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!

Here comes the bride

Well if I thought my life was busy before . . .

I am starting a new chapter in the book of life. Kiersten is engaged to Jason.

And I couldn't be happier for them.

I won't lie though. I'm not old enough for this and thought I had a couple of years before embarking on that journey. It's going to be a busy summer with a graduation, wedding, missionary, baptism, and a month of school for me thrown in there. All good things.

They've created a countdown chain.

I'm not even going to go there. It will be here before I know it. The Lord knew this summer would be a crazy one so there must be a really good reason why He decided it was time for me to go back to school and throw all that into the mix.

I am seriously going to need a getaway when all of this is done.

I love my girl and am excited to add Jason to our family. Had they waited three more days, they could have gotten engaged the same day Tyler and I did -- March 8.

Sweet 16

Sixteen years of marriage or sixteen years old? :)

Sixteen years of marriage sure seems like a long time. But as we were celebrating at Red Lobster, an older couple came in and was seated somewhat close to us. The waiter asked them if they were celebrating anything special that day and the lady replied that it was their anniversary.

Their 66th anniversary.

I guess they got us beat by quite a few years.

15 years

Fifteen years ago today Tyler took me to the Logan Zoo and while we were on the little bridge overlooking the little fish, he "fished" for something in his pocket and asked me to marry him. I looked at him incredulously and said, "Are you serious?"

But then I said yes.

And that was in the days before anyone ever took a lot of pictures. I wish we had had a camera that day. The picture below was our first "official" picture of the two of us that I'm sure a roommate snapped one day.

Funny thing is our very first outing together (I wouldn't call it a date) was fishing at Porcupine Reservoir in Cache County.

Since my birthday was the next day, he let me open my present early which was a pair of roller blades. Rollerblading is still one of our favorites dates. We like cruising the Jordan River Parkway and then walking up the hill either to Iceberg or the opposite direction to Tio's Mexican Restaurant to eat and then cruising back to our car. (This particular day we brought Ash and Kiersten along and I rode my bike.)

After the zoo and birthday present, Ty took me out to eat at my first Korean restaurant. That was the first time I'd tasted anything like octopus or kimchi. It was definitely a new experience. I'm still not very fond of either, but bulgogi and japchae have become some of my favorite foods to eat. I'm sure Tyler is quite pleased that I've become very proficient at making them at home. Our kids even have developed a love for Korean food.

14 Years

Oh man, I can't believe how young we looked. We were young. Where does the time go. You never know what 14 years will bring. Lots of happiness and joy. Much pain and sadness. But most of all 5 wonderfully good children whom I wouldn't trade for anything.

Due to a Sunday anniversary we celebrated at home with our own ribeye steaks, baked potatoes, rolls, veggies. Have I mentioned that Ty cooks a fabulous steak. Oh, it was yummy. Afterwards, to work off dinner, we went for a walk in the hills above our house and watched a hot air balloon float overhead while getting eatin' alive by the gnats (I felt like a dog with fleas). I don't know that I've ever seen a hot air balloon here in the Tooele valley, and it was kind of fun to watch.