Fall Sports 2025

 Fall is a busy time of year. Between cross country, football, and soccer: sporting events were a big piece of our evenings and weekends. I love watching my kids play sports. With five kids, it’s a treat to be able to focus on one child as they do an activity they love.

Johnny did Freshman Football. he loved it and I loved going to his games. He made a lot friends and worked hard through hot summer practices. I was so proud of him!

Cate ran XC again! She did great despite an injury toward the end of the season. She works so hard and is a top runner on her team, and a leader! She got the Most inspirational award for Varsity. She’s just a positive teammate and leader to have around!

William ran cross country for his middle school. His best time was 11:59 for a 3k. He was also a top runner for his school, he had so much fun. William received the Bulldog Award and MVP. 

He also played soccer, we love the team he is on!

Matthew played soccer with the local rec league and loved being on a team with all his friends! 

Another big sporting events for Matthew this fall was the jog a thon at his school. He trains for it and loves competing with all of his friends seeing how many laps they can get in during the 30 minutes run. I always love going to this event!

And Emma was the cheerleader through it all. And she napped like a pro every afternoon!

I really do think I will miss the season of life, even though there are some days that it’s overwhelming juggling at all!  I’m grateful there’s always pockets of time that we’re all at home together. Whether it’s having dinner at home altogether, even if it’s 7:30 cat night, or playing a quick game of Cover your Assets, or shooting hoops. As much as I love the run around, it makes the times of rest that much sweeter, for sure.

First Day of School 2025

  Hooray for the start of another school year. A lot of changes over here. Johnny starting high school, William starting middle school, Matthew being the lone elementary kid, Cate driving herself and Johnny...just feels significant. Good things are coming this year. I know it! 

Here's some pictures in no particular order!

Caity in her Link Crew shirt (Leadership students selected to help with Freshmen orientation), Johnny, William and Matthew

William and Cate on Caity's first official day of school as an 11th grader.

Caity and Johnny...feels like just yesterday I was photographing them together on Johnny's first day of kindergarten!

William sitting with Jude and Luke at middle school orientation.

Luke, Grady, Beau- officially 6th graders!

Jackson, Teddy, Harrison, Kona, and Matthew waiting to enter the school for their first day.

William the 6th grader

Emma with her brothers on her first day of being the lone child at home with Mom.

Johnny the High School Freshman!

Awww, they are sweet kids. I am going to miss having them with me throughout the day, but I am so excited for the experiences that await them!

Back To School Celebration 2025: RECEIVE HIM!

It was a hectic last week of Summer and truly a miracle we were able to gather Sunday and launch this school year and family theme. 

The table was decorated, the punch was made, we had our four course meal and discussed our highlights of the summer, what we were looking forward to this school year, and what we were most nervous about. 

This year's family theme was "Receive Him!" Meaning: receive Jesus Christ. 

Since August is Peach season in Oregon. We compared God’s gift of His son to a Peach Tree. We talked about how we don't grow a peach tree simply for its shade, but we excitedly pick the fruit, and partake of it! We make pies or milkshakes, eat them sliced with cereal or cottage cheese, any way we can think of! Similarly, as wonderful as it is to know we have a Savior, He didn't come, teach, die, and live- simply for us to just sit under that knowledge. We need to receive the fruit of His gift and partake of His grace. We read different scriptures and wrote the purposes of Jesus coming to Earth. We then talked about what partaking of those gifts could bring to our lives. It was so powerful what we have in Jesus, and how important it is to truly "Receive Him!" We closed with this blessing from President Nelson: 

"I bless you in your quest to overcome this world. I bless you to increase your faith in Jesus Christ and learn better how to draw upon His power. I bless you to be able to discern truth from error. I bless you to care more about the things of God than the things of this world. I bless you to see the needs of those around you and strengthen those you love. Because Jesus Christ overcame this world, you can too."

WOW! Isn't that great?

I actually had an answer to a prayer with this blessing and talk given by President Nelson. 

For weeks, I had been feeling nervous and worried about the upcoming school year. I knew schedules would be hectic, I knew my influence on my kids would decrease as they were apart for more hours, I worried if I would be able to manage it all. I told John I was anxiously looking forward to a priesthood blessing, because I felt I needed added spiritual gifts and understanding to navigate what was ahead.

