One Entire Year in UTAH!
Last week we hit our year mark in Utah. I couldn't believe we actually made it a whole year. Good job team! Aljay wanted to celebrate it by doing something special, but we didn't lol. Instead we just reflected on the entire year and thought about all that has happened while being here.
We had a pretty good life in Hawaii- good paying jobs, nice apartment, car, family close by, beaches even closer . But we were constantly fighting an uphill battle when it came to being able to gain real financial stability. One of the reasons being that we relied solely on our own abilities and ideas, not always seeking the Lord's guidance in everything especially when it came to finances. When we finally decided to stop leaning unto our own understanding and put our trust in the Lord (Provo 3:5-6), we were able to find the answers (not just to our financial problems). Although the answer (leaving Hawaii) wasn't exactly what we wanted, we allowed the Lord to guide us and have reaped countless blessing, temporally, physically, and spiritually.
It's so easy and very tempting for me to just focus on everything we've left behind, but we can't ignore everything we've gained.
Temporal Blessing-
There's not doubt that living in Utah has blessed us financially. We were able to buy a house, get a better car, and support our now family of five while living off of one income. Definitely wouldn't have happened in Hawaii within the past year.
Blessed physically-
After one year n Utah, we are now skinny, fit, and model status. Just kidding.
We are still layered, in shape (circle is a shape), and plus size model status. On top of that we have extra dry skin due this blasted dry weather, crusty chapped lips, and skin tones that go from pale to burnt toast during the seasons.
So what physical have we gone through?
Well now that I think about it, none recently other than me dropping 20lbs (from giving birth) hehehe but Aljay dropped 50 lbs when we first got here and has mostly kept it off. And for me, well I guess that because there's more gyms available, I have better opportunity to go to the gym and work out (not to mention- food is cheaper so it's a little easier to eat healthy)..... and I was doing that until I got pregnant. But that's all going to change during year #2 in Utah. Give me a few(several) months and I'll be thin as this Utah air. #keepingfingerscrossed
Spiritual Blessings-
This is where we have seen the most important improvements. We were not inactive or anything in Hawaii- we had callings that we did magnify, we paid tithing, still had a testimony, went to church, all that good Mormon stuff.... but was there still need for improvement? Uhhh yes. And we've seen improvements in the past year.
For one, being a stay at home mom has allowed me to be with the kids and really focus on their spiritual growth and not just physical. Even though it seams like I'm teaching them, I always end up learning new lessons as well.
Second, I pray more. Wayyyyyy more. We all do. Probably because I'm always praying for patience with the kids and tolerance with Utah, and the kids are praying they don't get in trouble. Lol On the real though, we've become more consistent in saying our family prayers, individual prayers, and couple prayers.... and it has made a difference in our home.
Third-tithing. The only way we can explain how our temporal blessings are even existent is because of faithfully paying tithing. No matter how tight our budget may look at times, we always feel confident that things will be okay because we've paid tithing. And things always turn up okay, sometimes better than just okay.
And of course....this is where we welcomed our 3rd child Mr. Viiga. Absolute blessing!
There are many more blessing that are unmentioned which we are grateful for. We were really homesick for Hawaii when we first got here and still do miss it from time to time, but we know that coming to Utah was the best choice for our little family. Although I'm not a fan of Utah's dry weather, lack of local kine snacks at their 7 elevens, and fake man-made beaches..... this is where we are supposed to be.
Not forever though...lol....Utah has a lot to offer but let's be real...can't take the island out of us.
We had a pretty good life in Hawaii- good paying jobs, nice apartment, car, family close by, beaches even closer . But we were constantly fighting an uphill battle when it came to being able to gain real financial stability. One of the reasons being that we relied solely on our own abilities and ideas, not always seeking the Lord's guidance in everything especially when it came to finances. When we finally decided to stop leaning unto our own understanding and put our trust in the Lord (Provo 3:5-6), we were able to find the answers (not just to our financial problems). Although the answer (leaving Hawaii) wasn't exactly what we wanted, we allowed the Lord to guide us and have reaped countless blessing, temporally, physically, and spiritually.
It's so easy and very tempting for me to just focus on everything we've left behind, but we can't ignore everything we've gained.
Temporal Blessing-
There's not doubt that living in Utah has blessed us financially. We were able to buy a house, get a better car, and support our now family of five while living off of one income. Definitely wouldn't have happened in Hawaii within the past year.
Blessed physically-
After one year n Utah, we are now skinny, fit, and model status. Just kidding.
We are still layered, in shape (circle is a shape), and plus size model status. On top of that we have extra dry skin due this blasted dry weather, crusty chapped lips, and skin tones that go from pale to burnt toast during the seasons.
So what physical have we gone through?
Well now that I think about it, none recently other than me dropping 20lbs (from giving birth) hehehe but Aljay dropped 50 lbs when we first got here and has mostly kept it off. And for me, well I guess that because there's more gyms available, I have better opportunity to go to the gym and work out (not to mention- food is cheaper so it's a little easier to eat healthy)..... and I was doing that until I got pregnant. But that's all going to change during year #2 in Utah. Give me a few(several) months and I'll be thin as this Utah air. #keepingfingerscrossed
Spiritual Blessings-
This is where we have seen the most important improvements. We were not inactive or anything in Hawaii- we had callings that we did magnify, we paid tithing, still had a testimony, went to church, all that good Mormon stuff.... but was there still need for improvement? Uhhh yes. And we've seen improvements in the past year.
For one, being a stay at home mom has allowed me to be with the kids and really focus on their spiritual growth and not just physical. Even though it seams like I'm teaching them, I always end up learning new lessons as well.
Second, I pray more. Wayyyyyy more. We all do. Probably because I'm always praying for patience with the kids and tolerance with Utah, and the kids are praying they don't get in trouble. Lol On the real though, we've become more consistent in saying our family prayers, individual prayers, and couple prayers.... and it has made a difference in our home.
Third-tithing. The only way we can explain how our temporal blessings are even existent is because of faithfully paying tithing. No matter how tight our budget may look at times, we always feel confident that things will be okay because we've paid tithing. And things always turn up okay, sometimes better than just okay.
And of course....this is where we welcomed our 3rd child Mr. Viiga. Absolute blessing!
 |
| Mr. V-niggs. ahem..yeah we're still working on that nickname...lol |
Not forever though...lol....Utah has a lot to offer but let's be real...can't take the island out of us.
 |
| We ready for Year #2- Utah living |
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