They kind of loved it a lot

Matt and Jacob paragliding in San Diego just a few weeks ago. Holy awesomeness.

Matt's 16th birthday trip

For Matt’s 16th birthday, he was given a trip to California with his dad. Unfortunately, he was gifted it in
March of 2020. Which is why it has taken until a few weeks ago for that trip to happen. But happen it did.

I have one additional post to share the favorite adventure activity of both Matt and Jacob while they were gone,
but until then, the beach, sunsets, sea lions, skim boarding and hiking would be the highlights of this group
of photos. Oh, and these two tremendous guys spending a couple of days together in our beloved San Diego.

Hopefully it was worth the wait.

Something tells me that it was.

Boostered

Just a random photo let you know that I am boostered. You’ll have to take my word for it

as I wasn’t given a sticker and no thanks on posing with my shoulder bandaid. But it happened
and boy howdy am I grateful for the blessing of science and the privilege of doing something
to protect myself, my darling family and especially, to show my love for all of those around me.

Christmas dance

Matt’s group asked me to take photos for the Christmas Dance tonight and what an absolutely darling
bunch of kids. Oh man, I seriously adore Matt’s date, Edie. And this boy of mine. So crazy much.

So overwhelmingly well

I not only needed to give a final update on the donations from you incredible people, but needed it to have a permanent place here on our blog. Because this is where I write about God’s hand in my life.

I had a couple of additional donations before last Tuesday evening was over, so here are the final numbers of what you accomplished.

The total amount given by all of you was $1301. Jacob and I were able to double it, which made it $2602 straight to Mary's Meals. And then an anonymous donor made it five times more for a grand total of $15,612.

That means that 743 children in the poorest countries in the world will receive a daily meal at their place of education for an entire year because of you. That absolutely blows my mind, gives me the chills and makes me want to hug every single one of you.

Thank you from the bottom of my grateful heart. Loving God's children is no small task, but as a parent myself, I feel privileged to have the tiniest glimpse of what it means to Him and the tears He sheds when we do it so well.

You did it so well, friends. Just so overwhelmingly well.

Our incredible girl

Gah, I just love her so much and miss her so fiercely.

She’s doing so well, so happy, so hilarious, so faithful, so full of love for
and gratitude to our Heavenly Father and our Savior. She loves Maryland,
the people, her companions, her morning bagel and the roaches in her apartment.
She does not love the roaches in her apartment. Sometimes I like to lie for fun.

Late last night, as I was working on a project until the very early hours of the morning,
I couldn’t quit thinking of my Annie. I was alternating between listening to my scriptures
and Christmas music and just felt so overwhelmed with how much I love her and what an
amazing example she is to me. It was a quiet, still few hours that I’m grateful to have had.

Oh our Hermana Allen. What a privilege to be her mom and to have a front row seat
to these eighteen months of her life. I’m just so thankful for her I could burst.

PS. Not long ago, she sent me a video where her companion did something funny and Annie girl
burst into laughter. I’ve probably listened to it more than thirty times because it makes me so
happy and I miss her laugh so much. If you want to hear her darlingness, the link to her mission
blog is here (and the videos are on the right sidebar). The direct link to the video is right here.

Giving Tuesday

Dearest Friends,

Today is Giving Tuesday. And all of the details about this wonderful day I have shared in my stories (now saved in my highlights) and in two previous posts of late. But here is the short summation for those who may have missed it.

Tonight at 9pm MST, I will be sending on a donation to @marysmeals. If you would like to be a part of that contribution, please know that Jacob and I will be matching every penny given before I make the final donation. And that an anonymous donor will be multiplying everything Mary’s Meals receives today times five. I still shake my head in wonder at that kind of generosity.

If you feel inclined to contribute, please know that no amount is too small. I mean that so sincerely. Especially when this incredible organization that holds a place in my heart forever, has found a way to feed a child in a third world country, in their place of schooling, for an entire year for $21. So literally a donation of $2, after being doubled and then sent on to be matched, is enough to feed a child for all of the next school year.

Thank you wonderful friends. More than you could ever know. Your kindness and goodness and light-filled lives are such a blessing to me. And not just when it involves something like today. But always.

