Update from Utah

I know it's been a while and there is lots to update on. We moved up to Utah on August 1st. We were taking a huge risk by moving up cold turkey, with no job prospects. But we (and when I say we, I mean I) felt strongly that we were supposed to come up here. I had prayed about it for months and I was feeling more and more that we need to just do it. Of course, that stressed me out like crazy because I do NOT like taking huge risks like that. But I knew I had my family and CJ's stepdad to help us if worse comes to worse.

So CJ and I decided in June that we would move on August 1st, so that gave us plenty of time to see all our friends and spend a lot time with his family. And that worked out nicely. But when CJ turned in his resignation at his job I started to panic, but tried to stay calm.

So we started planning everything and organizing our life. I was packing gradually the best I could with a baby and no space to put boxes. I thought I was doing pretty good until the last day before the move when I realized that we were NOT gonna get done in time. The afternoon before moving day came and there was still stuff to pack! Me and CJ were freaking out and luckily his family stepped up and helped us out (specifically his brother Andrew and his sister Therese). I am so grateful for them and kept telling them thank you. My mom and dad also flew down to help us move, I'm very grateful for their help too. My mom took care of the baby while I finished packing that last day with CJ, Andrew, and Therese. My dad was working so he didn't come over until late that night but he drove the moving truck (which had no cruise control!!!!) for us. We're so grateful for amazing family.

Anyway, so the move itself went well. Just long and tiring. One thing that was stressful was that I put like SIX spare diapers in my diaper bag for Liam, and I thought I was being a little too cautious. But guess what? He ended up pooping through the whole trip and we barely made it to my parents house on his last diaper. I even started panicking and tried to find his pack of diapers on the moving truck but couldn't find them. We were considering stopping at a Walmart or something but we were in the middle of nowhere and there were none. So that was stressful. And even though this was Liam's 3rd trip to Utah in the 4 months he had been alive, it was harder on him than the first 2 times. Mainly because he was older and didn't sleep as much, AND he hates his carseat from the previous Utah trips along with the 8 Disneyland trips we made. Lol. Poor boy. But we all survived without any huge crisis during the move.

So we had planned to stay with CJ's stepdad before we found a job because he had a lot more room in his house and it's just him living there now (since CJ's mom has passed). So we would stay there and when Cj had a job interview we would stay with my parents for like 2 or 3 days because the interviews were up in the SLC area. It's a 2-hour drive between his stepdads and my parents so it was exhausting doing that trip. We ended up making that trip every week for the 3-4 weeks until we found a job. And lemme tell ya, it took us a few weeks to recover from the move and the commuting back and forth to Jay's house. But then CJ was offered a job in Salt Lake City and we had to leave Jay's because it was too far and we are currently staying with my parents. We had a good time staying with Jay for those few weeks though.

So CJ is enjoying his new job a lot. I even did the math and figured out we're making $200 more a month than we even were at his previous job. Not a lot of money, but I'll take it! He's technically getting paid less but with the difference in taxes and since he's not paying union fees or retirement dues like he was at the school district, it makes a huge difference. I'm so grateful that things seem to be working out. CJ won't admit that it's because Heavenly Father is blessing us, but I believe it completely.

We've been staying at my parents house for 4 weeks now and it's been going pretty smoothly. Aside from the constant level of chaos that a house of 14 people comes with, we've adjusted pretty well to living with other people. Our plan is to start house shopping in about a month. CJ's job is technically a contract to hire position and if they like him they'll buy out his contract from the staffing agency after 6 months. We're 90% sure they will hire him permanently because they're (managers and bosses) all constantly complimenting him and telling him he's always doing such a great job and all that. So CJ felt like he would have a good idea after 2 months of working there whether or not they're going to buy out his contract. So here I am, just waiting patiently. And in the meantime I'm browsing houses for sale and working towards getting pre-qualified for a home loan. Wish us luck!

Wow, this update has turned out to be verrrry long. Lol. I hope all our peeps in California are doing well. We miss you all and love you! :)

Utah bound!

After begging Cj for about 5 years to move to Utah to be near my family, he's finally agreed to it! I know he doesn't want to because his entire family lives here in California (except for his late mother and step father who moved to Utah about 3 years ago).

I'm so grateful he's agreed to go for my sake. It's been hard the last few years to be away from my family. I didn't realize how much I loved and needed my family until they were gone. I remember growing up and complaining to my dad that I didn't have any friends and he said, "the only friends you need are your family." such wise words because when all is said and done, it's your family that you're always returning to.

I've especially felt the need to go more in the last 6 months for a few reasons. 1) Since I've had Liam I feel like I need my mom and sisters more than ever. And 2) CJ has decided that he doesn't believe in the (LDS) church anymore. So basically I will be raising my kids in the church alone. And while I love him and wouldn't leave him, he understands that I need that spiritual support from my family more than ever. And given that (basically) his entire family is inactive, I don't have the support here that I desperately need. I'm grateful that he sees that and is willing to take such drastic measures to make me happy.

We'll be staying with his stepdad in mt. Pleasant until we can find a job and our own place up near Ogden area. We've been applying for jobs non stop for a few months and have had no bites but I have faith that once we get up there things will work out. Cj is also planning on taking some exams to get his A+ certification when we get up there. Which is basically specific certifications to prove that you know computers and are smart enough to work on them. Which he definitely is! But this will make him more desirable in the job market.

But he doesn't wanna do computers forever. He eventually wants to start his own business doing wood working and metal casting. It'll probably be a while, but I know he can do it! He's extremely talented and just needs space to really get going with experience and expertise in the field.

Anyway, there ya have it! We're moving on the 31st. Wish us luck and pray for us if you can! We're going on an adventure. :)