We've got a Job!!!

We received a job offer over the weekend. We did some evaluating as well as fasting and prayer. And... WE'VE ACCEPTED!!!

It's a full time teaching job at Whitehorse High in the San Juan County School District. Jared will be teaching Music (various classes that he's able to decide on) and most likely 1 drama class(his choice this time). Whitehorse is located in Montezuma Creek, which is about 40 minutes from Blanding, Utah. It's on the Navajo Indian Reservation, which means most of the students are Navajo. It'll be a little of a culture shock that's for sure. (Some of the signs in the school are in English AND the Navajo language).

There is teacher housing available right behind the school (yes we will basically be living at the school lol). They generally only take pets smaller than our Bo, but they said they'd make an exception (guessing because we said that Bo is part of our family and we wouldn't take the job if he wasn't allowed). That was our biggest concern after reading the housing policy, so hearing that all 3 of us can live there was a HUGE relief. Housing there is VERY cheap. A 3 bedroom with Bo would cost a little bit more than what we paid for our first apartment in Cedar (the TINY 1 bedroom with barely a kitchen). They are like a duplex all on 1 level, which is awesome (though sharing a wall with someone else again is going to take some getting use to). Because the housing is owned by the district, our rent and everything will just come out of his monthly salary (well at least once school starts and his contract actually starts). I can access my work's website through the school's internet (YAY!), but we will probably come up with a back up option as well. From what we heard from fellow teachers we met on Saturday the utility bills aren't too bad, except for propane (I wasn't surprised about that though, propane is pretty expensive).

It doesn't snow there really, and it gets fairly hot in the summer. It looked and felt a little like Ridgecrest while we were there on Saturday actually. There is lots of hiking and things close to where we will be, not to mention all the national parks in that area.

So instead of moving in with my parent's in 2 weeks, we'll be moving to Montezuma Creek (that is if they have a unit available by then). It means only moving once and having the entire summer to get use to the area and the culture.

I am still really nervous about this move (it is a big move). It'll put us further away from our family (though I will be closer to my sister but it's still a 6 hour drive there). It's REALLY out in the middle of nowhere (we would be driving an hour to go grocery shopping - the place we hear is best to go to is actually in Colorado).

But we'll still have our Bo, I can keep my job, and we'll have each other no matter how this all pans out.

We're Moving

Wayne County School District decided to not renew Jared's teaching contract for the next school year. Reasons unknown as to why, but it came as quite a shock to all of us. We've known since end of March, but wanted to keep it hush hush for a while. But now that we are moving in less than a month, well there is no sense in keeping it quiet. We don't have another teaching job yet, so we have no idea where we will be going next. But my parents have been kind enough to let us live with them AGAIN. This time around we will have to get a storage unit for all our things because there is no where for them at my parents. Everything (minus our clothing) we own has to get boxed up so it can be in storage for a few months. We've accumulated enough stuff that we actually need to rent a trailer to get everything moved because 1 horse trailer wont do it anymore.
I am starting to feel overwhelmed. I don't know how I am going to get this place all packed up and the house cleaned before Memorial Day and still work (2 more clients have been added for next month) and get another doctors appointment in before the move (yes I am still NOT pregnant or regular). Oh and I am not going to be able to start on the packing and cleaning until next week because I am headed to Women's Conference with my mom-in-law tomorrow. (So not ready to go out of town tomorrow - HUNDREDS of approvals to do still, though I am way excited.)
Not sure how things will work out, but I know they will... somehow.

3 Years

I can't believe it's been 3 years already. Some days it feels like it was just yesterday. Then again it seems like we've always been married. We've been through a lot these past 3 years. School, being poor, thoughts of divorce, Graduation, living with my parents, living in our first home, getting our first dog together, struggling to have a child, and many more. BUT I would do it all over again. Because though things were ridiculously hard, Jared and I have become closer. Becoming Mrs Marisa Wonnacott was the best decision I ever made. Looking forward to the many years ahead and seeing where this life will lead us. I love you Jared.

