Happiness

My Mom visited us for 10 days! We went to two libraries, one bookstore (my Mom loves books!), Goodwill and the Idea Museum. On Friday Declan has a birthday party to go to in the nearby town of Queen Creek so we dropped him off and lived it up on the town! We went to Seven Brothers burgers which is owned by my friend’s cousin and then to Target and Old Navy. It was great spending some one on one time with her! We also saw Mission Impossible 8 with Elizabeth (the second time for me!). Loved it!  

 It’s my Mom and Dad’s 49th Anniversary- can you believe it?! I don’t feel that old to have Parents that have almost been married for 50 years! That is for older people, right? My Dad is up in Heaven, looking down upon us (Hi, Dad!) and I know he is thinking of my Mom and us every day.  The other day the kids at Church were practicing a song for Father’s Day and I teared up thinking of my sweet Dad and how much I really miss him. He’s been gone for almost 3 1/2 yrs. He missed Ethan and Jonah going on missions and coming back and Asher leaving. And a grandson being born. Yet, I know he is still right here with us. I sure love you. Dad! Happy Anniversary to our big little family! 

I want to highlight one of the most amazing women in my life:      She became a convert to the Church as a young adult and was brave enough to join in the face of opposition from her Catholic, Polish family, moving across the country to attend a college (BYU) that she had never heard of before her baptism.    She gave birth to 7 children, all naturally- including twins where she hemorrhaged and almost didn't make it through and one breech birth. She supported her husband when he went back to school to get a Masters in School Counseling, when they moved from one state to another and to live with her in laws in a small cabin in Northern Idaho an hour away from the nearest city and homeschooled her five children, all while being pregnant.      She took care of her husband for ten years while he dealt with chronic lymphonic leukemia only to begin taking almost full time care of his 98 yr old Mother/her Mother in law after he passed away.    ...