Summer Perfection: Part 1

From the get-go, we've always said that Sandpoint was a temporary move. A rest stop on the way to . . . wherever . . . we're going . . . eventually. :)

"Somewhere we'll stay for, I don't know, probably three to five years."

But you know what? I don't know how we'll EVER leave.

Not with weeks like this.

Today as I sat on the beach talking to friends and watching my kids play in the water, sand, and sunshine

I made a decision.

Honey, if things don't work out at Coldwater, we're livin' in a tent! (it can be done! we know a man who does.)

Seriously. How is it that you are not ALL living here with us?!

Clara, at almost 2, is still the sweetest little feisty angel. She holds her own with four older sisters and rolls with the crazy when we stay at the beach for five hours and miss naptime.

Monday she just snuggled right up on my lap mid-afternoon and fell right into dreamland. Holding my sleeping baby is like dreamland for me . . .

Tuesday we skipped the beach and I cleaned my bedroom. A miracle that resulted in the discovery of my keys (missing 10 days) and my glasses (missing 3 months).

Wednesday Nels skipped work and we took the girls to Silverwood. A blast that resulted in the realization that Hazel and Violet don't really love rollercoasters and adrenaline makes me talk a lot.

Dinner at Olive Garden with my beautiful girls, a (yet again) angelically nap-less bebe, 

and their handsome dad.

Today was just summer at it's finest.

Poor Lilie inherited her daddy's pink skin.

diving Elsie

While my angel baby AGAIN slept at the beach, for the first time since we moved here, I went swimming. It was SO FUN!!! Lilie, Hazel, and I swam out to the logs separating the beach and the boats with our friends the McClellands and played King of the Log. It was awesome. I love good friends!

After four hours in the sun, we returned home to pick thimbleberries across the road and golden raspberries in the backyard.

thimbleberries: fuzzy, delicious cousins of domestic raspberries

my "I'm ecstatic that I've not had to water this green grass once this summer" face

my "I'm in heaven" face

Again, I need to ask: how is it that you are all not living here WITH US?!

I Love to See the Temple

This last weekend I had the beautiful opportunity to attend the sealing of my dear friends, the Jones.

Stefanie has been my friend for more than seven years now. She has been there for me every time I have needed her. She has been one of the truest examples of a Christ-like friend I've ever had.

Almost two years ago she made the decision to be baptized and she and her family have spent the time since preparing to go to the temple together. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life to be able to be there as they knelt around the altar with their four children and were sealed together for time and all eternity.

Stefanie, Madison, Wyatt, Jason, Abigail, Isabella
Such a beautiful family!

The Joneses with "their" missionary.

Stefanie and Jason
Jason is so excited to have "another" anniversary. :)

I truly believe that one of the most precious blessings that the Lord gives to His children is that of friendship. The right friends, in the right place, at the right time. They teach us and act as His hands. In all of my adult life, I've never had the chance to live close to my family, but over and over again I have been blessed with just the right people coming into my life - always at a time when they were needed in exactly the way that they could give.

Over the years Stefanie has been like a sister to me, always there for me when I've needed a shoulder to cry on or an extra set of hands. She has given me so much and I feel so blessed to have been able to be there with her through this journey --- and through all of the fun adventures that lie ahead!

I love you, Stef!

Shaping

Two years ago today I sat on Sandpoint's City Beach for the first time. I looked forward to the future with hope and a whole lot of uncertainty.

The last two years have been a struggle for me. I know I written that quite a few times now - and I think part of the reason that I haven't been able to put that to rest yet is that I haven't known exactly WHY.

I've always written pretty honestly on my blog, but even with my openness there are still parts of myself that I guard pretty fiercely and whose existence I don't always like to admit to, even with myself. It's been scary for me to explore these areas, but I've come to see that they are the answer to my question. I'm working on sharing some of the things that I've learned recently but in the meantime, some thoughts . . .

With all of our travels this last month, I've had a chance to step back from my day to day life and allow Father to speak to me. It has felt as though a long winter, followed by a blustery and wet spring, is finally, gracefully moving into a warm and gentle summer. A summer filled with delicate breezes, life-giving sunshine, and a bounteous garden.

Sunday I had a chance to attend our old ward in Idaho Falls. I sat among sisters who've influenced my life in ways that I would never have realized at the time. Women who took a very young mother under their wings and gave me a place to grow and to experience and to learn. It felt like home. Still.

An analogy has been playing though my mind lately and as I tearfully listened to "As Sisters in Zion", it finally, fully and forcefully, took shape.

While visiting my parents last month, a busy Spring had left my mom with quite a lot of gardening to complete. Bountiful is aptly named and in their rich soil quite a lot of things had grown vigorously and beyond their bounds. One morning I looked out the kitchen window and remarked at how beautiful it looked after she'd spent the last few hours pruning. 

"Yes, it does! There were some plants in there that were growing so happy, but they just look so much better when they're growing like they're supposed to."

My mind immediately went to this:

I feel as though the past two years have been filled with pruning. When contemplating our move to Sandpoint two years ago, I imagined the future and myself to be different than they are today. At times I have felt a mourning cry from within. "How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth and now you've cut me down." --- Melodramatic, I know, but still true.

I have mourned for that feeling of home and stability. I have mourned for the relationship that I once had with the Lord. I have mourned for the vision that I had of me.

As I've thought about my mom's drastic pruning, a thought struck me. Had the plant not been allowed the time grow with little restraint, it would never have survived the shaping. It's roots would not have been strong enough, deeply rooted enough to live and continue it's growth.

That's what our time in Idaho Falls has come to be to me. A time and a place where my roots, which had been sweetly planted in the rich soil of gospel truth by loving parents, could grow deep and strong. Firm enough to carry me through pruning and future storms which are sure to come. 

I am coming to see that "home" comes from within and stability comes from faith. I am developing a relationship with my Heavenly Father that is more personal and coming to understand what faith really is. And I'm starting to truly feel the love that Christ has for ME. Not because I am good, but because I am His - and I am good because I am His.

I'm so thankful for a Gardener who knows what He wants me to be and loves me enough to let me feel pain. Who loves me even when I am angry and afraid. Who calls to me and will gently teach me the Whys. 

A Short List

I'm ALIVE!!!!!

and actually thriving --- even if my blog isn't. :)

A few things in list form:

• We spent the entire month of June driving 3000+ miles all over Idaho and Utah. It was a wonderful time. I will post some pics . . . next week.
• Summer is here in Sandpoint and we are loving the beach. Glorious summers in Sandpoint!
• We may be moving (in town) again. The owner of our home *may* be in the process of selling. That thought makes me kinda want to cry . . . but I'm not going to. I will be excited for whatever comes our way.
• While in Utah, I was able to attend the temple. First time I've attended without some kind of serious time constraints in a LONG LONG time. It was marvelous and I can say without hesitation that the Lord hears and answers our prayers. I feel better than I have in quite some time.
• Took the girls to their first ever play last weekend, "The Wizard of Oz". They thought is was magical and it made my heart explode to see them so happy. 
• I'm going to sell my fish. Having too much of a good time keeping everyone else alive . . . something's gotta give.
• Instead I've developed a new-found love of non-fiction . . . Who knew?! Non fiction can be both thought provoking AND hilarious! I'm growing up!
• Two reasons why I love my husband: A) he talks in his sleep and B) he has the most perfect back-scratching-fingernails in the whole world.

That is all.