I have survived!!!

My first week of 'really' working at Wells Fargo (not just training on the phone/computer) is complete!!! I survived :) It's the best! I absolutely love it! For some reason it turned out to be one of the busiest/craziest weeks since I've been down here in AZ...all I wanted to do when I got home from work is sleep, but there was something to be done every night! Which is good, I guess :)
I was somewhat of a slacker and my temple recommend expired on Mon so I was very distraught about not being able to go to the temple this week...and not knowing how soon I'd be able to get a new one! Then I got a phone call on Tues and found out I could meet with Bishop Wed night after work...Thurs night I met with the Stk Pres and Fri night we closed up the bank just early enough for me to drive straight to the temple and make it on the last session! Where there's a will there's a way...the Lord always prepares a way for us to do the work He's commanded us to do :) If you don't believe me just put it to the test!
The other day I was talking to Kenneth about our holiday plans and it started to hit me how much we're all growing up...it's still weird to think I'm not the little baby anymore (probably more weird for all my big brothers and sisters than it is for me). I'm just glad we're still close as a family, I know we may not get to see each other very often but I still feel like we're there for each other when needed. I have a great family and I wouldn't trade a single one of you for ANYTHING in the world!!! You've all taught me so much, with all your words of wisdom, little talks here and there, and especially through your examples...THANKS for being who you are and helping me to try and find success in this crazy world! I love you!!!

Since GHS...

Don't know what exactly it was this weekend, but I've been thinking a lot about all my random experiences since high school...all the places I've lived and the people I've met...I've been blessed, no doubt!

Provo (fall 2003-winter 2005)...I graduated Gridley High School and fulfilled my 'life-long' dream and goal of attending BYU and being a cougar! So many good memories living in DT as a freshman and all the awesome friends I made as I ventured out on my own! Then moving south of campus the next year, at least then I had some of my friends from DT just across the street (well technically on the other side of the fence...the one that ripped 3 pairs of pants) Not to mention finding out that 2 of my cousins were in the ward! Working in the Office of IT and applying to BYU-Idaho during a down time at work, just to see if I would get in (since I was denied straight out of high school I figured for sure they'd still deny me)

Rexburg (summer 2005-fall 2007)...transferring to BYU-Idaho just to see what it was like, convinced I'd go back to BYU in the fall. Meeting all the awesome friends there and never going back to BYU...I had some good times! Going to the dunes and egan lake for bonfires, camping, and random hikes...I'll never forget the guy that just got back from Iraq and convinced us that hiking up thunder mountain (a massive sand dune/mtn) would be fun...after eating pizza :S All the rec sports...especially tennis and softball :) The AMAZING roommates! Prep for the mission...Bishop Wright, my roommates, and close friends were so perfect for me at that time. I still can't get over the fact that I went to BYU-I and had fun...the place I grew up saying I would NEVER go to! haha

The random winter semesters (my off-track at byu-i) living with siblings...Chris and Olesia in Chico )winter 2006) and then Colleen in Provo (winter 2007)...good times! Fun memories...running back into old friends...the late night advice/wisdom from my great siblings/siblings-in-law...random 'filler' jobs...

Manchester, New Hampshire Mission (no I never served in NH itself...just Maine, Vermont, and Mass) So many people I met there, TONS of great memories!!! I can hardly wait to get back there to visit! I learned so much from all the wonderful people of New England and will NEVER forget those experiences!

Mesa, AZ...and now randomly moving down to AZ. I've run into people I never thought I'd see again, but so grateful to be back in touch with! Still not really sure how I ended up down here, but so grateful I'm here! As always I've been blessed with AWESOME roommates and great friends that make life so entertaining and fun :) Cause what's a day without laughter??? Well, honestly I can't answer that because I've never experienced one! (And I don't reccommend trying)

It's crazy to try and think about how/why I've been where I have, kinda funny thinking about how I ended up where I have. I'm glad I can look back on these last couple of years of life and laugh...no regrets...sometimes I think I would change some of the choices I made if I had the chance to do it over, but honestly I'm glad I don't because each of those choices helped me to learn and grow...and to get where I'm at today...which is GREAT!!! God is great!

per daddy's request...

