Home

After a little over two months we made our first trip back to Elk Grove. As I thought about going back I had a few nerves. Truthfully, I have been purposely avoiding visiting for fear that it would stir up too many emotions about no longer living there. I loved our time living in Elk Grove. I loved the city parks, I loved our friends, our church, our jobs and especially our home. It was the city we started life as Mr. and Mrs., where we added our forever-loyal pup Bailey, where we walked through tough life circumstances with some rock solid community and, my personal favorite, where God brought our precious girls into our lives.

Over the summer when we were approached to accept the role of Adult Ministries pastor at Sunrise Community Church, in a foreign land called "Fair Oaks" I was initially hesitant. I wrestled with God over many factors about moving. A main one leaving behind Elk Grove and all that was tied to that sleepy valley town. Although God had led me to a place of surrender and peace about leaving and starting afresh I was still sad to say goodbye. In fact, many tears were shed driving away on move-out day. It will forever hold a dear place in my heart.

After a super speedy dinner at our favorite local diner, ahem... Chick-fil-a, with our favorite twin friends it was time to hit the road to make it back for bath time. (On a side note, if you are an EG friend and we did not see you: I am sorry! We were literally in town for 45 minutes. Come and see us!) On our drive back to Fair Oaks Greg and I discussed our trip "home". We both agreed that it did not feel like home anymore. It felt familiar and nostalgic, much like visiting your hometown after moving away to college.

God has been beyond good to us in this transition. The community at SCC has gone above and beyond to welcome us and we are deeply grateful. I have been warmly welcomed by many moms and I am starting to build new friendships and a new community. And although Fair Oaks doesn't quite feel as homey as Elk Grove did when we left, there certainly is potential for it to be!

Although the girls sadly won't remember their time in Elk Grove, we certainly will! So, thank you Elk Grove and all my dear loved ones for making our four years there truly unforgettable.

Cheers to new adventures in life!

For fun here are a few pictures from our Elk Grove days:

Twin talk!

Having twins is the greatest. Well, most days that is. And I am pretty sure I could write a novel about my experience with twins and talk "shop" forever with fellow MOM's (mothers of multiples). Having multiples is such a unique experience! Here are some reasons why I love having twins:

1. There are two! I have been stopped SO many times with the twins. In fact, being stopped started when I was pregnant. Everyone thought I was "about to pop", even though I had lots of time left.

I still had a month left in this photo! But there is something mysterious and down right C-U-T-E about doubles of pretty much everything.

2. They have to share! Greg and I have always said that we think it is such a great thing that our girls will have always had the experience of sharing and that life was never all about them. Sharing is and has always been part of their life.

3. They are forever sisters! As the girls grow it is super sweet to see them interact. They play together, hug each other, and get beyond excited to see one another after nap time (for now they nap separate). They learn from each other, challenge one another and giggle like crazy together. I am beyond grateful that they will always have one another in life. Their bond is just beginning!

And for fun here are the not-so-great things about having twins:

1. There are two! And that means two of this:

AT THE SAME TIME.

2. They have to share! Harper had to wear a helmet to help correct the shape of her head because she had to share room in the womb (and there was only so much space in there)! And just because our girls are twins does NOT mean they share well. 

For the record, I do NOT blame Olivia for Harper having to wear a helmet (nor was it a bad experience for Harper at all). Just demonstrating that sharing is not always easy.

3. They are forever sisters! They fight, bite, push and scream. (Why do little girls scream so loud?!). And all these not-so-fun moments started really young. They even pull each others head bands:

With all kidding aside I truly would not trade having twins for anything. There are moments where having a singleton (thats what MOM's call having just one baby at a time) seems nice and even desirable. Yet when I get piled on by two sweet and snuggly babies I know I was meant to have two. At the same time.

"Enjoy every moment"

I LOVE being a mom. I really, truly do. My heart beats for my daughters and I would do anything to keep them safe. There are so many aspects about motherhood that I adore. Moments that I melt over their cuteness. But there is one phrase I hear over and over and over: "Enjoy every moment, it goes by so fast". And here is the truth- that is not my favorite sentiment.

About 90% of the time I hear it from moms that are much further ahead in the mommy-journey than I. Even more commonly it is nostalgically said from moms who are facing a high school graduation, marriage or those who have had the privilege to become grandmothers. 

In reality? I do not enjoy every moment about being a mom. Two newborns crying at 2 am, endless dirty diapers, and (most recently) two tantrum toddlers is not ideal. It is hard! I found myself over the last almost year and a half growing increasingly annoyed with this phrase. Until my girls' first birthday arrived. Even though I had been planning their party since before they were born (I have type-A, over planning issues) it still caught me off guard. I was going through photos of their first year and I was overwhelmed with emotion. Where did my newborns go and how did it go so quickly?! I had the deepest longing for them to be teeny-tiny all over again.

So that is when I realized the phrase "enjoy every moment, it goes by so fast" really means "I can't believe my babies are all grown up. I remember the late night snuggles, the cooing, the endless list of firsts, the joyous sound of baby laughter, and the smell of a freshly bathed babe. What I would give to spend one day back with them being little again. Where did the time go?" 

There are certainly moments where I want time to stand still, to stop in its tracks. I'm not ready to send my twins off to school, to hear about boyfriends, or even drive away from the college drop off. And yet, I know it will be here someday. And when that day arrives I know I will look back with  nostalgia on their little days. The days where it seemed like the hours would never pass until daddy came home. The days where my lap was never big enough. And I am sure I will wish I had a few more moments with my blue eyed, too cute for words, joy-filled toddlers.

For now I will slow down and try to enjoy most moments.  

Insta-perfect

Today I had the joy of visiting with a dear friend of mine and her one year old daughter. We have known each other since early pregnancy and our daughters were born just three weeks apart. The girls had a great time playing and we enjoyed some always-needed mommy time. It was good for my soul!

Before she left we decided to seize a rare moment of post-nap sleepy toddlers who were fixated on the movie Frozen. So, we pulled out our phones and snapped a few photos. We were confident we got a few good ones (how could we not with such cute subjects?!).

After all our goodbyes and with my twins in bed I turned to Instagram to unwind. I decided I wanted to post a picture of all three girls and was already thinking of something cute to write for my "photo description". As I flipped through the photos though I had a moment of disappointment. In every single picture my girls were either drinking their post-nap bottle or sucking on their post-nap pacifier! I debated on which one would be better to post. The inner dialogue went something like this:

"Seriously? Every photo? Well, there was the one photo where I took the bottles away and before they popped their pacifiers in. Oh no, Harper is screaming her head off in that one. That won't do. Well, I could use the bottle one and think of something witty to say about a snack date with friends... or that it isn't fun to drink alone. No, I don't want people to know that my girls still drink out of a bottle. Ok, I'll do the pacifier one. Wait, no. I am a dental hygienist! And the last few photos I have posted the girls have had a pacifier in. People will think I let my girls have pacifiers all the time.. That won't do either!"

After all that, you know what I decided to do? Not post a photo. Not a single one! I closed the app and moved on. Then conviction hit, and it hit hard. In reality I value authenticity, being genuine with others, and open. Becoming a mom has changed how I view other moms, I am so much more understanding of "doing what works in the moment". I try desperately to be fully accepting of my friends and how they may parent differently. Hopefully if you are a friend of mine you experience this. I try not to paint a picture that life is all roses and raising twins is a cake walk, because it is not. I open up to others and do my best to share my true feelings. And in turn, I appreciate it when others feel safe enough to be real with me.

So then, why wouldn't I post a picture of three sweet girls?  Three precious babies that have been prayed for since before they were embryos. Three life-long friends in the making snuggling up on a couch. Because I was embarrassed, worried about what others would think. Afraid I would be judged. So I chose to be un-authentic and to portray my life as "insta-perfect."

Here it is. The real truth: Yes, my kids drink out of a bottle. Yes, they have pacifiers. And yes, my kids watch Frozen. And you know what? It is okay.  It is okay because I am doing my best at raising two sixteen month old girls, and with God's help I am doing a good job. It is okay because there are two of them and only one of me. And it is okay because those same two pacifier and bottle loving little girls are fiercely loved, cherished and valued. So, I will go post that picture. Right now!

Thankful for my stretch marks

To my girls:

I have changed. You have changed me. In this letter I want to thank you for the stretch marks.

Yes, that sounds crazy. I am not actually grateful for stretch marks. I am grateful for the story behind them. In my life there are two versions of me. Pre-baby and post-baby. When I look back at the old me, I smile. I was ambitious, energetic and had the world by the tail. I had dreams. Big dreams. Dreams to be a mom.

But if you were to dig a bit deeper, I was insecure. SO insecure. About everything. The way my hair was, how I looked in an outfit, how I knew everyone saw my flaws and imperfections. It could paralyze me at times. I would change outfits repeatedly and even threaten "not going" to a function based on the way I looked. I was insanely critical. My vision was skewed.

Then, everything began to change. How? One word: pregnancy. You know, the time in your life where your body is literally sacrificed and hijacked by new life. For me, two new lives. At the SAME time. Do you want to know a secret? I never felt more beautiful than when I was pregnant. I was so confident. I knew my belly was huge, ehh, enormous and I didn't care. I was proud. I was given the opportunity to grow new life inside of me and I loved my new figure. (I didn't love how I physically felt, but I was proud of how I physically looked).

Then on a warm day in May, I became my favorite role: mom. And now, nearly a year and a half later, I look in the mirror and I see me. The me I was meant to be. Looking past the blue eyes and fair skin I see the real me. And you know what? I really like this version. I see the dark spots on my cheeks from pregnancy, I see the stretch marks of a tummy that was stretched way too far beyond its ability, I see a belly button that will never be the same, I see scars and battle wounds that I painfully collected. And for what? All for you. You want to know the craziest part? I would do all of it over again. And again. For you. Dad has asked me before if I really remember what it was like to be pregnant with you two. My answer? No! That's what I call God's grace to us moms!

It can seem odd that sacrificing my body has improved my self image. But God changed the way I see myself. He gave me the honor of looking at myself through your eyes. No longer do I see all the imperfections (although I'd love to have my old belly button back thank you very much), but I see the strength in what God allowed my body to do. I see the comfort my arms have brought you, I see the joy on your faces when we play the "wheres your belly button game", I see the love in your eyes for me any time of the day- despite how my hair and make up looks. And I know that I am beautiful. I know that God didn't make a mistake when He made me. I know he created me just the way he wanted. How do I know that? Because He created you. And you, my daughters, are so incredibly beautiful.

I pray you will grow up knowing you are beautiful. I pray you will love your differences and be confident in the creation that is you. And someday, I pray that you will have the chance to be called mom and know how much more beautiful that title makes you.

Forever grateful,

Mom

Easter

Easter is a significant time of the year for many, certainly for me. It is a day where Christ is celebrated, and rightfully so. A day where death was conqured and sins were forgiven forever. A bridge was made between a very holy God and sinful mankind. Easter is a day of joy, rememberance, and gratitude.

This year I realized something I had never thought of before. I was sitting in church during the Easter service reflecting on the meaning and power of the cross. Thats when it hit me. Christ died to save my children. It may seem like a simple thought, but it was powerful to me. When He hung on the cross He was dying for the sins of all mankind; past, present and future. That means He knew my two little girls then and chose to lay His life down for them.

It has always been a powerful to me that someone would lay their life down to save mine. But when I realized that Jesus went to that cross, suffered and died, not just for me but for my two sweet girls lives- I was humbled. It reminded me that He has known my little girls MUCH longer than I have. It reminded me that in my darkest moments when I wondered if I would ever be a mother, He knew. He knew their names, what they will look like, who they will become, and He has loved them a lot longer than I have.

