Pictures

We got to see Alvin/Justin/Lin Jye Ting recently. He hangs with the prophets and apostles whenever they need Chinese language services.

These are the orange countertops. Okay, this is just a crappy apartment kitchen, but this color scheme speaks to me. Way more than oak cabinets, neutral countertops and stainless steel appliances. I feel happy cooking in these colors.

The kids like to hot rod Violet around in this doll stroller. Luckily, she likes it, too. Um, don't ask why Alma is naked because I have no clue.

Violet sucking on the hose. Metallically refreshing.

The only thing that would make this picture better would be if Grant had a crack hanging out also.

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Vernal, UT

That's where we are. And fortunately it is not where we will be staying. Nothing really personal against it, but it's just not my kind of place. I like places with lots of trees and greenery. A beach and plenty of humidity are also high up on my list of Perfect Place to Live. Also on the list are a good health food store and a nearby Asian Market. These are also lacking in Vernal. In it's defense the city has these fabulous planter boxes stuffed to overflowing with petunias completely lining the main street. My hat's off to Vernal's city gardener/beautifier.

We went to Church for the first time yesterday and one of the speakers gave a nice long talk about fellowshipping. Lots of quotes by prophets and apostles about the importance of befriending new members. Then sacrament meeting ended and not one person said hello to us or even gave us a second look. Grant and I giggled about it all the way home.

Oh! And the best thing about Vernal is the temple. I had a chance to go Saturday and it was lovely. It's an old tabernacle converted into a temple and very beautiful. And in reality, it's likely that when Grant gets a permanent job it will be in a place that is far worse than Vernal (like Tonapah, NV) and there will come a day when I will be saying to myself "I wish I lived in Vernal).

Stuff

We are temporarily situated in a two bedroom apartment for the next 3 or so months while Grant finishes up his temp job and looks for a permanent one. Since we are here so temporarily, the only stuff we have is what we could carry in the van and the truck. Everything else is in storage. We are sleeping on the floor, we eat sitting on the floor, we have a frying pan, a wok, a pot and a rice cooker to cook with. We have 8 bowls and 6 glasses, our clothes are in suitcases on the floor and we hang our clothes to dry. It seems that it would be terrible to live so bare bones, but in reality it is very liberating to live simply. The house is a cinch to clean and the dishes take no time at all since there are hardly any of them to begin with. I remember feeling this way in Taiwan also, that it is so nice not to have my life encumbered by a bunch of stuff. It's awesome to have such bare closets and cupboards--no more searching for a spare nook to stick another piece of kitchen gadgetry or a place to hide away some other piece of junk that gets used once in a blue moon. It's great to open up a drawer and not have that nagging feeling like you should really clean it out because at least half of the stuff in it is useless.

And this apartment has taught me one other very surprising thing about myself....I love orange countertops! When I first walked in I automatically cringed at them, but in a kitchen of white floor, white cupboards and white appliances they are the bright, happy accent that just works.

In summary, I will never again feel that I automatically have to pity people that don't have a lot of stuff or people with orange countertops.

P.S. When you have no TV and the barest minimum of toys your kids will suddenly be very interested and excited to go to the library.