C.O.L.O.R.A.D.O

 

 

I have been so excited to write about our move for the last two weeks now! So I'll start from the beginning. Ky and I had gone back and forth for weeks on our official move out date but finally decided to hit the road May 26th. Before that we made plans to use our parents trailer to move all our stuff from our cozy home in Utah to the unknown in Colorado. We drove to Moab to meet my Dad and take the trailer back home with us. Unfortunately the company who serviced the trailer previous to the trip did something wrong (I couldn't tell you what was wrong if I tried) and the trailer needed to be fixed. Kyle drove the trailer all around Utah, but no one seemed to have the parts to fix it. We desperately needed a plan B. Luckily my parent's company has been ordering vans that need to be driven over to Colorado. We decided to pick one up and try to shove all our stuff into just one of them. Luckily I'm the exact opposite of a packrat so we had plenty of room even though I had my doubts. After three days of boxing and cleaning we were finally all packed. (Yeah I don't know what's going on it the back of that picture)

 

 

 

 

Before we left we met up with Kyle's family and drove to Grantsville for the annual Memorial Day camping trip. His Dad always has picked wild flowers for his wife when camping and Kyle decided to continue the tradition.

 

 

 

Tuesday morning we woke up bright and early and loaded up the last few things into our cars. That morning it was raining and Ky and I were both very grumpy from little sleep and a big drive ahead of us. We were in such a hurry that I don't even remember saying goodbye to our apartment or anything. We picked up my brother who drove the van (Thank you Easton!!). Kyle drove his truck with the empty trailer and I drove my car. About half way there I see an explosion of black pieces in front of me and knew the other trailer tire had just blown out. We pulled over and luckily my brother and husband are studs and changed the tire quickly and we were back on our way. We pulled up to my parent's house after 8 hours of driving and my chef of a sister had fajitas all ready for us.

 

 

We crashed that night ready for the other half of moving in the morning. I woke up at like 5 because I can't sleep when I'm excited! We grabbed our favorite Santiagos burritos and started our drive towards the Denver Tech Center (DTC). We took the Belleview exit and made our way to the Pearl Apartments. We checked in at the front where they handed us our keys and then we drove over to our new home. We could barely remember what it looked like when we saw it back in February and we were both admitted that we remembered it looking bigger. We got right to unpacking and thanks to my mom which is the best mover we were able to finish in just a day and a half with everything put away. Kyle did a lot of furniture building. 

 

 

Sometimes I think Heavenly Father put Kyle into my life because he knew I wouldn't survive without him. The only complaint we had with our new apartment which is the complaint we always have with a new place...internet. Specifically Centurylink who I sware we will never use again regardless of there cheap prices. After Centurylink lied to us a few times about coming to install internet we switched to Comcast and as of yesterday officially have internet! Woohoo That Sunday after we moved in I took the afternoon flight out of Denver to Houston for the first day of my internship with Deloitte. I was just a little nervous for my first day but adding that onto being in a city I didn't know and taking a cab by myself (does that freak anyone else out??) I was all nerves. I scheduled a shuttle to avoid the cab drive and that turned out to be even more scary. I found the shuttle and got inside but after the driver missed the first five turns the other folks started to get a little upset which turned into the driver turning around and getting in some faces. Luckily I was the next stop. My stay at the DoubleTree was delightful. I was greeted a check in with a warm chocolate cookie which was exactly the kind of pick up I needed. I went straight to bed and woke up again at 5, put on my first day of work outfit and started my trek to the Houston office. I walked across the street and I was literally there which was an answered prayer for sure. I found some other interns and followed the crowd to the right floor. Then we had two long days of trainings. I met lots of friends, but was excited to get back to my hubby. The next day was my first day in the Denver office which was full of more trainings. I am finally working on client work this week and am really enjoying meeting all my new co-workers and learning all I can about tax. Kyle also started his internship at QEH2 in information technology which is going great. We both feel like we have no idea what we are doing, but we are definitely enjoying the ride. We plan to explore Denver A-Z each weekend. Last week was A-Aquarium and this week we are going B-boating and hopefully to the Botanical Gardens. So many adventures to come!

 



 

 

 

Moving Forward!

We have officially signed our lease for June 1st in Denver!!! We will be living at the Pearl which currently not even built yet. We decided on this place because of the discounts they were giving due to construction. This gave us a way better deal for the incredible apartment we will be in. We have been preparing more and more for the future each day. Applying for scholarships, financial aid, and preparing for graduation. Our biggest concern right now is a job for Ky that will work during school in the fall. If you have any ideas please let me know. He is currently majoring in information systems and will be doing an internship during the summer!

Lately I have been struggling with motivation and wishing my life away. I have dreamed of the day I graduate and move back to Colorado with my sweetheart since the day I moved out here and it is so close I can almost taste it. I find myself just wishing the days would go by faster. I was walking across campus yesterday though and thought about how these next two months will be the last time I can be a part of BYU. This school has provided me with so many great experiences and has left my hopeful for a bright future. I have met so many good friends and people while I was here who have definitely changed me. Here is a list of what BYU has done to me:

1. Shown me my potential in the business world and encouraged to go forth to serve with all that I have.
2. Grown my testimony of the Savior and allowed me to make my religion an everyday part of my life.
3. Made me work harder and longer than I ever thought I could. I actually enjoy the feeling of walking to my car in the dark knowing that I made the most of a long day.
4. Grown my knowledge of not only business and accounting, but art, science, English, and all other subjects.
5. Allowed me to meet my husband Kyle who has given me more happiness than I could have ever imagined.
6. Shown me my adventurous side through trips to Saint George, Moab, California, and Arizona. Weekend trips are some of my favorite memories.
7. Unfortunately BYU has in fact made me less accepting of others. I have become immersed in the culture and how things "should" be done in this life. I am excited to go back to Colorado and combine my strong beliefs with an broader acceptance of others.
8. Given me the opportunity to work with a company like to Deloitte this summer. I feel like my percentage of credit I can take for this is about 0% with all the help from the Lord, professors, school reputation, and help from so many others.
9. Provided me new trials that allowed me to grow up and be a stronger woman.
10. Helped me to gain my independence and be ok with just being with myself. I wouldn't trade that confidence for anything.

I owe so much to this school and all those who have helped me through it. Only two more months:)

Hurry Up and Wait

Ky and I had been looking forward all last week to our trip to Colorado. This trip would decide a lot and would be the start of our new life together. A few months earlier I received my acceptance to the University of Denver's Masters of Accountancy program for this coming Fall. After I got in Kyle applied to a few schools in the area and was accepted to the University of Colorado in Denver. Since then there has been a lot of anticipation about leaving everything we know here in Utah. Ky will be leaving his family here in Utah and I will be moving back to my home state. Ky and I are both excited about the diversity of our new area and the opportunities we will have to be a force for good in our new home.

When we arrived we met my good friends Dillon and Ashley Hall who was about to have her baby boy any day. It was so great to see them and talk to them. Ky and I couldn't help but picture ourselves in a cute little house like there's with a baby on the way some day. The next day we went to look for apartments and get some more information on CU for Ky. CU was great and gave Kyle an opportunity to see the campus and where he would be at. The rest of the day was a little more frustrating as we looked for apartments. We wanted to be close to the city but not too close where I felt unsafe. The first apartment was the closest to downtown but was so expensive an in an awful part of the city. The rest of the day seemed to feel the same.

Luckily we didn't give up and decided to go a little further south from downtown and look off Belleview. We found great apartment after great apartment. We decided on the complex but are just waiting for one unit to come available. During that same day Ashley went into labor and by the evening had her baby boy Brooks. We heard the news while at the Avalanche came with my family (which was a blast). In the morning we went to go see him. I felt so blessed that we were able to be in town the weekend she had her baby.

Before we knew it we were back home discussing how hard it is going to be to stay motivated with all the excitement coming in just a few months. We're ready for you Colorado!

Understanding That You Won’t Always Understand

This week in New Testament we talked about Paul’s second mission. Throughout his journey I have found myself relating to him in so many ways. During high school I didn’t always seek to follow the spirit or do the right thing, but when college came around I knew that the decisions I was making were to big to not go to my Heavenly Father. When I got into both University of Utah and BYU I felt that although I wanted to go to the University of Utah the Holy Ghost was leading me elsewhere. The choice was not easy. Coming to BYU was a big adjustment. I had never had a curfew or really understood what it meant to be modest and was terrified of one piece swimming suits. Never the less I trusted that Heavenly would help me through it and he surely did. Overtime I was able to see changes in myself that I now am so grateful for. Like Paul’s mission the hard thing made me more committed to the gospel and determined to press forward. Paul in Acts 16:7 they think that they should leave towards Bithynia, but are told instead not to. Then later they are told not to even teach in Asia. Paul must have felt confused why the logical answers in his mind were not always matching up with the answers given by the Holy Spirit. In class we discussed that the spirit will most often tell you what to do and even sometimes how to do it, but he usually will not tell you why you are doing it. For this reason as my husband and I recently considered where we should be next year considered all our options and let each of them play out. We were able to understand what we were supposed to do and we are still figuring out the how. Like many experiences in the past I have guessed at the reasons why, but always am amazed at what more Heavenly Father has in store for me that I never imagined such as Paul’s success in Corinth.

Everyone belongs to the gospel!

Yesterday in class we discussed the history of converts during Peter's time. Before his time the Law of Moses had been in effect for over 1500 years and separated the Jews from the Gentiles. When Peter was sent to baptize Cornelius he had to be told directly from the Lord in a vision to overcome this imbedded culture.

 

We talked about how this relates to the same switch with giving the priesthood to all worthy men. No matter what the culture we live in or what truth we have been given from the Lord, we are all a part of the gospel. Everyone chose this plan and this gospel as a way to get back home to their Heavenly Father. One thing I love about this Church is that we have an understanding of life before this. We understand that we had purpose in coming to this world.

 

Knowing this and understanding that the Lord is know respecter of persons has given me a new perspective on how I should view all of God's children. In the Marriott school we often are in siloes that have different reputations and ranks. I have come to realize that these things are very juvenile and unimportant because we are all equal in the most spectacular way. The one that thing that is the most important is that we belong to our Heavenly Father and his gospel. Everyone can be baptized and feel the blessings our Heavenly Father is waiting to pour out to us.

The Lord will guide us to those who are in need of the truth, the truth that is rightfully theirs. My favorite verse we discussed in class was Acts 10:23

And they said Cornelius the centurion a just man and one that feareth God and of good report among all the nation of the Jews was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house and to hear words of thee.

Rejoice in Suffering

This week in New Testament we talked about Peter and some of the other apostles that were being persecuted for preaching about Jesus Christ. In Acts 5 they were actually beaten and told to stop preaching about Jesus Christ. There response was shocking to me:

Acts 5:41
And they departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

I thought about the many times that I have been called out or suffered in the name of Jesus Christ. Although I have never suffered as Peter or those who were with them I have suffered in some ways. In each case I have never responded in the way these men did. Many missionaries may be in similar situations as they are persecuted for spreading the gospel. Would they ever think how blessed they actually are to be able to suffer shame for his name. The more I think about this the more I realize how correct they were to rejoice.

Would you rather be the apostles who have the light and knowledge of Jesus Christ and were chosen by him to spread the gospel or would you rather be the person who has no knowledge and therefore persecutes those who do? I think I along with many other would rather be beaten then have the knowledge of the gospel taken away from me. Even writing this statement I feel like it is very strong, but that is how the people of there day had to be and I feel like it is the same way we as disciples of Christ must also be.

Be a Witness

I am currently taking a new class at BYU known as New Testament. For those of you who aren't familiar with BYU curriculum we are required to take 14 credits of religious classes. Required to me seems like a very strong word in this case because I really enjoy taking these classes. This happens to be my last one because I am graduating in April! I will really miss this part of my education though. Throughout the semester I am to share with you some of my insights and feelings regarding the last half of the New Testament.

During the first class we talked being a witness because the apostles have now been called to teach "the uttermost part of the earth." Our professor asked us to think of times in life when we have witnesses. The obvious response was in court. In this court case we are called to be the witnesses. Witnesses testify, but who are we testifying for? Are we testifying for our own beliefs...maybe, but I think its bigger than that. We are here to testify for Christ. He is the one on trial being slammed by the entire world for say not existing, not saving all of us, not being a loving being and so on.

The apostles as they accepted this call must have felt overwhelmed as have many others throughout history who have been called as a witness. I also feel overwhelmed as I commit each week in Church by taking the sacrament to be a witness at all times. I was trying to think of ways I could be a better witness of Christ, especially when I leave this campus. Here are the following few things I came up with and I challenge you to also take these upon yourselves.

·       Testify of him daily

·       Learn of him and his attributes

·       Pray to be like him

·       Stand up for him whenever possible