April 2019 draws to a close

April is drawing to a close and May is upon us with sunny skies and warmer days. It is also the season that real estate picks up some. This causes more exhaustion but when the pay checks begin to come it is nice.  My last official class ends this week and then I will just have an internship this summer before obtaining my master's degree.  Baseball season is also underway. I very much enjoy watching the kids do things they enjoy and the boys like baseball.  Ginny attended the Priest/Laurel prom this past weekend and had a nice time.  She looked beautiful as always. I wanted to share some of the images that we received over the last few days of our families.  Sarah and David  Fullmer with their two boys, Tommie and Karen Farrell with their family (including Gerald's wife), Megan and Blake Davis family, and Charity's crew.

Happy Easter

         Today is Easter Sunday. It started out a little rocky with Christopher waking up in a foul mood and struggling with his shirt. Will was anxious to arrive at church a few minutes early for the sacrament. The girls had already left because they needed to be at church early for choir. Church was full today, so full they ran out of water during the sacrament and had to bless it twice. As I watched these young deacons (my boy included) scramble in a reverent manner to know what to do, I was reminded of the importance of the sacrament and that every member that desires to partake of the sacrament must be given that opportunity if they are worthy. Yes, it probably took an extra 10-15 minutes and an adult going to help but served as a personal witness and testimony of the entire reason we meet weekly and attend church...to partake of those sacred emblems. My heart was full watching my son participate in reminding of us that privilege we have weekly. I hope I always remember the feeling of importance I felt today. Ginny accompanied the primary kids on the flute today as the sang.  As I sat and watched her, I reflected on her many talents and kindness towards others. Then I watched she and Aubree sing with the choir and felt more joy in the young women they are becoming.  Both are beautiful on the exterior and interior and we regularly are told how great our girls are.  They are both generous with sincere compliments towards others frequently. I hope they always lift others up.
         After church, we drove to Jackson and carried smoke pork, baked beans, and the fixings for nachos.  I managed to convince Becky to ride with us although she and Charity have not been on the best terms.  Overall, it was a good day and visit but I leave my parents feeling like a bad person often.  Mom told me I was "high and mighty" on things and then Charity let me know that she tries not to ask me at all to watch or help with her kids and said a curse word at me after I told her that she does not realize how much people help her. The crazy thing is that I was trying to help her and mom not argue because she was upset because mom said she needed a break this week and asked Charity to have Natalie watch the kids but then mom said she was going to go up and see Sandra one day this week. Sandra stays upset anytime mom watches Charity's kids.  At times I feel like mom cannot win when it comes to making Sandra happy and helping Charity.  
       It did not help that I also discovered this week I was a very type A personality, but I do have some type B characteristics towards others of being empathetic.  Honestly, tonight I feel like I am a toxic person and instead of bringing joy to others, just add to the burdens. The fact that my spirit and attitude has changed so much from church this morning to this evening shows the importance of keeping focus and self-control.  Life can be so hard for everyone and we are all working to create our own happily every afters in spite of any situation life has handed to us, good or bad. Everyone is working to build their lives. There is a story behind every person and a reason they act the way they do, we must refrain from passing judgment and being critical. It is so hard when you feel like a villain and you have nowhere to turn. Maybe, I should turn to the Savior and utilize the atonement, which is not just for sins but for sorrow and heartache too.

St. Louis Trip

Pippen is over and Aubree did a phenomenal job. However, the daily practices coming to an end are nice.  She was also inducted into Beta Club this past week too.  Jake and I were given the opportunity to go to St. Louis for NSTA Conference for a few days. We were awarded scholarships so did not have to pay for the conference but travel and accommodations. We decided to attend the temple as well and it seems that evening that a collaboration of things tried to prevent it from the kids fighting (we spent 30 minutes on the phone with them trying to settle things down) to traffic to arriving late for the session, so we did sealings for about 30-40 minutes and caught a later session. Although there was not much that I remembered about the St. Louis temple interior, memories from our wedding day flooded back.  As we pulled up, in my head I saw Jake coming out of the temple door as he did on our wedding day and felt the same comfort this week as I did then (I had left the temple a couple times on our wedding day because I was so nervous).  Besides the one rough patch Wednesday evening, the girls did a phenomenal job holding down the fort here (mom spent the night each night) and Ginny was so responsible.  Our little short trip (Tuesday evening through Friday afternoon) was a packed with classes but also some tender moments with my husband, such as the temple and walking down the streets holding hands. 

 

Ginny's birthday party and Aubree's play

Ginny chose to have a birthday on March 30th and I was impressed with how many people showed up.  This is also the first year that she has included Aubree.  I am glad that Ginny felt loved by her friends and that Aubree felt loved by her sister. Will was chosen to become a member of Beta Club, so we are proud of his accomplishment.  Aubree had opening night of Pippen and that went well.  She loves to act.  I had no clue what the play was about and even while we watched, I was a little confused but at the end, I think I finally figured it out.  It is a bout a young boy discovering life or what is important in life.  Being torn in may directions by the voices in our head, choices must be made. He seeks for something extraordinary but in the end realizes that family or loved ones are the extraordinary in this life. He learns to not just focus on himself but comfort others.  I love that it made me think a little deeper and reflect on what is important in life.