Halloween Pumpkins!

This is an activity we haven't participated in for YEARS...

beings that our skills were a bit rusty we took the easy-way and worked with stencils.

 Ayla 'helping' Ryan carve.

Actually, she was more interested in climbing onto his lap in order to reach the door knob to the pantry. Surprisingly, peanut wasn't that interested in the pumpkin-carving-activity! Poor kid, she has some boring parents..... 

 The pumpkin duo- yep, they pretty much rock!

What a cool family activity- this may become a yearly tradition yet!

Perhaps next year Ayla may be more inclined to try her own hand at the carving (or coloring)!

Creating Space

Storage Space- is there ever enough of it in our home?

Ryan is most creative and great at building space where seemingly, there appears none!

Though I do admit that his latest project had me a bit concerned- I wasn't able to "see" the vision he had in his minds eye and it was quite the dusty mess! But afterwards.....it was brilliant and beautiful!

Ryan built in-set storage shelves into the wall of our teensy laundry room. Seriously, this room is s-m-a-l-l and cramped and where in the world where we put additional shelving??

Inside the walls, of course!    

 View from the garage looking into the laundry room- can you see the shelves behind the door along the wall?

 Interior view of the shelves

View from the hallways looking into the laundry room. The shelving doors are flush with the wall to maximize space.

Yes, I AM a lucky lady to have such a creative, fabulous husband!

....and no, you cannot borrow him for projects....he's mine, ALL MINE!!!! :-)

Now, we needs to begin food storage to begin filling up those awesome shelves!

This is about "Sometimes"

Sometimes....we still get sad.....

It's been a year and a half since Zoey said goodbye and there lingers a melancholy sadness. In part because as Ayla grows, we find ourselves thinking and occasionally saying, "Wonder what Zoey would be doing right now?"

 Don't mistake sadness for depression - we know we'll see Zoey again - it's just that at times, we truly miss the opportunity to raise she and Ayla together. There's a constant undercurrent that something is missing....a feeling not easy to describe.

Yet at the same time, there is peace and a deep sense of appreciation for the Christ and the Plan of Salvation. Because of Him, we know Zoey is waiting for us and we'll be together forever as a family!  

 Perfect

 We have learned this: Every parent who has experienced the loss of a child grieves in their own way and on their own time- there is no set timeline nor proper method. Ours is mostly silent- we don't talk about it often. Does it get easier? Of course.... Time moves along.
It has created a stronger bond between us- we realize life is truly a gift and that Ayla is most precious. We are especially grateful for Ayla's health and continual progress. We know other families who aren't as blessed and our hearts ache for them.

Zoey taught us many virtues; compassion, empathy (will cry at the silliest things now), love, service and most importantly, how essential family is...... and not only family but also friends, neighbors and strangers who provided service.

So thank you Zoey, we love and miss you!!