Resumes and Late Nights

Last night, Heber and I were up late editing a resume for someone in our ward.  It was like a flashback to our life a year ago.  I can just picture us up late, Heber sitting at the computer writing cover letters or applying for jobs.  I was holding our Amy girl, who was crying (she didn't get the hang of sleeping at night for a long time).  Then we'd trade and I'd edit.  I don't even know how many resumes and cover letters I've written over the years, too many.  Can I just say how thankful I am that it's not one of our resumes that we're working on.  I'm hoping we're settled for a while.

That was a rough time. Putting yourself out there is incredibly stressful.  It's just as stressful being the supporting spouse.  I can say that it was rough because here we are a year later, Heber is in a new job that he really likes.  He learned that he can successfully go through a job hunt (which is a confidence boosting knowledge).  I'm so grateful to be a year away from that. 

I pulled up my old resume to send as an example (the guy had written his work experience in paragraph format, I'm a firm believer in the bullet points).  I grabbed one off of my old portfolio website, you can see it here.  My life right now is so firmly entrenched in mom mode that I almost forgot all that I had done before.  I spent a little time today looking through some of my old projects and writing.  It's good to remember.  I'm happy with where I am now, but I am so happy to have done so much before. 

Leo's getting pretty good at taking pictures.

 

Leaving Logan

Heber and I are moving to Virginia, as we speak.  The movers are at our house right now and once again packing our whole life into a truck (this time is so much nicer because THEY are packing the boxes).   We are flying out this weekend to start our (semi)new life.   We sold our home here and are officially homeless until we can find a place there. Who would have thought we'd be heading back to Northern Virginia?

Am I nervous about this?  Absolutely (I’m a basket case but I’m trying to hold it in).  Yet, do I feel it’s the right thing? Yes.  No doubt.  If there is one thing I have learned from this experience, it’s that Heavenly Father is very aware of me, of what I need and is willing to help, if I ask.  It’s the most incredible feeling in the world to be able to receive an answer to a prayer and I have seen it so many times even just in the past couple of months.  

I know that moving to Virginia is the right choice for our family right now.  I know it.

So, we are saying goodbye to Logan for the second, and most likely, last time.  It’s strange to not have any ties (except for friends we love) to Logan anymore.  It’s like all the loose ends are tied up.  This second Logan chapter has been one of the more challenging experiences in my life but I have learned so much.  I know why we had to make 2 cross country moves in a year.  It seems crazy to the outsider but it has been an experience that has changed me and made me better, oh and tired too.  Still, I wouldn’t change any of it.

Here are some pictures as we said goodbye to Logan.  It is so hard to say goodbye, there are so many people there that we care about.  Good thing we have phones and computers and can keep in touch.  There are so many more pictures I could put up, so many people.

My dear friend Co after a full hour of Irish Dancing

My mom and sis.  So sad to be away from them.  These are my people.

Mom L and Grandma Barbara.

Leo and cousins.

Amy and Uncle Peter

Our family.

The Relief Society Presidency in my last ward.  These women loved me, helped me and gave me so many opportunities to serve.

Heb and his folks who helped so much on moving day.

The Palmer boys.  Wish we could come out and watch more of your soccer games.

My dear friend Emily who was my sanity during all the craziness.

Life Lately in June

It's our last month in Logan and we've been taking full advantage of all the fun things to do.  

I had been waiting for ages to go to the Logan Gardeners Market.  I have so many good memories from our grad school days of us going to the market.  On most Saturdays, you'll find us there buying up some salsa and a fresh lemonade.  We've had company for some of the weeks, my folks and Heb's too.  If you make it down there, be sure to try the Crumb Brother's booth.

This guy loves riding his bike around.

 

We've been down to Grantsville to visit with my extended family.  I love to visit with my cousins, aunts and uncles and grandma.  There is so much love there.

We have been taking trips up the canyon to have fires.  This is one of the things I missed most while living in Virginia.  Our latest fire was with the Hendrick's, friends from our pre-kids days.  We got together soon after we moved back in November and it was like we had never left.  And the best part is that we like their little boy and Leo does too. 

 Every chance we get we are up in the mountains and on a trail.  Even for a short walk, we love being in these mountains.

 

We've made some major decisions lately and I feel so much less stressed.  Even though those plans include a big move in the very near future, I feel very calm about the whole situation.  I think knowing what we are doing and not living in limbo anymore makes me feel so much better about the world.  And, of course, it's at this moment that our life really settles in her and I feel like I have friends and a routine, just in time to change it all!

And we have these darling little ones.  We just love them.  Even in all the craziness.

Leo had a very fussy week last week.  This is his "it's mine!" face.  We discovered 2 molars on Saturday and it all made sense!

So that's the latest.  So much good happening.  Ah Logan, you really make it hard to leave with your great summers!

