The struggles of life are worth it to have these moments with my Love.

This is one of those self-taken photos that comes out just right. Dara I walked around Bridal Veil Falls. It was a little overcast and breezy, and near the end of our walk the rain started up a little.

Our best moments together are when we go out and enjoy the outside, when we go on walks or go running. Seeing a museum or visiting a park are places we like to go. Its nice just to hold each other by the hand and observe the world around us. We have some of our deepest conversations when we go out together. I love dreaming about and planning for our future.

This picture is funny because its so typical of a picture of me and Dara. She is always looking into the camera and for some reason I'm always looking off into the distance (as if I am looking into the future.) I remember finishing my mission in Ukraine and wondering what the rest of my life would be like. I couldn't imagine the course my life has gone, but its been wonderful.

This week has been rather stressful for both Dara and I, but this weekend has been a reminder to me that marrying Dara was the best decision that I have made in my life. Being married is more than a honeymoon and playing house. It involves so much more like working hard and providing and planing and communicating well, and respecting each other and being patient as we grow and mature. I appreciate the moments that she and I have shared this weekend that have reminded me of how much I love Dara and want to be with her forever. We get frustrated and impatient with each other but we come back around and momentary frustration and doubt is replaced with a calm sweet assurance that the woman I am holding tight is the woman that I will be with every day of my life.

Movie trailers are the best!

The movie Previews are the best part of movie going experience and since discovering the collection of trailers for up and coming movies on apple.com I have been in the habit of watching movie Trailers. Here are a few of my favorite.

Homeward Bound: Our Incredible Journey Home

This is our proposed route home across the great American continent. It'll be like the Louis and Clark Expedition but better or like homeward bound with out the animals, oh and we'll be driving so it won't take as long either. In just a few short months we'll be coming home to Virginia.


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Life gets better, and brighter everyday.

Well this week has come to an end. And its refreshing to know that the school semester is over. Dara is more relieved having completed all of the classes for her major. She only has two more classes next semester. Dara is almost done here at BYU. She finally got officially accepted into the internship that she wanted and we're making plans for moving back to Virginia. We can't wait for the next chapter in our lives to begin. The months ahead will be challenging as Dara finishes school and I continue to work full-time. I am already starting to look for a job in Virginia and preparing to go back to school. We have our ups and downs but we have each other for support. One of the goals that Dara and I are working on is our personal prayers and scripture study. Both of us are doing more to increase our faith. President Thomas S Monson in the last General Conference said the the future is as bright as your faith. This week has brought us a little closer together and strengthened our faith and our resolve to do what is right. I am happy to say that we are optimistic about the future. It looks brighter every day.

Wedding Weekend

What's up? Well we have returned from a long happy weekend of family! about 2 weeks ago, my mom came to visit and it was so fun having her around. She filled up our fridge and freezer and made sure we were happy and that our house was clean. Mom had a good time seeing friends from Virginia and we even got to see some elders that she was "mom" over! Then we headed down to Vegas for Beth's wedding and had even more fun with the whole Baird family. I got to meet family members from both sides of the family that I hadn't met and the family just gets cooler! I feel really lucky to have awesome in-laws; when I am around them I feel like I am with my own family. I have tons more family and I love having lots of family. I feel so happy in my heart <3 to be around our family. Ryan and I are so excited to move back to Virginia so that we can see our family more often and feel like we are home again. We are a lucky and happy couple...I love Ryan, plus he has an amazing family.

Well here you go!! This was a regular bus view on the roads of Guatemala. This bus is traveling from my last area to the main bus terminal and the cobradors (the bus attendants...they take your money for the passage and make sure your luggage is secure up on top of the bus). were always climbing in and out checking on the things on top. The roads were EXTREMELY windy and this particular path was coming from the top of the mountain down. My dream job is to become a cobradora (female version) when we go back one day.

When good music surfaces I have to share it with everyone. These two albums are simply amazing and I would love to own them. I've listened to some of the tracks on line and the songs are great. I have followed the Musical group Nickel creek since their debut album and I try keep up with each of their solo albums. Chris Thile is amazing and I have just about all of his solo albums and his latest album with his band, Punch Brothers. Sean Watkins recently came out with an Album with Jon Foreman from Switchfoot called fiction family. and Sara Watkins this April is making her debut as a solo artist with her self titled album. These albums showcase great acoustic songs; nothing short of amazing.
-Ryan