Under Water with a Snorkel

A week with not much to show but bags under my eyes and age spots.  Feeling blessed, though. 

Cheryl and I celebrated her birthday lunch with a yummy sandwhich and shopping at Marshalls.  

Grandma's gains.  (Don't be fooled -- the lighting in our gym is favorable.)  Andy's analysis: "Low key jacked."  

FHE = meditation and being still.   Enjoyed by all.

Bobble mother and daughter (Molly still loving AI).

Summer blondes needing some sheering.

His really got blonde this summer.  I guess swim team will do that to you.

Maddie was recognized as one of the top 20 flag football players in the entire state!  She and Austin we apart of the Fiesta Bowl fundraiser and awards events.

Drippy merch drop

She wore that swag all evening while stepping back down to reality and writing college essays.

Maddie was also invited to play as that halftime entertainment for the Arizona cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys game.  We were all pretty excited to and watch her with the bonus of watching a live pro game.

Statefarm Stadium in Glendale with MUHS teammate, Karstyn.

She played so well.  One photographer got a picture of her fully laid out -- I have to add that.

Couldn't help but get teary-eyed during our National Anthem.  

Maddie is a pretty great girl.  We'll keep her.

More updates: Elder Babcock was transferred and has a new companion.  He said goodbye to all of his friends that love him, and he loves them.

Andy and Becca found a place to live!  Just over a month away until their wedding bells chime.

Elijah traveled for work this week.  Maisie went to be with Meg.  Her car stopped once again, so she was stranded.  They had quite the week of flower application, workouts and girl-meals (the kind that require minimal protein and maximum ease).

Austin spent hours everyday in the yard.  I spent hours everyday driving people around and addressing wedding invites.  God is good.  I feel Him in my life when I pause and desire to feel His love.  It's the pausing that proves impossible at times.  Five minutes of meditation prior to personal prayer is my goal.  I'll check back in.

.5 Perspective

Maddie taught her siblings the majesty of the .5 camera perspective.  I overheard them belly laughing -while using my phone -- especially Eddie -- then I found these gems.  It's my favorite sound -- the sound of my children laughing and being silly together.  (Maisie asked, "Who did that to poor Molly?"  Little did she know that Molly is really good at this game.  I just deleted 27 more of these .5 gems; she even conviced her friend to let her take some of her.)

Homeschool be like.

FHE be like.  Where's Maddie?

When I introduced the paperdoll craft, she dipped, "I'm gonna take a nap."  Then she did.  Eddie and Ryan decorated her toes while she dozed.

These two little friends started a homeschool coop session.  "The teachers teach so slowly," Ryan began.  Molly finishned, "It would take them 9 weeks to learn what we learn in one week with Mom."  That made me feel good.

Spontaneous sparing.

Homeschool be like.  She got him back when she climbed on his back and demanded, "Take me to my room, Trusty Steed."

Wednesday the good Lord blessed us with rain!  Enough to fill all the trenches and divets in our yard.

And to fill the storage room and Maddie's room.  Austin came home from work early to manage the flooded basement and damage.  We helped him, but he works so hard and so fast.

CFM be like.

You were wanting a close up of this little miss.

"Maddie's Real Estate Team" love Molly and AI.

Austin wore his custom suit today.  He's a fine looking grandpa.  I love that his beard, tie and socks match.  Mostly I love him.

Young Adult Updates:

Elijah turned 30 this week! We love him so much.  Because he obeys Jesus and works really hard, he is so successful.  His three daughters and wife adore him, just as they should -- he's everything wonderful, and so do we.

Maisie and Josh flew to Colorado and spent the week at his family's house fixing up a camper van.  Once up and running they drove 15 hours home.  They look quite content driving 25<x<60 mph.

Andy moved into a new apartment this week -- the one in which he and Becca will live.  Their wedding is just over a month away, we are very happy for them.

Elder Babcock was sick this week.  This is his food.  I wonder if the two correlate.

