Doing Great!

So Jared and I have now been in Avondale for about four weeks. We have loved getting to know our ward and meeting new people. Jared got called as a teacher in the Elders Quorum. Jared is also really enjoying working and at Country Place Elementary. Every time I pick him up and ask about how work was he says he is just loving it. I am working at a place called Cox Printing. I am a graphic designer for them and I design mostly wedding invitations as well as business cards, flyers, books, etc. I work in Mesa one block from the temple. That has been great. I have also started my first freelance job. That is exciting. In school I have been designing and all I get is a grade. I am a lot more excited about designing and getting money for it. :)

Our ward is amazing. We feel very welcome. We got a couch, loveseat, coffee table, and a bookcase from a family in a ward for free. We have had two home teaching visits and a visit with cookies from a young couple in the ward. We have met with the bishop to be welcomed into the ward. We have been so welcomed that we had to turn down a game night and dinner because everyone wanted to welcome us all on the same Sunday. Needless to say we have been looked after. The church is so amazing that way. We both miss all our friends and family but somehow there is one place that feel like home and that is being at church. It has been an answer to our prayers.

Another blessing that has come from us moving down here is that we have had a chance to hang out with Andrea Banner (for those of you that don't know she is my cousin). We did baptisms at the Mesa Temple with her twice last week. It has been great to have a family member close by.

Things seem to be falling into place. We are both so glad that the fears and apprehensions that we had about moving here are subsiding. We have been so blessed. Hope all is well with everyone. We love you!

Hiking the Canyons

We went on a really neat vacation with Marcie's family to southern Utah hiking in Zion's National Park and Bryce Canyon. It was a very fun trip to say the least. The vacation began on July 21st and ended July 23rd. It was a quick trip but like we said, it was a blast.

Jared's highlight of the trip was a hike called "Angles Landing" at Zion's. Jared, Keith (brother-in-law) and Neil (father-in-law) hiked it with him. The estimated 5 hour hike took these guys about 2 hours. Pretty impressive. This hike takes the hiker to the top of a very tall ridge or cliff that gives a beautiful view of the canyon. The pictures are breathtaking.


Marcie's highlight of the trip was being with her family as well as going camping. It was so much fun to talk and enjoy her family. To Marcie nothing is better than being with family. Marcie also really enjoyed hiking the narrows. This hike is at the bottom of a canyon and the we hiked in the river that cuts through the canyon floor. It was so much fun!


Both of us agree that this trip made us grateful for the beauties of nature and for wonderful family. Thank you Banner Family for putting in all your time and effort to make this trip so memorable and exciting. We had a great time!