So, thank you Jesus. Thank you for not only dying for me and covering my sins, but for my daughters as well. I can not wait to tell them all about you and I pray they will someday love and appreciate you for all you have done.

Hair cuts and big kicks

What a fun week! I made the decision it was time to cut my hair. I ended up cutting over 10 inches off and donating it to the Beautiful Lengths Program through Pantene. In this program Pantene has partnered with American Cancer Association and donates real hair wigs for free for women with cancer. Such a great idea! It felt great to donate my hair to such a worthy cause and I am enjoying my new "mom hair cut". (Lets say my time to get ready has been drastically shortened! And since I have two newborns on their way, I need all the time I can get.)

I am just shy of 20 weeks ( 5 months, already!) and the babies are growing daily. At least it sure does feel like it. This morning we experienced another "first" in the world of pregnancy. For several weeks I have been able to feel little kicks, but only on the inside. Each time I would quickly put my hand on my tummy but could never feel them. Well, that all changed this morning! I couldn't sleep and was trying to get comfortable. I had just rolled over and was praying for the babies. I started to feel small kicks on one side and then.. I felt much larger kicks from the other babe on my other side! I put my hand over them and could feel the kicks against my hand! So, I did what any excited (and wide awake) mom-to-be would do; I woke up my soundly sleeping husband! And it was worth it because he got to feel those first kicks too. It was so fun to share that moment together. Greg was a bit out of it, but says that he remembers me waking him up. Whew!

With each milestone I am left humbled and excited that God is choosing to bless us with these two sweet lives. It is moments like these that make our journey to this point worth every tough step, every tear shed. We can not wait to meet our little ones, and thank God He has chosen us to be their parents. 

Psalm 139- through different eyes

Yesterday was an emotionally powerful day. It was "sanctity of life" Sunday. This is one Sunday a year that churches, usually nation-wide,  pause from normal sermon content to focus on the value God places on each and every life.

Our service began with a sweet third grader reading Psalm 139. Hearing a child read scripture is always precious in my opinion. What made this time especially powerful was the fact that she was blind. Completely without sight. She waxed over large words eloquently and was using the tips of her fingers to read. Needless to say, tears streamed down my face the entire time.

It was not simply because she was blind, nor that she could read using her hands better than some that can read using their eyes. It certainly was not the first time I had read, or heard Psalm 139. It was that when I heard her sweet little voice clearly say these following verses, I understood them through different eyes:

"For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; (emphasis mine)
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you."

You see, as I quietly sat in church with a steady flow of tears down my face, I knew that precious little girl was truly fearfully and wonderfully made. I was convicted of the many times I have worried that my unborn and developing children wont be "perfect" and for the fear I have had of not knowing what to do in light of that reality. I was convicted of times when I wish there was some control I could have over their formation, a way I could make sure it was done "right". 

Yet, what struck me so powerfully was the truth that I have the creator of all good and perfect things kitting my children together. I am not more wonderfully made than a blind third grader. God did not make a mistake in creating either of us, or anyone for that matter. I can be confident that each of my sweet little babes will be fearfully and wonderfully made. And that is a truth I can rest in- we call can rest in. 

So my babies, keep growing- God is personally crafting you into the most beautiful creations. I can promise you that he will do a much better job than I could ever dream of. I love you so very much! Love always, your mom.

Let's try this.. again!

It has been quite a long time, over an entire year in fact, since I have last "blogged". With much consideration, and prompting by a few friends, I have decided to try this.. again!

The last year and a half that I have been absent from the blog-o-sphere was probably one of the toughest times in my life and in our marriage, circumstantially speaking. Before I start with re-living that journey, I will take a moment to proudly and very excitedly announce that Greg and I are expecting TWINS this coming summer!! We are overjoyed about the two growing babes in my womb. Honestly, over joyed probably doesn't quite capture it quite perfectly- but it'll do!

