Lititz Pike, PAWhat a deal!!! If it were the other way around, I'd buy a whole garage full of Christmas trees!
12.21.2009
I'll take one of those!!
Lititz Pike, PAWhat a deal!!! If it were the other way around, I'd buy a whole garage full of Christmas trees!
12.04.2009
...and the beginning of another
It's been a long time coming, but here's my follow-up to the sincere most recent post I made in here. It's been a whirlwind of a month, and I can't believe I've been here since the 16th of November.
When I made the decision to take the new job in Virginia, I did my best to angle for a November 30th start date. We had a lot to get done to prepare the house to market, I had my responsilities in the bishopric to wind down, and we with Thanksgiving and our pending move, my grandparents wanted to host dinner as not just the traditional holiday feast but also as a send off for Amanda, me and the kids. The best I could do was mid-November... and now I understand why (I'll get to a report on the new job down the list a bit).
My first two weeks here were solo. Amanda willingly stayed behind to help wrap things up at the house, and I missed her and the kids. Our household of stuff caught up to me on my 2nd day here, and I had time to get enough unpacked and set up that everyone could sleep in their own beds upon arrival (I had to "rough" it my first two nights... which was rough! No fun sleeping on the floor). The only fun part about those two weeks was that I had a fun set of wheels with which to explore Richmond. When I got to the rental counter late on the 15th, they told me they were all out of the economy sized cars that I had requested, and that I could have my pick. The options were a Dodge Caliber, a minivan, a Ford Edge, a Dodge Magnum, and "a Ford Mustang--I think it's even a convertible." Uh, hello?! Heck yes! Since it would just be me for 2 weeks, it was an easy decision. "I'll take that one," I said emphatically. Here's a photo--poor resolution (taken with my phone in the work parking lot--I became a convert. Mustangs are just sharp looking cars!):
Thanksgiving. So, I caught a 6 a.m. flight on Thanksgiving day, fortunately had a smooth flight through Chicago with a minimal layover, and was back in the 801 by 1 p.m. Amanda picked me up, and it was so good to see her at the airport. We had enough time to stop by the Kenwood house so I could see the new carpet in the basement, then it was to M&D's house before heading to Nana & Papa's. We had a great Thanksgiving dinner, celebrated Christmas early with my immediate family afterward, and then crashed. I ventured out with the crazies on Black Friday at o'dark hundred to pick up Amanda's b-day gift for half price:
The trip home to VA with everyone was quite a journey. Two adults, two toddlers, a lap-riding baby, 4 large pieces of luggage, and my carry-on: Pepper! Everyone did quite well, in retrospect. But it was a long day. We arrived in Richmond about 10:30 p.m. Looking back, I'm glad we didn't linger in Utah as we really needed a couple of days in VA together for the fam to get adjusted. We spent the weekend enjoying a couple of drives around the area, going to church, and just being together.
The new ward has been awesome. It is a really interesting, well-balanced mix of people. There are a number of folks who have been in the ward since the chapel was built in 1960; there are many other settled families who at one point in time were transplants; there are also a lot of young families here with moms, dads or both either going to medical or dental school or doing residencies. It really makes for enjoyable Sunday school lessons with a lot of different perspectives and a generally high level of thought behind the comments.
Work has been Nuts (notice the capital "N"), but it's been the good kind of crazy. My first day on the job, I had a package on my desk awaiting me when I pulled in from orientation! And we technically were not slated to launch the program until December 2nd. The lenders at SunTrust have been very excited for the 7(a) program to get here.
From my experience--having done it six times now in 7 years--changing jobs always requires adjustment and offers challenges which, while often welcome, can be overwhelming. I've felt this range of emotions while here--a dedication to the cause, frustration with learning new programs and basically re-learning the function I've come here to fulfill, wanting to institute my own "touch" and way of doing things, even working willingly 50-60 hour weeks in effort to get up to speed. I've been in at 6 a.m., I've gone back after dinner and stayed until the lights go out, and beyond; I even went to work for a couple of hours last night after the ward Christmas party. These challenges, however, have already afforded me great opportunities to stretch to meet my capacity more than I'd been required to previously, and I've managed to find that time to do so outside of family time.
On a final note for now (this post is too long already), the wild weather! My first morning here, I came out of orientation at noon and it was 74 degrees and beautiful--in mid-November! Talk about perfect weather to have a convertible! But, being Virginia, there is at least 1 or 2 days each week when it must rain... like a mandatory rule of nature here or something. Well, we've learned that the house we are renting doesn't have very good drainage! Check these pics out!
There’s a pond in the front yard:
… and a lake in the back!
(Look along the back fence, on the right... )
Crazy! We’ve thought of our family and loved ones in much colder and snowy locations. Not complaining here. Just sharing the view of our wet world!
When I made the decision to take the new job in Virginia, I did my best to angle for a November 30th start date. We had a lot to get done to prepare the house to market, I had my responsilities in the bishopric to wind down, and we with Thanksgiving and our pending move, my grandparents wanted to host dinner as not just the traditional holiday feast but also as a send off for Amanda, me and the kids. The best I could do was mid-November... and now I understand why (I'll get to a report on the new job down the list a bit).
