It's A Magical World

 

I stayed up until 2 AM last night writing an anniversary post. 

It was therapeutic. 

Maybe I'll post it someday. 
But not today. 

Today we woke up to snow.  Inches and inches of fresh, beautiful, white, bright snow.  We couldn't get out of the parking lot to Kindergarten so we declared Christmas break official and came inside to cozy up. 

   

As I shook the snow off my boots, I shook my head with a wry smile. 
"I'll have to write a new post,"  I told no one in particular. 

Wintertime eleven years ago found Wes and me sitting together on the stairs that led down to my basement college apartment.  We talked and smiled.  I mostly looked at Wes's shoes, afraid a more direct gaze might reveal something I wasn't sure he wanted to know. 

After a little small talk, Wes told me he was distributing some prized possessions to a few dear friends as a kind of missionary insurance - you know, so that he'd have a reason to be in touch with people after his two year trip to Norway.  He passed me a book. 

Wes's young self prized few things more than his collection of Calvin and Hobbes comic books.  He gave various copies to various friends.  I couldn't convince myself that his giving a copy to me meant anything in particular.  But over the two years that followed, I thought often of the comic Wes flipped to and had me read that afternoon in F. Smith Hall.

 

I thought of that comic the bright winter morning were married. 

And I thought of it this morning. 

Happy Anniversary, Wes

"Once Upon A Time..."

"...there was a Little House way out in the country.  She was a pretty Little House and she was strong and well built." (The Little House, Virginia Lee Burton)
 

I promised a story.  Well, this is good one.  Blood, sweat, and tears, and all that. 

Most of you know that sometime mid-summer Wes and I investigated a non-profit corporation selling reasonably priced lots in rural cities.  Contracted families would work together to build a group of eight homes over the course of 7(ish) months.  Sweat equity would double as a down payment.

Most of you know that after some vacillation we closed the deal and proceeded with the project.  Proceeding was perhaps not the most reasonable choice.  Indeed, there have been stressful weeks, minor injuries (careful with those nail guns, people!), and cold (cold) winter days. 

But there have also been angels. 

And beautiful days when the sun warmed our backs and the time, passed in company of beloved folks, passed quickly.  

Wes and I have spent several days on the site alone together.  We've hauled and measured together.  We've pulled plenty of nails and shared plenty of frustration and laughter together.  And I wonder if there will ever be a place I long to live in more than this little house, way out in the country, made of strong lumber and so much love.   

I'm not exactly sure how this story will end.  But I wanted to at least give you a peek of the pictures (you can browse the archives and pop by for future updates HERE).

In the meantime, Wes and I feel like shouting our gratitude from the roof-top!  Thanks to all of you who've helped (in body or in spirit =)!

Fall

I suppose that yesterday's winter storm (predicted to “far surpass anything that we've seen, probably for the last several years” ... anybody see that storm? I think we missed it.) brings fall close to an end.

Sigh.

It's sure been fun! 

One Saturday morning while Wes was building us a house the kids and I bundled up for a long walk in the leaves.

   

(Spencer only tolerated his mittens at intervals.

"I can't suck!" he'd say in desperate frustration and demand their removal.) 

 

 We finished with scones and hot chocolate at the cafeteria.

You may recall that the creator of those darling hats was my friend Rebecca.  We had a chance to visit her and Nate in their lovely abode this fall, and meet their darling pup, and sample their delicious apple pie.  We love them. 

And we love our friend Alan who flew out from Chicago at the beginning of November.  The evening before he left we made Anne's carmeled apples, looked through old Las Vegas year books, and listened to lots of music from the 90's.  Good times.

 

     

And there has been fun with (and help from!) lots of other friends.  

Friends like Karen and Leesee who hooked us up with a sweet Christmas bow for Lucy's holiday head (shop up and running yet, Lees?).

Friends like Charis who dropped off a little firewood and s'more stuff so we could enjoy one last family night in the canyon before winter's storms. 

  

I loved that night.  Spencer didn't know he should cook his hot dog before biting in.  Lucy, as usual, prepared her dog with a half a bun - for holding purposes only. 

When the darkness deepened we snuggled up together by the fire.  There were stars, and s'mores, and lots of silly songs.  And it was all perfect.  

So was our afternoon at the fairy lair around the corner from Grandma's house. 

so was this week's family night. 

We learned a few little Thanksgiving songs together and the kids took turns performing them on the couch using a bat as a microphone.  In the process, we learned that someone in our family likes to be solely in the spotlight.

And that brings us to this morning, all of us still in our jammies on the first day of Thanksgiving break. 

Happy feasting, friends!

(Hoping to be back soon for the story of something rather high on my grateful list this year!!)