5 blasted months... *sigh* Let this blag go a whopping 5 months...
So! We've got loads to tell you about and yet more big updates! (no pregnancy announcements, so don't even start)
This post is all thanks to Stephanie, who very lovingly punched me in the arm and told me update the blag. To be fair, it's been a grueling 5 months... but I don't want to talk about it. ;) But really, guys. Stephanie doesn't abuse me. So don't freak out.
Updates!
We moved! Again! Which is the same thing I said... 5 months ago. But we did it. We took the leap and moved up to Lehi which is closer to Alex's work and rent is cheaper! This is one of the many little miracles that has constantly followed us this past year. Anyway, it took some searching and good ol' fashioned waiting, but we were lucky enough to sell our contract. It came pretty close, too. We were supposed to move in by the end of March, and we didn't actually get everything out until the third week of March. We very slowly (and stealthily) moved into the basement of Stephanie's sister. If any of you know Kristi and Steve Newsome, that is the sister to which I refer. Funny story, though. We actually moved all of our big stuff out of our old place, which, incidentally, included our bed and frame. So, after a delicious pizza dinner, we went to lay down, only to realize... we'd moved our bed. O_O Whoops... so, we packed up everything we could and drove up to our new place (which we've lovingly dubbed, the cupboard under that stairs)! That's when we realized we had actually sneak-moved in. We also freaked out Steve, who has a paranoia of intruders, because we didn't exactly notify them or anything. Again... Whoops. But all was well in the end, and we're actually quite happy with our new place. Special thanks to the Newsomes for offering the place to us.
Also, Stephanie graduated!!! :D So, funny story that's actually not very funny. But it is pretty amazing. Stephanie started an internship this semester. It was super awesome, and was even a bit miraculous that she got the internship (you'll notice that this is a trend throughout the story). In any case, there's a teacher in Steph's program that has been, shall we say, a growing experience for us. Sometimes she seemed nice, and she's a great resource for knowledge and experience, but she's not much of a teacher.
Anyway, Stephanie, who prior to this that same day, was extremely sick and felt like she was about to pass out, went to a intern get-together anyway, despite her better judgement. The get together turned out to be basically a midterm of sorts. This teacher was checking out they're progress and evaluating their development. Blah blah blah. I go back home, and she texts me because she forgot her time sheets for her internship hours! D: So, I text her some pics of the sheets, and this teacher gets upset and says she's not prepared or something silly like that (this was back in mid-March, just before the move). This isn't the first run-in with this teacher, mind you. Other instances include the time she made Steph cry in class, and then chewed her out for it afterwards because she wasn't a good student. Or the time she would ask for an example of how to interpret a video clip of sign language, and then shoot down the students and give them crap for doing it wrong. Or the time that she assigned a paper based on an article that *none* of the students could find, but instead of admitting her fault, gave the whole class a zero on the assignment because they didn't notify her in time. Needless to say, Stephanie has been putting up with behavior like this for over a year. And she always seemed to have it out for Stephanie. >:l Anyway, back to the time sheets. The interns were supposed to have about 115 internship hours stored up. After looking everything over, it turns out Stephanie is short by almost half of the hours she needs... so, despite this teacher's attitude problems, we had to admit, things were not looking good. :-/ It was looking like Stephanie wasn't going to graduate. :'(
A week or two later, I gave Stephanie a blessing, and Heavenly Father told us that Stephanie should not attempt to graduate this semester. Part of the blessing explained that if she pushed herself too hard would cause her to make sacrifices she wasn't prepared to make. One thing we were sure would be a major sacrifice was time spent with Stephanie's other sister, Julie, who lives in Buffalo, NY (hint: one of them miracles I done told you 'bout!). The Stoddards were coming to visiting the last week of March, and Stephanie didn't want all of the time they were here spent doing internship stuff. It was rough. Anyway, it was a very harrowing revelation. Stephanie and I both shed a lot of tears over the matter.
Anyway, Stephanie, who prior to this that same day, was extremely sick and felt like she was about to pass out, went to a intern get-together anyway, despite her better judgement. The get together turned out to be basically a midterm of sorts. This teacher was checking out they're progress and evaluating their development. Blah blah blah. I go back home, and she texts me because she forgot her time sheets for her internship hours! D: So, I text her some pics of the sheets, and this teacher gets upset and says she's not prepared or something silly like that (this was back in mid-March, just before the move). This isn't the first run-in with this teacher, mind you. Other instances include the time she made Steph cry in class, and then chewed her out for it afterwards because she wasn't a good student. Or the time she would ask for an example of how to interpret a video clip of sign language, and then shoot down the students and give them crap for doing it wrong. Or the time that she assigned a paper based on an article that *none* of the students could find, but instead of admitting her fault, gave the whole class a zero on the assignment because they didn't notify her in time. Needless to say, Stephanie has been putting up with behavior like this for over a year. And she always seemed to have it out for Stephanie. >:l Anyway, back to the time sheets. The interns were supposed to have about 115 internship hours stored up. After looking everything over, it turns out Stephanie is short by almost half of the hours she needs... so, despite this teacher's attitude problems, we had to admit, things were not looking good. :-/ It was looking like Stephanie wasn't going to graduate. :'(
A week or two later, I gave Stephanie a blessing, and Heavenly Father told us that Stephanie should not attempt to graduate this semester. Part of the blessing explained that if she pushed herself too hard would cause her to make sacrifices she wasn't prepared to make. One thing we were sure would be a major sacrifice was time spent with Stephanie's other sister, Julie, who lives in Buffalo, NY (hint: one of them miracles I done told you 'bout!). The Stoddards were coming to visiting the last week of March, and Stephanie didn't want all of the time they were here spent doing internship stuff. It was rough. Anyway, it was a very harrowing revelation. Stephanie and I both shed a lot of tears over the matter.
But, then came acceptance. Stephanie decided to keep doing her internship for the experience, but we threw out her time sheets. We didn't need them anymore, and they were a painful reminder of failure, so why not? (hint hint...) Julie came, and we had a load of fun (This is when the miracles start happening all over the place. It was intense).BUT! One weekend, there was a workshop that counted for about 5 hours that her teacher told her was basically required to do, since Steph needed more hours (hint...). So we decided to go, just for experience and such. However, the day of, we both wake up and are super groggy. Neither of us wanted to get out of bed (we have a habit of over-sleeping... it's a problem). But, Stephanie kept feeling this nagging feeling that we should go. So, we got up and went. It was pretty cool,, but Stephanie was kind of expecting that someone along the way would need help with a flat tire or something, but I caught on when she said we really should go. ;)
Then Stephanie reluctantly decides to go to another internship get-together. This one is to commemorate the interns that are graduating and show them off to students interested in internships. Steph didn't want to go because she knew she wasn't graduating, and she didn't want her teacher to use her as an example of failure. Honestly, I don't blame her. I would have stayed home and Skyrimed my way through that. Anyway, after the whole event, during which this teacher is being awfully cold and quiet, she approaches Stephanie and asks her how she is doing. Steph tells her not that great, and Jamie considers this for a moment. Then (HINT HINT!), her teacher tells her that if Stephanie came by a couple of days a week, she could earn some extra hours, and she would graduate! HUGE NEWS! Stephanie called me at work, and we talked about it. Steph wanted to take the opportunity, but with the last blessing I gave her, we were told not to pursue the course of graduation. So! A second blessing was in order. And lo and behold, Heavenly Father tells us she should definitely take the opportunity! WHOO! I can't tell you how relieved we were! We were just about to terminate her internship, but she wanted to see if her mentor would allow her to stay for the experience. The mentor had stated that she would rather open the opportunity to others who needed it more, but we were able to tell her that Steph would still be doing her internship. The next day, we get this amazing news and confirmation from Heavenly Father, and we saved her internship, and it was just... overwhelming. :') Huge testimony-builder right there. It was an answer to a blessing I had given her before the start of the semester that things would be hard and it would be trying, but help would come from "an unlikely source" (the Lord's words).
So, Stephanie starts working her tail end off even harder, because she so way behind, right? But wait! We had thrown away her time sheets! How was she going to prove her hours now? You may recall that I had to email them to her for her midterm, which meant they were conveniently available online..., and not only that, but there was another time sheet we found in our documents that hadn't been accounted for, that ended up making up the time during Spring Break in a week or two, where no hours would have been accrued. Still she worked very hard, which was caused a large amount of stress and headache. Near the latter end of Julie's visit, Stephanie was spending more time studying and working hard to ensure she got her hours. Guys, she worked super hard. I was impressed and inspired by her determination. :)
Side note: The visit with Julie and Matt was really great! Loved seeing them again. It felt like they never left, to be honest. We played so many games, and ate more than I remember eating for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve combined! We did a really great temple session with the whole family, expect for Steve, who hurt his ankle in soccer the day before. But that's okay, family is more than that. That's what makes families so great. You can live your lives in completely different parts of the country, and still, when you're all together, it's like they were always with you. Even when you conveniently hurt your ankle the night before a 6am temple session. ;)
It was really hard to say goodbye to Julie again, though. Stephanie and I were both really sad. This was the first time it really sunk in that they lived so far away. I mean, they've been living in New York for a while now, but it never really felt like they were far away, you know? Well, hopefully you understand. But we know that families are forever, and that we will still see them again. They may live far away physically, but the bonds that tie family together are eternal, and we can be close wherever we go. I'm grateful Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have made it possible for us to have that bond with family. It's just a beautiful and intrinsic principle of our divine nature.
Back to the story! So, Stephanie works really hard, and tracks her hours more intensely than ever before. That, with moving, and family visiting, she did a pretty good job of balancing the three. Usually, those three things require 100% focus, but somehow, she was able to do all three at the same time. She's amazing! The rest of the story is pretty much the same throughout. She spends many hours interpreting, signing, watching her mentors, etc. Plus, she still has lots of other classes, even one in the evening, so I was home alone a lot. Not TOO big a deal for me, but there were quite a few nights where I missed her. But, after many late nights pulled and study groups and group projects of death and lameness, and stress and stress and stress. Yet, throughout it all, she pulled through like a champ! Some of her tests that she thought she wouldn't do well on, she dominated! And as for her pain-in-the-neck teacher? She ended up being instrumental in Stephanie's ability to graduate! It was quite the roller coaster for us.
Steph's graduation ceremony was really cool. I mean, the bagpipes... Like, it was cool that Steph was graduating and all, but MAN... those bagpipes! (Looking at you, Lori... just kidding!) We were sitting pretty high up in the stands in the Vivint Events Center at UVU, and when it came for Stephanie's name to be read, I walked down to the front of the stands to wave to her, but she didn't notice me. Steph later said that she was so focused on not looking like an idiot, she didn't really even know I was there. What a silly. :) That's okay, though. It was just amazing to finally see her walk and receive her diploma! I'm so proud! :')
Since then, Steph's been taking a well-earned break from things like waking up super early, constantly doing school-work, and most of all, the constant stress. She walked on a very thin tightrope for several months. And personally, I was glad we could get back to spending time together without the added stress of her classes on the back of our minds. (To be fair, the stress was more on her than me. I was supportive, but I was also, at times, kind of lazy and didn't help as much as I should have. I still kick myself over that from time to time).
But, she did it! (Which is what she shouted shortly after leaving graduation. lcol). I'm so proud of her. :)
Now on to me! But not nearly as exciting. Don't look at me that way, I told you up front that I wouldn't be nearly as interesting as her. Basically, all that was new for me was that my work, Vivint Solar, moved from our old, rented building in Orem to the new, sleek, long-anticipated and hyped building in Lehi. Like, seriously, though. This building has been in the back of our minds for well over a year. Ever since I started in the company back in 2014. In fact, it was one of the first things mentioned to me when I started. There would be comments and questions about the new building, and when we would move up there. There was even a debate about who would be moved to the new building. Whether it was Processing (the paper -jockeys), or the Customer Success Mangers (My department). I was a little nervous about this because Stephanie used to work in Processing department. She left at the end of 2015 to focus more on school, but for the longest time, we would have a friendly debate about which of us would be working in the Lehi Building. So anyway, it was this overhanging incentive for everyone.
