It was way past midnight when we finally trudged up the stairs to our hotel room (a fancy Super 8—this was a budget trip), and we were relieved to fall into bed. The next morning, the house hunting began. It was nice to be in Boise, and everything was lovely, but the first full day there was kind of…miserable. Mostly because we’d spent seven hours the previous night driving there, and now we were spending several more hours driving around town, looking for “For Rent” signs, and finding very few. The prices of many of the homes were beginning to discourage us, as well as the condition of the homes that were within our price range. We finally stopped by an apartment complex which had looked nice online, and it looked equally nice in person. It was our glimmer of hope in the middle of a lot of discouragement.

The next day was Saturday, which we decided to mostly spend enjoying the town. Downtown Boise is a very walkable area—they even have a market every Saturday, but it had already packed up and closed by the time we got there, so we didn’t get to experience it this time (though I can attest that it’s pretty cool, since we did walk through it last August when we were there).

People seem to LOVE their bikes in Boise. It almost made me wish I had one, along with a trailer for Epiphany, and a couple little bikes for Antonio and Kyrie, but realistically, I’d probably have a heart attack trying to keep track of all my kids while riding a bike myself. Oh well, it sounds fun in theory.

We also explored the Capitol and St. John’s Catholic Cathedral downtown. The former had beautiful acoustics. How I would have loved to play violin alongside Keisha on her harp in the middle of that building. We did sing.

The stained glass inside St. John’s was gorgeous. I wish that pictures could have done it true justice, but I tried my best.

I forgot to mention that earlier in the day, we stopped by the Boise Co-op, which is a really neat store, especially if you are really into natural and eco-friendly products (including groceries, cleaning products, etc.—I even saw some cloth diapers for sale there). We got some delicious gelato there.

Meanwhile, we hadn’t found any new prospects for a new home. So we decided to put in an application at Fairview Crossing, the apartment complex mentioned above. We both felt like it was our best and most affordable option based on our family’s needs. We knew that our credit history and rental history would help us out, but since a Chaplain Residency doesn’t pay oodles of money, we weren’t sure if they’d approve us based on our income.

On Sunday evening, the kids and I enjoyed a lovely walk along the Greenbelt, a long path that follows alongside the river, while Rick had drinks with his friend, Dr. Jutzy. It was a perfectly warm, sunny Sunday evening. We followed the path all the way to a great park with a huge playground and sandbox that the kids loved.

On Monday morning, we got a call from Fairview Crossing saying that our application had been accepted! They still needed to write up our lease, so we spent some time at the Boise Aquarium with the kids before heading over to the apartment office to sign the lease.

On Tuesday morning, we drove back home to Spokane. Home for now, at least. In a couple weeks, Boise will be our new home. I feel mixed emotions about it. I am thankful that Rick will have a job in a field that he feels he is called to. I am thankful that Boise is a beautiful city. I am thankful for the time our family has been able to spend here in Spokane. It has been full of ups and downs, but they have made us wiser, stronger, and better. God has been with us through it all, and He’ll continue to be with us, wherever we go, and wherever He leads.

Right now we’re just thinking about the sunshine.

I ordered this print from canvasondemand.com. I got a Groupon for 70% off, and will be on the look-out for more deals like this. I’d love to build my collection of canvas prints to decorate my walls with memories.

Even though it took her a full minute, she blew out her own birthday candle by herself. And quickly after that, she started devouring her pink flower cupcake. I loved making these for her birthday celebration.

The theme of the party was flowers. Since she is my spring baby, I wanted bright, fresh colors and flowers everywhere.

Reflecting on this past year with Epiphany fills my heart with gratitude. Happy birthday, Epiphany! May God bless you with many more to come!

3/3 – If you had the chance to go back in time and change one thing would you do it?
Probably not.

3/4 – If a doctor gave you five years to live, what would you try to accomplish?
Well, I’d first acknowledge that the doctor isn’t God. I’d also probably just try to spend as much time as possible among my loved ones, and in worship, which is where I feel I am living fully.

3/5 – What is the difference between falling in love and being in love?
One is falling and the other is being. C’mon now.

3/6 – Who do you think stands between you and happiness?
I don’t think a person stands between me and happiness. I am usually happy, but when I am not, it could be for a variety of reasons—some legitimate, and some due to my own sinfulness or, perhaps, someone else’s.

2/26 – Have you ever regretted something you did not say or do?
Yes. More often, I’ve regretted things that I have said or done.

2/27 – Has your greatest fear ever come true?
No, and I pray it never does!

2/28 – Why do we think of others the most when they’re gone?
I don’t know if I think of others more after they’re gone, but I’m sure it’s because we take things and people for granted when we have them, and realize how important they are/were only after they are gone.

2/29 – What is your most beloved childhood memory?
Taking an early morning walk on the beach with friends; spending hours and hours in the great outdoors.

3/1 – Is it more important to love or be loved?
It is important for everyone to both love and to be loved, but it is most important for each of us to focus on how much we love, rather than how much we are loved.

2/18 – Where do you find inspiration?
In many things, but mostly in music. I also often feel inspired by the beauty of the world that God made.

2/19 – Can you describe your life in a six word sentence?
Happy or sad, held in Love.

2/20 – If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
Well, because mistakes are still mistakes. Even if good comes from them, that doesn’t make them good. Also, because learning from mistakes can be painful.

2/21 – What impact do you want to leave on the world?
Um, a good impact? I don’t really think of myself as being someone who would leave much impact…but I would hope to be remembered as a loving, kind, and merciful person who had a strong faith in God.

2/22 – What is the most defining moment of your life thus far?
I don’t think I could pick just one. There are too many that have changed me in such significant ways. Falling in love, getting married, giving birth, raising children, going through hardships…they’ve all been such huge parts of my life that have shaped me that I couldn’t single one moment out as being the most defining.

2/23 – In the haste of your daily life, what are you not seeing?
I am probably not seeing as many of the sweet moments of my kids being kids as I should.

2/24 – If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
Various reasons: fear, laziness, lack of self-control, lack of ability, etc.