 His words: "If you're super thirsty are you going to eat food? If you're super hungry and you gonna drink juice?

No I'm going to eat food when I am hungry and drink when I am thirsty. This is how we need to pray! God will bless us even more when we pray for thing specifically. "Heavenly Father is pleased when we get on our knees and ask for help and then get on our feet and go to work"  I have seen so many blessings through specific prayers and hard work and I know it will bless your life's also!"

We studied the book of Job this week.  Jesus reminds Job that His perspective is way larger than the .5 we often use to manage trials and life.  How blessed I am to believe in God who allows health and sickness, pleasure and pain, hope and harm so that we can taste the sweet because we've known the bitter.  May I face my trials with His perspective, and if I can't -- due to my mortal litmitations -- may I trust in His perspective and plan for my progression.

(Read 2 Nephi chapters 2-10 and found several connections to the book of Job, including worms and resurreciton.  I also read Farenheit 451 which specifically references the book of Job.  So cool.)

Routine

We're back into the full swing of things -- the daily grind of seminary, school, work and family.  Real life feels good.

Eddie fell asleep during most nights of CFM this week; he's still getting used to long 10 hour days.

No mutual this week due to a dance, so Austin threw the football preparing Maddie and Ryan for their upcoming seasons.

Little Miss got her braces adjusted.

Grandpa actually asked us to help him with a landscaping project -- it's rare that he interferes on purpose.  We worked in 105* weather.  We were wet and tired.  A huge monsoon dropped in and ended our project early.  Phew.

He's a reader, this one.

Molly spent hours with her animals, dressing them up and arranging them.  Love this. Molly's World

Saturday's family swim was just as relaxing and lovely as any vacation destination.  Maddie's air track mat hits.  Of course they play "King of the Mat" whereupon Austin throws them all overboard, but not without a good fight. Diving Dog Fight

She wanted my lap to warm up.  Lucky me.

 The young adult updates:

Elder Babcock and I have been pondering the same idea: approaching the Savior during the sacrament with the idea that we are progressing disciples instead of deliquents. He wrote (colored text are quotes from Elder Kearon): We may have been conditioned to suppose that the purpose of the sacrament is to sit in the pew thinking only about all the ways we messed up during the week before.

But let’s turn that practice on its head. In the stillness, we can ponder the many ways we have seen the Lord relentlessly pursue us with His wonderful love that week! We can reflect on what it means to “discover the joy of daily repentance

The Armstrongs spend every second nurturing and loving their babes.  Quinny-binny is getting to be so big.

This Costco cart couldn't be cuter -- deliquents for sure.  I guess Baby begs for all the samples.

Andy's smile is so real in this currect pic.  He's lying on the floor beside that huge pup, but his hands are clasped in his lap making me think he really doesn't want to touch it.  So funny.

Maisie "functions" almost every night.  I actually love calling her at 10 pm my time because she always answers like it's noon -- perpetually awake, so it seems.

Austin pulled out the wedding bins and took massive inventory.  He spent both Friday and Saturday prepping the yard for the open house.  Yes! I love a good wedding.

My scriptures have really been talking to each other and to me this week.  

1.  2 Nephi 4 is Nephi's prayer, and when I ready those verses I decided to memorize a few of them.  I copied them down on a card and placed them by the treadmill.  Today in Ward Conference, our bishop quoted the exact verses I was prompted to memorized and make mine. So cool.

2.  I'm teaching Job in seminary next week, but I want the youth to choose to study the BOM everyday along with a bit of OT.  While reading in 2 Nephi, I found the exact chapter to teach the youth just how "scriptures talk to each other" and how to make them their own.  So cool.

3.  Oh! While reading with Molly and Ryan we found that 2 Nephi 6, we connected our CFM OT chapters and our current place in history.  SO cool.

"Read the Book of Mormon and pray. Everyday.  Everyday.  Everyday."  Check.✅