someone is watching out for us

after all of the decision making we've been going through, it really makes a difference to a get a sign that you're doing something right.

like an awesome promotion at work.

the day devin starts training at his new job, i get called into my department manager's office, thinking i'm in trouble for missing so much work with being so sick, and instead, get promoted.

talk about blessings! it was so unexpected, and came at the exact right time we needed a little boost of "hey, you're doing the right thing. keep going." and that's exactly what this was for me.

it can be so scary to take the kinds of big leaps of faith that we've been taking in the last week or so, and it sure did ease my mind to get called into steve's office today and get this news.

my rock

i am beyond grateful today for the love my husband has for me. there is so much going on in our life right now, and he has been my rock. he keeps me grounded, and reassures me whenever i need it. he amazes me every single day. how he can always be so strong and so sure, i'm not sure i will ever know, but i am thankful for it.

new

when Devin and I first met and he explained to me that he was service technician for a water softening company, I thought it was interesting. What I thought was even more interesting is how much he loved his job. He loved it.

over the last year or so, I have watched him slowly burn out. As he gets closer and closer to his goals in school, and where he wants to be in that part of his life, he was realizing that his career with Intermountain wasn't going to get him anywhere. At this time, I was nannying, which was a financial hurdle on it's own, so we agreed that the time would come for Devin to start looking for a new job around June.

I'm not sure how it happened, but there we were in the beginning of March, and Devin decides that he just wants to get his name out there, so he started sending resumes to jobs he would love to have. Most of the positions he applied for were at places like Telos and Discovery Academy - his ultimate career goal jobs, and he also applied at a few others, for the sake of trying. Neither of us expected anything serious to come of any of it. It was just exploring.

He had also been talking with an old friend, Jeff. Jeff runs the Quarry and Momentum - both climbing gyms here, and Devin worked at the Quarry for 6 year before his mission has the head route setter, so he and Jeff are old friends. He talked about the possibility of returning to the gym around June, and Jeff had said that would be tricky, since June is when business slows, because everyone goes outside to climb, so he's actually letting people go around that time.

Then, Devin was contacted by one company he had applied for, and they wanted to set up an interview. He interviewed on a Friday, and they called him later that day to set up a second interview for the following Tuesday. Meanwhile, Jeff called again, saying there was some potential room to work with, and he could possibly get Devin back into the gym, and wanted to meet with him on that Tuesday as well.

Tuesday came, his interview with the first company went well, and they said they would be in touch within a few days. Later that day, he met with Jeff, who opened a lot of options. Working back in the climbing gym would be good, because that is in his field of study, whereas the other company would be just another job to get us by. The first company meant good pay, with a lot of potential for even more. Working at the gym would be a sacrifice, but worth it. It would build his resume in a way no other job could, and he would be learning about work at school, and visa-verse. And on top of all that? He would go to work every day doing something he loves.

We had plans to spend our Wednesday evening at the temple, but with how sick I have been, it wasn't a good idea. Thursday came, and Devin got 1 phone call.

Devin's back in the gym! He will start some training on Tuesday and officially start next Monday. I am so excited for him, and although we realize the sacrifice we are making right now, we both understand that we will be in a much better place in the long run, and this is a decision we won't ever regret, because it is getting us to the place we need to be.

Along with these sacrifices have come several others, none that matter much right now, or that are worth sharing at this point. We have just been making changes that are right for us, and that's what matters.

I think this entire process, as difficult and stressful as it has been, has brought us closer together, and made our marriage that much stronger. Money tends to be a huge problem-causer in marriage, and we got through this trial without even an argument.

We definitely have Sean, Devin's older brother to thank for a lot of this. He is a financial guru, and even though his advice was hard to take at times, we have so grown to trust his opinion, and really value what he has to say, which has definitely benefited us. We love being surrounded by friends and family who genuinely have our best intentions in mind, and it makes a huge difference to have that support as we make such a big transition.

