February 2018

Here's a bit of what we were up to in February...

First Row:

• We got together twice with our friend, Cassy, for lunch.
• We hiked Tiger Mountain with my friend, Erika. Phoebe did great the first 5 miles, but protested the last two...
• Jon and I went mountain biking at Swan Creek. It was the first time I've gone in a year and a half and I LOVED it! Plus, the bike Jon got me for my birthday is awesome!

Second Row:

• The family went to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the BYU v. Gonzaga basketball game. BYU lost unfortunately, but the food was good and Phoebe loved it (all those TVs and noise, you know?)
• Jon took a day off work and my family came to watch Phoebe so that he and I could go skiing. I learned that I appreciate skiing more than snowboarding, though I still pretty much fell down the mountain the whole way.
• While my parents and Kate were in town to watch Phoebe, Kate got creative and invented the "Swami." #mysisteriscoolerthanyours

Third Row:

• While in town, my dad helped us do a lot around the house. For example, he hung this beautiful shelf he made me for Christmas. He also helped us fix our kitchen light (it needed more than a new light bulb), hang a shelf in Phoebe's room, and hang a plate in our kitchen. Yay for handy/awesome dads!
• Phoebe and I met up our friends--Lui and her daughter, Suri--at a yummy Asian bakery. I love Lui and Suri...we happened to meet each other at a library baby storytime, and since then have become really good friends. Yay for yummy treats and awesome friends!
• It snowed in Tacoma! For a whole week! We almost didn't know what to do with ourselves.

And then because I can't help but make a collage of Phoebe pictures...

Phoebe’s Surgery

It’s almost time to say goodbye to that perfectly imperfect little smile! Phoebe’s surgery to fix her cleft lip is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13th at Seattle Children’s Hospital. The doctors tell us that the surgery will be about 3 hours long, we’ll stay the night, and then go home the next day. They also said that Phoebe should be able to eat as she always has afterwards (which is pretty amazing!) She’s a pretty stubborn and resilient girl, so we think she’ll bounce back from the procedure fairly quickly. 

As far as the financial side of everything goes, we were blessed to find out that we qualify for 100% coverage, which means that anything our insurance doesn’t pay for will be paid for through the hospital’s financial aid program. This is a tremendous blessing and we cannot express enough thanks to all the individuals who donate to hospitals like Seattle Children’s who have made this possible.

We will keep you updated on how the surgery goes when it happens, but in the meantime, if any of our Mormon friends are looking for something to fast for this coming fast Sunday, we’d greatly appreciate you keeping Phoebe in mind! We have faith that her surgery will goes according to plan, but we also believe in the power of fasting and prayer and know that the more people we have petitioning to God for her, the better off she’ll be. 

Stay tuned!

January 2018

Here's our January in pictures...

First Row:
1. Phoebe getting all warm for a run.
2. We went out to Red Robin for my birthday.
3. Phoebe is adorable...
4. ...And spits out her food when she decides she doesn't like how it tastes (cleft lips are very handy for this!)

Second Row:
1. Once again, Phoebe is adorable
2. Phoebe loves to play with toys (as long as you are there with her!)
3. She continues to chew on just about everything you hand her
4. She loves to bounce around in the jumperoo that my sister-in-law, Laura, is letting us borrow.

Third Row:
1. Phoebe makes a MESS when eating. Especially if she's tired and she rubs her food-covered hand all over her face.
2. Yup--still adorable!
3. Phoebe and I went down to Vancouver to see my sister, Kate, in a short skit she helped put on
4. Phoebe is officially sitting in the stroller forward facing (instead of sitting in the car seat with the stroller adapter)

Fourth Row:
1. We start off most morning by doing a bit of reading, including reading Winnie the Pooh!
2. Phoebe all ready for church
3. My birthday present from Jon...a new mountain bike!
4. And of course, still adorable.

What He Sees In Me

Sometimes I find myself wondering: "Do I believe in Christ?"

The answer is always a resounding "Yes." Then I realize that the real question on my mind is: "Do I believe in myself?"

Christ is pure and powerful and perfect. He has healed and forgiven and blessed people throughout all history, in all books of scripture, and even in our world today. I, on the other hand, have quite the different track record. I stumble. I fall. I mess up. I make mistakes. I sin.

When I start thinking these things, I remind myself of a quote that got me through a rough patch in my life. It goes:

"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will.We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming." (Joseph B. Wirthlin)

This beautiful statement gives me hope. God is perfect and sees me perfectly, and even despite all my flaws, He still loves me and will never give up on me. So when what I see in myself doesn't seem like enough to believe in, I decide to believe in what He sees instead, and that is enough.