Homecoming and Mark setting apart

Aliza had the entire sacrament meeting to speak for her homecoming. She did a great job and expounded many great truths of the gospel. She is a gifted speaker. Her many years of practice and work shows in her ability to testify and teach. 

After church we posed for a picture getting that many people to not be silly in the picture. I am so thankful for the growth, health, and strength of each of these. It is amazing to me that this is our family.  That is the heart and reason of the gospel message these missionaries share. You are a child of God, you are part of an eternal family, and you can create a family of your own to nurture you and them throughout eternity.  

Probably one of the best parts of the weekend were just being together. We had a late night date of ice cream before everyone was pushed to bed so we could be on time Sunday. 

 Mark was also sustained and then ordained to be an elder in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. I was thankful this worked out so we could have these great men and others be part of that experience. There is power in generations. 

The week before I had taught and a sister shared how I taught thing she had not studied. She also shared how she was raised to care about how we present ourselves at church. Noting that she shined shoes for the men who were attending in her family. I knew my guys shoes were worn and needed some attention. I remembered to buy the necessary products and spent time Saturday night while visiting with the same men who's feet fill these shoes shining and repairing the damage of years of use. 

I appreciate the reminders of past habits from older ward members. It is good to be more intentional and to take some time looking better. That was a surprising compliment Aliza paid of growing up knowing there was town dressing and work dress. That she worked with companions to make these adjustments to being more presentable as they went out to work as missionaries and share the gospel message. 

After church we had a small family gathering on our shady lawn. This is the best time of year to have gatherings as we have abundant shade the bugs are minimal and it is just pleasant to be outside visiting. We appreciate the support and love of our family members. 

And just like that after a quick 5 days she filled Anna's car with her stuff and they headed to Wyoming. 

It was bittersweet to see her go. But what was expected. We are thankful for the time together and grateful the older kids have courage and determination to chart their own courses and live their lives. They are independent and capable. They are doing good things, learning lessons of life, and growing their testimonies and experience. This brings great joy to our hearts. And there is need for them to move on so the younger kids can have space and responsibility to also grow. It's good to be together and its necessary to be apart. We are blessed.  

Aliza homecoming

We were so excited to welcome Aliza home. Millie headed up making posters. The kids had a great time this is mostly to pass time. We took the posters to the airport but were more excited to just give her a hug and see her in person. 

The kids went to the temple before the airport pick-up. I had been getting texts saying she would be later than expected. Family also came to help us welcome her home. We appreciate their support. 

She looked so good! It is always such a relief to have them home. 

Andrea and Alia joined in. Andrea not sure but Alia so excited to have her special sister Aliza home again.  Aliza was surprised that Livy had stretched out to be almost her height. 

Visiting together. We gathered her bags and headed to the cars. We enjoyed the grand buffet at golden corral where everyone ate and ate and then ate some more. There was plenty of visiting and sharing. We then headed tot he stake presidents house and she was released after sharing things learned on her mission and her testimony one last time. After a very long day of traveling and family it was time to head home.

I slept so good that night surely some of the emotions of 18 months apart were put to rest. We enjoyed our short week together going to the temple and to the dentist.

 

An update

 Life is going by in a blur. This blog has not allowed me to upload the multitude of photos I have diligently been taking as one event after another marks the month of May and now June. I believe a blog is boring without photos so I haven’t written. 

I have consulted Google and AI none of those suggestions have solved the problem. 

Mark graduated, Addie won her respective events at the district level, then competed at state. We traveled to Detroit then Hillsdale college with Mark. The younger kids went roller skating and earned many end of year awards. Aliza came home from her mission. We reunited as a family for a quick full weekend. It was grand to see my children interact in love and smiles, of course there were fights and tears among the younger but overall it is deeply settling to be together en masse. Aliza reported in her trademark style of deep information coupled with a powerful voice and clear testimony she did well. We ate tacos after church and enjoyed time in the shade. We remain thankful for these weed like trees and the coolness they provide. Mark also got the priesthood today. We were thankful that both events happened on the same day. 

We continue to be blessed by strong family support and love. Many many choices made decades ago continue to bear good fruit. We are so thankful for those that set the course and showed the way. We are thankful for the plan of God teaching the role and importance of family relationships. We are truly blessed.

More kids and plants

With the end of school is lots of final testing. Welding was no exception Reed and Mark both passed their bend test and gained a certification or two in the process. 

Mark's welds. 

We dove into spring tractor work. Food can be a distraction so these kiddos enjoyed about half an hour of eating while we disced and disced. 

Then stuff broke and we parked. We went home to make cookies for the kids coming home from school. Everyone is happier with cookies after school. So much for health concious we are surviving and trying to keep the peace these days. 

A quick trip to town for basic supplies and the kids demanded a bathroom stop. This picture was so noisy. These two were delighted by the blowing air and laughing and giggling so loudly. The bathroom was so echoey. An older lady came in accusing them of a rucous. Maybe they were but the sheer joy at blowing air was something hard to stop. 

