Still embracing motherhood

Its been a busy month even with all the newness. I helped Joe with a few pages of his 25 page  autobiography for his English class. I like looking up old photos of him and remembering his youth. It was therapeutic for his leaving home for the first time. I've taken care of his car, gassed it up and registered it and am taking great care for him. He can be pleased to be reunited with it again someday.  As soon as we were back from Idaho, Spence needed us for purchases and fixing his swing. He now needs his heater worked on. We go and see him at least once a week. It is good to have ties with him and I am working on the next step for him as he graduates from Odyssey learning Center in June. He is very happy right now and it just warms my heart.

I went to a meeting yesterday for a behavior intervention plan for Celia. They do a great job with scholar services at John Adams and I love how supported she is there. She is doing much better this semester after a humanities teacher switch. I hope she stays there for High School. Olivia her new bestie has been coming over each week. I taught them how to put on some natural looking makeup and then they went to Celia's first youth dance. It looks like a well attended one. Celia wanted to come home home a little early. Maybe it was over stimulation, but they had fun. The girls love to play roblox and role play as they play it. Celia has really taken to her nerd roots and is proud of it. 

I am proud of being a stay at home mama. I found a book I wrote and published through blurb called 2009 A year of blessings. It was sweet how much I wrote about testimony of the gospel and how wonderful the family is and how important motherhood is. Also, how it is so beneficial to have the gospel in our children's lives. I think I will embrace Motherhood and teaching them the gospel and not worry so much about the next step after Celia leaves and just work hard on teaching her before she goes. 

Emmy and her friend Abby came to visit and it was fun. I like hosting a bit. Brian seemed to like switching up the house this past month. We've been to IKEA and he has moved his card room around. We got Celia to move into Joe's old room and the front room and bathroom are now the guest area. I like this because it stays clean.  Little by little we are getting the house more organized and orderly and its fun. Dad is on a food storage kick now, so I feel a straightening of the garage coming soon so we can organize all the food storage. It'll be fulfilling and nice, I bet.

Drop off at the Universities

I can't believe it all happened last Friday. We packed up all  the kids  that were coming and all of Joe's belongings he was bringing to school and headed to Utah/ Emmy brought stuff too because she likes to switch out here stuff, I am telling myself we are not just a storage unit here at home base\
 The Sierra Nevadas were clear and I was happy to make it there with no inclement weather. WE had Costa Vida and stopped at Sips. The boys noticed there was a game store full of people there in Draper. Magic the gathering must be hoppin' there. We saw emmy a little on Saturday, but Bri, Celia, And i walked the university mall int he morning. We enjoyed running around Provo and Brian and I enjoyed a walk on Center street to see pioneer book. It was sunny and 50 degrees outside and I was so happy to have the warmth and walking. Snow was on the ground and Provo was a little chili, but not too bad. We went and visited Lance and Dawn and got to go see Taylor play in his Junior high basketball game. He had a purposeful fowl and we all got a kick out of it. It was pretty cold leaving the game, but im glad we went. Celia sure seemed to like seeing a real game at a real school. She needs to check out her charter school games more, i think as they are real too.

We ate all all the good Utah places, kneaders, burgers supreme, and a new place we found in Provo. The sold street tacos,m but the quesadillas were so good, we went back for an encore. We watched Hot Rod at Lance and Dawn's and visited. On Monday we headed up Emmy and Joe in her car and Brian, Celia, and I in the van. It was a pretty ride up top Rexburg. We stopped at a Shoshone convenience  store that our maps called Walmart, but it was a good adventure.

Rexburg was full of snow and holiday lights and decorations, like a winter wonderland. Joe did best one on one getting his apartment settled in and being shown around campus and town. I was glad Emmy stayed on Tuesday and they hung out together getting ready for school to start. We saw some familiar faces at Walmart and everyone we did encounter was so friendly. It will be different having Joe off to school, but I am hopeful for him that he can learn a  lot and have a great time.

I've organized his bathroom and room and our house seemed bigger. We are figuring out routines and what to do without extra time. we always we playing Magic the gathering, now we will see what we choose to fill in the time with next. Car rides are still a thing and I have high hopes for the new year.

Fantastic Christmastime

December was great. It was full of service and celebrations. I had the opportunity to be with friends and help others. I couldn't help but feel the importance of ministering to the one and being there for my family and friends and ministerees one by one. I feel some of my difficult experiences from 2019 have helped me to be more kind and understanding to others. It has been nice having Emmy visit and it was a relief to finish the first part of Eight grade for Celia. No more Latin, hopefully.  We have taken trips to the outdoors mainly in citrus heights looking for things,people and shopping. We have loved visiting Spence and taking him out. It was fun to decorate his duplex and bring a little light and spirit into his own home.  I am grateful for the attention and care he gets there. Joe is getting ready to ship off to Idaho and it is nice to know that it is a good thing to launch and we have had time to prepare and some much quality time together. Our family is tight and he will be missed, and I hope to have great reunions when its time. We are so blessed to have Brian and My folks in town.

Blessed Day

I love that Joe serves in the primary and has been coming to church with us consistently. I have always loved to sing the hymns with him in church. I was so pleased to see him receive the Melchizedek priesthood today. I feel suddenly, he grew up and is a man now. I guess I can let him go off to college and live his life and I am so proud of him and all that he has is. He has been making great strides lately and it warms my heart. Brian mentioned me as an example to him in the priesthood and I felt so happy to hear that and so glad for my striving to do the Lord's will.