Double Digits

Today is Double Digits Day for my youngest child. The big 1-0. Yep, she's 10. She was so excited about this that she woke up at 4:15 this morning. But then, a downer because she wasn't actually born until 4:59 am so she wasn't really 10 yet. Fortunately, she was able to fall back to sleep and wake up at 6:45 fully and officially 10 years old. Whew!

How I love my Katie Lois. She was the only one of my 5 children that we didn't find out was a boy or a girl before she was born. I wanted a surprise, so we could hear the words, "It's a girl!" and laugh with joy at the wonder of life and the fact that WE HAD FOUR GIRLS!

Katie is an individual. She has definite opinions about the when and where and why of life. She has a flair for the dramatic, and keeps us chuckling with her observations of life. She loves to laugh, and when she gets to giggling, she inevitably ends up with the hiccups (she had the hiccups the whole time I was pregnant with her). Her heart is tender, filled with compassion for babies and children and animals and suffering. At her young age, she understands what it means to mourn with those who mourn.

It can be a tough gig being the youngest. Lots of people telling you what to do or not to do, ratting you out to Mom and Dad, and you always get stuck in the back seat because you're the smallest. But then, there are the perks: you're still small enough for Mom to snuggle and smooch, you still want and get toys for Christmas and birthdays, and you can still order off the kids menu at restaurants where the macaroni and cheese is plentiful and comes with a drink (Sprite) and a dessert.

I love you, Katie! Welcome to double digits! I'm so glad you picked us as your family!

1st picture: the shirt Josh sent her from his mission.

2nd picture: Laughing at the card Grandpa Gresko sent her; it sings "Shake It Up, Baby Now!"

My Missionary

One of the things I do at the MTC is act in a short play that the missionaries see the Friday before they depart for their assigned missions. Since Josh leaves for Korea tomorrow, I knew he would be at the one this week, so I brought David along.

We were able to give our Elder Crowther a hug and a Korean flag cake and money, but mostly our love and support. Doesn't he look fabulous? And he's so excited and ready to go to Korea.

These are some of my favorite pictures from his two and a half months in the MTC. I LOVE MY MISSIONARY!!

Big group photo at the Provo temple with all the Korean missionaries.

Learning the language.

He loves Korea!

The sisters and elders in his district.

Josh, Elder Miller, Elder Gomez, and Elder McCausland have been together in the MTC for the entire 12 weeks.

Good men!

Lean on me.

Sporty Girls

Early on in our family, when we were having girls, girls, and more girls, David voiced his opinion on which direction we should try to steer their interests:

"I want them to be sporty girls," he said. "Girls who can play sports are a lot cooler to guys than girlie girls." (Although attracting the guys is the last thing he wants for them now!)

Add to that statement an oft-spoken disdain for cheerleading and other "girlie" pursuits and you end up with what we have now: a houseful of sporty girls.

They are pretty cool, I must admit.

And strong. These girls can endure and overcome all kinds of troubles and difficulties; in short, they can do hard things. Every time I watch them run a race or compete in a game and see them sweating or hurting or struggling, and then watch them push through it and finish with determination, I am in awe.

These amazing creatures are my children.

Now, lest you think we haven't allowed them the opportunity to explore all their interests, let it be known that I put them all in dance classes (much to the chagrin of their dad, but he did pay for it and attend all their performances, with flowers and a smile). But it was the sports that stuck.

[They also all play various instruments, perform in plays, and are excellent students. But that is another story...]

The really great thing now is that we have so many activities that we can do together as a family: hiking and running and basketball and soccer. Plus, they're good for us! Keeps the ever-aging mom and dad spry and agile (or at least moving).

So I'm grateful that my good husband put a plug in for sporty girls. I love 'em!

Playing hoops with Dad.

Anniversaries

The law of opposition is alive and well in my life, as evidenced by the anniversaries I celebrate this day.

21 years ago, I married my David in the Salt Lake temple. I was staying at my aunt's house and I woke so early that morning after not sleeping all that well so that I could get ready to go to the temple. My mom helped me with my hair and then she and my dad and I drove to Salt Lake. I was so nervous, and then so relieved to see David there and put my hand in his. It has remained there all these years.

Our marriage was christened first thing with a choice to laugh or cry when a flock of seagulls flew over us while we were taking pictures on the steps of the temple and decided to unload (think: poop). We both looked at each other and knew we had a choice to make; we decided to laugh. It was an excellent decision and one we have made many times since.

David is the constant in my life. My friend, helpmeet, lover, and soulmate. In times of joy or sorrow, my first thought is to turn to him. He is a gem of a man and I am a blessed woman.

Opposition: one year ago today, I sat in a room at hospice house, listening to the labored breathing of my mom. When I arrived that morning, I went straight to her and said, "I love you, Mom." She said, "I love you." A few hours later, that breathing changed, and then she was gone. Home to that God who gave her life.

I sank to my knees by her bed with a crush in my chest unlike anything I've known.

How do you go on without your mother? With great difficulty. And by remembering how she would have wanted you to live your life: with joy, with courage, with love.

So today, I will celebrate my husband and my marriage and remember the love of my mother.

Knowing joy because I've known sorrow.

Happy Birthday Mom

Here is a picture of my mom with each of my kids. Oh, how she loved her grandchildren! (and children too).

Today is her birthday and to remember her, I went to the temple and took the letter that she wrote me before she died to read in the Celestial room. I love seeing her handwriting and I am so grateful that I spent the last month with her so that I can picture exactly how she looked when she wrote that letter. It brings her so close.

I miss her, you know?

Storytelling Festival

We spent yesterday at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. This event has been going on right up the road from us for 22 years and this was the first time for many of us to attend. In addition to the stories, they had a pottery tent that Alissa and Katie absolutely loved. They worked on sculpting this dragon for over an hour when we finally dragged them away to listen to a story. Great, great time! My favorite storyteller: Donald Davis.

Climb a mountain

Yesterday was a monumental day in the lives of three of my girls. Jenna, Kellie, and Alissa hiked to the very top of Mt. Timpanogos and recited "The Living Christ" from memory.

Some things I am grateful for:

• Their strong, healthy bodies that got them from the bottom to the top and back again in one piece.
• Their fertile minds that were able to memorize a 1200+ word document about the Savior.
• Their willing hearts to take on this challenge.
• Their tenacity that kept them at the memorizing and exercising, putting one foot after another no matter how difficult.
• Their young women leaders who supported and encouraged them and then traveled the harrowing path with them. How I love the village that helps me raise my children!
• The general young women president of my church who told all of our young women: "you can do hard things!" and then challenged them to prove it.
• Our bishop who climbed the entire mountain two weeks before to make sure it was safe and then climbed it again with the girls. Plus, his military training to just "push through and keep going" - he is awesome!

and finally....

• their testimonies of Christ and His gospel. They know that it's true and they know of His love for them.

I am so blessed to be their mom.

Mt. Timpanogos - Utah County