Arizona sunsets have been on point lately. I can’t count how many times I’ve texted Hallie, or she’s texted me, or Steve’s texted the family group chat for a “Sunset check”. The colors, the clouds…night after night we have been left so impressed. A couple nights I’ve been cooking dinner and I notice a weird hue of pink outside in the backyard. And then I walk outside and am greeted with the most vibrant sunset.

Hallie and I were outside recently marveling at the beauty. Out of nowhere she states matter-of-factly. “I’m not sure I can go on a mission to somewhere without beautiful sunsets!” We’ve been so spoiled with Arizona sunsets and she appreciates them more than anyone. Not seeing beauty like this on a weekly basis is hard to comprehend. So grateful for painted skies.

Post a Comment

This is how we celebrate a 15-year-old when they have to go to school on their birthday.

Lunch of his choice. We offered to pick him up but his lunch is short so he decided to have me bring him Cane’s.

He had to act surprised as he opened all the presents he already knew about. It’s tough when you get to the age where you would rather get exactly what you want (sizes/colors) than be surprised. But he was a great actor.

He had some friends reach out to me and ask if they could surprise him when he got home from soccer. Unfortunately, Hunter has been fighting bronchitis for weeks. He’s missed tennis matches and soccer games and a lot of practices because he struggles to breathe when he exerts himself. He was looking forward to getting back on the field last night and was struggling yesterday so he missed yet another soccer practice. But we had to do something to get him out of the house since his friends were coming over – Hallie to the rescue! She took him to go grab some birthday treats. I think he was bumming it was his birthday, he’s been out of sports for weeks and top of that, his friends couldn’t go grab a treat with him (because they were in his bedroom).

He was in a much better mood when he got home to find his friends had surprised him with kind notes, treats and presents. They went to so much effort and were so excited to surprise him. And truly after the last couple weeks it was just what he needed. He felt loved. Steve and I sat in his room after every one left admiring the kind gesture of some good friends – we are so grateful for every single one of them.

Sickness aside – his birthday turned out pretty great.

Post a Comment

Briggs came down this morning with pants that were just a couple sizes too small. Not sure how long it took for him to squeeze into those babies but he was only mildly concerned when he struggled to button them. Clearly we missed a pair of pants in our last donation – luckily he found the exact same pants three sizes larger shoved under his bed.

We had our church primary program today where the kids stand at the pulpit and recite their parts and sing songs. Both Briggs and Cannon got to choose what they were going to say by answering a specific prompt.

Briggs’ prompt was “One miracle I have seen in my life is…” When I asked him what he wanted to share, he sat quietly for a minute and then without much hesitation he said, “When Hunter wasn’t seriously hurt when he dove into the water at Lake Powell.” I couldn’t agree more – it was a beautiful miracle he only received surface injuries to his face.

We talked about miracles a little more and he was reminded of a personal miracle for him. He decided to share his miracle today, “One miracle I have seen in my life is when I was stung by a scorpion and my dad gave me a blessing of healing to help manage the pain.”

He had it memorized, spoke loudly and clear for everyone to hear.

The following song was “The Miracle” and I can’t seem to listen to that song – especially when kids are singing – and not get emotional.

Jesus is a God of miracles
Nothing is at all impossible to Him
But I know this:
Of all His miracles the most incredible must be
The miracle that rescues you and me

Post a Comment

Here’s a not so quiet secret…I’m not an animal fan – specifically cats and dogs. Like not at all.

And yet, they are a fan of me and I don’t know why! I don’t pet them. I don’t give them attention. I speak ill of them. But they don’t seem to mind and they just won’t leave me alone.

I’m not usually vocal of my disdain for animals (unless we’re really good friends) so it’s always a little dance of me avoiding the dog while trying not to let the homeowner know how uncomfortable I am with their dog putting their wet nose on me. Some houses I enter, the dog immediately jumps on me and it takes everything in me to not knock it down mid air. Instead I twirl around and walk a different direction and hope they lose interest in me. They rarely do.

I have to laugh at this picture Hallie snapped as I was carefully trying to avoid the dog at my feet. He didn’t even go near Hallie but wouldn’t leave me alone. He was trying to lick my toes which made me throw up in my mouth just a little bit and I was having the hardest time focusing on the conversation I was in. Hallie burst out laughing and I quickly realized I was not hiding anything as I danced around their dog doing everything I could to not have him touch me. Why don’t they leave me alone? And why am I not better at hiding just how uncomfortable I am?!

Post a Comment