A few posts back, I mentioned something about striving to have daily interactions with the Spirit. While I do not post often, I assure you I am trying. Last night I read stuff and this morning it’s still fresh on my mind. For those of you who aren’t part of the awesome group a very close friend of mine started on Facebook, here’s today’s post. P.S. If you want to be a part of our group, tell me and I’ll add you! It’s called “I Need Some Help Putting On My Armor, Got A Second?” We share things, set goals together, and build each other in righteousness. I like it. :) Anyway…

**SORRY…I’m long winded. This will be time consuming, but I feel it and am impressed to share.**

Jeff and I are working our way through the Ensign and Elder Holland’s talk was last night’s reading. I love the way Elder Holland brings the gospel to life and I love the message of this talk. “Do you love me?” I am reminded of a scripture that I spent quite a bit of time studying and pondering over a while ago. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus is asked by a Pharisee “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus responds with the familiar words “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart…This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” The Savior then delivers with a powerful statement that caused me to stop and really think: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” So there you have it. If we truly love God with all our hearts, we will love His children and will serve them. Once we have perfected ourselves in these two commandments, it seems to me that everything else will fall into place. “On these two commandments hang all the law…” We love God more than anything, so we do not hesitate to serve in any capacity. We love God more than anything, so giving Him our tithes and offerings is easy. We love God more than anything, so worldly things slip away without a second thought. We love God more than anything, so temple attendance, church meetings, and personal preparation are our first priority. We love God more than anything, so forgiveness comes naturally, faith comes easily, and hope is bright.

If you are struggling, start here. Pray for love. Study our Heavenly Father and rebuild your relationship with Him. Love will open your heart to trust, which builds faith and hope and will allow our Heavenly Father to really guide you. I truly believe that this is the first step in personal improvement and in preparation for the Savior’s coming. “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

The First Great Commandment

 

It still feels so surreal. How could something like that happen? How could those little children be taken so heartlessly? And what of the teachers and administrators? We are indeed thankful for their bravery and courage as they protected those precious souls.

I feel a need to offer peace and hope to those struggling. I don’t know who will read these things or if it’s of any benefit, but I can’t stop thinking about it, so for my sake at the very least, I continue to study and find peace on the revealed light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

From our dear Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, God’s mouthpiece on Earth:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/08/may-we-so-live?lang=eng&query=could+god+let+happen%3f#footnote1-02208_000_002

“The darkness of death, however, can ever be dispelled by the light of revealed truth.

“I am theresurrection, and the life,” spoke the Master. “He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” ^{(John 11:25-26)}

This reassurance—yes, even holy confirmation—of life beyond the grave could will provide the peace promised by the Savior when He assured His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” ^{(John 14:27)}

Out of the darkness and the horror of Calvary came the voice of the Lamb, saying, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” ^{(Luke 23:46)} And the dark was no longer dark, for He was with His Father. He had come from God, and to Him He had returned. So also those who walk with God in this earthly pilgrimage know from blessed experience that He will not abandon His children who trust in Him. In the night of death, His presence will be “better than [a] light and safer than a known way.” ⁴

Saul, on the road to Damascus, had a vision of the risen, exalted Christ. Later, as Paul, defender of truth and fearless missionary in the service of the Master, he bore witness of the risen Lord as he declared to the Saints at Corinth:

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

“… he was buried, and … he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

“… he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

“After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once. …

“After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

“And last of all he was seen of me.” ^{(1 Corinthians 15:3-8)}

In our dispensation this same testimony was spoken boldly by the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he and Sidney Rigdon testified:

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” ^{(D&C 76:22-24)}

This is the knowledge that sustains. This is the truth that comforts. This is the assurance that guides those bowed down with grief out of the shadows and into the light. It is available to all.

Someone posted yesterday that God either doesn’t care, or He isn’t there. I understand this perspective…it’s hard to believe that a loving God could allow such young children to be brutally murdered. I have been pondering this question, and while I can’t find an answer…I found counsel in the words of modern prophets and apostles. It is not for us to understand all the workings of God. He has a plan and a purpose. He has given us agency, the right to choose. He doesn’t control our actions. But He lives and He loves.

From Quentin L. Cook, Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-songs-they-could-not-sing?lang=eng&query=tragedy

“Something stirs us when we become aware of such tragedy, especially when suffered by innocent people.

“…Whenever tragedy occurs, we mourn and strive to bear one another’s burdens. We lament the things that will not be accomplished and the songs that will not be sung.

Among the most frequently asked questions of Church leaders are, Why does a just God allow bad things to happen, especially to good people? Why are those who are righteous and in the Lord’s service not immune from such tragedies?

While we do not know all the answers, we do know important principles that allow us to face tragedies with faith and confidence that there is a bright future planned for each of us. Some of the most important principles are:

First, we have a Father in Heaven, who knows and loves us personally and understands our suffering perfectly.

Second, His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer, whose Atonement not only provides for salvation and exaltation but also will compensate for all the unfairness of life.

Third, the Father’s plan of happiness for His children includes not only a premortal and mortal life but also an eternal life as well, including a great and glorious reunion with those we have lost. All wrongs will be righted, and we will see with perfect clarity and faultless perspective and understanding.”

I look forward to that day when I can understand with perfect clarity why these things happen. But until that day comes and we are ready to learn, we must have faith and hope in God, His son, Jesus, Christ, and in the good of humanity.

 

 

“But little children are alive in Christ…” (Moroni 8:12)

“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set Him in the midst of them…” (Matthew 18:2-3)

“BEHOLD YOUR LITTLE ONES” (3 Nephi 17:23)

I found myself wide awake at 4 AM today…unable to fall back asleep because my mind started wandering. I don’t know what brought it on, but I began thinking about my students and for some reason my mind focused on a strange “what if.” What if a gunman entered our school and threatened my students? I played out several scenarios in my head and although it would be terrifying, I settled on how I would handle the situation were it to arise in my classroom. I felt peaceful as I realized I had an obligation and a desire to protect my little ones at all costs. I didn’t go back to sleep, but after I reached that resolution my mind moved on to other things, like my lessons for the upcoming day. It seemed a little random, but that’s what happens at 4 AM.

The day went on without incident and I just felt so happy with my students. We have some challenging ones, but I just love them all so much! I felt at peace with who I am and what I do as a teacher. It wasn’t until after school that I heard the news. Being a teacher in an elementary school, it hit really close to home, and I was just stunned. I felt incredibly grateful for the teachers and administrators who were there for those children today. I was grateful for the reminder to be prepared. My seemingly random thoughts this morning at 4 AM helped me to answer the question so many teachers are asking right now… “What would you do if this happened at your school?” It’s an easy answer…protect God’s children, for that is what I am chosen to do.” In the moment, we have to know how to react because there will be no time to decide. I believe firmly in God’s power to protect and to give courage when it is needed, so I think and hope I will not hesitate.

As I’ve pondered the events of the day, I feel sadness for those affected by the tragedy. I can’t imagine the pain of receiving or sharing the news that a child, a friend, a parent, a sibling has been killed. I worry about those who witnessed it first hand, especially the children. I feel sorrow for the shooter and his family. I feel helpless, knowing I can’t offer support in a real personal way. But I also feel something powerful enough to wash out the bad…

I feel hope because of the Savior’s Atonement and God’s perfect plan for His children. I feel peace and assurance that those who were killed are being held in the arms of loved ones and angels beyond the veil. I feel peace and assurance that those who were left behind are being held in the arms of loved ones and angels beyond the veil. I see in my mind  and heart a loving Savior, a kind Heavenly Father, and a gentle Heavenly Mother holding those precious children and weeping with them. I sense the sorrow They feel for all of those people…children and adults. “But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul…I have beheld His glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love.” (2 Nephi 1:15) “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be anymore pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelations 21:4). They rest with God, comforted in His arms.

Despite what many on the world may say, God is there. God cares. He is weeping with us. His pain is great because of His perfect love for all mankind. He didn’t allow this to happen. He HE LIVES. Do not lose faith in Him! Several years ago, I experienced something very personal and very sacred with a very special family, and I learned a powerful lesson from Mormon as I tried to offer comfort and support. “But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ…How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of His resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal…” (Moroni 7:39-41). Despite the tragedies that we have faced and will continue to face, we can have hope. Because of Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, and Atonement, we can be raised to glory, to live with Him, and with our loved ones. Pray for those who are aching, whose hearts are hurting, and feel God’s peace and assurance that He cares, that He loves, and that He lives. We are not alone.

