Matt in Moab

Matt spent the week with Edie and her family on a trip near Moab and it sounded like they had the best time.
I just adore Edie and her parents so much and am so thankful for how they love and include Matt. And that boy
of ours in the first picture, I just can't handle how cool he is or how much I absolutely love being his mom.

Nate's soccer team

When you invite your soccer team to your house, after a Friday night game,
and every one of them (except one player who is out of town), shows up.
Quite the party night for our darling Nate and his awesome teammates.

Our Easter Sunday

It was an Easter Sunday filled with gratitude for having nearly all of our kids with us; missing Annie who is
currently keeping her darling friend (oh hey Celeste!) company on her cross-country drive; feeling thankful
Annie and Celeste could spend time with family this morning (you guys are the best Jess and Andrew!);
being sustained and set apart for the most unexpected calling; feeling grateful Jacob could participate
in the baby blessing of some dear friends from Boston (we love you Massa and Cheryl!); and mostly…

Wondering how we could ever be so blessed as to know and love Jesus Christ, to be His followers, to know
He died for each one of us and to have the deepest knowledge that HE LIVES AGAIN! Everything about life is
more beautiful and meaningful because of our Risen Lord. I’ll never stop being overwhelmed with gratitude for it.

“God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son” indeed.

I am so blessed. God is so kind. Jesus lives and loves.

The happiest of Easters to be sure.

Grace's first spring dance recital

This beautiful girl was just absolutely amazing in her dance recital earlier this week.
Each one of her three performances just blew Jacob and me away.
She loves dance so much. And with good reason. It really just is a part of her.

We were so thankful for her Aunt Taunya and Uncle Jonathan for coming, and for Matt and Nate,
who took the evening to support her. It was a happy night for our girl. I'm so grateful.

The happiest

First game of the season for this stud and he played like I have never seen him play. His defense was
unreal and they walked away with the win. Love our Nate boy and his amazing, athletic self so much.

Two darlings

The sweetest dad. The most darling Grace. And the happiest night at The Prince of Egypt.
Just love these two so much.

God's love

I don’t know why God loves us so much, but I *know* He does. And when I give so little, and merely
show up, so often, He absolutely pours kindness and grace into my life. Before, after and during,
the simple act of being there. I can’t get over it. I’m so honored to know Him and to love Him.
And to watch with wonder as He takes my miniscule drops of offering and turns them into buckets
of blessings. That change who I am at my core. One tiny and undeserved cupful at a time.

Creativity and darling pants

When you have the absolute best big sister, who not only helps you make one pair of
custom stamped pants, but TWO. I cannot with the cuteness of both of these works of art.
Mostly, I cannot with Annie and Grace and their creative and amazing selves.

Nate's spring break

Nate was invited, along with several other friends, to join his good friend and dad on a trip
to Moab over most of spring break. Nate had a blast mountain biking, hiking, swimming and just
being together with his friends. I’m just so thankful for Jack’s dad for making it possible and for
creating such a happy memory for our boy. He has talked about it a whole lot since he got back.

Thanks Scott! So grateful you would include Nate and for the most amazing photos,
videos and mostly, memories, that are just the very best.

March service project

Well, I just walked in the door after finishing volunteering at the Utah County warming center
and I guess this means the March service project is officially complete.

In addition to spending five hours at the warming center tonight, with my darling Annie and
her cutest friend Lizzie, I was able to take the donations from so many of you with me, so that
we could give a large box and bag of them to those we served tonight. And several other boxes
will be dropped off at the donation center, during business hours this week, by Annie girl
who was beyond kind to offer to make that happen.

I had a total of $955 to spend on items to donate to the homeless community in Utah County.
 And with that money, and after I checked with the woman who runs the donation program to
make sure what I was planning to buy was the most helpful (she suggested three additional
items and mentioned one item was mostly covered by their program for the time being), 
I was able to purchase far more than I expected.

I ended up buying 200 pairs of handwarmers, 100 small flashlights with batteries, 34 heavy
 duty ponchos, 28 bottles of shoe spray and 28 heavy duty umbrellas. And one of my darling
friends donated a huge box of jeans and jean shorts. Goodness, if you had seen how excited
those who checked in tonight at the warming center were to go through it—too sweet.

Thank you wonderful friends! The number of people you will bless through your kindness is
something else. And seeing it firsthand tonight, most definitely did something to my heart.

What a blessing this past month has felt to me and ending it tonight with such a humbling
experience just felt so touching. I’m just so thankful for so many of you for making it possible.

Officially castless

Cast is officially off and on to a brace for the next four weeks.
I’m so happy for this sweetest boy and his amazing self. It’s a good day to be Nate Allen.

Backyard golf

When you come home from running errands and your golf-loving boy has set up
quite the swing practice/driving range situation. Oh I love Matt Allen.

His peace

This morning, I stepped into the sealing room of the temple and just felt flooded
with peace. It was calm and beautiful and the sun shone softly and warmly 
through the stained glass windows. I felt melty and joyful.

(And the fact that my dad was the sealer in my session, just made it
that much more wonderful and sweet.)

The world we live in doesn’t specialize in peace—these days especially, it can feel
like the opposite. But the temple does. It’s kind of its thing. I don’t always feel it as
strongly as I did today, but when I do, I’m just overwhelmed with the gift I'm being
given. It makes me so deeply thankful for a God that not only fills His house with
peace, but then so generously invites us inside, so we can feel it also.

