Snowflake

Many of you may think that I have died, or maybe just fallen off the side of the earth (or taken by aliens) but I've really just been pretty busy here in Snowflake. I know that may sound like a contradiction, but you'd be surprised at the many goings-on of a small town. To make a small list, I've been to a "Read under the Stars "(it is exactly what it sounds like), a soccer practice for Maeser, a soccer game for Maeser (can I just say how funny it is to watch little kids play sports), I've been to Show Low once (that's where the nearest WalMart is and I just couldn't bring myself to pay the exorbitant prices for diapers here in Snowflake), James has been sick three days this week with a fever and the only thing he wanted to do was hang out on my lap all day, my sister and I go walking for 3.5 miles everyday, I have run 3 times and I've been to the temple. Okay, I'm going to stop the list now because it's boring me to write it. But James and I have been having fun here. James is making huge strides in his ability to talk. Most of the time I still haven't the foggiest idea what he's saying, but every once in a while, he uses a new word and I know what he's talking about. Here are pictures of things James has done to keep himself busy. Enjoy!

Packing, Policeman and Primary Songs

As you all know, Paul was accepted into the DEA Academy and left on Friday. His first few hours in D.C. were a little frustrating as he attempted to get to the hotel he was staying at that night. With my map reading skills and Paul's ability to follow my directions, we spanned the several thousand mile gap between us and got him to his hotel. Saturday, he checked into the Academy and this strange new experience really began. But back in Tucson, it was a little stressful on my own end as I packed the rest of our things and moved out of our apartment. Luckily I had some ward members and some very special friends, Troy and Eevi--and theirbaby, Saku--who saved me and truly were angels as they moved my stuff, helped me clean and enabled me to keep my sanity as I tried to make the move without Paul. I got on the road at about 4:00pm to go to my sister's in Snowflake.

On the way, I experienced something I've only experienced once before: I was pulled over by a policeman. Unfortunately for me, I was speeding 20 over in a work zone. But lest you think I am a terrible driver, here are the facts and you can judge for yourself whether a simple warning was justified, or whether I deserved a ticket. First of all, I thought the speed limit was 10 higher than it actually was (it was 30 and I thought it was 40). Second, I had just started down a steep hill, and so I was picking up the initial speed that you get right as you begin to put on the brakes. Third, James had just woken up and was throwing a royal fit (which, lucky for me, the policeman witnessed first-hand). And finally, I didn't try to make any excuses or beg him not to give me a ticket. I knew that I was in the wrong--sort of--and that it was what it was. Fortunately, the policeman had compassion on a stressed mother (he even noted that it looked as if we were moving and must have known the stress I was dealing with that alone) and let me off with just a warning. Luckily, nothing else happened and I made it to Snowflake with no further incident. And now I've enjoyed several relatively stress-free days in a row, thanks to my sister, Jeanette, her husband, Rhett, and her boys, Kade and Maeser.

As a side note, Paul and I have been singing to James a lot (well, I guess it's just me now) and this video is of James helping to sing his favorite Primary song: I am a child of God. We're still working on the rest of the song, but I'm happy that he is at least recognizing songs enough to know some words.

A New Job

I am excited to let you all know that Paul just got offered the job with the DEA that we have been working towards for over a year now. He will begin the Academy on September 19 and will be there until February 6, 2010. Although this is going to be a long and arduous journey for our family, I believe we are doing the best thing ultimately for our family and that we will come out the better for it. I'm still not sure what I will be doing during these months. For the first month, Paul will not be able to leave the Marine Base where his training will take place. And then after that, he will only be able to leave on the weekends. This poses a dilemma for which we don't quite have an answer yet. Do I move back to D.C. and hope that we will be able to see him most weekends? Do I fly out several times during his stay there instead? How is James going to deal with all this change? These are questions that keep circling around and around in my head...I'm sure the answers will come to me. But I'm grateful for the peace that I feel because of the faith I have in a loving Heavenly Father and Savior who are always watching out for me and my family.

Building Blocks

One of James' new favorite things is building with his blocks. I think the highest tower he's made is about 5 blocks, but he's getting better at placing the blocks so that they don't fall over. Here is one of his attempts. Is it obvious by his own clapping that we are quick to praise his every move? :)