Cabin Trip and Fall Leaves

The cabin is my sanctuary.  I remember going with my family when I was younger.  My dad would lay on the bottom bunk whenever he could and just read in a somewhat darkened cabin.  I would wonder how he could do "nothing" for so long.  Now that I am an adult, I love to do the same thing.  Sure I play with my kids, take some hikes, look for Elk, go to Hyner view, etc...but I do just enough so that I can spend the bulk of my time laying in bed reading.  It's the best place to be without cell service, land lines, internet.  Oh how I love it!

My Little Soccer Stud - A History Lesson

I've always told my kids that they were expected to play a sport and play an instrument.  I didn't care which of each, but that I wanted them to be well rounded.   Wyatt hates running and I felt very nervous for him as he likes sports and playing the least of all my kids.  He tried wrestling and it didn't last despite his skills.  He tried baseball and that didn't take once again by his own choice - he thought it moved too slow.  Soccer is big in our district and I feel like it is the sport everyone plays from 3 years old and on.  Since we don't play Sunday sports, I was nervous to see how he would fair.

 Well he faired like a champ.  He was the only one to have no previous soccer experience, but through some summer camps and practices he started to pick it right up.  He ended up starting the JV team and continued through every game.  He won MVP one game and Most Improved Player of the season.  His coach had such nice things to say about his effort, his spirit and his fearlessness.  He has loved the season and can't wait to play more.

So it came as no surprise that given the chance, Wyatt has decided he wants to play winter Futsal (indoor soccer) and spring soccer if they will let him knowing that he won't be playing the Sunday games.  I can't wait to see if this lasts, but I love that he will try new things.

Belated Birthday Interview - Kody Time

What's your favorite thing to do?
Talk to Friends, Watch a Movie, Snuggle with Family

What do you want to be when you grow up? 
A Mechanic or take over Dad's Job

What is your favorite food?
Pizza, wait - I don't have one

Who do you like to hang out with?
Luke, My Family, Payton

What do you do really well? 
Math, Having Fun

What makes you laugh?
My friends making corny jokes, getting tickled in two spots, Trixie (our Puggle)

What is the best time of day?
Afternoon - because I get to do homework and I get to play outside and video games.

What are you afraid of?
Demons

What do you like to do with your family?
Play board games, Family bonding, Road Trips

What do you like to learn about?
Math, well I would like to know more about Math Boost

Where do you like to go?
Texas, Hershey Park, My House, My Friends' Houses

What is your favorite book?
A Grimmy Conclusion

If you could have one wish, what would it be?
Easy - It's to turn invisible

My sweet, kind, snuggly, feisty, spirited, smart, intuitive boy.  I love you endlessly!

Work, Work, Work, Work, Work...

So I'll spare you the mindless drivel that the song becomes and instead tell you that owning your own business is no joke. 

It's long hours, lots of stress.  It's filling in when you are short laborers, fixing things when they break. It's managing the timing of all the money coming in and out, doing payroll.  It's the cause of my gray hairs and the bulk of our marital fights, but...

It's really rewarding.  It makes my husband infinitely happy.  It's great to see your hard work paying off, the company value increasing.  It's good to see a calendar of jobs extending months into the future.  It's high stress, but I guess I wouldn't change it.

 

Playing In Philadelphia

While Isabella and Wyatt spent the day in Philadelphia preparing for the cultural celebration of the opening of the Philadelphia Temple, the rest of our family, plus one of our "adoptees - Tessa Wade" a former sister missionary of our ward played in Philadelphia.  We hit the major tourist sites for her, got Philly Cheesesteaks, took pictures and generally enjoyed how much we love each other.  Family - there's always time for them!

Philadelphia Temple and Cultural Celebration

The bulk of July's end, all of August and September's

beginning have had one over-riding theme. 

TEMPLE. 

 

Yes, eight years ago, the Philadelphia Temple was announced,

four years ago they broke ground,

and last weekend they finished with a celebration,

dedication and it is now open for use. 

What has that meant for my family. 

 

Well in 7 weeks, we have made 13 trips to Philadelphia,

usually in the worst of traffic times (2-3 hours each way) 

on the Schuylkill Expressway. 

Locals know I deserve a medal. 

Add another few times that my family or I

have been there but carpooling with others. 

 

Those trips were volunteering to help give,

guide and clean after the many tours that went

through during the open house. 

Over 140,000 visitors attended in that time. 

Then there were the many practices

to prepare for the youth cultural celebration. 

 

And amazingly enough I was asked

to be part of the Cornerstone Choir,

which practiced quite a bit too, but mostly 

locally and just in Philadelphia on that last weekend. 

So I waited a week to write this post

because directly after, all I felt was exhaustion,

but now that I've had a week to recover,

I feel absolute

JOY.

 

So what was it all for:

It wasn't for the pageantry called the cultural celebration

although that was fun for my kids.

It wasn't for the glory of participating in the
Cornerstone Choir, although flattering,

or standing near President Eyring.

 

It wasn't for any of these things.

It was for my deep and abiding

LOVE

for the temple, for the gospel and for saving covenants.

It was so my kids could increase

their own love, their own faith and own testimonies of temples.

 

And despite my bone weary tiredness

it did just that.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Sewing "colonial" clothing

In the middle of the show,
Wyatt sees Bella and runs to share his thoughts.
Best summed up with his thumbs up.

 



The view at night!

 

I came out to find my boys all quietly contemplating it.