2,500 Miles Later...

Well we finally arrived in Boston yesterday afternoon!!

I'm happy to say we got here without ever: 

a. Running out of gas (Although there were a few close calls)

b. Getting lost

c. Breaking down

 d. Having the trailor get unhitched from the truck

So overall, the road trip was successful! I actually enjoyed the driving part because I got to sleep, read, etc..... AJ on the other hand had to be super attentive the whole time.  He handled it like a champ though!

I'm really excited to be here, although, I must admit I got really homesick yesterday for the first time since we left home.  It's strange to be in an entirely new city where you don't know ANYBODY!! Not to mention, this place is a lot different from what I'm used to.  There are people EVERYWHERE! Needless to say, driving here is a bit stressful.  AJ and I agreed that we are not going to drive our car around here unless we absolutely have to just because it is so insane! It's a good thing that the public transportation here is so awesome. 

Although I miss my friends and family a lot right now, I recognize that this will be a good experience for me.  It's good to be the minority for once in my life. :)

I think I will grow a lot over the next three years.... but I know I'll have to work at it.  I'm going to have to push myself to make friends and get involved in different things. 

AJ has been at orientation all day today and he was excited/nervous about that.  It's definitely a scary feeling to be starting all over again in a place where you don't have any friends yet.  

 Along our road trip, we stopped in Nauvoo for a day and a half and we had a lot of fun! I had already been to Nauvoo when I was 12 or so, but there's a lot you forget in ten years.  I definitely have a new appreciation for the pioneers now!! They had to leave their homes (many people had just finished building their homes there in Nauvoo), many of their possessions, and the town they had become familiar with.  I look at my situation and consider myself pretty lucky.  Although I also moved away from everything I was comfortable with and many people I loved, I did not have to trek across the country in a covered wagon and endure many physical hardships like the pioneers did.  I did not have to leave many of my things behind and start all over. I am able to still talk to everyone I love on a daily basis through phone calls, text, skype, facebook, etc!! 

Overall, I'm pretty lucky. 

Here are a few pics we took in Nauvoo! 

AJ outside of Carthage Jail

                                                                      Carthage Jail

                               This is the bullet hole that shot Hyrum Smith in the face and killed him. 

                                   Standing inside the room where both Hyrum and Joseph Smith died...

                                                                  Nauvoo Temple

                                    AJ and I got to do an endowment session here... it was awesome!
                                                   I promise the temple ISN'T leaning in real life....
                                          the lady who took our picture tilted the camera slightly. 

Goodbyes are lame.

Saying goodbye to so many people you love is not an easy thing.  

In fact, it's one of the hardest things I've ever done.  

I knew it wasn't going to be an easy task.... but it was ROUGH to say the least. Maybe this will give you an idea of how hard it was for both AJ and I..... let me tell you that AJ never cries (I've seriously only seen him cry MAYBE once since we've been married) and he started to tear up right before we stepped into our moving truck.... thanks to Jake Rothfels. :) It was sweet.

To be completely honest, moving to Boston is REALLY scary for me!! Mostly because I've never even been to the East Coast for more than 12 hours and I personally have no idea what it's like there.  So many people have told me I'm going to love it there and I am trusting them.... but until I've actually lived there for a while, I won't be comfortable with the idea of it.  

I know there are going to be really hard days and really good days.... that's just the way it is.  

 

                                                                     

                                               Part of the group at our going away party

                                                         

                                                     Lovin the cheese ball face Nate!

                                                               

                                                              Isn't this precious?!

                                                              

                                                               The Three Amigos

                                                                  

                                                       Isn't this a handsome bunch??

                                            

                                           Mr. Max.... boy am I going to miss this little guy!!

                                                         

                                                  Our awesome friends at Red Robin!

                                                  

                                              Katie, Diana, Mr. Max, me, and Morgan

I love all these people so much!!!

Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication

A few days ago, I was reading the talk by Elder Uchtdorf (one of my very favorites) titled "Of things that matter most" and it really touched me because he talks about how we need to simplify our lives in order to focus on the things that matter most, and most importantly, in order to feel our Savior's love for us. 

As many of you know, I'm working towards a business degree from BYU and I'm working part-time, which

can be extremely busy at times!! Now my intention is not to complain BY ANY MEANS, but

simply say that sometimes it's WAY too easy to get caught up in all the things we have to get done

every single day and oftentimes we allow ourselves to lose focus of what is

most important.

Since Elder Uchtdorf states it much better than I do, I would like to insert a few quotes from his talk that I found to be really touching! 

He says: 

"Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list."

"There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions."

"Brothers and sisters, diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world. That is why “we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, … that [we] may know to what source [we] may look for a remission of [our] sins.” ⁸ In the complexity, confusion, and rush of modern living, this is the “more excellent way.” ⁹

"Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most."

"Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship—the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace." 

So... yesterday morning when I felt really tired,  rushed, and weighed down

by the things on my to-do list, I decided to take the 5 minutes needed to watch this video from Elder Busche and it made all the difference.  

I have seen this video before and it touches me every time! 

So my encouragement to all of you is to SIMPLIFY your life and don't EVER forget to pause and take the opportunity to ponder all the blessings you have been given. If you do this, your life will be richly blessed.