Time is quickly approaching when my girls will be leaving and I am trying to soak up every minute of it I can. When they ask to have people over, the answer is a yes so they will be here instead of somewhere else. Both girls had off one evening so we went to Happy Mexican, at Aubree's request, for dinner and laughed so much there and in the car. Often I am at the topic of conversation and laughs but I am 100% good with it to be together.
Let’s see where to begin. It always seems that summer escapes too quickly. This is the first year in quite some time that we have not traveled more. We helped Charity with the kids for several weeks, it can be more exhausting, but I love those kids and her. It is hard to believe that in two weeks Ginny will be back at school and that Aubree leaves in a little over three weeks. My mamma heart is excited for them but hurts all at the same time. It is a feeling that is so hard to explain. I know I have to let go some and trust that we have raised them well, but I fear to that there are things that I neglected to teach them or did not reinforce as I should have.
Sundays seem to have gotten longer with Jake’s schedule, which is 100% okay. I do try to make visits with him when I am able to but there are some that I cannot. He is giving it his very best and I may be bias but I think he does a fine job.
The week before camp was great. On Father's Day, we
had a little obstacle course in the back yard set up by Jake, we had
lots of laughs. We also had Charity's kids but they were great too. Jake set up a little date night for us on the back patios after he set up his television outside, which he was so proud of. We really do have the absolute family patriarch for our family, I still do not know why Heavenly Father felt so inclined to bless me like He did with Jake and my kids.
The boys were able to leave for boys camp 6/30-7/2 and Jake was able to accompany them. The girls were both house sitting for people so I pretty much had the house to myself. Also, while the boys were at camp, I had my last day of summer school (6/30). On Thursday (6/30), I hurt my hand helping move a piano and ended up at the clinic to get it looked at as it quickly was swollen and disfigured. I did not want to go to the doctor but my sister, Becky, and Ginny insisted that I did. As I was waiting to be seen Jake sent me a picture of him and the boys. It ended up being a busted vein and bruised tissue but was tender. That Friday night, I up and decided to go to the temple randomly. I am very glad that I did. That evening in the temple, I prayed to Heavenly Father to know He was there but did not get any overwhelming feeling there. However last night (7/4) as I was reading my devotional book, after a hard evening with my boys before fireworks, the last paragraph hit me and I could not help but to weep and see it as a silent answer to my prayer in the temple the previous Friday. The scripture that was being referenced is Deuteronomy 7:7 and it talks about how you do not have to be mighty to be loved or noticed. The last paragraph began with: "Do you ever have one of those days when you look back and wonder if you were enough? If anyone even recognized your effort?" And ends with: "The Lord has chosen you because He thinks you are special. You don't have to be more than anyone else; He knows your potential. He has chosen you." It hit me that although I have not landed an admin job (I am really trying to trust in Him and He knows what is best) or lost my temper with my boys, the Lord is aware of me. I have hard days but His love is set upon me.
Another tender mercy was Jake was conducting this past Sunday at church and shared a moment where he had felt insignificant. He said the Spirit brought to his mind the primary song "Give said the Little Steam" and he was reminded that no matter his size, he can influence people wherever he goes and help the grass grow greener. As I think more on it, that was probably also an answer to my prayer that he shared that.
Did we mention that Memorial Day, Will broke his pinky finger? Well, he did but we had no intention of taking him to be seen until Tuesday since it was after 8:00 pm but by 11:30, it was numb so we erred on the side of caution and took him to the ER. He had outpatient surgery the following week to out it back in place. He could have received a shot at the orthopedic on Tuesday but he would've still felt some of it so, so he preferred sedation. In the end I am certain we are paying more but no one wants to see their child in pain, so I am okay with it. That same week, we headed to Girl's Camp. Jake, Ginny, Aubree, and myself all attended. I feel fortunate that it was something we were all there for. The following week, Jake got an itching for a new Armada. He drove one to summer school to show me and on the way back to the dealership, I told him we could buy both the girls new cars for the price of the one with a trade in. He took that to heart and now Ginny has a new car and we are in the process of searching for Aubree one to take to school as well, especially since she will not be able to come home except for 30 total days in the 12 months to establish residency (we will not discuss that because I have strong feelings about it). We also had a chance to go shoot his Grandpa Smith's gun and he enjoyed that. Jake and Will took Aubree to Nationals for forensics in 6/12 after church, she did not "break" on Tuesday but we are glad she got the experience. Speaking of the 12th, it was ward conference. Jake spoke and did a remarkable job. He did not have anything typed up and very few notes (like 10 words on an index card). I cannot tell you the compliments I received for him at church or via text, he is an amazing speaker. I wish he would've had it typed so I could document it to share. He began by telling his love for yard work and the fungus that overcame it before we replaced it. He shared he had focused on the fungus and not the good in the yard and it ended up destroying his yard. He also conveyed the need to solidify the bricks on the side of the driveway because I keep hitting them and it can damage his drain system he put in. He encouraged all to come to church, wherever they may be in the personal quest for faith or repentance, and shared Moroni 10:32. I am not doing the talk justice but it gives an idea. He literally is the BEST.
Summer
seems to pass too quickly. I feel like we haven’t had any down time but
June 11th is one summer day our family enjoys because our Christopher
celebrates his birthday. Christopher is kind-hearted, courageous, and optimistic. He loves playing family games, shooting basketball with his dad and brother, swimming (except in oceans because he claims he’s a shark
bite victim), and food. Christopher continually works to improve his
speech and show kindness to others. We love him and are happy Heavenly
Father blessed our family with him. Happy birthday to our silly
Christopher!
Facts about Christopher by Christopher:
You currently want to be when you grow up: arachnologist (study spiders)
Your favorite color is: grey and turquoise
Your favorite show is: The Flash
Your favorite game is: Cover your Assets
Your favorite toy or activity is: sports
Your favorite girl is: mom
You are really good at: identifying spiders and answering questions about them
Your best friend is: Jonah Donald
You want to vacation to: Florida or Hawaii
Your favorite ice cream is: peanut butter and chocolate
Your wish is to be: not as afraid of spiders as I am right now
Your hero is: Will
Your favorite thing to do with your friends
is: just talk and check up on one another
Your favorite holiday is: Christmas
Your favorite person in the whole world is: mom, Will, or Jonah
Your favorite song(s) is: "Shut up and mine" (Minecraft parody)
Your favorite restaurant is: Freddy's
Your favorite foods are: all except a few
If you had $1000 you would buy: $450 to use after tithing and savings, I will probably just hold it and save for something bigger.
May seems to be a month that passes quickly because we are so busy with end of the school year activities. Aubree graduated seminary and Ginny is home for the summer. Will enjoyed being able to not attend the last few days of school as he was leaving middle school (8th grade). He told his brother those couple days that he had to go but not him. Christopher has officially finished his first year of middle school (6th). The last day of school was 5/21 and the following week on Monday (5/23), we left with our little family for Destin, Florida. For Christmas, we promised them a trip, so we wanted to enure it happened. I was so happy that we had the time together. I miss it so much.
