My Baby's Daddy

I hear stories sometimes about the tragedies sweeping families in the world.  I meet a lot of these people too.  I've read books and studied the impact our generation is experiencing with the neglect and abandonment of children and women by fathers and husbands.  I've met women who have little to no available options, whether by poor choices of their own or irresponsible and selfish choices of their partners, because they are left as the sole caregiver of their children and have little education, money or life skills to rely upon.  I've cried with many of these women and pondered often how people get themselves into messes like these and wondered why some men can be such idiots.  

Don't get me wrong.  I don't think all men are idiots.  I am not a feminist by any means...at least not in the way we see it today.  Some of my very greatest role models and mentors in life are men, and I believe women are just as capable, if not more so, as men to do most things this world demands of all of us.  It just makes me so sad to see the choices that some people make which lead to such misery and suffering, especially when those choices belong to the man whose God-given role is to protect, provide, and preside over their families that they chose to create in the first place.

It had become somewhat of a cliche and degrading phrase for bitter or abandoned women to refer to the father of their child as "my baby's daddy" for lack of anything more endearing to call the man they usually can't stand.  I wouldn't blame them if they used a less lovely term. As I've been thinking about this and preparing to have my first baby, I have simply been overwhelmed on many occasions by how truly lucky I am.  I know my road to parenthood could be a lot harder.  I've seen it.  I can't help but wonder why I am so blessed to be able to live each day of this life with the man who stands by my side no matter what comes our way.  He is valiant of character and selfless in service.  I really don't know anyone more humble or happy to help.  He works hard, treats other people with dignity, and always tries to do what is honest and kind.  He cares about my swollen feet and listens to my rants about our broken education system.  He understands the importance of validating me and does it often.  He is responsible and trustworthy.  He never yells or belittles. When I come up with some new problem to cry or whine about, he always responds with sympathy and relief.  He is truly a man among a generation of boys posing as men.  I love him dearly for all that he is and tries to become.  I admire him and I couldn't be more grateful for him.  While I feel deeply for those whose "baby's daddies" are not so admirable, I have to say that my baby's daddy is as good as they come and I can't wait for my son to turn out just like his dad.

My Baby's Daddy ;) 

Isn't he cute?!

Italian Sodas & Twinkle Lights

David and I live what I would call a simple life.  We go to bed early most of the time.  I pretend I get up early most of the time.  We live off of a budget.  I save yogurt cups for art projects and sour cream containers to use as Tupperware.  Sometimes, especially after spending a moment or two on Pinterest thinking about my {in my} dream{s} home, I feel like we are such lowly people who will never be able to make it in this world.  It seems like we will never have enough money to do anything.  I fear that I will become a mother who survives off of WIC and has to take her kids on nature walks every day because we can't do anything else.   But then...I think of this:

Now, I have no idea where these statistics came from.  It is possible that some crazy liberal made them up to make people feel bad although I doubt that.  Regardless, I forget how fortunate I am.  I was able to find a job within one month of graduating in the field I chose.  {It's not anyone else's fault that I chose the lowest paying four-year degree requiring occupation.}  We are far richer than the majority of students in our same situation.  We have a roof over our heads, plenty of food, a savings account with money in it, a car that works all the time, clothes to wear, a piano that provides us a source of additional income, good friends, supportive family, and each other.  Okay, so maybe I don't have this:

or this: 

or this:

 or this:

 or this:

 or this:

BUT...I do have David.  I have a husband who is kind.  He leads our family with authority and gentleness.  He constantly tells me how great I am and how beautiful I make the world.  We have no less than six sets of scriptures to read in two languages to search the word of God.  We have a kitchen with matching red appliances.  We have bikes to explore the world on.  I have the confidence of knowing that I can trust the man I spend my days with, never doubting anything.  I have emotional security.  I have the financial peace of knowing that my husband tracks every single dollar we earn and never lets anything go to waste.  I have students that spend money on Scholastic book orders and earn me free books.  I have cool weather that I can stay dry in after I have showered.  I have a home with carpet on the floor and milk in the fridge and no need for cockroach bombs.  I have ice cream in my freezer.  I have a degree from one of the best universities in the world.  I have knees that can kneel in prayer.  I have a voice to speak my mind.  I have love.

