Watching Fourth of July Fireworks

Well, I guess these shots were taken pre-firework show but we were up in Idaho Falls, camped on a blanket along the Snake River, and just waiting for the sun to set. We forgot the real camera in the car but still attempted to preserve the moment with Shane's cell phone camera. The Melaleuca-sponsored fireworks show (billed as the largest fireworks show West of the Mississippi) was quite impressive -- over 40 minutes of non-stop wonders all coordinated to patriotic music.

Smashed into the first photo are me, Shane, Wyatt
(oldest nephew) and Kayla (Shane's sister).

Trying to get both of our heads in the shot.

Not sure what was going on here...just being silly us.

East Coast Storms

The storms out East this year seem especially fierce. I know they are pretty well known for being so, but this year is the worst I've seen for sure. A storm rolls in just about weekly. It will be all hot and humid and the clouds gather and then the thunder starts and in less than a minute it can go from no rain at all to an all-out dangerous downpour. My first summer out here I remember the garage of our apartment building flooded -- including several cars themselves -- but it was only like a week or so of wetness -- nothing as perpetual as this summer's set of storms.

I enjoy the storms when I'm home, cuddled up on the couch and can open the windows to hear the incredible cracks of thunder and the whips of lightning. But when you get caught driving in them (and suddenly you can't see the road in front of you), or you get caught walking outside at work and end up with your suit completely soaked through (true experience, just a few weeks back), then it's not so fun anymore.

One-Year Wedding Anniversary

On Sunday, June 29, Shane and I celebrated one year as a married couple. We met up in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyo. for the weekend, spend a few days in Yellowstone and then the Bozeman, Mont. and Rexburg, Idaho during the next week.

They say the first year is the hardest but to be honest, Shane and I agree that our first year together didn't bring the difficult adjustments and surprises that many couples describe facing. Maybe we just got lucky but I don't know that I've ever been happier.

The biggest challenge by far was our wrestle with the decision of whether to stay or go -- and finally this last week we were able to feel peace about sticking it out in Virginia for a few more years while Shane continues his studies at The George Washington University. We're excited to have more time to explore the East Coast -- in many ways we didn't feel like we were done -- but we'll miss the West and look forward to moving out that way one day and live a bit closer to our families.

So here's to you, my handsome husband. And here's to another year of adventure. Sure do love you. Very much so.