, 11 year olds? Seriously?

Talked about buying bikes... Switch, we finally bought the bikes we so long talked about

Lost a brother (Eric left for Korea)... Switch, gained a brother (Jayden came home from his mission) oh and Eric came back eventually too. 

Went through heartache and despair... 

Switch, we witnessed MIRACLES!

Started out with Jason not wanting anything to do with Harry Potter... Switch, after a Harry Potter Marathon he now loves it (or at least tolerates it with me)

We started off with the hopes and plans for an amazing year in Michigan... Switch, we created new hopes and plans for an even more amazing year in Utah.  

It has definitely been a year of change and it has definitely had its ups and downs. But we have learned patience and trust in the Lord.  Their was a reason we needed to quit our jobs and move back to Utah.  School, Family, New Work Opportunities, Friends, Skyler, the list goes on and on.  

2010, it's been a good year and 

it's good to be home.

"B In Love"

Dear Mazda3,

It has been a great three years.  I will miss you.

You were such a cute, fun car. Thank you for all the good drives, dancing and singing my heart out.  At the same time thank you for never telling anyone how many times I cried in the car during drives home after awful dates.

Thank you for saving my life when we hit black ice going 70mph and barely missed the semi truck and hit the median, stopping facing on coming traffic.  You handled the situation very well, and I'm sorry I never fixed your front grill for you.

Thanks for being such a great sport about the many many drives down Parleys Canyon to meet the cute Salesman who sold you to me.

I know you had quite a bit of miles on you and have travelled not only across the state of Utah, but half way across the United States as well.  Remember when we drove you all the way to Michigan and you never complained once?!  You were such a great car to endure that long long drive.  And then I had to drive you back from Michigan all by myself.  You were packed to the ceiling with all of our things, it was just you and me, and 36 hours of driving, and rockstars, and snow storms, and sleeping in the front seat at scary truck stops, I know you were glad to be home too.

You were a great car, I know I complained at times (but lets face it, you weren't cheap) but with out you I would not have met him and with out him... well lets not think about that.

Love you Mazda3 and thanks again for bringing us together.

Goldfish, I miss you

http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/23701792/

2 Month Update

We have now been back in Utah for two months (and one day to be exact) so I figured it is about time for an update. We are continuing to settle in here, and we are enjoying being back in Utah. We do still miss old friends in Michigan, but are loving the convenience of being close to so many friends and family members here!

The past two months have pretty much consisted of:

Moving in with Jason's Parents

Looking and looking and interviewing and interviewing for jobs.

2 and a half weeks later I got the greatest job at a restaurant in Highland called the Blue Lemon, as the Event Coordinator for their Blue Room. It is (one of) my dream jobs. I'm learning so much and really enjoying it. It's a real grown up job and everything. No more going to work in my swim suit. I put make up on everyday and yes, sometimes I even wear nylons.

After exactly a month living with the in-laws we moved into our own apartment in South Jordan. We are slowly getting furniture. First came the TV, then the mattress, the TV stand, a couch, finally a table (still no chairs, who actually sits at their tables now a days?). You can see where our priorities are though, Jase bought the TV before we even had the apartment. Since we were renting a furnished place in Michigan it is kind of like we are just getting married again and re-opening all of our wedding gifts. It is fun and I'm excited to finally have my own place to decorate.

We sold Jason's beloved car. It was a tearful goodbye, and now we are truly doing the "Student thing" and dealing with having only one car.

Jason is officially enrolled in school and will start at BYU-Salt Lake next month. We are both very excited!

We are excited for this new journey, new opportunities, and new adventures. Things are definitely falling into place and we are so grateful for all of the people who have helped us and supported us in this big life change.

Still Snowing

Yep, it's April 28th and it is still snowing.

Jason and I feel like Utah knew we didn't get much of a winter in Michigan so it is just trying to make it up to us now. We would always laugh at how everyone in Michigan feels like their winters are horrible and that we would never be able to survive them. Are you kidding me?! I remember driving to work one day, in a "blizzard", the guy in front of me going a ridiculous 8 mph and thinking "Are you kidding me?! Bring it on Michigan! Bring it on!" Which it never did. One of my favorite quotes while we were there was "We have snow for Christmas! You'll love it!" my reply "Wow! Utah has snow for Halloween." Not to mention St. Patricks Day, Easter, and hey why not Mothers Day right? I'm not complaining, really. I have actually come to enjoy winter. I think it is all the years spent in Logan and Park City. Now they know how to do winter!