Change is scary, especially when it's sacrifice, but we are making a good decision. We know it's right for us, and our family, and I couldn't be more happy that Devin is back doing what he loves. We are really getting somewhere! It is so comforting to make hard decisions and feel good about them, and be on the same page with your spouse during difficult times. As stressed out as we may be, we are feeling equally blessed!

come listen

what we're doing this weekend:

the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

i was up every few hours through the night, just feeling uncomfortable and nauseous from the antibiotics. when i went to the bathroom to get more ibuprofen for the pain, i noticed a white spot near my left tonsil. i didn't think much of it. it's probably common to have pus in your throat when you have a sinus infection like this one.

by the time i actually woke up, the white spot was gone, but there was a new development: my left tonsil had swollen, really big, and was covered in grey spots. i had already been complaining about how much it hurt to swallow and cough, and now i could see why.

i called the doctor's office to explain my problem and also told them the amoxicillan was making me nauseous, and the lady said she would let my doctor know and get back to me. in the mean time, i google "swollen grey tonsils" which i do not recommend you do. because it will scare you into believing you have tonsilitis. which is very rare in adults (remember how Chloe just had hers out, though?)

what upset me most was that we would have to cancel our sleepover plans with the babies. which breaks my heart! i was so excited to spend the weekend with them! they are the greatest!

while i was waiting for the doctors office to call back, i texted my mom, just to update her on how i was doing (which wasn't good). she called almost immediately and said she was on her way to get me to take me to the instacare. i was getting discouraged about my called being returned by my doctor's office anyway, since it was past 5:00, which is when they close.

when the doctor's office called back (finally), the nurse said she would switch my prescription to something that wouldn't make me nauseous. that was all. not any mention of my tonsils. 

but i was already on my way to instacare. there, the doctor said he would get me all new prescriptions. that would work better to help my sinuses and my sore throat. he also said the swollen tonsil wasn't big enough to cause a problem yet (which is weird because it's pretty big to me! but oh well. at least it's not that bad!) he reach in my mouth and poked it really hard a lot. i thought he was going to try and pop it! luckily, he didn't. 

he also said he would give me an antibiotic shot in my hip. i almost immediately froze. luckily, by this time, devin was finally on his way home from work, and met my mom and i at the doctor. he walked in right as i was getting ready to take the shot. they gave me some gross liquid to drink first, and then they shot a really thick medicine into my bum. and it hurt so bad. and it still does. and i may have cried a little bit. 

right after that, we went to pick up my prescriptions. the doctor had given me a new antibiotic to start taking tomorrow and a rinse that would heal the pain in my throat topically. he said to do the rinse right away. 

what he didn't tell me is that the rinse was a numbing medicine. the same kind the dentist uses before giving you a shot. it tastes so awful, like rotten juice, and it didn't touch the back of my throat. i got it all over my lips and tongue. gah!! a numb tongue and lips is not fun. and it feels weird. luckily it wore off relatively quickly. 

right before i did the rinse, sean (devin's older brother) came over and brought us soup from zuppa's. he's so awesome! sean has also played a major part in all of our life-changing decisions this week - more on that later though. but seriously. it was so awesome of him to bring us some soup! it was exactly what i needed! all i had eaten the entire day before that was a few saltines. 

the point is:

i am so glad to be off amoxicillan. it made me sooooo nauseous.

my bum is so, so sore, but the injection definitely made a difference, and i'm in much less pain (except for my bum, of course).

i have to rinse with that numbing stuff 4 times a day, and i think know i will hate every second of it. 

i'm supposed to be better by monday or tuesday! 

after talking with both my sisters in law, it seems like a lot of this could be caused by being in the nursery at church. exposed to so many baby germs all at once in a tiny room with the door closed, and lots of old, messy toys is probably not the best thing for your health! hopefully we can get some regulation with the nursery. 

my tonsil (just the left one, really) is still swollen and grey, but it's supposed to go away soon. hopefully. if not, i am supposed to go the ER! 

oh. and my mom told me that devin and i should have a baby this year since we've met our out of pocket for insurance, so the baby would be free! not gonna happen, mom! hahaha

feeling better already

after missing work monday and tuesday, and leaving early today because i just couldn't handle it, i called my mom in near-tears. 

moms always know what to do. 

she said to go to the doctor. 

but i just went to the doctor for the same thing. 

he said it was a cold. 

even my throat culture was negative. 

go again. tell him you're still sick. 

i did. 

and it was an agonizing 1.5 hours of waiting in sheer pain before he finally figured it out. 

an ethmoid sinus infection. 

the ethmoid sinuses are the ones the doctor can't look at by shining his light by your nose and eyebrows. they are the sinuses inside your head. 

and they are devils. 

i left with a massive (like, huge) prescription of amoxicillan, and spent half and hour trying to keep it together while i waited for the pharmacist to fill it.

which may have been the slowest, most awful half hour of my life.

i cried the whole way home.

my head is so cloudy, i might even be hallucinating, and swallowing makes my eyes water because it hurts so bad.

on top of this month-long ailment, this week is probably the most stressful of our entire marriage (so far, at least) and we have a lot of really major decisions to make. 

it's going to be so difficult. 

