MOVING ON!

So, as most of you know, Ben has been working as a contractor at one of our shipyards for 3 years. Well, on the last day of June, the government told the company he worked for that they needed to lay off 3 people. So, they had to go by seniority, NOT by performance, which made it so Ben had to go. There were 2 others below him and they were let go as well. Although Ben was one of their best workers and had some government people TICKED that he was laid off, they had to go by seniority. His company was very bummed and sad that he had to be let go, especially since he had been put on special assignments that no one else had been trusted enough to do. Well, this was quite a blow to us, especially since he received a call 2 hours after he got home letting him know. So, he went right onto the computer, updated his resume and got on it. My dad said immediately to apply ALL OVER and that we need to go where the jobs are. SO, Ben applied all over the nation and at the shipyard here. He received a call from the shipyard (about a week after he had been laid off) and they set up an interview for the end of July. Well, he continued receiving phone calls for interviews, but none paid enough or was worth the move for the same or LESS pay.
On Thursday, July 9, Ben put in for a job in Hawaii making A LOT more than he made here and working on the network security, instead of help desk stuff. This is what he's been wanting to do and partly what he was specially assigned to do at his last job. 2 hours after he applied for the job, he received a phone call from the hiring guy in Hawaii. They chatted for about 30 minutes and the guy said Ben would receive a call the next day. On Friday, Ben received a phone call from this guy again and they talked even more. He said that Ben was what they were looking for and if he was really sure he wanted to make the move to Hawaii. Ben said, "I need to go where the job is". We talked about it and decided that if that's what Heavenly Father had in store for us, then that's what would happen. I told Ben that I was OK with moving there, even though we don't know anyone. So, we went about the weekend and kept talking about it and actually began looking at places to rent, cost of living, etc. On Monday, Ben received a call for the actual interview and was on the phone for nearly 1/2 hour. At the end of the call, this other guy said that Ben was what they wanted and that he had a few more interviews to go and would let him know in the coming week. Ben then phoned the other guy and told him how well it went. The other guy said, "So, are you really prepared to move to Hawaii?" and Ben said, "Yes". He then told him that he was pretty sure he had the job and to start looking. On Tuesday, Ben received a phone call from him and was told he had the job and when could he start. Ben told him in a month, so we could get things squared away and start packing and going through stuff. Also, I had Girl's camp coming up and Keven had cub scout day camp as well, so we had other things we had to do . He told Ben that Ben was in the 2nd group of people to call. The 1st group all had Bachelor's degrees, but not the experience Ben had. Also, I forgot to mention that Ben still had his security clearance from the other job, so that saved them thousands of dollars! Also, they saw that he had been doing the exact thing that they needed, so it was little to no training. They told him they do reimbursement for school and that they wanted him to get his Bachelor's and then would get 15K more a year! WAHOO! Things happened so quickly and so well that we knew this is where we needed to go. All of this over the phone, an ocean apart. So, we headed to our storage unit to get rid of TONS of stuff!
We had a garage sale and sold most of our furniture and probably 1/3 of the "stuff" we had. It was a successful sale and by far the most we've ever made. We also sold one of our vehicles, because it's so spendy to ship 2 cars over.
After that, I went to Girl's camp, Ben & Keven went to Idaho to spend time with his family (they paid for gas!) and say goodbye until they come and visit us in Hawaii. I got home from Girls camp and they got home from Idaho on August 7th and we packed more, cleaned and headed out to Hawaii on August 11. We were moving Ben down there and looking for a place to live. We were lucky and found a place to live the 2nd day we were there and moved in on the 14th. I forgot about so many things that Ben would need to have while living there. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that Keven and I would be returning back to WA on the 21st for 1 1/2 months because I need to ship our stuff and vehicle down and we need Ben to get some paychecks to pay for it! Our home, which is a 3br/2bath, we found is 3 blocks from the beach and in old military housing, which is still military, but it's been open to the public as well. Ben is so lucky that he has a ferry that takes him to work FOR FREE because he has base access. We live in Ewa Beach on Iroquois Point, which is right next to Pearl Harbor, on the west side. We have truly been blessed in finding things so quickly and how things have fallen into place for us. We did make it up to the Polynesian Cultural Center (not inside, just looking), to BYU-Hawaii and to the Laie Temple (visitors center and the grounds). The drive was BEAUTIFUL and the temple was amazing, even though they're completely redoing it.
We went to our new ward and they were SO wonderful! We felt instantly at home. They are so excited for me to return and I've been informed that I'm "in trouble" when I get back. Basically, they have a calling for me already! Geez. We went to a ward BBQ on the 21st for 1/2 hour, because we were heading to the airport, and at least 15 people (there were about 50 there) said goodbye to us and said they were excited for me to return. We received a better send-off than Ben did on his last Sunday in the ward here, in WA! So crazy. But, Ben has been helped out a lot, since he doesn't have a vehicle right now. So much love from the ward, it's overwhelming. I didn't want to come back to WA, except to be with family and friends. The area was awesome and the beach is fantastic.
So, Keven and I came home on the 22nd (red-eye flight all night long!) and I was released from my Primary calling the next day, because our records had been transferred already. I thought I was going to be emotional, but I think with how chaotic it was that day and some other feelings I was having, I didn't get that way. I love those kids and will truly miss them, but know they'll deal without my lap to sit on! HAHA!
I packed most of the rest of things this week and got stuff off to the dump and to the storage unit. The basement looks kind of bare, but it's OK. Still have more to do, but got the majority of stuff out of the garage and basement so Dad would be happy.
I got to go to Sunday School and the combined RS/Priesthood meeting today for the 1st time in over a year and it was really wonderful. We talked about the temple in both and I felt completely uplifted and felt the need to attend the temple a few times before I leave for Hawaii, since the Laie temple is closed until next summer. Ben and I have planned on going to the Big Island when my parents visit in March and attend the Kona temple. Ben has lots of family that will let us stay with them, so no hotel cost! whoop whoop!
Anyway, LONG post, but had to update on what's up. Will update more another time.

