Supporting the "Stache"

Youth Conference. What more can I say, other than this is the first time that I have gone since I was a youth myself. I forgot that I could have so much ridiculous fun! One of the best parts about being Young Women's President is that I get to spend so much time with all of the youth in our ward and see them and get to know them in a way that I couldn't otherwise. We have amazing youth. I think that my ward is the best by far. What kind of President would I be if I didn't, but I think that the Church as a whole has amazing youth with strength far beyond anything that the world cam completely understand.

My Secretary Agi was able to go with us to Youth Conference. She had been up until about 2 in the morning that morning with her husband and business associates only to wake up 4 hours later to join us. Needless to say she was a bit tired and during some down time during one of the many thunderstorms, she fell asleep prompting my evil side. Of course I involved the girls in my evilness and prompted Jenny(my daughter) and Morgan, Annee, and the most sinister of them all Hayley, to take Jenny's liquid eyeliner and paint a mustache on Agi's face.

Agi woke more quickly than we would have preferred to what she called "the sensation of someone licking me," which then proceded to more than half of us, boys included, getting our mustaches on. Even Morgan, despite her belief that..."I can't support a stache..." It is an amazing thing when you watch the youth of your ward come together to catch salamanders, zipline across the lake, play games, paddle boat, swim, and cut down dead pine trees as a service project, and see them drawn together when maybe they otherwise would not be. And all of this in some of God's most beautiful scenery. He really knows us more than we can possibly understand. Only he could know just how much my heart would grow with this calling. Only he could know just how much I would yearn and ache for the girls of our ward as I worry about whether I am giving them all of myself or whether perhaps in some ways I am failing. Watching my own daughters as they grow up and I see them with the other girls, I can't help but to thank Heavenly Father for sneaking me into one more aspect of their amazing lives. Because before too long they, like Luke is now, will be on their own and past my mothering care. Where does all that time really go? I sure hope those relationships with our family and beyond our eternal family ones still last behind the veil too.

Luke of course was able to call again Sunday from Basic Training in Missouri. He sounded so good and he is becoming a man and I am so proud, but missing him beyond anything. He has been struggling with a hurt shoulder and needing to pass off his pushups. In his letter he asked that we pray for him as a family because he knew that that would make the difference. He also went to church and asked for a blessing. This from the boy who skipped out of Seminary more times than I can count. Brother Sutorious once sent me a note home regarding Luke in Seminary and on it he put the scripture Galations 6:9, "For let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." That has become my standard the last few years as our family have had struggles through different things. I can say we are "reaping" now as I watch Luke. How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father.

Jason and Jenny took Sam and my two nephews to the transmitter sight that looks out over our small town, Nephi. They rode the 4 wheelers up and had the best time while I stayed below chatting with my mother and my brother, my two nephew's father, Cullen. Two more weeks with them before they go back home to Texas and already it is breaking my heart. The time used to be when Cullen and Annalee and the boys lived just two houses down. Dallin would come marching right in without knocking to grab a cracker or play with Sam and Steph, and Sam too on their end to watch T.V. I miss those days but am so happy for the relationships, the eternal relationships, that they built. Well, time to get up, to be a mom. Isn't that the greatest blessing of all? How could I ever replace the moments of amazement that come from the little boys together, or my oldest little boy becoming a man? How could I ever replace watching my girls become ladies, and sometimes evil pranksters, at Young Women's, or even learn how to grow their first "Staches" at Youth Conference. The Lord loves us in ways we cannot comprehend, loves me in ways I can never earn. And in all things all I can do is smile.

Amazing Life

Busy week. What can I say. Wouldn't change the craziness for anything. Started out my Sunday exhausted. Been up the night before doing an outdoor movie for BYU and then had to get up early for church. Came home and my most awesome sister in law, Annalee, came over with her equally awesome kids. Got to hold my sweet little niece for the first time.

