Joey-Natalie-Slade-Naomi

The Washington DC temple is the temple we are assigned to. Needless to say, it is absolutely gorgeous. We love going there. This time we were able to do some family names for whom work had been done already by Nichole, Aarika and my Mom and Dad. It was pretty neat. Joey and I got to sit by each other. Good thing too because I dozed off at one point!

5 comments:

Suzette Baird said...: Holy VOUGE couple! geeez I didn't realize we were friends with such people! We can't wait for you guys to move back here already, man we miss you guys!
xoxo; June 16, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Hillary Vaughan said...: Hello cute girl! I miss you! Looks like you are liv'in it up! I wish I actually had a life--- jk Love ya; June 17, 2009 at 9:57 PM
RobAar said...: What a pretty temple and such a lovely couple! I'm happy to see that you're enjoying your life in the city. Hopefully you are spending your days off in the hot sun on the rocks of the James. I love you!; June 25, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Noell said...: Nat, that top photograph of you two in front of the DC temple is amazing too! By the way have I ever told you how badly I want to see fireflies, your little side note of them makes them seem so magical - some day! I can HARDLY wait for you two to come visit UT. We must get together when you come, Bridger needs to meet his Aunt Natalie and our boys need to meet. I am not sure how long you both are going to be staying back east, but Steven and I may be there beginning next fall for four years (Med School) in DC. We are flying out this August to check some schools out.; June 25, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Linda Hatch said...: Thank you for doing our family names!!
I can wait till your home and we can all get together and do another Sealing Session!
We miss you so Much!!!
Mom; August 2, 2009 at 5:00 PM

"Beautiful Like the Darkness Between Fireflies"

Every evening on Richmond's boulevard, our front yard, between the hours of 7:oopm & 8:30pm, the sidewalks are filled with the magical glow of fireflies. There are so many that it is almost as if walking in a fairy-tale. Joey and I try to go on a walk every night at this time and we just watch and enjoy the glow. It is fascinating. I feel like a child again. Last night we were sitting on the couch and Joey caught my eyes following a flying bug. Joey assured me it was just a moth, when suddenly it lit up and glowed! It was a firefly in our house! It must be good luck.

WHALES!

I love whales. Why? Christmas 2006 we woke up to sunshine and glassy water on the west side of Maui. I don't even remember opening presents that morning. We were out on the boat as a family and ready for a Christmas packed with tropical adventure. I was wakeboarding when I noticed that everyone on the boat had become disinterested in me and were anxiously looking to my left. They signaled that they were going to drop me. I thought I was left for the sharks and was less than calm until finally they turned to pick me up. It was a family of whales they had spotted. We watched as they sun bathed on the surface, a mother, a calf, and an escort. I think it was my dad who jumped in the water first. Then several of my siblings followed with their snorkles and soon the adrenaline was pumping as we were swimming with the whales! We were screaming and scared and so excited. I have never experienced anything more thrilling. The calf kept trying to swim closer to us, and he was easily bigger than a car! At one point the escort was about 30 feet under us and we starred him in the eye. You could see every detail. Breathless is the only word to describe it.