Jennifro

In Mysterious Ways

(youngest bro, Mitch)

Nick and I rarely fight and never really have too much, except for over one thing when we were first married:  moving back east.  We met at BYU and I guess it never really occurred to this Vegas girl that the guy you're dating (should you marry him) might attempt to take you away from your family and your home. Growing up I seldom played "what if" marriage scenarios in my head, so when we got engaged and he vocalized his desire to live "back home", it was like he lit a fire in my gut I was so shocked and enraged.  I think I was so mad because I knew this was an argument I would lose.  After countless fights going back and forth, tears and frustration, he said to give it five years and if I wasn't happy at that point, we'd move west.  

(youngest sis, Jayne)

The thing is, I wasn't just a spoiled brat who had to get my way, I had legitimate concerns. Being the oldest of six kids, I believed I would never be close with my brothers and sisters who were really young, if I moved 2,000 miles away; not to mention I was heartsick about leaving my parents.  I used to pray that somehow I would learn to deal with this and not hate Nick's guts in the process (there were moments).  I also thought I would never see my friends again--I mean who would EVER come all the way back east just to visit me?  The thing is, I knew moving made sense. Nick is in the summer camp business, so we had to live somewhere that had rivers and trees for shade, fields and horses, for a camp to survive.  But still I was sick about it.  Anyway, mysterious ways.

(BYU roommies: Wendy, Kolette, Katrina, Jill, Anjie

Carrie and Me)

It's amazing how God watches out for us, and actually cares about our desires.  He gets it--when we can't see the finish from the starting line.  The first year we opened our camp, Nick suggested we bring my youngest brother and sister (Mitch and Jayne) out to be a few of our first campers.  They were about nine and eleven at the time.  Well... a tradition was born.  They ended up coming every summer after that for ten years.  And I was worried about not getting to know them?!  Too close for comfort let me tell you...just teasing guys!  Another sister, Jessica, and brother, John, also came out from time to time to work and spend summers with us--more bonding.

(Rob and Jill)

Then--my wonderful ex-roomie and friend Kolette, married Nick's brother, Matt, and became my sister in law.  How lucky is that?  Then...two of our closest friends from BYU, Eric and Anjie, decide to give it a whirl back east and move from Oregon to our neck of the woods.  That was in 1996 and they just built a house up the street from us--they're here to stay! Then...in 2000 my sister Jill decided she was ready for a change and moved into our basement.  And who does she end up dating and marrying, but Nick's childhood friend, Rob.  Voila!  another transplant.  And lo and behold in 2002, my brother, John, graduated from college and moved out here with Kelley and Johnny.  Way to be brave!

(John, Kelley, Johnny)

It's crazy to reflect upon how things have turned out. Two of my five siblings, and three of the six roommates that I believed I would NEVER see again, all live within three miles of me--not to mention most of Nick's great family.  Sure, in the perfect world, Mom and Dad and absolutely everyone else would be living on one big compound, but I feel totally overwhelmed to have been given so much.  Who would've guessed....