Lake Powell ~ Exploring edition

Exploring Antelope Canyon (which we accessed from the lake when Jacob took us down a beautiful, somewhat
hidden channel) was the highlight of this year's trip for me for sure. I loved it a lot. And watching our kids have
fun together during the long hike was my favorite. I'm grateful for this vacation. And mostly, I'm thankful
for these darlings I get to call mine. There really never was a girl as blessed as I am. I'm sure of it.

Lake Powell ~ Boating edition

We spent fall break at Lake Powell again this year and felt so grateful all of our kids could join us for at
 least some of it. The weather wasn't fantastic, but two of the three days we were able to be on the lake
(and stay mostly warm) and I was so thankful. Love these darlings and our time together so much.

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.