Ch-ch-ch-changes

I hope the song, 'Changes,' by David Bowie is now all in your heads.  Because that is the song in mine.

Well, it is official.  I moved back to Utah last Sunday.  It has been almost a week since I have seen Derek.  Boo-hoo.  I miss him lots and lots.  But it is for the best.

Last Sunday, the day I left, was Derek's 28th birthday.  So, I made him a bomber breakfast in bed and cake for breakfast. 

(Peanut butter cup cake.  So easy.  Don't remember where I found the recipe but it goes like this:

1/2 c pb

1 c crushed graham crackers

1/2 c coconut oil

1/8 c brown sugar

3/4 c + 1/8 c powdered sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 bag milk chocolate chips

1.  Mix everything except chocolate until creamy and pour into 8x8 baking dish

2.  Melt chocolate in microwave (about 1:30) and pour over pb mixture.

3.  Refrigerate at least 1 hour

So easy and he LOVED it.

(He hates this picture.  He says he looks, "Dead"

We like to go on a walk every Sunday after church.  But since my ride (Nicki and Ty Clark) were leaving at 12:45, we went before church and we happened upon this turkey farm.  He doesn't know what awaits him at the end of the month...Poor guy.

The reason I moved home early is because I got a job and they wanted me to start ASAP.  So this is where I work.

So official.  I love it.  It is great.

Happy Halloween + Good News Minute

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY.

Halloween is my 2nd favorite holiday.  It is super close to Christmas.  I love everything about it (except getting scared.  I don't do haunted houses or scary movies).  But dressing up, and trick-or-treating, and Halloween Parties...I am all over that part.  Unfortunately, Derek is a Halloween Scrooge.  He doesn't like to dress up or go trick-or-treating.  He will be a champ and dress up with me for Halloween parties, but he isn't super into it.

This year, was kind of a sad Halloween.  There was NOTHING going on in town (which is weird for Fort Collins) and Derek didn't want to dress up (although he did dress up for the ward Halloween Party) so we sat at home and prayed no trick-or-treaters would come.  Luckily, none did.  Because we had no candy.  Besides, who trick-or-treats in apartment complexes, let alone low income ones.  Nobody would have good candy.  But they would probably have special brownies.  So I guess that is an upside.

Anyway, so I did keep with the tradition of chili on Halloween.  You can read about that one here.  And we went to see the premier of Ender's Game because that is what Derek wanted for his birthday.  Even though it isn't until November 10.  But I went in my onsie so I could still be slightly dressed up for Halloween.

Now for the good news minute.

It is bittersweet for us but I believe in the end it will be more sweet than bitter.  Like a chocolate chip cookie.  I am happy to announce that I got a new job.  But this time I am back in the career swing of things.  I will be back in my field and I will be back in Salt Lake City.  That's right people.  I got a job as a PRN Recreation Therapist at UNI at the Univeristy of Utah Hospital.  I am super stoked.  Working PRN is pretty much the only way to get hired as a full-time therapist.  So I will pay my dues and I will pay them gladly.  I am so excited to be back in my field doing what I do best: helping people make their lives better via different forms of recreation.  And, I get to work with a good friend of mine, John Webb, he was my mentor for my internship at Westridge Academy and is now the Manager of Expressive Therapies (rec, art, music) at UNI.  I am forever grateful to him for this awesome opportunity.

So yeah, we are coming back to Utah.  We are super excited for my new job and to see family, friends, and mountains again.  Not that CO doesn't have mountains, it has great ones.  They are all just 1+ hours away vs. 20 minutes.  3+ hour drive for skiing?  Boo.  Ski Denver my hide.  SLC is where it is at (but let's keep that a secret).

Anyway, we are sad to leave Fort Collins though.  It really is such a great town.  The people here are awesome.  We have made some great friends and had wonderful experiences.  There is always stuff going on, great parks, tons of open spaces that have trails etc., bike friendly, environmentally friendly, the church here is so strong and there are so many opportunities for missionary work.  It has been such a wonderful experience.  We have grown so much in so many ways.  Our marriage is stronger.  Our friendship is stronger.  Our love is stronger.  We have grown spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.  But I am still 5'4.5".  No physical growth.

But yeah.  I land in SLC on Sunday, November 10 (Happy Bday Derek) and he will follow once his internship is over.  So we will be apart, but that is why they invented Skype.