Oh Say Can You See

We decided to fly Jordan in this past holiday weekend, since he had Saturday off. What a thrill to have him home. We spent all day Friday grocery shopping and cleaning and cooking in anticipation of his homecoming. It was more exciting than Christmas and just when we were getting ready to climb in the car at 4:00 to go pick him up from the airport, and I was putting dinner in the oven to cook while we were gone, I double checked his itinerary to make sure that the information that Fred had was correct and realized that he was leaving Spokane at the time that Fred thought he was coming into Boise and we had two more hours before we had to leave. That was a looong wait! We tried to fill it up by going to the fireworks stand and finishing off the laundry folding while we watched Andy Griffith episodes, but it felt like time was standing still! It was so exciting to finally pile in the Suburban and head out. By the time Jordan came walking through those glass doors, everybody in the airport knew he was coming as all the little kids were shouting, "there he is!" and he's coming!" and I had trouble spotting him for a minute because he was wearing an unfamiliar shirt, his head was buzzed and he just looked so 'big' walking in that group of people. We smothered him with hugs and kisses and then I had to laugh as we were walking through the lobby because we were all walking in a circle around him and he could barely move. He's loved.


Everyone was famished when we finally sat down to eat dinner after 8:00 and the phone rang for Jordan before we could even say the prayer. Friends--wanting him to come play. I reminded him that because of the $180 plane ticket, I 'owned' him. We ate, Jordan talked us into going swimming at 9:00 and by 10:00 some of his friends had found us, taking a detour on their way over to a party. Fred told me Jordan would never be content until he saw "the girl", so I reluctantly let go briefly and he headed over to see the "old clan" while we watched a movie.


We visited all morning on Saturday and then went to the parade that passes the end of our street, which is always such a highlight; to the youngest because they are thrown bagfuls of candy; to the rest of us because the 4th of July is a bonding experience in a little town. Everyone is in good spirits and are united in doing the same thing. There are no fancy floats, but you recognize almost everybody and know many and it just feels like family.


Because Mikayla's 16th birthday was on Sunday, Jordan took her on her first date Saturday afternoon to play her first game of golf. We figured we could fudge one day with a brother;) Around 5:00, Ben and Renee's family came over and we ate and visited and laughed and swam and listened to Jared and Ben play us festive harmonica duets. It was sooo nice to be with family and just relax for hours. Around 9:30 we started the dusk fireworks of smoke bombs and snakes and tanks and sparklers and anything else that Fred could talk us into (the more he can shoot off before the city show, the less time he has to stay up after;) At that point, the phone started ringing for Jordan again, but this time he turned down all invitations and invited anyone who wanted, to come find us at the community fireworks show. Sometime after 10:00 we headed to the school grounds to find a spot to spread our blankets. Renee brought treats, some of Jordan's friends found us and once again there was that sense of community family that makes Middleton so appealing to us. We had an impressive pre-show just watching all of the fireworks that people were shooting off from the yards that surround the school, and the city show was fantastic. It's only about 20 minutes every year, and is completely funded by donations, so I am sure we could find something bigger and more literally flashy, but we enjoy it more than any big city display that costs thousands of dollars because we are with neighbors and friends and we don't have to fight any traffic. We are grateful to Ben and Renee for being willing to come our way every year. We sure enjoy their company!


Sunday was Mikayla's birthday and we were able to spend the whole day just marinading in each other companionship. At one point, as I was finishing the touches on Mikayla's birthday dinner, I looked out the window and Jordan and Fred and Mikayla and the twins were all sitting together in the hammock. I am fairly certain that they were exceeding the 450 pound weight limit, but they looked so joyful. A few minutes later, Fred came inside and said, "It's so great to have Jordan back, it feels like those days at the farm when everyone would come over to visit and we would just sit around and talk." Those moments are rare and precious and fleeting. It was a memorable day.


Monday morning, Fred had to head back to work and we had to take Jordan back to the airport, and everyday life started up again. Jordan was teary eyed when everyone malled him for the last time and I was a little watery as we watched him walk barefoot, further and further away through the whole security labyrinth, but this experience has been so good for him and I am grateful for the opportunity to have this very gradual separation process, where we can still be so much a part of his life through the phone and the web cam and e-mail and he can learn life lessons about independence while still having a tangible support network at home. We're working through the school registration process together and he's figuring out how to manage his personal finances with guidance and is building a firm foundation to sustain him when he's truly on his own and has only one place to turn. I'm proud of who he's becoming.


Our temple has made it possible this summer for all of the youth to be able to attend baptism sessions without adult leadership. They can receive a personal limited use recommend that is good for one year and can attend Tuesdays at 5:30AM, Wednesdays at 6:30AM or 3:30PM and Thursday at 6:30AM. I have been amazed to watch the youth rise up and lead out. We have youth in our stake who are attending once a week at 5:30AM. They are organizing themselves and are making the most of these opportunities. Mikayla's best friend called and invited her to go this morning at 5:30--Eden asked to go with them. Eden will be going again with a group of friends tomorrow at 3:30. Mikayla is trying to organize a "cousin trip" this month. It has re motivated me to make it a priority to get to the temple more often, even if I have to go on my own, and take my small children to the temple grounds to "touch the temple". If we will let them, this generation will make sure the doors of our homes are facing the temple.



Mikayla's Thinking of her 16th Birthday Wish:




(I'm pretty sure she ran out of hot air before the candles went out;)