In the interest of creative writing, I won’t bore you with the checked off To Do list from this year or assault your brain with “cute” doggerel. 

We enjoyed 2016. Most of the time. That’s simply reality. Jordan worked a few jobs that weren’t ideal: cleaning children’s 💩 is a duty (hehehe) that someone else can fill. 

Lee J spent some time doing similar things in the tech world at GM. Actually, that may be his entire job description. He’ll get back to you. 

We spent Easter visiting and making friends in Seattle and Olympia. It’s pretty and green! It’s basically the opposite of Phoenix. Also seeing tides change by 15′ in Puget Sound was exciting as well. If by exciting, you mean getting your feet stuck in clam mire for hours and trying to work your way out of the mud the entire time as the water slowly approaches your nostrils. 

Wait, that wasn’t Seattle. That was 2015 when we got engaged. 

Jordan now works for a company that deals (maybe) with cars, but she can’t actually tell you what she does. All she can say is it is fun, exciting, and future-focused. She’ll have good stories for grandchildren. 

Lee J teaches youth Sunday school and is daily grateful he wasn’t called into Scouting. Having boys and girls in class makes the lessons more applicable and more interesting. Jordan sits in on the lessons and ensures his hyperbole stays to a minimum. 

Jordan teaches 14-15 young women at church. Some of them are in Lee J’s class in the previous hour, and they’ve come to think we’re the cutest couple in the ward (they’re not wrong, of course), and they idolize Jordan. (“Do what I say, not what I did.” That’s the best way to teach, right?)

To end our hectic weeks as full time employees of auto companies, we volunteer in the Gilbert, AZ temple and spend time rubbing shoulders with many people far more experienced than are we. We’re grateful they accept (and encourage?) our playfulness.

We’ve also picked up a house guest. Jordan’s cousin Charlie lives in our spare bedroom when she’s not mentoring youth in the Arizona wilderness. It’s been fun to have her around, although Lee J feels outnumbered with two strong-willed women ruling the roost. 

The best part of the year is we’ve both had a partner to scheme with, receive encouragement from, and take strange places. Having someone else at our side who prioritizes similarly is the best gift we can ask for. 

Merry Christmas. And always remember, if it weren’t for Easter, there would be no Christmas. 

So that turned into a list of things, rather than creativity. Oh well. Do good and be good. 

#breaksfourthwall

#dropsmicmeekly