Memories...

I have seen several blogs lately that have done a "looking back" type post, and it sounded like fun. I guess we'll see how good my memory is...

1 Year Ago:
Wow- this time last year I was just a little stressed out. We KNEW that we were going to be moving to the Azores to teach... but we had no earthly confirmation of it yet. We were planning, packing, selling, and most of all praying, hoping beyond hope that we would hear something before May 15th, so that we would know whether Tim should sign his contract for the next year of teaching in Manila. To make a very long story short, we did NOT know by then, and in fact didn't hear a thing until the last half of July. But look... we're here... in the Azores! What an amazing experience that was- we really had to learn to trust our ability to receive personal revelation. I am so grateful for that whole experience.



5 Years Ago:
Emma was a brand new baby. And what a sweet thing she was... huge cheeks and tons of dark curls. She was the kind of baby that makes other moms jealous! At this point, I was kind of thinking we were done... but I am so glad we weren't- we would have missed out on Annalise! Also, we had just moved into our new house in Manila, on a wonderful half acre with lots of big trees. I miss lots of things about that house now... especially the kitchen! On a serious note, we had just found out that my brother Tom had a brain tumor. It's amazing how quickly life can change.


10 Years Ago:
Oh, boy. Price and Josh were 2 months old. I was a wreck. We had gone to the hospital in February to have a baby, and we came home with two! We literally didn't know that we were having twins until after Price was born. Everything worked out for the best... they were healthy and huge (6 1/2 and 7 1/2 pounds), but what a shock. On the upside, I think having surprise twins just 6 months after moving to the small community of Manila really helped our transition into the ward. So many people helped us through that time, and in the process we made lots of wonderful friends.


15 Years Ago:
If I'm figuring this out right, I was in Duisburg, Germany, serving a mission for the church. We lived right on the Rhine River, in a very scary, rundown apartment, right across the river from a steel factory. However, I was having wonderful experiences, meeting amazing people, perfecting my language skills, and learning the gospel (not to mention riding lots of strassenbahns!). This time influenced my future life greatly.


20 Years Ago:
Hmm... I was just finishing my junior year of high school in Woodland Park, Colorado. Mostly, I try not to think about those years too hard, although I was having a great time. About to start working at McDonald's.... As Rebekah approaches her teenage years, I find myself thinking more and more about that time in my life- I'm trying to figure out exactly how I can help her navigate the teenage minefield successfully. Sorry, no picture this time.

25 Years Ago:
Okay, the fact that I can even remember 25 years ago is pretty scary. I was 11, going on 12, and my family was preparing to move from Forest Grove, Oregon, to Walla Walla, Washington. I have visited both places in the last few years, and it has been fun to explore the places where I made so many great memories.
This is Harvey Clarke Elementary School in Forest Grove,


And Sharpstein Elementary in Walla Walla.



I think that's enough. it was fun to look back on some of the milestones in my life. It has also made me think about all the other things that I haven't written about. I have had such a full, wonderful life so far, and I look forward with great anticipation to the rest of it. Heavenly Father has truly blessed me.