Grams

My beautiful grandmother passed away on May 29, 2009. She had been suffering from dimentia for several years and had reached the point of not being able to communicate or eat. The Lord finally saw fit to take her and release her of the never ending pain she was in. I truly loved my "grams" and know she is in a better place and happy. I'm sure she's pulling pranks up there and singing all of her favorite tunes to everyone!

I went down to SLC with Keven last week for the funeral and enjoyed spending time with family. Ben was unable to come due to work and the cost. Grams looked absolutely beautiful. They did botox and a chin lift for her! Can you believe that?!?! She had a smile on her face and I know she was looking down on all of us at the funeral, smiling while hearing the beautiful things that were said about her. I played "Together Forever" while my sister sang. It was nice when other people joined in. Her casket was a very, pale pink that she chose. It was nice and the flowers chosen for the casket were beautiful.

Grams' casket at the gravesite.

My siblings and I. Alishia, Adam, Audra and me.

Keven and I in front of the casket

At the grave, we released balloons in honor of Grams and how lively and fun she always was. The balloons were bright and we could see them go VERY high. We were nervous when the were going into the plane routes. LOL!

Keven holding his balloon, waiting to release it for Grams.

Mom, Keven and Dad watching the balloons go higher and higher!

She was truly a wonderful grandmother to us, even though we only got to see her every other year when we were growing up. She spoiled us rotten and showed her unconditional love to all of us. She always sang us silly songs and had us sit on her lap, even when we were older!

~Grams, you will be missed a great deal and I hope that I can live as good of a life that you lived so I can be with you again someday. Your love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was so inspiring and uplifting. Your poetry will be forever loved and we're so thankful you had it published for all of us to enjoy. I'm thankful you're out of pain and with your loved ones that have long since passed on. Keep watching over us Grams and give me a good smack every now and then if I need it! I love you Grams and am thankful that I got to see you in December one last time and tell you how much I loved and missed you.

2nd Judo Tournament

So, on May 2nd, we attended Keven's 2nd judo tournament. He had his friend from church there, so it made it less boring for him. They got to warm-up together, which made it so Keven actually had the desire to warm-up! This time it went much faster because they had the jr's going on both mats at the same time. Keven went out FULL FORCE! He was fighting hard. We told him to be aggressive, and he SURE was!

Keven waiting for his opponent. His sensei is sitting off to the side as a ref.

Keven with his opponent, who was more than a year older and 2 belts higher!

Not making it easy!

I said, "Let's have a nice picture" This is what he did.

Keven was hungry, so he decided to take a bite out of Papa. HAHA!

Below, he's doing some weird video game pose. HAHA!

Keven won 2nd place in his division and is here receiving his silver medal. He is showing off his medal in the picture below. We are so proud of his accomplishment and that he fought his hardest. He wasn't timid at all and his sensei was BEAMING at how well he did! Hopefully at the next tournament, his sensei won't be ref'ing and will be able to coach him. Next one, he'll shoot for 1st, but as long as he does his best, that's all that matters! GO KEVEN!

A month of 1st's

So, it's hit... Yep... The cold. It's my 1st one this year. I've been lucky thus far to avoid the terribleness of being sick while everyone around me has had colds, flus, etc. Guess it was too good to be true! So, I'm sitting here, with what appears to be a sinus cold as my head is about to explode and send snot spewing everywhere! On top of that, the joys of being a woman is upon me, so I'm miserable with that! THANKS MOTHER NATURE!!

