This Easter Sunday

"Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: 'I know that my Redeemer lives!'"

Called to serve

 

 

 

We'd love your guesses before Annie's mission call arrives (possibly next week or maybe the week after). One international and one within the US.
Or if you are like my children and husband, do as you wish and ignore my rules all together. I'll put every guess (and guesser) up on the wall. My email address is on the right sidebar. Thank you friends, for loving our girl and being excited with us!

Oh gosh I love her

And can't quit thinking of what is coming her way.

Good and kind and amazing

My boy. (Okay, more man than boy, but I like my life in Pretendville, let me be.) He's honestly just so good. His heart is so amazing. He's so quiet and unassuming about how much he cares and serves others, but I see it and it makes me so grateful to be his mom.

In the recent weeks, I've unexpectedly learned about several things he has quietly done for some of his peers that have needed it most. And each instance makes me emotional. Especially because I'm positive I only know a small part of just how much he reaches out.

The other night, I saw him round the corner to head downstairs. But then I watched as he stopped to take a few minutes to sit down and pet Denali. And it touched my heart. This is who he is. When no one is watching. Someone who does the right thing, the caring thing, the small but mighty thing, because he loves deeply and it matters to him. He almost can't help it. It's who he is.

Oh my Matt boy. He teaches me every single day. I love him something fierce.

Our Annie

This beautiful girl. She makes me cry on a regular basis. But only out of happiness. She's so good and kind and brilliant and hilarious and positive and joyful and amazing in every way. And as of a few minutes ago, this girl of the incredible heart has her mission papers officially submitted.

That means in very few days, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ will see a picture of my girl up on a screen and through faith and revelation, God will tell him where my Annie should serve her Savior for eighteen months of her life.

It hasn't completely felt real. Even after the last few weeks of listening to how she knew she should serve, rejoicing in her news and helping her work on her mission papers, it hasn't truly hit me.

Until now. When she sent word that her papers were submitted and the process was officially underway.

Oh my Annie, it such a privilege to be your mom. Your goodness and light bless me every single and I often can't believe God would love me enough to send me a daughter like you. I'm so excited for your next adventure. And can't quit crying at how much I'll miss you. But mostly, I'm weeping because I'm so ridiculously proud of you.

"Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings with great joy unto this generation."

My baby girl is going on a mission. I'm so incredibly humbled.

One year ago

Remembering this incredible moment, a year ago this very day.Oh I love this boy something fierce. I'm just so honored to be his mom.

My incredible husband

I've always loved that Jacob listened to me when I told him I only wanted a simple, gold band for my engagement ring. I really love wide bands and have proudly worn it for the last 22 years.

This last December, when we officially celebrated the wedding anniversary where we have been married longer than we had been single, Jacob told me he wanted to get me a gift. He wanted me to design some type of addition to go with my original wedding band. And he hired the most amazing jeweler to make my design happen.

(Who happens to be the same wonderful person we bought my wedding band from.)

Yesterday we picked up the finished rings. And I truly couldn't quit holding up my hand to admire them (Okay fine, I still can't). There is a very specific reason I wanted these two rings. Their distinct design, what they symbolize to me and how all three rings go together are just deeply meaningful to me. I love them so, so much.

(And believe me when I say they are even more breathtaking in person. I may or may not have said to my kids two or twenty-two times each, "Have you seen my rings yet? Let me show them to you again, just in case.")

But it's not about the rings or the gold or the diamonds or the perfection of their creation--although I feel so overwhelmed and spoiled to think I own anything so incredible and gorgeous. It's about the man that gave them to me.

I love Jacob Allen something ridiculous. Being married to him has been more amazing than I even knew was an option in this life. I'm happier, kinder, more loving, more fun, smarter and better behaved, because I get to be his wife. And most importantly, I'm a more devoted disciple of Jesus Christ because of walking alongside my incredible husband on this mortal journey.

I don't need anything more than our sacred temple sealing to be Jacob's companion in this life and the next. But just like these beautiful rings I was gifted exceeded my expectations in every way, so has God's overwhelming and unimaginable gift to me...Jacob Ethan Allen. It is such a privilege to be his wife.

I'm just so grateful.

This boy

I seriously just love him so much.

An evening walk and a beautiful sky

Ski days and ski pants

Matt and Jacob spent the day at Solitude yesterday, as a part of a gift for Matt's birthday.
And boy do I love this picture that Jacob took. Mostly because of the guy in it, but also
because Matt happens to be wearing the exact ski pants Jacob wore at his age. We even
have a couple of pictures of Jacob skiing in them. When Matt found them in our winter
box, he adopted them immediately. And it makes me smile every time he wears them skiing
(which is always these days). Love this boy, and his dad, a whole lot. Bright ski pants and all.

Yesterday

Turning seventeen

Happy, Happy Birthday to my amazing Matt! He is hilarious and brilliant and adventurous
and athletic and has the kindest heart. He loves skiing and the outdoors and music and studying
interesting subjects and things that are super quirky, yet cool. It is one of the greatest privileges
of my life to be his mom. Happy Birthday my incredible boy! We love you something fierce.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

 
Guess what I just picked up?! (If you could read that in a sing songy
embarrassingly excited voice it would be much appreciated.)

Happy Birthday my Love!

 
This man. I'm so grateful that 44 years ago today he came to earth and made it a better
place. His kindness and goodness and wisdom and humility and hard work has blessed
the lives of so many of Heavenly Father's children. But mostly me. And the six chicklets
that are ours. I'm in awe of him and just constantly thankful he chose me.

Happiest Birthday Jacob Ethan! Thanks for making me a better person just by being
who you are. I'm so excited to see how many good things come your way this year.
You deserve every one of them...and so much more. Love you sweetheart. A whole lot.

A fun surprise

Operation Surprise Jacob with a Beautiful Aquarium on the eve of his birthday
was successful. Now to pick out a few new fish friends tomorrow.

Learning a new skill

Just slim jimming (or would it be wire hangering?) my way into the kids'

car outside the local tire center this fine Thursday morning. As you do.

Side note: With all the great info I'm learning while earning my criminal justice degree and
my successful break-in attempt this morning, I'm considering a life of crime. I'll keep you posted.

Seventeen days (but who's counting?)

 

 

Holy squirrels, can you even stand this custom wreath I had made for March Madness? Because I cannot even stand this custom wreath I had made for March Madness. Between darling Annie's amazing color suggestions (including the "ref" ribbon she thought would take it over the top) and Sarah's Wreath Designs unreal work, I'm so happy I could cry. Or open my front door every seven minutes to gaze lovingly at my beautiful wreath. Seventeen days my friends. Seventeen days, plus an extra year that COVID stole from me. Oh this month of March brings me so much joy. And now, so does my wreath. Let. The. Madness. Begin.

Sun Valley ski trip

Last week, Jacob took the three youngest boys on a Sun Valley ski trip. They were
able to go with our favorite friends and from all accounts, it was the best. Two straight
days skiing, balaclavas making it safe and mostly, laughing and playing with

our friends we consider more family than not. A good vacation indeed.

 

Side note: Grace and her mom partied at home. Grace started skiing
this year and is doing amazing, but decided to sit this trip out.

So much kindness

Sometimes you have family show up and they make everything better. Tonight Jacob's aunt, uncle and cousin came to bring dinner to us, to thank me for something I was privileged to do to help out the family the last few days, and I can't tell you how much it touched my heart. Especially the fact that they then stayed for a couple of hours so we could talk and laugh and cry (just me, as always) and laugh some more. I needed it more than they could ever know and it brought me out of some numbness I was feeling, as well as a whole lot of emotional and physical exhaustion.

So why the picture of our couch? Well, because I was so into being with them and being thankful for our time together, I didn't take a picture of their darling masked faces. So instead, I took a photo of where they sat when they served me more than they could ever know.

Because it matters to me to have this here. To show my gratitude to three people I adore and love like crazy. And especially to remember how my Heavenly Father so often sends people to me when it matters most. And when I need it more than I even realize, until it happens.

I'm so blessed.

Flip flops and pedicures

While the boys are skiing, the girls are most definitely enjoying their flip flops on this winter day.

Cutest little love and her bedtime shenanigans

Annie and her roommates

My beautiful girl asked if I would take photos of her with her roommates and let's just say, there
isn't much that could happen that would cause me to say no to that kind of request. But oh boy,
it was cold.And yet, these girls are so darling it was beyond worth it. Especially my Annie. I mean
check out that last photo of her. Isn't it just crazy how much she acts like her father? Oh I love her.

 

Okay fine. Maybe she's a little like her madre. Bless her heart. Her amazing, incredible heart.

Oh, I love Jacob Allen

Twenty-three years with this guy as my Valentine. I'm surely the luckiest.

Well hello there winter

My favorite books of 2020

The Book of Mormon
As I've mentioned once or a dozen times, my favorite book is, and will always be, this one. I finished it twice this year. And shared some feelings about it in this post. I just love this book, and the truth it contains, so very much.

