Texas- you have a problem----The Fillmore's

Darci said I should update the blog since we have moved, and our now in Texas where it is actually sunny. We packed up a small trailer after selling a lot of stuff, and started on our way. We stayed with Mom and Dad for a week.. Which was great, except for the weather. At least Portland weather only followed us half way across the nation.


We had a great time visiting with family, playing golf, cards, pool, and enjoying some time off. The kids played with Aunt Sarah, and their cousins. It was a lot of fun. After Rigby, we drove to Denver, and stayed the night, followed by a night in Lawrence, KS home of the 2008 Champion Jayhawks. WE arrived in Killeen on May 29th at about 11pm local time. And we have been torturing the Karchers (Darci's sister and family) ever since. We are trying to get into a home in the neighborhood, and also trying to get that teaching job I came for. It has been great to see the blue sky, and as Darci says "to not be cold ever". The kids have had fun too, we can barely get them to leave their 6 cousins here. Anyways, I added some photos from our trip, and promise to update this a bit more often. We would love to hear from any of you.

( I added four pictures- The kids at temple square, the kids at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence where the Jayhawks play, the kids at Energy Solutions Arena in SLC, cause we have a Jazz fan we left behind in Portland, and a picture of the house we are trying to get.)

We will try to Flog again soon, love the Fillmores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stepping Stones

Our high councilman said today "I am thankful for this Church because it makes the world seem so small". I couldn't agree more.

We are leaving our beloved Oregonians to move to Texas. We are very excited for what this adventure holds for us, but leaving will be so much more difficult then I told myself it would be. I am an Oregonian through and through so it is hard to imagine raising my children as Texans.

I do now, and will forever consider myself an Oregonian no matter what my address may be.

Before Relief Society began today a very dear friend sat by me for a moment and told me that when she read my note telling her that we might be moving to Texas she immediately felt the spirit witness to her that it was the right place for my family. What a sweet gift it is when someone listens to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

I am grateful for confirming moments like this one that reassure me that this is the right decision. This Gospel is true. I am so grateful that I was baptized, confirmed a member of the Church and that I received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The blessings that I have received and continue to receive because of this decision are many.

I love the people here. I have had girlfriends all of my life, but my girlfriends here are more like sisters. I will miss them so much.

Thank goodness there shoes are being filled by the original!

Updates.

What a crazy few months it has been. Ben getting laid off in December was soo much more difficult on our morale then he let on in his latest posting. About a week after he was laid off I had a miscarriage. If any of you have ever had a miscarriage you know that that term is used too casually.

At this point we are not sure if we are going to have any more children. We are looking at some really big changes in the near future and from there we will see.

Ben is applying to teaching programs in Texas and we feel like it is the right place for us. Of course we are going to live in the same town as Lee and Tricia, that is a given. If I have learned anything, its that family is the most important thing. When I found out that the baby had died, Mom and Dad dropped everything and came up to Portland to give me a blessing.

The best thing in the world is Family.

Hopefully we are learning the lessons we are supposed to be. We are excited at the possibilities in Texas for our family and we are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
excited for the SUN!!! Killeen is certainly not the prettiest part of the state but we will take it.

I am supposed to check out my niece's blog, Hi Ariana!

Job Hunting

It has been a while since I posted so I thought I would update all of you, we have had an eventful couple of weeks, but all in all everything is fine. I am still working at Wells Fargo for a couple of more weeks anyways, and still looking for jobs. The mortgage industry has really been hit hard. I am sure something will come up though, and if nothing else I can do a small foray into mortgage collections if needed.

Anyways the Fillmore's are doing well, and excited for another new year. Even though it is nearly February already. On New Year's Day we took the kids up to the Mt St Helens Visitor Center. We watched a short video and toured the museum, it was fun and the kids, especially Alec, have been fascinated with volcanoes for weeks. It is hard to see the St Helens in the background, but its there, it blends in with the sky because of all the snow.

Some of you know I started delivering newspapers at night/early morning to make some extra money. It is pretty easy work, but gets tiring on the 3rd or 4th night in a row. It isn't home delivery like most of you will instantly visualize, but instead I deliver to businesses, and the little paper machines, so I get to drop of 10-15 papers at a time, instead of only one per stop. It pays well, for a part-time job, and will be good for us to save some money, for student loans and things. Well I better go, I have procrastinated a Sunday School Lesson long enough. I am the 1st counselor and two of my teachers have called in sick this week. : >

Love the Fillmores.

Happy New Year!!!

I tried to take some Great pictures of the kids today playing football in the front yard but my crazy camera decided to go on strike!

Oh well, maybe I will win in the negotiations.

I have now tried every single battery in my house and even though they work fine for other things the camera is rejecting them, this camera is about to take a lesson in aeronautics.

If I win this battle you will see some very cute photos. If not, you might here of a tragedy this New Year's Eve when my camera spontaneously combusted into a million pieces.

Reality!

This picture was too cute so I had to post it again, bigger.

Things are going well in the Fillmore house. We are gearing up for Christmas, and with the help from some very generous and wonderful family members the kids are going to get spoiled.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!

Happy Holidays!

I have been reminded several times that I need to update my blog. So here I am updating. Happy Holidays!!!