14 Weeks!

After three and a half months, my wonderful husband is finally home! I'm so glad he is back, safe and sound.

Tulips

Back when L and I were kids, dating before our missions, my birthday was coming up and an odd box showed up at our house with my name on it. The box smelled like dirt.

L told me not to open it. So, that box sat in my room for nearly two weeks. By the time my birthday rolled around my entire room smelled like dirt.

L called me on my birthday (he was away at the Air Force Academy) and I opened my box.

I fully expected to find it full of dirt.

It was full of tulip bulbs.

L knew tulips are my favorite flower.

He said he wanted to give me flowers that wouldn't die. Tulips I could enjoy forever.

Best Birthday gift ever? Yep.

I got to watch them bloom this spring. Those beautiful tulips we planted back when we were kids, are my favorite part of spring. I love him so much. And, I love my tulips.

Now... it's Spring.

Quilting with Grandma

This is a picture of me and one of the two amazing women I am lucky enough to call Grandma. This beautiful Grandma of mine made me a quilt when I young (Rainbow Brite on one side rosebuds on the other) that stayed on my bed until I got married.

Since my husband is away I have been trying to find things to do to keep me busy. Domestic type things. Since cooking is a huge non-interest of mine, I've avoided it like the plague and looked elsewhere.

While visiting my Grandma a few weeks ago her quilting skills came up and I thought, 'Grandma could teach me how to make quilts! That would be a fun thing to do for people I love!' So, I asked my sweet Grandma if she would teach me how to make a quilt. If "Duh" were a part of my Grandmother's vocabulary I'm pretty sure that's what she would have said to me. She looked at me like I'd asked her how to boil water and then said, "Well, you take two pieces of fabric, hem them, put batting in the middle, sew it up, and then tie it or stitch around the pattern." Duh! Oh. Ok.

So, I tried it.

I only got a yard and a quarter (to make it a neat little square) of each fabric, because I didn't know what I was doing. Guess what... it worked.

My quilt might not be perfect, but I'll practice. Grandma was right. It is that simple. Duh.

P.S. Does anybody need a little quilt? It's probably the right size for a baby. I don't know what to do with it.

Little Women

The other night, my sister and I went down town to see an opera. I felt so refined. Thanks to our sweet aunt, who gave us the tickets, we had such a fun night.

The opera we saw was based on this novel...

It was the perfect opera to see with my sister.

My favorite part of the night was driving home with my sister making fun of the song "Ours the Hours." What does that even mean?

We had great time!

My dog is awesome!

I try not to blog about our dog too much. But she is so funny I can't help it every now and then.

My Sister is really good with dogs and spent some time teaching Palin a few new tricks.

Here's my favorite...

She makes me laugh. What a great dog.

Virginia

Since it's Valentine's Day, I think it's my duty (as a madly in love person) to publish something mushy on our blog. Luke is still away, so there won't be much mush around here today. But, I did get to visit him in Virginia last week which was really fun (and mushy enough for blogging purposes).

I didn't take nearly enough pictures of the trip. But, I managed to get one of us outside of the building where church services are held on base.

Luke had a birthday! Shout hurray!

I was really glad I got to be there to celebrate with him.

Even though he is in a different time zone, I hope he knows how much I love him today! Happy Valentine's Day Sweetheart!

Change and Patience

I hate change. Most people do. No, I REALLY hate change.

Example: when I went on my mission the dramatic lifestyle/climate/spiritual change made me physically ill. My body went into survival mode - my metabolism stopped( I gained over 30 lbs, but my metabolism isn't the only thing to blame... I also blame Danish pastry), my hair started falling out, and I became lactose intolerant (random, I know).

I think it's a pretty cruel twist of fate that I fell in love with and married an Air Force Officer. Which ensures my life will remain in a constant state of change. Thanks fate.

Actually, I don't thank fate. I know my Creator is behind all of this change. He is trying to teach me a lesson, and it looks like it will take a lifetime to learn. Change is ok. Physical places and things should not provide comfort and security for me. I need to look elsewhere.

This is where patience comes into play. You see, the word "patient" is used as an inside joke between me and my Creator. He told me once I was "patient" as I waited to come into this world. This is where the inside joke comes in... I know He doesn't mean "patient." You see, I'm sure (like with all change) I was the opposite of patient. I was nervous and scared. I'm sure I tried to be brave, but I'm also sure He saw right through that charade. And when the time came, I'm pretty sure He had to give me a little shove. I hate change. "Patient" is the kind way of saying 'willing, but secretly scared to death.' No, patient is what He wants me to become, not what I am.

Sometimes, in quiet reflective moments I think... maybe I was patient... actually patient. Then, my puppy does something naughty or I glance at the empty side of the bed next to me and BAM, I'm not patient. I'm angry or worried or scared. Anything but patient.

But hey... I'm living in Arizona, my husband is gone (on training, he will come back), my puppy is still naughty... but, my hair isn't falling out.

A step in the right direction? Maybe.

I hope I have the strength to learn the lessons my Creator is trying to teach me. True patience is not a quality I possess now. Maybe at the end of a life married to an Air Force Officer? Maybe. For now, it's a nice inside joke.