Outings

With Spencer's summer work-induced hibernation fast approaching, we've been trying to get out and enjoy what Columbus and Ohio have to offer while we still can...together. Turns out, Columbus is really quite the family friendly city. Especially if you're a student family. You can buy amazingly discounted tickets to almost everything through the student union. Lovin' it.

Some of our recent trips have included:

The Franklin Park Conservatory

Grace just really can't resist fat, lazy fish. Or any kind of fish, for that matter.

We got to the conservatory just in time to see the much publicized "release of the butterflies." I had naively been expecting an explosion of hundreds of butterflies flying every which way. Instead, a lady released each butterfly one at a time and gave a scholarly lecture about each one. I was slightly disappointed. But...it was still definitely worth attending. And Grace liked the butterflies a lot. They felt the same way about her. Until she grabbed one.

Kirtland

We enjoyed visiting the church sites (the temple, visitor's center, Newel K. Whitney store, etc.)

with some friends despite the nasty, rainy weather. Our camera didn't come out much, though,

for good reason.

Grace and her good friend, Calder, enjoying some raisins. Grace has since spent

every waking minute requesting raisins. And Calder. :)

Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills is a little spot of heaven about an hour south (?) (someday I'll learn to orient myself here...) of where we live. It kind of feels like going to Zion National Park, midwestern style. I loved it. :)

Sam, Emily and Alex came down from New York to visit, so we made a little Merkley family trip out of it. It was fabulous.

These pictures actually show two different trips to Hocking Hills, to make things clear. I don't usually bring a full change of clothes on a short hike. :)

It's been a lovely spring!

The Rebel Within

Sometimes I like to think that I have a little bit of a rebel in me. Rebel Anna manifests herself in fairly innocuous ways, but she's always there, egging me on. Most of her rebelliousness is theoretical and remains unseen and unknown by the general public. However, she did once lead me to head a small group of giggly girls on a couple of carefully orchestrated skinny-dipping expeditions. So every once and awhile, she has her way.

Most recently, she encouraged me to support Spencer in his motorcycle addiction. When Spencer found this beauty for a surprisingly good price, she could hardly contain her excitement. Rebel Anna loves motorcycles.

Sure, rational, tentative Anna worried about all the practical issues: safety, the "image," and so on, but Rebel Anna can just be so persuasive. Rebel Anna remembers all the romance and excitement that the previous motorcycle brought to her courtship and early married life. Rational, tentative Anna remembers, too. Knowing this, Rebel Anna played on all of rational, tentative Anna's weaknesses. And...she has won. Say hello to our very cheap, tax-return generated motorcycle. :)

Since its introduction into our family just a few days ago, Spencer and I have taken a couple very short, illicit rides around the block after putting Grace down for bed. Rational, tentative Anna is scandalized.

Rebel Anna is on cloud nine.

Spencer

I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be a good spouse. I definitely have a long way to go in my quest towards spousal perfection, but I'm so grateful for the example I have in Spencer.

I remember going into marriage thinking that no one could have possibly ever loved their spouse as much as I did mine. Silly, really, since six months doth not an epic love story make. But ...I felt it. :) After almost three and a half years of marriage (still not much, I know), I think that my attitude and understanding of love have matured and changed with time. Mostly because I see how Spencer loves me. I see what it means to love and give love through him.

On Grace's first night home from the hospital, Spencer and I were patiently and hopefully putting her down into her bassinet. For some reason, we started to talk about what she might dream about. Sugar plums seemed an obvious option, but we continued to discuss possible scenarios.

If Disney is to be believed, "a dream is a wish your heart makes." So, it only seemed logical that Grace's wishes could be summed up in one word: plentiful milk. I offered as suggestions to Grace some of the things I might happily wish for in dreamland: a full night's sleep, a never ending supply of candy (someday my palate will mature beyond the age of four, but it hasn't happened yet), and other various inconsequential things.

I then turned the time over to Spencer and he simply and quietly said that he dreamed about me. I was the wish and dream of his heart. What he said struck me so much. Partly because I wasn't expecting it, and partly because I knew it was true. Spencer is devoted and loyal to me in a way that I barely understand sometimes. His love is so pure, so innocent, and so true. It's a part of him all the time and is never out of place.

Moving across the country rocked my world in a way that I couldn't have anticipated. It was hard in all the ways that I thought it would have been easy. Spencer has loved me through all the ugliness and frustration rediscovering myself has brought. To anger, misunderstanding, rudeness, and spite, he truly responds with an increase of love. I'm so grateful for him. I'm so grateful to be partnered with a man who can patiently wade through those parts of me and still believe that there is beauty and hope to be found. I love him. I endeavor to be the kind of spouse to him that he has been to me.