Arizona Weekend!

I love my friends! I went down to the Mesa/Gilbert area last weekend to see my friends. It was great hanging out with Crystal, Autumn, and Brittany. We had a girl's night out Saturday. We went to Dave's Fresh Farm Grill. Talk about a yummy shake. Anyway...it was so great being with my girls again. It will be nice being a little closer to them when I make the move this summer.

Happy New Year!

So I was home the entire time for Christmas break! It was great. What made it perfect was having all of my brothers and sisters home for the holidays. It had been 3 years in the making. Even though it was a houseful-7 kids and Mom and Dad, it was great. We even managed to all get along, and if you knew my and my family, you would know that that in and of itself, is a miracle!

On New Year's Day we headed down to the beach in Carlsbad to see the tidal pools. The tide was crazy-low, so we went out. We saw a ton of starfish-purple ones and orange ones. They were HUGE. We say sea slugs and crabs. Two of them were even mating! Yikes. It was fun spending time with my family there at the beach.

FINALLY!

Finally! My application for Arizona licensing is in! My application to Mesa is in! I was able to have the DARE officer at my school do my fingerprinting-it helps that his daughter and nephew are in my class. And then I was able to send it on in! Now I just have to work on more applications! Gilbert and Higley are the next on the list. Once those are in I will work on Chandler, Kyrene, Queens Creek, and ...lots of work! I'll keep everyone updated on the application process and any job offers!

ARIZONA, Here I Come!

Last year I was going to move to Arizona, but I felt that I needed to stay in Las Vegas one more year so that I could get my retirement benefits. I am really glad that I decided to stay. I have made some good friends and had some good experiences.

We are coming upon a year again, and I so I started to think about moving to Arizona again. I went down to Mesa/Gilbert over the Halloween weekend to see if those same feelings were there. After praying and fasting about it, I have decided that I am going to take the plunge and do it-move to Arizona!

So I am currently working on applications to several districts: Mesa, Gilbert, Higley, and I am considering Queen's Creek, Chandler, and Kyrene. I am also working on my license to teach in Arizona. It has been stressful, but I know that it is what I am supposed to be doing.

I have been scared in the past to think about moving. When I sat down to apply to the first district, I had a mini-panic attack to think that I was actually doing this. Now I am just afraid that I won't get hired down there. But, I am letting go, and putting it in my Heavenly Father's hands. If he wants me in Arizona, He will provide. There have been so many times in my early years of teaching where I was facing surplus and I just couldn't stress: if he wanted me there, he would keep me there. 5 years later, I am still at my same school that I started.

As I was contemplating the move, I had a pro/con list. Of course there were more PRO's than CON's. Here is my list.

PRO's:

1. Good Friends
Autumn and Brittany have really been a driving force to my decision. Of course it is going to be hard moving to a new place, but Autumn and Britt will be there for me as I transition to this new chapter in my life. It will be nice having them nearby.

It is so nice to spend time with them because they make me feel valued as a friend. I haven't had that in a REALLY long time. I haven't been happy in a REALLY long time.

2. New Ward
I have had a hard time in the ward that I have been attending over the last 1 1/2 years. It is a higher-end economic area, not to mention young. I have had a hard time relating to people and making friends. It will be nice to be in a new ward, and hopefully the members will be kinder and a little bit older-nearer to my age. I have heard great things about the wards there.

3. Living on my OWN
I am getting to that age where I want my own place and no roommates. Don't get me wrong; I LOVE living with Kara. She will probably be getting married next summer and so it is just perfect. Living expenses in AZ will be a little cheaper, so that will be nice!


4. Same Pay
The pay between CCSD and Arizona will be comparable. That will be nice. I am hoping that the district I get hired in will be able to give me years or my pay-steps. We'll see.

5. Change of Scene
I have lived in the LV valley for almost 6 years and although I love it, I have become complacent. I wake up, work, go to the gym, eat dinner, watch TV, go to bed, and then I repeat. Being in a new area will be great. Meeting new people, having a life will be amazing!

6. TWO Temples
I love being near the temple, and so it will be nice to be near the Mesa Temple and soon the Gilbert Temple.

CON's:
1. I absolutely LOVE my job
I have been at the same school for 5 years and I love it. The people I work with are amazing and so helpful. The kids are fun. I have made a name for myself in the community and I don't want to start over.

2. Farther from Home and Utah
Instead of being 4 1/2 hours from home, I will now be 6 hours. Not major, but still. AND, instead of being 5 hours from Utah to visit my brothers and sisters and relatives, I will be good 12 hours. I can always fly.

I've Been Thinking...

Lately I have been thinking about things that I need to change or possibly change. Last year I decided that moving to Mesa, AZ was what I was supposed to do, but I decided that I needed to get my retirement years in, so I am in Vegas one last year.
Now that it is time to start thinking about this move again, it scares me. My job in Boulder City is VERY secure. This may seem very selfish and stuck-up, but now that a couple 5th grade teachers are gone at my school, I am getting requests and good kids. I am one of the popular teachers to have. I have a lot of LDS kids in my class and it has made all the difference in the world. I feel important at my school and valued in the community, and I don't want to start over again.
However, I don't like my ward. I am getting "older" and my options are dwindling. My friends all seem to be moving away and/or getting married. My own roommate is dating, and who knows, they may end up getting hitched soon.
I have a few friends in Arizona and I know that it would be so great to see them more often and they would be able to help me "adjust" to my new life and they could help me meet new people. I have heard that there are great single's wards out there.
If I would just know that YES, I am supposed to go there. I'll have a great job and I'll meet my husband there, then sign me up. But I have lived in Vegas, going on 6 years. The people I work with have become my greatest friends and my family away from home. That may sound cliche, but it's true and I don't want to start over again.
What's a girl to do? I know what I need to do; I am just afraid I'll get the answer that will make life scarier for a little bit. Oh to be an adult!

28 is GREAT!

So yesterday I turned the big 2-8! It was an awesome day. It was great not having to work and being able to do whatever I wanted to do! I woke up earlier than I normally would and made myself some blueberry pancakes. Yummy! Then my roommate and I went and got pedicures. We now have cute toes.

In the afternoon we had friends over for pizza and cake. Then it was off to the BYU-UNLV game here in Henderson! It was so much fun to be with friends and being able to see BYU play. Of course they creamed UNLV, 59-21. It was so fun!

Then I today I made the birthday dinner that my mom would always make when I lived at home: pot roast, mashed potatoes, corn, and blueberry muffins! It was so delicious, but it wasn't as good as my mom's!

Justin's Home!

My brother Justin just got back from serving a two year mission in the Peru Lima Central Mission. We picked him up from the airport on Wednesday. It was so great seeing him again. I won't even try to hide the fact that I got a little teary-eyed as he came down the escalator. It was so great seeing my brothers see each other again. Kevin and Kyle have been so excited for Jay to come home. Kyle actually jumped up on Justin. Kevin and Justin compared heights with each other. Justin still has some height on Kevin. It may not look like it in the pictures; that is because Justin had jumped into their arms.
Justin really misses Peru and still speaks Spanish to everyone. I am grateful that I took Spanish in high school so that I can translate for everyone else and I can also converse with Justin. It has been really fun, and my Spanish skills are rusty, but they get the job done.
Joey comes home next Friday, and that will be a happy reunion as well. He has been serving in the Taiwan Taipei Mission. It will be fun to see Joey and Justin see each other again! What a blessing it has been to have these missionaries out serving our church. Our family has definitely been blessed because of their hard work! Viva a Peru!