With so much gratitude,
Linn

This could potentially be a long Christmas season

 

Oh I envy not at all

When the gift of writing your college application essays just keeps on giving.

My Michigan Wolverines

That Michigan game earlier today was honestly one of the best football games
I have ever watched. And it didn't hurt that my team won. I'm so happy!

I'm absolutely convinced that even though my Mom and Grandpa are super
busy in heaven, they took a little break to do a quick dance of joy when that
game finished. Okay, maybe just my Grandpa. My Mom wasn't a big
do-a-little-dance lady. But boy was she thrilled. I'm sure of it.

Until today

For around a year before the temples closed down during the pandemic, I was able to attend
weekly. I loved it so. And at least a couple of times a month, if not more, I would join
my Dad who works in the temple 4-5 days a week (as a sealer and an ordinance worker).
Those hours with him in the Lord’s House hold some of my happiest memories.

The temples are open now and I love being there as often as possible,
but because you now make an appointment in order to go (which I do love),
I haven’t been able to be with my Dad in the temple for more than eighteen months.

Until today.

Jacob and I were able to be in a sealing session where my Dad was the sealer and I just
was overwhelmed with how much I had missed it and how much it meant to me. I don’t
know of another human who loves the temple as much as my sweet Dad. And it shows in his
goodness and actions and in his countenance when he is there. (And even when he is not.)

I’m so thankful for today. For being in the Lord’s House, for spending time
with my Dad and especially for being alongside Jacob through it all.

As Jacob put it when we were sitting and waiting before the session began,
“I like White Friday a whole lot better than Black Friday.”

Yes indeed.

I would have to agree.

Strongly.

Something to share

Dear Tremendous Friends,

Would you please take another few minutes to read this post? I would be so thankful.

So just a little check in to remind you that next Tuesday is Giving Tuesday and as I mentioned a few posts ago, I am gathering money for the second year in a row to donate to the truly incredible organization Mary's Meals. And I thought I would take a quick chance to tell you a little bit more about it. And to announce something on our end that I hope and pray will make you all anxious to share even just a few dollars.

So, some of you may remember in my last post that I mentioned that if you wanted to pray about possibly contributing a little bit to this organization and ask God if that’s what He wanted you to do, that would be absolutely wonderful. Jacob and I did just that. And what our Father in Heaven told us is that He would like us to match every penny that comes through from all of you, from the second I made this year’s announcement until the end of your donations. So not only will your contributions be matched five times by an anonymous donor through Mary’s Meals, but before that even happens, Jacob and I will double every dollar you send our way. I don’t share that to make that into anything great about us, quite the contrary. It makes me emotional that my God asked us to do such a sweet thing and I’m so humbled to do it. I wasn’t even going to mention it, but my heart not only felt like I should, but if ten more dollars comes in because we are going to double all contributions, then it is worth me being uncomfortable with this sharing.

Okay darling people, I would love if you would watch my stories throughout today and I will be sharing some amazing things about Mary’s Meals, alongside some of my favorite photos I took while in Zambia, so that you can more fully see what we have known for a long time. Mary’s Meals is inspired of God, they praise and honor Him in everything they do, they are changing the world, and the fact that they allow us be a small part of it is truly humbling and beautiful. I’m so thankful.

With great love and gratitude,
Linn

Grateful for grandparents

My sweet Dad came for the two youngests' Primary program at church today. It was so
wonderful having him and we are so grateful for how he chooses to love and support us.

And Jacob’s darling parents came yesterday to see Grace’s musical theatre performance.
They were so kind and encouraging and it meant so much to Grace and to us.

Recitals and joy

 
Gracie girl had her recital today and performed her dance routine,
as well as her musical theatre performance. She did so well and
I love watching how happy she is doing one of her favorite things.

It’s indoor soccer time

I loveth.

Teeth tiaras

      

This sweetest little darling got her first set of braces today. (Or as her oldest
brother likes to call them, her teeth tiaras.) Even with some nerves, she was
brave and happy and amazing. Oh my word we love this little firecracker.

Goodness and giving

 

Dear Wonderful Friends, 

It would sure mean a lot to me if you spent a couple of minutes and read this post. Thank you so very much.