Echinacea plants looking good. Gotta make some time to transplant them this week. These are perennial so hopefully we will enjoy them for years to come. 

Little lavendar plants. I was surprised how pungent they are even this young. Also a thing to plant this week. 

And a sweet friend sent flowers as a thank you. The girls loved posing with them. 

 There's lots of stress and hard right now working to tame the elements, complete what has to be done for school commitments and keeping everyone fed and in moderately clean clothes. Little bright spots like the flowers and plants are important to remember when it feels too much like everything is a disaster. The best part of blogging is the counting blessings and seeing not fake pictures of real goodness that happened for short moments. We are blessed even when life is heavy and takes more than I may have to give. So I remembered a few lessons bought some bags of chips will make more cookies and try to roll patiently with the days instead of being crushed by the too long to-do list. 

We are obviously surviving well. Life is good. 

Missionariies

Missionaries spent a day helping install smoke alarms in Des Moines for people who had signed up for the service. This was a unique and engaging project. Aliza and companion shown with mission president and his wife. 

She posted this picture today. Iowa is again greening up to the beautiful garden like place it can be. No sprinklers just nature makes that lush green.

John had Zone conference car checks. HE looks good!

There are so many pictures from these conferences I'm always excited to spot my missionaries. 

Aliza had a mission leadership conference she has enjoyed this experience and learned a lot about fellow missionaries serving as a Sister Training Leader. 

A treat for end of mission missionaries is a tour of historic Nauvoo and Carthage Jail. Pictured to her left is her dear friend Adele Moulton. They went to the mission together and have served around each other but never together. This lady has been a touchstone of life pre- mission. What a tender blessing to have a trusted friend also sharing the mission experience. 

They even got a wagon ride. 

The most awaited event a trip to the temple. The number one thing Aliza has missed is going to the temple as often as she likes. She was able to also take her companion to the temple as a spiritual recharge. Aliza is a devout temple attendee. 

I was lukewarm to my daughters wanting to serve missions. I told them again and again you don't have to do this, but they were insistent and served faithfully full time missions. I can say their faith has grown their confidence and ability to live consecrated lives has deepened. They strengthen my testimony and experience often. I would say now that their missions bless not only those they serve but their life forever after. It is good for each of us to grow more independent, it is good for us to stretch our ability to stay connected, and it is good to trust the Lord. I'm thankful for the faith of my children. We are blessed. 
 

Kids and plants

My growing experiment is still going. These plants desperately need to be in soil thankfully we have water again for the outside growing. The ground is rototilled, we are in line behind planting corn. We have all enjoyed watching these grow, to date three have small yellow blossoms. 

Lia discovered cup stacking. She enjoyed this success. 

Bruce as the older brother had his own design that was equally impressive. 

We went to a birthday party and got this sweet picture together. Andrea really likes to be included and allowed to come and do whatever the rest of us are doing. 

These girls adore time spent farming with their dad. They got ready to go take care of cows in the same look Reed and the boys wear. Hoodie over the ears with hat on top. 

These flowers were a gift from a neighbor, the bloomed this year. I was surprised and delighted to see these sweet little blooms. 

I have three cilantro plants coming along. I love cilantro it seems difficult to grow meaning it didn't germinate very well, but I'm happy with whatever decided to live. 

Alia is getting more geometric with her building designs. These magnets have been a best buy they are  a most played with toy. I love how easy they are to pick up because they stick together. 

 The ability to just be kids and create is a gift and blessing. As I attended a senior gratitude night (an hour late because my senior is really struggling with time management- not that he isn't overbooked and often not present for the scheduling.) I was struck by how many parents are graduating as well. They are done with these functions and moving on. We have a very long way to go. Some rejoice, some are very sad. I remember some sharing pregnancy with me. It's interesting how life turns challenges into blessings and how we each have very uniqure callings and paths to take. 

We live in a community of working people, people who spend their lives in labor. We talked today about caring for the poor and that poor isn't just financial but also in spirit in mental needs in friendship. I'm thankful for the many associations I have made through my years of adult life. For these people who are examples of goodness, positive attitudes, and endurance. They always tell me oh I can't imagine how you do all you do... People don't see my day to day of resting and gathering strength and resolve to keep gong to do more of the same. They don't see me prioritize things that need to be done with what maybe could be done. We are barebones necessity living again and it's do what is most important and all else is just not happening.

 I have been so impressed these last two weekends of the abilities of the younger group of kids. They are capable and ready to do more than I imagined. Greg is good at enabling and empowering kids to do the next thing. He teaches and guides and then turns over the reigns. This is critical to all we plan to do each year. I'm thankful for his vision and ability guiding our kids to grow and gain confidence. Millie and Livy worked as a team to plant corn both remembering different parts of the process and together monitoring the myriad of systems in the tractor and machinery. A great solution to a need with two very inexperienced but able young ladies. Life is good.