A Special Week

This past week Andrew's younger brother Calder and his wife Joy came to Oregon. They live in Texas and only are able to come up here once or twice a year. This trip was extra special. Calder and Joy were married in Texas last year and had made the choice to be sealed for time and all eternity here in the Portland, Oregon Temple. What a special week it was! Calder and Joy are also expecting their first baby in September so this trip was full of lots of fun and special events! Unfortunately, Andrew and I had to work quite a bit, but we were still able to spend quite a bit of time with them. We had family meals, played games, and just hung out.

We were able to go to the beach for a couple of days and the weather was just gorgeous! It has been a while since we have been out there together and were truly blessed with the amazing weather. What a beautiful world our Heavenly Father has created!

Enjoying the beautiful Oregon Coast weather!

Gorgeous sunset!

Saturday morning was their sealing. It was truly a beautiful day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and everything went smoothly and perfectly. It was so special for Andrew and I to be a part of their special day. They were glowing with happiness and excitement as they made sacred promises to each other and their Heavenly Father. It was especially neat for Andrew and I to be there and reflect on our own sealing almost 2 years ago. It was so neat to be reminded of the covenants we made, as well as the blessings promised to us. It truly was a special day. 

It's always so difficult to say goodbye to these two. We never know when we are going to see them again, but always hope and pray it is sooner rather than later. We are blessed to call these two amazing people our bother and our sister. They are a blessing in our lives and are grateful for the wonderful relationships and friends that we have. 

Papa

On March 30, 2014, my Papa left this life and went home to his Heavenly Father. Papa had been ill for as long as I can remember. Habits and life choices he started in his teens had taken a huge toll on his health. We knew he was on borrowed time and knew this day was coming. He started to go downhill at the beginning of the year, but would show signs of yet another comeback. In March, we could tell that his comebacks were long gone. My mom flew to Wyoming as soon as she could, not knowing when or if her dad would pass. It was all just a waiting game. He was admitted to the hospital and a few test were run. The doctors determined he had advanced cancer and the best thing we could do for him was put him on comfort care. I wanted so badly to be there for my mom and to say goodbye to my Papa but was not able to go. From reports I got from my mom, my Papa was already gone. He would hardly move or wake and wouldn't know if I was there or not. On Sunday morning, March 30, 2014, I woke to a phone call from my mom saying that he had passed over night. I was extremely sad but comforted in knowing that he was no longer in pain and was in a safe and special place.

My Papa and I had a special relationship. Whenever he would ask me what I was up to I would reply "nothing". I became his "Miss Nothing". I have so many special memories with my Papa. I am blessed to have grown up with all 4 grandparents and to have created special relationships with each of them.

Although I was unable to be there when he passed, I will be able to be there to celebrate his life. Over 4th of July weekend, all of my mom's family will be gathering in Wyoming at our family cabin. It was Papa's wishes to have his ashes spread there. What a special weekend that will be.

"Till we meet, till we meet, 

till we meet at Jesus' feet,

Till we meet, till we meet,

God be with you till we, 

meet again."

(God be With You till we Meet Again, LDS Hymns #152)

Spring Happenings

Even though we have both been busy working, we have been able to find some time to enjoy Spring!

Date night at Olive Garden!

Enjoying a sunny drive!

Driving range on a hot day!

Watching the Blazers in the playoffs!

Hiking Punchbowl Falls!

Went to Cirque du Soleil: Totem!

We love being outdoors and going on adventures! We have such a busy and fun summer planned! We are so excited!

Seattle

March was a busy month! We had the opportunity to go to Seattle for the weekend to play and to see my brother and his amazing choir perform in a festival. Andrew and I love to travel and Seattle is one of our favorite places. My grandparents live about 20 minutes from Seattle so we were able to stay with them. We had such a great weekend and were a bit sad to leave!

Goofing around in the car.

Seattle Waterfront.

Seattle St. Patrick's Day Parade!

Pike Place Market.

Ran into some good friends at the market! So fun!

Market performer.

We had to buy Thin Mints, of course!

Anywhere we go, we have to find the closest America's Tire/Discount Tire store. The regional corporate offices are in Seattle so of course we had to go!

Transfers

In March, Andrew was transferred to a new store. We knew this day was coming but we didn't know when. The only store we have ever known was Clackamas. They had become more than just a group of Andrew's coworkers; They had become our family. I would pop in multiple times a week and felt just like part of the team. It was a second home to us, as funny as that may seem. Andrew received the phone call from his boss on a day off and was told that the next day he would be starting at the Tualatin store. This transfer brought a lot of changes. He would be going from the busiest store in the region to the slowest store. His 5-10 minute drive would turn into a 30+ minute commute twice a day. Clackamas was (mostly) well staffed and Tualatin was in need of extra hands. I would go from knowing everyone and feeling comfortable and part of the team to knowing no one and feeling out of place. I think I was definitely having a harder time with the transfer than Andrew was, but that's because I hate change and am definitely a more emotional person.

Andrew has now been in Tualatin for 3 months. This transfer was definitely a blessing and came at exactly the right moment. Shortly after Andrew left Clackamas, a lot of not so good things happened at the Clackamas store between the store manager and a few of the assistant managers. Things were so bad that the store manager was fired, and many people were forced to be transferred away from the store. Some of Andrew's former coworkers even decided to quit their job while this was all going on because they didn't agree with it and didn't want to be a part of it. If Andrew would have stayed there, he, too, would have been caught in the middle of the sticky situation and things could have been detrimental to his career and his goals. I see now that the Lord got him out of there at just the right moment. I am learning to focus on that more. When things don't go the way I want or think they should go, I need to take a step back and recognize that it's all in the Lord's hands and that it's all part of His plan. What a blessing this transfer has been to us and our family in so many ways.