Running and funning

Elementary fun run this morning for these two loves. They each got fifty laps and it made
my morning to go and watch and cheer for them. Man I love these youngests of mine.

Here she goes again...and by she, I mean me

One time, a few years back, I sneezed so hard I chipped my front tooth. And it was so obvious and ridiculous looking, a dentist had to file down the other side to even things out.

A long while ago, I decided during a half a marathon I was running that I was going to get a finish time that I had no business even considering, taking into account my race training. Or lack thereof. But I beat that time. And stress fractured my foot in the process.

A couple of weeks ago, a doctor presented me with these two beautiful braces to wear every night while I slept. For the next month. Because apparently when you spend hours and hours and hours (plus a few more hours) painting for three straight weeks, you win an award. A double-wrist carpal tunnel award. And you are looking at that prestigious prize.

If I’m not a poster child for average, every day and perfectly normal-induced injuries, I’m not sure who is.

Light and joy

I came across the top picture of our Matt recently and it took my breath away
a bit.I love it so and was so grateful he would share it with me. My boy of
the incredible light. Alongside so much joy. I love him something fierce.

It reminded me of another photo I took of him many years ago on the beach in La Jolla.
One of my favorites ever. Joy and light. That is my Matthew. Always and forever.

At his request, I took his senior pictures tonight. He didn’t want a professional photographer,
he asked for me. And that time with him filled me up. But also left me a little emotional.
So many lasts. I just can’t believe we are already here. It’s just unreal. And far too soon.

But when the missing starts early, I choose to remember the joy. And the light.
And that my Father in Heaven has allowed me the privilege of being Matt Allen’s
mom. One of the greatest honors of my life, without question.

Oh my Matthew Davis. He’s truly something else. I’m so deeply grateful for him.

My beautiful girl

My beautiful girl is being transferred this week, further into the countryside.

She will be training a darling missionary that doesn’t speak a word of English.
She was so excited and slightly terrified and couldn’t quit smiling at the
excitement of the adventure ahead. I just love her so much I could burst.

Senior prom

Matt and his friends asked me to take photos for prom last night,
their final school dance, and as always, it was the best.

How I love these teenagers and their goodness and light. Especially my Matt and his
beautiful girlfriend, Edie. But ugh, I can't believe this season is almost over. Which means
nothing will ever be the same. Wonderful and good and how it is meant to be. But not
the same. And three times now, I've felt that to the core of my being. And I don't love it.

But I am most definitely excited to watch my boy soar. He was born for greatness.
I believe that to the deepest part of my heart. And I try my best to just get out of his
way and watch what incredibleness comes from him. Because it just keeps coming.

Ben's amazing soccer coach

 Last night Ben's comp team had their second game of the spring season. And it happened
to be on the same day as their wonderful coach having surgery for cancer. Which is why
these boys wore ribbons on their uniforms during the game. And played their hearts
out for the win. Grateful for soccer, good coaches and this fabulous group of boys.

Some thoughts on this Wednesday morning

 
It feels like a day for random ramblings.

Right this second it is snowing where I live. As in really, really snowing. And usually I would be ticked, but I’m just so grateful for the moisture I can’t stand it. Color me changed. Temporarily.

We are still in the middle of quite a few home renovations. I am so grateful and know how blessed we are and how thankful I feel that we have been able to save for a long time to do this work. Simultaneously, the number of hours, days, weeks it is taking to properly be prepared in the way I would like to be is kind of ludicrous. Much of that is on my personality and how much I want it all to be lovely and fabulous together. And it’s exhausting. But I feel giddy and grateful in my exhaustion and so there’s that.

I shared a post on my Instagram stories that I can’t quit thinking about. I’ve followed the woman who wrote those words, as well as her husband, for quite a few months. I wish I could convey how I feel both about what she wrote and about how profoundly their sweet family inspires me. They are going through the unimaginable and choosing our Savior in spite of it. The Lord must be so deeply proud of them.

This photo is actually from last night. Before the snow really started sticking. I looked out the window and saw this sunset and thought of my girl. She’s been extra on my mind, not even sure how that is possible when it feels like she’s constantly there to begin with. And my prayers are deeper and more often with all that she is going through and who she chooses to be during the hard of it. She is also choosing our Savior. The Lord and her mother are so deeply proud of her.

And the walls came tumbling down…

With a lot of help from the mighty Jacob Allen. And his fabulous kids.

Oh. And I was there too.

