2019 Recap

So this year has been a wild ride of travel, adventure, taking huge risks, and learning that growth comes in the most uncomfortable ways. But I am proud of the learning experiences that have made me a little wiser along the way.

January- We lived in North Dakota. Doing the same old thing we had done for the last several years. Living to work, working to live, and wondering if we would ever leave this state?

February- We adopted our 3rd dog, Rufus.

March- Nothing to report- except the snow was FINALLY starting to melt!

April- Michael turned 28. Decided that he wanted to see what else was out there, and put in his notice to leave the company he had worked with for almost 5 years.

May- We packed our entire life into our little Cadillac, and left anything that wouldn't fit in storage. I quit my job, and we went South. We were moving home to Utah!

June- We quickly found out that the economy in Utah is just as bad as it was when we left in 2014- maybe worse. After hundreds of applications and a few hopeless interviews it was clear we were not gonna find anything stable here right now.

July-Sept Michael went on rotations in Texas working for a drilling company. It was a good job, but he was gone 2 weeks at a time. However on the other two weeks we were here with family and friends. I got to go see family down south and visit new places I had never traveled before. I spent the summer with my family, while still trying to find a job myself.

October- I finally got a job! Working at the same kennel I worked at when I was 17... did my life just full circle back to square one? But a week later Michael lost his job. So we were back to one income- and a HUGE pay cut.

November & December- We spent enjoying the holidays with our family, and deciding what we would do from here. We took the last of our savings and prepared to go back North to our stable state of better economy.

We will be so sad to go again, and be away from everyone. But we had a wonderful summer and holidays. We were here for so much and are very grateful for those memories. But have decided the best thing for us is to go Home.

What this whole year has taught me-

• Don't be afraid to take risks. Quitting our jobs and jumping into the unknown was CRAZY but we did it.
• Enjoy all the little things, because you don't know how long things will be this way. Life changes fast.
• You don't HAVE to have the things you think you do. You can get by with very little. Everything else is just a bonus.
• The grass really isn't greener on the other side. While we were in ND we pined for UT. And when we lived in UT we realized just how good things were for us in ND. 

So here's to 2020. May it be filled with stability, and gratitude. No resolutions- just hope.

Christmas 2019

For the first time in 4 years I woke up early on Christmas day to open gifts with the family instead of just watching through Skype.

I had to get up at 5 am to go to work first, but I was there in the living room in person for Christmas morning. My parents, Uncle Dillon, All my siblings, and Detan. All sitting together watching the boys enjoy the childhood magic of Christmas.

After we finished gifts I got straight to work in the kitchen.

This year for my gift to everyone, I made the Christmas feast alone. Noone else had too cook or stress, and everyone enjoyed a perfect meal. 

Well except Michael, who ended up being my helper through the entire project.

But the feast was fantastic and well worth the hassle.

 Our family picture included Tara and Clif who traveled over 1,500 miles to be here for the Holidays. My aunt Jane who has recently moved here. Sam and her husband Detan, and Harley and her Boyfriend Alex.

It was a good day, filled with food, family, and love.

Amber's 25th Birthday

This year I spent my birthday out with Michael's family.
We went to see the lights at Temple Square in SLC on the 6th. I've always wanted to go, but never actually walked through all the lights.
Then on the morning of my birthday Madelin made me breakfast crepes. A birthday tradition in thier home.

 That evening she also made us a nice Parmesan chicken dinner and birthday brownies. David and Ashli came up for dinner and we all watched Glass Castle together.