A Lining of Good...

I feel like the past two weeks I have been so absorbed in the news. I find my self fascinated, shocked, nervous, and sad with each different story I read.

It's true. There are a lot of terrible things that have happened, happening and will happen in our world today. There are people who do cruel things, people who hate, and people filled with anger. There are families left fatherless, homes left in ruin and children who never again come home. In that light, it seems like we're living in a world of heartache.

In reading countless news stories, I find that it's almost like walking with blinders on. Tragedy strikes...and it seems like the focus is placed on the horror of the incident. I've seen facebook posts, news tweets and various blog posts about the "loss of humanity and hope" of our generation... Or articles titled "Will Such and Such recover from these dire circumstances?" (The news tends to use words other than Such and Such of course).

What the news and media often fails to include is the immense amount of good that we have in this world. It's not just suddenly our generation that is facing tragedies or wars or the effects of mother nature. People have been overcoming adversity for thousands of years. They just didn't have facebook to post about it.

The reason I have become fascinated with these stories, is because I can see the outlining of good in so many. I see people with lives and families of their own sacrificing everything for a mere stranger. I see people with a variety of background coming together and finding strength through each other. There are so many acts of pure kindness and even miracles through tragedy.

So my opinion? We live in a world full of good. True, there are many horrible happenings in our world. But through the right light, the good will always be greater. In a woman's conference I went to a couple months ago, they brought up the tragedy of the Provo, UT Tabernacle burning down. It was heartbreaking to thousands to see such a historic building destroyed. Yet, out of the ashes of destruction came something even better. A Temple. 

Will Boston Find Peace? Will China Overcome? Will Texas Recover? Yes. Undoubtedly. Because that is what hope and love can do. It can take the hardest of circumstances and turn it into something even greater.

Hopefully you've stayed reading long enough to get to this point. Here is a pretty incredible story that sums up almost exactly how I feel:

How a 7-year old Renewed My Faith in Humanity
(Click that link to go to the story).

Tourists....

It's been a few weeks since we have actually spent a weekend here in Vegas (literally). So how did we decide to spend it? We took an adventure to the Hoover Dam!

Little did we know that people travel across the country to witness such incredibly dammed water....We met a couple who had traveled from the great state of cheese (Wisconsin) simply to see it. To think we live here and were just barely visiting it.....

You know you've had a great day when you come home and accidentally take a 4 hour nap. All in all, I loved it!

 Quirky...funny....handsome.....No wonder I love him!

He even picked me some flowers! Am I still a hopeless romantic for such things? You better believe it.

Hooray for April!

Well....after just about a full month of being sick, David has finally rejoined the world of the healthy! I'm still feeling pretty ecstatic about that. March was a little rough....for the both of us....but especially for Mr. Brown. I think a few virus strains....and bacteria strains got together and decided to rage a full war on him smack during the middle of his mid-terms....

However, through it all....he was quite the champ. I don't think he even complained. And tackled each mid-term. Take that sickness.

The past week has been perfect. David had spring break, so we decided to take a trip to the great state of Colorado! Before kicking off our trip, one of the nicest couples in our ward gave us their tickets to go see Shrek the Musical. Talk about incredible! We both loved it....the set, costumes, acting, music....it was all amazing. Times twenty.

Then we got to spend the weekend with my sister and her family. The long drive was worth it, it was so good to see them! After countless coloring pages, Mariokart, and watching some Ninja Turtles, David instantly won over the hearts of my nieces and nephew...(don't worry....I'm still holding the title for favorite aunt!)

Our adventure didn't end there! We are lucky to live semi close to family, and were able to spend Easter with them. My eyes were opened to true, competitive Easter basket hiding. David and Christian have quite the battle going for Master Easter Basket Hider. It was pretty funny to watch. I loved being able to spend the weekend with them.

Most of all right now, I am just feeling so grateful. Grateful to have good health, a new month, wonderful family, and grass green enough to wiggle your toes in. (It's currently like summer here in the land of Vegas). Not to mention that conference is this weekend!

In an effort to keep my rambles short....here are a handful of pictures!

After the play!

This picture doesn't even do it justice, but that indeed is a life-size dragon! 

The drive.....after 5 and 1/2 hours....we needed to take a break.

