It's my birthday month and I'm looking back at the past year. Last week I shared a list of things that made 33 great . . . . Now, I'm going to share a list of moments that made this year great.
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signing papers on our house. Feeling giddy and pinching myself. Is this for real?
getting a jar of homemade Oregon raspberry jam in the mail after depleting the stash we brought with the move
walking into the house for the first time with the keys in our hands. And watching the kids' excitement as they discovered and explored the house for the first time.
moving into the house and being reunited with our stuff that had been in storage for 7 months. It was like Christmas.
riding California Screamin' with the whole family
a visit from Jenn's family. watching the kids play, feeling so happy, knowing that we'll be friends forever.
when Conner was ordained to be a deacon and then watching him pass the sacrament for the first time.
my girls' weekend in Oregon. Hugging friends at baggage claim, a sparkling night out on the town, sitting on the bed in our matching robes, feeling friendship.
opening my email to find an e-vite to a New Year's party after being in the house for 1.5 month. Feeling hope that I might actually make some friends here.
watching Anna sing a solo in a talent show for the first time
completing a #walk100miles challenge
watching the kids ski in utah. I am not a skier, but it makes me so happy and proud to see them catch on and really enjoy it
unpacking my craft room
writing love notes to each other for family home evening
my "one year later" moment under a blossoming tree at the park
walking to school everyday
when Scott returned from Utah with 100 cake bites from The Sweet Tooth Fairy
attending the Power of Moms retreat
stepping off the plane in Kauai, smelling the sweet air, and realizing that we had 7 days of relaxation ahead of us!
zooming down the 1200 foot long King Kong zip line in Kauai with Scott
finding not one, but two heart-shaped rocks on Kauai
coming home from Kauai to find that Payton had finally learned to whistle
alternating between swimming in the pool with the family and laying on the warm trampoline
visiting the Bellagio Conservatory Garden with my mom
seeing my baby brother get married
enjoying 3 days of quiet, reading, and projects while the kids were at cousin camp
being in Oregon as a family and hanging out with friends. A list of my favorite moments in this post.
roller skating with the family
making my own strawberry jam -- my first Vegas batch, with berries from Bountiful Baskets
greeting Scott back home after a week at Scout Camp -- his beard blew me away!
meeting my long-time online friend, Rochelle
jumping on the 40-year old couch in Mindy Gledhill's Provo studio
going on dates with Scott 2-4 times a month thanks to our wonderful built-in baby-sitter
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I have to say that this was a great exercise to think back and compile all these wonderful moments. I've been gathering this list for a while and just now, as I read it all together in one body I can't help but be thankful for the blessings we have received. It's amazing to think about the changes and growth that have happened in just the last year - where we live, our family dynamics and routines, my personal growth -- it makes me just a little teary (happy) to note all that we have experienced.
Life is good.
Find joy in the journey.
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inspiration for this post here
