Last Week of Vay Cay Cay

Whenever we go and visit Shaun's family, some of our favorite times are the sibling talks we have late at night. I don't know if it's because that is when we are hyper or because the kids are in bed. Whatever it is, it is the best.

This was one of the reasons I was so excited when I heard that Shaun's brother and wife were coming to town. A full week of just us four and NO KIDS! They needed this vacation and I was so glad they had the opportunity to come out. It was my last week of vacation before my classes started so this week was extra great for me as well. 

The full Florida experience was had. Jet ski, airboat ride, and parasail to name a few. We stayed a few nights down in Key West at my faaaaavorite Parrot Key resort. I think we are now pro's with that place. Stopped at our favorite breakfast, lunch, and dinner joints. 

(seriously I will never stay anywhere else when I come down here)

Everyone's highlight of the trip (besides our late night chats) was the snorkeling we did in the Keys. We went back and forth about renting our own boat and taking it out or jumping on with a tour group. Shaun felt pretty confident in driving one and they give you a GPS to the exact spots the tours would go. We decided we would rather snorkel at our own pace then feel pressured so we rented our own and it was the best decision! Margaret and I took a little bit to get out into the water at first. We could also stay at a spot longer than the tour did. The husband's gave us pep talks all week and they paid off! I was so proud of us. Something about renting a boat, driving it 10 miles away from land and jumping on in was just not sitting well at first. I was simply amazed how calm I felt (once the initial panic of jumping in left me). There were so many fish at one point, I covered my ears because I thought they would make their way in {haha}! Minus the jellyfish sting and a shark sighting, the snorkeling day was the most perfect. Shaun and I are planning to go back very soon. The beautiful life that is underwater is something else!!

We had to first take the boat through this gorgeous waterway full of pretty houses.

Gorgeous snorkel faces, I know

VIDEO TIME

1. I know it's too long

2. at least go to 3:58 and watch the snorkel part

3. If you did watch the whole thing, the part where SJ

said he was smelling something fierce was when we went to a

Chinese restaurant. Ryan's Mongolian beef was cooked 

with dry shrimp which the owner said is an acquired taste

and admitted that it smelled like manure. It took us by surprise.

The waiter came over because our faces looked so offended by the smell.

August 23, 2015

When Shaun leaves for work earlier than normal, he rarely wakes me up. I was surprised when he woke me up on this Monday morning. It was to share the heartbreaking news about Ryan. Shaun's dear friend had passed away in a tragic car accident the day before, along with his five year old daughter. He left behind a beautiful wife and a seven year old daughter. At that point, we did not realize just how much that event would impact our testimonies and life.

Ryan was a remarkable father, friend and disciple. When I made Shaun a birthday video for his 30th birthday full of messages from friends and family, Ryan's stood out to me. He somehow included an eternal perspective and testimony along with Shaun's birthday message. Now it's something we'll look back on and love even more. We have a trip to Spain planned in a few weeks which will now be more special for Shaun. He'll be able to go back and visit some cities that he and Ryan opened together on their missions 11 years ago.

A few months before his passing, he posted an instagram with a caption that has since touched thousands of people. It was also included in the program for his funeral service.

It was a giant wakeup call for us. The wakeup call didn't come because we are on the wrong path, but it just let us reevaluate the right path and how it IS the path that leads us home. I think right now the church is hitting the "uphill, less traveled and unpopular" part for a lot of people but we have to keep remembering and looking for the beautiful breathtaking parts. 

In closing, I just wanted to leave a link to a short blog post that his wife wrote recently. It includes a quick passage that Ryan wrote to his family a few years back about a question he had and got an answer to on his mission. That question was, why do great men fall? I absolutely loved it.  Please read:

After the Victory

"After our victories, don't take a break, because it is after the victory that we truly have a success or not.."

Cake Smash

I got the opportunity to photograph TWO cake smashes the past few weeks. 

They were so much fun, especially when the 1yr old princesses are so adorable! 

Someone was a fan, and someone was not... 

side note: i need a new bridge. i am just too in love with it to find a new one.