No Family Thanksgiving!

I was sure this year was going to be the worst holiday season EVER. It all started by missing my BROTHER's WEDDING! I pretty much cried myself to sleep... I felt so bad and I know everyone understands us not making it, but I still felt horrible.
Then this year is CJ and I's first year being without any family for the holidays. No one to visit and no one to see.
But the Senior Missionaries whose job is to look after the military families on base asked if we would like to join some other families who are in the same situation. I of course agreed but still felt like it would be sad not having any one around.
We are so thankful that this opportunity arose and we went. We had met a couple that live a couple doors down and we rode together, they were our family. We were also able to meet other families and start hopefully new and great relationships.
Thank you missionaries and members of the Crowfield Ward.

Our house is just a little house... but God knows where we live!

I have lived in many different homes and each one I have tried to make my home. When CJ and I were first married we lived in a two bedroom duplex, which is when I bought a sign that says "Our house is just a little house... but God knows where we live!" It reminds me everyday that no matter where we are God knows we are here and he is there to help. This move did not mean anything different. We got used to our house with four bedrooms and a fenced in back yard and tons of space. I miss it tons, but this little duplex will have to do.

We like the neighborhood, but how could you not like it we are on a base and I feel very protected.

Our duplex has two bedrooms and one bathroom. We also have a screened in porch and a small outside storage closet. I am enjoying making this house a home as well, we are starting to hang up pictures and boxes are getting unpacked (slowly).

I am enjoying the change and trying hard to find my way around the base and around town. I can't believe how much traffic backs up around here and all the rude drivers. I thought California was bad they have you beat out here!

Coming up on Thanksgiving it is hard not to be thinking about what you are thankful for, well I am thankful for my husband and his new career that will help us grow and give us new adventures!

Traveling Across the United States

For those of you who did not notice, CJ and I moved to South Carolina. It was an AMAZING adventure that we really don't want to do again.

We rented a Budget truck (don't use this company) and a tow hauler for the car and we packed up, threw the dogs in and drove 2100 miles to the Naval Weapons Station.

To start our trip I called and asked if the truck had a bench seat, I was told yes, but it was not so my poor doggies ended up in a whole between the seats. They were squished, but it was half the time they were both down there and the other half Gage was on someones lap. He freaked out about everything, rumble strips and windshield wipers. We gave him Benadryl, but it really didn't seem to work. He was a complete wreck. Abby on the other hand would lay down and fall asleep with no issues at all.

Along the way we saw so many interesting things and I only took pictures of a few. Along the way we tried to take pictures of all the welcome signs, but we missed New Mexico's and Georgia's and Oklahoma didn't have one! I know you really could care less, but I thought it was fun.

In New Mexico not much happened, it just took forever to get across the state. Oh we lost the gas cap in this state somewhere. Then at dusk we entered into Texas and stayed at some no name motel in Amarillo TX.This picture was outside of Amarillo TX, they claim it to be the tallest cross in this hemisphere. We also saw snow on the ground in TX.Like I said before no sign for Oklahoma. I was bummed. Our second night on the road we stayed in Little Rock Arkansas, It did not take very long to get across the state and thankfully nothing took place here either.
Tennessee was a short trip all of about 10 minutes. We had to change major highways here and we just missed downtown Memphis by a couple miles. We did drive over the Mississippi River here, the bridge was huge and daunting in a truck.

After Driving across 3 states we finally made it to Georgia, which brought the only rain we saw the entire time. We stayed just outside of Atlanta and relaxed to think we had only one more day to go. We missed the Georgia sign.

Finally we reached South Carolina! We had finally made it and we did it with only one issue, losing the gas cap.

This trip was quite an adventure and we tried hard to stay kind to each other instead of being negative towards each other. It seemed we were only pains to each other when we were trying to get to our hotel.

We are so thankful to be blessed with a great and safe trip! We could not have asked for a better uneventful travel!

Ode to Arizona

Arizona is my home state. I have lived in almost all the regions and have loved every minute. My life did not begin here, but it grew up here.

When I was 2 my parents moved back to AZ after being stationed in ENGLAND (where I was born)and we lived in Apache Junction for many years, till half way through kindergarten.

Then we moved to Show Low for about a year and met my step dad there.

