Nerve Wracking

Im sitting here all sorts of nervous...why? In a couple hours I'm getting on a plane headed for CALFORNIA! Why? Because I got a job with Google and they're flying me out to their headquarters for training! Training for what? Driving a car that they're giving me to drive back from California with around Idaho Falls and the surrounding area mapping out the are for Google Maps! All this is true information, I'm not making it up. It took me a while to believe it myself. The story: one of James friends works at Verizon and told him there was a job opening that I should apply for. I went in to the store, interviewed, and walked out not planning on taking the position due to the a) the hours b) having to stand on my feet all day (the position was for a store greeter.) The pay was great, but I liked my current temp job (the hours were great, 5:30-2, I LOVED having the afternoons.) Well a week later the temp agency that had offered the job for Verizon called me to let me know there was a recent job position that had the hours I was looking for. I was the first person they called for this job! So naturally when she's telling me everything about the job, that they're gonna be flying me out to California, all expenses paid, then gonna be driving a car around town all day for my job, of course I said yes! And I didn't even have to interview or anything, since Verizon had offered me the previous position I was an automatic shoe in since Verizon has the same strict hiring standards as Google. Oh, and the pay is outstanding. Pretty much I am the luckiest girl, I am SO grateful for my blessings.

Really the most nerve wracking thing of it all is having to drive this car from California back to Idaho, having never been to California before and never driven that long by myself before. They set me up in a hotel in Winnemucca, Nevada which is half way in between so I don't have to drive straight through which is nice. But still, Im nervous. And flying. I HATE flying, with a passion. Any and all prayers will be very much appreciated, thank you:)

So, this is where I will be spending my free time when I'm not in training...which is tomorrow 9-5, so I have all evening tonight and tomorrow night to myself!

Aaah, can't wait.

Pinterific!

I finally got on to Pinterest, FINALLY! You have to get invited in order to get on, so if you've been dying to get on let me know, or are just curious, I just might be nice enough to send you one:) All I need is an email address to send it to.

I've been having so much fun with it, and getting so many AWESOME ideas. I love how creative people are, and being able to use they're ideas is even better! 

(this is the first idea I got from Pinterest, it was so easy!

  I was a little sloppy my first time, but next time i'll be much more careful, 

and think I might try images in the paper as well.)

(I totally forgot to add this one when I initially posted this. 

I want to do it over again, the lighting isn't quite right for my liking.)

Wanna see what its all about? Check out my account HERE. I promise you'll love it. But WARNING: it does tend to be a time sucker, I've spent so much time on there! I have to give myself time limits now, otherwise I could seriously spend all day looking at other peoples pins. Its just that much fun!

This was an AMAZING movie, an incredible inspiring story. I give it two thumbs way up, 5 stars, and all the credit it deserves. I highly recommend watching it, a great family movie.

Maternity

Nope, not referring to me. My time will come, do not worry (here's hoping at least.) For now, I live vicariously through my pregnant friends. Here are some maternity pictures I did for my dear friend Nicole. She had a sweet baby boy who I hold as much as I can.

Consignment = Love

Its funny. When I was a kid I HATED secondhand clothes. Absolutely hated them. But now, I LOVE them! Being that James is in school right now we have a tight budget, so I don't get to shop as much as I use to when we were making good money in Missouri. But I found a loop hole: CONSIGNMENT! There are two awesome stores in town that I frequent often, Lily's & Lily's Two. There's a long drawn out story of how Lily's Two came to be so I won't get into that, but pretty much they always have the best finds, and good quality ones too! I always manage to find items from J Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, The Limited, New York & Co., Calvin Klein, & many more. The best part of it all, I get all these name brand items for under $10! The best find yet is a gorgeous dress from J Crew for only $2! Granted these items have been previously worn by someone else, but I always make sure its in good condition so I know the person before took good care of it. Plus, after a good run through the washer machine (or in some cases the dry cleaners, I figure I saved a ton of money buying it, its worth spending a couple extra bucks getting it proffesionaly cleaned if needs be) its good as new! Ah, the combination of being thrifty and fulfilling the need want for new pretty things is just glorious!

Here are a couple finds worth sharing

 

Clockwise from top left: 

wrap cardigan from Maurices $3, dress from J Crew $2, skirt Old Navy $1, blouse from Charlotte Russe $2, 

sweater cardigan from Calvin Klein $6

 

Left: wedges from Nordstrom (brand BP.) $1!, Right: wedges from JC Penney (brand Decree) $2

Clockwise from top left: 

dress unknown brand $1, halter blouse unknown brand $2, skirt by Stephanie Andrews $4, 

skirt from Macy's (brand Ellen Tracy) $4, blouse from DownEast $2

large bag by Duex Lux $10

(you might be thinking "$10 is a lot for a used bag." But if you look here a similar bag is $150!