The scenery was amazing! But alas, you get to see our faces instead.

Saying good-bye... I loved seeing them!

They've grown so much! My little mini me turns 3 today!

Rusty taking us out for a ride...We went from the 80's in Vegas, to snowing in Colorado 

Back home! How did we celebrate saying goodbye to March? Eating ice cream of course! Before dinner. We're quite the rebels. 

Summer Fever..

After recovering from our past sickness.....I've developed another condition. Some would call it Summer Fever. 

With the weather being up in the 90's here.....I find myself day dreaming of eating otter pops on the porch, camping, making s'mores.....and jumping into the pool. The weather has been beautiful! Part of me fears, with the weather this warm in March, I'll definitely turn into a roasted human by the summer. 

However, my Summer Fever has increased after spending a great weekend with family! Paul, Lisa and Christian made the trek to Vegas to spend the weekend with us. It's always so fun to have them visit. This time, we barbecued by the pool, watched a movie, went on a hike, visited the park, stumbled across a random St. Patrick's Day parade. We ate lots of yummy food, swam in the pool (still a little on the icy side!) and took a dip in the hot tub. Also, cue the drumroll.....currently I'm the reigning winner of Phase 10 (An amazing feat in itself! I'm taking autographs for awed fans....) 

It was a perfect weekend spent with some of our favorite people! I even managed to get my first sunburn of the year. Being with them made me wish we had countless summer evenings to spend....

Developing some barbecue skills!

Two of the funniest, kindest, caring people you'll meet...

The Pretend Outdoors Hike....right in the middle of Henderson

Stumbled across this gem of a parade!

In Vegas.....you never cease to be surprised. 

With the weekend coming to a close....I'll need to start looking for a treatment for such fevers. If you have any ideas...feel free to share! 

Though on the plus side....less then a week until we visit Colorado!  And after that....Easter! 

Rainy Days.

As you may have heard, there is a current sickness going around. While..the past week David and I both fell victim to it's immune compromising powers. 

Which is the dramatic way of saying, the past week we were both a little bit under the weather. Especially David. (I'm still trying to figure out how he kept a tough face and went to school...) 

However, yesterday, I was reminded yet again how much I love him. Walking home in the rain, I ended up with frozen toes and feeling rather damp. (Which I didn't mind one pinch...I love the rain!) But alas, I arrived home feeling like a frozen sickly popcicle. So...I curled up into a heap of blankets....and fell asleep. I woke up a couple hours later to the best of smells.... 

I followed those smells to find David making some homemade chicken noodle soup! I'm telling you. They don't come any better. He never fails to be incredibly thoughtful. It was a perfect meal for a rainy day and our colds. 

With stomachs full of soup, we took some cold sleep medicine and slept for the next 12 hours. 

The outlook this morning is much better. 

Though....I may still be struggling with my fine motor skills....I'll blame the nyquil. 

Last, but most certainly not least, here's a shout out to Miss Cheri Peacock....soon to be Hermana Peacock! She was brave to stay with us for a couple days this week. And it was so great to see her. It's amazing how much can change in a year... and how a friendship can come so quickly! She is going to be an incredible missionary! New York, New York.....get ready! 

Over The Moon.

Life isn't always perfect.

But sometimes it gets pretty close. 

Like on the days that you can soak up some sun from your porch in March. 

Or when you get to snuggle up with your hubs and watch for the zillionth time....Enchanted. 

It's the day when you finally perfect the chicken joke (thanks to Roland and Shawna!) 

Or when you have kept some kefir alive for a whole week! Surviving and thriving. 

It's watching your adorable husband make dinner....do some laundry...and  clean up dinner...all while you lay on the floor.

It's the simple comfort of knowing there are so many people who love and care for you. 

It's when you realize you've eaten ice cream 4 out of the 7 days during the week. 

Last, but certainly not least......it's when you realize that your friends in the ward....actually think your names are Kari and Joey...and not having the heart to correct them. (Second identity? Sure....why not!)

And that, my friends, sums up the weekend. Simple, yes....but whoever said perfection had to be complex? Not even the auto shop with their sad diagnosis could change it. 

As some would say....I'm over the moon.

With happiness.