Happy 4th of July

Happy Independence Day! As Archibald’s we are destined to be ever patriotic. We want to make mention of a few of the reasons we are grateful for America.

We have traveled around quite a bit in the last year or so. We’ve moved from Provo, UT to Las Vegas, NV to Newark, DE and now we are summering in Raleigh, NC. On our adventures we have had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, PA and NYC, NY. These places along with almost every other place we have visited honor the known and unknown heroes of our country. We are grateful for the Founding Fathers and their diligence in declaring our independence and writing a constitution that ensures our freedom. We are grateful also for the firefighters and the service men and women who sacrifice so much for us. Without them we would not enjoy the protection and freedom that we have today.

The world around us is magnificent. We have literally been from sea to shining sea in the 2 ½ years we have been married. We have seen mountains, hills, forests, gardens, plains, rivers, and lakes. We love driving, kayaking, swimming, hiking, biking, walking, and (sometimes) running. There are many beautiful places in America and we are grateful that we can freely enjoy them.  Though we miss the red rocks and high mountains of Utah, we have thoroughly enjoyed the green forests of the East.

Finally all of the joys we experience would not be worth it without family and faith. Living in America and having the freedoms we enjoy allows us to have our family and worship how we will. Erik and I are both blessed with wonderful parents and siblings. We are grateful to have each other as well as Alyssa. We are grateful to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to have a living prophet to guide us, and the scriptures to give us knowledge and understanding. We are grateful for the temples that dot the land and the blessings we have received there, especially that we are sealed together forever as a family.

Happy 4^th of July!

Blog love

I like to sit at the computer and read blogs. It's my weakness...and it is usually fruitless because I check blogs more often than they are updated.

Then I thought about my blog...not so updated...

WARNING: This is a picture free post for today. And it's a rambler...

 It's about 5:00 PM and seriously it is as dark as night in my living room. Alyssa is asleep and I don't have a light on. Where is the sun? Even the street lights are on! I guess I can expect rain (?).

North Carolina is a lovely place. Alyssa and I have been walking every morning for a little exercise since my bike met its terrible fate a few weeks back. The new part is on the way and I am so grateful! You can cover so much more distance on a bike is so much less time. I am a fan of higher velocities. The slowness of walking has forced me to start running...about a mile a day. I'm hoping to "train" for a 5K. If I could run an entire 5K, I would be impressed with myself! 

I broke my phone. I felt sad and my heart was heavy. I dropped it in the very spot that I also broke my bike. Cursed spot! I wish I could also blame that spot on the red light tic.....oh we don't need to go there. But a very nice North Carolinian friend and neighbor came to my rescue. I am very grateful. We are considering switching over to Google phone permanently though. Why not? I'm always home and don't receive very much communication anyway.

I saw a serious snake on the trail the other day. Luckily it was to the side of the trail. It was reddish and about 3 1/2 feet long, I would say. Do you know what it's like to walk on a trail that has snakes that size sitting around? Every time I'm out now I look all around me to make sure there isn't going to be one that jumps out and gets me!

Alyssa and I go swimming a few times a week. She has started to mimic things I do. My favorite is putting sunglasses on top of her head and touching the pump to lotion or hand sanitizer or my shampoo and then rubbing her hands around in little circles like she is putting it on. It took me awhile to figure out where she learned that one because I don't put lotion on much here...and then I realized every time I change her diaper I put hand sanitizer on. So observant! She also likes to wipe things down with wipes or rags. She will carry the wash cloth around after dinner for 45 minutes or so. 

Finally, my last subject of rambling is books. I am in love with reading this summer. I just finished the Hourglass Door Series by Lisa Mangum. I liked it. I felt like the story captured me and it ended in a manner that was not beyond ridiculous. I am reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I plan to read that whole series this summer. I hope to start Lord of the Rings. I am currently listening to 1776 by David McCullough and Crossed by Ally Condie. (oooo I just heard thunder...maybe I better strap on the bike rack so I don't have a soggy husband in 45 minutes.) Goodreads sucked me in today and I have many many more books that I look forward to reading this summer. I might as well do it before I have too many kids and Alyssa is still taking 2 naps. I just love reading. I have always loved reading. A well told story or an informative book takes me to places I didn't realize I could go. I still remember laying on the very tippy edge of my bed so that I could use the hall light as much as possible after all the sibs were asleep. Mmm...those were good times.

We have many a more adventures coming up. I might post some pictures or some fun happenings...Stay tuned for Utah, Tennessee, Utah, and maybe (hopefully) Tennessee again!