Maturity is for the birds

and me apparently.

So it's the birthday of:
1- Having to go get a new picture for the driver's license bc even the state knows I just can't pull off 25 anymore.
2- Having to take the vision test for said license bc even the state knows that @ 35, I can't still have good vision.
3- Being closer to 40 than 30.
4- Knowing there is band practice, soccer, and open house tonight and not even minding that they want to share my birthday.
5- Asking for the gift of yardwork and closet cleaning over jewelry and new bags--and not because of money, but because I actually want those things more.

35, welcome.

New Meaning to the Phrase "Release Party!"

Four and a half years ago Jack was called to be the Bishop of our church. We believe in a living prophet who leads and guides the Lord's church through modern day revelation, including who should lead the church. The time has come for Jack to do something else and time for someone else to assume the responsibilities as Bishop of the Radford Ward as of Sept 4th.

One of the modern day 12 Apostles, Elder Hales, said, "My experience has given me an understanding that our personal relationship with our Bishop is often a good indication of our personal relationship with the Lord."

It has been an amazing 4 years. People keep asking me if I am thrilled. My response is, "It's like an equally weighted two sided coin." (Which is kind of a lame semi-old lady sort of response, I know)

While yes, it will be amazing to have more time with and a less burdened spouse (major over-simplification, but go with it), I have seen the blessings poured out to our family and feel so blessed our family was able to serve and sacrifice in this way. The things we lost, it turns out, were not things worth investing in anymore and the things we gained will yield eternal results. And to whomever follows Jack, I have a new respect and admiration for you. When Jack was first called, we said that when he got released, we would leave church directly for a vacation. Little did we know it would be the first couple weeks of school. We still don't know where yet, but for a day and a half, Jack and I are taking off. We will savor the amazing moments (many of which I will never know about) and cherish those who made this experience a blessing. We will leave behind the complainers, the naysayers, the gossips, the trails, the burdens, the criticizers, the questioners, the stress, the sadness, and the general weight of it all. Later, y'all!




This picture was taken the morning Jack was called to be Bishop. I wish I could say we don't look any worse for the wear, but then we know what happens to liars, right? :)

It's Official! We're Still Waiting...

Came across an article this morning and this passage struck a chord,

"Sometimes that which we are doing is correct enough but simply needs to be persisted in-patiently-not for a minute or a moment but sometimes for years...Patience is a willingness, in a sense, to watch the unfolding purposes of the God with a sense of wonder and awe-rather than pacing up and down within the cell of our circumstance."

We are officially working with another adoption agency. We are still on file with It's About Love, but we are now working with Heart to Heart Adoptions as well. We figure for the next 6 months we will do one final push, one last assertion, one more chance before we walk away and "take the next step." We have a couple of hoops to jump through, but thanks to much of the paperwork already completed by LDSFS, we hope to be "listed" with them by the end of September.

We feel confident in the path our family is headed down, whether or not that path ends in adoption. Of course that is our hope, but we are really in a great place right now, living well, and feeling very blessed and that in and of itself is a pretty rockin' path to be headed down.

Betsy Ross Would Have Never Picked Me

I have claimed to be many things in my life, but "Hannah Homemaker or Molly Mormon," was never one of them. Crafty, maybe. Seamstress, neevvahh! However, I am thrilled with my recent project. I have been bored to tears lately with the dresses I own. Since I wear one every Sunday, it feels like I wear every dress every week (which I know is impossible, but alas, my conundrum). I been looking for something different and finally found it. (Yes, it was at Target, but nevermind, I take it where it comes!)



I tried it on and loved it, the bold color, the "Asian inspired" neckline, everything...everything that is, except the length. I really felt like it was too short. But I bought it anyway. Then I just looked at it everyday in my closet. Running out the door on the way to the pool, tired of reading, I brought the dress and a seam ripper. I watched dive after dive while I pulled the 3-inch seam out. Once out I had all these plans for covering up the stictching holes and fixing the hem with binding but after a starch and press and adding in a double hem about 1/4 inch, there was no need. VIOLA!! My dress. I recognize many would save this enthusiasm for a dress they actually made. Not me!Wore it today with my turquoise wedges and loved it. Yay, I have cured my Sunday dress doldrums--for this week anyway.

"The true smokers will come through'"

I laughed. Then I stole it from moveon.org.