Burg and I are officially HOMELESS.  We moved everything out of the apartment on Saturday thanks to my awesome family.  My mom cleared everything out of one room to make space for all of our stuff and my Dad and brothers Taylor, Daniel, and Christer helped haul it all out of the apartment and into the bedroom.  Turns out we had a lot more stuff than I thought.  We had to do everything so fast that I felt like I was just throwing things into boxes so I will probably need to repack a few things before we leave for Pittsburgh.

I just can’t believe how fast this has all happened.  One day we talked about going to Pennsylvania for school and the next day we are out of the apartment and homeless for 4 months.  We are moving to Pittsburgh for the Summer and then to Philly probably the first week of August so that we can get moved in and settled before the semester starts.  I hope we can try to take things easy this summer.  I am feeling a little worn out.  All the wedding stress just transfered into school stress and I feel like my body is calling out for some much needed TLC.

We hope to see lots of Pirates games, go camping and hiking, barbeque’s, picnics, walks, and anything else relaxing over the summer.  We also hope to be able to explore the big cities around us New York, Philly, DC and some church history sites as well.  Check the website to keep updated on the fun things we are doing.

We just got back form a wonderful trip to Pittsburgh. One Highlight was surprising my mom on her 50th birthday by showing up to her celebration dinner. She didn’t know we were coming! Only my dad and sister knew. She was stunned as you can see in the video. The food was great and never ending, plus my mom got some good “old woman” abuse. The rest of the weekend was spent attending Easter vigil mass with the fam, visintg our future summer ward, introducing Amy to the tradition of searching for your easter basket, and top off with a wonderful visit to Mam-ma and Pap-Pap Coffield for an incredible Easter Dinner. Thanks to the Coffields for giving us a great first married Easter. Enjoy the video.

This is so hilarious. We had to share the laughs with all of you.

Tonight, we spent time over at my mom and dads and had a dandy ol’ time. It’s making me more and more sad to be leaving because I know times like these are going to be so rare in just about a month. Some highlights of tonight are “I SAID NOT!!!!” (daniel), “Is good….:)” (Enchanted), “She likes balls!” (dad), “I thought it covered up his scent, Like it was something that covered….up…his scent.” (me), “uhh…Beamer get DAN!” (taylor). You really had to be there but it was absolutely hilarious!

Yeah good times…..

This week has been a good one I guess. Mostly because we skipped class a couple of days and we really got a lot done. We have quite a bit more packed, now the trouble is getting all the boxes over to my mom’s house. On Saturday I decided to be a good wife while my husband was at work so I cooked and I cleaned and packed and worked and it felt great. I never have time to do those things but I finally had the morning off and I can’t tell you how good it felt to finally get some stuff done. It was so satisfying to actually cook for my husband and get to eat with him. I can’t wait to be a full-time homemaker. I think I will really like it

I always hate for Sunday to end. This week is going to be a busy one. To top off everything else we have on our plate right now I was asked to sing a COUPLE of songs in church next Sunday and speak on the Atonement. Well I sure hope I am able to get it all done. PRAY FOR ME!!!!

Burgess and I have officially started packing up the apartment. It is kind of sad to have so little on our walls and to see boxes in the living room, but at the same time it is exciting that our move is coming so soon! We are very excited to make this change. The advice from family has helped settle the nerves quite a bit and now its just getting more and more exciting! WHOO!

We also bought a new little toy. I was looking at all the pics and videos on Shaun and Janelle’s website and I was thinking, “Wow, I really appreciate them putting these vidoes online because we miss them so much.” Then it hit me, someday, possibly soon we could have kids and we are going to be living on the east coast AND out family will probably want the same thing. AND we are going to be moving and seeing some cool things along the way and as we explore a new city. It would be fun to share those things online too. Hhhmm…we have those flip video camera things at blockbuster and they did just go on sale…” So Burgess and I bought one. Here’s our first test run with the new video camera.

ENJOY! Don’t worry the video’s will get more interesting.

mar 12 2008 – vid00007.avi

That is a question for all of you more wise and experienced than I….

 This morning I found myself in bed not wanting to get out because there is just SO much to do.  I always feel overwhelmed by the list of things to do in the day.  There are always people to call, things to be scheduled, homework to be done, bills to pay, books to read, people to write, errands to run…and the list just goes on and on.  I always feel like there is just not enough time in the day to do everything AND enjoy myself and my husband.  It is hard being in school and working full time.  Especially when we work until midnight and we have to leave for our first class at 6:40 am.  This causes us to want to nap in every spare moment we have not run errands or read a book.  Does it get easier when your out of school.  Does life calm down at all or does it just get worse as everyone always says?

This is why keeping the sabbath day holy is like the best commandment in the world!  On Sunday I do not think about school.  I do not think about work.  I do not think about cleaning, paying bills, grocery shopping or anything really at all.  Burgess and I spend the whole day together and we savor every minute of it.  Even though Sunday is the only day we can actually get to bed at a decent hour, we always seem to go to bed late because we don’t want the day to end. 

