Life So Far This Fall

Our fall has started off with a full schedule. This week has been nice to catch our breath and prepare for the rest that is to come before Christmas. Justin was traveling for work the first couple weeks of September and I was busy with my first job of being mom and all the others hats I wear. At that time it was namely putting the finishing touches together for our Relief Society activity. Then we took our trip to Seattle to see Justin's parents and some sights.

Last week was full of helping people move, writing up recipes from the Relief Society Activity, preparing my first adult Sunday School lesson, visiting teaching and home teaching, being scared from the neighbors getting robbed and the questionable neighbors in our apartment complex, a cousins adoption shower and lastly the General Relief Society broadcast. The last event I listed was wonderful. It was very uplifting to listen to the Relief Society General Presidency and the Prophet. It was also a nice evening out with some of my friends.

The being scared part because the neighbors were robbed and the questionable apartment we have noticed was not fun. The neighbors who got robbed lived directly below and to the left of us. I kind of had a panic attack for about two days and wanted to leave this place ASAP. We were right at the deadline for needing to sign a new lease and then this happened along with a lot of interesting visitors coming to one apartment at all hours of the day. Needless to say this momma was worried. Since we have moved into these apartments we have never had nor heard of anything like this happening, until now.

The housing market is very expensive here whether you are renting or buying. I don't know that we would have been able to just find another place to rent for a reasonable expense in one week. Also, we are trying to just stay put until we are ready to buy. You can't put a price on safety though and with Justin traveling quite often for work there was no way I wanted to be here alone at night with the craziness going on.

It was a tricky situation and neither Justin nor I really knew what to do. So we hit our knees and prayed very hard and often for several days. Thankfully our prayers and fasts were answered and we feel at peace about staying put for right now. Things seem to be getting a little better around our apartments and we have added some safety hardware to our front door. I sleep so much better at night and am grateful for that. Losing inner peace is a trying experience.

City living has been quite the new experience for this country girl. I really don't ever recall feeling unsafe in the places I have lived. There are far more people in a smaller area here and sometimes others don't live like I think they should. Maybe I have said this all before, but even when I was little I told my mom that I did not want to live in a big city. Where do I find myself and my little family? The big city, ok, maybe it isn't huge, but for me it is quite enough. There are times that I really love it, but last week I really didn't. It was a good lesson to go through and I know that we are where the Lord wants us to be right now and because of that he will watch over us.


Justin and Ruth Blazzard

I love it when Natalie wears something on her head. As silly as that sounds, I can't help but smile at how darling she is. 

 Usually when this is on her head she whips it right off. That is funny to watch as well because she gets so irritated with it. She puts up with so much from her crazy parents.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

This pictures is a couple months old. We just like to meditate with our feet in the air some times.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Rainy Sunday Afternoon

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Summer Reading Program

Natalie and I participated in the summer reading program through our library this summer. Our card had 3 levels with 12 squares in each level. To fill in a square we had to read a book, sing a nursery rhyme or song together. I normally try to do both, but this definitely helped me make sure I was consistent with this. 

Our library is great at supporting literacy for all ages. They do a baby story time twice a week and Natalie likes to go and sing the songs and watch all the others babies. The librarian who is in charge is also named Natalie which is kind of fun. She has been doing it for 20 + years and is a sweetheart and full of good advice for those raising babies.

 She earned two books and a onesie for the grand prize.

  Mostly she just wanted to eat the chart.

You like my basket of laundry in the background? 

I feel like I always have a basket of laundry to fold these days.

She really likes books and is starting to hold still a little longer while I read to her.

What she really LOVES though is singing songs and nursery rhymes and doing actions with them.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Last Relief Society Activity

My calling in our ward for the past year  and a half has been serving on the Relief Society Activity Committee. I was in charge of my final activity two weeks ago and it was a great success. The theme was "Helpful Hints for Your Homemaking Bag of Tricks."

We had sisters sign up to share a homemaking skill with everyone in five minutes or less. This made up our program. We also had sisters sign up to bring their best "Go To" dish and recipe. This was our dinner for the evening. We provided strawberry lemonade and a dessert. The decorations were adorable. The leader of the committee recently got a silhouette machine and had fun trying it out. She loves hosting events and is well seasoned at creating a great atmosphere. The tips shared during the evening were very helpful, though I wasn't able to listen as closely as I would have liked since I had several responsibilities during the night.

We had gluten free tips, make your own laundry detergent tips, removing stains from clothes tips, how to make reusable snack bag tips, hanging picture tips, cleaning a toilet tips, keeping your house clean tips and many more. Thirty women were in attendance which was outstanding considering the last activity I was in charge of we had three come. I will miss working with all of the women on the committee, but am excited to serve in my new calling teaching Gospel Doctrine.

 Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Late Pictures

I found these pictures the other day from our trip to Ontario back in August. This was such a funny experience. Cousing Trey wanted only to talk to Natalie and Natalie wanted nothing to do with him. She looked like she was saying, "Why would I want to talk to you? Your just a baby..."

He is such a cute little man. We enjoyed seeing him and all the other cousins.I also threw in the picture of visiting Grandma Corn. She always says she really likes Natalie because she is named after her. We had a fun visit with her as well. She gave us a darling fall outfit for Nat. It was the size she wears right now and I wanted to find one one size so that she could wear it longer. No luck on that though. Boo!

Justin and Ruth Blazzard