A Big Fat Update...

Out enjoying family time together. <3

I already fell asleep tonight, but now I am completely wide awake again...so I figure tonight is as good as any time to finally dust off this old blog after almost a year's absence. The past 12 months have been so epic for us! It has been the busiest year our family has ever had with many unexpected opportunities and blessings and heartaches...buckle up for a crazy summary!

Mark in Virginia (bragging about his beach front hotel). :)

Mark still works at Freeus, and what an amazing blessing his job is to our family!!! The company has continued to grow exponentially with growth projected to continue with the Baby Boomers. Freeus manufactures, supports, and sells medical alarm devices to dealers which then resell them to users. They came out with a product in recent years that has fall detect and will automatically call for help if a fall is detected. So cool!!! Mark loves that he can work at a job that influences and changes so many lives. These devices are so important to the subscribers to give them peace of mind and necessary help when needed. He hired his replacement as office manager and has recently been working as the Dealer Care Manager (which he loves)! We are grateful for such steady work! Mark has also enjoyed a good amount of travel for work, usually to Virginia and Pennsylvania, but he has a trip to NV coming up soon.

Gavin and Dad on Temple Square.

Mark made it for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's recording of The Book of Mormon video recordings last summer! Watch for him in the background of Jacob chapters 2 & 3. He was even right by the prophet Jacob while he preached in those chapters, so who knows just how "famous" his face may be from it. :) It was such a positive experience for him, both the preparation and also the time on the set. What are the chances: he sat next to a Hungarian?! (Mark served a mission for our church to Hungary). Mark got the biggest kick out of switching from English to Hungarian without warning...it took a while for the other guy to recognize what language they was speaking, but totally freaked out once he realized it was Hungarian!:) He said there was such a powerful spirit on the set, and the caliber of the cast was astounding. We are so glad he could do it...but I think Mark is the only one who occasionally misses his beard. :) I am so glad to be done with his pony tail and scruffy beard! :) ...but now he is talking about another year in Savior of the World 2019 Christmas season, so it may be time to start growing again soon.

He has tried his hand at a number of home repairs and renovations lately, and has discovered a newfound hobby that will keep him busy for spare moments to come. :) We have enjoyed redoing the main areas of our home recently, and look forward to more exciting projects.

Dad reading bedtime stories to Leland.

Mark has been our rock this year. He has held down the fort (and then some!) as I have been away from home more than we have ever experienced before in the past. The kids are bouncing up and down as I walk in the door to tell me how Dad "did this" and "said this" and let them "do that." The extra Daddy time this year has been so fun for the kids (and for Mark, too). We have learned so much as a couple and family!

I made this shirt. <3

If I told you about my past 12 months, you
probably wouldn't believe me! :) I still hardly can believe it myself. It has been wild and filled with miracles and opportunities to grow and expand.

Serving the women and families in my stake has been an incredible privilege! I wrote in my journal just this morning that if I were to be released today for some unforeseeable reason, I would be completely at peace. Together with my presidency, the stake presidency, and ward leaders, we have served with the Savior to powerfully influence the women of this stake and their faith in Jesus Christ. I have witnessed miracles, and am living proof that God can take anybody who is willing, no matter how under qualified they may be, and work through them to fulfill His purposes and touch lives for the better. I have loved every minute!

After my 200 hour YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) in 2018, I only have one more weekend to make up (and a retreat that was rescheduled due to weather), and then I will be a certified Hatha yoga instructor!!! Woot! I plan to do another 200 hour YTT starting this spring, but this will be for Kundalini Yoga. We are also tentatively planning a trip for me to NYC for training in yoga therapy for kids who have been through trauma. I will start teaching a Yoga Therapy Prana I Course out of a therapist's office in Logan this fall. We plan to also bring kids yoga to this office after adult yoga is established. I hope to eventually develop (and later teach a YTT) of my own creation of a yoga therapy course for kids who have been through trauma. I also hope to create a mindful parenting/trauma informed parenting course that incorporates yoga. I will be offering 2 free trial yoga movement classes in a few weeks, then if it goes well, will be hired to teach weekly movement classes on an online forum for women with betrayal trauma. So amazing to watch all of this unfold and know that I am exactly where God needs me to be! <3

Shipton and Mom selfie. :)

I also took 3 trips to Atlanta and a trip to Minnesota in 2018 to train in brain wellness, and have been taking a light client load since June for a protocol called QNRT. It has been so fulfilling to be part of people's healing journey in the aftermath of trauma and emotional stress. <3

This week as I was about to leave for a meeting, Shipton said, "Mom, I know that you would rather stay with me instead of go to your meeting if you could because I know that you love me." <3 I am so grateful that he knows that because there have been many, many moments when I have felt torn between home and the demands outside of my home. This has been new (yet exciting) territory for me and my family. After so much time as a homemaker, this has been a big deal to step into the professional world again (and so crazy to have training underway then be called to serve on top of it!). We are grateful that I work for myself, so I can set my own schedule and pace. Although we aren't keeping life on hold for adoption any more, this work arrangement for me can easily be adjusted with short notice. We expect our plans for my work schedule will be a perfect fit as we look at our anticipated family life this fall. Shipton will be 5 years old, so all 4 of our kids will go to an all day homeschooling co-op group one day a week. That is just enough time to teach the 2 1/2 hours Yoga Therapy Course, take a few QNRT clients, then be back home with the kids for the rest of the week as a homeschooling mama and free up our weekends from clients. I love that we have found a way that I can have the best of both worlds!