Here it is...2010 Toyota Corolla LE...

Job Update

So Office Max is no longer in the picture...Wells Fargo finally made an offer and I simply couldn't refuse! I'm now a full-time teller at the Gilbert/Baseline branch in Mesa. I start training on the 23rd!!! The cool part is that now I get to spend a whole week with Chris, Olesia, and Sara!!! I'm flying to Ventura Sun evening...Olesia is using me as a model for her test and then I fly back to Mesa the following Sun before church. I know I just barely hung out with Colleen, Olivia and Becky but I can hardly wait to be with family again :)

Count Your Many Blessings...name them one by one

There is DEFINITELY NOT enough room to name ALL my blessings, but I had to mention the most recent...I FINALLY GOT A JOB!!! Heavenly Father never fails...he always knows our troubles/trials and is there to help us through each and every one of them! I'm so STOKED to finally be back in the working world!!! I know my roommates will be grateful too...I know they're sick of coming home and seeing all the crazy projects I'm about. (Yesterday I was caught cleaning out the trash can!) A girl can only handle no school and no work for so long! Thank you Heavenly Father!!!

Life Goes On

I just got off the phone with Sister Jensen (my mission president's wife) and had to write before procrastinating yet again! Amongst the many random topics discussed were record keeping. She mentioned that Elder Scott actually has 3 'journals': 1 for the public, 1 for family and close friends, and 1 for personal ONLY. There are some things so sacred and personal that we don't share them with anyone, but keeping a record of these things is our way of showing Heavenly Father that it is important to us. That's when I realized that I need to be doing better at my record keeping, because I have been given some pretty special things/experiences lately and I don't want to forget them!
This week has been full of fun little experiences and great growth! Sister Foy and I have been catching up and having little mini-companionship studies...oh how I've missed that part of the mission! It's amazing how much more we can learn when we share our studies and inquires with others! I absolutely LOVE this gospel!!! It gives me the peace I need while attempting to get a life...which seems to be a longer process than I imagined :S There's just something about knowing that you're along the right path, despite the fact that I can't see everything ahead of me...it's a little too foggy for that...I know that I'm headed the right way. Heavenly Father is kind enough to leave little hints here and there along the road.
I FINALLY heard back from Wells Fargo yesterday...the managers have been out sick all week. They filled the 2 open positions, but they'd like to keep my information for a position that will be opening soon. They claim they really liked me and would like to contact me when that opens. Office Max is more promising. He talked with me as though he had already given me the position. He will be talking with the managers that already interviewed me to see if they'd like me on the floor or in the print shop. If they do put me in the print shop he is going to work something out so they can use me on the floor as well...apparently he thinks I'm a good saleman and have a good computer background. We shall see what happens :)

A little taste of heaven :)

This weekend has given me another little taste of heaven! Thursday I made some cookies for missionary companions still in the field and called to get updated addresses before sending them off (this week was transfers). When trying to find out if Sister Foy had been transferred or not I heard from a member that she went home...I immediately thought the member had just misunderstood, but in talking with the ward mission leader in the ward had the news confirmed. I immediately began stalking the Foy family in every possible way but one, I did not YET go to there house, only 15 miles away! I decided enough was enough and I would have to wait a day before going to that point....she called back :) We talked and talked and talked and then hung out the following day. Being with mission companions is a little taste of heaven! It's especially great when you live close and are able to see each other over and over again :)
Today one of my roommates took me on a hike...my first AZ hike! It was absolutely beautiful!!! It was an average hike, only took about 1 1/2-2 hours, nothing big and crazy. The view was great though and the weather was perfect...I'm guessing 80/90s with a nice little breeze as we approached the top and all the way back down too. What a sight to behold up at the top! I LOVE it down here in AZ!

I love to see the Temple

I'm not sure exactly when the obsession started, but yesterday I was yet again surprised by how great it is to be at the Temple! My first time going through the temple was the day before Thanksgiving 2007. Dad was there to pull me through the veil. Everytime after that until I went on my mission (about 4 times) he was there for me. Then while in the MTC I was blessed to attend the Provo Temple twice...it's pretty cool going through the temple as a set apart full-time missionary! At the close of my mission I went through the Boston Temple with 4 Elders also going home and the Longmores (an office couple). The next day I flew home and went to the Sacramento Temple...Dad was there to pull me through again :) Each time I went to the Temple I was either with my biological family or mission family...until yesterday.

