You Matter to Him

So as most of you know, moving here was a huge step for me. A big one and I took it as a challenge and looked at it as an adventure and it has been quite the adventure. I have had a lot of feelings on my mind the past few weeks and just haven't written them down here.

Today in church we had a lesson in Relief Society on the talk President Uchtdorf gave in October General Conference. It's called, You Matter to Him. I love the talk, it's a good read. You can read it here. My favorite quote of the entire talk is when he says " No matter where you live, no matter how humble your circumstances, how meager your employment, how limited your abilities, how ordinary your appearance, or  how little your calling in the Church may appear to you, you are not invisible to your Heavenly Father. He loves you. He knows your humble heart and your acts of love and kindness. Together they form a lasting testimony of your fidelity and faith".

We all have our own conversion stories of the Gospel and part of my conversion as a teenager was understanding that God loves me. I mean I knew he did, and I've always known but as I've gotten a little older, I've come to realize just how much He really does care about me. I think I've grown closer to Him since I've moved here because I truly had no one. I hardly knew a soul when I moved. I was moving on Faith and knowing that God would be with me every step of the way. It was a hard transition for me being away from family and friends. I knew no one here. And there were days when I felt like I was truly alone but those days that thought only last a few seconds because I know that God is ALWAYS with me.

I met someone recently, well since I've moved here who is an amazing woman and is really just so talented. Sadly though, she feels like she isn't good enough and will never measure up to much. We went to dinner and I had a long conversation with her about how she does matter and how she is great and how the right people will see that. The one's that don't, don't matter. She was only here for a short time but I know we will always keep in touch and meet up every now and then. And I am going to share this talk with her. Our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us! Like President Uchtdorf said, He knows our hearts and our acts of love and kindness. That's what matters. Remember that. And share it with others so they know too that WE MATTER. Our Lord loves us and is there for us no matter what.

Goodbye Party

I should have done this post a while ago but... I didn't have internet at the time and really... didn't have time to post about it. Now that I have a few days off AND my internet is installed...it's time.

I don't know if in my post about moving here I said this but the last week before I moved was pretty stressful. I had only two weeks to find a place to live and pack up the rest of my stuff and get out here before I started work. The last couple of days were probably the worst and I'm pretty sure I had (and still might) a stress ulcer from all of it. Anyways...that's the background of where I'm going with this post :)

The day before the move was by far the most stressful day ever. It was a Friday and I was frantically trying to get everything done including a last minute oil change. I had to go pick up the moving truck and had all my plans into place. I was going to pick up the truck and pack it at four and then go to bed early since I had a long drive the next day. For those of you who know me, you know that I like to plan things and that I like to somewhat stick to my plan. Well...that didn't quite happen. It took an hour for the oil change (because I'm dumb and haven't changed my oil in ages and the guy chewed me out for it)...then I barely had time to run home grab stuff before I had to meet my mom to pick up the moving truck. We got the truck and I drove it back to the house and Nick followed behind in his car b/c we were supposed to go to storage and get my mom's book boxes out of storage (long story...maybe another post). Anyways, we met the Elders at my house and I told Nick that I didn't think my turn signals were working. Sure enough they weren't. So I had to drive back to the rental place and funny how they just started working on the way back but I made them check everything out anyways. So then we didn't start packing the truck until about 430.

Nick had told me that he was supposed to meet a friend at his house at 5 and wanted me to come and check out his new blue dress suit he had gotten. I told him I didn't need to go and he insisted I go. I said no...he could just text me a picture. Mind you he had told me a couple days before that I needed to go see the suit on Friday but I told him I didn't have time. Anyways, so Don, Craig and Nick packed up the truck (thanks guys!) and once it was all loaded it was about 530. Nick was still telling me in between us carrying boxes down the stairs that I needed to go check out this suit. I said no... a picture would do justice. Let me just say though that Nick likes me checking out his clothes to make sure they are suitable so I wasn't really suspicious. I started getting suspicious when Nick told my mom that I needed to go and my mom agreed with him. That's when I was like...wait...what's going on. Not that my mom never agrees with Nick but in this instance it was kind of suspicious. Anyways so once the truck was loaded Nick was insisting we go and I was being stubborn and said I wouldn't leave because the truck didn't have a lock on the back and I didn't want my stuff to be taken. I was being really stubborn about it and Craig even at one point offered to go buy me a lock (thanks Craig!). Mind you I was also tired and stressed :) My mom eventually talked me into going and said she would get a lock.

So we went over to Nick's and I started to go upstairs like usual to check out this "new blue suit". Well Nick tells me it's downstairs and I was like...why did you put it down here...that's weird. So I walk around the corner and he has the closet open like he is going to show me and it's not there. So then I said where is it and he closes the door and pushes me into the family/kitchen area and wow... got surprised. :) All my favorite peeps were there to wish me off one last time. It was sweet and I thought Nick did a really good job in surprising me (usually I'm never surprised and this time  I thought something was going to happen but wasn't sure). Here are some pictures...mind you I was VERY tired and so I don't look great but oh well...gotta capture moments for posterity ;)

Denise, Me and Shelby

Me and Mandy!! :) 

Me with the newlyweds Jon and Amber :) I like this one the best of all three of us...Amber can't ever make a straight face when all three of us are taking pictures :)

Isabella and I :) 

The mastermind behind it all :) 

Amber and I :) 

Anyhow... I sadly didn't get pictures with everyone that was there but those are some pictures of some of my favorites that we did catch on camera  :)

Life.....

Okay so really it's only been two weeks since I made my BIG move and am all on my own but honestly....it feels ALOT longer!!! I feel like I've been here for at least a month. Crazy how fast time is already going!!!

I've successfully completed two weeks of orientation but that was just getting my feet wet. I still have ALOT more training and orientation but I'm grateful for it. By the end of the day I'm totally exhausted and do not want to read or write anything!! haha so I usually pop in a movie watch half of it and fall asleep. I know so exciting. I like the people I'm working with and that makes a good difference too. It's such a good work environment that I think I will really enjoy it once I'm done training and have a lot more confidence in doing things.

I concurred the laundromat today and let's just say it was an experience. Hopefully I won't have to do that a whole lot longer because my first purchase ideally will be a washer/dryer. If I have to do the laundromat a few more times....ok....but it's one of my least favorite things haha.

Anyways.... life is good. I'm unpacking more books today and hauling them up the stairs to the guest bedroom that eventually will have bookshelves (the boxes are too heavy to carry up). A new friend I met Jamie who is the dietician at the dialysis place in town is bringing over her old desk tomorrow. I haven't decided where I'm putting that yet. Ideally I would like it to go upstairs but the way my stairs are situated that might be a problem. (I'll post pictures at a later date when I have more things in order and cute for pictures!). Anyways... I will see if they can. If not I have a place for it downstairs.... Just would like it up.

It's nice having three days off in a row :) I maxed out on hours for the week so I have a three day weekend. I was SO excited to sleep in the morning....only didn't. Nope my body decided it was time to get up at six! Yeah...that didn't really happen. I just laid in bed and went back to bed for about an hour. Then got up and started getting things ready for my laundromat adventure. Now I'm at the library updating :) I will be getting internet service on Monday so that'll be good! Can't wait!

Anyways... nothing else to really say or tell. I did check out the singles ward here on Sunday. They were nice. It was a lot different since it's in the institute building and not the church building but that's alright. Hopefully I make friends there soon. In the meantime I just try to keep myself busy by planning out how I'm going to decorate my new place and talk to my mom and Em alot! :)

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!!! :)

Off for another Life Adventure!!!!

Okay so people will be mad at me for  not telling them I  moved. Oh well. Life will go on. I hate goodbyes. Yes yes I know it's not goodbye it's "see you later" but I just really wasn't in the mood for any of that. Eventually I hope those of you who are upset will forgive me but I stand by my choice and I did what I needed to do.

I was born in Utah and moved to California when I was two. California is all I've known. This is home. This is where I've grown up and lived for practically my whole life. I'm not a kid anymore...haven't been for a long time and it's time for me to move on. Yes, it will be different and yes, it's a new place BUT it will be an adventure.

I am now living in Farmington, New Mexico and will be for the next few years. I'm starting my new adventure with a job as a dialysis RN. I've finally found a job. I've dreamed of being a nurse since I was five years old. I think people thought that I would grow out of that and decide to do something else but nursing is my passion. I love helping people, caring for them and seeing the outcome of them feeling so much better then when they came in. I have a chance to make a difference. I know there will be extremely hard days but there will also be good days. And I know that no matter what, the Lord will be with me.

I am grateful for all of you who have helped me on my journey in life and have been with me for many adventures. I pray that I will find friends here that will also become apart of my new adventures in a new place. And keep in mind I will never forget all of the great people I have met in California. Some of you I consider like family. Thank you for all your love and support I greatly appreciate it!

My lifestyle here is going to be different then in California. There isn't a whole lot around and even the nearest temple is about 3 hours away. It will be an adjustment but like I always say, Life is an Adventure Worth Taking. This is my new adventure and I'm looking forward to a great year!!! :) Here's a little recap on what's been going on since I got here:

Let’s just say it was a LONG 13 hours of driving in rain, wind, snow, sand, wind and rain storms. And not to mention I was driving a big moving truck. Not totally ideal but whatever...it had to be done. We got in about 9 p.m. local time. I only had one guy from the ward show up to help but thankfully I got it all moved in. Sunday we slept in and missed church :( So we just unpacked and hung out then went furniture looking at Ashley Furniture. That was fun :) Monday consisted of me running around getting things done for work to start Tuesday. I went to the post office, the bank, the library, the gas co. and then had to drive 2 1/2 hours to drop my aunt off at the train station. Let’s just say if I do a train station, it’s going to be in Albuquerque. Then I had to drive back and luckily didn’t hit any weather until Shiprock and then it snowed the rest of the way home. I started my first day Tuesday. It went well :) It was long but it went by kind of fast! This whole week is basically training, well actually I will be training in depth for about six months but the reading and basic stuff will be this week. 

 Haha there you have it! I have a fridge stocked with a little food and so I'm looking forward to baking and cooking soon!! Hope you all have an awesome week!! Love you all!!