I am currently four months pregnant and again today we had the blessing of seeing our sweet babes on ultrasound. Since I am a mom-to-be of twins we see our OBGYN much more frequently, which I consider to be quite the treat! Yet as I reflect on being pregnant, and the sheer joy that brings, I can not forget our journey to this point.

We, like many couples, had conversations about when to start "trying" for a family. We were excited, nervous, and a little scared! But according to my mom, that was perfectly normal. If any of you knew me when I was a little tyke, with dark brown hair, freckles, and eyes almost too big for my face- then you know my desire to be a mom started then. When I "grew up" I dreamed of being a mom. One hopefully half as good as the mom God gave to me.

What Greg and I could not see coming, and looking back was probably God's grace on us, was that we were entering the darkest time of our marriage to date. It can be summed up in one, awful, and earth shattering word: INFERTILITY. If you have never experienced infertility, I pray that you never will. It truly is lonely, confusing, and heart wrenching to know that you and your spouse are having difficulty with having a family- to whatever degree that may be. 

Our story is long and multi faceted. It is full of tears and cries out to the Lord. I can, and would love to share all the details with anyone who is interested. For a long time, I did not want to write about infertility. I did not want the world to know our "label" or the "problems" we were having. I did not want to complain or cry out to the inner-webs for attention. And, I still do not. Yes, Greg and I struggled with infertility and it is an experience neither of us would have signed up for. But I can say I would not change a thing. God knew our story from the beginning, was ever so faithful, gave me an incredible man to walk through the darkness with, and has decided to give us a double-blessing of babies!

The best part of our story is not simply that I am pregnant, it is God's goodness. It is easy to say He is good now; now that I get butterflies in my tummy late at night as the babies move, now that my stomach is starting to grow, and now that I can finally think of nursery themes without bursting into tears. But, He is not only good now. He always has been and always will be. I thank Him daily for the precious lives he has entrusted to us. And I pray that they will know how loved they are, not only by me (and many others) but ultimately by the Lord. The same Lord that showed us grace and is allowing us to become parents.

I know there may be many questions about our story, or more of the details. I am not hesitant to share with those who are curious but could have written a novel if I put them all here! And if you are experiencing infertility- please, please feel free to contact me. I know how much it hurts and I'd love to be a listening heart.

Love, Amanda (the proud mama-to-be!!)

My, oh my!

Well, obviously I failed. What started out as blogging every day abruptly ended as life got much busier! Plus, I have been making a conscious effort to spend less time on my computer and trying to use my free time more effectively. All in all, I did not blog. Sorry!

So for an update:

1. WE ARE MOVING! We will be renting a house on a super cute court here in Elk Grove. The official moving day is this Sunday and we are beyond excited. We have been blessed to get the keys a week early so we have been at the house daily working away. Bailey LOVES the backyard and we feel so blessed. Thank you Lord!

2. Mom and dad just left after a two week stay in sunny California. One week was spend in Socal celebrating my Grandma's 80th birthday. The weather was beautiful and it was great to see all of my cousins and spend time with family. The second week was here in Elk Grove. My parents went above and beyond helping work on our new house. My dad greatly improved our backyard and mom and I went to town cleaning the inside and lining drawers. It was such a blessing to have their support and help. The Bakers are great workers! :-)

3. Greg just got home from a nine day trip to Colorado. Every two years Campus Crusade (aka CRU) has their National Conference at CSU in Colorado. I missed him greatly, and was very excited to pick him up from the airport! He had a good time, but was happy to be back in the valley to help set up the new house.

4. Bailey is still growing like a weed! She is the sweetest pup ever. We always say how lucky we are to have such a good pup. She keeps us laughing and has greatly increased the joy in our lives. She is close to 52 lbs and still thinks she is a lap dog. Silly girl!

Well, those are most of the updates from the last few weeks. Now it is time to pack some more and get ready for the big day this weekend. Thank you to all who have been praying for a home for us, we greatly appreciate it!

