The Great Utah Migration

Wow. It has been a really long time. I can't believe it is September....where has the time gone?! That means I didn't blog once this summer (although maybe this counts as once because fall doesn't come untill the end of the month, so that's what we'll say).  But I have a pretty big excuse as to why I was so absent from my little bloggie here.  

I stinking moved across the country.

 No lie. From a very small town in Pennsylvania to Salt Lake City, Utah.  

Why? Well, that is a really good question.  There was no thunderbolt, no angelic message, no new, glorious dream job waiting, to tell me this is where I needed to be...but there was the whisperings of the Spirit. A lot of times it would just come to me as thoughts every now and then about "just move to Utah."  And after a lot of thought, praying, fasting, and pondering, (my sister who decided to join me and)  I decided to go on faith, and take a step (or giant leap) into the dark, together.  

Completely crazy?  

There have been many, many times I have thought so, especially as I was I driving the 2,300 miles, alone in my car, packed to the gills with whatever possesions I could manage. 

Or about the time we hit big, wide open, ridiculous Kansas. (No offense, but I HATE you Kansas. And I don't normally say hate, but it fits).

Or the time when we stopped for lunch and we weren't even out of PA yet and I said to my sister 

"Is it too late to turn around?"

Or that first night we stopped, after having a 19 hour day already, and were utterly exhausted and heartbroken, and we couldn't even find a room to stay in, so we had to drive 2 more hours just to stay in a crap hole that was so disgusting/shady/scary we were sure we'd be featured on an episode of Dateline. 

Or when we arrived in Utah, finally, and realized how far from home we were, how lost and homesick we felt, and the lady we are staying with proceeded to make sure we had good alarm systems on our cars because of hers getting broken into a few times (oh yay, we feel safe!).

But I am here to tell you that even though other people might think what we did was completely crazy ( even myself a lot of the times) nothing you do is ever too big and scary for the Lord to make the trip with you. And He is the only thing that has kept me going.  He was in PA with me, He is in Utah with me, He made that scary, boring, ridiculous multi-state drive with me, He has been with me as I have cried and doubted and worried over what comes next. And you know what? He will ALWAYS be there. Always. So whether I am in Pennsylvania,Utah, or Africa, He knows exactly where I am and loves me for exactly who I am, flaws and all. And I am so grateful that He does, and that even when I feel alone, I am not, because He.is.there, and that is all that really matters.

Random rest area in Ohio.                                               Absolutely gorgeous sunset in Indianapolis, IN.

 

                 

 Apparently there is a Pocahantas, MO.  

   

SOOO many rest area trips taken. Somehere in MO.

                                

Best. Hotel. Ever. We wanted to stay. Forever. Overland Park, Kansas.                   

Talk about your open road! No signs of trees, humans, or hills anywhere in Kansas. Ick.

We were SO happy to be out of Kansas and in Beautiful Colorado. And this gorgeous sunset greeted us.

Denver! Hello birthplace!

Even though Wyoming was abandoned by humans too, it had its gorgeous moments.

FINALLY in Utah.

One of the first days in Utah we made a point to seriously break a record and see three Temples in one day. Salt Lake (not pictured), Oquirrh Mountain

And Jordan River. 

It is AMAZING to me to be so close to like 10 Temples. What an incredible blessing.  After our closest one being the DC Temple (which will ALWAYS be my favorite), and having to take an entire day to make it there and back and get in a session, it is incredible to be able to see three temples in one day. They are my favorite places on earth. You cant manufacture the peace and sweet spirit that you feel just walking on the grounds.

This is the view from my window. Mountains everywhere! Loved watching the storm roll in on them.

We got to go takea tour of the Conference Center and see this beautiful Temple again.  The temple where my parents were sealed and my family became a forever family.

Then we went to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice. So fun and beautiful!

And of course, we went to see One Direction's new movie, This Is Us, and were complete teenie boppers. We were ridiculously excited:)

And so sums up the last few weeks of my life. Although I have left a lot of other good things out.  We'll just see what happens:)

The Gap Between the Two Trapeze

About a year ago I kept having a recurring thought in my mind, a thought to relocate.  It would come up at the most random times.  I would joke about it, lightheatedly, not really being serious, like, "I am going to move out to (blank) and do (blank)!" *insert awkward, forced laugh.* But every time I would think about it, I would get excited.  Something felt right. Something felt good. So I made a decision.  A really big decision, and I took it to the Lord.  And after a lot of thought, prayer, and fasting, I decided to make a move.  A big one.  Like across the country big.  

