The Big Move

Just in case anyone doesn't know the story...I'm not sure quite where to begin. I guess it started back in January. One day Todd had a thought to check an online job posting board. There was a posting listed for an interaction designer with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our interest was peaked. We thought, well, if the Lord would have us move to Utah, it is up to us to keep that option open. So we moved forward. He applied for the job. He had some phone and video interviews. But then we never heard back, for about 5 months. So we had moved on. Then out of the blue one day (Todd happened to be home for lunch), he got a call from the hiring manager asking if he would be interested in flying out to Salt Lake for an interview. So a few weeks later he was in Salt Lake and interviewed for two different positions. In the end they offered him a job. Over the course of the next few weeks, we made our decision to relocate our family to the Salt Lake area. Opposition met us on all fronts, but we continued to push forward. (I will spare you all the negative details, as I am personally trying to be positive and move forward with "an eye of faith" (see Alma 32:40)). We made it out to Salt Lake June 19th. And we have been working through all the moving details ever since. One of the major details to work through is that the movers couldn't bring our stuff until mid July....Currently, our stuff is in transit, set to arrive next week. So we packed our car with what we could take, and after a fun surprise to family, borrowed a few other needed essentials, like beds. We have been exploring and learning about our new community. The first week there we went to the wrong ward for church, but the next week we went to the right ward and were warmly welcomed.

We miss KC and all the people there that were our family for the last seven years, but as we move forward, and seek to follow the Lord's plan for our family, we put our trust in Him and continue to pray that we will be instruments in His hands.

I could make this into a really long blog, but I have put it off too long already, so here it is short and sweet. 
A few little fun details:
*On the way to SLC we stopped in Denver. That next day we drove through Steamboat Springs and enjoyed the funny statues and candy shop.
*Savannah loves the little shopping carts at the local grocery store.
*We enjoyed celebrating Father's Day on Sunday and going to the zoo on Monday our last day in KC.
*On June 24, we went to BYU to celebrate 9 blissful years of marriage! We thought it would be sentimental and romantic to go back to where it all started. For our anniversary, we also enjoyed another one of our progressive dinners. Chili's for an appetizer, Lion House for dinner (we share an entree), and Cheesecake Factory for dessert, and thanks to coupons and gift cards, it was a very cheap date!
*We enjoy the beautiful view of the whole valley from our new home. For the 4th of July fireworks it was fun to look out and see all the different shows for the many cities in the valley. 
*On July 4, we went to Provo for the parade, then hit two of our favorites: Cafe Rio and IKEA. In the evening we joined family for a delicious BBQ.
*And one picture of a recent hair do. The weather is very different in Utah, than Missouri, so we have had to do a lot of experimenting with keeping her skin and hair well moistened.  
*Savannah has enjoyed getting to know cousins, grandparents, and extended family better. Grandma and Grandpa took her and 2 cousins to a little carnival one afternoon. She enjoyed all of it, except the mini roller coaster.