Our life in pictures

Praise the Lord we received our building permit in only 1 try!! This means getting serious! This means praying harder for our property to sell ($)! This means getting moved in asap!! This means Darrell breaking out in hives. Seriously.
These are a few pictures taken from our apartment balcony. While the apartment itself isn't great, how can you complain when you have these views 24-7.

Liberty's first year of ballet has come to an end. Her recital went great! She did fantastic and we can't wait to sign her up again next month.

I think she looks just like Jacob in this picture.

Prehston leaves for Afghanistan today. Please pray for his safety. He won't be on a ship this time and in my head I feel like being in country is so much more dangerous.

I've been running (jogging, fast walking, slow running?) for around two months now. I started alternating running and walking to build up. I soon found out that I loved it. A few weeks ago I moved from a treadmill to a track. Still not very exciting, but I enjoyed it and soon found that I could run longer than my mind would normally allow. One day we went to a local paved trail that is over 6 miles long and runs through 2 towns. Its very hilly and I was dreading it. Well, we aimed for a total of 3 miles and I did very well. I actually ran up every hill. Two days later I ran for a full 3 miles on the track. I was so proud of myself!! Then my ankle started bothering me. I stretched a tendon and havn't been able to run in 5 days now. I went to the Dr. yesterday and she gave me the go ahead to start walking again. Walking?!?!? I have to start with walking?? But I will run again soon. And eventually I'd love to run a 5k! I just need more time and find a running buddy. Darrell would probably do it with me but Liberty probably wouldn't do too well standing on the sidelines cheering us on!

I am looking forward to fall this year again. Especially being able to watch the leaves change on the mountains from my porch. One thing that I still can't get used to is going out in the morning somewhere and having to wear pants because its chilly. I love it.

Washington DC

A few weeks ago we had an opportunity to spend the day in DC. I have not been since I was a child and since I've recently found a love for history I was excited! Liberty was even more excited because she had been watching those National Treasure movies and wanted very badly to go see the "declaration."
Unfortunately we had about a zillion kids with us and it was hot so we did not get to do a whole lot. We did get to see the declaration though and bought a copy to hang in our future home.

Here we are in front of the Washington Monument

Arlington National Cemetery
Liberty is not liking the noise of the metro very much. This was when we first got into DC. All I could think of was that this was going to be a long day. Fortunately she got over it really quick and had a great time.

White House in the background
Since Darrell was not able to join us we'd like to go back sometime around November or December.
And every year they have the Marine Corps Marathon that I would love to go see. I've started (very slowly!) to run and I'd like to eventually enter one of their smaller races they have in addition to the marathon.

Hoping that the next post brings a big picture of our building permit!