A New Year

2011 - I did not see that one coming. 

First, we started off the year by quitting our 2 stable, but not lifelong career jobs to move out of state for 1 career job that had already furloughed (temporarily laid off) Rick 3 times. It felt right, but I still had that hint of doubt that was telling me "Is this the smartest thing to do in a bad economy?" Everything worked out and we know we made a smart move, but it took a while (like up until 2 months ago) for things to be steady.

Then, we made the move down to Arizona in the giant trailer that broke down when we pulled out of the driveway. Looking back, that was a clear sign as to what I should expect my life to be like for the next 6 months. It was supposed to take us 12 hours to get to Tucson. 2 1/2 days later, we arrived.

Then, Rick started working for the Railroad again. He had training for 1 month, when he was done and ready to get out there and work, they realized there was a problem with his train operating license. He couldn't work until it was all resolved, and that took a month. They were supposed to tell him this the first day of training so that when he was done he could get right to work. They forgot to mention that. So right after training, neither of us worked for a month, and that was scary. And it also made Rick's work harder when he did go back because everyone else went right from training to working and he had a month long gap in between. This isn't training like "This is how you make this report on the computer and this is your deadline." This is training like "If you do this wrong, you will derail a train and kill us all." I always knew Rick's job was dangerous, and I always knew that his schedule was inconsistent, but I had no idea just how dangerous and how inconsistent it was until we moved here and he actually started working. In the 11 months that he has been working, there have been 3 derailed trains, not because of him or his crew, but it still is a reminder that it happens, and that people get hurt or killed out there. One of the times the train derailed, it was his crew, and he was on the train. My dad always operated heavy equipment, so maybe that's why the thought of Rick working for the Railroad didn't really scare me, but now that I know how dangerous it is, and how dangerous my dad's job is, I pray for anyone who works with big machines or equipment.

Then, we both got severe food poisoning. I got it from bad fruit (I don't think I can ever eat a kiwi again), Rick got it a month later from bad meat. When I was 5 years old I was in the Hospital while my kidneys were shutting down. I remember being miserable, throwing up all the time, not wanting to eat, and being scared. That was the sickest I had ever been, or so I thought. I cannot believe how sick I was with food poisoning. It wasn't the typical 24 hour thing. It lasted a week. I couldn't move, unless it was to get up and throw up. I couldn't see, I couldn't hear, breathing was hard, I couldn't walk. We asked someone from our ward to come over and help give me a blessing, he asked me what my full name was, and I couldn't answer him. I was so exhausted and sick that I couldn't even talk. Such a magical time.

Then, Rick got heat stroke, that was terrifying. In the summer in Tucson it can get between 110-118 degrees. The train yard is usually 8 degrees hotter because of all the metal from the trains. So he'd be working out in 118-126 degree heat for 8 hours. When he came home one day, he was breathing heavily and really confused. I made him take a cool bath. He laid in the bathtub with a wash cloth on his face and he kept telling me that his body hurt and when he opened his eyes everything started going black. Luckily he cooled down quickly and I made him sit in there for a while and sip water. I have no idea how he can work out in that heat. He's a machine. My day gets ruined the second the seatbelt burns my arm. That shiz hurts.

Then, after going crazy not working, I got a job. Hated it. Hated my life because of it. Hated it when I was there, went home, and dreaded having to go the next day. I quit, even though we really needed me to be working, but felt 100% better after I quit. I thought Rick would be really mad at me when I went home to tell him I had quit, but he just said "It's good to have my wife back."

Finally, things started getting better. I got a job! After the job that I hated, I just wanted any job, no matter what I was doing, as long as I didn't hate it. I applied for receptionist jobs, secretary jobs, MA jobs, librarians assistant jobs, anything I could find, and man did I luck out. Not only did I get a job, I got a family. I love my job. I love my boys. I love Chad and Christy. I even love the dog. The only other people I knew who were nannies had to move out of state and live with the family to do it. My family is local and I go to their house every day and go home every day. When Rick doesn't work he goes with me, and the boys love him. More than me, actually. They get bummed when I walk in the door by myself now. There is no doubt in my mind that they were meant to be in my life and I was meant to be in theirs.

Then, things took a turn for the worse when our roof started leaking and our water got shut off because our landlord wasn't paying his HOA fees. I never realized just how big of a blessing it was to have running water until it wasn't there. I will never take it for granted. Since this happened, I haven't once complained about doing dishes or laundry. And I'm a huge complainer so that's a pretty big deal.

Then, we moved out of that waterless apartment into our new one that I'm in love with. I really hate moving, but I feel like every time we move I love it more than the last place. It does get tiring (and expensive) to have both of us drive an hour one way to get to work. But Rick keeps going back and forth between Tucson and Phoenix to work and so he doesn't have to stay with people anymore, he comes home everyday.

Then, My parents came to visit us and I went back to Utah with them and stayed for 2 weeks. It was good, and weird (no snow?) to go back home.

Right now, I love where we are in life. I love living in Arizona. I love my job, Rick loves his job. But lets not repeat 2011. Ever.

I decided to not set goals this year. At least not specific goals like "go to the gym x times this week" or "never eat out". Those are my goals every year, and I don't do them. One of my goals for 2011 was to not move from the Utah house until Rick's parents came home from their mission. In your face, Jodi. So I'm changing things up a bit. Here are my new and improved goals for 2012:

• Be Happy
• Be Healthy
• Be Smart
• Have Fun
• Be Prepared
• Go scorpion hunting at least once
• Camp out on our roof and watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower

Happy 2012