Sunny Arizona

 I have a lot of catching up to do on this blog of ours but I'm going to back track later and just give a little ode to our short stint in the beautiful Arizona desert. There was a time a few months back when I didn't think I would ever make close friends there. And then I did. And then the amazing opportunity back east popped up and I had to say goodbye just as the southwest was starting to feel a little like home. I left a little piece of my heart there and I'll always be grateful for the friendships that we made during our few short months.

Our neighborhood was the stuff dreams are made of, I tell ya. I don't expect to ever find one quite like it again. They hardly exist anymore. Here are Maddie and her AZ bestie (and our next door neighbor) playing just hours before our flight.

Davey and his AZ bestie, who lived just a few houses down from us. 

Nater and Dave enjoying an after-school treat before our plane took off.

Our last week in Arizona, my neighbor, Tamara, planned a special snack for the kids for every day after school. She also watched my children, took all these photos so I would have visual reminders, and she drove us to the airport with a bag full of treats for the kids on the plane (which we almost missed because we lingered too long taking photos and saying goodbye). She was the neighbor I prayed I would find. 

Actually, all of these ladies were. Such great women with such great children. I was lucky to rub shoulders with them this past year. 

Monster cookies, just one of the delicious after-school snacks. 

The crazy neighborhood kids all together. We'll sure miss you, beautiful Gilbert, AZ.

We Made it to the Desert!

This beautiful building is the closest we have ever been to a temple--it sure beats the two hour drive we've had for the past seven years.
I have so much to catch up on the blog, but life is going well. We are surviving triple digit heat and looking forward to all that the desert has to offer.