Naomi Rose

Our newest niece...

Chubby Cheeks!

Silliest uncle (check the uni-brow)

Lyla's newest cuzzie :)

Charis

Sophie

Grandma and Lyla watching TV :)

Sink bath cutie!

Our MN/WI Peeps :)

(a lot of them anyway!) We were blessed to have a wonderful truck loading/going away party--thanks to everyone who came and helped. We love you and we'll miss you!

Aunt Colleen and Carol

The truck! This was just the beginning...

Whew--what a part-ay

Joel, Freja, Gunnar, Soren

Pedretti rellies :)

Our grill-master Aunt Colleen! Thanks for all your hard work!

Neighbors Jim and Joel

Shane-o

Joff, Missy, Dawson, and Lydia

Our wonderful neighbors Joel, Deb, Jack and Sawyer

Life Group! (Jelaine, Mike, Michele, Tim, Jenny, Joel, Shane, Victoria, Audra, and Ryan)

Betsy, Justin, Rowan, Gavin, and Ally

The Adams :)

Braden & Joel

Joel and his boys--Rich, Josh, Joel, and Justin

Nelson, Mark, Karn (as if you didn't already know) :)

Aunt Colleen, Uncle Daniel, and cousin Angelo

Thanks for taking all the pics John!

5 years ago today...

...I married the love of my life, my best friend, Joel. :) Happy Anniversary sweetie--you make every day fun, and I love you more with every passing year. Looking forward to all the years to come, walking hand-in-hand with you.

I Corinthians 13:1-7, 13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres....And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

July 22, 2010

Catchin' Up

Well hello! It's been a long time since I've updated the blog! We've been a little busy...

Joel, Lyla, and I all made it safely to AZ. Lyla and I flew in and she travelled like a dream as usual--she charmed everyone we sat next to, of course. :) My dad and Joel pulled into town about 2 days later with the moving truck. As far as we know, all our stuff made it intact! They had a great drive with no problems. We thank the Lord that we are finally here! It has been busy and a lot of fun getting settled into my parents' house and visiting with them and my brother & sis-in-law and now three nieces! My newest niece Naomi Rose is absolutely adorable--she was born July 10th, weighing a whopping 9lbs 5oz and was 21 3/4 inches long--whew, big girl! And my sis-in-law, Abby, did the whole delivery completely naturally--what a strong woman. I am in awe of her. Amazingly, I don't have any pics of Naomi yet--duh! I've been too busy holding her and snuggling her to take any pics. But I will post some very soon! She's an absolute doll in my unbiased opinion. :)

Joel leaves for his Panama adventure on Saturday. Just him and his dad are taking this trip together for 10 days, and I'm sure the country of Panama and all the activities they have planned will truly be an adventure. Sometimes I worry a little, so please keep them in prayer, if it crosses your mind!

Meanwhile, back here in AZ my mom and I will be on the hunt for a new home for Joel, Lyla, and I. I'm really excited to officially start the house hunting! The houses prices down here are unbeatable.

And contrary to what we expected, the weather has not been bad at all! It is the monsoon season, so every afternoon, around 3:30, the sky clouds up and sometimes it rains a few drops, or sometimes it rains hard, and breaks the heat nicely. And there truly is something to be said for "dry heat". It makes the summer time heat so much more bearable! It's actually very pleasant in the morning and afternoon/evening. We've really been enjoying all the desert wildlife too. It's really exciting to be embarking on a new chapter in our lives. Thank you to all of you who have been keeping us in prayer--we greatly appreciate it, and we know those prayers are being heard--we can feel it! And thank you to ALL of you who came to our going away party and helped us load up the truck (and unload on the AZ end)! I haven't found the CD with the pics of the party yet, but hopefully I will soon (I'm constantly dig, dig, digging) and I'll post those. Anyway, here's a bunch of pics from before and after the move...enjoy!

A visit from Diana and adorable Zahra

Cutie pie and her Auntie Bryana

A visit with some of Lyla's second cousins Makenna and Avery--Lyla LOVES them!

Below are pics from the wedding that Joel was best man in. He stood up for his close friend Craig and now wife, Tracy. (Craig stood up in our wedding too)

Being complete goofballs like usual

Our friends Mark & Karn were at the wedding reception--the babes were a little tired :)

Lyla with the bride & groom separately--she really liked Tracy's dog!

Ready for AZ--Happy trails to you!

Lyla's had a busy past few weeks--she fell asleep on Grandma and Papa's rug, toy in hand

Chillin with the cuzzies!

Summer time...

...and the livin is easy. Enjoying our last summer days here in Minnesota.

Big Girl!

We had a visit from my friend Susan and her three kiddos. Such cuties!

Vivianna, Susan, Louella, and Lyla

And Grayson! Eight weeks old. :)