Friendsgiving

We had Friendsgiving for YW tonight. It was at Nicole’s beautiful house and everyone brought food.

It was so fun. I’ll miss these girls a lot when I am released. Our house goes on the market tomorrow, I don’t know how long it’ll take to sell but our days are numbered.

 

Photoshoot

Ezra set up the cutest little nativity. Notice his favorite character Lightning McQueen is standing in for baby Jesus, and Gandalf makes a powerful angel. Lol!

Yesterday Amy, our realtor came and did a walk through and left a to-do list for getting our house on the market this week. Ethan was gone with the missionaries a lot of the day but when he got home he helped me get through the list. 

Today the house had its photo shoot. 

Grace and Blake did homework together after school. 

 Sometimes Luca comes to visit.

Weekend

Rob drove home today. There was lots of traffic so it took a little longer than anticipated but he arrived safely. It was a good visit. We got to do some fun things and we got a lot of house stuff done. It was also a hard visit. I guess it’s his last time in Florida (although we have Grace’s graduation in 5 month). I feel like it was a little stressful and after 7 month not living here it was like he was visiting. The good news is we are more than half way done with this slow roll move. 

We each feel like we are the most inconvenienced by the whole thing and that is a difficult thing to navigate. 

Last night I was particularly melancholy about the move, and the kids all being grown and almost gone. I love having Ethan and Grace here but really they are only half here. 

Ethan is just bidding his time until BYU and the start of the rest of his life. 

Grace is on the downward slide to graduation. She is sorting out all the typical senior year stuff. The realities of the $ it takes to go to school, the looking forward to being on your own and the apprehension of being on your own. The sorrow of moving and changing the plans for college that she wanted and the fun of a first boyfriend. The end of marching season, all the things.

I am experiencing all the typical (if you buy Carl Jung’s theories) challenges of middle age. I don’t want an empty nest and feel a loss of identity. 35 years of being a mother is all I know and it has been the source of so much of my joy. Now I have to make a plan for moving to the next chapter. 

Last night I was “crying” with Kristina about how this is the worst part of parenting and we commiserated with each other. Then this morning Bub and I went to the stake office so he could give his mission report to the high council. It was a wonderful meeting. He shared about his mission and then the high council had the chance to ask him questions. They had lots and he had mature and thoughtful answers. 

One thing they asked him was how his testimony had changed from before his mission to now. He said when he went out he definitely had a testimony but it was like a sketch, the outline was there and the various elements were there but it was like a line drawing. Serving over the last two years, and living the gospel and consecrating his life to the Lord has made that sketch develop into a full colored painting that is rich and vivid. 

They asked him to compare how missionaries were received in Utah vs Spain. He said in Utah they never met anyone who didn’t know who they were, the people there are used to missionaries knocking on their door once a month but they were warm and friendly. The members were super supportive and they taught and baptized. For how Spain was he answered with the following story. He and his companion flew to Spain from the US together, got off the plane and met the mission president and within hours the two of them were on a 5 hour long train ride that would take them to an area where no one had served in almost 2 years and with no idea what to do. They eventually found the apartment and after sleeping got to work. It was Easter time and the church had put out a video. For three days they walked the streets of their new town asking everyone they saw if they’d like to see a video about Jesus. No one watched it. That was Spain he said. Then he went on to say that it got better. They learned better ways to teach and outreach. The story was met with some laughter and some knowing nodding of heads. Missions are hard. Ethan said he didn’t expect it to be mentally grueling. He was surprised by the challenges and the hardships. He also said that it was due to that hardship that he grew and learned, that his testimony became strong. He said if your life isn’t going the way you wanted it to, or expected it to, then you can be assured it’s because Heavenly Father has a different plan than you do and that the outcome will be better than you had hoped.

They asked questions and he answered for a long time 15-20 minutes. Then he bore his testimony. It was a beautiful sacred meeting where the spirit was strong. He talked about miracles and goals and conversations and conversions and it was a delight to sit and listen. 

I am sad that my children are grown. That my turn having a house full of commotion and fun is done. I would never want to take this next stage away from them though. They are growing and learning and serving and thriving. They are raising families, serving God, following their covenant path, and I am so so grateful and honored to be a part of the beginning and now a witness and a cheerleader and a place to come home to. 

During the meeting the spirit whispered peace to my heart. My son is right. We need to have faith that God’s plan is better. And more importantly God’s son is the source of never ending joy and truth and light. Following Him solves all our sorrows (no matter what psychosocial stage of life we are in), makes our family relationships eternal, and gives us purpose.

I am very grateful for this short time with E. He is a good son. He sits close to me and helps me and humors me. 

I am also so grateful for this time with Grace. It’s “slipping through my fingers”🎶 so fast but that’s okay I’m just trying to soak it in, make it meaningful, and enjoy. I try not to think about the parts I’ll miss, or the end of the chapter. 

On that cheerful note, and as I laugh at myself for being so dramatic, I will say there are some wonderful things that come with turning the page. The blessing of grandchildren and married kids is amazing. The free time is super nice. The cleaner house and sleeping in on weekends is definitely nice. 

And in other news: my Christmas shopping is well underway! 

Black Friday

Grace did her part in the yarn section of JoAnn’s. 

We had a busy day, lol. Like every day. How is life so busy? Anyway we had some house stuff to do. Some papers to get signed. Every day we’ve been doing the physical work of getting the house ready. Each day we’ve been checking a few things off the list.

We went to first watch which was delicious. I had a lot of school work to do. I hardly did any tues/wed/thurs so I paid for it today and had to spend a lot of time. This week was really interesting. We learned about cultural humility and facing ethical dilemmas. 

Rob, Ethan, Grace, Isaiah, Tom and Abba went to the Magic game. Grace and Rob both said it was a lot more fun than they thought it would be, success!

Jenna had her Christmas concert tonight. I don’t remember if I said that she is in a community orchestra. 

Poor Hannah had to go to the ER. She wasn’t feeling well for a couple days and was having a lot of cramping. The good news is baby is fine. 

 

Thankful

Thanksgiving 2022 was spent at Jess and Isaiah’s house. I’m going to really miss living near them. We’ve never lived by family and now we have them and Tom and Diana and it’s been really nice. But tonight is about gratitude not missing things! So in honor of 2022 here are 22 things I am grateful for in no particular order:

1. Jesus Christ
2. My grandchildren. All 8 of them, I count Poppy who is on the way!
3. My wonderful children, all 10 of them, I count those 4 fabulous sons-in-law that I have!
4. My parents, 4 of them. They are good people, good parents, good grandparents and our lives are blessed because of them.
5. My husband 
6. My siblings. 
7. My home.
8. The temple.
9. Disney.
10. My chance to go to school, at my ripe old age.
11. Books
12. The beach
13. Serving in YW
14. Warm sunny winters
15. A returned missionary son(s).
16. FaceTime
17. Hot showers
18. Plenty to eat
19. My many good friends
20. Traveling
21. The Book of Mormon
22. Prayer

 P.S

Both Grace and Ethan had 2nd thanksgiving. Grace went to Blakes and soon after we got home the missionaries called E to ask him to go with them for dinner at Maria’s so he also got to eat again. 

HS

Abba wanted to ride Rise of the Resistance and Rob and I were delighted to tag along! 

It was a good day. The weather was nice, the crowds were high but we did genie + so we got on a few quickly.

We were walking into ToyStory land and ran into the Pettys! So fun. We stood in one line with them and visited💕

We ran and ran …

 

And then they were done! 🤣

NASA

Blake and Grace like to match.

We went to the Kennedy Space Center today. Like last time I found it well worth the visit. Everyone enjoyed their day and saw things they hadn’t seen before.

It was rainy on and off all day, and overcast all day. That was fine except a launch was scheduled and several of us really really wanted to see it. It was scrubbed at literally the last minute. Disappointing.

That would have been icing on the cake but the day was still great.

 

Waiting for the launch that did not happen

Weekend

Saturday Grace had states. They took 2nd! We didn’t go (mistake) and she was sad. (I guess I’ll be the surprise guest fodder on the Sorcerer Supreme’s therapeutic “couch” 😕 this week) 

Sunday Ethan gave his coming home talk. It was awesome. Grace did go to church but she spent the other 23 hours of the day sleeping. States were a lot. 

In the evening we went to the bishops for the new member meet and greet. Everyone had a good time. 

Today Ethan spent the day with the elders. Pday. They played sports. Rob’s been getting things fixed for the house selling. I did lots of school work, and Grace and Blake hung out with Maddie, who is back from college. 

 

Festival of trees

Today I met Becca and her friend Annette at the Art Museum where they had a festival of trees. 

I was surprised that when I asked Ethan if he wanted to come with us he said yes. 

It was very beautiful and fun to see all the trees and the art.

On the way home we had Chick-fil-A peppermint milk shakes. 

Rob got home this afternoon. He’ll be here a week. 

Also great news I’ve started on our Christmas shopping!
 

Misc

Ezra and Hannah and Tami went to California Adventure last week. Look at his face! So cute!

