Ahhh Seattle

17 years ago, we lived in a suburb of Seattle for 9 months. You would think that would just be a blip in the memories of our marriage, but it was a watershed time for us. It was our first chance as a married couple to bond to each other without any family around, and it was a very peaceful time in my mothering life. Jeff was a happy-go-lucky two-year old and Johnathan was the world's easiest, quietest, sweetest baby. I found one of my kindredest of kindred spirits there, and we've stayed in touch ever since.

Every time I go there, I have a palpable sensation of homecoming. Sara (the kindred spirit) and her home, Mt. Ranier in the background, ferry rides and perfect Puget sound mornings...



... have become a refuge for me and I try to get back there as often as I possibly can. This time, Sara and I had so much fun. We shopped till we dropped, watched conference, watched the sun rise, walked on the beach, ate good food, laughed, cried, bore our testimonies, and oh, I am rejuvenated. This in contrast to last Monday being one of the most difficult nights we've had in our family in quite a while, complete with me feeling like a complete failure as a wife and mother, especially as the wife of the Bishop. Thankfully, emotions are not always reality, and perception does not equal fact, but giant journaling and then getting away from it all sure combined to help me get my perspective back. I know its not often practical to get away from it all, but this opportunity was a tender mercy and I hope that the memory of it will sustain me through the future rough spots that will surely come.

And just to prove that it really is true, even on the beach in Port Townsend, WA: Love, actually, is all around us...



On that note, I will go nurse my jet-lag by watching that very movie. Happy Thursday Morning !