Happy Valentines Day!

I just love this guy here.  He is so adorable.  Three years ago he proposed to me on Valentines Day.  Now I get to enjoy this holiday every year.   In the past, I never had a Valentines "Beau" to celebrate with and even though I still had lots of fun as a single lady, it is pure joy for me to be able to have such a wonderful and handsome man to be with.  I took this picture because Philip looks so much like his dad at that age.  I am grateful for that couple who brought me him.

Hawaii

So last night Philip and I were talking about our weight loss plans.  Last summer I was doing so well.  I lost 15 lbs and ran a half marathon.  Every winter I go through this, I gain weight back, stop exercising, and then as March approaches I am reminded of bathing suit weather and I hurry and try to work it back off.  I am in a slump right now and I told Philip that in order for me to be motivated to do anything, I need a huge reward.  Philip and I agreed that if we reach our goal weights and pay off our debt, that we will go to Hawaii at the end of the summer.  That gives me 5 months.  Too lofty?

Oh California, I want to go back

The palm trees

The ocean sunsets

My sister and her adorable kids

The views

A lot to be thankful for...

 So lately, I have been a little down in the dumps.  I have been struggling with my new job.  Starting a new job is never easy, but this time it is especially challenging.  I am trying my hardest to stay positive, and I realize more and more that I have been incredibly blessed.  My husband Philip provided me with a lovely birthday, and Thanksgiving was a lot of fun too.  So I really have no reason to complain. 

I am so grateful for this little guy.  My nephew Matthew.  He brings joy to my heart!

My sister in law Andi was kind enough to take me to Target's Black Friday sale which happened at midnight.  It was a four hour long excursion so that I could land this awesome $30 artificial tree, pre-lit, and 6 feet tall.  (see below)  What a steal! Although, I told Andi I highly doubt I will every do that again.  That was my first and last black Friday at Target event. 

I am grateful to Kenna's birthday party (my six year old niece) because it introduced me to this amazing idea.  Cinnamon rolls from the can, cooked in two layers and made into a cake.  It was truly divine.







And last, I am most especially grateful for new challenges in life.  They are God's gifts to help us grow.

One more thing

I need to clarify.  I announced on FB the other day that I was getting a job and that changed.  So on Monday I accepted a full time position at Ensign Peaks Services in West Valley as a program manager over an after school therapeutic program for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.  It would mean program start-up and development, supervisory, and grant writing experience, along with individual counseling.  It was an awesome job.  But, on Tuesday, New Roads called me and offered me a position, even though they had turned me down the week prior (I had interviewed there twice and really hoped I would get it).  So after much thought and a pros and cons list (social work strategy), oh and consulting with Philip, Ray, and my former supervisor Sherrie, I decided to go for the New Roads job.  I am sad to turn down a great opportunity, but this position is in Provo, benefited, and would provide me with experience to work with an older population and substance abuse--an area in which I need more expertise.  I am happy to have been blessed with two job offers, something I never thought would happen!

Finally!

I feel truly blessed because I accepted a full time position as a therapist at New Roads Treatment Center in Provo.  Since I graduated in August, I have been a lazy sack of potatoes.  Well, not too lazy, I managed to interview at eight different facilities, send out over a hundred resumes/applications, earn my CSW license, and go on two awesome trips, but, nonetheless, I have felt extremely bored and have been a recluse.  In retrospect I am thankful that it took a little while until I got this job because I got time to go visit family, help Mac and Rachel move, move ourselves (a two month process), and get some needed recuperation from school. 

I have an increased testimony of paying my tithing.  Over the month of September, Philip and I's lives were hectic (we were temporarily living with some friends, went on two trips to Oregon and California, and were not going consistently to one ward).  While in California, I was panicking that I would never find a job, we would go broke, I would be a failure, etc etc (a downward spiral I know, and it was silly and irrational).  It seemed like nothing was working out on the job front.  I had a few fluke things happen with different potential positions, and lots of places just were not calling me back.  I also heard that many people in my program were having a hard time finding work.  The economy has been a constant worry for me as well.  While in California I watched conference and just had a strong feeling of urgency that we needed to pay our tithing.  The first Sunday we were back we paid our tithing.  The Monday after, I got a call back almost within two hours of applying to New Roads for a phone interview.  Yesterday I accepted a job to New Roads.  Tithing is such a blessing and I know that as long as I pay my tithing, I will always be protected and watched over. 

Half-marathon

So this is long overdue, but Philip and I decided to run a half-marathon last February.  We accomplished our goal last July!  We chose the Timp half marathon because it is mainly downhill.  We knew that this was not going to be easy on the joints, but I really did not expect the amount of pain in my hip flexors towards the end!  I ran much faster than when I trained, the adrenaline was pumping almost the whole way.  It was such an amazing experience.  I cried at the finish line--I never thought I could accomplish something like that.  Philip was awesome.  I am proud of both of us!  I admit my momentum has dropped a bit since the race, but I plan to get back into it and train for another one.  Maybe someday...a marathon??