More Thoughts

It's been awhile. But are we all really that surprised? I openly mentioned my lack of discipline for blogging in my last post. But I'm still here because although I test the limit to the Chatbook captions on the daily, I still can't get enough of writing my own thoughts and happenings down for my family.
I feel like Chatbooks are our memories and trip books. I post lots of fun moments and trips in those books and I definitely don't regret it. But when they need some more concrete wisdom and thoughts from their Mom (because you will always need that P & B - kidding --{sorta}), they can look through here and dip in our basin of thoughts and memories. And if my children don't know that is a Harry Potter reference than I have truly failed them.
So my thoughts as of recently.  I've been contemplating the blessings of living far away from home {a coping mechanism right? How is living 10 minutes from Mexico a blessing?} and I've discovered a few things that we are so lucky to have. 1. We know people. We have good friends everywhere. How cool is that? And is it weird that we are trying to plan a vacation back to Rexburg? Who thought that would ever happen? But we miss our people. We won't visit you in the snow {I mean, we don't miss you that much}, but we have given our heart to people in so many places. We still talk about that CTR 9 {or whatever its called} class we taught in Salt Lake City. Or our Dual Spires ward in Mesa {Psych anyone}. And now we have people here in El Centro that we have come to know and love.
2. Experiences - That's a whole novel I need to record in itself. There are so many stories that have go untold that need to be shared. In Dual Spires, SLC, Idaho, and here. Especially here. It definitely has given us a unique perspective. 
3. Friends. This one has been on my mind a lot recently. Here we are. A group of wives/families thrown into the middle of nowhere. Obviously none of us have family here and there isn't too much happening either. So we become each other's family. It happened in Rexburg, and it has happened again here. This makes it all worth it. I swear. 
4. Break Barriers: I hang out with people who have teenagers. Which isn't the norm, I know. But this ties back into number three. We treat each other like family here. So we do birthday lunch dates. We do events together and it's okay if all the ages don't match up. College girls come hang at my house just to talk and eat my food. It's fine. It works. And I love it.
Aaaand that's all I got. I know, I know. The list for "Why It's So Awesome to Live Next to Family" is 45 bullet points long. But my sweet boys, I want you to know that there are positive experiences waiting for you. And some might require you to fly the coop. But you will always, always have a place at home. So don't be afraid to venture out and try your wings. 
Also. Audiobooks? GAME CHANGER. I thought I would hate them. I had completely dismissed the thought until recently when I had to try to catch up with my BOM studies and I listened to the BOM while driving, and i liked it. Who am I? A few months later a friend sent me audio books and kinda pushed me toward that path again. I relented. And I am hooked. My house is clean. I'm getting spiritually fed and motivated. And I am also keeping Deseret Books in business. Win - Win! 
Trent and I had been clashing lately - maybe a few weeks. Thankfully, we had a few late night chats and really took the time to sort things out. It took awhile though for me to discern the root of the problem. But I think it was because I am changing as a person. And I needed him to be there for me in a different way.  Well, maybe not different. But I need his presence, and support in a particular way. I needed him to fill a gap that I couldn't fill on my own.  Marriage is work. But I know the work we put in now will only bless us now & in the eternities.   
Honest to goodness. He is the greatest.  I worry sometimes I think too highly of him. Is that possible? 
I sure do hope that my boys find young women who think the same of them.
Next I will have to post aaalll the reasons why Porter is the oldest child. Goodness I love them.