We're Off...

We are taking off for Minnesota on Friday afternoon and we are so excited. Doug has a 2 week break from school again this year! We love to see all the family and spend Christmas with them. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas whether you travel or stay home this year!

My Journey

Everyone has their own journey in life. Everyone has their share of trials and weaknesses, pain and sorrow. When I share about my own, it's not to compare or look for sympathy. If anything, I am so blessed in all that has happened throughout my life and all that is currently happening, that most people in the world would probably envy the bliss I enjoy. And yet, even in my happy and joyful circumstances I feel some pain. I know it is part of the experience of mortality and I embrace it, along with all that is good and right. However, I don't enjoy it. My journey right now involves a lot of unknowns and a lot of waiting. Two of the things I hate the most, which is probably one reason I am experiencing them. I can handle bad news, I can handle disappointment, but not knowing is sometimes more than I can take. And waiting for the unknown is even worse. "When?", is a more pressing question that "What?".

We have a great life. I would be totally content to keep things just as they are. We enjoy our daughter, friends and family. We have so much. The problem comes in with the fact that we know there is more for us. This "more" though isn't handed to us on a platter (does that sound familiar to anyone?:) We have to try and figure it out. I don't like it one bit! My sister has a friend going through some questions right now and she doesn't know what to do. She said, "I wish someone would just tell us the right thing" I can totally relate. There is a lot of work in trying to make decisions.

As I have been contemplating lately about what we are doing, our plans and choices, I am frustrated at how long it is all taking. We feel God wants for us to do foster care. I know it is Him leading us, because even now, I probably wouldn't have chosen this direction myself (and I know Doug would agree). I feel confident and at peace with our decision, and that is another way I know it is God leading us. Through all the waiting, through all the unknown, I find great comfort in God's influence and presence in our life. I know He is guiding us and others. I know that He has His timing and that it is perfect. I know I am learning things through this process I couldn't learn any other way. Although I don't always like parts of this journey, I am grateful for a wise God who has me do things I don't like so I can do the work that He has for me, so I can become the person he wants me to be.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). I have to remind myself that all is well, that all will work out as it is intended, to have patience. As we start this holiday season, I remind myself that God's peace can always be found. One of the greatest gifts of Christ's birth was the blessing for us to be able to receive peace in turbulence, trial and weakness.
My sister-in-law lost her father this last week and we got her and her mother some plants. I always choose a peace lily when someone passes. The gift of peace stills all pain, it allows us to buoy up again to press forward in faith and wait, with patience, for things to come.

Foster Care

Well, we have been going through the process of adoption with LDS Family Services for a year and a half (no leads there), so last May we decided to start the foster care licensing process to see about growing our family that way. There is always a lot of paper work involved and interviews, home checks, special rules, etc. We got locks on everything that could possibly hurt anyone and even some locks on things we don't think could hurt anyone, but by law still have to lock up (ever heard of anyone having problems with laundry detergent?). We met a really great case worker through a series of events that could not have been a coincidence, and got licensed a couple of months ago. We just met a great girl on Monday and she is visiting with us to see if we would be a good fit for her. When children are older, they get to be in on the process to help them have a better experience. The state wants the kids to stay in one home and avoid disruption (which means they move to a different foster home) and this is one way to do that. We feel really great about her and get to meet with her again next week. It's so great to think we might soon be having another person in our family. She's older and it might not lead to adoption, but we have so much to give a child and it seems such a waste to not share it. It is very exciting for us and we pray for the Lord's hand to guide those involved, even if they are unaware they are being guided.
We look forward to seeing what happens in the next weeks and months and will keep you updated!

For Thanksgiving we are having our great niece Katie here, Megan another great girl and BYU student and our dear friend Steph. We love having the girls here and will miss our niece Jill who is off with a girlfriend for the holiday. Ellie loves having the girls here and has been waiting all week for them to come (which is a long time for a 3 year old!) She tells me they take too long. Katie came yesterday and it's already a party! I love to entertain and have good food, games and fun with my family. Thanks for coming girls! Doug is off for 5 days and it's awesome! Life is good. We are happy and trying to find ways to make others happy too.

Catch Up

Well, it's been a long time since I last updated! We had an amazing trip to North Carolina to visit my bro and his fabulous wife, and had such a great time! It was so fun just to be together and hang out. They were great to me and Ellie. Doug met up with us in D.C. and we visited his parents and his brother and family, too. We saw lots of sights and had great visits with them too. We have traveled a lot this year and will be going to Minnesota for Christmas for 2 weeks. That makes my total time away from home this year 3 months! Crazy, but very fun!

I was just called to be the Primary president in my ward and it has been very fun. I am learning a lot and enjoying it.

My mom has been here for a long visit and we have been sewing and enjoying being together.

I can't believe it's already November and look forward to Thanksgiving. We are having our niece and adopted nieces here with us and can't wait for the fun to begin. We love having them around and love seeing them so often!

Salad of the Year!

Today I made my new favorite salad. Maybe it's now my favorite because it's new, but I have to say, I have out done myself. Yum! You might not think these ingredients go together, but let me assure you, if you like salad, this one's for you:)

Lay a nice bed of fresh spinach on your plate
top with...

julienne carrots (this is a really nice texture in the salad)

finely sliced red onion (you don't want to over power any other ingredients)

Also slice:
cucumber
avocado
Strawberries

I made a nice, light red wine poppy seed vinegrette to top it all! Super Yummy!
Red Wine Vinegar, Agave Necter (or honey) and a little olive oil and poppy seeds. Make it pretty sweet. It's delicious on so many salads. Enjoy!

Summer Fun

Wow! We have traveled so much this summer! We are back again from another vacation. My sister Jamie just finalized her adoption to her daughter Norah. It was so great and I am so glad I was there. As long as we were going to Minnesota we decided to stay a couple weeks. It was a long time away from Doug, but we really enjoyed seeing so much family! It was awesome! We saw Doug's sister Ann and her family, Doug's brother Tom and his family, my parents, sister and her husband and Norah, my aunt and uncle, cousin and husband to be, grandma, great uncle Billy and his granddaughter Danielle and my sister's brother and sister in law and daughter, and mom/dad in law. Whew! It was a blast. We went to mall of America, Como Zoo, Oxbow Park, played with friends, court date for finalization, games, and lots of fun. It was definitely time to come home, but we miss everyone already. We love MINNESOTA! We look forward to our time there as a whole family at Christmas.

We have more fun coming up as we plan for our trip to North Carolina and Washington D.C.


Norah! So stinking cute! She is a messy eater though! She is so happy all the time. Sweet baby girl. We love baby Norah. I just want to kiss her every time I see her! Love those cheeks!
This is Ellie and her friend Isabelle walking in a park. We love Belle!



Grandma and Grandpa Arlander at the zoo with El.

Como Zoo was beautiful. Ellie wasn't too interested that day, but we still had fun.


Ellie loves cotton candy!

Rochester Fair on the rides!

Mall of America with Grandma Dawn, Aunt Diane, Ellie and Carson
Jimette and I took a self portrait. It was so great to visit.

Family Names

Doug isn't big on naming people after people, but I like it. I tried to suggest naming a child Valborg (after my grandma) and he hasn't let me forget it! He tells people all the time what a bad idea that was. Who has the name Valborg? My grandma, that's who! It's not a pretty name, I admit, but I love my grandma. So, I lost out on that one, but we have other names. My sister Jamie and her husband have given nicknames to Ellie and their daughter Norah, both have the same ones as my sister-in-law Sonnet. Ellorie's nickname is El "Bean" and Norah's is "Peanut". So, there Doug! We have a family name for Ellie!