Holy Moly!!!!

Ok, so incase you haven't been getting all of my super exciting posts on Facebook about the weather out here, let me update you a little. :)

It is flooding like crazy. It would appear that Mother Nature had waaaayyyyy too much to drink and the natural sewer system of life has a clog, somehow.......

Flooding has always fascinated me, mostly because I don't understand how it is possible. For me, it's kind of like a traffic jam that happens for no reason. You know how sometimes in traffic everyone just slows down immediately and it takes miles before you are back up to speed again, only to find no reason for the slow down? Well, I don't understand exactly why the water doesn't just rush to the ocean faster. Also, why, when it is overflowing, doesn't it just spread out across the land far enough that it just seeps into the ground further out, like when you spill water on the floor and it just keeps going everywhere until it is thin enough to dry up or stopped? But alas, I guess I just need to read a book about it. :)

Well, here is a link to a news video if you care to watch it http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=053011yankton

But in a nutshell, there are 6 major dams along the Missouri River. The Gavins point dam, here in Yankton, is the last one (I think) before it hits the ocean. All of the other dams (which start clear back in Montana) are full. This one is almost at capacity and they have opened the gates of it wider than they have ever been open before. There is so much water flowing in right now that almost everyone in town was there the other night just watching. There are so many families all along this gigantic river that are being affected. I hope they are all going to be alright. I have some pictures of what it was like down there on Sunday:

just a walk in the park....

    So, today was rough. I have been trying all day, everyday, to find a job, thinking of places to go begging for jobs, and just about anything else job related that you can think of. Luckily for me there was a job fair in town today and I thought it was an answer to my prayers....well if it was, it must be a different prayer that is being answered. All I got was, "Our internships are already full, you should have tried months ago," (Duh, if I had known your company existed and that I would be moving out here months ago, I would have tried); or, "We aren't looking for temporary people, we want someone who will be here long term" (Again, not really my fault. I could lie to you, get the job, then leave you in 3 months, but that's not really my style); or my very favorite, "We are looking for people for our manufacturing plant and I'm not sure it's something you'd like" (You know, hard labor stuff. Working with machinery where I would be the only female, not to mention Mormon, and could get my hand cut off doesn't really appeal to me either). REALLY???? Nothing? This place was mostly hicks-ville and I was by far the best dressed person at this job fair (better than those who were looking for employees even) and I bet I am way more educated than most of those looking for jobs (but probably not the most humble). I was so frustrated that I drove around afterward bawling. I drove and drove (even into Nebraska a ways) and finally decided to stop at Riverside park (the place where they hold riverboat days in August).

     I felt at home at this park, since I had been there a few times before. Everyone I passed said "Hi," and smiled. (Side note: People in this community are remarkably friendly for not being Mormon. Gasp! Did I just say that? Yeah, I did. I guess until today I had a subconscious thought that non-Mormon people were less friendly and harder to get along with. This thought doesn't surprise me, honestly, that's what my life has been in the bubble. Obviously that was an incorrect thought and I am glad that I have figured out that other people can be nice to strangers too.) Anyways, while I was walking and trying to calm myself down, it dawned on me how beautiful the weather was. It has been gray and rainy almost everyday since we got here and I was so excited about the weather that I forgot about my self-pity. I snapped some pictures on my phone (so they aren't the best quality, sorry) and decided to share some.

The park is right next to the Missouri river and it is sooooo full right now! But, it was so quiet and peaceful there. 

I learned a lot of stuff there too. :)

Little house monument that is there. 

I'm not sure what this is........

It was so bright and pretty that I decided to take a random picture looking up at the trees. 

When I got home from my very nice relaxing walk, I found that I had an email for an interview with Macy's. So, moral of the story, calm down and everything will be ok. :) Ok, so maybe not always. However, I think there is a lot to be said for setting aside our worries and taking time to marvel at the beautiful world that is around us.

You Know You're Jealous

Well world, thought you might like an update on the specialness that is my life. :) We are in South Dakota now, not all the way settled in, and things are.....eh. I have enjoyed doing nothing the last couple of days, however, Lyle's internship starts in just a couple of days and I have no idea what I am going to do with my time out here still........................................................ AHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I hate knowing that I need to do something and I can't figure out how to do it. We have a few people that my family knows out here and we have hit them up, but so far I still have no job and no internship. It is so hard to go into a new place and not know anyone who is willing to help you out. I have gotten all of my past jobs through people I know and of course I know NO ONE out here. Plus its summer time and an influx of other college students who know people have come back to town and I don't even know where to start. I have spruced up my resume and I guess I will have to go begging from business to business. If any of you have any connections PLEASE throw them my way! :)

Now to the part where you are jealous:

Wall Drug Store ....... that's all I need to say. :)

Mt. Rushmore (Pretty much underwhelming..... it's like "oh, that's nice.")