I feel so privileged and blessed for the treasured experiences, growth, and knowledge that I have had in the past 12 month in all areas of my life. <3 I have grown so much personally through the events of the past year, and I am in awe to be in so many positions to influence, love, and reach others right now as well.

Just home from a temple trip.

This girl has grown up so much!!! Her 12th B-Day is right around the corner. With our church's announcement of changes to age requirements, Sennika has started to attend the Young Women's Program, and has her very first temple recommend! She has jumped right in, and attends the temple most weeks, usually with her own family names. Because of previous surgeries for her ears, she refused to do baptisms, :) but happily does Confirmations. She has set a goal to visit all the temples in Utah in 2019. So far we have been to 3...14 more to go. :) She has high hopes to finish the Personal Progress program before it changes in January, and is working feverishly away to accomplish it.

One of her chicken's died a few months ago. That broke her little heart.:( Since then, she has made the decision to re-home the rest. We found an adorable farm with an attentive family for one chicken, and tentatively will be re-homing the other two to some friends from our homeschooling co-op group. She hopes to get a little pet parakeet instead. <3

Senn is still at the same dance studio; however, she is doing tumbling this year and loves it. She is learning how to add strength to her super flexibility, and it has been so good for her to learn that new skills require patience and practice. We are so proud of how much she has improved and that she has stayed with it even though it has been difficult for her. She still loves to read, and spends more free time in a good book than on anything else! She still loves to draw and create. She has made several good friends her age this year, which has been so fun for her. Two of her friends are also homeschooled, and moved just around the block, so they get together as often as possible. She is a wonderful help around the house, and can be really sweet with the boys (but still struggles with their teasing)! We are grateful for this amazing daughter of ours!!!

So typical of Gavin and his sense of humor

Gavin turned 10 last fall. He has loved his weekly Urban Gym class! It's boys' gymnastics, but it's so hip and cool. The boys learn how to maneuver over obstacles and do flips, etc. He has consistently been at the top of his gym class, and comes home sweaty every week.

Scouts has continued to be fun for him as well. He is a Webelos now. We just got home tonight from the Cub of the Year banquet where he was recognized as the Cub of the Year for our unit! He will get to march in the Peach Day's parade and help carry flags, and is looking forward to it.

He has made several good friends this year, too. One is his bestie at church and scouts. He gets to sit by him most weeks, and his friend's mom even has these two going to ward choir every week! His other two best friends also homeschool, so it has been so much fun to get in lots of play dates together with good friends.

Mark bought a wii this fall. I'm still not sure how I feel about it,:) but Gavin has loved exploring this new world. He especially loves the Lego movie wii games. We have a game store near our house, so most of his chore money has been going to games lately.

Gavin folded 10 origami claws :)

He still loves Origami and Legos. He still loves riding his bike, scooting, jumping on the tramp, playing in the sandbox...digging holes...just being a boy playing in the outdoors. We love having Gavin in our family, and enjoy his playful sense of humor (most of the time). :) He is a good brother, especially to his little brothers, and has been a huge help around the house and yard lately.

Le went to scouts like this one week. I was dying (and still
laughed as I pulled this picture up tonight). THIS KID!!! <3

Leland has had a wonderful year of growing, too. He started taking karate and is so proud to have two stripes on his belt now. He came home just this week and announced that he chopped a board with his leg. :) He has made a really sweet friend in the stake who has started going to karate now too. It has been so good for him to build his confidence and have practice of proper expectations in a formal classroom setting.

We are so proud of Leland's decision to be baptized last year! He tries so hard to be good and understand how to use the gift of the Holy Ghost. <3 He is so extremely honest, and we appreciate that he is truthful, even when he is worried about the consequences or outcomes from the choices or mistakes he has made.

Leland can be rowdy; however, most of the time he is gentle and sweet. Gavin and Leland (and usually Shipton) love playing together both inside and outside, alone, together, or with friends. As hard as it was for me to accept that I have 3 little boys because I never pictured myself as a boy mom, :) I am so glad now! These three are such great friends. Every day is an adventure! Once school and chores are done, the rest of the day is free time, which these boys usually spend on creative play...building, experimenting, creating, outside play. And Leland is right in the middle of it (which is usually Gavin initiated, :) but Leland is happy to join in).

