Much has happened since our last accounting, and so here goes the quick catch up...
During our last weeks in Oregon, life was filled with many adventures. William seems to have grown up so much while we were there! He learned how to walk...and then run, eat amazingly with chopsticks, and sleep mostly through the night (hooray!). We posted the video of the first time I caught him eating with chopsticks. He still can't eat great with normal utensils, but this one-time chopsticks catch is worth the watch! ;) He really is Asian at heart (don't let the hair deceive you!)
Multnomah Falls
Other exciting things were...major car problems, visits from Becca Graham, Steve's Dad, Joanna and Nate Freeman, Liz and her kids, Michelle Charles and her kids, wonderful trips to the beach, Tillamook Cheese Factory, Multnomah Falls (several times), Punch Bowl Falls (also several times), lots of swimming, delicious Food Carts downtown, Ben & Jerry's, Salt & Straw, Voodoo Donuts, riverside walks, rose gardens, Portland Zoo (many times), Pizza A'Fetta, Portland Temple, running, beautiful weather in July, and much more... While my sweet sister Liz was there, we even managed to have her suburban broken into (window broken etc.) and all of our purses, phones (except for mine), wallets stolen etc. What a pain! Liz was a saint about it, and never uttered one word of complaint! Hopefully we learned something! We loved the ward there, and I got to serve in the Relief Society, and accompany the ward choir during our short stay. We really were quite sad to leave, yet knew a new and exciting, stretching chapter of life was awaiting. And so it was...we left. We have wonderful memories and learned so much! A few of the things learned: an experience will only be what you make of it so just dig in and go regardless of how hard it might seem or how short the time, people can be sincere Obama fans and still be amazing people (believe it or not!), positive support works best!, we love living in the mission field (this didn't come as a surprise to me, but did to Steve), it's much easier to forget loneliness when you're relieving another's loneliness through sincere love and friendship, and finally I realized more how sincerely good and pure my husband is - SO thankful for that!
Voo Doo Donuts
Two Cowboys
Berry Picking YUM!
July 4th!
I came home two weeks before Steve so I could be here for my parent's farewell and to spend some time with them. It was really hard to say goodbye, though watching my dad with William at the airport is likely one of my favorite memories! It has been even harder to have Mom and Dad gone, but I keep remembering how much I LOVE my mission, and missionary work truly is the greatest and happiest thing in the world! Steve lovingly reminds me (when I'm mourning not having them here) that I wouldn't rather have them anywhere else, doing anything else. It's true, even though my selfish instincts might occasionally deceive me!
I also managed (with TONS of help from amazing people) to surprise Steve by moving in before he got home. A HUGE thanks to so many who helped out: Karen Richardson (and her kind brother), Jen and her kids, Isaac and Angie, Will Anderson, Aaron Washenko, Corey Lord, Sarah Mano, Nate Freeman, and even new neighbors! Steve was happily surprised! I loved doing this for him! We're still working on getting things decorated (thanks to my sisters and Michelle!), but I'm a bit slow.
Steve & His Little Buddy!
We are now 4 weeks into law school, and Steve is loving it. He is definitely busy, but he loves being disciplined, scheduled, and stretched so he seems to be in his element. He got a new bike, and I'm not sure if he or William love it more. Steve straps William on his back and takes him for long rides. William certainly is his daddy's boy, and not just because he looks just like him. He loves doing the same things, and especially doing them with Steve!
I didn't get a bike, but I got a new piano!! Yay! We love having that in our home, and now I am teaching here as well. I am enjoying teaching, and have some great students. I've also been putting up quite a bit of fruit! Though I did it my whole life, doing the whole thing myself gives me a new appreciation for what a process it is! I enjoy it, but have huge respect for my parents who did about 100 times (literally) the amount I have done every summer, and still mostly had smiles! Wow! What sacrifices! Thanks, Mom and Dad!
We are happy, and feel so blessed that even through the good and the bad, we can carry forward with faith and trust in a bright future! The best is yet to be!!
