houses and hiking

I think every update starts with "we've been busy". I am beginning to wonder if I just exaggerate our actual busyness or if we really are busy. But, alas, we have been a bit busy. This time it's been looking at houses to buy. Can I just say, this whole idea of buying a house is quite scary to me? I know it's like renting from the bank and hopefully we can at least get some of the money back. It's hard for me to commit to any place and sign my name on any line. We've seen a handful of houses of varying quality. The housing market here, at least the area we want to live, is challenging. It's more expensive per square foot here than the southeast but it's cheap compared to California. But a lot of people in our buying range are trying to purchase here. We found a little house built in 1907 that is in good shape in the general area we want to be. Everything is walkable and there are plenty of parks and large old trees. I guess you could say the area we can afford is "in transition". It can be a little hit and miss in ascetics due age and growth of suburbs in the past. But as with most of Salt Lake City, it's pretty darn safe. As more young folks move back into the city, it definitely can get much better.  Overall, I want to feel confident and care-free about committing. We will be here for at least three to five more years due to work. I know other people do this sort of thing all the time. That is great for them. I am still scared. I realize I am asking my confidence to be based on knowing with certainty the future.

I'll update y'all on the final verdict on this matter in time. But what I am going towards is how desperately I think knowing the future will give me confidence and peace. I think it would be gracious of God to give me foreknowledge in all life matters. When I think about that, I realize knowing would really limit the present moment. Already, a struggle is to not look to the future calendar and count down to the next big thing planned. If I were to know all things, would I really embrace the grace, love, mercy, and joy provided in the moments of life? I doubt I would. I am hoping I can see this need to trust God as a form of mercy and grace in my life. That goes not just for home buying, but all the things I worry that could happen or desire to happen.

There are other things we are realizing that we thought or wish we could control and plan that is ultimately not up to us to make happen. This also is driving me back to Jesus. Trusting. Trusting in a constant, loving, covenant God who is present with us moment by moment.

We always talk about how much there is to do here daily. We often are worn out come Saturday, we rarely go out to enjoy it. Sundays have become with busy with a ton of church responsibilities. However, this Saturday after getting good sleep, we skipped the farmers market and headed for the mountains. We had a lovely hike in the Uintas trekking Lofty Lake loop. Below are a few of the sights.

meadows with streams flowing

 Ingrid is about to take off sniffing

snack break with a view

snow patch, Ingrid flipped out
she loves to run around in snow and stick her nose in it

wildflowers, glacial lake, and rocky mountains. incredible.

So, that is where we are currently. Hope everyone is having a lovely summer.

summertime catch up

Summer has proven already to be a busy season. I am not surprised but I am also surprised. My mental images of summer go between sipping lemonade on the porch, slowly rocking in a chair as the sun sets, to hiking/biking/swimming/camping/cookouts/trips (insert outdoor activity)  and etc. We seem to be busy while trying to mix in some times to relax. Or maybe not just be busy for the sake of doing things but more purposeful activities.

Regardless, I am terrible at taking pictures of life. We have had friends and family come through. We have visited friends. I have little to no pictures of these activities. I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but that is how it is.

We started our post-europe-trip-life with a trip to Colorado for a dear friend's wedding. That was a quick weekend flight and quite busy, since Davis was a groomsman.

After that, we helped host a couple looking into SLC for a church planting apprenticeship. We are excited that they want to come here. We bonded rather quickly and hope it is the beginning of a longer friendship.

After that, friends through our Ridge Haven days stopped for a night on their way to Oregon for residency. Watermelon and board games on the front porch was the activity for the evening.

Shortly following, Davis' mom and sister came for about a week each. We had little time to show them Salt Lake City after our work days ended and their essential oils conference set them free.We are always grateful when family makes the trip to see us.

Since the 4th of July fell on a Friday, Davis got a free three day weekend. These opportunities are rare for us. Usually holiday weekends are used for flights and family visiting. We decided to use this time to head back to Colorado to catch up with some friends. One family of our dearest Fort Collins friends had very recently moved to Denver. We wanted to catch up with them some more, see how their new life was going, and hopefully be an encouragement as they start this new chapter. We talked a few of our other Fort Collins friends to come down and have a traditional "colorado family" gathering of food and chatting.  We also decided bomb pops necessary to celebrate, regardless of their dye#352745 content. Happy birthday America! We sat at a park overlooking the Broncos stadium but due to kids bed times and what not, we left before the big show started. However, from the hill in the park, we could see all the rogue fireworks in the surrounding neighborhoods.

this bunch is awesome. so dear to my heart. (eric and sarah had already left)

my best of all friends, viola

After two nights in Denver, we made a quick hop up to Boulder. Another Ridge Haven connection/life long friends have made this pseudo-utopia their long term home. It's a cool place for sure. But these guys are the real draw for us.

i stole this picture from lora

We biked to the farmers market, tried a few samples, picked out lunches, and picnicked in the park. Lora and Andrew have a little girl due to arrive mid-September. We had lots of fun guessing the name and sharing in their excitement After that adventure, we went to relax on the only beaches available in these parts. We soaked up the sun and water at Boulder Reservoir. Davis' hair took on a whole new look post swimming.

troll hair

We had a lovely dinner out on the town followed by board games. The next morning we headed home through Fort Collins. We stopped at a favorite coffee shop for juice. Funny, right? I love a well balanced  fresh vegetable juice and the Bean Cycle has one of my favorites. We also grabbed sandwiches and reminisced on our first summer of marriage spent figuring out life and Fort Collins. The smells that day, funny enough, asphalt and nature, took us back four years.  I say nature because I don't know what combination of what makes Fort Collins smell that way. But it's definitely unique in my mind. We wouldn't go back to that time but it was a tender moment reliving that time. It would be interesting if you could time travel and just experience certain moments  for maybe an hour. I would do that but I don't want to start over.

downtown fort collins from the bean cycle

The long drive gave us ample time to listen to books on tape, talk, and just observe. We both realize SLC is growing on us. We contemplate the idea of what it looks like to live somewhere whole-heartedly, not keeping the option to leave always in the back of your mind. It's hard to imagine putting roots into our transient community here, especially when our families aren't here. Anyways, that is another thought for another day.

We are entering nearly a two month lull of no planned visitors and travel. We want to do a little camping, swimming, hiking, and so on. The fall is starting to look busy with weddings and visitors. We are excited to establish a routine again.