Yesterday after dinner we went to the park to hopefully wear out the kids before bed. It is fun to watch even the big girls run around and play together. We brought the dogs along and they chased the kids up the stairs and down the slides. Shad, Ethan and I sat on the bench and ate sunflower seeds. There was the most beautiful sunset on the way home. No photograph could ever measure up to the real thing, but I had to try and capture some of the beauty. Larkin is starting to take great pictures and got this sweet shot of our cat Rudy taking a nap in an empty flower pot. We sure love living here in Paradise

So, Ethan was released from his mission. His flight was scheduled to land at 8:30pm on Tuesday, July 17th but after several delays finally landed around 2am on Wednesday. The kids and I had made signs and posters for his homecoming and even bought balloons. I had arranged for a photographer to come with us and document the joyful reunion. She kept agreeing to come as the time continued to get bumped up. I couldn't ask her to come a 2am, although I am sure she would have if I insisted. There wasn't much time to prepare for his homecoming because we didn't get official news until Monday afternoon. We did our best to set him up space in Logans room, and make his welcome home meaningful. The kids were disappointed that by the time his flight actually was coming in they could no longer come with us to pick him up (I didnt want to deal with sleep deprived kids while being a sleep deprived Mama). I think Ethan only got about an hour of sleep here his first night. He woke up and made us all breakfast and visited with the kids while Shad and I slept until about 7am. He is adjusting back to life outside a mission quickly. We were able to get him in to see Dr. Pepper Murray for his knees and they scheduled him for surgery in two weeks. He has patellofemoral and will have one knee at a time worked on. Recovery has been estimated at 6-7 months for both knees. His presence definitely changes the dynamics around here, but we sure love him and are proud of the service he offered the people of Germany for 15 months.

Missionaries

My two boys left this last year for their missions. Ethan left in April for Berlin, Germany. Braden left right before Christmas for the Washington D.C. south mission. I miss them both terribly but know they are out their doing all that is asked of them. I pray they are doing their best and growing in ways that will benefit them for their futures. Braden seems to be doing well. His letter seem happy, and hopeful and healthy. Ethan seems to be struggling. Sometimes with loneliness but mostly with knee pain. We got a call this last week from the Mission president informing us that they will most likely be sending him home for knee surgery. I worry about his mental health coming home early, but physical pain NOW, trumps mental and spiritual angus LATER I suppose. I am very proud of both my boys. Mission can't be easy! No matter when they come home, I am proud they went, did their best, and increased in testimony while sharing the gospel with others.

Life Moves on...

We moved from Kaysville to Layton. We loved it there. The ward, the house, the neighborhood. We loved it all. Last August we got the impression it was time to move again. Things didnt end up the way we had first envisioned ( learned a lot about agency during this move ), but things ended up better than we could have ever expected. We now live in Paradise, Utah on nearly 3 acres with animals and a bigger house than I could have ever hoped for. We have our two dogs Uzi and Scout. We got 4 kittens to be mousers outside. We have 4 ducks and 14 chicken, 6 sheep, and Chucks old horse Cisco. The yard needs lots of love and care, but that will come with time. We are finishing up the basement and will soon have it done. There will be 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 2 laundry rooms, a 3 car garage, and two kitchens when finished. Over 5300 square feet. Not sure why we were blessed like this, but I am sure we will in the future. In the meantime, we are busy with family life, and country living. Ethan and Braden are on missions. Ethan in Germany, injured his knee but still hanging in there. Braden in Virginia and seems to be growing (and losing weight) and doing well.

Larkin's Birthday Party (January)

Christmas Family Party