I heart you!

 I love and miss you all!  Here's to the memories . . .

Ahhh . . .. reminded of why I love you all so much! 

It continues

So, the email confusion started in April when we were still in Provo and I started getting emails about dinner groups. I kept emailing the girl back telling her she had the wrong person. It wasn't until I got my assignment to host 12 students for dinner than I finally said...

"I'm not trying to be rude, but you've really got to figure out your address book. Your friend, Eliza, is going to be so confused when 12 people show up at her apartment for dinner and she has no clue what's going on."

I've since stopped receiving emails about dinner group, but I think all those BYU students (yes, it's BYU students) have me saved in their contacts. I recently got invited to go to Movies 8 on a Sat. night.

This is the latest email, I'm still trying to figure out how I got this one. I feel like I'm reliving my single life through these emails!

Hi, My name is Adam Hood.

I recently bought a house in to your grandmother's ward and she found out I was single...
I'm a teacher and a coach at Woods Cross High. I work with the cross country and track. I teach resource classes (special Ed.). When I'm not doing that I play the bagpipes.

Would you be interested in getting together sometime?

Adam Hood

I told him that he had the wrong person and while I love the bagpipes...I'm married with four children!

my email address

So, somehow my email is similar to someone another Eliza Christensen. A couple of months ago I received an email about dinner groups for BYU students. I replied back saying they had the wrong Eliza Christensen, yet I continued to get updates on requirements and dates for dinner group. I kept emailing back, "So sorry, but you've got the wrong girl." Finally when I received my assignment for 12 people to come to dinner I had to get frank with the girl in charge and let her know that she needed to figure her address book out because Eliza is going to be very surprised when 12 people show up for dinner and she had no clue they were coming! I think they finally figured it out.

Then, today, I received the email below from a gentleman named Alex.

Well, Eliza Anne Christensen, I apologize for leaving you the way I did this even tide. I was still chewing on the heavy impact our conversation had on the course of my life. Here's what I meant to say:

Eliza, dear, I don't know what it is you're looking for. What I do know is that you'll find it. I thought I had found whatever that is that we all seek in our lives, but apparently life happened. While planning for something else, life happened. For the last several months I've wanted nothing more - nothing more - than to be near you. I got that. I now have nothing to show for it save the memories we created. Those I shall surely cherish.

We never fully resolved our trial we had together and I wish you the very best of God's grace in overcoming that shared imperfection. You are so strong and will be with someone just as strong. I wish I wasn't so weak in that area, but I keep on doing things that make myself more aware of the frailties and trials I have from being a mortal being. The Lord has shown and will continue to show me how He helps me become better.

Thank you for being so wonderful. Thank you for being so honest. Thank you for being Eliza. I will always hold you in the highest regard and will do anything to help those about whom I care.

With all the love I can possibly muster,

Alex

I felt badly telling him he had the wrong Eliza Christensen and he should try re-sending the email. He'd really put his heart out there. I think this was the funniest part of my day!

His response to my email...

Wow that's fun. Thanks.

Poor guy.

???

So I don't really know what to call this post- or even really what I want to say.

Life is kinda tough right now- and confusing when trying to explain it all out. Here's a quick update on us.

Matt got ankle surgery May 25th and is/will be on crutches for another 3 weeks. He blessed Austin 'high' on percocet on May 29th.

We thought something from a Land O'Lakes fly-out would turn into an offer- it didn't so we decided to move. (With a 7 week old and a husband on crutches) June 16th

I packed up my house in about 5 days and had people from the ward and MBAers come move it all into a storage unit in Provo last week.

We drove to California(Half Moon Bay) to move in with Matt's parents while he job hunts. (9 days ago)

I totally lost it when we got here. I've had EVERY emotion since we've been here! It was (and sometimes still is) tough. This was my back-up plan. I only had a back-up plan because I wasn't going to need it! I put a Martinelli's sparkling grape juice in the fridge at the end of October to celebrate a job offer and all Matt's hard work paying off. When I had a first year come get any of the food she wanted from my fridge as we were moving out of Provo she reached for the bottle and I grabbed it so fast. Yes, I moved it here with us, it's sitting on my make shift bed side table. It will be drunk with so much joy- when that day comes.

