Farewell Disney

It is official. Mark no longer works for the Walt Disney Company. A bitter sweet departure with a few dear colleagues and of course unlimited access to the parks. We've certainly enjoyed having so many friends and family want to come visit us! A few more than once. We will miss not having a little something something to draw them out in our direction.

Our last guests were our dear Skookie friends the Richards where always a good time is had. We went to Dave and Busters where we won the jackpot on Deal or No Deal a few times and traded in our tickets for stylish D&B cups. We could only afford 3 which made for draw on the one who would be left out. Ruby's shakes and hamburgers proved to be another delightful experience and one that will also be missed.

Our final Disney trip was started with a venture to see the Tribute to Captain EO from 1986 (only open thru the summer). A little dated but Michael Jackson is a fun act to see so it was worth the short wait time.

My all time favorite ride will be missed. And no I didn't get the top score this day but we did find a few bonus features that give you larger point targets which was fun. I'd like to think I sacrificed my Top Score for this and not that I just wasn't good enough that day. (Although truthfully the latter is more true)

Moving Day came with help from the Elders Quorum in getting our stuff loaded into our 15' Budget truck. Even the bishop showed up, bless that man. I wonder how people who are not members of the Church move! It was such help. 6.5 hours later, we arrived & unloaded all our belongings into a storage facility. This is us and all our earthly possessions. Wow.

Why did we move our belongings into a storage unit you may wonder? Our loan officer found a bank willing to lend to us despite Mark's job switch. So we are back in the house buying market. Went house hunting again Monday and made another offer. So-back to the waiting game.

We are thrilled about our new adventures. Life is so fun that way!

Mr. James

Being the celebrity fiend that I am, I am horrified at the current devastation of Sandra Bullock and her ex-man.

I just want to say: Jesse James is an alumni of the high school I currently work. Some of these veteran teachers had him as as student. I could be teaching in the very room he sat. We looked him up in the old yearbooks today. Its truth!

I don't care about Jesse. What this really means is:

I'm totally connected to Sandra. Its like we were destined to be the dearest friends. I'm basically famous too.

Plans D, E, & F

House Hunting has not been nice to us these past 2 months. We have traveled many times for quick weekend trips to look and offer but to no avail. For whatever reason, our offer, although sometimes the strongest offer, was never chosen.

So--we are moving on houseless. We've tumbled ideas of moving in with mom for a bit, getting a storage unit, or extending our employment and continue to try and buy. Our decision: we have secured a townhouse rental in the area that we feel is a good "for now" fit. It has a full size washer and dryer which is an improvement from what we have now. And double bonus- it comes with a fridge. So we're feeling pretty swanky. This week we are busy packing, cleaning, and moving; so if we seem a little unavailable, we are just super busy.

Sisters

I love this girl. Sisters really do make the best friends. Tessa came down with her family for the weekend to spend a few days in Disneyland and I couldn't have been happier. It feels like ages since we've spent time together. She is so much like me it just warms my heart. Her boys also added delight to the Disney experience. Macade just loved it as I expected he would. Such young eyes make the trip so much more magical. I took them on everything and it was just such a blast. Of course Toy story mania was on the list.

Simply because I'm amazing at this game. And yes, once again I made the top score of the day. By quite a little ways I might add. I had my camera ready just in case and snapped a shot of the screen at the end of the ride. I'm really going to miss this when we leave!

It was such a wonderful visit. She is a wonderful house guest and has the cutest boys. Cheers to a delightfully magical weekend.

The Alice?

We went to see Alice in Wonderland on opening day. I'm not really an "opening day" person but do like the idea of being the first to see it. It was very Tim Burton-y; a little more so then I would have liked, but overall it wasn't bad.

Mostly this post is just to show off my adorable husband. Eat your heart out ladies.

They say...

1. People who drink milk will loose weight faster then those who don't. I had milk with my 2 donuts this morning. I count that as a good thing.

2. Good things come to those who wait. I'm expecting a mansion or a small castle to be listed; basically free. With no cash offers.

3. Exercise reduces stress levels, boosts endorphins (whatever those are), and improves your overall quality of life. I joined a gym last week. I still haven't gone.

4. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. True. My sister was here this last weekend (post to follow) and it wasn't until she left that I remembered how dear to my heart she is. I cried almost the whole way home and a little when I entered my empty house again.

A Subtle Reminder

Lately, as Kaylinn and I have been frantically searching for a house, and realizing that it just probably won't happen right now, it is easy to get into the "woe is me" mindset. Tonight as I was sitting with Kaylinn's family, we were discussing how God has a way of watching over his children. I remembered this talk by Elder David A Bednar, and found this link (The-Tender-Mercies-of-the-Lord). A flood of emotions rushed over me as I realized that God and His Son have not forgotten me. I would like to share some of my tender mercies as of recent:

1) I have the most amazing wife in the entire world. I have been away from her for not even 24 hours and my whole being yearns for her. The Lord knew exactly who I needed, and He led me through some very wavery and rough roads, but He led me to her. I am so grateful for a loving Father who knew of this perfect match, long before I did. Thank you Kaylinn for helping me be the man I am today.

2) I have an amazing opportunity to be in control of my future. I never would have guessed that my life would lead me to such a great opportunity. I have never even realized that I could get to this point where I will have the freedom to spend time with my family. I will forever be grateful for the man who made this all possible.

