Yesterday

Sixteen

Happy Birthday my amazing Annes!
You are so incredibly loved.

He will walk beside you

"{Following the Savior} does not mean that our lives will be free from sorrow...
No, following the Savior will not remove all of your trials. However, it will remove the barriers
between you and the help your Heavenly Father wants to give you. God will be with you.
He will direct your steps. He will walk beside you and even carry you when your need is greatest."

So very grateful

I can't stop thinking this morning about how grateful I am for this little sweetheart. My pregnancy
with her happened at a time when we had more on our plate than we have ever had in our lives.
Everything was just so overwhelming. And yet the prompting was sure and unmistakable.
And something I never would have chosen with my overly human, completely exhausted mind.
But I will be grateful for all of eternity that the Lord knew she belonged in our family and touched
my heart in a way that I've never questioned it once. This little firecracker is good for her momma.

 And while I often look around and wonder how in the world someone like me, full of impatience
and craziness and so many shortcomings, could have six kids, I have felt more humble than usual
of late that my Father in Heaven would let me. Precisely because of my impatience and craziness
and so many shortcomings. I love the six I've been entrusted with to the deepest part of my heart.
I know I was put on this earth to be their mom. And I'm so profoundly grateful.

Fall soccer

Fall soccer is almost over for my four favorite sons. So here are some fun pictures
from their recent games. This past Saturday, they scored eleven goals between them.
I just really, really love watching them play. I also made sure to get a picture
of Nate's handsome coach. I'm sure a fan of these studly studs of mine.

Homecoming

Yesterday, this darling child of ours went to his last Homecoming dance.
With this gorgeous girl and this fun group. And after taking a few pictures
of these awesome teenagers, his mother got to be a chaperone at the high
school for the dance. Settle down, settle down, jealousy doesn't look so
lovely on you. I'm just one of the lucky ones I guess. Actually I am.
Because I get Campbell Allen as my son.

Surprise!

This evening, I was able to take some photos of a surprise birthday party for Annie and her darling
friend, Emily, who share the same birthday (next week). Their sweet friends, especially their two
very close friends, organized it and it was just the most thoughtful, kind thing and did something
to this mom's heart. Oh, and that cake. Made by our next door neighbor, specifically for Annie
(she made Emily her own also), who has more talents than most anyone I know. And her
kindness to Annie is just too much. Oh man, so much sweetness involved in this fun surprise.

Elder Robert D. Hales

It was such a sweet experience for me to be able to watch Elder Hales' funeral today.
I was so touched by it for so many reasons. Although, I should have known better,
with my heart so tender at this time of the year, than to listen to the closing hymn.
I couldn't quit sobbing. I'm so grateful to know this life is not the end. 

God be with you till we meet again;
By his counsels guide, uphold you;
With his sheep securely fold you.
God be with you till we meet again

God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you,
Put his arms unfailing round you.
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you;
Smite death’s threat’ning wave before you.
God be with you till we meet again. 

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet,
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again. 

All images borrowed from Deseret News and Mormon Newsroom.

Walks, electrical currents and superheroes

One of the weird side effects of the medication I have to take for my IIH is that often, my fingers and toes, and sometimes lips, will have this electrical current feeling go through them for several minutes. It is more than tingling, but less than being struck by lightning I imagine. Kind of hard to explain, but you're welcome for doing such a stellar job just now. Usually though, if I'm careful to make sure I'm getting enough extra electrolytes into my body, it isn't too bad. Unless it is cold outside.

Lately, I have been taking long walks outside and enjoying the fall weather and improving myself both physically and spiritually as I walk. On Tuesday, I was outside for quite a while and I didn't feel like I was that cold because I was obviously moving the whole time. But when I got back home and stopped moving, I realized my whole body was pretty chilled. And that's when the electrical currenting started. Literally through every inch of my arms and hands and from my thighs all the way down to my toes, as well as my face, nose and ears, electrical currents were shooting in every direction. It was one of the most bizarre feelings I have ever felt in my life and went on for quite some time.

After about 5 or 10 minutes, I picked up my phone and texted the following to Jacob, "Don't be jealous, but I'm pretty positive I'm about to turn into a superhero."

Adding some pink to flag football

Why yes, those are his youngest sister's sparkly pink leg warmers and her pink sequin
headband. What else would you expect him to wear for his flag football game tonight?
If we all could be as secure and happy and hilarious as Matt, the world would be a more
exciting place to live out mortality. And it would apparently be a bit shinier as well.

Homecoming assembly

Oh this awesome boy of ours. The Homecoming assembly was today and good grief
they had worked hard on it. And it definitely paid off. It was so much work, with so little
sleep and many early mornings and late nights. Now just a parade, the actual game
and the Homecoming dance and these crazy couple of weeks will wind down. 

I have no doubt if you ask Campbell if it was worth it, he would answer "100%."
Sometimes it is nice to be the extrovert of all extroverts. I wouldn't know, but I hear things.

And I just have to say this last photo about does me in. Apparently I've become partial
to the blurry ones. And my darling kids and how sweet they are to each other.

And she dances

If you follow me on Instagram, you likely saw a video of Grace dancing last week at the boys'
jog-a-thon. At the same time I captured that video, I got these pictures. And I love them so much.

This girl is joy and happiness and sweetness and craziness all rolled into one.
We love our Gracie girl something fierce.