It has been a very busy week, but all of the busyness has been overshadowed by thoughts of a friend who is far away. A woman from our old ward in Utah passed away this week. She was young. She has a young family. She was positive, funny, spunky, and kind to everyone. She had the most beautiful smile. She and her family have been constantly on my mind and in my prayers.
Her amazing husband regularly posted updates on her condition on the internet and it was hard to sit here and read about her suffering and not be able to go help... but it was amazing to me to see the tender mercies that a loving Heavenly Father sent to her and her family through the people around her - family, neighbors, friends. There has been and continues to an incredible and miraculous outpouring of love and support.
Everyone knew her time was short and when I read the news that she had passed away, I felt grateful that her pain was gone, that she was surrounded by her family, and most especially that she knew of our Savior's atonement that makes it possible for her to be with her family in the eternities. I am grateful for the power of prayer and for the gift of the Holy Ghost that can bring peace and comfort. I know that peace and comfort will sustain her family in the days, weeks, and years ahead. I know that we will see Terrilyn again.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
One Year
This week marks the anniversary of our move to the land of the sun. I still tell people that we are new or that "we just moved here", but I guess I can't say that anymore. I don't feel like we are Phoenix veterans either, but definitely more comfortable. So, what do we think after a year of endless summer... There are many things that we really like about this place we currently call home.
- The community - We were talking to a friend who teaches school in Peoria district (where we live). I asked her why this school district is ranked highest in the state, in spite of all the funding, overcrowding, etc... that schools face these days. She thinks it is because people in this community are very family oriented and working to make this a nice place to live and raise a family and I would agree.
- Our friends - We have made some good friends and reconnected with old friends that make life more meaningful and fun.
- Our girls' friends - This is probably the biggest bonus - we feel very grateful that there is a neighborhood full of sweet, wonderful little girls that Curly and Lou can play with.
- Our ward - we love it!
- Fisher's job - He highly enjoys his work and that is important. (and we are grateful to be employed)
- The winter weather - we just wish the warm winter occurred during the summer months and that we had seasons to enjoy. But that said, we have loved swimming in the summer and fall and biking and going to the park in the winter.
- Our home and garden - we like having a house and a garden - though it has been a challenge to figure out the growing seasons here... it's a fun game to see if what we plant will actually produce anything (our beautiful honeydew melons melted before getting big enough to eat :(
In celebration of this anniversary, we are focusing on all the things we like about Peoria. We are happy here and have enjoyed having family visit and being able to visit them. Here's to another year in the southwest...
A few pictures from the past week -
Having fun with our friends the Rollins (one of the old friends we are very grateful to have here)
- The community - We were talking to a friend who teaches school in Peoria district (where we live). I asked her why this school district is ranked highest in the state, in spite of all the funding, overcrowding, etc... that schools face these days. She thinks it is because people in this community are very family oriented and working to make this a nice place to live and raise a family and I would agree.
- Our friends - We have made some good friends and reconnected with old friends that make life more meaningful and fun.
- Our girls' friends - This is probably the biggest bonus - we feel very grateful that there is a neighborhood full of sweet, wonderful little girls that Curly and Lou can play with.
- Our ward - we love it!
- Fisher's job - He highly enjoys his work and that is important. (and we are grateful to be employed)
- The winter weather - we just wish the warm winter occurred during the summer months and that we had seasons to enjoy. But that said, we have loved swimming in the summer and fall and biking and going to the park in the winter.
- Our home and garden - we like having a house and a garden - though it has been a challenge to figure out the growing seasons here... it's a fun game to see if what we plant will actually produce anything (our beautiful honeydew melons melted before getting big enough to eat :(
In celebration of this anniversary, we are focusing on all the things we like about Peoria. We are happy here and have enjoyed having family visit and being able to visit them. Here's to another year in the southwest...
A few pictures from the past week -
Lou's preschool class (a mom taught co-op preschool).
