Nauvoo, IL '12

Last summer we were able to attend the Nauvoo Pageant right around our arrival to the St. Louis area. We were advised by wise friends to return at a later date to enjoy the history of the city when things were less busy and crowded. Nauvoo is one of America's last historic communities where visitors can explore more than 40 sites from the 1840 time period. We followed that great advice and spent a wonderful Mother's Day weekend touring Nauvoo. It was incredible. Even the 30% chance of rain that turned into a 100% reality couldn't dampen our spirits or ruin the wonderful feelings that this experience has to offer. It was a fantastic trip, surrounded by hubby and the five little blessings that made me a Mother.

CANDLE MAKING.

ROPE MAKING.

Learning how to "whittle down" the rope.

BLACKSMITH.

He even made us a horseshoe!

BREAD MAKING in brick walls.

We even got to eat it!

BRICK MAKING.

This was cool. I should do a whole post on bricks alone!

PRINTING PRESS.

THE VISITOR'S CENTER.

Awesome!

Our cool souvenirs.

Can't forget the hotel pool.

Azure would have nothing to do with the water, but she sure liked the camera.

Looking Back....

I'm not sure I can express all that we've learned in 12 years. To be side by side with your best friend can enhance anything one experiences in life, and the gratitude I feel knowing we have one another for time and all eternity only leads me to ask the one question of, "how did I get so lucky?"

I remember the days right before we headed East for medical school 11 years ago, and advice we received from others just prior to leaving. The phrasing of course was different - but the advice all the same...."get ready to be a "widow" for some years to come because you'll never see your husband...but cheer up, it will be over soon enough." I've thought back to those remarks quite a bit, and while I'm sure that could be how some decided to look at it, we chose a different path. Perhaps that has something to do with the variety of ways life tends to throw you straight balls, and then of course a "curve" now and then. We all experience up's and down's in life and I truly believe that we can take those moments and either learn from them, or, allow them to destroy us bit by bit. I'm pretty certain our "learning" moments have been divided somewhere between the passing of my father, Steven's almost deployment to Iraq, and watching two darling nieces fight and battle against brain tumors. Those experiences have brought the very real understanding of how important it is to truly live each day of our lives as though it could be our last. Not in some pessimistic way, but rather, in a solid and firm conviction that if today were the last day I had - my husband, kiddos, and loved ones would know with a certainty that they are amazing, cherished, and loved!

Ironically, we are coming to the "light" at the end of that tunnel. Shortly, Steven will complete his Peds. fellowship and after nine years of training (with a few years paid back in between) that "widow" time will come to an end in a few short weeks. I have to say though, regardless of the job or schooling that one or both spouses might be enduring at any particular moment....it's truly life's lessons that will continue coming each day, and those are the lessons that we hope to always pay attention too. I'm so very grateful that instead of saying, "....well, we'll be happy when med. school is over, or, we'll be happy when fellowship is over" that we decided to say, "no matter what is happening in our lives......let's be happy now!"

To my sweet husband who "rocked" these last eleven years of schooling...CONGRATS! You amaze me. My true thanks however comes for being thee most AmAzInG best friend a girl could have ever asked for. Thank you for twelve wonderful years of learning and growing with me through lessons life has brought us. It has been (and will forever be) both a pleasure and a gift.

P.S. We're both pretty darn happy with our gifts! :)

Sweet Spring

I should preface this story by explaining that when we first moved here we quickly found ourselves surrounded by some of thee most hard core, fun, loyal fans of the local baseball team. The St. Louis Cardinals were on their way to the world series, and eventually won that series a few weeks later. I remember all of the kids running home from school soon after the games began. Thatcher made it first, looked me straight in the eye and said, "Mom, I don't know what's going on at school, but we seriously need some of those shirts with that red bird on it!!"

Now the story. A blog post I wrote a few years back was entitled "Spring Surprises". It explained all about our frequent moves and how one of the greatest benefits is finding beautiful "treasures". These are the amazing blossoms that pop up each spring, and yet, when you moved into that home just nine months prior you had no idea they even existed. Well, it's happened once again here in our current home and I must admit that our new "find" pretty much takes the cake. The first picture is of the beautiful rose bushes that bloomed a few months back, and while they are very pretty, that's not our spring surprise. If you observe closer you will find inside those rose bushes a perfectly made birds nest in which the kids and I had the great pleasure of watching being built branch by branch. Each day as we entered or exited the garage, we could see from our car window the progress that this Mommy and Daddy bird were making. Believe it or not though, that perfectly shaped nest is still not our spring surprise. A week or so past and we decided to take a quick peek into that nest, and upon doing so found seven perfect little eggs. With the exception of taking a picture we kept our distance in hopes that the parents would understand we were not going to harm or hurt their babies. A few weeks later we decided to check the progress once more and found that our new "neighbors" had grown from two to nine! Aren't they cute! It has been such an exciting process for the kiddos to see take place. Until this point I have purposely left out the "type" of bird that these little cuties will become. Their Mom and Dad? Beautiful, red Cardinals. Pretty fitting for currently living in St. Louis, MO, don't you think?

Oh, and just so you know, a few weeks later a family from our church gave all the kiddos a shirt with "that red bird on it". They had outgrown some and decided to pass them along to a family who could utilize them. Steven was relieved by this kind gesture. Due to personal "fan loyalty" obligations, he couldn't bring himself to actually purchase a Cardinals shirt. One shirt given has "Edmonds" name and number on the back and is signed by Edmonds himself! The kiddos soon found themselves blending perfectly with their fellow "hard core fans", and Thatcher will now tell you.....it's a Cardinal!

Birthday Outings

Due to the fact that our hubbies are amazing, I spent the weekend of my birthday enjoying a "girls outing" to Albuquerque. The entire time was filled with shopping, visiting, eating, and laughing with one sister from Utah, one brother who lives there, and my Mom. Liz and Rob had yet to meet little Azure, and that (along with the fact that she's the only Ballard who had yet to experience a sopapilla) made her accompanying me on this trip a must. She had a great time and took kindly to the major surplus of attention and kisses that awaited her. While the trip was great fun, I must admit that my heart broke as I walked into the airport and heard shouts of, "don't go Mommy" from the four I was leaving behind. I decided then and there that unless we're all together (with of course the exception of random getaways for hubby and I ) I'm just not where I want to be, and honestly, who shouldn't be where they want to be. I am more than excited to have returned to my beautiful little family and be surrounded once again with their kisses, hugs, and laughter. 

                                       

Kansas City Temple Open House

A large portion of the Ballard family gathered in Kansas City last weekend for some family fun. The crowning experience was the unique opportunity of attending an open house for the new Kansas City temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We were also able to take the kiddos to Liberty Jail. The entire afternoon was a sweet and tender experience, with the only thing "missing" being two Ballard daughters and their cute families.

Our weekend activities also included an easter egg hunt, Mom and Steven's birthday party, a fire pit complete with marshmallows, games, and lots of wonderful food and conversation. It was an amazing weekend and a gentle reminder of how very lucky we are to have the love that exists within the bonds of family.

The Younger Gals

Mmmm...that looks good Sis.

So, I stick out my tongue like this...?

See Mom, I can do it...can I have ice cream now?