Isn't she a cutie? Not so sure about my crazy eyes, but you know me, CRAZY! Molly is a doll. Then I went to BYC and class presidency meeting at our Bishop's house. Can I just say that my girl's are amazing. Had some nice missionary experiences with them afterword as we met with a few girls. Then I came home to Luke on his weekly phone call. This is where as a mother I get to gloat. Luke has been at Basic Training in Missouri now since June 12th. That's right, 114 degree weather with 89% humidity. He's ran until he wore his new army shoes to threads and we had to send him new ones. He's pushed up until his shoulder popped out of joint and all in the name of recieving more mail. He's lost half a tooth and cannot do anything about it until after graduation, that is if he wants to graduate at all. He's shot, repelled, blown up things, ran through the rain, through the dark, amongst forest and fireflies, and he's been gassed in the gas chamber. Eaten bland food, lived on sunblock and army rations, and through it all he's managed to bribe nonmember bunk buddies to go to church with him and he has been reading the Book of Mormon. Only had a little free time for about a week and he is already through the First Book of Nephi. He writes letters encouraging the kids to be good and listen to their mother. Offers advice and inspiration. And in everything he has excelled way beyond the mark that they have set for him. In August Jenny and I get to go and see him graduate. Could there be a prouder moment for a mother? Love that boy!!!

This week we had Sam's belated birthday party. He chose to wait until his cousins from Texas could be here. They had the best time in the hot tub and on the giant slip and slide that Jason made for Sam. I spent the time with my beautiful mother, amazing sister in law Annalee, brilliant sister in law Kathy, joyfully wonderful sister in law Alisse, and of course superb brother Brad, while the kids played. Yesterday was spent in Spanish Fork with Jason's family. Parade time with the Eckhardts, the Gibsons and the Thackers. Followed by dinner and swim time at the Thacker's house. Not to mention plenty of holding baby time with my other sweet new little niece, Ayla.

So there you have it. My busy week and it is only Wednesday. Granite counter top guy comes any minute to measure. My niece Jenny comes later today to meet with me. Get to help my Jenny set up a sound system for our remodeled city pool grand reopening later on and Youth Conference at the end of the week. My life is amazing. And I couldn't be happier. And all the while I am missing my army boy and wishing him home, but proud as any parent could be.

