Hiatus

The title says hiatus but I'm not sure you can call the last two weeks a hiatus. Just a hiatus from the overwhelmingly crazy stuff. That science principle of entropy has reared its ugly head: When you don't put any work into your yard, it is naturally going to go to weeks. And I don't care. So I guess you could say I'm on hiatus from my yard duties. I may take that up again some day.

Two weeks ago we were hosting an open house.

Annette and I sighed a huge breath of relief when the night was over. We did it!

That following Monday I dropped Ash off at Beehive camp while we hosted family for a family reunion that week.

It was a week of skating, eating, playing at the park, hiking.

My friend and former sister-in-law even snuck away one night for a concert in the mountains under the stars. Just what my soul needed. A little ABBA with the Utah Symphony. (We even snuck away again this last week with our daughters to the opening night of Mamma Mia 2. My little joke was I got to see Mia [my niece] with her Mamma.)

Our family flew home the same day I sent my boys to scout camp for the week giving me my first real chance to take a breather. I must make a disclaimer here. Our family that comes to stay are the easiest house guests ever. They don't require much entertaining. They bring their own food since they are vegan. And they leave us with gifts! We were sad to see them go but I know after 10 days of being here they were ready for their own beds.

I FINALLY found myself in my classroom surveying the work I had a head of me. I won't lie. I was very overwhelmed and spent several hours just looking through stuff and wondering where to start. I finally told Ash I needed to leave there feeling like I had accomplished something. I noticed many plastic drawers labeled stickers and thought "I certainly don't need all these stickers in so many bins." I commissioned Ash and Alex to combine them all into one large tub.

And some of them didn't quite make it there.

I also found a surprise guest.

Hallelujah for a good janitor who cleaned him up for me. After three days of being there I'm feeling a little more on top of things. I even spent a good chunk of this weekend making me a yearlong curriculum guide to keep me on pace with everything. Doesn't that look so pretty!

There is still so much to do but I know the more I accomplish now, the more my year will run more smoothly.

Mission call

Did I leave you  hanging?

Orlando Florida!

He was pretty excited. Especially to be going somewhere warm. Here's a link to the video we recorded. His first question to me was "Do you think I can bring my tennis racket?"

Um . . . 

No.

Scott, Kaleb, Erik, Matt

Josiah, Erik

But maybe he might find some people who like to play tennis and who might be interested in learning more about Jesus Christ. I'm sure he could find a way to make it work to his advantage.

Erik's home teaching companion stopped by to congratulate him. James McConnell has been instrumental in getting that kid to where he is today. And another is our awesome bishop who is sadly getting released next Sunday.

James McConnell, Erik

Bishop Steinagel in the suit

My heart was extremely full last week as I bore testimony in our ward to the power that comes from serving faithfully in the temple and upholding those covenants I made with God many, many years ago. There is tremendous priesthood power with great saving promises to those who consecrate their life to a God who loves us all beyond comprehension.

The other great truth I bore witness to was the goodness of our ward in helping me raise children to know a Father in Heaven who loves them. I knew many years ago when nothing seemed to work out with buying a lot in Stansbury that Lake Point was where our family needed to be. The way things fell into place was a sure witness of that fact. My family has been the recipients of so many good things. We have been blessed immeasurably by the goodness of others, by their sacrifice of time and resources and have been so loved and cared for. I can't help but want to do the same and pay it forward to others.

A beautiful chaos

I don't know how else to describe this month of June other than it's been a beautiful chaos. I knew when I started classes in January that June would be a bit busier than usual. Originally I was supposed to take four week-long classes commuting to Weber State every day (a 50 minute drive).

Then we threw in a wedding.

And moving a daughter into her married apartment.

And getting wedding invitations mailed out.

And a son receiving the Melchezedek priesthood

and patiently waiting for mission call (that we thought we'd be opening at the wedding breakfast but instead came home to find it in the mail).

And a birthday for an 8-year-old boy

that included a birthday party because that's been the tradition when the kids turn 8

and learning to ride a bike.

And a first cub scout camp.

And an end-of-season tennis banquet honoring the seniors.

And a sealing for a sister.

And several own endowment sessions at the temple

a week a part.

And a 21st wedding anniversary.

And inheriting a van full of 2nd grade stuff that really just needs most of it thrown away.

And wisdom teeth pulled for another child.

And a braces consultation for yet another.

Add to all of that trying to keep a yard looking immaculate for a wedding open house which entails weeding and pruning and planting and watering.

And try to get some homework done in there somewhere like

Creating a math lesson plan.

Creating a grammar lesson plan.

Integrating art into those lesson plans.

Student interviews.

Reflective journal.

A literacy project (labeling and leveling all my classroom books).

A math final.

And reading . . . lots of it.

Oh and don't forget all the other "mom" stuff like laundry and bills and grocery shopping and cleaning and meals. Actually Ash has stepped up nicely to take care of what she can with making dinner and keeping on top of laundry.

The Lord has given me many tender mercies throughout this month. One class canceled. Another had very little homework. The other two classes allowed me to stay in Tooele rather than commute to Weber County every day. Classes were only scheduled through Thursday rather than Friday. Some classes were online so I finished assignments as my own pace. The weather has been very temperate with no high temperatures helping me keep plants alive and green.

The tender mercy of having two children endowed in a temple, receiving some of God's greatest blessings for faithful obedience, made my heart extremely full the day Erik went to the temple. Kiersten was able to be there and Ash tagged along to do baptisms. I testify the priesthood blessings of the temple are very real. God does watch over his children. Everything we do in the temple is meant to increase our faith in Jesus Christ and where we go to feel God's love he has for his children. Four temples in three weeks!