Retro Photo of the Week

Melanie and Mom at the beach in Panama. From the looks of Melanie, this must have been taken in 1989ish.

Ocean Water and Chocolate Chip Cookies

I very much enjoyed meeting my future husband this morning. I met him during the time in between wakefulness and deep sleep, the time in the early-morning when I seem to have my most vivid dreams. The dream seemed to begin at an airport. I had my luggage and was waiting to be picked up. When I saw him I had an overwhelming feeling of relief come over me. And I was happy that it was him picking me up and not someone else. I knew that he loved me when he gave me a hug. When he hugged me, I knew that it was not out of obligation or routine. It felt very real, and I loved him back. It’s funny how the feelings you have in a dream can seem so real when you’re in it, and they linger sometimes even after you wake up. After the hug, we were suddenly at our apartment. Yes, even in my dreams I don’t have my own house. Anyway, a couple of our friends were there to welcome me home. Our two friends were Kayla and Evan from that TV show So You Think You Can Dance. Kayla handed me a big box of the most delicious chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever seen. I thanked her and suddenly I was alone in the apartment with my husband. We were sitting together next to this huge window in our living room. Looking out the window, I could see nothing but ocean. My husband had me in his arms as he asked me about how my long trip went. I don’t remember our conversation, but I do remember that this guy seemed like a refuge for me. I didn’t have butterflies in my stomach like the movies say you’re supposed to have when you’re with someone you love. I wasn’t left breathless with weak knees and stars in my eyes. Nope, I just remember feeling completely comfortable and safe with him. If I had any sort of drawing talent I would try to sketch my husband for you now. I’m telling you, this dream was so vivid, I actually remember his face, sort of. He looked a bit like Javier Bardem but not quite as conventionally handsome. His teeth weren’t completely straight, but they weren’t too crooked to not be charming. He had very short, almost buzzed dark hair and olive skin, like mine. I knew that he was the love of my life when he asked me if I wanted to share a chocolate chip cookie with him. He had just taken my hand in his when I woke up. I almost started crying. He was gone. And I had to get up and get ready for church. So there you have it. If you didn't know before about what a hopeless romantic I am, you know it now for sure. Hopeless, hopeless, hopeless.

Retro Photo of the Week

I'm not quite sure when this was taken. Probably about a year ago, maybe more. Isaac's in front. How lucky am I to be an aunt? Too lucky. These silly boys always manage to breathe life into my sometimes drab existence.

San Antone

Melinda, Jason, and Isaiah were sealed together as a family in the San Antonio temple about a week ago. I am so lucky to have been able to be there to witness the sealing. The whole experience was very special, and I'm so happy to be a part of such a great family. I loved every minute I was down in Texas. The trip was fantastic.

Here we are at the temple after the sealing. We all wished Matt and Leesh were able to be there with us, but the long trip to San Antonio is a bit too much when you have four little ones to bring along with you.

Jason, Melinda, and Isaiah chillin' at the pool during the trip.

Melinda and her baby at the pool

Taking Photos in the Dark

Maya and the boys stayed over the other night. Maya's taken to sleeping in my bed whenever she happens to stay the night, but this time the sleepover got a little crowded. A few minutes after Maya settled into the bed, Isaac and Luke came into the room and asked if they could sleep in my room too...I couldn't say no...I didn't get much sleep that night. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't for Maya's tendency to sleep diagonally.

I took the following pictures around 6am...the photo opp was too priceless to pass up...

Lukey

Isaac

Maya...I had no choice but to move to the foot of the bed and try to sleep because of Maya's diagonally ways.

I had the chance to go to the Spanish Fork Canyon hot pots this past weekend. I try and go every summer, and I'm glad a few good friends were willing to make the trek with me this year. As always, it was so much fun. I went on a long run earlier that morning so the hot water felt really, really good. Luckily it wasn't super crowded like it usually is, so we had our choice of natural hot tubs that night. I loved it!

waterfall

On our way out

Hiking out

And here's Isaiah in the dark during a recent trip to San Antonio...

I Feel Old Today

I'm getting crow's feet. Yes, it's true. They say that crow's feet are usually the first kind of wrinkles that show up for women. And they usually make their appearance around the age of thirty. Yes, it's true. I feel old today. Cross your fingers that the feeling will pass sooner than later. I'm sure it will. I mean, I act like a child 99% percent of the time, so it is inevitable that this "old lady" feeling I'm having will go away quickly. Please enjoy this poem that I just read out of my giant book of poetry. I've been reading my giant book for quite a while this afternoon while it's been raining outside...very "old lady" of me, don't you think? But you don't have to be an old lady to like this poem, so check it out.


Walt Whitman (1819-1892)
Darest Thou Now O Soul

Darest thou now O soul,
walk out with me toward the unknown region,
where neither ground is for the feet
nor any path to follow?

No map there, nor guide,
nor voice sounding, nor touch of human hand,
nor face with blooming flesh, nor lips,
nor eyes, are in that land.

I know it not O soul,
nor dost thou, all is a blank before us,
all waits undreamed of in that region,
that inaccessible land.

Till when the ties loosen,
all but the ties eternal, Time and Space,
nor darkness, gravitation, sense,
nor any bounds bounding us.

Then we burst forth, we float,
in Time and Space O soul, prepared for them,
equal, equipped at last, (O joy! O fruit of all!)
them to fulfill O soul.

Relay For Life

The Relay for Life event finally took place earlier this month. It was a lot of fun to take part in this event with friends and family. Leesh did a great job with organizing and rallying everyone together for this cause and getting everything ready for the night of the relay. And Thanks to everyone who helped and supported us with donations. The weather wasn't the greatest for the overnighter...It was really windy and cold and rained around 2 in the AM. Thank goodness for Matt and Leesh's giant tent! It was no surprise to me that Travis and his wife Mandy (Travis is the inspiration behind all of this relay stuff) were the ones keeping everyone's spirits up through the rain and cold. This whole experience was such a good one, and I'm so grateful that there are strong people like Travis around to remind us how blessed we all are. Here are a few pictures from the relay.

Travis and Mandy

Travis, Matt, and Aleesha

We were the T-Minators...get it? Haha.

We made capes for everyone on the team. So cool.

Everyone had way too much candy that night...Take a look at Maya on the left...yeah, way too much candy.

Maya's pretty butterfly.

Maya and Isaiah.

Melanie and Luke

Rocks

Matt...wondering how in the H he got dragged into all this...

Melinda, weathering the cold at 3 in the morning.

So tired.