Having fun with our friends the Rollins (one of the old friends we are very grateful to have here)
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Miss-matched
Curly started taking the big kid bus to school - which is really scary for me (I cried the first day). She looks so tiny next to those 3rd graders, 6th graders, and 8th graders. But, we have a posse of neighborhood girls around her age and that little army with the 11 year old sister of her friend as commander fights the bus battle together :) Having a bus is very convenient, getting to the bus stop is a challenge - especially with Lou in tow. This was her ensemble the other morning as I tried to hurry her out the door to catch the bus at 7:30: Several layers of pajamas, different colored socks, and a mismatched pair shoes. It made me laugh.
This weekend we completed one of our baby arrival preparations - bunking the beds. The playroom is becoming the nursey, so to make room for toys and floor space to play with them, the beds are bunked. Curly is cozied up in the reading nook we are creating in front of the window.
This weekend we completed one of our baby arrival preparations - bunking the beds. The playroom is becoming the nursey, so to make room for toys and floor space to play with them, the beds are bunked. Curly is cozied up in the reading nook we are creating in front of the window.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
August = back to school, our anniversary, and a campout
Sweet moment - I woke up from my nap last Sunday to discover Curly washing dishes.
Well, that fateful day has finally come... my firstborn has officially entered the public school system. Curly started Kindergarten this week. She was very excited for this new adventure and it did not disappoint. She loves her teacher, recess, and riding the bus home... hopefully she will like learning too :) To initiate this great beginning we held a "Back to School Banquet" or "fancy dinner" as Lou and Curly named it, complete with candlelight and a new school outfit fashion show. The dinner was a hit and I think it is a tradition that we will continue.
Ready for Kindergarten
Curly with her teacher and student teacher. We lucked out to be in a great classroom!
This week also marked our eighth year of marriage. As with every year, we can't believe how fast the time has flown. It marked the first full year that we are not students and have an official job. That is something to celebrate!
And finally, no summer would be complete without a camping trip. Our ward provided the opportunity and we jumped at the chance to be with friends and escape the heat. We drove 90 minutes northwest to the Prescott area and enjoyed a pleasant evening and morning at Granite Basin. Fortunately, Fisher gave into my pleas to bring the air mattress (I used the pregnant woman ploy) and we all slept relatively well.
Lou with two buddies.
Well, that fateful day has finally come... my firstborn has officially entered the public school system. Curly started Kindergarten this week. She was very excited for this new adventure and it did not disappoint. She loves her teacher, recess, and riding the bus home... hopefully she will like learning too :) To initiate this great beginning we held a "Back to School Banquet" or "fancy dinner" as Lou and Curly named it, complete with candlelight and a new school outfit fashion show. The dinner was a hit and I think it is a tradition that we will continue.
Ready for Kindergarten
Curly with her teacher and student teacher. We lucked out to be in a great classroom!
This week also marked our eighth year of marriage. As with every year, we can't believe how fast the time has flown. It marked the first full year that we are not students and have an official job. That is something to celebrate!
And finally, no summer would be complete without a camping trip. Our ward provided the opportunity and we jumped at the chance to be with friends and escape the heat. We drove 90 minutes northwest to the Prescott area and enjoyed a pleasant evening and morning at Granite Basin. Fortunately, Fisher gave into my pleas to bring the air mattress (I used the pregnant woman ploy) and we all slept relatively well.
Lou with two buddies.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
And we are back!
Curly, Lou and I returned from our three week visit to Idaho and Utah. What did we do for three weeks you ask? Well...
We went to Artic Circle (a lot)
We hung out with nice Aunts (a first day of kindergarten necklace from Ba)
We rowed on Daybreak Lake with cousins
and aunts
We floated the river with Grandpa and Grandma
We went to a fair
We slept (some of us, like me, a lot)
We fed the ducks at the nature park
I went to a Brighton Girls Camp staff reunion (many of my sisters, cousins, and aunts worked there also - so it doubled as a family reunion)
We went to the aquarium with Oma
We got to see Aunt K-Rae when she came home from DC
We had our yearly photo shoot
We rode the carousel
and a whole lot more... K-Rae was volunteered (by my mom) to make the long drive home with us (and she more than graciously agreed). We were very happy to have her visit and sad when she left. We had enough fun to last until Christmas! but as Curly put it, "It's fun to be home, mom!" I agree, it is nice to be home.
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