He’ll Carry You (click to play)

 

I reached the ripe old age of 27 a few weeks ago, and I just don’t feel like that’s possible. In many ways, I still feel like a 21 year old (despite the fact that I am a teacher, married, and own a house), not old enough to be responsible, but not young enough to rely on my parents. Anyway, I spend a lot of time reflecting and pondering about life and it seems I have been doing so more than usual lately…probably because I have to accept the fact that I can now say “I’m close to 30!” and there is still so much for me to accomplish and I want to make sure my life is as happy as it can be! I have been focusing my thoughts on my spiritual side and found a weakness. I am not the same person I was. I am experiencing the spirit in new ways, and sadly, not as frequently as I have in the past. After 27 years here on Earth, I’ve learned that life is full of hard things, and those hard things can always get worse, and usually do before they get better. In order to conquer hard things and endure the trials and pitfalls, we have to be spiritually grounded. We need to KNOW that there is a God and that He is watching out for us…every step of the way. I think I’ve allowed myself to get distracted from that recently and it’s time to re-center and re-balance my life, so I can enjoy the rest of my time here. :) I get the feeling that change is coming…and I want to be ready for it. So here it is: Daily (may be posted weekly) Interactions with the Spirit. That’s what I need…to recognize God’s hand in my life on a regular basis. I know He’s there…I’ve never doubted it, but sometimes I fail to pay attention. My goal is to change that by recording the small things I notice each day. Sometimes I’ll post here, and other times I’ll post it privately. But the important thing is that I notice and express thanks.

Daily Interactions #1: It’s been exactly one year since we moved into our home. We were so busy getting moved in and cleaned up that Christmas just seemed wave on it’s way out. I didn’t really get into the spirit of it, and it made me sad. I watched this video today and it really touched me deeply. It’s not just your average flash mob… I was actually very touched by this, at first it was because of the common people listening, and singing, testifying of Jesus Christ. I was impressed by their boldness in testifying of Him in a crowded place and with such vigor! (Also, notice the location, especially at the end. Sorry Santa…thunder stolen.) How often do we sing Christmas carols without really paying attention to WHO we are singing for and about? Watch and remember the messages of the music. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He did come to Earth as a baby that night in Bethlehem. He did live and die for us, and lives now to guide us home. Forget about “Christmas,” and focus your lives and hearts on Christ, our Savior. This is what will bring you peace, happiness, and hope this season…and for the rest of your life. I am very grateful for this sweet reminder that we have a Savior, He was a gift to the world for all eternity, and He is the reason we have hope in our hearts and faith in the future.

Jesus Christ is Born

 

 

Wow! What a weekend! Conference always feels like a vacation to me, and it’s hard to let go of the beautiful experiences and go back to work. I love the spirit that lifts and teaches, the messages from our Heavenly Father through His prophets and apostles, the music that touches the deepest part of me, and the assurance that God lives, that He knows me, that He loves me.

Prepare yourself for ramblings…I am not a writer, I am a feeler. I feel things quite deeply and I can’t usually articulate those feelings, but because of their intensity I think I have to try. I don’t need sympathy or pity (thanks though!) because I feel great! But  I feel like I should share my experience, so here it goes.

This weekend I am especially grateful. I have been praying and studying and hoping for some kind of peace and assurance about our little family of two and our goal to make it three. We’ve been hoping and praying for children for about a year and a half. I know it’s not super long, and I don’t complain (well I try not to) because I have friends and family who have been struggling for much longer and I don’t feel like I have a reason to whine. But it’s not always easy either. Most days I feel patient and not too worried, but occasionally I feel mighty discouraged. After the classes I attended (thanks Jenn!) and the studying I’ve done about fertility, I feel like I know “what’s up,” but still…we have been unsuccessful. The hardest thing to accept are the answers I’ve received. As I pray and study and ponder in the temple, hoping for something, I get nothing. I just feel…blank, for lack of a better description. I keep saying “I know it’ll happen, I just don’t know when.” But inside, I don’t know the “if” part either. I try to have faith, but it’s hard when I feel “blank.” :) That is why I am so grateful today for General Conference. After a year and a half of not knowing and not feeling anything about this particular issue…it happened. I felt something.

