A Year in Review.....2012

Wow! Almost a year has passed since I updated our blog. And what a difference one year can make! Here are the big adventures the past year has held for the Knighton family:

-Nate was accepted to the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program at the University of Utah.  We moved up to Salt Lake City in August to pursue this dream. He absolutely loves it! He comes home everyday super excited about what he is learning and craving more. Nate has talked about going back to school since we first began dating, and it has been so neat to see him reach that goal. Student life has come with its blessings and challenges.  While we don't have much money, we live in an area where there is so much to do and enjoy. We have enjoyed the accessability of good hospitals, stores, and beautiful scenery. We do, however, miss our dear friends and family in Ridgecrest, as well as the small town feel. We will back in Ridgecrest Summer 2013 to complete an internship with the Naval Base, and be back in Salt Lake in August.

-Nate's dear Grandmother, Yvonne Marion Baliff Knighton, passed away in May. She was an amazing woman who Nate dearly loved. We were blessed to be able to attend her funeral service and celebrate her life with family.  She has 8 beautiful children and more grandchildren and great grandchildren than I can recall. Grandma Knighton loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and made sure her family knew it and loved it as well. She also enjoyed a fierce game of Skip-Bo! No one could win against her (though her strategies were rumored to be.....ruthless). We miss her dearly and think of her often.

Grandma Knighton doing her favorite thing, playing SkipBo with the family

She was ruthless when it came to SkipBo....

-My childhood pet, Benjamin Franklin Bullock-Collingwood-Knighton, a Black Lab/German Shepherd mix dog, passed away at the age of 10. He had battled severe arthritis, periodontis, and a rare metabolic virus that seemed to age him by several years in a matter of months. He died peacefully just this past week. He was truly the best dog in the world, and is sorely missed.

Benjamin Franklin Bullock-Collingwood-Knighton, the best dog in the world

 -We found out we were expecting our first baby, due to arrive just after our 2nd Anniversary. Pregnancy and all it entails has brought innumerable adventures, laughter, and challenges that  we have cherished. There is so much to say about our sweet little girl that a few sentences could hardly express. Her story will follow in future posts, so keep reading up and we will keep you posted.

Maternity Photos! We were so excited for her to come!

We loved you the moment we knew you were coming <3

Strangely prophetic and yet, perfect :)

Nate and I can never pass up the opportunity for an awkward family photo

Well, there is the shorthand version of our recent adventures! I could fill many pages of blog posts with the details, but its best to just start at the present when the details of our adventures are fresh. Thank you so much for keeping up with the Knightons! I'd write more, but adventures await and we just put on our rain boots........   :)