Yesterday as I was thinking about how hard life will be in the future and all of the financial burdens that might be placed upon us, I became overwhelmed to think about how we will ever attain anything.  But then I realized...I already have everything.  David and I spent the evening last night out on the town.  We met at the Friday Night Farmers Market. We walked hand in hand talking about our days' activities, actually interested in what the other had experienced.  We stopped to talk to friends and neighbors.  As it got dark, each tent sparkled with twinkle lights casting a lovely glow on the tabernacle behind us.  We bought Italian sodas and enjoyed one of the last beautiful evenings Rexburg will be willing to produce for awhile.  It was picture perfect.  As we walked around together, I realized that I am the luckiest girl in the world.  I may not have everything the world tells me I should want, I may not even have all of the things that I want.  But I have everything that matters.  I am happy.

In the end, we have been promised that we will never want for anything if we strive to keep the commandments:  "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ...for your heavenly Father knoweth that yea have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Home

It seems that when one returns to her own country, the need to chronicle her life evaporates slightly. We have been having a splendid summer, nevertheless. We flew into our favorite America on the 1st of August, when I was able to see the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty with my very own eyes (from the airplane). We hopped on a plane from Newark to Houston, where we stayed the night, and finally made it to Utah the next day. Mere hours later, we were seated, with popcorn in hand (thanks to the coolest niece ever, Alyssa), anxiously anticipating the start of the end of all things: Harry Potter 7.2. This was, after all, the obvious first event of our welcome home activities.


The following day, I was able to have several birthday highlights. In the morning, Chanelle, Alyssa and I treated ourselves to delightful manicures and pedicures while David ran errands for me and got our car ready for the long miles we were gearing up to put on it. I got to open some super sweet presents from my favorites and then, after over two years of separation and poor communication, I got to see my brother, Garet! His first words to me were, "Hi sister! You look like a hippie." Apparently my cool peace sign red sun glasses were winners. He made sure the yellow ones were for him. We drove up to Boise and stayed the night at Sam and Andy's. Mom and Jim treated us to Tucanos, which I LOVE!


The next morning, we met up with Jimmy and Vanessa and the JD Bunch made its debut as a family in McCall, Idaho for our first official family reunion (should it just be union since it was the first time?). My favorite part of the trip was the Italian Soda bar mom brought and the Chloraseptic Jim bought me to continually coat my burning throat. The most intense moment was probably when Vanessa lost the purple skittles during the candy bar game. :)






As one reunion came to a close, David and I made our way to Bear Lake to begin another with the Love Bugs. We had a great time out on the lake, lounging in the hammock, eating raspberry ice cream and playing hearts through the night. We finished the trip in Logan at the Martin Harris Pageant and after two and a half months, made our way home to Rexburg. On the way, we made a few stops to do some back to school shopping and ended up with a car piled to the ceiling with delights. (Pictures to be posted soon of the Love reunion.)

Since we have been home, we have been getting back into the swing of things. We have absolutely LOVED:
drinking milk (3 gallons per week!)
having our own bed/sheets/pillows
having our own washer/dryer again
our carpet
being able to stay up and watch movies and sleep in if we want
being able to get up and go to work if we want
seeing our favorite Rexburg friends again
eating free baked potatoes at the Madison County Fair
conducting Sacrament meeting at the retirement home across the street
getting my classroom ready for a new year
learning to use logic to write music
playing basketball and going to Zumba and
just being together in our own space.

In all of the traveling we have done this summer, it has been draining at times to live out of a suitcase and not have a permanent place to call home. But through it all, we have gone each day hand in hand, whether riding in a crowded guagua, strolling on the beach in Cabarete, hiking up waterfalls, walking down the streets of the Callejon, through busy airports, riding bikes around a lake, or simply watching TV while being sick. While we have not had the same house or place, we have always had each other. There is no place or space that could ever replace that home. Wherever David is, I am home.