blessed.

Life is amazing. Things are so good, and they only keep getting better. I don't know why I'm so blessed, but I am and I know it. It's kind of crazy just how well things are going lately. I mean, there's still always the less-than-pleasant stuff going on, like stressful school and work and whatnot. But the big things are all falling into place.

Sterling was offered three (post-graduation) jobs last week. One came a few days before the other. It paid the best and it came with a nice chunk of money for our relocation. But the job itself wasn't ideal for what Sterling wants to do, and it's hours weren't too desirable. We knew that it would be smart financially to take the job, plus it was in the perfect area for me to go to school. But we waited to hear back from the other two places. The second offer was a job Sterling would absolutely love, but the pay was on the lower end of things, they wouldn't cover me on insurance, and it was in a tiny town that I'd feel pretty isolated in.

Meanwhile, Sterling called the company that made the first offer and told the guy that he wanted to let him know that he'd need a couple more days to decide, because he had to really think about the offers and decide what's best for us. The man lashed out at Sterling and was very angry that Sterling would even dare consider other options. Um, are you serious? It was a pretty emotional thing, because Sterling felt really bad for potentially hurting a good opportunity. But this pretentious man doesn't really seem like someone you'd want for a boss, does it?

So we fasted. This was my first time ever fasting, to be honest. I was pretty intimidated by it, convinced I would starve to death and die of dehydration in those 24 hours. But we did it anyway, and hey, I survived! And we felt much better after doing so.

Then on Monday, the third offer came. It was for an assistant farm manager position through Wada Farms. The pay is less than Job #1, there's no relocation money, and it's a little further from ISU than we wanted, but it's for a great company who has treated Sterling so nicely, the pay is decent, they'll give Sterling a truck & gas to drive to and from work daily, and we'll have full insurance coverage. We feel really good about it, so Sterling is taking it!

We're so thankful that Sterling was able to find a good job so quickly! It fell into place so well. We're soso excited to move to Southeast Idaho!

I've applied to ISU and am working with my advisors to figure out all my transfer stuff so that I can get situated and decide which classes I still need. My advisor informed me yesterday that ISU just implemented a new 2-year rotation for the classes in my department, meaning all the classes are only offered once every two years! I freaked out because that meant I'd have to take a whole additional year of college in order to get all my remaining classes, since they won't all be offered next year. So I sent my advisor a frantic email, and she assured me that since I'll be a senior, I can do independent study with the classes I need. Whew. Crisis diverted. I can still graduate next year!

Wada Farms told us we could live anywhere from Pocatello to Idaho Falls. We've decided the IF area is where we want to be. You can get much nicer townhouses for so much cheaper! So we've got some friends helping us scout out our next home. I found us an apartment in Shelley that we absolutely love. It has granite counter-tops in the kitchen!!! But they're looking to rent it now. So we're hoping that it (or another in the complex) will be available in a month.

Aaand, last but not least, we received a lovely, unexpected $350 bonus check today! Back in like October, Sterling heard about this website (through the Idaho government) that lists unclaimed property. So he went online, typed in his name, and found that he had some unclaimed money! So much time had passed that we kind of forgot about it, but Sterling's mom called him today and said it came to their house in the mail.

I don't know about you, but I think we are pretty seriously blessed. Everything has just gotten SO good these last few days, I can hardly believe it. This has all built up my faith so much, too. There's no way not to see the Lord's hand in it all; it's just come together so well. I am so very, very thankful for this wonderful life I've been given!


One more thing: Sterling bought his cap and gown for graduation yesterday. When he tried it on, I cried. I'm gonna be a mess at his actual graduation! Goodness. I'm just so proud of him :)

baby fever.

I don't have school Tuesdays. So basically, after I drop off Sterling at school, I have the day to myself until I go to work at 2:40. I have a major problem with spending too much money on Tuesdays, seeing as how I usually end up at Walmart or the mall.

Today was a Walmart day. To be honest, I can even remember what my 'reason' for going in there was. But I somehow ended up in the baby section. And I spent a good 15 minutes there. At one point, I even got a little teary eyed. And I almost bought some onesies for Baby Stoddard (who, by the way, won't be making an appearance for a good two years or so). So here I am, walking around getting all mushy and emotional over these cute little tiny outfits as I'm trying to decide which ones to buy. There's an adorable one with little clovers all over it that I grab, then I put it back, worried that Baby Stoddard will be born nowhere near St. Patrick's Day, and I'll have a poor little baby who looks silly wearing festive clovers in September because he'll outgrow it by March.

I think that's about when I realized that I was going a little crazy. So I put down the clovers and started walking away. Then a little girl onesie caught my eye, and I tried to convince myself that I should buy girl baby clothes, because HEY! We know someone who is having a girl! So I walk around getting teary eyed over girly onesies that I'm telling myself will be a gift to The Ackermans when really I know deep down that since Baby Ackerman won't arrive for another couple of months (nor will we see them before then probably) that means I'll just start hoarding baby clothes in our apartment until May and let's face it, that won't help my whole aching womb problem. And my husband will probably think I'm going crazy.

So, somehow, I made it out of Walmart with nothing in my shopping bag that feeds my baby obsession.

I know, I have issues.

I know that it's good for us to wait a couple years, and I know that we won't regret waiting! It's just a little difficult in the meantime. And it doesn't help that we're surrounded by babies and/or cute pregnant women all the time. I'm a little embarrassed to admit how often I daydream about babies.

Again, I know I have issues.



Aside from the baby subject, Sterling and I found a townhouse in Chubbuck that we're absolutely in love with. It's perfect and it has everything. It allows dogs, it has a washer, dryer, and dishwasher, it has a garage, it has granite countertops, it's in a good location, it's just perfect!!! We want it so bad. I emailed the owner, and she said they can't hold it until May, but she thinks there will be another opening in these townhouses soon, so she'll keep us updated. Oh goodness, I don't think I've ever wanted to live somewhere so badly. But I know, I know, if it's meant to happen, then it will. I'm still anxious in the meantime, though.

