insta-life

Two Years

Two years ago we tied the knot.

What a wonderful two years has it been.

When Derek Ran the Olympic Torch

With the Summer Olympics in full force and the nation locked in to watching TV as much as possible, I figured there wouldn't be a better time to share the story of Derek running the torch in the Winter of 2002. In high school, Derek was nominated to run the torch by fellow classmates. Weeks later, a letter came in the mail informing him he had been chosen to help run the torch through Twin Falls, Idaho. He ran two legs in his   official Olympic track suit {maybe his sparking love of track suits in the first place?} and was able to carry the torch some of the way. The torch then went on to be carried to help light the big torch in Salt Lake City a few weeks later. At the finish, he was welcomed by his family who cheered for him the whole way in, what looks like, warm & cozy coats for that cold Idaho morning. 

Summer Rain

Like mentioned in earlier posts, we have experienced many summer rain storms. Waking up to bursts of bright white lightening in the early hours of the morning has been both exciting and terrifying at times. The thunder on the other hand, is just terrifying. After Derek left for the hospital a few mornings ago, I went out and snapped a few photos. It was so beautiful and refreshing to see the grass and trees wet, like they had just taken a shower. A few minutes later, the thunder started again, and you better believe I was running as fast as my furry boot feet could carry me.

Westview Orchard

 Although this past weekend was spent inside watching the Olympics opening ceremony/events and grabbing take out for dinner, we snuck out for an afternoon adventure on Saturday to a local orchard & cider mill. We had a great time laughing at the farm animals, especially before the thunder began and they all became just a little spooked. The baby goats especially won over our hearts, until they started chewing on our shoes, pants, and thinking the camera was food. We came home with fresh peaches & warm house made cinnamon and sugar donuts. It was a fun afternoon and I only wish we could come back in the fall for pumpkin picking, hay rides, and corn field mazes. 

Leopard Print Feet

If someone would have told me even last year that this summer I would be living in Michigan right now, I would've laughed. I read some blog entries early in our marriage and was laughing at the fact about how closed minded I was about the Mid West. I even wrote "NO MICHIGAN" in one of them. Thankfully, I grew up a little bit and became open minded to the idea of moving somewhere completely and totally different. With that, I would have never imagined it being almost August and wearing leopard slippers everyday because I find myself "cold". Or waking up to beautiful displays of lightening and loud rain pounding down on our balcony and BBQ. It has seriously been such a treat to be here during this beautiful time of year and enjoying the green & mild weather. It's even more crazy to think that our time here is almost coming to an end, and soon I will be living in California with my family again while Derek travels for clerkships from coast to coast. Maybe he should take the slippers for his long drives? I mean, they are his anyways.