Party Time!!!

swim time

Hi there,

I am sorry for not writing anything for awhile. As soon as Charles got back on Wednesday night we have been running around like chickens - good happy chickens! He finished the Bar on Wednesday. He feels good about - as good as you can feel about something like that. He felt the power of prayers on his behalf and we do appreciate your kind words and thoughts of support.

As soon as he came home we were ready to party! He was of course so tired and drained so that first night he rested. On Thursday it was Sammi's 6th birthday so it worked out perfect to have a big party. We went to Riverfront park and had a blast! It was a really great day. We also went to the school and took an inside tour and took pictures and we showed the kids where Charles has been for the last three years, It was a great day.

Well, we are moving on Wednesday so pack, pack pack! That is what we will be doing here. Then Charles will be driving a Penske with a trailer and I will be driving behind him. I get Sam and Will and Charles is taking Dan in the big truck - he is so excited!

We are very anxious to get to our new home. We hope that it grows on us like Spokane has.

Lots of love to everyone!

Love, ME

Remember that Strawberry Shortcake song when we were moving from Phoenix?
"Pack 'em up and move 'em out, it's time to move to our brand new house, we've had our
fun right here, but now it's time to pack your gear. Everybody's gotta move somewhere sometime,
this time you're the one, so pack up all your stuff and put in a truck and let's get the movin' done...
Pack 'em up and move 'em out......"

Yes, those were the good ole days. : ) I started singing that song in my head the other night when
I was is need of some energy and I just smiled.

Here is Stephen smiling as he gets to play in more boxes. We should be closing on Wed. next week and moving into
the Wasilla home Saturday the 28 or Tues, the 31st.

May the force be with us all!!!!!

Love you,
Kary

May the "Force" be with him!

Charles will take off on Saturday to get ready for the Bar which is on Monday. He will stay in a hotel and go to church on Sunday (no studying on Sunday). It is so exciting and intense. He has put forth so much effort. He has studied SO hard. Now, it is time to put our trust in Heavenly Father and trust that He will be there with him at his time of great need. We are grateful for your prayers and thoughts at this time. It may not seem a huge thing, but it is a huge thing to our little family. We can feel the strength that comes from many prayers, and we are so thankful for that. Charles is in good spirits, happy, and excited to go for it and to reclaim a "normal" life.

Charles has worked so hard. He has had to pull himself out of a hole and dig his way out. He did not have the opportunities that many are provided for education. When he graduated from high school he could barely write a complete sentence. When he started college it was like starting at the very beginning with everything. As he began his college journey he decided to choose Math as his major because it was what he was worst at. He wanted to conquer his fear and his weakness - he did! From there he decided to continue forward and Law school was his choice. After 3 long years of uncertainty and struggle he has graduated. It was quite a journey.

I have loved being with him through this process. I have watched him grow so much over the years. I know when I brought him home to my parents they thought I must be crazy. There was something about Charles though, I knew he was unique, he was special and I was willing to find out why. I now know why he is special. He is a fighter, a warrior - he never quits. When an obstacle is placed before him he gathers his courage and he overcomes it. I love him for that. He never ceases to amaze me. Each day that goes by I love him so much more. As many of you know I use to collect frogs, I kind of had a thing for them. Well, Charles is my frog. To others he may have appeared to be just a frog, slimy and green, but it was just a disguise. He has always been a prince, in search of the one who could see him for what he truly was. The one was me! I am his beautiful princess, and I was able to unlock the spell with a single (ok, MANY) kisses! How I love my Frog Prince! Prince Charles (has a nice ring to it). : )

During our almost 8 years of marriage we have been in school. There has only been a few rare nights where Charles has come home and not had something to study, or he would just stay late at the school. During that time I have learned to cope with those long hours without him. All the while I have longed for the days when we could be together more and have real family time. Our motto from the very beginning of this process has been to be willing to, "Give up what you think you want now for a greater future good". We have said that to each other many times over the years. Always hoping for a better future with our family - that future is more or less right around the corner. We sure hope and pray that our time has been well spent, that our efforts will be worth it. The reason we chose this path was because of the command from the prophet to "get as much education as you can". Most things we do because we have been commanded by our prophet to do it. We do not expect blessings as a result of our keeping commandments, we do it because we truly love our Heavenly Father.

As a parent you can truly come to understand Heavenly Father better. As a mother I would love to give everything to my children and to see them happy all the time, but I know I cannot give that to them. I also know, as a mother, what my children need. When they truly "need" something, I do give it to them. When it is just a "want" I have to make a choice on their behalf. Sometimes I give and sometimes I do not. As a parent you have to provide ways for your children to grow, and grow strong. With a baby often tummy time is not loved by the child but important for their strength to grow. Toddlers have to learn to walk and as they do many bumps and bruises appear. Older children have to learn to start listening and making their own good choices and seeing the results of not so good choices. It continues on through life. You can see how Heavenly Father is so careful with each of us as His children. He knows each of us individually (just as a parent should). He knows our strengths our weaknesses and what we truly need. I am so grateful to know that He is there watching over me. It brings me great comfort - especially in uncertain times.

I am so grateful to have the knowledge of the gospel. I cannot image trying to work my way through this world without it. How uncertain, how scary that must feel. I hope to have more opportunities to share the peace that comes from living the gospel with those around me. I love it so much. I love learning about the gospel, the scriptures are especially powerful.

Well, that is all from me for now. I am sure to write more in the next few days as Charles will be gone until Wednesday night. I only have internet access after 9pm for some weird reason. Anyhow, that is all for now. Peace be the journey!

Lots of love, Mari

More pictures. . .

Lots of random stuff. . . FUN!