It had a never been used shoulder strap and has no imperfections whatsoever.

I use it all the time now for church, so I'm thinking I got a pretty good deal.)

I have some more finds that are definitely post worthy that are sure to find their way on here. I can't help but share my love cheap goods!

Addendum:  JoJo made a good point I forgot to mention...I bring in my old clothes and use the store credit for future purchases! So I'll always have at least a $3-$5 credit every time I shop, so I'm always getting at least 1-2 things for free! Thanks for reminding me Amy!

Update

First, thank you all SO much for all your kind words and love. They have indeed been felt and needed. This has been a very emotionally draining visit to say the least. Everyday we're hearing new stories, new updates. The death toll keeps rising. When we first got here, it was around 116, today it rose to 139. Theres still about 100 people missing. We are so blessed to not have any family or friends injured or displaced by the tornado. Everyone you meet out here though was in one way or another affected by it. Just going to get food or going to the store, the conversation always comes up "so where were you when the tornado hit?" A lady at Taco Bell had family missing who were right in its path. When people ask us we tell them were here from Idaho helping out, and theyre shocked. And then you hear about all the people from all over that came out to help. The amount of volunteers here is overwhelming. For several days we drove around asking who needed help and they tell us someone already came by and helped them. I signed up at a local organization to volunteer and there were more volunteers than people to help. I then went over to the local college Missouri Southern State University and signed up and was sent over with a crew to clean up fallen trees. When we first got there a man approached us and asked us to keep our eyes out for his young nephew. It was the story everyone had heard about. A 16 year old sucked out of his car returning from graduation and was no where to be found. And we were asked to look for him while cleaning up the trees. Just unreal. Today he was found in a river. James Dad works at Freeman Hospital and has told us so many stories of people that came flooded into the hospital that are just heart wrenching, one in particular. A woman was holding onto her 16 month old son so tight that she broke both her arms, but he was still ripped out her arms. They just found him recently as well. So many stories, so much heart ache. We were able to clean up a lady's yard who wasnt home but her neighbor said she would appreciate it. There was a tree uprooted that we cut up and brought to the curb. Turned out that the tree also broke a water pipe in the ground and was flooding the yard. We were there when the water company was driving by checking on houses and was able to get them to turn the water off. If we werent there who knows how much water would have dumped out and how high her water bill would have been. We also helped out James friends sister who had some down trees as well. Since theres so many volunteers we've been finding other ways to help, like getting James friends house ready to rent out to someone displaced, and James dad who has been putting in a ton of overtime at the hospital around here on the farm. Weve definitely been busy, and are very tired. I have a lot of cuts and bruises to show for the hard work, and wear them with pride. That being said, Im exhausted and am going to call it a night. For now Ill share the one picture that tugs on my heart the most. Theres a lot more to come, but this will do for now.

Total Devastation

Im still in shock over the tornado yesterday in Joplin, MO. I cant believe my eyes. Right where we use to live, places we use to go everyday. Places I use to WORK, where my in-laws work. Where family and friends still LIVE. James best friend Jared's neighborhood is gone, amazingly, his house is okay. Just a bent Dish Satellite and no power or water. But you walk out his front door and just a couple houses down, totally gone. He went out to help people, and saved a couple people pulling them from the rubbel. Unfortunately, there were some lives that he couldn't save. Even as tragic as a pregnant lady, in his words "she was just...dead." Im not quite sure how to process all this still. Seeing the images that I know where they are, but are just unrecognizable, not the same. Its still all so surreal. Its always hard to hear of devastation around the country and world. It always brings me to tears. And then you see it hit your home, and it becomes personal and that much more devastating. I love nature and always thank God for it, and then you see this happen and for a second you question that love. How could He make something this horrible happen? That ruins peoples lives? That takes peoples lives? I dont have an answer for it, but I have faith that there is an answer. Its just so very hard in the mean time. I keep praying for them in hopes that they find some faith as well.

I Forget...

I'm realizing I forget a lot about what this blog was intended for. I get caught up in wanting to post something great, something either interesting or fun or artsy. As I sit here filled with all sorts of emotions, I remembered my blog is my journal, my outlet. I should be able to share how I feel, and maybe not in a completely candid nature since this is a blog, but still be able to write (or should I say 'type') it out...

I feel overwhelmed...
anxious
hurt
mad
sad
stressed...

