Life lately

Annie, Grace and I went to a performance of Beauty and the Beast that our darling niece and nephew,
Adele and Isaac, were in a few days back. Oh I loved it. They were truly incredible. And watching Adele
as the lead brought me to tears multiple times. I thought I only cried when I saw my own kids on stage.
I was wrong. Oh this family and these people are some of my favorite humans ever. And I don't say that lightly.

Campbell invited us to a Jazz basketball game with him earlier this week and Jacob, Ben and Nate decided to join.

They all bought tickets on the very top row and just went to enjoy a fun game and cool atmosphere. But when

the boys joined up at Jacob's work to walk over, a coworker saw them going and mentioned he had been gifted

some tickets he couldn't use tonight and did they want them? Oh my kindness. They ended up on the ninth row 

and had some additional food perks included. Um yeah. So that wasn't the saddest night for these four for sure.

There aren't enough words to describe how much I love our niece, Allie. Honestly, she and Annie are
truly twins and if you want to be around light and goodness and sunshine, all while laughing constantly,
hang out with the two of them. So going through the temple with Allie for her first time, before she 
leaves on her mission in a few weeks, was a favorite memory for sure. Oh I love that girl something
fierce. And having President Oaks and his beautiful wife in our session was just a really sweet bonus.

This is a hard season with our Denali. She still has good times, but the hard moments are more often and
more difficult. She's still the sweetest and I cry over what is to come on a regular basis. She had a rough

couple of days this week and I just felt strongly we couldn't leave her for so many hours on Thursday.
So she and I had a quiet Thanksgiving here at home. And I don't regret it at all. Even if I did miss being
 with Jacob's family, as they are the best and Thanksgiving at his sister's house is always a favorite.

Kelsey had the fabulous idea to go to Wicked together, just the girls, over the Thanksgiving break.
And that is exactly what we did. And loved it so very much. In full disclosure, I actually saw it twice before
we all went together (once alone and then once with Jacob) because I needed to see it all by myself to see
how I would react. I have a really deep love of and connection to the story of Wicked. Really deep. And so
I was worried about seeing it for the first time with the girls and being an absolute mess. I’m glad I prepared
myself. And loved it so crazy much, I had to take Jacob—who also loved it. But going altogether,
with our three daughters, was truly the best and I never want to forget that perfect memory.

Speaking of movies, after all of our kids arrived home for Thanksgiving, Annie decided that since Kelsey had
never seen a Hallmark movie, we should watch one together, just the girls. So we did. And it was absolutely
hysterical. Because we ended up being more like commentators, rather than observers—and hilarious
doesn’t even begin to describe how entertaining these girlies are when they get going.

Then, three nights later, Annie’s darling friend, Celeste, came over and we all watched another Hallmark movie.
This one because Annie and Celeste had been extras in it, earlier in the year, and it just came out. In that last photo,
you can see Annie and Celeste walking on the right of the screen. They actually appeared a whole lot at the end
 of the film and we had the best time spotting them—then rewinding and pausing and laughing and cheering
about it all. Especially the cheesiness of the movie. Because oh boy what a plot.

So I guess you could say it’s been a really sweet many days. I’m thankful for all of it.

Our beautiful dancer

This darling dancer performed in two separate recitals, five dances and five different costumes total,
for two different nursing homes in the area last night and tonight. I love that the company Grace dances
with does a show of gratitude (actually multiple shows of gratitude) every November and that so many
sweet grandparents are the recipients. What a beautiful thing to be a part of every Thanksgiving season.

Jacob's Africa trip ~ DRC

The last half of Jacob's trip was spent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Whenever I think of these days Jacob experienced, I get emotional. It's just so much suffering to even remotely wrap my mind around. I've spent hours thinking through the experiences Jacob shared with me and while most of what I have felt and worked through needs to stay in my heart, I want to share what very few things I know, with every part of my struggling soul.

First, there is so much about mortality that just doesn't make sense. Second, I am beyond undeserving of absolutely everything I have. And third and mostly, my God is so very, very good. I can trust Him with the things I don't understand and that feel so hard and difficult, no matter what they might be. And He will hold them safe, alongside my heart, until the day I do understand. And praise Him for what He was willing to ask of each of us. What I won't do is allow what my mortal mind can't comprehend to change my love for Him. Instead, I will  use it to make it change who I am, in order to become who I promised Him I would become. And to do more, to give more and to be wildly uncomfortable, on behalf of others, more. It matters. It matters a lot. And I want to do better—today and always.

I'm so thankful for what Jacob was willing to do to help our sisters and brothers in Africa. And I'm thankful for what he was willing to do in order to help me change who I choose to be. Both have filled me with a gratitude that it is hard to put into words. But I will keep trying. It's the least I owe my Father.

He's just so magnificently good.

Note: I'm so deeply grateful for several of the photos in the middle of this post that Jacob's coworker, Mike, took.
They will be some of my favorite pictures of Jacob forever and I'm so thankful he took the time to get them.

Jacob's Africa trip ~ Mary's Meals

Before Jacob left Zimbabwe, on his way to the DRC, he had the opportunity to visit a school that is run by Mary's Meals—the organization that he/we have had the privilege of being a part of for more than a decade. Currently, Jacob serves on the International Board of Directors and also as the Board Chair of the Mary's Meals USA Board. 

This organization is deeply influential in our family's life. And these beautiful little loves all over the world, being served a meal each day in their place of education—well, they have our heart. It was extremely sweet for Jacob to spend some time with these little darlings and those that love and serve them on a daily basis. 

Just feet away from this school and these photos, the poverty that exists is unimaginable by many. But even that can't dull the light and goodness of these beautiful children. We are so honored to be associated with this amazing non-profit, who emulates what it truly means to "love thy neighbor as thyself." And I'm so thankful to be married to a man that also takes that injunction to heart, every single day.

Jacob's Africa trip ~ Zimbabwe

Jacob arrived home, a few days ago, from a two and a half week trip to Africa. He was hired by the LDS church to evaluate one of their initiatives that helps to identify and bring aid to children that are suffering from malnourishment. 

To be honest, the trip, both before, during and after, was quite significant and sacred for him—and for me. Jacob does an incredible amount of good in the world, it is the career he has chosen—helping organizations that are trying to impact the world and make it a better place, be able to do that more effectively and efficiently. And he's remarkably amazing at it. He's had so many beautiful and deeply profound experiences throughout the years. And this time in Africa would be included in that group.

It feels like most of what he felt, much of which we talked about together, needs to stay in our hearts. But it was also impactful and beautiful and difficult enough, that I want it to be here, where we keep a record of our family history.

So here are some of his photos from Zimbabwe. 

God loves His children in general, but oh how He loves His children in Africa. Even alongside great struggle that is so readily apparently. I have experienced that love firsthand and it changed me. Jacob experienced it again, the last many days, and it changed him.

We are so blessed that God allows us opportunities to serve His children. And to, in some small way, try to help others feel how much God loves them. Because He does. More than we can ever imagine.

Yesterday