As Elder Oaks spoke about the children on Saturday afternoon, I felt emotions I’ve never experienced before. I still can’t explain it! My entire life I have felt a special connection with children. I have always been, and still am, awkward and shy around adults (I know I am one…but I don’t feel like it), but being with children feels natural and easy. I know that is a characteristic I chose and was blessed with. Heavenly Father loves His precious little ones and my calling is to serve them. I am still figuring out what it all means…and how I can better magnify that calling, but I was reassured that I have a purpose in His great plan and that I can make a difference.

I have been preparing to be a mother since the day I was born, and even before then I expect. I have been looking forward to it for ages. During college, I prayed and visited the temple frequently, with the question “What would Thou have me do with my life?” Over and over and over I got the answer “prepare for motherhood. That is what I need you to do. Bless the children.” It came up in scripture, in revelation, in all kinds of literature, and most particularly in my heart. As Pres. Eyring spoke Sunday morning, the things he described about his daughter in law, I immediately felt it was one of those “this is for you Bobbie-Jo, because I love you” moments. Her feelings seemed to match mine so well, and I finally felt a reassurance that it’s all going to be right. It was a confirmation to my faith in God and His timing. I still don’t know if/when things will work out the way we hope, but I do know that God is in control and He blesses those who serve Him. I thought of Elder Oaks’ talk again, and decided to change what I am praying for, just as Pres. Eyring’s daughter in law did. I will pray for an errand, and for guidance in how to fill my time that I have committed to my Heavenly Father. There are good things I can do for His children as I wait for my own to come…by whatever means are right in Heavenly Father’s plan for us.

What a great blessing it is to know what we know through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What a blessing it is to know that God still speaks to His children through prophets and apostles. I am grateful I payed attention this weekend and prepared myself to be taught. The gospel is real!

I AM A MORMON. I KNOW IT. I LOVE IT. I LIVE IT.

I am overflowing with these powerful feelings I can’t explain. It’s like nothing I remember feeling, and I feel everything. This is what I wrote during conference this afternoon…

“Wow…Elder Oaks’ talk about the our duty to children really hit me hard. I don’t know or understand what I am feeling. I just feel like I want to do something and I need to be doing more. I know as a teacher I have great impact, but today…it doesn’t feel like it is enough. I can’t handle the thought of all the children in the world suffering from abuse, hunger, neglect, disease, loneliness, etc. I want to wrap them all in my arms and keep them safe. I know it is an impossible dream, but I feel so compelled to help them. I feel so sad for those precious little ones and I just wish I knew what to do…I wish I knew what these feelings mean so I can take action. I suppose the only thing I can do is pray for guidance. Pray for opportunity and for strength and faith to act. I pray for my little ones all over the world, because in my heart…they are all mine. I don’t have my own children, and I don’t know if I will be able to have my own, but I have children all over the world that I want to have as my own.”

I turned to Jeff and asked if we could bring them all home. I asked if we could turn our house into a shelter for abused and neglected children so they don’t have to hurt or be alone. He said no. So I asked if I quit my job, if that’d be ok. Again…no. Then I asked if we could spend a few years traveling the world helping those children and bringing them special things. Of course, we’d bring them home with us. He laughed and accused me of being a kidnapper. I am kind of serious though…I feel such a strong, special connection with children and I want them to have a happy life and a good future. As Elder Oaks said, they are vulnerable. They need good, righteous adults to care for them, to guide them, to protect them, and to love them. Why not us? Why not me? I can do that! I just wish I knew how…

“Let’s build a garden.” Ok! “Maybe we’ll even get something to grow!” If only we had known…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news, life is good! I am absolutely in love with teaching half time (first grade at Riverside in West Jordan, for those who don’t know. I teach math, science/social studies, and writing. Heavenly subjects). There are things I miss about full time teaching, but I have such a low level of stress right now I can’t even begin to complain. :) I just love those kiddies and I am grateful I was blessed with this position!

Jeff recently (as in…4 days ago) got offered a new position at Overstock.com. He is now the FED Architect, which is a lead position. For the non-nerds (I have to admit that I am less non-nerd than before), FED stands for Front End Development. He works his tail off and regularly comes up with ideas to make the site better, increase productivity, and now he gets to be in charge of that stuff. He is constantly being told how valuable he is to the company and how much they appreciate his ideas and work ethic, so he really deserves it! Hooray! :) He is still adjusting to the added responsibility…mmmm…mostly just to the extra meetings and less time to program. But it’ll be a good change we think!