A Little Slow With My Journaling

I haven't been on here since September and of course everything has been changed on me. I am not the most tech savy person, though anything I learn seems to stick, so when they change the way my blog site is set up, well let's just say I need to start learning all over again. Mid September last year I was called as Young Women's President, perhaps that is my excuse for forgetting about my blog? I say perhaps, but in reality I have never been the best at keeping a journal and this blog was my attempt at doing so. I guess like always I had better get down on journaling and return to my writing. Much has happened in the past "many" months. Jason has finished the final touches on our awesome photo booth and now it prints strips or 4x6's in 14 seconds flat. He has gotten a new huge outdoor movie screen and taken on the project of Juab Highschool's sound system in their gym. 24 cabs plus 12 subs. That gym is going to rock. Just recently he hung new gutters on the back of our house. No more washed out flower beds! Thanks sweetie. I tell you every day I thank Heavenly Father for that man. I am by far the luckiest women alive and I wish I could give all of you just a little taste of the heaven that I live with married to him. Everyone should be so lucky! Luke has graduated from Highschool though he will still walk with his class in May. He is working full time at Mickelson's in Nephi and oh, yeah, he will be going to boot camp in June. I am so proud of that boy. Never thought that he would grow up and now that he has I am so excited about the awesome man that he is becoming. Jason and I will be going on a trip with Luke to California the week before he leaves for his send off. Bitter sweet. Jenny is still my beautiful little hairdresser. Almost done with her freshman year and still shining bright. She's got the cutest group of friends and we couldn't be more impressed with her. Right now she is off doing her FFA stuff in Logan and I know she is having fun, (and still behaving without Mom and Dad around). When did she get old enough to go on three day school trips? Nan. Sweet, funny, little Nan. What can I say about her? Almost done with her seventh grade year and then she gets to rule the school. She's starting to look more like a young woman than a little girl and I know her dad is not thrilled about that. She's been babysitting like crazy and making a good little income off of it. She's my little mommy and assistant cook. Suzy started wearing mascara this year and sharing a bedroom with her little sister. I hear more complaining, (actually fighting) out of their room than I would like but I hold on to the hope that someday they will be friends. Suzy looks more and more like me the older she gets. Stephanie is becoming our little math wiz and has become a little less quiet. A new girl moved in just through the block and now she has two little girls within two houses away to play with. I think she lives over at Madison's almost as much as here. Sam is almost done with kindergarten and then on to all day school. I think I will take every moment I can this summer to squeeze and love him. When did he get so big? Still our serious little guy and our whistler. I think he might drive us completely bonkers with his whistling and humming, but afterall he does look exactly like his great grandpa Sudweeks and Grandpa Sudweeks was a hummer. Funny how that passes through the genes. Me, well I have been busy with Young Women's and home improvement projects. On Wednesdays I watch our little neighbor girl Dallas and I could just eat her up she is so cute. Rio her brother comes home with Sam after Kindergarten and they are becoming the best of friends. I couldn't ask for a better playmate for Sam. I just finished writing another novel, not the second in the series that I have on amazon, but a fantasy novel which is a little out of my comfort zone but was so much fun to write. Now I am down to the editing which is not so much my favorite. Hopefully the publishing world likes it. I just cleaned out my yard yesterday and got my garden ready for planting. All that black dirt is just calling to May to be planted. I visited my Grandma a week and a half ago in Arizona and had the best time with her, my mom, and my Aunt Diane. Haven't seen my grandma in about ten years. I am so grateful for the new memories that we made. Now I am off to house work and getting Luke to work and picking up a kindergartener and then piano for two girls, dinner, and then Young Womens, and last but not least hanging more speakers in the gym. Good day ahead. Always grateful for the amazing days that Heavenly Father gives to me.

One of those days...

“Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee.” Ever have one of those days? I don’t know what has started it. Maybe the moment I took to read my scriptures first thing instead of putting them off until later when the day is half way through, or maybe it’s the gorgeous weather or beautiful music drifting in from the other room, but today is one of those days and I don’t want it to end. “How great Thou art, how great Thou art.”

Adventures in Horney Toads

Suzy, my 10 and ½ year old, (cannot forget the ½), found a Horney Toad on the walk home from church on Sunday. She was thrilled because this week, today in fact, is the pet parade at school and all we have around this house is some fish. It has been quite a fantastic thing watching her take care of this toad. Poor thing lives in a little quart jar but it is the most decked out quart jar the world has ever seen. She changes the grass almost daily. She arranges the rocks and twigs to perfection. She catches flies and makes sure there is water in the pop top lid. And all the toad ever does is stare back at her, his eyes half shut and lazy most of the time.

At lunch today I will take the toad to her and she will be so proud showing it off and I have to admit the little creature as boring as he is, is mesmerizing to watch. Saturday we are going up the canyon with Suzy’s Aunt and Uncle and cousins and she will let the little creature go. I wonder if he will even think back at his time in the quart jar. Probably not, but if he does I hope he realizes the care that one little girl took of him. Left to another child, a boy perhaps, and I wonder if he would have lived to see Saturday come and his freedom.

It’s amazing to me how something so little can bring so much joy. Suzy taking care of her toad, me watching her. The whole family in one way or another has been fascinated and none of it has cost us a penny, well maybe a quart jar. How often do we look around the corner waiting for the something that will make us happy? How many of us search for that next trip or next dollar that will buy us happiness and not even realize that it’s sitting in a little quart jar on the little old fashioned sewing machine in the front room or in the eyes of the little girl that is taking care of it.

