What's new

School will be out in FIVE days.  Yes, that's right, five days.  And hopefully life will settle down a little.  

I haven't done super great with keeping our family blog up to date.  C'est la vie!

Caleb received the "Hope of America" award.  One boy and one girl from each sixth grade class is selected by their teacher based on their academic excellence, morals and leadership qualities.  It was quite an honor for him.  Such a great kid.  

Soccer for both boys has ended for the year.  The boys have worked very hard and play soccer in the morning before school, play soccer when they get home and on weekends.  They LOVE IT!  Jake's assistant coach is also an Orem City fire captain.  He invited the team members and their families to his fire station, gave rides to all the kids and let them squirt the fire hose.

My hip is getting stronger and I have been testing its limits.  I went on a hike for the first time and it was WONDERFUL!  I just have to say, Mike has pushed me gently and encouraged me to overcome my fears.  I can tell my hip is not 100 percent yet, and it scares me.  It scares me because I am worried I will do something that will make it hurt and I will be in too much pain to carry out my daily duties.  However, if I don't push the limits a little, it won't get stronger.  The key is knowing what is too much.  Most of what I have to overcome now is from scar tissue and muscle loss.  I played kickball for the first time, and my inner thigh muscle cramped up on me.  I had to stop, stretch, and slowly move around to get the spasm to quiet down.  I strive to stay hopeful and realistic.  I've started running on the treadmill and it's going fairly well.  

I also went on a bike ride for the first time.  The girls and I were home while the boys were at soccer practice with Mike.  The girls suggested we go take a ride by the Jordan River.  I was nervous, but decided I needed to do it.  We didn't go far. Just about a mile.  The girls stopped and threw rocks and sticks.  Eventually, I caved and let Chewbacca dive in after he nuzzled my hand, whimpering.  

When Chewy got out of the water, he thought the girls' oranges were tennis balls and wanted to fetch them.  Emily tried to put him in his place.

Being the Relief Society president of the group of women in my ward has taught me so much.  I have learned humility and patience and love.  Women in my neighborhood carry such heavy burdens and sometimes, I weep at night for them.  I pray for them.  Sometimes, well, frequently, I worry I am not doing enough.  But life to a mom of four growing children also keeps me busy and then I worry I am not doing enough for the children and on and on it goes.  However, I am learning to stop and say, "I am doing my best and that's all I can do."  I learn so very much from everyone in my life.  I serve with two wonderful counselors and two secretaries that do all they can to lighten the load.  We work well together and I sure love them!

Mike is doing well.  He is such an example to me with his undying optimism.  There are moments when I say, "It's just not fair that he had to have three heart stents at age thirty six."  But he often reminds me, "What's the point?"  He watches what he eats, he works out like crazy, CRAZY! And he works hard at his two jobs.  We had a small scare about a month ago.  He was feeling pressure while he was working out so off to the ER he went because the only way he can truly rule out heart issues is to have blood work done.  The labs came back in the normal range and he hasn't had a repeat of symptons.  

The last year has certainly taught me and Mike that life is so very short and each day is a gift.  The trick is remembering this lesson when life gets busy and stressful.