To celebrate our 3rd Anniversary we got up early and headed down by way of Half Moon Bay. We started the day by visiting a lighthouse and beach in Pescadero while the sun burned off the morning fog. It was beautiful. After that, we headed back by Purisimo to go on a morning hike. It was all uphill, but even so, I can't believe we had never been here before. Gorgeous. After this, we headed over to Pigeon Point Harbor and went kayaking in the bay. It was a blast, and our arms got a good work out! On our way back we stopped at Gorilla BBQ, a local place that was featured on food network. I don't know if it was because we were there right when it opened, but it was even better then we expected! Especially the sauce! We headed back to pick up our girl from hanging out w my Auntie Kathy and cousins, and even though she had a good time she seemed happy to see us. The three of us all took a good long nap then, later that night Addy hung out w her Grandma while Lester and I grabbed some dessert and saw a night showing of Despicable Me 2 and played an arcade game or two. The movie was great, and I thought it was even funnier then the first

Over all, it was the perfect day. I think, especially as the years go on, it is important to still date and make each other feel special. I loved spending the day with my honey and realizing that with each year, we love each other more no matter what comes.

It is 12:21 on August 21st 2013 and it is our 3rd wedding anniversary. We have a lot of fun things planned for this day, and I am sure I will blog about that later, but I wanted to take the time to record some thoughts I've had this year regarding our relationship-things that I think have helped us and I think can help all relationships.

Most people who hear of Mormons know of our book of scripture The Book of Mormon-but I don't know think they know how much we love and revere the Bible as well. We consider them both to be books from God with lessons we can learn from even today. In the Bible, there is a verse that I didn't understand or care about until recently. It says "You shall not plow an donkey and an ox together." Now, lets be honest-I am no farm girl. I know nothing of donkeys and oxen so this verse seemed foreign and fairly unimportant to me.

But as I later found out, a 'yoke' is something that is put over an animal and connected to a cart to be pulled. These yokes are made specifically for the animals that pull them-they are carved according to the animals weight, size and abilities. Thus, if you yoke a mule and an ox together, they cannot pull equally, meaning you are stuck and your cart is going no where. However, if you put an ox and an ox together [or a mule and mule] you can do the work and speed of several people in half the time. This is because they are equally yoked, and working towards the same purpose.

In the beginning of our marriage, Lester and I loved each other to no end, but I think, as many other newlyweds their was a period of getting used to each other. We were very very happy but marriage was, and is, not without its trials. But over this last year, and all the things we've been through, we have gone from walking side by side to truly pulling together at a much better pace. People say you should never change for someone else-I think this is untrue. I have changed for Lester in a million little ways, and he has done the same for me countless times. And not because we have asked each other to-but because we want to be the best we can for each other and because we are invested in our relationship enough that it is worth it. I think in marriage and most healthy, happy relationship you have to be your own person, and have your own personalities, but be 100% united, invested and working towards the same things to be truly happy and get the most out of it.

For me and Lester, it is our family, and especially our daughter that we 'plow' towards helping. We will both do absolutely everything we can to work, sweat, pray, teach and love this girl and show her the things we know to be true. We want her to always know she is loved and safe, important and a child of her Heavenly Father. I think if one of us wasn't pulling as hard for that or for each other, we would differ in the most fundamental things, and it would affect all other aspects of our relationship, both big and small.

For others, they are both working towards something else-I think of my Aunt and Uncle, who are both invested in each others successes in their careers and home, and they have been happily together since long before I was born. I think of my parents, who at times seem like polar opposites, but are both invested in home and heart, and in pulling us all along together.

Like an ox and a mule, if you are not pulling at the same pace, weight and speed you may occasionally make some small steps, but ultimately you will be stuck in the same place, making little or no progress or trying to pull in opposite directions. I know that for me at least, this would not be ideal.

I love my husband, and I love our life together. I still think some people don't understand the joy it brings to my heart and the peace it brings to my soul to know that when all other things fade, he will still be here with me for the eternities. I love this date every year because it reminds me of these truths, and allows me to see that another year has come and gone, and we are still progressing, pulling together and loving it, even in the hard times. I love being his and I am glad that we can be 'oxen' together if you will, pulling along our cart of treasures, and adding to it every year.

