Commencement

Commencement: the act or time of commencing; beginning; a start. I love this definition. Graduation is a start to a new life, the rest of life, the real world.

I flew back to St. Louis so I could be there for graduation and to celebrate all that Chant has accomplished. Friday, December 17 was the awards ceremony for graduates and their families to attend. Chant was given two awards. The first award we knew he would receive. It was the Health Center Achievement Award. Only one intern from each clinic gets that award, so it was quite an honor for him. The second we didn't know he was getting. When they called Kerry Williams, he just sat there for a minute and then he jumped and said, "That's me!" It was an award for excellence in the ability to perform and teach the Logan Basic Technique. That was only given to 4 people, so again an honor. I am so incredibly proud of him!
The day of graduation we got to the school early. (Chant had to be early and we had one car, so that meant we were all there early.) We were so early he was the only graduate there. Doesn't he look lonely?
Chant and his sister Kristy.
Chant and sister Jen. (Sorry Margi, I don't know why I don't have a picture of you!)

This graduation ceremony was amazing! It started by bagpipe players leading the way for the graduates. It sounded so amazing. I had chills! Chant gave us the insider tip and I am sitting right in front of the lead man. Awesome spot! The keynote speaker was Orin Hatch. He cracked a few Mormon jokes and gave a very nice speech.
After the speakers it was time for the graduates to be hooded.
Waling to the front to be hooded. The second girl is Teran Warner, our business partner.

They hold the hoods over their arms and then when they get to the president of the college, Dr. Goodman, he takes the hood and puts it on them. The hood is gray signifying chiropractic and inside is royal blue and white for Logan's colors.
Being hooded. (Me tearing up behind the camera.)

At the end of the ceremony, the bagpipe players formed two lines facing each other and the graduates walked between to exit the auditorium. Again, Chant and Teran walked right by me. Unfortunately my camera was being slow and I didn't get a picture of Chant. Sorry Honey!
Chant with Dr. Hogarth, the St. Peters Head Clinician.
Afterward we went to lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory with our group (Chant's mom, sisters, my sister and brother-in-law, and Teran's parents, grandparents, and siblings.) It was quite the group at 16 people. I am so glad we had time to stop and celebrate their achievements. Chant worked hard through 4 years of school, late nights, taking care of kids and a wife, and church callings. I never could have done it. I am so amazed at what he has accomplished and I am so proud of him! Thank you for working so hard for us! We love you! And we are ready for what is next!

Keeping Track of Time

My life can be measured by songs, books, and movies. I think about the words to a song, a scene from a movie, or a chapter from a book and I am taken away, back to a specific time and place. Some of these are not merely a moment or a good memory, they have become a part of me. So, here is how I keep track of time.

Elementary School: The Indian in the Cupboard and A Wrinkle in Time (Where my true love of books started, in 6th grade in Mrs. Hamilton's class. Thank you Mrs. Hamilton, I will forever be in your debt.)

1989: Richard Marx- Right Here Waiting for You (Singing at the top of my lungs in my brother and sister-in-law's apartment. That song still holds great meaning to me.)

Early 1990's: Cher- Jesse James, If I could Turn Back Time (In the living room with a candle stick)
Wilson Phillips (Still have the whole CD memorized)
Steel Magnolias (Always have and always will love Julia Roberts. In fact, Julia was the name I always picked when playing dress up and my imaginary boyfriend was Kevin Costner of course)

Late 1990's: Cindy Lauper- True Colors
Belinda Carlisle- Mad About You, Heaven is a Place on Earth
The Standards (I have every CD they made in that decade and their autographed picture hung framed on my bedroom wall where I could see them at all times. I always knew I would marry a Williams.)
Jack Weyland- Charlie, Nicole, Lean on Me
Ariana Series
Julia Roberts- Runaway Bride, My Best Friends' Wedding
A League of Our Own
Ever After

Summer 2000: Where the Heart Is (book)
Soundtrack to Hope Floats (That soundtrack and book got me through the first few weeks in an apartment I had all to myself. I love the song Garth Brooks sings on there!)
Never Been Kissed (First time I held hands with a boy)

Freshman Year of College (2000-01):
Bon Jovi
Vertical Horizon
Savage Garden

Sophomore Year of College (2001-02):
Maren Ord (Got me through a hard time of missing my Honey while he was on his mission)
Serendipity (My roommate almost lost her arm because I was squeezing it so tight- will they find each other or not?)

Summer 2002: A Walk to Remember (Bawled my eyes out!)
Sara Evans (Every morning while getting ready for work, for the entire summer)

Hawaii: Michelle Branch (Cannot listen to her without thinking of sitting on my little bed in my tiny dorm listening to the palms lighting tapping each other in the breeze)

2003: Rascal Flatts (My first real concert, which I almost passed out at, and one of the only real dates I went on with Chant before we were married)

2004-2006: Gilmore Girls (I cannot think of that show without getting emotional. My best friends. We celebrated every holiday by getting a new season. I now own all 7. They are part of the family. We even made a trip to Connecticut to see their neck of the woods. Thanks for getting me through some rough times girls!)

Missouri: Twilight Saga (books and movies) (Another emotional one for me. These are the first books I had picked up, aside from textbooks, since high school. My dear friend Becca told me I had to read them and she lent them to me and that was it. I remembered what it was like to lose myself to another world and become engulfed in the story and characters. And I haven't stopped reading since. I also think of going to the midnight showings of New Moon and Eclipse. Miss you guys!)
Hunger Games Trilogy (My last books in Missouri. Ones I took forever to pick up and when I did I instantly fell in love. Yes Jena, you can say "I told you so.")
Mindy Gledhill (Thank you. I love you!)

If you've stopped reading, that's okay. Maybe this was more for me anyway. I look at my life and think of the people and what was going on that made these things so special to me, and all I can think is I cannot wait for the books, music, and movies to come that will touch me the way these have, that will come to signify Utah the way these have represented places and people of my past. And I say bring it on because I am ready to add to the list!

Moving Forward

I have been without my best friend and the love of my life for 9 days. It has been challenging, dealing with a new place and being the sole parent of three kids. But we are surviving just fine. The most challenging part has been the mental side. I am feeling homesick for my friends in Missouri and nervous and unsure of myself in this new place. I have met a few people and one dear girl even brought us dinner Monday night. I am so grateful to Michelle for that service and show of friendship. It came when I needed it most. Monday was a hard day for me and Tuesday rough as well. But last night I talked to my amazing friend and sister-in-law, Jenny. She said something that I needed to hear. It is okay to miss the people and place that I left behind, but I need to move forward as well. I cannot merely be here, a shadow that floats from one room to the next hardly leaving the confines of my home or talking to others. So, today is a new day. It actually started last night. I watched this:


And I have been reading this:

And I am wearing this:

It is turning out to be a good day! And I am even going to take Michelle's Tubberware back to her today. Ha! I am going to be social. It really is going to be a good day!

P.S.
I am noticing a theme. Okay, so I am a little obsessed with werewolves right now.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We spent Thanksgiving at my sister-in-law's home (Jenny). She and my mother-in-law made an amazing meal! While the food was cooking I got to relax and watch Home Alone. Good times! Porter enjoyed playing with Gran's phone. He was looking at pictures of Annie dog and making a few phone calls.

(Feeding Brinnley olives.)

After our feast the kids played in the snow in Jen's backyard. Ainsley was tempting fate with this one.
Porter LOVES the snow. The first time we put his snowpants on he screamed and wanted them off. I kept getting him dressed because I knew once he figured out what they were for he would want them on. I was right. His favorite thing to do is throw the snow.

In the late afternoon we came home to put up our Christmas tree and decorations. We had the Christmas music on and everyone was laughing and helping. It was a perfect Kodak moment, but everyone was so busy enjoying it we forgot to photograph it. Oh well. Next year...
The day after Thanksgiving Chant and I did Black Friday shopping. We weren't too crazy, Chant did go to the midnight sales at Wal-Mart and victoriously made it out of the store with two items. The next store didn't open till 6:00, so I got to sleep in :)

That afternoon we rode the Trax into Temple Square for the Lighting Ceremony. Oh man it was so cold! I had on my tiny little Rocket Dog sneakers and my toes were ice cubes. (I have since purchased a pair of boots that are already being broken in.) Porter was wrapped up in a blanket, hat, and mittens in his stroller. When I would ask how he was he would say, "I cold." While we waited we snuck into every building for warmth. These pictures were taken on one of our pit-stops inside.

Brinnley was so excited about riding in the train. Her first time on a train and she thought it was the coolest thing!
We had another snowstorm Sunday. This time it buried Brinnley. Well, Daddy may have helped a little bit.
We survived the freezing cold weather and kept warm with homemade chicken noodle soup. So good!

We even had a little pre-dinner entertainment. Our next door neighbor was shoveling his sidewalk and he would through the snow over the fence into our yard. Porter would gasp and then laugh every time the snow came flying over. It was the cutest thing to see him gut-laugh each time.

We had a wonderful holiday and we have so much to be thankful for. The top of the list is a healthy family, a wonderful home, safety during travels, and wonderful friends and family who love us and support us. And of course we are grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers and provides for our needs and a Savior who loves us enough to die for us. Yes, we are blessed!