Baby Path

Well as you may or may not know we are trying to have a baby. We've been trying for... wow almost 9 months now. I finally went to the doctor this last Tuesday (2/18) for the standard check up and stuff with my OB and was able to talk about the issues we've been having. Dr Steele (he's the best, but in SLC so it makes things difficult sometimes) said everything looked ok and wanted to do a blood test to see if/why I'm not ovulating. I got the results back yesterday... progesterone levels are on the very low end of "normal" (explaining being late but not pregnant) and also that my thyroid is high(possible reason why weight loss for me is difficult right now). I now have another appointment with him on Tuesday. Jared and I aren't sure how far we are willing to go to actually get pregnant, but know for sure we want me to be "regular" again. We know we want children and want me to be healthy. We are both hoping that whatever my doctor has a do next will be helpful. I am VERY nervous about this whole process, probably because of my biology background (it's a blessing and a curse). But I trust my doctor, and don't have to face this alone. Jared isn't able to come to these appointments really because of work (he'd have to take the day off even if we had a doctor closer by the way), but thankfully my mom is able to go to these with me. I am honestly hoping that things will work out for the best.

Photo Contest

Jared and I are in a photo contest through Jordan Credit Union (I use to work there and have an account with them still because they are aweseom). If we win the grand prize we will win a 1 night stay at the Anniversary Inn and a gift card. How awesome is that! BUT, we need everyone out there to vote for our picture in order to win. SO go vote so we can win!



Photo Contest



THANKS!

What a Strange Day

Today (November 8th) was a very strange day. For starters, I woke up before Jared which doesn't happen. I actually got up and did stuff instead of being lazy. I worked for 4 hours and got myself ready for the day.
Meanwhile... Jared went to school where in his first class today (Friday's are different than other days) he spent the hour picking up trash around the high school. 2nd class he was running around holding music trying to help his 1 student learn how to better feel rhythm. 3rd hour was prep - nothing special. 4th hour he found an oboe and learned how to play it... sort of. 5th hour half of his students weren't even there (really only 2 students were absent but in a class of 4 that is half). When he left one of his legs fell asleep while he was walking to his truck, I'd call it strange.
After Jared got home we went to Royals (our local grocery store) and picked up groceries where our cashier caught me off guard by asking about the musical. Maybe it isn't that strange that someone in our little community would remember that we were the musical people, but still I have only seen her like once. Once home we ate lunch and headed off to Manti because it was Stake Temple Day.
I drove there, and Jared made corny jokes and kept talking about what I can only describe as a man crush. (Apparently earlier this week there was a speaker at the school's bullying assembly named... Josh?). Anyway Jared sounded similar to how his students talk, which in all honesty was strange.
We attended our session at the Manti Temple (by the way it is a beautiful temple but I got lost a few times and that is strange). Also there was a girl from our days at College Way Apartments (where we both lived when we met) that we saw at the temple who we couldn't remember her name (she and her husband live in Ephraim I guess), and she remembered my name but not Jared's (she thought his name was Curtis - who if you know my history you will find that strange as well).
We then went into Ephraim to Little Caesar's to get a pizza, but had to wait 10 minutes to for it to be ready. So since there was a Walmart down the street (the closest Walmart to wear we live is an hour away), we decided that we'd run into Walmart to get a few things we needed. But... strange thing is that when we looked at wax warmer stuff Jared picked out the newest smell (see it's strange because Jared can't smell ANYTHING). After picking up our pizza (which was absolutely fantastic) we went to Maverik to get gas and drinks, but Jared forgot to get napkins so we could eat pizza. We were driving along when we got to Gunnison.... and... well we didn't realize the speed limit had changed by quite a bit. We were cruising down Main Street Gunnison at 47 mph when we realized we didn't know what the speed limit was. Just as we were talking about how we didn't know what the speed limit was... lights started flashing behind us... yep that's right... a patrol man. But it gets worse... our registration on our car expired on 10/31/13 (but didn't have the expired registration even in the car), the newest insurance card was still sitting on the kitchen table, the address on Jared's license was not current. So... he had to ticket us because we had 4 things wrong.
We continued on our way home and then all of the sudden... on the side of the road there was this huge Elk. There it was just standing on the side of the road just looking at us as we drove by. It was a beautiful animal but it took us very much by surprise, and definitely not something you see everyday. I mean you see deer off the side of the road, but you don't see an elk.
It was a very strange day full of strange conversations and strange things. And I am sure there were more strange things about today, but it is like 1:30 am.

Home Part 1

Well it may be a while before I actually get pictures of our entire house to put on here, but I figured I could start with what I do have. Life has just been super busy and I haven't been able to get the house totally put together how I want. Here are pictures of our front room and dinning room.

I am glad I got the front room done first because it was shortly thereafter changed with our Halloween decorations (pictures to come soon). So far I have loved being able to decorate our home and make it feel like it is our place. Look for Home Part 2 to come soon (hopefully).