I decided to move to Utah. 

So right now that's what's happening.  I have not only made the decision, I have made the plans.  I have purchased the space bags for my clothes.  I have gotten the kitchen supplies.  I have secured a place to live. And I have taken that giant leap of faith-the lyric for my blog post title seems so fitting.  (Gotta love Coldplay).  As of this summer, I will be moving 2,000+ miles across the country for a fresh start.  

I can't think about the details too much because I start to get freaked out and think about how I only know like 2 people there, I am not sure what it will hold for me, etc. But mostly I am excited.  I am excited for this opportunity! I am excited for some fresh faces and new places!  

So who lives out in Utah and wants to be my friend?! haha, jkjk...no,but seriously. 

I Went Inside

Last week, on the 17th I had the incredible opportunity to go through the temple for the first time.  I have seriously been dreaming of that moment my whole life.  Growing up, my parents always made an effort to go the the temple, and to take me and my sisters there regularly.  They always made a big deal of our "temple trips."  Living in PA, our closest temple is the Washington DC Temple, which is 2 hours away (how grateful I am to have one that close!) so it we would always make day trips out of it.  We'd go down and go inside the visitor's center and then always walk around the outside-which was my favorite part.  I have always, always loved that temple and looked forward to the day I could go in.  And it was always my goal to go inside the DC Temple for my first time.  So, everything about that special day was a dream come true.  

I am grateful for my parents who were able to be there with me, and make the day even more happy.  

You can feel the spirit just driving up to this sacred building.  One thing I will always remember about that day was as we were within minutes of pulling into the temple parking lot, as we were driving around the grounds (if you have ever been to the DC Temple you know the drive right before the temple is very twisty ) the hymn is How Great Thou Art was playing in the background in my car, and I just started quietly crying, totally involuntarily.  I was just so happy, so thankful, and I knew for sure I was doing the right thing, and that Heavenly Father knew exactly where I was, and was so happy for me, and pleased with my decision to go to His house.  And then my mom saw me and she started bawling too.  Good thing I wore waterproof mascara.

Such a happy, blessed day:)  I can't wait to go again.

*I am a happy member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  And if you want to know more about temples, go here.*

30 Day Photo Challenge Part 3

-DAY 8- Someone You Love-

This is my little nephew, Jackson.  I love, love, LOVE this kid! He is such a light in my life.  He is so hilarious and stinkin' cute! Just look at him!

-DAY 9- Favorite Shoes-

Ok, for me, picking favorite shoes is like picking a favorite movie...there are just SO many good ones it is so hard to choose! But, these are a top contender. I love them!  And I got them for a steal of only $5 bucks at Rue21! I love finds like that:)

-Day 10- Flowers-

These were some of the first ones that popped up in my yard! 

-Day 11- Childhood Memory-

This is a pic of me and my older sister in the yard of our first house out here in PA.  We lived in an old 18th century house with over 160 acres.  It was a GORGEOUS house and we loved it.  We found out that during the Civil War the Battle of Sporting Hill had been fought on our property which made our LIVES because we were in LOVE with the Civil War and our family went to Gettysburg, PA like most people go to Disneyland.   And we didn't play house like normal little girls, we played "civil war."  We were in long dresses and hoop skirts most of our lives.  We even played our barbies civil war style.  Some of my absolute best memories.

-Day 12- What's On My Playlist-

Ok, this is still weird for me but I have listened to basically nothing else but One Direction since February.  I was a reluctant listener.  I didn't want to like them.  I made fun of them.  But then my sister played me a song one day and I was like "Crud, this is actually awesome."  And I have been hooked ever since. Normally my playlist is varied-anything from Lifehouse to The Killers to Coldplay to The Ting Tings to random 80's music.  I love being able to do anything from shake my booty to belt out lyrics  you feel like you wrote yourself.  