Now, a little backstory here. When I started, I was a customer support rep for the Massachusetts team. Best team ever! My then boss was Kelli, and she was a good leader. understanding, adaptable, cooperative. Then she was called on to pilot the position she and I both work in now (Customer Success Manager). So the running joke was that she was an absent mother to our team, and that she didn't love us anymore. This was most emphasized by me and my jokes about abandonment issues that were only about 75% facetious. I'm fine though... I'm fine...
Anyway, the MA team grew and changed over the course of a year, and I loved every minute of it. Anyway, the new CSM position opens up, and I applied for it. Miraculously, I got it, and it's been awesome ever since. I was hired on for the... you guessed it! MA team! It was really cool, because some of my higher-level coworkers were also hired on to the MA team. All the while, though, these other people that I worked with for so long we slowly, but steadily, leaving for other opportunities. So, the changes were pretty drastic. I'm surprised I held it together so well. Usually, change like that can stress me out. Anyway, finally, the new MA CSM's were hired and trained, and a really cool culture began. I had a new boss, because my old boss, Kelli, was sent to the New Jersey team. So, my "mom" was no longer my "mom". It was weird. Like an estranged sister sort of thing... Anyway, after about 6 months on the new MA team as a CSM, I was pretty happy. Things were going well. Then... came the day I was reassigned. Against my will and without any warning, I might add... It was emotionally challenging. The secretly competitive side of me was like "cool, a new office! Bring it on!". But the other side of me was very nervous, and even offended.
But I got the chance to talk it over with my boss, and she explained that it was because I was a more established individual, so the transition wouldn't be as difficult for me. Which was true.
Now for the big reveal. I was moved to none other than... the New Jersey team! And better yet, with my estranged sister-mom, Kelli! That was actually really cool. It made the transition really easy. If anyone understood what I was feeling about coming to a new office, especially from the same office I left, it would be Kelli. And she was really good about it. She understood very well.
So anyway, the whole time, people were given this idea of the new building, and everyone wanted to move in. But, finally, it was decided that CSM's like myself would move in! And it's been awesome ever since. The new building is amazing. Definitely an upgrade. Very modern, very austere. Great view, too. It's cool, because it's very open, and very intentionally designed to allow sunlight to flow throughout the building.
Anyway, long story short, moving to the new building has been a really nice change in environment. I can now bike to work, which takes 10-15 minutes. That's been really fun, I'll be honest. I even got a new bike, since my old one is... well, old. It's a great way to get exercise and have more energy in the morning
Steph here: A final note on another miracle - the month of May ended up being a highly expensive one due to an ER visit for an abscess under Alex's arm, a speeding ticket, and some medication. We were over our budget by at least 1,000$. Part of that was due to us catching up on our tithing for the past 3 months we hadn't quite got to paying. I fretted and freaked for a while, possibly even cried... Then at the end of the month, our tax return came in, and lo and behold- it was approximately the same amount for all the extra expenses we had made that month.
It still makes me cry.
I know the blessings of tithing are real. I know that the Lord looks out for us and really is mindful of us. There have been more miracles this year than I can count. I am so humbled at the kindness and love that is given us at every turn by various people and circumstances. I have learned so much about the atonement and how it has power through every experience and purpose. I want you to know that I know God is real. I know His church was restored by Joseph Smith because of God's love for us. He is never far away and His plan is never frustrated by the agency of men. His plan is so complex and extensive for each individual's life that we often don't understand how it could possibly work out or make any sense. I know that the Lord's ways are higher than my ways and we can always trust Him. The future need not be so dismal with such a bright path and a persistent Guide. I leave this with you in the name Jesus Christ, Amen.
Back to Alex now-
So anyway, that catches you up, generally, on us. There's probably more I've missed, but that's what happens when you wait 5. Freaking. Months. My bad guys, I'm sorry. I know you wait with bated breath for a new post all the time. I'll try to keep you from exploding with anticipation from now on.
Thanks for humoring me.
