he is risen

HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY, EVERYONE! 

What a beautiful day! I love Easter! 

What a perfect time of year to remember our Savior. 

I am so grateful that Christ atoned for me. 

I know that my Redeemer lives. 

I have the hardest time getting videos to upload on here! 

Oh well- here is the link to a great Easter video. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXrOG02NMB0

Eric and went to the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple on Saturday night and it was AMAZING.

It was PACKED. Tons of people everyone. We got there an hour early and still ended up sitting in the waaaaaay back! It was tough getting good photos, but I managed to get a few after the tall guy sitting in front of me left half way through : ) 

More Easter photos to come...

update & eric's debut

I guess it's time for a real update, not just a fun insta-photo post. 

So here goes...

Now that we are pretty much settled, I can fill you in on life in Arizona so far. 

As soon as we got down here and started meeting people I made it a point to tell everyone that I was looking for a job! They would always ask what I was looking for and I told them I wasn't picky just looking for something to keep me busy. I wanted to steer away from retail (my previous job at Abercrombie) and wanted something a little more consistent, Mon-Fri 9-5 kinda thing. So about a week after getting settled, I got a call from a lady in the ward who is a CPA and has her own accounting firm. She was desperately looking for help, someone to help her out full-time especially now during tax season. She basically offered me the job over the phone before knowing anything about me. Even though I don't have much of an accounting background- OK none at all, I can still answer the phone, take messages, schedule appointments and be all cute and friendly to people who walk in the door. So I took the job, it seemed silly not to. I was ready to get back into a routine and start making some money. No pressure, but I am our only source of income for the next two years. So I'll just cut to the chase...the job is terrible. NOT what I was expecting. It's just not a very fun environment and I spend all day, mostly by myself, sitting in a chair waiting for the phone to ring. I could go on and on complaining, but I won't. I'm thankful to have a job and will do what I can to  make the most of it until I can find something I really want to do and know I will enjoy.

Even though our schedules have picked up and we're back to reality, we are enjoying getting to know Arizona and soaking up some sun and pool time on the weekends. And I'm still having fun taking photos to keep my sanity and a nice balance. 

: ) 

The time has finally arrived!  The husband is making his world debut on the E&C blog.  I'm doing this post by popular demand and some minor arm twisting in order to put a little spin on the "everyday" Cara and I go through.  From island life, southern comfort, mid west hospitality, rocky mountain highs and the current desert flair, one thing has remained throughout our travel.  Which is, my passion for medicine and the human experience.  Translation:  My eyes in a text/review book, hours at a hospital/clinic, and the rest of the time spent talking about medicine with colleagues and friends.  That does include yelling out a diagnosis to Dr. House when he asks me a question through the TV, and sending numerous emails to Dr. Oz when he makes a misleading or incorrect statement on his show.  I think it was during the 3rd email in one day, I realized I needed to get out more.  

So, here's my contribution to the blog!

I started the rotation part of my medical education in pediatrics for the next 6 weeks.  I will do rotations in:  Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Surgery, OB/GYN, Psychiatry and a few electives of my choice.  The goal is to eventually be a doctor when I grow up.  So for those who don't care about the process here's my short answer- I'm an MD in 2 more years, then residency training for 3-4 more.  

For now, I am at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Pediatrics.  I have seen lots of babies, kids and young adults in just 2 short weeks and I'm happy to say I would still be a pediatrician.  Some circumstances are tuff to see, especially when it come to the safety of a child.  Some situations are so rewarding when a previously morbidly obese 8 y/o returns to normal limits of weight because they've been following the Dr.'s wellness plan eating right and exercising for the past year.  Then some situations you just have to bear down and do it.  Those include:  pap smears and prostate exams.  "I'd rather take the butchers word for it."  

The same always remains that there is always more to learn.  That has been the case every day.  

The Phoenix area is great and I'm happy to be here with Cara.  We get to do some pretty cool things and we are just happy to be able to stay in one spot for the next few years and enjoy the ride.  Thanks for taking a couple of minutes to read this.  I'll try to find a picture worth this many words for next time.  

insta monday

HELLO MONDAY. 

Here I am. 

Time for a little Insta-

1. Anyone out there heard of a BirchBox? 

Well my cool, hip mom got me subscription for my birthday, 

you basically get a "beauty box" every month 

with samples of new beauty supplies. 

I'm super excited about it, 

I mean who doesn't love getting samples in a cute pink box! 

2. Meet Greta, 

she is one of 2 office dogs we have hanging around. 

She LOVES laps, especially mine. 

3. I feel like a kid again, 

packing my lunch for work. 

4. Eric worked Saturday morning, 

so I enjoyed some pool time on my day off. 

5. Pulled out my bright pink 

LOVE YOU LONG TIME hat 

love it. 

6. I also did a little shopping on my day off 

and got some ADORABLE shoes 

for Abbie's wedding! Can't wait to show them off. 

7. Word to the wise: 

Make sure you are fully awake before grabbing 

just any squirt bottle and spraying it as hairspray...

body spray and hairspray are NOT the same. 

