A Smattering of Things that are Happening

 

My life is both beautiful and so hard.

But I try to focus on all the good, because focusing on the bad is a bummer.

And honestly, who is to say that the bad is actually bad.

Everything that I am experiencing is teaching me.

So maybe it's not bad.

But the things that are good are so, so good!

 

Sealing

 

This is what it is all about.

Tonight we got to be part of one of the best things that is happening on the earth right now. 

My dear friend, Shawn was sealed to her neice, Harper and nephew, Luke that her and her husband, Kelly adopted AND she was sealed to Kelly who passed away this summer. 

Kelly was definitely there in spirit.

It was such a beautiful experience.

I was blessed to be Shawn's escort when she went through the temple to receive her own endowment 11 years ago.

This was a full circle moment.

I'm so grateful that I get to part of such amazing and important things.

This is what really matters!

 

A Rescue and Some Solace

 

This afternoon I needed a minute to myself.

Sometimes life can feel suffocating. 

I went to my office, sat on my orange bench and breathed in the day.

I watched the clouds, listened to the breeze in the trees, and heard the birds. 

And I was just in the moment.

Then I went to the dock and put my feet in the lake.

It's getting cold. 

I watched a dragonfly eating bugs off the surface of the lake and then it got too close and plunged in upside down.

I watched it struggle for a bit to see if it was going to be able to right itself and fly away.

But it couldn't.

So I jumped in a kayak and rescued it.

We hung out together for a long time.

Then I put it on a bush before heading into the house.

I love where I live.

I love the peace I find here.

I love that I can breathe here.

And I love that dragonfly.

Is that weird?

That's weird isn't it?

 

 

State Fair

 

I'm a little disappointed in myself.

I have been taking less and less pictures.

I'm not sure why.

It just is. 

Maybe because I am repeating all the things over and over.

No worries though.

They still bring me joy.

Like this Denali cream puff.

Maybe I am just enjoying the moments more while I am in them and that's why I am not documenting everything excessively.

So anyway, here are the only two pictures that I took when Matt and I went to the fair tonight. 

 

Rissa D

 Every year on Marissa's birthday I bring her a birthday cucumber. 

It's tradition. 

I think I have been doing it now for at least 7 years. 

I love that she loves her birthday cucumbers.

I also love her. 

She is basically one of my most favorite humans ever born. 

Happy birthday Rissa D!

Projects

 

This picture makes me laugh so much.

If you look closely you will see a snall black poodle in the crook of his arm. 

Seriously.

This grown man and his poodle.

Haha!

We took on two huge projects this summer.

They are still in process and will be for the next few months.

We are building the Lake Cabin.

Well, actually we hired someone to build the lake cabin.

Here is the progress on that.

 And we are building a small house called the Loft House.

It is going to be for Sam and the boys.

Walls will be going up today.

Here is the progress on that:

 

These Youth!

 

I just need to take a moment and gush about the people in this picture.

I might be their biggest fan.

Well, besides their moms.

Although, Makenna is in this picture and I am her mom! 

These youth are my seminary kids.

They love me and I love them.

We have a connection of belonging that is remarkable.

I am so excited to go back to work and see their faces each day.

I pretty much have the greatest job ever. 

I'm looking forward to the 22-23 school year!

My Garden

 

I love gardening.

I'm not sure if I've told you that before.

But I really love it.

This year, the garden has been such a place of solace for me.

Now granted, my hands kept going numb from weeding too much but I have loved being outside and tending to plants.

Next years garden is going to be epic.

I ordered seeds this week. 

I am hoping to grow enough vegetables so that we don't have to buy any.

We also have purchased 15 more fruit bushes- honey berry, elder berry, white and black currants, cherry, and more.

I would love to not have to buy fruit either.

But I love bananas and mango A LOT and we can't really grow those here.

Almost everything I have harvested I have preserved.

I have learned so much about preserving food this year.

The freezer is currently full! 

We bought a freeze drier which I am so excited to try but it will still be a few weeks before it comes because they were back logged.

Food prices keep going up but we have not done a serious grocery shopping trip in a long time because the yard is the store.

I love summer so much! 

Also, I will probably have 30 pumpkins to can this year and we might have enough potatoes to get through the entire winter if I can store them well enough.

It's so exciting!