Ben's humanitarian trip to Cambodia

I finally finished going through the more than 2000 photos everyone on Ben's humanitarian trip shared and
here are a few favorites for our family history. I adore this boy and his incredible heart. And feel so grateful
that he will forever have a connection to Cambodia—a country and a group of people that he will never
forget and that will always have a piece of his heart. I love everything about that for our Benjamin.

Twelve years of our sweet Grace

This darling birthday girl

 
Happy Birthday to our darling baby girl who is somehow TWELVE today!
Oh our Grace Susanna is something else. So good and kind, so mature and yet innocent,
so full of talent and loveliness, so close to her Savior and her Father in Heaven.
 And her laugh, well that is for sure is one of the best sounds ever.

She’s everything God knew we needed to complete our family and the relationship she has,
with each of her six siblings, is so sweet to watch. They are so incredibly good to her and she loves
 them uniquely and deeply. And she and her darling dad, not sure there could be anything cuter than
 their closeness. She’s sincerely one of my closest friends and the times we talk and laugh together
are some of my favorite memories—I’m just so honored to be her mom AND her friend.

So proud of this beautiful, birthday girl and so grateful that twelve years ago this very day, God sent
her to us. We are happier, funnier, kinder, closer to Jesus and as a family because of this little love.

Happiest Birthday Gracie girl, love you so much sis!

A California soccer tournament

Nate was in Huntington Beach this weekend for a soccer tournament. And his amazing dad is the
one that made it possible for him to go, joining him the whole time to make it fun and exciting.

The team didn't advance to the championship, but it was a fabulous trip with some
incredible soccer, multiple trips to the beach, eating out together, a top golf afternoon and
mostly, the best time with his teammates just laughing and having a blast.

So thankful for times when we can make fun things happen for this Nathan boy,
who is just so incredibly grateful and good. I'm such a fan of him. 

And that's a wrap

Her summer on the river has come to an end and we're so happy to have her back at college,

a few hours closer to us. Oh this Annie Allen, she's something else.

A work trip to the Philippines

He's home from another two-week work trip. This time to the Philippines. So many good things
  happening for the measurement and evaluation of this global initiative. It's a lot to accomplish,
but Jacob and his team are doing it so very well. I'm grateful for my husband's good heart and
  willingness to work extremely hard to help improve the lives of the most vulnerable around us.
What an honor to serve God's kids. We really are so grateful for the privilege.

August service project

The August service project was sweet and simple and just what it needed to be.

This is the last time donating food items to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
 this year (but also taking into account the money I’ve set aside from Jacob and my
contributions to give them a large check in October to help with the cold weather
lunches that always need a little more substance) and I loved it.

These people and their incredible goodness in providing the homeless community in their
 area a sack lunch each Wednesday(plus, I recently learned they also serve some low-income
 nursing homes that need extra help with lunches each week), is just so beautiful and amazing.
 I have loved that we have been able to help donate food several times and also volunteer a few
 times in addition. This church and these people will always have a special place in my heart
and I’m excited to continue to help them in the coming months and years.

In addition, I thought it was the sweetest that the woman in charge of this program
volunteered to pick up the donations from our house this month, because of a
scheduling issue that came up for me. She’s become such a good friend and
that has been the sweetest bonus blessing to this particular service project.

Thank you for those that donated, I can’t tell you how much it is appreciated or
how many times the people running this program have asked me to thank you.

It’s a lot.

Because you sure give a lot.

The best game

The coolest of goals for our Nate today and this fantastic photo of his team
rushing him and the pure joy on his face. 

And then two other amazing pictures that showcase this amazing boy, his hard work
and his incredible degree of athleticism.

Oh I love him.

Another first day of school

12th, 8th and 6th. Three different schools, three amazing kids.

It’s going to be a good year, I can feel it.

My thoughts tonight

Just sitting in the backyard, taking a moment to breathe after a very full first day
of school for our three youngest. With so many thoughts running through my head.

