In Our Family during the month of August
* August 7th-9th was the Meridian Girl's Rugby Team Mini Camp. This was the first time that it was held and dad put a lot of planning and preparation into it. It was 3 half days with 2 practices and film during each session. One of the days they also met early and hiked Table Rock and had a breakfast at the top as they watched the sunrise (mom made all of the breakfasts burritos and then Aubrie and Kinnlie - who were both injured and couldn't hike) drove up to the top and delivered the food. The camp finale was to float the Boise River. Mom, dad and Tessa Jones were the adult chaperones and took all of the girls down the river.
* Mom flew out to Aunt Kathryn's on August 9th to meet up with grandma and grandpa who were also flying in on that day. I was there for 6 days and packed a lot of fun and memories into that time! We meal planned, shopped and cooked. We went to the lake and I had my first experience on a paddleboard (I even stood up!) and went for a kayak ride with grandma. Mom, Kat and I also went into Seattle and went to the Temple. That was probably the highlight of the trip for me! We also went to the local high school track each morning and spent the evenings chatting and visiting. One of the days we took the Ferry over to Friday Harbor and got some ice cream - this was my first time riding the Ferry and it was pretty fun! Before coming back home, they took me out to The Olive Garden for an early birthday dinner! The time sped by but I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to sneak away for the week and spend time with my family!
* Dad took the girls to a concert this month. There's an organization that gives free event tickets to Veterans and he took advantage of that and got tickets to The Breeders concert. They looked too cute as they were getting ready to leave, so I had to do a quick little photoshoot in the front yard!
* I woke up on the morning of August 26th to find the house decorated for my 48th birthday! The girls had stayed up after I went to bed to surprise me with the balloons and banner. We went to the Temple to do some Baptisms as a family (which was wonderful!) and then we all went to the Weezer concert in Boise that evening. After getting back, Aubrie made some cupcakes for the family while mom and dad had chocolate chaffles with almond butter drizzled with chocolate (sooooo delicious!!) The family all made me feel special!
* The Western Idaho Fair was in town and the kids went down with their friends one day. They rode all the rides.... Nathan got super motion sick and threw up everywhere! They played the carnival games and both Teegan and Charlie won little stuffed animals for the girls. They ate the fair food and came home with lots of (good) stories to share!
* With each season of Rugby - comes fundraising (my very least favorite part of sports! but it is a necessary evil)... Anyway, the team had done a car wash in July and was successful and so decided to do another one in August. We set up from 10-2pm on both days and made close to $3K between the two dates! So quite good! Plans are in motion to do one each of the summer months this next year as it's easy to set up, quick to do and brings in a good bang for our time!
* The public schools started up a lot earlier this year (with the plan of being out by Memorial Day vs into June) and so the kids tried to get as much fun with friends and memories made before the first day of school (which was August 16th). Lots of nights of hanging out, watching movies, runs to McDonalds or Albertsons and swimming at the pool were all fit in!
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* Additional pictures from throughout the month
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Spiritually Speaking...
An excerpt from my journal this month:
August 3rd
“The 4th Day” - Mark Bassett (April 2023 Conference)
This conference talk taught about the lessons we can gather from the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. As I listened
to this conference talk this past spring, I wrote down three questions that I thought could help me relate the teachings from this
story to my own life. In the Temple this last week, I was asking Heavenly Father how I could feel closer to Him and make my
personal studies feel more meaningful. The answer I received was to study conference talks. Below are the three questions I
took away from this talk and my thoughts and feelings on them.
Q: what is my role in regards to the divine intervention that I seek?
I feel that my role is to certainly be an active participant! I cannot just sit idly by and expect divine intervention. It makes me
think of “faith without works is dead“ - I need to be sure I am living in a way where the spirit can direct me daily. Where it can
guide me and inspire me with the personal revelation we desperately seek. I also feel that my role is to be the motivator (after
praying about this, and sharing my thoughts as being a “motivator“ the Lord tweaked this perception and let my heart now it’s
more of me leading by example and if I see us getting off track to be a Course corrector and making sure we do the things that
the Lord has asked us to do). Creating an environment at home where the spirit can reside and be felt by all. Also, to be a
Cheerleader for John.
Q: What does the Lord expect of me / me to do?
I feel that heavenly father expects me to keep the faith! Do not doubt the words that we have received through priesthood
blessings and while attending the temple. Don’t forget the answers to my prayers. In essence “do not dig up in doubt what I
have planted in faith“. He expects me to trust in him and to turn to Him and Jesus in all things. He expects my relationship and
devotion to him to grow. In regards to things he expects me to do, I feel he needs me to be a “Mother in Zion” (future question
is to study and ponder what that exactly means). He expects me to do my daily scripture study, attend the temple, participate in
family history, couple scripture study, family prayer, Come Follow Me and Enrichment. I also feel he wants me to keep my
home clean and organized and a place where the spirit can dwell - to take my example of how the temple is kept.
Q: Am I Watching for the Miracle?
I looked up “miracle” in the Guide to the Scriptures and this is what it said: “A miracle is an extraordinary event caused by the
power of God. Miracles are an important element in the work of Jesus Christ. Miracles are a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Faith is necessary in order for miracles to be manifested.
With this context and refreshing the question in my mind, I feel like I can say that Yes! I am watching for the miracle(s)!
However, I can always do better. Here are some of the miracles that easily flooded my mind that I have seen:
peace and contentment about unemployment for all these months!
We’ve been able to live for all of these months without going into debt
We have been kept healthy
With driving more than normal (Ubering) we have been kept safe and protected while on the roads more.
I’ve had several miracles in regards to my health as I recovered from surgery earlier this year. I was given direct
instruction in the temple on what I needed to do, which was miraculous! Also, all ailments that I struggled
with are 100% gone and I feel incredible!
That John recovered so quickly, and perfectly is a miracle!
That the process for Ben to go through the weight loss program to be eligible for surgery has only taken six weeks
whereas it took John and I six months!
That our family is so close together, and that the girls are very open and transparent with us
Aubrie‘s ankle being healed!
Being led to great deals on things that we needed at a discounted price
That all of our children are still faithful in the gospel
That Lexi’s mental health has improved dramatically
That Aubrie’s mental health has improved dramatically!
That Ben’s mental health has been stable and steady and he functions as well as he does!
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