Kristy's Wedding in Spokane

Dave's sister, Kristy, was married on August 29th in the Spokane, WA Temple and we got to go! We have missed a few of the siblings weddings so it seemed like a special treat to be able to go and see his family as we celebrated Kristy's wedding. It's not everyday we get to be...

a Sister-in-Law...

 or Uncle!

It was a short trip filled with a long list of things to do and people to see... but for the most part, I think we managed to squeeze it all in. I felt super privileged and a little overwhelmed that I had the opportunity to take her pictures for the wedding. I love to take pictures, as I am sure most of you know, but taking pictures of people scares me! I know that sounds weird, but it completely pushes me out of my comfort zone (which I love and hate all at the same time).

I love the opportunity to learn and improve on my talents and Kristy and Devin were easy to photograph. They just simply looked great together and she was a beautiful bride. I have included a few of my favorite images below, but if you want to check out more, you can visit the blog I set up for them here: Devin and Kristy to see more images (I am editing and posting them in segments as I complete them, so they are not all there).

 

 

 

(these are most of her brother above)

 

 

 

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Our New Addition...(sigh)

That's right, we have accepted another dog into our family (and let's say it was done somewhat reluctantly).

Here is the story: Last Tuesday this sweet little girl showed up in our neighborhood for the first time. It is a common occurrence to have random dogs visit us because some people in our area do not feel it necessary to fence their dogs. She had a collar on but no tags. The next morning she was right on our front porch waiting for us. She even brought us the neighbors news paper.

Dave was leaving for work early that morning so that he could return home mid afternoon to mow the lawn before our trip to Spokane (details to come). I had just gotten out of the shower and while still in my bathrobe, I went to peak outside at her. Dave was attempting to back out of the garage, but the dog was very interested in him and wouldn't move from behind his truck, so I called her to the front door. He made it about half way down the driveway when she began to jump up on our wood door. Not wanting the door to get scratched, I went inside figuring that Dave was far enough down the driveway that she wouldn't be a problem.

Then about a minute later I heard these horrible yelping sounds and ran outside to figure out what was going on. Dave had pulled back into the driveway and stepped out of his car. With somewhat of a pale face and shaky voice he said, "She just ran under my truck".

The dog had limped away into the bushes of our neighbors house. We had to coax her out to get a look at the damage. My initial thought was not good...I thought for sure her whole back end was crushed as her legs were just dangling there and bleeding. She had apparently followed Dave down the driveway. As he turned the corner down our street he didn't see her in his mirror anymore and figured she had stopped so he began to speed up. Just at that moment, she ran under the back of his truck tire.

We couldn't call animal control because we knew they would just euthanize her. So Dave took her into the vet who suggested that we try and find the owner before he do any extensive treatment. That evening after work we went from neighborhood to neighborhood and house to house looking for her owner only to come up empty handed. No one had ever seen the dog before and many shared stories of how people come and drop off dogs in our area all the time.

So $400 later, a small hip fracture, and with much reluctance, we are now the owners of a third dog (another sigh)....that is, unless you want to take her-haha! Now we have the task of naming this little girl. She is about 6 months old and looks like some sort of lab and basset hound mix (don't ask me how that worked out). Please vote in the poll (right hand column) or give us some suggestions for her name...

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Flowers in my Garden

As most of you have probably noticed, flowers are one of my favorite things to photograph. These flower images are taken from my garden. They are Cosmos, and when I planted them I thought the package said that they would grow to be 4" tall. I decided they would be prefect along the border of my flower beds. It was too my surprise when they actually grew to be 4' tall (some were even over 6' tall)! They were too beautiful to cut down, and so they stayed, but looked slightly odd in proportion to everything else. I guess I will look at the package a little closer next time!

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Checking out...

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass...it is about learning to dance in the rain."

I have been a little overwhelmed the past two months, not only physically but emotionally. I reached a point where I felt I needed to simply "check out" from life for a while. No blogging, no Facebook, minimal emails, reduced outings, and only necessary phone calls. I found that home was the safest place for sanity. All of the others only seemed to be heavy reminders of what I was lacking.

I do not typically discuss the personal challenge I have faced to bring life into this world on our family blog. I usually save that topic for my other blog, "My Road to Motherhood"). But for some reason, today I feel it necessary to explain myself and my recent withdraw from the world. So on a serious note, here it goes...

