Someone Turned 50!

Dan turned 50 on March 17, 2011 and we had to have a party to celebrate! We held it on March 19 at the home of friends of ours. It was a blast to connect with people we haven't seen in awhile, and to share stories about Dan. Funny stories were shared of course, but people also told what a good person he is - and how he would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. It was a great night!

The Flower

We moved into our house in March of 1992. Sami was not yet a year old, and could barely see out the front window when standing on her tip toes. Our yard was full of flowers - big flower beds everywhere, and along every side of the house. It was beautiful....and overwhelming. I couldn't keep up with it and keep up with everything else. So we tore out all of the beds and replaced most everything with grass. All around the house we dug down and put in black rock bordered by landscaping timbers - the red ones. It made a sidewalk all the way around - and we didn't have to mow next to the house, which was nice. The year after we made all of these changes a lone tulip pushed up through the black rock and bloomed. It was very pretty - and I thought "as soon as it is done blooming I will dig it up and transplant it." Spring turned into summer, and I totally forgot about that tulip. Until next year - and it bloomed again! And so on and so on. Now we are in 2011 and that tulip is now sprouting 4 blooms instead of one. The kids and I look for it every year - and none of us is planning on removing it any time soon. As I was pondering today during church about trials and what makes us move through them I thought of this tulip. When going through a trial I think about being in a black tunnel. I can't see light behind me, yet it is most familiar as that is where I came from. The urge to turn around and go back is strong. I can't see light ahead of me, and the fear of failure keeps me from wanting to move forward - even though I know the light is there - my Heavenly Father tells me it is and I so desperately want to believe it. When I take one step forward, and step with faith towards the light - opposite of where I have been - I grow. With each step the darkness becomes lighter....and finally I see peeks of light - until I burst through the dark rock into the beautiful day. Kind of like the tulip....and each year we grow more and learn more until we blossom into a bouquet.

Here we are again...

Well it is that time of year - again. August, late summer, the time of hot days and scurrying to finish the last of summer while preparing for fall. We have had a great summer. We've tried to take it a little slower - like my last post - and just enjoy our family. Having Sami home was wonderful! And David now has his drivers license and is driving everywhere. This fall will seem a little strange when the kids are back at school (Sami at college and David a high school junior). I'm a little unsure about it. When we started the summer it seemed to stretch out before us like a long break...now it is almost over and I feel like it just started!

We had the opportunity to attend an 80th birthday party for Dan's uncle in Port Townsend. It was really a family reunion for most of us. I loved being able to reconnect with those we haven't seen in a long time, and commit to seeing those who live close by more frequently. We had great entertainment - we have some very talented family members who are brave enough to share their talents. Most of all it was wonderful to drift from group to group and catch up on life. How often do we have the chance to do that in our busy lives?

My hope for this next 12 months is that we continue to reconnect with those we have lost touch with. Let a little of the "busyness" of life relax a little, and just take time to savor a few minutes with those we love. Anyone want to join me?

Breathe deep....relax

I am trying to get better at not being in such a rush. Sami and I were in Walmart tonight, and we both said - this is fun! The reason it was fun is because I was being patient with her shopping, and we weren't in a hurry to get somewhere else. How often does that happen? It seems to me that most of life is "hurry hurry - we need to get to the next place, activity, whatever". I'm trying to make it my goal to slow down - do the important things and then relax. Hard to do!

We returned from Utah...and Lived!

We just returned home from flying to Utah to pick up Sami and her stuff for the summer.....stuff. Wow. Here are a few travel tips I gathered that I thought I would share:
1. Smarte Cartes at the airport (to put all of your luggage on) are not only for the aged and business traveler. Won't ever traipse across a crowded airport without one of these again.
2. When you receive a prompting, please pay attention. 2 coins for the above mentioned Smarte Cartes had been sitting in my car for years - some other traveler must have left them there. I kept thinking "I should take those with us". Didn't. So instead paid full fee for the carts..which was worth it, but still.
3. Spend the extra money on a decent room. It's worth it to be in a clean place where the staff bend over backwards to help you. Doesn't have to be the Ritz, either.
4. Be thankful when your college returning child has 5 bags and not 10. Saw several with the larger amount. Made me want to cry for the parents. They needed 2 or 3 Smarte Cartes.
5. Take a little time out to visit. We had the best time with our friends, the Hansens, who so graciously let us come and spend the day with them before we came home. We love you!

Glad to be home and glad to have Sami home for the summer. Now does anyone have a job for her???

It's February!

I can't believe it is February already...and that my last post was in October! I keep putting off posting because I think that I have to put a picture in each post..that is dumb! I'll try to do better about not waiting so long to post - and post even when I don't have pictures.

Thursday (February 11, 2010) was my last day at my job that I do away from home. It was a very hard decision to quit...and many factors played into my reasons. I thought I would be there forever! Slowly it became apparent to me that it wasn't in my future. My billing business here at home has grown and I was feeling like I wasn't doing a good job at either job...so I chose to be here. I know God has a plan for me - and that was the major decider in which way to go - I just have to be patient now until the plan is revealed! In the meantime I am going to try to do some things for myself - like exercise - and get caught up on things that I have had to let slide. Nah, I'm not going to dust..that can slide forever.

On another note, Sami is home visiting us for the long weekend. It is so great to have her here. She is has a sunny personality and just shines whereever she is. David is getting ready to try out for baseball at school, and is now playing basketball for the church league. He is having a blast - he loves sports. Dan is getting over a bad cold,and is frantically studying all of the time for the college math course he is taking. He is so smart...maybe someday I'll take a course or two and see what I can learn.

Families can Be Together Forever

This picture is of the Seattle LDS temple. I wanted to share it's beauty with all of my readers, but especially those of you who are not of my faith. I want each of you to know that the thing I treasure most in this world is my temple marriage to Dan. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that by attending the temple and being sealed together there for time and all eternity that we will be able to remain together not only in this life but in the next. Our children also...and their children and so on. I am extending an invitation to anyone who wants to learn more about how you can be with your family together forever to contact me. No pressure involved, I just want to share what I know. I love you!