The Last 10 Days

 It's been a marathon around here and the sprint to the finish seems to have taken place over the last ten days. It all began with State Swim. Thursday night, Coleen came all the way from Arizona to support the boys. We stayed up too late talking and catching up but didn't realize that until the next morning when the alarms went off. We woke up Friday morning when the clock began with a four which is way too early according to everyone here. The boys had to be on the bus at the school at 5:30 and Gary and I left shortly after they did in order to get in line for a good seat. State Swim is held at BYU and, even though the doors don't open until 8:30 or so for the 9:15 start, you better be in line around 7:00 if you want to be somewhere you can see your swimmer swim. The caravan left here about 5:30 and we headed north. When we got there, the bus hadn't arrived yet but we were still about 75 people back in line. Swim fans are crazy! Day one both boys swam really well. Ethan swam in the medley relay as the freestyle leg, the 400 freestyle relay and both the 200 and 500 freestyle individual events. He qualified for day 2 in all four events. Dylan swam in the 200 freestyle relay and also qualified for day 2 even though they had us worried. They only take the top 16 teams to day 2 and they originally placed 17th. All the relays made it to day 2 but in the consolation bracket. Ethan was in the medal round for day 2 in both of his individual events. It was fun to have Tom and Brin join us for the meet. They are only able to come to state so it was fun for them to watch their brothers do what they love.

Day 2 was a repeat of day one. We got up early and got in line to wait for the doors to open. The boys swam great and the cheering section was loud. The relays placed well and Ethan met his goal of taking 6th in the 200 freestyle and 2nd in the 500 freestyle breaking his own school record in that event. It is strange to think that he is done swimming in high school We are pretty sure where he will swim in college but we still have a trip planned in March to make sure it is a good fit. It is super fun to watch Dylan swim and start becoming such a strong contender. We're excited to see what he does in the next two years on the swim team and what he decides to do with swim after.

Sunday was full of meetings and preparations. As the General Sterling Scholar for Millard High School, Ethan needed to have a service project and he chose a fundraiser for the local school food pantries. Brinlee needed a project for one of her elementary education classes as well that got the community involved in the school so they teamed up to plan a Bingo night to raise money. They had solicited prize donations from local businesses and our home was filled with so many amazing donations. We spent the afternoon after church organizing and planning and preparing for the next day.

Monday brought the bingo fundraiser and it was a HUGE success! We were hoping to have 50 people come. The line started forming before the 7:00 start time and everyone was buying 5 cards here and 5 cards there. The cash box was filling up and we even had to send Ethan's friends to the store to get more candy to be used as bingo markers. Before I knew it, I heard more tables being set up behind me and turned around to see every seat in the house filled. We counted almost 200 people who came out to participate in a good cause and Ethan raised almost $2,000.  It was such a fun night!

Tuesday was Valentine's Day and all that comes with that. School was filled with parties and chaos and sugar cookies that the Millard High School girl's soccer team sells each year for their fundraiser. We had a yummy dinner at home and everyone went to bed early. 

We got to see Tommy on Wednesday. He came down to say goodbye to Kia and Ethan and Dylan and I went to lunch with him while he was here. It is so fun watching the boys interact as adults. I love hanging out with them. I love watching their relationship continue as they grow older. I love that they let me come along sometimes.

Wednesday night Gary had Town Council meeting with a public hearing before to raise some electrical rates. Everything is more expensive these days!  I really admire how he serves as the Mayor of Meadow. It isn't an easy job. It isn't a job you do for the money - all $100 a month of it. It isn't a job where everyone is happy with you and usually only those who aren't happy are the ones who are vocal. He does it and does it well. 

On Thursday, Ethan met with the Stake President and submitted his mission papers. How is he old enough to be going on a mission? How is he a senior already? Where did the time go? It is different than when Tom submitted his papers. Everything is electronic now including how the calls come. We are awaiting an email possible as soon as this week to let us know where the Lord wants him to serve. He is ready. I'll get there.