My first two weeks here were solo. Amanda willingly stayed behind to help wrap things up at the house, and I missed her and the kids. Our household of stuff caught up to me on my 2nd day here, and I had time to get enough unpacked and set up that everyone could sleep in their own beds upon arrival (I had to "rough" it my first two nights... which was rough! No fun sleeping on the floor). The only fun part about those two weeks was that I had a fun set of wheels with which to explore Richmond. When I got to the rental counter late on the 15th, they told me they were all out of the economy sized cars that I had requested, and that I could have my pick. The options were a Dodge Caliber, a minivan, a Ford Edge, a Dodge Magnum, and "a Ford Mustang--I think it's even a convertible." Uh, hello?! Heck yes! Since it would just be me for 2 weeks, it was an easy decision. "I'll take that one," I said emphatically. Here's a photo--poor resolution (taken with my phone in the work parking lot--I became a convert. Mustangs are just sharp looking cars!):
Thanksgiving. So, I caught a 6 a.m. flight on Thanksgiving day, fortunately had a smooth flight through Chicago with a minimal layover, and was back in the 801 by 1 p.m. Amanda picked me up, and it was so good to see her at the airport. We had enough time to stop by the Kenwood house so I could see the new carpet in the basement, then it was to M&D's house before heading to Nana & Papa's. We had a great Thanksgiving dinner, celebrated Christmas early with my immediate family afterward, and then crashed. I ventured out with the crazies on Black Friday at o'dark hundred to pick up Amanda's b-day gift for half price:
The trip home to VA with everyone was quite a journey. Two adults, two toddlers, a lap-riding baby, 4 large pieces of luggage, and my carry-on: Pepper! Everyone did quite well, in retrospect. But it was a long day. We arrived in Richmond about 10:30 p.m. Looking back, I'm glad we didn't linger in Utah as we really needed a couple of days in VA together for the fam to get adjusted. We spent the weekend enjoying a couple of drives around the area, going to church, and just being together.The new ward has been awesome. It is a really interesting, well-balanced mix of people. There are a number of folks who have been in the ward since the chapel was built in 1960; there are many other settled families who at one point in time were transplants; there are also a lot of young families here with moms, dads or both either going to medical or dental school or doing residencies. It really makes for enjoyable Sunday school lessons with a lot of different perspectives and a generally high level of thought behind the comments.
Work has been Nuts (notice the capital "N"), but it's been the good kind of crazy. My first day on the job, I had a package on my desk awaiting me when I pulled in from orientation! And we technically were not slated to launch the program until December 2nd. The lenders at SunTrust have been very excited for the 7(a) program to get here.
From my experience--having done it six times now in 7 years--changing jobs always requires adjustment and offers challenges which, while often welcome, can be overwhelming. I've felt this range of emotions while here--a dedication to the cause, frustration with learning new programs and basically re-learning the function I've come here to fulfill, wanting to institute my own "touch" and way of doing things, even working willingly 50-60 hour weeks in effort to get up to speed. I've been in at 6 a.m., I've gone back after dinner and stayed until the lights go out, and beyond; I even went to work for a couple of hours last night after the ward Christmas party. These challenges, however, have already afforded me great opportunities to stretch to meet my capacity more than I'd been required to previously, and I've managed to find that time to do so outside of family time.
On a final note for now (this post is too long already), the wild weather! My first morning here, I came out of orientation at noon and it was 74 degrees and beautiful--in mid-November! Talk about perfect weather to have a convertible! But, being Virginia, there is at least 1 or 2 days each week when it must rain... like a mandatory rule of nature here or something. Well, we've learned that the house we are renting doesn't have very good drainage! Check these pics out!
There’s a pond in the front yard:
… and a lake in the back!
(Look along the back fence, on the right... )
Crazy! We’ve thought of our family and loved ones in much colder and snowy locations. Not complaining here. Just sharing the view of our wet world!
So, all is well as we begin our next chapter of life. I am ever grateful for wonderful family and established friends, in spite of the new distance; and I'm happy to report that we've quickly began making wonderful associations to add to our individual tapestries of life!
Love from VA,
Justin
Love from VA,
Justin
11.06.2009
The end of one chapter...
Photo Credit: Jonathan Cracroft. See more at www.jonathancracroft.comIt has been "official" news now for a few days, since I gave my official written notice on Monday: we are moving to Virginia! This is a big change, and we are looking forward to what the future brings; but pursuing this opportunity comes at the expense of leaving a truly great life behind. For therapeutic reasons, I feel like acknowledging that fact and writing about it here for a few minutes.
