Christmas Letter 2008

As the year comes to a close, we look back at the last year and see how wonderful & challenging it really was for us. We know that many of you have gotten a glimpse into our lives via our blog and other avenues, but we hope that this letter helps provide some insight into what’s been going on with the Salt’s in 2008.

As we left 2007 and entered 2008, Debbie & I left Provo, our home for many years, and headed to Denver. While it was sad to leave so many good friends and family there, we were excited to begin our grown-up lives. Debbie had accepted a job as a Nurse at The Medical Center of Aurora (TMCA) NICU/Nursery, and I had accepted a position as a Financial Analyst at Northrop Grumman. For the first time in our lives we would both be working and neither of us would be in school.

Our move was an interesting one. The movers couldn’t have been worse, taking forever to deliver our stuff (so long in fact that we almost had to delay working, because all of our important documents were locked up in a storage unit for almost 3 weeks). It was an interesting way to begin our new lives in Denver, sitting at the social security office for several hours, but the crisis was averted and we both were able to start on time.

I have enjoyed my work at Northrop Grumman. I am working in the Finance Office, and while the office is a little introverted (I’m not sure if we’re better or worse than the computer nerds we work with), it has been a great job. My primary responsibilities are over cash, meaning that it is my job to make sure that invoices pay on time, that we meet cash collection goals and that all of our key metrics are meet. It is great to use my love of numbers and spreadsheets (if you’re thinking, what a nerd, that’s fine my wife says that to me all the time), and according to what my bosses say, I’ve been a great asset to the team in helping reach their goals this year. I have also loved my 5 minute commute, and would recommend it to everyone. Words cannot describe how wonderful that is.

Debbie’s year has been more interesting. When she took the position at TMCA, she thought that she was taking a position that was very similar to the one that she had at Utah Valley RMC in 2007; however that was not the case. There were two key differences.

First, TMCA required time in the well-baby nursery. Due to our difficulties in having children, she is not a huge fan of being around the happy families in the well-baby nursery (if you’re thinking, “What difficulties?” you probably should email or call us, because that’s a longer story than there’s room for here).
Second, the nursery/NICU in Provo is busier that the one in Aurora. (I wonder why that would be?) But because they’re not as busy, there was a propensity to get canceled shifts cancelled, not what you’re looking for if you’re trying to pay off school loans (hopefully before our family grows).

So in November, Debbie took a PRN position at Denver Health. It’s more downtown and has more of the work she was looking for and they have plenty of shifts available to work. I wasn’t the least bit surprised when she came home very excited from her first day and she always seems happy when she comes home from work, which wasn’t the story after most nights in the well-baby nursery at TMCA.

That position made the opportunity that she took in December all the more exciting. She interviewed and accepted a position in the Operating Room at TMCA, and her transfer was approved this week, meaning that she’ll be starting there in January. She’s excited for a new opportunity and to see what a different part of the hospital is like. I am excited to not have my wife working nights, meaning that I can see her everyday, and not just for 30 minutes at dinner.

Outside of work, life has been eventful as well. We began house hunting in the spring time, and in late May we closed on our first house. We love the neighborhood, nice and quiet, but close enough to just about everything. I love that the houses in this area have a lot of brick for being in Denver, and Debbie loves the big kitchen and lots of storage space (but thinks the walk-out basement is creepy). For a foreclosure, it was in great shape and that has been a real blessing as I don’t have the skills needed to do a ton of work on the house. It’s really starting to take shape. If you’re ever passing through we hope that you at least stop by to take a peak, if not spend the night.

For Labor Day, we took a trip to Moab to camp at Arches National Park. We met up with family from Phoenix, Provo, and Denver. I was glad to see one of my brothers who recently returned from his mission to Tulsa. It was great to spend time with everyone, hiking, climbing and seeing the beauty contained at that park. I for one was also glad to not have drowned in the Colorado River, I think that Debbie was as well (again a story for another time, contact us for further details).

At Thanksgiving, we swapped hosting a Salt Family Thanksgiving for hosting a Salt/Smith Family one and a wedding. It was an adventure to prepare a Thanksgiving that met my exacting standards as well as fed 31 people, especially given that we only had table and chairs for 4. Oh, and the next day Nathan (my brother back from Tulsa) & Natalie were married in the Denver temple. It was a real challenge, and gratefully it turned out well, but that credit goes to Debbie & my mom who spent countless hours worrying about and planning for the event.

At church Debbie & I took a calling as Sunday School Teachers for the 12-14 year olds. They are a wonderful group of children and we have enjoyed seeing them interact with each other and hopefully learning the gospel as well. I think that one of Debbie’s favorite memories of this year is when we had the kids over for an end of summer party and one of the quietest young women in the class dominated all the other kids in Guitar Hero. She laughs about it to this day.

At this holiday season we’re grateful for so many things. In this economic climate to be working. In this cold winter, to have a warm and inviting place to live. And most of all for each one of you and the role that you’ve played in our lives. We hope that you too can be grateful for these things, and that 2009 will as good or better for each of you.
Marry Christmas,

Matt & Debbie