What I Know

I wanted to take a break from doing my 30 day photo challenge posts and focus on the most important thing in my life- my Savior Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful to be able to have this special time of year to think and ponder on the incredible sacrifices of the Lord, and all that He did for all of His children...and more personally, all that He did for me.  I cannot even begin to imagine all that He suffered, endured, and sacrificed on my behalf alone.  And not only for me, but for everyone, every soul, at every time, in every place.  It is so humbling, so incredible to think that He loved us enough to experience all that He did, to make the Plan of Happiness possible.  I am so incredibly grateful that He willingly, unselfishly, lovingly suffered, bled, and died for me...and that He made the Atonement possible.  My testimony of the Atonement has deepened and strengthened so very much over the past few years of my life as I have experienced some difficult challenges.  My Savior has been there to help, comfort, strengthen, listen, guide, succor, and heal me without measure.  He has been patient, understanding, and loving. And no matter how many times I make mistakes and fall short of the mark, He is always waiting for me with open arms.  He loves me unconditionally.  

As I was getting ready this morning,  I was thinking of the statues of Christ that are in the visitor's centers of our temples.  I was thinking of how He is standing there with the piercing in his side, the wounds in his hands and feet, but He is standing there having won the victory over death and the world.  And how His arms are out-reached and welcoming.  I imagined myself being able to meet Him, and to kneel at His feet and thank Him for all He did, and still does, on my behalf.   I tried to imagine what that would feel like, and I was filled with such a sense of joy and gratitude. I am so incredibly grateful for all my Savior has done for me.  And I am grateful that because He suffered on behalf of us, mercy can satisfy the demands of justice and we can go back to His loving arms and thank Him, and live with Him in peace after we do all we can do while we're here on this earth.  I am grateful that because we are blessed with His gospel and temples upon the earth, we can be with our families forever. I am grateful that He made everything possible. I am grateful that we have a reason to celebrate this Easter Season...because Christ conquered death, and He lives!  I know this with all of my heart, might, mind and soul and I am grateful every day that He lives.

If you have a minute, watch this video, so touching.  I love Elder Holland!

30 Day Photo Challenge Part 2

I actually have been good and remembered to take pictures every day since my last post for my 30 day photo challenge...but blogging about it every day...yeah...not so much. So...since it has been a few weeks I am going to do the rest of the challenge with groups of pictures so I can keep up with it! haha. Here are days two through seven:

Day 2- Outfit of the Day-

No, nothing fancy.  Nannying doesn't always allow for super cute clothes.  But I love my Batman shirt so it's all good:)

Day 3- Clouds-

You would never know it snowed really hard later that afternoon.

Day 4- My Favorite Colors-

These are just 3 of them.  Yellow, aqua, and lime green.

Day 5- Something New-

I recently discovered Victoria's Secret Lipgloss....um...I am in LOVE!

Day 6- Technology You Love-

These things allow me to watch Netflix through the PlayStation at the house I work at.  And I loooove, love Netflix.

Day 7- Faceless Self Portrait-

I love braiding my hair at night and getting pretty waves/curls the next day.

Random Facts About Moi (30 Day Photo Challenge)

I came across a photo challenge on pinterest the other day and I thought it would be cool to do! Day One is a self portrait with some random facts about yourself.

(please excuse the not-so-good webcam quality photo)

1.  I LOVE the color gray.

2.  I have a serious, serious love of Lindor Lindt Truffles.  Like, they're family.  It's pretty sick.

3. I am a total hopeless romantic.

4. I am terrified of horses.  Which is weird, because there are horse and buggies everywhere around here.

5. When I find a new show I love, I am hooked.  One episode every few days? Psh...try,like, one season every few days.

6.  I don't like getting to bed early. Sometimes I take naps at night just so I can stay up later (but mostly on weekends when I have off).

7.  It took me till I was like 20 to be able to snap my fingers.  And now, I use my thumb and pointer finger, not thumb and middle finger like most people do.

8.  I prefer men's pj pants to women's ANY day! Seriously, I have long legs and the women's are always like flood pants on me.  Mens are the perfect length. Just ignore the fly haha.

9. I am a cry baby.  I NEVER used to cry at things.  I made fun of my parents on a daily  basis because they cry at EVERYTHING (commercials, TV shows, random conversations, a good book) and now it's come back to bite me.  I do the same thing! I even bawled at this One Direction song: