1000 Thank Yous!

As I got ready to move from New Jersey to Utah I had written a list of all the people I needed to send thank you cards to. I've lost the list somewhere, so hopefully as the cards reach their destinations I have remembered everyone. It reminds me of a story my daughter told me about a woman who sent the same person 1000's thank you cards. Each time she sent a card to thank the person, the person sent a card back and then she sent another card. I told my daughter we owed a lot of people thank yous for all the help we received. Today I filled the little out going mailbox at our apartment with thank you cards. I can't wait for my computer to be set

up so that I can print this rose photo out and use it as a card too. Each person received a personal thank you with a letter. None of that general thank you with a signature. I wanted each person to know how special they were to me and my family. I wrote those thank yous in my most favorite place to be the laundry room. Well it's not my most favorite place to be, but I'm there a lot.

The last couple of days I've felt a little off, and angry that I don't have a job right away with Kohl's. But I've realized that there are things that I need to get done before I start working

again. I need to relax, because I've been going for 4 months with only small amounts of help from others. I need to focus on my spiritual walk, because I let it slip as I tried to hold my world together. I am trying hard to focus on the things I need to do to allow the spirit to guide me. I want to get a job that will be good for me and my family. So I need to take my time and search and listen. I also need to take some time to just be thankful. I'm thankful that my family is back together. I'm thankful that my husband has a good job, and that most of the move is being paid for by his company. I'm thankful that we are healthy. I'm thankful for the gospel in my life.

My time alone reading the scriptures has helped to calm me down. Helped me to realize I need to let Heavenly Father be in control. I feel he wanted us here and now I need to have
faith that he has a plan and will bless us.

I've put some photo's of my cat during our move. Poor her. I can't imagine what she thinks of all this. She has been very clingy with me. She wants to be wherever I am.

Well think about all that you can be thankful for today. It may help you feel better about your situation. I hope to share with you a talk I read about being thankful. Have a great day.

Blogging from the Laundry room!

I Don't have Internet connection in my apartment yet so I'm constantly going to the Laundry room to check my e-mail and facebook and to look for directions on how to get from one place to another. I am slowly making friends. I have to say working for Kohl's helped me in this area. I was the star greeter during their major remodel this past spring. I had to walk around the building and talk to and help as many customers as possible. I got very used to talking to people I didn't know. It is so much a part of me that I find myself saying hi to any person I see. I have had so many people just stop and chat with me.

Although even in New Jersey I always had people just come up and talk to me. I guess I look safe.

This past weekend our family went to the Museum of Ancient Life. Wow. If you are out in Utah and you love dinosaurs this is the place to go. We most likely will get a year pass to this place. My son loves dinosaurs. Even my daughter didn't get enough of it. So you get dinosaur photo's today. I like how my daughter does expressions with each photo, as if she is being attacked.

I have met many nice people out here so far. I spent the morning with one of my daughters new friends mothers. She is a big coupon person, I got

the low down on the good grocery stores to go to. I also met two people here in the Laundry room. One is from Boston, one is from Arizona. No one here seems to be from Utah. The woman I spent the morning visiting with is from Virginia. Lots of transplants. They all have nice things to say about Utah. So that is good. I'm giving myself this week off from stressing about finding a job. Next week I'll start scouring the Internet and driving to stores. Perhaps there would be a job at a hospital as a receptionist at night.

This very eastern girl is constantly reminded that she is in the west when shopping. There are a lot of Western Family brands. There are not many

spaghetti choices, and pizza is not the same out here. But it is cheaper to buy milk, and other items. I'm going to start comparing things. New Jersey milk was $3.99 a gallon. Here if you go to the right store it is $2.24. And my new friend with all her coupons got it for free! Free milk in my house is always a good thing.

I was thinking a few blogs ago my title was "SAFE IN UTAH." That really played out for my family this weekend when Hurricane Irene hit. We were here in the sun, going to a new Museum. Instead of in a house that would get a little water in the basement and lose power for (I've been told) this whole week. I felt blessed to have missed this. It reminds me of how last year I kept feeling I needed to get my 72 hour kits updated, and felt the need to store lots of water. And then I had the feeling my family was going to move and the 72 hour kits were emptied, and I began cleaning the house out. This Sunday at church was all about being prepared. I believe that is a very important thing to be. But don't prepare for a rainy day, prepare for a rainy month or year. I've found that when trials hit, they last more than a day. So if you only prepare for a short amount of time you may not be prepared enough. I had been putting aside money, and keeping us out of debt for years before my husband lost his job. It proved to be a great blessing for us. I wish I had done more, we still could have been more prepared. I've learned from it though and will do better preparing for the next storm in our life. I just hope we get a few years of rest first. Though I don't know if the storm is totally over yet either. Hopefully we are headed for some sunny days. Thanks for reading. Wish me luck on the job search. I'm a very hard, dedicated worker. I know at some point I'll have a good job again.

