A yummy surprise...

When the college semester ended 

these two sweet people cooked dinner for our family!

How nice was that!!

Looks like Rascal was trying to be their taste tester.

When it came time to eat, 

we were all so busy enjoying the yummy 

Hawaiian rice with ham and corn on the cob

that we forgot to take a finished product picture - oh man...

Thanks guys, you're the balm! 

<3

Uncommon courage and faith...

We first heard about this amazing guy 

(in the middle with the yellow tie) 

from our missionary, Zac.

He was learning about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ 

and was a great friend to the missionaries. 

Courage and faith should be his middle names 
as his conversion has taken tons of both. 

(His Baptism Day)

(His Confirmation Day)

Just the other evening, we had the privilege of attending the 

House of the Lord with him and about 30

(not all pictured)

of his favorite missionaries and friends 

when he received his endowment. 

Amazing!

Twenty something river crossings...

Scott and April 

invited us on her birthday celebration 

through the Virgin River Gorge 

on their 4 wheelers. 

It was a party like none I'd been to before!

Yeehaw!! 

We rode beside the Virgin River

toward the Coral Pink Sand Dunes 

through 20 something river crossings. 

With it being springtime, 

the river got deep in a few places 

but we had fantastic trail guides.

Talk about a blast!! 

Years ago Liz told me about Edward Abbey. 

He was an interesting character for sure but 

I love and relate to some of his quotes about 

rambling out yonder. 

"It is not enough to fight for the land; 

it is even more important to enjoy it. 

While you can. 

While it’s still here. 

So get out there...and mess around with your friends, 

ramble out yonder and explore the forests, 

climb the mountains, 

bag the peaks, 

run the rivers, 

breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, 

sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, 

the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space." 

-Edward Abbey 

Thanks so much guys for inviting us to the

awesome birthday party!

<3

Growing...

The last 6½ years I've been blessed to spend 2 hours each week

in the company of fantastic women

and a whole bunch of delightful 2 year-olds 

in the Nursery at our church each Sunday.

It's been Heaven!!

On my last Sunday in Nursery, we talked about 

this beautiful world that God made for us.

Then we planted pea seeds. 

A few weeks later we had little pea vines and blossoms!

Then we had pea pods! 

How does that happen if the plant's never been outside
to be pollinated? 

(Turns out that peas and beans don't need pollinators.

 I'll bet our friend Darin Zaugg knew that.)

Thank you dear women 

and precious children

 for helping me grow these last 6½ years. 

I've loved our time together so very much. 

 <3