The adventure!

While our other residency friends were being shmoozed with movers, high paying jobs, and sign on bonuses we chose to do a fellowship and move ourselves (SO FUN)! Brian drove a huge penske truck pulling a trailer and I drove the suburban and pulled a trailer. It was quite an adventure. It included a stop in Indiana to see Aunt Jenna (she cooked yummy food for us, of course), a stop at the park (Ben shirtless), Brian not wearing his seatbelt (with a 4 day drive you tend to break some rules a few times), a theft of $5,000 (all of our electronics in St louis Missouri while we were sleeping in a hotel), and an attempt to have Ben pee in a waterbottle while we were driving which got ALL over the car and me in the drivers seat!

PEOPLE I WILL ALWAYS LOVE FROM PA!

Tatiana (an amazing girl and dentist), me and Jen Sumko (the tallest and the most stylish classy mom I know)
Katie (the most kind hearted and loving friend)
Tara (down to earth and just all around GOOD person) she's a fighter!!
Another of Jen just because I LOVE her so much!

Saying Good-bye!

Mary-our neighbor and my kids adopted Grandma!

We've had a crazy last few months. Pretty much the whole time we have lived in PA I was worried about our house selling since we bought at the peak of the market. We decided to put the house for sale at the end of February in hopes that it would sell by summer when we needed to move to Arizona. Within two weeks of it being on the market we had two offers and they were competing with each other and we finally accepted the offer that was $20,000 MORE than we were asking! We are blessed! The only stipulation was that they wanted us OUT April 11th! We went back and forth as to whether we should rent something in PA or if I should just move to AZ and be apart from Brian for 2.5 months! It was a difficult decision. His boards became the deciding factor when he indicated it might be helpful for us to be away while he studied. He's been worrying about passing these boards for 5 years and now they were upon us. I think it was a good decision although I AM MISSING MY HUSBAND LIKE CRAZY!!!!!! We have seen each other for two different weeks throughout the time apart. He comes home for good in less than a week. The kids and I are totally counting down! It all happened so suddenly that it was even harder to say good-bye to our good friends in Harrisburg. I remember the first year I was there crying and praying for friends. When I lived in Arizona I was busy with my business and my family and my husband. After we moved to PA I didn't have my business, my family, or my husband (ALWAYS WORKING). It was also a hard time because little Brian was at a difficult age and I got pregnant within a few months of moving! I thought I'd never make friends. I remember one time going to the park and there were some girls that I thought looked like we could be friends. I was sitting on the grass getting the up the nerve to talk to them. Then I heard them talking rudely about how wild and crazy little Brian (he was 2) was and how they wanted to go to a different park. I FELT SO ALONE! I've learned that sometimes the Lord lets us struggle before he blesses us. I remember crying to my mom about PA and complaining about it ( she was such a huge support to me over the phone, I was seriously always crying to her). She reassured me that it would take time and by the time our 5 year residency was over I would cry when I had to leave. I DIDN'T BELIEVE HER! I said "I will not cry when I leave this place!" I don't remember exactly when the breaking point was ( probably around year 3 of residency) but once I decided I was going to start living my own life and stop worrying about when Brian would be home I started to be happy. I started to work as a weight watchers leader, dove myself into my callings at church, worked a little as an interior designer and I THREW LOTS AND LOTS of parties at my house!!!! I had one friend say that she had never met anyone who didn't drink that liked to party as much as me. It's true. I love parties! Every year it seemed that I had more and more friends and became more rooted and happy in PA! I made so many wonderful friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I can't imagine my life without Mary, Lauren, Jen, Katie, Lisa and many more. They were such a huge support to me and I know that each and everyone of them were supposed to be part of my life! I remember one time saying my prayers and having this overwhelming feeling of peace come over me. I had the impression that GOD led us to Harrisburg and he WOULD NOT abandon me. My time in PA was much more of a learning experience for me than getting my bachelors degree or all the years I ran my business. I'm grateful that while my husband was being trained in orthopedic surgery the Lord blessed me with training. Some of the things that come to mind are patience (5yrs is a long time), frugality ( a residents salary), hospitality (parties), cooking (have to have good food for a good party), gardening (so easy and fun in PA), motherhood ( I felt like I was finally a MOTHER since I wasn't working and could work on being a better one), health and fitness (lost 35 lbs and maintained it for 3 years, started running and completed some races), involvement in education( Brianna attended 4 schools in the 5 years we were there (super stressful having to move her to different schools because they SUCKED), and one year being homeschooled (super super stressful), compassion (service in our very diverse ward), and enduring (church by myself half the time for 5 YEARS, Brian absent holidays, and other important events).

My Cute Brianna

Brianna has grown up so much while we have lived in Harrisburg. She is so sweet and has such a love for her family. She is very obedient, responsible and helpful! I can always count on her to help me out and have a good attitude about it. She takes after her mom and likes being pampered (note the fancy glass that her water is in with her breakfast).This bottom picture is her reading the American Girl catalog.

My Family

It had been a really long time since we had a picture taken. We had the opportunity to do that when Keith got home from his mission. My mom loves this picture because you can tell Keith just got home, he is so happy! I LOVE MY FAMILY! I have the best parents and siblings I could ask for. Each of us is very unique. I love that we all enjoy each other and love to be with each other. It makes me sad when I hear other people talk bad about their siblings. Every night in my prayers I show gratitude for the family I was raised in. They are such a blessing in my life. I am SOOOO excited to move back to Arizona in a few months. WOOHOOO!

Helping Dad

The kids were so excited to be helping Dad out with his truck. Brian is so cute about teaching them stuff like this. I enjoyed the peace and quiet in the house!

Other pictures from my Fall Arizona trip~

WE LOVE OCEAN BLUE! Here is Tamara and I

Bart and Macy (Jenna's cute baby). Tamara being a dork and getting a massage at the mall with Brooklyn watching.

Sisters having lunch after a Last Chance shopping spree!

Keith comes home

Benjamin, my little buddy, on the airplane. It was so fun having just one.
Jenna, my sister and Brooklyn my sister, Tamara's daughter. They are both gorgeous!
Sweet Grandpa and Keith with Aunt Becky and Grandma in the background!

Keith came home in late September and Benjamin and I were lucky enough to go and see him come home. It was such a fun trip. Keith was so full of life and testimony. One of the really neat things is that we were all able to go to the temple together. My mom, dad and all of my siblings were there together. That has never happened before.