Presidential Leadership Scholars

When Jacob showed me this wonderful picture that was taken just about a month

ago at Mount Vernon in Virginia, I actually wasn't sure of the name of the gentleman

on the right. And while I wish that wasn't the case, I have since remedied that and have

learned a lot about Bob Gates, former Secretary of Defense for the United States.
I am so impressed with him and my respect for him has grown tremendously.

Now, why is Jacob in Virginia meeting with the country's former Secretary of Defense?

Good question. Because when Jacob received this photo a while back, I realized I have never

shared the details. (Even though this post, as well as this post, hinted at something going on.)

So here you go...

 Jacob was hired by the George W. Bush Presidential Center and the Clinton Foundation 

(along with George Bush Presidential Library Foundation and Lyndon Baines

Johnson Foundation) to consult and evaluate & measure a non-profit project

these organizations have created called Presidential Leadership Scholars.

I do know the details (and love when Jacob shares, as I am so intrigued by it),

but they definitely explain it better than I could. So here you go.

All I can say, in addition, is that it has been such a privilege for Jacob to be associated with

this project. He feels so very blessed to be a part of something so good that appears to be

helping others in such a positive way. He feels grateful, we feel grateful. It is a good thing.

March phone pics

Just about a week ago I drove to St. George to spend some time with my grandma 

and to bring her back up north for some time with family. This was my view for several

 minutes before the sun went down. I love the sky. If I haven't mentioned it before.

The night that I arrived, my cousin had her beautiful baby girl.

I took my grandma to the hospital to hold her newest granddaughter.

The next day, I went with my grandma to church. The church parking lot
touches her back fence and every week she walks with her darling friend, Ruth.

Both of them in their nineties (93 and 96) and they happily walk with each other

to church each week. It touched my heart so much and I had to take a picture.

That evening, before we got on the road to head north, we visited my cute niece

and her adorable little boy. Neither of us had met the baby yet and boy oh boy

is he one gorgeous little guy. I was so glad we got to see them both.

(But so sad I didn't take pictures of several other family members I saw while I was there,

including my other darling niece. Blast, I really dislike being forgetful when it comes to photos.)

And a close up of my great-nephew. (That is two great-nephews 

for me, if you are counting. I think that equals old. Squared.)

Jacob sent me this photo just a few days ago. Finally, our 1999 Honda Accord (that we 

bought years ago after both of his sweet grandparents passed away and left it for a family

member) hit 100,000 miles. Kind of crazy. We love this car. And especially the memories

we have connected with Jacob's grandparents and this car that was theirs.

I mentioned the Pinewood Derby was the other night. Well, this picture I took

on my phone makes me so happy. Not only is our Matt the cutest ever, but he
had a seriously rough night with that car of his and rather than be annoyed or 

sad or anything negative, he was absolutely hilarious. With each race, he had me

laughing harder and harder. Love this boy so much. And his incredible attitude.

The next night, during the family party at our house, Jacob texted me this

picture, saying something like, "I really never imagined I would be having 

dinner at the governor's mansion in Arkansas." Um, yeah, no matter how 

amazing Jacob is, I don't think either one of us saw that coming. Beautiful yes?

Davis family together time

Yesterday I took a picture or two. Or three hundred. But who's counting?

And yet, how could I resist when so many of my family members were here
together for a few days. After deleting a whole lot and sending photos off
 to family members who might want them, I kept only seven for myself.

You are welcome.

A five generation picture I was asked to take of my grandma,

 my mom, my sister, my niece and my great-nephew.

A photo I took of my darling dad. I love this picture, and him, so much.

We were missing four of the great-grandchildren (and I was so sad they were not here),
but were able to take this photo of my grandma with all of her greats. That is just the

great-grandchildren of one of her children, my mom. My mom still has four brothers

that each have their own grandchildren. The numbers are pretty amazing for sure.