Home

We just watched a documentary on the "tiny home" movement on Netflix called "Tiny."  It chronicles a man building a tiny home and interviewing people who have chosen to live that life.  I haven't really given much thought to tiny homes, and by tiny I mean less than 200 square feet, especially now that we have 2 kids and their stuff alone would fill at least 500 feet (I'm sure).

One of the main themes of the movie was about the concept of home.  Identifying home was always easy for me because I grew up in the same town for my entire life, up until college.  I know that is my home because that's where my roots are, my family, my history.

The question that haunts me though, is where will my children call home?  Can your home be a place you haven't lived in for more than 10 years?  Is home where you currently are, even if you've only been there a few months?  How about, home is where the people you love are.  But what if they are all over the country?  This idea of home quickly becomes complex and complicated.

The guy in the movie had been in a military family and so lived everywhere but his family always took trips out to the west during the summers.  He said that the deserts of the west made him feel at home.  I never had the experience of having to choose a place to be home, my always just was.

I thought that we would call Logan home.  We've lived here (on and off) for the better part of a decade but the time has come once again to move along and it feels permanent this time.  We are leaving Utah and don't forsee returning.  That is a bit scary because this is been my home for so long.

So I guess my definition of home will change.  Perhaps home will be where my husband is.  Or where I've worked to build a life and friends.  I'm not sure. 

What's your definition of home?

Summerfest 2014

Summerfest is my favorite Logan weekend of the year.  As a creative, I love to see what others create and get inspiration.  As an arts festival, Summerfest is filled with inspiration. 

We had both Heber and I's parents come into town to enjoy the festivities. 

It's been on bucket list to see a play at the Lyric Repertory Theatre.  I spent a summer as an intern working there and loved it.  We were able to get out and see "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."  I laughed so hard and really enjoyed it.  But, you know me, I love to see theatre and music performed live, there is magic in it.

And during all of the activities of this weekend, Amy has almost mastered sitting up.  She is just getting so big.

We had a great time.  Leo did too!

Cookies on Campus

We spent Sunday evening up on campus with the Kelsey's.  We ran around Old Main (the old stomping grounds) and talked about all the time we spent there.

The Kelsey's.  We love them.

Tami has been my best friend for a lot of years.  We met as roommates so I guess you could say we met because of Utah State.  She was dating her husband at the same time that I was dating Heber so we have lots of good memories together.  We've been there for each other through some of life's hardest challenges.  It's her birthday today and want to give a little shout out one of the kindest and most caring people I know.  Happy birthday to my dear friend Tami!

I haven't been up on campus in ages, maybe years.  But there was a time in my life that I was there every week day and most Saturdays.  Heb and I completed both our bachelors and masters degrees there and I consider my time here some of the finest of my life.  I became me here and I'll forever be happy that I chose USU.  It's a long story but I almost went to BYU (I mean housing, registered for classes, the works) and had one of those moments where I knew it was the wrong choice.  Guess I was really destined to be here.

The "A" for those of you not literate in USU lore, is one of those special places on campus where you become a "true Aggie."  It's right in front of Old Main and one of my favorite places on campus.  Lots of good things happened right around this spot, meeting and falling in love with Heber being one of them. 

 

Here's a throwback to our graduation day in 2011.  Good times.

That's Old Main in the background.

Nature and a Perfect Day

I loved today.  It was one of those perfect weather days, not too cold, not too hot.  We went up to the Stokes Nature Center in Logan Canyon to our Parent and tot class.  I was just basking in the green growing everywhere, the sound of the river and watching my boy throw rocks like a champ.  It was so peaceful.

We have to hike up a short trail to get to the center.  Over the past couple of months, I have watched the trees bud and then grow into leaves.  The world went from cold and brown to leafy green.  I don't think I ever paid attention to stuff like that before.  Now, Leo and I stop and examine the butterfly flying among purple flowers or to talk about dandelions. And meeting some new buddies to throw rocks in the river isn't too bad either.

I never thought I would be one of those people who signed up for a bunch of classes.  I'm more of a "let your child play and explore" kind of person but I have been so happy with this little class.  That and it was time that we met more people with kids Leo's age. 

Leo and his rainbow project.

We met up with Heber at Hydro Park (the one where we got engaged) to have lunch together.  I told him that I refused to go inside on such a perfect day.  After our long, cold winter, we have to appreciate this little window of good weather.

Shaved Ice

Our favorite shaved ice shack opened up this week.  We, of course, went as soon as we heard.  I guess everybody else in town knows it's the best because we had to wait in line for a good half hour.  But it was totally worth it.  

I got my favorite, red raspberry.  I'm a fan of red.  Heber got peach with ice cream and Leo got orange.  It was gone in about two minutes.  He really is my son. 

It's been interesting experiencing some things that we loved about Logan with our kids.  Summer really is the best time here.  I'm looking forward to free concerts at the Tabernacle, picnics in Hydro Park, the farmers market and yes, many many more snow cones to come!  I may even branch out and get a different kind.  Nah, don't mess with perfection.