Friends in Low places.

I have had an interesting week so far. I have let the holidays slip by without talking to some key people in my life. I felt prompted to call a friend on Monday so I did. Little did I know that she was "Having a Day". I know that many of us have these experiences, but her circumstances were all to familiar when my mom called me right after I got of the phone with my friend and told me she was having a similar trial right now in her life. It's interesting how the Lord calls upon us to calm the storm in other peoples' lives. I did not ask nor did I expect, but he knew what I needed. To my friend (you know who you are).. I love you so much and I am sorry you have to walk this road. You are more my strength then I could ever be yours. The Lord truly blessed you into my life to my be my angel. Mom I also love you. I am again sorry that you are losing a Friend. Create memories with the little time you have left and know that whatever you are called upon to do (singing at the funeral) you can do! The lord will give you the strength to comfort those who mourn through your beautiful voice. The reason I decided to put this on my blog is to let everyone know that we have little time on this earth to do the things that matter to us. Stay close to the Lord and listen to his still small voice to help him carry those who need to be carried. It will strengthen you far more then It will help those whom you are called upon to help. Crystal

Christmas

Well we made it home safely and we had a wonderful time visiting Utah and Wyoming. We heard that Portland got snow Christmas day and everyone here was excited and still talking about their white Christmas. We had a wonderful Christmas and made off with some great gifts. I got some polymer clay tools and books from my wonderful husband who knew just what to get me. I got Devin the Ridgid tool set he drools over every time we walk into Home Depot. He has no problem finding things to fix around the house on his time off from school. Devin's grades were waiting for us when we got home and he got all A's and B's. I was really proud off him. It was so wonderful to see so many of you, but I must say there is no place like home. I missed my bed! I missed it so much I had a little visit with my Chiropractor at the school yesterday. My body is also fighting a cold currently and I have not been feeling so great on top of my aches. I am grateful that I felt well enough to travel and that whatever is bothering me now waited until I was home to keep me in bed most of the day. I am looking forward to the New Year. I have never been a huge New Year fan and the whole resolution thing, but I love the sense of newness and starting over. Devin and I hope you all have a Happy New Year and again we love you and miss you all.

Merry Christmas

It's Wednesday and we are one final away from not being first termers, but rather second termers. For those of you who don't understand what that means just know it's not important!!! However, I am so proud of Devin and his dedication. I am not sure I could do it. We have been really busy these past few weeks as I am sure many of you have been also. Devin has been studying, sleeping and eating and that is about it. I have been trying to get our shopping done not to mention all the other errands that need to be ran this time of year. Work is going really well. I am enjoying it a lot. We are getting ready to head south for a week and I am so anxious to see home. I haven't completely lost the sting yet, but Oregon continues to grow on me. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and know that we love you dearly.

Time Off

I found out that I got the job at Mt. Hood women's health center and I start this week. I am very excited . I think this job will be a better opportunity for Devin and I. This is what I have been doing with my time as a house wife.

Things to be grateful for!

Boy I am glad that I did not make any promises about updating this, but the time has arrived. My job at the Portland clinic lasted two weeks. It was a good job just not a lasting one! After being stuck in traffic two hours both directions,and thinking more clearly about the benefits and pay I decided that maybe this wasn't for me. So after much prayer over a weekend I felt like yes indeed there is something else out there for me. I interviewed with MT. Hood women's health care which is in Gresham about ten minutes from home. It's OBGYN just what I know. The benefits and pay are unbelievable and I am anxiously waiting to see if I got the job. I had my second interview today and now it's the waiting game. I know that the nature of how I found this job was a miracle and a blessing to Devin and I. So hopefully it works out, however if it doesn't we will patiently wait for something equally as good if not better. Devin has been busy with tests and it gives me Lot's of time to think. Yeah just what I don't want to be doing. I have already made some good friends I know will be friends for life. It's funny how sometimes you just know that you have met a gold mine of a friend. I already have so many wonderful friends whom I love and adore, but you can never have to many people in your corner. I am grateful for so many things this Thanksgiving but to close here are a few... I am most grateful for my heavenly father who helps me see people through his eyes including my husband. Second I am grateful for Devin whom I love with all my heart and soul. He is my best friend and my rock. I am grateful for my parents. Mom and dad words cannot say what you mean to me. I love you so very much. Kaylene and Nolan, a girl could not ask for better runner up parents. I know you will always be there for us and for our family and I am grateful for you. Nolan I will haul your hay anytime you need me too. I am grateful for our grandmas who are hanging in there so far. Thank you for your strength and light in our lives. I am grateful for our siblings. Trav and Sarah you are my strength. Amy and Tom you are our examples. Ryan and Misty I am grateful for the way you two love eachother. Darnell I am grateful you are not just a brother to Devin but you are his friend and his personal strength. Amy I am grateful for your sense of Humor. You and I can laugh forever. Ty I am gratfeul that you let Devin give his opinion to you even when it may not be welcome. You are a true example of a loving little brother who includes his big brothers in his decisions and I know they love you for it. Whitney I am grateful you will soon finally be apart of our family. What else can I say about that? Tiana I am grateful for your heavenly sent talent of picture taking that you share with all of us. Your pictures take my breath away. Danny I am grateful for your strength to be yourself. The black sheep (in a good way) of our family you did not follow the Searle crowd. Kelli and Jami I am grateful for my two of my very best friends in the whole wide world. You guys make me laugh so hard. I hope we will always be close even when we are far apart. Camille I am grateful for your courage. You are an example to me and I love you for that. Skye and Rob I am grateful for your friendship and your love. You have been there for Devin and now me and I love you guys alot! I love you all so much and miss you even more. I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Love,
Crystal

Why I miss you

This is the reason I knew moving would be difficult. My sister in law Misty gave birth to Payten Mae Searle on October 3. She weighed 7 lbs 6 oz. Isn't she so cute. I don't have pictures of my own kids so why not show off the nieces and nephews. The little cheese face is my nephew Parker who is now a big brother. Mom and Dad say so far he is a really good big brother. I had a job interview today (my second this week ) for a job at the Portland Clinic. I met with someone in Human resources on Tuesday and today I met the nurses in charge. They were really great and made me feel at ease. I feel pretty confident and hope they will hire me. I would be a float M.A. in a large clinic which means I will get to work in gynecology, Internal Medicine, Family practice, Dermatology, and Pediatrics. I am excited to expand my horizons and learn something else besides obgyn. Everyone I met today was so nice. Even the gyn Dr. stopped and talked to me for a minute. The lady told him I had moved from Utah doing ob/gyn and he said " Utah has Lot's of baby's". I said "Yeah it was job security." Keep your fingers crossed for me I am really excited about this job. Love you all,

Crystal

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.