I seem to be somewhat unavoidably surrounded by pregnant bellies and beautiful babies. I wish to say that I certainly have nothing but joy and happiness for each couple who has been blessed with such, but it doesn't mean that the joy and happiness for them can't be combined with a little personal heartbreak and sorrow. The longer I am left childless the harder it has become to plaster a smile on my face and act like I am stronger than I really am.

Going into hiding seemed to be an easier solution than facing the harsh reminders that seemed to tug at my heart almost daily. But even at home I found that I could not escape my circumstance. I would walk by the room I have verbally labeled "the future nursery" only to see it filled with nothing for a baby. I found a combination of laughter and tears as I have recently received sample packages in the mail of baby formula and diaper samples. Hummmmmm....obviously the sender of such "junk mail" knows more than me, because there is no little one to be found at our address.

It has become harder and harder to be patient and simply hand my circumstance over to the Lord, but in all reality that is about all I can do. We have diligently prayed not only for a child but by which means (IVF or adoption) we should go about to obtain such a "hoped for" desire. Each time the answer is clear and simple... "just wait, it's not time yet".

So that is what I am doing...waiting... and watching as practically everyone around me (of child bearing age) has their dreams fulfilled with their beautiful pregnant bellies, and cute little giggly babies. Even the sweet girls who have been on this infertile journey with me for sometime, have so deservingly, had their wishes granted and I have been left to walk the road alone.

In attempt to cope with my situation and the emotions that surround it, I simply took a break, withdrew, and "checked out" from the world (I know...not really like me at all). In hopes that when I returned I would be in a more stable state of mind. But what I have found is there is no stability in infertility; just hope, faith, and patience...lots of patience! Thank you for the countless prayers and sensitivity to my circumstance. It is often each of you that gives me strength to face, what sometimes must be faced. I am trying to learn to dance in the rain, in hopes that it might make my storm a little easier to endure. Thanks for all your understanding...

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Under Construction

Our Blog is currently under construction. I am attempting to revamp our site, but have found a lack of time to complete everything I want to do (including making a post...I know it's been a while), therefore everything is in limbo. Please check back soon...

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1/4 of a Century

I am officially one year older (and wiser too...ha, at least I am hoping). When I was younger I never quite understood how anyone could forget how old they were. The older I have become the easier that concept has been to understand. I have spent the past year of my life attempting to calculate my age each time I was asked how old I was because some how I managed to forget. Maybe the big "1/4 of a century" landmark and the fact that I can now get a rental car without paying the extra fee will help me to remember (but...probably not! Let's face it, the memory is fading quickly the older I become).

It was a wonderful birthday with a surprise visit from my Grandma who lives in Arizona. We enjoyed lots of good food, visiting, and seeing a movie. Dave made us all breakfast that morning (stuffed french toast with strawberries-my favorite). I also decided to go straight for opening the presents to kick off my day. I already had received my gift early but Dave wrapped it anyway (in Christmas paper along with a home made Christmas card).

The story behind the paper is that we always seem to fight over wrapping paper. I always want to get fun paper when I am giving someone a gift...his response it typically along the lines of "just use the Christmas paper, we have plenty of it!" I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything less on my birthday! He gave me an external flash for my camera and my parents sent me a spice holder that I have wanted for a while. Each spice container measures in 1/4 tsp. increments with each turn of it's base (convenient if you love to cook and you can keep count). I am pretty excited about the new flash, although I have no clue how to use it yet. For Dessert, (since I am not much of a cake fan) Dave made me Flan, which is one of my favorites!

On to one more year of getting older (and wiser too)...

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Pillows

I found this wonderful greenish/blue fabric with a trellis pattern a while back and I fell in love with it. I figured since I was having my major surgery soon, it might be a perfect project to do with my mom while I was down during recovery. I bought several yards with the intention of making throw pillows for my sofa. I have to admit that this was my first big sewing project and I enlisted the help of many to get it done!

A thank you goes out to Andrea for letting me borrow her sewing machine, my mom for letting me talker her into getting them started after my surgery (we cut out the pattern, and made the piping), and Meghan who came over on my lonely days at home (after my mom had left) and gave me a great lesson in sewing!

The picture doesn't do them justice, because you miss the wonderful textural quality of the fabric and the beautiful coloration. But I simply couldn't help post a picture to show them off and to send out a big thank you to all who contributed in the process.

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