Comfort Zones May Be Beautiful...

I sat in my Grandparents' massage chair enjoying my day off when I got a call from Jacob. Eastern Idaho Technical College had an opening he could fill, but he needed to give them an answer within almost 24 hours. I didn't really stress at that moment because I thought we were both set on going to Torrington. But then he said, "I think this is something we should really pray about."
Of course I didn't want to pray about it. Jake was registered at Torrington, had his schedule set, FASFA was done, and we were beginning to look for apartments. I didn't feel like it was even something to think about! We needed a NEW place. Somewhere we could become independent and stand alone.
I won't lie. I came upstairs bawling to my dad asking him what in the world to do. Now, my dad is extremely wise. He doesn't always say things in the nicest and sweetest way possible, but, he is wise.
As I talked to him he reminded me that I don't always have to go to the Lord because sometimes it doesn't matter. Such as your cereal in the morning. But, he did say that both places will have learning experiences. Which I agreed with. But I already knew Jacob was set on Idaho. And as I talked to Jacob, I made an effort to explain if he were to decide Idaho, it should be for the school and nothing else. The gospel, our marriage, and his education would need to be the top priorities.
So, we are moving to Idaho. I'll full heartedly say not by choice, because I am ready for us to be away from everyone, including my family. I believe it's extremely important for newlyweds to get away from comfort zones. It's a struggle, I know it is, but it helps you rely on one another. And truth be told, comfort zones get you no where. And Idaho happens to be a comfort zone for both of us.

I might as well give a little lecture now. Please, please, please get out of your comfort zone. I'm an extreme introvert and I started my own Photography business! I have to talk to clients daily and interact with them, which is honestly something I still struggle with today. But after all my hard work and busting my butt I can honestly say I am so glad I got out of my comfort zone! Let's be honest though. Comfort zones are beautiful. But there isn't any growth. You stand still.

We will be moving to Idaho Falls August 13th and be leaving in two years when he gets his Welding license. Hopefully this time everything will go according to plan. :)

In other news, Jacob and I got back from New Mexico last week and it was a blast! I loved seeing my sister and brother-in-law. We were even able to work at their firework stand and in White City! After working Construction, almost anything else is pretty easy. So that was nice. :) We are Sunday School teachers for the 5 and 6 year olds. They are hilarious and I actually really enjoy it. And they do too, as long as I bring snacks. :)

MEET TAZ AND STRUMMER

The cutest, sweetest, and most insane cat you'll ever meet. Sadly, I can't say he's mine. My mom had been wanting a mouser for awhile, and since Jacob Ross had a friend who was giving away free kittens, we got this hot shot. My parents had a crazy and playful cat when they were first married named Taz. And since the kitten reminded them so much of him, they decided Taz would fit him well.

Now let me tell you something. My dad has been spoiling this cat to no end. Neither of my parents are huge indoor animal lovers, but Taz has slept in their bed every night since we got him. But hey, I'm not complaining. I enjoy getting some animal time since I know Jake and I won't be able to get a dog or cat anytime soon.

And then there's Strummer! While we were in Idaho, Jake spotted a good deal on Craigslist. It's a 1999 Saturn SL. It's got less than 93,000 miles on it and gets 35mpg on the highway! Did I mention we only paid $1,340? It's not a looker, but I have loved having a great gas milage car again. But now we have two cars which mean two insurances. (Bleh.) Depending on what job I get in Torrington, we may be selling the Durango, but for now,

we'll keep it.

In other news, I had to say goodbye to two good friends. Laura and Jarrett came into Cheyenne for two weeks to work for Ross Construction. I was gone at a family reunion part of the time, but it was such a blast going on some double dates with them. Plus work wasn't so bad when you have good company.

We've still been pretty busy with work. We're both exhausted, but looking forward to our next Vacation to New Mexico which is in 2 weeks! And we cannot wait! :)

MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND

50-60 hour weeks are definitely taking their toll on me. I'm beyond exhausted, but so thankful to have the opportunity to be on vacation for Memorial Weekend. I'm sure I'll have a future post on our actual vacation, but for now we'll stick to covering what I haven't documented yet. 

Mother's Day Weekend my brother Jacob had Mormon Prom in Fort Collins. My parents asked if Jake and I could take him there and have our own date night. Most things were closed by the time we dropped them off, but we did get some dinner there. I forgot the name of the place, but it was honestly one of the best burgers I've ever had. And we finished the night out by watching Here Comes the Boom in the car in the parking lot of Prom. It was nice being able to relax a bit that night. 

As for Mother's Day, I reflected on two very important women in my life. My mother and my sister. And here's just a few reasons why they're amazing.

My mom works full-time at Sunrise Engineering, she manages the office at Ross Construction, continues running the house when she's home, and she makes a hot dinner for her family every night. It amazes my how much she does for not only me, but for the rest of her family. Especially my dad. I cannot express my appreciation for her example to me. She continues to see the good in everyone and is always serving her neighbor. She keeps a smiling face even through some of the toughest trials. As I went to college, I realized that my mother had always been my best friend. She told me why every boy wasn't worth my time, reassured me how cute red looked on me, and even when I went to school mismatching, would still claim me as her daughter. I hope that I can be half the mother she was to me. Thank you for always having my back, mom.

(Did I mention how absolutely stunning she is as well? My dad is one lucky guy.)

Jodi has been there for me through the thick and thin. When we attend BYU-Idaho together, we grew extremely close. We made brownie cupcakes with carmel centers, which would be the definition of a Pinterest fail. We studied together for Natural Disasters and Math 108, and we spent many nights up venting about pointless things. If you'd like to see some of our dumb, but kinda funny, college YouTube videos, click on of the links below. 

Talk Show   Halloween Scare   Cake Mix Cookies

Jodi has the greatest talent of making others laugh. She knows how to have fun when it's appropriate, but is also one of the hardest working people I know. She has so much motivation that when her mind is set, she will go anywhere she wants. I'm always amazed by how much she accomplishes. I'm also thankful for her ability to make everyone feel good around her. She accepts all and makes you feel as if you've always been apart of the friend circle. Thanks for being another great example to me Jodi. Cannot wait to spend two weeks with you this summer.