Deleted
I was a little nervous to read this book, because one of my favorite people (and a close friend) wrote it. And while I knew she was capable of incredible things (in general, but especially in her writing), I still feel like it is important for me to be honest in my opinion on her book, no matter how close I am to the author. And oh my word, am I being honest when I tell you this book is incredible. The subject was brilliant and exciting and fun and to say it was page-turning was an understatement. Friends, run to read this book. Run.

Just Mercy
I truly think that every person in the United States should read this book. I don't say that lightly. And not just because of what I am going back to school to study. We need to know more how the justice system works. We need to know the reality of what is going on when it comes to criminal justice and prisons and what others go through that we can scarcely imagine. Please read this book if you haven't. Please.

The King's 100
Such a fun, fun read. I don't know what to say except it made me happy and was well written and I just enjoyed it a lot.

The Fixer
I loved this book. In fact, I'm now on a kick reading every book I can get a hold of by this author. She has a way of writing that I just love. Yes, this is a young adult book, no, it isn't especially believable that this could happen, but did I enjoy it immensely? I did. Did I read the next book in the series and devour it just as quickly? Oh my yes. And did I recommend it to a couple of people close to me that did the same? Also yes.

If I Run
Super clean, super addicting (from the first sentence) and a super fun read. I read all three in the series. I wasn't a huge fan of the third one, but the first two had me reading fast and furious.

A Dress for the Wicked
Once again, a fun, fun read on a subject that isn't usual these days. I really enjoyed it a lot.

My Plain Jane
I personally cannot stand to use the term LOL. But with this book, that is exactly what I did. Over and over again. This is the second book in this "grouping" of books (not as much a series, but more a grouping about a certain topic--Jane Eyre if you haven't figured it out) and both have been fantastic. I'm a huge fan.

Without the Mask
I really wish everyone would also read this book. When you want to more deeply understand something that you can't understand on your own (in this case, being gay while also wanting to be a part of the gospel and church of Jesus Christ), you are so grateful that people like Charlie write tremendous books such as this one. I highly recommend it.

Fighting Words
This is a hard book to read. I don't recommend it to those that might struggle with a sensitive and triggering subject. But I'm still glad I read it. It was incredibly well written and I needed to understand a situation that I wouldn't on my own.

The Sound of Glass
This was an incredibly interesting read. I don't know what to say, without giving things away, except it made me think long after I had finished the last page. Different and interesting, for sure.

Quarantine

 

 

 

 

When you've been in quarantine for almost five days (due to a positive COVID test for our boy) and still have another week to go--you pretty much try anything and everything to pass the time. Including sidewalk chalk on this fine winter afternoon.

 

(This is not my favorite situation, but I can honestly say, there are so many silver linings. As in, so very many.)

Open our souls

"This is democracy's day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve through a
crucible for the ages. America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.

Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy."

In my window

Because 401,288 are gone. And so many of them died alone.
There is nothing that is okay with any of it.

Love these darling theatre cousins so much

Back at it again

A whole lot of months ago, an impression came to my mind. Unexpected, yet exciting. And completely overwhelming. And skipping weeks and weeks of discussions and decisions and choices and information that was helpful to slightly alter my path into what it is now, this very week, I start school again. (I already have one handy dandy bachelor's degree that I'm super grateful for.)

My incredible husband (and my darling kids) could not be more supportive and excited and more sure of my success (wish I felt as strongly about that myself). In fact, this sweatshirt and pom pom were in my stocking on Christmas morning, courtesy of Jacob Allen. He's truly just the best.

I'm so blessed. So giddy. So overwhelmed. And so positive this is what I'm supposed to be doing at this time in my life. And humbled beyond words that it is a possibility and a reality.

Here's go nothing. Scratch that, here goes something. Something big and exciting and happy and good. At least to me. Yee to the haw. This old lady of the six kids is a college student again. Who would have guessed? Not I, says the Linn.

Our amazing girl

This little sweetie pie was nominated for the school character board a couple of days ago.
It was so cute to see her huge smile when I told her. And oh man, we love her teacher.
This is our second child through her class and she is one of my favorite people in the world,
no exaggeration. I'm so grateful for others who treat my children with so much kindness and
love. It means everything to this mom. And great job Gracie girl, we think you are amazing!

Love this girl...and her brother

This darling girl moved out today and moved into her dorm at BYU. I'm so excited

for her. And so thrilled that my two oldests will be together at college. Good grief,

time flies. How I have two children living away from home is beyond me, but man,

I'm so thankful they have each other. They are just tremendous. I'm one grateful mom.