HI From Oregon

Well we made it one piece to Oregon and we survived our first week. Devin's friend Mike Helped us up and here and to him and his wife(who lived without him for 3 days) we are so grateful. Our drive was pretty uneventful except for the cow and bull Elk we almost hit on the road in the middle of the night. We got settled pretty fast. I hate living out of boxes and suit cases so I was unpacking the minute we walked into the house. Our apartment complex has Lot's of students that attend Western States so we have already made a lot of friends which is nice. Oregon has already brought a little culture in my life. I went to the grocery store the other day and I swear everyone who worked there came up to me at one point and asked me if I needed anything or just said hello. I found myself thinking Just let me shop people! I realized that this is a horrible attitude and I wondered where it had come from. I blame it on my home state of Utah, cuz we like to go into a shop and just look. People here assume I want to but something and they want to help me find it. I shouldn't get annoyed they just don't know I am a poor college Mormon who just likes to fantasize about all the things I could buy. Then a few days later I was putting something in my car and this women shouts out from the parking lot "Utah huh that's a long ways away". I was thinking I can think of about 46 other states that are further away from Oregon then Utah, but for some reason I got the shout out. Thanks friendly weird lady. I guess I am just not used to being the outsider. In Oregon you can not pump your own gas .It is a law. Guys just sit out and wait for you to pull up so they can put gas in your car. Better yet you don't have to tip them is the word on the street.My source is from Washington state so I don't know how reliable it is. I went to the dollar store the other day and just got one thing . Guess what is really was only a dollar. That I could definitely get used to. Devin started school yesterday. He has already dove into dissection and he came home smelling a little weird today. He even took clothes to change into after he was done. We already have callings in our new ward. Devin is the Young men's sec and I was called to be the Personal Progress leader in young women. I have done this calling before and I am excited to be back in young women's after a long stunt in relief Society. It's great too that we will both be at the activities together on Wednesdays and one of us doesn't have to sit home without the other. It has rained every day this week so far. So we are welcoming in the winter months. I found out today that Devin and I will be an Aunt and Uncle one more time as my brother's wife Misty is scheduled to have their little girl Payton tomorrow. Devin's sister Amy is also getting close to welcoming their little girl McKenna. So I am sad that we will have to wait for Christmas to meet our two new nieces, but It gives me even more to look forward to. We love you all and miss you. Thank you for your love and support.
Devin and Crystal

Hi Everyone!

Devin and I have been living in Star Valley waiting to move to our new home in Oregon. We leave one week from today. I am excited and nervous. I realize I will have a clean slate when I move and it will be nice to accomplish some goals. I found out this week that I passed my CMA test which was a relief. I thought for sure I would open that envelope to see a big Fail, but I actually did very well. Devin has been busy with remodeling jobs his brother Darnell lined him up with. We have exceeded our income goals with just the two jobs he has done and I feel very blessed. While living in Star Valley my in laws have taught me how to be a country wife. I have canned, drove truck to pick up hay, and watched chickens get their heads cut off only to eat them for Sunday dinner. If only my grandpa Searle could see me now! I put my foot down when my father in law asked to me help him move the chicken coupe. My job would have been to kill all the mice underneath with a baseball bat. Not working for the first time in my life for over nine years has brought about some board em. I have passed the time doing crafts, scrap booking, painting my dinner table and chairs and helping Devin on his job sites. In August Devin and I along with Devin's brother Tyrell went back East to Virginia to see Devin's sister Tiana. We went to a Boston Redsox game in Baltimore which was the highlight of the trip for the boys. THEY LOST! How disappointing. We saw all the sites in D.C. and went to Maryland again to Devin's mission and saw some members he worked with. We also hit Pennsylvania and went to Gettysburg. It was an amazing trip. We had a wonderful time. Devin Starts chiropractic School on October 1st. I am very anxious to get him going so the end will be in site. As soon as we get settled I will start looking for a job . Hopefully medical Assisting again. I will miss Utah terribly, but I am looking forward to a new adventure in Oregon. Love you all and miss you already. Here are some pictures from our trip.