Changes

This last Sunday I was sustained as the new Primary President in our ward. I am really excited for this new experience and know I will learn and grow a lot in the coming months and years. Three Sundays ago the Executive Secretary contacted my husband to schedule a time for us to come and meet with the bishop. When my husband told me what the call was about, I knew immediately why we were getting called in. I was definitely nervous at first, but I know that I have been prepared for this calling through previous callings and experiences and I know this is where the Lords wants me. So all I can say now is, here we go! I am exercising my faith and am going to do my best to serve the children and teachers in my ward. My councilors and secretary all seem to be amazing woman that are going to be very good to work with. I had a different vision of how this fall was going to go, but as always, the Lord keeps me on my toes and has shown me 'His vision' for what this fall needs to be. Thank goodness the Primary is the 'happiest place' in the church.
 
Justin and Ruth Blazzard

A Day in the Office

We had an extra fun day last Friday. Natalie and I got to join Justin in his office. The beautiful outdoors. His work had a display up at the Oregon Logging Congress Show.

The beginning of the day was a little rough. We drove out past Molalla only getting lost once and then parked our car and rode a big yellow school bus another 15 minutes up to the mountain. Justin had told me to text him when we were on the bus, but with holding Natalie who was a little afraid of the bus ride, I forgot. When we arrived, we followed the ribbon to the registration tent. I didn't figure that my lack of contact with Justin would be a big deal. I thought the booths would all be in a central flat location. I guessed wrong.

Upon my arrival at the registration tent the women in charge got me started filling out a registration form and proceeded to try and collect $15 from me. I had purposely left my wallet out of the diaper bag to lighten my load and because my husband had assured me it was free. The lady helping me was an ESL speaker and I was having a hard time understanding everything she was saying. The ladies finally agreed that I could come back later with my husband and pay, and handed me two yellow hard hats. One for me and one for Natalie, and no her's was not kid sized. They then told me after it fell off her head twice that she must wear it or OSHA will give me a $300 fine.

I was relieved to get away from the registration booth, and was sure my husband could not be far. Well after another 13 minute hike up hill packing the diaper bag, a goody bag, and the 25lb. 18 month old who's hard hat continued to spin and bounce off her head, my husband was not far. I was a bit flustered when I reached the Pierce Booth. The first person we encountered that was familiar was his boss and all I could say was, "Where is Justin?" He finally appeared and the day got better after that. It was a bit of a frustrating 20 minutes though. I am definitely glad that I work out or I may have died on that hike. :)

The rest of the day was really fun and I learned a few more things about the logging industry. For instance that the spotted owl took the Oregon Timber market from producing over 5 billion board feet of wood to under 1 billion and the market has never gone back over 1 billion. Crazy, huh?

We were both tuckered out on the drive home. Little Nat fell asleep on the bus ride out. She really loved being out in the forest and walking over all the sticks and everyone enjoyed having her there.

Justin's two babies. 

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Change Your Mind

 This little bracelet on her arm is from Hawaii. Our friend brought it back for her in June and she refused to wear it. Just the other day she found it while going through a drawer. Now she wears it every day. I guess it matches her outfits better now. 

 I have been cleaning out our closets and reorganizing some stuff. N found her baby bouncer chair to be highly entertaining. She insisted on sitting in it every chance she got. She even tried to dig it out of the closet today by herself so she could sit in it. Interestingly enough, she didn't really enjoy it all that much as a wee babe. I wonder what it will be like when we have another baby who needs to sit in it? (No, I am not pregnant)

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

18 Months

Ummmm, so where did my baby go? This little girl turned 18 months on the 9th.  

We celebrated with sending her to nursery. She LOVES it in there and is so cute to see sitting on the tiny little seats during snack time. 

She can say several words, is communicating very well what she does and does not like, 

and loves to go outside. 

She enjoys Frozen (side note, every little girl at the park this year that is 3 years of age sings songs from that movie as they swing on the monkey bars) and cookies, 

and giving kisses and loves. 

