Annie's actual birthday

Darling Annie spent the days around and on her birthday camping, hiking and rock climbing
with friends. And I just love that for her, considering how much she craves and loves being
in nature. And these friends of hers are just pure gold. They joined us for her birthday dinner
at our house, on the way home from their adventure, and it was the happiest of nights.
Love this beautiful girl of ours and how she loves people so well and lives life so joyously.

So much kindness

Grace had her final primary program today during church and did such a wonderful job with
her talk. And my sweet dad and darling sister, Erin, came to support her. Along with Jacob’s parents
who watched from home on zoom. Just so much kindness. I can’t believe that my sister, who was
here visiting her kids in Utah, would wake up so early and drive more than an hour, picking up
my dad along the way, to get to our 8:30am church time. I just can’t get over it.

It blows my mind that our last child will be finished with primary in less than three months.
After more than two decades with a child always in primary, I don’t think I really believed
we would ever be done. But the end is most definitely right around the corner.

Just feeling really grateful today for darling girls and grandparents and really kind sisters who love
and support these chicklets of ours, even when it means going out of their way. Boy does it mean a lot.

Annie's day

Happiest 23rd Birthday to my darling Annie! I still have a hard time putting into words how amazing,
good, kind, hilarious and brilliant Annie is—it’s truly something that blows my mind and inspires me
on a regular basis. She has become an expert in getting out of her comfort zone, over and over and
over again. And because of it, she has developed some extraordinary talents and skills. She loves
Jesus. So much. And you only have to be with her for two minutes before that is readily apparent.
She’s such a hard worker—going to school full-time and working two jobs in her lack of free time.
 And she’s just tremendously kind to every person she comes across and because of that, is deeply
loved by loads of people. I truly believe that God loves me best because He allowed me
the privilege of being Annie Allen’s mom. And I am eternally grateful for the honor.

Happy Birthday Annie Linn! We love you more than we can say and are forever the luckiest
because we get your beautiful, good-to-the core, incredible self in our family.

Some darling visitors

These two darlings came to visit over the general conference weekend and we loved
having them for a couple of days. They are just so good, funny, kind and some of
our favorites ever. I loved catching up and just wish the trip could have been longer.

And their generosity was over the top. They had extra tickets to conference
so that Jacob and the three youngest could join them Saturday afternoon and
Annie and Allie could join them Saturday evening. So much kindness.

Sure love you guys and are so grateful for that time with you both.
Come back soon Andrew and Livvy! And bring the rest of our Illinois
favorites with you next time, please and thanks.

Our sweet Denali girl

 

I’ve been putting off this post for almost two months, I think I just don’t want it to be real.
But it’s also a big part of our family history and this is where I document that,
 so I do know I want it to be here. Even if it’s hard.

We learned several weeks ago that our sweet Denali has a brain tumor. Ugh. I hate typing that.

Telling our kids, especially Matt, was the worst. I cried for hours after I brought her home
from the vet. And Jacob and I still talk about it in disbelief, like we truly don’t think it could
 actually be real. Even as we watch Denali girl have symptoms now on a regular basis.

We don’t know how much longer we will have her with us, but we do know that as hard as it is,
the one thing we won’t let her do is suffer. As of right now, she is still happy and doing okay, far more
often than she is not. She’s still completely obsessed with Jacob and never leaves his side, even for a
single second, when he is home. And she still looks wildly disappointed every dang time
I walk through the door and she realizes I’m not her very favorite human.

So she’s still our Denali to be sure.

And we will take it as long as we get it. And continue to be grateful for her every single day.

Another magical performance

And since photography is my love language (both for myself and to others), I wanted to share
some favorites from the three nights I spent doing the photography for Illume Dance Company's
 production of Narnia. It's my fourth year in a row of capturing the magic in picture form and
 I love it so. And Illume and the owners and instructors and mission even more. 

Grace, Narnia and the White Witch's army

This little beauty did the most incredible job, being a part of the White Witch’s army, at the
opening night of Narnia last night. Oh our girl is something else. And her dance company puts on
 the most magical shows. It was a really good night watching our talented dancer on stage.

And her final performance last night—I love these pictures so crazy much. And they
also make me highly uncomfortable. Because boy can this darling girl dance and act.
 And she’s also one of the kindest people I have ever known. So seeing this “wicked”
version of her makes me simultaneously proud and a bit unnerved.

I’m just so thankful for how many people came to support Grace during her three shows.
Nothing means more to me than people who are kind to my children. And there was so much kindness.

Goodness it was a wonderful few days. I’m so thankful to have a record of it.

Homecoming

Our handsome Ben and his beautiful homecoming date, Camille.

 Have I mentioned how much I love taking our kids’ dance pictures? Because being around
these teenagers who are outrageously hilarious and extraordinarily good, all while capturing
their darlingness, just does something to my heart. Ack, they are the best.

 Especially this boy of ours. I’m so grateful I get to be his photographer and his mom.
 He’s just tremendous.

Jacob in Scotland

Jacob spent several days in Scotland this week, for a Mary's Meals meeting for the international board
 members. And it was wonderful and good and productive and a privilege. I’m so thankful for so many
 good women and men that take time out of their busy lives to try to better serve God’s children.

And Scotland. The only place I’ve ever traveled to that felt like I had come home.
Its beauty does something else to my heart.

And if all of that wasn’t tremendous enough, Jacob took a last minute opportunity to buy a ticket to
a Celtic soccer game on the last evening he was there. And as any international soccer game he has
been to has been, it was unreal. Scottish soccer fans are not messing around. I’m so glad he could go.

We have a really good life. And a really good God who blesses each of us
far more than we ever deserve. I’m so deeply grateful for both.

Campbell's day

This tremendous guy, who made me a mom, is truly one in a million. He is so good, so kind,
so hilarious, so hardworking and such an incredible disciple of Christ. The way he loves Kelsey
and how they make their family work so well, is honestly inspiring. There isn’t a way for me to be
around Campbell, without it making me happier and lighter. He just does that to people and it is
a true gift. And the inspiration to name him after my grandpa was as it should be—they are so,
so similar, in a dozen wonderful ways, it is unreal. I cannot believe that twenty-five years
ago today, God let me be this boy’s mom. I’ll never stop being grateful for it.

Happiest Birthday Campbell Jacob! We love you like crazy and are the luckiest ever
 to have you in our family to make everything about us better and brighter.

My sweet mom

Six years closer. Miss you so much Mom.

The craziest picture I took of the lightning tonight

This morning

Any morning in the temple is a good morning. But when your dad is unexpectedly the sealer in
your session, it is a very good morning. I just love the House of the Lord and my darling dad so much.

Yesterday

Grace's day

This little love is officially eleven and boy is it a happy day at our house. There’s something so
joyful and amazing about Grace and she has this wonderful mixture of being incredibly mature
and yet, still being innocent and young. She is one of the kindest people I have ever been around
and gives compliments out (to friends and strangers equally) like others give out a hello. She tells
me daily how much she loves her teacher and school and spends her time there, constantly and
quietly reaching out to help and love others—it’s just something else to watch and hear about.
She loves to dance, as much as she loves to breathe, and every single day, she lets me know how
many more hours until she gets to go to her next class. I truly can’t believe that I am
the one that God let be her mom and I’m thankful every single day for the privilege.

Happy Birthday Gracie girl! We love you more than we can say and are
 so much happier and full of goodness because you are ours.