A good night

A drive up the canyon with my favorite. I'm a fan of date night.

Another grown up doing grown up things

Another day, another adult child of mine purchasing his own car. How am I so old?
And how is he so stinkin' handsome and amazing and hilarious? I'm so happy for him.

Backpacking in the Uintas

About three weeks ago, Jacob and Campbell, along with two of our neighbors and good friends,
went on a backpacking trip to Red Castle in the Uintas. It was a lot of miles. And a pretty great couple
of days full of adventures and fabulous people. I'm so thankful the four of them had this trip together.

Sweetest pup

My favorite picture I've ever taken of Denali girl. Hands down.

Allen family reunion

Three days of reunion time with Jacob's immediate family.

Three beautiful views at the end of each day. I'm a fan.

Doing grown up things

 

 

Someone in our family bought their very own, new-to-them car today.
Spoiler alert: it's Annie! She is the cutest. And I am the happiest for her.

It's official

We now officially have 50% of the children in our home with a driver's license.
Yee to the Haw. And this guy happened to accomplish that goal during a pandemic and
with a cast and on crutches. Quite the stud, I'd say. I'm a huge fan of Matthew Allen.

Grandma Thursdays

She's seriously so incredibly sweet. And I've come to love our regular time together a whole lot.

She is always worried I can't take a day away from my family to help her with her weekly
doctor appointment, errands and house chores and to that I tell her, "Grandma, don't take
this away from me. What would I do without my Grandma Thursdays? Plus, you are doing
my kids a favor. Guess who doesn't have to do extra chores if their mean mom isn't around
to make them? Do you really want to take that from them and then try to sleep at night?"

All joking aside (although I did say that to her and gratefully, it made her laugh), one of the blessings
of losing so many people you love to death (and there really aren't that many bright spots, just so
you know) is that you very quickly figure out what matters. And what doesn't. People matter.
Love matters. Making people feel loved matters. And that, along with being the Savior's disciple
and my Heavenly Father's daughter, is it. The rest of it is pretty ridiculous. At least if you
ask me. And a whole lot of my difficult and beautiful life experiences have taught me that.

So Grandma Thursdays will continue. Because if once a week our family can sacrifice to
make sure Grandma feels loved and appreciated and that the burden of losing her eyesight
and having to deal with everyday life without being able to see is lessened, then count
me in. It's literally the least I can do. And I'm so incredibly thankful for the opportunity.

God has indeed blessed America

This picture I took the other night, as I was leaving my Mom's graveside,
reminds me of what I have because of those who have sacrificed so unimaginably
much--in some cases everything. I'm so beyond blessed. And pray I never forget that.

This guy

He's just the coolest. I love him so much.