HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I had the most wonderful birthday thanks to so many of you. Cards and presents started arriving last week, which really was a suprise. This shirt was one of my packages that came. Thanks Skye and Rob. Love you guys!!Devin gave me money to go shopping with and a book by Glenn Beck ( whom I love) . Thanks to all my favorite people who called me, emailed me or text messaged me even if it was at 6:30 a.m. (Tyrell). My co-workers were amazing. I had a Tiara sitting on my desk when I got there, because I was "queen for the day". It didn't get me out of dipping urine samples all day. I did have to work late on my birthday, but it was worth it when at the end of our meeting one of the Doctors brought me a cake with candles and the whole office sang Happy Birthday to me. I got a amazing cook book from my friend Jeri at work. I call Jeri my Oregon mom. She works with me and I love her. This book is a recipe book just for the crock pot. Jeri also brought to work a Key lime cheesecake that I shared with everyone at work at lunch. I got a birthday song sung to me over the phone from my nieces and my sis in law which made me cry. I miss them like crazy. I felt so blessed as I left work and reflected that I really have found a home away from home. My first birthday away from my family and home and it was a wonderful day. Thank you everyone I love you lot's.

Disneyland

In just a little over a month I get to go to Disneyland. I am going to do something I hate to do, which is travel alone, and I am meeting my family in California. I am so excited to spend a week with all my nieces and nephews and most of my siblings in Disneyland. Devin is not going so I am braving the journey and meeting my family there. Disneyland can be fun as an adult, but nothing beats the look on my niece's face when she sees Cinderella or Belle. I just love it! Most of all it's the family traditions we have started when we go. Like my big brother running to the Indiana Jones ride full sprint to get in line as soon as the gate opens. I just can't wait.

Sigh...............

So many things to be grateful for today. First of all Devin is done with finals!!!!!! We actually went through two six packs of Pepsi and he even has some left over for March Madness. Second he has done really well so far with the grade's he has gotten back. Third our dear friends little girl is getting better. For our friends in Portland you know what I am talking about. For our family and friends back home here is a short story. With all the stress that seems to settle in here like a cloud and hang for a while. We had some friends who had there baby girl in the ICU for several days with a severe case of pneumonia. We have all been very humbled by thier experiences and we all look at family a little differently. I have told Penny a few times how grateful I have been for her sharing her thoughts and feelings through the computer about what she has been going through as a mother, but I am eternally grateful for a knowledge of a Loving father in Heaven and our family relationships. We are so blessed to not only have our families, but dear friends in the gospel to share experiences and blessings with us as we face a trial. I am thankful to Penny and Eric for letting us all be a part of it! Heavenly Father has really blessed us all with a further knowledge of his divine role in our lives. May we remember it always! Fourth on less serious note.... I am doing really well so far on my March Madness picks. Yes I am grateful for March madness. It's fun. I didn't used to get into it, but with Devin's encouragement I have done a bracket the past few years and I love it. Happy Easter everyone. We love you all so much!

Thank heavens for PEPSI!

If there is anything that I am learning and learning fast is that finals week sucks. Devin has finals next week along with everyone else in the school. I know he is stressed when he says" Crystal can you pick me up a twelve pack of Pepsi from the store"?It's the week before and he is already asking for Pepsi. The mood around here changes as well. I don't see any of the other wives. Some even leave town to ensure no distractions. Anyways I think I learn to admire Devin even more when I see the sacrifices he makes to study. GOOD LUCK HONEY! I LOVE YOU!

Just for fun

This is my latest polymer clay project. I made this for one of my co-workers for her birthday. She is Irish and loves St. Patricks Day and she was born in March. So I thought a leprechaun would be the picture gift. The sign says "Parking for Leprechauns only."

This is Grace our little neighbor. She watched a movie with her cute little elephant head phones while all the older girls including mom had our book group. I hosted this month and couldn't help but post this funny picture.

DERBY, DERBY, DOOOOOOOOOOO

So our Elders Quorum had a Pine wood Derby contest last Friday night. It was really fun. This year they let the wives build one as well. I must say that the women did very well. I didn't build one. I had a pretty busy week, but It was still fun. Here are some pics from our Pine wood derby event.

