BACK TO SCHOOL BLESSINGS!

This was the last back to school blessing for Emma. Jared ended up inviting Hunter to join him giving her a blessing. He was also able to give Hunter a blessing as well. This is one of my favorite Sundays all year. I love watching the reverence of our kids as we all gather together and listen to the blessings that each one is given from our Father in Heaven! 

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Emma:

As you prepare for school, I bless you to know that as you have had trials, temptations, struggles and it seemed as though you were left alone, I bless you to know He is very much watching over you and has had a hand in your life.

Heavenly Father and our Savior love and care for you more than we understand.

I bless you throughout school that you will be able to remain focused on your testimony, improving your relationships with loved ones and finish up your schooling.

You have worked hard for 7 years to be at this point and you deserve it.

As you get frustrated, remember who you are and remain focused and the Lord will be there for you.

Continue to keep yourself clean and the spirit will guide you to be where you need to be.

The Lord loves you so much.

You have had to walk a tough road to be able to understand what others go through and the Lord loves you for that.

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Eli:

I bless you to know how proud of you we are.

I bless you to know the Lord is aware of you and you have been called to serve within this family, school and in seminary. 

As you go through school and are patient and loving to those around you, the Lord will bless you.

As you focus on what’s most important; the Lord will bless you with your heavy school load.

I bless you as you drive you will be safe and protected and will return home safely.

I bless you to find joy and success with baseball this year. 

I bless you that your testimony will grow. 

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Tyler:

I bless you to know you have been greatly blessed to be able to learn. You may have struggled in the past, but the Lord has blessed you to do well in classes.

I bless you to be patient, loving and kind. Help those around you.

I bless you to have the physical capacity to do sports and be able to hang out with your friends and return home to us each night.

Pay attention in seminary and you will begin to understand the Lord’s plan. Follow this plan to prepare to serve a mission.

We love you and are blessed to have you in our family. 

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Tyson:

I Bless you this year as you attend seminary and church that your testimony will grow.

I bless you to be happy and healthy. That you will be engaged in your classes and understand what is being taught. 

I bless you to be able to focus on your health and take care of yourself. 

Be a good friend! 

The spirit will dwell within our home through you.

You will be protected wherever you go, while you are with your friends, etc.

YOUNG WOMEN'S PRESIDENT!

 On July 16th the Bishop asked Jared and I to come in for a meeting with him. I called Maxi to ask her what was going on because just 2 weeks earlier they called and asked me to be YW secretary and Jared just now starting going back to church and to young men's so what the heck. She had no idea either. We were both panicked. Jared thought we were getting called to be ward missionaries or something. 

That morning, Maxi texts me during Sacrament and told me she had a meeting with the Bishop after church too. And so did Emily. So us girls decided we weren't going to wait any longer and so we made Bishop meet with us during second hour. Maxi went first. We were so nervous. I told Bishop he better hurry or I was going to get the shitters. He laughed and the old man executive secretary got uncomfortable. 

When Maxi came out she was crying and Spencer walked right over to me and gave me a hug. I knew in that moment that I was about to be asked to be the YW president. I got Jared out of Sunday School class and we went in. 

The Bishop got teary eyed and he said he has been feeling like he needs to call me to be the President, but he has been putting it off. He called the stake president to tell him he needed to call a new YW pres and the stake president said, "I know who you need to call, I met with her last week for her temple recommend" and the Bishop let him know that was exactly who he was calling. This was probably the first time I could see Heavenly Father's hand in one of my callings. Clearly this was meant to be. But this was also the first time I cried about a calling (actually that's a lie, I cried when they asked me to be in charge of Enrichment activities for the ward and the twins were 2 months old and Eli was 22 months old). I couldn't figure out why I needed to be called to this. Maxi was perfect for this calling. She is sweet, gentle and bubbly. The girls love her. I explained that to the Bishop, "Bishop, I am sarcastic, I don't love the beehives like maxi does and I just swore in your church hallway, I will always put my boys sports first, I have a job and I am baseball booster president.... am I really who you want?!" 

I was sick about it all week. Quinn wore a cute dress to church the other Sunday and I copied her. I texted her and asked her to match me the Sunday they were setting me apart. She did. When the Bishop announced it in Sacrament, more tears ran down my face. I am not qualified enough for this calling. How can I help all these girls?! I watched Ariele get up during Sacrament and go outside and leave. I noticed Maxi was gone too. I joined them in the foyer and talked with them. 

Since I am technically writing this exactly 1 month later...I have spent every Sunday visiting different girls after church, taking girls on drives, having laurels over for luncheons on Sunday, etc. We run differently than it did with the old group, but I pray and hope I am doing my best for these girls and will know what they need and can be that for them! I mean heck, I even have BeReal now for them! ha ha! 

I am so grateful I went to girls camp this year though. Had I not gone and not gotten to know these girls, this would have been a disaster. Heavenly Father knows exactly what he is doing. Sent me to camp to start these relationships. I am grateful for him and all he does for me and my family. 

Here is the sweet email Jared sent me: 

babe i just want to let you know how proud i am of you with everything you're taking care of ...

-- staying on top of emma with her jobs, apt, etc

-- keeping track of boy's activities, carpools, friends, sports, etc

-- baseball booster (high school and jr high!!)

-- YW, church, stake, etc

-- organizing work marketing, promos, etc

not to mention stuff around the house, serving friends, ward, family and covering for me while i'm out of commision

i love you boo - you got this.  i'm here to help you with whatever you need

love you

KALEB COMES TO VISIT!

 The boys were so excited for Kaleb to come and visit us for a week! They had the best time! They all slept in the BRO on the hide-a-bed together, they stayed up late playing video games, slept in in the morning and hung out with all their friends all week! They made milkshakes, smores bars, partied it up - I think it was a good week! Sadly, I didn't get very many pictures! 

ELI GOES TO UTAH!

Braxten had been gone all summer and was mad when Michelle told him they were heading to Utah in 4 days while they were gone in Florida. So Michelle decided to take Eli and Jake with them! They headed up on a Friday and Eli was supposed to fly home on Wednesday morning. Tuesday night Michelle was calling and asking if he could stay the rest of the week and they would bring him home since their plans had changed. Jared and I already bought him a $100 plane ticket home, but being with his buddies in Utah seemed important so we ate the cost and let him stay. They had the best time!!! Even Ashley and her kids surprised him and his friends with treats on morning! They went Boating, visitng National Parks, building red solo cup walls, playing board games, pickleball, eating  yummy food, they even went to 7 Peaks waterpark. We are so glad Eli has such good friends and is able to spend some time with them! 

HUNTER STOLWORTHY!

 Well....Emma went out on a date May 27th with a boy she met on mutual. She found his outfit to be atrocious and word vomitted everything about her so he wouldn't ask her out again. They spent 4 hours at a park and ate lunch together. She did not want to go out with him again. On June 1st, Brooklyn got married and afterwards Emma and Anni went to hangout and Emma was telling Anni about him and then she watched a snapchat video of him and Anni basically said, "in that 30 second video I can already tell he is the nicest guy you have ever gone out with and you can change his clothes!" So Emma decided to go out with him again and he talked to his sister and she said, "sounds like shes been through a lot and dealt a hard hand and you should go out again!" So he went out with her again to find out if she was really crazy. Then it wasn't until the 3rd date he decided to try and kiss her. He is very old school when it comes to dating. No going in bedrooms, opening her door, he always drives, he always pays, they are going shopping together to pick him out some new clothes, they have long deep conversations and know everything about each other now....it is not a typical relationship where everything is butterflies and giggles, they are having hard deep convos and really getting to know each other. The night of Father's Day he came over for dinner with the family and the grandparents. He did a really good job that night - I am sure it couldn't have been very comfortable because not only was he meeting grandparents but he was really meeting us too! I guess he passed his test and that night he asked her to be his girlfriend. After she walked him out she came back inside and told us and it was really cute, the boys were all into the conversation and asking her questions. He comes over every Sunday and eats dinner with us and hangs out. He has come over for FHE and joined us in pickleball and dessert, he loves to workout and helped Eli in our garage - Eli calls him "my dawg". Emma loves how he coordinates his ties with her dresses! It's now July 8th and so far we LOVE him so much. He is such a good guy!!! Everything that has held Emma back she eventually gets over and realizes it isn't a deal breaker. He brings out the best in her. She is physically in a good place, spiritually in a good place, mentally in a good place and overall we would just say that our Emma is back and we couldn't be more grateful. She is so happy and bringing such a great spirit into our home. We love this Hunter boy and let's see what happens......

4th OF JULY!

Several months ago we started watching the Harry Potter series, one episode a week, then we moved on to Indiana Jones, then Mission Impossible and now we are on the Bourne movies. So on 4th of July we took the boys and Mikey and Jake to see Indiana Jones with us! (Emma had to work) That night we headed over to the Cardons for a BBQ and swim party and then for fireworks afterwards. I am the worst at taking pictures! The boys had the best time! Hunter came with Emma for a while, mostly so the 2 of them could grab a plate to eat and then ended up talking to everyone! It was a great day together as a family?! Happy Birthday America!