Lake Powell ~ Day two

Lake Powell ~ Day one

Lake Powell in October

We are home from Lake Powell and had the greatest time. If our Annie had been there,
it would have been pure perfection. Yet even though I missed her too many times to count,
having all of the rest of us, plus the two oldest boys’ girlfriends there, was truly just the best.

Nine fabulous humans, three days on the lake, more laughing and music and
water everything than I thought possible, equals one amazing fall break.

Photos coming soon. After I sort and organize and mostly pare down. By a lot.
Although this one is most definitely making the cut because I love it so.

Ahhh, Lake Powell. It’s kind of the best in October. I’m a huge fan.

This amazing birthday girl

 

Happiest Birthday my darling girl! We are better and brighter and happier and funnier because you are in our family.

Five things I love about Annie right now:

1. She's absolutely hilarious. Just funny beyond words. And she's never lost that humor or her ability to see the fun side of things, even when things feel hard on her mission or someone is unkind or things are awkward or any host of weird or discouraging things happen. She laughs hard and often.

2. She is kind to the core of her soul. She cares about people so deeply and would do anything for them. She notices people, reaches out to them, loves them, serves them. As the Savior would. She connects to people genuinely and consistently. And they feel her love and it changes them.

3. She has spiritual insights that I think about every single day. She has written an email every week of her entire mission and what she shares about her Heavenly Father, her Savior and the gospel is beautiful and deep and thought-provoking. I am a better person because of the truths and insights she shares.

4. And speaking of her emails, Annie is one of the best writers I know. I can hear her voice through her words and she makes me laugh every single week with the details she shares about her experiences. Her one-liners are truly something else and I love that I’ve kept a record of all of emails on her missionary blog. It will be an absolute treasure to me forever.

5. Annie is everything that is beautiful and good. She’s truly beautiful herself, inside and out, she radiates with the light of Christ in a way few others do and she creates beauty and goodness everywhere she goes. Through her actions, her words, her drawings, her humor, her kindness, her love. And a million other things. She’s just plain amazing. And I miss her so much.

We love you Annie girl! More than we could ever convey in words.

Love and light

I spent time in the temple this afternoon and all I could think, over and over,
were the words to a favorite song of mine right now…

He loves you, He loves you, He loves you.

Me. You. Every ONE of us. No exceptions, no exclusions.

And because of that, as I walked out of the temple doors, my heart felt a lot like
that sun at the top of this photo. Bright and light and melty and warm. And also
like the sun, I just wanted to share all of it with the whole world.

Oh I love Him.