Midland, Texas

 Texas was a fast decision we had to make, but was one of the best decisions and blessings in our lives. It all started with a job offer from our friends Jordan and Jacqueline, and after praying and really thinking about what was best for our family, it was an offer we couldn’t pass up. So the next thing we knew Ben was starting that next month and we were moving to Midland, Texas! Ben ended up leaving a month before us to find a place to live, while me and Aniston stayed back so that I could finish work and photograph a wedding I scheduled in August. It ended up working out great, we didn’t pack much but the necessary means of living, since we were renting out a trailer, so Ben drove down with our stuff and me and Aniston flew down later.

This is what we called home sweet home for about 5-6 months. It wasn’t much, but believe it or not there are trailers there that are for rent for over $1,000. Midland is a booming city right now, with all the oil fields, which has brought a lot of people, which means the cost of living is outrageous there, so to really make your money you have to live smart. As homey as it looks, we really did enjoy it and to this day its Aniston’s favorite place to live and asks almost daily to back to the trailer. It was small but perfect for our little family.

Ben’s job was working as a security guard for a gas plant they were building out in Midland. He started towards the end of the project, which meant they all had to put in a lot of hours to get it finished in time. So for a good majority of the time we were there, Ben worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. It was exhausting at times but we knew when we accepted the job that we were there to work and to save up, so we both were grateful for the work. Another reason this job couldn’t have been better for Ben, was he had decided 2-3 weeks prior that he wanted to go to medical school and he started preparing for the MCAT, so when the job offer came it was to good to be true, because it allowed Ben to really put in the hours to study and prepare for the MCAT. So his days were spent in his little shack studying away, soaking up the Texas heat, and staying clear of tarantulas :)

This was the gas plant when he got there

This is where it was at when we left

Ben’s little shack

His desk he spent many hours at

Now for me and Aniston, we did spend some quality time together in the trailer, but I couldn’t have been more grateful or say thank you enough to Jacqueline and McKenna for letting us tag a long with them pretty much everywhere! We only brought one car down, so Jac was so sweet to let us join them on weekly trips to the grocery store, to the park, to the library, to do laundry and just hanging out with us. We had so much fun and it was like being roommates again. I could not have done it without her and Aniston loved every minute of being in Texas, making friends and playing all the time. We miss them terribly and it was an experience I will never forget or take for granted!

Our weekly trip to the library

Very rare and unusual for these kiddos to be folding their arms at the library, usually they are running being crazy

Best Friends

Aniston and Mckenna in their costumes we made

This just captures it all for me! They grew to be such great friends and pretty much like sisters. They fought, they talked, they played and Aniston will never forget her first best friend!

We also got to spend a couple Holidays in Texas. First was Labor day weekend, I believe, Ben got a three day weekend, so this was our only chance really to go and see some of Texas. So we made a trip to Carlesbad Caverns. It was about an hour or so away, so we made a day trip. It was pretty amazing and so beautiful. 

The next Holiday, was Halloween! We also had a special visitor come and join us, Grandma Kirby! Jac and I had fun making the girls their costumes and the ward put on the best trunker treat, which was my first and I thought it was so fun! It probably was the best Halloween yet!

Carved a pumpkin

Grandma Kirby

My little tinker bell

People went all out with decorating their cars

She was a pro and caught on real fast to saying trick-or-treat

Such a good turn out

We also spent Thanksgiving in Texas. We forgot to take pictures, but the boys all had to work, so we brought thanksgiving dinner out to them. It was a fun day of cooking, eating, the kids decorated turkey cupcakes, and we ended the night going to see the premiere of Frozen! It was definitely weird not being with Family and missed them very much, but we had fun and enjoyed being with great Friends!

We also found out in November that we would be expecting baby #2 coming in July! 

Texas was unexpected, and never in a million years did we think we would drop everything for 6 months and head to Texas, but it was also very clear that we were meant to be there at that particular time in our lives. Both mine and Ben’s testimony grew tremendously with seeing the Lords hand in everything. From the moment Ben made the decision to go to Med school, the Lord blessed us with this amazing job opportunity to save and get out of debt before school, as well as for Ben to study and score well on the MCAT. Our living arrangement also was a huge blessing since we found a place so close to Jacqueline and Jordan and very affordable and clean. I have a strong testimony that the Lord really does know each and everyone of us, and as long as we put our faith and trust in Him and do what’s right, He will watch over and protect us. I’m so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has given me so many great blessings. We couldn’t have experienced these opportunities if it were for such great friends and a loving and supportive family. Texas was such a fun adventure and I am looking forward to the next chapter come July! 

(Another update coming soon with our future plans)