Friends, Big and Small

What's better than getting together with friends? Wherever we are in life, whether we are just beginning...

...or have already been here for a while, friends are priceless. To all of our old friends, new friends, and all of the ones in between, thank you for being our friends.

This reminds me of one of my most favorite childhood books of all time, "A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You," by Joan Walsh Anglund. It is about how we have friends everywhere - but it is told in the most simple and sweet way. (Text below...)

A Friend is Someone Who Likes You
A friend is someone who likes you.
It can be a boy…
It can be a girl…
Or a cat…
Or a dog…
Or even a white mouse.

A tree can be a different kind of friend.It doesn’t talk to you, but you know it likes you,Because it gives you apples… or pears… or cherries..Or, sometimes, a place to swing.

A brook can be a friend in a special way.It talks to you with splashy gurgles.It cools your toes and lets you sit quietly beside it when you don’t feel like speaking.

The wind can be a friend too. It sings soft songs to you at night when you are sleepy and feeling lonely. Sometimes it calls you to play. It pushes you from behind as you walk and makes the leaves dance for you. It is always with you, wherever you go, and that’s how you know it likes you.

Sometimes you don’t know who are your friends. Sometimes they are there all the time, but you walk right past the and don’t notice that they like you in a special way.

And then you think you don’t have any friends.

Then you must stop hurrying and rushing so fast…

And move very slowly, and look around very carefully, to see someone who smiles at you in a special way…Or a dog that wags its tail extra hard whenever you are near…Or a tree that lets you climb it easily…Or a brook that lets you be quiet when you want to be quiet. Sometimes you have to find your friend.

Some people have lots and lots of friends…

And some people have quite a few friends…

But everyone…Everyone in the whole world has at least one friend.
Where did you find yours?
We like our friends and are glad you like us. We are grateful for our friends!

My First Paycheck!

Wow! I can't believe that I have a real job and I am actually getting paid! It is amazing. After being in school continuously for so many years (and just working part-time here and there), it is incredibly gratifying, and almost surprising, to receive compensation. I can't even say how exciting it is!

Now, of course, I have to start paying back my student loans...but I won't let such thoughts ruin the joy of this moment!

Choo-Choo!

Hannah has just recently been starting to show an interest in trains. She can say a great, "choo-choo," which she does anytime she sees a train (or anything that resembles a train), hears a train, or hears the word "train." Obviously, such new-found interest warranted a trip to the railroad park in Scottsdale.

Tim and Hannah just before our train ride that winds through the park. It even goes through an covered tunnel and over a bridge!
Of course, we HAD to ride the carousel. Hannah loves them so much. I was a bit disappointed that she seemed to be more excited about the carousel than the trains, but then I realized that it doesn't really matter what she is happy about, just that she is happy. (Poor Tim got stuck on carousel duty. We switch off because neither of us like things that spin. At all. Yuck.)
In front of the old railroad cars that have been converted to a museum.

We will definitely be back soon!

Going to Nursery!

This is typically what getting ready looks like at our house - Hannah stumbling around in my shoes.

It is almost as if she is saying,"Look at me mom! I already have a well-established shoe fetish, so you better start saving your money!"
Oh, so sweet. I couldn't resist taking a few pictures before we left for church because Hannah was in such a happy mood AND it was her first Sunday going to nursery. Even though Hannah doesn't exactly behave like an angel at church, we can't help but adore her. We just might miss having her RUN up and down the aisles screaming while we try to listen... Hannah, we love you SO much! We can't believe how big you are getting already! You bring us such joy each and every day; we are so grateful for you. Hugs and kisses princess. :)