Laura-Laura

Each time I come to Washington, I feel a pang of sadness.

I grew up here and it's my town, and yet for the most part, people I know forget that. 

It happens though, right? You have good memories, when you come back you expect a lot of the same and places change, people change. 

I try to not live in the past, so I'm always so happy to build new memories. It's hard though to build the same kind of memories when it's just me. No parents, no brothers, not even Ryan the past few times. 

But, there is one amazing person who always makes it the best experience ever. 

Laura was one of the absolute first people I met in Virginia. We were on spring break in 2000 and her mom saw us--a visiting family of six--sitting on the back pew. She made it a point to introduce herself and her incredible family. 

I should have known then, that with Laura, it would be a life-long friendship. 

We have had some fun times together. Sleepovers, early-morning seminary, youth conference, Homecoming, Laura geeping at the missionaries ;), movies with foot-long subway sandwiches in our hoodies... and that was just high school.

Then came BYU. I was sad to head out to BYU a year before Laura, but then she came to visit. And then she came out for college. And we had sleepovers, took Econ 110 from Kearl together (we both agree that class was a big mistake), and lounged by the Enclave pool. 

Too bad she stole Tyler's heart, and she moved to Rexy-Rex to finish. 

Then she treked back to Virginia.

Laura is pretty much amazing. She's gorgeous, smart, funny, and has the cutest little family. 

Because Laura lives in the VA, I got to see her twice this past weekend! Once at the Gala where we paled around and then in A-town.

When she found out I was in town, she invited me over to her house to crash hang out before church. She even made de-li-cious crepes (well, Tyler helped too...) with spiced apples. Yum.

It was during our awesome conversation--it was awesome because we are awesome--that I realized how great Laura really is and how grateful I am to have her as a friend. She is a great wife and mother. She is down-to-earth and absolutely beautiful. She's one of the kindest people I've ever met and she makes you feel like you're the most important person in the world. And she's an amazing example. 

So, although places change and people change, Laura will always be my "girl friend." 

Here's to you Laura-Laura!

Double Rainbow

The weather in Utah has been odd lately (not that weather in Utah is ever really consistent). The latest weather that we've been trying out here is similar to what we had in VA, only without as much humidity. I have honestly really enjoyed the slight humidity that onsets afternoon thundershowers.


Here's a picture after Sunday's storm: A double rainbow. Speaking of which, I heard that double rainbow guy is running for the office of President of the United States.

Perspective

This past weekend was particularly good, and for no reason in particular. We didn't do anything really exciting. We enjoyed the company of friends and each other, and we laughed. Sadly, (with school, work, baby, homework, exams, the house, etc...) life is busy and stressful and we go through days in more of a routine-like fashion rather than actually stepping back to enjoy living.

School and the accompanying four-hour (daily total) commute drain me. Juggling schedules with work, school, and the baby drains both of us both physically and mentally. It's stressful knowing that my grades have to be perfect. It's stressful sometimes not knowing what the future holds. The stress of the responsibility I seek through this education can be staggering. A friend from VA stopped by to visit Kenz over lunch this past week and asked if we had second thoughts about this whole process. To have taken another route in life would have been easier, for sure -- we realize this almost every day and realized it when we made the decision and commitment to pursue this path.

Sometimes I don't think others understand how much we put into making the decision to give up our plans and dreams in the DC Metro Area; the hours of debate and deliberation, prayer, serious investigation, and soul searching. It is hard to explain to others that something, rather someone, greater than us had a great deal to do with this decision and that we intend to do all in our power to follow.

What we felt inspired to do was in no means contrary to our interests or long-term goals. In fact, it has been better than what we had planned for ourselves in many ways, which we are continually discovering. We know that God knows us better than we know ourselves. He will stretch us to become better and to become more than we ever imagined we could be.

To some we appear foolish. Frankly, I don't blame them for believing so. If I were on the other side, I just may think the same. Who really decides to take on medical school after preparing for a career in something entirely (well, mostly entirely) different? It's crazy. I'll be in school for the rest of my life, I swear.

