Jordan went in for his temple recommend interview with the Bishop last Sunday. He will go to the stake president today and then schedule a date to go through the temple to receive his endowment. Receiving his mission call seemed like such a landmark, but it is an awe inspiring feeling to have a child reach this point in their life. It is difficult to realize the implications of it all; overwhelming really. I look forward to that fast approaching day with such tender thoughts. It seems like such a wide step from boy to man and yet happens with such quiet, unassuming power. It's a beautiful yet melancholy feeling, that dawning realization that the apron strings have snapped. We're both ready.
I've invested quite a bit of time into reading and analyzing "The Color Code" by Dr. Taylor Hartman. What began as fun and games has become mesmerizing and insightful and self discerning. These last few months I have become fascinated with anything that propels me out of my tight little world and forces me to face the amazing diversity that is Heavenly Father's creation. Seeing it has been enlightening; accepting it is less natural because it goes against who I have become, but desiring to accept it is a breakthrough for me and I am finding much peace and joy in the journey. The new Mormon.org launched on July 14. Two thousand people have added "profiles"; 14,000 are in progress (mine among them). I spent a good half hour watching profile videos of human diversity on the site yesterday and realizing that the "mormon stereotypes" that Elder Ballard keeps warning us about are not created so much by people not of our faith, but by small minds (like mine) within the church. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people". I would submit that the same is true about our thoughts, but the only way to progress towards great minds and ideas is to first "understand" people. I am working on that one and it feels like coming home (a movie quote comes to mind here:) "only to no home [I've] ever known". I have to immerse myself in it because it doesn't come naturally. Some people would, I suppose, call that obsession. I like to call it driven :)
Along the same "know thyself" theme, Fred had a co-worker suggest that he buy a book called, "The Five Languages of Love". We purchased it for our date last night and took the "tests" while eating ice cream on the library lawn last. GREAT date! I'm so grateful that date night is still a priority 20 years in. Some weeks it's that light at the end of the tunnel that keeps me going.
We are tossing around the idea of having a "Staycation" this year. We just can't seem to make anything else work. I don't want to camp, unless it's at the ocean and then the destination is a big enough boon that I can see some motivation. Fred is willing to camp around here, but doesn't want to camp at the ocean because the weather is too volatile. Our family has gotten big enough that staying in a hotel on the beach is unaffordable. We are looking into hotels off of the beach, but that changes the vacation considerably. The kids came up with the "Staycation" idea while we were on our date. Everybody gets work off. We unplug phones and do something really fun in town every day; possibly even stay in a hotel a couple of nights to completely get away. I'm still pondering the idea. We do have a scheduled week on the calendar, so no matter what we will be together that week. Summer has just flown by this year. I see signs of school starting everywhere and none of us are ready. This will be the real year of my initiation into the part time empty nest syndrome. It is such a strange feeling to watch my little birds fly away.
Mikayla and Eden spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Boise Youth Spectacular, which is a smaller version of an E.F.Y. type experience. They LOVED it. Among their favorite experiences were talks/performances by Jon Schmidt and Alex Boye, and a devotional with Elder Gary Walker. I am so grateful that we have these opportunities so close to home.
Fred had to take the 11 year old scouts on a overnighter Friday and Saturday. He and Abe have been planning a camping trip all summer and the time has just been eaten up, so Fred took Abe with him. It turned out to be a great experience for both of them to be together. This whole scouts and camping thing is a new experience for Fred and he said he learned a lot through hard experience. We've only been tailgate camping all of our married life and he tried to take all of those same amenities into a hike in campground. He paid for that. He said next year he'll know better.
Jordan, and the twins and I spent a few days alone, together. It was a very different dynamic than usual, but was relaxing and enjoyable just the same. It's been a good weekend for all of us.
Fourth of July with Ben and Renee's Family
Mikayla's Birthday
At Wahooz for a Birthday Date
Abe's Birthday (forgot the camera for his Birthday date)
Goofy Girls
Shadows on the Wall
--
Posted By Bloomers to KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES at 7/25/2010 11:41:00 AM
I've invested quite a bit of time into reading and analyzing "The Color Code" by Dr. Taylor Hartman. What began as fun and games has become mesmerizing and insightful and self discerning. These last few months I have become fascinated with anything that propels me out of my tight little world and forces me to face the amazing diversity that is Heavenly Father's creation. Seeing it has been enlightening; accepting it is less natural because it goes against who I have become, but desiring to accept it is a breakthrough for me and I am finding much peace and joy in the journey. The new Mormon.org launched on July 14. Two thousand people have added "profiles"; 14,000 are in progress (mine among them). I spent a good half hour watching profile videos of human diversity on the site yesterday and realizing that the "mormon stereotypes" that Elder Ballard keeps warning us about are not created so much by people not of our faith, but by small minds (like mine) within the church. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people". I would submit that the same is true about our thoughts, but the only way to progress towards great minds and ideas is to first "understand" people. I am working on that one and it feels like coming home (a movie quote comes to mind here:) "only to no home [I've] ever known". I have to immerse myself in it because it doesn't come naturally. Some people would, I suppose, call that obsession. I like to call it driven :)
Along the same "know thyself" theme, Fred had a co-worker suggest that he buy a book called, "The Five Languages of Love". We purchased it for our date last night and took the "tests" while eating ice cream on the library lawn last. GREAT date! I'm so grateful that date night is still a priority 20 years in. Some weeks it's that light at the end of the tunnel that keeps me going.
We are tossing around the idea of having a "Staycation" this year. We just can't seem to make anything else work. I don't want to camp, unless it's at the ocean and then the destination is a big enough boon that I can see some motivation. Fred is willing to camp around here, but doesn't want to camp at the ocean because the weather is too volatile. Our family has gotten big enough that staying in a hotel on the beach is unaffordable. We are looking into hotels off of the beach, but that changes the vacation considerably. The kids came up with the "Staycation" idea while we were on our date. Everybody gets work off. We unplug phones and do something really fun in town every day; possibly even stay in a hotel a couple of nights to completely get away. I'm still pondering the idea. We do have a scheduled week on the calendar, so no matter what we will be together that week. Summer has just flown by this year. I see signs of school starting everywhere and none of us are ready. This will be the real year of my initiation into the part time empty nest syndrome. It is such a strange feeling to watch my little birds fly away.
Mikayla and Eden spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Boise Youth Spectacular, which is a smaller version of an E.F.Y. type experience. They LOVED it. Among their favorite experiences were talks/performances by Jon Schmidt and Alex Boye, and a devotional with Elder Gary Walker. I am so grateful that we have these opportunities so close to home.
Fred had to take the 11 year old scouts on a overnighter Friday and Saturday. He and Abe have been planning a camping trip all summer and the time has just been eaten up, so Fred took Abe with him. It turned out to be a great experience for both of them to be together. This whole scouts and camping thing is a new experience for Fred and he said he learned a lot through hard experience. We've only been tailgate camping all of our married life and he tried to take all of those same amenities into a hike in campground. He paid for that. He said next year he'll know better.
Jordan, and the twins and I spent a few days alone, together. It was a very different dynamic than usual, but was relaxing and enjoyable just the same. It's been a good weekend for all of us.
Fourth of July with Ben and Renee's Family
Mikayla's Birthday
At Wahooz for a Birthday Date
Abe's Birthday (forgot the camera for his Birthday date)
Goofy Girls
Shadows on the Wall
--
Posted By Bloomers to KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES at 7/25/2010 11:41:00 AM
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