Wrapping up February

At this moment, I am sitting on the front porch in shorts in February. The past few days have been a sweet taste of spring. Hallelujah!

First signs of life

Well, it seems like I sneezed and February has passed. Of course it's a shorter month, but seriously, where does the time go? Our lives are full of blessings, even though I am often slow to acknowledge them and even more slow to give thanks to God for them.

China buffet insanity

One of the small but very filling blessings have been the friendships we've found here in Salt Lake City. Davis and I often get silly ideas and for the most part, people enthusiastically join in. This past Sunday after a little hike in the foothills, we decided to taste the humor and MSG of an immense China buffet. This one comes with an enormous gate. We all laughed and ate until we rolled one another back out into the parking lot once finished. It may not seem like a big deal, but to Davis and I it's the continuation of a silly tradition enjoyed in Colorado.

Over President's weekend, we took a trip back to my native land, North Carolina, to visit with part of Davis' family. His sister, brother-in-law and two nieces live outside of Asheville, my hometown, in Black Mountain. Davis' mom flew in from Mississippi too. It was close to Julip's fourth birthday, so we were able to celebrate with them. We mostly shared space and company, it was a sweet time. It's hard to get to know family you marry into when you live far away. I love them but because they are family, it just seems harder to really get to know one another due to lack of time shared. Every time we visit, it seems like the relationship is strengthened and encouraged. Life definitely seemed a little less  enjoyable with the void they all left when we returned home.

Eloise, Davis and Julip.

Davis and I enjoyed putting the doll house back in order...
almost ;)

bear hunting with Julip

children = stickers everywhere

modern children = random selfies (of Julip)

We enjoyed playing with our nieces, sharing stories, cooking, exploring, eating, visiting Asheville and the Biltmore House, and strengthening bonds in Christ. We are hopeful they can sometime visit us in the wild west!

Biltmore Lion

External details of staircase

After four days of fun, Davis and I headed back to Utah. Every time we see family, we long to be closer but are torn because we do believe God has us in Utah for a time and a reason. We want to be present while we are present. So, here we are soaking in this pseudo-spring and friendships.

bootstraps

Life lately has been somewhat uneventful. I am fine with that. Some work, some play, some sunshine, and surprisingly a good bit of rain. It's been looking like a Georgia winter the past five days or so. I am not complaining, I am much more experienced being mobile in rain than snow.

Let's see... I woke up before work last week to check out the snow fall before heading out for the 6am work start. To my surprise, there was a herd of twenty-ish deer and moseying down the side walks. It was a pretty cool sight but also made me a little sad. Come to find out, they live in a large cemetery a couple blocks away and sometimes find their way into town. The awe and sadness dissipated a little with knowing the facts. However, in the moment I was so mesmerized I woke Davis up just in time for him to be super sleepy and miss the whole thing.

only proof of deer, tracks in the snow

Hmmm... Jenna and I had a girls date to the hair salon, I feel silly using the word salon, last week.

Tonight will be our second meeting of a nine week discipleship group through church.

Our dear friend in Fort Collins, Eric James, got engaged to a fabulous lady. We can't wait to celebrate with them in May!

I had a stupid cold for awhile. I felt fine except that my eyes constantly watered and my nose eternally dripped. I had to miss work because who wants their nurse dripping snot on a their fresh newborn? 

Saturday we had lunch with the McKinneys and Moffats to send the McKinneys off on their RV adventure. I have another friend moving in a week and a half. And then the Moffatts will leave SLC at the beginning of the summer. It seems right now everyone is leaving. It's gotten me down a bit. These people have been our family here.

Saturday night we took some of the youth group to a University of Utah basketball game. I am really very impressed and thankful for the group of students in these churches. Despite the fact I feel super insufficient for this task, I have received so much joy and encouragement through their lives already. Davis and I were thinking back on our married life and had to giggle a bit at where our lives are currently. Never ever did we foresee a life in Utah and helping start a youth group. A place we never thought twice about before and a job we never thought we were great at. God is good and sometimes humorous.

uuuuuuuuuuuutah

This coming Saturday we fly to North Carolina to visit Davis' family for a long weekend. We haven't seen them in a long time. We will get to celebrate our niece's fourth birthday while we are there. And they live near my hometown of Asheville, which also happens to be one of my most favorite places in America.




So that's the update.

Now, that I finished that I just need a minute to confess and be so very thankful.  Davis can attest that I was pretty grumpy, sour, argumentative, and selfish this weekend. Not that those things were limited to this weekend, they just seemed to be more pronounced this weekend. Y'all, I am a big time sinner. So often I expect Davis (everyone really) to read my mind and get on board with my selfish plans. I often neglect or miss opportunities to serve, encourage, love, and ultimately glorify God because I want to live for myself.

But the problem is, even if I wanted to better myself of these things, I can't. I  cannot do enough good to save ourselves. Christianity is a religion of love and grace. There is nothing I can add or do to earn our salvation. Jesus paid it all. There is no such thing as being able to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Anything I think, do, or say that is glorifying to God is because of the Holy Spirit's work in my heart. And it's not to try to fix myself up so God will finally love me and bless me. It is because he has/does love me and has/will bless me.  Repent and believe. So simple and beautiful. Thankfully, I can't mess that up by being grumpy sour pants all weekend.

So, to end the ramblings. Here is part of a prayer the pastor gave us during discipleship groups...  I just really like it...

"Lord, you are full of compassion and gracious,

slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy;

there is always forgiveness with you!

Restore to us the joy of your salvation;

bind up that which is broken,

give light to our minds,

strength to our wills,

and rest to our souls.

Speak to each of us,

and let your word abide with us

until it has wrought in us your holy will. 

Amen"