2012 in Grids!

2012 was an incredible year for us...I can't say it started that way though, really. It started out with Joshua and I, in our tiny one bedroom Murray apartment, with me working for Jordan School District and Joshua in between jobs. It was a somewhat stressful time. We shared our calling teaching the 16 year olds in the ward and loved it. I was still figuring out how to cook, and be a good wife and clean the house and how to be better at my job. Josh was busy finding side jobs and staying busy working. I can say we were happy, but after looking back over this last year and the huge growth and steps we have taken together, in our marriage, in our jobs, in our maturity and spirituality, now I can truly say we are the most happy we have ever been.

I am so excited for 2013, but wanted to blog to recognize and remember our wonderful memories and how much has happened over the last year!

Courtney and I took a spontaneous flight to San Francisco for the weekend! We completely flew by the seat of our pants- no hotel booked, car etc etc. It was a tad unnerving for me, but hey, we flew free and it was an awesome bonding time for me and my gorgeous niece! We ate clam chowder, went shopping, visited the chocolate shop and took the trolley!

In June, I left my amazing job working as an RN for the school district for a more skill-oriented nursing job up at the University of Utah Hospital. One thing that never changes is the learning curve as a nurse! There is always something else you need to know, learn, practice skill wise. It has been a challenge for me to adapt to the hospital environment again as well as bed-side nursing. I sure miss those kiddos at the school! However, the lessons and experience I have gained have been great. 

I also left Delta Airlines in July after the company needed to make some changes and require more working hours from staff which I couldn't meet. (I already miss those benefits!!) My family all left as well, it was sad, but we are glad we have more time in the week for other things.

Joshua also started working with Newport Audio, Video & Electrical for the second time in his electrical career. He has really enjoyed it this time around and was assigned to be a crew leader which he is awesome at. If there is one thing I will brag over my husband about its his electrical work! He is amazing and has such a talent. Only one more semester left of school! Way to go babe!

Joshua's sweet, wonderful, caring Grandma, Adell Overly passed away over the summer. This was the 3rd and last of his Grandparents that has passed away since we have been married. To say Joshua and the entire family misses her is an understatement. She was truly an amazing, selfless woman who cared deeply about God, her family and her standards in life. I am so grateful that my husband comes from such a wonderful family and has the middle name (Overly) of such a great woman and history. 

The Fall couldn't come fast enough for me! When we got married, we said we would buy a house after 1 year. When almost 2 years was coming up, we decided we better start looking. And so we did (with some poking and prodding from me, I was SO ready to get into a bigger space!)

We were referred to a wonderful realtor, who helped us narrow down what we wanted. However, Joshua and I through his electrical jobs in Herriman had already visited a couple neighborhoods randomly, mainly to see what he was working on. The last time we went out, I ended up falling in love with one of the houses he took me through. I loved the floors, the colors, size etc. During our time with the realtor we expressed some interest in Herriman and so we started looking there. We ended up meeting with the lady who is over DR Horton and she told us the house we just looked at (and that I loved!) had just sold. There were only 3 more single homes available. We felt at a loss, and I was totally bummed deep down, but also encouraged that if we wanted one that was left, we needed to act fast. Having not looked through the others, we decided to...and WALA!!!

We moved into our new home September 1st 2012! The day before our 2 year wedding Anniversary. It is everything I have ever wanted in a home and is such a perfect size for us. We are still in the process of furnishing and decorating, but it has been a blast. We love that we have a garage and don't have to clean our cars off in the snow. We love that we don't have two adults living above us hearing every noise we make. And we love that our hard work has paid off, (and paid our Tithing of course!) that we were able to save up a house payment and get a great deal on something that we really liked. 

Both of our families helped us move (sorry Pace's I only have pics of the Hill's!), which we are so grateful for! There honestly hasn't been one day where we've said "Man I miss that little apartment!" Haha, which I thought maybe we would sometimes! But no, we just love our little home so much better :)

Prior to our move, we had also decided that hey, Joshua will be 30 next year and I will be 28 this year. Kind of....old. Hey, we also will be moving into a bigger place in the next few months. Maybe some room for....a crib? And hey, I just can't deny that both of us felt not only that it was a good time but extremely excited to start a little Josh and Jess Pace fam...And...WALA!!! hahaha. Just kidding, kind of. It happened a little faster than I thought, but in early August of 2012 we found out we were pregnant! We both cried and it was awesome. We are so happy and it has been an amazing thing getting ready for a baby, and feeling a little being move inside. Baby Girl will be an amazing addition to our home and family, we couldn't feel more blessed! Most definitely the greatest thing that's happened in 2012. 

So to round it all off. (I also made a Disneyland one, but it won't upload currently!) These are some of my favorite pics from 2012. Obviously I am smiling in all of them because the year has proved to be an incredible one. We now have a home, are awaiting a little one, both are working full time, and are a more supportive team to each other than ever. We can't say enough thank you's and grateful for you's to everyone who is in our lives. Its been a little busier the last few months, but please know we love our family and friends deeply and couldn't live without you. I also couldn't live without my sweetheart and love Joshua who does so much for me and is more dear to my heart more and more every year! So here is to another year!