Little Generals--4/10

This audio production was created by an MBASA classmate, Karl Rosengren. Mason did the voice for General Warren.

It's been a great 2 years!

As we prepare to leave the "promised land" and head out to the "mission field" (seriously, I've heard people say that!), I thought I'd share some things...

Things I'll miss about Provo:

• The mountains. Looking out my front window and seeing Mt. Timpanogos. Majestic. Beautiful. Watching the clouds roll in and hide the mountains. Seeing the "Y" every day.

• Elise's ballet teacher. Miss Amber at Ruby Shoes Studio. Elise has learned so much--and learned to love the beauty of dance from someone I trust to teach her. I'm pretty sure that dance will be a part of Elise's life for a long, long time, and I wish we could pack up Miss Amber and take her with us wherever we go. It's okay, though, because Amber's baby, Ruby, and my Lincoln are betrothed to each other. So we'll be in touch.

• Yield signs, not stop signs.
• U-turns
• Never worrying about taking my kids to on-campus events. I know the dancing, etc., will be modest and appropriate for them to see. 
• Our cul-de-sac. 5 duplexes of some of the best people around! A quiet, safe neighborhood full of great kids and parents. 
• Friends. Like Sarah, Marisa, Candace, Anna & Eirene. When I'm around them I am a better mom. I need friends like that! Winter, Pam, Stephanie, Nicole, Tepoe, Amanda, Kristen, Jamie, Tiffany, Lori...I guess I'm okay moving on because I know there are more amazing women out there for me to meet. 
• WINCO! One just opened up here a couple of weeks ago. And I'm leaving it AGAIN! I hope they expand to Minnesota!
• Kid to Kid. Gifts of the Heart Exchange. Free clothes. Service opportunities.

• MBA Spouses Association. It's like Relief Society on steroids. Amazing women making amazing things happen. 
• The hiking. We are moving to FLAT. 
• Being close enough to family that I can make the drive on my own in a couple of days. 15 hours vs. 29 hours. Ouch!
• Bella Natal and my midwife there.

Things I won't miss:

• Crazy Utah drivers. Red means STOP! Really! Tailing while texting. Going slow in the fast lane. Not watching out for pedestrians and bikers.
• Inversion. Can you say yuck?!
• The arid climate. We dry out here!

There are so many wonderful people and places in Utah. I am so glad we chose to come here for school. I am also looking forward to our next adventure!

We're not in Kansas anymore

On Sunday there was a big bag full of gigantic zucchini on a table in the foyer at church, with a "free" sign on them. Hilarious! The same Sunday Utah was referred to as "Zion." Love it!

We are here! We are here!

We made it to Utah! Leaving was a very odd thing for me - I didn't cry like I thought I would. I guess I got it all out in the weeks prior, and by the time it was time to leave I was ready to be done with goodbyes. Not that I'm not going to miss my friends - I am - but we've been preparing for this move for a year and a half, and it was just time to leave!

We packed up the (incredibly huge) truck last Thursday, drove to Boise on Friday and then Provo on Saturday, getting the (incredibly huge - did I already say that?) truck unloaded about 8pm. We were a little bit exhausted, and I was (am) a little overwhelmed with all the STUFF we still have to put away. Where did it all come from? I thought I was good at getting rid of stuff! Oh well, someone will benefit from all our castoffs - only good stuff is left! :o)

Our place (I can't quite bring myself to call it "home" yet) is nice - a 2-story, 3-bed, 1 1/2-bath duplex with a big fenced back yard. I think I'm going to like it here. Who am I kidding? I love everywhere we've ever lived, so I know I'm going to like it here. We have some great neighbors, and are 10 minutes away from Stephen's brother, Paul, and his family! They have pretty much saved us these past few days! Meals, washer & dryer, calmness, a home with no boxes...

Stephen started his orientation yesterday, and is really excited about his team of 5. All the MBA candidates went to a military training camp for some leadership exercises today, and Stephen's team won the competitions with Stephen as their leader. I already like his team (even though I haven't met them yet), because it seems they recognize how great he is! :o)

Stephen and I celebrated our eighth anniversary on Monday! I think that we remembered it around lunch time. We took the kids to Ikea to get a dresser in the morning, and got a great deal from the as-is section. I consider it a tender mercy from the Lord. He really is always watching out for me - even in Ikea!