Week one in our new home

When we pulled up to our house, we had an hour before we were met with a moving crew from the Elders Quorum. They had our stuff in the house within 50 minutes. And then our house looked just like it did before... boxes everywhere.
A few days later we had a beautiful snowstorm and woke up to 9 inches of snow. The kids have had so much fun! We had to buy all new gear for everyone because we didn't have a thing, hence the cowboy boots.


Chant's mom came two days after we got to our new home and she left this morning. She was such a huge help! And Chant's sister Jen lives about 40 minutes away from us. She came every day after work to watch the kids or help with whatever. We couldn't have done it without these two! Seriously, livesavers!

The Move

November 8

November 10

November 13 (Second to last night in our home, in their sleeping bag beds)

We sold our home Nov 5 and moved out Nov 15. Packing is a blur. Packing, cleaning, and painting consumed our last two weeks in Missouri. But somehow we survived! And got everything done. And got all our stuff on the truck. For the most part anyway :)

Home Snowy Home

We arrived at our new home last Tuesday about 5:00 p.m. At 6:00 members of the Elders Quorum were here to help us unpack, and 50 minutes later everything was out of the truck. Since then things have been a blur of unpacking and getting settled in. We still have the living room to unpack and then starts the decorating. But we are loving our new home. It has three bedrooms and a loft upstairs and the living room, kitchen, and dining area downstairs. My favorite room is the loft. We have designated it the toy room. In the 4 days that the toys have unpacked, the kids have played more than they have in a long time. We decided to put a toybox of boy toys in Porter's room. I have already heard mooing and roaring come from his room. When I peak around the corner he is laying on his belly playing with all his farm animals and dinosaurs. So cute! And Ainsley girl has discovered my old dolls and doll clothes. She has spent hours changing their clothes and taking them on tours of the house. I love it! Brinnley started school Thursday. She was nervous, but still so brave. She went right in the classroom, saw a hook and took her coat off and hung it up. The teacher was surprised by how comfortable she seemed. She is nervous about making new friends, but I know she will be great at it. There is another Brynlee in her class and so her teacher was trying to decide how to distinguish them. When school was over Brinnley went up to her and told the teacher she could call her Brinn because that's her nickname. Perfect.

Then last night we had a surprise. We woke up this morning to 9 inches of snow in our yard. The kids are so excited! And I have to say that it is beautiful, but then I haven't driven in it yet. Our home has the most beautiful view. We can see a mountain range out both the front and back of our home and the back is a completely unblocked view. Love it! The first morning we were here the girls were up bright and early as usual. I could hear them talking so I went to their room to say good morning. They were kneeling on their bed looking out the window. Brinnley said the mountain was glowing and it looked like Christmas lights. It did with the little dots of lights on the side of the mountains.

It still doesn't seem real that we are here, but I know once my things are on the walls then it will feel more like home. The camera cord is in a box somewhere, so pictures will come later. I am just grateful we made it safely and have a warm, comfortable place to live.

My Bags Are Packed...

Life has been insane here! Tuesday, November 2nd Chant was home all day, no clinic no nothing. First thing in the morning he said to me he had a feeling that we needed to start packing our house up. We had our house on the market and a few people were showing interest, but no one had said they would take it. I looked at him like he was crazy but said okay. We spent the entire day packing. We had most of the kids' rooms and our room packed. Thursday evening a man and his wife came to look at it. They weren't here very long but I feel peaceful while we were talking to them. The next morning (Friday 5th) he called and asked if he could come over and talk about the sale of our home. We had a cashiers check in our hands by 10:30. Wow! They wanted it quick and so we said okay. We are moving on Monday the 15. We have had a week to pack, clean, and load our truck. (Thank you to all of you who have helped us accomplish everything! We couldn't have done it without you!) That's just our house here. We have had to find a place to move to, which finally happened Monday, and get everything set up there. It has been quite the ride!

I am now sitting on the floor in my empty office. The truck is loaded and we are camping out in our house till Monday. As I think about leaving and try to process all that has happened in such a short time, all I can think is how blessed we are. We have had the best four years here. I am so sad to say good-bye and I know that a piece of my heart will always belong to Missouri. But I am so grateful for the blessings we have been given. I feel like this is the right time and the right thing for us. I am nervous about starting over but I feel peace in my heart and I know this is the right thing. Heavenly Father really does know us and he loves us. He hears our prayers and I have felt his love these past few weeks as I have dealt with every emotion possible. There is still so much uncertainty in our future, but I know in my heart things will work out as they should. I'm holding on tight and waiting to see where this ride takes us!