Sunday, November 24, 2024

               I am not sure why it has taken so long to catch up with journaling.  I could blame it on a busy life but my life is as busy as it always has been.  So here is a summary of what has happened during the past 3 months.

              Xadia, Emily Stockton, and I got Jacinda moved into her apartment at BYU-I.  Jacinda is thriving and getting to meet a lot of people.  I love it when she calls and tells me about scriptural insight.  She asks me to look at scriptures in different ways that add positivity and useful understanding in my life.  Jacinda is baking a lot at school.  That is her way of serving and sharing with others.  I am very impressed with the cheesecake she made recently.  She came down for a surprise and made some goodies.  It was so wonderful having her at the house.  Today she talked to her bishop about serving a mission.  I know she will be an outstanding missionary and will touch the lives of so many not only in a spiritual sense but in a loving human way.  She is a girl who loves to care.

              McCabe is a senior and is prepping for the ACT test.  Each Saturday in November he goes to a class that will help him improve his test taking.  I am very excited for him.  McCabe is big into playing the electric guitar, working out at the gym, and driving the corvette.  He likes to take the corvette on dates and also likes to take it out for a late-night snack with his buddy MJ or Richard.  For Halloween, McCabe dressed up as the guy from American Psycho.  Then for another dance he dressed up as a prince (as if he even needed to dress up).  It is fun to see the kids grow.

              Xadia finished off the volleyball season with BJH.  She did a great job and got a district award and the team award for most “mojo.”  Xadia had her 15^th birthday.  She took a bunch of friends to hear the tabernacle choir at Temple Square.  I thought is was odd so I asked why she wanted to do that.  She said that some of them have never heard the choir before.  It was an amazing experience to hear them practice.  Then afterwards we went to the pink Cane’s Chicken owned by Post Malone.  Xadia went out trick treating this year and came back with a garbage bag full of candy.  It was so big and full we weighted it on a scale, and it weighed 40 pounds.  That is a lot of cavities waiting to be had.  Xadia just got her learner’s permit.  She is so anxious to drive.  She is doing a good job.  Today she drove home from the church.  The other night, she took Tim to Farmington Station.  I think the only hard part for her is remembering that she is not trying for a spot on the Fast and Furious franchise.

              Teagan is putting boxing on pause and has taken an interest to wrestling.  We signed him up at a local gym and he has given strict instructions not to drive the corvette there.  If I do, he needs to be picked up around the corner at the Mandarin.  He does not like to appear flashy.  I told him that no one even cares what he rides in.  Teagan also had a great time trick or treating and going to Fan X.  He got a lot of candy which has lasted a month.  I think my kids eat too much candy.  Teagan just went to the dentist 3 weeks in a row to have cavities filled.  Teagan enjoys sledding, the computer, and going hot tubbing, especially in the snow.

              I had a great birthday in October.  I got to eat lunch with my childhood friend.  It is always so good to catch up with her.  Tim took me to St. George to watch The Jersey Boys and Anastasia at the Tuacahan Theater.  The productions were amazing.  While in St. George, Tim bought me a corvette for my birthday.  It is a beautiful smooth driving car.  I like it a lot.  The only issue is getting in and out of it because it is so close to the ground.  I have been working on some sewing projects.  For Fan X, I repurposed a costume and put some creativity into it.  Then for another project, I took some sun faded curtains and created an Edwardian ensemble.  I really enjoy sewing and creating unique outfits.

    October was a special month for Linda Butterfield (Tim's mom).  She turned 80.  We were able to go to California and celebrate her birthday.  Tim and all his siblings were able to be at the party.  Only Doug was not in person, however, it did not stop the mood from getting a family picture.  It was amazing to be with family and also to visit the beach.  Anytime we go to California, I want to the beach.  Tim is always game for the beach and I love it.  Also had a good time making Tim's halloween costume.  He was a baby on a grandma's back.   He wore the costume to work and got a lot of laughs.  He is such a fun guy.

 

Thursday, September 5, 2024

      Ring the bell, school is in.  The kids are in school.  Jacinda leaves in one week to go to college.  I am very excited for her.  She is nervous because she will be 3 hours away and it is a new adventure for her.  I know she is going to do great.  She has quit her jobs at Lowe’s and Centerpointe Theatre.  She now spends her time packing for school, crocheting plant holders, and rock climbing.  Jacinda also likes to watch Modern Family. 

                This past weekend, Tim took Jacinda on a getaway.  They went to St. George and saw 3 productions: Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, and the Jersey Boys.  They both agreed that Jersey Boys was their favorite.  While out, they visited Hurricane Peach Days and got some expensive soaps for the family.  Mine has beach sand in it.  You could say that it is an exfoliator.

                McCabe and I are back in the groove of doing math.  We are working on quadratic equations.  It is super fun.  I always enjoy a good math problem.  McCabe and Sam went fishing this past weekend in the Uintahs.  They caught some fish but also got rained out.  Mac said their tent took on some water because the fly zipper was broken.  Unfortunately, Sam got the majority of the water in his area.

                McCabe likes going to the gym.  He is working hard on sculpting his body.  Every mirror he passes, he lifts up his shirt to get a view of his abs.  It makes me laugh because I always comment in my head when he lifts up his shirt, “yep, your tummy is still there.”  He also likes to play the guitar.

                Xadia made the volleyball team.  It is so fun watching her games.  The first game was rough but the second and third ones were much better because they were playing like a team and not shuffling around trying to find their positions.  Xadia likes to ride the e-bikes, however, she is really excited to get her learners permit and start driving.  Xadia is big into fragrant sprays and likes to make desserts, especially cupcakes.

Teagan is into boxing and watching random videos on Youtube.  Teagan also enjoys riding the e-bikes and will take it to boxing.  He has decided to grow out his hair.  It is getting long and unkept.  Tim and I are convincing him to clean up the sides but he wants to keep it long.  He would really like to go to fan X.  We made a costume.  He painted some black shoes brown and cut the straw hat to match the character.  I sewed the vest.  He wants to go as Demaro Black.   

I got my costume ready for Halloween.  I will go as the Raven Queen.  I repurposed an old costume and added my own flair to it.  I liked how it turned out.  Now just deciding if there should be a headpiece.

Tim is working hard.  I am so grateful for all that he does for our family.  He gives the kids a lot of opportunity to earn and work and he is right beside them doing reels and mowing.  Yet when I need a nap, he is always willing to cuddle with me.  I love him so much.

Wednesday, July 25, 2024

                 It has been a while since my last entry.  I have been under a lot of stress with lawsuits and mediation.  At the moment, my stomach feels like a huge knot and I have very little appetite.  I have lost 3 pounds in the last 3 days.  At the moment, I am having a hard time understanding how people can be so deceptive and dishonest.  I am also having a hard time understanding the court system.  I feel like no matter how hard I try to protect myself and do what I am supposed to, evil tends to have small victories.  Why does the good get tainted by the bad?  It is unfortunate and it will not be the last time a trial like this occurs because there are so many greedy and hurtful people.

                In order to continue and function, I have to keep myself busy and immersed in truth and light.  I am grateful for conference talks because they take away the sting.  But is I constant battle because my mind tends to drift and I forcefully have to refocus.  I am grateful for Tim.  I need to rely on him at times because I get so overwhelmed.  So now I am forcing myself to focus on the good that has happened since my last entry.

                We had a wonderful trip to the Philippines as a family.  We met a lot of nice people and enjoyed swimming in the ocean, trying new foods, and bargaining at the outside markets.  Yes it was hot and humid but the people were so gracious.

                Jacinda recently toured BYU and had a great time.  She got an in depth look at the theater department.  I really enjoyed seeing the costumes.  They have a huge collection.  We also saw her apartment and got to say hi to Ben Fisher.  He showed us the chemistry department.  I think we walked that campus 7 times in one day.  I am very excited for her.  She is going to love it.

                McCabe spent 6 weeks in Taiwan as a foreign exchange student.  He loved it.  He got to go to their schools and see how they learn.  He stayed with a few different families so he got a taste of their living conditions and had a chance to try chicken hearts and an oyster omelet.  The omelet made him gag but the other foods he enjoyed.  McCabe also went to All Stars priesthood camp with Teagan and his cousins. They had a great time.

                Xadia is at FSY.  She went with her friend Brynlee Lilywhite.  I was able to talk with Xadia yesterday.  She is having a great time and meeting a lot of friends.  She sent a group picture and it looks like she fits right in.  Xadia is also working at Lagoon this summer in the foods department and riding dirt bikes in her spare time.

Teagan is going into 7th grade.  He is committed to boxing.  He tries to go 3 times a week.  He also is a big help at home.  Yesterday he helped Tim make a bigger chicken coup.  It was pretty awesome!  We have 11 chickens now and they are all trying to get along.  Teagan and Xadia like to ride the E-bikes.  The other day they went to Lowe’s and Walmart.  That was at least a 10 mile ride and took 4 hours.