Happy 24th Sierra!

Today my oldest turns 24. At times I feel as she was born in the wrong decade. She's literally my flower child. Always dreaming of freedom, and warm winds. She loves nature and simplicity. After all she has been through she strives to thrive each day to live a good life. Overcoming all adversity. As a young woman, she has prevailed through the roughest patches of life. Even with her depression, she manages to live life the best way she knows how. And she tries. And I am proud. Happy Birthday mamas. Stay strong, keep on living, and never give up!

this gem is 19.

For the first time in 19 years I celebrated Mother's Day without Sierra. And now, on her 19th birthday we're about to celebrate it without her in person. But this is the time where I am loving technology, and not whining about how much we shouldn't be on it. Thank you Apple, thank you FaceTime, thank you Facebook, thank you blogger, and all the other social networks out there that I'm on where I can post something lovely for my daughter to see.

It has been a ginormous blessing to have her in my life. With all the moving around we've done since she was five she has learned so much. I have realized even more now that without all the things she's experienced by living in different states, church, and with "the world" I know she would never take anything back that she experienced. Without the things she learned in Philly, without the friends she made at UARTS, and without the people she brought into her life from New Jersey that she's known for the past five-six years...she wouldn't be who she is today. 

In my eyes she is an amazing example of love, and courage. If you only knew what this girl has endured to get to where she is at today you wouldn't believe it. I love her for it, and no matter what life throws at her she has learned to manage it with a sheer commitment to come out of it. She is a survivor of many things, but especially of "this world" where modern society tends to influence the youth with things that seem to be "okay." Where the adversary tends to target the valiant, and make them stoop to a level of nothingness. Where people are people, and where this no such thing as perfection. 

No matter how old she gets she will always be a daughter of a king, and in the end she will not let society or the adversary bring her down to ruins. She is smart and is the most talented piece of beautiful matter that the Lord has blessed me with. I will always be by her side with eyes wide open and a good pair of listening ears to hear the stories of her life.   

I love you Sierra. We all love you. You are loved by so, so many! You have been blessed with a talent beyond measure with a beautiful voice, and fingers that keep on rocking that big box of wood you play called a piano. You have a countenance that radiates beauty, compassion, and genuine love. Pass it on, and continue to share that light with others. Don't ever give up when things seem to fall off the path that you're navigating on, but most of all...don't ever give up on you! 

Remember that things happen for a reason, that people come into our life for a reason, that Heavenly Father is always there when you are feeling at your lowest, & that you have amazing friends that are there for you no matter what. Grandparents that will do anything for you. That you have two sisters, and a brother that love you and could never imagine their life without you. Particularly a sister who is like your twin in many ways that is always there for you even when you call her at 10pm at night which is midnight our time. And that you have two parents who are here for you sitting, and waiting by the phone to listen with whatever it is you'd like to get off your chest. Regardless if it is happy or sad, pleasing or disappointing. We are here for you! 

Know that if the only friends you have in this world are us...that we'd be with you every step of the way until we reach the eternities! In other words...you'll never be alone! 

Happy Birthday sweet Sierra. Hope you make 19 a very special day! Wish we could be there to celebrate with you! 

xxx, 

mom

Birthday weekend at the nation's capitol

My family and I feel so fortunate to live just two hours away from the nations capitol. When my better half has the weekend off we make an effort to take our family to D.C. We have been lucky enough to have gone to the temple at least once a month, and since it was Sierra's birthday weekend we decided to forego the temple this time, and spend the day sightseeing.

view of the Jefferson Memorial building across the Potomac River

We love coming here. We've been here quite a few times, and it never gets old. We have come at times when it's packed when there is tour after tour, but we got lucky and had a chance to take some pictures without any extra bodies in them. I went a little crazy taking pictures with instagram so I hope y'all enjoy these pictures I took.

Noah & Fala-Franklin D. Roosevelt's scottie dog

waiting in line for the soup kitchen to open

We saw both the Franklin D. Roosevelt memorial, and Thomas Jefferson memorial.

Jefferson quote

The girls were obviously in a picture mood today. Sierra never really cared for the instagram app but now absolutely loves it on her iPhone. She too went crazy taking pictures of anything, and everything! Maybe she'll post some on her blog soon.

 These are all my photos (smile.)

Good ol' Teddy

Lovely Eleanor

The hands that bind

I am so glad that Sierra chose to spend her birthday weekend in the nation's capitol. I remember the first time we came here, and how much we really enjoyed seeing history. It truly makes you appreciate all that our forefathers, and war veterans went through. It was when we moved further north that we vowed we would take advantage of visiting D.C. as much as we can. 

overlooking the Potomac river

It's so peaceful to have a picnic, and to overlook the Potomac River that flows through the nation's capitol. I have so much appreciation for the nation's capitol, and for the rights that we have as an American. I'm always moved when I arrive here, and it truly feels like home to me.