Friday was filled with tears and heartache at our house. Our dog, Kia, had not been doing well for several months. We got Kia when Logan was getting super sick with his BiPolar. He was cycling super fast and we knew a pet may help him through the dark times. We brought her home just two weeks before he died to be his therapy dog. Little did we know, she would become our therapy dog. She got us through some pretty dark times and was especially close to Ethan. Knowing what we needed to do, we planned it for after State Swim so that his mind would be on performing to the best of his ability. It was heart wrenching to say goodbye. Our home feels empty and quiet and we keep looking for her. I had an impression that afternoon on my way home from school. It was a quick picture that flashed across my mind but I saw Lo smiling big and Kia running over to him to wrestle. He let us borrow her for almost 7 years and now it was time that they could play together. 

Ethan left that afternoon for a day date for Sadies and that helped him get through the heartache of losing his dog. Dylan spent some time alone in the basement because he is not a fan of too much people time and he'd had a lot of it this week. That helped him. Gary and I went to St. George for a play that had been rescheduled from my birthday weekend and that distraction helped us as well. 

Saturday was the actual dance part of Sadies. Ethan went with his friend, Austyn Bennett. They had a great time and looked so great. I love seeing these teenagers dress up and go on these fun dance dates. It reminds me of my high school years and the fun and the nerves and the excitement of dance dates. Dylan will start next year and we'll have a couple more years of kids coming over for dinner or movies and games. Having teenagers in our home brings so much joy. 

After Ethan left for the dance, Dylan drove Gary and I to Spanish Fork to buy some baseboards and trim to continue finishing our house project. He is getting close to getting his driver's license and this was a great time to practice freeway and big city driving. He did great driving Gary's big truck in traffic! 

We replaced all the floor in the living room, kitchen, and hall in November and are finally finding some time to put in the baseboards. We're hoping to work on that on President's day, but for now, we are taking it easy and trying to recharge after 10 days of crazy highs and low lows. This stage of life is busy. This stage of life is exhausting. I wouldn't trade this stage of life for anything!

Priesthood and Mission Prep

 Today was a big day in our house. Dylan was ordained to the office of a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood by Gary after church. It was awesome to sit and listen to the beautiful blessing Gary gave as he, Ethan, my dad, and the bishopric stood in the circle. I caught myself wondering where all the time went. Wasn't it yesterday that I was waiting for Dylan to be done with his first day of preschool and worrying that he wouldn't be able to find his classroom all on his own each day? Now he can serve in a greater capacity and be our Savior's hands in more ways. He has grown into such a great young man. He's full of interesting facts, takes his priesthood responsibilities very seriously, and never fails to wear his bow tie each Sunday - we're going to have to work on learning to wear a regular tie for his mission. We missed Tom and Brinlee but Tom has been working crazy hours and was at work again this morning so they weren't able to join us today.

As we were getting ready to leave the Bishop's office, he handed Ethan a few papers and let him know it was a checklist for his mission papers and that the online portal was now open and ready for Ethan to start working on. Even though I've known this is coming and I keep reminding him to ask the Bishop and to get this or that done, I still don't feel ready. I know how fast the next six months will go and then he'll be gone to some spot in the world where the Lord needs him. He'll grow in his testimony and in his abilities but I'm not quite sure I'm ready for one more to leave home. It is never really the same when they come back. They come back as a man, not a young man that needs his parents permission to stay out late or their guidance for little things. They come back self sufficient and confident and ready to tackle the world. Ready or not, it's coming and I can choose to worry about it or help him get what he needs to done in order to prepare. It is exciting to find out where he'll be serving! In a few months, we will know. He can submit his packet February 1 and he put his availability date as June 1. That doesn't mean he will absolutely leave that early but there is also a chance he might. I guess we will just wait and see. He's ready. I'll get there.

Isn't it crazy that they can get their mission papers ready to go on their phones?!?!

Logan was certainly near today. He likes to pop in on these important days in our lives. Little things that happen that some may think are simply a coincidence show me that he's close. We sang "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" today in sacrament meeting. It was a song that was sung at his funeral. We don't sing it very often in our ward. Later, when Ethan was filling out his health portion of the mission papers, it asked if he was being treated for a variety of things, one of which was bipolar. I don't remember that question when Tom was filling out his papers. It was just a simple thing that helped me feel close to him today. He's always there. He's busy serving his own mission but always makes time to be with us during these mortal milestones. I love that.

On another note, I turned 50 this week. I really love birthdays I love the opportunity is gives me to see my growth over the last year and I get excited to think about all the awesome memories I get to make this year. My 40s were full of immense joy and unimaginable heartache, growth and stretching beyond my limits at times, understanding and learning to give grace. I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store for me in my 50s.

Christmas Adventures

 

The first year after Logan passed away, I wasn't sure I could be home and "celebrate" the holidays. It was just too painful. That started our first Christmas vacation over the actual holiday. We took off for the warm waters of Mexico on a cruise that year and returned to an all-inclusive resort the next year. When Tom was on his mission, we stayed home and remained home one additional Christmas because the Covid 19 pandemic pretty much halted travel around the world. Traveling began again last year and this time adding Brinlee. We went to Florida because there were still quite a few cancellations and restrictions due to Covid throughout the world. 

That brings us to this year. It will be our last Christmas together for four years. Ethan will leave this coming summer for a mission and, when he gets back, Dylan will leave. We aren't sure what our fiamily will look like in four years. Will we have grandkids? Will Ethan be married too? Will this really be our final family trip over Christmas? Just in case, we knew we wanted to go big. We made the reservations back in April for Grand Cayman and began counting down. 

We had a blast! Some of our favorite adventures were snorkeling almost daily right out the backdoor of our condo, swimming with stingrays, swimming at night in a bioluminescent bay where every movement made the water around you glow as the plankton were disturbed, going to church at the local branch for Christmas Sunday, snorkeling with sea turtles at a turtle preserve, visiting the town of Hell, and finding giant starfish in the waters surrounding Star Fish Point. 

The weather was wonderful. It was warm and sunny the first five days and, even when it was cloudy the last couple of days, the temperature was always right around 80 degrees. Before the storm moved in and made the ocean angry, the water was crystal clear. You could see straight to the bottom even on our excursions miles out from shore. We dove for conch shells. We watched all sorts of colorful fish swim throughout the coral making up the barrier reef. I've never enjoyed the water quite as much! Each night we came back to the condo exhausted and happy.

The food on the island seemed to be the same menu regardless of where you went to eat. There would be some sort of jerk chicken, curry, seafood, and pasta on every menu. For Christmas dinner, we decided to go fancy and ate next to the bay. Ethan ordered a GIANT 2 1/2 pound lobster. That kid loves his seafood! Brinlee and Dylan would rather eat anything than seafood so it was steak for them. Tom and I had surf and turf and Gary ordered giant prawns that looked like just small lobsters. Once we were finished eating, the waitress came and grabbed Gary's plate and then took the seafood shells and threw it into the bay straight from our table. It was crazy! There were small sharks called tarpins swimming in the bay that anticipated the nightly feedings. The kids were all able to throw in pieces of shell from our plates and watch the tarpin snatch them up. It was a favorite memory for sure.

I could go on and on about our trip but I want to end with a realization I had this year. We began traveling at Christmas out of our grief of losing Lo. Logan was all about the experience. He was all in. He lived life to the fullest and was the first to want a new adventure. What began as a time to heal has transformed into a time to make memories as a family and have those experiences out in this big wide world. I always feel him close to us during these adventures. I think he is happy we are building family bonds and making fun memories together. It will be hard to not travel the next few years at Christmas but I know we will find ways to make memories in other ways. There is a big world out there waiting for us to discover.