But, on the bright side, I've been getting jobs more frequently at the school district. I've enjoyed most of them and will enjoy the paycheck coming in a few weeks. It feels good to get out and work again, except when I'm feeling like this! Gotta get better because I have jobs the next 2 days. Luckily, they're only for 4 hours each day and should be fairly easy.

1st Judo Tournament

So, Keven competed in his 1st judo tournament last month. Unfortunately, his sensei was a ref for the older kids and was unable to help him out. One of the other black belts from his dojo was there and helped where he could, but poor Keven had no one to warm-up with and was so horribly nervous. It was in Seattle, so we had to be up at 6am, so we could leave by 6:45 am in order to arrive by 8:15. So, Keven had breakfast pretty early and the tournament began at 10am. Well, it was 12:30 pm and Keven's group STILL hadn't competed yet. Needless to say, he was tired and VERY hungry, on top of being so nervous and unsure. He was a wreck and we were wishing we had brought his DS for him! So, by 1:00, it was his turn. He was so nervous and didn't realize that once you throw or get thrown into an epon (basically a clean throw) then the match is over. So, that 1st match lasted about 25 seconds. It was double elimination, so we hoped he'd do better the next time. We sat there for 45 minutes and he STILL hadn't gone again. Next thing we know, they're moving onto the next group. So, we talked to the other black belt (Sensei Dean) from the dojo and he went up to the judges and scorekeepers and talked to them. Apparently, there was Keven and another kid that lost in their 1st round that they just dismissed off the list! GRRRRR!! So, they had to redo stuff and Keven finally got to go again. This time, the kid did a move on him that I thought shouldn't have been allowed. Keven didn't even know it and it's not one that his Sensei really teaches. So, he was done in about 6 seconds. He was pretty devastated and tried to hold back the tears, but his eyes kept welling up. He was frustrated and tired and hungry... So, his Sensei caught up with us as we were leaving and talked to him and told him he'll do better next time and to just be confidant and go after it like he does in the dojo. We let Keven choose lunch and we went to Olive Garden (his favorite).

He has another tournament on May 2nd and this time it's in Bellevue. We plan to hit up the temple after (walking the grounds) and go to a lunch of his choice again. My parents are going to be able to make this one, because the last one they were in Disneyland! We will be bringing his DS this time, so he won't be so nervous. Although, he now knows what to expect this time and his friend is planning on coming to compete as well, so they'll have eachother!

We informed Keven that he may not win a match until he's done several tournaments, so he shouldn't fret and just keep trying his best! So, wish Keven luck if you see him for this coming Saturday! Better pics will happen and we'll have my parents do a little video clip with their new camera!

Almost 10 years

This was the picture in our wedding invitation

So, coming this Friday (March 13) is Ben and mine 10 year anniversary. I can hardly believe that 10 years ago, we got married. On our 1 year anniversary, we were sealed for all time and eternity along with Keven, who was only 4 months old.

Well, you'd think that with it being the big 10 that we'd be doing something huge, right? WRONG!

There's a traveling event that happens once every 18 months or so around here called, "Time Out For Women", put on by Deseret Book. It features LDS speakers (mostly authors or professors) and an LDS musical artist. It is so uplifting to be with hundreds of other LDS women and be enlightened on womanhood in the church and in daily life. So, this year, it happened to fall on March 13 and 14. A 2-day event, which in the past has only been a one day event. I talked to Ben about attending and said that I would like to, but would just go on the 14th and he said to go the whole time since we couldn't really go do anything. Then, he told me that he had some scout training that's overnight which he wanted to attend the same night! So, for our 10th anniversary, we'll be at separate places. HAHA!

Our desire was to go back to Vegas in May, where we went on our honeymoon and haven't been back since. We had to wait a few months to go on our honeymoon because I had a new job and needed to earn leave. Unfortunately, with having to live with my parents to save money, that just didn't seem like a great idea to bring up to my parents. Also, we're still catching up and not able to save a whole lot yet!

We have dinner plans the next weekend and are looking forward to a nice evening out. Maybe we'll get to do something in 10 more years!

And... yeah

Ben, Keven and I went to see "Coraline" the other night and it was pretty decent. Unfortunately, there were a few things that could've been left out. There's one scene that shows a WELL ENDOWED lady in an opera with just pasties and a thong on! She was acting like that famous painting with the lady in the seashell. Yeah, it was quite disturbing. Also, Coraline kept saying, "Oh my Go*" instead of gosh and it bothered me. Other than that, it kept Keven's attention and made him laugh often. It's not a favorite for me and not one I wish to purchase. Keven wants it, but he can wait for someone else to buy it. I wouldn't recommend this movie for children under 7, maybe even 8.

Anyway, there seriously isn't anything else to update on. How pathetic, huh? Just living the same old, same old lives. Feeling a cold coming on that my mom has had for 3 weeks! Hope it fades away quick! Hope to catch up with others soon who need to update their blogs!