Patience for patients

Ever have one of those days when you are running low on patience? Well, today was one of those days for me. There were several moments today when I was taking deep breaths and asking for God's help. Sometimes, to be honest, it is tough to be patient with my patients. (Ha, such a funny sentence!). I found myself responding with, "Sure! Of course.... no problem! Looks great!" when I was thinking "Really? Are you kidding me? Oy!" But you know what the best part of these days are? There is always an end. Once I got home, saw my handsome hubby, played with the pup, ate some FOOD, and relaxed a bit I felt better. And hopefully with a good night's sleep I will have more patience for my patients tomorrow :-)

Mario was baptized!

There was a baptism at our church yesterday and many people, who had signed up, participated. It was a really sweet moment to witness. At the end of the service Pastor Jason opened the invitation for anyone who desired to be baptized and one of our students from Sac State went forward!

Greg just led him to Christ this past January and God has been doing incredible things in his life. My heart was full watching him follow the Lord's call on his heart. Congrats Mario!

My kind of hike :-)

Today was amazing. Greg and I decided to celebrate our anniversary today since my mom was visiting during our actual anniversary day (which was super fun to have her here!) We had planned to go on a hike, since that is what Greg loves to do, and then get all cleaned up for a nice dinner out, which I love doing. Sounded like great plans to me, but little did I know the hubby had a completely different plan up his sleeve.

It started this morning when he took care of the pup and let me sleep in, so wonderful! Then when I woke up, I was given a super sweet card with a surprise inside: we were going on a totally different kind of hike. There was money inside of another envelope that said he was taking me on a shopping spree. The conditions were: I had to spend all the money today and it had to all be spent on me. I was WAY excited, since many of my summer clothes are too big on me and I haven't shopped in a long time as we have been saving for a house.

So, we got ready, packed up the pup, and headed to the east bay. Grandma & Grandpa Triplett puppy-sat (thank you!) and we shopped, till we dropped! Greg was so selfless and such a servant when we shopped, running and getting me other sizes and offering great fashion advice. Really. We finished with a yummy dinner in down town Walnut Creek (where we had our first date exactly two years ago) and some time relaxing in his parent's spa.

It was such an incredible day; I am left with a heart full of love for my sweet husband. He was so thoughtful and sacrificed his desires for mine. I am truly blessed with him, and I look forward to being his wife for many, many more years. And who knows, maybe we will have time for that (real) hike afterall. :-) THANK YOU GREGORY TRIPLETT!! I love you to the moon and back.

Baby, baby, baby!

I had the chance to catch up with a friend of mine today. We were close friends during hygiene school and some days I am pretty sure it was our friendship that helped me survive :-). She is having a sweet baby boy at the end of this month, and I am so excited for her! I got to reflecting on all the babies of friends that have recently been born or those who are about to enter the world. (Like my soon-to-be second niece at the end of this month!) Babies are such a sweet blessing from the Lord. They are so small, vulnerable, and intricately made. So, a warm congrats to all my friends who have reccently been blessed, or will be very shortly, with a precious bundle of joy!

A great way to start a day..

Remember how incredible summer time was when you were a kid? All the time in the world to do just about anything. The best feeling ever, right?! Well today felt like one of those summer days. There is a wonderful trail by our house that all three of us love. It is so peaceful, quiet, and spacious. There is a body of water (not a lake, kind of a large pond? I am bad with knowing these sorts of things..), geese, herons, and other small wildlife. We went on this walk around nine and Bailey was much more adventurous than normal. She BOUNDED through the brush and finally found the water. We have done this same walk several times and knew it was only a matter of time before she discovered her favorite thing: water. It was just such a sweet time connecting with Greg and laughing at our energetic (and soaking wet) pup. These days are my favorite and very precious to me. Whenever Greg and I reflect on favorite memories, we usually agree that we love our walks together. I pray that we can continue to have them, with them someday turning into family walks.  

