Huntley Meadows

Sunday walks are the best.  Especially when you see frogs and turtles along your way.

 

The Miracle of Life

This week we have been dealing with a variety of loss.  Grandpa Butikofer passed away.  I am grateful to have met him, and am grateful for the legacy of faith and testimony that he left.  James is particularly grateful that his grandfather is now reunited with his sweetheart.

I am in the midst of my second miscarriage.  I postponed getting the physical care I needed.  After a trip to the emergency room, I realized that this is not going to be a simple process.  And that I need help.  I still have more follow-up visits, but am grateful for the help I was able to get, and am more confident that I am on the road to recovery now.  Our first miscarriage was a fairly quick discovery - no heartbeat on our first ultrasound.  The concern this time has been more drawn out... with some light, then heavier, then extremely heavy bleeding.  We were hopeful for a while that things might still be okay.  While one miscarriage is often "normal" and I was told not to be concerned, I have found this second miscarriage to be quite depressing.  I am of course concerned what it may mean for additional chances to have a successful pregnancy.  I have also had other difficult emotions to deal with.  It took me a little while to realize the source.  In 2005 I had someone I love die.  In 2007 I met someone, and found many similarities to the relationship and the circumstances.  I had a fear that he might too die, but told myself that there was no need to make that comparison and that it was an unreasonable expectation.  Unfortunately I did experience that double whammy of a loss.  With my first pregnancy, my brother and his wife were also pregnant at the same time.  "Ironically" they also miscarried at the same time.  With this recent pregnancy, another brother and his wife are also pregnant.  In addition to my own heartache, I have been distraught that they too might experience a similar loss.  There are things we can control and things we cannot.  I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven.  It is supremely comforting to know that He is in control.  He knows our weaknesses, our fears, our perspectives, and what we need.  I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  I am so grateful for the priesthood power.  I am so grateful for eternal families. I am so grateful for the many reminders of how precious this life is.   I am so grateful for first, second, and third chances. 

Primary Field Day and Dyke Marsh

Making Pickles

I'm not a big pickle fan, but my husband makes some awesome bread and butter pickles.

 

 





Labor Day Weekend

We debated about going camping, but with Labor Day being the first weekend we had the children in our home overnight, we decided to say local and work on settling in.  Turned out that we did a fair bit of exploring as well.  We had a lot of fun going clothes shopping, planting grass, going fishing, going to church, playing games, and visiting Great Falls.