One Year Ago

One year ago this month Derek and I loaded up my little Ford Focus and left Utah. This might not seem like a big deal, but the longer we are away, the more I realize this event was a really big deal! First I have to say, coming to Miami was ABSOLUTELY the right thing to do for our family. The blessings we have received and the happiness we have here is beyond what I expected when we made this move. Miami is home in every sense of the word and I couldn't be happier to be here.

I also have to say that Utah gave me so much! It was where I grew into an adult. I learned so much about myself while I lived there and I am so glad I had the chance to leave my home and have an adventure. BYU provided me with opportunities to learn and be challenged academically at a level I never anticipated. I learned to love who I am while I lived there, truly understanding my purpose in life. I made the best friends I have working and studying there (Love you guys!).

I will admit I got in my car and didn't look back when I left. But some days I miss the people and experiences I had there. I really miss the affordable food (Zupas, Cafe Rio, Everything at Riverwoods) and of course the FroYo. I am glad that I can look back at my time in Utah and remember a lot of fun times and great memories that helped me get to the place I am in now.

MISS YOU UTAH!

Happy New Year!

2012 was quite the year! I still can't believe that this time last year we were just getting back from Miami and we were committing to moving here. I was managing the Retention Department at Vivint and was working crazy hours. Derek was finishing undergrad and enjoying his only "easy" semester of college. Our lives are so different now! While life is equally chaotic, it seems we have learned to enjoy the chaos a little more. I am so grateful for the amazing experiences we have had over the last year that have gotten us to this point. 2012 brought challenges but was the year that propelled us into a future both Derek and I are excited about. Here is a recap, by month, of our year.

January

Planned our move to Miami. Derek started his last semester at BYU and I told my job we were leaving.

February

We went to Derek's mission (Toronto, CA) with the Petersons

March

Signed a lease to move to Miami, started packing and saying goodbye to friends

April

Derek got Lasik, Derek graduated, we drove across the country and got to stay with friends and family in Tennessee and Georgia

May

We celebrated our 3 year anniversary, I turned 25 and we enjoyed a month of no rent while we stayed with my parents

June

We moved to Miami!

July

We visited South Carolina with the Estes and settled into our new apartment

August

Sarah and Ryan visited Miami, I finished working at Vivint, Derek started medical school

September

I started my new job at Acquinity, I got called as Young Women's president, Derek turned 25

October

Visited Pennsylvania with Mom, Sarah, Betsy and Aunt Nez

November

Had our first Florida Thanksgiving together, Hosted YW in Excellence

December

Derek finish his first semester of medical school, had a Humpherys Christmas and an Estes New Year

I probably missed a thousand things, but those were some of the big events of this year. Like I said it was a crazy year! I am excited for what 2013 has to offer! More posts to come about resolutions and goals :)

And We're Back

So I have been debating blogging again since we left Utah. It's hard because I feel like our life is pretty boring in comparison to so many other people I know. We work, go to school, go to church and crash when we have a break. But I also feel like I want to remember these crazy times. So many people we talk to tell us to remember these fun times and the spontaneity that we get to enjoy. So I am going to start blogging to remember these fun times. Sorry if we seem boring! I'll give you a quick recap of what we have been up to!

Since we came to Florida I have started a new job. I am a training designer and scriptwriter. Basically that means I get to listen to sales calls, figure out what we can do better, write a script for the sales people to use, and then train it. It's turned out to be a really cool job! I get to write... a lot, and I love it! I have never been a super creative person (I could never write a novel) but I really enjoy technical writing. My boss is great! She has tons of experience in sales and she has taught me so much in just the first few weeks. The company I work for actually sells Vivint so I get to help with the training on that, so I am not lost all the time. It has been a crazy road to this point, but for the first time I like my job and I am not stressed out of my mind at the same time. My mom even mentioned it the other night. She said, "you never really say much about your job... which I guess is good because that means your not complaining about it!" That pretty much sums up how I feel about it! The only down side is that I have to drive about 40 miles up 95 to Deerfield Beach for work. I hope the Focus can keep up with me!

Derek is doing great with school! He has made some good friends already and seems to really be in the groove of school. He is starting to work with a local physician who teaches him how to take patient histories and general doctoring skills. Miami has been great at giving him hands on experience. He has his third health fair of the year this weekend. The health fairs are cool because they go into under-served areas of Miami (and there are a lot) and they do basic exams for the patients. For a lot of people that is their only doctors visit of the year. He has used his Spanish a ton already and I am sure it will continue to be a blessing for him throughout school.

Lastly, we have the opportunity to be in a small ward in Little Havanna. It is a really interesting experience. Our ward is about 90% Spanish speaking but the ward and stake are bilingual. So some of the meeting is in English, some in Spanish. The people are so friendly and welcoming. We have made some great friends and we are always greeted with hugs and kisses. Derek has had the opportunity to translate, which has kept him on his toes every Sunday! I think I am the hardest person to translate for because I talk so fast lol. I am working with the Young Women and it is incredibly rewarding. I love the girls and I am so grateful I can learn from them and their solid testimonies of the gospel.

Well I think that is a pretty good start to my return to blogging! I'll leave you with a picture from our balcony of a beautiful Miami sunset

My sister

Tonight, my sister moved to Florida. It is a sad day. I lived with my sister for 17 years and I definitely took it for granted. Then she went to college and moved all around and I got used to having her be away. Three years ago Ryan brought her to Utah and I remembered why I loved having her close. She steals my clothes and reads my mind. She tells me when I spend too much or when I talk to loud. She always makes me laugh and pretty much every night get a wittle whiny :) Sarah is my best friend and she is one of the most amazing people I know. She works so hard and always sacrifices for her family. These are just some of the reasons I will miss her. I will also miss our pictures where my eye is closed and her face is shiny :) Ill also miss just sitting on her couch, eating and laughing and talking. Hopefully one day we will be close again... UCF reunion! Love you Sarah! Good luck on all your adventures! Enjoy the warm Florida sun for me!

Mom's Trip

Since Mom came out for graduation, we ended up doing a lot of other things while she was here. We packed Sarah and Ryan, shopped and then shopped some more. Mom and I both could have done more, but Sarah had her fill. Another important part of the trip was FOOD! We love to eat together and laugh together, so we did a lot of that! I dont know why, but pretty much all my pictures from the trip that werent graduation were of food. Pretty funny. I am so glad Mom came though and we had the chance to make more memories! Love you Mom!

Sarah and Mom at Gurus


IKEA yummies!


Cereal in the morning. I know... we look stunning :)

Dont ask. Sarah and I had a weird mustard experience lol