Almost home

My beautiful girl! We just received her itinerary and she will be home exactly five weeks from Friday.
 I could honestly burst with excitement at the idea of having her home and hugging her again.

In the meantime, she was transferred yesterday. She is right in the middle of Montevideo, and is so
happy, she can hardly stand it. She is right on the edge of a very dangerous area, where they only allow
elders to go. And her only lament is that she doesn’t get to go there and see if it is an adventure to get
robbed. Honestly, this child of mine. Her new companion, that she gets to train, is from Brazil and it is
such a fun connection to her big brother and the land of his heart. It is going to be a good six weeks.

This incredible Hermana Allen. We are just so proud of her and who she has become
and how much she loves the Lord. What an absolute honor it is to be her mom.

Nate's special day

This sweet Nathan boy had the privilege of receiving the Aaronic Priesthood
today. It was one of those days when heaven felt near and every sacrifice
I’ve ever made to be a disciple of Jesus Christ feels worth it…times a million.

When I saw our incredible boy, surrounded by his dad, his brothers and his grandpas
(and deeply supported by Kelsey, Grace and his Nana), I just cried. It felt like
time stopped and all felt completely right in the world for those few moments.

How grateful I am for my Savior, my Father in Heaven, my family, the Priesthood of God
and my darling Nate. And days like today that make mortality really wonderful and good.

So much happiness!

 Truly one of the happiest days of my life yesterday! I couldn’t love these two more
and know that Heavenly Father intended them for each other, even before we came
to earth. They are just all that is right and good and hilarious and beautiful and
light-filled in this world. Just so much joy, I feel like I could burst!

A happy day, indeed

If there is a sweeter person on earth, I’m not aware of them.

I absolutely loved seeing my darling dad this morning, after the temple, to give him a hug and
wish him the happiest of birthdays. He’s honestly the best and I’m just so deeply grateful for him.

And I loved doing temple baptisms this morning (with my wonderful husband who made it
possible) because well, first, my dad loves the temple and taught me to love it too. And second,
because the family temple card he gave me the other day, of a female relative, had a very
significant birthday on it. And my dad may not have noticed, but I sure did. And loved being in
the baptistry this morning to celebrate the birthday of my tremendous dad and Mary Dudley.

January 6th. It’s a good day, indeed.

Yesterday

This incredible birthday boy

Happiest Birthday my amazing boy! Everything about our family is happier and better because you are in it.

Five things I love about Ben right now:

1. He's truly hilarious. He makes me laugh constantly and his humor is not only funny, but so very clever. He has the most hilarious take on events and on life and his one-liners are honestly hysterical. I laugh a lot with this boy around.

2. His athleticism is beyond, beyond. Whether he is playing soccer (and putting in that PK to take his team into a championship), snow skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, running, playing basketball or any other thing that requires coordination and skill, he does it at a level that is absolutely something else to watch.

3. He has a relationship with his Heavenly Father and his Savior that is pure and sweet and good. He is extremely consistent about praying and reading his scriptures and each day he has seminary (his religion class at the school), he comes home and wants to talk about it. But he doesn't just talk about being a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, he acts on it. Every single day.

4. He is absolutely brilliant. In all areas, but especially when it comes to the world and how things run and how to look at an issue and figure out a solution. And he uses his great mind to learn new things on his own, like video editing, for instance. He is insanely good at that skill which is 100% self-taught.

5. He has one of the kindest and most pure hearts I have ever known. When he was born, and had to spend time in the NICU, I would sit by his bedside and cry. But not out of worry. Instead, out of the absolute privilege it was to be the mom to such a pure and incredible soul. He cares so much about people and being a good person and it isn't unusual for him to text me on a random day and say, "Mom, can you pray for a girl in my school?" That's all. It's enough for him to write only that because he sees someone struggling and knows that prayer will make a difference. I know it makes our Heavenly Father so proud.

We love you Ben Jamin! More than you could ever know.

Farwell, 2022

 22 Simple Joys of 2022

* talking to my missionary girl every week
* watching my baby girl dance from her heart
* listening to my boys play the piano
* watching my oldest fall in love
* seeing my boy adjust to college life & do hard things
* kissing jacob
* weekly family calls
* sacred time in the temple
* reading any book, ever
* sunshine on my face
* any moment spent with my dad
* home renovations, after the fact
* boating with those I love, a lot
* driving with the music up and the windows down
* taking any photo, ever
* sunsets and sunsets and sunsets
* just so much laughing
* birthdays and holidays and traditions and fun
* cheering for my teams at a forever-too-loud volume
* loving my seven, imperfectly and fiercely
* just so many miracles
* learning to trust my Savior, more and more and more

Here’s to a beautiful new year and all
of the joy that is surely ahead!

Four Scottish sisters

A couple of months ago, my darling Dad asked if I was available to do the temple baptisms and confirmations for four Scottish sisters from our family history. And I jumped at the chance. When those were over, I had the opportunity to take all four names and act as a proxy, to complete their initiatories (the next individual ordinance at the temple) and it was such a sweet experience.

And then today, thanks to Jacob being willing to take care of everything and everyone, I was able to do the endowments (you guessed it, another incredible ordinance) for all four of these wonderful women in my family. It was long day, yes, but it was also so very beautiful. I don’t really have the ability to share in words what it meant to me, so I’ll just say I love the temple, I love my Savior and I love that heaven is so very real. And closer than we can possibly imagine.

Many an hour later, and after seeing my Dad at the temple and giving him a hug, I walked outside…to rain. My favorite.

It was a good, good day.

I’m so very blessed.

The best dad

He’s truly just the best. Always loving, serving, playing, working, adventuring, caring, providing,

laughing and making us all smarter, kinder, better and so much happier. Oh I love Jacob Allen.

Christmas morning joy

This Christmas Day and always

Everything that truly matters to me, this Christmas Day and always,
I have because my Savior came. I’m so honored to celebrate Him today.

Four down

After and before for this handsome stud (who got his braces removed
two months early because he’s such an overachiever). Four down, two to go.

Twenty and four

Twenty-four years. So many happy memories—of this day and especially,
of this beautiful life we have together. Oh I love Jacob Allen.

Eight weeks

Just eight weeks left for our beautiful girl. I just feel like I could burst with excitement. And pride.

She’s doing it. And it isn’t easy. She loves it so much, but man, if anything, it often seems
to be getting more difficult (mostly because she’s been an hermana leader for a while
and there are some pretty, uh, interesting things to deal with on a regular basis).
But she just laughs and does and loves and serves and trusts and lets God guide it all.

I just adore and admire her more than I could ever convey in words. She’s truly something else.

{And that last photo folks. All of her dreams have now come true. This girl of mine has been
obsessed with capybaras from the time she was only nine. So meeting Rosy the capybara—
hanging out in a field behind someone’s house—was kind of a big deal. Oh, she’s the best.}

Holiday piano recital

Christmas recital for these darling boys last night. They both played incredibly
well. We were sure grateful to have their grandparents there to support both
of them and their fabulous cousin, Caleb (who also did an amazing job).

And their tremendous piano teacher…we couldn’t love her more.
She’s not only the best piano teacher in all of forever, but truly just
one of my favorite people I’ve ever, ever known.

It was just a really happy night.

Just the usual

Just two guys watching yesterday’s World Cup game at 1:56am. As one does.

On their way

And these two darlings are off on their early morning flight to be with
Kelsey’s family for a few days. They are just the best. And I adore them like crazy.

A pretty fabulous ski day

Ski day today for Jacob, the boys and cute Edie. I heard it was the best, with all the snow we’ve had
the last several days. A very good reason to skip school on this fine Thursday—at least at our house.

They really are the coolest

These two are the best. I mean seriously, wanting to build a giant igloo in the snow with the two youngest.
I’m always a fan of Matt and Edie, but am often blown away by how kind they always choose to be.

Ben and his fabulous friends

It was such a fun night with my Benjamin and his three friends, taking them
out to dinner and to a Jazz game. These four couldn’t be any more hilarious,
grateful, kind or more fun to be around. I’m just so thankful Ben has such
tremendous friends and that they let this old lady hang out with them tonight.

Darling Gracie girl

 

Cutest little dog walker, errr runner, in all the land.

Who isn't looking so little any longer.

Denali girl

Celebrating this little love’s eleventh birthday today. She really is the sweetest
and the best and we adore her. She’s been ours for almost five years and we
honestly feel like we got the very best doggo. Probably because we did.

You people and your incredible goodness!

I promised an update on your donations to Mary's Meals earlier this week and oh friends,
I’m truly just so overwhelmed by your generous and amazing hearts. Without any more of
my mushiness (but believe me, I have plenty more in my heart), here are the numbers:

In just a few days, you incredible, incredible people had sent a total of $1636 my way.
Holy bananas, the sweetness.

Jacob and I were able to match that and I jumped on to donate $3272.

That amount was again matched, by an anonymous donor, for a grand total of $6544.

You guys, next year there will be 311 children in developing countries, who will be fed a daily meal
in their place of education, because of you. Because of the kindness and goodness of so many of you.

Thank you each, more than I could put into words.

It is just such a privilege to know you.

A good walk with a darling boy

A walk this afternoon with a cute dog and an even cuter rollerblader. One-on-one time
with my kids, to really hear how they are doing, is so good for both of us. I’m grateful for it.

Another Giving Tuesday coming tomorrow

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. And for the third year in a row, I am sharing about my favorite non-profit that Jacob and I have a close attachment to and have had the privilege of serving with for many years. We know intimately how good and incredible they are and how much they do to change the world and the lives of children in developing countries, by providing a daily meal in each child’s place of education. They do this for just $21 per child, for the entire year. It’s unimaginable. But it is happening for over two million children throughout the world. And there are millions more that need it and that Mary's Meals is still trying to reach.

Tomorrow night at 6:00pm Utah time, I will be sending in a donation to Mary’s Meals. If you would like to contribute to that in any way, I know it will mean so very much, to so very many. No amount is too little and I mean that sincerely. It doesn’t matter if it’s $1 or $21 or $101, every bit counts. Jacob and I will be matching every penny that comes in to me between now and tomorrow night, and then in addition, an anonymous donor will be matching the total sent to Mary’s Meals by tomorrow evening . So for every $21 donated by you generous people, four children will be receiving a meal every school day, for a year.

As always, please do not feel any kind of pressure, nor to contribute at all or to contribute a certain amount. And if anyone wants to go directly to Mary’s Meals website, and donate yourself, that is perfect. I’m only trying to make it possible for those who would like to do it easily and have it matched an extra time, to do so.

For those interested, my Venmo is @Linn-Allen.

Thank you friends! More than you could know. I’m truly just so honored to know each of you.

And Happy Giving Tuesday! One of my favorite days of the year for sure.

White Friday

 
An evening at the temple last night. So thankful for my absolute knowledge that families
can be together forever, for a Savior that loves each of us so deeply that He was willing
to make that possible and for time with Jacob in my very favorite place on earth.

Oh the happy

Just a reminder that we are not only March Madness crazy at our house.

I am having a hard time running any errands I need to yesterday or today because every time I start
to leave, something happens with a game and I end up just standing there for ten more minutes trying
not to miss anything important. Tomorrow isn’t looking any more likely for leaving the house.

Sure hope my family likes pasta and brown sugar for Thanksgiving dinner.

Nate's birthday gift and Utah Jazz basketball

Nathan boy was able to cash in on one of his birthday gifts this past Friday night and go to
a Utah Jazz game with his dad. It ended up being a super close game and happily, the Jazz
pulled it off at the last second. Sure love this sweet boy and his darling dad a whole lot.