Yesterday I entered the Mesa Temple for the first time...very beautiful! I was all by myself (physically). I had no family with me and my parents were not inside waiting for me. I was a little nervous, not going to lie. I didn't know who I would ask questions or who would be waiting for me in the Celestial Room. I kept asking people where to go because I felt like I was in a maze, but no matter how lost I felt or how much I looked for family I felt the love of the Lord and the peace He always promises us! As I walked out of the Celestial Room and down the stairs to get changed and leave I stopped and asked a random worker a simple question...I wasn't prepared for how much she was about to share with me. She answered my question, but it didn't stop there...she gave me some tips for the rest of my life. She talked to me just like Mom, Dad or Sister Longmore would have talked to me! As I looked into her eyes I saw Heavenly Father looking out for me and reminding me that He will provide for our physical needs too...when our family can't be by our side He'll always provide another! I love my Heavenly Father and I LOVE LOVE LOVE being in His home more than any place on this earth!!!

I LOVE PUMPKIN PIE!!!

I landed in Arizona Sept 19th...almost 4 weeks ago now! It's still hard to believe that I even landed in California...there are many a day when the alarm goes off at 6:30am and I roll over looking for my companion across the room only to remember that ended nearly 2 transfers ago! (79 days ago)
Mesa is great though, I love it here and am finding lots of new and exciting adventures! Tuesdays and Thursdays I often find myself wandering the Tempe campus of ASU with my roommate Kyla. I usually sit in on her Stress Management and Institute classes, and then entertain myself either in the Engineering or Institute buildings...sometimes at the tennis courts :) Sometimes I wish I could be a lifelong college student, and actually get paid good money for it! I just love going to class and being on-campus!
I'm still applying for jobs like crazy!!! I feel like it's taking forever to find a job, but then remind myself that it's only been a couple of weeks and things will turn out. I'm starting to get some call backs, slowly but surely. I'm waiting to hear from Wells Fargo whether I go on to the next level of interviews...another 4 business days. Yesterday I heard from American Fine Art Editions, Inc. for an Administrative position and was able to go in and interview that afternoon. http://www.americanfineartgallery.com/ It's an awesome business and I'll hear back by tomorrow evening whether or not they'd like me to come in and interview with the Director! If nothing else I'm getting some good interviewing practice in. Thanks to Wells Fargo I can now say I've had a group interview, which actually turned out nice and relaxing for me. It was a great way to get back into the swing of things.
I'm trying to think of some funny things that have been going on since I've been back from the mission, but I don't really have time to write about every second of every day of my life since then :) We all know I can turn any situation into something funny and it's been happening A LOT down here in AZ!
OH! Monday night for FHE our ward practiced country dancing, for a multi-ward activity coming up. As much as I absolutely LOVE (is it okay to be that sarcastic?) dancing I decided to go and support my leaders...I convinced my roommates to come along by promising that we would only stay an hour, no matter what! Well when 8:30 rolled around we were being taught a line dance...which I cannot seem to muster the coordination to manage...I told Kyla I would go get Janna and that we would leave. I walked over to Janna and told her it was time to go, that we would walk over to Kyla, wait for the music to start (they were trying to get the music turned on so we could practice the dance they just taught) and then leave all together. Well as Janna and I started back towards Kyla, Kyla started sprinting for the door...so we ran for it too. As Janna and I were running through the door the Bishop yelled out, "I saw that Weinberg! Get back in here!" Luckily for Kyla and I he doesn't know us well enough to hollar out at us :) Boy did we get an adrenaline rush from that...I almost thought the Bishop was going to chase us down! We got a good laugh from that! Normally I don't think it would have mattered, but there were MORE GUYS THAN GIRLS!!! I'm pretty sure that's a world record for any YSA FHE, especially with dancing involved!

Oh...and the pumpkin pie title...yesterday after the interview I came home and made pumpkin pie to celebrate :) It's yummy!!!