Utah, here we come.

About a year ago, during Thanksgiving in Salt Lake City, Aaron told me he wanted to move to closer to my family.  I was not on board, especially not when the winter season was approaching.  I truly enjoyed spending the Christmas in my own home without coats or snow.  And all through the spring, I felt grateful for the warm desert breeze.  Right before Eden was born, Aaron told me he wanted to move to Utah and felt a sense of urgency.  I just couldn't see it and really just didn't want to go.  I tried to convince him to move out to Atlanta with (some) family.  The weather is still amazing... and the kids could still have cousins around.  Not 40, mind you, but 7 and that is a lot better than the zero we have in Vegas.

After a lot of prayer and fasting and family discussions we've finally made a decision.  And really it's come down to the fact that Aaron was right all along and we need to move to the Salt Lake Valley.  I do know (now) it's where we are supposed to be and where we need to raise our children.  I am really excited.  I adore my family.  I am so excited to be closer to my parents and my siblings and I am thrilled that my kids can grow up around their cousins.  Really, I am so excited.

But at the same time, my heart is broken.  I know I will be leaving a piece of myself here in Vegas.  There is so much about this place that I will miss.  We've been here for almost 8 years and more than half of our marriage.  We've doubled our family here, bought our first home and planted roots in our neighborhood and ward.  I love the weather, the scenery, the never ending list of things to do, and most of all I LOVE the people.  We have made the most genuine and dear friends in this city.  We're close to Aaron's parents and siblings, close to the beach and we get to see ALL kinds of people traveling through Vegas.  It's been home since the first day we arrived and I will always think back on our time here with fondness.  I am kind of sick about leaving.

We are selling our home.  The original plan was to rent it because we can make money off of it each month and I don't want to leave my house empty, just waiting to sell.  But we feel like it's the best thing to do... so we're packing everything up and putting it on the market.  We will live with my parents in West Jordan until our home sells and we have a better idea of where we want to settle in Utah.  The idea of living with family was completely off the table (I told Aaron I would move as long as we had a place of our own and a firm job.) but we are going up without either... I need to be careful of what I say I won't EVER do because it seems like the universe will give me exactly that.  Don't get me wrong, my parents are amazing and there's a part of me that is so excited to spend the time with them and allow my kids to develop the kind of relationship you can only develop by living with someone.  But I then I stress because we have SIX kids... and that is a lot of people to move into a home with grandparents who live by themselves.  I am excited and nervous and grateful and scared and really not looking forward to the cold.  But mostly I just feel humbled.  Humble because I don't want to do it and humble because I am so grateful that we can.

I am really going to miss my sweet friends here in Vegas.  Never have any GNO's ever been so wild and crazy... and I mean that in the best way.  I am so grateful for the things they've taught me and for all of the laughs and tears and memories we've made together.  I promise I won't forget them when I head back home.  But I am really excited to be going back home because most of my dearest friends live within miles of my parents.  High school and college roommates and law school friends and SO MANY dear ones live in Salt Lake.  I am really looking forward to rekindling friendships and running into familiar faces at the grocery store and the movies..  that is going to be fun

Most of all I am looking forward to being closer to temples and churches on every corner.  The LDS church is strong in Vegas but it's just not the same.  I am so looking forward to temple square and BYU football games and Provo.  I also know the best hiking spots and museums and parks so we won't be suffering for things to do.  Utah is one of the most beautiful places and I am sure once I am there, I won't want to come back to this dry brown desert.  But I will definitely miss the sunrise and sunsets we see every.single.day.  I am really going to miss the sun and the never ending blue skies, all day everyday.

People wonder how we've been able to actually LIVE in Vegas-- the City of Sin.  But until you've been here, you won't ever know that it is one of the happiest places to be.  It's exciting and beautiful and warm and kind and adventurous and quiet and peaceful and one of my very favorite places in the whole world.  Las Vegas, I am so grateful to you and what you've taught me.  I will love you for always.