We didn't get a chance to enjoy any Utah snowboarding this season but we were able to join my family for some good ole fashion snowmobiling. It snowed almost the entire time we were there, leaving over four feet of fresh snow. Which we actually found to be quite annoying as Jason and I got stuck within the first half hour of our first ride.

We stayed the night in an awesome cabin, went hot tubbing, watched basketball, and ate, and ate, and ate. My family loves their junk food that's for sure!

The next day we headed out early and rode for hours. We were trying to get to Muir Lake but only made it half way (about 9 miles) until the snow got too deep and we could not possibly go any further, believe me my dad tried.

The entire trip was so much fun and it was a much needed break from Jason and I's current life of unemployment and homelessness. We came home rejuvenated and excited and I actually got a job the next day (more posts to follow). See what a little fresh air and snow will do for you? Thank you Snyder Family for an incredible mini-vacation!

Farewell Michigan

After exactly one year and two weeks in Michigan we have said farewell. That's right we are no longer "Michiganders".

When we first moved there I couldn't wait to leave and now leaving has been so hard. We have had quite the adventure here and I wouldn't trade it in for anything. We have had so much fun and have been blessed while we were here.

We were able to attend all the major sporting events... Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons.

We had fun with visitors. My family came and stayed with us. The Cherrington family stopped and stayed with us on their way to New York. My good friend Autumn came and played, and my friend Kristi and I were able to get together a few times since her mom lives here. We also got to visit and go on trips with my favorite couple: The Moons.

We got to do some exploring in the state of Michigan and the surrounding areas.

We met and worked for a lot of different people,

Doctors, Lawyers, Baseball Players, VP's, Photographers, Car people... Oh the many

jobs I had in Michigan.

My favorite job, was with Goldfish though. I have had the hardest time saying goodbye to them. I love my little swimmer kids. I loved the thoughtful gifts and pictures they would bring me. I loved seeing them get so excited about swimming. I loved the hugs and high fives. I loved the people I worked with. I loved going to workevery day and being surrounded by friends. I loved all the crazy people and dramatic stories and laughing so hard at them at the end of the day.

We will also miss our little five year olds in our primary class. We fell in love with Primary and the special spirit in there.

I may or may not miss our little apartment though. It was a great first "home" for us. But I will not miss the constant head aches from all the smoke that constantly seeped in through the walls or the weird noises or the fear off being home alone in an unsafe area.

I will miss the lakes. I will miss the green. I will miss the good outlet stores. I will miss my yoga classes at my favorite gym. I will not miss "Michigan lefts", that is for sure.

I am excited for family and Utah friends though. It will be a fun new adventure that involves Jason going to school, and me finding a job to support us. I am excited to be able to talk about "stakes, wards, LDS, CTR, BOM, FHE, and missions" and not have people look at me so confused.

Thank you to everyone who took their time to come out to our apartment to say goodbye to us. Thank you Goldfish for the farewell lunch and fun weekend. Thank you Michigan for making our first year of marriage such a memorable one. You will be missed!

I love that I get to drive by this everyday, to and from work.

I love that I can look out the window during Primary and see this.

I love that out of all the places outside of Utah we could have moved too, we are only 4 Miles away from this.

I love that the spirit is the same here as it is in any other Temple.

I love the feeling of comfort, peace, and home that it brings.

Snowfest 2010

The weekend before Jason left we ventured up to Frankenmuth with friends to experience Snowfest. Snowfest is an annual event where people come from all over to compete in ice and snow sculpting contests.

It's not often that the words "freezing" and "fun" go in the same sentence for me but I really did love Snowfest.

And for those of you who were oh so concerned about me while Jason was gone... Yes I did survive, and yes I did enjoy having the bed all to my self... does that make me a bad wife?

2009, What a year!

2009 has been quite the year for us! We have had so many life changes this year.

New jobs, New family members, New states, New homes, New last names, New adventures.

and many more...

Eric came home from his Mission in Italy!

I got to take my endowments out at the Bountiful

Temple. We were sealed for all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Got married.

Welcomed in new life...

Kayson Todd Larson

and grieved the passing of old...

Grandma Beckstrand

Partied with MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice.

Moved to Michigan. Returned to a Family Ward and to Primary.

Said Goodbye to good Friends...

and said Hello to NEW friends.

We "adopted" this little dude.

We explored Mexico, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, and Canada.

We have had a very eventful and great year. I feel so blessed to have had so many wonderful things happen this past year and I am grateful for all of our family and friends continued support while we are on our journey here in Michigan. We are looking forward to a fantastic 2010!