Last year, just a few days after Thanksgiving and on Giving Tuesday, I found out that Mary’s Meals, the organization that Jacob and I have been intimately involved with for many years, had an anonymous donor who was going to match any amount given to Mary's Meals that day. Times five. I was so blown away.

So I quickly wrote a post, letting you all know, in case you wanted to donate. (After all, this incredible organization feeds one child in a third world country, in their place of education, for an entire year for just $21. I just can’t even.) I also mentioned that I would be glad to gather any money through Venmo and send it on as a whole, if that made it easier for anyone. (Which seemed to be most people’s preference.)

And then I sat and cried as your donations came through. It was unreal. You people are so, so good. Hundreds of children were fed a daily school meal for all of 2020 thanks to your incredible hearts.

Well my darling friends that I adore, guess what I just found out? This Giving Tuesday, that very thing will be happening again. Every penny donated to Mary’s Meals that day will be matched times five. And I’m sharing right now because several of you mentioned you would not only want to know about it again, but you would be grateful if there was a way to have a bit of notice beforehand.

So here you are dear friends. If you were looking for something wonderful and good to do as a family, if your children had the desire to try to earn a little extra money to donate to something beautiful, if you wanted to pray to see if this was a way God was asking you to help some of His most loved children, I wanted to give you the time to do that. And then I will be back in two weeks to invite anyone who would like to, to give.

I just feel so thankful for our life-changing association with such an incredible organization, for you tremendously tremendous people and mostly, for a God that lets us do small things to help in His work and to show love for His children.

I’m so blessed, so humbled, so grateful.

Our Savior, the temple and a do over

I really love this recent picture. Mostly because it is of two of my favorite people ever.
But also because I finally remedied a situation that I’ve been a bit sad about for a long time.

When Campbell went through the temple for the first time, just over three years ago,
there were only two people there with the three of us. And my sweet Dad was one
of them (our darling stake president’s wife was the other—boy do we love her and
are so grateful for her incredible kindness). And because of their schedules,
I didn’t get a picture with either. So I’m so thankful for at least this picture.

So grateful for these two, the temple and opportunities for a do over.
Just like my Savior affords me every single day.

Bravery and freedom

 
I took this picture last night while I was doing the photography for our local high school
play. And there are two things I keep thinking about whenever I see it on my computer.

First, teenagers are so outstanding. And I will never stop believing that. I spent the last two
evenings with them and not only do their talents and abilities blow me away, but they are
good and kind and powerful and their future is bright. I adore them. And I highly suggest
heading over to our high school to watch this particular group shine this week and next.

And second, I love this country of mine so very much. Like these teenagers I photographed
for hours on end, it is good and kind and powerful and its future is bright. And if you don’t
feel that, I might suggest learning, like I did, to stop listening to the loudest, angriest voices.
I truly believe they do not represent this great nation. Not at our core. Not in our hearts.

But what does represent us is what we have celebrated today. Those that
have given such a huge price for our freedom. I’m so grateful. So humbled.
So blessed. We all are. Because of what our bravest are willing to do.

A most heartfelt thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Broken hearted

A beautiful and bright young girl passed away this past Saturday from a tragic accident. She attended the same school as our youngests and had two close friends in our neighborhood. There have been pink and yellow ribbons put up all over our little town. Including on our street and on our own tree, as seen here. I'm so grateful they are honoring and remembering this sweet girl.

But I'm just so sad. So devastated for her family and friends and all those that know and love her. I’m certain of where she is at and that our Savior is loving, protecting and caring for her until she is reunited with her family. And that knowledge means everything to me.

And yet.

I cannot stop thinking of her heartshattered mom.

I hate this for her with a fierceness and emotion that makes me overwhelmed. I don't know what this kind of loss feels like, but I do know that it is so deep and so life-changing and so every-second-changing that if I even approach the imagination of it in the tiniest part, my heart stops me. It's too much. And I can't stand that this beautiful girl’s mom, alongside so many other incredible mothers in mortality, knows exactly what it feels like.

Ugh.

All will be made right and good and whole and beautiful in the end. But we aren't at that end and that pain feels crushing today.

Even with everything I absolutely know.

Nevertheless, I’m so very grateful to know it.

With all of my broken heart, I really am.