I'm not sure why, but Leland has been way into frogs lately...so he got a chocolate frog for Valentine's Day. :)

Leland has gotten really good at folding origami along with Gavin. We just shuffled bedrooms around, and he has his own room for the very first time. He is loving the chance to spread out and set things up how he wants them to be. He is also loving scouts as a Wolf. We are grateful to have Leland in our family and his big and tender heart!!!

Ship in his PJ Mask suit. This stage is so fun! ...but the
superhero dress ups are starting to die out in the past few
months.

Shipton has had a big year too. He went to preschool, and loved the interaction with other kids his age. Where there is almost a 4 year space between Leland and Shipton, he has been lonely for other preschoolers who enjoy the same things he does. He also adored his teacher, Miss Kerri. He had a blast having his own special time...and I used that quiet time to get through curriculum for the 3 older kids. Win-win! Sadly, he has been very clingy after some major family changes last month, and hasn't been willing to go all month. :( He finally slept in his own bed again for the past 2 nights in a row, so we are hopeful he will get back to his confident and independent little self again soon.

As mentioned, he loves playing with his brothers. He still loves cats...not sure when that will change (if ever). :) When we go to the library, he only picks books with cats on the cover.

He loves building with his duplos, playing with his robotic cats, and digging in the sandbox. He was in one of my kids yoga classes at the kids gym and has become a little yoga expert. He asked Mark a few days ago, "Dad, do you know why I'm so fast?" (Mark was stumped). "It's because I do yoga!" <3 He teaches ANYBODY who will listen all of the different yoga poses and promises them that they will be fast and strong if they do it too. :)

Have you noticed yet that he does thumbs up whenever he poses for pictures? :) Ship dressed up like an Indian around Thanksgiving (for preschool).

Ship and Dad are even better pals than before (if that is even possible!). He wants to go wherever Dad goes. He loves to help, especially in the kitchen and with chores around the house. He loves to color, draw, and paint. He is starting to read simple words! It is so stink'n cute to hear him sound out letters. I can't explain it, but he gets a completely different voice and makes sure to double the sounds for word with double consonants. :) Ship is a streak of sunshine and we can't imagine life without him!!!

These are origami swords...made out of paper with a little tape...they even have sheaths. Not sure if you are as impressed as I am, but these are the kinds of things these creative boys pump out daily.

My 16 year old sister moved in with our family last March and just went home this February. We learned so much as a family, and especially parents. We weren't expecting a teen for several more years, so it was good life experience to be plunged into the world of teens with no forewarning or preparation. It has left a hole in our hearts, but we are grateful that we could open our home (and hearts) to her.

One of the kids' favorite stores: BAM! It's a Lego store. Here the kids are building custom mini figures.

Last fall, we also had an Expectant Mom with a baby girl coming this spring reach out to us. We were connected through a common friend on FB. Things happened quickly, and within a month of her reaching out, we made the decision to temporarily house her and her toddler (who she planned to continue to parent). Although she changed her mind in February and has decided to parent her baby instead, again, we learned so much as a family, and especially as a couple. How can you love somebody with your heart wide open and without holding to expectations? Although we weren't perfect, we feel we approached this situation with nothing but love for all involved. We respect her decision and hope for their bright and happy future together as a family.

Decorating Christmas cookies

We weren't as consistent around the holidays for Mommy's and Daddy's clubs, but we were consistent at having 1:1 or 2:1 time with each child weekly. Mark and I believe that this is one reason the kids did as well as they did with so many extra household members. Mark and I treasure the time we have with our children individually. Come, Follow Me has been an answer to our prayers. Although I can't fully explain how or why, but it is almost like it has helped bridge the gap and fill in the holes with the fast-paced life we have been living this year. Our stake has family time every Sunday where no meetings are allowed to be scheduled. Although our week is full of commitments, we make full use of this time every week by studying the family section of Come, Follow Me, then spending time together playing board games, playing outside, catching up with each other, cooking or baking together. We have loved it!!! Mark and I have done our best to not schedule meetings or commitments after family time either, so we have every Sunday from 4 pm to bedtime together every week.

At the Grand Canyon

Although we have experienced so much this year that could have easily driven us apart, it has actually brought us closer together. We have learned new levels of communication and team work as a couple. We have been consistent about connecting every day (which has some times been tricky when one of us is traveling), a weekly date night, couple prayers, and regular temple attendance. A few weeks ago Mark asked me what I have gained eternally from the experiences of this year. I love that we can both draw on the experiences of the past 12 months and they will be ours forever. We are so grateful for each other!!!

I have left the blog un-updated for so long because living life was too fast paced to document it for the first 6 months, then we were expecting to be taking this blog down with being matched for adoption. We don't know what the future will hold. We still hope that it will somehow and sometime include adoption...but if not, we see how greatly blessed we have been (and are). During our couple prayers this morning, Mark thanked our Heavenly Father for the blessings He has continued to pour out on our family over and over again. Truly, we are so blessed!!! God is good, and we have been showered with His love in this time and season of our lives.