So I haven't blogged for awhile - I don't know - just got out of the habit and fell into the pit of Danny, Carly, Cassie, Katie and Julie (don't know if we included Michelle, Jon and Dad). Some have written some and others none. Jamie has been the only consistent one.
I makes me think of the Old Testament when you'd get to the parts and So-and-So begat So-and-So, who begat So-and-So.... It's like catching up. Haha
I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to go from here.
So grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives so much lately. So grateful for the gospel and His blessings.
So happy Michelle and Danny's baby is doing well. Grateful that we could fast as a family and have a part in that blessing. With that, always grateful for George and how cute and wonderful he is! A week doesn't go by that someone doesn't say something about him (and he doesn't even live here and I'm not even social).
Happy that Julie is doing well and does well with me gone. It makes me sad sometimes that she doesn't seem to need me. Every weekend she has friends that she is hanging out with. It allows me to go and help Cassie with her kidney stone or go this past week when Carly graduated. AND with that, grateful that Dad supports me so I can do those things and helps out (or Danny and Michelle).
Carly is the first college grad. It was so intense and stressful her last week of school and the competition in Boise. She can handle stress, but when hours after her first thoughts were something about the competition - she just couldn't get her mind to stop.
Somehow we got through graduation and opened Katie's call - Piura, Peru. Still wake up and have to say that to myself. It seems unreal, but so happy for that little tender mercy that will connect her and Carly. (In a way, a lot of Louisiana and Houston were a like too). I really didn't think Katie would wait a week to open her call - she did it!!! A mission in hard, but Katie will be a great missionary.
Cassie is getting through this semester. I know there were many times when she thought it wasn't possible, but she's got to feel proud of all the things she's accomplished and survived. Now the question will be, "Can she allow herself to slow down?"
So I'm in the process of planning the time left with Katie. I'm trying to consider everyone's demands and schedules. I wish life was more simple, but I'm good at trying to fit in as much as we can. I realize that life is changing and feel a little torn with my family (those not married) and those that are married and moving on with their family. I know things won't always seem fair or the way we would want them to be. (If everyone would just commit to live in the same place, but everyone needs to follow where the Lord wants them). This next Christmas Jon and Jamie will be in Utah (?) and Danny and Michelle will be in GA (?). Carly's program is 16 months, pretty much straight through, Cassie won't want to be home...and I still have Julie home. Next summer - it will probably be Danny and Michelle and Julie. I don't know how everything will work out, but please know that even if someone's not happy with how things work out, I love you and wish things could be different. I wish everyone could go to Peru, but I'm more happy that we have George. I am happy that Michelle is pregnant and doing well. I am proud of the decisions they have made to start their families and their families are important.
And I'll end with just a few thoughts that I had written just before Easter.
I haven't written in a couple weeks. An unexpected trip to Utah. Thinking about the Last Week of the Savior's life. Oddly the part that stood out to me this year was Peter. When the Apostles and the Savior are all together and the Savior tells them that one will betray him. and Peter announces that he is ready to follow Jesus anywhere, even to death. The Savior says, "Really??? Cause before this night is over you will deny me, not one, not two, but three times". A couple times the next couple days I realized that I too, was denying Christ. One time was when a friend who is Christian, but married a Jewish man told me his parents were coming for Passover from Jerusalem. I was more concerned with respecting and listening to her. I did take time to visit with a Muslim man, tell him I was Mormon and made a new friend at the same time. But I should do more. Oh yeah, most people who know me, know that I am Mormon, they know my values and they know I live my values. But I need to be more active in sharing how the gospel blesses my life, how the atonement works in my life, how the Holy Ghost guides and comforts me.
I am grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives.