Our 2012!

I have not taken the time to blog about probably one of the biggest events coming up in our lives. Perhaps, it is denial or fear that keeps me from doing so. Back in April of 2011 we started to think about listing our house for sale...well a short sale, who just sells their house these days. There were a number of reasons why, the biggest being due to our finances. It was a hard decision and without knowing what was in store for the future, we proceeded with trying to get the house behind us.

Fortunately for us, we knew of some friends from church who were going to be renting their home out and took the opportunity to move into their home. So we moved in August, before the hustle and bustle of school picked up. It has been such a comfort to know who we are renting from, we feel blessed for that. I have heard a lot of horror stories out there.

Shortly after we moved, Bryan started to feel he should look into a position with Costa Vida's corporate office out in Utah. (I love his timing on this one....what can I say). After a few interviews and much praying we decided that this would be a great opportunity for Bryan. Of course it is always hard to decide to move so far away from anything you have ever known, including most of our family. But there is a small piece of me that is excited to try something new and experience living somewhere else. Bryan will be headed out to Utah in early February to be a Franchise Business Consultant with Costa Vida. The rest of us have decided to bash his man-cation at the end of March. I originally wanted to wait and let the kids finish school, spend some more time with family, etc. But I have been feeling like we need to go sooner.

I feel like having children is helping me cope with this move a little better. I have been trying to share with them all the positive things I can think of about moving and living in Utah. Surprisingly it has been helping me as-well. Although the other day I read a touching letter from one of my girls best friends and I almost started to cry. My kids will miss everyone and will probably be begging to come to California every chance it pops into their minds. The good thing is Bryan and I have tried to make getting together with family a priority in our lives. Even if that means taking all five kids to Hawaii twice. We love doing it and will continue to do so. The kids know how important it is to us and so they feel comfort when I tell them we will be back. Meet Utah's state bird, The California Gull. However Utah generically refers to is as the "sea gull." I feel right at home already.

The California gull is considered the state bird of Utah by common consent, probably in commemoration of the fact that these gulls saved the people of the State by eating up hordes of crickets which were destroying the crops in 1848.
Orson F. Whitney says that in the midst of the devastation of the crickets, "when it seemed that nothing could stay the devastation, great flocks of gulls appeared, filling the air with their white wings and plaintive cries, and settled down upon the half-ruined fields. fields. All day long they gorged themselves, and when full, disgorged and feasted again, the white gulls upon the black crickets, list hosts of heaven and hell contending, until the pests were vanquished and the people were saved." After devouring the crickets, the gulls returned "to the lake islands whence they came."

This is a great example of great faith by our early pioneer saints, so grateful for their example. Can't wait to take the family to Temple Square and learn some more.