First and foremost, we will miss our Utah family!!! When Amanda and I got married in '02, we decided to start out in Utah where the majority of our relatives lived at the time. We couldn't have made a better decision. By doing so, we have felt a boundless sense of love and support from some of the most important people in our lives. From spending our first weeks as a married couple living in Nana and Papa's basement to recent events like Nans and Pops having C&W for 3 days while I recovered from H1N1 --- our family has always been there for us. Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins... we have been richly blessed to be surrounded by and so often served by you. This is the hardest part about leaving, for we will not have the same physical closeness, but in other ways, we expect to grow even closer through this. Our sincerest gratitude is to you, our family, for the love you have shown for us even to the point of supporting our decision to follow this new adventure. We love all of you so much and will miss you dearly!
Next, friends and neighbors. Our "other" family in Utah has been our special collection of dear friends we have made along the way. From buddies made in Cottonwood 2nd while living in our first apartment, to our dear friends from Kayscreek and Weaver Lane and "the GE experience," to the priceless friends we have made in Highland Park and Crystal II--not to mention that special handful of local "forever" friends from years past--we will miss each of you sincerely! Our neighbors have been the best anyone could ever ask for, and we wish we could just move them with us to our new location. You know who you are!
In a related offshoot from friends and neighbors, there has been a special subgroup of folks we have been involved with in voluntary and service capacities. Working in such capacities has an amazing way of bonding people that is difficult to duplicate. Topping the list for me personally has been working the past seven months with Greg, Mark, Bruce, Roger, Kevin... and all the group leaders, and also serving with Matt, Steve, Andy, Dusty... that's only the beginning of the list, but you guys have blessed my life and my family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your faithful and selfless examples. We will always be connected, regardless of what doors life opens for each of us!
Finally, we will miss the community, the Salt Lake Valley, and Utah's beauty at large! Our fondest memories will include playing in the beauty of the Firs up Millcreek Canyon this past year, drives south to St. George and Vegas to visit dear friends, our roadtrip to the Pacific Northwest, trips to Cafe Rio and the "princess park," walks to and through Sugarhouse Park, surprise visits to Nana & Papa, Nans & Pops and crew, Grandma Bertha and Alpine, the whole extended Adams crew in UT Co, even simple drives as a family to our beautiful downtown to "daddy's office." Utah is a natural beauty. While we feel blessed to be going to similarly beautiful place, we will miss many, many things about Utah.
In his biography, Mark Twain is quoted as saying: "It is from experiences such as mine that we get our education of life. We string them into jewels or into tinware, as we may choose." I am so personally grateful to the many jewels that we have added to our lives while calling Utah home. If you are reading this, YOU are likely one of those treasured gems. Please keep in touch and keep us posted on your adventures!
Sincerely,
Justin
GREAT home for sale in Sugarhouse!
We feel like we are certainly leaving behind a great place, great people... so many elements of greatness here! We are reluctant to be parting with a home we have loved after such a short while, nonetheless we feel that we have been destined to go east and are therefore willing to turn this home over to another wonderful owner/owners who are looking for an ideal Salt Lake City neighborhood!
Here is a link to the virtual home tour, which also has the pertinent info for contact finding out more about the home. Please feel free to share!
10.21.2009
10.16.2009
Words of True Wisdom
Wow... WOW! This is another well-spoken thought by Elder Nelson; I just wanted to make sure you all had a chance to read it and take in its message! Beautiful.
Love,
Justin
Love,
Justin
Our Family Is the Focus of Our Greatest Work and Joy Posted: 16 Oct 2009 12:00 AM PDT "Brethren and sisters, material possessions and honors of the world do not endure. But your union as wife, husband, and family can. The only duration of family life that satisfies the loftiest longings of the human soul is forever. No sacrifice is too great to have the blessings of an eternal marriage. To qualify, one needs only to deny oneself of ungodliness and honor the ordinances of the temple. By making and keeping sacred temple covenants, we evidence our love for God, for our companion, and our real regard for our posterity—even those yet unborn. Our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life; so will it be throughout all eternity, when we can 'inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities … powers, dominions … exaltation and glory' (D&C 132:19)." Russell M. Nelson, "Set in Order Thy House," Liahona, Jan. 2002, 82 Topics: Fatherhood, Motherhood |
10.01.2009
Set Your Homes in an Order Pleasing to the Lord
Came across a great thought today by a modern-day Apostle, Elder Russell M. Nelson. It is an excerpt from a discourse found in the January 2002 Liahona magazine. The excerpt:
"To set our house in an order pleasing to the Lord, we need to do it His way. We are to employ His attributes of ‘righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, [and] meekness’ (1 Tim. 6:11). Each father should remember that ‘no power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned’ (D&C 121:41). Parents are to be living examples of ‘kindness, and pure knowledge, which … greatly enlarge the soul’ (D&C 121:42). Each mother and father should lay aside selfish interests and avoid any thought of hypocrisy, physical force, or evil speaking (see 1 Pet. 2:1)."
How great would this world be if all parents (myself included) were steadily focused on such virtues? Unfortunately, the world is rife with conflicting distractions that impact the focus of moms and dads alike. It is good to receive regular reminders of the importance of such valued attributes.
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