Weekend Fun

I had the bright idea to try to earn some extra money at work. We own 13 properties in Richmond and whenever there are fliers that need to be posted, employees can do it for a little extra moolah. It's 13 cents a flier, which doesn't sound like a lot, but where there's 780 units on a property... it adds up. Unfortunately, I bit off a wee more than I could chew. I signed Matt and I up to do THREE PROPERTIES today! Yikes... although making $300 in a few hours sounds fantastic, about the 340th staircase we climbed my legs were screaming at me and threatening to go get in the car and leave me on the third floor of the complex. It was raining and about 42 degrees. =/ Yuck!!! I'm sorry to say, halfway through the third property, we gave up! I will have to forfeit about $50, but it was so worth it to go get a hot chocolate and take a bubble bath!

When we got home, we decided to do some MAJOR packing. We are moving in ONE WEEK! This time next Saturday we'll be getting ready to go to sleep in our new apartment for the first time! We're so excited. But boy is packing a chore! Who knew we'd collected so much junk in the last two years. The night we moved in, we sat on the floor eating Chinese take-out with chopsticks watching our ancient tv (which was also on the floor- and has since exploded and been replaced)! Our mattress was old and also on the floor, and our only furniture was a $25 yard sale find of a kitchen table and Matt's military trunk. Now we have so much STUFF!! I guess that's what happens when you get married. I can't help but wonder if we'll ever use all four fondue pots we have haha. It was a pretty successful night though. Matt's family came and helped for a few hours. We've got about 80% of our stuff packed. Now to navigate all the boxes while we try to survive here for another week. We had a very productive Saturday! I am really looking forward to Sunday. We're taking a "Strengthening Marriage" class at church and tomorrow night's class is on Communication. Hopefully it goes well. I know Matt certainly doesn't have any issues with communicating! :)

They packed me!!

Umm... who's going to help me out of here?
(I seriously need to hit the tanning bed, yikes!

This is Jake's version of "helping".

I got to babysit my ADORABLE niece Isabelle this week. She is getting so big and I absolutely adore spending time with this little sweetheart. Her favorite thing to say is "wha dat?" and she calls Matt "Pat". She has 8 teeth and has moved right from walking to running all over the place. She is getting so big so quick, and she is such a joy to be around. I have never been around a happier baby! I can't believe that it was 14 short months ago that I held her little tiny 8lb self the day she came into the world. Now she's growing up into such a fantastic little toddler. Uh-oh, I think I'm starting to get baby envy...

We went to the state fair a few weeks ago! :) I finally got the memory card out of the camera, so I thought I'd share. It was fun, but raining. And now that the fair has been moved to the new fair grounds, there was a LOT of walking to do. I think my favorite part was the corn-dog, cotton candy and apple cider! ( and my hair's getting long again, yay!)

"I Will Not Leave You Comfortless"

When I was 18, my whole family each stuffed two suitcases full of my stuff, and managed to fit all of theirs in a tiny carry-on. Then the four of us piled on a plane and flew out west. We toured Temple Square and went all over Salt Lake City. Then we drove up to Idaho and went to Yellowstone. I remember getting ot of the car somewhere along I-15 and taking pictures on the side of the Highway with all of the sunflowers. It's one of the few pictures Mom ever allowed to be taken of her :). When we got off of I-15 and made the treck to Rexburg, a TUMBLEWEED actually crossed the road in front of the car. It was about then that I started to cry. It was finally sinking in that I was going to be 2,500 miles away from home in a town that was TINY and where it snows 8 months out of the year. My family stayed for a day or two (I even insisted on staying in the hotel with them at night and wouldn't stay in my dorm!). Eventually they left and I was miserable! I didn't get along with my roomates and there was nothing familiar to me at all. The weather was different, even the grocery stores were different. Then I had to go shopping... and I walked into Wal-Mart. (I promise there's a point to this story...) FINALLY something familiar, as I walked through the aisles of Wal-Mart tears filled my eyes as I felt the tiny comfort of something familiar. No matter where I go, I can always count on some constants. Wal-Mart will always be the same, the bathrooms will always smell as disgusting, and I can always find a new toothbrush on aisle 13. As a terrified 18 year old so far away from home, I felt a small tender mercy that day when I was comforted by the familiarity of a store I'm not that fond of.

Ok... here's the point to the story. Recently I have decided to make some changes. I have faithfully gone back to church, been praying and reading my scriptures. And no matter how long I've been gone, or how different my life is now... there is comfort and familiarity in coming back to Christ. Am I likening the Savior to Wal-Mart? No. But I recognize this feeling from years ago when I felt alone and comfortless. Although I've been far from home so long, and seem to be in a place that is 100% different from anything I've known before, I can take comfort in the tender mercies of God. He has not left me. He will always be the same. Just like I can always find a toothbrush on aise 13, I can always turn to God, no matter how long I've been gone, or how far the journey is home. In John 14:18 Christ says, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." I have truly felt that more than once in my life. I am so greatful for the knowledge that I am never alone, even though I leave or turn away, Christ never will and all I have to do is turn back.

Whew... what a week!

Wow! It has been quite a week in the Alt household. LOTS of stress! I never imagined moving would be quite this difficult. Who knew how much junk we'd collected over the last two years. Poor Betty is so confused; half of her lounging space is taken up by big bulky boxes. Luckily I've got a good friend at American Eagle who has saved all of the boxes from their Christmas shipments- Thanks Lisa! (Oh my goodness they're getting ready to put out Christmas stuff!!) At least we don't have to spend money on that or a truck. We drove by the apartments last Saturday night to show Matt's parents where they were, and they were doing some work inside and left the lights on! We got to peek in all the windows and check out our new space. :) It's going to be so BIG! Compared to what we have now anyway. And I'm sure we'll just end up with more junk that we don't know what to do with by the time we finally get a house.

Speaking of Christmas, I applied for a few part-time, seasonal jobs this week. I'm hoping to pick up a couple shifts a week. A little extra spending money never hurt around the Holidays! I've got my fingers crossed that I beat the crowd; most seasonal positions don't start until November 1st or so.

I'm having a jewelry party on Tuesday, so that should be fun. I can't believe it's a week and a half before we move... bad planning on my part. But, I didn't know we were moving when I scheduled the party. The jewelry is gorgeous though, so as long as nobody minds dodging a few boxes, we'll be just fine!

I got my car back yesterday!!! Unfortunately, they detailed it and it looks fantastic, now I don't want to sell it haha. It really is my baby. The first car I bought myself. It's also kept me safe through 2 car wrecks! (Although the air bags have never gone off... hmm.) I must say it’s always nice to be able to throw a lot of people or big bulky things in the back. Maybe I’ll keep it… we’ll have to make that decision this weekend.

On another note (can’t believe this post is so long! I need to update more often.) Conference last weekend was FANTASTIC. With church membership at 13,508,509+ as of April ’09, it never ceases to amaze me that somehow I always hear exactly what I need to. That regardless of the topic, or who’s speaking… at some point during the conference, something will touch me in a way that changes my life. I know I complain a lot and whine about how bad life can be sometimes, but I really am so blessed. I have friends with family in Samoa and the Philippines and I am reminded how precious life really is. Please keep them in your prayers. We could all use a few extra prayers these days.

Picture of the day: My B-E-A-U-TIFUL niece Isabelle at the ward camp out. She is the most precious little girl on the planet!