i'm not one to enjoy a sacrifice, but we know we will be so much better off in the long run. 

what a week it's been!

these antibiotics better get me out of bed soon, because the babies (Makayla and Kaden) are coming for a sleepover tomorrow! also? i couldn't ask for a better weekend for conference. i could really use some lounging around, getting spiritually fed. it's been too long.

speaking of... i have never calmed down so quickly as i did earlier this evening when my sweet husband and generous grandfather came to my aid and gave me a priesthood blessing. 

rarely do i feel as close to and loved by the Lord as i do with the hands of wonderful, worthy men on my head. 

it was exactly what i needed. 

i cannot even begin to explain how grateful i am that my husband is a worthy priesthood holder with the ability to give me a blessing at any moment i, or anyone else, for that matter, may need one. 

knowing he has this ability makes me feel so humbled. 

having the priesthood in our home is something i never hope to take for granted. 

what a sweet man he is, that husband of mine. 

he has been within my reach ever since he got home, doing all kinds of things to make me feel better, including some pretty entertaining attempts to make me laugh and smile.

how could i resist him?? 

i can't. 

i don't even try.

10 Things I'm Missing

with this spring weather being so hot and cold with us (no, literally...) it's got me anxious for it to make up it's mind. one way or the other. march has always been my least favorite month. it's such an ugly transitional phase in seasons and nothing good happens (with a few exceptions this year!) and the only thing on tv ever is basketball. if i were my brother in law, brandon, i would say, "lousy smarch weather..."

so anyway. march has me missing a lot of things. such as...

1. this sweet little baby girl, and her mama, of course! it's only been what, 4 days since she even existed, yet i'm thinking about that jones family all day long! i'll see them soon, if i can ever get healthy, that is! devin and i plan on making them dinner some night next week!

2. we have been making up a pretty giant to do list lately, and one thing on that to do list is to move all the winter gear into the storage unit, and get all the summer gear back out. once we pull out that camping gear, it's going to take a lot of effort to not camp immediately! i also have some new chacos that need more breaking in...

3. these little ones! i so miss the conversations carter and i would have, and the hilarious games i would play with aria. i even miss watching tangled every single day for 2 months. i miss being a nanny! it was one of the best jobs ever!

4. our honeymoon was awesome. we didn't go anywhere fancy, or do anything too fancy (except for that one really expensive dinner by accident, and that shopping spree at banana republic by accident), and it was exactly what we needed. 6 days of uninterrupted time together. it was easily one of my favorite vacations ever.

5. my kitty! but i miss him as a kitty. word on the street is milo is a big cat now. last time i saw him, his neck was bigger, and wider than his head. my theory is that the cats on the west side of the neighborhood are drug dealers, and milo's been getting mixed up with some sketchy stuff (cough cough steroids cough cough) but really, he is huge in the weirdest way. i miss him as a kitten. he was much cuter, way nicer, and also hilarious.

6. i miss our brian head trip! hands down the second best trip we've ever taken! which is saying something, because we've done a lot of trip taking since we got married! we had so much fun, the resort was the best skiing i've ever had (since i was 2!) and it was just the right amount of vacation before we had to go back to work. also? the best christmas present ever!

7. the morris'! i miss kelli and sean so much! i so hate that they live in layton. lucky for us, we see them every once in awhile, but it's just not often enough. the last time we saw them was meeting in salt lake for dinner at red iguana about a week ago, and the time before that, i went up to their house while devin was on his backpacking trip. i wish they lived closer so i could go bug them all the time! kelli is easily one of my best friends, and it's hard when your best friends isn't 100% accessible at all times. (ps, this is my favorite picture of them, ever. look at how dreamily she is looking at her husband. that's love.)

8. impromptu adventures. this is what is getting me most excited for summer. now that we have a truck, impromptu adventures are going to be happening on the regular. and i mean like... weekly. probably. remember that time we couldn't find a camping spot for labor day weekend in the uintah's so we just had to drive home, and then we hit a deer? it was such an awful night! i was so bummed! the next day, we decided to just go up anyway, and we hiked into dean lake, caught absolutely no fish, but had the best time! and remember how the day after that we bought a truck? that was a very spontaneous weekend for us...

9. i can't wait to golf again! i know i usually define golfing as driving the cart for devin and sweating in the shade while he golfs and i take pictures of his cute behind, but i can't wait to do it anyway! i am promising myself i'll do more actual golfing this summer. hopefully.

10. nights and Bandit's with these crazies. this doesn't even need an explanation. if ryan's face isn't convincing enough, then i'm sure his purple duckie sweater will be.