Independence Day

Getting back from Grenada just in time for the 4th of July was really neat! While Ryan studied for Step 1, Adrielle and I joined Austin, Bri, and Holden for the parade!

Fourth of July 2016

We also had a yummy Barbecue and saw Independence Day ("I coulda been at a barbecue!") with my family before Adi, Ellis, and I headed up to Kaysville for their amazing fireworks show. Such a fun day! 

We're grateful for The United States and the freedoms we enjoy. It's good to be back and feel the patriotism. I'm a total sucker for it. 

'Merica

Well, we're back in the states! We said goodbye to our beloved Caribbean Canvas and friends, and here we are on the other side.

Our last few days were filled with quality time with some of our favorite people... 

Adrea, Ellis, and I at Grand Anse beach on July 1st--it was an amazing torrential downpour. 

Mark and Lucy and their kids (Tavie, Cassia, and Max) took us to Umbrellas for one last special treat! 

Leaving Grenada was hard. I cried... a lot.

But ultimately, we ended up spending some fun time in a hotel... which was the perfect, slow adjustment back to the states.

Adrielle and Ellis - July 2, 2016

And when all was said and done, we were greeted by this entourage at the airport...

Welcome Home - July 3, 2016 

Baby Brother

Deep down at the heart of embryology lies a simple, elegant realization that life is a miracle. It is a miracle with intricacies we do not fully contemplate or even recognize and many of us take it for granted.

As Adi has grown, many have asked when we were going to have another. To be honest, it took about two years to get over the trauma of being first-time parents to a sweet, colicky baby while in grad school. But when we decided we did want to brave parenthood again, pregnancy was elusive. Then, after several years we found out we were expecting but soon after announcing (after 12 weeks) the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. 

Sometimes God has a different plan that stretches us and tries our faith. But in following His plan we have the opportunity to witness His merciful hand in our lives. In Isaiah (55: 8-9) the Lord reminds us, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For was the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

So, yes, our children may be nearly 6 years apart. And while we don't claim to have tasted the suffering or longing of infertility that so many confront daily, we certainly have come to better realize and appreciate the miracle of life and are all (especially Adi) excited to meet baby brother at the end of December.

Our Biggest Fan

Our Biggest Fan

So far, the one downside of Grenada is that my upload speed is only 1 Mbps. It’s painfully slow. So last Thursday, as I was trying to upload a 297 MB video, our bandwidth was completely occupied and it was taking for-e-ver. It also meant that the efforts of those trying to get ahold of us via FaceTime and VIber were futile. 

Then, out of habit, I opened FaceBook and the bandwidth let through one new status, my sister-in-law’s. It said, "We have been so blessed to be able to live with my grandpa over the last two years, he has been an amazing example of faith and dedication. He returned home to be with his dear wife this morning, we will miss you James Davies! We love you!”

My eyes read faster than my mind choose to comprehend and I re-read it not quite understanding. Then I realized “returned”, “miss you”… wait what? 

Oh grandpa! 

I immediately started crying and called Ryan. Through tears I told him grandpa had died. He surprised and we talked for a few minutes before I hung up. And about two seconds after I hung up, my mother-in-law called to tell me. He had died at home, in his chair, before his health declined too much—for which we are all very grateful. 

Grandpa was always our biggest fan. He looked forward to us blogging and I feel a little guilty that I slacked off a bit.

When 

We were able to FaceTime the funeral, I loved hearing stories of his life, his challenges, his gifts, his antics, and his love for his family. I especially loved that Adi got to join in singing “

As one who never knew either of my grandfathers, the past seven years have meant so much to me. This past week as we've reminisced about Grandpa, we rediscovered wonderful memories and gems in the photos from our times with him. 

Here’s to a wonderful man, grandfather, and great grandfather. Grandpa, we miss you!

Grandpa, Ryan, Brad, and Adi on Adi's Blessing Day - April 2010 

All of us and Grandpa at Graduate School Graduation - April 2010 

Lunch at Grandpa's favorite Japanese Restaurant...

