I just reviewed my last post which was 3 years ago as we were making the decision to move here to Utah. We packed up and said goodbye to our sweet Texas home in late June 2022. The move was HARD. Every driver was in a car. Jhonny was driving the big truck. We left late and slept in the cars when we could go no further. It took three days to arrive. We were hangry, tired, and homeless. After unpacking our stuff in the garage of the home that was being rented still, we drove on to Oregon for my family reunion. Amidst all of that, I was trying to complete a course for counseling in Utah online and work my Optavia business. My family thought I should be more attentive when I was trying to take care of my work so that I could put it to rest. The whole week should have been relaxing and fun. It was hectic and my immediate family was feeling stressed, left out, overwhelmed and not having a good time. Tensions between Jhonny and I were at an all-time high. At the end of the week, Jhonny left on a plane with Gavin to fly back to Texas where Gavin was set to go to Nauvoo with the stake and Jhonny was going to wrap up fixing things on the house to get it ready to sell. I was stressed that it wasn't on the market because the market was taking a huge turn. He was trying to get things done as quickly as he could, but he doesn't ask for help and there is only so much he can do on his own.
While they were there, Gavin broke his wrist when someone threw a rock at the wheel of his motorized scooter throwing him off and landing on the sidewalk. He didn't want to tell Jhonny because it was just before they were supposed to leave and he had been told not to leave again. He just couldn't help going to say goodbye to his friend down the street one last time. I insisted he tell his dad because well - he broke his arm. It also happened to be the day our insurance expired and our new insurance didn't start for another month. He got a brace for his arm and splinted it the best he could. We took him to the doctor as soon as we could, but the poor kid still has some weird issues with that wrist.
School started and Ammon was accepted into the Spectrum Academy a week before the first day. It has been such a good experience for him. He loves it and he loves the friends he has made there. Gavin surprisingly did NOT love school, church or anything at first. Lily made the best of things and as she is prone to do, she made friends as quickly as she could. She rejected any invitation from church people as she was opposed to being subjected to that. My heart was pained by the fact that my teenagers were so set against trying to fit in or accept the invitations from their peers, but I found a community of acceptance and friendship in this neighborhood of ladies who could relate to what I was going through. Ammon has also thrived here. After a while, he found that there was a boy in his church class that is also autistic and they have become good friends. Ammon has gone to Jacob's house many times to play. It is sweet to watch him develop socially after all this time.
Jessica and Eleora started dating in 2023 I think. That next summer, they both went to Alaska for their internship. They moved in together after returning and graduated in April of 2024. Last summer in August, they found a little house in Salt Lake and moved there with their cat, dog and a guy friend/roomate. Jessica does not go to church at all and is now working for Trader Joes. Her last show was starring in The Prom where she played a lesbian who wanted to bring her girlfriend to prom. She broke my heart with her performance and of course, she did an amazing job. I miss hearing her sing.
Lily got in with the Theatre department at Pleasant Grove High School. She was in all the shows and had some principal parts in a few of them. I really liked her performance in the Hello Girls. Her junior year she went to the dances and had a few dates for them too. There was a dance every month. She grew a crush on a guy that fizzled out and we experienced her first heartbreak. Soon afterwards, she met Hyrum. That was an adventure that was hot then cold then hot again until he left for his mission and it ended abruptly. She didn't date anyone her senior year, but we got to know her friend Gavin. They didn't "date", but have become good friends. At the end of her senior year, Lily experienced an unfortunate experience with her director that left everything on a disappointing note. We mourned the senior final curtain she missed at Cedar Ridge and the most definite praises she would have received there had she graduated there. I was disappointed in the final turn and sad that this director missed the opportunity to make her experience one to remember instead of one she hopes to forget. After some debate, she decided to go the University of Utah where she is studying dance, film, and Strategic Communications. She also moved out in August to live near campus. She couldn't wait to be on her own. Her first year has been interesting. First, she was kind of homesick and came home a lot. Then she wished she could live on campus or be in a sorority. Clara came to visit from Texas and she took a trip to Chicago. She hated her job at Quick Quack and applied for some new jobs. In December she was hired to be an ABA technician. Now she works with autistic children in their homes and from what I can tell, she really enjoys it. She just told me she quit her quick quack job. Last week she introduced us to her new boyfriend, Aiden. He is very nice and balances her out well. Hopefully, they'll come by from time to time.
Gavin started off hating UCAS. His ADHD reared its ugly head and withdrawals from his medicine made doing homework after school a nightmare. He did not take the transition to Utah well at all. In hindsight, I can see that he doesn't take big changes well at all even when they are good for him. Despite his constant disenchantment, he found his niche and friend group. Soon, he was spending the majority of his free time at his friend EG's house (Ella Grace). The next summer, Gavin signed up for the Rise program, and unbeknownst to me, he went off his medication. In the fall, he asked if he could quit taking it altogether. I was a bit concerned, but he has managed with caffeine to stay as focused as possible while not dealing with ODD at the end of the day. He has earned quite a few college credits and his major has changed from computers to medicine. He is still evolving, but he has a good start. He has deepened and broadened his friendships at school, but has not yet connected with his peers at church. Last year, he asked to get his patriarchal blessing. We were able to get it from Brother Bangater's uncle in our stake. Brother Bangater was Gavin's seminary teacher who was very instrumental in helping keep Gavin's testimony intact. So having his relative give him the blessing was pretty special to Gavin. Gavin has also grown and is towering over me now. He got his driver's license last year and helps me with Ammon. He is a good son and makes me proud despite the times I get frustrated with him. It's okay though because I know he has a good heart.
Jhonny had a few years of touch and go with his job. Apparently, he had to reapply for it after the first year. There was a minute when we didn't know if he would be rehired, but it ended well after all. He is on his third year of teaching at Greenwood Elementary and I don't think he is going anywhere anytime soon. In April of 2023, his brother Alberto came from Venezuela and ended up living with us for several months. While he was here, we took him to the Temple Open House in Saratoga Springs. He met the missionaries and started taking the discussions. In August of that year, he was baptized by Jhonny. It was an emotional day for all of us. We applied to bring the rest of his family here and he started working to save money for their arrival. In April of 2024, he was tragically killed while changing a tire on the side of the freeway. It was a horrific experience for us to go through. We had to plan his funeral and figure out what to do for his family. We had high hopes that they would come here soon, but it's now been almost another year and only Victoria has made it here. Now with the new political situation, I don't know that they ever will get here. We still have Alberto's ashes in our living room waiting for their arrival to bury him. The grief of losing his brother has weighed heavily on Jhonny. In August of last year, we took Alberto's name through the temple for his endowments. I don't know what will happen with his family. Victoria was taking the discussions at one point, but I don't know that she has had time now. She is dating the brother of her friend's roommate. He is LDS, but not active anymore. So I'm not sure her investigation is progressing much in that direction.
I have moved up with Gavin's class at UCAS. I'm now working with the 11th and 12th graders. I'm working a LOT this year, but I'm also learning everything and figuring out how to be most effective and efficient. I thought last fall that it's a good thing I love my job because I practically live there. I let go of my Optavia business officially last fall although I haven't done much coaching since I started my work at UCAS. It's just been too hard to carry both jobs. I wish now that I had the extra income, but I don't regret letting go of the stress of managing it. I started off optimistic about how things would go here in Utah. I absolutely love my job and the people I work with. I have been disappointed in not seeing family as much as I would like. I'm also not attending the temple as much as I expected to. I've experienced more depression - probably due to the dark winters and menopause. I gained back all of my weight during my hormonal changes. I recently started to lose it again. I'm down 20 lbs and have about 30 more to go. I miss my girls. I'm glad they are independent, but I wish they'd call or visit more often. I am grateful for the friendships I've made here in my ward and the potential friendships in the years to come. I am attending book club once a month and I need to go back to choir more often. I am teaching course 11, which is great. Jhonny is slowly making the changes we want to make on this house to be more functional. I hope he actually finishes them before I die because I doubt we will ever move again.
Ammon has grown into a sweet young man. He has less tantrums and we are understanding him more every day. He is a blessing in all of our lives. His cheer and optimism are contagious. He is so literal in the funniest of ways that makes me laugh. At church, he is everyone's favorite person. He learned to pass the sacrament and has the same "route" every week. The ladies at book club have shared the funniest stories. Beth said that she sits in the front row and Ammon comes by every week and says, "Seconds?" He also offers Jordan seconds as well. He fistbumps his favorite people when he serves them. We've had some talks about being "reverent", but he is so sweet and innocent, that it's hard to tell him he can't do that. Two weeks ago, our Bishop was called to be the new Stake President. Last week, we were wondering who the new Bishop was going to be.
"We might find out today at church," I said to Ammon.
"Bishop Murdock got fired?" Ammon was very alarmed.
"No, honey, he was called to be the Stake President," I tried to explain. "Stake Presidents are kind of over the Bishops."
"Oh, so he got a promotion!" Ammon was relieved to hear that.
"I guess you could say that," I laughed.
At church, President Murdock came in and was on the stand. (They still haven't called the new Bishop yet). He saw Ammon and went to shake his hand. Ammon reached out and said, "Hey, I didn't think you worked here anymore." At the end of sacarament meeting, President Murdock had to share the experience with everyone. We all laughed. My son is famous in this huge ward that fills the overflow every week. All joking aside, President Murdock explained that they were still in the process of choosing his replacement and asked for our prayers.
2025 has started off a bit bumpy for me. We took a trip to Texas over Christmas. On the second to last day, I fell and hit my face/nose on a curb. It was scary and hurt a lot. I went to the ER and got stitches in my nose. Later, I found out I had a concussion and fractured my nose. My forehead still hurts a bit. I ended up having surgery for my nose at the end of January. The next week, Ammon was sick with a fever and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. When he woke up crying with swollen cheeks, I took him to the ER. He ended up with blocked swollen saliva glands. If he hadn't had his MMR, the doctor probably would have called it mumps. As it was the heavy antibiotics took down the swelling after a few days.
Just when I thought we were getting back to normal, Gavin's car was totaled. We had it paid off. We are in negotiations with the insurance to pay out what it was worth. Last week we found a replacement car, but likely we will end up with a car payment we didn't have before. The silver lining is that in the process, I found my dream car. A 2021 limited Hybrid Highlander. It's got the space, luxury and gas mileage I was looking for. The cost after a downpayment will be a bit less than what I was paying for my leased RAV4.
That should catch everyone up with the highlights of our move here to Utah. Until next time.