Other than that, we are just happily living life as best we can in Riverton! :) Oh and I went to the fair for my first time ever. :) See!

We didn’t buy any greasy food (the smell of the fair was killing me) or ride any rides, but we saw a free comedian and a free Jars of Clay concert. If you don’t know who they are, look them up. They write beautiful music…some favorites are “Love Song for A Savior” and “Faith Like A Child.” Good christian rock!

 

 

July went crazy! But first a quick update from my last post. There are no pictures. We got new phones in June, and my memory card with all the pictures from 2012 is now lost…Jeff did it, but he can’t remember where he put it. Boo.

I did get the job I interviewed for after my last post. It’s a 1st Grade Job Share at Riverside Elem. in West Jordan. I will share a class with another teacher. She’ll teach the morning Language Arts, and I’ll teach the afternoon Math, Science/Social Studies, and integrated writing stuff! The school is moving back to Title One, the econ status is low, and I will probably see a lot of transient families and ELL students. Basically this means it’s going to be TOUGH academically and behaviorally. But hey, I got into teaching to help the kids who struggle, to make a difference in their lives, and to be the kind of friend and role model so many young ones need. I wanted to do more than just teach the core, I wanted to teach the people and change their lives, so it’s really the perfect situation for me, even though it’s going to be difficult. Anyway, after several meetings, I think it’s going to be awesome. The girl I’ll job share with is a lot like me, so it’s going to be rockin! AND it’s a traditional schedule, so I don’t have to start mid-July, my first day is at the end of August! WOOT! :)

Jeff didn’t get the job at LinkedIn, even though they loved him. So we are not moving to California and I can keep this beautiful house we just bought! We probably will head out there someday, since Jeff’s dream is to work for Google, but I have to be honest…I am personally grateful the offer didn’t come. I love CA, but I felt very unsettled about moving there, so no offer at all was a blessing…it meant I didn’t have to make the hard choice between Jeff’s dream (LinkedIn is a part of the Google Campus, so he’d be right there…a part of it all!) and my heart. Thank you Heavenly Father for watching out for me on this one. I literally had nightmares about this decision…but all is well! :) God watches over us and takes care, even in the silly things.

4th of July

We celebrated in our traditional way. Family BBQ’s followed by fireworks at our house with popcorn and smoothies. Mmmmm…

 

GIRLY WEEKEND!

A few of my teacher friends and I flew to CA to see Sarah (another teacher friend who left us a year ago for sunnier skies). We spend the day in LA, doing all the touristy things like photographing the Hollywood sign, checking out that place where stars have stars on the sidewalk and cemented foot/hand prints. Not my scene…I guess I just don’t get the whole “Hollywood” fad. Although, if I had seen a Beatles star, I might have been more into it. :) We drove through Beverly Hills, walked down Rodeo Road to get Sprinkles Cupcakes/Ice Cream (good stuff and they have a cupcake ATM machine which is rad), ate at Pink’s Hot Dogs (definitely a hot spot and an “I must return” kind of place), and played at the beach, which is always my favorite part. We went out to the Santa Monica Pier, rode some rides (my FIRST ferris wheel experience was out over the ocean…awesome!), ate some food, and enjoyed the ocean and palm trees. It was beautiful and I decided I am meant to be a beach bum. I could sit on the beach all day and all night, just staring out into the open sea, pondering, reflecting, and feeling. Aaaah….my 3rd heaven! :) We spent a lot of time driving around and I thoroughly enjoyed the crazy awesome architecture and houses around LA.

We also spent a day in Bakersfield, where Sarah lives. It’s pretty…cool. :) We just enjoyed hanging out and being with each other! I am really happy we were able to go out and visit! It is always a great feeling to see a wonderful friend after so long! We had a great time, and I wish I had more pictures, but my camera and my phone died early on in our trip…so enjoy what little bit I have!

 

 

 

Anyway, we had a GREAT time and I am thinking it will happen again sometime soon, right ladies?! :)

Next…

After my weekend in CA, I went right to Girl’s Camp, which needs it’s own post…it was too awesome! The day after camp, Mark, Kelley, and Logan came to visit for a day or two. We headed to Evanston to celebrate Jeff, Jared, and Spencer’s birthdays. The following day, we got to be there and participate in Spencer’s priesthood ordination. It was pretty cool and he’s excited to be a deacon! :) Good times with family! I, of course, didn’t think to take pictures, so this is all you get!