Yeah, I don't remember...

Grandma Borders fireplace has been my favorite thing in the whole world. One day, I want on just like it in my house. 

Ok, so all of these pictures are from previous trips to South Dakota and not this current one. However, this basically sums up what South Dakota/Lyle's grandma's in Wyoming, is like. I'll take more pictures later on. Honestly, I have nothing else to do anyways!

Our drive out here was the worst one I have ever had! It rained all day on day two, and it was bad enough that we had a hard time keeping control of the car. At one point, I was trying to pass a Semi-truck and out of know where it hit a puddle of water. The water then flew up vertically about 9 feet high and we drove straight into a wall of water at 75 mph! It was the most terrifying moment of my life! However, day three was sunny most of the way and now we are in Yankton where it has been raining off and on. I was so hoping we would be out of the rain by now. (random side note: I will get to experience my first ever tornado warnings this summer! Woooo.....)

Hopefully, I actually have exciting stuff to tell you in a little bit, but for now I am excited to be out of Rexburgm and experience a new place for a little while. 

Moving On, Moving Forward

So, next week about this time we will be in South Dakota, almost at Lyle's parent's house. I have been having a hard time coming to terms with moving. This is the only apartment we have lived in since we have been married, and I tend to get emotionally tied to objects and places. I am currently sitting in the one chair left in the apartment and last night we slept on an air mattress that we borrowed from my mom and dad. I am thinking about how sad I am to leave this little place. I have loved this apartment so much (even if it is a little small or we just have too much stuff) and I have loved starting our family here.

This is currently the living room, the whole place is a mess but it will be better soon! 

Again, a mess, but the cupboards are empty, and I have a few more things to pack and and clean. 

Wow! Look at all that stuff still! I swear, we have made multiple trips to the DI and given away a bunch of other stuff, and we still have carloads of things here. This is the second bedroom by the way...

The bathroom is almost done, almost...

Our bedroom is a disaster, it is hard to live in a space and pack it up a the same time. Especially since it is storage where it will sit for 3 months. We have to wash everything again before putting it away to prevent mold, and other stuff. I have rewashed every dish in our apartment. 

So, we are getting close, kind of......

This is the last day that we will be "living" in this apartment. And I have been reminiscing over the many memories we have made here. I love the ward that we have been in, and I have loved the calling I had in it. I was privileged to be the nursery leader and I learned so much from those little ones. I had the opportunity to love them, teach them, and watch their little spirits grow. I will probably miss them most of all. My very favorite is when Addie comes in on Sundays and says "Friend!" when she sees me. I am so grateful for the privilege that I had to spend time with them every week. They may only be 2 (or around that age) but they know who their Savior is and I know that He is aware of each of them. I can feel Him smiling down on that little class as they learn about Him and really try to absorb the lessons they are taught.


I may be a little over dramatic over this, we are moving back in 3 months after all. I just have a hard time moving on sometimes. I know this is a necessary thing and change in life is inevitable. Also, this is a good thing for us. If all goes right, Lyle will get a job offer for when he graduates, which means we can start planning on having children in a year or so, rather than 5. I am excited for the weather and knowing that in a year, we will be all done with school (hopefully).


I wouldn't really say that I am scared or that this move is a trial, but it has presented some hardships and uncertainty. I have taken great comfort from the words of President Faust:

"There are many things that we cannot change. We all have difficulties and disappointments. But often these turn out to be opportunities. The Lord can measure how strong we are by how we handle these difficulties in our lives. As the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:7).

Sometimes the Lord allows us to have trials to shape us into productive servants. In our desire to achieve, we often fail to see that the Lord is trying to prune us away from false pride and vain ambition so He can teach us discipleship. His all-seeing eye is over us and ever watching us as our Eternal Heavenly Parent. When trials come, as surely they will to all of us during mortality, let us not sink into the abyss of self-pity but remember who is at the helm, that He is there to guide us through all the storms of life."

To all of those we are temporarily leaving behind, we love you and hope that Rexburg gives you some warm weather. We hope you have a great summer. We will see you in a few months! 

To those who we will soon meet in South Dakota, we are excited to meet you! We are looking forward to expanding our friend circle and loving you as much as we love the people here in Rexburg!

Now, lets get this packing done and do this! :)