Have I Told You Lately . . .

. . . that I love you? 

Thirty-one years ago Sean and I said those words as we knelt across the alter to be sealed for time and all eternity in the Portland Oregon Temple.  

Portland Temple Spring 2021

When selecting our date to be married we did not consider that as a school teacher I would be in the throws of the start of the new year on our anniversary and wouldn't be up for more than a dinner out.  Not much has changed except I'm not teaching, but Sean is still traveling for work.

Portland Temple, June 2023

This year we planned ahead.  Sean arranged his schedule so he was home all week and we decided to do a few things together throughout the week.  

On our anniversary we shared a yummy steak dinner at home with the kids.  We tried our best to mimic our favorite steak dinner at Ringside Steak House.  We celebrated many anniversaries at Ringside and figured if we couldn't eat there we would at least try to make it at home.  I have to say, Sean did an amazing job with the steaks.  We didn't even try to mimic their famous onion rings.  

Like other young girls I had visions of my wedding day.  One of my visions included a delicious white cake with lemon filling from Beaverton Bakery.  They made the best cakes in town and each birthday my favorite cake appeared in time for me to blow out the candles.  

I took Sean on a taste testing trip before we selected our cake and he too fell in love.  So much so that he endured years of trips to the bakery around holidays to get some of their yummy fare.  Beaverton Bakery closed after 93 years and we don't live in Portland any more.  As a substitute I picked up Nothing Bundt Cakes in our favorite flavors, chocolate and lemon.

Before dessert we played a little golf at a 3-par course near our house.  For years I have viewed golf as a crazy game where you try to get a little ball into a little hole among a whole bunch of grass.  Well, I have changed my mind and now own my own clubs.  My shot isn't terrible, when I hit it.

He is much better

A couple of days later we went to the Washington DC Temple.  The temple is always a place of peace and comfort, this visit was no different.  

Attending the temple together on or near our anniversary is extra special.  It is a great reminder of the covenants we have made with the Lord and to each other.  With the Lords help and our commitment to one another anything is possible.  I love being married to Sean and that we are on this journey together.

We spent part of our anniversary weekend exploring parts of Virginia.  Our first stop was at the  Luray Caverns, the largest caverns in the eastern US.  I have never toured caverns, I was not disappointed.  My geekie science teacher side came out loud and proud.  

For many years I taught a "Geology Rocks" unit in science.  It included many pictures and a few videos of stalactites and stalagmites.  We even tried growing our own crystals in the classroom.  Pictures and videos can't even come close to seeing these natural creations in person.  

We took a lot of pictures, but none of them truly captured their beauty or majesty.    Dream Lake was one of those areas we just couldn't capture.  At its deepest the lake is only 18-20 inches, not deep at all.  What makes it so amazing is that it acts as a perfect mirror of the ceiling.  

Dream Lake

Around one bend we came upon a fallen stalactite that looked like a fallen redwood tree.  It fell due to a massive earthquake 7,000 years ago.  This was incredible and we felt like we were in a stalactite forest.

It was time to move on and walk through the Toy Town Junction and Car & Carriage Caravan Museum. I enjoyed the toy museum more than the car.  Seeing and reminiscing over the toys you use to play with is so much fun.  Sean enjoyed both as well, but throughly enjoyed the old historic carriages and cars.

Little People

Portuguese Carriage

We did walk around the Shenandoah Heritage Village.  It is a great visit back to the 18th century.  Some of the buildings like the Shenk Farm House are on their original site, while others like the Hamburg Regular School have been moved to this area.  After so much walking and reading we were ready for a little lunch and ice cream.  

Our next adventure took us to the Shenandoah National Park.  It is a beautiful forest that snakes along the ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  What makes this park unique is the 105 mile Skyline Drive with 75 overlooks.  We only drove about a third of Skyline Drive, but were impressed by the views, we have missed the mountains.

The leaves are just starting to change, Shenandoah will be spectacular in about 4-6 weeks.  We can't wait to go back and rent a cabin, check out the trails and waterfalls, visit the lodge and drive the other two-thirds of the park.

On the way home Sean asked if I wanted to stop and see the Manassas Battlefield.  Why not, it was still fairly early.  What a wonderful surprise this was.  We arrived just before sunset.  My photographer hubby refers to this as the "golden hour".  The soft golden light cast beautiful colors on the rolling open grassy fields, cannons and the light coming through the trees was amazing.

 The visitor center had already closed, but we and many others enjoyed an early evening walk (or portrait session) through the battlefield.  Visiting battlefields gives new perspective to wars or battles you may have studied.  I know it changed how I taught about Gettysburg after visiting it.  This visit would have changed how I taught about the first battle of the Civil War.

We read personal accounts of families living in the area, about those who sat on nearby hills to watch the battle, how homes were peppered by cannons and the personal descriptions of Thomas J "Stonewall" Jackson.

It was incredible to walk among a well preserved battlefield.  You could get a sense of what these young men saw that day at Henry Hill on July 21, 1861.  Little did they know then that on that day they would suffer over 5,000 casualties and the war would last for 4 years.

Golden Hour is a beautiful time of evening, in fact its our favorite.  Saturday we enjoyed bright vivid colors as the sun slipped behind trees and mountains.  I remember a Lifesaver Commercial where father and daughter were watching the sunset together.  The most memorable line was the daughter saying, "Do it again Daddy."  Sean and I often share this statement at the end of a beautiful sunset.  

Do it again!

Living with our daughter and her family have provided us with so many treasured opportunities.  We could not have imagined how wonderful it would be to live with our grandsons and to support our daughter and her husband in such a personal way.  But the moments we get to spend together exploring areas we never thought possible has been a true gift.

I love you Hun, and can't wait to visit again.

* I have included links so you can explore on your own virtually or add it to a trip itinerary. 

Shenandoah National Park

Finding Your People

A dear friend once said, "Forest Grove is a very special place, with very special people.  I think we knew each other in the preexistence and said, "Lets meet up in Forest Grove 1st Ward".   

We only lived in Forest Grove for 10 years.  In that time we met amazing people.  They are the type of people that start out as strangers, become friends, then quickly become those you stay up late with and even have family slumber parties with.  

2014 ~ Holly & Friends

They are that type that love you on your best days, continue to love you on your worst but are willing to carry you through those days.  There is always a hug waiting, with at least 3 good byes before you walk out the door.

Over the years I have come to believe in my friends statement whole heartedly.  Forest Grove and our ward was a very special place with a very special group of people we call friends.  Just over two weeks ago we lost one of those special people.

2015 ~ Disneyland with friends

This sudden loss has been difficult.  This kind man was one of those people that serves quietly in any capacity.  He didn't seek recognition, he only wanted to fill in when others couldn't.  A bright smile filled his face as he served, worked, hunted, fished, spent time with family and friends.  He shared his joy for living life to the fullest with anyone willing to participate in his crazy adventures.  

He was the guy that made you feel alright when life was tough.  You always had a friend when he was around.

Our friend loved his family fiercely.  There isn't anything he wouldn't do to ensure their safety, happiness and spiritual progression.  He loved them so much that their friends became part of his family.  We were so blessed to be part of his adopted family, especially our children.

This friend meant so much to us that we traveled home to say good bye.

In the process of preparing for our trip I heard from friends who were suffering at home and those who had moved away.  I was touched to hear other express how much they missed friends from Forest Grove.    This group of special people are now spread across Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Iowa, and Washington DC.

Cannon Beach

We aren't strangers any more.  We are bound together no matter where we live.

I believe that people come into your life just when you need them or they need you.  Sometimes they leave and become part of the fabric of your life.  Other times you may be lucky enough to have found your people that you get to take with you no matter where life takes you.

Sean and I are the lucky ones.  We have found our people.  Our hope is that our circle of people grows as we continue to meet and enjoy new people in our new home.

A few of our friends

Its Been A Year

 We Made It!

We have lived in Washington DC for one year and two days 😂

When we decided we were going to move in with the kids we had no idea where they were going to be relocated to.  The possibilities were endless.  And that was exciting.

I lived in California in the same house the first 11 years of my life.  My dad got a job in Portland that moved us at the end of my 5th grade year.  Oregon quickly became home.  When I met Sean I told him that if he wanted to marry me he'd have to agree to move to Portland.  He was happy to return to the Pacific Northwest.

Our Oregon home

Oregon is where we were married, raised our family, and built memories that we cherish.  Neither of us saw ourselves moving from home.  This is one of the reasons why we knew this move would be difficult.

As a school teacher I watched many students struggle, whether it be with a new skill or one that has always been difficult.  I loved the moments when they got it.  When they understood the concept or were able to overcome the difficult skill.  The joy on their faces washed away every difficult day.

Their growth came within the daily struggle.  

We all have trials.  Those trials push us beyond what we "think" we can do.  Its hard, sometimes even painful.  We learn with in the trial about ourselves, what we can accomplish and that the unthinkable can be a reality.

 The year COVID hit I was pushed beyond anything I knew and understood about teaching.  I would have never predicted that schools would be closed for two weeks let alone the remainder of the school year and into the next one.

My Classroom

At the beginning of that next school year I sat in a training in my living room completely overwhelmed.  By the time the training ended I had my camera off and was sobbing.  I tried the canned programs we were told to teach from, the new grade book we were to use and an electronic assignment creator.  None of them were for me.  A few weeks in I found my technical footing and figured out how to teach in this new format, but incorporating my style and lessons.

A year ago I was thrilled to be moving to Washington DC.  A place I am familiar with and love.  I couldn't wait to be here and experience more than a 7-day student led trip allowed.  I knew it would be hard to leave home, but I wasn't expecting heart ache, fear and immense JOY.

One afternoon Holly was driving me across across the bridge to Ford Island in Hawaii.  She showed her military badge at the gate and in that moment I realized that Holly and Dreyton were going to take me to places and have experiences I never dreamt of.  That scared me.  The life I knew in Oregon was all about to change.

The trip across the country gave us opportunities to see dear friends, spend time with our kids and family and see parts of the country we had never seen before.

What is most notable is that one year ago Sunday we stepped into our new home with a new version of our family.

Dreyton ran through the house so excited to show us every room.  This was his house.  He couldn't wait to make this a home with all of us.

 Every aspect of my life was now different, so I relied on his joy and excitement many times as my heart longed to be in my home in Oregon.

While spending the last year navigating the unfamiliar and unknown I have learned a few things.

I'm not my mom, but I can set up a kitchen, a home and invite the spirit to be with us every day like she did for me every time I moved.

It is ok to not know where I am or how I am going to get somewhere, but I can learn.  It doesn't have to be terrifying as long as I rely on the tools I have and the spirit to guide me.  Today I can confidently get myself to places I want to go.  I can even drive into the city.  That is a HUGE accomplishment.

My dear friends are still my friends no matter how many miles separate us.  Together we figured out how to stay in touch.  I love all of them dearly and the experiences we continue to share together.

Imagine walking through Target or Costco and bumping into friends, past students and families, neighbors, or people from your childhood.  It was a rare occasion that I walked through a store a didn't bump into someone I knew.  For a few months I walked into stores with my head down, I knew I wouldn't bump into people I know.  It felt lonely.  

I've learned its ok to walk through a door alone and not know anyone in the room.   I just whisper to myself, "Be Brave", "You Can Do This", "You Got This"!  This has pushed me well beyond my comfort zone.  I'm starting to meet people and have even walked through Target and recognized a new friend.

Sisters always got you

At the end of each day Sean and I share what the best part of our day is.  For many years that moment happened at school.  Transitioning into early retirement has not been easy.   It has been 19 years since I had been home with our children and 21 since I had been home full time.  This was going to take time and I needed to be patient with myself.

My BEST PART of the day has changed.  There are more moments with Sean.  Like eating lunch together more than just the summer months.  Date nights that don't involve grocery shopping or more opportunities to travel with him.

                                                            

There are also two adorable little boys that fill my days with so many BEST PARTS.  Before I could thoroughly enjoy those moments I had to find a balance between being Grammy and the Grammy that takes care of you each day with no's and rules.

 Finding balance between these two roles has not been smooth.  I've made many mistakes.  Today I realize that I must honor both of those roles and love where I'm at in that moment.

The hardest part of this move and transition is letting go of what was and embracing what is.  I listened to a talk once where a woman experienced the tragic loss of her daughter.  After life settled into a new routine she found herself yearning to get back the life she had.  That life no longer existed because her daughter wasn't in it.  She said that part of her life was yellow, bright, cheerful, sunny.  

Now her life was blue.  It was different.  There had been a lot of change that impacted every part of her life.  At times it was filled with sorrow, but at other times there was joy.  She still longed for elements of her yellow life.  What she learned is that she could take elements of her yellow life and combine them with her new blue life to make green.  

Letting go of my yellow life in Oregon has been a challenge.  Embracing my new blue life in Washington DC has been equally challenging.  I have felt like both lifestyles were playing tug-of-war with my heartstrings.  All that means is that I love both.  I don't have to let go of Oregon and solely embrace DC, I too can create a life of green.

My green life is filled with precious moments.  I GET to spend each day with my adorable grandsons.  I get to witness major milestones and be here for daily hugs, kisses, giggles and snuggles.  Today I can happily say I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than here with my sweetheart, our daughter and husband and our two cutie grandsons.

It has been a year of tremendous change, but I've learned a lot about myself, slowing down and enjoying the moment.