The Stork ....

... is arriving in September!

Christmas Time

Christmas time is pretty crazy for Miranda and me. Having both families in the same area is great, but we don't get much sleep, and get WAY TOO MUCH food! I am not going to go through every little thing that we did with both families over the holidays. But I would like to share some highlights of the break.

This is our Christmas Eve "Bethlehem Dinner." It was fun to be able to experience what the people in the time of Christ could have been eating the night He came. It was extra fun for the kids (and for those of us who still have little kid inside) to eat standing up AND with our fingers!

The traditional Nativity Play. Chi Chi assumes his traditional role as the...well...you all know where I am going with that! I love this picture because Warren is wearing Chi Chi's old bath robe. It's the SAME we used to wear when we were kids when we performed the role as Joseph, as he is doing almost 30 years later! What a great tradition!

We have a fun tradition with the Robertsons in that each year we drive up to Washington DC to visit the temple and see the Christmas lights. We walk around (for as long as we can stand the cold), enjoy the beautiful nativity scenes from around the world, listen to some great music, and enjoy one another's company. It's wonderful to be able to bask in the lights of the temple, and know what a special and sacred place it is, especially to our family.

Probably the coolest thing that happened this Christmas break is Ryan was able to bless baby Quin Robert Dudley. It was a beautiful blessing, and a sincere honor and privilege to be invited to stand in a circle full of worthy priesthood holders, and participate as Ryan pronounced a blessing upon his son. It was a wonderful experience.

We love you baby Quin!

We have had an amazing break and great start to the New Year. As we all fall back into the rush of life, may we all bask in the light of Christ Jesus, the Babe who's birth we celebrate,

and the King whom will come again.

Jason Porter Clark

We are an aunt and uncle again!

We can't wait to meet Porter.

Congratulations Jason, Angela, Elisabeth, Jared, & Ethan.

Can you believe this hair? All of the children have had thick hair but it still ceases to amaze me!

Fall

I love the fall. I love that in Virginia we get to have four seasons. Each season brings with it its own excitement. I love the vibrant colors of the leaves, the crisp air, and the feeling of fall. It is homey, its like falling in love, I feel like I am in a romance movie. I just love it.

As I drive to school everyday I try to stop and take in the moment. I love the amazing colors. It reminds me of how blessed I am, and to be grateful for all that I have. It reminds me to be grateful for the simple things and the beauty of the earth.

We went to a William & Mary football game with my parents {a really fall thing to do}. We won! We loved spending time with my parents. After the game we walked around Colonial Williamsburg with them. We went to the Bookstore, my mom and I shopped for clothes, while my Dad and Rob perused the books {they were like kids in a candy store}. We then hit William and Sonoma. Rob got us all samples he thought was dessert, but turned out to be turkey and dressing. Mom and I enjoyed looking through the store at all the wonderful things and going through cookbooks, while dad and rob got asked if they needed help in the baking section! We ended the night in the candy store, and left with chocolate covered oranges. It was great to be with Rob and my parents enjoying this wonderful time of year, just relaxing and taking it in.

Tender Mercies

"We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord’s tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live. When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance (see 1 Ne. 1:20)."

Rob was in a car accident this morning. He is fine. I won't go into the details but things could have been much worse. It was clear to me that we were experiencing one of those tender mercies. One in so many. We are always quick to ask why, and say that we just can't take one more thing. But, it was evident to me that we were being blessed. As I stood and looked at the car I realized Heavenly Father was watching over Rob. The way all of the events played out, there is no doubt in my mind that Heavenly Father was in charge and kept him safe.

"Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them."

"May our hearts always be filled with gratitude for His abundant and tender mercies."

Today I was reminded that my Heavenly Father knows me. He knows what I can handle. He knows how to comfort me. He loves me and is always showing me that, if I but stop and look. I know He extends tender mercies, and that we all can receive them as we follow Him.

* all the above quotes are from The Tender Mercies of the Lord," David A. Bednar. Click on the link to view the entire talk.

Pumpkin Patch

On Halloween Rob and I went to a pumpkin patch. This was the first time that I can remember going and picking a pumpkin {I know that I went when I was in preschool but I don't remember}. We had a great time looking for the perfect pumpkins - the right color, shape, size, who knew there were so many options? I was bound and determined to actually pick one off the vine ... after quite a search we found one!

Quin Robert Dudley

Quin "Robert" Dudley

October 6, 2009

7lbs 10 ounces, 20 inches

Stephanie and Ryan had their second baby boy. This sweet baby is named after Rob (pretty amazing person to be named after). Congratulations Dudley's, we can't wait to meet him!