However, despite it all, we cannot help but go forward with faith and hope in this path we have taken - we have seen the path miraculously open before our eyes. It is times like those we had this past weekend when we step out of the routine that we realize what we are living -- and it is good.

Zion's Camp - 2010

In 1834, a group of 100 Latter-day Saints, commanded by the Lord and led by the Prophet, Joseph Smith, left their homes in Kirtland, Ohio for a journey to join militia forces in Jackson County, Missouri. This expedition, known as Zion’s Camp, traversed over 900 miles before the Lord commanded them to return to their homes. During the two months away from their homes, many men suffered and all were tried by the Lord. One account describes it as “a time of learning and testing one’s fortitude.” In other words, it was a time of great enlightenment, learning, and understanding through challenge and adversity.

While not quite an apples-to-apples comparison, this example of Pioneer Heritage describes the past six months for our small family.

In April, Ryan and I were blessed to receive a job offer from an incredible non-profit organization in Washington, DC. We were thrilled, and I headed out to start my job a week before graduation. The next few months were a whirlwind of new and exciting adventures in our new life. We experienced Washington, DC as a small family, met new friends, and reconnected with old friends.

We were happy.

But, sometimes, the Lord has other plans. Sometimes the Lord provides miracles and blessings in ways you could only imagine in retrospect: for example, our July and August.

As many of you read, Ryan received some inspiration about returning to finish his pre-reqs for Medical School. When we talked about this the first time it was laughable to both of us. But as we looked at the options, we knew that it was a possibility.

There were a few challenges such as how do we do it in Virginia… we can’t. Well, if we can’t do it in Virginia, where do we go? Utah? But if we go to Utah, what about money, insurance, a job, childcare? This is when I stumbled on a previous relationship at BYU. I had worked with an individual in Career Services during Graduate School, and he was leaving his position.

So, it was a long shot. There was only one option. BYU or nothing. It was take it or leave it.

In July I applied to his position as a Career Counselor with University Career Services at BYU. I knew that it would decide our future and moved aggressively (those who know the full story from the UCS side would laugh) to apply for the job.

Phone Interview? Check.

Second Interview? Yes, they wanted me for a second interview, in Provo—they even flew me out.

Agonizing wait? Of course, always.

Offer? Thankfully, yes.

In August, BYU offered me a position with University Career Services, it was such a blessing. It provided for our needs, some of our wants, but most importantly a future and the fulfillment of Ryan’s dream.

In retrospect, I look at the steps, and they fall into place perfectly. As though it were planned out, as though a loving Heavenly Father knew our desires and what is best for us, and then I remember He did.

While our 2,400 mile trek to Washington may seem laughable to some, it was right for our family. It enabled us to learn more about God’s love for us and that he places the path in front of us, even if it is a millisecond before our foot touches the path.

So, if you’re still confused as to where we are… in August Ryan and I moved back to Utah. We are living in Orem for the next couple of years while I work at BYU as a Career Counselor and Ryan attends the University of Utah to finish his pre-med requirements. We know it is a long, hard road ahead, but are happy to be together, following the guidance and inspiration we have received.

The Drive

Instead of using flickr, we took some pictures of our own today. We can't get enough of this drive into the city! (Of course, that is said when we're in the carpool lane. You'll notice that the other side - to the right in the picture below - is some crappy driving.)

Wait for it...

Awesome.

Muggy August day in D.C.

Over the Potomac.

We love this city!

A Drive into the City

I love driving Kenz to work sometimes because I get to see the memorials and monuments going into the city along 395.

The Air Force Memorial.

Thanks, flickr user for these.

Popsicles

We love popsicles around our house.

We share them sometimes.

And other times we don't.

But in the end, it pretty much turns out the same way.

Jefferson and FDR

Our initial purpose yesterday was to paddleboat around the Tidal Basin. We sadly found out that they don't let babies on the boats and so we walked around the basin, visiting the FDR and Jefferson Memorials. The weather was surprisingly amazing (not too hot, not too muggy, and a cool breeze) for being an August day in D.C.

My girls and the Washington.

Walking around the FDR Memorial water features.

A goofy grin and a cute smile.

Enjoying the cool air coming off of the waterfall.

She loved the water - probably wished she could have hopped in to take a swim.

Heading over to the Jefferson Memorial, taking the loop around the Tidal Basin.

We can't get enough of this view. She happens to be gnawing on the side of the stroller.

Traveling Alone with Baby

Adrielle's Apology recently alluded to the flight back from Utah, which was fairly good thanks to great airline staff, and strangers who wanted to hold a fussy baby. I was to the point where if the person looked nice, I let them have her. She was obviously bored with me because she cooed for complete strangers and smiled...grrrr... But whatever, I was happy she wasn't screaming and making the trip unpleasant and that people weren't telling me what to do (like on our departing flight -- well, the first attempt at our departing flight).

If you're wondering about the departing flight fiasco on Delta, here's a quick rundown:

• We boarded on time (5:30 PM), the pilot told us we would take off soon, and we headed down the tarmac.
• The pilot tells us there's a light that went on, they need to do a quick check, and we would still arrive on time in SLC.
• After an hour of waiting 5 more minutes, the interior of the plane was hot and stuffy, and Adi started to fuss.
• Adi starts to cry - it's hot and stuffy, she's crammed between unfriendly neighbors and we should have taken off a while ago.
• The passenger to my right tells me I need to change her diaper and that it's probably poopy.
• A lady behind me taps me on the shoulder.
• I have had it.
• I take Adi to the lavatory to get away from the passengers who know better than I what to do with my child.
• On the way to the lavatory, a flight attendant tells me we will be taking off shortly and I need to get back to my seat. I ignore him and go into the lavatory.
• I change a diaper that does not need to be changed while the flight attendant knocks on the lavatory door. Baby is still crying.
• I go to my seat expecting to take of any minute and we wait for another hour on the plane.
• We deplane.
• They tell us we won't be waiting long in the airport and we wait another 3 hours until no more flights can go out of DCA. They have us trapped.
• None of us have eaten, yet they served us "refreshments" which I came to understand was the ice water they were handing out on the plane. Nice, Delta.
• We wait longer.
• They start to rebook everyone, and do hotel vouchers. This takes several more hours.
• A lady with a baby is crying because she only brought enough formula to get her to her destination (Alaska), and she was running out. She has nowhere to buy formula. I give her what I brought.
• Kenz and I spend hours on the phone and in line to get rebooking figured out.
• I rebook for a special flight at 7:00 AM the next day.
• Kenz picks us up at around 11:30 PM.

The next morning:

• We wake up late, but it doesn't matter because my flight has been delayed an hour and a half.
• We wait in the airport while the same plane we were on yesterday is running tests.
• We consider rebooking on another airline.
• They tell us the plane is coming out of the hangar, and we will be boarding soon. (I've heard this one before. Ha. Ha.)
• We finally board and Kenz waits until I text her affirming the fact that we were actually taking off. I did not turn my cell phone off when they told us to.

The positives:

• The group of passengers bonded through the process and I believe we were all able to help and serve each other in one way or another.
• By the time the special flight took off, a lot of passengers had already bailed and everyone had a row of their own with several empty rows, too. It was great for Adi.

This baby had a great time.

Playing with the controls.

Trying to escape.

Sleeping.

Messing with our stuff.

And pretty much doing whatever she wanted.

It almost made the whole ordeal of the previous day worth it...almost.

Summer Lovin'

A couple of weeks ago we went to a beautiful estate in Great Falls to participate in the Partnership's Summer Party... Adi enjoyed it.

Adi's Morning

First, a 6-mile run with dad.

(My view. I love seeing that little head!)

Then some light reading.

* I put an old bedspread on the floor so she can crawl and romp around however she wants.

Followed by a nap (not pictured), and then a trip to the park that included eating her fingers and swinging.

It was a pretty good morning.

Backyard Parking

Since Adi likes the outdoors, we thought we'd give the little park in the backyard of our condo a try.

There was sliding...

Exploring...

And a new favorite...
Swinging!

This lucky girl got to go twice today. Isn't it great to be a kid?