10/15/23

I was on hold with Anne's Rx company for a while this week, trying to work out some insurance details, and when the woman helping me pulled up our info, she kind of startled, then said, "Oh, you have a lot of fun at your house!" I laughed, and agreed there's never a dull moment! But she, in her cute Southern accent started talking every time she was waiting on her computer or for another rep to get on the line, about HOW MUCH she wanted a big family (and her fiance wasn't having it!). She talked about meeting her biological Dad at 11, and how he had 6 siblings, and her Mimi (grandma) had 25 (!!!!!) grandchildren and 7 great grands, and CAN YOU IMAGINE?!!!! She delighted over hearing Seth in the background, would ask, "Tell me what you do for breakfast?", or "Do you ever just send them outside because it gets so crazy?" and when I told her how they ran around the neighborhood with friends, which helped, she exclaimed, "You mean you have kids in TWENTY-TWENTY-THREE running around outside?!!! YOU ARE LIVIN' THE DREEEEAM!!!" and repeated it often! Sweet reminder in an unexpected place!! And it has been a delicious week during the magic of Fall. Dad had Monday off, and he's been determined to self-install our secondary water line, so I offered to help dig (mainly because I wasn't overwhelmed this week, & the weather was dreamy, so I loved an excuse to be out there!). The biggest job was digging under the sidewalk, but we finally got everything prepped and ready to connect (just in time for rain to come!). Then it was cool and misty and rainy and ALL the leaves are showing off, so I soaked up cozy story time with Seth, fun jog/walks through the farm trails, and GORGEOUS drives through Sardine Canyon. (Seth tried taking pictures & couldn't get over what a RAINBOW of colors was everywhere--especially since every time I've pointed out the red on the mountains to him he's told me it's lava and didn't believe it could be leaves). The girls were out of school Thursday and Friday, so we slept in, {broke up fights between the girls}, went thrifting, continued our Greek wedding movies, found tennis lessons for Anne, and cleaned out our side yard with the city's free dumpster days. I got in a temple session Friday morning-- (10th anniversary to Grandpa's dying!), then Dad & I ran into Emily's MTC companion while we were out for date night in Logan. Saturday morning, Brent and Dad went to help Maddie & Brian move to their new place in Pleasant Grove & visited with Uncle Martin & Aunt Karen who live down the street from where they're moving; and I spoke at LaVonna's graveside service while the older girls were at orchestra, before we got home for Lucy's soccer game. Woke up to zoom in on Baby Heidi's blessing this morning, and pictures of Grandpa's old truck that Uncle Briant just bought/fixed up! Had some good visits, including one to the hospital, and squeezed in a fun birthday breakfast on Wed w/ Treena and Joan. Seth found a pair of glasses out in a backyard tree (one of Jane's friends left them there), and is convinced they are his--I can't get over how much he wears them--he is also obsessed about wearing this "necklace" he made out of earplugs wherever we go. He had a bad landing on Bubba's trampoline Friday, and when he was still begging to be carried everywhere on Saturday, I decided to take him to urgent care (now that we HAVE one!!!), only to have him not even need an x-ray.

10/8/23

It's just been one of those Sundays where I'm reminded of the goodness of gathering. Friends that we haven't seen in a while coming to church and having quick friends come to sit with them, young men bearing testimony WITH each other!, love & acceptance to the nursery boy that comes in with stickers all over his face and a minnie mouse doll he won't let go of, a new girl to choir being mentored by another music-loving momma--there's just so much good, and I love how everyone doing a little adds up to overflowing love. Here's the rest of that quote I love from Elder Daines' talk: "To serve in this Church is to stand in the river of God’s love for His children. This Church is a work party of people with picks and shovels trying to help clear the channel for the river of God’s love to reach His children at the end of the row....Grab a pick and shovel and join the team. Help carry His love to His children, and some of it will splash on you." That's what I was feeling today, that we may be muddy and far from perfect or exact, but the water still flows. AND, we're in PERFECT fall this week! The weather is GORGEOUS and the colors are EVERYWHERE--I want to just live outside to soak it up. We had a sweet weekend up in Idaho for Grandma's 80th birthday!! We dropped Anne & Lucy off at Orchestra retreat Friday night, then just took up the car with Jane & Seth to stay w/ G&G. Grandpa & I joined Troy & Kimber + Aunt Lisa/cousins for a beautiful hike near Palisades reservoir--oh, it was SO glorious being outside together, and I loved seeing some of these cousins we've missed out on for a few years! We had a fun party that night with 50's music, fajitas, a ukulele cake, and "tiny hands" before heading home that night. Anne finished off Tennis season (lettering!) with the banquet Thursday, I had pres mtg Monday, and visits throughout the week--including a birthday visit to Diana with my old crowd. Brent and Breely were in Cedar City this weekend for Avery's wedding. Wednesday I ran errands, the last of which I was dreading--trying to get the clasp of my necklace (from Dad on our 25th anniversary!!) fixed, and I just felt out of my element, and sheepish since the chain was all tied in knots from Seth, and I didn't want to have to spend a ton of money. The lady that helped me was SO patient and kind!!!--even to Seth rubbing his fingers all over the glass display windows. She just said how beautiful it was and that it needed to be worn, but when she checked the prices on a clasp replacement, they started at $45, or $70 for what I really needed. I was ready to take it back and just find a new chain online, but the asst manager came over asking what was needed, they both consulted briefly together before she went over to where their chain selection was, got a whole new, nicer chain, ripped off the price tag, and slid the pendant on before handing it to me. NO CHARGE!! The first lady whispered, "That's what I WANTED to do, but she's the one ALLOWED to!" And she steam cleaned the whole thing and put it in a brand new box. I could've CRIED on the way out---I've worn the necklace every day since! Diana invited us over for amazing lasagna tonight, which was wonderful, both in company AND food--we're quite a crowd to have over when she's used to cooking for 2!! Hopefully the weather will hold long enough to get a little more hiking in over fall break at the end of this week. Love you tons! Love, Mom

10/1/23

Great Conference Weekend, especially to have Maddie's family & Emily come up. Weather is turning beautiful and fallish--Seth and I have gone on more bike rides this week, and I've spent a few afternoons on the patio reading to soak up the last of our sun this year. Had a few RS visits throughout the week, and felt like I was not worthy of being an adult when I not only was late getting cheesesticks to Anne's tennis practice, but forgot FOR THE THIRD WEEK IN A ROW voice/piano lessons!!! Switching from Monday to Wed has really done me in. Thank goodness Brenda is so understanding---I wish I could learn to be better with myself! We sang Happy Birthday to Brent on Wed, and on Thursday I got to see Anne at state (but missed her playing a VERY close round with a bitter player/parent/coach that badmouthed every call she made!), and then met Maddie's family, Emily, and the MADSEN'S!!! at BYU for lunch--SO good and fun to see them---I was worried about such a long day since I'd woken up at 4 that morning, but came home just floating with happiness from being with great people. Here were 2 of my favorite quotes from Elder Daines (who I just read is Michelle Craig's younger brother): "Covenants are the shape of God's embrace", and "Serving in the church is like standing in a river of God's love" Hope your week's gone great! Love you Love you! Mom