July Part I

Coming back from any vacation makes me rethink whether we should continue living in Seattle or not.  We pass by neighborhoods of Vegas, Redlands, LA, San Diego.  Vegas, the prices are cheap.  Houses there are a third of what we pay here in Seattle.  Southern California is gorgeous, but the prices are high, even higher than we are up here although it does seem like we are trailing right behind Southern California.  But then when I think of how green it is here and the trend Seattle is setting as a very highly educated tech area, it feels good to be here.  Snobbish or whatever you want to call us, Seattle gives us many options, especially in Dan's field.  Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Zillow, T-Mobile, Expedia, just to name a few.  People come to Seattle from Southern California and they buy a mansion here because to them it's cheaper here and that is our hope that someday we could retire in a cheaper area and retire Dan even earlier after we sell our house here.  Our house in Utah is finally caught up to the value we bought it at. We have not been focusing on its value too much as we have good renters there for the past 8 years.  We feel truly blessed and so grateful for all God's blessings.  We continue to pay those tithes and offerings and donations to poor areas of the world to show our gratitude because truly we have so much and where much is given, much is required.  I made a promise to God that if he continues to bless me and my family, that I would dedicate my whole life to serving him and to be a good missionary all the days of my life.  Every time I'm asked to sing at church, my solos are selected and geared towards the joy of the Gospel.  I am eternally grateful for the missionaries who found us.  Because of that I was able to meet my eternal companion and to share in the joy of this journey.  Our journey here is wonderful, is a blessing each and every day, and we are still loving where we live.  How could anyone not love Seattle in the Summer??!

 I got a little too excited this summer and planted a lot of lettuce

 And authentic food it does not lack

 And Summer days are great because daddy can stay and play later because the sun is out earlier and stays later

 And sisters are home all day long and we get to watch movies

 And make butter beer in preparation for Harry Potter birthday

 And ride bikes or learn to ride bikes

 And have music lessons with mommy and her music mentor

 And go to fun splash park

 And get tanned in the sun

 And go to baseball games

 And hear mommy sings the National Anthems at a baseball game (Walla Walla Sweets Baseball Game)

 And visit friends (Frasers)

 And see Fireworks after the baseball game because it was Fourth of July Independence weekend

 And go on more sight seeing to Palouse Falls

 And picnicking

 And go canoeing...starting in your living room as a practice

 And waking up to goats behind your backyard grazing the tall grass

 And playing in your backyard while watching the goats

 And playing at the park

 Yeah life is pretty awesome in Seattle.  We pretty much love it, especially in the lazy days of Summer...