We hired a real estate lawyer for advice. He basically let us know that we would be better off to do a short sale in iur home and get out from under the mortgage as we would never build up the equity in the home over the next 10 years that basically we was throwing our money away for nothing! He referred us to a local realtor that ha a great reputation for short sales! We then met Marlene Ritzman and the rest is history! She was fabulous and sold our home in less than two months! She made it painless and easy! Things started to love fast Len struggles with being released early from being the bishop! He didn't want The Lord to feel like we he was running away! One night in a bishops welfare counsel one of the bishops gave a thought and followed it up with section 126 of the D & C ! There was the confirmation! Everything from then on worked like the Lord was directing it because He was! We finalized everything the dy before we picked up the moving truck! The ward came out in great numbers to help us load ( In the midst of all of this Len developed two hernias and had to have surgery rendering him unable to lift). We were on the road after tearful good byes! Arriving in Tucson to our new home and another army of new ward members to help us move in! So many miracles along the way moment by moment, day by day! Len was called to teach early morning seminary every weekday! So aside from being here with the kids we know why we are here and we are learning to trust The Lord in all things and love watching the miracles unfolding daily for us! We love it here. It is certainly not without it's challenges, but as we close out 2014- we look forward with hope and faith and excitement to 2015!

2014 brought changes

As we close out 2014, I reflect back upon a year of much change!!Len was super busy the first 2/3 of the year with his calling as the bishop. He was able to help many people not only physically but also emotionally, spiritually. He changed lives and helped rescue many souls.he helped people believe in themselves and gave them a hand up! In late August we decided to pay for an appraisal for our home so we had an idea of how much it was worth. We had planned to sell it in about 3 years and wanted to know what we were looking at financially! We also hadndecidednto move up the date as we finally knew we would be going to Arizona to live in the near future! We were thrown a huge glitch as our appraisal came in very low! We were underwater on our mortgage by over $50k. This started all the wheels moving! Fasting and prayer were our constant companions! As always The Lord put it all in order for us!

My baking addiction

I just am loving baking in my kitchen! I love trying new recipes and seeing what I can create! 

Bread is an easy one for me and I have even taught Jenny to make it!

There is something about feeling warm bread dough and kneading it while you listen to music or just think.

More Bisbee

Bisbee and Tombstone

Pete and his family flew to South Dakota for Christmas this year and will be gone 2 weeks! Since we are alone again this year, we decided to take a road trip and drive to Bisbee AZ and Tombstone AZ. They are about an hours drive from Tucson. 

Downtown Bisbeeb was by far one if the coolest places I have ever been! Its a little mining town situated in Tombstine canyon. Little quaint shops and eateries! Just so much fun but it was pretty cold the day we went! It was so much fun!

We drove on to Tombstine and it is everything cowboy they are walking everywhere in town! Got a picture moment with one of them (sorry about the sun)! It was a fun day for sure!

Magical, this dragonfly art was in a walk and of course you know I love dragonflies!

I also love quaint ok buildings so we just had to snap this picture, isn't my man adorable?

Christmas eve dinner 2014

I made these adorable cherry cheesecake shooters for a Christmas dinner party we were invited to by these new friends...

Ralph and Lily Rinaldi. We met through Facebook! I had placed a notice asking if anyone knew of job openings in the area for Len. Lily and Ibstarted chatting back and forth as she knew of hiring sin the company her husband worked for BE Aerospace! One thing led to another and Len had an interview and was hired. The Rinaldi's invited us to dinner with a few other friends and we had a very nice time! 

Misty

Brandon retires in 2015, this his a picture of them at his Change of Command. 20 years if dedicated service taking him away from his family to serve in Cuba, Korea, and Iraq! He is a great man, father, husband and son!

Just found this picture fom a year ago if Misty and me! I sure miss her and her family!! It's been very cold there this winter for them but I am so glad that she has a nice warm home!

Andnyesvthey do have their fun whenever possible.

Grandpa and grandma camp

There are no rules at camp except you must have fun and there has to be ice cream!

Movie night eating ice cream sandwiches with the kids!! We watched Grumpy Cat!

Little Juju sure loves her Papa!

Jack showing us the proper way to sing a song 🎤

Fun at Pete's

Playtime never lasts long enough! Evenings spent with the kids are so much fun.

Juliet is learning to use her iPod, they start them young now!

Grandpa being taught how to play Mariokart.

...by his grandson!

Backyard bliss

Playing in grandpas backyard is so much fun! There are all kinds if fun things to do!

The fire engine is a great adventure for Jack!

Jujubespecially lives to splash alliterates out if the bird bath and help me water my plants!

Walking the wash

We love being together with the family, even if but is a walk in the wash looking for leaves and rocks, or posing for pictures!

Getting this little miss to hold still for a picture is not an easy task.

Jack is so smart and willing to help Jordan learn something new.

Thankbyou Pete and Jenny for letting us be part if your family in Tucson!

Dinner!!!

Ju Ju is such a good little eater! She is such a little thing!

Jackson sometimes needs lots if encouragement to try something new or to eat things that everyone else is eating, but once he does he is really good about it! He is sure enjoying this homemade chicken soup his mom made for dinner.

Jordan will out up a fight at first but soon gives in and tries it, he usually enjoys it once the first bite goes down! Yummy chicken sou!

Good friends

Brent and Jilyn Nelson great friends, great people! Brent is a police officer for the city of Hurricane

Hurricane Dental group

Bobbette Davis our hygienist 

Susan Sandberg Johnson  came to work with us. She is a lifelong friend of ours andnibwillnreally miss her.

Kara Pullan replaced me as chair side assistant to Dr Mason Wells. I really enjoyed the 6+ years I worked with Dr Wells. I am glad he foud someone to slip bright in and not skip a beat!

Jilyn Nelson was our front office! She and husband Brent have been good friends I will miss my whole Hurricane Dental Group family for sure!

Poor Juliet

Part of our move and life changed this sad day! We had come to Tucson to visit Petrs family and find a house for us! We brought our cute Oliver dog with us. He lived being with the kids and was so good, at first!

Oliver was sleeping in one side of me and Juliet was in the other side, she stepped over me to get to Oliver who was sleeping and I think she might have stepped on him and startled him because he snapped and bit her in the face! We had to rush her to the ER and 3 hours and 4 stitches later we were home. We had to regime Oliver, it broke our hearts to say the least! He was such a loving, sweet dog but we couldn't trust him around the kids now!

Webalso had the sweetest kitty named Nic Nac! She loved Oliver too and they were buddies! Our new landlord would not allow cats so we had to rehome he also but we were blessed to find a home that took both of them together! We really miss the two little trouble makers!

My buddies

It was so hard to make the decision to move to Arizona. Not that we didn't want to come because we really wants to come! But leaving behind this cute guy was extremely hard. Dad and I have formed such a close bond over the past 8 years, he was always there to help with my projects! He helped me put new doors in, put up walls, strip floors, lay tile, plant trees and gardens and yes we even built two cedar chests together! Working side by side, hearing dad curse when he couldn't remember how todo something!( which was rare cause he is very smart and cognesent for someone who is 83. I miss you dad!

Then there is mom! My sweet, big hearted mom! She has been my thrift store, yard sale, go for a ride for no reason buddy! Every Thursday now I wake up and want to call her to see if she wants to hang out, but I can't cause she is 9 hours away by car. I sure do love and miss mom and dad!

Road trip

Pete loaded us in his can and took us to see the Seguaro National Park here in Tucson.

Grandma loves being in the back seat of the van because then she gets to play with the kids and sing songs! Juju is so full of personality! She call grandpa PaPa!

I love these boys they are precious beyond words. I think they like it when grandma tags along!

Kodak moment by one of Tucsons Seguaro trees! We love it here there are so many things to discover and do!