Life's a Beach

Since our weeks are typically full of work, working out, church assignments, and preparing to expand our little family we don't spend a lot of time just relaxing.  Realizing that this would probably have been the last weekend that we could just relax for a very long time we wanted to have a little get away.  Shawnie was kind enough to let us escape up to her beach house - we are so glad we did!  We stopped at the outlet malls on the way to Westport and did a little shopping, which is always fun!
Saturday the weather was absolutely beautiful!  We had invited a family from the ward to join us and so Oley and the boys spent the majority of Saturday crabbing.

Out crabbing on the docks

The weather was Beautiful!

Sharon taught us the art of making it less stinky when cooking crab, by cracking them apart and only cooking the legs. 

The puppies loved it as usual!  Dinky has something terribly wrong with his back paw so he wasn't as enthusiastic as usual but we still couldn't hold him back from his pure bliss!

Oley & the boys starting a fire

It was such a nice weekend we didn't want to come back to reality!  We couldn't feel more blessed, we live in the ideal location - at the beginning of the month we were on top of Mt. Rainier snow-shoeing and by the end of the month we were at the beach soaking up the sun, both a couple hours from our house.
As I reflect back on what we were doing last year on Easter we were flying to Wisconsin to evaluate whether I wanted to take an amazing job offer.  I am so glad we have the gospel in our lives, a husband who honors his priesthood and is able to provide blessings in time of need, and that even though the decision seemed stupid in the mind of many others we went with what the Spirit was telling us and declined the offer.  The blessings that have come from that decision are more than we could ever comprehend. 
Through the atonement of Jesus Christ I know that I have someone to go to when I don't know what path to take and when I feel as though I can't go any further, it is through the love of our Godhead I feel  as though my life could not be any more complete.  I hope that when the day comes they can look me in the eye and know that I did not take their sacrifice for granted.   As I reflect on the Savior and the tremendous amount of love He had for me I realize the shortcomings I have when following the first and greatest commandment - As I have loved you, Love one Another.  It is my goal this year to truly love those around me - it's easy to put up with others, but I want to truly have compassion and hope for the best for them.