Our summer in Fayetteville

Coming back to Fayetteville in July meant being back to routine. Pete started his 5-week summer session of graduate school. He finished August 2nd, and earned straight A's!

I started volunteering at an organization called the Northwest Arkansas Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilties. After a week, they offered to hire me! So I will be working part-time here along with the Montessori school. Pete also got a tutoring gig for the fall. We feel very blessed!

The first weekend in August we had the chance to have a fun get-away weekend down to Dallas. My Dad was there for work and we got to see and spend time with him. I love my Dad. There is always a pleasant and enjoyable time to be had with him. We scooted around town and saw the Dallas Cowboys Stadium (HUGE!), "the grassy knoll" and the new George W. Bush Presidential library. We also visited the temple while we were there.

Peter started his student-teaching today! And classes at the University start next Monday. It's back to schools for us!

We are excited for Liz and Brad, and our new niece, Grace Elizabeth Ashby!

happiness

sand and sun

With the Smith family

Chasing the waves

Thank you for being wonderful hosts. 

Pete at the beach

Newport Beach Temple

Going home

Things I have observed in the past six weeks:

Nate makes the best creme brulee. I love the sound of ocean waves. I miss hanging with my brothers. Peter is an excellent travel partner. Bullwinkle really is a remarkable dog. Kids grow way too fast. Love can grow deeper. I am capable of winning a game of Settlers. It's a small world (all roads go through Spokane). Families can be together forever. There ain't nothin' like Mama's homemade cookin'. Being overwhelmed by the love and generosity shown to Peter and me during our trip home by our parents, family, and friends. Road trips are fun. Paul and Melanie are hitched! Leah turned nine! That I love the Northwest. But I love coming back to Arkansas! Kind friends pick you up from the airport and offer you a meal. And another couple drop off a note and meal at your house. And people text and invite you and can't wait to see you...

It's a good trip when you get to say "We're going home!" more than once.

Happy Anniversary

I love you.

Home sweet home

We wanted to post some pictures of our little apartment, in case any family out there was curious. Wood paneling. Small, small, small. It ain't much (I don't claim to be good at designing or making any interior look cute, but I hope to change that once we settle down somewhere!), but it's our home for now.

In the kitchen/living room/laundry room (finally, a recent picture!! and my short hair)

You might see some of my attempts at homey touches. The apartment is furnished, the only thing we own is an antique table and chairs my Dad gave as a gift for my birthday (thanks Dad!). We keep our bikes for commute indoors, so it's a little crowded sometimes. Poor students... just livin' on love.

"I'm on TV!"

A news channel here did a feature on the program Pete works with. For the past year, Pete has worked at Lifestyles, and helping some folks with special needs in their employment. You can see him at about the 30 second mark I think...

http://nwahomepage.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=424212

Hello handsome

Blessings

My heart is full of gratitude as I ponder on the blessings and opportunities the last year has shown to me and Peter. Now, as I ponder on what the next year has in store for us, I am full of joy. 

Education: I am so excited for Peter's Master's program. The Masters of Arts in Teaching (Pete's specializing in English at the secondary level, so junior high and high school) starts July 1st, and he will graduate May 2014. I am going to be graduating with my Bachelor's in December 2013!

Family: Pete and I are traveling at the end of May to California to visit Nate and Emily, and Elle and Truman. We are looking forward to spending time with them and soaking up the sun in Cali... maybe head to San Diego to catch up with my cool older brother Thomas... then we are headed up to Spokane!!!! Home sweet home! The good ol' 509. I am looking forward to seeing Maegan and Chris with their baby Declan, meeting Henry (finally), celebrating Leah's 9th birthday, and Paul & Melanie's wedding. All Hawkins family, be prepared for some rounds of Settlers. Dhatt/Starr family -- I miss you more than you can ever know! (and...ok... I miss Bullwinkle too, I admit it). 

Work: I work at this amazing school. I love my job and it has been so flexible with my school and summer schedule. I have learned so much working here. http://www.fayettevillemontessorischool.com/

Church: The Lord really has plans for us down here in Arkansas. I miss the Northwest so much, and as Peter and I were planning to be married a year ago, we even considered staying there for school. But, after much prayer and thought, we decided to come down to the South. Pete's calling as Elder's Quorum President has been a great sacrifice but full of blessings and learning moments. I just got called to be in the Young Women's program, and I am loving it :) There are so many wonderful people and families we get to interact with and serve. 

What else is new?

Pete's parents came to visit us in March, over Easter weekend. We showed them a good time, and it was so good to see family. We went to Walton's Five-and-Dime in Bentonville (the first Walmart) and Crystal Bridges, an art museum, which was exhibiting some Norman Rockwell paintings. 

Also, I cut my hair! Back to the classic Mary-do. 

Oh! And also, Pete is amazing, supportive, hardworking, loving, and a dish-washing extraordinaire ... but that's not anything new :) 

Much love to our family and friends, 

Pete and Mary

A year of temples

Pete and I have been married almost 10 months (wow!) and time has sure flown. 

Two days after we were married we sat down and made some goals as a couple. One of them, was to try to attend the temple about each month. 

Here are some of the places we have gone. 

June 2012 - Spokane, WA (This counts, right?)

 Seattle, WA and the temple in the tri-cities too. All in under a week

July 2012 - We went and saw the new temple in Kansas City, Missouri. We also went to visit Liberty Jail. 

Then later that month we went to Dallas, TX. Of course, we had to go to a Ranger's game the night before. 

 
 

August 2012 We went to our "local" temple (only a four hour drive) in Oklahoma City, OK with some dear friends of ours, AJ and Stephanie Gregory. They are newlyweds too and both in law school. They have welcomed me with open arms to Arkansas.

In the months following we have often returned to the OKC temple. In November we visited Paul in Chicago and went to the temple there! When we were home for Christmas, we went back to the Spokane temple. It's the first temple I ever saw, stepped inside of, and where we were married. It is so special to me.

Attending the temple together really does strengthen a marriage -- it is amazing to see the progress we have made together, and the love that has deepened. We are abundantly blessed!

Great news! We are...

...officially bloggers.

Some very brilliant loved ones of ours have mentioned we should start a blog. We'll post updates and pictures and the like.

We are very busy, but loving our new and little life together down in Arkansas...ya'll.

Peter has his big presentation/interview to gain acceptance in the Master's of Art in Teaching (Secondary Education, English) next week! The program starts in July and ends next spring. It's very competative, and he has been working so hard. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Some kinda-sorta late (ok really late) photos will be coming soon.

We love you all very much -- Pete & Mary