New job!

can’t believe it’s been almost a year since I started my flight attendant job with Delta! I’ve thought about being a flight attendant many times over the years but the timing has never been right, until now! I had been working for Deschutes County Building Division as a building inspector and plans examiner - most recently commercial plan review. It was a great job and I loved my co-workers but I was ready for a change- it was probably a bit of a midlife crisis with the kids all out of the house, haha. I just couldn’t see myself working a desk job for the next 20 years and wanted the freedom to be able to visit the kids as often as possible. Thankfully Matt was supportive of me pursuing a flight attendant job, as it would be a significant pay cut and major changes to our lifestyle.

I first applied to Skywest but by the grace of God, I didn’t get hired and shortly after saw that DELTA was hiring! I decided to go for it even though I knew it was a very competitive application process. Each step fell into place so smoothly and I really felt the Lord’s hand in it all. I was blown away how I thought I wanted one thing and the Lord said, I have something even better ❤️ Although Skywest is a great company, Delta’s pay and benefits and flying is all significantly better.  

My interview/CJO (conditional job offer) day!

I spent 7 weeks in Atlanta in training Jan 13-Feb 28, 2025 with the best instructors (Liz & Alan) and the best class (B1-Best One) and a perfect for me roommate (Kris). 7 weeks was a long time to be gone from home and not as available to talk to the kids and Matt and no visits but it went by fairly quickly and was an amazing experience. 

The best part of the 7 weeks is that all 3 of our boys made it out for my graduation! It was a super quick trip for each of them but so fun and special to have them there. 

Isaac and Anna wedding (I’m a little behind)

I’m trying to play catch up on the blog and adding some things from phases when I wasn’t really on here. We’ve had some pretty significant things happen, including a couple of weddings and most importantly gaining daughters! 

Isaac and Anna were married Nov 26th, 2022! I can’t believe it’s already been 3 years! Anna and her momma worked so hard to throw the most amazing wedding all planned within a very short time. The wedding was in Gilbert Az (where Anna is from) and the weather was so beautiful! I could totally live in AZ in the winter!

We arrived a couple days early which put us there in time for thanksgiving dinner. We stayed with all the kids at the Hilton resort in Scottsdale. Adam and Dawson flew in from Utah, Olivia from Hawaii, Matt and I from Bend and Isaac had driven down from Utah a week or two prior. 

We met up with some Blackburns and Dawsons for Thanksgiving dinner at Bucca de beppo and then went to Anna’s house for pie and games with her amazing family. It was so much fun with lots of laughter. It was great to get to know them in a casual setting before the wedding. We also loved watching videos from when Anna was a kid. She was a performer! :) 

We love our Anna girl. She is so fun and brings so much joy and light to any room she is in. It was awesome to get to know her family and see where that sunshine comes from. 

The wedding day was perfect. They were married in the Gilbert temple. Thankfully I had had my meltdown on a run the day prior. Heartbroken that Matt and I wouldn’t be in the temple to support them as we had planned for Isaac’s entire life, because the shift in our religious beliefs but also tears of joy for the exciting time of Isaac and Anna getting married. I had cried and cried on my run and let out so many emotions (people driving by were probably concerned, haha) processing it all the day prior (which wasn’t planned or intentional) thankfully allowed for me to enjoy the beautiful wedding day and be present in the moment. 

The reception was in Gilbert at a beautiful venue. We had a taco lunch prior and then so much fun and dancing. Matt performed a ring ceremony prior to the reception and did a fabulous job. It was fun to meet Anna’s friends and family and be there to celebrate with some of ours. Chad and Kristi, Todd and Jen, my folks, Klint and Kim and Scott and Melissa and families all made it out. It was also pretty special that some of Isaac’s best friends from high school, college and his mission all made it. 

And did I mentioned we danced? So fun!! 

And have I mentioned how much I love these two? They are so great together. We are so grateful to have Anna in our family we would not be complete without her ❤️

NYC w/Adam

Adam was looking to take one last trip before starting back up at USU this fall, which is his student teaching semester! He had decided to fly into PDX so he could visit grandma and grandpa blackburn and Mitch and Jesse’s family and it just so happened I had a trip out of PDX the next day to NYC so it worked out awesome for him to come along! It was so fun having him on my flight! We had 24 hrs in Mahattan and hit the ground running as soon as we got to the hotel. 

Our first stop was for some NYC pizza. Delish.

Next, he wanted to see where Casey Neistat’s office is - a you tuber that Adam has followed for years. It was fun for us to walk the streets and go into the grocery store next door. 

We then walked over to the 911 memorial. We didn’t have time to go in the museum but it was beautiful night to pause next to the memorials where the twin towers had stood. They've done a great job creating a beautiful space to honor the many lives that were lost and to reflect on that day. We were there just as the sun was starting to set which was perfect timing to hop on a ferry to Staten Island so we could have a view of the Statue of Liberty and a great view of the NYC skyline at dark. 

We ended the night with some burgers from central station. We were starving and had put in 20,000 steps since arriving at 5pm! 

The next morning we woke up in time for some classic NYC bagel breakfast sandwhiches from Ess-a-bagel and then a bike ride through Central Park before catching the train back to the airport.

The best part of the trip was getting time with Adam! He’s so fun to be with and I’m so lucky to be his mom. I’m so proud of the amazing young man he is ❤️

I love our Adam Archie ❤️

All the kids home! (Summer 2025)

 We ended up with all the kids home for a few days and it was heaven on earth!  It was a last minute surprise for the others that Isaac and Anna were able to join for a few days. They texted the night before that they were going to try to come but flights (standby) looked pretty iffy! We had to get creative. I told Liv and Syd but we kept it a surprise from the boys. 

The look of relief walking down the jetbridge to the flight to Bend after running to their gate :)

Time with Dad in his shop was a highlight! 

We went on walks/bike rides to the Larkspur trail, an evening at East Lake (was colder than we expected up there but still a beautiful night), drove to Paulina Peak Overlook, Liam did lots of surfing at the river trail, lots of yummy food at home and the last day that everyone was home we got to ride Matt’s bus and go on a rafting adventure!! The rapids were bigger than I had expected and it was so fun!! 

Of course there were Mario Kart games played. Hard to believe the system is almost 26 years old and still going strong. 

Time with Kona. She just turned 13! We love that she is still with us and is still mostly healthy. The kids definitely noticed that she has aged considerably since they last saw her at Christmas. They were happy to get this time with her.

Look at that cute bus driver making sure everyone is settled. He had a rowdy bunch to deal with in the front!

Cuties

Cuties

Cuties

There is literally nothing better than having this gang all home. We love each one of the so much and so grateful for the dynamic they each bring to our family. It’s so great how much the love each other. We are so blessed! ❤️