Big Kitchen, Little Kitchen...

Here are some photo's of my little apartment kitchen. Everything is right there. It's small but has some things my big kitchen didn't have. It has a big microwave. We always used my little college microwave. It has a dishwasher. Wow I've never used a dishwasher before. It was so nice to just push a button and the work got done. I now have to train the family to put their dirty dishes in the dish washer and not the sink! What is really amazing is that everything from the big kitchen fit into the little kitchen. It has a lot of space to put things into. I was so amazed. One thing I bought was a popcorn maker. I stayed at

a friends house before the move and had yummy popcorn and knew that it was the way to go. She also made some of the best meals I've had in a long time. I need to get some recipes from her. Everything was simple, which I liked. And fresh too. I have to say that despite it's littleness, I like my new kitchen. It is easy to keep clean, and for someone who is not a great cook it is just the right size.

Here are photo's of my Husbands biggest project in our New Jersey house. Our kitchen. It took him 3 years to put this kitchen together. From the floor up he made everything. It has my favorite color Hunter green, for the counter tops. My Husband says this kitchen is what will sell the house. I sure hope so. It is a beautiful kitchen, and he did a huge amount of work. Everything was done to keep the "Period Correct" (1930's) Look to it. It is a big spacious kitchen. It gets wonderful natural light in it all day long. It has lots of storage space. I always really felt happy here. Except, perhaps it was a bit big for me.

I'm not the biggest, greatest cook so it was a bit more than I needed. Plus everything was a walk away. I like the little kitchen, where everything is in reach. Perhaps I'm lazy!

Well the first week of school in a new state is over for my children. They are doing well with adjusting. They are making new friends each day. My son went to the temple last night and found out two of the boys his age live in our apartment complex. My daughter and I spent the evening at the pool and she met two nice girls from her school. They walked to school together this morning. I often think lately that perhaps

we are here to help people who are not members of our church learn that we aren't that bad. It is funny as many people in the apartment are not members of the church. And because I don't "look like a Mormon" ( so my old neighbors said) these people talk to me and warn me about the that church and it's members. I hope I can help them see we are not that bad.

My husband is busy at work and says he feels the job is a great fit. I'm glad to hear that. He has to fly back out to New Jersey next weekend to take the rest of our stuff out. I hope after the hurricane that is coming that what is left is still OK. I guess there is not much I can do. So I'm not going to worry about it. No luck on the job front for me. I went to Kohl's yesterday to see about being transferred and still no one has called me. Perhaps it's for the best. I think I'd be better off finding a job near where I live. I've found a nice book store that I wouldn't mind working at. There is also a grocery store right near the house that is open 24 hours so hopefully I could get a job there if possible. While I'm a little nervous about the whole finding a job thing, I know I'm a hard worker and will eventually find the right place. That "P" word again. I have a hard time with it. Well I'm hoping to get the apartment totally unpacked this weekend. I need to have organizations. All the boxes drive me crazy. Please continue to pray for my family that we adjust to Utah, and that our house sells.

Have a good weekend. On a sad note, my travelling hens and chickens that I prepared to take here got stolen from off the back porch. I was really upset, as I had Vermont Hen's and Chickens and New Jersey Hens and Chickens and New Jersey dirt. My next door neighbor gave me a small pot of hers, but it's not the same!

Safe in Utah!

Here is a photo of my daughter and the cat,( you can't see cat as she is drugged in her bag.) At the airport on our long flight to Utah. 5 hours and 30 minutes is a long time for cat and child. And lets add mom too. Then add another flight of an hour and a half and we were very happy to be in Utah. My daughters first impressions were good ones. Now though she is in school and being a bit worried that she won't be smart enough. A yearly battle with her.
I am unpacking what little we could move from our house to the little apartment. I'm now praying daily that the house sells. Tomorrow I'm off to my favorite store in hopes that they will give me a job out here. If not it's off to pounding the streets until I find one.
One thing I know is I will be in great shape out here. Lots of walking up and down hills. So far Utah is beautiful, and the people have been very nice to us. I hope it stays that way. I'll get more photo's soon. Well pray for my family that our house sells,and that I get a nice job. Not much more to say at this moment. Off to run some errands and then clean and unpack. I'll be glad when that is all done! Oh a good thing about Utah: there are lots of country stations to listen too. Also no one thinks I have a new Jersey accent! Have a wonderful day!

