Story Time!

So a lot of people have wondered how I got to Atlanta. It's a good question really. I'll explain a somewhat short (okay not really) version of it and then tell you why I've come to really love it here.
I'd been living in Orem, UT in the same house as Elder Bruce Hafen. We called it "The FOF" (Fortress of Femininity) and I lived with great girls and in a good ward. Had a good job and a WONDERFUL, AWESOME group of friends to play with and hang out with constantly. But after living in Utah for 7 years and feeling sort of "stagnant", I had started to think it was time for a change. San Diego sounded good because I really like it there- but was too expensive. I like Portland, OR but couldn't find any good job opportunities up there. I'd kind of given up on the idea of going anywhere, but prayed that if it was the right thing to do- that a new opportunity would find me. As much as I loved UT and the fact that I lived so close to practically all my family, I was starting to miss living in a diverse culture and feeling the need to be in new places and to see new things.
And then my sister Delinda graduated ASU with her Master's degree in Art History. She decided after her graduation (or maybe it was before...) that she wanted to go on and pursue her PhD. I'm not sure how many schools she looked at but two she mentioned were in Chicago and here in Atlanta. So being that she'd have to go far away and all alone, and knowing my feelings of where I was presently in my life- she asked if I'd want to move with her to wherever she went and be her roommate. This sparked my thoughts and I told her it depended on where she went and that I'd pray/think about it.
She visited both places and as she got a little more excited about living in Chicago but I didn't really feel so good about moving there. She found out though that she was excepted to Emory University in their Art History program here in Atlanta, which is an EXCELLENT school. I prayed about it and I felt like it was the right thing to do, but I didn't know why. I had no job here, no friends, and had only been here once in my whole life- and for a matter of hours really. I felt though, that even though I didn't REALLY know why I was supposed to come- that it might be possible that I would find my husband here and also have plenty of missionary opportunities. (Funny how things work out!)
So my roommate Emily graciously accepted the invitation to drive across the country with me and she and I packed up my little Neon and headed on our 3 day adventure!
We got here August 6th, 2004 unharmed, safe and with some fun memories behind our belt and that's when life in the ATL or "Hotlanta" started!
I wont lie- it was VERY difficult for me for about the first year and a half after moving here. For someone who has had friends around me for most of my life, I really didn't have any for that first little while. Well, of course I had DJ- but she was also very busy with school. I learned a lot about myself though, and learned that I had to work to have friends and needed to build some self confidence. I finally found my niche though- and started to fit in better and started to make awesome friends both at church and at work. I was even able to be so privileged and blessed to see and participate in a good friend of mine, Megan, receiving the discussions from the missionaries and who would eventually join the Church!
So anyway, here are some of the reasons why I love it here:

• I love how green it is here. Even in the winter it still shows greenery, and it makes the winter months bearable. And there's no snow, which sometimes I miss, but I get enough of it when I go home for the holidays! There is ice here though, and that can be just as bad.
• I love how laid back people seem to be here. And for the most part non-judgemental.
• I love being so close to water in general. I love to play and fish at the Chattahoochee, and I love that we are only about a 5-6 hour drive away from the beach either on the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic.
• Speaking of being close, I love that we are 2-3 hours from several different states. NC, SC, AL, TN, FL... it's so fun!
• I love our home, and that we feel away from the city but can drive a short 20-25 minutes to get there if we want to.
• There are so many activities and things to do here and so much to see, whether it be outdoors in the wilderness or museums or the aquarium or parks.
• The people are genuine and I love the diversity of religions, race and scenery.
• The tall buildings were (and still are) a bit intimidating, but they're quite impressive to look at and be beneath. (Not as impressive as the tall mountains of course... well, in my humble opinion anyway!)
• Lightening Bugs... or Fire Flies! Holy coolness Batman! I'm so glad my kids get to grow up with those... I always wanted to!
• I have been able to participate in missionary work, meet good friends, have had great new experiences, I became so much closer to my sister, and best of all- got to meet my husband!

There are quite a few other reasons, which I'm sure you'll realize as you continue to read my blog- but I am so glad that I got that special prompting to move here. All of the things I really felt would happen, did and with a bang too! I mean, I even got to participate in the conversion of my own husband! What a combo! And I'm so glad I got to move here with my sister who I lived with for two years, even though she left me for another state to live in (she moved back to Arizona). We had lots of fun with each other and I think we both went through some pretty big life changing experiences, although completely different from each other. I'm SO glad that we had each other through it all. And she still has a room at our house! Love you Deej!