Adleviese

From the other room I hear “Adleviese” stringing out over the speakers. My youngest, Sam, has just woken up and I hear him in return say, “Blah.” I guess he doesn’t appreciate the beauty that his eight year old sister finds in the movie “Sound of Music,” but I do. Do you ever have one of those days when your life feels like a musical? When all you want to do is sing at the top of your lungs and spin in circles to the wind?

Jason started his first day of work at the Utah campus of the University that he works at and I want to sing. If you had told me a year and a half ago that such a blessing would come to our family I would have probably believed you, but if you had told me a month ago, even six months ago, that this gift would come to us I don’t know if I would have.

Sometimes I sit back and wonder just how much thought Heavenly Father has to put into every detail. Over a decade and a half went into the planning for the future that now stands before our family. That planning didn’t come on our part; in fact we knew nothing of it. Down to the tiniest detail, Heavenly Father took his time setting so many small, what would appear to be insignificant, little things into motion so that today we could be so blessed and led to the path we are on. And we are not alone.

My brother Brad just got an amazing job that perhaps only a year ago he would never have thought about applying for, but yet fits him so well. As we talked about what led him to it, we were both amazed at the minuscule things that led up to it.

How many billions of lives does God take into hand and through about a zillion minuscule things leads to the path that can bless and teach them the most? I am in awe at his detail and at the time and considerations he has taken for all of us. When I think of the many moments that we could have changed things and gone about differently than he had planned, I shudder. Thankfully we didn’t change things, and maybe perhaps the few times we did, he was able to lead us back on course. I also shudder to think of the times that maybe I don’t realize that I steered from the course that he so painfully set into place, and missed out on the blessings, on the learning experiences that he had planned for me.

For today, I am a little more grateful, and for today I am completely in awe of the details, the little minuscule details, that Heavenly plans in my behalf. I am grateful for the love that only he can understand the depths of. Today, I want to sing.

Magically Perfect

I sent Jason off once again to Nevada to work. My older two daughters went with him to be deposited in Beaver at a good friend’s house on the way. I was happy, because Jason wouldn’t have to be driving all the way alone, and happy because I know that there will not be many more days of this left for us. Circumstances have come about and an opportunity at work has presented itself so that Jason will be home with us again for good in mid-September. They are transferring him to the South Jordan location of the University to fill a position that is being created and I can’t help but think how grateful I am that our house didn’t sell. How grateful I am that God knows and sees so much more.

Every grudged prayer that ended in “Thy will be done,” I only see as a blessing now. Every time I wanted to say, “no, Lord, please not Thy will but mine,” and I couldn’t, I am so pleased for now. He knows the picture and he knows us, and every time you wonder, “has he forgotten me?” know that he hasn’t. He just knows more, and he knows every in and out of what makes you greater. Every in and out of what leads to something better.

I turned on a movie when Jason left. A different sort of the same story of Beauty and the Beast, and when it ended it left me soaring as a good love story does. You cannot know the people who have said that I should enjoy the time alone, the chance to be and do whoever and whatever I want. But the thing that they don’t, and maybe can’t understand, is that like that fairy tale love in Beauty and the Beast, or Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Predjudice, or any other magical romance, I am not whole without Jason and he is not without me. I take a big long sweet rose smelling breath after a perfect love story and then I wrap my arms around myself and smile because that is my life.

Now I don’t know if that is how other’s marriages are, I know so many who say not, but mine is purely magical. Basic, boring, magically perfect. Not that we don’t ever disagree or even argue, but the way Jason looks at me, pretty much every moment of every second makes me tingle from head to toe. And the way he holds me in his strong arms and makes every ounce of this ordinary woman’s body feel tiny and dainty and soft and beautiful is what is magical. Eighteen years and still my heart aches when he is away.

So as he goes back to Henderson, for gratefully a shortened week this week, I thank God for the wonder that is my marriage. And I thank God for the blessings that are bringing us back together as a family once again.