Matt has some things going for him, there's always something in the works. He's been passed on to 3rd round with two companies, but we just can't get our hopes up yet. Please keep us (but if you have to chose- just ME!) in your prayers. I have to stay sane and supportive during this process. Everywhere I turn there are scriptures, prophets, apostles, the Spirit buoying me up which has been a great blessing. Living with your in-laws isn't all it's cracked up to be! :) Here's a quote I came across tonight that I figured I would post. It struck a cord with me and the situation I find myself and my family, but maybe it will help someone else too.

"Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help, and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon. Some come late. And some don't come till heaven. But for those who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be alright in the end. Trust God, and believe in good things to come."

-Jeffrey R. Holland, Apostle of Jesus Christ

If you can think of the lesson I'm supposed to be learning here please let me know because I really want to learn it so we can move on! Miss you girls like crazy- sorry for my sob story! It's not nearly as bad as the one I was writing in my head a few days after we got here. Be happy I cooled down before I wrote this! :)

PS- Someone give us some happy updates!

PPS- maybe TMI but my Mother-in-law's cooking is giving Tay, Bray and I the runs... bad, any suggestions?

Summer Plans

Hi ladies! We made it to Michigan; however, B of A made some mistakes with our loan and so we're living in a hotel right now! Ugh! We should hopefully close today. The boys are swimming and Amelia is napping, so I'm holed up in our hotel room finding all sorts of ideas for summer fun for our family. I found a few fun ideas I thought I would pass along if you're interested. These ideas come from the same blog, but check out all three links, very cute ideas!

http://thecraftingchicks.com/2011/05/summer-activity-jars-and-grab-bags.html

http://thecraftingchicks.com/2011/05/summer-fun-chart-and-photo-journal.html

http://thecraftingchicks.com/2011/05/summer-skill-building-merit-badges.html\

Also, this story from President Hinckley is one of my boy's favorites to watch online. The first time we watched it, Tanner said, "Mom, I like this movie, it's my favorite." I asked him what he liked about it and he said he liked the way he felt when he watched. It wasn't a lengthy discussion at all, but it was a nice opportunity to talk about feeling the Holy Ghost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqX9iYE0V0

For those who weren't at Cassi's shower, we talked about this blog being a great place to share thoughts and ideas about being a better mother, different ways to teach, or ideas on just how to run a home more smoothly. I hope we can all share ideas, I learn so much from each of you!

Missing you all in Michigan!!

Lesson Learned

Here's my rant . . . .

So, I am embarrassed, but, I will admit it (because I know that you will all still love me), I broke down and watched Black Swan. I don't even remember the last time I have watched an R rated movie, it's never even a temptation. So, when Black Swan came out, I really, really, wanted to see it because I am a "dancer" (used to be at least) and I really wanted to watch the dancing, I wasn't interested in the story line. Lame, I know.

On Friday, Graham took both of the boys to the Stake Father & Sons Campout and so I was way stoked about a night to myself. I worked out, showered, rented 2 Red Box's and picked up some yummy take out (sounds fab, right?).

Black Swan was disgusting, don't watch it, don't even consider it! I muted and skipped through the scenes that were awful, there wasn't even that much dancing and it was disturbing. Yes, Natalie Portman's acting was great, but so what. I love how Hollywood rants and raves about movies with "great acting", completely disregarding any moral standards whatsoever. It's not that I didn't already know this but it was a good reminder that reinforced my beliefs, and how far I need to keep me and my family from that scene.

I watched a very distasteful movie and got absolutely nothing out of it, no gain. I was reminded of why I don't watch movies like this, why I never go there and why I will continue to do so.

Well, I will get off my soapbox. I miss you ladies a ton and want to hear what everyone is up to. xoxo