Houston

This is Jon and Me and his daughter Maddie. I had the best time with them last weekend in Houston.

Daydreams

Found a list of daydreams I wrote at this time last year. Thought I'd share some:

-own beautiful original artwork

-spend a weekend at a mountain resort and spa

-photograph amazing/quiet/solitary places in nature

-travel to China...hike the Nanjing stair and the great wall, speak with the locals, visit the rivers that look like all the ones in the scroll paintings

-serve a mission in China when it opens with my family

-tour Europe (Italy, Switzerland, Prague, France, Spain)

-hike the Grand Teton

-spend a few days on a house boat on Lake Powell

-being pregnant and pampered by a loving, excited husband

-live the gospel well (scholar of the scriptures, temples around the world, visit the Holy Land)

-Stay in shape... run a half marathon, bike 50 miles, hiking & camping with my family around the world

-Having Grandpa at my temple sealing

-to be worthy of God's acceptance and love

and a few I've checked off in the the last year:

-visit historical sites: colonial US, Civil War

-visit New York and Boston

Nanny update

Now that Sam's back at school, Isabella and I have more girl time. And we sure have fun...
playdates at mount vernon...

and lots of time enjoying all the sunshine we can!


Sam gets to play Angry Ducks on my iphone if he's good at school. So glad he's still young enough to keep the iphone game addiction under control.
Sam and I chilling. He sure is funny when he's in the right mood.

Hallowed Gettysburg

"In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays.
Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger...
And reverent men and women from afar, and generations
that... we know not of...[are]...drawn to see where...
great things were suffered and done for them.

Maj. Gen. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

cheering her on

A few weeks ago, I caught a glimpse of scene on my way to the temple. It was the end of a race. At the top of a hill stood about 20 runners all cheering on the last runner. You could tell she was struggling, finishing far behind all the rest who had completed the race several minutes before. What made this instance most meaningful was that the whole group was cheering and clapping for this last runner as she slowly made her way up the last hill. It wasn't about her speed, but about her determination to finish the race. And it was even more about feeling supported and encouraged in her efforts.

I felt like this was the message God wanted me to know--That although at times I feel like I'm really struggling in the race, lagging behind for a million different reasons, there are many cheering me on. At times, I may not be able see or recognize their influence and encouragement, but that night I felt it. "Keep going, you are doing great things... we want you to finish this race with honor...we recognize your effort even at times when you find it hard to see your own progress." It sure helps to feel that your efforts, however weak, are noticed and encouraged.

Williamsburg

Don't let the flag confuse you. We were in a beautiful little Virginian town called Williamsburg. They just used to be loyal to the British. A long time ago. It started me thinking... why did the British accent disappear and where did American English come from?

see any resemblance?

fife and drum band. they livened things up enough.

Mom and Me outside the capitol.

Governor's Palace

mom wanted to make sure we documented the swan towels. we got a killer deal on a nice hotel (except for the spiders)

Mom's commentary:
don't forget about how you almost got ran over by horse...how you carelessly forgot your mother's camera in the church (but at least you lost it in a church where the church guy could find it)...how you thought you'd have to heft your mom over your shoulders and carry her down the street (like that was possible)...and how sick you are of your mother commenting on your driving habits, which include tailgating, fast stops and starts, and three finger driving...
but all that considered, it's good to have your mom home because she cleaned the kitchen, took out the garage twice, did your laundry... but that's what mother's are for.