Moving on....

Written 2 weeks ago... we finally just got internet hooked up...

I've been avoiding writing this post because change is hard. You know the Owl City Song, "Fireflies", and the line "I'm weird because I hate good-byes"? That line really bugs me. Who likes good-byes? I think you're weird if you DON'T hate good-byes. If you like good-byes, please enlighten me.

We have had three wonderful years in Ft. Collins (our longest residence in any one place as a married couple)-- our beloved home town-- and now it's time to leave. Having completed his residency, Derek is now a full-fledged family physician with additional obstetrical training so that he can do C-sections. We are leaving Colorado because priorto starting medical school Derek was granted a great scholarship for which he agreed to practice in an "underserved area" for four years following residency. This year there were no qualifying opportunities in Colorado, and so we began looking across the country at different job opportunities

Home in Ft. Collins, CO 2007-2010

Home in Sunnyside, WA 2010-?

I'll have to upload more photos-- this doesn't do the 2 acres justice... it's a beautiful yard

Derek got a wonderful job as a rural doc in Sunnyside, Washington. We have been out three times since last August when he interviewed and accepted the job. We have met several awesome families in the ward there, so we feel very comfortable knowing that we will have

friends. The Columbia River Temple is about 45 minutes away, so we are thrilled to be even closer to a temple than we are now (Denver is over an hour from us.) The geography is not at all like Seattle, but rather high desert with arid, warm, sunny weather. Much of our nation's produce comes from the Yakima Valley, where Sunnyside is located (Check out your Smuckers, Welch's, Tree Top labels). So we'll be enjoying lots of yummy cherries, apples, grapes, and especially asparagus! The house we have bought is on 2 acres surrounded by an asparagus farm (which we don't own, which is good since we don't know anything about farming.) But the farmer has said it's okay to dig our own asparagus for dinner!

We have been very blessed not only with a great job opportunity, but with our house in Ft. Collins selling at the perfect time. I continue to marvel as I see Heavenly Father's hand in my life; I continue to learn that if I have patience, He will give me what I need in His time. We just closed on both our old and new houses last week and are currently enjoying homeless vacationing with family and friends before we have to bid Colorado adieu.

Grandma Nori, Jane, Papa Fred

I must say how blessed we have been to live near family. We have loved being 5 minutes away from Derek's great parents Fred and Nori, who have defied all stereotypes about living too close to the in-laws. It has been nothing but wonderful to be close enough for Sunday dinners, birthday celebrations, date-night babysitters, not to mention borrowing tools and toys. We continue to learn so much from them and will dearly miss being close.

Derek's brothers Dan and Adam also have lived close by. We will miss opportunities to see Uncle Dan. I think that leaving Adam and Alyson's four kids is the worst part about moving for our kids. They ADORE Connor, Preston, Adin, and Mia and LOVE weekend sleepovers at the cousins'. Derek and I will also miss Adam and Alyson somuch. They are so much fun to spend time with and we learn a lot about raising children from them since they are a few years ahead of us. I guess this is just a good excuse for more vacations.

My parents have made it easy on us. In May they moved from their home of 12 years in Denver and left Colorado after being here for nearly their entire married life to go to Mesa, Arizona where my Dad has a job that he loves and where they can be near my mom's side of the family. These past three years they have made it veryeasy for us to attend the temple in Denver every month by taking care of our kids while we went. Of course the kids loved any excuse to go "Demver", as Jane calls it. The boys loved Saturday morning craft projects at Lowe's with Papa Randy, playing in the park behind their house, and of course the "ski hill" on the side of the house. Grandma always had something yummy to eat-- not only candy and treats but also birthday dinners such as STEAK and CRAB for Reid's expensive 7-year-old tastes. We miss them already but are glad for cheap plane tickets between Mesa and Pasco (our nearest airport).

Nancy & Randy Hatch, leaving Colorado after 30 years!

These are my two great friends, Jessi & Bev

I have known Jessi since we were in junior high, but she was just a girl in another ward who I was afraid of when we played church ball against each other because she was aggressive and really good. It took visiting teaching 18 years later to bring us together as friends. In fact, we became such good friends that as we were running together one morning (when so many of our great conversations took place), I asked her who her visiting teacher was. Oh yeah, it was me-- it just didn't feel like visiting teaching anymore, because it was friends getting together for lunch. We trained together and ran the St. George Marathon in 2009-- it was an AWESOME experience. I couldn't have done it without Jess. And, if her daughter Tiana has it her way, Jessi and I will have the same grandchildren (T has the most adorable crush on Ethan, even if Reid is more fun to play with.)

I will dearly miss my good friend Bev. Everyone needs a Bev. She has become like a sister to me, and I still marvel at her patience and "talent" for babysitting kids. She'll tell you that we traded fairly, sending our kids back and forth down the block between us, but I'm pretty sure that I made out better in the deal. My kids all LOVED being at her house, especially little Jane. It's a rare thing to have a friend that adores and loves your kids nearly as much as you do, especially when they're busy raising their own! Bev is such a good person and has inspired me to want to be better through her meekness, patience, and sensitivity to the Spirit. Along with trading babysitting, we carpooled, had dinners together when our hubbies worked late, double dated when they didn't, and served in Primary presidency together. I know she's the kind of person that I will pick up right where we left off with when we visit, but it just won't be the same as being one block away. And, we might even get to share grandchildren as well, if Joslyn can find Reid at BYU. And if neither of them mind that she might be a good head taller than him. That doesn't seem to bother them now.

So next Wednesday, the day after Derek takes his board exams, we will leave to begin our new adventure and head west. Northwest. I'm thrilled because I enjoy experiencing new parts of the country (beyond just traveling), but I also dread the adjustment period, more for my kids than for myself. It's pretty much the same feeling that I had on this ride up at Glenwood Springs earlier this week as we swung hundreds of feet over the canyon gorge. Thrilling and sickening at the same time.

Ready or not....