Shore Thing.

Paul and I have been real bad at taking pictures since we got here.
I do have a few- but for now I'm going to steal some from Camie's blog.
(Camie's fam and Valerie's fam came to visit us Labor day weekend and we had lots of fun at the beach!)
We met up with them in Philly and ran the "Rocky steps".

On Sunday, we took a break from the beach and Paul showed off the Rutgers campus and his lab.

Back to the beach on Monday

close to home.

I really like reading nienie- like I'm sure many of you do.

Today her post rang true in 2 BIG ways.

1- She used to live in East Brunswick, which is where our church is... super close.
2- She said New Jersey was "sometimes downright depressing". Ya- I feel that. For me, it's not about the time the sun sets (yet- because I really hate winter, but I don't want to think about that yet, and yesterday it actually was about the sun setting because I really wanted to take some pictures and I just hate flashes.) But it is a new place, I don't know many people, and it's just downright scary- and that can be depressing.

But today I have a little bit better perspective and a better attitude about my situation here. Paul reminded me yesterday that we are only a few weeks in and "we still have time to get roots in the ground."

Which can be the story of our new pillow that Paul picked out (maybe subconciously):

and 3- My grandma has a goose just like that and they are awesome.

East vs. West

We've been in Jersey for about a month now. There are so many things that are different from Utah.
Here are a few:

Brand names.
A lot of food have different brand names, but are exactly the same. Example:

New grocery stores:

Not only are there different gas stations, but you don't pump your own gas, someone pumps it for you - unique to Oregon and New Jersey:

The people are SO different. Everyone has the New Jersey accent, people think I'm crazy for being married at 22, and I've been asked by several people if Mormons can have more than one spouse (NO, NO, NO!!!)

They are a no-nonsense, fast-paced people. (Except when they are enjoying their food- then they don't like to be interrupted by servers like me).  

It's quite the adjustment, but I really do like it here. 

Coming up soon is a tour of our new city - as soon as Paul and I have some time to take some pics!

What are the biggest differences you have noticed living in a new place? The people, the places, the culture? What's the best way to meet people and become involved in your new community?

M.G. in the house.

The first few years I was at BYU I worked at Wasatch Elementary school as a tutor and after-school program director.
My favorite kid (ever) that I tutored was a first grader named Jackson Gledhill. He was the craziest, goofiest, kid, but he was also smart and I helped him make a ton of progress with his reading. One day I was asking him questions, and he told me his mom's name was Mindy. Wait... Mindy Gledhill? The EFY song lady? Well I thought she had a great voice, and I thought that was pretty cool.

At the time I was dating this hot, newly returned missionary named Paul, and I knew that on his mission he had a slight obsession with Mindy Gledhill's music. So one day when I met her at the school, I let him know about this, and she thought it was real funny.

Anyway, now she has changed her musical style a bit, and I like it.
Here is her latest music video, which is also cool.

And let me just say, that when people post videos on their blogs I usually never take the time to watch them, but this one is worth it for a nice "feel-good" moment.