2. We got new jobs!

Once we got to Arizona, we hit the pavement, and started looking for new jobs. What we saw from here in NH, painted a lot different picture than when we were out there. Since there are so many people who live in Mesa, what would look like a lot of open job opportunities here, really wasn't when you realized that you were competing with a much larger job pool. The really great thing about Mesa, Az was the high LDS population. There were so many more opportunities for networking, and the various wards had a lot of workshops to help people to improve their job search. After a lot of prayer, and fasting, we were both blessed to be able to find new jobs. Everyone in our new ward was shocked. They weren't the best jobs, but they were just enough to get us through. I got a part time job doing home care for the elderly, and Nick was able to get a job as a telemarketer. The best part about this was the Nick's job was literally right across the street from our apartment, so he was able to walk to and from work, so that I could take the car to be able to drive my clients around as needed. (THANK GOODNESS FOR A GPS!) The worst part about our new jobs was the fact that I worked in the morning, and Nick worked in the evening, so we weren't able to see much of each other.

To supplement our income a bit more I applied to the local Deseret Industries. Again, everyone was shocked that I was able to get in so quickly, as many people had to wait for months to even get a call back from them due to the fact that so many people were out of work in the area. The best part about this, was that the DI pays for you to get extra education so that you can get a better job. I wasn't able to get a job in a facility like I was in NH because the regulations were so different, even if I had the experience. In Az I would have needed a caregiver's license, and then a medication certification, and then a manager's license, to be able to do all the same things that I was doing in NH. Of course, all those things cost a decent amount of money, which we didn't have at the moment.

I really wish that there were more DI's around. It really is such a wonderful program, and a wonderful place to work for. It teaches people how to be good workers, and gives them the tools they need to be able to best look for a new job. Part of the requirements for working there are that, during your working hours, you participate in the Career workshop that the church sponsors, and that monthly you participate in other various workshops which are taught by your supervisors. I don't have enough good things to say about this part of the Lord's works.

Us getting these jobs in the middle of one of the hardest hit places during this recession, and my being able to further my education, was something that really testified to us that we were supposed to be in Arizona, which was something that we struggled with. We felt strongly going out that this is what the Lord wanted us to do, but there was still that tiny part that was afraid, "Well what if this ISN'T what we're supposed to do?" We're not saying that everything went perfectly smooth, but we were definitely blessed by going out there.

So, just to put this out there...contrary to what some people think, we didn't move back because we couldn't find jobs. :)

1. We Moved to Arizona

So, as previously stated, on May 15th, 2009 we packed up everything that we could fit into our new car and drove across country. Anything that didn't fit into our car we basically got rid of in one way or another. We had a few boxes of things which we planned to have shipped out to us once we got settled, but for the most part, if it didn't fit, it wasn't really that necessary. It's amazing what you realize you can do without when you need to fit your entire life's possessions into 32 cu. ft. (Yes, I actually looked it up!)

Here are a couple of pictures of just how crammed our car was.

There was so much weight we were afraid that the tires were going to rub on the wheel well!

-Thankfully that didn't happen!






Did I mention that we planned to SLEEP somewhere in there? Here's how that looked.






























I didn't have too much of an issue with finding a comfortable position, but Nick on the other hand-especially where he's so tall, definitely didn't get the best sleep. He's a trooper though! Even though he didn't sleep all that well, he still drove the majority of the trip. Nick gets car sick really easily, and gets terrible headaches unless he is driving, not only that but I had also come down with a terrible sore throat. We almost thought I was going to have to stop by a hospital to check to see if it was strep or not, but with ibuprofen, chloraseptic sore throat spray, and lots of fluids, I was able to make it through. It finally started to get better once we were in Arizona.

I can't say we slept in our cars the whole trip, we did rent a hotel room one night in the middle of the trip to try to catch up on some much needed sleep. It probably was the best sleep we had gotten in a LONG time. At least it felt that way after sleeping in the car for the past few days. Plus, we were able to SHOWER! I don't think I ever realized how good it feels to feel clean!

A little slice of Heaven on Earth!
























With any good road trip, we had some good laughs, listened to lots of great music, talked a whole bunch and took some funny pictures. I'll post some of the best ones here.

One of the most exciting things about a road trip across country is the time changes!

We didn't go through too many major sight seeing places, but we did see the The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

We did take a little detour and visit the Kirtland Temple. But we forgot our camera! So here's a googled image :)

And this one is for Mike and Ariane, We thought we needed our own Sonic photo. :)

There were some hilarious billboard signs on the
way. This one is pretty simple and straight forward.

Other memorable ones, which we were unable to get a photo of were, "Hitchhikers may be escaped convicts." and "Do not drive into smoke." Both of which were in Oklahoma.




A famous moment from our trip out there was THE WORST rest area EVER.

At first you see the tepees over the picnic tables and you think, "what a great idea, it will protect you from the sun while you're eating" or "Aww how cute!"

You decide pull in. Then, like any normal person who's been on the road for a few hours, the first place you head to is the bathroom. That's where the real horror begins. (We just had to take pictures, it was too ugly not to)

Never mind the 80's pink and black decor. You step into the ladie's room and you're met with cold, hard, stainless steel, The toilets look like they came straight from an airplane. To top it off- Yep! You got it, CURTAINS instead of doors for privacy.

The Men's room, also suited with the lovely pink and black decor, was equipped with a urinal that looked like a cereal box. When they flushed there was blue water that looked like a waterfall rushing down the back of it.

All this AND MORE can be found in the lovely state of:
(This is Nick's "unhappy" face)

Onward with our journey! We went through Texas, (Who's rest area was in stark contrast to Oklahoma-It was the BEST rest area we had seen the entire trip!) and then onto the long haul through New Mexico- This is what we saw for HOURS...NOTHING!
















We made it to Arizona that night, and decided to spend one more night at a rest area in the car. (We had another 3 hours to drive from the New Mexico/Arizona border to Mesa) This is the sign that greeted us.

We never saw any, but that's when we knew "We're not in Kansas anymore."

We were finally in Arizona! We were so excited to be on this great adventure, and to Finally be done with all that driving!












We drove for a total of: [To be updated once I find where I put my notebook of the trip]

LIFE IS CRAZY!!!

Well after being chastised during Sunday school (Thanks Brother Perkes! :) ) for not updating my blog, I decided to get to it! So much has happened in the past 6 months that it's seemed like such a daunting task to write it all down. In brief:

We moved to Arizona
We got new jobs
I got a calling
We left our jobs
We moved back to New Hampshire
We're currently living with Nick's parents
We're currently a part of the Derry ward
We both have new callings
We got new jobs
Nick is back in college for Accounting
We got a second vehicle
Nick is currently looking for a different job
We're trying to save up to get a place of our own

WHEW!

I'll try to keep posting and expand on each of the above items, add photos and all that good stuff,plus add anything new that I can think of. but for now, let's just say... LIFE IS CRAZY!!!