just for fun

Just some fun photos shot by my talented friend (thanks Lynz http://on3weddingphotography.com/) capturing a bit of the joy Nede and I are experiencing. Part of the great memories! I love it!

i hate to go

I'm leavin' on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, I hate to go...

Thank you Arizona and all our dear, dear friends for the last 5 weeks and your forever friendship and support. I hate to go...

i love you AZ

...and you dear friends!

happy in New Mexico

Sledding down white sand dunes with friends-- too fun!
(Yes, I'm wearing the same outfit from the other day! If you find something you like, sport it!)

my favorite place in the world

The last couple of days were spent in one of my favorite places in the world. While I reminisced about times past being there with some of my favorite people in the world, it was beyond special to be there again with my new favorite little person! 

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17

it's so true

I've thrown myself headlong into your arms--

I'm celebrating your rescue.

I'm singing at the top of my lungs,

I'm so full of answered prayers.

Psalm 13: 5-6 (The Message)

az fun

(Maybe this is why no other parents were letting their children play in the sprinklers today! It's more appropriate when it's 110 degrees outside!)

so, so blessed

I wish I could explain about every person we're traveling around the country (literally) to visit. Each of these people have played a significant role in my life at some point. Each could have (will have) a chapter in the book that I will one day write! Some people I'm meeting for the first time but through their praying with us for so long, our hearts are knit together in a deep way. Many people have encouraged me, financially sustained me and most definitely walked with us through the ups and downs of really, my adult life. Each day is so special as I reunite with old, and new friends. This, I'm sure, is a time in my life like I will never have again. It's pure sweetness! I look forward to continuing to reunite and continue to renew my spirit as I get loved upon and encouraged. God has blessed me with SO MANY special friends-- we are two very blessed girls!!

 To all of you we're seeing, thank you for making this such a beautiful time for us! To those I just won't be able to see, we wish we could! Your support and love means so much-- it often keeps me going. Thank you and God bless you!

 Lovin' life in Arizona!

now is now

Then Pa began to play again the song about Old Grimes. But he did not sing the words he had sung when Ma was making cheese. These words were different. Pa's strong, sweet voice was softly singing:

"Shall auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Shall auld acquaintance be forgot,
And the days of auld lang syne?
And the days of auld lang syne, my friend
And the days of auld lang syne,
Shall auld acquaintance be forgot,
And the days of auld lang syne?"

When the fiddle had stopped singing Laura called softly, "What are days of auld lang syne, Pa?"
"They are the days of a long time ago, Laura," Pa said. "Go to sleep, now."
But Laura lay awake a little while, listening to Pa's fiddle softly playing and to the lonely sound of the wind in the Big Woods. She looked at Pa sitting on the bench by the hearth, the fire-light gleaming on his brown hair and beard and glistening on the honey-brown fiddle. She looked at Ma, gently rocking and knitting.
She thought to herself, "This is now."
She was glad that the cosy house, and Pa and Ma and the fire-light and the music, were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago.
(Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder)

One of my fondest memories of when I was young is sitting on my dad's lap with my sister and Dad reading the Little House on the Prairie books. I've started this ritual with Nede now. Last night we finished the Little House in the Big Woods. I love how the book ends. And I love that this is now. I want to enjoy that now is now, it's not a long time ago, it actually may one day be forgotten but for now, it's not a long time again and I love now!

i'm staying awake

Last week, in Boise, sitting with my long time BFF, at midnight she said, "When did you get so much energy?"
I responded, "Does it make you worried about me that I'm not falling asleep and I'm the one saying, 'One more game!'"
"No, it makes me worried about myself that I can't keep up with Dara Hillstrom!"
Ha! Deanna, a ten year night-shifter, I've alway, always fallen asleep in every movie started after 3pm. I've always been the one yawning and thinking about bed starting at about 7pm. But not now, not since being a mom (after 8pm is the only time I have to myself, all you parents know this!) and especially not since our arrival in the US. I am still so loving being here, I'm so grateful, I'm so soaking in every minute. Even many, many minutes into the wee hours of the morning. It's true I probably can't keep walking on this cloud 9 for too long but for now I just feel like I'm walking hand in hand in the goodness of the Lord and I'm soaking in this season. Loving it! Every. Single. Day. I'm rejoicing in all we've come through and all the greatness we're experiencing here. Mostly the people we're spending time with. It is so, so good-- great enough to stay up for! Thank you friends. Thank you Jesus.