Thursday, January 28, 2010

Moving On...

Dear Friends and Family,

Sorry for the "impersonal" blast going to basically everyone in my address book. I wish I had the time to contact each of you individually. First, I hope that this message finds each of you well, in good health, and generally awesome. That's all that really is to be desired. ;0)

Many of you know that I was planning to relocate to California at the end of this summer. But life takes its course and the company I've been working for over the last year has been hit pretty hard due to the fluctuations in the economy; as a result, myself and several of my coworkers were laid off last Thursday. Things being what they are, the time-distance between me and my move home has been shortened from six months to approximately three weeks. I will be moving home around the 15th of February, and for those of you who may not have that address, please email me.

My phone number is still the same; my email address will remain the same as well.

While the circumstances surrounding my departure from Utah are not the ones I would have chosen, I am feeling remarkably positive about... well, everything really. I'm not excited to leave behind my friends and family still here in Utah, but I also know that things happen for a reason and have felt my Heavenly Father's guidance and support this last week. I can't help but feel that this is kinda what He had in mind all along. I am grateful that we will have things like email, phone calls, and (addict that I am) Facebook to help us keep in contact. I also know that Utah and everything about it has found a niche for itself in the part of my heart called "home". I know that I'll be back - if only for visits... and California really isn't that far away!

I'm a little tired, so I'm sorry if I'm waxing a little sentimental here... ;0) Some days have definitely been better than others. Thanks to each of you for your love, prayers, and support. And if you hear of any stellar job leads in the San Francisco and Sacramento areas, please don't hesitate to forward them on!

Love you all!

Jessi

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

2009 Reads

  • The Forgotten Carols (Michael McLean)
  • Time Cat (Lloyd Alexander)
  • Riding Freedom (Pam Munoz Ryan)
  • Fantastic Mr. Fox (Roald Dahl)
  • War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy)
  • When Day Breaks (Mary Jane Clark)
  • The Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis)
  • The Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
  • The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
  • The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
  • Where Are You Now? (Mary Higgins Clark)
  • In His Steps (Charles Sheldon)
  • The Promethius Deception (Robert Ludlum)
  • Redwall (Brian Jacques)
  • Wicked (Gregory Maguire)
  • The Whole Truth (David Baldacci)
  • The Sight (David Clement Davies)
  • Blind Side (Clair M. Poulson)
  • The Believer (Stephanie Black)
  • Chickens in the Headlights (Matthew Buckley)
  • Baptists at Our Barbecue (Robert Farrell Smith)
  • The Tale of Despereaux (Kate DiCamillo)
  • The Witches of Eileanan Series (Kate Forsyth)
  • The Appeal (John Grisham)
  • A Countess Below Stairs (Eva Ibbotson)
  • A Song for Summer (Eva Ibbotson)
  • Stranger with My Face (Lois Duncan)
  • Locked in Time (Lois Duncan)
  • The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
  • The Gift of Magic (Lois Duncan)
  • The Cry of the Halidon (Robert Ludlum)
  • The Third Eye (Lois Duncan)
  • The Matlock Paper (Robert Ludlum)
  • The Amber Spyglass (Philip Pullman)
  • The Subtle Knife (Philip Pullman)
  • The Golden Compass (Philip Pullman)
  • Our Search for Happiness (M. Russell Ballard)