We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

In just over an hour, the general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints begins.
It happens twice a year and I look forward to it more than most anything else all year. God loves
His children. And has given us prophets to more fully know His will and feel His love.

What an incredible blessing.

September 30th

Hey Jacob Allen,

Remember when we decided we couldn't live without each other, so we flew to
Switzerland to get married? And then moved around a dozen times, lived in four
different states, had six glorious children, laughed like crazy people, wept from
disappointment and heartbreak, and fell deeper in love than we thought possible?

Yeah, I really loved that.

Thanks for my sparkly gold band and for getting down on one knee
to ask me a very particular question eighteen years ago this very day.

You are my happy place, the love of my life and next to the gospel of
Jesus Christ, the greatest gift God has ever given me.

I thank Him every single day for you.

And I love you. A lot.

September phone pics

Looks like this edition is heavy on the sky and the Grace.

And representing September as their birthday month in our house...these two cheesers.

Sky picture, the first.

I let my kids use these small shopping carts about once every 14 years. I don't have
the personality or the patience to shop with them. My calves and the other shoppers
at the store are grateful each time I say no. But this day was an unusual yes.
And Annie and I couldn't quit laughing. Nate looked all grown up and like when he
was finished loading the groceries he had just purchased, he'd drive us all right home. 

Sky picture, the second.

On this particular Saturday, Annie had  just finished mowing her section of
the lawn. When she stopped the mower, I asked her if she knew where Matt
was, since he had the last section. She replied, "Mom, I'll just do his part.
He has a friend over and I don't want him to have to stop playing to mow."

Her kindness overwhelms me. And of course she let her little sister help.

Sky picture, the third.

Just running home this day after picking up some potty training treats for this
little darling. She had just started the day before, but was doing so well, we needed
more candy. And now of course, she is done. Even through the night. I'm so grateful.

Sky picture, the fourth. And last. You're welcome.

This little girl fell asleep multiple times during the day, during a two-day period.
Which is so very much not like her. She was born not really believing  sleep was
that important. So I knew something was up. Sure enough, a doctor confirmed an
infection was wiping her out. Poor little darling. I'm so glad she is feeling better.

DC, family and moderation

Jacob is in DC for a few days for work. And what are the Allen odds that so are his aunt,
his cousins and his brother? I mean really. Yes, one cousin and her husband live in DC,
but the fact that four of the six people in this photo from their get together last night
are from Utah, is a little crazy. These are tremendous people. Man, we love them.

But the true reason Jacob is on the East coast is because he was asked to
moderate a panel at the Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit 2016.
It's kind of a big deal. And as usual, I am so incredibly proud of him.

Earlier today, his darling cousin (the one in the blue shirt above) attended part
of the conference. And she sent me the sweetest email about what an incredible
job Jacob did and included these pictures. (She also called him a rockstar.
Which I loved a lot.) I cannot believe her kindness. It means so much to me.

And I can't believe Jacob's amazingness. It also means so much to me.
And makes my wonderful life possible. I absolutely adore him.

Just for the record, I did ask Jacob if I could post this pictures and write about him.
He said that was fine, but just asked me not to be effusive. Since I don't know
big words like he does, I'm going to assume effusive means, "Don't hold back lady."

Saturday evening

I obviously know that Jacob is good friends with the Eyring's awesome son-in-law, but still,
I wasn't expecting a letter from the Office of the First Presidency to arrive in the mail today.
Nor the tickets to Priesthood Session to have President Eyring's names printed in the corner.

So much kindness, I can hardly stand it. We are so grateful.

Six and done

Even through the night.

After seventeen years of diapers, we are officially done.
Happy, happy, happy day. One of the happiest actually.

Sure love this girl.
And her diaperless self.

Campbell and his birthday present

Can we talk about the fact that this boy had his first guitar lesson less than a week ago
and today, his visiting grandparents asked him to play for them?  And that between
his incredible voice and his playing ability (on a really cool song that is not simple),
I was pretty blown away. Hey, thanks for the talk, I enjoyed it.

Well, that was weird

This storm today came out of nowhere and I quickly went outside to make sure we
didn't have anything that could blow away. I wanted to check on the chickens and as
I got close to their coop, something dropped from a nearby tree. Through the storm, it
looked like a bird's nest and I turned to tell one of my kids what happened when suddenly
I felt this crazy pain in my hip. That bird's nest was actually a hornet's nest. And those are
some mean buggers I tell you. Being highly allergic when I was a kid, I'm really glad I didn't
break out in hives and my throat close off. Catch that silver lining there? You're welcome.

And ending on a second positive note, this incredible rainbow
that showed up during a break in the storm. I love it.

Lego Derby

In the opinion of this mother and Primary president, the Lego derby is pretty much
the best thing ever. Times 487. For those of you who love the Pinewood derby,
I'm so happy for you. But for me, thirty minutes for the boys to build their car
and then thirty minutes of racing and cheering, feels like a lovely dream.

Love our Ben and so glad he had a fun time.

Decorative folage

Our stop sign is fancier than your stop sign.

So proud of our Annie

This girl was given one of the lead roles in an upcoming stage play.
She worked so hard before auditions and I'm so proud of her. The only problem
is that she is one of the wives in Joseph and when she comes home from
rehearsals and refers to "my husband," it is a little disconcerting to her mother.

Homecoming

I was asked to take pictures of Campbell's Homecoming group tonight and
I was so glad for the chance. This is an amazing group of kids. And it was
so fun to be a part of their evening, even for just a few minutes.

Plus, I'll take any opportunity I can to be around my handsome boy.

Her chair

This may just seem like an ordinary chair to anyone else, but to me, it is one of my most
treasured possessions. It is the chair my Gram owned for many, many years and sat in often.
It is the chair that I slept in, next to her bedside, during the last two nights we had together
before she passed away, experiencing some of the most sacred hours of my life. It is the chair
I was sitting it when my Heavenly Father sent me a miracle, through my Gram, before I had to
leave her side to go home, just hours before she was released from this life. It is the chair my kind
mom gave me a few months back, because she knew my Gram would want me to have it. It is the
chair I sit in often and pray and cry and laugh and talk to my Gram and wish with every part of
my heart I could hear her respond. I can feel how close she is to me and how involved she is in my
life every single day. I'm just greedy and sometimes ache to hear her say, "Well, hello my Linny,"
like she did every day for more than fourteen years. I'm so blessed to have this small, yet
wonderful to me, reminder of our relationship and how it is so very not over. And never will be.

Cam's 17th Birthday

Happy Birthday to our incredible Campbell! Seventeen years ago today he made me a mom and
changed me forever. He is handsome and kind and always serving others and absolutely hilarious
and brilliant. I'm grateful everyday he is ours and that I'm the one that gets to be his mom.

Ben's first riding lesson

This boy was so, so brave and amazing. He really did better than I ever imagined possible for a
first lesson. And seeing Annie on a horse again made my heart so happy. It was a good afternoon.

Sweethearts

Love these two so much. And love this picture because it reminds me of what an incredible dad
Jacob is and how each of our kids have such a sweet and good relationship with him. It is one
of my greatest blessings in this life and one of the things that makes me the most happy.

Never forget

"People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace
and understanding. Comfortable times were shattered. We felt the great unsteadiness of life
and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it."

~Thomas S. Monson

Backyard soccer

Gracie's 3rd Birthday

Happy Birthday to our darling Grace! The fact that she is three blows my mind.
She is sweet and good and hilarious and loving and a total firecracker.
And I thank my Heavenly Father every single day that He sent her to us.