Yesterday was a great day.  Church doesn’t start till 11am so we can usually sleep in a little bit (a little later than planned yesterday because we were fooled by day light savings).  We both had lessons to give in church which seemed to go very well.  After church we went straight over to my mom and dads because we haven’t been able to spend very much time over there lately.  My mom and dad were just leaving to go visit someone so we decided to wait around for them to get back.  The sun was out and it was warm so we decided to go on a walk.  We walked and talked for about an hour and a half.  It was so nice and quiet outside.  That walk was such a blessing.  I was just filled with so much peace and love.  When we got back we all just hung around talking about memories and it was just a great time.  It gave me a renewed gratitude for the commandments and how well heavenly Father knows us.  He knows that if we are doing what is right we are working pretty dang hard all week and we need a day of rest.  The resting and worry free environment the sabbath brings is just what we need to reflect on all the Lord has blessed us with and to remember all He suffered for us.

We are so stupid to think we know better when we don’t live the commandments.  I wish it was always this clear.

So anyway, after a wonderful day of rest yesterday I am very sad that today is Monday and I have school and work and packing the apartment and tons of homework and bills, and cleaning and shopping (with no money) and cooking…..the list goes on and on.  I guess I’ll just work my buns off until next Sunday

Probably as much as I worry about making this move (which is a lot, just read below), I am so excited for the road trip across the nation.  I am mostly excited to drive through Nebraska and get to stop in the Mormon Trail Center (the best visitor center for the church and one of the most sacred places on U.S. soil).  When I think about being back in Nebraska I get butterflies and I get all day dreamy thinking back to my most wonderful mission.  I can’t wait to be back in Nebraska in the spring time!  It is so beautiful and especially at the trail center!  The service missionaries that take care of the grounds are the best and make the trail center look magnificent.  More and more visitors start coming in and the sisters there get busier and busier.  There are quite a few school tours that come through which are really fun to give….OH HOW I WISH I WAS BACK IN THE TRAIL CENTER!!!  This was such a great time in my life, full of learning and loving and serving.  No memory brings me sweeter joy than this one.  I am excited to take Burgess through and give him a little one on one tour.  It will be the best to take our kids through someday…..

ok, enough rambling on and on.  I am MOSTLY excited to go to the trail center but I know there are other things to see along the way.  Does anyone have any suggestions of things to see or things to do?  It is a long drive and we are planning on taking it just slightly slower so that we can enjoy the time together.  SO COMMENT AWAY we need suggestions!

Man oh man!  Like I said in our last update we are getting ready for a big move to PA.  I am constantly worried about all of our monthly expenses, finding work, and especially having medical insurance.  My mind is full of numbers all of the time.  I have been bouncing around all sorts of numbers just so we can be prepared.  School will cost almost 15000 each year.  Our living expenses are 1750 a month.  Savings plan is 712 a month (keep in mind we are saving for things we will need that year, christmas fun, food storage fund…etc.)   Somewhere along the line we will want to have a baby and that will be at least 5000 if we are insured (I don’t even want to think about the cost if we are not insured, hence the worried all the time about having insurance).  Life is just so dang expensive and while in school and needing that to be the main focus it’s very hard to find a job that is not only flexible enough but pays enough as well.  I’m just in between classes and crunching numbers and thought I would vent a little online. 

 For all of those who love us dearly please pray for us that the Lord will watch over and provide for our needs and that the government will also have mercy on us and give us a rather large pell grant!

We are so sorry we have not updated this in so long.

First of all we want to thank everyone who supported us with love and gifts and coming to the wedding dinner.  A lot of people came a long way and really spoiled us and we appreciate it so much. 

The wedding was really beautiful!  It could not have been any better (except maybe getting some sleep that day, having time for a manicure, and not having such a bad headache at the dinner).  It was just an awesome experience.  A few special and memorable times of the day were being so nervous the day of and me going to Burgess asking him if he really thinks we are doing the right thing and just needing him to say the perfect thing and then him saying the perfect thing.  Sitting in the celestial room waiting for them to take us into our sealing room….we felt like royalty My Grandpa giving amazing words of wisdom as he taught us about the covenants in the gospel.  Bursting out in laughter when he pronounced us husband and wife.  The most memoriable of course was getting to our surprise honeymoon suite (gift of AMAZING cousin Lindsay) and enoying the rest of our night together

 The honeymoon was very relaxing and just perfect and then we were back to regular life.  So now we have some big plans.  Instead of staying out here for film school as originally planned we have decided the right place for us is back east in PA.  We are packing everything up and moving out in April to go to Pittsburgh.  We will be working there and living with Burgess’ Mom for the summer (we need to save since we are spending every penny moving out there).  Then we are moving about 5 hours east to Philly to go to Temple University.  It has a great film school and we really think Burgess will do great there.  We are really excited for our big adventure.  Neither of us has ever been to Philladelphia and so we are anxious to explore the city and the surrounding area.

 Burg and I are constantly surprised at where the Lord is taking us and in what directions.  We had all these plans for our future and the Lord has changed quite a few of them in the short two months we have been married.  I am just grateful that we have the spirit to teach us and lead us in the way He wants us to go.  I am especially grateful for a husband who is full of faith and is not afraid to take some risks while doing what is right. 

 We will update again sooner.