We are going to KOREA!!!

Over 30 years ago, a scrawny, little baby arrived in Los Angeles from an orphanage in Seoul.

First meeting for mom, dad, and daughter

I am so grateful for two incredible parents who adopted a little girl, 18 months (give or take a few months!) from Korea. I couldn't walk, couldn't talk, didn't have any teeth, and as my dad likes to remind me, brought a few lice and scabies with me.

Anyhow, this summer we have an amazing opportunity to return to where it all began! I am excited, nervous, overwhelmed. After we first talked about going it was a little bit emotional for me! Plus, for those who don't know, Cash served a mission for our church in Korea, so he is really excited to get to go back. He's already brushing up on his Korean and I've found old adoption records. And no, I don't really want to find my parents. But, we do want to return to my orphanage (which Cash has been to!) and visit there, take gifts, and I don't know, probably cry out of gratitude.

We are going with a class that's being offered at BSU -- two weeks in Korea! We'll sign up for the class as students, but because we're faculty we'll be able to go and explore on our own. It's an amazing opportunity -- we only have to pay for our airfare over and the host university will house and feed us! Koreans are very gracious hosts. We'll take baby Ava with us, but the big kids will stay with Grammy and cousins. (Thank you!)

My naturalization record

We go at the end of June. I am so excited to be able to return to my "homeland." We'll keep you updated!

Facebook killed the blog.

So, I realize in the past year that important moments, both big and small, have passed by without any record! Though it is fun to connect with people on Facebook, I am stepping away from FB a bit and returning to my blog. I love this little patch of my world where I can record the things that matter most to me and share them with the people who matter most to me. Thanks for taking the time to catch up with the Hill family.

Obviously the most important event of the past year was our sweet Ava Caroline.

(Ava with Grandpa Schroeder. Ava is named for my mom, Carolyn, who loved babies most of all.)

She's now 10 months and such a good baby! She's the first baby I have been able to just lay down in the crib -- AND SHE FALLS ASLEEP!! Cash says he really likes the 2009 model. Unfortunately, for Spencer the first baby (the 1999 model) is sort of like the first pancake -- a little trial and error. We love having her in our family.

This year, Cash's grandad, Rex Ford Smith, passed away. He was the patriarch of Cash's family for so many years. He was a kind, strong man who led by example. He is certainly missed, but we are sure that he is happy and rejoicing with those he loves.

Cash, Ava, and Grandad SmithAt Grandad's funeral in Weiser, Idaho. All the boys are wearing the "Ford Waterfall" in honor of how grandad used to wear his tie. He always looked so stylish. Cash has inherited Grandad's love of cuff links. For valentine's day he got some "propellor" cuff links that look just like a boat propellor. He was pleased.

So, spring is here again and that means so many great things: baseball, gardening, shorts, flip flops, rain, otter pops, the lake, and daffodils. Unfortunately we have to know the bitter to know the sweet. So we're weeding, laying black plastic, pulling out dead trees, spring cleaning, and getting back on the proverbial treadmill in my annual effort to get ready for swim suit season. Uggh. But, we are so blessed. Our family is healthy, we have good jobs, our kids are happy, we love our ward, we enjoy our callings, and the Cubs are having a great season (the Vallivue Babe Ruth Cubs, that is).

Once again Spring has breathed new life -- the Blog is back! :)