Living the High Life and Being Retired

Totally kidding about the title!! Anyway, just a quick update. We had ward conference on Sunday. I think it was just for me. Our Bishop and Stake President talked about having "real intent". I hope that Doug and I have real intent when praying to find out what we should be doing with our life and our children's lives. We have been trying to decide if it is time to move back to Utah. It is really hard to choose between two good things. We finally are liking it here, and so I wouldn't mind staying here, but we could move back to Utah and be by family. In some ways it is a catch 22. We are really struggling in finding out what is right. We have had no hits on jobs. Not even a maybe. Yet, it has only been a week. It has been a long week. I keep teasing Doug that maybe we are being given this time as a pre-trial for when we really are retired. All I know is by that time, I hope we are more fun than right now. So my spirits are on a bit of a roller coaster. I am so very concerned about employment, but in the same I have to believe that it will come and it is not on our time. Which I am sure that is part of why I am facing this so I can gain some good old fashion PATIENCE. Doug is such a hard worker and so talented. It is so crazy that there is not many opportunities. I pray that we can find out what the right thing to do is, and in the meantime we need to be grateful for all that we do have. Which is so much. Well, if any of you know of any jobs please feel free to let us know. We could certainly use all the help we could get.

Our Blessings and Trials

Christmas Eve pajamas
Chaden and his new tie.

Doug as the ultimate"Guitar Hero"

Dallin turns 3

Dallin' s first four wheeler

Chaden and his glow-in- the- dark cast.

Dallin is "The Incredible Hulk"

Passed out fully clothed. His feet were like ice so I stuck gloves on the tips of his feet to warm them up.

Uncle Bob and his cavalry

Kabrynna and Daisy

Brylee and Dallin

Grandma JeanAnne and the kids. She gave them all crisp one dollar bills, and right after Doug and I walked them to the gas station to spend them.

Grandma and Grandpa Iund and the gang

Waiting on the deck to hear Uncle Jason blow the horn on the train (he is an engineer for UP) as he drove pass Grandma and Grandpa's.

Kabrynna's first scrapbook

Dallin and his legos

We have had a jam packed few weeks. Very fun, very hectic. We have done much. First of all we had Christmas. It was great. The kids make it so much fun to see their cute little faces. We had Christmas Eve with my brothers and their wives. It was nice. Shelley (my neighbor) and I took the kids to see Bedtime Stories on the 26th. It was a really cute show and Dallin even sat through it amazingly. Then we came home and started packing to go to Utah the next morning. Meanwhile Chaden was wearing his new heelies in the house and fell. It was about 7 P.M. I figured it was just a sprain :) Saturday we left to Utah. It was a long trip this time. Quite the adventure, but we made it. We were blessed. Sunday we were able to attend my nephew Darrian, his ordination to a Deacon. Monday, we took Chaden to the doctor and his wrist was broken. Who knew?? I am such a bad Mom. I really did not think it was broken, and I only took him in just in case it was broken I wouldn't feel like a putz for blowing it off. Mom of the year!! We visited my grandparents. They are great blessings in my life. How I love them dearly! We had a blast with both sides of our families. Kabrynna and Dallin couldn't get enough of my sister's dog. Chaden was addicted to his DS. I am thinking that the DS was probably not a good idea for a video game addict. The kids spent almost everyday playing in the snow. New Years day we went to my mother-in-law's. Doug's brother brought over some four wheelers and they pulled all the nieces and nephews on sleds for about 5 hours. Kabrynna came inside to warm up and said, "This was the best day of my life!" I thought how wonderful it is to be a child. Such excitement and thrill. What a blessing we all had that experience, and now we get to see it in our children. Friday Chaden was casted. He thought that it was pretty cool. Ask him how cool he thinks it is now. Not very. Saturday, I got to hang out with my Mom and sister. I love them both so much. Living away from most of our family has really changed my life. It opens your eyes to how perfectly planned the family unit is, and how crucial they are in our life. Moving away has helped me appreciate what I had so close to me. Isn't it funny that sometimes we don't really know what we have until it is gone? On the same note, it has been so great to be here with my brother Evan and his family. I am so grateful for our families and for the bond we each have to one another. We returned home Sunday the 4th. Dallin turned 3 on Monday the 5th. We sang "Happy Birthday" and while we sang he sang "happy birthday to me". I would ask how old he is, and he would always say4. He is certain he is 4, but I am certain he is 3. So now to today. In the midst of all these great blessings, there too lye our trials. Doug lost his job. I feel very scared, but in the same I also know that it will work out. I am sure that it won't be easy, but I know that we can do it. Word has traveled fast. Some may be annoyed that people talk, but I am so very grateful. I am grateful to know that we have such wonderful support, and that others are fasting and praying on our behalf. I am grateful to our sweet Bishop who sacrifices time with his family to tend to the needs of the ward. I am grateful that no matter what happens we always have a family. As uncertain as I feel at this moment, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude to my Heavenly Father. I am so blessed to have the gospel in my life. It gives me hope and direction. It gives me answers and comfort. We will make it, and we will turn this scary thing into something good for our family. We will continue to have great times in our lives, and more days that we will say, "This is the best day of my life!"