Our Christmas Present to him - December 2010 

Grandpa and Adi at Adi's First Birthday party - February 2011

A paparazzi snap from Dani and Jon's wedding - Summer 2012 

 Adi (Age 2.5) and Grandpa licking the beaters (Date Unknown) 

Adi (Age 2) and Grandpa  (Date Unknown)

Grandpa's 85th Birthday with everyone - 2012 

Adi (Age 3) and Grandpa (Date Unknown) 

Ryan, Adi, Grandpa, and me - July 4, 2014 

Adi and Grandpa at the Cabin - 24th of July weekend 2014 

Grandpa with Gavin, Adi, Ava, Case, and Jake - July 2014 

Grandpa and me--him in his chair and me on his couch - September 2014 

Leading Up To The Big Move

Life after Denver, leading up to our big move was cray-cray! We sure packed a lot into that last week including... 

Lunch with Stephanie and Ally at Zuppas 

Two trips to the Apple Store where we had an incredible customer service experience #scoreoneforapple

Adi had breakfast with grandpa--he didn't realize she was still in her PJs when they went out...

Adi spent some time with Brad and Jennifer, and while she was there, I celebrated my mom's September birthday...

And went out to Mi Ranchito for dinner...

Feliz. Cumpleaños.

When Jennifer brought Adi back to Provo, we made one last trip to Smokehouse BBQ (aka "Paul's") for some much-needed pulled pork and Macaroni...

And got last-minute pedis together for my mom's birthday...

(Adi was a bit ticklish) 

I spent my last night with my friend Jenn at Kneaders devouring my favorite sweets... I could really go for a mint brownie right now.

Chuy Got Baptized

After flying home from Denver on the 20th of September, the first thing Heidi and I did after landing was turn on the BYU vs. Virginia game. It was a great way to distract from the fact that I had only one hour to get from the airport to the church where Chuy was going to be baptized.

But, with ten minutes to spare, we made it! 

It was a wonderful service and we were so happy Chuy chose to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He bore a great testimony and we are very proud of him!

Chuy and his peeps. (: 

Afterwards, we went to Brooklyn's for a little fun...

Where Adi met Walter, the baby deer 

And where Adi roasted marshmallows with Chuy. 

We love Chuy! 

#throwback to November 2013 - Love these two.

The Definition of Home

Over the past six and a half years of our marriage, Ryan and I have moved nine times. It's a lot if you think about it, but in that nine moves we have learned an important and life-long lesson: "home" is an ever-changing location because home is where we are together. 

We've shed tears over leaving and reminisced through stories about our various homes; our newlywed home in our charming basement apartment, our almost-to-have-been, not-so-charming basement room at my parents', our elegant studio on Capitol Hill (with bunk beds and all), our tiny Wymount apartment where we brought home our little person, our incredible Park Fairfax colonial, our Country Woods Garden-level condo, and our very first home purchase, the townhouse.

The common factor in all of them was us; we were together. While some families build a "stick" house; the house that sticks, where they spend their entire lives, our story will be different. Full of change, full of adventure. 

The next chapter of that adventure is Grenada; we are looking forward to building our home together in a beautiful paradise with new friends, experiences, and cultures. 

July Family Photos - Part 2

As Ryan and I think about our imminent move, it is bitter sweet. While I do not claim to be from Utah, I have lived here for the past ten years and together, Ryan and I (with the Binx) have carved out our own little piece of happiness. 

It has been a huge blessing to be near family, especially Ryan's Grandfather, Jim, who I have come to know and love as my own Grandpa. (When you don't grow up with one, you really come to appreciate the only grandpa you've ever known--I'm pretty sure he sets the bar pretty high.)

Grandpa - July 2014 

He is such a source of strength to us--I love hearing about his time at Wal-Greens, being Sealed in the Temple, and hearing him talk about his sweetheart, Colleen. I really wish I'd known her. 

A few weeks ago, when looking at a large family picture at Grandpa's house, I realized it had been four years (2010) since the last one was taken and that the family had grown by ten during that time! The one prior to that was in 2006, so a four-year gap was right on target. 

I sent out a message to get Ryan's whole extended family together one last time before we all head off to different parts of the world, but unfortunately, it was physically impossible. 

So instead, we had our own smaller shoot with Grandpa in Farmington. The photographer, Kelly, from Gallery Photography was incredible. His attention to detail was really amazing! I was really thinking one very large photo of everyone, but in the end he was able to get a little of this and a little of that. 

The most important one for me the one of the kiddos with Grandpa. 

And all of us with him too. 

Brad and Jennifer Family with Grandpa 

After that, everyone was icing on the cake. He got some of the three of us...

A great shot of Adi...

A few with the grandparents and grandkids... 

And some of everyone together...