Monday Memoirs - 8th Anniversary and 32nd birthday!

     This week Jared and I celebrate 8 years of marriage - it happens to coincide with our 8th move.  I know I have grown and developed character as I've willingly followed him and made homes for our family in so many places.  Life with him is always new and exciting!  Thinking back to all of the places we've seen and all of our experiences together brings me joy.

2009 - Wedding day!  Washington DC temple

2009 - Living in Alabama - expecting Caleb

2010 - Sewell, NJ post deployment...somehow I can't find any 2011 pic of us together...hmmm

2012 - Provo, UT post color run (my first 5k after having Ashlynn)

2013 - Disneyland - we lived in Middle, UT pre-deployment

2014 - Greece - during deployment

2015- Connecticut - Just visiting though, we lived in Pottsville, PA

2015 - expecting Tobias

2016 - Philadelphia temple

2017 - our current adventure, in Arlington, Virginia

      I can see the hand of the Lord in our life together as we've strived to be obedient to his will and seek his guidance.  We've lived abundantly, even when we had to be apart, even when times were hard, even when money was short...I have a testimony that living the gospel brings about that abundance, that contentment, and joy.
     This year, our anniversary fell on a Sunday, so we celebrated quietly at home.
As gifts, Jared and I bought a few pieces of furniture to complete our main living area.  The DC area Craigslist is nothing short of amazing. I love experiences over things, so seeking out the bargains together made them mean so much more :) I look forward to our few years here in Virginia, and wherever else Jared leads me in this life.

Fun Friday - First Days of Summer

It's finally Summer, and it's been wonderful 

enjoying all the pleasures of the season with the kids.

I was inspired, and wrote this Haiku:

Summer

Bare Feet, Lemonade,

Water guns, Rest in the shade

Fire flies, S'mores are made

What does Summer mean to you?  

Deep Thought Thursday - Bird Lessons

Sometimes we gain insights from the world around us.  I'll be sharing some of mine here in hopes to inspire everyone to ponder life and see how "All things denote there is a God".
    
    We recently moved to Arlington, Virginia.  The house we'll be renting over the next two years is a  mid-century build, with kitchy charm.  We discovered we weren't the only ones living on our property the very day we arrived.  House sparrows are abundant here, and a pair were nesting with four little hatchlings just under an eave of our back porch overhang.  The kids and I listened to their seemingly ceaseless cries, and watched both the mother and father bird taking such good care of their young.  One day, we noticed that one of the babies had fallen out of the nest.  Jared was able to carefully put it back, and things returned to normal.  Not a week later, another baby (possibly the same?) was on the ground.  Again, Jared put it back.  Only a few days later, we watched as the parents helped their little ones fly away from the nest.
     I was struck by a thought.  These house sparrows were devoted parents.  All day every day was spent caring for their four hatchlings.  But, just as with humans- some happenings are out of parents' hands...like a baby bird falling from a nest.  There was literally nothing they could do to solve this family problem.  It took outside help, from someone who could make a difference.  I hope that as my own children grow, that I will have the humility and wisdom to recognize when things I need to seek outside help for the wellbeing of my children/ family.

     Another day we took a walk.  As we strolled past a neighbors' yard, we heard distressed chirping.  A baby cardinal was on the ground.  It cried, and both parents were nearby being quite vocal.  Sadly, despite our best efforts, no nest could be found.  There was nothing we could do to help - except pray.  I realized that this is often the case in life.  People we know may have devastating situations involving their children, and there may well be nothing we can do except fast and pray.  While there is sorrow in not being able to do more, there is peace in knowing we are doing what we can.