And this picture honestly about does me in with its cuteness. This is my
nephew, Wilkes. After the picture was taken, all of the kids scattered to get back

to playing, but cute little Wilkie just wanted to stay and hold his grandma's hand.

I couldn't help but take a picture of this adorable little guy and his sweetness.

Our kids and my sweet grandma. I love them all so much.

And our Matt took this picture of my grandma and me together.
It isn't going to win any beauty contests, but I can feel the love between
my grandma and me and that alone makes me so grateful to have it.

Pinewood Derby night

Her future's so bright...

Saturday hike

This past weekend, I was away visiting my grandma and driving her back to our area to be at some
family get-togethers this week. Jacob spent the time with the kids, being a fabulous dad, like always.

Saturday afternoon, he sent me the pictures below.

I love him. I love them. I'm so grateful for my life.

Oh the excitement!

Tomorrow cannot come soon enough!

First talk

This darling boy gave his first talk in Primary today.

And yes, it was pretty much the cutest thing ever.

Sure love this boy and his sweet, simple testimony.

Definitely a record

In the last ten days I have had strep throat, bronchitis, kidney stones,
a giant cold sore and a rather insane sinus infection.

Me thinks my body is trying to tell me something.

Or I'm a sad little hypochondriac that needs a different hobby.

Someone please hand me a sympathy card. Or a comfortable pillow.
Or a large sign that says, "Buck up and pull it together."

Just for the record, I know which one would do me
the most good, but I'll take the pillow anyway.

 Thanks in advance.

Utah Jazz game

Jacob's company had some last-minute basketball tickets that became available at the
beginning of this week. And after checking our calendar, we accepted those tickets gratefully.

Unfortunately, I had not been feeling well for several days, so I decided to stay home with the
majority of the kids and Jacob took the two oldest boys, along with my dad who kindly accepted our
extra ticket. (We had asked my mom also, but too hadn't been feeling well and decided to pass on it.)

The four of them had such a great time and I loved seeing the pictures Jacob texted to me.
Including the photo that showed how close they were to the court. Fun times for sure.

We sure are grateful for time spent with grandparents. After living away from family for

more than a decade, as well as having parents who have served overseas in several callings

and missions for our church, we definitely don't take it for granted. Happy, happy day.

Good old Abe

In the elementary school the boys attend, they have a 5th grade program that we have found out
is a mighty big deal. It focuses on the United States and the plans and preparations and execution
are exciting and big. They not only have the students representing each of the 50 states,
they also have some of the students dress up as important people in our country's history.

Well, Matt was asked to play the part of Abraham Lincoln. And I cannot tell you how grateful
I was because the kids don't chose their own parts, but are responsible for putting together their
costumes. So that fact that Matt had asked to be Abe Lincoln for Halloween two years ago,
sure made me extra grateful the costume was already taken care of.

The night they performed for their parents, we were able to go watch and tape it.
It definitely was a fun program. The 5th graders did great and Matt gave his part perfectly.

No surprise here though. This boy is amazing for sure.

Eleven

Happy, Happy Birthday Matthew Davis! You are loved like crazy.

I'm so grateful these two have each other

Sometimes I label our photos for posterity

Temper Tantrum from Behind

Temper Tantrum from the Front

or

At Least She Isn't a Drama Queen

Arrow of Light

Our Matt earned his Arrow of Light last week at packing meeting for the Cub Scouts. It was
such a fun night to be with him and I feel so grateful for our cute boy and all of his hard work.
He also earned his Webelos award and the Religious knot. I was incredibly proud of him

I can hardly believe that he will be moving on to Boy Scouts. It truly seems
like about 17 days ago that I watched his older brother do the same thing,
so when I realized it had been four years, I was pretty amazed.

We sure love our Matt. And his good heart and his hard working self.

Our library doesn't allow food or drink

Jacob texted me a picture of his "dinner meeting" tonight. Yeah, just eating at the Library of Congress and all.

I responded, "That looks a whole lot like my dinner tonight. Both the setting and I'm sure the food. What are the odds? Did the person who said your opening prayer pray, 'Please bless the food...that it will have a good day in our tummy.' I can only hope you were so lucky."

