New Car! Cadillac SRX4

I'm going to miss my old car (2005 CTS) but we needed an upgrade.

We travel so much that being jammed in a sedan with all our stuff and 3 dogs for 15-hour car rides is super unpleasant. I wanted more space.

Our old car was going downhill quickly, it was 15 years old, had 130,000 miles on it, which doesn't sound like much but when a car sits for 10 years it starts to wear. 

We had slid into a curb one winter in 2016 and cracked the front, then ripped it entirely off in Texas last summer when we hit that water. Even the key was broken and couldn't be on a keyring anymore.

I was looking at a couple of different SUV's and Crossovers. 

I knew the features I wanted-

• Our next vehicle HAD to have AWD- our last car was so sketchy in the winters with its rear-wheel drive. 
• I wanted a space in the back I could make for the dogs so they were contained and safe.
• It had to have heated front seats and Bluetooth capabilities. Our last car didn't even have an aux cord port.
• It either had to have an auto-start or they had to add one because I'm not going outside in the ND winter to start my car anymore!

And then I had features that I really wanted but weren't a deal-breaker. Like a backup camera, and I'd prefer a V6 engine.

Well yesterday we decided to make a date of it and got Fro-Yo then drove around to all the car dealerships to look at cars and get ideas of what we like. We figured it would be a few weeks before we would find something we could both agree on and go in. But we stumbled upon this gem, and I fell in love.

It had everything I wanted and needed plus more! And I love my Cadillac's, but I figured I would never find one in my price range with all these features. I literally could not design a car myself more perfectly for what I wanted.

Michael doesn't love crossovers and would prefer a car himself. But he said since I wanted it so badly he would let me choose since I drive it the most. And he went down Monday while I was at work and filled out all the paperwork so I could come sign on my lunch break and drive away with it. 

New Beginnings- My Career

Today I have finished my training and am Offically an RSR for Schwan's.

Back in Utah I applied for a Route Sales Position for Schwan's home services, but unfortunately, I never heard back after the 2nd interview. 

So when we moved out here and I saw they were hiring in this location, I gave it a shot and ended up getting the job!

I always liked the idea of being an RSR because I know the company and enjoy the customer service as well as being out and about instead of cooped up inside all day.

The summer weather is so enjoyable but I know the winter will be a struggle. However, I really love this job.

When I started I was sent to Fargo for training. The company would rent me a car, and a hotel room, and send me out Sunday night, work Monday-Thursday, and then come home again Fridays.

I never used to travel alone, or really do anything alone. And now here I am traveling across the state, being independant and such. Haha.

This job has pushed me way out of my comfort zone, and into situations, I would usually avoid. But I have grown so much in such a short amount of time working here. I never thought I could do the things a job like this required- like driving large trucks, doing meetings, and traveling. Yet somehow I am doing them, and it's not as hard as I always told myself it was.

I always said I wanted my own career that I could support myself and not rely on my husband's income. Now I make almost as much as him, have my own insurance and retirement, and literally have the career I have always wanted.

I have never felt more like an independent feminist woman that putting on my work boots every day.

And I am so proud of myself for everything I have accomplished so far. 

Cheers to new beginnings and personal growth!

Michael's 29th Birthday

Today was Michael's 29th Birthday.

With the Corona-crisis our celebration was limited to the confines of our home.

I was able to go to the dollar store and a couple gas stations to collect balloons and his favorite candies. Then I made his favorite Chicken Dumpling Soup for dinner and baked him a small cake.

Although I would have liked to make a bigger event of his birthday, he much appreciated the little things that made his day special.

"My dear, sweet, amazing husband. Happy 29th Birthday! I love and cherish you. I am so glad I get to spend this life with you! Im sorry we couldn't do anything big or exciting this year, but I hope all your birthday wishes come true. When things get better I'm going to get you something nice. Never forget how much you mean to me or how perfect and sexy you are! Love always- your cute wife 😘 Amber."

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.

Hyrum's Farewell

Today we were able to travel up and see Michael's family before Hyrum left for his 2 year mission.
We went to church to hear his farewell speech, and then the whole family got together for a lunch with many of his friends and neighbors. This is the last time we will see him for the next 24 months.

We don't get all dressed up very often so I had to document it with a picture.