Everyday

I've attempted to update our blog many times but for some reason I can't upload pictures, and a blog post without pictures is only half as fun. But a quick rundown: we've moved to Texas, visited Utah and had a blast, came back to Texas, and had a baby. Ok, now your up to date.


Our little Jameson Porter joined us last week on July 31. He made a grand entrance before the doctor could make it in the room to help, I think he was trying to beat Grace's entrance...sibling competition already. Now as I hold him in my arms I am in wonder at what a miracle birth, babies, and families are. Each time I have a baby I am reminded of my deep gratitude for life, children and most of all motherhood. It seems I'm going to burst at the seems with emotions of gratitude to be this baby's mother for eternity. I remember when I had Caleb and Paul told me he loved me, I burst into tears because of the love I felt for him and our new baby boy. For the following days Paul had to be careful about his affection towards me, it just made me cry to think about all our love. It was similar with Grace, and again with Jameson (yes hormones are playing a part in this, I realize). Life is a gift, motherhood is a gift and I'm filled with gratitude for my Heavenly Father and these gifts he's given me.


I'm also in awe of the love from our more extended family, mainly my sisters. Aren't sisters the absolute best!? I hope that Grace will get a sister one day. I believe that everybody needs a sister, not everyone needs a brother, but a sister for sure. I'm lucky enough to have 3. And in the absence of my mom during this time, my sisters jumped in to help and I couldn't be more grateful. I feel very handicapped and incapable of handling 3 children, recover, and keep life going for the family. But with the help of my sisters I know it'll be more possible in the weeks to come. Thanks to Shanlee, here for these first 2 weeks, I've gotten my daily naps in, been fed and my kids are entertained. Despite Shanlee's busy schedule for school and hours of homework she found the time to come to Texas to help ME. And despite Miranda's busy schedule with 4 kids just starting school and extra-curricular activities she is coming to help after Shanlee. And her husband for sacrificing his wife and frequent flyer miles to get her here. What a blessing they are!

Physical Therapy Graduate!

Congrats to my hard-working man! He's finished PT school and can now be known as Dr. Paul Clark. Sounds sexy huh? Well he's taken ;) I'm so proud of his hard work, dedication to school (despite my complaints of long study days), and ability to balance a growing family at the same time. He is one in a million.

Apparently when I live with family I don't feel the need to blog. We have LOVED living here (in Utah in my parent's basement apartment). Free babysitting, my best friends (besides Paul) just up the stairs, the closeness of all our family and seeing everybody often. It's been nice to be back and it will be hard to leave this safe haven of home, family and abundance of love. We also look forward to the next step once again out of Utah. Lubbock, Texas is our next destination come May 1. That'll be 4 states we've lived in in one full year (New Hampshire, Ohio, Utah, Texas), that's better than some military families!

We look forward to finally making money, and moving on the adult decisions of life. We've been so dependent on others for our living (family, government, friends and favors etc.) Now we can be more independent and grown up. Although I do realize that comes with many cons of it's own.

Paul takes his board exams April 30th and we'll leave the next day for Texas. This will be the hardest move yet. Leaving New Hampshire was difficult, we loved it, I was blessed with good friends (one in particular was a huge blessing! Heidi Barton!) and a friend like that doesn't come everyday, or even every lifetime. But we did know that we'd be back with family soon which was comforting. Now going to Texas we're leaving family for the unknown (time, people, place ALL). I pray I can find friends which is always the hardest. But I'm thankful we can be in the "mission field" as Utahns call it and have the adventures of life continue.

For a small, affordable, and short vacation I planned a trip to Goblin Valley for a celebration of Paul being done with school! It was SO MUCH FUN! Although I had to convince Paul he'd still pass his boards even if he took a vacation for 3 days, he hesitantly agreed to be my date. It's amazing what 3 days can do for a relationship, the mind and the body. Thanks to a handful of babysitters we worked it out to go without kids (minus the one in my tummy). We took the four-wheeler, bikes and all our camping gear. We got our physical exercise in, too much soda-pop and junk food, exploring and good uninterrupted conversation.

My fix of soda with breakfast...in my defense this only happens camping.

On our long 4-wheeler ride we came across this abandoned cabin. there were old tools, a mattress and bed and old shoes. It was interesting. I'm always intrigued with the story behind the unknown.

The desert has a beauty of it's own. The scenery on our 4-wheeler ride was amazing!

Goblin Valley

I kept having to remind Paul what a cool wife I am to be hiking things like this while 5 months pregnant. I needed a few leg-ups but made it none-the-less. I'm also pleased with how my body took the hiking, hard bike seats, sleeping on the ground and extremely bumpy 4-wheeler.