Livin' Wells

My parents and Brooke came home from serving in the Mexico, Monterrey West mission on July 3, 2012. Mom and Dad served as Mission Presidents, while Brooke finished up High School there at American School Foundation Monterrey. I LOVED going down to visit them! Although my Dad was not able to attend my wedding, I am so grateful for the love and service they showed the missionaries and mostly the Lord while serving there.

Bryce came home from his mission serving in the Argentina, Salta Mission in mid-May, 2012. He went directly to Mexico to be with my parents and Brooke, to spend time with the missionaries, and hang out til all 4 of them "officially" came home.

Kase was very nice, and knew how bad I wanted to go to my family's homecoming, but I never asked figuring it wasn't in the budget. When we found out how cheap it would be for us to get there, he encouraged me to go. I was so happy!

I went to Dallas for the week, and at the end of the week they gave their Homecoming talks at church followed by a get-together that evening. So fun.

So, we got lucky and rented this bad boy for the week:

Oh and one last thought - during the party Carli overheard people talking about how they had seen her decorating ideas on pinterest. She doesn't even do or like pinterest, and was offended and said that pinterest is taking away all creativity, ha. I don't even have an account yet - I'm afraid I'll get addicted. But the few times I've looked at someone else's, I've seen such cute ideas! Also, Brother Boyles brought egg rolls and queso. He called and said he was bringing food and that was that. Still the same Brother Boyles :) What a wonderful week!

I just HAVE  to include this. I wasn't around for this but at some point after my family got back, they found this on their door:
BAHAHAHA. I guess my Dad decided to add to the neighbors bulk trash, and I'm sure has done it many times. Apparently it wasn't appreciated. Oh, my family....

Well, I am going to attempt to get completely caught up with blogs by the end of the year, so that I can at least keep the 2012 blog posts in the year 2012. We will see, I guess.

While in Dallas for my parents homecoming, we got to celebrate Annie's 1st Birthday! It was at the George's lakehouse in Malakoff, Texas - like an hour and a half east of Dallas. We spent the night Friday night and spent most of Saturday there. It was so fun! We got a nice boat ride on Friday night to watch the sunset, and stayed up til either 2 or 3 am helping Erika with the decorations. Long night but fun to chat with my sisters and mom.

I am shocked and really don't know what to say. I had really felt good and was hopeful for Mitt Romney. I guess it was just the spirit I was feeling as I prayed for our country, and a reassurance that Heavenly Father is there, loves me, and cares about me.

To be honest, I am a little hurt. I know how hard the Romney's have worked on this campaign. Mitt is a GOOD, honest man with integrity and the best vision for our country that we've had in a candidate for a long time. I just wish America could see it. My deepest prayers for him and his family, and all those who were so involved in the campaign. Not sure if we will ever get another good man to run for President like he is. I deeply pray he doesn't take it personal. He IS what America needs, America just can't see it. My heart goes out to him. He had a good run.

I feel such loss and despair for our country. Kase is so good at staying emotionally detached and just realizing that it's really time to prepare. It just brings to life the scriptures:

Mosiah 29:26-27
26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.
27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.

 

These truly are that last days. I pray for our country. My mom feels Obama is an evil man. Not sure if I quite feel that way, but I hate to say this...he is only President because he is black, plays on people's emotions, and has a way of twisting the truth into looking like it's something bad. I don't get it. Auto bail out? Give it a rest - it's not true. Lets take away more from the rich to give to the poor, so we can eventually have no more rich because they are no longer motivated to make money when it all gets taken away by the US anyway. Then what tax dollars do we have? He is a liar....I'll say it. Lets put more people on welfare, because they don't want to work. Tolerant America? Yes, because God is so tolerant of everything we do....sorry, I'm listening to Obama's speech right now....

 Anyway,  I just don't get it and never will. Not sure what kind of country my kids will grow up in, but it so important to stay close to the Lord. I just really really really pray for the Romney's and our country. 

We don't need someone who we can "relate" to to be our leader. We need an actual leader who has accomplished something in his life, who pushes us to be what we truly can be, who has a vision, who is a role model, who knows how to balance a budget, and who knows how to make hard decisions and lead. That is Mitt Romney.  I don't want my BFF leading the country....I want a leader leading the country. American's no longer ask "what they can do for their country." They ask "what their country can do for them."

