1 Year Ago...

We were on the road.

(We would have left Utah this morning...probably ventuing through Wyoming at this point.) 

We packed up our lives for a new adventure in Rochester, Minnesota. I was excited and scared and SO emotional.  I blame Peyton for that ;) We barely made it!

 And...we began building our life here with our little family...

This had been a very challenging year for me...for us...

It was the first time I have ever lived away from my family

After the first 2 months Chad hasn't been around a ton (peaks & valleys, right babe?) He works so hard for us and sometimes doesn't even get to see his son for a full 5 days...

We don't get to spend a ton of time together either (again, peaks & valleys)

I was a first time mom, not to mention the first time mom of a Mr. Fussipants

And making friends is really hard for me--I'm just not very out going

We miss certain things about Reno/Sparks...

Texas Roadhouse

Good Mexican food

Mountains

The Marina

In n' Out

Port of Subs

Wandering Legends

The Blind Onion

Downtown Sparks Events

Best Friends

FAMILY!!!

(We really like food...something Rochester is kind of lacking in)

But we've been learning a lot...

Patience

How to be supportive

To be selfless

To enjoy the moment

What really matters

To go with the flow

How to be stong

How to be a lone but together & united

How to rely on the Lord

And it has been a very rewarding year as well! 

We got this guy....What more can I say!

No, there is more...

We have a great ward

We have made great friends

We LOVE our new car

And our house

We enjoy driving through the country and having the country right down the road

We love being able to take walks in our neighborhood without people bugging us

There's no traffic

Panera, Chipotle....

And let's not forget Hobby Lobby--and we are getting Costco!

And I admit it...

I LOVE Rochester...just wish we could pick up our home and Rochester and move it closer to our families. 

Now we just have to finish up the last month of intern year!

Whoo Hoo...the end is getting closer!!!

1 down....4 to go...