Cousins and cupcakes

We have some cousins, who don't live by us normally, spend many weeks living just two

minutes away during most of the summer. And we loved it! We were able to get together

several times (including when their parents gave us the kindest gift ever) and had such

a great time whenever they were around. This morning, they were able to come by to 

play and to decorate cupcakes, since each of them had an upcoming birthday quite soon.

Man, we love these guys. And are so glad we share the same last name. Cousins are the best.

A wedding and some favorite friends

Last night, we attended the wedding dinner of the daughter of our some of our closest friends in

Boston. Man, we love the Camaras and when we heard that their daughter was getting married

in this fine state that we moved to over a year ago, we were so very excited to be a part of it.

Then this morning, we were able to attend the temple sealing of the darling bride and groom.

I don't know how I missed getting a picture of Karen, but this photo of Dan

makes us smile. Have I mentioned how much we adore these friends of ours?

And some family members from the groom's side, including his 92-year old grandma.

Once again, seeing her and hearing some of the things she shared, the Lord taught me

the same lesson He has been teaching me for weeks now. And oh my, the entire

wedding dinner outside was truly lovely. We felt so grateful to be a part of it.

The next morning, Jacob and I were able to join them in this beautiful temple.

And the gorgeous bride. 

Marriage is the best. As are good friends. What a fabulous couple of days.

An ordinary life

Do you ever have times when it seems that the Lord is trying to teach you a very specific lesson? That everywhere you turn, the details of this lesson seem to be drawing your attention over and over? I've had that happen often to me over the years and right at this moment, I feel strongly there is a specific lesson I am being taught.

Last week, I received an email from a sweet friend that I worked with for years. Carolyn is one of my favorite people ever and I'm grateful that we continue to keep in touch, even though we haven't worked together in almost 15 years. She wanted to let me know that someone we had worked with, and who I will always have a special place in my heart for, had passed away. I had not even seen Rex in more than 15 years, but was not prepared for how I felt to hear that a fast growing brain tumor had taken his life. Carolyn let me know she would get back to me with details on the funeral.

Earlier today, Rex's family and friends celebrated his life.

I knew I was supposed to go to his funeral, but I almost didn't.

It had been such a busy weekend and I felt like I needed to be with the kids and be at home to take care of many important things. I felt like I had too much to do, to take a couple of hours out of my Monday to sit quietly and listen to Rex's family share about his life. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but even though I had felt that for some reason I really needed to be at this funeral, I talked my way out of it more than once.

And then, just two hours before I needed to be there, I came up with another valid excuse for why I needed to be at home. And suddenly, with quiet stillness, but with great intensity, came the words,

"And are willing to mourn with those that mourn."

I'm grateful the Lord didn't give up on me. I just wish I had only required one impression before I obeyed.

Because as I sat in his 90-minute funeral, I was overcome with emotion over and over again. And yes, much of my emotion was because I was so sad to think that this family had lost their husband and dad and grandpa. But another part of it was because the Lord was teaching me again, as he has in the past several days, a particular lesson that is mine to learn at this time.

An ordinary life is something that the Lord considers beautiful and right and even glorious.

Rex did not spend his life looking for the admiration of others. In the eyes of the world, his life was not full of amazing responsibilities or of great attention or high callings or important career promotions. But to his sweet wife and his six children, their spouses and their children, he meant everything. Because they, and the gospel, were all that mattered to Rex. He served others with near constancy and through those actions, he was serving His God. And that, in this day and age, is not ordinary. At all. It is extraordinary beyond what we can imagine.

In the years that I worked with Rex, he was always happy, always kind, always so fun to be around. And it was truly an honor to know him. In his life, he taught me that being happy, no matter your circumstances, is a choice. But in his death, he taught me that an ordinary life is something to be celebrated, above most anything else. Rex's quiet following of our Savior made his life extraordinary to me. And I believe to our Heavenly Father and His Son. And earlier today, I wept with emotion over the beauty of his ordinary life and my deep desire to have exactly that. And only that.

Thank you sweet Rex. Your example of goodness and discipleship has changed me. I'm so profoundly grateful.

Two years

One of the evenings of our family vacation, I drove back toward home to be at the airport when 

my nephew arrived home from his mission. It was such an honor to be there to see him as he

returned from serving in the same place my parents have been serving for the past three years.

There is nothing like a missionary returning home, to see his family, after being gone for

two whole years. I can't even imagine how it will feel when that missionary is one of mine.

 Here he is just starting down the hall. He sure looks like he is staring straight at me,

but I was hiding behind some other families, so that he would see his family first.

I think he was smiling at the excitement of the other missionary parents.

And his first glance at his family.

Living away from Utah for so many years was not a huge deal to us most days. 

It was just how it was. But on nights like this past Thursday, I remembered 

how grateful I am to be here for these big family moments. What a blessing.

Our summer family vacation

 

 

 

July phone pics

These two darlings are waiting for the 4th of July parade to start. Man, I love them a lot.