3) I have amazing parents and siblings. I know that mom and dads advice, whatever it may be, is direct inspiration from above. They have always been willing to drop everything, and I mean everything, for me. I will never be able to express my appreciation for them. My siblings are one in the same...always willing to give up everything to help each other.

4) I have amazing in-laws. I am so lucky to have married into a family that has taken me in as one of their own. Every time I am with them, I am humbled and desire to be better then I am. I truly have a Christ centered family to look up to.

4) I have amazing friends. I don't know why I have been so blessed to have the friends that I do. The Andersons, Sullivans, Richards, Warrens, Gregersons, Marcums, Wallaces, Gibbons, Lamms, and anyone I may have missed. A true blessing from heaven.

5) I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father, and a loving brother in Jesus Christ. I know that they are constantly vested in seeing my grow, succeed, progress, and become all that I can be. I know that God lives, as does his Son and that I will live witht them again.

My heart is over-flowing with gratitude. Thank you all for being my personal tender-mercies.

Plan C

This is us. Minus the kid...and the skirt...and the plaid. But the idea is the same. Standing in front of a house longing that it could be ours. Alas, we are now on plan C of our house buying excursion. Another weekend of house hunting. Another few offers drafted and signed. Another few days of waiting to hear lie before us. At least Plan B didn't get into the part that costs non-refundable money.

Some good options out there so...we can only wait and see.

Mighty Change

The school system in California is suffering. This is a fairly well known fact. As a teacher, we are seeing the pinches drastically. Last week our sister high school was deemed as a "non-improving" school. All teachers on that campus will loose their jobs and the principal has been fired. Some will return but only about half. Yesterday the district distributed RIF notices due to budget cuts. 175 teachers will be let go at the end of this school year; many from our campus. Today our principal stepped down leaving the school without leadership.

I am often curious what my circumstances at this school would have been next year if we had not already planned on moving. Mighty change is on the move in our world. It is time to brace ourselves.

One year older

Another birthday passed. I love birthdays. I love the food, and the special wishes you get from friends you haven't heard from in a while. A reason to get a call from distant lands, and cards to decorate my home. I love them!

This year's birthday plans were high and mighty. My husband really outdid himself with the plans. Alas, we were forced to cancel said plans for an unexpected and urgent trip north to find a second home as our first hope had fallen through. Drat. So we packed our bags and drove up and back in a weekend-however, not without birthday cheer.

This year was special in that I got to celebrate it at home with my mom. Haven't done that in years so it was extra fun. Mark made sure to call ahead of time and plan my favorite dinner and cake. Plus two exceptional gifts.

I couldn't choose a favorite of the things Mark got for me this year. First was a canvas photo from our wedding. One of my favorite shots. It is just beautiful. He also got me a kitchen radio thingy that you hang under your cabinets. I have wanted one for as long as I can remember; since my college days. Something about music and cooking/cleaning whatever makes me smile. I now have one to fit perfectly in our potential home. (if it goes through...fingers crossed)
And I'm quite proud of my scrapbook page. Again, I wish my pictures were beautiful like some of those blogs I'm obsessed with. And my creative juices were like others I follow. But I am proud of what I've made. For me, it is pretty dang good. :)

I said I wouldn't....

But I did.

I've just purchased my first Digital Scrapbooking kits.

Up till now I've spent hours searching for freebies online and downloading bits and pieces here and there; always thinking how cute those kits are and how great it would be to not have to do the blog trains and such. So-I splurged. And I LOVE it. I did my birthday page with it and it is amazing. I am no creative lady like many of you, but I'm quite proud of my cute page.

This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

A few things...

1) Dear Bachelor Jake...I am going to have to take America's side on this one. You're sort of a twit to take the little lady without much going for her. So as you continually defend her to all your friends and peers and family for the rest of your relationship; I will try not to say I told you so. Dear ABC...enough of the Bachelor rejects already. And I hope my resolve to boycott Ali's season makes an impression on you.

2) Dear 4th period...today was not such a good day. Actually, today was a bad day. I am sorry I tried to make the directions interesting and made you all go into a tizzy. I encouraged you to memorize these dates not only for the test but so you look smart at the dinner table with your family. I was then attacked by one student saying, "Mexicans don't have dinner with their families" and "we don't live like white people". It was awkward as some poked fun at me and others poked fun at her. I felt enraged and wanted to scream at all of them. It is so frustrating.

3) Dear LOST producers...I feel you need to stop your commercials saying that there will be answers when clearly; 6 episodes into it; there are only MORE questions.

4) Dear Grandma...I've been terrible. I blame myself. I need to come and visit you and I know this. I always say that next week will be more open and I'll have time then, and then I don't. I will before I move, I promise.

5) Dear Bank...please say yes, and soon. Dear appraisal gods...please appraise our hopeful property so we can get the house. Dear miracle workers...please appraise our house low and have the bank drop their price to said low appraisal...all in 5 days.

6) Dear friends and family...thank you for your Birthday shout-outs. It is always lovely to be remembered. Post will come...maybe?

7) Dear Husband...I love you so much. Thank you for cleaning our house, several times. And the dishes, I haven't had to do them in weeks. Last night I felt so proud as a bunch of single girls sat in front of me. I have you. And I am so lucky.

8) Dear spellchecker...I just wrote this entire post and didn't have to change one spelling error. That's kind of a big deal...for me.