 I still do believe in this though. As hard as it can be at times:

I have liberal friends who I just don't understand. But they are still children of God. They still live in this country. And I guess as a citizen of the U.S. and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am supposed to sustain the leaders of our country. I'm going to work on that...

I know this post is out of order, but I don't care right now. Tomorrow, the majority of American's will vote on who they think will be the next best President of the United States. This race is going to be VERY close and is an extremely important one for our nation. I read today that it will be the closest election in 76 years. You never can really believe anything you hear now-a-days, so here are my thoughts and beliefs while trying to be as unbiast as I can toward my relative :)

I hear that the older you get, the more opinionated you get. It's totally happening to me. I just really do not comprehend the line of thinking for liberals. I have many friends that are and respect them for their beliefs, but I just don't understand. I've really only talked to one about it...I should talk to more so I can understand a little better that line of thinking. But since I have no idea what is true and what is not, my beliefs are based on pretty simple facts.

* Our founding fathers who founded America and wrote the Constitution, I believe, were inspired by God. We read about in the Book of Mormon. They were able to gain independence with God's help, and create a promised land. Therefore, those trying to destroy, avoid, or alter our Constitution in any way do not have my vote. God has plans for our nation. Only under his direction and democracy in leadership can we get there.

* It makes absolutely no sense to me to give more power to the Government and less to the states, when the states are closer to the actual situation of what their people and state need and would know better how to help. Wouldn't a parent or guardian know how to better care for a child than a grandparent? Of course - because they are closer to the situation. They are with the child 24/7, raising it. A grandparent can help, give advice, etc. but cannot take the place of a parent/guardian when they are removed from the situation. America was not intended to be a communist country, nor does anyone want that. Liberals in Government are trying to slowly take more and more control, and take away more and more of our rights that we were born with and that the Constitution gives us. OF COURSE we need Government - to protect us and make sure all is going well. The states are capable and more able to cater to the needs of their people. Would we want a parent to make all of our decisions for us, because they believe they know best? No. Nor would we want the government. The government is supposed to protect and provide a good model for the states. Unfortunately it is failing to do that as well.

* Killing innocent babies in the womb is just wrong. All actions have consequences. If you don't want to get pregnant, use abstinence or protection. That baby did not do anything wrong - the parents did. It is not your body - God gave it to you. And it is not YOUR baby - the baby is a child of God. I am not talking about instances of rape, incest, or threatening the life of the mother (although I do have my own opinions of that that I won't share). There is a little something called responsibility for your actions. And for my tax dollars to go towards you not being a responsible person? That's not right. 

Beyond those purely simple views, I have other thoughts on each candidate.

1) Romney has a business record and history of balancing budgets, creating jobs, etc. I think a man like that in charge of the United States is exactly what we need. A true leader.

2) He holds the Priesthood, God's power here on the earth. My dad also knows him personally and he is a VERY good man, who has done more and accomplished more than he will ever talk about in any political debate

3) Romney actually has a plan. All the Obama campaign can do is say that Romney's won't work, but where is their plan? They did come out with a plan for the deficit....AFTER all the debates. And does anyone know what it is? Of course not. Obama probably doesn't either.

4) All of Obama's issues in not saluting the American flag or whatever. I don't feel he has any loyalty to our country, so how did he become President? And the recent terrorist attacks? And in our country, it's okay to stop traffic for Muslim's doing a prayer circle and to do many things in the white house for Muslim's, but God forbid we do anything that has to do with Christ, when majority of American's are Christian. We can't even mention God anywhere anymore. A little ridiculous. I don't think he has much respect for our country.

5) Maybe I'm the only one bothered by this, but he got Bill Clinton to speak at the Democratic National Convention. The man who got up and lied in front of the country under oath. So why wouldn't he do it again, at the convention? Of course I believe in repentance and forgiveness.....that is between him and God. But the natural consequence of his decision is to people no longer trust what he says...sorry. Unfortunately morals in today's world are declining, so I guess not many even care that he lied....because everyone does it in their own life. For a person in today's world to have morals is a rare thing.

6) Obama is simply not the same person today as he was 4 years ago. He talked about change, working together, etc. He made so many promises that just have not happened. I do not believe the economy could turn around in 4 years, but he just hasn't continued in what will help our country and the things he talked about.