She is in the 80% percentile for weight and 55% for height. 

I love watching he learn and grow and am grateful she is still laid back and easy going. 

This picture is while we were waiting for the doctor at her 18 month appointment.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

26 Years

This happened on August 15th,  it is true, I am over the quarter of a century hump. It is still shocking to me to not be 19 anymore, haha, but I have learned a lot in the last decade. I had a few simple requests for my birthday that really emphasize my age.

 I wanted to go on a date with my husband by ourselves.

I wanted to eat a lot of butter and cream and bread at Olive Garden.

 I wanted a large chest freezer. 

All three of my wishes were fulfilled. 

The date was much needed, Olive Garden was fabulous, and the freezer is slowly filling up. 

It has been a great year and I can finally say I am a true adult with our first ever mortgage! 

I know I have a lot to look forward to and learn in the coming year as well.

All joking aside though, something that has really changed in me over the last year is my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ. I have always had it, 

but each year it is such a blessing to watch it grow as I nourish it.

 I know that there are great things in store for me, but hard things as well. I also know that my Savior will be there with me every step of the way, through both the good and the hard. 

I am so grateful for the beautiful family that I have been blessed with. My dear husband and sweet little girl Natalie. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings so much sweetness and joy to life, that makes my cup runneth over.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Wrapping Up The Summer

Wow, there has been a lot that has happened since July. We have been hard at work with canning, playing in the water, walking, and spending as much time together as family as we can. Here are a few pictures to catch up.

Natalie playing out back with her favorite things. Water and a cup. Can I just tell you how grateful I am to have a back yard/patio area for her to play in?

This was the beginning of the canning season, before things got messy, and busy and tiring around here. She appears to be helpful in the picture, but really her helpfulness lasted about 1 minute, then she just wanted to get down and cry or go play with her toys. I do have to say she was a trooper through all of it. I was also given several tender mercies from Heavenly Father while I worked on this. Namely, the fruit didn't ripen faster than I could do it, and Natalie napped for enough time each day for me to get the fruit into jars and started processing.

I love when she wears this little apron and helps me in the kitchen. She is turning into a big little lady. She no longer likes to sit with the tray on her high chair. She insists that she be able to sit up to the table. Meaning, I really need to get on finding a booster seat for her.

My sister Rachel politely asked me to post more pictures of our family. I was flattered that she liked us that much, and glad that she reminded me to slow down and take more pictures. I really haven't taken as many as I should the last month. I get so used to doing the day to day things and don't feel like there is anything special about our days. The truth is though, that those are the most special days and the things that are most important. So, here we are before a walk. We love to go on walks and are soaking in the last few days  of sun over here.

We are starting to have some cooler days as you can see by our sweat shirts.

Isn't fruit so pretty when it is all done and lined up in rows? I guess I like to admire my work.

Trying to get her to smile for the camera. She mostly just wanted to grab the Ipad. 

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My sister and her husband and 2 of the 4 children came and visited for a long weekend in August. We sure enjoyed the company with Justin being out of town on work. We did some shopping one day, hung out, ate a lot of good food and visited the park. Trey and Natalie were born just 6 weeks apart and it was fun to see how similar their behaviors are while they played. When they were in the double stroller together many people exclaimed, "Look at the cute twins!" They really look nothing alike, but are both kind of cute stinkers so I guess it works.

We have also spent a lot of time playing with this little girl this summer. Her name is Ivy and Natalie loves to say, "I-ee." Ivy is a little bit older than Natalie, but Natalie loves to tag along after her. She is a sweetheart and we are glad her family is our neighbors. We actually met at story time at the library and then a few months later got lucky to move into the same neighbor hood.

They liked the sound this metal plate made when they jumped on it.

She loves to zip down the slide. 

I love her smile in this picture.

It has been a very good summer. As always, I will miss it, but Fall and Winter are good to look forward to as well. Really, I am just counting down the days until Christmas.