My beautiful girl

This incredible oldest of mine

Sometimes I really miss having this oldest of mine around on a regular basis, but love
how happy he is, how well he is doing and the person he is becoming. He’s sincerely one
of the coolest people I have ever known and it is one of my greatest honors to be his mom.

And this fantastic picture...if that’s not a Campbell Allen look, I don’t know what is.

Oh he’s the best.

Miracles and things I know

  I need this picture here, on our family history, to remind myself of an incredible miracle
that God performed for me last Friday morning as I was headed into the temple. I know it
is something that I need to keep in my own heart, but I also don't ever want to forget
my Father's kindness and love and what He was willing to do for me. Especially on a
day that felt pretty numb and difficult. God loves His children. This I absolutely know.

After the temple, I spent some time at my Mom's grave in order to take her some flowers.
I don't go as often as I feel like I should. It is still extremely hard for me to see her name on a
headstone and it isn't where I feel a lot of peace. But because I love her and because honoring
her in this way matters, I still show up when I can. I feel her most when I am in the temple
and for that, I will be forever grateful. As well as for my sure knowledge of where she is at
and how happy and well she is doing. I know I will see her again. I absolutely know it.

Grateful for spring

Not sure there is much that feels better than a long walk on a spring afternoon.

A fun night

 

It was finally this sweet boy's turn to cash in on a Christmas gift.
And he sure loved the Real Salt Lake game with his dad tonight.
Just love these two and their happy obsession with soccer.

It's a light green sort of St. Patrick's Day at our house

A field trip with our Nate

Fourth grade field trip with this darling boy of mine today. He's just so good and fun and funny
and the best to be around. I love watching him with his friends and especially admire his kindness,
gratitude, energy and how he's always watching out for others. I just really love being Nate Allen's mom.

March Gladness

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

And yes. Please read that caption with great amounts of joy and excitement and sing-songy
exuberance. Because T-minus four and a half days and I’m so excited I could burst.

Oh the happy!

Yesterday

Matthew Davis ~ This is eighteen

Happiest Birthday my amazing boy! We love you something ridiculous.

Soccer tournaments, crazy weather and amazing boys

Just sitting at one of Ben’s indoor games and wanted to post this
picture of my boy that I took right before we left the house tonight.

Because I love this photo a lot. And also as a reminder of Saturday evening.
When Ben and the soccer team he won the President’s Cup with a few weeks ago were
supposed to be presented at halftime of the Real Salt Lake game. But that was before
the craziest weather blew in and the game was delayed by more than two hours.

It was actually a hilarious experience (the cold and hail and lightning and finding
cover and figuring out where Ben was because they had already taken the boys down
by the field to be ready) and while I was so sad not to see our boy and his teammates out
on the green, it was still fun to all be together and laugh and experience the crazy together.

Sure love this incredible boy and his amazing self. He’s something else our Benjamin.

Called to serve her King

My beautiful missionary girl. In Uruguay serving alongside her best friend.
No words for how deeply God’s incredible kindness touches my heart.

Happiest Birthday Love!

 
He’s everything that is happy and light and kind and handsome and athletic and brilliant.
With a heaping side of meekness and humility and hilarity and just plain goodness to the
core. And the fact that my Father in Heaven let me be his wife and let our kids have him
for their dad is just the most amazing blessing of mortality, I can’t get over it. I’m just so
thankful Jacob Allen was born today. He’s such a gift to the world. And especially to me.
Oh my word, he’s my favorite. And I love him a lot. As in a whole lot.

This is my sacred duty

 
I had one of the most beautiful, most unexpected experiences in the temple
this morning. I feel so overwhelmed that I have a God that gives me far more
than I deserve, far more than I could ever thank Him adequately enough for.

Pure joy

It’s been a long wait to cash in on one of her Christmas gifts, but this little love finally made it to

Disney on Ice tonight. She’s the sweetest thing ever and I definitely spent more time watching her
than the actual show. But take a look at that top photo on the right and see if you can really blame me.

Standing with Ukraine

Today I was asked to take photos for an important campaign event at our state capitol.
As I was leaving, I took the picture you see here and it is without a doubt, my favorite of the day.

I love the state of Utah for this show of support that I witnessed today. I think about the horror that
is happening in Ukraine dozens of times a day and don't know how to convey how deeply it has broken
my heart. So today I was grateful for this reminder of love and light and goodness and hope. I'm just
praying constantly for hearts to be softened and for this nightmare to end as soon as possible.