It is like he lives my exact life. Only a little less glamorous.

February phone pics

Remember when my kind brother-in-law left me a little gift on our bookshelf

after the last time we all got together? Well, I decided to return the favor.
When we attended the baby blessing of their sweet little girl, we brought along

the treasured book and found a lovely place for it on one of their bookshelves.
They haven't said anything to us in the month since we put it there, so either they
haven't noticed or they think we are dorks for being so weird. Likely the latter.

The evening I hosted my friend's surprise party, I looked outside and realized we had some
weeds in our front flower beds. Unfortunately, weeds are not uncommon in our yard,
but I can truly say that in about 38 years of celebrating my birthday in February, I've never
had to head outside to weed the night before my big day. Seriously, this weather has

been amazing. I'm incredibly scared for this summer and for our lack of water though.

After hosting the party for my friend one evening, then celebrating my birthday

the next day, we just left a whole bunch of balloons floating around our house for

a couple of days. The next morning, when I went downstairs to make sure the

basement was tidy for the day, this greeted me in the bathroom. Okay then.

For once in my life, I don't have a comment about this strangeness.

 As a gift for successfully turning another year older, Jacob gave me a good chunk

of free time the two days after my birthday. On Saturday afternoon, I spent some

time in the temple. I love it there. A lot. And feel so blessed to have it close by.

One night several weeks ago, Jacob went downstairs to make sure everything was
locked up and turned off for the night and was met with this sight. Yes, Matt was completely
asleep. No, I have not an idea in the world why this happened. Unibrow covetousness?

This boy spent a large amount of time creating this masterpiece. I think my favorite

part was when we were getting close to dinner and I told him that he needed to quit

adding more cups since it was almost time to clean up. He looked at me, looked at

his creation and said, "Umm, I feel like it is missing something. Ohh, more cups!"

My walking buddies, and their sunglasses, in the morning.
Did I mention our weather was amazing?

National Junior Honor Society

This past Friday evening, Jacob and I were able to go Annie and Campbell's
junior high to attend a National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony.
Where our sweet Annie was officially made a part of NJHS.

I grabbed this photo of her at home, since I knew the lighting might be interesting at
the school when she was actually getting her certificate. We adore Annie like crazy.
She is so intensely good and brilliant and hard working and beautiful inside
and out and mostly kind. I can't get over the privilege it is to be her mom.

 And we decided we would bring along Campbell, even thought he wasn't being
inducted into the organization. But since he had been chosen as president of NJHS
this year and was conducting the meeting and giving a speech, we elected not to
 leave him home. Here he is right before they started. Cam doesn't often get nervous,
and while he was hiding it well, it kind of made me smile to see that he was
a bit anxious about conducting and speaking. I think it was good for him.
 

 And right before his big speech. (The photo I took of him actually speaking
didn't work out thanks to the lighting at the podium.) He did an amazing job
and that is truly not just his mother speaking. I have a video recording to
prove it. It was definitely a night to be proud of this boy--his good heart,
his good choices, his hard work and especially his deep kindness.
 Like Annie, I truly don't take for granted the honor it is to be his mom.

And afterwards, we spoke to their principal. There are not enough words to share
how impressed we are with this good man and the effort and work he puts into running
this junior high school. We have been a part of several good schools in the last many years,
but nothing has compared to this particular school. And the way the principal not only
spoke of each of our children, knowing things about them that he would never know just
by working in his office, kind of blew me away. I have been so thankful ever since.

I've said it before and I'm sure I will say it again,
"Be kind to me and I will be grateful.
Be kind to my children and I will love you forever."

I love being a mom. I love good people. And mostly, I love these kids of ours.
How in the world I could be so blessed, I will never figure out.
But I will never stop being grateful for the amazing privilege.

Zoo visit ~ People I love edition

Zoo visit ~ Miscellaneous edition