He’s a giant

It took a couple of weeks for me to get used to how much Caden grew on his mission! When he left he was around 6’3” and about 170 pounds. He came home over 6’4”, muscular and filled out and about 50 pounds heavier. He looks like a man now and I still have moments of awe every day😂

I think the adjustment home has been kind-of hard; he hasn’t yet found a job and would like more “purpose” every day u til he can go to school this fall.  But it’s so fun to me to have him around. He’s so fun to talk to and laughs so much more than he used to.

Caden gets home!!!

January 23, 2020 we got up at 5:00 am and drove from Rexburg to Boise so that we could be on time for Caden! Shawn was finishing out the month on his job in Oregon, so he met us there. 

We were getting off in plenty of time; I had the kids and all of our luggage loaded. (We stayed at mom and dads for a few days again so that we would be there for my nephew Micah’s homecoming talk) I had locked all the house doors and got in the car to start it and discovered that I had grabbed Maddie’s car keys instead of the keys to the suburban! All the doors were locked and I had the only keys - I knew of- on my key ring that was locked in the house. We had some panick until we discovered some keys hanging in the garage. Kami and Maddie tried them out and they worked!!

Luckily we got there early. Adam introduced me to an app that we were able to track Caden’s flight and we got more and more excited the closer he got!

Words can’t do justice to the feelings experienced when our missionaries get home! So much gratitude and happiness and overwhelming feelings of love.

We will also never forget when Anni got stuck in the ball vending machine just before we left the airport. She was pretty delighted to be inside with all of the balls until she decided to get out and couldn’t. Luckily Shawn was able to do a “breach delivery” and get her out of the machine😂

Words also can’t express what these missions do for our kids! Caden is a man now: he’s grown in every way. It’s so good to have him home!!

We get to leave Oregon!!!!!

The day of court finally arrived! We met with Joleen before court and told her that we really wanted to go back to Idaho and would like bring Anni with us. Joleen said she didn’t want Anni with anyone else. Joleen’s lawyer presented this at court and we were given permission to leave ! Shawn and I came to Idaho two days later and found a house to rent and we had the whole family moved in by the next weekend. So it’s been a whirlwind! I don’t have many pictures of us in the rental yet, but the picture of Maddie and Isabelle (above). They are sharing a very green room and at this particular time, when I peeked my head in the door they said, “we’re two peas in a pod!”

The only other pic I have is first thing in the morning when Anni evidently got hold of my phone...:

We feel so blessed to be back here! Back where the kids can go back to public school, pursue their musical and sports and dance interests again. After a couple of days of school, Nolan said, “i still can’t believe how nice the kids are here! I haven’t been insulted once!”

Diligently reading the best book

It’s been really touching to see Pace reading his Book of Mormon for hours per day. He’s a beginning reader so it takes him SO LONG  to read even a few verses at a time. Because of the new BOOK OF Mormon videos, he knows what is going on and regularly reports in what is happening in his reading. 

I find him reading somewhere everywhere I go!

Today was fast and testimony meeting and Pace seemed like he wanted to bear his testimony. When I encouraged him, though, he said he was too scared. He waited a little longer and then said, “I’m scared, but I’m going to do it!” I told him that he was very brave and told him that  bravery is doing something even though we are scared to do it. He responded, “mom, the Book of Mormon makes me brave.” Then he went up and bore his testimony that he knew it was true and the he “knew Nephi is true.” He is almost through 1st Nephi now. Pace’s comment about the Book of Mormon making him brave made me think about all the things the Book of Mormon and it’s teachings do for me. My life is so much better because of this book!

Happy New Year!

We had such good holidays at mom and dads! One day we climbed Coyote Peak. It was a pretty slippery climb with ice underneath the snow, but the day was clear and the view in every direction was amazing at the top.

Shawn and I went for a date to the Meridian Idaho temple one Saturday:

Isabelle got her patriarchal blessing from dad and it was AMAZING and special; not only the blessing itself but that she got it from her grandpa.  It’s always fun to hear more about my kids’ potential. 

Abe the awesome getting his little sister ready to go play outside with him:

Mom and dads house is surrounded by snow fortresses. The kids built this one outside the music room window and when it was finished it completely covered the window:

Katie and I went for lots of walks: I remembered to take some pictures every now and then:

While the older boys slept over with cousins, Pace and Thomas had their own sleep over:

One day dad helped me make a necklace hanger in the shop. He simultaneously helped Ammon Bradford make a ship and Pace make a sword:

Isabelle and Ann hung out almost every day:

Nolan helping Anni play hide and go seek:

Pace and Anni:

Mom and dad helping Anni with a puzzle:

Out on pond:

Nolan sledding down the hill:

Marji and Anni: