2/14/2025 (3:31pm)

 There are some days you hope to not remember, last night became one of those for me.  I had a terribly argument with my son and have inadvertently involved Jake and I in something that is less than an idea situation. I have made a situation more difficult for him..a situation where the less he knows (and I ) the better. I will not disclose specifics right now but I am praying the Lord sees fit to help navigate this and no confidence lost in my husband for something he was in no way a part of. Unfortunately, he is in a sticky situation, by none of his own means, and the less he knows the better.  I think I was somewhat in shock of all that had happened and knew what I had heard a person say more than once, and trying to best honor their wishes but in hindsight, I wish I could undo an action.  I feel it is a lose-lose situation. I have not slept well the last two evenings and sobbed a lot from last night through today. I am trying to remind myself that this too shall pass. It is hard when you feel you have disappointed others, especially those most loved and whom love you the most.

It is Valentines and I am blessed to have the five most beautiful people as an integral part of my life.  Jake and our kids are my everything, even on hard days. 

Not my day

 Today, well primarily since getting off work, has not been my best day. And most of it has been me, I’m just irritable. I would love to say oh, it’s just hormones and I’m sure that’s a contributing factor but I think some has lingered from yesterday and me being too sensitive. 

Yesterday was a rough morning trying to get to church. Will didn’t have his talk written so I woke him up early to do that and then get ready for church, which he did not and was not ready when it’s time to go. He struggles to get moving in the mornings, so I’m accustomed to that but I think I was frustrated because I had so many small things to do too before getting out the door and no help. We argued most of the time in the car, which once again, I should’ve been better on and said things out of frustration not true. He decided to rip his talk to pieces and wouldn’t come in initially (all this on a morning where Jake was getting a new counselor). It was hard and I was feeling really crummy and that I did little good.

 But the Lord saw fit to send two tender mercies or reminders that I’m not as bad as I may think, although I have really big moments of weaknesses.  During Jake’s new counselor’s testimony, he shared when his family was preparing to move to the area, he thought he was calling the bishop but reached me instead. He stated I told him how wonderful our youth and primary program was and invited them to the Saturday evening session of stake conference. He and his wife snuck in the back and then heard someone say their names and it was I. He shared that the bishop and I sat in the feet back with them and I told them in the Bartlett 2nd Ward, people do not sit alone. And since they arrived in Bartlett, they’ve never felt alone. That was reminder one from the Lord. 

Reminder two came as I decided to attend young women’s with Jake because he was teaching. During the lesson, the president told the girls that she and I aren’t friends, we do not talk often but in the last several months, she had received texts from me, when difficult things have happened in her life within 10 minutes of them happening and it must’ve been me following the Spirit. 

Oh and one more gentle reminder from my Heavenly Father yesterday was when we were in the stake presidents office for the setting aparts and there was a painting hanging on the wall I’d never seen. It was of Christ in the garden and an angel beside Him offering Him comfort. I did not realize it yesterday but I reflected on that painting multiple times today and it brought comfort. Even my Redeemer who provides strength and comfort may have needed the same s moments in His life. 

So needless to say, I think I let my frustrations and feelings of inadequacies roll over from yesterday. I didn’t say much after work today but just felt irritated. After dinner, I decided I needed some alone time so I went to Kroger. As I was loading the car to find come home, I think Jake realized I had stepped out because he called asking where I was then preceded to tell me Will backed into car. This is his third little fender bender, all backing into a non-moving object. I think we both stayed calm but it felt heavier for me when I got home. We literally just bought that car (2014 Toyota Prius) last month for him. In the end, it’s just a thing and he’s much more important. 

We are hoping that Will is able to go back to the temple soon. I have noticed improvements in his honesty. He had been honest at times, like today with the Prius, that in the past he would’ve been dishonest about. Additionally, he seems to be better with his temper too. The youth went to the temple on 2/6 and had a good turnout. I was sad Will wasn’t there. 

Formal Dance and testimonies

 Testimony meeting was filled with the Spirit for me today. I left sacrament meeting feeling edified and wanting to be a little better. Testimonies were bore about the Savior and knowing one another before this life. What a beautiful reminder of the choices made and how we should treat one another. 

Last night, we had the opportunity to chaperone the formal dance. Will looked so handsome. Ginny actually came over too and danced with him. 

Will and his closest friend, JJ Jones

Our youth that are old enough to attend 

My forever favorite date. 

Down with the flu

It seems that someone in our house has been sick since around Christmas.  Both the boys have recently had the flu but on different weeks, then Ginny the following week.  We did manage to have the young men (some of them who could make it) for a game night in between sickness.  Jake does a wonderful job building relationships with those boys.

 

Recently I have tried to bring up patriarchal blessings to my boys to hopefully get them thinking and preparing to get them.  Will is working on trying to get his temple recommend back. He has not had it for six months, due to dishonesty and not even trying to do better, but is trying to be more honest and to control his temper better.  I look forward to him being able to go again.  He will be able to go on some Thursdays with the home-school group. I cannot explain it but you just feel better when you go to the temple.

