First Day of School

This is the first year in 17 years that I will not be returning to school. Weird! My sisters started classes this week, Pennsylvania kids start next week. I have no idea when BYU starts, and I think Annie starts mid-September in Rexburg. This year - I don't start!

So in honor of back-to-school, I decided to post my last four "First Day of School" pictures. Like most parents, my mom dutifully photographed us the first day to document the momentous occasion. When I went to school, I had a roommate, and then later a husband carry on the tradition by taking pictures on my cell phone and sending it to my mom.

Here they are! (Please excuse the poor quality)

The Teary-Eyed Freshman:

The Slightly Less Teary-Eyed Sophomore:

The Newly-Wedded Junior:

The Ecstatic Senior (Later this day I got drenched in rain):

Happenings

So, life has been pretty tame lately - without many huge adventures. :) Just a few little car repairs and outings with the missionaries. For Labor Day we may go into the city and explore Independence Hall, we are still trying to decide.

Speaking of Labor Day - I am so excited for fall to come! I think that is because I am ready for my first "East Coast Autumn." Idaho and Utah were pretty in the fall, but I have the feeling it will be gorgeous here! The air in Pennsylvania seems to have taken a little chill - yesterday I even had to bundle up with a blanket in the morning. It is hard to believe it is still in the 90's in Idaho. Today I made peach jam and life is good.

On Sunday, the Relief Society lesson was on Living a Christ-like life. The teacher mentioned a lady by the name of Stephanie Nielson. A little over a week ago, "Nie" was in a private plane crash with her husband. They are both in "critical-yet-stable" condition and Nie has burns over 80% of her body. Nie has kept a blog for the last several years under the title "NieNie Dialogues" detailing the happenings of her life. My curious nature sent me to her blog and I immediately fell in love with Nie, although we have never met. Something about her life has really struck a cord with me. Nie truly has a passion for life and radiates happiness and joy. Monday and Tuesday were spent reading her entire archives and finding a renewed enthusiasm for living life to its fullest. She made every day a celebration for her children and family and I hope to do the same for my family. And, while I would typically very sad and emotionally spent in thinking about Nie and viewing the accident as a great tragedy, I am left at peace knowing that everything will be made right.

I better go make dessert now - for our dinner party tonight. Hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day!

Toodles!

The Work and the Glory

In middle school, I was a huge Work and the Glory fan! I was Lydia for Halloween two years in a row (and think my mom still has the dress). So, after my trip to Palmyra, and while lacking reading material starting the Work and the Glory series in late July. This morning I officially finished. They are good books, however, sadly I don't think they are as good as I remembered. I was quite disappointed to find several plot errors, especially in the last book. But I shall live - and I did really enjoy reading them again and falling in love with the Steeds all over again. It was also a fun trip down memory lane as I found a gas receipt for gas that was a $1.09/gal that I used as a bookmark for a few of the books.

To show you how possessive of the books I once was, tucked in the beginning of volume 9 - I found this signed contract between myself and my younger sister.

Rules and Regulations Concerning The Work and the Glory, Volume One, A Pillar of Light
August 9, 1999

Kathrine Anne D____ will by all means take good care of
The Work and The Glory, Volume One, "A Pillar of Light."
I will not touch the book with wet hands.
Ink is not allowed within 3 feet of the book.
All people under 10 years of age may not touch the book.
The book will be returned by August 30, 1999.
Any and all damage will be covered with the purchase of a new book.
The cover that is removable will not be allowed in Annie's hands.

x: K. Annie D ____
x: Jacqueline Elise D_______

-No wrinkling of pages.

I think I have mellowed out a little bit. :)

Fall is coming!

This week, I looked out the window and saw this.....

Yes, those are leaves changing color! There are even more red ones today. Fall is almost here!

I was tagged...

Husband Tag

1- Where did you meet? At work. Lowell doesn't remember the first time which was in the LRC in September of 2005. However, by the third meeting he knew who I was. :)
2- How long did you date before you were married? 8 months (January - August)
3- How long have you been married for? 2 years!
4- What does he do that surprises you? Makes-up little songs for me on the drop of a hat, and occasionally he lets me sleep longer instead of getting up to make his lunch.
5- What's your favorite feature about him? His eyes! They tell you so much about him.
6- What's your favorite quality about him? His love of life and the Gospel.
7- Does he have a nickname for you? What is it? Hmmm....I can't think of one. Sometimes he calls me sweetheart, but we usually don't use nicknames or pet names.
8- What's his favorite color? Blue, and more specifically the blue right before the sun rises in the sky.
9- What's his favorite food? In-n-out Double Double animal style (or sometimes just with grilled onions), fries, and a strawberry shake
10-What is his favorite sport? I don't know this one, he usually isn't too much of sports guy, however the Olympics are keeping us quite captivated. (As a follow-up I just asked him and he also said he doesn't know). Now if you ask his favorite band - that would be U2, followed closely by Sigur Ros and if U2's album this fall isn't good those two will flip spots.
11- Who said I love you first? He did - of course! I am too old fashioned to have said it first.
12- When and where was your first kiss? February 4, 2006, at sunset in a gazebo overlooking Provo.
13-What's your favorite thing to do as a couple? Dancing, movies, games
14-Do you have kids? How many? Not yet...someday
15- What's a hidden talent that he has? He does a remarkable job making up songs and actually having them make sense - and make me laugh. You should see the dances he includes with these songs.
16- How old is he? He will be 26 in less than a month.
17- What's his favorite type of music? Rock most likely. Bands include U2, Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Arcade Fire - you get the picture.
18- What do you admire most about him? His strong sense of compassion and desire to do what is right.
19-What's his favorite past time? Reading
20- Do you think he is going to read this? Yes