Really what it comes down to is this. I don't understand how anyone can think they really know enough about what is going to make a legit decision. There are biast opinions and lies everywhere. I think what it comes down to is keeping our nation the nation it was always intended to be, where it prospered at grew through the Constitution. And clearly only one man is trying to keep it that way.

I've been praying for American voters all over to be prompted by the Spirit and follow those promptings to vote for the best Presidential candidate. But most of all, I want the Lord's will to be done. I REALLY hope we can get a President in office who knows what he is doing and how to best protect and help the American people.

Before I got these part-time jobs that I have, people would always ask me what I do. We don't have any kids, so of course I should have a job, right? Well, here at the Wells residence, we are far from your "typical" family. All who know us well would agree, with our 1 phone, no internet (at home) or TV, a wife who focuses more on saving money rather than making it, and we don't embrace much we hear or see that is considered "normal" (well, that last comment was more about Kase). We (Kase) start careers before we have a degree, wants to live the urban lifestyle...BAD, and he's an extremist in many areas. Just a few little examples. I think I relate to him just enough to make our relationship wonderful/enjoyable and to understand him (my dad is pretty similar, actually) and love him for it, but I'm hoping I'm sane enough to keep our family functional. Passion and personality are not lacking around here. Just makes me wonder what our kids are going to turn out like....

So before I started with my jobs, I would reply that I am a professional traveler :) I do now have many part-time jobs. I baby-sit some, but mostly I buy supplies for our friend JB's vacation rental business he started (for super cheap and sell them full price + some) and stock his homes with the cleaning supplies and items for guest use. I also clean them. I had to get a business license in order to do so, so we may have some tax breaks and small business perks coming our way? Maybe if Romney gets elected...another post to come on that. I graduated in Elementary Education but I don't want to teach full-time. At least not right now. I think being engaged and student teaching at the same time scarred me a little and turned me off to teaching for now. But I also don't think it's worth the difficulty, time, and salary in the first few years when I'm just going to stop when I have kids and resume again later. The experience would be great, but the reason you go through the first few years of heck is to benefit from it in the later years. I'd have to learn it all over again, because technology, curriculum, etc. will most likely be different then. Like I said, the experience would be great. But if I have to live like I was living when Kase and I were engaged, it is NOT worth that. I want a happy marriage :) Although I would like to substitute teach since that doesn't follow you home...but that probably won't happen with my other jobs going on right now.

But on to what I was saying - I've always had flexible jobs growing up, and I really enjoy that. I've also been able to travel and do things I've wanted to do (including out of town jobs), because of my flexible job schedule. I probably got a little spoiled. So one of the benefits of my current jobs are that I get to travel :) And since we are right in the middle of all my family and my parents just got back from a mission, it has been wonderful! People tell me to live it up while I have kids, and I am doing just that plus more :) Kase has been SOOOO nice and understanding, and even encourages me to spend time with my family as we likely will not live in Flagstaff forever.  Although he doesn't enjoy me being gone, he realizes I really enjoy the time I get to spend with family. Here has been our schedule since we've been here in Flagstaff. We've done at least one trip a month (which we plan so we can go to the temple every month). And this adds to the reason my blog is so far behind....

These are trips we have taken together. The individual trips say the person's name in front:

March 
- weekend temple/family visiting trip to Mesa
April 
- BRIELLE: Time Out for Women trip in Washington for a week. Mom's Christmas present with all    of the Wells women
 - San Diego for Kyle Moore and Aubrey's wedding reception and annual weekend trip with Kase's buddies
May
- BRIELLE: Morgan's wedding weekend in Mesa along with Blake&Erika family
June
- weekend temple/family visiting trip to Mesa & Reed's wedding reception
July
- BRIELLE: Dallas for a week for Mom, Dad, Brooke, and Bryce's homecoming
- BRIELLE: Mesa for a few days for McDaniel family get together
- Aspen Grove in Utah for immediate Romney family reunion
- BRIELLE: week in Utah being with family and friends
- Virden, New Mexico for McDaniel family reunion weekend
- BRIELLE: Mesa for a few days for Aunt Cyndi's and Mark's sealing
August 
- BRIELLE: Washington for Blaire's endowment and fun
- Portland, OR and Washington for Blaire & Kioa's wedding/family time
September
 - Tupelo, Mississippi for business/personal reasons and getting to see the Specht's (Dave's parents). Also included Tennessee & Arkansas
 - Business trip to Tucson, AZ (career far UofA) for a few days & to see Grandma, Kenton & family
October
- first quick trip to Snowflake temple (not sure if that one counts....)
- BRIELLE: Utah for BYU Homecoming weekend (a family tradition)
 - Chicago business trip (AME Conference) & getting to see the Abell's, Matthew George, and being with Gore friends for a week
November 
- BRIELLE: Time Out for Women in Phoenix, AZ with mom, Mumphy, and Aunts/cousins. Includes staying the next week with mom and nieces in Mesa