Family photos from Dec 22, 2024

 As you may recall, the family surprised me with family photos around the holidays. This past Christmas and birthday I was probably spoiled more than I deserved. I am not sure it was so much the gifts as the thought that went into making into special. I guess I am even okay with being the center of some of their games.  Have I mentioned those?  Basically, the day of Reindeer games (12/23), Jake was insistent about everyone meeting at Wal-Mart to pick out a prize or at least their favorite candy for a prize.  That was not at all the intent.  There was a 2-fold mission at hand. First, choose a bath set or gift pack that I would hide and come back after Christmas to buy and secondly choose my favorite my candy that I would open first.  How did it play out?  Well, the 26th we were back at Wal-Mart to see if their gift sets were still hidden and which I would choose.  Jake had chosen a Dove bath set and hid it on top of shelving (of-course it was there as no one can see that high), I do not recall all the gift sets but do recall one being razors and one being M&M mugs with candies.  Will's was the only one that was taken. He had hid his in a bin of stuffed animals.  Aubree hid hers in a stool in housewares, Ginny hid hers behind several things on a bottom shelf, and Christopher took his all the way to the food section and hid it on the bottom row behind all these cake mixes.  It was a cute chuckle.  As for the candy, they are all correct I like chocolate but Will won the prize on that. Not because he chose my favorite but because I had been sick and chose to eat something there was multiple of because my taste buds were off. I chose to have part of a Whatchamacallit, which is not even close to one of my favorites.  They all said they laughed when he chose that because it is not something I really eat and then he won because i chose it first above all else: dark chocolate seal salt caramel Doves (Jake), Turtles (Ginny), Symphony bar (Aubree), and Mini M&M's (Christopher). It was a great holiday to look back on although Jake and I were both sick. Crazy thing, is we are both sick again. 

How are they both so incredibly beautiful?

 

The most handsome and loved men in my life.

 

 

This shows their personalities so well.....how did Jake and I get so very blessed?

 

  

 

The mantle of a Bishop

 Last week Jake and the boys participated in their second “Polar Campout” with temperatures in the 20’s. I decided to do iniatories and then invited several sisters to meet for Mexican since it was just me at home (Ginny went to Nashville and was driving the Prius back). At dinner, one of the sisters shared she was moving. Sunday after church, Jake and I were making visits and he shared with one of the elderly people we visit how the Spirit had been working in the back for several weeks. With the sudden news of the family moving (they were only given 2 weeks notice), they already had the change in callings or names to recommend planned (one is seminary). He continued to share another example of the Spirit permeating the work with primary goals shared in ward council aligning in the sane order goals had been set to work with the youth….meaningful prayer, scripture study, and then service. 

The Lord is working through him and my testimony continues to grow seeing him and hearing his experiences. I have heard the bishop’s wife is very lonely and often a silent casualty but I’ll take it any day to have my testimony strengthened.  

Happy 2025

New's Year Eve was spent playing games and karaoke with the five of us home and it was a good end of 2024.  2024 was good for our family. 

Some of the highlights for the family that I recall are: Aubree went through the temple, Ginny graduated college and started her 1st full time job, trip to Cozumel with the girls, karaoke at my parents and Will shining, Utah and Tennessee football games, Fall break trip with Aubree (DC, Philadelphia, and New York), cruise with Jake's siblings and parents, Thanksgiving with all my family together (except Aubree and Eva), the Reindeer games, and the Christmas holiday. It has been a good year for our family.

Jake still serves as bishop and is a great one. He loves the youth and the ward a lot.  We had snow in January and he loved that. He was able to marry 4 people this year and had no funerals, that was a pleasant change. We went to 2 Utes football games and he ended the year buying a new truck. 

Renee' hit her year mark with UTHSC and has adapted well.  I am learning that my greatest joy really is time with my family.

Ginny described her year on social media as follows: "2024. What a year. The year I tried to remember to be in the here and now because we are never guaranteed tomorrow. I graduated college and survived hygiene school. I got to know so many great people along the way. I started my dream job and found an office that I love working at.I moved back home to my favorite city with some of my favorite people. I started reading again and then read a a whole awful lot.I learned to mostly love running which has turned out to be on the best things I have ever done for myself. I started to feel like me a gain and tried to embrace every part of who I am. I'll always remember 24. Thanks for being my best year yet."

Aubree began the year by taking her temple endowment out. has learned some valuable lessons, we hope, about time management and priorities with her setbacks in school this year. She was a made a director at Chick-Fil A in Logan.

Will started home school and got his first job at Chick Fil A.  He also attended his first SEC football game, watching the Vols in Knoxville and loved it. 

Christopher embarked on his high school years and attended his first church dance. He has started taking an interest in the kitchen this year.