We moved back to Apache Junction for another year. My mom managed Village Inn so we moved where they needed a manager.

Our last move was to Prescott Valley. Back then there was no movie theater, no Albertsons, pretty much the only thing as you drove in was the post office, Safeway and Better Built Window oh and Ace Hardware. All the roads around my house we dirt and we could play in the road all night long.

We had a neighborhood game of tag every night and hung out for hours at some ones house to cool off during the day.

I met great people here who have turned my life in different directions. I have so many good friends that I will miss.

here in PV is where we took the missionary lessons to convert to LDS, which in turn made me a better person.

I met my husband here and had my first teaching job here.

I love Arizona and will never forget all the fun. I won't forget the beautiful Sunsets and Sunrises.

I will miss the cactus landscapes ( um really I wont!) and the rock gardens (not!).

I will miss 100 degree weather (haha!) and the freak hail storms (nah!).

I will miss my family who mostly resides here.

I love Arizona, but I need a new adventure.

South Carolina or Bust!!!

Saying Good Bye to a Great Friend

Well my time here in AZ is coming to an end... I am sad and very happy all at the same time. One sad point is I am leaving a great friend behind and moving across the country from here.

Here is our story...

I was in my second year at NAU and Karisa was in her first year at NAU. It was the first Sunday back at the institute ward and all the new girls were introducing themselves to us. Karisa had stood and said her parents just moved to Apache Junction, which is were my biological father lives and what do you know I was headed that way the very next weekend. So I went and introduced my self and asked if she wanted to ride down for the weekend, She wanted to go see her family and decided to come with me.

Well after a three hour drive you can talk about a lot of things and we found out quickly that we had a lot in common.

So after our weekend we spent a lot of time together and met other girls to join in our fun. We had multiple trips to Phoenix with so much laughter involved that our cheeks hurt for days afterwards.

There are many times we laughed the whole way home, or the time her and I and another friend got stuck in my sun roof. New Years eve when we laughed the whole night and into the next day. We can talk for hours and never get bored. We talk about everything and share so many secrets.

Well weeks turned into a year and she moved back to phoenix, we still visited each other as often as possible, went on a few trips to California and discussed ways to be close all through out life.

She has been a great companion through lonely times before our husbands came along and after.

We were at each others weddings and luckily our husbands enjoy each others company as well.

Even now we still go and visit each other and we WILL stay in touch.

I love you Karisa and I know we will stay Friends forever!

Pass In Review

This past weekend was CJ's Pass In Review. It was a great trip and we had tons of fun!

It all started Thursday morning at 2am when I could not sleep so I decided to get up and get dressed, we had to leave at 3am for the plane any ways...

So my mom and I flew out of Sky Harbor at 6am and landed at O'Hare airport at 11:30.

We rented a car and headed in to down town Chicago looking for the train station, the gentleman at the rent a car place said there were signs on the freeway telling us how to get there, well we found out the hard way there was no such thing!!

So my mom and I asked for directions and finally found it...

We had some time to kill so we walked around the station looking at all the buildings and

waisting time.

Thursday was just a traveling day and it was a long day, but I was so exited I barely slept that night.

Friday!!! We woke up early again and had to catch a shuttle over to the base, we were in our seats by 7am, and the Review didn't start till 9am... To say the least I was starting to get restless.

It took another hour till the guys actually walked in. They had the performing divisions go first and then the others.

When CJ's division marched in he was the last row and walked right by the bleachers, bummer part the woman in front of my mother-in-law was up and down and pointing and had her hands in the photo. Oh CJ looked so different, he lost about 20 lbs and of course he had no hair any more. It was so great to see him, I just wanted to run to him.After the ceremony we had to wait till they were put on Liberty, I then ran to him!! It was so great to see him. He had to be formal with me on base, rules while in uniform, but when we were back at the hotel I got my husband back.

The next day we went into Chicago and went to Willis Tower (Sears Tower). We went all the way to 103 floor, it was really cool to see all the amazing buildings.

Then we went and had a REALLY good stuffed pizza. Our day was cut short because CJ had to get back for watch and I hated watching him walk back alone...

CJ then flew to South Carolina on the second to start getting us a house and make sure paperwork was ready. It was a great trip and even though being without him was hard, we grew closer as a couple and we are thankful for this opportunity!

South Carolina here we come!