- KASE: Logan, UT for a business trip/conference
- KASE: San Jose, CA for a weekend boys trip for an away BYU football game (a new Romney tradition) while BRIELLE hangs out in Mesa
- Thanksgiving weekend in Mesa and possibly Tucson...?
December
- Wells family cruise for a week in the Caribbean
- Dallas for Christmas
- BRIELLE: Stay in Dallas for the week
- Mesa for New Years

Well, are we busy enough? I am so blessed to have a husband who is so sweet and nice. He said people at work are starting to give him a hard time, asking him if his wife is gone again yet. Poor guy. We understand the rest of our lives will NOT be like this, but we are trying to live it up while we can :) Well, I should probably say that I am trying to live it up while I can :)

And the only thing that makes this whole thing even possible...his name is Brad Romney. He is a credit card genius, and knows how to work systems (legally and honestly) like no other. To start off with, I always get to Phoenix when going by myself (whether to catch flights or stay in Mesa) through the greyhound - interesting but humbling and pretty cheap. Besides, I grew up around those types of people and they don't bother me too much. The flights we have booked with money have been around $100 or less including baggage fees (this was before we got into points), and the rest we have booked with points :) My round trip flights to Mississippi & Chicago, his flight to Oregon, his round trip flights to San Jose, our flights to Florida for the cruise, Dallas for Christmas, and his back to Dallas after Christmas were all booked with points. I just need to brag about my brother for a sec....going out of our way to save money runs in the family :)

My flights to and from Mississippi alone would've cost $1300 at the time we booked it had we done so with money. I don't want to know about the others, nor do I really care. We use points, and we can kind of buy the points along with accumulating them through regular spending. So we've booked all 12 of these flights (just the ones mentioned above) with around 102,200ish points (equivalent to $1022). So lets say $1,030, just to be safe. But how much actual money have we spent on accumulating the points for all these flights? Less than $250. Crazy? Absolutely! We have a pretty strict savings plan in place, so the only way possible for traveling to even happen is through this system. Thank you, Brad! You have saved us and most everyone else in the family thousands! And you don't have to use those points for miles...you can also cash them out :) It's a little bit of work, but definitely worth it...we are so lucky!

I sometimes think about the church leader (I'm not sure which one) who talked about couples now-a-days delaying having children for traveling purposes. I can definitely see how appealing that is. But being a mom has always been and will always be a very strong desire of mine. It just continues to grow as time goes on. We probably need to be together a little more often to actually conceive a child....

On May 20, 2012, the annual solar eclipse just happened to be here in Arizona. I guess the grand canyon was the best place to be able to see it, but we could still see it from Flagstaff. We have some friends here Billy & Allison (who recently moved to Thatcher, AZ) and we saw it with them. We met them through the missionaries - he is becoming an engineer and she is an elementary teacher. He is a member and served a mission, and she is now investigating the church. So the missionaries figured we would have things in common with our studies and invited us to the discussions. We loved hanging out with them!
 We tried to see it through all these different ways. This way Kase made up - use 3 pairs of sunglasses, multiple tupperware lids, and the tint in the top of the windshield. Billy heard on the radio that we should NOT try to look at it through tinted lenses, but we figured we were trying a bunch so maybe it would be better? I guess damage to your eyes doesn't hurt right away...mine did hurt a little afterwards. oops :(













I thought this way was the best (pictured above), and you can kind of see it..

Morgan and Evan Brimley were sealed for time and all eternity on Friday, May 11, 1012 in the Mesa, Arizona temple. It was so fun to be able to go to their sealing. After the not-so-fun on-and-off dating that I'd hear about from Morgan, I'm so glad it finally worked out :) Blake, Erika, and Annie drove down for it so I hopped in the car and joined. Kase couldn't come, since he had to work on Friday.