Together Again ...

Flight Status

Matt's flight left three minutes early! He has said goodbye to Orlando and is on his way home, expected to arrive on time. This will be the longest six hours of my life ...

News Release!

He is supposed to arrive at 12:17 p.m. (assuming that Tropical Storm Fay will get off of his tail since it is landing smack in the middle of his flight path). Anybody interested in details, just give me a call.

ALSO ... he will be reporting on his mission this Sunday at 1:30 p.m. for anybody who would like to hear him - followed by loads of food at our house!

Shiloh - he served in the Florida, Orlando mission.

Oh my gosh I'm so excited!

Coming Home -

It's six o' clock in the morning and I have a full day ahead of me. Rarely do I have to actually adorn myself in much more than pajama bottoms, but this week I am due at the office. I've just begun the three-step process of getting boys out of bed and I sit here with wet hair that is threatening to dry in a relentless form of a bird's nest due to the forecast of great humidity. So why am I sitting here? Because my mind is bursting and if I don't place it somewhere, it will be an ugly and quite unprofessional scene right in the middle of a work day.

For those of you who have not been through sending a child on a mission, let me walk you through it. Twenty-one years ago, I had a baby boy. He was a hefty nine pounds, but entered this world with a somewhat unhealthy body. He stayed in the hospital for ten days and then we brought him home. My life would never be the same again, in fact, this is the day that my life would begin. From this point forward, my entire being would revolve around the well-being, worrying and nurturing of this little one. I remember very clearly wondering how in the world I would be able to let him go and send him willingly wherever Heavenly Father would call him. I also remember Matthew's concerns about leaving home and serving a mission, and me silently hoping that he wouldn't. When Matt was about 11-years-old, he decided that he needed to serve the Lord, but that he was just going to ask if he could do it in Arizona. I thought this was a great plan!

As time went on, we both grew up. Matthew knew that he needed to serve a mission and I knew that I would have him do nothing less. Two years and three days ago, our family drove to Utah to take the oldest brother to the Mission Training Center. The events of that day will have to be for another post. Suffice it to say, it was a hard day. Hard days would follow, but far more blessings would accompany them.

Tomorrow my baby boy comes home ... in the form of a man. Tonight, none of us will sleep. Banners will be made, new sheets will be placed on his new bed (which was secretly delivered by Grandpa Vince), food will be prepared, and anxiety will be at an all time high. I never thought that anything could be as exhilarating as the birth of a child, but I have been proven wrong. Tomorrow, he will be sent to me for a second time.

Warrior Momma -

When I began this blog, it was because I loved to write. Lately I've gotten away from that and I've just been posting pictures and pieces of my days. As meaningless as it may seem most of the time, it has still invited you all into my life. I realize that when I make this invitation, I am open to comments, criticism, encouragement and all sorts of other dimensions ... this idea both scares me and intrigues me all at the same time ... because I'm a bit of a warrior. My children, however, were not participants in this invitation. So when I open them up to opportunities of criticism, I feel obligated to defend them and their integrity ... because I'm a bit of a warrior.

As most of you know, in our Church, our boys are encouraged to serve a two-year mission when they are 19-years-old. Because of this, we are discouraged from having serious relationships before that time, as it can create a whole list of hardships on the missionary, on the girl, etc., etc. Because our prophet has given us these guidelines, which I believe are straight from the mouth of a loving Heavenly Father, I have taught these principles to my children. They are well aware of the dangers, the teachings and their other options. Kacey has adhered to this counsel her whole life. She has never had a serious boyfriend before and she has always hung out in large groups of wonderful kids. She has had an amazing group of friends that she has been able to grow with and continue to nurture all that we have taught her. One of these best friends is Austin.

Kacey and Austin were friends long before the thought of being anything more ever occurred to either of them. This dating thing is actually pretty new. These two are the most respectful, obedient and spiritual people that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I learn from Kacey every day. The relationship that has begun between the two of them is very healthy. Austin is so excited to serve the people of Quito, Ecuador and Kacey is terribly proud of him for doing so. Hopefully this gives a different light to how I may have portrayed the situation earlier. Kacey is very supportive of this young man and I thank this young man for the healthy adoration that he showed my daughter. They are each lucky to be having this experience, and I am proud of them both.

Who knows what will happen in the next two years. They will each continue to grow in their respective directions and it will be exciting to see where they end up. But for now, they are each nothing less than individuals choosing good paths and truly striving for what is best. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that they won't miss each other.

Thanks for all of the great advice on keeping her busy and for giving me a great topic to write about!

Help!

These two lovebirds have been separated. Little Austin is being set apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ... tonight. He leaves tomorrow and will not return for two years. Little Kacey is so sad. Here's the problem ... I don't do sad. I am the kind of mother who tells the children to knock it off and buck up when they are covered in blood and we are on our way to the Emergency Room. Therefore, I am at a total loss for knowing how to handle this. This stuff is worse than blood. It's hurting her heart, which hurts my heart, which makes me just crack a joke ... I know I'm sick. So seriously ... HELP! I suck at this! Any and all advice will be put to good use!

Kacey's View

Have I mentioned how proud I am of this little girl ?

Well, here I go again! Little miss Kacey has looooved (that's four o's) taking pictures since she exited my womb. She has had the perfect job for her at

Foto's By Flint

and has been assisting in wedding photography for the past year. She has also been saving up her money to get her first muy bueno camera. Well, the time finally arrived and her bank account was emptied. She made the big purchase last week and the day after the purchase ... she had her first real photo shoot. Check out her new blog at

www.kaceysview.blogspot.com

Atta girl!

What's for dinner?

Who cares what they're making ... just look how cute they all are!

First truck, first water pump, first day ...

With a "new" truck comes new responsibility. Behold, a new water pump is restored.



Jake's school bus took on a new look this year. He was the coolest kid transporting a violin as his big brother chauffeured him to his first day of Junior High.

This is Garrison's last year in elementary school ...
which means it's my last year in elementary school ...

which means I'm right around the corner from wearing polyester pants.

I guess we always have a few more firsts
to look forward to!

Olympics -

Please tell me that you are watching! I seem to be the only fan in my home ... what is wrong my family??? I love watching the Olympics! I become drawn to every sport - even fencing! What/who are your favorites?

Oh what do you do in the summertime?

My kids wrestle ... indoors ... on Kacey's bed ...

Double Date -

Gary and I took Kacey and her beau to the lake yesterday. Here is what we beheld ...

Good times!