A quick picture of the Seattle skyline from our trip. I thought that it was odd

that they built it crooked. Because it definitely wasn't my photography skills.

Seattle was so green! It reminded me a little of Massachusetts, as far as how lush it was.

A blurry sunset on the way home from the airport after our trip.

Again, so strange that the sunset was blurry that night.

These sisters are so incredibly sweet. I'm so grateful for both of them and their relationship.

Well, at the least the pants aren't too big and the helmet isn't very pink.

A rainbow during one of Ben's tournament games. After this last April,

rainbows will always remind me of this talk by President Uchtdorf.

The last ten months

(I've written this post more than once and can't make it work how I want it to and finally decided it just isn't something my heart can share the way I want it to. And on the rare occasion that happens on this blog that I use for a family history, I feel strongly I am being told to let it be. To record the actual event as a part of our family life and to let the detailed feelings and experiences stay in my heart, where apparently they belong. And while that sounds pretty dramatic for what I am about to share, trust me that this was such a difficult, wonderful, exhausting, incredible last year for our family. I have felt the Lord's hand in so much of what we have been through, especially in the hard. It is what we needed for many reasons, but how incredibly grateful we are that this particular season has come to an end. You cannot imagine how we feel when we have our dad and husband around a whole lot of evenings these days.)

On the day that Grace turned 13 days old, Jacob left on a business trip to Houston. He returned three days later and the following afternoon, drove to the airport to catch a flight to Atlanta for two days.

And while that was a bit hard for many reasons, not the least of which was taking care of a newborn and her five siblings by myself those days, the real test came in the coming months. Ten to be exact.

This past Thursday, Jacob returned from a business trip. His last one for the particular case he has been leading for the last many months. The case has been turned over to someone else and Jacob will move on to other cases, that are wonderful and good, but should only require a "normal" amount of travel for his job. His being asked to lead the largest case his company has ever taken on, says a lot about Jacob and his abilities, but boy howdy, it was tough going for the past (almost) year.

For 10 months, or 44 weeks, Jacob had 39 business trips, totally 120 days gone. Yes, he had a few weeks where he didn't travel, but they were very, very few (in the single digits over the last 44 weeks). And unlike some situations where you travel often for your job, but you get the time you are at home off, that isn't the case here. There were so many Thursdays when he would arrive home from his weekly trip late (nine, ten, eleven o'clock or later) and be back up early the next morning to head in to work.

There is so much to share about the experience and how difficult it felt (for so many reasons, not just the travel alone), but I will just leave it with my gratitude for the experience. And I mean that sincerely. Of course it is easier now that we are not in the middle of it, but I truly know there was a reason for all that has happened in the last many months. Several reasons actually. And while we only understand one or two of these at this time, that is enough. The Lord has blessed me immeasurably. (With a husband who has a good job and works very hard to provide for his family for starters.) And when we go through something really difficult, and the Spirit tells me that there is a reason, I have to trust. Because my Savior has earned that trust from me.

No it wasn't always easy. In fact, it was harder on me than I would care to admit. But it changed me in ways that our Heavenly Father needed me to change. And for that I am incredibly grateful.

Running another half

Six weeks ago, I casually mentioned I ran a half marathon. Or I posted about it twice (a one and a two) and wanted to hang a large sign in my front yard to let everyone know. Because I'm humble like that.

And within just a couple of days, during a phone call with my younger sister, she said the two of us should run a half together. And apparently all common sense left me and within a few hours, we were signed up to do just that.

And I wish I could say I trained better for the second one, but that would be a lie. I ran well for a couple of weeks again, but the rest of the time was a bit pitiful.

But nonetheless, 5am came last Saturday morning and I got up and then woke Megan up. (She lives a while from my house, so stayed over. She is one fun person to be around. And when it is late the night before we are about to do something crazy and ridiculous, we sure think we are pretty hilarious. Let's just say there was a whole lot of laughing. And eye rolling by Jacob. Okay, not the second one. At least outwardly.) Anyway, we got up and within a few minutes, were on our way to the starting line.

My pre-race sky photo. You are welcome.

The starting line. Both of us were being so positive about how we were totally going to finish this,

but deep down I was scared to death the first one was a fluke and I was going to fail miserably.

This race was ridiculously hard. I definitely wasn't prepared for the number of hills and how much 

more difficult than my first half it would be. But the beautiful views almost made up for it. Almost.

Proof we made it to mile 9. And that my sister is hilarious.

And we did it. For real. And cut almost 30 minutes off the time of my first half.

My sister and I are pretty similar in how we push ourselves and it really made me

work hard, especially on such a difficult course. But when we realized we had made it

under the goal we had set for ourselves, it was totally and completely worth it.

Until I couldn't walk (again) for the next three days.

I really should be used to that part, shouldn't I?

So in summary, I ran a marathon. It just took me six weeks.

I ran a half marathon today...again

And even beat my last time by quite a bit. But my legs are definitely paying for it.

Oh man, I'm pretty sure I have a new addiction. I may or may not have already signed up for another one.

(Race pictures coming soon...)

Love this baby girl so much