So, Stephanie starts working her tail end off even harder, because she so way behind, right? But wait! We had thrown away her time sheets! How was she going to prove her hours now? You may recall that I had to email them to her for her midterm, which meant they were conveniently available online..., and not only that, but there was another time sheet we found in our documents that hadn't been accounted for, that ended up making up the time during Spring Break in a week or two, where no hours would have been accrued. Still she worked very hard, which was caused a large amount of stress and headache. Near the latter end of Julie's visit, Stephanie was spending more time studying and working hard to ensure she got her hours. Guys, she worked super hard. I was impressed and inspired by her determination. :)
Side note: The visit with Julie and Matt was really great! Loved seeing them again. It felt like they never left, to be honest. We played so many games, and ate more than I remember eating for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve combined! We did a really great temple session with the whole family, expect for Steve, who hurt his ankle in soccer the day before. But that's okay, family is more than that. That's what makes families so great. You can live your lives in completely different parts of the country, and still, when you're all together, it's like they were always with you. Even when you conveniently hurt your ankle the night before a 6am temple session. ;)
It was really hard to say goodbye to Julie again, though. Stephanie and I were both really sad. This was the first time it really sunk in that they lived so far away. I mean, they've been living in New York for a while now, but it never really felt like they were far away, you know? Well, hopefully you understand. But we know that families are forever, and that we will still see them again. They may live far away physically, but the bonds that tie family together are eternal, and we can be close wherever we go. I'm grateful Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have made it possible for us to have that bond with family. It's just a beautiful and intrinsic principle of our divine nature.
Back to the story! So, Stephanie works really hard, and tracks her hours more intensely than ever before. That, with moving, and family visiting, she did a pretty good job of balancing the three. Usually, those three things require 100% focus, but somehow, she was able to do all three at the same time. She's amazing! The rest of the story is pretty much the same throughout. She spends many hours interpreting, signing, watching her mentors, etc. Plus, she still has lots of other classes, even one in the evening, so I was home alone a lot. Not TOO big a deal for me, but there were quite a few nights where I missed her. But, after many late nights pulled and study groups and group projects of death and lameness, and stress and stress and stress. Yet, throughout it all, she pulled through like a champ! Some of her tests that she thought she wouldn't do well on, she dominated! And as for her pain-in-the-neck teacher? She ended up being instrumental in Stephanie's ability to graduate! It was quite the roller coaster for us.
Steph's graduation ceremony was really cool. I mean, the bagpipes... Like, it was cool that Steph was graduating and all, but MAN... those bagpipes! (Looking at you, Lori... just kidding!) We were sitting pretty high up in the stands in the Vivint Events Center at UVU, and when it came for Stephanie's name to be read, I walked down to the front of the stands to wave to her, but she didn't notice me. Steph later said that she was so focused on not looking like an idiot, she didn't really even know I was there. What a silly. :) That's okay, though. It was just amazing to finally see her walk and receive her diploma! I'm so proud! :')
Since then, Steph's been taking a well-earned break from things like waking up super early, constantly doing school-work, and most of all, the constant stress. She walked on a very thin tightrope for several months. And personally, I was glad we could get back to spending time together without the added stress of her classes on the back of our minds. (To be fair, the stress was more on her than me. I was supportive, but I was also, at times, kind of lazy and didn't help as much as I should have. I still kick myself over that from time to time).
But, she did it! (Which is what she shouted shortly after leaving graduation. lcol). I'm so proud of her. :)
Now on to me! But not nearly as exciting. Don't look at me that way, I told you up front that I wouldn't be nearly as interesting as her. Basically, all that was new for me was that my work, Vivint Solar, moved from our old, rented building in Orem to the new, sleek, long-anticipated and hyped building in Lehi. Like, seriously, though. This building has been in the back of our minds for well over a year. Ever since I started in the company back in 2014. In fact, it was one of the first things mentioned to me when I started. There would be comments and questions about the new building, and when we would move up there. There was even a debate about who would be moved to the new building. Whether it was Processing (the paper -jockeys), or the Customer Success Mangers (My department). I was a little nervous about this because Stephanie used to work in Processing department. She left at the end of 2015 to focus more on school, but for the longest time, we would have a friendly debate about which of us would be working in the Lehi Building. So anyway, it was this overhanging incentive for everyone.
