...and the rains came tumbling down

IT'S RAINING!!!!! I'm so happy right now it's ridiculous! After work Saturday (about 4:30/5) I drove off to California with Lei (one of my companions from the mission). We had a fun roadtrip with lots of reminiscing about the mission...we even called a couple people from the mission. We made it to Chris and Olesia's house about 11:30/12. It was fun to see them...Kenneth came down from Bakersfield too! I'm realizing more and more how much of a California girl I am! I miss it there so bad, but for some reason I know I'm supposed to be here in AZ...oh well, life goes on...in my head I know I'll make it back to Cali :)

We had a great time visiting and just hanging out with family. Chris and Olesia's house is really coming along...I can't wait to help them move in! Sara is growing up so fast too...I can hardly believe how talkative she is now. She's still so friendly and loving. It was so hard to say good-bye to her...she has the best hugs and kisses! I was holding her and giving her my last good-bye when Chris and Olesia told her to say good-bye she kept hugging me and then waved good-bye to them as if she was coming with me! It was so cute! They walked us out to the car and as I drove off she even kinda followed me for a second, I wanted so bad to just turn around and stay!

The drive back to AZ was LONG!!! We left about 2:30/3 (you can tell I'm really attentive to the time when I leave places, haha) and I didn't walk in my door until 12:30/1am!!! Granted that includes an hour time change, but ONLY an hour! We saw SIX accidents on the way home that created a LOT of traffic! It was insane! The weather wasn't very nice to us either...we traveled through some pretty wicked rain and wind, but somehow we managed to make it home alive and well. Probably has something to do with the prayer we offered as we left....or maybe it was because we gave a bum some crackers and sobe life water! You can always count on something random when I'm around :) He asked for spare change as we walked out from a bathroom stop, and we truthfully told him we didn't have any...but as we loaded back in the car I got some crackers and water from the trunk for him...good thing he didn't ask for a tennis racquet, tennis balls, tennis shoes, a temple bag, a red maglight, blanket, or a front license plate holder...all the things I forgot to clear out of the trunk before our travels :)

Once I finally made it back I was so wired from trying to keep myself wide awake that I had a hard time getting right to bed, but I knew I had to sleep FAST cause I was lucky enough to open the day after a 3-day weekend...CRAZY busy!!! We had a TON of night drops to run before opening, an insane amount of ATM deposits to service and the branch was steady busy all day! It was great though because I didn't have time to think about how tired I was. And the best part about it all...as we came out after closing it was POURING rain, we got DRENCHED running out to our cars!!! It finally feels like winter!!! Supposedly we get rain all this week :) I'm so happy!!!

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!!!