The End Of A Chapter....

I have lived in New Jersey for 17 years. And I'm now days from this chapter of my life ending. The thing about the end of a chapter is that you are always left with the unknown of the next chapter. What will happen next? Will the trials of life be just as hard in the next chapter? Will the main characters finally see they love each other and stop being stubborn or will they continue to have some issue to over come? Will a clue to the murderer be in this chapter? Will I know more about whether the ending will be good or bad?
I'm not sure of what this new chapter in my life will bring. Will our house sell fast? Or will it take

months to sell? Depending on who you talk to you get all sorts of different opinions. I'm tired of listening to any of them. It makes me sick to my stomach. Will the airline allow the cat to fly with us or will it end up traveling cross country with my husband. Pray they let her fly with me please. Will all the stuff fit in this truck?
I'm feeling very overwhelmed at the moment. I could complain, I could list my concerns, but you know I'm going to be patient. I'm not going to complain.
Here are photo's of my country kitchen. My husband built this kitchen all on his own. He designed it, and built everything.


It's a very beautiful kitchen. He did a ton of work. In fact we have done a ton of work to this house. It makes me a little sad that in moving at the wrong time we will lose. The other side 4 years ago sold for $281,000. We are selling our side for $179,000. I can only hope though that it will sell. The housing market isn't the greatest. the economy isn't the greatest. The Job market isn't the greatest. So it is what it is. I have to be happy my husband has a good job. He is doing well. If I rent the rest of my life I won't be too sad. So in a few days the next chapter will begin. I wonder what my poor cat thinks. Her world has been boxed up. She been to the vet multiple times so we have her ready to fly. Tons of strange people have been in and out of this house. I wonder what she thinks of all this. If it totally overwhelms me how is it affecting her? Or for that matter my children. So Pray my house sells. Thanks!

I belong to THE CHURCH OR JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS..

I belong to The Church Of JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS I know who I am, I know God's plan...


As I reflect on my days in New Jersey, read through my old scrap books, one of the most important decisions I made here was to join a new church, and grow in my faith. When I was young I believed in God, I thought he was my best friend. I spent most of my childhood up in the mountains of Vermont alone. Both my parents worked. So I'd get home from school, up in the top of the mountain by myself and talk to God. But in high school I stopped going to our UCC church. I worked Sundays and I fell into a



crowd of friends who didn't believe in God. I believed still, but my faith was weak. When I moved to New Jersey, after leaving the guy I'd been dating, I was quiet alone. During this time my niece who was two became seriously ill. She had a disease that only 25% of children who got it lived. As a family we all decided we needed to pray for this beautiful little girl. So far from my family, I began to pray to God. As I prayed I realized I needed to do more, I needed to go to church. I lived across from a Catholic church, and the drive to work was filled with other types of churches. I began to pray for which church to join. I was shy and only knew the people I

worked with. So I began to not only pray for my niece, I prayed for a church to go to, and a friend to go with. In steps a customer at work. He was fun to talk to, and handsome. We went on a date and then he asks me to attend church with him. So I said sure. It was what I was looking for. His church was THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. After that first visit together we never stopped going without the other until three months ago when he went off to a new job in Utah. How I miss going to church with him. I can't wait to be back with him. Anyways, I'm sure many people thought

I joined the church because of him. But I joined because I felt so close to God and the Savior when I attended this church. I knew God answered my prayers, He showed me what church he wanted me to go to and gave me a best friend to go with. And my little niece a few weeks after I joined went into remission and has never been sick from the illness again. The Savior is at the head of my church. He speaks through living prophets. What I love most beyond that is how important family is in the church. I love my family. I can't wait for us to all be together again, I can't wait to walk the temple grounds together as a family.

I know that God wants my family to move. I know the work I'm supposed to be doing. It is here inside the Temple. It is connecting my family through the ages. Last year I spent many days working on family history. And I asked God one question ( I really need to learn to stop asking questions) When do I get to live near Temples so I can do the work? When do I get to live close enough that I can go often to the Temple? I guess he answered this question. Don't you think? I have a great song to share

MOVE. I like the line " I may bend but I won't break."

Moving my friends is hard. It is physically hard, and it is mentally hard. I've never realized before that you could be so excited and so nervous and so sad all at once. There isn't a day that I don't feel like bouncing up and saying "I'm moving and it's going to be a great adventure." and then the next moment I want to break down in tears " I'm moving and I'm going to miss so many of you." And then waking up with a sick stomach just being nervous about it all. What a roller coaster ride. The blessing come after the trial of faith. The trial has been long, and hard and I'm sure it's not over yet. Hope you enjoy the photo's.