Happy Birthday ME!

This morning was an absolutely gorgeous spring morning in Logan. I woke up slowly to the sound of birds singing and warm sunshine streaming through the window and onto my bed. It was a glorious contrast to the early mornings I usually experience in the cold and dark before lessons begin.
28.
I like that number, it's fat and big, but not yet old. :)
By 28 the smell of Lavender will forever remind you of France. Logan holds a lifetime of memories: long drives with friends, 10,000 colors of leaves, long practice nights, sleeping in Vern's hay loft, loves, losses, hikes. New York is familiar and a part of your soul; you've learned to navigate through the subways without talking on your cell phone too loud, adjusting your weight as the trains start and stops, keeping up with the most efficient of locals.
By 28 you've got smile lines and know the feeling of your belly being heavy with child. You know the anguish and joy of a natural birth, and the indescribable feeling of holding your baby for the first time.
By 28 you know that most things are solved on your knees, but you're not old enough to always do it. You know the meaning of family and you know enough to not take them for granted. You're old enough to recognize that your life has been littered with mistakes and you're grateful for the people who have seen you through many changes, and still love you.
By 28 you recognize that love is not what you thought it would be, it's much much deeper.
28 is learning everything with your growing child for first time. It's story books and day trips, your first mother's day, and being excited all week to go to the Pediatricians for a well child check-up just to see how much she's grown.
You've learned you're stronger than you thought you ever could be, and weaker then you ever knew. You recognize that half the things you've said out loud were meant well, but mostly ridiculous. You understand the value of time, and recognize more than ever the people who give it freely. Life is full of meaning and lessons and instead of feeling like you're an A + student, often you feel like you're just hanging on.
By 28 you're starting to understand the other side of things: that chapter after school ends and life continues and suddenly you get what debt and savings are all about. By 28 you're paying a mortgage and mowing a lawn and putting up a baby swing in the front yard. Life is simple and complicated, fast and slow, all at once, everyday. Things are organized, laundry is done, dishes are cleaned, meals are made . . . but you still find yourself as a bit chaotic.
At 28 you are giddy about a new couch for the front room.
You care about gardens, but your plants die because you planted too soon. You're on that edge where you think you should have it pretty figured out by now, but there's never been a stronger feeling that you don't have a clue what you're doing.
Balance is everything, and you're sure that if you took up Yoga you'd be a better person, but you also know it won't happen this year, not at 28.
Instead you'll continue to run, to laugh, to melt when you're husband kisses your forehead. You'll keep giving it your best and know that life will offer lessons that are unexpected, and that's what makes them hard.
28 is is when life is luscious ~ new and old, all at once.

". . . his voice began snagging on the prongs of her feelings . . ."
- Zora Neale Hurston

4 Years

2006

April 5th:
Run the park
Practice
Teach 2 students
Concert at Alice Tully

April 6th:
Run the Park
Practice
Subway to school
Decide between Carnegie or Avery Fischer
Eat out

April 7th:
Run the Park
Teach 4 students
Alice Tully
Practice

April 8th:
Run the Park
Manon at the MET
Practice
Lunch with Friends
Dinner with Brent
Study

April 11th:
Run the Park
Practice
Buy thank you cards
Look at Table cloths
8:05 train to Airport
NYC to SLC

April 13th:
Manicure
Pedicure
Brow Wax
Lunch with Friends

April 14th:
Get married


2010

April 5th:
Bargain of the year with 2 new microfiber couches!
Grocery Shopping
Mop front room

April 6th:
7 students
Run
Make dinner
Laundry
Take brooklynn to the indoor pool

April 7th:
Play group at the ward
9 students
Practice
Make dinner
Fold Laundry

April 8th:
10 students
rake yard
dishes
buy diapers

April 14th:
Run 4 miles
Go with Brooklynn and Brent to Aquarium
8 students


4 years later, and I wouldn't go back for anything.
Love you Brent.

Moab

Brent, Brooklynn, and I went on an awesome Easter Weekend Extravaganza to Moab where we played on the trails of Arches National Park. It was a blast for me to head back the river that I called home for a period of time, and bask in that warm Moab sun, red rock, and blue sky.
We learned Brooklynn LOVES to hike. I couldn't believe that she stayed so dedicated to the trail - she didn't wander much, and constantly shouted "go go go!", waddling past us. She has excitement for all things Dora - you wouldn't believe how much Dora can be related to a hike . . . :) For 19 months old, she held her own! Brent was obsessed with a new GPS app he downloaded. Using it we recorded Brooklynn hiking 1.3 miles by herself. Sure beats the snowy home front!