The track that Darnell built. Yeah some people were claiming Devin had an advantage because his brother built the track. Boy were they wrong!

The car that Devin built. He decided to go with sponsors like Jr. himself. Instead of National Guard he did Farmer's Feed, Tiana Simpson Photography, Horizon signs, Prader View chiropractic and Simpson Services. A little shout out for all the family businesses.

The Competition.

My favorite entitled. "My daddy didn't help me"! A special thanks to Brock Kunz car that made me laugh, however I did learn this was the idea of his older brother's family. Thanks Kunz family for making me laugh. Ironically this car did pretty well.

Our youngest driver and one of my Favorites in the Ward. Yep that's right folks little Reese Kunz had a her own car that beat most of the older boys. (it was her dad's from last year)She is so cute. You should see her with her pink tutu on. Thanks Penny for letting me show off your kids since I don't have any of my own. Here's to pine wood Derby 2008. We salute you!

Devin's New Calling

For those of you who are not in our ward or family we haven't told yet, Devin was called to a new calling. He was set apart and sustained yesterday as the First counselor in the Young Men's Pres in our ward. He will be great. He was given a beautiful blessing that brought me to tears. I am so thankful for him and his example to me. The boys already love him. Every Sunday as we leave church I hear a chorus of "BYE BROTHER SIMPSON." It makes me laugh.

REAL WOMEN

One sport I can honestly say that I am a true fan of is Baseball. I love everything about it. The smell of wet dirt and grass as they spray the field down before a game. I hate hotdogs, but I can eat one when I am at the ball park . The crack of the bat. Singing hey batter, batter,batter, batter,batter,batter ssssswwwwiiiinnnnngggggg batter! I love baseball. This is my new shirt that I will wear with pride. I love it because it's true. Sorry friends I hate the Yankees I married me a Boston Red Sox man.

THOUGHTFULNESS

Yesterday on my lunch break I ran to the store to do some quick shopping. In front of me in line was this young man who had a dozen balloons. The cashier was trying to untangle them and scan them. While she was doing this he notice some roses and asked me to help him pick out some good ones. The cashier proceeded to say" wow there is a lucky girl out there." He responded 'They are for my mom." I thought like many of you "wow that is really sweet". How thoughtful of him to remember his mom on such a day and not a cute girl he might have his eye on. He finished paying and turned and handed me a rose and said"This is for you thank you for your help." I was blown away again at his thoughfulness. As I left the store I pondered on the many oppurtunites we have to help other people in the slightest ways. I have had many opportunities that I missed because of whatever reason. On the other hand I think of the people who have helped me . Whether it be big or small and how it makes me feel. I hope that I can remember what this young man showed me and look for the mom with her arms full of kids and groceries or an elderly person who may need help grabing something off a shelf. Thoughtfulness is the first step to giving and we all know how we feel after we help or give a few seconds to someone. It feels really good.

I'll be missing you......Always

Devin is busy with school again and I am busy trying to juggle working full time, church responsibilities and the whole wife thing. I still enjoy my job. I know I keep saying that, but it truly has been blessing to us. I love that I look forward to work every morning. I get to triage a lot more which has educated me much faster and more then school ever did. We are enjoying the Oregon beauty. Even when it's raining everything is so beautiful. Devin and I had friends over to watch the Super Bowl and we had a great time. Everyone was screaming at the t.v for those lovely Giants. I love that we are amongst kindred spirits here. Many of them are away from their families as well going to school and it's nice to have a family away from family. It takes the sting out of certain events (like the super Bowl) that leave me aching for home. My co-workers have been amazing as well. They are so welcoming and I already feel like I have been here for a while. They are very kind and quickly becoming good friends to me. Devin has been able to pick up some odd jobs which helps with our attempt to save some money as we keep up with the increased cost of living in Oregon. So it seems for now that we are doing well. We miss you our family and friends in Utah and Wyoming. Love always Crystal

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.