Happy 9 Year Anniversary



June 11 | Our 9 Year Anniversary

Woohoooo 9 years!!! Our anniversary fell on Monday this year...which meant I had to work...so we couldn't celebrate until I got off. I wanted to take the day off, but I'm saving up my vacation/PTO/personal days for later in the summer.

Lahvjal and Penny watched the kids (bless their hearts) and just before we left the house, Uncle Mia showed up with Uncle Eveni, Uncle Alofa, and Dane.

They came to grab some shirts since Uncle Faataualofa was going to be heading back to Australia.



After they left, we drove up to Salt Lake and had dinner at the Roof.
The Roof Restaurant is a gourmet/fine dining buffet located on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake. ooohh fanncy smaannccy It was a first for Aljay and first for us as a couple. I had gone once before with BYUHSA yeeearrs ago. 

The buffet was delicious.



The view was spectacular.




P.S.  For the pics above....the pic on the left is what I was trying to capture and what we actually experienced (got it off google). The pic on the right is what my phone captured. I think it's time for a phone upgrade. Maybe it's time to jump on team Android

And the two pics below are what Aljay tried to capture.



But the company was by far the best part.




Reflections

In between 2nd and 3rd servings at dinner, we reflected on our journey and everything that has led up to where we are now. There's no doubt that the Lord has had His hand in all things throughout this journey. There's no other way we would've survived and made it this far on our own. 

We reflected on our recent success with Aljay's art, my job, our children. We couldn't help but just marvel at the way Heavenly Father has orchestrated everything that has come about in the past couple of years. Me getting the job I have, then going to full-time, then my UVU affiliation opening the door for Aljay to exhibit....then Aljay being sponsored, which removed the financial barrier, allowing him to open his creative spheres and get back into painting...

And it's not like we have just hit the jackpot in terms of being rich and having tons of money. But for the first time in our marriage, both of us are doing something we have a passion for and our skills/jobs/whatever you want to call it are complementing each other so beautifully.

I couldn't help but ask "WHY!? Why didn't we pursue his art sooner!! WHY did we wait?" and the answer we both felt was that it just wasn't the right time...until now.

I asked Aljay "Would you have been able to paint these paintings a year ago..or two years ago..or 3?"

His response was simple. "No. We weren't ready then." Always the Lord's timing right?

Well... we are grateful. And we're always excited for what the future holds.

Onward and upwards we go.

9 mortal years down....eterrrrrnniiiittyy to go.





























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