Press On

I read the following quote from our 30th president, Calvin Cooledge, and I found it very inspiring.  I thought it would be nice to share.

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence.  Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.  Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.  Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.  Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.  The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

I guess on some level this brings me comfort.  I certainly realize I'm far from genius and may not be all that talented, but I am a girl who goes after her goals.  I guess in the long run that's really what's going to make things happen.  I'm happy to see these qualities in Shaun and Ella too.  Anyone who knows our dating story knows Shaun is persistent first and foremost.  He's persevered through some very challenging classes and will soon have his degree thanks in large part to his willingness to endure.  And Ella, she is already very tenacious... a very determined little girl.  Hopefully Mr. Coolidge is right.  We may not solve the problems of the human race, but we'll work through our own stuff and come out on top!

Ella and Easter

These pictures need little introduction.  My little girl is the most adorable thing and here she is on Easter Sunday after church.  I cannot believe what a fun little girl she is turning in to.  She was laughing most of the time I was taking these.  What a special Little Miss we have (and I'm not a bit biased).

A most wonderful Spring Break!

The Calderwoods have enjoyed not one, but TWO Spring Breaks this year.  An earlier post revealed our adventures to North Carolina for Shaun's break from school.  For my Spring Break we had our North Carolina friends come to visit us.  We enjoyed a day at the temple, a day in DC seeing the cherry blossoms, and a weekend in Colonial Williamsburg.  We are grateful for such wonderful friends to spend time with.  The Wests are wonderful as are so many of our other friends that we wish we could have also seen over this break.  We look forward to more adventures and will be sure to post them right here.  Here are some photos of our week in review.

Above:  Adam and Tawnie outside the Colonial Governor's Palace in Williamsburg

Above:  Ella enjoying a stroll through Colonial Williamsburg

Above:  Shaun and Ella with their backs towards the maze behind the Governor's Palace.  Shaun says the reflection from the flash off his windbreaker makes him look like he's one of the colonial guards in metal armor.

A room in the Governor's Palace said to be for one of the Governor's daughter's.

Two dads with their babies

Shaun and I in the stocks.  You could be placed in the stocks for not attending church.  It's a good thing we do.  But we could have stolen a chicken or another minor crime too to deserve this punishment.

Ella in her colonial bonnet

A colonial family... although Shaun looks more like Sir Elton John than Benjamin Franklin

Above: A day in DC... a view of the Jefferson Memorial through the Cherry Blossoms

Adam and Ellie on the Jefferson steps

The Washington Memorial

Ella in the Tulip Gardens

The West Family and the Jefferson across the Tidal Basin

Me trying to imagine having twins... lots of work!

The girls interrupted someone else's game of frisbee and ran off with the frisbee (as seen here).  Luckily the other family found them so endearing that they didn't mind and even let them play a while.

Shaun and Ella on the carousel outside of the natural history museum

Ellie playing at the World War II Memorial

Ella pointing at the fountains of the WW II Memorial

The WWII Memorial at sunset with the Lincoln in the background

Shaun and the Wests at the DC Temple (being posers)

The Calderwoods in front of the DC temple

Spring time at the DC Temple

Life's little anecdotes

I was reading a fantastic article in this month's Ensign (this is a monthly church publication with wonderful lessons and talks) and found the following excerpt quite helpful:

"We may have to struggle to achieve our goals, but our struggles may yield as much growth as our learning.  The strengths we develop in overcoming challenges will be with us in the eternities to come.  The stuff of growth was never made of ease."  (Dallin H. Oaks, Learning and Latter Day Saints).

For any of you who have been around the Calderwoods this year, it's probably been evident this has been a year of challenges.  I know there are others facing more grave circumstances.  Our struggles are more of just the day in day out variety: being new parents and trying to find the balance between loving our little girl, loving each other, and working hard.  Everyone tells you how wonderful parenthood will be but no one really tells you how hard it will be also.  I feel guilty for missing parts of myself I've had to give up.  I'm not nearly as social as I used to be.  I find after getting Ella to bed I mostly just want to relax.  I feel in some ways that I'm less of a person than I used to be.  I was always instigating social parties, planning things, traveling.  These days I'm lucky if I've gotten a shower in.  But actually, I am very grateful for the sacrifices parenthood has brought.  I may not be all of the thing I was before, but I believe I am more now.  I have found new strengths in working and caring for my family.  I hope my husband knows how much I appreciate him for the sacrifices he makes too.  I can see this family thing really helping both of us to grow.  And the wonderful thing is that our goal we have set out to accomplish is just around the corner.  Shaun will graduate this summer and all of that sacrifice will have been worth it.  I'm not naive enough to think that once we're at that point it will all be over and done with.  I know a whole new set of challenges will present themselves as we look towards employment opportunities, moving, expanding our family... but we will have completed this chapter, and that will be a very good feeling indeed.

Also, I have to do a little bragging on my little Miss.  She has learned to say "Dada, Mama, Ball, and Hi."  She says all of them in the correct context and is even learning "Jesus" when we read her "Jesus book" at night.  But "Hi" is her absolute favorite.  We went to the grocery store today and she waved hello and said hi to EVERYONE.  And if they didn't notice or say hi back, she would gradually get louder and louder until they  did notice.  And once they did the biggest toothy smile would cover her face.  She is absolutely amazing.  I can definitely see her little personality and she is the sweetest, most loving, and SOCIAL baby!  I'll post more photos soon.  For now here's one of my more recent favorites.