If we had to sum our experience in Utah with one word it would be relationships. We’ve been on the road almost a year now and we have never experienced relationships like we have here.
We have neighbors/coworkers, that turned into friends, that we shared a meal at least once a week. We have been invited to a 3 year olds birthday party from church and that turned into a multiple visits and lots of memories. We have spent a holiday with a crew of friends. We had workers come help in the garden that transformed into genuine friendships. In our other spots we met people, yes, but here it was truly different. It’s been one of the sweetest parts and makes it one of the hardest parts to leave. (That middle pictures is Merrick clocking out with a friend…that could be my twin!)
We’ve seen birds, big horn sheep, lizards, coyotes, bison, bobcats, tons of animals like no where else. The views with the red rocks and little green sage bushes popping out are so unique, truly impressive. The slot canyons and caves are a gem, almost feels like a set from a movie!
In 13 weeks we have not turned on the TV once. We have not FaceTimed, made a phone call or sent a text while in our home (had to walk over to the laundry room to do so). It’s been good to have it gone and we can see where we don’t want it back ie: meal times, unintentionally, in the bedroom…you know just those times when you don’t need it. But technology isn’t bad and I’m soooo looking forward to be able to make a phone call or send a picture in real time whenever we would like.
We are sad to leave but excited to leave all in the same moment. We’ve had lots of talks about emotions with the boys. We can have multiple emotions about the same thing. And all four of us could have different emotions about the same thing. Teaching moments ALL the time!
We always thought we’d do this a year and with the year mark coming it just doesn’t feel like it’s time to stop yet. We don’t know where we are going to be working next. We are prayerfully figuring that out. But we have 6 weeks of traveling and seeing family and friends! And then we’ll take to the road again and try our hand at officially homeschooling a kindergartener!