I tag Jessica and Marina

"Down the Shore"

Last weekend, we ventured to Ocean City, NJ with the Ahlmers for a fun day at the beach- or as east coasters would say "The Shore." (I am not kidding for everyone out west, they even have a "Shore Forecast" on the news!) Lowell and I both agree that the "beach" is a much better term for the sandy region bordering large bodies of water. Yet, even with this mutual agreement, Lowell started saying "shore." To fix the problem, he told me that I could lightly tap his cheek when he said "shore." That seemed to fix the problem. "Beach" it is......

"Down the Shore" isn't even grammatically correct (and if by some chance it is correct, it just sounds wrong!)


In his element. :)

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

A few weekends ago, we explored the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As we were paying for admission, the guy asked if we were students for an extra discount - being honest we said well we just spent several years as students and graduated in April. He said that counted and gave us the discounted price. Happy day!

There were so many great pieces and I loved walking through the historic rooms that were set up with period furniture - absolutely gorgeous! I think Lowell's favorite part was Rocky outside. :)

On the stairs outside, there were five wedding parties and a family reunion taking pictures. I told Lowell that if we had been married in Philly, our pictures would have been in front of Independence Hall, not on the stairs for Rocky. :)

A Lovely Shot of the Museum - undergoing exterior rennovations

Downtown Philadelphia

Running the Stairs....
For our Southern California Readers.....

Two Years and Counting

Lowell here. Elise invited me to take the lead in writing this memorable blog post. What makes it memorable, you may ask? Today, we celebrate two years of marriage. In commemoration of this day here is a list of some of the random - and sometimes interesting tidbits detailing our first two years of marriage. In no particular order...

• One month after being married, Lowell attended a business seminar in Salt Lake City and was chosen to compete in a dance competition. The 10,000 person crowd voted for him, and the prize evolved into a lovely, 5-day Cruise from Long Beach to Mexico.
• We've packed up and moved all our belongings four times, and have been "homeless" three times.
• Together, we have driven from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and from Canada to Mexico (well, San Diego... but depending on who you ask, that qualifies!). Lots of driving, and lots of good memories and random occurrences along the way.
• We spent our first married summer living in the beautiful city of Sandpoint, Idaho, only a few blocks away from the gorgeous Lake Pend Oreille.
  
• We survived two years as married college students to graduate in April of this year. Hallelujah.
• Since August of 2006 we have attended 17 temples: Boise, Los Angeles, San Diego, Newport Beach, Manti, Provo, Jordan River, Mt. Timpanogas, Salt Lake, Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Cardston Alberta, Spokane, Las Vegas, Winter Quarters, Nauvoo, and Washington D.C.
• We enjoyed a cross-country drive, stopping for a day in Nauvoo with perfect weather, prior to the heavy tourist season. This allowed us plenty of quality time and often we were the only tourists in a house at a time.
• This year we spent the Fourth of July in Washington D.C. almost suffering from heat stroke and then getting soaked -- twice. We wouldn't have changed it for the world.
• After getting locked out of Canada, we slept in our car on the Canadian border.
• We won the "Love and Marriage" game show on our cruise becoming celebrities for the next three days on the cruise. (Ask Lowell about "3B")

[raising a glass] Cheers!

I am a slacker......

So when I started this blog, I told myself that I wouldn't slack off - and look at me now. One post for the month of July! That is ridiculous. Hopefully over the next few days I can make up for it.

In mid-July I accompanied our stake to youth conference. We explored Palmyra and other early Church history sites. It was so amazing to think of all the events in Church History that happened in the places where I walked. We toured the Sacred Grove, the Printing Press for the Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith, Martin Harris, and Peter Whitmer Farms. We also enjoyed watching the Hill Cumorah Pageant - twice. I was so grateful for the experience and the boost it gave to my testimony. While there I realized that since May I have been to most major sites in the early history of the church - with the exclusion of Ohio and Missouri (I know, they are big sites too!). I will get there at some point. The experience really helped me gain a greater appreciation for the early days of the Church and the blessings the Church provides in my life.

On a related note, a week and a half ago Lowell and I had some errands to run in Exton and I decided to take a book with me and wait in the car for a few. I grabbed the first The Work and the Glory book just because of my trip - and I haven't been able to put them down. I finished the fifth one this morning. Lowell teases me and says I should read non-fictional accounts of the early history of the Church - however I love the Work and the Glory and have shed many tears over the past week while following the Steed clan.

Below are some of the pictures from my trip. Since Lowell wasn't with me to always take pictures I tried my hand at some "artsy" ones. Enjoy!

A windy day at the Hill Cumorah

The Angel Moroni

My posse - Jessica, Crystal, and LaurenChurch Sign at the "Four Corners"

The Martin Harris Farm

"The field is white...""...all ready to harvest"The Sacred Grove