Fifth grade 50s day

Fifties Day in the fifth grade for our darling Grace today. She was just so excited and
I was so happy for her. I just adore this little love and her joy and excitement for life.

Note: Grace and her cutest friend performed in front of the fifth grade and honestly,
I can't get over how well they did or how Grace knew to choreograph their dance with 50s
moves. The first time I saw it was on stage and none of us helped her for even a second, so to say
I was blown away by the darlingness and authenticity of the dance would be an understatement.

She's amazing this Grace Allen. I'm so grateful she's ours.

This boy and the game of soccer

Oh he's amazing this Nate Allen. So grateful for this game he loves
and his athletic, incredible self. He's just so tremendous.

Grateful

A perfect morning, with perfect weather, feeling so profoundly grateful for a perfect God.

Forever grateful

No one makes me laugh harder, cry more often (almost always for good reasons), feel deeper, love
stronger or be more grateful for the promise of a heaven where we will all be together forever someday.

I’m so thankful for a God that gave me the most beautiful gift (times seven) and
the sweetest of husbands—who never stops encouraging and loving me through it.

I’m humbled every single day by the privilege.

Three darling chicklets and one incredible teacher

Another year of piano with this absolutely incredible teacher and favorite human of 

ours. These three are just so amazing and good. I’m so grateful they keep practicing
and showing up. They are becoming absolutely tremendous pianists.

Happy day!

This sweetest boy is finally castless and braceless, as of a few days ago. It’s felt like a long
ten weeks (at least for this mom), but he never once complained or acted annoyed,
just smiled his way through it all—he’s so amazing to me. Gah, I love him so much.

Grace's second spring dance recital

This darling dancer was in her second and final spring recital on Saturday. And just when I cannot
get over how incredible she is at multiple forms of dance, she goes and does an absolutely
amazing job at two additional styles. Oh this girl loves dancing to the deepest part of her heart.
We are so thankful for her wonderful dance company for making sure all her dance dreams come true.

Summer job joy

This coolest of humans is back where her heart, mind and body are at home...and we will

miss her for much of the summer. But man, nothing makes me more at peace than seeing
my children truly happy. So a river rafting guide for the next several months it is—
with some climbing, hiking, being with her favorite people and loving Jesus mixed in.

Oh I love this girl.

April service project

When I woke up this morning, and it was raining, I knew it was going to be a really sweet day.
Rain has always been my sign from God that He just really loves His children.

And that was confirmed as I took the card and money, from so many of you, to
 sweet Logan’s mom, Kellie, to complete our April service opportunity.

I just don’t even know how to put into words how absolutely incredible Kellie is, how
sacred their home felt, how much I appreciated learning about the process of Logan’s tests
and what their outcome needs to be in the coming months, the degree of funny that Kellie
brings to life and the faith that this family has in God and His plan.

And as I drove home, I stopped to take that second picture, because it just felt like it
represented much of the hope of good things to come for Logan and his family.

Goodness, it was just such an honor, with many of you, to bless their family with some money
 to help with life right now, with all they are going through. But mostly, to make sure they
know they are loved, supported and are being prayed for constantly. Especially that Logan boy.
Because you’d better believe this most recent CAR-T cell therapy is going TO WORK!

Oh this was a sweet month with this family and this opportunity to serve. I’m so grateful
 for so many of you for being so generous and good. And thankful for a God that allows us
to be of help to His children, even just a little bit, from time to time.

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.