The First of the Lasts

I remember my sister-in-law writing a post with this title as she prepared to move her family from Arizona. She wrote it after realizing one night at dinner that the "lasts" were beginning. The last time to do this or that before moving.

I'm using this title now because it is happening for us. We are moving in a month.

Yesterday Brad took his last test in medical school. Tonight is his last shift (he's going out with a bang: an all-nighter in the ER at Harborview). Friday is my last day watching Addie who has been my extra daughter for the past 10 months. Lainy only has three weeks left of preschool. And as I sat in a Relief Society Board meeting last week and discussed all of the Compassionate Service needs, I realized that I won't be here to help with most of them.

It's a bittersweet time.

We have lived longer in Seattle than we've lived anywhere. We have made friends here that feel more like family. We have grown to love this city. It will be hard to leave.

But we are so excited for what is in store for us.There will be new friends and new experiences. New opportunities to learn and grow. It is going to be an adventure.

I guess the best thing we can do for now is enjoy these "lasts" as they come. We'll try to make the most of our time left in Seattle. The enjoying part will be pretty easy, I think. The goodbye part, not so much. Still, my heart is full of gratitude for this time in our lives. It is coming to a close, but it is full of beautiful experiences that will stay with us forever.

Life Lately

We've been in some interesting situations lately. A super busy husband, a motion sick toddler, and a little girl on Spring Break have all added up to make life pretty exciting.

Here are a few things I have learned:
1. Always carry baby wipes wherever you go - even if you don't have a child in diapers. They will come in very handy when your 2-year-old throws up in Costco and no one is willing to help you. A spare change of clothes stowed in the car (for kids and you) will also be helpful.

2. Let your 4-year-old be the boss sometimes. She'll come up with better menus and activities for you to do together than you would expect.

3. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your tired and busy husband is to have a clean house and a warm smile for him when he walks in the door. Even if you are feeling frazzled after a long day too.

4. Maybe it's the Idahoan in me, but leaving the city to spend a Saturday sitting by a river will do wonders for your whole family.

Lessons learned.

Space Needle

We are starting to make our Seattle bucket list - things we want to do before we leave.

Saturday we went to the top of the Space Needle for the first time.

It was a beautiful day. We had fun having a birds-eye view of our city and picking out places we've come to love.

Afterward we went to Pikes Place Market where Brad bought me a bouquet of fresh flowers and a painting (And took a pic with Rachel the pig, of course).

Check, check, check.

Did Jesus Really Live Again?

Did Jesus really live again?
Yes, when the third day came.
He wakened and he left the tomb.
He called Mary's name.

Did Jesus come to those he loved?
Yes, people touched his feet.
And of the fish and honeycomb
He did freely eat.

And there were nail prints in his hands
and a spear wound in his side.
Did Jesus really live again
after he had died?
Oh yes!
And so shall I.

Lainy has been singing that song for the past few weeks. I wish I could get the video to work so you could hear her too. She sings it in such a high, sweet, tender voice that it makes me emotional every time I hear her.

I know that Jesus lives. And I know that because of Him, we will too.

Happy Easter

rain, rain

my view as I ate my lunch

It is raining in Seattle.

I have been known to complain about the rain lately. Like, a lot. But not today. Today I kind of love it.

Maybe it's due to the fact that we've just had a few warm, sunshine filled days and I am more forgiving of the weather. (I mean, I do live in Seattle.) Maybe it's because the rain doesn't feel as cold as it did last week. Just refreshing. Like it's here for a purpose. I'm not sure why I love the rain today and hated it before, but I am grateful for this new perspective.

And this girl. I'm grateful for her. And her charming me into buying a box of popsicles at the grocery store. She was right, they were the perfect treat. And so fun to eat in the sunshine. (thanks for the pic Leah, and for posing so cute Lainy.)

And this one. She makes me smile, especially her new habit of coming out of her room in all sorts of unexpected outfits (most of them pant-less).

And him. Oh boy, am I grateful for him.

Life is good. Rain and all.