This summer was wonkadoo. Just bananas to me, for so many reasons,
and I am exhausted to a point that I haven’t felt in a while.

AND

I’m sincerely just the luckiest girl ever to be a wife and mother and to get to do that
with all my days and hours. For me personally, I can’t even fathom doing anything else.

AND

I need order and a schedule so badly right now, I could cry.
Oh wait I have. So many times the last few days.

AND

When I actually get that orderly, busy schedule that comes with the school year, it can
become overwhelming and too much for me at times. A lot of times. And I long for less.

AND

Some very specific worries and concerns I have for a few of those I love most
in the world have felt so difficult and paralyzing to me of late. It is fueling
my depression and I’m fighting with everything I have not to go down with it.

AND

I just keep witnessing miracles. Over and over again and in ways that absolutely blow me
away with their beauty and sacredness. Especially for those that I’m so concerned about.
Angels are near and God loves my people so much, it is unimaginable. And so the peace comes.

AND

How can I have been a mother for nearly twenty-six years and
still not have a clue what I am doing? Oh my field of tulips, this is ridiculous.

AND

God continues to make me enough. While I simultaneously fall so dang short it is
unreal and embarrassing. He just keeps making it enough. Every time it matters.

I’m so grateful for a life that brings me to my knees, in tears, on a regular basis.
And has me laughing and loving and absolutely overwhelmed with my blessings in the
next moment. God has been teaching me about how so many conflicting feelings and
experiences can coexist together, even when it doesn’t make any sense. But oh my
it is beautiful and right, exhausting and ridiculous. All wrapped up together tight.

I’m so thankful for Him. And this wild, fragile, gorgeous, imperfect life I have.
I can’t believe He loves me enough to let me live it.

Two first days of school

My darling boy. Pictured here about two weeks apart. For real. Senior year for our Benjamin. 
I truly cannot believe we are doing this for the fourth time. And the fact that this is his last
first day of school makes me want to weep—while simultaneously feeling so excited for him
I could burst. He's so good and amazing. I will never get over the privilege of being his mom.

This girl

Love this girl, and these pictures, FOREVER.

And that last one. I honestly cannot.

Home

I’m so happy he’s home. He’s so grateful he went. What an incredible seventeen days.

The best people and the loveliest night

Truly one of my favorite nights in a very long time. With for sure my favorite people.
Hosted by two of the greatest humans I have ever known.

Everyone needs an Aunt Anne and Uncle Steve in their life. Because they are the kindest,
most generous, most loving and giving, most energetic and hard working, most amazing and
good people in all the land. And I always walk away from them just feeling loved to my core.

It means more than they could ever know. I’m forever thankful for them.

PS. No one will ever convince me that last photo is not the cutest picture ever taken.

Here we go again...

Braces for this stud today and as is the tradition, he most definitely looks older.
Oh man I love this boy.

A work trip to Ghana

Jacob and Matt recently returned from a two-week work trip to Ghana. Because Jacob and
his social impact team were chosen to help measure and evaluate the global initiative the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced two years ago (focused on improving
the health of women, children and babies) that has become quite a big deal. And with Matt
being hired at Jacob's company a few months back (after working his head off as an intern),
we were surprised when someone staffed him on Jacob's project. That has been a huge blessing
for both Matt and Jacob and such a sweet thing for me to watch.

Their time in Ghana was amazing and incredible, difficult and exhausting. And it kicks off
a very long project with a whole lot of travel and work to make sure that the correct goals
and intentions are being met and mostly, that women and children in several developing
countries are receiving as much help and aid with their health as possible.

In addition, one of the sweetest parts of the trip happened when Jacob and Matt left a couple
 of days early, so they could visit the Ivory Coast and spend time with Jacob's parents who are
serving s the temple president and matron of the Abidjan temple. That was a huge blessing
for sure and I'm so thankful for the time they had together.