Now, a little backstory here. When I started, I was a customer support rep for the Massachusetts team. Best team ever! My then boss was Kelli, and she was a good leader. understanding, adaptable, cooperative. Then she was called on to pilot the position she and I both work in now (Customer Success Manager). So the running joke was that she was an absent mother to our team, and that she didn't love us anymore. This was most emphasized by me and my jokes about abandonment issues that were only about 75% facetious. I'm fine though... I'm fine...
Anyway, the MA team grew and changed over the course of a year, and I loved every minute of it. Anyway, the new CSM position opens up, and I applied for it. Miraculously, I got it, and it's been awesome ever since. I was hired on for the... you guessed it! MA team! It was really cool, because some of my higher-level coworkers were also hired on to the MA team. All the while, though, these other people that I worked with for so long we slowly, but steadily, leaving for other opportunities. So, the changes were pretty drastic. I'm surprised I held it together so well. Usually, change like that can stress me out. Anyway, finally, the new MA CSM's were hired and trained, and a really cool culture began. I had a new boss, because my old boss, Kelli, was sent to the New Jersey team. So, my "mom" was no longer my "mom". It was weird. Like an estranged sister sort of thing... Anyway, after about 6 months on the new MA team as a CSM, I was pretty happy. Things were going well. Then... came the day I was reassigned. Against my will and without any warning, I might add... It was emotionally challenging. The secretly competitive side of me was like "cool, a new office! Bring it on!". But the other side of me was very nervous, and even offended.
But I got the chance to talk it over with my boss, and she explained that it was because I was a more established individual, so the transition wouldn't be as difficult for me. Which was true.
Now for the big reveal. I was moved to none other than... the New Jersey team! And better yet, with my estranged sister-mom, Kelli! That was actually really cool. It made the transition really easy. If anyone understood what I was feeling about coming to a new office, especially from the same office I left, it would be Kelli. And she was really good about it. She understood very well.
So anyway, the whole time, people were given this idea of the new building, and everyone wanted to move in. But, finally, it was decided that CSM's like myself would move in! And it's been awesome ever since. The new building is amazing. Definitely an upgrade. Very modern, very austere. Great view, too. It's cool, because it's very open, and very intentionally designed to allow sunlight to flow throughout the building.
Anyway, long story short, moving to the new building has been a really nice change in environment. I can now bike to work, which takes 10-15 minutes. That's been really fun, I'll be honest. I even got a new bike, since my old one is... well, old. It's a great way to get exercise and have more energy in the morning
Steph here: A final note on another miracle - the month of May ended up being a highly expensive one due to an ER visit for an abscess under Alex's arm, a speeding ticket, and some medication. We were over our budget by at least 1,000$. Part of that was due to us catching up on our tithing for the past 3 months we hadn't quite got to paying. I fretted and freaked for a while, possibly even cried... Then at the end of the month, our tax return came in, and lo and behold- it was approximately the same amount for all the extra expenses we had made that month.
It still makes me cry.
I know the blessings of tithing are real. I know that the Lord looks out for us and really is mindful of us. There have been more miracles this year than I can count. I am so humbled at the kindness and love that is given us at every turn by various people and circumstances. I have learned so much about the atonement and how it has power through every experience and purpose. I want you to know that I know God is real. I know His church was restored by Joseph Smith because of God's love for us. He is never far away and His plan is never frustrated by the agency of men. His plan is so complex and extensive for each individual's life that we often don't understand how it could possibly work out or make any sense. I know that the Lord's ways are higher than my ways and we can always trust Him. The future need not be so dismal with such a bright path and a persistent Guide. I leave this with you in the name Jesus Christ, Amen.
Back to Alex now-
So anyway, that catches you up, generally, on us. There's probably more I've missed, but that's what happens when you wait 5. Freaking. Months. My bad guys, I'm sorry. I know you wait with bated breath for a new post all the time. I'll try to keep you from exploding with anticipation from now on.
Thanks for humoring me.
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