It is time for yet another catch up post! I imagine that these will slow down drastically once the summer ends and people start to slowly but surely trickle out of here-but until then this will be our format!

As always, we have had a full house around here. We have been able to enjoy a get together with family on my Mom's side, and a few visits with my Dad's side. We have also enjoyed lots of time w Lester's family, both in the house and other places. Places like basketball games, downtown SF exploring Hyde St. Pier and other places. It has been wonderful. We were even able to make the near impossible happen-for the first time since around 2004 we were able to have all five of us kids [plus those who have been added to the family since] back home to do family pictures! I love them, and will share some here. But it just goes to show how life will be for the next several years since they are already outdated as you will see shortly.









So far the best thing that has happened has been spending time with out new perfect little niece, Audrey! After lots of hard her work, time and effort on her Momma and Daddy's part she has finally joined us and we couldn't be happier to spend these few precious weeks with them before they head back to school. She is little bitty thing and makes Addy look like a giant even though she is just a few months older then her. She squeaks and cuddles enough to make your heart burst and we all love her and her parents so much!

We have been keeping busy over here, filling our time with both productive work type things, but of course, a lot of fun family filled things. There is just to many to name so I am going to post the pictures and narrate so everyone can have an idea of the fun things we've been doing.

I threw a small get together for my sister Hillary, who is now over due with her first baby. It was a lot of fun, both preparing for it and also celebrating with some friends and family we hadn't seen in a while. This first niece of ours is going to be spoiled upon her arrival, and we are so excited to get to participate in that. Hurry up and get here Baby Girl Dobbins!





We have spent a lot of days going on walks, to the beach and enjoying our selves with the amazing nature and fun that Northern CA has to offer. Apart from your typical beach trips and cliffs, we have especially enjoyed a place called the 'Sutro Baths' over at Land's End and the Cliff House area. It has gorgeous walks and views, and the ruins from what used to be a public bathing area, similar to Santa Cruz's boardwalk. It is a blast and definitely a good workout.








We have also of course been enjoying lots of visits from family on both sides. Mariah is in town so it have been fun playing games and enjoying being with her and other family/friends, all of whom who have come for Just Dance and other fun. We also have been able to spend quite a bit of time with my in-laws, at their home and eating out or what not. Addy is enjoying all this love and family as much as we are, and she is making leaps and bounds being surrounded by all this attention.




Living with my family means that we get to enjoy nightly scripture reading with them, and right now my parents have implemented a 'prophet of the week' schedule to focus on. Each week, some one draws out of a bowl the name of the prophet we will be focusing on [and these can be ancient, biblical prophets or modern day ones from our church] and we read, study and do activities based on that. Our latest was Samuel the Lamanite. He is found in our scriptures The Book of Mormon, and the story goes that he was called by the Lord to prophesy of Jesus Christ's coming. The people he was to go speak to were hostile and sought to kill him. So, he stood high on a wall and preached these truths while many shot arrows at him and attempted to kill him. He put his life on the line because he knew what he preached was true and he wanted everyone to have the oppurtunity to come unto Christ, repent and regardless, feel his love. As an activity, we re-enacted this. Luke stood as Samuel high on 'the wall' and read the scriptures out loud while we shot at him with nerf guns. My Dad and Andrew also took turns being Samuel, and they all said it was harder then they thought it would be. I admire my Mom because of all the fun, creative ideas she has to teach us truths and lessons, whether they are gospel related or not. I hope I can be like that with my own kids.






For now, that is what is going on with us. I am sure I will have more fun things to blog about within the next few weeks, especially since we are trying to make the most out of our time with Lester while we wait for his licensing. We are so blessed to have the people and places we do in our lives and we are loving every second of it. Sometimes its a little scary to take a step in the dark based on faith, but I know when we do so we are forever blessed from it, and that ultimately, even if it takes a while, things will work out. And i will end with this as my thought for everyone today!