My Miracle

 Between class four days a week, basketball schedules, Scotts work, school for the boys, church callings, and everything in between, my schedule has been packed. Somedays feel darn near impossible. Add two birthdays to the mix and I was completely overwhelmed. And to add to it, the Young Women were going to the temple to do Baptisms for the Dead. Feeling overwhelmed and not sure how I was going to fit everything into my limited time, I thought about skipping the temple. 

Ultimately, I decided to go to with the youth to the Temple and prayed that the Lord would stretch my time. The temple ended up being extremely behind and we started an hour late. We spend four hours away from home that night. Four hours that I desperately needed. We got home and I went straight to bed, not knowing how I was going to fit in all the birthday preparations the next day. 

I got up early the next morning and headed to Rexburg for class. I went about my day, went to class, still unsure how the day was going to work itself out. I walked into the last class of the day and saw a different professor at the front of the room. I have had this professor before, so I asked what she was doing. She informed me she was filling in for the day. Class started, we did our work, and then came the miracle...she let us go. A whole HOUR early! Because of the time she let us out, I didn't hit any traffic in Rexburg or Idaho Falls. And in that hour, I was more productive than I would have ever thought possible. God gave me an extra hour and stretched it into three. It was the craziest thing. 

As I drove home that day, I felt so loved by our Heavenly Father. I felt like not only was he aware of me, but cared for me too. It was an intense reality of love that brought me to tears. I served in His home, with my girls, and He blessed me for it. He knew what I needed and He provided. It was something so small, but because it was big to me, it was big to Him. And in the all world, amidst all His creations, He helped me. He gave me my miracle. 

15 Years of Motherhood

 Tayden is fifteen! How? Really, how? He is driving on a permit, super involved with sports and friends,  Teachers Quorum President, working on the weekends, and still has time to hang out with his family. I am proud of how he handles himself and who he is becoming. He is a great kid with a good head on his shoulders. He in constantly making me laugh, which really doesn't work out to well when I'm trying to discipline him. 

I have a special place in my heart for my oldest. He made me a mom and I would do anything for him. Literally, anything. Seeing him happy brings me so much joy. Our time together is dwindling and my heart breaks at the thought of him leaving the house. I have sworn to cherish the last few years with him under our roof. He is a sweet, special boy, and I pray he stays true to himself, because has a bright bright future ahead of him!

Beckett the Teen

Beckett turned 13 last week! As usual, in my mind, he's been that old for months. He is officially taller than me, still loves to give me hugs, is hilarious and the best to hang out with it. He is a great student and works hard to get straight A's. (Though it could have something to do with the $50 Scott gives them if they get all A's) Beckett is the best kid and I am so proud to call him mine. 

His actual birthday was rough. Maybe one of the hardest parenting moments of my life. He had a basketball game on his birthday. It was his favorite game of the year, Shelley. He loves playing my cousins son, Mackoy, and looks forward to this face off all year. And this year, he didn't get to play. Not even a single second. He sat on the bench the whole entire game. It was heartbreaking. I could feel his frustration growing the more the game progressed. Watching him sit was gut wrenching. There are two kids that play his position and are absolutely dedicated to the game and played the whole game. There were a handful of kids that sat the whole time. It was rough. 

Immediately after he came out of the locker room, he went straight to the car. I sat in the parking lot with him for 30 minutes while he cried and felt all the feelings. I felt them all with him and cried as I tried to comfort him. Watching him hurt so intensely was a pain that my heart had not experienced before. I was keenly aware that the advice I was giving was crucial in this moment and something he would probably remember forever. 

We talked for 30 minutes about how that game was in no way a reflection on him. It was poor coaching. We talked about how basketball is only a portion of his life and about the things that really matter, like who he is as a person. I shared my high school volleyball experience with him, which included a lot of bench sitting as well. We spoke about life and facing hard things. I told him that watching him sit on that bench was one of my proudest moments. Because sitting is way harder than playing and he sat through it. I wish I could have taken it away and carried all that pain, but it was something he had to do for himself. Eventually his tears dried and he was feeling better about life. We hugged and he thanked me for helping him feel better. In that moment, I felt a tiny glimpse of how Heavenly Father must feel for us. 

We went home and celebrated his birthday. We sang and ate cake and had a great time. We ended the night birthday shopping together, just me and him. I love hanging out with Beckett! He got a new outfit, but was especially excited when he found a pair of shoes for $2.99! They didn't fit him, but were Taydens size. He loves shoes and loves finding a deal, so it was just the boost he needed! 

Beckett is the apple of my eye. We have a sweet, special, relationship and I pray it never changes. I can't wait to see what he does in life. Because its going to be big. I can just feel it! 

 

Paycheck Number One

Tayden got his first real job as a basketball referee for the City of Iona. He got his first paycheck the other day and we had to document it. It was $233 and he could not have been happier!

 

 

Dare Graduation

Cache graduated the DARE program. Due to blizzards and snow days, the school had to reschedule it three different times. They ended up doing it a Monday morning, so I skipped a class so I could attend. It ran longer than I anticipated it would and I had to leave early to get to my next class, so this was the only picture I took. Cache loved DARE this year and learning about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. 

 

Temple Cleaning

Scott and I had the opportunity to clean the temple last week. It was so neat! We were in charge of the endowment rooms and it was so special to spend quiet time, looking around and cleaning in the peaceful rooms. We spent time in the Celestial Room and just breathed in the peace the Temple offers. I can't wait to do it again. 

 

Ice Fishing

Over Christmas Break, Tayden and Scott went ice fishing twice with Dave and Matt. Once to Chesterfield and once to our property in Ashton. Taydens friend, River, went with them on that trip. It was a dream come true for my fish-loving boy. I love that he shares his passion with Dave and Matt. It's such a fun connection for them to share! 

 

Deacon Director

 As Church started, the new Deacons came in to learn the routes to pass the sacrament. I looked up to watch Beckett teaching everyone where to go and my heart soared with pride. I had to snap a picture! 

Cache the Deacon

Today was such a special day. Scott ordained Cache to the office of a deacon. Cache has been waiting to pass the sacrament for months, so today could not have come soon enough. I can't believe I have three boys that hold the Aaronic Priesthood. It's an amazing privilege. I hope that Scott and I can raise them so they understand the importance of the Priesthood and their roles within our ward. I am so proud of them and so excited to watch Cache as he learns and grows.

 

Basketball Buddies

Basketball at Hillcrest High School is a community/social event. So when Tayden had a game the other night, we stayed to watch the JV game. Cache didn't have any friends at the particular game, so you can imagine how happy I was to see him hanging out with Beckett and his friends. Beckett isn't always the most patient with Cache, so watching them hang out was awesome! 

 

Star Light Skating

Kyle got rollerblades for Christmas and has been asking to go skating ever since. I took him and Cache and we had the best time. Cache was new to skating, but once he got the hang of it, he loved it. I even put some blades on and went on the floor with them. We skated and laughed the night away. Even though, initially, I didn't want to go, I'm glad we got to spend the evening together. 

 

Dogs Tug

Our dogs love to play tug of war. I'm glad they have each other.