Montana

When I met and started dating Jason he told me he wanted to move to Montana. I didn't object and kept it in the back of my head.  In May of 2010 maybe even Memorial Day, we drove out here to visit his Aunt Molly. I loved it. The area Molly lives in is a valley has  the Mission Mountains on one side. We came back a couple of times over the past two years and realized more and more this is exactly what we want.

I was having a really hard time at my job, I was stressed and felt really unhappy, there were many awesome times and I have some amazing co-workers but something had to change. For months before we moved, I looked at houses and jobs, Missoula is similar in price because of U of M, we didn't want to move to Montana to live in the city. A couple of  housing job opportunities came up but did not work out. I kept looking and found a clinic job at St. Luke and sent an application as well as wrote any open RN positions.  I was called less than 48 hours later. I was in the middle of my stretch on and made plans to come over the next week on my days off. I interviewed for my current job in the hospital and the clinic job. The clinic job would have been a sweet deal M-F no holidays, but somewhere I have grown really accustomed to having a four days off, it makes it easier to go home. Also the clinic paid less, which was a big pay cut. The hospital job felt right, it is what I know. I loved the director of nursing and had my fingers crossed. She did tell me three other people interviewed and I am so glad I got the job. Jason drove over and we looked at a house in town. The house in town was so much bigger than the Lake Tapps duplex and we told the landlords we were interested. I got the call on Tuesday offering me the job, later in the day the landlords called us and asked if we were still interested. We got set to move in two weeks, which flew by.

I get asked why move here, why leave, a lot? I had this sense that I should. I really didn't want to keep waiting and in five years have the shoulda, coulda, woulda's. Jason and I want to have a family and not raise them in the city. We want to have horses, chickens, and a garden. We want to own land. When we have come here it feels right. There are so many things that I love here.

Is Montana perfect? No. There are many things I miss, my girlfriends and proximity to our families is hard. I miss the morning after work coffees, nursing school girl get togethers, and many other things with friends. I also miss Asian food, there are a couple of restaurants that we have found and they fill a space, so be forewarned when I come home I am probably going to be craving some Asian. The grocery store in town closes at like 9pm, the grocery store in the town I work in is open a little later. I miss Safeway in every town. There is a Safeway about 30 minutes away, it is more expensive and I go there sometimes. I love the weather, I love the people, I love the traffic, attitude, and I really love my new job.

 This is our house, with one of our two huge maple trees. In the Fall it was awesome!

 From the highway the Mission Mountains. They  take my breath away daily!

 One day Jason went hunting with his uncle. I went back to bed at his Aunt Molly's. When I woke up a couple of hours later there was a foot of snow! It was so much fun! Everyday I keep hoping for more!

A frozen tree in my yard, over the past couple of weeks we have had really cold temperatures and freezing fog. From the freezing fog the trees have been amazing. I took some pictures when Jason and I went on a walk the other day but didn't get all of the trees I wanted and am hoping for more freezing fog so I can post more. It looks like snow, except the trees become so accented. Every leaf and twig just stands out.