My in-laws are a blessing

Yes, you read the title right. My in-laws are a blessing in my life! I am so grateful for both Paul and Janice. They have done an incredible job raising their son (and daughter :-)). They are always so willing to love, serve, encoruage, and share in our lives. I appreciate that they believe the best in us and dont put unrealistic expectations on our time. We had the opportunity to see them tonight, have a yummy dinner, and get caught up in eachother's lives. It was time well spent. They are an incredible addition to the already outstanding parents I have. So, thank you Tripletts for being a godly example and a great influence in our marriage!

Trust

Tonight at our last small group session (sad!) we discussed what it looks like to trust God and trust our spouses. Such a great conversation! What is trust? How do we do it? Do we do it? These exact questions I have been wrestling with for the last 6 months (at least). Some say trusting is easy, others say it is nearly impossible. For those that it is more difficult, usually something hurtful has happened. And my lack of trust started with hurt. When my parents were moved I was heartbroken, heartbroken by God. It has taken three years, many tough times, and plenty of tears to realize I am on a very specific journey of learning to trust God. At times I have felt extremely guilty for lacking trust, for being mad at God, and even distancing myself from him. But you know what? It's okay. David got angry with God, Jacob wrestled with God, and even Jesus had his heartbroken. I look back and I am amazed at how far God has brought me. My journey ahead of me is still long and uncertain causing me to be timid, impatient, and even fearful; but to quote Mike Otto "trust breeds trust". So true! I can press on because I have a Lord that is 100% trustworthy guiding me. (And he has given me a pretty awesome hubby too :-))

Thank you!

It's just about time for bed, but I did not want today to end without thanking the men and women who fought for our freedom starting on June 6, 1944. I remember watching the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" with Greg last summer. They rocked my world. It was bonechilling and very emotional to see what these Americans went through. It makes me proud to be an American and deeply grateful for their bravery and dedication. If you have not seen the miniseries, watch it. Seriously. Thank you to all our soldiers, from the bottom of my heart. You are true Heros!!

His & Hers

Well, nothing too dynamic happened today. We had a great morning at church and a busy afternoon of housework (for me) and schoolwork (for Greg). So, I decided to have Greg and I answer a few silly questions!

1. When was the last time you laughed really hard?
Greg: Our dinner with our staff team (Jacob & Caellin Douglas) at Mikuni
Amanda: Probably the women's retreat with Kami Tolar. She is hilarious!

2. What is your favorite thing about the opposite sex?
Greg: (pause) They bring beauty into the world
Amanda: Thier strength (emotionally & physically)

3. What do you want to know about the future?
Greg: Where we will live next year
Amanda: I agree!

4. If you were famous for something what would you want it to be?
Greg: Impacting eternity
Amanda: Anything I say will sound lame compared to Greg's answer! I was going to say a singer, but impacting eternity is legit! :-)

5. One random fact:
Greg: (taking forever to respond, he is way disctracted by the TV.. ha! I'll answer for him.) He plays Settlers of Catan online. INSERT NERD JOKE HERE. If you dont even know what that game is, its okay. Dont waste your time :-)
Amanda: I eat like a 5 year old. Cheerios, peanut butter and jelly, graham crackers, gummy bears, and so on!

Clearlake (a day late!)

OOPS! I already missed a day. We went to Clearlake, CA allll day yesterday. I was so exhausted when I got home, I went straight to bed. We are a part of a young married's small group, which we adore. The leaders of our group have a lake house and set aside a day for us to all get away. The orginal plans were to include swimming, boating, jet-skiing, inertubing, sun-bathing, and so on. Little did we know that in JUNE, it would be pouring rain and cold!

Well we decided to go any way, and we had a great day! Even though we stayed indoors, we had a blast. There were puzzles, games, great food, excellent company, and plenty of laughter. Bailey tagged along and had a great time getting plenty of attention and even playing fetch in the lake (in the rain!) We have been blessed with so many great young married couples and have so much love for each couple. A BIG "thank you" to Mike & Vicky for all the hard work they put into making yesterday so fun!