Sunday morning I woke up with a debilitating migraine. I was nauseas and in pain. I was worried I wouldn't be able to pull it together in time for our back to school celebration. It was stake conference and streaming was not available. I listened to a talk I planned to reference to my lesson for the family later that day. I was so weak and could not move, so when the talk ended, instead of me turning it off or listening to it again, the next talk played. It was this talk by President Nelson. In my vulnerable physical state, my entire focus was zeroed in on his words. His glorious words. They addressed so many of my concerns and gave incredible advice. Then, as President Nelson began this blessing, I felt filled with the Holy Spirit. It was as if this prophet was standing by my bed with his hands on head blessing me. My entire body was filled with love and peace. It was the blessing I was praying for...(given three years prior) blessing me "by chance" at the moment I needed it most. It was a miracle. I fell asleep and my headache faded enough I was able to complete the day- but the bigger miracle than the physical relief was my spiritual burden lightened, and the sure knowledge and promise I received that Jesus was with me. I committed to wholly receive Him!

We did blessings for each of the children to finish off the night. It was a spirit filled evening. I am grateful for this tradition. 

God is good.

 

Mom, the Schedule Keeper

 It’s strange to think someday I’m not going to remember the details of my schedules each week. Coordinating where everyone needs to be, to do, to eat, etc every day feels all consuming at times. And yet: regardless of the lists, physical planner use, calendar and reminder apps in my phone: every week something falls through. I forget somewhere we need to be, or I arrive unacceptably late and beat myself up over it for hours- not my favorite habit, but it exists all the same and deserves to be noted as a reality of this season. This month has felt manageable. At first I thought we had less on our plate, but I realized it probably had less to do with what I was balancing and more to do with what I was prioritizing. With Christmas season in full swing, there has been an added measure of Christ focused study and service. I believe  It has lightened my load and given me a heavenly perspective of my daily grind. How beautiful it is to live. I am grateful for both busy and quiet moments this week. Mostly I’m grateful for that Christmas feeling infused throughout my day! 

This week:

• Every day Cate had school basketball practice from 6-8, except Wednesday which worked out great since Wednesday night is our church youth group. 
• Monday, Johnny had a leadership meeting with the school district. Two students are chosen from all the upper grade schools to meet with the district superintendent to discuss student issues. Johnny enjoys it, but mostly enjoys the pizza, if we’re being honest. Ha!
• Monday William had a friend over to play, and Matthew went to a friend’s house.
• Tuesday Johnny had a band concert, he is playing the horn and had a solo this concert!
• Tuesday afternoon William went to his friend, Boone’s house.
• Tuesday night was my book club. We read “Charles Dickens and His Carol.” I started and finished that nine hour audible in one day! We also had a cookie exchange at book club.
• John traveled to Portland on Wednesday for grand jury.
• Wednesday Johnny had a basketball game.
• Wednesday William had another friend over, while Matthew and I played a game together.
• Wednesday night the boys had priamry activities: making ornaments and family home evening kits, Cate’s youth activity was an escape room, Johnny’s was decorating Christmas cookies, and my group provided babysitting for families in the ward. With 23 children in our care it was about as chaotic as one would assume!
• Thursday Cate had two choir gigs during the day.
• Thursday morning William had an orthodontist appointment (that I messed up the time for and MISSED!)
• Thursday was Johnny’s last middle school basketball game. I’m going to miss watching him play. 
• Thursday night John had an Elder’s quorum activity and I had a “favorite things” party. 
• Friday, Cate had an basketball ball tournament 
• Friday Johnny had a stay late with his friends to watch a movie. 
• This entire week Cate did a fancy hair challenge with her friend Isabelle 
• This week I did eight loads of laundry.
• Emma and I went on 9 errands.
• This week, Emma took four daytime baths, and two walks.
• This week I cooked for dinner: chicken noodle soup, smothered burritos, beans and rice, leftovers, ham and scalloped potato bake. 
• This week, we sat down and did our Christmas scripture advent and hymn every night.
• This week I drove: two million hours, or close to that.

I know I will remember this season was busy, but what I hope I also remember that it was LIFE. It wasn’t just scurrying here to there. Every moment and activity I tracked and coordinated, I lived. I enjoyed. I connected. I prayed on the way to. I felt insecure, grateful, humored, anxious, nostalgic, Christmasy. In the process of all this doing, I am also becoming. And it is good. So good.