Simply the Best

I recently printed this photo and put it in a frame. I have always loved it. It was taken of our Moms at our wedding reception and I will forever cherish it. You just can't get two better Moms in any one place! I thought it'd be great to post it on Mother's Day, but that was simply too far away.

We are heading to Minnesota on Saturday to see family and friends. Jim's parents are coming from Florida to see us for a week in early October. I eagerly anticipate it all!

Duke's Photo Shoot

When Megan was here a few weeks ago Duke got what he always wanted, more time in front of the camera. Here are a few shots she took with him and his "green tumor," the beloved tennis ball.

Thank God for a Good God

Just when you think you have things figured out, God seems to pull out his trump cards.

I always seem to think I have things figured out. Jim and I have been seriously discussing a move to the east coast. New York City, Burlington, Vermont or perhaps Portland, Maine here we come. We were thinking that our time in SLC was perhaps wrapping up and that we were moving into a different phase of life. But nothing has yet come full circle in any of those arenas.

In the meantime I decided to seek out another part-time and flexible work-from-home position. I figured I may as well make my work mobile because you just never know when we'll head out. A great opportunity landed nicely in my lap without any great effort.

But now we appear to be staying here. My current employer offered me a full-time position working in health coach training and development. They offered this to me, out of the blue, on the same day that I got the offer from the other part-time, flexible job I had been so eager to take.

So it turns out I had two fabulous jobs to choose from. The first turned into leverage for the second. I am now the training and coach development specialist, someone who gets to work from home and the office and do what she's wanted to do since she was 17 years old -- facilitate trainings.

Just when you think you have it all figured out, God will remind you that he has the entire picture of your life puzzle. I am reminded that I only get one little piece at a time and don't have the chance to see the picture on the box.

Funny, God seems to have an endless supply of trump cards. I wonder how he'll play them next....

It's here.

It's official: fall is here. Labor Day has passed as did the big thunderstorm that rolled through here, bringing our temperatures from the 90s down into just the 70s. We were happy to turn off the air conditioning for the first time in about four months. If we had trees maybe they would be starting to change? But there are few trees in our developing neighborhood.

My friends in Minnesota, the cool front is coming your way. My friends in Florida, well, only a few more months of complete misery for you humid souls.

I celebrated by making chili and cornbread last night for the group of gals I started hosting once each week. It was a hit and definitely marks a change in season for me. There is no chili making when it is 105 degrees here during the summer.

I just pulled out my slow cooker cook book and am anticipating using that as the weather continues to cool down. The good news is that I have two job offers on the table right now. One way or the other I am going to be working full time again and the need to plan meals will be greater. Yes, the honeymoon of just part-time work is over. Back to the real world I go.

Hi ho. Hi ho.

Thank God For Good Friends

Mike and Megan came to visit last weekend and boy was it nice to have some familiar faces here in Utah. We knew that the boys would get along knowing their propensities for beer and buffalo wings. And Meg and I, well, of course we knew that we'd get along!

I met Meg years ago as we embarked on a 10-day trip with high school youth to Knoxville. We've been buds ever since. She did the flowers for my weddding, I lived with her, Mike, Sally and Linus before I moved to Utah and for those of you who were at my wedding you will remember the two of them running around with cheesecake and doing many other things that needed to be done.

They drove all the way from Minnesota. They didn't seem to think that was a big deal, but I have made that trip and know that it is no small endeavor. We had a great time hiking, lounging, eating and playing cards. They easily picked up my favorite card game, 500. The boys had fun throwing rocks off a cliff, we walked the streets of Park City and of course Meg and I gave a great number of backrubs to each other.

Thanks for coming all this way to see us, guys.