A post with meaning.

Two posts today. Whew. I had a lot to catch up on.

But as I was leaving my desk to go do some work. 

I glanced at this instrument that stands next to my computer.

And had some inspiration to do the above picture.

Three weeks after the house burnt, the restoration crew said they had found an instrument in the house.

They had given it to Spencer but did not tell him where they found it.

It must have been in a special spot.

It was in the heart of the fire though. 

And it looks amazing.

We later found out that Spencer's Grandma had played this instrument. 

I think it is so special that it was found. So long after the fire. And that it survived.

It still stands so poised.

Even after it was burned.

I think this instrument is so beautiful.

This is the definition of a treasure.

 i miss home.

should be sleeping.

because i am reallll tired.

but my blog is feeling lonely,

and we needed to spend 20 minutes together.

yep, twenty minutes these days is pretty generous.

life has been pretty crazy around these parts.
i' i always say 'life is busy'
but it is. 

between family, being sick, school, pictures, fire....

but i wouldn't change one of these.

well, maybe one :)

okay. not one.

it's been a really good learning experience for me after our house burned.

it has made me realize that i don't really need anything in my life other than my savior, the gospel, and relationships.

even though, i think i need stuff. i don't.

it's weird to think about when spencer called me and asked my to come home because 'a fire at the house'

he was ultra calm, as if it was a small fire.

nope. BIG fire. but he was still calm. 

it was even weirder driving toward a cloud of smoke and knowing it was my house.

i didn't really want to go there. i just wanted to keep on driving and pretend it didn't happen.

pretend it was a dream.

but i went.

and 

it

was 

okay.

no spencer inside. no sleeping babies inside.

could've been worse.

blessing counted.

i'll tell you one perk.

i've never really like moving.

but when you have nothing to move, 

but the clothes on your back.

it's kind of nice. 

no bags to carry.

no boxes to fill.

no food to throw away.

that's freedom.

oh! and that 'distressed, antique' look people go for.

i know how it happens.

it might stink. but your house will for sure look 100 years old.

spencer even said, "our canvas looks cool distressed"

i'm not necessarily recommending this way of going about that.

but, just so you know. there were perks.

people have been oh so sweet.

it's very humbly.

my sister said.

maybe this is part of the lesson.

she said, "It's hard to let people help you,

It's so much easier to give, but I think they are equally important"

she's right.

trials are for learning. 

i am so excited for thanksgiving break.

i have lots of crafts in mind.

and hopefully i'll have time to execute them.

so.. if you're bored.

whoever you are.

i always love company :)

i am off to utah to hit some thrift stores tomorrow. 

and spend time with my beautiful hermanas.

away 

we 

go.

R.I.P. Gladys. October 2010 - October 2010

You brought joy to our eyes.

Your life was short.

But it was sweet.

lately.

i have been the world's worst blogger lately.

i have been ultra busy.

but. 

life is so good right now, despite little set backs.

i have wonderful people in my life.

including the cute guy above. 

i am really grateful for him.

he has been 

so patient.

so kind.

so thoughtful.

i'm lucky to know him.

even luckier to be his wife!

the picture up above was shot in Robin, Id. last week during a shoot.

spenny has been coming with me on shoots.

and let me just say.

he's creative and has a great eye.

so, he's my new side kick.

i fell in love with this old bike on the property.

i kept talking about. and they gave it to me.

(thank you guys! i love it!)

i am going to spruce her up. so she is ride-able

remember my old bike i had to leave in ohio?

now i have a replacement.

and you know the drill.

what should we call her?

holla.

i have to make a shout out to bloggers of the world.

i'll admit.

i have made fun of myself {alot} for having a blog.
i have often thought of deleting it.

but, i am SO glad i kept it.
do you want to know why?

because i know the little 'items' and projects around my house were just 'things'
i would blog about these projects a lot that spence and i would work on.
and i sometimes thought it was dumb to blog about them.

now i treasure them. because they bring back really good memories.
you. never. know.

so. i think it's good to (especially for me) to blog about any part of your (my) life.
even if it sconces, bulb chandeliers, or turquoise tables

good news is, my owl really did watch over my house.
she is cleaned up and ready to rock back over there again.
so she can watch the house for us for 9 months.

the roof is on ....

well. it's been a crazy weekend.

and I think we would have won, 'best haunted house'

saturday we had a fire.

but when i started thinking of all the things i'll miss.

i ran across this in church,

D&C 30

2 But your mind has been on the things of the ^aearth more than on the things of me, your Maker.

I regain my focus.

Then I think of my favorite scripture.

D&C 121

7 My son, apeace be unto thy soul; thine badversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

8 And then, if thou aendure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

9 Thy afriends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

I then feel better.

And then I count my blessings that no one got hurt.

Because that is most important.

More important than any thing.

(for halloween we were going to be)

me: Mr. Fredrickson

spencer: russell

awesome :)