Hotel California

Well, we've finally done it...we've moved to California -- only for the summer, though. Reed has an internship with Apple until August, and so we are currently sub-letting a cute condo in Palo Alto. There's a workout room and a pool, so my summer schedule is taken care of. We are taking care of two kitties while we're here (Reed couldn't be more thrilled), named Oliver and Loralei. They are sort of scared of us, but Reed dragged them out from under the bed and pet them so that they'd know we were friendly. They'll be out soon. A cat's gotta eat, right?

I have already found beautiful, delicious fruit, which now covers our kitchen counter...but I have yet to find a little stand that I can buy from. Better yet, a guy in a lawn chair on the side of the road...very good fruit is usually where the lawn chair man is -- at least that's how it works with the "corn man" in Provo. So delicious! I think I'm going to like it here, but it is a bit lonely. I miss my friends and family, but I'm sure I'll find projects to pass the time.

Baby Dreams

I had a very vivid dream last week, and I have not stopped thinking about it, so I thought I'd post it, since this is my version of a journal...

I dreamed about our baby -- that he was already here. But he wasn't just an accessory or a little toy or something. In the dream, I felt his personality so strongly!

Well when I woke up, I was ticked! I thought, "Hey, my friend is gone! Great...what am I supposed to do all day?"

Needless to say, I'm getting anxious to have him here.

Graduation

Yay for graduation!!! This is the whole group who came to celebrate with us after commencement. Elder Nelson and President Uchdorf spoke to the graduates and their comments were beautiful! Just a few highlights:

President Uchdorf instructed us never to waste our time. He said that time is the only resource that is divided fairly between every man, and how we use it is an indication of our character. No one has more or less time in a day than anyone else, and we must spend our time wisely, in the service of others, in gaining education, in helping those around us.

Elder Nelson told a beautiful story about faith. Years ago, he and many of his colleagues were attending a volunteer medical conference in a remote village in Mexico. Suddenly, one of their friends, and a fellow doctor, began bleeding without warning. Even though the room was full of doctors, they had no equipment, and were helpless to apply their medical training to assist their friend.

Elder Nelson and the other doctors prayed to God and gave the man a blessing, and the bleeding stopped.

The lesson, he said, was that we must always trust the Lord, not ourselves alone, to handle what life gives us. The doctors in the room had done their part by studying and preparing, but when they found themselves in a helpless situation, they turned to God, and God healed the bleeding man.

Both of the speaker emphasized how education is a righteous ambition, and is made powerful when combined with a humility toward God, and with faith that He will direct you in using your education to better the lives of the people around us. BEAUTIFUL!!!

Graduation was wonderful -- and I am so happy to be done with my Master's!!!!

Gillian's Baby Shower

Last week, all of our Utah-based Richey girl cousins got together for Gillian's baby shower. She is due in three weeks and is having a little boy. We are so excited for her!


Lindsay, another cousin (and Gill's sister-in-law) hosted the party and it was delicious...I mean wonderful! Here are some of the treat we got to devour:









Another highlight was getting to hold Lindsay's new little baby, Skylar Jane...

I think the following picture may be my favorite:





This is my sister, Meredith, holding the new baby. Welcome, Skylar!

Tuckered Out...

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday with the Olsen Family in Salt Lake, and got to attend Richard and Rosemary's ward Easter Program. So much talent in one congregation. They all seem to love Bishop Olsen. And as a testament to how hard he works...this picture was take a few hours after church!

Dentist Woes

I love going to the dentist. Even when I was a little kid, I loved going to the dentist. I'm kind of proud of this fact.

Well, today I have a dentist appointment, and I'm nervous for some reason. I think it's because I haven't gone to the dentist for almost 2 years because we didn't have dental insurance, and I'm afraid of what they're going to say.

I'm not sure what I'm expecting. In my mind, the hygienist approached, inspects my teeth, and then clucks her tongue disapprovingly and says, "You must be one of those people who doesn't like going to the dentist."

Heartbroken! Humiliated!

But then, why do I need the dentist to validate my worth? I think it's because in my mind, the status of my teeth is peculiarly tied to my socioeconomic identity -- is that unusual?

Regardless, wish me luck...I'm going to go pick out my outfit now...

Baby Bump Photo?

This is a picture from this past Easter weekend. I know I've been promising a "baby-bump" photo for a while -- I definitely have one -- but I keep forgetting. Hopefully, this will suffice for the time being -- you can kind of see my bump...

Thank you everyone for being patient with me! :)