USA vs Canada Soccer

We went to the United States vs Canada game today and it was a blast! The game was great, we had super close seats (not from where my picture was taken) and we had a great view of the United States team, Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, Amy Rodriguez, Megan Rapinoe, Lauren Cheney, etc. USA won 2-1. We got a ton of sun, but it was worth the high temperatures to get a London Olympic Games preview.

Archery World Cup 2012

We went and watched part of the compound finals for the Archery World Cup today, it was VERY VERY hot, but fun watching some, now official, 2012 olympic athletes compete for the World Cup gold.  This is probably the last time that the Cup will come to Ogden, we have great memories from all three years that it has been here.

What just happened?

We had a wonderful time playing with friends up at Bear Lake over the weekend.  Upon coming home the list of things to do before moving was started and can I just say how insane just 3 days have been?!?  I was so stressed Monday night (poor JD) that I didn't know what we were going to do about any of the 'little' unknowns: what city to move to, where we were going to live, how we were going to get ourselves and our stuff there....nothing all that important, I can't imagine why I was so stressed.  I haven't applied to very many jobs because it is hard to interview and start working when you are two states away, so that has been stressful too, combine that with JD getting student loans in order and that whole aspect has just been so much fun as well.
Then today happened and things got a little more interesting.  While packing up winter clothes I received a phone call with a 626-0000 number, this is Weber State's line, I figured it was my committee chair asking where my final thesis draft is.  Well, it was her, but it wasn't about my thesis, she was offering me a full time adjunct faculty position at Weber!  Ultimately that is what I want to do and where I want to be.  It was so sad and hard to tell her that I couldn't accept the position (one I didn't even apply for, they had an application in their pool from a position I applied for 3 years ago) because I was moving to Oregon in a month.  So my ultimate job and set up on hold for a few more years I guess, this would have been infinately worse if we both hadn't felt so sure about choosing Pacific University.....To make up for that moment of insanity, 5 hours later I got an e-mail from a Forest Grove bishop's mother who offered to rent out her house to us.  It is twice as big and has 2 extra bedrooms, 1 extra bathroom, and costs $100 less than what we were planning on.
I feel like I am riding a roller coaster.  I am definately grateful to know that we are being watched over and to know that as crazy as all of this is, we know that we are going where we are supposed to go, and that we are being helped along the way as we make this move.

Bear Lake with Friends

We spent the weekend up at the cabin with some of our closest friends.  It was a weekend of intense mini golfing, delicious food, swimming, watching groundhogs, talking late into the night, playing games, and hanging out.  We are so grateful that we were all able to make it work out and spend some time together before we leave for Oregon, and Garners to Iowa. 

Temporary Post

 This is a preview of sorts, I use this blog for my personal journaling more than anything else, which I print off at the end of the year, so I will be going back in time to post some of the adventures I had with Erin this past week in Yellowstone, Island Park, and Lake Hebgen.  More to come!

Addendum: I am not going to delete this post because I think it is crazy that it took me until July 4th to catch this blog up by documenting our amazingly fun trip. Not so temporary.  So as of today, all caught up!

Mesa Falls, Rexburg, & Home

 Unfortunately, vacations wouldn't be vacations if they never ended.  So today we headed home, but we are not into the boring, just drive home idea. One year we drove through Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Jackson, and the Teton Scenic byway, this year we did the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway.  It was SO pretty!  I can't remember being there when it was so sunny to the point that you could see multiple rainbows off of the falls.  We went to Rexburg and explored our favorite stores: Artco & Porter's.  We found some cute deals, stopped at the temple, and then continued on our way home.  We had so much fun!  We relaxed, explored, photographed, napped, read, cooked, stoked fires, hiked, walked, 'hunted' moose, drove, talked, laughed, and had an amazing time.  I am grateful to have such a great kindred spirit for a friend. 

Snowy Sabbath

Happy Snowy Sunday!  We woke up to lots of pretty snow on the trees as we went on our way to church, it was a pretty winter wonderland.  Church was great.  We went to Big Hot Springs afterwards and saw Johnny Sack's cabin while there, it was cool to see how warm the water was there keeping everything near it green and free of snow. 

Erin was really sick, probably after doing so much the day before, so we stayed at the cabin most of the day.  The cabin was toasty from our fire, we watched Anne of Avonlea, I read a lot, and Erin had 4 1/2 naps.  We really did have a very nice and relaxing day.  I don't know the last time that I had such a quiet day watching the snow fall, reading, and poking logs.  It was AWESOME.

Yellowstone

Today was National Outdoors Day which means free entrance into Yellowstone National Park.  We had a blast today!  We saw tons of baby buffalo, a marmot, a momma and baby elk, and bonus: NO SNOW.  The forcast looked terrible when we set out, but while it was pretty cold, the weather was great.  We drove up to Mammoth Hot Springs, then down to Old Faithful, we loved the new visitor center, the waterfalls, and our all time favorite spot in the Old Faithful lodge with a perfect view of Old Faithful and perfect napping spot for sick friends.  We took pictures, snacked, played, napped, and ran all over the park that we have come to know so well.  Having done everything we can now be picky and go to our favorite parts.  Pizza at Pete's in West was delicious, and we made it home just before a very cool blizzard came through, I had fire down at this point so we didn't mind, we got cozy in our blankets and snuggled down into them as we watched Anne of Green Gables. 

Hebgen & West & Fires

 We drove up in Montana today and it was so pretty!  Quake Lake and Lake Hebgen were beautiful.  We found a Beaver pond that was pretty cool too.  A stop at Erin's favorite place per tradition was great, the water was really high this year so no dancing around in the duct going to Quake.  After our adventuring in the 'wilderness' we went into West Yellowstone and walked around pretty much all of the shops.  It was kind of weird to be there and have the town be so quiet.  We had dinner at the cabin and I got really good at maintaining a fire to warm up us and the cabin, it is cold up here!

We Made It!

Back in January before school had started, Erin and I had spent a long night chit chatting about all kinds of things, when it turned to what we wanted to do when we were done with Grad school we pulled out planners, pencils, and wrote down a few things, including a trip to Island Park June 7-11.  We laughed even that far in advance knowing it would most likely never happen.  However, after a long day of work and Erin arranging her clinical externship, we set off for Island Park.  We are here and it is wonderful, beautiful, happy, and fun!  Another adventure!

Marigold Hotel

JD & I were invited to go to a movie about India with his grandparents yesterday.  I was under the initial impression that it was going to be something of a documentary on the country.  On our way there, however, JD mentioned it was a flower hotel or something of that nature.  Having been a fan of Masterpiece Classic's Downton Abbey, I suddenly knew exactly what we were about to attend: a coming of age movie for people entering retirement.  JD and I were by far the youngest people present, and what ensued was hilarious.  Any time a character side whispered or said anything, there would be at least two people who would go, "what did they say?!?" followed by a loud translation.  It was just a funny, random experience all around. Movie was...interesting, but it was fun to see its depiction of India.

Sunrise

I woke up this morning around 5:40 because I noticed the room was pink, I thought it was strange, so I walked to the window, opened the blinds, and then ran straight for my camera.  I found myself in the middle of my street, in my pajamas, and 5:43 in the morning taking some pictures of the watercolored canvas.  Things like this serve as a reminder that my Heavenly Father loves me.