New Year

Happy 2012. Seriously, 2012? Wasn't it JUST Y2K? Years are literally flying by. What an amazing year 2011 has been for us. We've had our ups and our downs. We have most definitely ended this year on a high though. We've had such clarity and understanding as to why things happen. It has strengthened my faith, and validated the times where I've had to leave my frustrations with the Lord. We've made SO many memories and been blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

It is incredibly hard for me to believe that we have lived in Idaho Falls now for almost 2 years. I came here kicking and screaming. I never thought I could be happy here. I thought it would be a temporary means to an end before we could go somewhere that I WANTED to be. Well, I was wrong. My husband LOVES his job here. Not many men can say that about the place that they work. He is excited to go to work every day. The men he works with are such great men who respect him and appreciate him. They talk about home teaching in their monthly meetings and they only serve water and lemonade at the annual Christmas party. Pretty awesome compared to where we have been. We fit here. We belong here. They take such good care of him and have made a genuine investment in him. At his end of the year review he was told to tell his wife to "Go ahead and buy a house here.....you aren't going anywhere!" It's such a huge blessing to know that we will indeed be able to pay off all of these darn loans and much quicker then we ever though possible.

We have great friends here. They have become our family while we are away from ours. I'm grateful for my preschool mom friends. It's been wonderful getting to know all of them even better and knowing I always have someone to call if I ever need anything. I'm grateful for Nate's Aunt and for her never ending love and concern for us. She has made us apart of her family and for that I am so appreciative. My kids go to a great school. It is 3 minutes away from our house and I love that they get to spend less time on the bus and more time with me. I love my calling with my Activity Day girls. I love how they will look over at me in church and smile and wave.

I love living near some of the most beautiful places in the world. I'm glad my kids have a passion to explore and see the world just like their mom and their Great Grandma. We've done a TON of that this year. Good thing since it looks like this summer we're going to be forced to slow down a lot.....for good reason though. ☺ Seeing the Grand Canyon, going to Yellowstone again, heading to Bozeman, Zions, and the usual down to Lake Powell. I know that these are the things my children will remember when they are grown.

It's been a year of milestones! We celebrated 10 years of marriage, I turned 30 years old, and after much struggle we found our our 4th child will be joining our family. We went on some fantastic vacations both with children and without. I will forever cherish our trip to Washington DC, our alone time in Jackson Hole and our Indian Summer days spent in McCall.

We continue to love, grow closer and appreciate each other more and more.

 I'm looking forward to the adventures and changes happening for our family in 2012!