Another first day of school

First day of {covid-style} school for these darlings. It's going to be a good year. 

Eleventh, seventh, third, first.

Elementary meet and greet

I took these darlings to the elementary meet and greet today. Life is so weird right now.
And I'm so beyond grateful for so many who are doing their best with a really hard
situation. These little loves are really excited to start school in a couple of days.
And I know how fortunate we are that they are able to. No matter how long it lasts
or what it looks like, we are just thankful. Especially for the teachers, administrators
and staff who are doing so much for so many of us. Particularly our little family.

Swim lessons

These chicklets took swim lessons throughout the whole summer. And I was blown
away by how much they learned and how skillfully they are swimming.
Their teacher sare the best. And clearly, the kids' tricks are pretty fantastic too. 

College life

We moved this handsome guy's belongings down to his dorm at BYU. He's out of
here, in just under a week, and while we will miss having him around to make us laugh
and to make life exciting, this is going to be a good thing. A really good thing.

He's ready to start college and live on his own (again) and be around a whole lot of
students his own age. I'm really excited for him. He's such a tremendous person. And some
really amazing things are coming his way. I absolutely cannot wait to watch him soar.

2020...in a single photo

Every single time this picture that Annie took of this little darling from Guatemala
comes up on our computer slideshow, I snort with laughter. I love it so much.

But in the recent days and weeks, I've decided that for me, this picture completely epitomizes
2020. I've NEVER felt so much like my entire mood and the deepest feelings of my heart were
better conveyed in any photo. So I'll just leave it right here for all of your viewing enjoyment
and to remind myself how much I'm loving 2020 and all that it has brought my way.

And wow, August already. This year is a flying by. And by flying, I mean,
like if a sloth flew. That kind of flying. You know, muy rapido.

He has not left one thing undone

"We once knew well our Elder Brother and His and our Father in Heaven. We rejoiced at the
prospects of earth life that could make it possible for us to have a fulness of joy. We could
hardly wait to demonstrate to our Father and our Brother, the Lord, how much we loved them
and how we would be obedient to them in spite of the earthly opposition of the evil one.

Now we are here. Our memories are veiled. We are showing God and ourselves what we
can do. Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other
side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us.

God loves us. He is watching us. He wants us to succeed. We will know some day that He has
not left one thing undone for the eternal welfare of each of us. If we only knew it, heavenly
hosts are pulling for us—friends in heaven that we cannot now remember who yearn for
our victory. This is our day to show what we can do—what life and sacrifice we can daily,
hourly, instantly make for God. If we give our all, we will get His all, from the greatest of all."

~ Ezra Taft Benson

The sunset tonight

My darling Annes convinced me to go take pictures with the setting sun tonight.
It was the best. She is the best. It is such an honor to be her mom.

I just miss her so much

Missing her fiercely today and would give just about anything to be spending
her birthday talking and laughing and being together again.

Our McCall vacation ~ Dusk edition

And before we packed up the next morning and made the drive home, we spent the late
evening of that same day, enjoying the beauty of the water and the sunset and the gorgeous
world we get to live in. It really was the perfect way to end a wonderful vacation.

Our McCall vacation ~ Dock edition

After a morning in the forest, we spent the evening with the olders taking one more turn on the boat and the
youngers playing around near the dock. It was the golden hour and I loved how it felt peaceful and happy and calm.

Our McCall vacation ~ Golf edition

And by golf, I mean Frisbee golf. In the forest. Just our group. It was pretty awesome for sure.