we've been busy

We have been so lucky this past week to have visitors!

we had Abby & the kids for a few days & Eric's parents for a few days!

We loved showing them around our new town and having them explore the place that we love.

Eric & I have been very busy since I last updated the blog and things are finally smoothing out/slowing down.

We are officially moved into our place with a long lease signed :)

I got a job at a local recreation center teaching little kids soccer.

{my real job will be coming this fall--and i'm REALLY excited about it!! details to come}

Eric is still really busy with the business and working hard!

We both received callings-I am the laurel advisor & eric is the priest quorum advisor.

We spoke in church on Mothers Day & teach every week so that keeps us busy! We love it!

There are fun events already starting here in Oregon and we can't wait to just enjoy the outdoors and see what Bend has to offer!

Here are a few pictures of the last bit..sorry they are out of order!

 

bend

It's been 3 weeks since we moved to Oregon.

It feels like its been longer but only because we've been busy either playing or working.

(mostly working for Eric)

We have really enjoyed being here already!

In 3 short weeks I've been able to learn lessons and discover growth in areas I wasn't expecting in my life.

Eric brought to my attention how much we've grown closer together since being here. I kinda laughed when he said that but I thought about it and it's very true.

Our experience of 'building up a business' has been tough/tiring/stressful/time consuming and of course way more for Eric than for me, but it has been SO great. 

He has worked so hard and I have loved watching him take on this role. He amazes me with his capabilities, honesty with people, and the fact that he has been able to stay balanced.

We just celebrated our 1 year anniversary on the 21st of April. Even though last year at this time we would be in Cancun, there is no other place that I'd rather be than Bend, Oregon with my husband.

I feel like the luckiest.  

I've had a few of those "in it" experiences where I can't help but be happy. The feelings that overcame me were such a love for everything at that time and I know it's because of the gospel and Eric.

We've had so many missionary opportunities already since being here. We see the missionaries multiple times a week and through work we've each had conversations about the gospel. I get butterflies when I have missionary experiences and I can't help but think about Israel when these times come up. I know I had to go to Israel to TRULY realize the meaning of the gospel in my life. I'm so grateful I'm able to answer questions and testify without hesitation.

Moving here was more of an answer to prayer for Eric and even though I didn't get an exact answer I felt like I needed to be a supportive and loving wife at this time. I feel like more and more my 'answer' to prayer has come from being here.

We knew this was what we needed to do and things keep unfolding. I am so happy.

I also can't express how grateful I am for a honest, hard hard working, loving, funny, spiritual husband I get to be with everyday. He is my best friend.   

Overall lesson that I've learned:

Life is short and the quicker you realize what's REALLY important the more joy you are capable of.

xoxo

reunion recap

I'm taking you back to mid-March.

so....when it came close to reunion time my parents sent out an adorable package to all the kids. A baseball bag full of sunflower seeds, baby ruth, big league chew, and more- plus our itinerary.

It was written in true baseball form {from coach lee & syd} and the days were somewhat scheduled but not too much that we couldn't just be US.

Eric & I drove with my parents since they like us the best. We stayed in Vegas for 2 nights and actually everyone did minus Ben & Brit who were traveling from Texas. We had fun basically watching the little kids have a blast at Circus Circus. The rides were pretty legit and they couldn't get enough. We of course ate, shopped, went to pawn stars, and then we were off to Arizona for the beginning of the reunion.

--

We arrived and my mom and I tried to hurry and get everything ready for the rest of the family. We had made some cute door pendants designating the rooms along with blown up pictures of little league baseball pictures of all the boys. Some goodies and a cute baseball pillow case were in the room waiting also. The home was beautiful! The view from the front door was my favorite. There were large windows into the backyard where the pool and orange trees were. The setup was perfect with the room & kitchen/living room on the other side because the kids would go to bed and the adults could stay up without waking them up!

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The pool was all around probably the favorite. The kids were little fish from morning until night. We had a bbq, played games outside, the kids and brit did little crafts, and we loved getting some sun on our winter skin. The boys were able to go to a game and dinner without the girls/kids. The girls hung out and relaxed and chatted away. There was temple day, couples baseball game, family pictures, devotional night, late night games, girls workout in the morning, family baseball game..and then some. 

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Looking at these pictures now that I've had more time and since we've moved, it makes me miss it even more. It was such a highlight of our year. We loved being with everyone at the same time {last time was our wedding} and just seeing how everyone has changed and grown. I love that no matter what we can get together and have a blast like it was yesterday. Thanks again Dad & Mom, it turned out perfect! Next year will be sad different with you gone on a mission....but we look forward to the year after!

On the way home we stopped in Beaver to get the famous picture on the HUGE rocking chair
& get Tony a shirt of course.

side note- Congrats to the NEW addition to the Snarr Family!!
baby boy snarr was born yesterday! We can't wait to see him & hold him!!
Love you!

next adventure.

Eric & I knew something was in store for us this year.

We made goals at the beginning of the year and wanted to move by April....and it happened.

We have moved to Bend, Oregon!

We fell in love 2 summers ago when we visited for the first time.

We saw ourselves living here {and we werent even engaged}

We have enjoyed our time here already!

Were so lucky to be living in the same city as Spencer & Dawn! {my brother & sis-in-law}

Eric had 8230483 interviews and calls since the beginning of the year and nothing felt right.

After a lot of prayer, thought, and talking it over...this was our answer.

We aren't sure for how long.

We aren't sure exactly why.

We aren't sure where we are even living yet...

but we are trying our best to go forward in faith!

We both know this is for our own good and that there will be times when it's hard and we get homesick, but for right now this is where we need to be. I am so lucky to have Eric by my side!

He is so positive and fun and I'm so confident in him.

I know this experience will allow us to grow personally as well as a couple far more than anything else right now. I'm so glad we are doing this together! We both know and love our roots and maybe we will be back in Utah sooner than we think,

but for now Oregon is our new home and we are in LOVE. We love it here.

plus to top this all off....on April 21st we will have been married ONE YEAR.

I can't believe how fast the time has gone!

I have learned so much.

Marriage isn't easy for me all the time. I'm independent, stubborn, and selfish

but I'm so grateful for Eric because he has been so patient with me.

I'm learning to be less stubborn and selfish and let him take control when it's needed ;)

It's definitely something that I get better at everyday, so I can confidently say I love him SO much more than the day we got married even, and that's hard to believe.

We have grown closer and closer and I know that being away together will only increase our love that much more. I am so lucky to have him.

cheers to our next adventure!

xoxo

{more on eric's business, getting a dog, and possibly a haircut later}

 here is our first & second place together....currently on the hunt for the third!

 packing up. i hate to admit....we have A LOT. i am doing another garage sale FOR SURE.

 on the oregon trail...

welcome home!

Etsy SALE

We are having a SPRING sale in the etsy shop! Go ahead and enter, SPRING for the coupon code & receive 15% off! The sale isn't going on for very long so snatch up your favorite items at a better cost!

xoxo