I’m grateful for a morning in the temple that not only allowed me to assist in
families being sealed together forever, but also blessed me to feel a little more
confident, calm, grateful, happy and so very peaceful.

I really needed it today.

I really needed God today.

And every time I need Him, He shows up. And brings His peace.

I just can’t get over a Father that loves me that much.

A third year of district book battles

This little grown up darling had her third year competing in the district book battle competition today. And loved it.

It is my absolute favorite how obsessed she is with books (apple meet tree) and I love supporting her
in this every year. It’s just so sweet how happy it makes her.

Oh our Gracie girl. She’s just the best.

Ben and the boys

Boys' trip for Benjamin and these coolest of friends. I seriously love Ben's friends so much, I can't stand it.
They are just so dang good and so crazy funny. So a weekend in St. George all together was apparently
 just the right call. I'm so happy they got to go, especially that Ben Allen. He's my favorite.

These two darlings

A few weeks ago, these two sent me this photo with my happy birthday message.
And I just cannot with both of them.

I mean first, they clearly know that photos and the temple are my love language. Then they add
themselves into the mix, two of my most favorites in all of forever, and it just made my day.

I wish so much I could put into words how much I admire these two. How well they deal with life,
how good they are to each other, how often they laugh and make life hilarious and exciting, how hard
they work, how kind they are to others constantly, how faithful they choose to be and how they love
 their Savior. It just all blows me away and I often wonder what my life would be like if I had been
half as emotionally aware, trusting of God and just plain good and amazing as they are at this age.
It’s just so inspiring and incredible to see. I love and admire them to the deepest part of my heart.

What a blessing they are to so many. But absolutely no one more than this mom—who is so deeply honored
to have a front seat to their amazingness, it brings me to tears just writing about it. My word they are tremendous.

This sunshine girl

She's still pure sunshine and makes life for herself, and everyone around her, more exciting,
hilarious, adventurous, beautiful and fun. She's just the coolest chica and I'm so grateful for
every moment I get with her in person or even just through an audio message or sent photos
(I love all of it so much). Goodness, I'm a gigantic fan of Annie Allen. Always and forever.

Yesterday

Matt's day

Happy 21st Birthday to our darling Matthew! Oh this boy does something to my heart. He is not
only kind, brilliant, hilarious beyond what I knew was possible, adventurous, athletic and so deeply
aware and thoughtful of others—but I think he might be the most grateful person I’ve ever known.
It doesn’t matter what you do for him, big or small and everything in between, Matt makes sure to
thank you. And can we go back to being hilarious? I wish everyone could spend just an hour with Matt,
 they would love it so much and their life would be happier, funnier and much more fantastic, just by
 being around him. Every time our family sits down to dinner together, it is guaranteed Matt is going to
 have everyone hysterical. He’s just so fabulous and amazing and I sincerely feel like God loves me
best because he let me be Matt Allen’s mom. And I’ll never stop thanking Him for the honor.

Happiest Birthday Matthew Davis! We are so outrageously grateful we get
your amazing self in our family and we love you like crazy.

This amazing birthday guy

Who knew forty-eight could be this kind, handsome, encouraging, fun, funny, athletic,
faith-filled and brilliant? I did. And anyone else who has ever known Jacob Allen did.

But what far fewer people actually see up close is his love and commitment to his
family and how he somehow gives an extraordinary amount to his career, his clients
and bettering the world. And then comes home and gives us even more. The kids and
I could never fully convey how grateful we are for him and who he chooses to be.

Happy Birthday Jacob Ethan! So grateful to be yours and for the beautiful life
we have together. I love you sweetheart.

(Now come home from your dang business trip so we can celebrate already.) :)

One fantastic boy

This stud just finished playing with his friends on a rec basketball team and oh my word,
he’s just so fantastically cool and works so crazy hard on the court. I really loved watching
him play. Because if you haven’t noticed, I’m a big old fan of the game of basketball.
And an even bigger fan of Ben Allen. Just love this boy and his amazing self so much.

A new cast

Hooray for x-rays that show improvement and new casts that are smaller, more comfortable
and meant to last for the next four weeks. Mostly, a big old hooray for the sweetest boy who
continues to be happy, positive and darling throughout it all. I sure love Nate Allen.

Funny sidenote: Nate was wearing a jacket all day, until we got to the doctor for his appointment,
and when he took it off so that they could cut off his old cast, I started to laugh. He was wearing
 the same shirt he had been wearing at his last appointment. And I suddenly remembered that
Grace had done the same thing with her broken arm, kept wearing the same shirt by accident,
to her random appointments. (Which only caught my attention because I was taking her picture
afterwards.) Looks like the super-strange-broken-arm-same-shirt tradition of our family lives on.

The third second time's the charm

Well, our initial attempt three years ago didn't take (I think we have industrial strength
cartilage in our family, as Annie and myself have also had this issue), so this girl convinced
 her mom to try again yesterday. And we found a fantastic place that did the best job.
And this little darling is extra happy. She's the cutest. Just love this Gracie girl so much.

And so it begins...

 

Just picked up this year’s 24x36 bracket of loveliness and all I have to say,
is welcome to March folks. The greatest month of the year. 

March Madness...March Gladness.