July was pretty busy in an awesome way! Hooray! Welcome August…

 

I have a lot to say, so I will sum up the way my students would. I call it “And then sequencing.”

So we moved into our house in December and I don’t think we’ve been without a project since.

And then…In January I started a job and we were hitting the basement hard! It was exhausting, but the progress we made was AWESOME!

And then…in February we hit a rough patch, so we ran away to San Diego for a weekend. I have learned and am still learning deeply of the power of prayer, the peace of the Holy Ghost, and the reality of the Savior and His Atonement. There is a God, He loves us, He heals us.

And then…March came and it obviously didn’t leave an impression on me. I have no memory of March. WAIT! I just remembered. We finished the basement with a paint your pants off party, and our renters moved in! They are friends of ours (Jeff and Jon have been amigos since High School and Melissa and I met through them!) and we LOVE having them here. :) March WAS great and it did make life easier (no more slaving away in “hell,” as one student put it).

And then…I took over a first grade class at my school, which means I planned for that class AND planned for a sub to do my regular job (which includes planning reading/math groups for 16 small groups). Yep.

And then…we spent April doing yard work, traveling to St. George for Ryan and Anna (temple official YEAH!), and I got CRAZY spoiled during Teacher Appreciation Week. I came away with $100 to Jamba Juice, a fridge full of OJ, a pantry full of Sun Chips, and loads of love letters from first graders. :)

And then…in May we celebrated Mother’s Day (digging a ditch for my mom), helped Jeff’s mom move in/out of a house, attended a beautiful funeral for our sister’s baby, enjoyed sunshine on Memorial Day, and  then I took over a different first grade class, which meant more sub plans. Boo…yay!

And then…suddenly it’s June and it has been just as busy! We celebrated two happy years of marriage on the 5th (I was a sickee, so we went to dinner and I crashed early, which meant Jeff could play Diablo 3), we spent the following weekend in San Francisco/Silicon Valley where Jeff interviewed with LinkedIn. And then, when we got home I interviewed for a school in West Jordan. Change may be in our future!

And then…there were pictures, which I will post at a later date because Jeff is coming home soon and I miss his face. :)

So…we’ve been busy. Surprise! I guess that’s part of being an adult and having a job and a new house with a remodeling project. Most days for the past 4 months have consisted of waking up, going to work, eating a quick dinner, and heading down to the basement until midnight. Then we started over the next day…it was a continuous and occasionally vicious cycle and I admit…I complained a few times. Oops. BUT IT’S OVER! For the first time in over a year I feel stress free! No anxiety over jobs, finding a home, or fixing up a home. It’s pretty sweet…kind of like being a kid when all you had to worry about was waking up in time for cartoons on Saturday morning. :) I know there are more projects coming our way (yard work, cleaning out the crap in the garage left by the previous owners,) and being a teacher is rarely stress free, but holy moly I feel so light right now! YEAH!

**Quick insert because it applies so well. At school, I was teaching a reading group at story time lines. We were discussing past, present, and future. A discussion between students ensued and a few of them made religious connections. **I must point out, for legal purposes, that I didn’t not start the conversations, engage in them, or teach religion in a public school.** A student stated that “the past was like when Nephites and Lamanites lived here. But then they didn’t live righteously so they all died. Now we live here and that’s like the present.” That got another student going and out of nowhere he shouts out “The basement is hell!” I had to turn around and laugh…there was no hope holding it in. He may have continued making other connections, but I missed it because I was laughing so hard. Bahaha! I love my 1st and 2nd graders. This conversation happened relatively close to the end of our project and I was feeling burned out. I left school the following Friday laughing and telling the other teachers that “I didn’t want to go to Hell!” We had a good laugh…Jeff had a good laugh…and I hope you do too!

So…the basement project is done (not perfectly…it was done with love and flaws) and we have rented the space to some great friends of ours who needed a good, safe, home where they felt they could continue to raise their family. We are grateful we were blessed with the ability to provide such a place for them. We are SUPER GRATEFUL for the family and friends who spent time down there helping us…especially my parents who I think spent AT LEAST  half their Saturdays in the past 4 months in our basement…it’s a long drive for them to come down here and they did it happily, without complaining, weekend after weekend! They pretty much rule! We love you, family! Anyway…you can inquire below to see before and after shots of the basement (not good pictures…my camera isn’t awesome AND…the air was so full of sheetrock dust the pictures came out blotchy) and some of the adventures we had as we worked tirelessly in “Hell.” ;)

I’m sorry…maybe that is not appropriate. But seriously! 4 months of non-stop work down there and then just as I start to really dislike the project and dread going downstairs the “Hell” analogy comes out of nowhere? Coincidence? Maybe..but it was just the humor I needed to continue enjoying the work. :) And we turned “hell” into a “heaven” for the Barnums, so I could totally continue the analogy and pull in things like repentance, change, the Atonement, etc. “Your personal dark places (I’m tired of swearing) can be changed to a place of light and happiness through faith (we WILL make this basement non-ugly), repentance (tearing down walls, changing purple walls to white, dark brown to soft tan), service (family and friends), and dedication (I worked as hard as any man).” See…we did good things. :) Anyway…enjoy the pictures! :)

First I have to explain how awesome we are. We don’t own a truck or an SUV, which you might think would make any large home improvement project impossible. Let me enlighten you. We drive a Prius. I never, ever, thought I’d own one. But we do and we LOVE it. Not only is it fuel efficient (averages a super sweet 45 mpgs yeah!), but it’s ridiculously spacious. We fit the 36 inch vanity in it, the dishwasher, and 8 foot long (only 3.25 feet wide) pieces of sheetrock…among other things. You probably don’t believe me, but I have proof.

And that is how we roll. If you ever need help moving or something, you just call us. We’ll bring the Prius.

And now to the good stuff….the before and after shots of the basement! Beginning with the bedrooms.

We didn’t start taking pictures until we had started working. The windows were “framed” with white baseboard…which we ripped off asap. You can see it laying on the floor! The walls have this rough texture on them, we tried scraping it off (as seen in the turquoise room), and then just skim coated the bedroom walls to smooth them out a bit. It was hard work, so we only skim coated the bedrooms…

We skim coated, painted, and had to re-sheetrock the inside of the window boxes. The previous owners left huge gaps between the window frame and the sheetrock. The spider gaps had to go! But LOOK! The difference is incredible! Clean carpets, new paint, better walls!

We moved on…to the bathroom and hallway at the bottom of the stairs. Oh sweet adventure :) We took down a wall, removed a door and added a wall, replaced the sink with a vanity, tiled the floor where the wall used to be, moved the auto vent inside the wall, rearranged and moved some electrical outlets, and CLEANED! And this is how it started…

And now for the after effects of all that hard work. The bathroom was crowded, there was no counter space, so the previous owners and put a cupboard-ish thing in next to the sink. There was not enough room for even one person to move around! The old vanity light had mismatched light fixtures, the paint was yellow, that weird wall took up half the space…I hate bathrooms, but this one felt worse than a small town gas station restroom…the kind you are afraid of. We are not awesome do it yourselfers, but we are VERY proud of the work we did in here… SEE!!!!!

 

FINALLY…the big room and the long, long, hallway. ALL of this area (walls AND ceilings) were a dark, poopy, brown. It made the whole basement feel small, dark, and depressing. I hated going down there alone. I am convinced we had a ghost down there. The whole thing just creeped me out. Go ahead…see how creepy it is.

 

And then we hosted a “PAINT YOUR PANTS OFF PARTY!” We all started with our pants ON, and then got right to work. :) Family came, we painted, and installed cabinets. After we painted our pants off, the next few weeks were spent on putting together granite tile counter tops (cheaper than doing laminate!). Progress is awesome!

Well…our hard work in “hell” paid off! We finished installing cabinets, installed our counter top and appliances, added a new light fixture for the dark corners, and TA DA! You can live down here! The best part is though…I think we scared the ghost away. I am not creeped out by the basement anymore! Here is the finished project (minus the cabinet sitting on the floor by the fridge…we hung that one later)!

Again…I apologize for the crappy pictures. I don’t claim to be artistic in anyway, and that includes photography. :) But you get the idea. We worked our tails off and kicked the trash out of that basement and it looks AWESOME (as long as you don’t look too closely…)!!!

Other recent happenings have happened, but I feel like this blog post is long enough already. I’ll come back soon and brag…I mean…blog about the other fun we have in our lives. :)

HAVE A HAPPY DAY! :)