I hate Blogger.

As you may have noticed, my last post had some pictures that obviously didn't show up. I had a very frustrating time with blogger the other night. For some reason, it didn't want me to post pictures while I was in Grace. But now, back in Moscow, it has no problem. So now there are more pictures, so go back and check them out.

So yes, we are back in the lovely Moscow. Except, right now it doesn't seem too lovely. It feels kind of sad and lonely. We're missing Southeast Idaho. Now that we've got ourselves envisioned down there and have been looking at places to live and everything, Moscow isn't feeling too homey. But we're here for the last big stretch, then it's all done! We have 8 weeks left. Let's hope it flies!

A quick recap of the last two days:

Saturday, we woke up super early (I'm talking 5am) to go to our nephew Lincoln's wrestling tournament in Twin Falls with the family. It was my first time ever really watching wrestling. Sterling is all about it and wants our future boys to wrestle, which I've honestly been not so sure about. I think wrestling in junior high PE kind of scarred me, plus, if you know me well you'll know I hate anything that resembles fighting in any way. There's some past scarring associated with that, as well. Buuut, I may have changed my outlook a bit. It was actually pretty fun to watch, plus all the kids were like under 10, so it was cute. The only thing that worries me is the whole crying-after-losing thing. There were some sad little boys out there!

Then, Saturday night Sterling, his mom, and I went down to Logan for the Utah State vs. Idaho Vandals game. It was pretty dang sad looking. We ended up losing by 20, and the 2nd half was better, but our team looked horrible in the 1st half. Ughh. We beat Utah earlier in the season, so it's not like they're that good even! But it was a fun game still. Aggies fans are the most annoying fans I've seen though. Drove me crazy!

So today we drove back to Moscow. It was a long 10 hour drive, but we arrived with no scary incidents. I think I neglected to tell that on the drive down to Grace, we almost got killed on the Lolo Pass by a semi-truck who was passing a car on a corner. Uh, yeah. Pants were near-peed.

And now it's back to normal, uneventful, school and work life. Oh, goodness. Eight weeks, eight weeks, eight weeks, eight weeks....

spring break!

 Well, for the past week, Sterling and I have been enjoying our spring break in the lovely Southeast Idaho. We took a long route down to Grace last Saturday. While driving, I realized that I had been on those same roads with my parents a good 7 years ago on one of our random road trips we used to take. We went by this recreation area called Three Devils near Lolo Pass, which my dad talks about all the time. Back in the day, we stopped there and my dad took a picture of my sister, mom, and I standing under the 'Three Devils' sign. He thought it was the most clever, hilarious thing. So when we drove by it last weekend, I had to take a picture standing under it then send it to my parents.

We also found a delicious little Italian cafe to have lunch at in Florence, Montana. While eating, Sterling discovered that we were about 20 miles from a polygamist community in Pinesdale, MT. So, of course, we made a detour to go check it out. It was pretty cool and kind of weird, it was this little community behind a forest. They had these nice paved walkways all around the community (I like to call it a compound, Big Love style, but Sterling tells me that is wrong) and lots of families out in their yards. I was pretty excited to see real polygamists, haha. We went into this cute little country store, and I'm pretty sure the lady who owned it was a sister wife. So cool :) Here's a picture of Sterling standing next to the Pinesdale sign.

Kooskia, ID. It was a long, curvy drive.

One of the main reasons we came to Grace for the week was so that Sterling could have some job interviews. Monday, we went to American Falls for his interview with Lamb Weston. Tuesday, up to Blackfoot for Wada Farms. Yesterday he talked to his dad's cousin who owns Stoddard Farms. So now we are just playing the waiting game to hear back about everything! I think Wada is our top pick right now. I've been looking for houses in Blackfoot. I can't wait for him to secure a job so that we can get everything else figured out for sure! Less than 2 months. So excited!

Monday night, we went to the hot pots in Lava Hot Springs. It was my first time going. It was nice :)  Tomorrow morning we're leaving at 5:45am to go to Twin Falls to watch our nephew Lincoln in a wrestling match. Sterling loves wrestling so he's pretty excited. Then, tomorrow night we are going to a Vandals game at Utah State!! We got invited to a tournament (CIT I think?) and won our first game, so it's on to beat the Aggies tomorrow. I've turned into a pretty avid college basketball fan this year, so it should be pretty fun. Sterling's momma is going with us :)

Speaking of basketball, this March Madness thing has sucked me in pretty badly. The Husband and I both joined a group online with his friends and filled out our brackets, and it's pretty intense. I've been guilty of yelling at the TV pretty crazily on more than a few occasions. The Duke game tonight got me going. Can you believe Duke lost in the first round to a 15 seed team?!? I was a little livid, seeing as I had Duke in the championship game.

Oh, and you know that whole being healthy thing we were doing so good at? Yeah, turns out that doesn't work so well when visiting the Stoddard house. The pantry always has a variety of candy in it. And there is a delicious taco bus in Grace. And while in Pocatello, we couldn't resist a Chinese buffet. At the beginning of the week, I tried really hard to keep us on track (Sterling asked me to as well!) but then I found myself with a husband who would fiercely moan whenever I suggested we put on our yoga DVD and who would come downstairs with chipmunk cheeks and try to convince me that no, he was not sneaking Robin Eggs. So I kind of gave up. We will be back on track once we're home in Moscow, eating veggies again and not having treats in the apartment.

Just for a visual aid, this is what our week started out like....

....and then it kinda went downhill and this is an example of what it amounted to. Whoops.