Lisa's Birthday Celebratin' and Update

Well...so much changes so fast. As usual :) but the last couple of months have brought some great changes and accomplishments.  Over the last 2 months, Jordan left on his mission, spent his 6 weeks in the MTC in Provo and then is now in Hermosillo mission, and doing wonderfully. It's been so fun for Jake and I to think about Jordan there, and can't help but think about how it was for us in our first transfers of the mission....Definitely was the hardest - but was a foundation for both of us and our missions.

I also switched jobs, and went from hating both of my jobs to returning to work Heritage Makers working remotely, from home! It was a very unexpected surprise to get the offer to start work again with Heritage Makers, who I've worked for in Provo for the last few years since before my mission. But it was a much needed change. They have been so gracious in welcoming me back and making it possible for me to work again as a Customer Support representative.  I love working with such wonderful and friendly people that I have truly grown to love over the years.  Working at home definitely has its new benefits - of being able to wake up 5 minutes before I have to clock in, and just walk over to my computer. I'm sure Jake loves my new look :) but he truly is very supportive of my work and we have both been happier with the change.

Jake has worked extremely hard and done SO very well with his schooling! He just finished the class portion of the Paramedic Program at Sac State.  And then went to Alabama last week for TERT training, part of his program - a week a part was tough for both of us - but he has done such a good job - he passed all of his training there, and passed his hard final - and now is on to the clinicals part of his program! He'll started his Clinicals this week at Sutter Memorial Hospital here in Sacramento, where he'll be doing 12 hr shifts there for the next 6 weeks or so. He is an expert at IV's! :) I'm so proud of him. He also recently has received his National EMT certification and also has been applying and preparing to apply for the San Jose Fire Dept as well. He's such a hard worker - and I'm so grateful for the dedication he puts into his work for our family. He's been raised right, that's for sure :)

Big news for us - we have decided, and are so grateful for the opportunity, to be able to move in with my parents in Livermore starting May of this year.  We have LOVED our time in Sacramento, and hope to return here soon - (hoping for Jake to be hired in the Sac Fire Dept). But until then...we have fasted and prayed about our situation - and the opportunity for us to live with my parents will be a blessing for us in so many ways.  Jake will be almost done with his clinicals and can do his internship in the bay area over the summer.  I can work from home, so work is portable and I can work anywhere! So...it's a great and wonderful summer. We are so excited!

We are also happy to have the fun news that Colby (Jake's brother) and Shauna are pregnant!!! We are so excited to have a baby in the Evans family.  She is due in October. So excited for them! I think it's a girl....Jake is convinced its a boy. :) We'll see how's right!

This week - I turned 27! I'm sort of in denial lol but grateful I still have 3 full years in my 20s :) It was a great week of celebrating - we were So excited to have my mom and dad come see our place in Sacramento this last weekend and we celebrated my birthday with some delicious food and fun and talks.  We had a blast at Jack's Urban Eats and then dessert that night at Farrell's.  We hadn't laughed that hard for so long haha Dad and Mom decided to try to re-inact the old fashioned photo on the table. too funny....wish everyone could have been there. Dad was crying he was laughing so hard. :) Gotta love those moments.

On my birthday, I received many gifts, comments, and love - Jake spoiled me with breakfast - blueberry muffins and orange julius! ( i had no idea my hubby could make orange julius! it was delicious!!!) After work, we went to a Sushi place right by our house that we've seen for months, but never been to - the Bento Box.  It was soooo good! Loved having Sushi again- it had been so long. Great find and fun occasion since we don't go out much.  And then Jake even made me a Red Velvet cake - my favorite right now! and we watched Survivor, and opened my gift from him.  he was so sweet and went through the crazy adventured task of buying me Mary Kay mascara, my favorite :) What a sweet surprise.

It was a perfect birthday, even with the colds we have been fighting all week.  Hard to believe that my birthday was here again - but it was fun to celebrate this year.  So grateful for all of the love that I receive from so many...

This weekend, we are so excited to watch General Conference! And to start out April - it will be a great month - filled with LOTS to do. But we're excited for the big changes ahead of us.  We'll miss our friends, home, and callings here, but know and feel that we are needed elsewhere right now....We are excited for the Evans to come visit us here before we leave in about a week as well. We love to see family and show them our little life here.

The Lord has been so good to us.  We have so much to be thankful for. Although things have not been exactly as expected, as usual in life...we continue to see the tender mercies of Him in our lives.  We look forward to to all that is ahead of us this year. and let's hope I'm better at little updates on here as well.