Crap. 

8. Sunday nap. 

He's so cute when he's sleeping 

: ) 

9. I was going to take a photo of my embarrassingly empty fridge, 

but my sweet husband took the list I made and went 

to the store on his day off today while I was at work! 

We have FOOD again! 

10. 

Was looking for a little inspiration today and found some great quotes. 

"There is nothing so rewarding as to make people realize that they are worthwhile in this world" 

- Bob Anderson 

Give yourself entirely to those around you. A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal" 

- Steve Maraboli 

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late" 

- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

 No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." 

- Aesop 

"Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up." 

- Jesse Jackson 

instagram monday

HEY! It's 9:33 on Monday night and I'm finally getting some down time to upload some instagram pics! To say I've been a little busy the last couple of days would be a huge understatement!

 Since I got a job and started working full-time, my day to day schedule is taking a little...or a LOT of getting use to! It's a whole new world having to wake up to an alarm everyday!

 I know...poor me, but seriously! AND today Eric started his Pediatrics rotation in Scottsdale, so we're trying to figure out how to get around in one car. It makes for an early morning and a late night! 

Here is a look into last week...

1. Soaked up a little bit of sun my last day of freedom. 

 2. Eric took me out to celebrate my last day of unemployment! 

3. Took a field-trip to the Mesa Temple. 

4. The grounds never cease to amaze me. 

5. Me taking in the view. 

6. My desk, where I answer the phone all. day. long. 

7. Got a much needed hair trim on my day off. 

8. Albertsons COOKIES, 

thanks Aunt Julie for introducing me. 

9. A little Squirt to go with my St. Pats day nails. 

10. and...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

TO THE COOLEST BROTHER EVER! 

a beautiful day

MESA, ARIZONA TEMPLE 

A beautiful day. 

A beautiful temple. 

instagram 10

A whole week and two days since we got here! 

Crazy!! 

We are starting to settle in and things are feeling somewhat normal. 

Eric and I are enjoying hanging out together before he starts up on the 18th. 

We've also enjoyed getting together with some friends in the area and getting familiar with our surroundings. 

There are tons of great restaurants and shopping around here!

Here are a few instagrams from our week. 

1. Got to take a nice relaxing bath in my new tub! 

2. Our first home cooked meal in AZ.

pasta. 

3. Would you rather be here or there? 

...I think it's time for a vaca from the snow, MOM.

4. A poolside kind of day.

5. Organizing the kitchen opening box after box of 

PYREX!!

6. A little Oreo with my milk on a Saturday night. 

7. The perfect snack after a work-out and a run. 

  8. Got the guest bed set-up and ready for any visitors! 

9. Sunday night pizza and a delicious smooooothie.

(thanks to the Ninja we finally opened!)

10. Lindsay OR Catherine? 

I personally like Catherine. 

We will see very soon...

But who cares, it will never work anyway...

right?

 HAPPY MONDAY. 

a temple

One of the best parts of traveling around and living in different states is getting to attend many temples. 

Yesterday we went for a drive on a cloudy day and ended up driving by the

 not quite finished, 

Gilbert, AZ Temple. 

It is gorgeous, of course. 

There was still some unfinished detail around the base and landscaping 

but the spire was quite the site with the perfect blue sky. 

There weren't too many places to pull over, but I got some quick shots from the car! 

Can't wait to see the finished result!! 

For more information on this temple go HERE

Next stop: MESA 

travel iphone diary

I'm BAAAAACK! 

Gosh, I've been dying to blog for the last couple days and we finally got our internet up and running! 

This will be a fun post full of iphone shots of our crazy journey from there to here. 

We left Idaho on Friday morning and it was a sad farewell to Stan and Cathy! We are so thankful for their kind love and support and loved the time that we were able to spend with them. 

It will always be a fond memory. 

As we pulled out of the driveway I couldn't believe that it was actually happening! 

I was so excited for the next big thing and for this new experience. 

We have been blessed with LOTS of great experiences in our married life. 

So here we are, our life all packed up in one big truck and one tiny car! 

I was so impressed with Eric driving us around! 

A huge truck AND a trailer...not an easy task! 

hahaa...what are you doing? oh...yay for a new adventure!! 

The cab was nice and roomy!  

The first day we traveled through Provo and stopped to have lunch with 

Beth, Hannah, MJ and sweet baby Gwinna. 

Then made our way to St. George.

We spent the night in St. George with my cousin Ally and her family. We had a fun time chatting and she fed us well! We hit the sack early so we would be ready for our 5:30 am wake-up call and hit the road by 6:05 : ) 

      

ARIZONA! 

   

Feeling the warm weather already...and spotted some cactus!! 

OH YES, my favorite thing in the whole world. 

We made it to our destination!!! Woot woot!! 

A crazy mess, lots of STUFF 

First thing first...the BED, he's my hero putting everything together!

Seemed appealing after all our hard work 

: )

LOVING it here so far!! 

Who can go wrong with warm weather, palm trees and gorgeous sunsets!?!