Hannah and family are moving back to Idaho in January. Back to the cold. Back to school for Sawyer. Today Hannah had an OB appointment. Next month we will learn if baby Poppy is a boy or a girl. I’m thinking girl. 

Ethan is bored. He goes out with the missionaries a lot. He works out. Watches movies. He will be very happy when school starts!

Grace is sick. Also she got into SVU and accepted. We are crossing our fingers that she gets a full scholarship. They think she will🤞 She told me I could post her admission essay:

 “I’ve been afflicted with a disease. Each doctor I saw had a differing opinion that never fit right. Despite seeing the “best” doctors, I continued to grow sicker. As strongly as I know that a miracle could cure me, I am just as strongly prompted that this will be a lifelong struggle for me. As my disease progressed, I felt more and more like something was wrong with me, like I was worthless. That feeling is terrifying because growing up as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I’ve never questioned my worth. My faith faltered alongside my self-worth as I was attacked by thoughts that made me question whether I’m worth fixing. This happened gradually, and before I knew it I was suffocated. I knew something was wrong, and by a divine miracle, I connected with the therapist I did. She’s the first person in my life who I feel understood by and is thus the first I’ve been able to trust with this issue. As I’ve explored my mental health with an earnest desire to heal, I have learned what my disease is. It is a psychological dysfunction that manifests in debilitating physical symptoms. Like a parasite, the disease is ingeniously structured to preserve itself, throwing me in the crossfire of my self-worth. Through all this, I will be saved by the values instilled in me from growing up in the church. Because they are the light of Christ, these values are stronger than the disease. By dedicating my life to the service of the Lord, I have the strength to heal. I have always wanted to be an exceptional doctor and I now know that I will thoroughly study this disease to save kids from it before it grows too late. The needs of upcoming generations are rapidly changing with this exponentially changing world and, to no fault of their own, parents can’t keep up. I want to study medicine and psychology to combat the disease of the crumbling generations. I believe that neurotheology holds the key to the cure to the disease. I would excel at this anywhere, but no school I have found has a community with the same attitude about learning that I felt during my tour of Southern Virginia University. SVU is a magnet for students and staff who, like me, know they have a greater purpose. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46. On the cross, Jesus lost the comfort of his father. He cried out as he felt the human emotions of abandonment and rejection. From His atonement came the greatest impact on man in history. From His pain, there was purpose. In my strife to be Christlike, I will use my pain for purpose. My studies at SVU will be a catalyst for my positive ripple effect on society.”

Poor Darcy has been sick. Also Jenna is having her thyroid out on December 1. I am praying we don’t have a like mother like daughter thyroid cancer club. For now we are thinking the best and hoping everything goes so smoothly. I wish I was there.

Tatum got her ears pierced today, second hole…like Mimi. Wish I was there for that too!

I actually don’t know what’s new with Chris and Sierra. I know it’s Christmas tree lot prep season & it’s their first married holiday season so I’m hoping everything is sparkly and beautiful.

The girls went to see Mamma Mia this week. They loved it. (Wish I was there). I think everyone is doing well.

I study study study. Hopefully I am also learning learning learning because my brain is slow!

Disney X2

 Alicia, Nicole and I went to MK today. We all love going and call it “self care”. It is my happy place. We rode Splash Mountain, helped Nicole buy some really cute Christmas decorations, and had lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern. 

For mutual we went to Ken Malquist’s office. He is the event director for Disney and is basically the world’s biggest party planner! He has a super fun job and it was very impressive to see all that they do. I think all the kids loved it too. He had a great presentation and then gave us a tour of the building. We saw the costuming area, the cosmetology area, the floral design area, and lots of other really fun and cool things.

The rest of the day I spent doing school. 

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle

Sick

Sunday Rob drove back home. He was going to drive on Monday but the base was expecting an important visitor and we decided it was better for him to be there. It turned out to be a very productive day for him yesterday so it was best that he went.

Emma came over for dinner. Always fun. Ethan told her he was like his 6th sister and I feel the same. We love our Emma. It’s always fun to talk with her and we had a nice visit. 

Monday was a travel day. Like all travel days it felt long. We didn’t fly until the afternoon, which is my least favorite time to fly. I like to get up early and get going and then have time at the end. I don’t like waiting all day and then flying but sometimes you don’t get to pick. Anyway besides the lateness of the hour we had pleasant flights and landed without incident.

Today I did school work. Ethan had an eye appointment and an appointment with the missionaries. Tonight we had 5 elders over for dinner. It was fun to share our table with them.

The whole band is sick. The kids all have sore throats and congestion, many have fevers, all feel terrible. That stinks.