This week was not stunning, except for our yard. It was pretty regular, and I didn't get amazing pictures. Alan worked on July 4th. The kids and I did VillageFest and when Alan got home we had hot dogs and potato salad in the back yard. We watched Indpendence Day (for the first time! It came out in 1996.). And we went on a nighttime bike ride checking out who was doing fireworks, which is a pretty fun new tradition.
Here is a quick rundown on what everyone's doing:
Eve: she is deeply into reading this summer! With as many ants as this girl has in her pants, I didn't know if this would ever happen. She especially enjoys a great light romance. Sounds like some other twins I know at this age. ;) Eve quit swim team a week early, bought a record player and two records at the thrift store, and LOVES Just Dance! We watched Work It, a dance movie on Netflix together. I keep thinking how perfect she is for almost 13.
Griffin: will talk your ears off if you let him. Please let him! He has so much to say about movies, guns, politics, sports, books, and a whole host of other things. He is getting invested in Superman and can't wait for the new one to come out at the end of this week. His migraines have been ramping up, which is a bummer.
Wyatt: back in Utah after a great 6 weeks in Pittsburgh doing math research. I love seeing his posts on Instagram showing the fun things that caught his eye while he was there: a lot of art and in situ jokes in the forms of signs, plus a monkey.
Willa: took portraits of Frank this week! Ah! They are marvelous! She is so tired of her job and had an interview for another one that didn't work out. But they left her with hope. She sounds amazing, even through her tough things.
Eliza: had a week with three kids and a husband back at work. I think she is doing it just right! Barry is growing and is the cutest little guy. Frank is getting a few skills at swimming lessons and is still just so fun and funny in addition to being rough. Juliet swims for real now! The lessons have paid off. I love this age of little girl, and it's especially great on Juliet. I didn't get an update on Evan--oh, he was offered a different position (I think at the same company) and he is toying with the idea but not sure. Eliza is such a good mom and is healing from her c-section slowly, wishing it were faster.
Mariah: doing everything with style, of course! She is teaching High Fitness a couple of times a week and being such a great mom. Misty's curls are getting a bit longer, and she is always up to visit with people and hear stories. Buddy is such a great kid. Physically and intellectually precocious, he seems a couple of years older than the 4 and a half he actually is. Mac won the Brundage marathon in the rain with a PR. The Kellers are almost all in town to help celebrate that and the 4th of July.
I am trying to focus long enough to get things on my calendar. I went to the temple this week for a boost and found hugs, peace and so much love. We are getting ready to host an exchange student from Spain for the month of August, and getting ready for a trip out west to see the Kellers and our Wimmer family reunion. I got to go to stake council WITH MY HUSBAND! This is the first time in our 34 years together that we have gotten to serve in callings together. I love hanging out with Griffin and Eve, hearing from my kids and grandkids, and trying to figure out what is the most important next thing to do. Mostly summer feels like being in the middle of a tiny tornado to me.
Alan still just keeps getting better. He is still trying to figure out his calling, but it will come. He is a diligent learner. He loves biking and basketball and Latin Party Anthems and his family and the gospel. He had two bikes in and out of the shop this week. It's fun to see the bike store people step up and help him because they know him and think his bikes are awesome.
Church in Kansas City First Ward is a consistent blessing. We had many people bear testimony of that today. People who grew up in the ward, people who came back after many years, and people who were recently baptized all bore witness that they came to feel God's love there. Brother David Graham, retired USAF helicopter pilot wearing a flag tie, bore testimony that the freedoms we enjoy in our country are there because the Lord wanted a land of freedom so He could restore Christ's gospel to draw all people back to Him.
Your consistent weekly words are beautiful. When reading history, I am most interested in what life was like day-to-day. Most often, the "normal" seems to not be worth writing about. Wrong. It is the most interesting but the most taken for granted.
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ReplyDeleteI often think you're doing things just right. A child of any age once their mother to be devoted and like them. You're doing that for your children, and now your grandchildren! That is a great job.
Congratulations on having a calling with your husband. Finally. Isn't it grand? I hope Eliza healing process after the C-section goes easily. Maria impresses me how she gets her own. Needs to take care of at everybody else's. It's a gift. Will is good at everything she tries and I'm glad she has photography, doing something fun even when the job gets a little tedious. is it funny that I enjoy Wyatt's Instagram post, and often think of visiting the closet uncle Boyd kept and showed people with great relish. I hope Griffin shorts and his head come into alignment with his ideas. Tell him I'm sorry about the headaches, and I would hug him if he would let me. I read a couple of the same books as Eve in April when I visited. She's doing so well with her ever elongating body. It's a common thing to live through, but she has so much style.
Griff's dissatisfaction with his outfit is all in his stance! What a funny guy he is. I thought the shirt and jorts looked great! I so love your reports on your people and your description of summer as living in a tiny tornado was just perfect!
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