August 2025

 In Our Family This Month...

* Rugby started back up full time. Dad and the girls practice each day from 5-7pm (which really means leaving by about 4:20pm and getting back between 7:30/8pm). Both girls were voted to be Captains this year. They are leading the team well and so dad is doing amazing at being Head Coach! Of course mom is still doing all of the photography. The girls talked me into taking all of the Seniors downtown to the park and doing a "dressy" photoshoot. And then we didn't a second Senior photoshoot for their Senior banners (which I also designed). 

* Mom celebrated another birthday!! The girls decorated the house and set out gifts (which I wasn't expecting in the least!). We started off the day a little differently because Aubrie had been having some eye issues (side note: We'd taken her to the Urgent Care a few days prior where they said she had a cornea abrasion and gave her some antibiotic drops and said by Tuesday (my birthday) she should be 100% better -- well, the complete opposite was true and she was in even worse pain!) We had plans to attend the Temple together as a family to do Baptisms that morning but she was in no condition to do so. She also insisted that the rest of go and she'd sleep and then we could go back to the Urgent care when we got home. So, Lexi, Nathan, Dad and mom went to the Temple and (tried!) to have a good time knowing Aubrie wasn't doing well! Once we got home, mom grabbed Aubrie and they headed back to the Urgent Care (Lexi came with us because we truly thought they'd give us a different Rx and send us on our way and it was our plan to then hit Joe Mama's for a "birthday cinnamon roll!"  Needless to say, that is NOT what happened. Urgent care said we needed to go to an eye specialist ASAP and set us up an appointment with a Dr who had an opening that afternoon. He took one look and said "that is NOT a corneal abrasion it's an _________ (I can't remember what the official name of her condition was but he said it was basically an "ulcer on her eye"!!) Not only that but the drops that we'd been putting in were actually making things worse! and she needed a steroid treatment. So then it was off to the Pharmacy where we waited for another hour to get the right medication. By the time everything was done (about 4 hours in total), Joe Mama's was closed and Lexi had to get home for Rugby practice.  That evening after practice, dad had arranged a birthday dinner at Red Robin with Ryan and Mandy Hatch. While it wasn't necessarily how I had planned the day to go, I still got to be with the family in the temple, take care of my children and have a social dinner with friends! 

* School started! The girls are officially SENIORS and will be graduating this year! Doesn't seem real! They are taking 1 elective class (Digital Photography) through TechTrep (Braintree Academy), 4 classes through BYUI Concurrent Enrollment (Fall semester will be their English/Writing class and then a Human Nutrition class and then next semester they're doing their Math and (possibly) a history class). Then Seminary with Meridian High and Enrichment, Current Events, Chemistry and Math with mom. They are such great girls and I know this year will be wonderful for them! Here's a picture of them on their first day heading off to Seminary.

Other things that were sprinkled throughout the month were: BSU football games kicked off and Nathan accompanied dad to the first one. We also celebrated Swiss National Day with our fellow Switzerland "family" here in the valley. 

Spiritually Speaking...

Nathan was able to go to the Meridian Temple and receive his Endowment on Thursday, August 7th, 2025. Here are some Q&A with mom afterwards.

Q: Tell me about your experience in the Temple

A: At first I was really nervous! But I felt the spirit a lot at the same time. After we got into the Instruction room and the presentation started, I just felt really good and uplifted and could feel the spirit.

Q: Was it what you were expecting?

A: No, I'm not really sure what I was expecting but it wasn't anything like I thought it was going to be. It was a really great experience and I wish I would have gone sooner, tho! I love wearing my garments and I can feel an added power and protection when I have them on. I had to take them off to go swimming a couple of days after I got them and it felt really weird already. I love having them and having the protection they give me.

Q: What else do you want to remember from that day?

A: Just that I'm really glad that I was able to go to the Temple and make covenants with the Lord. This was a really great thing!

* Our Stake Presidency has challenged everyone to read 2 chapters a day in the Book of Mormon (this will have us finish the BOM by the end of the year). The challenge officially starts on September 1st but the girls and I decided to start the day that they announced it (middle of August). We figured we'd get a jump start and then if we missed a day or two through the upcoming months, we'd still be on track! We've been reading our two chapters as part of our daily Enrichment. We then discuss what we've read and pull out the principles that we've identified. The girls always have such great thoughts! Even with just 1st Nephi chapter 1, here were some things they saw:

- Good parents teach their children;  We'll be destroyed if we don't repent;  Keeping a history is important;  Tender mercies are given to those that choose to follow Christ;  Even when we're discouraged, we can trust God;  Things won't necessarily be smooth sailing when we are following God's plan for us - we can can still face hardships!  Repent everyday;  The Lord will answer our prayers and provide a way.

Wow! Look at all that we were able to get out of just the very first chapter of this beautiful book!! I'm sure I'll share more insights in future "Spiritually Speakings"

And then a picture of dad and I after the Temple. We still have the goal to get there every week and we take a picture every time! haha... anyway, here's a cute one: