Blessed.

I feel like every one of these posts could use this title... but this one is going to take it.

1. Life is beautiful. Every day BJ and I live our little life together, learning something new about each other, laughing, living and loving. Marriage is wonderful - it's a constant learning experience & I love it. I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for the love that we share and that we get to live this life of love together forever.

2. BJ has been home from his mission for ONE YEAR today. Talk about a busy year for that boy! I am so grateful that he served a mission. He learned so much in those two years and hasn't forgotten. He's taken those things and not only used them on his mission to change lives of so many people in Texas, but has made OUR lives better also. He is the greatest example in my life. He amazes me, day after day.

3. I started a new job this week and I couldn't be happier. Long story short - I've been in two different offices since I moved here to Utah last December and neither of them felt right. There were so many other things that factored in to the reasons they didn't feel right, but all in all - working in a bad environment was effecting everything. It was effecting my everyday life, & mainly my attitude. I didn't feel good... and I needed to make a change. So, I finally went back out and started looking. (Fun fact about me: I really dislike, AKA: HATE, job hunting, interviews and starting a new job. It terrifies me! But I just had to do it.) Well, despite all my worries, everything fell right into place - I got two working interviews where both offered me the job that same day. I prayed about it and talked to BJ and knew without a doubt which offer I needed to take. This new office is everything I was looking for, as close to the Struve's (my old, most AMAZING job in the whole world) as I can get here in Utah. From the first minute I was there I just felt comfortable. I'm normally pretty shy at first and as much as I don't like to admit it, I struggle with my confidence in a new situation. But, MIRACULOUSLY, at this new office I fell right into place - no uncontrollable nervousness, no uncertainties, no gut-wrenching temptations to flee the premises! I WANTED to be there. Frankly, it was strange. I haven't felt this way about working since I moved here. Inside, I know I'm good at what I do but for the last 8 months since leaving the Struve's, I have been scared to show it. This new office makes me remember why I love my job and why I love dentistry. It is a huge relief that I can't even begin to describe. BJ & I have been praying that something would come along and all I can say is, our prayers were answered - beyond anything we could have hoped for. I can't even explain what this means to me! My Heavenly Father loves me and will always be there for me. I see it everyday.

4.We love FAMILY!  BJ's sister, Shannon just moved to Price, Utah to go to school! BJ's Grandma, Pat & Shannon were here last weekend on their way to Price to get her settled. It was such a wonderful weekend. We are so excited that Shannon is closer now. She is coming this weekend to stay with us & we can't wait. She makes us laugh a lot. She should consider majoring in Comedy :) Also, we are headed home next weekend for one of my bestest friends, Amanda's wedding! It's going to be so great to see everybody. We will be there for my niece's 1st birthday party! Ella is beyond beautiful and I can't even begin to describe how much I love that girl! We can't wait to see everyone next weekend.

5. We love being so close to SO MANY temples! It's been such a blessing for us. The Salt Lake Temple is breath-taking, always, and living 2 blocks away is one of my favorite things about living here. We pass it everyday, get to walk through temple square often and get to go there as much as we can! Also, a few weekends ago, we went and did a session at the Bountiful Temple. It was so wonderful! We really would like to go to all the temples that we can while living here in Utah. We have a goal of attending 100 temples together in our lifetime! So far we have attended 4 together... we have a long ways to go! But we are excited to make it happen! It's a huge blessing in our lives. We love the temple!

We are so very blessed. I wonder if it's possible to over-use that word... if so, I most definitely have in the last year. It's been a wonderful one.