joy to the world! i am free of airports!

After a long day and a half by myself in Philly (Aaron's flight left the day before mine, I know, the world's smallest violin is playing a sad song right now), I finally got to fly home! Until I missed my connecting flight in Dallas and had to spend the night in that wretched, freezing, mouse-ridden, eternally bright airport courtesy of American Airlines. No, I'm not bitter at all. 

But I finally made it home to hang out with Aaron's family for Christmas and New Year's! The older I get, the more I appreciate being home and with family. This year is no exception. 

Merry Christmas to you all!

one reason to celebrate:

A year ago today I married my best friend, and what a year it has been.
I love you Aaron!

brooklyn loves watching the silly elephants

I think I have more I want to say, but until I figure out how, this was one of Zach's favorite songs. And the music video is perfect for him:

Paradise by Coldplay

paradise

Thank you so much for your outpouring of love and support. We are in awe of the kindness we've received from so many. Thank you for the comments, tweets, messages, phone calls, emails and prayers. They have made a world of difference.

We feel so blessed not only to have such a wonderful support group, but also to know that we will be with Zach again. Life does not end with death, but continues on because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He truly has borne all of our sorrows, and He knows perfectly what we are feeling. I echo Nephi's words: I do not know the meaning of all things, I do not understand why this happened, but I know that God loves His children. 

Romans 8 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to^aseparate us from the ^blove of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Slowly but surely, we are finding peace.

there are no words

Aaron's little brother passed away last night. Our hearts are so broken, and I just keep hoping we will wake up from this nightmare.

Please, please, please keep us and his family in your prayers. We need all the help we can get.

my nail polish is really chipped. maybe that's why i'm so annoyed.

Found on facebook:

Yeah, I'm a girl. I push doors that CLEARLY say pull. I laugh harder when I'm trying to explain WHY I'm laughing. I walk into a room and forget why I even went in there. I count on my fingers for math. I hide my pain from my loved ones. I say it's a long story, when it's really NOT, just to get out of having to tell it. I cry a lot more than you think I do. I care about people who don't care about me. I am strong because I HAVE to be, not because I want to be. I listen to you, even when you DON'T listen to me. And yes, a hug will ALWAYS help♥.


"I count on my fingers for math."


Really? Sucking at math is a feminine characteristic?
Or is this just a random list of non-gender specific character traits that I've seen reposted by multiple girls?
Maybe they should just go buy one of those shirts JC Penney pulled offline proclaiming "I'm too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me!" 


Yay girls! Yay equality! 

a gift to the world

With Christmas fast approaching, maybe you could take 10 minutes and watch this video and remember what the holiday is really all about?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life. 


John 3:16

What are you doing to make Christmas special this year?