ben is smokin' hot

In the mail this week I got an exciting envelope of photos from Jenna! I have my own collection of photos from this 2002 Almo trip with Tawny and Levi (who I believe was behind the lens), but I didn't have this shot of smokin' hot Ben. To be candid, this is when my crush on Ben was just starting. Can you blame me? I still can't believe he's there when I wake up.

Fittingly, this week I also dug out my box of journals in search of a list of words I made as a teenager to use on my traditional Conference Bingos for my siblings. But I gladly took a seat with many other high school journals, scanning the pages for stories of HusBen.

Sometimes I'm embarrassed that I really only dated one guy in this wide world. But as I read through those teenage thoughts on our relationship, I felt grateful—even proud—that I kept my high school sweetheart. Even back then, we both admitted we liked the idea of becoming each other's one-and-only. But we were mere teenagers, with two mission plans ahead. The odds were clearly not in our favor.

And yet, here we are! We are married! And we have a son! What?

I still can't believe it but I'm glad that in all the whole wide world, it is him there next to me when I wake up!

——
And yes, he is always there when I wake up because I ALWAYS wake up before he does.

5 years ago

Today I'm thinking about mission stuff. Five years ago today, I left the world and entered the MTC. Will I eventually forget this date? Why does it seem like I remember this date more than any other? Like I can't quite remember the date I came home. (Of course, that could be because I was supposed come home one day and then the stupid Denver airport made me wait til the next day, but still—I should remember those dates more, right?)

As I began to type the post title, I was sure it had only been 3 years, but that cannot be if we just celebrated 3 years of marriage. So weird. I counted twice: 2006, 7, 8, 9, 10! 11!

What‽

Anyway, here is a photo of a P-Day where our zone decided all we wanted was a good ol' fashioned, home-grilled hamburger. It was a pretty big deal. A member that lived across the street from us agreed to host it in her back yard. Her son's name is Tommy, as seen behind me. Maybe he was named after this guy.

——
*special thanks to hermana ashley who loaned me this "interview dress" for the extent of my mission. it was just as fancy-feeling and classic and easy as she promised. to my understanding, it was passed on to another sister after i was done.

we're all vulnerable human beings trying to have relationships with other vulnerable human beings

I just have been thinking about this a lot lately.

autumn times begin like this

——

At least this is what it looks like "on the farm." We got a cold front this weekend and it felt gooooooooood. I am ready to be done with summer. I usually dread summer's end, but maybe I'm actually learning not to dwell in the past. Yeah, that's it. Either way, I am feeling fresh with the crisp in the air.

The last two images show involve koi-catching. I came home from a morning run to the grocery store and noticed the bright orange fish were all gathered and close to the surface (barley visible in the first photo). I went back out for a closer look but instead stayed at a distance because there were men in the water with nets, bags, and buckets.

"I learned a long time ago, you can't chase fish; ya gotta outsmart 'em."

(Say that in your best southern man accent.)

Still loving this little farm apartment. Even if it is so small that I can't talk on the phone inside if Cohen's napping.

PS: If you want to know more about that little man in our life, please refer to his tweets. Yes, Cohen's tweets. They are conveniently updated for you on the left column here if you don't want to bring yourself to visit yet another social network. I promise it's the best way to know the latest with CJK. (You can see and watch the latest too, as all photos and videos are updated via Twitter as well).

i'm back

——

Oh hello again, Blog. Happy Independence Day. Of Guatemala. Yesterday.

So, it's been over a month of "pause" here. I was waiting to post the perfect conclusion to my 3-Days-For-Three-Years set. The last day was to honor the people. So many good shots of people I love. But I let that perfectionism thing get to me again. How could I post these photos? There were people missing! People that graciously still look at these posts. I was sure to offend someone if I went ahead. Maybe if I just kept posting more photos? Nope, still bound to leave a left-out taste for someone. HusBen thought that was silly. Maybe it was, but I just couldn't do it. And in the meantime, I wasn't about to blog without finishing what I'd started. Boo! Could you call that a Catch-22? Oh, how cultured of me.

Anyway, let my blogging wave start yet again! A lot has been going on (at least in my mind, if nothing else) during this hiatus. I think I'll get it all out. The photo above shall count as my finale to the wedding-remembering, and as a tribute to Guatemala. There, you can't feel left out because no one else but this Sister López was wearing a Guatemalan flag. This is my dad's cousin's daughter, Amelia. We've met a handful of times between our two countries. She knew I'd be at the temple that August 5. She found me after all the family had left while Ben and I walked around with Ashley for pictures. She was married herself this summer! In Guatemala. While on the subject of Guatemala, and its día de independencia, allow me to announce an announcement!

we're going to guatemala!
it will be my third time

it will be ben's second time

it will be cohen's first time

I'm beyond excited. Not just to see "The Land of the Eternal Spring" again, but to be there with my whole family. Two months to go! We're listening to Gaby Moreno while we wait.