HOPEFUL

Hopeful that everything will turn out alright. That the things that hurt me won't anymore, and that I can become stronger because of them. That I'll be a better wife and mother because of them. I have fallen short on a lot of the roles I play in my life, but I know those are the two that I really can strive on becoming great at. I've been experiencing a lot of trials lately, a lot of set backs, but it seems that instead of James and I growing apart, were actually growing stronger. Which is surprising to me, because we've been through a lot in the almost 5 years we've been married, and I thought for sure these trials would really test us and bring us to our knees. Well, they have brought us to our knees, but in the greatest way possible. I am so grateful for the Gospel, for a Heavenly Father that I can pray to and know that He hears both James and my prayers. That through my Savior I can become whole and my weaknesses can become strengths. I know there will greater trials awaiting us, but I have faith that we can always become stronger together because of them.

Totally Post Worth

I am overwhelmed with pride right now over the hubby. I am so grateful for an ambitious husband who is a go getter and knows how to get things done. He recently got a highly sought after internship with the main hospital in our area, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, working specifically with the COO, Chief Operating Officer. He went to a group thing with his health care class last night at the hospital where they got to do a Q&A with the CEO & COO. He got to talk to him one on one as well, and after telling him that he'll be doing an internship there this summer, the CEO told him that he was "lucky", and that very few get the opportunity to do so. WOW! Also recently, James got a TA (teachers assistant) position with the head of the health care dept, Bro. Tolman, who also use to be the CEO of EIRMC. Its paid which will be really nice, and will look AWESOME on his resume. After last nights group meeting, James also got to talk to the COO, he introduced himself and set up a lunch meeting to go over the internship and just to get a 'heads up'. This is all just hitting me, making me realize just how much James is setting himself up for success. He doesn't just sit back and wait for things to happen, he is MAKING things happen. He is a great example to me of hard work and am very grateful for that.

"lovers dance when they're feeling in love"

my favorite song right now. i could listen to it over, and over, and over...oh wait, i have been. ah love.

(side note: He Is We could also easily be my new favorite music group right now. they're album My Forever is amazing. pure amazingness)

"Coming Home"

Oh man, just watching this preview brings me to tears. Its about time they make a show like this. I am counting down the days till it airs, and stocking up on Kleenex.

"lovely day, lovely day"

When trying to think of what to name this post, the very first thing that popped in my head was the song "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers. I LOVE that song and felt it described exactly what I wanted to share. In case you haven't heard it, it should be playing right now at this very moment on my playlist. Turn it up, its good stuff I promise.

So today I had quite possibly the best day I've had in a really long time. I finally felt like myself after battling the flu and an ear infection. That's always good no matter what's going on. I had a really good day at work, I got a lot done, felt accomplished, and enjoyed everyone's company. Not to mention had the BEST burger ever for lunch (I get free lunch every day at work, did I mention I have the best job ever?) Ok, now I have to share what it was. It was from the Snake Bite in downtown Idaho Falls, right around the corner from where I work. Its a cute little hole in the wall restaurant where hip people go. Anywho, I digress. The burger. Its called the Blue Snake River, a blackened burger with a bleu cheese & green chilies dressing & bacon, on a croissant type bun. oh. my. heavens. SOOOO GOOD. Ok, enough about the burger, back to my lovely day. I get home and enjoy time with James watching our favorite show The Big Bang Theory which was exceptionally funny and eating some awesome Chinese food (which I couldn't eat very much of because of my previous high caloried burger for lunch, my stomach just couldn't handle all this yummy food). Went to James' basketball game and enjoyed not only watching the game but spending it with some good friends from my ward. Then came home, oh wait I forgot about Doc! He got groomed today and looks oh so adorable. I just love my best friend:) Oh yeah, I also forgot I was able to return my rental car this morning and get my car back. Long story short, a kid hit me a couple weeks ago, nothing major, and had to get it fixed which took a couple days. His insurance is paying for everything, the insurance company was surprisingly very cooperative, they're not usually, I should know I deal with them everyday at work. Not personally, I only get the claim info initially, but I get to listen to my lawyer boss chew them out. Its quite amusing actually. Ok ok, where was I. Oh yeah, I got back from basketball and enjoyed some more time with James and Doc, and then went over to my neighbors/friend/ward members house for her knitting night with some others and enjoyed their company for a while. Came home, watched another one of our shows and here I am. Ready for bed and felt like it wouldn't do my day justice if I didn't document it. It's so important to remember the good days to get you through the hard ones. Oh, and I read this today on a blog I follow:

"If we are afraid to do what we want, or are insecure of what others may think, then thoughts stay thoughts, visions stay visions, dreams stay dreams and good lighting passes us by."


Ah, time for bed. Nothing like ending on a good note.